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The Danish Puncheur
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| niconico |
Posted on 02-05-2008 19:54
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4102
Joined: 09-07-2007
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Ringerike GP – Stage 3
Important stage this one as Niki needs to distance himself from D’Angelo to win. The whole could focus on keeping Niki out of the win today because we didn’t have the obligation of relaying at the front, because we had lost the yellow jersey. But we were looking to win it back today definitely. This would be a perfect stage for me but I’m not on form and I know my job is to work for Niki, so that’s what I’ll do.
The break was caught with 20 kilometres to the line.
Rutkiewiecz countered immediately on the last climb before the decisive hill. Niki didn’t go with the attacks as we made the mistake to reckon that the riders attacking were just going for mountain points, but they kept on going.
A big group of favourites formed as we approached the final climb to the finish line. D’Angelo was in there.
Niki attacked at the foot of the final climb, a strong attack, but he had ways to go.
From where I was sitting I could see all the riders in front and I could see that Niki had bridged the gap, eventhoug he was in the back of the group.
But Niki faded on the last kilometres and he was going to lose time today. Mares won the stage ahead of Stian Remme and Marek Rutkiewicz, also D’Angelo finished in that group of four riders.
Niki finished 9th, 58 seconds off the winner, so he will also be 58 seconds down in the GC. There’s still time to pull it back though. I finished 21st today so I will slip to 12th in the GC.
1 Martin Mareš PSK Whirlpool - Author 4h06'01
2 Stian Remme Team Sparebanken Vest s.t.
3 Marek Rutkiewicz Mróz - Action - Uniqa s.t.
4 Davide D'Angelo P-Nívó - Betonexpressz 2000 - Corratec s.t.
5 Petr Benčík PSK Whirlpool - Author + 18
6 Frederik Wilmann Joker - Bianchi s.t.
7 Marcel Kittel Thüringer Energie Team s.t.
8 Tomasz Lisowicz CCC - Polsat - Polkowice + 44
9 Malaya Van Ruitenbeek Team Kuota - Senges s.t.
10 Niki Ostergaard Team GLS - Pakke Shop + 58
11 Björn Papstein Team 3C Gruppe + 1'16
12 Morten Hegreberg Team Sparebanken Vest + 2'17
13 Jakob Fuglsang Team Designa Køkken s.t.
14 Holger Sievers Team 3C Gruppe + 2'28
15 Ondřej Sosenka PSK Whirlpool - Author s.t.
16 Tamas Lengyel Team Sparebanken Vest s.t.
17 Christian Leben Team 3C Gruppe s.t.
18 Domenik Klemme Team 3C Gruppe s.t.
19 Luke Roberts Team Kuota - Senges s.t.
20 Marcel Barth Thüringer Energie Team s.t.
21 Jonas Aaen Jørgensen Team GLS - Pakke Shop s.t.
GC
1 Davide D'Angelo P-Nívó - Betonexpressz 2000 - Corratec 12h08'32
2 Martin Mareš PSK Whirlpool - Author + 8
3 Stian Remme Team Sparebanken Vest + 16
4 Marek Rutkiewicz Mróz - Action - Uniqa + 20
5 Petr Benčík PSK Whirlpool - Author + 46
6 Marcel Kittel Thüringer Energie Team s.t.
7 Frederik Wilmann Joker - Bianchi s.t.
8 Niki Ostergaard Team GLS - Pakke Shop + 58
9 Tomasz Lisowicz CCC - Polsat - Polkowice + 1'00
10 Malaya Van Ruitenbeek Team Kuota - Senges + 1'12
11 Björn Papstein Team 3C Gruppe + 1'44
12 Jonas Aaen Jørgensen Team GLS - Pakke Shop + 2'44
13 Dennis Pohl Team 3C Gruppe s.t.
14 Jakob Fuglsang Team Designa Køkken + 2'45
15 Morten Hegreberg Team Sparebanken Vest s.t.
16 Holger Sievers Team 3C Gruppe + 2'56
17 Ondřej Sosenka PSK Whirlpool - Author s.t.
18 Domenik Klemme Team 3C Gruppe s.t.
19 Marcel Barth Thüringer Energie Team s.t.
20 Tamas Lengyel Team Sparebanken Vest s.t.
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| SportingNonsense |
Posted on 02-05-2008 19:56
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Team Manager
Posts: 33046
Joined: 08-03-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Oh well, you cant win them all. At least doing tactical mistakes now means you wont do them when they could affect JAJ.
