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Don Alejandro
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Posted on 24-11-2024 00:56
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| Halvor |
Posted on 03-01-2009 15:13
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Sprinter
Posts: 1951
Joined: 18-09-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Rojas for the sprints? Have he reached 79/80SP yet? Good luck, good team there  |
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| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 04-01-2009 09:00
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4790
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The team
I come in to the race in fairly good condition and should hit my peak fitness in around a week or so. The first week will be about limiting any losses and staying alert for a chance to take a little time on my rivals.
Stage 1
I have a new bike and a new jersey and as the race begins there are butterflies aplenty in my stomach.
The French teams are eager to make a showing and under the grey Brittany sky four get away - Nazon, Hushovd, Geslin and Verbrugghe. They work well, but after their lead climbs above 10 minutes the pack starts to work.
Astana and CSC increase the pace at first.
Then Gerolsteiner and Euskaltel move up. The break is doomed.
There is a touch of wheels in the pack and a crash as the peloton speeds its way into the final 50k. Barredo and Garate both go down and Quickstep send most of the team back to help them get back on. They have no chance at these speeds though - and I know that that is all it takes for my Tour dreams to be destroyed.
I am not as strong as I would like to be today and inside the final 5k I am struggling for position. Rojas is ahead on Andy Schleck's wheel.
Inside the final kilometer I am giving it my all. On the left Hincapie looks to have given Kirchen a great lead out, and Andy Schleck is trying to come around his lead out man, Kroon. Rojas is trying to move up too.
Just 300m to go and with the road flattening out Shleck is not able to come through and Kirchen cannot come around Hincapie. Rojas is still trying to battle his way to the front past Kroon. I am gaining on all of them, but I think it is too late.
Kroon is dying and Rojas close to the limit is in front and heading to the yellow jersey, unless I pass him.
I don't - because I cannot - and our young sprinter has taken Stage 1.
No-one is more surprised than him, I can tell you....It is wonderful for him - he has a stage and gets to wear the yellow. I cannot say that I am not a little bit jealous, though.
Stage 1 and Overall
1 José JoaquÃn Rojas Caisse d'Epargne 4h29'46
2 Alejandro Valverde Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
3 Johan Vansummeren Silence - Lotto s.t.
4 Raúl Alarcón Scott - American Beef s.t.
5 Maarten Tjallingii Silence - Lotto s.t.
6 Philippe Gilbert Française des Jeux s.t.
7 Karsten Kroon Team CSC - Saxo Bank s.t.
8 Jesús Del Nero Scott - American Beef s.t.
9 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
10 Andy Schleck Team CSC - Saxo Bank s.t.
11 Juan José Cobo Scott - American Beef s.t.
12 David De la Fuente Scott - American Beef s.t.
13 Bernhard Eisel Team Columbia s.t.
14 George Hincapie Team Columbia s.t.
15 Mario Aerts Silence - Lotto s.t.
16 Beñat Intxausti Scott - American Beef s.t.
17 André Greipel Team Columbia s.t.
18 Kim Kirchen Team Columbia s.t.
19 Enrico Gasparotto Barloworld s.t.
20 Chris Horner Astana Cycling Team s.t.
182 Giovanni Visconti Quick·Step + 5'25
191 Carlos Barredo Quick·Step s.t.
192 Juan Manuel Gárate Quick·Step s.t.
Points
1 José JoaquÃn Rojas Caisse d'Epargne 35
2 Alejandro Valverde Caisse d'Epargne 30
3 Johan Vansummeren Silence - Lotto 26
KOM
1 Anthony Geslin Bouygues Télécom 7
2 Thor Hushovd Crédit Agricole 6
3 Rik Verbrugghe Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone 5
The leader of the Tour de France and stage winner.
Alejandro
A strange finish - the guys up front just collapsed - Valverde came flying thru and would've won with another 100m. Rojas had a tiny bit of yellow left over the line and no red. I thought the level might have someone been reset back to normal - but no - when I checked after it was still hard...And I suppose, others came thru as well - just not as quickly as the Don. |
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| Halvor |
Posted on 04-01-2009 10:07
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Sprinter
Posts: 1951
Joined: 18-09-2007
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NICE WIN!
Super great! But do not try to hold the jersey or sprint with Valverde in the flat stages  Then his recovery will be better when he need it. |
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| G_Larsson |
Posted on 04-01-2009 11:18
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Sprinter
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Joined: 25-03-2007
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Nice win with Rojas!
