Stage 13 ended with the worst climb I ever have seen in a Grand Tour
Alto de L'Angliru was the steppest climb I ever have seen. It started "easily" with percentages from 10-16, but from 4,6km from the finish, to 3,4 km from the finish it was 20,7% steep all the way. A nightmare for the cyclists. After that, it was "only" 10% the last 3,4km.
I have respect for those 11 riders who went in the breakaway. I bet they looked forward for the last climb!
At the bottom of L'Angliru, Dekker, Moorenhout and Mollema relayed so hard that only the favourites managed to follow:
Anton, Monfort, Arroyo and Menchov were there, only waiting for the first attack.
It was Arroyo who dared to open the ball as he attacked with 7 km to go, while the road only was rising 14,9%:
He was followed by Anton, and together they made a gap back to Menchov who rode his own pace.
But it seemed as Menchov was the smartest, he reeled them in before the steepest part. He immediately attacked and when there only were 1.3 kilometres to go, it looked very promising for Menchov:
But, he cracked in his sprint! He nearly lost his 2,15 lead. Luckily, the finishing line wasn't 200 metres longer up in the road, then he had lost it. One more stage victory for Menchov!
Stage Results:
1 Denis Menchov Rabobank 5h30'14
2 Igor Antón Euskaltel - Euskadi + 12
3 David Arroyo Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
4 Toni Colom Team Astana + 2'46
5 Maxime Monfort Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone + 3'26
6 Sandy Casar Française des Jeux + 4'46
7 Luis León Sánchez Caisse d'Epargne + 5'58
8 Rubén Plaza Sport Lisboa e Benfica + 6'22
9 Franco Pellizotti Liquigas + 7'58
10 Morris Possoni Team High Road s.t.
General Classification:
1 Denis Menchov Rabobank 49h22'16
2 David Arroyo Caisse d'Epargne + 3'27
3 Igor Antón Euskaltel - Euskadi + 7'01
4 Rubén Plaza Sport Lisboa e Benfica + 11'49
5 Maxime Monfort Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone + 15'41
6 Toni Colom Team Astana + 16'14
7 Sandy Casar Française des Jeux + 17'47
8 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne + 21'20
9 Aitor Hernández Euskaltel - Euskadi + 21'55
10 Luis León Sánchez Caisse d'Epargne + 22'40
11 Beñat Intxausti Saunier Duval - Scott + 23'07
12 Carlos Barredo Quick·Step + 23'28
13 Manuel Beltrán Liquigas + 24'16
14 John Gadret AG2R - La Mondiale + 24'36
15 Cândido Barbosa Sport Lisboa e Benfica + 25'05
16 Kanstantsin Siutsou Team High Road + 25'12
17 Franco Pellizotti Liquigas + 25'38
18 Bradley McGee Team CSC + 26'30
19 Dimitri Fofonov Crédit Agricole + 27'33
20 Alberto Fernández Saunier Duval - Scott + 28'04
King of Mountain:
1 Denis Menchov Rabobank 87
2 Igor Antón Euskaltel - Euskadi 85
3 David Arroyo Caisse d'Epargne 76
4 Maxime Monfort Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone 53
5 Marco Pinotti Team High Road 45
Sprint Jersey:
1 Denis Menchov Rabobank 146
2 Igor Antón Euskaltel - Euskadi 100
3 David Arroyo Caisse d'Epargne 80
4 Rubén Plaza Sport Lisboa e Benfica 77
5 Juan José Haedo Team CSC 59
Stage 14 was Menchov possibility to almost decide this year Vuelta, and show that he is the best cyclist.
The conditons was definitely not in Menchov disadvantage, as he was feeling great:
Of course a break went on, with Halgand from Credit Agricole as the best climber:
At the beginning of the climb the break held a good gap to the peloton:
But, at once the peloton hit the rise in the road Menchov atttacked:
He was immediately followed of a group of Colom, Monfort, Arroyo, Plaza, Anton, Intxausti, Barredo and Casar. But none of them could make it up to Menchov as he was soloing away again.
Behind him Monfort and Colom made a gap to the rest of the group.
With 1.2 kilometres to the finish line, Menchov flew past the brave break of the day:
He won once a stage, and this time he didn't crack, and he gained a lot of time. 3 wins in a row for Menchov, just dominating.
Behind him brave Halgand and Crosbie won the sprint for second and third place.
Stage Results:
1 Denis Menchov Rabobank 3h52'19
2 Patrice Halgand Crédit Agricole + 1'10
3 Nicolas Crosbie Bouygues Télécom s.t.
4 Alberto Fernández Sainz Karpin Galicia s.t.
5 José Luis Carrasco Andalucía - CajaSur s.t.
6 Toni Colom Team Astana s.t.
7 Maxime Monfort Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone s.t.
8 Gustav Larsson Team CSC + 1'48
9 Mauro Facci Quick·Step + 1'56
10 Igor Antón Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
11 Mikel Pradera Sport Lisboa e Benfica s.t.
12 Rubén Plaza Sport Lisboa e Benfica s.t.
13 Beñat Intxausti Saunier Duval - Scott s.t.
14 David Arroyo Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
15 Carlos Barredo Quick·Step s.t.
16 Sandy Casar Française des Jeux s.t.
General Classification:
1 Denis Menchov Rabobank 53h14'35
2 David Arroyo Caisse d'Epargne + 5'23
3 Igor Antón Euskaltel - Euskadi + 8'57
4 Rubén Plaza Sport Lisboa e Benfica + 13'45
5 Maxime Monfort Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone + 16'51
6 Toni Colom Team Astana + 17'24
7 Sandy Casar Française des Jeux + 19'43
8 Beñat Intxausti Saunier Duval - Scott + 25'03
9 Carlos Barredo Quick·Step + 25'24
10 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne + 26'01
11 Aitor Hernández Euskaltel - Euskadi + 26'28
12 Luis León Sánchez Caisse d'Epargne + 27'13
13 John Gadret AG2R - La Mondiale + 27'28
14 Manuel Beltrán Liquigas + 27'53
15 Kanstantsin Siutsou Team High Road + 29'13
16 Bradley McGee Team CSC + 29'43
17 Cândido Barbosa Sport Lisboa e Benfica + 29'46
18 Franco Pellizotti Liquigas + 30'27
19 Dimitri Fofonov Crédit Agricole + 30'54
20 Alberto Fernández Saunier Duval - Scott + 32'37
King of Mountain:
1 Denis Menchov Rabobank 103
2 Igor Antón Euskaltel - Euskadi 85
3 David Arroyo Caisse d'Epargne 76
4 Maxime Monfort Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone 56
5 Gustav Larsson Team CSC 48
Points Jersey:
1 Denis Menchov Rabobank 171
2 Igor Antón Euskaltel - Euskadi 109
3 David Arroyo Caisse d'Epargne 82
4 Rubén Plaza Sport Lisboa e Benfica 81
5 Gustav Larsson Team CSC 65
Menchov really wanted another stage win, he attacked at the bottom of the penultimate climb. But he was followed by Anton and Arroyo. Exactly when the downhill began, Menchov cracked and had to let Anton and Arroyo go.