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| niconico |
Posted on 02-05-2008 20:03
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4102
Joined: 09-07-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Exactly, I have a nice little team of guinea pigs 
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| Deadpool |
Posted on 02-05-2008 20:06
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Team Leader
Posts: 7357
Joined: 06-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Who happen to be better riders then JAJ  |
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| niconico |
Posted on 02-05-2008 21:16
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4102
Joined: 09-07-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Occasionally 
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| niconico |
Posted on 02-05-2008 21:18
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4102
Joined: 09-07-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Ringerike GP – Stage 4
After missing the desicive move yesterday Niki is really determined to take back the lost time today and we will do everything in our power to help him. The tactic is to control the race all the way to the final climb and then for me act as starting ramp for Niki to get him away from his opponents. Let’s see how it goes.
The break was caught after fantastic work by Stevenson, Kristiansen, Mørkøv and Schiøler on the flat part of the stage. Me and Niki joined them at the front at the start of the penultimate climb.
With 4 kilometres to the top I pulled off a strong effort with Niki in my wheel and I managed to seperate him from the other riders, now it’s up to himself to finish it.
Niki went flat out from the summit into the finish giving it his all on his way to a beautiful solo victory.
Meanwhile I disrupted the rhythm in the chasing group.
Niki had held a lead of 40 seconds the whole time and he was definitely going to win today but could he claim the overall. D’Angelo was in the chasing group so if he took 2nd today, Niki would need at least 51 seconds to take the GC lead. He gave it his all on the final metres and even took his time to celebrate a stunning win.
I held the wheel of D’Angelo in the sprint of the chasers but I couldn’t pass him so he did claim second just ahead of me. I looked at the clock. It said 51 seconds exactly! Niki is leading the race by 1 lousy second! Unbelievable comeback, I was the first to congratulate him and he was obviously thrilled with his achievement. I feel very good about this as I was the one creating the gap on the climb and he also thanked me a lot afterwards for my effort. But it’s not over yet. Tomorrow’s stage features a lot of hills, so we need to bring our A-game once more. But we’re confident.
