2008 Intro
After evaluating 2007, Oleg Tinkov and the technical staff of Tinkoff Credits Systems laid down their new strategy: being the number one cycling team of the Pro Tour! After a lot of contract and orientation meetings we were able to set a new strategy for the upcoming season. Today in Rome, Italy, the new team was presented to the world. Five riders has been released; Contrini, Serov, Chernetskiy, Weigold, Mindlin, Oleg didn’t think those 5 riders could compete at the Pro Tour level. Then the 3 promising talents were presented: Verkempinck, Yermakov and Belik. After the presentation of the new talents a spectacular laser-show began, all eyes were on the podium when one by one the new riders were presented: Menchov, Gusev, Karpets, V. Efimkin, Kolobnev, Ciolek, Uran, Rojas Gil and Samoilau! With this new team Tinkoff will start the new season with a lot of self-confidence, with the primary goal “Finish top 10 in the Tour de France”. This year the selection contains 27 riders (12 Russian, 4 Italian, 2 German, 2 Spaniard, 2 Colombian, 1 Portuguese, 1 Belarussian, 1 Kazakhstani, 1 Ukrainian and 1 Belgian . During the season the team will focus on the following goals: Stage win Giro d’Italia, Finish top 5 Milan San - Remo, Finish top 10 in the Tour de France, Wear the sprinter’s jersey in the Tour de France, Finish top 5 Maastricht - Valkenburg.
New Riders 2008
Denis Menchov
Vladimir Gusev
Vladimir Karpets
Vladimir Efimkin
Alexandr Kolobnev
Gerald Ciolek
Rigoberto Uran
José Joaquin Rojas Gil
Branislau Samoilau
Y. Verkempinck from Flanders, 19 years old, Time trial -> Here’s an exceptional flat-rider. He’s without doubt a future great. According to my sources he’s already being wooed by some big teams since he was a junior.
A. Yermakov from Kazakhstan, 18 years old, Northern classics -> He’s not scared to take people on and he handles paved sections perfectly. He seems to have potential. I recommend him at any price.
V. Belik from Ukraine, 19 years old, Time trial -> Here’s an exceptional flat-rider. He’s without doubt a future great. According to my sources he’s already being wooed by some big teams since he was a junior.
Shirts
Teamshirt 2008
Columbian Champion
Russian Champion
Program
Squad
Goals
2007 RECAP 32x Stage win (Tour of Australia, 2x Tour of Malaysia, 2x GP Méditerranéen, Giro di Laigueglia, Milano – Torino, Paris – Nice, 2x Tirreno – Adriatico,3x Coppa Ciclistica Internazionale, Georgia Road, Circuito del Trentino, Giro d’Italia, 2x Vuelta Ciclista a Cataluña, Giro d’Italia, 2x Euskal GP, Columbian Ch., Russian Ch., Österreich Rundfahrt, 2x Supervolta a Portugal, GP del Lazio, GP de Namur, Vuelta a España, Trofeo Sabatini, Chrono des Nations, Japan Cup) 7x General (Tour of Australia, Tour of Malaysia, GP Méditerranéen, Coppa Ciclistica Internazionale, Circuito del Trentino, Vuelta Ciclista a Cataluña, Supervolta a Portugal) 14x Mountain (Tour of Australia, Tour of Malaysia, GP Méditerranéen, Paris – Nice, Tirreno - Adriatico, Georgia Road, Circuito del Trentino, Vuelta Ciclista a Cataluña, Giro d’Italia, Euskal GP, Österreich Rundfahrt, Tour de France, Supervolta a Portugal, Vuelta a España) 2x Points (Vuelta Ciclista a Cataluña, Euskal GP) 4x Young (Tour of Malaysia, Coppa Ciclistica Internazionale, Circuito del Trentino, Supervolta a Portugal) 8x Team (Tour of Australia, Tour of Malaysia, Coppa Ciclistica Internazionale, Circuito del Trentino, Giro d’Italia, Euskal GP, Österreich Rundfahrt, Supervolta a Portugal) 1x Rider of the month (Marzoli) 2x Young riders of the month (2x Khantuntsev)
Season stats
Winner Team Superprestige
Winner Team Victories
Winner Team Continental Division
The 2 teams relegated to the Continental division for next year are:
FDJEUX
SLIPSTREAM
The 2 teams promoted to the Pro Tour division for next year have been announced:
TINKOFF
TEAM LPR
Youth Riders with Excellent Potential
Grégoire -> BTL
Tran -> THR
Cintas -> AGL
Matracia -> CSC
Galbiati -> LAN
Verkempinck -> TSC
Mathijssen -> RCT
Gaitero -> C.A
Campabadal -> KAR
Matinez Alonso -> REG
Diaz -> TOY
The city chosen to host the 2008 championship is Varese, Italy. Riders who moved up a level in 2007 are: Pedraza, Gilbert, Grivko, Gerdemann, Van Hummel, Gasparotto and Scognamiglio. This year will be the last season for Van Heeswijk, Leipheimer, Petacchi, Steels, Salvoldelli, Simoni, Wesemann, Gentili and Vandenbroucke.