Team Manager of Team IKEA-Bianchi
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| olabj |
Posted on 04-01-2009 11:32
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1105
Joined: 17-09-2008
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WTF happened with C.A sending Hushovd in the break?
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 04-01-2009 12:10
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World Champion
Posts: 13915
Joined: 05-08-2008
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WOOHOO! (that's so Maggot) Why didn't you let Valverde win?
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| Gustavovskiy |
Posted on 04-01-2009 12:40
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Team Leader
Posts: 6036
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awesome win
This Tour starts in a good way!
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| Wiggo |
Posted on 04-01-2009 12:42
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3212
Joined: 07-06-2008
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alexkr00 wrote:
WOOHOO! (that's so Maggot)
OMG! I'M KNOWN FOR SOMETHING! |
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| Halvor |
Posted on 04-01-2009 12:51
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Sprinter
Posts: 1951
Joined: 18-09-2007
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And you're extreme childish.. |
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| Wiggo |
Posted on 04-01-2009 12:52
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3212
Joined: 07-06-2008
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I know you are but what am I?
I'm 12, of course I'm childish.
Edited by Wiggo on 04-01-2009 12:55
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| Halvor |
Posted on 04-01-2009 12:54
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Sprinter
Posts: 1951
Joined: 18-09-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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I'm too, but not that much as you . Let's stop spam this good story |
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| Wiggo |
Posted on 04-01-2009 12:56
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3212
Joined: 07-06-2008
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OK. |
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| chrica04 |
Posted on 04-01-2009 15:05
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 853
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Great job by Rojas!
I'd do what Discovery did, and just let the other teams take it now, or let a break get up the road so you don't have to waste your team !!! |
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| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 07-01-2009 07:58
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4790
Joined: 06-12-2006
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Stage 2
A fairly flat stage with a finish probably just difficult enough to discount some of the big sprinting guns.
We have decided that we will defend Rojas's Maillot Jaune for today and so keep the break on a tight leash.
The escapees have a lead of around six minutes when others move up to the front and relieve us.
The break is doomed and as the road twists, turns and undulates into the finish, the high speed of the peloton makes a crash very likely. I am careful to stay as close to the front as possible. Both Cadel Evans and Dennis Menchov are invloved in this crash.
Rojas is in amongst it again today and contests the sprint. His top 10 position means that he will have another day in the leader's jersey.
Evans, Menchov, and Sanchez all lost time today - but it could have been much worse for them. We will watch closely over the next few days to see if they have picked up any kind of injury.
Stage 2 Result
1 Marcus Burghardt Team Columbia 3h43'47
2 Niki Terpstra Team Milram s.t.
3 Baden Cooke Barloworld s.t.
4 Sebastian Langeveld Rabobank s.t.
5 George Hincapie Team Columbia s.t.
6 Leif Hoste Silence - Lotto s.t.
7 José JoaquÃn Rojas Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
8 Carlo Scognamiglio Barloworld s.t.
9 David Lelay Agritubel s.t.
10 Aurélien Passeron Scott - American Beef s.t.
70 Alejandro Valverde Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
133 Kim Kirchen Team Columbia + 1'56
136 Cadel Evans Silence - Lotto s.t.
151 Denis Menchov Rabobank s.t.
169 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
173 Robert Gesink Rabobank + 3'20
Overall After Stage 2
1 José JoaquÃn Rojas Caisse d'Epargne 8h13'33
2 George Hincapie Team Columbia s.t.
3 Leif Hoste Silence - Lotto s.t.
4 Maarten Tjallingii Silence - Lotto s.t.
5 Enrico Gasparotto Barloworld s.t.
6 Philippe Gilbert Française des Jeux s.t.
7 Carlo Scognamiglio Barloworld s.t.
8 Aurélien Passeron Scott - American Beef s.t.
9 Jesús Del Nero Scott - American Beef s.t.
10 Johan Vansummeren Silence - Lotto s.t.
Points
1 José JoaquÃn Rojas Caisse d'Epargne 19 54
2 Marcus Burghardt Team Columbia 35 35
3 George Hincapie Team Columbia 22 34
4 Alejandro Valverde Caisse d'Epargne 0 30
5 Niki Terpstra Team Milram 30 30
KOM
1 Jérôme Pineau Bouygues Télécom 13 13
2 Anthony Geslin Bouygues Télécom 0 7
3 Thor Hushovd Crédit Agricole 0 6
------------------
Stage 3
The first stage of the race that really suits a pure sprinter. We would like to keep the jersey one more day though, and the easiest way to do it we think is put a man in the break.