1 Niki Ostergaard Team GLS - Pakke Shop 4h03'08
2 Davide D'Angelo P-Nívó - Betonexpressz 2000 - Corratec + 51
3 Jonas Aaen Jørgensen Team GLS - Pakke Shop s.t.
4 Tomasz Lisowicz CCC - Polsat - Polkowice s.t.
5 Marek Rutkiewicz Mróz - Action - Uniqa s.t.
6 Stanislav Kozúbek PSK Whirlpool - Author s.t.
7 Frederik Wilmann Joker - Bianchi s.t.
8 Björn Papstein Team 3C Gruppe s.t.
9 Jakob Fuglsang Team Designa Køkken s.t.
10 Malaya Van Ruitenbeek Team Kuota - Senges s.t.
11 Stian Remme Team Sparebanken Vest s.t.
12 Marcel Kittel Thüringer Energie Team s.t.
13 Martin Mareš PSK Whirlpool - Author + 2'07
14 Luke Roberts Team Kuota - Senges + 2'42
15 Martin Mortensen Team Designa Køkken + 3'03
16 Petr Benčík PSK Whirlpool - Author s.t.
17 Marek Wesoły CCC - Polsat - Polkowice s.t.
18 Michael Kurth Team Kuota - Senges s.t.
19 Marcel Barth Thüringer Energie Team s.t.
20 René Jørgensen Team Designa Køkken s.t.
GC
1 Niki Ostergaard Team GLS - Pakke Shop 16h12'18
2 Davide D'Angelo P-Nívó - Betonexpressz 2000 - Corratec + 1
3 Stian Remme Team Sparebanken Vest + 29
4 Marek Rutkiewicz Mróz - Action - Uniqa + 33
5 Frederik Wilmann Joker - Bianchi + 59
6 Marcel Kittel Thüringer Energie Team s.t.
7 Tomasz Lisowicz CCC - Polsat - Polkowice + 1'13
8 Malaya Van Ruitenbeek Team Kuota - Senges + 1'25
9 Martin Mareš PSK Whirlpool - Author + 1'37
10 Björn Papstein Team 3C Gruppe + 1'57
11 Jonas Aaen Jørgensen Team GLS - Pakke Shop + 2'49
12 Jakob Fuglsang Team Designa Køkken + 2'58
13 Stanislav Kozúbek PSK Whirlpool - Author + 3'09
14 Petr Benčík PSK Whirlpool - Author + 3'11
15 Luke Roberts Team Kuota - Senges + 5'00
16 Dennis Pohl Team 3C Gruppe + 5'09
17 Morten Hegreberg Team Sparebanken Vest + 5'10
18 Holger Sievers Team 3C Gruppe + 5'19
19 Marcel Barth Thüringer Energie Team + 5'21
20 Ondřej Sosenka PSK Whirlpool - Author s.t.
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| Deadpool |
Posted on 02-05-2008 21:19
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Team Leader
Posts: 7357
Joined: 06-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Great Riding |
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| fefj |
Posted on 02-05-2008 21:36
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Domestique
Posts: 661
Joined: 15-02-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Well done, A_Schleck! |
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| schleck93 |
Posted on 02-05-2008 21:39
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3715
Joined: 04-08-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Well done, go kick some ass in the last stage right |
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| niconico |
Posted on 02-05-2008 21:59
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4102
Joined: 09-07-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Ringerike GP – Stage 5
As I said yesterday nothing is over yet and looking at today’s profile I can only confirm that. But Niki has learned from his mistake on the 3rd stage and he will be a pain in the behind for the other GC riders no doubt. My job is the same as it has been throughout this race: Keep Niki safe.
In today’s break the most dangrous rider was more than 11 minutes down in the GC, so we gave them a good leash before we began setting a controlling pace in the pack.
The break’s gap topped at 11 minutes with just over 100 kilometres to go. For two reason we weren’t really interested in reeling them. One, none of the riders can endanger Niki’s lead and two, if they would take the first three places today that means that D’Angelo won’t be able to take boni seconds.
With 50 km to go the gap was still 7 minutes. The best way to defend is to attack. That was Niki’s philosophy today as he took off on the last but final hill with another Dane Jakob Fuglsang countering him. The caught two from the original break immediately.
Fuglsang finally came across on the last hill where Niki suddenly could see the remaining breakaway riders up the road, they were obviously run out of steam. Niki and Fuglsang fired past and they would fight it out today.
The U23 Mountain Bike World Champion was too strong for Niki in the sprint, but at least we have now finally won a stage race after loads of “close but no cigar”.
I came in with the pack and I will finish 12th in the GC, which I’m quite satisfied with. But most of all I’m happy with Niki’s win. We had some time to celebrate at the hotel that evening as none of the riders in the team is going to race before the national championships.