Edited by OlegTinkov on 13-02-2008 19:26
JANUARY 2008
3x Stage win (Tour of Australia)
1x Mountain (Tour of Australia)
1x Pionts (Tour of Australia)
1x Rider of the month (Rojas Gil)
Tour of Australia
Leader: Marzoli
Free: Kiryienka and Rovny
Sprinter: Rojas Gil
Team mate: Trussov and Klimov
18-01-08, Stage 2, 1st place Rojas Gil
Simulated
21-01-08, Stage 5, 1st place Marzoli
After 4 flat stages, today a hilly stage was on the program. On the foot of the Willunga Hill (the only mountain of the Tour Down Under) Marzoli, who already was the leader of the King of the Mountain jersey, attacked. A lot of riders counter-attacked but Di Gregorio (general leader) was the only one who could keep up with Marzoli. Together they reached the top of the Willunga Hill. In the descent back to Willunga the two riders worked well together and were able to stay in front of the pack before the finish began. Marzoli was much stronger then the young French rider and won the sprint, leaving Di Gregorio behind him. Behind Di Gregorio the pack finished on 1’39”. At the end Di Gregorio, who already had won the 3rd stage, won the Tour of Australia, Marzoli got 2nd on 27” and Engoulvent became 3rd on 1’18”. Although we didn’t win the general ranking we didn’t were empty handed: We won the sprinter and mountain jersey’s, thanks to Marzoli and Rojas Gil.
22-01-08, Stage 6, 1st place Rojas Gil
Simulated Edited by OlegTinkov on 13-02-2008 19:25
FEBRUARY 2008
5x Stage win (4x Tour of Malaysia, Vuelta ciclista a Andalusia)
1x General (Tour of Malaysia)
2x Mountain (Tour of Malaysia, Vuelta ciclista a Andalusia)
1x Points (Tour of Malaysia)
2x Young (Tour of Malaysia, Vuelta ciclista a Andalusia)
1x Team (Tour of Malaysia)
1x Rider of the month (Samoilau)
1x Young rider of the month (Gottfried)
Tour of Malaysia
Leader: Samoilau
Free: Khatuntsev and Gottfried
Sprinter: Ciolek
Teammate: Belik, Verkempinck and Yermakov
02-02-08, Stage 1, 1st place Gottfried
Simulated
03-02-08, Stage 2, 1st place Ciolek
Simulated
04-02-08, Stage 3, 1st place Samoilau
After two flat stages won by Gottfried and Ciolek, today was the first mountain stage of the Tour of Malaysia. All eyes were on Samoilau being the top favorite of winning this year’s edition. Because of the favorite role Tinkoff dominated the race, first by sending Belik away from the peleton (so that we wouldn’t have to chase a breakaway group). Then when the last climb of the day (Brinchang) started Samoilau placed an attack. Nobody was able to keep up with him and Samoilau finish solo at the top. Behind him, a big group passed the finishing line, 2 minutes behind the new leader Samoilau! In the upcoming stages Samoilau defended his leader’s jersey well, so at the end he won the Tour of Malaysia 2008! He also became 1st in the climber and the young rider rankings. Later on Ciolek was able to win stage 6 and with this second victory (he also won stage 2) he took the sprinter’s jersey back home. Futhermore Tinkoff became first in the general team rankings. What a great tour for Tinkoff Credit Systems!