It came down to a very tight sprint between Anton and Arroyo.
Arroyo took another stage win in the Vuelta!
Stage Results:
1 David Arroyo Caisse d'Epargne 4h48'22
2 Igor Antón Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
3 Denis Menchov Rabobank + 42
4 Heinrich Haussler Gerolsteiner + 1'25
5 Rubén Plaza Sport Lisboa e Benfica s.t.
6 Bradley McGee Team CSC + 1'59
7 John Gadret AG2R - La Mondiale s.t.
8 Maxime Monfort Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone s.t.
9 Beñat Intxausti Saunier Duval - Scott s.t.
10 Manuel Beltrán Liquigas s.t.
11 Ezequiel Mosquera Karpin Galicia s.t.
12 Carlos Barredo Quick·Step + 2'57
13 Sandy Casar Française des Jeux s.t.
14 Kanstantsin Siutsou Team High Road s.t.
General Classification:
1 Denis Menchov Rabobank 58h03'39
2 David Arroyo Caisse d'Epargne + 4'41
3 Igor Antón Euskaltel - Euskadi + 8'15
4 Rubén Plaza Sport Lisboa e Benfica + 14'28
5 Maxime Monfort Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone + 18'08
6 Toni Colom Team Astana + 20'19
7 Sandy Casar Française des Jeux + 21'58
8 Beñat Intxausti Saunier Duval - Scott + 26'20
9 Carlos Barredo Quick·Step + 27'39
10 John Gadret AG2R - La Mondiale + 28'45
11 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne + 28'56
12 Manuel Beltrán Liquigas + 29'10
13 Aitor Hernández Euskaltel - Euskadi + 29'23
14 Luis León Sánchez Caisse d'Epargne + 30'08
15 Bradley McGee Team CSC + 31'00
16 Kanstantsin Siutsou Team High Road + 31'28
17 Cândido Barbosa Sport Lisboa e Benfica + 32'41
18 Franco Pellizotti Liquigas + 33'22
19 Dimitri Fofonov Crédit Agricole + 33'49
20 Alberto Fernández Saunier Duval - Scott + 35'32
King of Mountain:
1 Denis Menchov Rabobank 123
2 Igor Antón Euskaltel - Euskadi 97
3 David Arroyo Caisse d'Epargne 94
4 Maxime Monfort Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone 64
5 Rubén Plaza Sport Lisboa e Benfica 48
Sprint Jersey:
1 Denis Menchov Rabobank 187
2 Igor Antón Euskaltel - Euskadi 129
3 David Arroyo Caisse d'Epargne 107
4 Rubén Plaza Sport Lisboa e Benfica 93
5 Heinrich Haussler Gerolsteiner 67
There was no break on today's stage, everything would be decided on the hill.
This time Menchov waited for the other guns to attack. Anton and Arroyo did. Anton was the strongest, he was alone, ahead of Arroyo, and 20 seconds behind him, Menchov.
Anton made to keep his gap and he took a brilliant solo victory!
Stage 19 and still there were hilly stages to go. This was the last stage before the mountain TT, I suggested that this was a breakaway-chance.
Rabobank didn't manage to put any riders in the breakaway.
The break was clearly allowed to fight for the stage, in the pack no-one attacked.
Wim van Huffel was the strongest and rode solo from 6 kilometres from the finish. Van Huffel wins his biggest win in his career!
Once again, I forgot to export, but nothing special happened in the GC, actually I forgot to export next stage too.ops:
The final stage (a simmed stage), the parade-stage ended as usual in Madrid. A breakaway was allowed to fight for the victory, and it was Alejandro Paleo from Karpin Galicia who took his biggest win in his career.
Stage Results:
1 Alejandro Paleo Karpin Galicia 2h23'21
2 Markus Eichler Team Milram s.t.
3 Patrice Halgand Crédit Agricole s.t.
4 Aitor Olano Orbea - Oreka S.D.A. s.t.
5 Laurent Lefèvre Bouygues Télécom s.t.
6 Aitor Hernández Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
7 Juan Javier Estrada Andalucía - CajaSur s.t.
8 Heinrich Haussler Gerolsteiner + 1'45
9 Tomas Vaitkus Team Astana s.t.
10 Mark Cavendish Team High Road s.t.
11 Juan José Haedo Team CSC s.t.
12 Fran Ventoso Andalucía - CajaSur s.t.
13 Robert Förster Gerolsteiner s.t.
14 Cândido Barbosa Sport Lisboa e Benfica s.t.
15 Javier Benítez Sport Lisboa e Benfica s.t.
King of Mountain:
1 Denis Menchov Rabobank 128
2 Igor Antón Euskaltel - Euskadi 107
3 David Arroyo Caisse d'Epargne 101
4 Maxime Monfort Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone 66
5 Rubén Plaza Sport Lisboa e Benfica 48
6 Gustav Larsson Team CSC 48
7 Marco Pinotti Team High Road 45
8 Alberto Fernández Sainz Karpin Galicia 0 43
9 Nicolas Crosbie Bouygues Télécom 43
10 Mikel Pradera Sport Lisboa e Benfica 42
11 Franco Pellizotti Liquigas 36
12 Toni Colom Team Astana 36
13 Claudio José Casas Andalucía - CajaSur 34
14 Sandy Casar Française des Jeux 32
15 Francis Mourey Française des Jeux 27
16 José Luis Carrasco Andalucía - CajaSur 26
17 Enrico Poitschke Team Milram 24
18 Mauro Facci Quick·Step 24
19 Davide Rebellin Gerolsteiner 24 20 Joost Posthuma Rabobank 22
21 Daniel Sesma Orbea - Oreka S.D.A. 22
22 Rémi Pauriol Crédit Agricole 22
23 Wim Van Huffel Silence - Lotto 22
24 Carlos Barredo Quick·Step 21
25 Serafín Martínez Karpin Galicia 19
26 Michael Blaudzun Team CSC 18
27 Patrice Halgand Crédit Agricole 18
28 Jurgen Van Goolen Team CSC 18
29 Manuel Beltrán Liquigas 17
30 Addy Engels Quick·Step 17
31 Christophe Kern Crédit Agricole 17 32 Bauke Mollema Rabobank 16
33 Aleksandr Kuschynski Liquigas 14
34 Ezequiel Mosquera Karpin Galicia 13
35 Massimilliano Mori Lampre 12
36 Blaise Sonnery AG2R - La Mondiale 12
37 John Gadret AG2R - La Mondiale 12
38 Matthias Frank Gerolsteiner 12
39 José Antonio Carrasco Andalucía - CajaSur 12
40 Luis León Sánchez Caisse d'Epargne 10
41 Xavi Florencio Bouygues Télécom 10
42 Sergei Ivanov Team Astana 9
43 Kanstantsin Siutsou Team High Road 9
44 Jérôme Coppel Française des Jeux 9
45 Eros Capecchi Saunier Duval - Scott 8
46 Daniele Righi Lampre 8
47 Marco Velo Team Milram 8
48 Beñat Intxausti Saunier Duval - Scott 7
49 Jérémy Roy Française des Jeux 7
50 Arnaud Labbe Bouygues Télécom 7
51 Paolo Tiralongo Lampre 7
52 Jonathan Castroviejo Orbea - Oreka S.D.A. 7
53 Rubens Bertogliati Saunier Duval - Scott 6
54 Stéphane Augé Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone 6
55 Leonardo Bertagnolli Liquigas 6
56 Heinrich Haussler Gerolsteiner 6
57 Rinaldo Nocentini AG2R - La Mondiale 6
58 Alberto Fernández Saunier Duval - Scott 5
59 Markus Eichler Team Milram 5
60 Bradley McGee Team CSC 4
61 Javier Moreno Andalucía - CajaSur 4 62 Koos Moerenhout Rabobank 4
63 Maarten Tjallingii Silence - Lotto 4
64 Laszló Bodrogi Crédit Agricole 4
65 Francesco De Bonis Gerolsteiner 4
66 Fabian Wegmann Gerolsteiner 3
67 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne 3
68 Steve Zampieri Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone 3
69 Maxim Iglinskiy Team Astana 3
70 Morris Possoni Team High Road 3
71 Pieter Weening Rabobank 3
72 Cândido Barbosa Sport Lisboa e Benfica 0 2
73 David De la Fuente Saunier Duval - Scott 2
74 Aitor Hernández Euskaltel - Euskadi 2
75 José Rujano Caisse d'Epargne 2
76 Juan Javier Estrada Andalucía - CajaSur 1
77 Kjell Carlström Liquigas 1
78 Alejandro Paleo Karpin Galicia 1
79 Luis Pasamontes Caisse d'Epargne 1
80 Juan José Haedo Team CSC 1
Sprint Jersey:
1 Denis Menchov Rabobank 228
2 Igor Antón Euskaltel - Euskadi 193
3 David Arroyo Caisse d'Epargne 154
4 Heinrich Haussler Gerolsteiner 119
5 Rubén Plaza Sport Lisboa e Benfica 110
6 Mark Cavendish Team High Road 98
7 Juan José Haedo Team CSC 90
8 Maxime Monfort Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone 83
9 Tomas Vaitkus Team Astana 77
10 Erik Zabel Team Milram 66
11 Toni Colom Team Astana 65
12 Gustav Larsson Team CSC 65
13 Fran Ventoso Andalucía - CajaSur 60
14 Robert Förster Gerolsteiner 56
15 Bradley McGee Team CSC 55
16 Sandy Casar Française des Jeux 54
17 John Gadret AG2R - La Mondiale 53
18 Alejandro Paleo Karpin Galicia 51
19 Patrice Halgand Crédit Agricole 47
20 Davide Rebellin Gerolsteiner 46
21 Carlos Barredo Quick·Step 45
22 Cândido Barbosa Sport Lisboa e Benfica 44
23 Franco Pellizotti Liquigas 42
24 Markus Eichler Team Milram 40
25 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne 38
26 Ezequiel Mosquera Karpin Galicia 38
27 Beñat Intxausti Saunier Duval - Scott 38
28 Marco Pinotti Team High Road 35
29 Manuel Beltrán Liquigas 34
30 Aitor Hernández Euskaltel - Euskadi 33
31 Luis León Sánchez Caisse d'Epargne 31
32 Jurgen Van Goolen Team CSC 30
33 Martin Elmiger AG2R - La Mondiale 28
34 Nicolas Crosbie Bouygues Télécom 28
35 Laurent Lefèvre Bouygues Télécom 26
36 Volodymyr Gustov Team CSC 25
37 Wim Van Huffel Silence - Lotto 25
38 Michael Blaudzun Team CSC 24
39 Eros Capecchi Saunier Duval - Scott 22
40 Alberto Fernández Sainz Karpin Galicia 20
41 Cecilio Gutiérrez Andalucía - CajaSur 20
42 Stéphane Augé Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone 20
43 Mauro Facci Quick·Step 19
44 David García Dapena Karpin Galicia 18
45 Markel Irizar Euskaltel - Euskadi 18
46 Sergei Ivanov Team Astana 17