1 Jakob Fuglsang Team Designa Køkken 4h11'05
2 Niki Ostergaard Team GLS - Pakke Shop s.t.
3 Michael Kurth Team Kuota - Senges + 48
4 Morten Hegreberg Team Sparebanken Vest + 1'10
5 Dennis Pohl Team 3C Gruppe s.t.
6 Luke Roberts Team Kuota - Senges s.t.
7 René Jørgensen Team Designa Køkken s.t.
8 Martin Mortensen Team Designa Køkken s.t.
9 Christian Leben Team 3C Gruppe s.t.
10 Ondřej Sosenka PSK Whirlpool - Author s.t.
11 Mateusz Mróz CCC - Polsat - Polkowice s.t.
12 Tomasz Lisowicz CCC - Polsat - Polkowice s.t.
13 Stian Remme Team Sparebanken Vest s.t.
14 Marek Rutkiewicz Mróz - Action - Uniqa s.t.
15 Marcel Kittel Thüringer Energie Team s.t.
16 Ingar Stokstad Joker - Bianchi s.t.
17 Jonas Aaen Jørgensen Team GLS - Pakke Shop s.t.
18 Sten Stenersen Joker - Bianchi s.t.
19 Gábor Arany P-Nívó - Betonexpressz 2000 - Corratec s.t.
20 Moritz Mainzer Team Kuota - Senges s.t.
GC
1 Niki Ostergaard Team GLS - Pakke Shop 20h23'11
2 Davide D'Angelo P-Nívó - Betonexpressz 2000 - Corratec + 1'23
3 Stian Remme Team Sparebanken Vest + 1'51
4 Marek Rutkiewicz Mróz - Action - Uniqa + 1'55
5 Marcel Kittel Thüringer Energie Team + 2'21
6 Frederik Wilmann Joker - Bianchi s.t.
7 Tomasz Lisowicz CCC - Polsat - Polkowice + 2'35
8 Malaya Van Ruitenbeek Team Kuota - Senges + 2'47
9 Jakob Fuglsang Team Designa Køkken + 2'50
10 Martin Mareš PSK Whirlpool - Author + 2'59
11 Björn Papstein Team 3C Gruppe + 3'19
12 Jonas Aaen Jørgensen Team GLS - Pakke Shop + 4'11
13 Stanislav Kozúbek PSK Whirlpool - Author + 4'31
14 Petr Benčík PSK Whirlpool - Author + 4'33
15 Luke Roberts Team Kuota - Senges + 6'22
16 Dennis Pohl Team 3C Gruppe + 6'31
17 Morten Hegreberg Team Sparebanken Vest + 6'32
18 Holger Sievers Team 3C Gruppe + 6'41
19 Ondřej Sosenka PSK Whirlpool - Author + 6'43
20 Marcel Barth Thüringer Energie Team s.t.
Points
1 Niki Ostergaard Team GLS - Pakke Shop 76
2 Davide D'Angelo P-Nívó - Betonexpressz 2000 - Corratec 75
3 Jakob Fuglsang Team Designa Køkken 56
4 Tomasz Lisowicz CCC - Polsat - Polkowice 50
5 Jonas Aaen Jørgensen Team GLS - Pakke Shop 50
6 Stian Remme Team Sparebanken Vest 42
7 Martin Mareš PSK Whirlpool - Author 33
8 Marek Rutkiewicz Mróz - Action - Uniqa 30
9 Morten Hegreberg Team Sparebanken Vest 27
10 Michael Kurth Team Kuota - Senges 26
Mountain
1 Grzegorz Żołędziowski CCC - Polsat - Polkowice 27
2 Florian Harbig Thüringer Energie Team 26
3 Marek Rutkiewicz Mróz - Action - Uniqa 24
4 Niki Ostergaard Team GLS - Pakke Shop 21
5 Davide D'Angelo P-Nívó - Betonexpressz 2000 - Corratec 18
6 Martin Mareš PSK Whirlpool - Author 16
7 Petr Benčík PSK Whirlpool - Author 15
8 Jonas Aaen Jørgensen Team GLS - Pakke Shop 12
9 Stian Remme Team Sparebanken Vest 12
10 Holger Sievers Team 3C Gruppe 8
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 17:05
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Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
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| Deadpool |
Posted on 02-05-2008 22:08
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Team Leader
Posts: 7357
Joined: 06-10-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Again, more great riding |
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| Crommy |
Posted on 02-05-2008 22:16
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World Champion
Posts: 10018
Joined: 29-11-2006
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Nice work 
A question for JAJ - will he be staying with GLS next season?
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| schleck93 |
Posted on 03-05-2008 07:11
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3715
Joined: 04-08-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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I would like to now that to, and now go and the danish champioshipB) |
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| niconico |
Posted on 03-05-2008 17:18
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4102
Joined: 09-07-2007
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I would like to know that too, but I haven't gotten to the point yet where I recieve bids for my riders, if I remember correctly that's not until after the racing season. But I hope a good offer comes along, but I won't rule out that he'll be with GLS for at least another season.
Edited by niconico on 03-05-2008 17:37
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| t-baum |
Posted on 03-05-2008 17:25
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2153
Joined: 07-09-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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It's going to suck when CSC makes a huge offer for him that you couldn't refuse
Macquet wrote:
"We all know that wasn't the real footage of the Worlds anyway. That was just the staged footage to perpetuate the coverup that it was actually Vinokourov that won the race." |
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| niconico |
Posted on 03-05-2008 17:36
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4102
Joined: 09-07-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Shoud I Stay or Should I Go?
[img-r]https://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll76/A_Schleck/thumb_uc_1882_460_Logo_der_UCI_ProT.jpg[/img-r] I'm in two minds about what I'm going to do next season and really I shouldn't be speculating about it already as I have a lot of racing to focus on. But as I have mentioned earlier I really want to become a ProTour rider and this season is all about catching the eyes of these teams. There's no doubt in my mind, that if a ProTour team contacts me at the end of the season then I'm moving. But I have to admit that I like it here at Team GLS. I get to be team leader a whole lot and that role will certainly dissapear at least for a couple of seasons when I turn neo-pro on the ProTour. But GLS isn't exactly an ambitious team, so if a bigger Continental Team like Tinkoff or Barloworld contact me then I'll seriously consider my options. I have had a great season so far with three wins and I'm about 40 in Continental Individual Rankings, which I'm very happy with. Maybe I have already caught the eyes of some bigger teams, but all I have to do now is keeping making a name for myself and focus on racing. Next up is the Danish National Championships and what better way of exposing myself would it be to be riding about in the Danish National jersey.
Also I now know my programme before Post Danmark Rundt. After the National Championships a will race Gemenci Nagydij, a small stage race in Hungary (2.2) and then I'll go to Italy for my final tune-up race, Brixia Tour (2.1).
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| niconico |
Posted on 03-05-2008 18:01
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4102
Joined: 09-07-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Danish National Championships
This has also been greatly anticipated from my side and from all other professional Danish riders for sure. I’m really focused to do well here but I’m not sure how to race this. I could sit in the pack and wait for the mass sprint finish, but in that case I’ll have my hands more than full against riders like Matti Breschel and Alex Rasmussen, so I decided to attack early on. A win today would really benefit me in my chase of a ProTour contract.
