2011 Quick-Step season

2011 Quick-Step season Manager Patrick Lefevere One-day victories 4 Stage race overall victories none Stage race stage victories 1 Previous season • Next season The 2011 season for QST 2011 began in January at the Tour Down Under and ended in October at the Giro di Lombardia. As a UCI ProTeam, they were automatically invited and obligated to send a squad to every event in the UCI World Tour. With just five victories, the season was easily the worst in Quick Step's history. They were all but invisible at the Grand Tours other than a brief run in the leader's jersey for Sylvain Chavanel at the Vuelta a España. The same, bar Tom Boonen's Gent–Wevelgem win, was true of the classic cycle races. They were the last eligible team to score any points toward the UCI World Tour rankings, and finished third-from-last in those rankings, better only than ALM 2011 and VCD 2011. During the season, the team announced that Omega Pharma would be rejoining them as a title sponsor for the 2012 season, as QST 2012. 2011 roster Ages as of January 1, 2011: Marco Bandiera ITA 2011 1 1 1984 6 12 Tom Boonen BEL 2011 1 1 1980 10 15 Andy Cappelle BEL 2011 1 1 1979 4 30 Dario Cataldo ITA 2011 1 1 1985 3 17 Sylvain Chavanel FRA 2011 1 1 1979 6 30 Francesco Chicchi ITA 2011 1 1 1980 11 27 Gerald Ciolek GER 2011 1 1 1986 9 16 Marc de Maar CUW 2011 1 1 1984 2 15 Kevin De Weert BEL 2011 1 1 1982 5 27 Dries Devenyns BEL 2011 1 1 1983 7 22 Addy Engels NED 2011 1 1 1977 6 16 Mauro Facci ITA 2011 1 1 1982 5 11 Iljo Keisse BEL 2011 1 1 1982 12 21 Andrei Kunitski BLR 2011 1 1 1984 7 2 Nikolas Maes BEL 2011 1 1 1986 4 9 Davide Malacarne ITA 2011 1 1 1987 7 11 Jérôme Pineau FRA 2011 1 1 1980 1 2 Francesco Reda ITA 2011 1 1 1982 11 19 Frederique Robert BEL 2011 1 1 1989 1 25 Kevin Seeldraeyers BEL 2011 1 1 1986 9 12 Andreas Stauff GER 2011 1 1 1987 1 22 Gert Steegmans BEL 2011 1 1 1980 9 30 Zdeněk ŠtybarŠtybar joined the team on March 1.http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/7202/Zdenek-Stybar-signs-for-Quick-Step.aspx VeloNation 25 January 2011 9 December 2011 Zdenek Stybar signs for Quick Step Ben Atkins "N" CZE 2011 1 1 1985 12 11 Niki Terpstra NED 2011 1 1 1984 5 18 Ján Tratnik SLO 2011 1 1 1990 2 23 Matteo TrentinTrentin joined the team on August 1 as a stagiaire.http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8857/Italian-U23-champion-Matteo-Trentin-gets-stagiaire-contract-with-Quick-Step.aspx VeloNation 25 June 2011 9 December 2011 Italian U23 champion Matteo Trentin gets stagiaire contract with Quick Step Bjorn Haake "N" ITA 2011 1 1 1989 8 2 Kevin van Impe BEL 2011 1 1 1981 4 19 Guillaume Van Keirsbulck BEL 2011 1 1 1991 2 14 Kristof Vandewalle BEL 2011 1 1 1985 4 5 Julien Vermote BEL 2011 1 1 1989 7 26 Riders who joined the team for the 2011 season Rider2010 teamMarco Bandierahttp://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6345/Bandiera-moves-from-Katusha-to-Quick-Step.aspx VeloNation 13 November 2010 9 December 2011 Bandiera moves from Katusha to Quick Step Bjorn HaakeKAT 2010Andy Cappellehttps://www.cyclingnews.com/news/lefevere-defends-2011-transfers-and-signings Lefevere defends 2011 transfers and signings 20 September 2010 9 December 2011 Cycling News Newcomers for 2011 include Dutch national road champion Niki Terpstra, Belgian Andy Cappelle, German Gerald Ciolek and Italian Francesco Chicchi.WGG 2010Francesco Chicchihttps://www.cyclingnews.com/news/chicchi-signs-with-quick-step Chicchi signs with Quick Step 29 July 2010 9 December 2011 Cycling NewsLIQ 2010Gerald Ciolekhttps://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ciolek-to-quickstep-for-2011 Ciolek to QuickStep for 2011 17 September 2010 9 December 2011 Cycling NewsMRM 2010Marc de MaarDaniel Benson https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/de-maar-signs-with-quick-step-for-2011 De Maar signs with Quick Step for 2011 2 August 2010 9 December 2011 Cycling NewsUHC 2010Frederique