47 Maarten Tjallingii Silence - Lotto 16
48 Daniele Righi Lampre 16
49 Gustavo César Veloso Karpin Galicia 14
50 Alberto Fernández Saunier Duval - Scott 14
51 Perrig Quemeneur Bouygues Télécom 14
52 José Luis Arrieta AG2R - La Mondiale 14
53 Rémi Pauriol Crédit Agricole 14
54 Aitor Olano Orbea - Oreka S.D.A. 14
55 Rinaldo Nocentini AG2R - La Mondiale 13
56 Javier Benítez Sport Lisboa e Benfica 12
57 Michiel Elijzen Rabobank 12
58 Andrea Noè Liquigas 12
59 Yoann Le Boulanger Française des Jeux 12
60 José Luis Carrasco Andalucía - CajaSur 12
61 Xavi Florencio Bouygues Télécom 11
62 Francesco Gavazzi Lampre 11
63 Kanstantsin Siutsou Team High Road 11
64 Marcus Ljungqvist Team CSC 10
65 Laszló Bodrogi Crédit Agricole 10
66 Francesco De Bonis Gerolsteiner 10
67 David De la Fuente Saunier Duval - Scott 9
68 Javier Aramendía Euskaltel - Euskadi 9
69 Jérôme Coppel Française des Jeux 9
70 Maxim Iglinskiy Team Astana 9
71 Sérgio Paulinho Team Astana 9
72 Miguel Mínguez Orbea - Oreka S.D.A. 9
73 Fabian Wegmann Gerolsteiner 9
74 Morris Possoni Team High Road 9
75 Javier Moreno Andalucía - CajaSur 9
76 Bauke Mollema Rabobank 9
77 Juan Javier Estrada Andalucía - CajaSur 9
78 Murilo Fischer Liquigas 8
79 Delio Fernández Karpin Galicia 8
80 Samuel Dumoulin Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone 7
81 Serafín Martínez Karpin Galicia 7
82 Jesús Del Nero Saunier Duval - Scott 6
83 Saïd Haddou Bouygues Télécom 5
84 Mikel Pradera Sport Lisboa e Benfica 5
85 Massimilliano Mori Lampre 5
86 David Moncoutié Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone 4
87 Elia Rigotto Team Milram 3
88 Leonardo Bertagnolli Liquigas 2
89 David Cañada Saunier Duval - Scott 2
90 José Rujano Caisse d'Epargne 2
91 Joost Posthuma Rabobank 1
92 Dioni Galparsoro Euskaltel - Euskadi 1
General Classification:
1 Denis Menchov Rabobank 77h44'14
2 David Arroyo Caisse d'Epargne + 3'51
3 Igor Antón Euskaltel - Euskadi + 7'12
4 Rubén Plaza Sport Lisboa e Benfica + 17'25
5 Maxime Monfort Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone + 20'56
6 Toni Colom Team Astana + 23'57
7 Sandy Casar Française des Jeux + 26'11
8 Beñat Intxausti Saunier Duval - Scott + 29'44
9 Franco Pellizotti Liquigas + 31'14
10 John Gadret AG2R - La Mondiale + 31'57
11 Manuel Beltrán Liquigas + 32'21
12 Carlos Barredo Quick·Step + 32'38
13 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne + 34'08
14 Aitor Hernández Euskaltel - Euskadi + 34'39
15 Bradley McGee Team CSC + 34'57
16 Luis León Sánchez Caisse d'Epargne + 36'14
17 Wim Van Huffel Silence - Lotto + 37'24
18 Kanstantsin Siutsou Team High Road + 38'18
19 Cândido Barbosa Sport Lisboa e Benfica + 39'33
20 Dimitri Fofonov Crédit Agricole + 41'01
21 Patrice Halgand Crédit Agricole + 41'25
22 Javier Moreno Andalucía - CajaSur + 42'27
23 Alberto Fernández Saunier Duval - Scott + 42'43
24 David De la Fuente Saunier Duval - Scott + 42'52
25 Rinaldo Nocentini AG2R - La Mondiale + 43'21
26 Amael Moinard Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone + 43'38
27 David Cañada Saunier Duval - Scott + 43'41
28 Rigoberto Urán Caisse d'Epargne + 43'50
29 Luis Pasamontes Caisse d'Epargne + 44'24
30 José Rujano Caisse d'Epargne + 45'25
31 Leonardo Bertagnolli Liquigas + 45'27
32 Morris Possoni Team High Road + 46'01
33 David Moncoutié Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone + 46'11
34 José Azevedo Sport Lisboa e Benfica + 47'07
35 Eros Capecchi Saunier Duval - Scott + 47'47
36 Chechu Rubiera Team Astana + 48'03
37 Andrea Noè Liquigas + 49'29
38 Volodymyr Gustov Team CSC + 49'42
39 Pablo Lastras Caisse d'Epargne + 50'05
40 Hubert Dupont AG2R - La Mondiale + 50'10
41 Daniel Petrov Andonov Sport Lisboa e Benfica + 50'39
42 Yoann Le Boulanger Française des Jeux + 51'00
43 Jürgen Van de Walle Quick·Step + 51'06
44 Andrea Tonti Quick·Step + 51'07
45 Joan Horrach Caisse d'Epargne + 52'08
46 Gustavo César Veloso Karpin Galicia + 52'11
47 Maxim Iglinskiy Team Astana + 52'17
48 Sérgio Paulinho Team Astana + 52'44
49 José Luis Arrieta AG2R - La Mondiale + 53'08
50 Ezequiel Mosquera Karpin Galicia + 53'18
51 Maarten Tjallingii Silence - Lotto + 53'25
52 Christophe Brandt Silence - Lotto + 53'51
53 Dario Cioni Silence - Lotto + 54'19
54 Alberto Fernández Sainz Karpin Galicia + 54'25
55 José Luis Carrasco Andalucía - CajaSur + 54'42
56 Chente García Acosta Caisse d'Epargne + 55'27
57 David García Dapena Karpin Galicia + 56'01
58 Aleksandr Kuschynski Liquigas + 56'27
59 Jérôme Coppel Française des Jeux + 57'23
60 Steve Zampieri Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone + 57'31
61 Wladimir Miholjevic Liquigas + 57'35
62 Davide Rebellin Gerolsteiner + 58'53
63 Jurgen Van Goolen Team CSC + 59'01
64 Dioni Galparsoro Euskaltel - Euskadi + 1h00'10
65 Laurent Lefèvre Bouygues Télécom + 1h00'32
66 Xavi Florencio Bouygues Télécom + 1h01'17
67 Heinrich Haussler Gerolsteiner + 1h01'40
68 Serafín Martínez Karpin Galicia + 1h01'42
69 Christophe Le Mével Crédit Agricole + 1h03'20
70 Francesco De Bonis Gerolsteiner + 1h04'40
71 Claudio José Casas Andalucía - CajaSur + 1h06'19
72 Mikel Pradera Sport Lisboa e Benfica + 1h07'11
73 Cecilio Gutiérrez Andalucía - CajaSur + 1h11'34
74 Mikel Nieve Orbea - Oreka S.D.A. + 1h12'18
75 Manuele Mori Saunier Duval - Scott + 1h15'24
76 Nicolas Crosbie Bouygues Télécom + 1h15'34
77 Rémi Pauriol Crédit Agricole + 1h16'33
78 Paolo Tiralongo Lampre + 1h20'51
79 Javier Aramendía Euskaltel - Euskadi + 1h21'35
