The 2013 classics campaign has not been fruitful for the U.S.-based squad

Matthew Goss aims for early pink jersey at the the Giro; Nuyens returns to racing; Giro looks to a German start

Vanendert learning to race at the front; Nuyens out of Turkey; Rabo protects six in Ardennes; Kroon gunning for Amstel Gold

Saxo Bank rider ruled out of Flanders with hip fracture

New Saxo rider says defending champ's absence will make victory difficult

Defending RVV champ to take two weeks off the bike after Paris-Nice crash

When push came to shove — and the racing came down to an onslaught of fierce attacking and counterattacking — Nick Nuyens found himself in contention at the 2011 Tour of Flanders.

• 1. Nick NUYENS, (BEL) SaxoBank-Sungard, at 4:39:57
• 2. Geraint THOMAS, (GBR) Team Sky, at 0
• 3. Tyler FARRAR, (USA) Garmin-Cervelo, at 1
• 4. Mathew HAYMAN, (AUS) Team Sky, at 1
• 5. Marco MARCATO, (ITA) Vacansoleil-DCM, at 1

Nick Nuyens is hoping that Bjarne Riis’s magic touch will work wonders on his moribund career with a switch to Saxo Bank in a two-year deal.

Nick Nuyens (Rabobank) has won some important races in his career, including tomorrow’s Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, but he’s not quite broken through to the big-time in the major spring classics.