Roberthttp://www.velonation.com/News/ID/5602/Transfer-News-Le-Mevel-Vandewalle-Wyss-Pagliarini-Vila-and-more.aspx VeloNation 9 September 2010 9 December 2011 Transfer News: Le Mevel, Vandewalle, Wyss, Pagliarini, Vila, and more Jered Gruberneo-pro (stagiaire: QST 2010)Gert SteegmansSusan Westemeyer https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/quick-step-confirms-steegmans-working-on-stybar Quick Step confirms Steegmans, working on Stybar 20 December 2010 9 December 2011 Cycling NewsRSH 2010Zdeněk ŠtybarTelenet–FideaJan TratnikZheroquadroNiki Terpstrahttps://www.cyclingnews.com/news/terpstra-to-quick-step-in-2011 Terpstra to Quick Step in 2011 22 August 2010 9 December 2011 Cycling NewsMRM 2010Kristof VandewalleTSV 2010Guillaume Van Keirsbulckhttp://www.velochrono.fr/actu/transferts-cyclisme-2010-2011/ Transferts 2010-2011 French Transfers 2010–2011 9 December 2011 Velochrono.frneo-pro (stagiaire: QST 2010)Julien Vermoteneo-pro Riders who left the team during or after the 2010 season Rider2011 teamCarlos BarredoBarry Ryan https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/barredo-signs-for-rabobank Barredo signs for Rabobank 14 September 2010 9 December 2011 Cycling NewsRAB 2011Stijn Devolderhttp://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6444/Vacansoleil-signing-Stijn-Devolder-Im-going-for-a-third-Tour-of-Flanders.aspx Jered Gruber Vacansoleil signing Stijn Devolder: "I'm going for a third Tour of Flanders" 22 November 2010 9 December 2011 VeloNationVAC 2011Kurt Hovelijnckhttps://www.cyclingnews.com/news/hulsmans-joins-donckers-koffie-jelly-belly Hulsmans joins Donckers Koffie–Jelly Belly 18 November 2010 9 December 2011 Cycling NewsDonckers Koffie–Jelly BellyKevin HulsmansDonckers Koffie–Jelly BellyThomas Kvisthttp://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6303/QuickSteps-Thomas-Vedel-Kvist-returning-home-to-race-in-Denmark-in-2011.aspx Jered Gruber QuickStep's Thomas Vedel Kvist returning home to race in Denmark in 2011 9 November 2010 9 December 2011 VeloNationGlud & MarstrandBranislau SamoilauBarry Ryan https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/konovalovas-and-samoilau-sign-with-movistar Konovalovas and Samoilau sign with Movistar 8 September 2010 9 December 2011 Cycling NewsMOV 2011Matteo Tosattohttps://www.cyclingnews.com/news/tosatto-to-saxo-bank-sungard-for-one-year Tosatto to Saxo Bank-Sungard for one year 22 November 2010 9 December 2011 Cycling NewsSBS 2011Jurgen Van de WalleBarry Ryan https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/van-de-walle-moves-to-omega-pharma-lotto Van de Walle moves to Omega Pharma–Lotto 6 August 2010 9 December 2011 Cycling NewsOLO 2011Marco Velohttp://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6022/Marco-Velo-to-retire-after-Giro-del-Lombardia.aspx Ben Atkins Marco Velo to retire after Giro del Lombardia 14 October 2010 9 December 2011 VeloNationRetiredWouter WeylandtStephen Farrand https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/luxembourg-pro-cycling-team-names-classics-riders Luxembourg Pro Cycling Team names classics riders 25 October 2010 9 December 2011 Cycling NewsLEO 2011Maarten WynantsRAB 2011 One-day races Spring classics Steegmans won Nokere Koerse in March, from a field sprint. Quick Step had also featured in the day's primary breakaway, with Van Keirsbulck part of the leading group on the road for all but the last 20 km on.https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/nokere-koerse-1-1/results Steegmans wins Nokere-Koerse 2011-03-16 Cycling News 2011-03-17 Going into the Belgian classics, Quick Step was last in the UCI World Tour standings, having not yet scored a single point. Team manager Lefevere said that it was too early to judge the team's season, and suggested they should be reassessed after Liège–Bastogne–Liège.Daniel Benson https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/lefevere-says-its-too-early-to-judge-quick-step Lefevere says it's "too early to judge" Quick Step 2011-03-22 Cycling News 2011-03-29 