80 Bauke Mollema Rabobank + 1h21'49
81 Kjell Carlström Liquigas + 1h22'04
82 Koos Moerenhout Rabobank + 1h23'07
83 Delio Fernández Karpin Galicia + 1h24'06
84 Sergio Ghisalberti Team Milram + 1h24'31
85 Aitor Olano Orbea - Oreka S.D.A. + 1h25'35
86 Andrea Moletta Gerolsteiner + 1h26'02
87 Jérémy Roy Française des Jeux + 1h26'57
88 Bruno Castanheira Sport Lisboa e Benfica + 1h27'47
89 Addy Engels Quick·Step + 1h27'51
90 Matthias Frank Gerolsteiner + 1h29'07
91 Francis Mourey Française des Jeux + 1h29'09
92 Christophe Kern Crédit Agricole + 1h36'23
93 Blaise Sonnery AG2R - La Mondiale + 1h38'52
94 Miguel Mínguez Orbea - Oreka S.D.A. + 1h43'03
95 Tomas Vaitkus Team Astana + 1h43'57
96 Fabian Wegmann Gerolsteiner + 1h45'46
97 Marco Pinotti Team High Road + 1h46'42
98 Daniel Sesma Orbea - Oreka S.D.A. + 1h47'55
99 Fran Ventoso Andalucía - CajaSur + 1h48'10
100 Assan Bazayev Team Astana + 1h48'37
101 Gustav Larsson Team CSC + 1h56'03
102 Murilo Fischer Liquigas + 1h56'12
103 Sergei Ivanov Team Astana + 2h01'30
104 José Antonio Carrasco Andalucía - CajaSur + 2h01'33
105 Aurélien Passeron Saunier Duval - Scott + 2h08'34
106 Mauro Facci Quick·Step + 2h15'38
107 Scott Davis Team High Road + 2h17'50
108 Pieter Weening Rabobank + 2h21'50
109 Alejandro Paleo Karpin Galicia + 2h23'10
110 Daniele Righi Lampre + 2h23'20
111 Laurens Ten Dam Rabobank + 2h25'35
112 Michael Blaudzun Team CSC + 2h27'45
113 Markel Irizar Euskaltel - Euskadi + 2h28'18
114 Iván Melero Orbea - Oreka S.D.A. + 2h29'56
115 Jesús Del Nero Saunier Duval - Scott + 2h33'08
116 Simon Gerrans Crédit Agricole + 2h34'19
117 Marcus Ljungqvist Team CSC + 2h34'56
118 Martin Elmiger AG2R - La Mondiale + 2h36'52
119 Florent Brard Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone + 2h37'31
120 Stéphane Augé Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone + 2h40'17
121 Rubens Bertogliati Saunier Duval - Scott + 2h41'11
122 Markus Zberg Gerolsteiner + 2h42'01
123 Marco Velo Team Milram + 2h44'29
124 Joost Posthuma Rabobank + 2h44'48
125 Massimilliano Mori Lampre + 2h48'25
126 Yon Bru Euskaltel - Euskadi + 2h49'12
127 Manuel Ortega Andalucía - CajaSur + 2h50'19
128 Enrico Poitschke Team Milram + 2h50'32
129 Olivier Kaisen Silence - Lotto + 2h52'52
130 Mathieu Ladagnous Française des Jeux + 2h54'11
131 Erik Zabel Team Milram + 2h54'38
132 Christian Knees Team Milram + 2h54'44
133 Matej Jurco Team Milram + 2h55'42
134 Jonathan Castroviejo Orbea - Oreka S.D.A. + 2h56'05
135 Juan José Haedo Team CSC + 2h57'07
136 Elia Rigotto Team Milram + 2h58'51
137 Yoann Offredo Française des Jeux + 2h59'20
138 Arnaud Labbe Bouygues Télécom + 2h59'31
139 Grischa Niermann Rabobank + 3h01'21
140 Francesco Gavazzi Lampre + 3h01'47
141 Maarten Wynants Quick·Step + 3h03'19
142 Vincent Jérôme Bouygues Télécom + 3h03'23
143 Markus Eichler Team Milram + 3h03'33
144 Juan Javier Estrada Andalucía - CajaSur + 3h03'51
145 Mark Cavendish Team High Road + 3h07'13
146 Perrig Quemeneur Bouygues Télécom + 3h09'39
147 Anthony Geslin Bouygues Télécom + 3h10'36
148 Samuel Dumoulin Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone + 3h11'21
149 Laszló Bodrogi Crédit Agricole + 3h11'47
150 Igor Romero Orbea - Oreka S.D.A. + 3h12'03
151 Robert Förster Gerolsteiner + 3h12'47
152 Koen De Kort Team Astana + 3h13'34
153 Unai Uribarri Orbea - Oreka S.D.A. + 3h16'19
154 Tristan Valentin Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone + 3h16'28
155 Jean-Patrick Nazon AG2R - La Mondiale + 3h21'40
156 Jesús Rosendo Andalucía - CajaSur + 3h21'56
157 Julien Loubet AG2R - La Mondiale + 3h23'07
158 Javier Benítez Sport Lisboa e Benfica + 3h25'05
159 Saïd Haddou Bouygues Télécom + 3h31'30
160 Matteo Tosatto Quick·Step + 3h33'31
161 Erki Pütsep Bouygues Télécom + 3h37'11
162 Ralf Grabsch Team Milram + 3h49'47
163 Michiel Elijzen Rabobank + 4h02'43
Edited by ember on 04-06-2008 20:28
I have forgot to post Vattenfall Cyclassics, here it comes.
The biggest one-day classic race in Germany was on the menu.
It is mainly one of the sprinters race, but it is late in the season, maybe a break will be allowed to fight for the victory.
After a high pace from the peloton the first 30 kilometres, a break was allowed to ride away:
It contained many great riders, Moreau, Chavanel, Kolobnev and Rabobanks own Posthuma.
With 50 kilometres to go, the break held a lead of 7 minutes, but finally, the pack started to chase them.
Anyway, Chavanel attacked with 30 kilometres to the line. It was only his strongest companions that made to follow the attack:
Moreau, Posthuma, Chavanel, Kolobnev and Gardeyn managed to follow. Posthuma cracked with 16 kilometres to the line, the pace was just too high for him.
Moreau attacked with 5 kilometres to the finish line, he only had a gap of 49 seconds to the peloton.
His breakaway companions followed 10 seconds behind him. Moreau started his sprint with 2 kilometres to the line, but it wasn't ment to be. The sprinters could see him with 1.2 kilometres to the finish.
Freire was perfect placed on Bettini's wheel, but he was boxed of him and Pozzato, there were no way around them. A great win for Bettini!
Pozzato was also too strong for Freire, but he managed a podium spot.
Stage:
1 Paolo Bettini Quick·Step 6h02'31
2 Filippo Pozzato Liquigas s.t. 3 Óscar Freire Rabobank s.t.
4 Olaf Pollack Team Volksbank s.t.
5 Matti Breschel Team CSC s.t.
6 Alessandro Petacchi Team Milram s.t.
7 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team CSC s.t.
