This month we have met Jakob Fuglsang (RadioShack - Nissan) for a chat about the season so far and his expectations for the future.
Jakob, you have ridden 16 days this far, but we haven’t seen much of you in the finals
That’s right. I have mainly been used as a domestique for riders like Chris Horner. I had hoped to be able to go for my own chance, but I guess its logic. Chris is looking good and is one of the only Americans on this American team so the sponsors want him to be captain in every race.
What about the rest of the season?
As it is now I expect to race in the Ardennes and a GT. Probably either Le Tour or La Vuelta, but nothing is really decided yet – except that I can’t expect much captaincy this year with riders like the Schlecks, Gesink and Hesjedal on the team. And then I expect to ride the WC aiming for a good result for Denmark.
You don’t seem to pleased about being a Super-domestique…
I’m not. I believe I have the potential to lead a team in a Grand Tour, but Bruynell doesn’t think so and doesn’t really give me good conditions for developing into a stronger rider. My contract is ending this season, so I think I will be looking for a World Tour team, that will make me captain in a GT.
Could that team be the rising stars in Nordic Cyling Falcon – STARK
It could be a lot of teams. I’m not ruling anything out at the moment. If the management of Falcon – STARK approaches me when the transfer season opens I will surely hear what they have to say. The team seems to have a very good atmosphere between the riders in the peloton.
Thanks for your time. We hope to see more of you over the season.
Who should The Rear Wheel interview next month, and what should we ask him?
March in Cycling
Rider of the month:Thor Hushovd, Falcon – STARK. Victory in Paris – Nice and Gent – Wevelgem and a bunch of good secondary positions make this a well deserved award. Young rider of the month, February:Dmitry Mokrov, Itera - Katusha. Dmitry had some solid performances in the last part of Tour de Langkawi. Nordic rider of the month, February:Jesper Hansen, Falcon – STARK. Hushovd would have been the obvious choice, and Boasson Hagen have also done well, but Jesper Hansen is the Nordic rider who have surprised the most in the last month with KOM in T-A as well as GC-third and youth jersey in Catalunya.
World tour ranking:
1. Thor Hushovd, Falcon - STARK
2. Edvald Boasson Hagen, Sky
3. Tom Boonen, Rabobank
1. Falcon - STARK
2. Movistar
3. Rabobank 13. Saxo Bank – Tinkoff Bank
CQ-ranking:
1. Thor Hushovd, Falcon - STARK
2. Tom Boonen, Rabobank
3. Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre – ISD 21. Jesper Hansen, Falcon - STARK
68. Kjell Carlström, Falcon - STARK
185. Christofer Stevenson, Falcon - STARK
1. Falcon – STARK (WT)
2. Movistar (WT)
3. Rabobank (WT)
7. AG2R La Mondiale (CNT)
9. Accent Jobs – Willems Veranda’s (CNT) 30. Saxo Bank – Tinkoff Bank
50. Christina Watches – Onfone
66. Joker Merida
NA. Blue Water
NA. Concordia Forsikring
NA. Glud & Marstrand
NA. Svenska Cyklister
NA. Øster Hus
U23 races
The U23 season has begun with Grand Prix de Portugal. 21-year old Dane Brian Steen Matzen won all three stages and obviously the GC.
Reactions:
I’m very honoured to be named Rider of the Month. It was a big thing for me winning my first WT-stage race, but I have seen enough of Tommekes rear wheel to know he’s in great shape as well. And Edvald won a brilliant win in Milano – San Remo
- Thor Hushovd
We had a target of 400 pts, which should be sufficient to survive on the WT. Thanks to amazing performances by Hushovd we have already achieved that target! But you shouldn’t expect to still see us at the top of the ranking by the end of the season
- Allan Grønborg[/b]
Bjarne Riis: How do you feel about your team not being the best in Scandinavia at the moment?
I still think we have the best team. Falcon – STARK has more points than us right now, that is all. We’re lacking a bit in the cobbles after Nick left us, but I promise you that Contador and Taaramäe will take us right to the top before the season is over.
No doubt Boonen will be top-motivated for the biggest Cobble-classic in Belgium, but all the best cobblers are here and Tommeke will not get anything for free on this grey and rainy day.
A break with 11 riders with next to no cobble-skill get going early in the race, but is caught as soon as the peloton hit the cobbles. Bak is covering the subsequent breaks, but Accent Jobs keep pulling them in.