Gent–Wevelgem was the first UCI World Tour race of the season held in Belgium. Chavanel figured into a four-man breakaway that took shape near the end of the race; so near, in fact, that team leader Boonen had begun to ride with the intention of leaving the chase group behind, so that Chavanel could conceivably ride for victory. Boonen had had mechanical trouble earlier in the race, but thanks to the efforts of Van Impe, he was able to chase back on. Despite Boonen's intentions of hindering the chase, the break was caught, with SKY 2011's Ian Stannard the last man brought back. Steegmans began performing a leadout when Stannard was caught, and Boonen reacted essentially on instinct to sprint for the win. He came first, ahead of Daniele Bennati and Tyler Farrar, a result which surprised him given that he has not targeted Gent–Wevelgem in recent seasons.Barry Ryan https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/boonen-surprised-by-gent-wevelgem-victory Boonen surprised by Gent–Wevelgem victory 2011-03-27 Cycling News 2011-03-29https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gent-wevelgem-upt/results Boonen sprints to victory 2011-03-27 Cycling News 2011-03-29 The result moved Quick Step from 18th (last) place up to 14th in the UCI standings.https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/goss-and-htc-highroad-top-latest-worldtour-rankings Goss and HTC–Highroad top latest WorldTour rankings 2011-03-29 Cycling News 2011-03-29 Boonen was frequently mentioned as a favorite at the monument classic the Tour of Flanders.https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-flanders-upt/preview Cancellara the man to beat at Tour of Flanders 2011-04-03 Cycling News 2011-04-09James Startt http://www.bicycling.com/news/pro-cycling/tour-flanders-favorites-cancellara-and-boonen-set-epic-duel Tour of Flanders Favorites Cancellara and Boonen Set for Epic Duel 2011-04-03 Bicycling.com Rodale, Inc. 2011-04-09 https://web.archive.org/web/20110404124241/http://bicycling.com/news/pro-cycling/tour-flanders-favorites-cancellara-and-boonen-set-epic-duel 2011-04-04 deadJohn Wilcockson http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/04/news/tour-of-flanders-can-fabian-cancellara-do-what-eddy-merckx-couldn%E2%80%99t_166475 Tour of Flanders: Can Fabian Cancellara do what Eddy Merckx couldn’t? 2011-04-02 VeloNews 2011-04-09 2011-04-05 https://web.archive.org/web/20110405170148/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/04/news/tour-of-flanders-can-fabian-cancellara-do-what-eddy-merckx-couldn%E2%80%99t_166475 dead Boonen neutralized a move by BMC 2011's Greg Van Avermaet early in the race and later put in an attack of his own, but found himself marked as well. He and Filippo Pozzato tried to follow Fabian Cancellara's accelerations on the Leberg, the day's fourteenth cobbled climb, but soon found themselves gapped off. A short while beforehand, teammate Chavanel had attacked and gotten clear of the main field, bridging up to the leaders on the road. This left him in effective position for the remainder of the race to stay with Cancellara and other favorites, since he did not have as far to go to mark their attacks. He was able to stay with the front of the race when Cancellara, Philippe Gilbert, Alessandro Ballan, and Bjorn Leukemans formed the day's final selection. Boonen and a handful of others chased back on after a while. Cancellara put in a second acceleration on the Bosberg, the eighteenth and final cobbled climb on the day's profile, and only Chavanel and Nick Nuyens could follow. Chavanel tried his luck in the three-man sprint for victory, but lost out to Nuyens at the finish, taking second place. Post-race analysis praised Chavanel for effectively anticipating the hyper-aggressive finale with his own attack on the Molenberg, though Chavanel himself remarked after the race ended that he perhaps should have worked for Boonen in the finale since Boonen is by far the better sprinter. Boonen finished the race