07-02-08, Stage 6, 1st place Ciolek
Simulated
Vuelta ciclista a Andalusia
Leader: Ignatiev
Free: Commesso and Mazzanti
Sprinter: Loddo
Teammate: Brutt and Serrano
18-02-08, Stage 1, 1st place Ignatiev
The first stage of the Vuelta ciclista a Andalusia was a short and hilly stage with the finish uphill. After 11 kilometres a group got away from the pack including Commesso, during their effort Commesso managed to take 26 points for the mountain jersey. After 120 kilometres the breakaway group was pulled back in by the peleton, mainly because of the work done by Euskaltel. With only 15 kilomtres to go, Tinkoff positioned their riders in the front of the pack and started to take control of the peleton. When the road was beginning to go upwards Loddo, Brut, Serrano, Mazzanti and Ignatiev had formed a train and made a lot of speed (in contradistinction to the trans-sibirian-railroads). At the end Ignatiev was launched perfectly and was able to win the first stage. Leukemans of Silence (6th) and Pauriol of Euskaltel (4th) tried to get passed the Tinkoff train but Mazzanti, Brutt and Serrano were going way too fast for them. So the whole podium was occupied by Tinkoff riders! At the end of the Vuelta ciclista a Andalusia Ignatiev became the best young rider and Commesso won the mountain jersey. Edited by OlegTinkov on 07-04-2008 09:14
MARCH 2008
2x Stage win (Paris - Nice, Milan - San remo)
1x Mountain (Paris - Nice)
1x Rider of the month (Kolobnev)
Paris - Nice
Leader: Kolobnev
Free: Ignatiev and Khantuntsev
Sprinter: Rojas Gil
Team mate: Brutt, Kiryienka, Samoilau and Trussov
Winner: Dekker
Point: Schumacher
Mountain: Khatuntsev
Young: Dekker
Team: Rabobank
Tinkoff: Kolobnev 4th general on 3’54”, Kolobnev 4th point with 97 Pts, Khatuntsev 1st mountain with 95 Pts, Ignatiev 3rd young on 13’38”, Tinkoff 4th team on 5’39”
16-03-07, Stage 6, 1st Kolobnev
Just like last year Khatuntsev wanted to win the king of the mountain jersey, so he and five fellow riders left 5kilometres after the start. Yesterday he already took some mountain points and after today, because he managed to be the first on the Col de Murs, Cote des Agnels and Cote de Montfuron, he would be the leader of the mountain jersey. Then when the finish line was only 20 km away, the peleton wheeled in breakaway group. So a mass sprint looked inevitable, but then Kolobnev placed a surprise attack. Gerelsteiner and Rabobank tried to make it right for their sprinters, but they were just too late. Kolobnev won the stage with 100 metres ahead of Schumacher and Valverdel. In the general standings Valverde still wears the yellow jersey, followed by Schumache and, Dekker. Because of the earned bonus seconds Kolobnev now stands 4th 2’31” seconds behind Valverde. Later on in Paris - Nice, Dekker won both the stage of Le Grand Duc and the time trial, making him the general winner of Paris - Nice 2008. Valverde became 2nd 17 seconds after the young Rabobank rider, Schumacher 3rd on 1’26” and Kolobnev 4th on 2’58”.