With 70 km to go RadioShack and Rabobank take over in leading the 32-rider peloton.
30 km to go and 19 riders left. 11 km and 15 riders left. But then Vansummeren crash taking five other riders with him leaving 9 riders in the battle.
With 5 km to go Ballan attacks and Boonen follows. Hushovd stays on Boonens wheel while Bak is working to keep up the speed to catch Ballan, But the Italian is just too strong today.
1. Alessandro Ballan, BMC Racing Team
2. Thor Hushovd, Falcon - STARK
3. Fabian Cancellara, RadioShack - Nissan 7. Lars Ytting Bak, Falcon - STARK
Spoiler
1
Alessandro Ballan
BMC Racing Team
6h31'44
2
Thor Hushovd
Falcon - STARK
s.t.
3
Fabian Cancellara
RadioShack - Nissan
s.t.
4
Tom Boonen
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Nick Nuyens
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 1'02
6
Juan Antonio Flecha
Sky Procycling
s.t.
7
Lars Ytting Bak
Falcon - STARK
s.t.
8
Johan Vansummeren
Garmin - Sharp
+ 2'41
9
Matti Breschel
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
10
Maarten Tjallingii
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
11
Björn Leukemans
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 4'45
12
Gert Steegmans
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
13
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
14
Yohan Offredo
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
15
Staf Scheirlinckx
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
16
Lars Boom
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
17
Martijn Maaskant
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
18
Sylvain Chavanel
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
19
Sebastian Langeveld
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 5'55
20
Leif Hoste
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
+ 6'57
21
Geraint Thomas
Sky Procycling
s.t.
22
Dries Devenyns
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
23
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky Procycling
+ 8'27
24
Luca Paolini
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
25
Sep Vanmarcke
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
26
Svein Tuft
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
27
Stijn Devolder
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
28
Bernhard Eisel
Astana Pro Team
+ 9'02
29
André Greipel
Lotto Belisol Team
s.t.
30
Stijn Joseph
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
31
Jens Erik Madsen
Falcon - STARK
+ 10'55
32
Wim De Vocht
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
33
Jan Bakelants
RadioShack - Nissan
+ 12'15
34
Marcus Burghardt
BMC Racing Team
+ 13'14
35
Allan Davis
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
36
Yauheni Hutarovich
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
37
Philippe Gilbert
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
38
Lloyd Mondory
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
39
Kristof Goddaert
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
40
Nikolas Maes
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
41
Heinrich Haussler
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
42
Tony Gallopin
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
43
Greg Van Avermaet
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
44
Maxim Iglinskiy
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
45
Andreas Klier
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
46
Mark Cavendish
Sky Procycling
s.t.
47
Manuel Quinziato
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
48
Fabio Sabatini
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
49
Jesse Sergent
RadioShack - Nissan
+ 14'26
50
Hayden Roulston
RadioShack - Nissan
s.t.
51
Jens Keukeleire
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 16'02
52
Jos Van Emden
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 16'53
53
Zdenek Stybar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
54
Óscar Freire
Katusha Team
+ 17'09
55
Bert De Backer
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
56
Johnny Hoogerland
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
57
Matteo Tosatto
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
s.t.
58
Gianni Meersman
Lotto Belisol Team
s.t.
59
Anthony Ravard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
60
Sergueï Ivanov
Katusha Team
s.t.
61
Gustav Erik Larsson
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
62
Thomas Degand
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
+ 17'56
63
Sibrecht Pieters
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
64
Sébastien Hinault
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 18'52
65
José Joaquín Rojas
Movistar Team
s.t.
66
Bert Grabsch
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
67
Gabriel Rasch
FDJ - BigMat
+ 21'41
68
Karsten Kroon
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
s.t.
69
Enrico Gasparotto
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
70
Kris Boeckmans
Lotto Belisol Team
s.t.
71
Murilo Fischer
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
72
Vincent Jérôme
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
73
Michael Schär
BMC Racing Team
+ 23'19
74
Borut Božic
Astana Pro Team
+ 23'34
75
Steven Caethoven
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
76
Paolo Longo Borghini
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
77
Kenny Dehaes
Lotto Belisol Team
s.t.