fourth, two seconds behind the leading trio.Brecht Decaluwé https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-flanders-upt/results Nuyens makes his big break through 2011-04-03 Cycling News 2011-04-09https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/winners-and-losers-from-the-tour-of-flanders Winners and losers from the Tour of Flanders 2011-04-04 Cycling News 2011-04-09 Boonen and Chavanel both drew mention as favorites at the third monument, Paris–Roubaix.https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/paris-roubaix-2011-the-top-contenders Paris-Roubaix 2011: the top contenders 2011-04-08 Cycling News 2011-04-11 Both, however, had difficult rides, suffering repeated crashes. Boonen had his chain slip and get stuck between the frame and crankset of his bicycle, a problem which required a full bike change. He had to wait for several minutes for his team car to arrive and assist him. He was nearly able to chase back on to the group of favorites when his water bottle fell from its position on his bicycle and became stuck between his back wheel and frame. At that point, he crashed with former teammate Maarten Wynants and landed on his knees, sustaining such an injury that he was unable to continue in the race. Boonen remarked after the race that he had never before so much as flatted in Paris–Roubaix, and had only fallen from his bicycle on two occasions. Chavanel, for his part, flatted twice, both at moments when his group was racing at a high speed, meaning it was hard for him to chase back on. He finished the race a distant 38th, nearly five minutes down on the winner. Sporting director Wilfried Peeters said after the race that he had never seen such bad luck.Daniel Benson https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/quick-step-left-empty-handed-after-paris-roubaix Quick Step left empty handed after Paris–Roubaix 2011-04-10 Cycling News 2011-04-12 The team also sent squads to the Trofeo Cala Millor, Trofeo Inca, the Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne, Milan–San Remo, E3 Prijs Vlaanderen – Harelbeke, the Amstel Gold Race, La Flèche Wallonne, and Liège–Bastogne–Liège, but placed no higher than 11th in any of these races. Fall races The team also sent squads to the GP Ouest-France, the Memorial Rik Van Steenbergen, Paris–Brussels, the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal, the Grand Prix de Wallonie, the Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen, Binche–Tournai–Binche, Paris–Tours and the Giro di Lombardia, but finished no higher than 11th in any of these races. Stage races Just as in the last several years, Boonen opened his season at the Tour of Qatar.Conal Andrews http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6875/Boonen-opts-for-Qatar-and-Oman-over-Santos-Tour-Down-Under.aspx Boonen opts for Qatar and Oman over Santos Tour Down Under 2010-12-27 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 2011-02-13 He was immediately effective, winning the first road race stage ahead of perennial Qatar rival Heinrich Haussler. It was his 18th career Tour of Qatar stage win, and thanks to a solid prologue time trial, Boonen took the overall race leadership.https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-qatar-2-1-1/stage-1/results Boonen storms to victory in Al Khor Corniche 2011-02-07 Cycling News 2011-02-13 In stage 3, Boonen flatted at a critical moment when the peloton was at its top speed and lost three minutes to stage winner Huassler, losing any chance to win the race for a fourth time.Barry Ryan https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-qatar-2-1-1/stage-3/results Haussler wins again and takes overall lead 2011-02-09 Cycling News 2011-02-13 Boonen contested the sprint to stage 4, finishing third,Barry Ryan https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-qatar-2-1-1/stage-4/results Renshaw wins in Al Kharaitiyat 2011-02-10 Cycling News 2011-02-13 but he did not figure into the Tour's final stage, ceding