8 Gerald Ciolek Team High Road s.t.
9 Bernhard Eisel Team High Road s.t.
10 Tom Boonen Quick·Step s.t.
11 Steven De Jongh Quick·Step s.t.
12 Greg Van Avermaet Silence - Lotto s.t.
13 Gert Steegmans Quick·Step s.t.
14 René Weissinger Team Volksbank s.t.
15 José Joaquín Rojas Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
16 Nick Nuyens Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone s.t.
17 Kim Kirchen Team High Road s.t.
18 Grégory Rast Team Astana s.t.
19 Roger Hammond Team High Road s.t.
20 Vladimir Gusev Team Astana s.t.
21 Philippe Gilbert Française des Jeux s.t.
22 Andreas Klier Team High Road s.t.
23 Francis De Greef Silence - Lotto s.t.
24 Stuart O'Grady Team CSC s.t.
25 Leonardo Duque Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone s.t.
26 Danilo Napolitano Lampre s.t.
27 Koldo Fernández de Larrea Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
28 Alexandr Kolobnev Team CSC s.t.
29 Karsten Kroon Team CSC s.t.
30 Christophe Moreau Agritubel s.t.
The World Championship time trial was a traditional, hard time trial, no pauses for the riders.
The biggest surprise before the start, was that Cancellara didn't want to defend his victory, he wasn't going to start.
Pozzato was a big surprise, he set a very good time early on. (5th + 38)
But behind him, his countryman, Savoldelli, went even faster. (4th + 37)
The dutchman, Stef Clement did as he did in the WCC last year, he took third. (3 + 36)
Jens Voigt was too late for the victory. ( + 31)
The winner was in his own class, it was Cadel Evans, a great ride.
Results:
1 Cadel Evans Silence - Lotto 1h03'40
2 Jens Voigt Team CSC + 31
3 Stef Clement Bouygues Télécom + 36
4 Paolo Savoldelli LPR Brakes - Ballan + 37
5 Filippo Pozzato Liquigas + 38
6 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne + 40
7 Stijn Devolder Quick·Step + 53
8 Denis Menchov Rabobank + 55
9 Marco Pinotti Team High Road + 56
10 Benoit Vaugrenard Française des Jeux s.t.
11 Vladimir Karpets Caisse d'Epargne + 57
12 Alberto Contador Team Astana + 58
13 Marzio Bruseghin Lampre + 1'01
14 George Hincapie Team High Road + 1'05
15 Leif Hoste Silence - Lotto + 1'07
16 Luis León Sánchez Caisse d'Epargne + 1'08
17 Linus Gerdemann Team High Road + 1'09
18 Christian Vandevelde Slipstream - Chipotle powered by H3O + 1'25
19 Thomas Dekker Rabobank s.t.
20 Bradley McGee Team CSC + 1'26
21 Bert Grabsch Team High Road + 1'29
22 Isidro Nozal Liberty Seguros + 1'34
23 Michael Schär Team Astana + 1'37
24 Michiel Elijzen Rabobank + 1'41
25 Alex Rasmussen Team Designa Køkken s.t.
26 Dominique Cornu Silence - Lotto + 1'42
27 Andreas Klöden Team Astana + 1'56
28 Matti Breschel Team CSC s.t.
29 Bert Roesems Silence - Lotto + 1'58
30 Adam Hansen Team High Road + 2'05
31 Steve Morabito Team Astana s.t.
32 Brian Vandborg Team GLS - Pakke Shop + 2'12
33 Joaquim Sampaio Madeinox - Boavista + 2'27
34 José Azevedo Sport Lisboa e Benfica + 2'29
35 Rubens Bertogliati Saunier Duval - Scott + 2'38
36 Bernhard Kohl Gerolsteiner + 3'01
37 Bobby Julich Team CSC + 3'02
It was a boring race, no break was allowed and with 22 kilometres to the line, Luca Paolini attacked. He must have had his best day of his life on the seat. He just soloed away from the pack!
In the end, very well-deserved, he won it, he outclassed the others! Paolini wins the roadrace at the WCC!
Behind him, Evans managed to attack himself away from the chasing pack, another great ride by the Aussie.
But behind him, several riders sprinted for the third and final podium place in WCC.
It was the Belgian, Gilbert, who outsprinted Rabobank's own Menchov in the fight for third.
Results:
1 Luca Paolini Acqua e Sapone - Caffè Mokambo 7h05'45
2 Cadel Evans Silence - Lotto + 2'21
3 Philippe Gilbert Française des Jeux + 2'51
4 Denis Menchov Rabobank s.t.
5 Alexandre Botcharov Crédit Agricole s.t.
6 Stefano Garzelli Acqua e Sapone - Caffè Mokambo s.t.
7 Carlos Barredo Quick·Step s.t.
8 Maxime Monfort Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone s.t.
9 Sandy Casar Française des Jeux s.t.
10 Jelle Vanendert Française des Jeux s.t.
11 Sergei Ivanov Team Astana s.t.
12 George Hincapie Team High Road s.t.
13 Jens Voigt Team CSC s.t.
14 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
15 Manuele Mori Saunier Duval - Scott s.t.
16 Paolo Bettini Quick·Step s.t.
17 Christophe Moreau Agritubel s.t.
18 Luis León Sánchez Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
19 Ángel Vicioso LA - MSS - Póvoa do Varzim s.t.