78
Matthew Goss
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 24'10
79
Michael Mørkøv
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
s.t.
80
David Boucher
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
81
Michael Hepburn
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 25'08
82
Nathan Haas
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
83
Ben Hermans
RadioShack - Nissan
s.t.
84
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
+ 25'42
85
Lieuwe Westra
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
86
Sjef De Wilde
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
+ 26'36
87
Andrew Talansky
Garmin - Sharp
+ 27'42
88
Laurens Ten Dam
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 28'02
89
Paul Martens
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
90
Wout Poels
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
91
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky Procycling
+ 29'03
92
Francis De Greef
Lotto Belisol Team
s.t.
93
Bart De Clercq
Lotto Belisol Team
s.t.
94
Gerald Ciolek
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
95
Carlo Scognamiglio
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
96
Tom Stamsnijder
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
97
Denys Kostyuk
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
98
Yury Trofimov
Katusha Team
s.t.
99
Peter Sagan
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
100
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Sky Procycling
s.t.
101
Magnus Bäckstedt
Falcon - STARK
s.t.
102
Tom Slagter
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 30'17
Lars did extremely well today, but unfortunately Alessandro was just too strong. Still I'm very happy to finally beat Boonen in a straight sprint. Now I just have to keep the form for another week and then I will be very hard to beat in Roubaix!
- Thor Hushovd
We are not expecting to be able to match riders like Contador, Basso, Valverde or S. Sanchez, and the race is more to build fitness than anything else for us. But as in every other race we will keep our eyes open for opportunities…
Stage 1 Kjell Carlström find his way to the very large BOTD. Kjell is struggling on the climbs all day and as Valverde, Purito, Vanendert and Roche come up from behind on the last climb the Finn has to give up. In the final there is plenty of attacking by the favourites with Roche and Vanendert being the most active and Valverde the strongest by far.
Results:
1. Alejandro Valverde, Movistar
2. Wout Poels, Euskaltel - Euskadi
3. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank – Tinkoff Bank 26. Kjell Carlström, Falcon – STARK
Stage 2 Philip Lindau tried to join the break, but just wasn’t strong enough to keep up with Basso, Casar and Taaramäe on the hills. Thor Hushovd was placed well in the finish as Valverde attacked. Hushovd goes after him but gets a puncture at the most unlucky time and since all other Falcon rides were too far behind in the peloton we won’t see the team play a role in the finish. Magnus Cort lost contact early on the stage and ended up finishing outside the time limit.
Results:
1. Alejandro Valverde, Movistar
2. Joaquím Rodriguez, Katusha
3. Luis León Sánchez, Movistar 19. Thor Hushovd, Falcon – STARK
Stage 3
Today Lasse Bøchman is covering the break for Falcon – STARK and he has a lot more success than Lindau had yesterday. Among the other seven breakers are Koldo Fernandez and Canadian Champion Svein Tuft. But Bøchman doesn’t have the legs to follow the break all way through either.
Provisional Standings:
1. Alejandro Valverde, Movistar Team
2. Joaquím Rodríguez, Katusha Team
3. Jelle Vanendert, Lotto Belisol Team 26. Thor Hushovd, Falcon - STARK
Spoiler
1
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar Team
14h39'15
2
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
+ 34
3
Jelle Vanendert
Lotto Belisol Team
s.t.
4
Alberto Contador
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
s.t.
5
Wout Poels
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1'17
6
Carlos Betancur
Acqua & Sapone
+ 1'28
7
Tejay Van Garderen
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
8
Leonardo Bertagnolli
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
9
Matteo Rabottini
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
10
Nicolas Roche
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 1'43
11
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 2'11
12
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
s.t.
13
Luis Ángel Maté
Caja Rural
s.t.
14
Jean-Christophe Peraud
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
15
Thibaut Pinot
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
16
Chris Horner
RadioShack - Nissan
s.t.
17
Davide Rebellin
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
18
Luis León Sánchez
Movistar Team
+ 2'49
19
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Procycling
s.t.
20
Rui Costa
Movistar Team
s.t.
21
Matthew Lloyd
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
22
Robert Kiserlovski
Caja Rural
s.t.
23
Koldo Fernández
Garmin - Sharp
+ 3'01
24
Jakob Fuglsang
RadioShack - Nissan
+ 3'32
25
Thomas Voeckler
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
26
Thor Hushovd
Falcon - STARK
s.t.
27
Fränk Schleck
RadioShack - Nissan
s.t.
28
Cadel Evans
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
29
Carlos Barredo
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
30
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Sky Procycling
s.t.
31
Danilo Di Luca
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
32
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
33
Ryder Hesjedal
RadioShack - Nissan
s.t.
34
Samuel Sánchez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
35
Mauro Santambrogio
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
36
Alexandr Kolobnev
RadioShack - Nissan
s.t.
37
Anthony Roux
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
38
Giovanni Visconti
Movistar Team
s.t.
39
Ion Izagirre
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
40
Rubén Plaza
Movistar Team
s.t.
41
Carlo Scognamiglio
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
42
Jussi Veikkanen
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
43
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
44
Ángel Vicioso
Movistar Team
s.t.
45
Luca Ascani
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
46
Maxime Bouet
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
47
Bram Tankink
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
48
Peter Kennaugh
Sky Procycling
s.t.
49
Pavel Brutt
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
s.t.
50
Wesley Sulzberger
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
51
Denis Menchov
Katusha Team
s.t.
52
Diego Ulissi
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
53
Vladimir Karpets
Movistar Team
s.t.
54
Luca Mazzanti
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
55
Romain Feillu
Garmin - Sharp
+ 4'56
56
David Arroyo
Movistar Team
s.t.
57
Sergueï Ivanov
Katusha Team
s.t.
58
Bert Grabsch
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 5'23
59
Jesús Hernández
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
s.t.
60
Damiano Caruso
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 6'10
61
José Alberto Benítez
Andalucía
s.t.
62
Peter Velits
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 6'44
63
Andy Schleck
RadioShack - Nissan
s.t.
64
Kevin Seeldraeyers
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
65
Dimitriy Muravyev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
66
Tanel Kangert
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
67
Kjell Carlström
Falcon - STARK
s.t.
68
Janez Brajkovič
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
69
Simone Ponzi
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
70
Fabio Taborre
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
71
Michael Albasini
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 6'51
72
Rein Taaramäe
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
s.t.
73
Richie Porte
Sky Procycling
+ 7'09
74
Gianni Meersman
Lotto Belisol Team
+ 7'12
75
Diego Milán
Caja Rural
+ 7'34
76
Moreno Moser
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
77
Sandy Casar
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
78
Aitor Galdos
Caja Rural
s.t.
79
Michael Schär
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
80
Jesús Rosendo
Andalucía
s.t.
81
Egoi Martínez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
82
Iván Velasco
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
83
Ramunas Navardauskas
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
84
Benoît Vaugrenard
FDJ - BigMat
+ 8'08
85
Levi Leipheimer
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
86
Andreas Klöden
RadioShack - Nissan
s.t.
87
Jonas Aaen Jørgensen
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
s.t.
88
Francesco Ginanni
Acqua & Sapone
+ 8'23
89
Juan Manuel Gárate
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 9'04
90
José Luis Roldán
Andalucía
+ 10'03
91
Constantino Zaballa
Caja Rural
+ 10'07
92
Joan Horrach
Katusha Team
+ 10'12
93
Lasse Bøchman
Falcon - STARK
+ 10'27
94
Fredrik Kessiakoff
Astana Pro Team
+ 10'34
95
Jeppe Lykke Hartvig Nielsen
Falcon - STARK
s.t.
96
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Lotto Belisol Team
+ 10'37
97
Kris Boeckmans
Lotto Belisol Team
s.t.
98
Stephen Cummings
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
99
Eros Capecchi
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 10'46
100
Frantisek Rabon
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
101
Ivan Basso
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
102
Michel Kreder
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
103
Andrew Fenn
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
104
Luca Solari
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
105
Andriy Grivko
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
106
Michael Barry
Sky Procycling
s.t.
107
Mitchell Docker
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 11'43
108
Joost Van Leijen
Lotto Belisol Team
+ 12'50
109
Francisco José Pacheco
Caja Rural
+ 13'06
110
Thomas Dekker
Garmin - Sharp
+ 13'12
111
Haimar Zubeldia
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
112
Sergio Mantecón
Andalucía
s.t.
113
Thomas Nybo Riis
Falcon - STARK
+ 13'34
114
Coen Vermeltfoort
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 13'49
115
Daniel Kreutzfeldt
Falcon - STARK
s.t.