Tirreno - Adriatico
Leader: Pedraza
Free: Marzoli and Mazzanti
Sprinter: Loddo
Team mate: Serrano, Klimov, Commesso and Rovny
Winner: Popovych
Point: Bennati
Mountain: Paolini
Young: Nibali
Team: Team High Road
Tinkoff: Pedraza 13th general on 4’32”, Rovny 33rd point with 6 Pts, Rovny 5th mountain with 10 Pts, Rovny 17th young on 19’40”, Tinkoff 5th team on 3’13”
Milan - San Remo
Leader: Kolobnev
Free: Brutt and Mazzanti
Sprinter: Loddo
Team mate: Marzoli, Klimov, Commesso and Rojas Gil
Winner: Kolobnev
Team: Tinkoff
Tinkoff: Kolobnev 1st stage in 7h18’15”, Tinkoff 1st team in 21h58’41”
24-03-07, 1st Kolobnev
After Dekker and Popovych had won the first and second Pro Tour stage races of the season, today Kolobnev was able to capture the “Prima Vera” (the first real classic of the season). With this great victory Kolobnev now leads the Pro Tour ranking with 85 Pts, Dekker is second with 59 Pts and Popovych stands third with 53 Pts. The race started with numerous attacks but none of them exceeded to get away, on the Passo di Turchino finally a group was formed with Nys, Pereiro, Nuyens, Wegmann, Voeckler and Tjallingii (they toke a maximum gap of 8 minutes). On the Capo Cervo the breakaway group was wheeled back in. A few kilometers later, on the Capo Berta, O’Grady attacked and he went solo for a while but on the La Cippressa Kolobnev and Brutt jumped to O’Grady. The three of them stayed in front of the peleton, taking a lead of 2 minutes to the peleton. On the Poggi di San Remo, O’Grady couldn’t keep up with the fast pace of Brutt and Kolobnev and was fallen back into the hands on the peleton. Now the two teammates were working good together, but at the top of the Poggi di San Remo unlucky Brutt had a flat tire! During the descent of the Poggi di San Remo Freire fell hard, slowing down the peleton, later also Ignatiev fell back into the hands of the peleton. At this time Kolobnev was already celebrating his victory, 2 minutes later the pack sprinted for the second place, Boonen came in second and Bennti finished third. Edited by OlegTinkov on 07-04-2008 09:19
APRIL 2008
3x Stage win (Gent - Wevelgem, 2x Circuito del Trentino)
1x General (Circuito del Trentino)
2x Mountain (GP al Pais Vasco, Circuito del Trentino)
1x Points (Circuito del Trentino)
2x Team (GP al Pais Vasco, Circuito del Trentino)
GP van Vlaanderen
Leader: Gusev
Free: Yermakov
Sprinter: Ciolek and Trussov
Team mate: Verkempinck, Belik, Karpets, Gottfried
Winner: Nuyens
Team: Liquigas
Tinkoff: Gusev 2nd stage on 0”, Tinkoff 8th team in 4’58”
GP al Pais Vasco
Leader: Menchov
Free: Efimkin and Uran
Team mate: Pedraza, Rovny, Serrano, Gottfried and Belik
Winner: Valverde
Point: Valverde
Mountain: Rovny
Young: Dekker
Team: Tinkoff Credit Systems
Tinkoff: Menchov 3rd general on 5’10”, Menchov 2nd point with 80 Pts, Rovny 1st mountain with 123 Pts, Uran 5th young on 8’27”, Tinkoff 1st team in 68h45’51”
Gent - Wevelgem
Leader: Gusev
Free: Ignatiev and Yermakov
Sprinter: Ciolek and Loddo
Team mate: Verkempinck
Winner: Gusev
Team: Team CSC
Tinkoff: Gusev 1st stage in 5h34’48”, Tinkoff 9th team on 11’51”
11-04-07, 1st Gusev
Gent-Wevelgem is a professional cycle road race held in Belgium in early April each year, falling on the Wednesday between the Ronde van Vlaanderen (this year won by Nuyens) and Paris-Roubaix. The event is often called the sprinters' classic due to its flat finishing terrain. Its early-season date means riders are often tested by wind and rain and today was no exception, with 10 degrees and bad cycling weather. The race was quite boring until Rabobank forced a key splits when the peleton passed the Kemmelberg for the second time. Only a few riders were able to follow Flecha including Gusev, Cancellara, Boonen, Ballan and Nuyens. Then, with only 9 km left, the pace of the leading group was slowed down somewhat, because the big riders started to spare themselves for the upcoming sprint. Gusev knew he couldn’t win if it was going to be a sprint with riders like Boonen and Cancellara, so he forced a attack. Everybody in the group behind Gusev was looking at CSC cause they had two riders in the leading group but both Cancellara and O’Grady didn’t reacyed. Surprisely nobody reacted and Gusev was able to take a 50 seconds lead and kept the advance until the finish line! Cancellara and O’Grady became 2nd and 3rd, CSC could have gotten more out of this race but Gusev disturb that party with a well placed attack.