20 Tony Martin Team High Road s.t.
21 Ricardo Mestre Palmeiras Resort - Tavira s.t.
22 Davide Rebellin Gerolsteiner s.t.
23 Sébastien Joly Française des Jeux s.t.
24 Christian Pfannberger Barloworld s.t.
25 Jérôme Pineau Bouygues Télécom s.t.
26 Pierrick Fédrigo Bouygues Télécom s.t.
27 Florian Stalder Team Volksbank s.t.
28 Alessandro Ballan Lampre s.t.
29 Matti Breschel Team CSC s.t.
30 Nicki Sörensen Team CSC s.t.
31 Steffen Wesemann Cycle Collstrop s.t.
32 David Moncoutié Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone s.t.
33 Linus Gerdemann Team High Road s.t.
34 Rubens Bertogliati Saunier Duval - Scott s.t.
35 Nick Nuyens Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone s.t.
36 Tom Boonen Quick·Step s.t.
37 Bert De Waele Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner s.t.
38 Paul Martens Rabobank + 4'59
39 Juan Antonio Flecha Rabobank s.t.
40 Sylvain Chavanel Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone + 5'17
41 Cândido Barbosa Sport Lisboa e Benfica + 5'41
42 Mario Aerts Silence - Lotto s.t.
43 Danilo Di Luca LPR Brakes - Ballan s.t.
44 Levi Leipheimer Team Astana s.t.
45 Benoit Salmon Agritubel s.t.
46 Matthew Lloyd Silence - Lotto s.t.
47 Giovanni Visconti Quick·Step s.t.
48 Simon Gerrans Crédit Agricole s.t.
49 Vladimir Karpets Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
50 Markus Zberg Gerolsteiner s.t.
51 Sérgio Paulinho Team Astana s.t.
52 Gerrit Glomser Team Volksbank s.t.
53 Steve Morabito Team Astana s.t.
54 Christian Knees Team Milram s.t.
55 Paolo Savoldelli LPR Brakes - Ballan s.t.
56 José Azevedo Sport Lisboa e Benfica s.t.
57 Hubert Schwab Quick·Step s.t.
58 Andreas Klöden Team Astana + 6'38
59 Leif Hoste Silence - Lotto s.t.
60 Thomas Dekker Rabobank s.t.
61 Alberto Contador Team Astana + 7'10
62 Vitor Rodrigues Liberty Seguros + 7'34
63 Trent Lowe Slipstream - Chipotle powered by H3O s.t.
64 Stuart O'Grady Team CSC s.t.
65 William Walker Rabobank s.t.
66 Óscar Freire Rabobank s.t.
67 Bradley McGee Team CSC s.t.
68 Alexandr Kolobnev Team CSC s.t.
69 Bernhard Kohl Gerolsteiner + 8'22
70 Igor Astarloa Team Milram + 9'18
71 Danny Pate Slipstream - Chipotle powered by H3O s.t.
72 Bobby Julich Team CSC s.t.
73 Jonas Aaen Jørgensen Team GLS - Pakke Shop s.t.
74 Chris Horner Team Astana s.t.
75 Michael Blaudzun Team CSC s.t.
76 Karsten Kroon Team CSC + 9'42
77 Maarten Tjallingii Silence - Lotto s.t.
78 Stef Clement Bouygues Télécom + 10'14
79 Fred Rodriguez Rock Racing s.t.
80 Christian Vandevelde Slipstream - Chipotle powered by H3O s.t.
81 Tom Stubbe Française des Jeux s.t.
82 Mikel Astarloza Euskaltel - Euskadi + 10'46
83 Laurent Lefèvre Bouygues Télécom s.t.
84 Marcus Burghardt Team High Road + 16'30
85 Michael Schär Team Astana s.t.
86 Bram Tankink Rabobank s.t.
87 David Kopp Cycle Collstrop + 16'54
88 Lars Ytting Bak Team CSC s.t.
89 Niki Terpstra Team Milram + 17'34
90 Niki Ostergaard Team GLS - Pakke Shop s.t.
91 Laurens Ten Dam Rabobank + 19'26
92 René Weissinger Team Volksbank + 20'30
93 Chris Anker Sörensen Team CSC + 22'30
In October, it seemed as UCI didn't want Rabobank to compete against other teams, as they wasn't invited, and didn't take part in any races this month:
It has been a great season for Rabobank, not outstanding. We won Vuelta, Paris-Roubaix, but not much more of those big happenings. Gesink made a great second in Giro, but Dekker got a bit disappointing 6th in Tour de France. In the Ardennes we got a podium place for Gesink. Gesink has really got his international breakthrough this season!
We won the ProTour and, Team High Road was going down, and up come Agritubel and Barloworld.
A new season, and new opportunities they say. Rabobank will be prepared for the 2009 season.
We added a lot of riders to the squad, but I can't take screenshots of them, anyone knowing this problem, please help me?
The sponsors did definitely expect a great season.
Winning LBL, AGR and TDF will be really hard. I have to assure me that my riders are in top conditions for all of them. The problem though, is that Dekker is almost my only rider who is capable to win them all. Dauphine Libere will also be hard, but if many of the Tour favourites use this as a run-up to the Tour, I think I can do that goal with a rider in form.
The sprint jersey in Vuelta can I possibly do with Menchov, Gesink or Freire.
Here are my team for the 2009 season.
We have added many young talented riders to our team, I think Boom and JAJ are some of the most talented riders in the world at the moment. We also added a big favourite, or a team mate for the cobbled classics; Philippe Gilbert. I think he will be our captain in Ronde van Vlaandern.
As you can see, we will have some great team mates, almost for every race we will race, our problem is to have a really big star.
The biggest surprise of the off-season was that Alberto Contador signed for Barloworld. He maybe feared that Di Luca would take his captain role, as he signed for Astana.
I am looking forward to a new season, I hope you do it to, and please help me with the SS problem.
We started our season with Bay Cycling Classic. We didn't get any stage win. The dominating rider of the tour was Greg Sanderson, but on stage 5 he not only lost his chances of a stage win, he lost his overall chances too.
He was up at the front when he crashed, he brought almost all the others sprinters too.
Ljungqvist from Team CSC saw the opportunity to win the race and he took the win at stage 5. Jonas Aaen Jørgensen took Rabobank's only podium spot at this Tour at the same stage.
But thanks to the mass crash, he ended third overall, 42 seconds behind Ljungqvist, and at the same time as David Kopp from Gerolsteiner.
Our next race was warm-up for Tour Down Under. It was the Down Under Classic, a 48 kilometres pancake-flat race, built and meant for the sprinters.
We sended a very talented squad, the same riders who took part in this race should also attend TDU. Our leader was JAJ, who had shown great form on our last week of training.
With 10 kilometres to the line, we had the dominating sprint train. Lars Boom-Freire-JAJ.
It become a very close finish, with 1.3 kilometres to go, JAJ opened his sprint. He flew past Freire, but on his own wheel Zabel was sprinting very fast.
But this was the day for our own JAJ, he managed to hold Zabel off, and took a brilliant win.
Victory for Jonas Aaen Jørgensen!
He secured Rabobank's first win of the new season, he looked promising for Tour Down Under.
The ProTour season was kicked-off by Tour Down Under in Australia. Last year, Freire won all six stages, I doubt that to happen again, he is not in the same shape as last year, and he won't even be our captain.
JAJ and Lars Boom will be co-leaders. We will try to do our best with JAJ on the first stage. If it shows that he is not good enough for this level, we will try to attack on every stage with Boom.
Stage 1 was a stage for the sprinters.
But of course, with all our youngsters who were in the race from Rabobank, we couldn't just let the King of Mountain jersey sail away. Haavardsholm attacked and got the points. Very nice of the Norwegian youngster.
Even though JAJ got a perfect lead-out from Freire, he couldn't win it. Delage from FDJ took the stage ahead of Freire. Zabel overtook JAJ on the line for third. A bit disappointing from JAJ, and I think we will race for Lars Boom from now.