116
Nicki Sørensen
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
s.t.
117
Maxime Vantomme
Lotto Belisol Team
s.t.
118
Luke Rowe
Sky Procycling
+ 14'09
119
Oscar Gatto
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
+ 14'21
120
Paolo Longo Borghini
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
121
Maxim Belkov
Katusha Team
+ 14'33
122
John Gadret
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 14'57
123
Robert Gesink
RadioShack - Nissan
s.t.
124
Guillaume Bonnafond
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
125
Michal Golas
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 15'16
126
Gabriel Rasch
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
127
Mahdi Sohrabi
Lotto Belisol Team
s.t.
128
Karsten Kroon
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
+ 16'15
129
Jack Bobridge
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
130
Svein Tuft
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 16'34
131
Zdenek Stybar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 18'16
132
Winner Anacona
Lampre - ISD
+ 18'36
133
Fabio Sabatini
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
134
Andrew Talansky
Garmin - Sharp
+ 18'59
135
Xabier Zandio
Sky Procycling
+ 19'44
136
Mauro Finetto
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
+ 20'16
137
Aitor Pérez Arrieta
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 21'02
138
Aleksandr Kuschynski
Katusha Team
+ 21'39
139
Benjamín Noval
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
s.t.
140
Enrique Mata
Andalucía
s.t.
141
José Antonio De Segovia
Caja Rural
+ 23'57
142
Brent Bookwalter
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
143
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 23'59
144
Julien Vermote
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 24'10
145
Ivan Santaromita
BMC Racing Team
+ 24'40
146
Michael Matthews
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 24'56
147
Ruggero Marzoli
Acqua & Sapone
+ 25'25
148
Kristof Goddaert
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 25'52
149
Ben Gastauer
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 26'05
150
Alessandro Spezialetti
Lampre - ISD
+ 27'29
151
Dennis Van Winden
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 28'56
152
Jose Aguilar
Andalucía
+ 28'58
153
Alessandro Vanotti
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 29'55
154
Pierpaolo De Negri
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
+ 31'18
155
Sergio Marinangeli
BMC Racing Team
+ 31'42
156
Aidis Kruopis
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 41'48
157
Alessandro Donati
Acqua & Sapone
+ 42'36
158
Mikhail Ignatiev
Katusha Team
+ 46'36
159
Diego Caccia
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
+ 46'42
160
Daniele Righi
Lampre - ISD
+ 48'52
161
Jos Van Emden
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 49'00
162
Gregor Gazvoda
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 49'27
163
Sergio Carrasco
Andalucía
+ 51'41
164
Salvatore Puccio
Sky Procycling
+ 53'02
165
Philip Lindau
Falcon - STARK
+ 54'21
166
Jakob Rathe
Garmin - Sharp
+ 58'32
167
David Boucher
FDJ - BigMat
+ 1h03'31
168
Antonio Cabello
Andalucía
+ 1h08'00
169
Igor Romero
Caja Rural
+ 1h12'19
170
Christian Meier
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 1h16'08
171
Alfredo Balloni
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
+ 1h20'51
172
Julian Dean
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 1h33'11
173
Geoffrey Soupe
FDJ - BigMat
+ 1h34'12
Mountains: Zdenek Stybar, Omega Pharma - QuickStep Points: Alejandro Valverde, Movistar Team Young rider: Carlos Betancur, Acqua & Sapone Team: Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
This race shows our limits. We knew that when the big names got in form we would have a hard time. Still the lads fight hard and I'm happy they have made it to the break every day this far.
- Allan Grønborg
With Hushovd riding Pais Vasco this is the chance for some of the other cobble riders like Lars Bak and Jens Erik Madsen. Bäckstedt chase the win through the early break, which after struggling to establish builds a decent lead.
Back in the peloton Accent Jobs work hard to wheel in the break and Falcon – STARK is sitting right behind them as the peloton diminishes to only 34 riders with 48 km to go.
With 5 km to go the front group is 32 riders large and both Bak and Madsen are in there. Since Bak would have no chance of winning a sprint he attacks on the 5 km mark while Madsen stay near the Accent Jobs-train waiting for the sprint.
Bak gets caught right under la flame rouge, but the tactic succeeds as Jens Erik Madsen puts in an amazing sprint.
Stage 4
This looks to be the GC-deciding stage. That means we shouldn’t expect to see much of Falcon – STARK.
In spite of Bøchman putting in a lot of effort no break manage to get a really decisive lead until about 60 km into the stage. Bøchman in in there but with 50 km to go he lose contact with the group, which now has 6’30’’ to the peloton. Guess he used too much energy establishing the break. Now all hopes lie on Hartvig Nielsen, but the young Dane continue his spree of bad form. On the final climb Contador proves to be a level above everyone else.
Results:
1. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank – Tinkoff Bank
2. Joaquím Rodriguez, Katusha
3. Alejandro Valverde, Movistar 67. Thor Hushovd, Falcon – STARK
Stage 5
Today a small break lasted all the way, but no Falcons managed to get in there. The favourites were fairly calm today allowing Thor Hushovd a decent finish.
Results:
1. Carlos Barredo, Rabobank
2. Ben Gastauer, AG2R La Mondiale
3. Sergio Mantecón, Andalucía 7. Thor Hushovd, Falcon – STARK
Stage 6 – TT
In this final stage Lasse Bøchman should be Falcon – STARK’s best bid for a decent result, but the TT might just be short enough for Thor to do something as well. Kreutzfeldt put in a good time by finishing provisional third.
When Bøchman is off Daniel is still best Falcon at 19th 41’’ after Anthony Roux. Bøchman get a 10th 31’’ slower than Leipheimer, who is now in the lead. Hushovd surprise everyone by getting a provisional 2nd
Results:
1. Luis León Sánchez, Movistar
2. Tejay Van Garderen, BMC
3. Alberto Contador, Saxo Bank – Tinkoff Bank 6. Thor Hushovd, Falcon – STARK
Final Standing: 23. Thor Hushovd, Falcon – STARK
Mountain: Sandy Casar, FDJ – BigMat Points: Alejandro Valverde, Movistar Young rider: Carlos Betancur, Acqua & Sapone Team: Movistar
Time for Thor to capitalize on his good form and realize his big dream of winning the biggest cobble race of the all. And everyone is ready to support him they best they can.
Invigorated by his recent victory Jens Erik Madsen goes in the early break along with Van Keirsbulck and Van Garderen. With 150 km to go the group has more than 6 minutes to the peloton lead by RadioShack’s Hayden Roulston.
100 km to go and Madsen is now alone in front as the others have lost contact on the cobbles. He has 9 minutes to the peloton.
60 km to go and Jens Erik Madsen is now only rider in front of the favourites with a gap of just under 6 minutes. At the moment Garmin – Sharp is doing all the hard work in the peloton, but the big favourites should start to get worried if the victory is slipping out of their hands. And they do. With 45 km to go Boonen take the front of the 26-rider peloton and soon after Cancellara starts helping out as well.
30 km to go 14 riders are trailing by 1’40’’ as Ballan goes on the attack. Cancellara follows and the two join Madsen ahead.
Bak and Boonen does a lot of work to wheel them back in and with 8 km to go four riders are left in the front group: Boonen, Cancellara, Ballan and Hushovd.
Nuyens and Vansummeren catch up with the four in the velodrome. 6 riders for the sprint. Boonen and Cancellara both open the sprint early and Hushovd is the only rider capable of following them.
With 1 km to go Hushovd starts his sprint and rides to a magnificent win!
Results:
1. Thor Hushovd, Falcon - STARK
2. Tom Boonen, Rabobank Cycling Team
3. Fabian Cancellara, RadioShack - Nissan 11. Lars Ytting Bak, Falcon - STARK
13. Jens Erik Madsen, Falcon - STARK
Spoiler
1
Thor Hushovd
Falcon - STARK
7h01'05
2
Tom Boonen
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 19
3
Fabian Cancellara
RadioShack - Nissan
+ 26
4
Alessandro Ballan
BMC Racing Team
+ 44
5
Nick Nuyens
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 1'24
6
Johan Vansummeren
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
7
Matti Breschel
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 2'02
8
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
9
Lars Boom
BMC Racing Team
+ 2'16
10
Bernhard Eisel
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
11
Lars Ytting Bak
Falcon - STARK
+ 2'43
12
Juan Antonio Flecha
Sky Procycling
+ 3'20
13
Jens Erik Madsen
Falcon - STARK
+ 3'42
14
Fabio Sabatini
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 5'14
15
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky Procycling
+ 5'34
16
Geraint Thomas
Sky Procycling
+ 5'45
17
Sylvain Chavanel
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
18
Maarten Tjallingii
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 6'54
19
Sep Vanmarcke
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
20
Martijn Maaskant
Garmin - Sharp
+ 7'06
21
Yohan Offredo
FDJ - BigMat
+ 7'26
22
Yauheni Hutarovich
FDJ - BigMat
+ 8'48
23
Björn Leukemans
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 9'04
24
Sergueï Ivanov
Katusha Team
+ 9'15
25
Matteo Tosatto
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
s.t.
26
André Greipel
Lotto Belisol Team
s.t.
27
Jan Ghyselinck
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
28
Bert Grabsch
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 9'38
29
Danilo Hondo
Lampre - ISD
+ 11'05
30
Stijn Vandenbergh
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
31
Kristof Goddaert
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 11'48
32
Karsten Kroon
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
s.t.
33
Andreas Klier
Garmin - Sharp
+ 12'23
34
Ion Izagirre
Astana Pro Team
+ 13'16
35
Marcus Burghardt
BMC Racing Team
+ 13'37
36
Gert Steegmans
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 15'56
37
Gabriel Rasch
FDJ - BigMat
+ 16'04
38
Dries Devenyns
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
39
Manuel Quinziato
BMC Racing Team
+ 16'16
40
Nikolas Maes
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 16'52
41
Greg Van Avermaet
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
42
Vincent Jérôme
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
43
Sebastian Langeveld
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
44
Svein Tuft
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 17'21
45
Leonardo Duque
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 19'07
46
Frederik Willems
Lotto Belisol Team
+ 19'50
47
Philip Lindau
Falcon - STARK
+ 20'50
48
Magnus Bäckstedt
Falcon - STARK
+ 20'59
49
Thomas Riber-Sellebjerg
Falcon - STARK
+ 21'28
50
William Bonnet
FDJ - BigMat
+ 21'47
51
Anthony Ravard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
52
Grega Bole
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
53
Luca Paolini
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
54
Gianni Meersman
Lotto Belisol Team
s.t.
55
Sébastien Chavanel
Team Europcar
s.t.
56
Matthew Goss
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 22'31
57
Murilo Fischer
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
58
Borut Božic
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
59
David Boucher
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
60
Allan Davis
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 23'00
61
Kris Boeckmans
Lotto Belisol Team
+ 24'41
62
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 26'48
63
José Joaquín Rojas
Movistar Team
+ 27'23
64
Bart De Clercq
Lotto Belisol Team
+ 27'56
65
Julien Fouchard
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
66
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
s.t.
67
Michael Mørkøv
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
+ 28'13
What a rider! Thor finally got his big dream fulfilled and with Bak and Madsen finishing 11th and 13th it shows everyone on the team worked really well today. I have never been more proud of my team!
- Allan Grønborg
I'm ecstatic over this win. I was feeling good all day but without such a strong effort by Jens Erik forcing the other favourites to the front early and a brilliant effort by Lars making sure no favourites had success with early attacks it would have been hard. This really is a team victory and I hope I can pay these guys back someday.
- Thor Hushovd
Thor Hushovd, Falcon – STARK. Victory in Paris – Nice and Gent – Wevelgem and a bunch of good secondary positions make this a well deserved award.
Dmitry Mokrov, Itera - Katusha. Dmitry had some solid performances in the last part of Tour de Langkawi.
Jesper Hansen, Falcon – STARK. Hushovd would have been the obvious choice, and Boasson Hagen have also done well, but Jesper Hansen is the Nordic rider who have surprised the most in the last month with KOM in T-A as well as GC-third and youth jersey in Catalunya.
Tom Boonen, Rabobank
Movistar
Rabobank
Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre – ISD
Kjell Carlström, Falcon - STARK
Christofer Stevenson, Falcon - STARK
AG2R La Mondiale (CNT)
Fabian Cancellara, RadioShack - Nissan
Zdenek Stybar, Omega Pharma - QuickStep
Carlos Betancur, Acqua & Sapone
Ben Gastauer, AG2R La Mondiale
Tejay Van Garderen, BMC