We manage to get Giro hero Gutierrez up the road and are well pleased that it will be other teams who do the chasing today. The break's lead peaks at around twelve minutes, but it's clear that the sprinters teams are not going to let this one go.
The roads are wider and safer today, but nevertheless I am once again careful to stay up front. There are no crashes today and as just about everyone expected the stage comes down to a sprint.
Rojas is in a fairly good position on Steegmans wheel.
It is the wrong wheel though, and Oscar Freire sneaks past Baden Cooke in the final 50m to take a fine stage win. The last couple of days it would seem have left Steegmans, McEwen, Bennati and Cavendish a little fatigued.
Stage 3 Results
1 Óscar Freire Rabobank 4h40'48
2 Baden Cooke Barloworld s.t.
3 Robbie McEwen Silence - Lotto s.t.
4 Jean-Patrick Nazon AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
5 Daniele Bennati Liquigas s.t.
6 Sebastian Langeveld Rabobank s.t.
7 Marco Velo Team Milram s.t.
8 Mark Cavendish Team Columbia s.t.
9 José JoaquÃn Rojas Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
10 Luciano Pagliarini Scott - American Beef s.t.
52 Alejandro Valverde Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
Overall After Stage 3
1 José JoaquÃn Rojas Caisse d'Epargne 12h54'21
2 Baden Cooke Barloworld s.t.
3 Johan Vansummeren Silence - Lotto s.t.
4 Enrico Gasparotto Barloworld s.t.
5 Carlo Scognamiglio Barloworld s.t.
6 Steven Cummings Barloworld s.t.
7 Sébastien Chavanel Française des Jeux s.t.
8 Philippe Gilbert Française des Jeux s.t.
9 Maarten Tjallingii Silence - Lotto s.t.
10 Mark Cavendish Team Columbia s.t.
20 Alejandro Valverde Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
Points
1 José JoaquÃn Rojas Caisse d'Epargne 17 71
2 Baden Cooke Barloworld 30 56
3 Óscar Freire Rabobank 35 49
4 Sebastian Langeveld Rabobank 20 44
5 Johan Vansummeren Silence - Lotto 13 39
KOM
1 Jérôme Pineau Bouygues Télécom 0 13
2 Anthony Geslin Bouygues Télécom 0 7
3 Thor Hushovd Crédit Agricole 0 6
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Stage 4
And so to day four and what perhaps will be the first decisive action of this race in terms of the overall.
Gutierrez goes early and manages to set the fastest time of the day. It is unlikely to survive though.
The time falls to Astarloza, who lost time a few days ago in the crash. It seems that he has not been injured. Sammy Sanchez too has perhaps come thru' unscathed and he too betters Gutierrez's time.
Their times stand until Karpets lowers the best time again.
Menchov cannot force his way into the top 3 when his turn comes. Perhaps he is still feeling the effects of the crash? One thing is for certain, and that is Cadel Evans was not hurt in the crash. He blitzes the course, is fastest at every check and knocks almost a minute off Karpets time.
He may have been fast, but not even his time is good enough to withstand a supercharged Andreas Kloden. He is fastest at every check and even sweeps past team-mate Jani Brajkovic in the final 1000m to record the new best time.
When not even World Champion Fabian Cancellara can beat the time it's evident that today will belong to the German.
As for me, I have the advantage of going after all of my rivals and know what I have to do. What can I say though? Today was not my day - I did not feel good right from the moment I got out of bed and my legs were heavy on the pedals all day. I had a day against the clock I would like to forget....
Rojas also kissed goodbye to the yellow jersey, but at least now he will get to put on the green jersey tommorrow...