Stage 2:
Again we sended Haavardsholm in the break, and for the KoM points.
He did his job perfect, increasing his lead in the competition.
The road had a little rise 10 kilometres from the finish line. Boom attacked with 8 kilometres to go.
Zabel tried to follow him, but he couldn't. When the sprint started, at 3 km, he held a lead of 28 seconds. There were no trains back in the peloton, this looked very good.
But with 1.1 kilometres to go, the peloton caught him. Bazayev and Zabel sprinted for the victory and Bazayev got it. Zabel took the overall lead though, thanks to his to podium places.
Stage 3.
Haavardsholm took the KoM as he could take, and his win in that competition was almost secured, he only needed to take some points tomorrow too....
As stage 2 Boom attacked, but as at stage 2, the pack caught him while they were sprinting. This time, Zabel won the sprint. JAJ has underperformed. All he has got on the 3 sprint stages so far, is a fourth and 3 bonus seconds on a sprint on stage 2.
Stage 4.
We followed our usual tactic; Haavardsholm for the mountains and Boom with an late attack. This time it suited him perfect. 6 kilometres to the line he gave it all he could. The pack came closer and closer while they were sprinting, but they couldn't catch him.
He was so tired that he wasn't able to celebrate his win, he only managed to take a drink.
Boom did it, he took a great solo victory.
Stage 5 was the Queen Stage of TDU. The riders should "climb" the Willunga Hill.
Boom really wanted to attack Zabel and his leading jersey, but he had nothing left in the tank when they reached the top. Many riders tried to break away on their way to the finish line, but it all come down to a mass sprint. Zabel won it ahead of Boom, who followed Zabel's wheel in the sprint.
Stage 6;
and a pancake-flat criterium in Adelaide was the end of this year Tour Down Under. Rabobank was very proud of their jerseys.
Haavardsholm with his KoM jersey and Lars Boom with his youth jersey.
Boom tried an late attack, but the peloton just went too fast for him. In the end Zabel could celebrate his third stage victory and his overall win.
Stage Results:
1 Erik Zabel Gerolsteiner 2h13'39
2 Aurélien Clerc Bouygues Télécom s.t.
3 Julian Dean Slipstream - Chipotle powered by H3O s.t.
4 Mickael Delage Française des Jeux s.t.
5 Max Richeze Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
6 Mark Renshaw Crédit Agricole s.t.
7 Magnus Bäckstedt Slipstream - Chipotle powered by H3O s.t.
8 Allan Davis Liquigas s.t.
9 Assan Bazayev Team Astana s.t.
10 Danilo Hondo Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
11 Jeremy Hunt Crédit Agricole s.t.
12 Simon Gerrans Crédit Agricole s.t.
13 Marcel Sieberg Team High Road s.t.
14 Jesús Ramírez Slipstream - Chipotle powered by H3O s.t.
15 Iñaki Isasi Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
16 Ricardo Serrano Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
17 Dainius Kairelis Caisse d'Epargne s.t. 18 Lars Boom Rabobank s.t.
19 Kevyn Ista Liquigas s.t.
20 Mikaël Chérel Française des Jeux s.t.
General Results:
1 Erik Zabel Gerolsteiner 19h07'16 2 Lars Boom Rabobank + 14
3 Mickael Delage Française des Jeux + 18
4 Aurélien Clerc Bouygues Télécom s.t.
5 Assan Bazayev Team Astana s.t.
6 Ángel Vicioso Française des Jeux s.t.
7 Simon Gerrans Crédit Agricole + 20
8 Bradley McGee Team CSC s.t.
9 Julian Dean Slipstream - Chipotle powered by H3O + 22
10 Ricardo Serrano Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
11 Mark Renshaw Crédit Agricole + 23
12 Marcel Sieberg Team High Road + 24
13 Jeremy Hunt Crédit Agricole s.t.
14 Kevyn Ista Liquigas s.t.
15 Jesús Ramírez Slipstream - Chipotle powered by H3O s.t.
16 Danilo Hondo Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
17 Ondřej Sosenka Bouygues Télécom s.t.
18 Mikaël Chérel Française des Jeux s.t.
19 Dainius Kairelis Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
20 Christophe Kern Crédit Agricole s.t.
King of Mountains:
1 Ole Haavardsholm Rabobank 60
2 Nicolas Crosbie Bouygues Télécom 20
3 Xavi Florencio Team Astana 16
4 Manuele Mori Team High Road 12
5 Patrick Calcagni Barloworld 12
Sprint Jersey:
1 Erik Zabel Gerolsteiner 34
2 Max Richeze Caisse d'Epargne 16 3 Lars Boom Rabobank 14
4 Aurélien Clerc Bouygues Télécom 10
5 Rubén Pérez Euskaltel - Euskadi 10
Here comes a presentation of our new riders for the 2009 season. A bit too late, but better now than never.
Our first signing for the new season was a Dutch youngster. He has the stats to be a future star at time trials. But I doubt that he can do something this season, but we'll see.
Tim Dees is a great talent at stage races. I hope he will be a future Vuelta winner, if he trains well and manages to develop himself.
Jonas Aaen Jørgensen is a great sprinting talent. He can be our new Freire. He is also strong enough to hold on on hilly stages.
Haavardsholm is a Norwegian talented rider that I felt I needed to my squad because of his nationality
A future Ardennes star, if he develop in the right way. I think he is one of the most talented of our new signings.
The wonderkid himself, Lars Boom wanted bigger challenges than he got in our Continental team. I think he can make some wins already this season.
Clement and Cornu are some great time trialists, we were looking to strength our team for the team time trials.
Philippe Gilbert was our biggest signing, he will be our leader in Ronde van Vlaandern, maybe also in Paris-Roubaix.
He is only 21 years old, and such a gifted stage rider. He will be our leader in the first Grand Tour of this season, Giro d' Italia, where he did very well last season, ending second. He has some great mountains and hilly stats, and he has also improved a lot in time trialing. A super team mate for Dekker in the Ardennes, and he will also probably be captain if Dekker messes it up.
Thomas Dekker
Dekker has improved a lot from his training over one year. He has been a great mountain goat, a exceptional puncher, and a fantastic time trialist. He really wants to improve his sixth from last year Tour de France.Simply said; watch out for this guy in Tour de France! He is also our hope in the Ardennes, where he will do everything which is possible on his home court in Amstel Gold Race.
Bauke Mollema
He definitely got his international breakthrough last season, even though he didn't win any big races, he was a great team mate for our biggest star. This season he is a star himself, and he will lead our team in Vuelta, together with Menchov. He is really up for it this season, as he meant he should has been the captain for Vuelta last season.
ops:
