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An All-Rounder from the Land of the Long White Cloud
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 01-12-2008 18:27
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Last day in the beautiful country of Luxembourg. I think I might move here at some point. Absolutely brilliant for hills training but lacks variation. I'll think about that later. The reason for the good training is, despite it being a small country, that there is a multitude of different hills amongst densely wooded forests. Today's parcours would be no different.
I woke up in such horrible discomfort it's indescribable. I'll try anyway. I stood up to go to the bathroom, screamed and collapsed to the floor. I stayed there, howling. I managed to reduce myself to a whimper but I still couldn't move. Somehow I got to breakfast, against my own will, and onto the bike. Once I was on the bike I knew I couldn't do it. I still started. I thought they'd admire me for it, but they were just telling me I was stupid. When I got dropped after the flag dropped I admitted they were right and ripped my number of in disgust and threw myself to the floor of the team bus, which was still at the start. They drove me to the finish. And I passed out.
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The doctors say I can't ride for a week. Or race for 3. Another setback. Apparently, some of the fluid leaked from around the joint and allowed me to rub the bone against the socket. I should be OK but it requires a lot of bed rest before my body can replenish the fluid. I'll have to be careful.
Another setback in a rollercoaster first season. But what doesn't kill me makes me stronger. Or some other stupid cliche like that. |
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 01-12-2008 18:58
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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I had a great night last night. I didn't expect it but my team threw me a surprise birthday party. I couldn't believe it but they're not just team-mates - they're my friends. Then I spent the rest of my night with my girlfriend. Let's just say...
Anyway, I got out on the bike the other day. I took it gently but it was good and I was feeling strong. Should be back around the time of the Tour. |
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| schleck93 |
Posted on 01-12-2008 19:14
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3715
Joined: 04-08-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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I didn't think you were allowed to do exercise in bed yet
BenBarnes wrote:
Thor wears a live rattlesnake as a condom.
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 01-12-2008 19:19
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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i did it in a cast?
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 22-12-2024 12:06
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Bot Agent
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| schleck93 |
Posted on 01-12-2008 19:27
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3715
Joined: 04-08-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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What do you mean?
BenBarnes wrote:
Thor wears a live rattlesnake as a condom.
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| G_Larsson |
Posted on 01-12-2008 20:04
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Sprinter
Posts: 1779
Joined: 25-03-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Happy birthday! 
Team Manager of Team IKEA-Bianchi
[url=(color=#0000ff] Team Info[/url]
Media Room
You'll Never Walk Alone |
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 02-12-2008 16:07
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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schleck93 wrote:
What do you mean?
I really don't know
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| schleck93 |
Posted on 02-12-2008 16:15
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3715
Joined: 04-08-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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This explanis alot of things on your bands myspace presentation
BenBarnes wrote:
Thor wears a live rattlesnake as a condom.
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 02-12-2008 16:35
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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With the Tour looming at the weekend the GP Gerrie Knetemann is for all the men trying to prove to their managers they should be at the Tour or desperately trying to gain form for it. Or just trying to get good results. Or just trying to test the legs. Like me. We're heading off to China in a week or so for the Quinghai Lake race and I want to show that I'm ready for it. And I have to do that today. It's another hilly race and I'm here with two other leaders: Dan Lloyd and Bernie Sulzberger.
The race meandered pleasantly through hills while Dan threw up beside me - he would probably be our leader in Quinghai and I hoped he would be allright. I watched break after break fail and we were soon at the finish. As we hit another hill the speed picked up massively. I guess we were just in the wrong place at the wrong time but we were soon gapped.
Bernie and me doing it wrong
It was a crazy finish! Once you crested the hill you swung down a sharp descent, through 90 degree bends and we were pasting it full on through the turns, risking our lives.
But it was to no avail. I managed 20th behind Kenny Van Hummel and two Skil-Shimano team-mates on the podium. However, it was good to be racing again and I think that if I keep training I can do well in China.