Stage 4 Results
1 Andreas Klöden Astana Cycling Team 36'06
2 Fabian Cancellara Team CSC - Saxo Bank + 2
3 Cadel Evans Silence - Lotto + 8
4 Laszló Bodrogi Crédit Agricole + 32
5 Alberto Contador Astana Cycling Team + 39
6 David Zabriskie Garmin - Chipotle powered by H30 + 42
7 Michael Rogers Team Columbia + 46
8 David Millar Garmin - Chipotle powered by H30 + 54
9 Kim Kirchen Team Columbia + 55
10 Vincenzo Nibali Liquigas + 1'01
12 Levi Leipheimer Astana Cycling Team s.t.
13 Vladimir Karpets Caisse d'Epargne + 1'06
19 Óscar Pereiro Caisse d'Epargne + 1'22
22 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi + 1'25
24 Denis Menchov Rabobank + 1'30
27 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne + 1'35
31 Stijn Devolder Quick·Step + 1'42
40 Carlos Sastre Team CSC - Saxo Bank + 1'55
42 Bernhard Kohl Gerolsteiner + 1'58
50 Andy Schleck Team CSC - Saxo Bank + 2'08
73 Alejandro Valverde Caisse d'Epargne + 2'24
123 Fränk Schleck Team CSC - Saxo Bank + 3'02
168 José JoaquÃn Rojas Caisse d'Epargne + 3'29
Overall After Stage 4
1 Andreas Klöden Astana Cycling Team 13h30'27
2 Fabian Cancellara Team CSC - Saxo Bank + 2
3 Laszló Bodrogi Crédit Agricole + 32
4 Alberto Contador Astana Cycling Team + 39
5 David Zabriskie Garmin - Chipotle powered by H30 + 42
6 Michael Rogers Team Columbia + 46
7 David Millar Garmin - Chipotle powered by H30 + 54
8 Vincenzo Nibali Liquigas + 1'01
9 Levi Leipheimer Astana Cycling Team + 1'05
10 Maxime Monfort Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone s.t.
14 Óscar Pereiro Caisse d'Epargne + 1'22
27 Carlos Sastre Team CSC - Saxo Bank + 1'55
33 Cadel Evans Silence - Lotto + 2'04
36 Andy Schleck Team CSC - Saxo Bank + 2'08
48 Alejandro Valverde Caisse d'Epargne + 2'24
105 Denis Menchov Rabobank + 3'26
Points
1 José JoaquÃn Rojas Caisse d'Epargne 0 71
2 Baden Cooke Barloworld 0 56
3 Óscar Freire Rabobank 0 49
4 Sebastian Langeveld Rabobank 0 44
5 Johan Vansummeren Silence - Lotto 0 39
KOM
1 Jérôme Pineau Bouygues Télécom 0 13
2 Anthony Geslin Bouygues Télécom 0 7
3 Thor Hushovd Crédit Agricole 0 6
Alejandro |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 07-01-2009 17:01
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World Champion
Posts: 13915
Joined: 05-08-2008
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Burghardt won
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| fenian_1234 |
Posted on 10-01-2009 10:15
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4790
Joined: 06-12-2006
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Stage 5
Played this stage a day or two ago. I'm not sure what happened - but I have no screenshots.
Anyway, the stage finished in the first good sprint of the race. McEwen got a great lead-out, but Bennati was just that little bit too quick for the Aussie today.
Rojas tried to contest, but he didn't have the legs today and was very easily beaten. He only managed 31st and loses the green jersey.
Alejandro had a quiet day and came home safely. The day's big loser was Stijn Devolder who punctured inside the last 40k and ended up losing nearly 3 minutes.
Stage 5 Result
1 Daniele Bennati Liquigas 5h00'31
2 Robbie McEwen Silence - Lotto s.t.
3 Gert Steegmans Quick·Step s.t.
4 Luciano Pagliarini Scott - American Beef s.t.
5 Óscar Freire Rabobank s.t.