a minute and 30 seconds to the leading group to finish 14th overall. Maes won the Tour's youth classification by over three minutes ahead of that classification's defending champion Roger Kluge.Barry Ryan https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-qatar-2-1-1/stage-5/results Guardini wins in Doha Corniche as Renshaw takes overall 2011-02-11 Cycling News 2011-02-13 At Tirreno–Adriatico, second-year pro Malacarne figured into an all-day breakaway in stage 5. While he and Andrey Amador rode the stage's final kilometers in an unstrategic fashion, allowing the chase pack to catch them, Stephen Farrand http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/46th-tirreno-adriatico-his/stage-5/results Gilbert snatches victory in Castelraimondo 2011-03-13 Cycling News 2011-03-16 https://web.archive.org/web/20110316051334/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/46th-tirreno-adriatico-his/stage-5/results 2011-03-16 dead Malacarne's efforts did not go unrewarded. He took the majority of the climbing points on offer for the day, and held the jersey through the race's conclusion two days later.Stephen Farrand http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/46th-tirreno-adriatico-his/stage-7/results Cancellara crushes final Tirreno stage 2011-03-15 Cycling News 2011-03-16 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110318172554/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/46th-tirreno-adriatico-his/stage-7/results 2011-03-18 Highly touted mid-year acquisition and world cyclo-cross champion Štybar had his first race with the team at the Four Days of Dunkirk. Despite very limited road experience, Štybar showed quite well, coming third on the race's hardest stagehttps://www.cyclingnews.com/races/4-jours-de-dunkerque-tour-du-nord-pas-de-calais-2-hc-1/stage-4/results Voeckler victorious in Cassel 2011-05-07 Cycling News 2011-05-11 and finishing in that same position on the final podium.https://www.cyclingnews.com/races/4-jours-de-dunkerque-tour-du-nord-pas-de-calais-2-hc-1/stage-5/results Kittel makes it four from five 2011-05-08 Cycling News 2011-05-11 Štybar said he was pleasantly surprised by the result, since he expected to suffer badly in the queen stage which had 2600 m on of vertical climbing.https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/stybar-very-happy-with-top-finish-in-first-road-race-for-quick-step Stybar very happy with top finish in first road race for Quick Step 2011-05-09 Cycling News 2011-05-11 The team also sent squads to the Tour Down Under, the Tour of Oman, Volta ao Algarve, Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen, Paris–Nice, Volta a Catalunya, the Three Days of De Panne, the Tour of the Basque Country, the Tour de Romandie, the Tour de Picardie, the Tour of Belgium, the Critérium du Dauphiné, the Tour de Suisse, the Tour de Wallonie, the Tour de Pologne, the Eneco Tour, the Tour de Wallonie-Picarde and the Tour of Beijing, but did not achieve a stage win, classification win, or podium finish in any of them. Grand Tours Giro d'Italia Tour de France Vuelta a España Season victories Date Race Competition Rider Country Location February 7 Tour of Qatar, Stage 1 UCI Asia TourTom Boonen BEL Al Khor Corniche February 11 Tour of Qatar, Young rider classification UCI Asia TourNikolas Maes BEL March 15 Tirreno–Adriatico, Mountains classification UCI World TourDavide Malacarne ITA Italy March 16 Nokere Koerse UCI Europe TourGert Steegmans BEL Belgium Nokere March 27 Gent–Wevelgem UCI World Tour Tom Boonen BEL Belgium Wevelgem May 29 Giro d'Italia, Fair Play Teams classification UCI World Tour Six-way tie with AND 2011, THR 2011, LIQ 2011, BMC 2011, and COG 2011 Italy September 4 Grote Prijs Jef Scherens UCI Europe TourJérôme Pineau FRA Belgium Leuven September 21 Omloop van het Houtland UCI Europe TourGuillaume Van Keirsbulck BEL Belgium Lichtervelde Footnotes N References 30em Category:2011 road cycling season by team 2011 Category:2011 in Belgian sport