at the dinner table at night. It’s like a big family.”

He popped for a win in his rookie season, in 2011, at the Omloop van het Houtland at the ripe age of 20. In 2012 and 2013, he rode full seasons sprinkled with top 10s, including four second-place results.

A strong motor, Van Keirsbulck is often part of Omega Pharma’s team time trial successes, and made his grand tour debut in 2013, finishing the Vuelta a España in 125th.

Things are clicking into gear this year. In early March, he won a stage and finished second overall at the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen.

He knows the pressure is building for a breakout ride, but that’s easier said than done on a team so deep with ambitious, talented riders, all elbowing their wayBlanton's trial, recommended denial of habeas relief on all grounds. The state habeas court concluded that Blanton had not established that his trial or appellate counsel performed deficiently, nor had he established that he was prejudiced as a result of his representation at trial or on direct appeal. The CCA denied Blanton's habeas application in an unpublished order adopting the habeas trial court's recommendation, findings of fact, and conclusions of law. See Ex Parte Blanton, WR-61,443-01 (Tex. Crim.App. June 22, 2005).
Blanton then filed a federal habeas petition. He raised twenty claims, including ineffective assistance of trial and appellate counsel, but not a Batson claim. In a thorough and well-reasoned opinion, the district court denied habeas relief on all grounds. See Blanton v. Quarterman, 489 F.Supp.2d. 621 (W.D.Tex.2007). However,