6 Erik Zabel Team Milram s.t.
7 Mark Cavendish Team Columbia s.t.
8 Greg Van Avermaet Silence - Lotto s.t.
9 Baden Cooke Barloworld s.t.
10 Jean-Patrick Nazon AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
31 José JoaquÃn Rojas Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
70 Alejandro Valverde Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
171 Stijn Devolder Quick·Step + 2'52
Overall After Stage 5
1 Andreas Klöden Astana Cycling Team 18h30'58
2 Fabian Cancellara Team CSC - Saxo Bank + 2
3 Laszló Bodrogi Crédit Agricole + 32
4 Alberto Contador Astana Cycling Team + 39
5 David Zabriskie Garmin - Chipotle powered by H30 + 42
6 Michael Rogers Team Columbia + 46
7 David Millar Garmin - Chipotle powered by H30 + 54
8 Vincenzo Nibali Liquigas + 1'01
9 Maxime Monfort Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone + 1'05
10 Levi Leipheimer Astana Cycling Team s.t.
13 Óscar Pereiro Caisse d'Epargne + 1'22
26 Carlos Sastre Team CSC - Saxo Bank + 1'55
32 Cadel Evans Silence - Lotto + 2'04
35 Andy Schleck Team CSC - Saxo Bank + 2'08
46 Alejandro Valverde Caisse d'Epargne + 2'24
96 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi + 3'21
100 Denis Menchov Rabobank + 3'26
Points
1 Baden Cooke Barloworld 17 73
2 Óscar Freire Rabobank 22 71
3 José JoaquÃn Rojas Caisse d'Epargne 0 71
KOM
1 Jérôme Pineau Bouygues Télécom 0 13
2 Anthony Geslin Bouygues Télécom 0 7
3 Thor Hushovd Crédit Agricole 0 6
---------------------------------------------------
Stage 6
Today will not be decisive, but the profile is perfect for me. My goal is to take the stage win, and if I pick up some time on the General Classification then I will be very happy.
There are attacks a plenty in the opening kilometers and Rojas successfully manages to sneak away. Strangely though, he is easily outsprinted at the first intermediate sprint by some non-sprinters and fails to take the points needed to retake the green jersey.
He drops back into the pack and as this is a day I want the stage win, we lend Astana a helping hand in doing the donkey work.
Frank Shleck, the rider I most fear today, launches a senseless attack with just under a 100k to go. Devolder goes with him and a number of teams end up collaborating to keep him in range.
I feel good on the climbs today and over the Col de La Croix Morand, Shleck is alone out front with about a minute's lead. There are just under 30k to go.
He is brought back on the final climb up to the finish. Astana it is mainly who set the pace and it is high enough to discourage any attacks. I am in the perfect position to mark any attacks as we move towards the finish.
It seems the others are waiting for me - so as we move into the final 2k, I decide to throw down the gauntlet...
Today is my day, and with Schleck having got his tactics all wrong, there is no-one else in the world who can match me in a finish like this.
I have a first stage win in the Tour and a lot of the bad feelings I have after the TT are gone. I can ride now with less pressure and whatever will be, will be...
Stage 6 Results
1 Alejandro Valverde Caisse d'Epargne 4h45'10
2 Juan Manuel Gárate Quick·Step + 15
3 José Angel Gómez Marchante Scott - American Beef s.t.
4 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
5 Vladimir Efimkin AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
6 Sandy Casar Française des Jeux s.t.
7 Michael Rogers Team Columbia s.t.
8 Tom Danielson Garmin - Chipotle powered by H30 s.t.
9 Juan José Cobo Scott - American Beef s.t.
10 Egoi MartÃnez Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
Overall after Stage 6
1 Andreas Klöden Astana Cycling Team 23h16'23
2 Fabian Cancellara Team CSC - Saxo Bank + 2
3 Alberto Contador Astana Cycling Team + 39
4 David Zabriskie Garmin - Chipotle powered by H30 + 42
5 Michael Rogers Team Columbia + 46
6 David Millar Garmin - Chipotle powered by H30 + 54
7 Vincenzo Nibali Liquigas + 1'01
8 Levi Leipheimer Astana Cycling Team + 1'05
9 Maxime Monfort Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone s.t.
10 Tom Danielson Garmin - Chipotle powered by H30 + 1'21
12 Óscar Pereiro Caisse d'Epargne + 1'22
32 Alejandro Valverde Caisse d'Epargne + 2'09
Points
1 Baden Cooke Barloworld 0 73
2 Óscar Freire Rabobank 0 71
3 José JoaquÃn Rojas Caisse d'Epargne 0 71
4 Robbie McEwen Silence - Lotto 0 60
5 Daniele Bennati Liquigas 0 57
KOM
1 Vladimir Efimkin AG2R La Mondiale 22 22
2 Jérôme Pineau Bouygues Télécom 7 20
3 Alejandro Valverde Caisse d'Epargne 20 20
Until next time
Alejandro |
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| Gutierrez |
Posted on 10-01-2009 12:25
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Stagiare
Posts: 246
Joined: 05-10-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Good stage win
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| G_Larsson |
Posted on 10-01-2009 12:33
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Sprinter
Posts: 1779
Joined: 25-03-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Nice win!  Looking forward to the rest of TdF
Team Manager of Team IKEA-Bianchi
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Media Room
You'll Never Walk Alone |
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| baia |
Posted on 10-01-2009 12:47
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 5398
Joined: 04-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Nice win fenian. |
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| Halvor |
Posted on 10-01-2009 13:58
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Sprinter
Posts: 1951
Joined: 18-09-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Very nice performance |
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