Rank Name Team Time
1 Kenny Van Hummel SKIL - SHIMANO 4h34'49
2 Aart Vierhouten SKIL - SHIMANO s.t.
3 Piet Rooijakkers SKIL - SHIMANO s.t.
4 Marco Zanotti UNIBET.COM s.t.
5 Greg Henderson T-MOBILE TEAM s.t.
6 Jakob Piil T-MOBILE TEAM s.t.
7 Nico Eeckhout CHOCOLADE JACQUES - TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN s.t.
8 André Korff T-MOBILE TEAM s.t.
9 Bram De Groot RABOBANK s.t.
10 Roy Sentjens PREDICTOR - LOTTO s.t.
11 Matthé Pronk UNIBET.COM s.t.
12 Steven Caethoven CHOCOLADE JACQUES - TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN s.t.
13 Janek Tombak JARTAZI PROMO FASHION s.t.
14 Eric Baumann T-MOBILE TEAM s.t.
15 Paul Van Schalen UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM s.t.
16 Iljo Keisse CHOCOLADE JACQUES - TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN s.t.
17 Andy Cappelle LANDBOUWKREDIET - TÖNISSTEINER s.t.
18 Johan Coenen CHOCOLADE JACQUES - TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN s.t.
19 Jeroen Boelen TIME - VAN HEMERT s.t.
20 Adam Hickey DFL - CYCLINGNEWS - LITESPEED s.t.
21 Kai Reus RABOBANK s.t.
22 Bert Grabsch T-MOBILE TEAM s.t.
23 Kurt Hovelynck CHOCOLADE JACQUES - TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN s.t.
24 Marvin Van der Pluijm UBBINK - SYNTEC CYCLING TEAM s.t.
25 Bernard Sulzberger DFL - CYCLINGNEWS - LITESPEED s.t.
26 Marcel Beima TIME - VAN HEMERT s.t.
27 Sebastian Langeveld RABOBANK s.t.
28 Laurens Ten Dam UNIBET.COM s.t.
29 Markus Eichler UNIBET.COM s.t.
30 Koen Barbé CHOCOLADE JACQUES - TOPSPORT VLAANDEREN s.t.
60 Bjorn Cornelissen DFL - CYCLINGNEWS - LITESPEED s.t.
62 Daniel Lloyd DFL - CYCLINGNEWS - LITESPEED s.t.
97 Hamish Haynes DFL - CYCLINGNEWS - LITESPEED + 10'22
We'll be watching the Tour and showing off our British team at the Tour next week in London and on Tuesday we'll head over to China. I hope to take my first pro win. |
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 02-12-2008 16:36
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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schleck93 wrote:
This explanis alot of things on your bands myspace presentation
i was pissed and found it funny at the time
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| schleck93 |
Posted on 02-12-2008 16:47
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3715
Joined: 04-08-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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I find it funny now
BenBarnes wrote:
Thor wears a live rattlesnake as a condom.
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 02-12-2008 16:50
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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really?
i thought i needed to recruit waghi
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| schleck93 |
Posted on 02-12-2008 16:52
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3715
Joined: 04-08-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Do that then it'll be better, even though Waghlon properbly will demand money
BenBarnes wrote:
Thor wears a live rattlesnake as a condom.
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 06-12-2008 14:50
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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The first stage was flat and at 2500m.
We rode out fast and to be honest I can't remember much of the stage. Towards the end of the stage I wasn't feeling to good and only just managed to finish with the group. I didn't even check who won. |
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 06-12-2008 15:00
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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I threw up last night.
Today's stage had 2 small rises, nothing like what we were gonna face later on. It was caged in by mountains as we headed through lush green valleys, flanked by awesome pillars of rock.
I was hoping to have recovered from last night but I soon discovered this was not to be the case. I covered my beautiful white jersey in bile early on and was hanging on for dear life all day. On the first of the rises my legs packed up. I descended well though and just about caught the pack before the second little lump. I was dropped again once the road started to rise. I kept trying and driving to the finish but I could only limit my losses to 10 lousy minutes. GC=Dead.
Rank Name Team Time
1 Tomas Vaitkus DISCOVERY CHANNEL 3h35'40
2 Jonas Aaen Jørgensen TEAM GLS s.t.
3 Jacob Moe Rasmussen TEAM GLS s.t.
4 Błażej Janiaczyk ACTION - UNIQA s.t.
5 Michael Reihs TEAM DESIGNA KOKKEN s.t.
6 Andrei Klyuev MOSCOW STARS s.t.
7 Luca Mazzanti CERAMICA PANARIA - NAVIGARE s.t.
8 Tomás Buchácek PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ s.t.
9 Cameron Meyer SOUTHAUSTRALIA.COM - AIS s.t.
10 Yukiya Arashiro NIPPO - MEITAN HONPO - ASADA s.t.
11 Bernard Sulzberger DFL - CYCLINGNEWS - LITESPEED s.t.
12 Rhys Pollock DFL - CYCLINGNEWS - LITESPEED s.t.
13 Jens Erik Madsen TEAM DESIGNA KOKKEN s.t.
14 Mashahiro Shinagawa SKIL - SHIMANO s.t.
15 Antonio Cruz DISCOVERY CHANNEL s.t.
16 Pieter Riis Andersen TEAM GLS s.t.
17 Niki Ostergaard TEAM GLS s.t.
18 Edgardo Simón SERRAMENTI PVC DIQUIGIOVANNI - SELLE ITALIA s.t.
19 Robert Radosz ACTION - UNIQA s.t.
20 Stephen Wooldridge SOUTHAUSTRALIA.COM - AIS s.t.
21 Michael Morkov TEAM GLS s.t.
22 Daniele Callegarin TEAM LPR s.t.
23 Vladimir Bileka DISCOVERY CHANNEL s.t.
24 Gabriele Missaglia SERRAMENTI PVC DIQUIGIOVANNI - SELLE ITALIA s.t.
25 Pavel Padrnos DISCOVERY CHANNEL s.t.
26 Michael Ford SOUTHAUSTRALIA.COM - AIS s.t.
27 Yuri Trofimov MOSCOW STARS s.t.
28 Georgios Tentsos PSK WHIRLPOOL HRADEC KRÁLOVÉ s.t.
29 Fuyu Li DISCOVERY CHANNEL s.t.
30 Óscar Sevilla RELAX - GAM s.t.
42 Daniel Lloyd DFL - CYCLINGNEWS - LITESPEED s.t.
53 Cameron Jennings DFL - CYCLINGNEWS - LITESPEED s.t.
54 Daniel Fleeman DFL - CYCLINGNEWS - LITESPEED s.t.
57 Evan Oliphant DFL - CYCLINGNEWS - LITESPEED s.t.
124 Adam Hickey DFL - CYCLINGNEWS - LITESPEED + 10'06 |
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| schleck93 |
Posted on 06-12-2008 15:02
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3715
Joined: 04-08-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Sad that you're sick, hope you'll get better soon.
BenBarnes wrote:
Thor wears a live rattlesnake as a condom.
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| untal |
Posted on 06-12-2008 15:04
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Sprinter
Posts: 1727
Joined: 02-05-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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Damn! Now go for stage wins or for the mountain jersey! |
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| alexkr00 |
Posted on 06-12-2008 15:59
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World Champion
Posts: 13924
Joined: 05-08-2008
PCM$: 300.00
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untal wrote:
Damn! Now go for stage wins or for the mountain jersey!
neah, he should just relax and have a beer
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 06-12-2008 18:59
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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I spent last night in hell. I'm not gonna describe it. Today's stage was hilly by Quinghai Lake standard but much more by mine. Over the first climb I was dropped and delved into my own personal hell. I pulled over to vomit once or twice and just rode to the finish.
A funny custom in Chinese cycling is to count the cut-off time down. As they started their countdown today a cyclist appeared round the final bend and a roar exploded from the crowd, urging him to the finish. I heard their words, I heard them scream.
Through my earpiece, though. I was 12km away.
I rode to the finish with tears rolling down my face and as I crossed the line I wripped my numbers to pieces. I fell to the floor where Dan Lloyd gave me a hug. |
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| wackojackohighcliffe |
Posted on 14-12-2008 17:11
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7681
Joined: 19-02-2008
PCM$: 200.00
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It was to Italy and the Brixia Tour that I headed, hoping for some returns, finally, on the effort I had made that season. The Tour is 5 days long and consists of hilly, flat and some tough mountainous stages. They probably leave an overall win out of my grasp with some good climbers here, such as Soler, but I hope to a grab a stage win and a top 10 on GC. The first stage is on rolling roads with quite a hard section towards the end, nearly perfect for me.
The action came thick and fast early on and with 30km raced, fast, a group of 10 or so riders surged free from the pack, containing some strong Italian riders looking to impress on home soil.
I gave the command to my team-mates to work (Yeah I was leader!) and they played their part in the struggle to pull the breakaway back. However, despite our help the break were still out front when we hit the hilly section and the pace was fast over the climbs. This suited me as it blunted the speed of the sprinters and left me to out-sprint the hilly riders. It still looked like the breakaway might stay away on the final climb, but because they had splintered on the previous hill their advantage was pegged back. To my surprise though, I was told that sprinters Rigotto, Guidi, Cadamuro and Corioni were still in the break. I had to think on my feet.
As the remainders of the breakaway were swallowed by the peloton over the top of the final hill I slipped of the front, unnoticed. I say slipped, I powered away, but amid all the confusion my escape wasn't detected very quickly and I was allowed a gap.
I risked everything, clipping corners, shaving apexes, sprinting down ridicukous gradients, trying to stay away from the chase on the descent. At one point I went into a speed wobble but managed to rescue it. In spite of my efforts, at the bottom of the hill the pack were just metres away.
They slowed to catch me and as the road flattened with about 700m left I laundched myself again. I had no idea where the energy was coming from but it was coming and I was flying towards the finish. I had a good 20m gap as the pack finally reacted with 500m to go, having played a bit of cat and mouse as I made my bid for freedom. But the lead-out trains were tired after a long pursuit of me and for some reason I wasn't. When the sprinters were released it was too late. I was gonna win! I still couldn't believe it and was so careful, not celebrating past the line.
My debut professional win!
Reaching the top step of the podium was unbelievable and I enjoyed the adulation of the crowd. I got the kisses from the girls but sadly no cuddly lion like at the Tour and I walked to the team bus for wild celebrations.
My debut professional win!
Rank Name Team Time
1 Adam Hickey DFL - CYCLINGNEWS - LITESPEED 3h49'03
2 Przemyslaw Niemiec MICHE + 14
3 Kanstantsin Siutsou BARLOWORLD s.t.
4 Quique Gutiérrez TEAM LPR s.t.
5 Pasquale Muto MICHE s.t.
6 Morris Possoni LAMPRE - FONDITAL s.t.
7 Pavel Brutt TINKOFF CREDIT SYSTEMS s.t.
8 Mauricio Soler BARLOWORLD s.t.
9 Mikhail Ignatiev TINKOFF CREDIT SYSTEMS s.t.
10 Giampaolo Cheula BARLOWORLD s.t.
11 Vasil Kiryienka TINKOFF CREDIT SYSTEMS s.t.
12 Andrea Pagoto CERAMICA PANARIA - NAVIGARE s.t.
13 Roman Kreuziger LIQUIGAS s.t.
14 Roger Beuchat TEAM LPR s.t.
15 Paolo Tiralongo LAMPRE - FONDITAL s.t.
16 Alessandro Bertolini SERRAMENTI PVC DIQUIGIOVANNI - SELLE ITALIA s.t.
17 Giuliano Figueras LAMPRE - FONDITAL s.t.
18 Paolo Longo Borghini BARLOWORLD s.t.
19 Fortunato Baliani CERAMICA PANARIA - NAVIGARE s.t.
20 Andrea Moletta GEROLSTEINER s.t.
21 Jure Golcer TEAM TENAX - MENIKINI s.t.
22 Paul Martens SKIL - SHIMANO s.t.
23 Alfonso Falzarano CINELLI - ENDEKA - OPD s.t.
24 Gustav Larsson UNIBET.COM s.t.
25 Ronny Scholz GEROLSTEINER s.t.
26 José Antonio Redondo TEAM ASTANA s.t.
27 Frank Vandenbroucke ACQUA & SAPONE - CAFFÉ MOKAMBO s.t.
28 Ricardo Serrano TINKOFF CREDIT SYSTEMS s.t.
29 Rigoberto Urán UNIBET.COM s.t.
30 Marco Marcato TEAM LPR s.t.
58 David Harrigan DFL - CYCLINGNEWS - LITESPEED s.t.
93 Cameron Jennings DFL - CYCLINGNEWS - LITESPEED s.t.
114 Jens Mouris DFL - CYCLINGNEWS - LITESPEED s.t.
146 Jeremy Venell DFL - CYCLINGNEWS - LITESPEED s.t.
176 Matti Helminen DFL - CYCLINGNEWS - LITESPEED s.t.
177 Robby Meul DFL - CYCLINGNEWS - LITESPEED s.t.
I also lead the GC...
Rank Name Team Time
1 Adam Hickey DFL - CYCLINGNEWS - LITESPEED 3h48'43
2 Przemyslaw Niemiec MICHE + 22
3 Eddy Serri MICHE s.t.
4 Stefano Cavallari ACQUA & SAPONE - CAFFÉ MOKAMBO s.t.
5 Kanstantsin Siutsou BARLOWORLD + 26
6 Roberto Traficante TEAM LPR + 28
7 Mark O'Brien DRAPAC PORSCHE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM s.t.
8 Quique Gutiérrez TEAM LPR + 34
9 Pasquale Muto MICHE s.t.
10 Morris Possoni LAMPRE - FONDITAL s.t.
and the points...
Rank Name Team Points
1 Adam Hickey DFL - CYCLINGNEWS - LITESPEED 25
2 Przemyslaw Niemiec MICHE 20
3 Kanstantsin Siutsou BARLOWORLD 16
4 Quique Gutiérrez TEAM LPR 14
5 Stefano Cavallari ACQUA & SAPONE - CAFFÉ MOKAMBO 12
and just once more...
My debut professional win!
Edited by wackojackohighcliffe on 15-12-2008 08:15
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