Paris - Roubaix
Leader: Gusev
Free: Ignatiev and Yermakov
Sprinter: Ciolek
Team mate: Verkempinck and Karpets
Winner: Gilbert
Team: Team CSC
Tinkoff: Gusev 3rd stage on 0”, Tinkoff 8th team on 23’04”
Maastricht - Valkenburg
Leader: Kolobnev
Free: Gusev and Efimkin
Sprinter: Ciolek
Team mate: Kiryienka, Mazzanti, Verkempinck and Yermakov
Winner: Schleck
Team: Tinkoff Credit Systems
Tinkoff: Kolobnev 4th stage on 36”, Tinkoff 1st team in 19h55’43”
Circuito del Trentino
Leader: Efimkin
Free: Marzoli, Mazzanti and Commesso
Sprinter: Loddo
Team mate: Pedraza
24-04-08, Stage 1, 1st place Commesso
The Circuito del Trentino (English: Tour of Trentino) is an Italian cycle road race. It is run typically mid-to-late April over four stages in the Trentino Alto Adige region of Italy. The short, sharp course of the Giro del Trentino, full of steep climbs, is seen as a good proving ground for the aspirants of the Giro d'Italia which usually starts a few days after the Giro del Trentino. In fact, several Giro del Trentino winners have won the Giro d'Italia including Francesco Moser, Gilberto Simoni, Paolo Savoldelli and Damiano Cunego. For the last several years, the Giro del Trentino has finished in Arco and for four out of the last five years it has started at Arco as well. Tinkoff Credit Systems travelled to Trentino with a strong team (all of them will ride the Giro). Directly from the start a group of eight riders including Commesso was formed and on the first climb of the day, the Vigolo Vattaro, they already had a good lead on the peleton. On the way Commesso both toke maximum points on the Vigolo Vattaro and the Vigolo Baselga. When the finishline was 26 more kilometers to go, the pact closed in on the breakaway group. Except for Commesso, his fellow escapes didn’t believe in winning today’s race, so Commesso attacked and he now found himself on his own against the peleton. But Lampre, who were leading the pact, didn’t knew there was one rider of the early breakaway group still riding ahead of them. When the news finally arrived at Santambrogio’s servants it was too late for Lampre. At the end Commesso won the first stage of the Circuito del Trentino and thereby taking the leader’s jersey. What a strange win, especially for those who strongly believe in the new helpful technologies like earphones.
25-04-08, Stage 2, 1st place Pedraza
History has showen that the second stage of the Circuito del Trentino always is crucial when you want to win the Italian cycle road race. Pozzovivo, Pietropolli, Azanza Soto, Belotti and Pedraza were today’s favorites. We started the day with all the jerseys in the hands of Commesso. So the whole day we were controlling the pact, on the first and second climb of the day, the Passo te dei Serbi and the Salite di Ronzone Commesso again took some mountain points, securing his mountain jersey even more. Until the foot of the last climb of the day, the Salite di Predaia, Tinkoff hold the peleton all together. Then with nine kilomtres to the finishline Bellotti made a nice attack in a curve, Pedraza, Mazzanti, Marzoli and Efimkin all counter attacked and were able to get to Bellotti. Then Pedraza jumped again and Mazzanti, Marzoli and Efimkin stayed behind Bellotti, leaving him captured between the overwhelming presence of Tinkoff. Pedraza arrived solo on the top, before the chasing group including Bellotti, Mazzanti, Marzoli and Efimkin. With this win it was clear that Tinkoff Credit Systems had stamp its authority on this race and in the end we got first in all general standing except from the young rider general ranking, which was won by Marcato.
La Fleche Wallonne
Leader: Kolobnev
Free: Menchov and Karpets
Team mate: Petrov, Gusev, Uran and Yermakov
Winner: Valverde
Team: Tinkoff Credit Systems
Tinkoff: Kolobnev 2nd stage on 0”, Tinkoff 1st team in 16h00’20”
Liège-Bastogne-Liège
Leader: Menchov
Free: Kolobnev and Efimkin
Team mate: Gusev, Karpets, Uran, Petrov and Klimov
Winner: Schleck
Team: Tinkoff Credit Systems
Tinkoff: Menchov 3rd stage on 36”, Tinkoff 1st team in 21h58’14” Edited by OlegTinkov on 07-04-2008 09:07