I got away with Designa’s Ricky Jørgensen, CSC’s Lasse Bøchmann and Amore e Vita’s Søren Nissen. We worked well together and it looked as though I had hit the right break.
But CSC and Designa suddenly found out they weren’t content with Bøchmann and Jørgensen as they upped the pace back in the pack.
This meant that me and Nissen was the only ones to work in the break. We kept on going with 20 kilometres to the line where Bøchmann and Jørgensen suddenly took off and the pack let up. I was so furious.
Suddenly the pack was content and Bøchmann or Jørgensen will be the next Danish RR Champion. Bøchmann led out the sprint.
And 19-year-old Ricky Jørgensen claimed the win in the sprint.
I finished way down and I was very dissapointed when I crossed the line. It should have been every rider for himself but apparently CSC and Designa didn’t think so and they took it out on me and Nissen. On a positive note, Christoffer Stevenson won the Swedish RR Championships, so at least we will have one national champion in the team.
1 Ricky Enø Jørgensen Team Designa Køkken 5h03'38
2 Lasse Bøchman Team CSC s.t.
3 Michael Reihs Team Designa Køkken s.t.
4 Alex Rasmussen Team Designa Køkken s.t.
5 Martin Mortensen Team Designa Køkken s.t.
6 Matti Breschel Team CSC s.t.
7 Michael Morkov Team GLS - Pakke Shop s.t.
8 Lars Ytting Bak Team CSC s.t.
9 Allan Johansen Team CSC s.t.
10 Michael Blaudzun Team CSC s.t.
11 Nicki Sörensen Team CSC s.t.
12 Jakob Fuglsang Team Designa Køkken s.t.
13 Troels Vinther Cycle Collstrop s.t.
14 Thomas Oredsson Team Designa Køkken s.t.
15 Frank Høj Cofidis, Le Crédit par Téléphone s.t.
16 Anders Lund Team CSC s.t.
17 René Jørgensen Team Designa Køkken s.t.
18 Martin Pedersen Team GLS - Pakke Shop s.t.
19 Peter Riis Andersen Team GLS - Pakke Shop s.t.
20 André Steensen Team CSC s.t.
23 Jonas Aaen Jørgensen Team GLS - Pakke Shop + 2'32
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| t-baum |
Posted on 03-05-2008 18:02
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Small Tour Specialist
Posts: 2153
Joined: 07-09-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Bad luck
Macquet wrote:
"We all know that wasn't the real footage of the Worlds anyway. That was just the staged footage to perpetuate the coverup that it was actually Vinokourov that won the race."
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| niconico |
Posted on 03-05-2008 18:53
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4102
Joined: 09-07-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Gemenci Nagydij – Stage 1
Post Danmark Rundt is getting closer and closer and this race is one of my final races in my preperation for my most anticipated race of the season. Again we’re visting a quite unconventional cycling nation and yet again I’m having problems pronouncing the race name, oh well, I hope a ProTour team signs me soon so I won’t have to put up with these incomprehensible local names. Besides today this is a very good race for me, because tomorrow and the day after that we have two hilly stages followed by two flat, so if I can keep the loss down today I might be able to something in the GC, also because I’m beginning to get into shape now and it’s about time as there’s only three weeks to Post Danmark.
A 7 km prologue, which actually turned out to be just 5 kilometres was on today’s menu, I don’t have to say how it went for me.
Luke Roberts has got a habit of winning after leaving CSC and there was no stopping him today again as took the win and the leader’s jersey. Our best rider was Mørkøv in 10th.
Tomorrow should be interesting though and I’m looking forward to see where I am formwise when we hit my terrain.
1 Luke Roberts Team Kuota - Senges 6'13
2 Mitja Mahoric Perutnina Ptuj + 4
3 Jarosław Rębiewski CCC - Polsat - Polkowice + 6
4 Gregor Gazvoda Perutnina Ptuj s.t.
5 Patrick Gretsch Thüringer Energie Team + 7
6 Andrej Omulec Perutnina Ptuj + 8
7 Jens Erik Madsen Team Designa Køkken s.t.
8 Florian Harbig Thüringer Energie Team s.t.
9 René Andrle PSK Whirlpool - Author + 9
10 Michael Morkov Team GLS - Pakke Shop + 10
11 Sergej Fuchs Team 3C Gruppe s.t.
12 Holger Sievers Team 3C Gruppe s.t.
13 Daniel Becke Thüringer Energie Team s.t.
14 Christofer Stevenson Team GLS - Pakke Shop + 11
15 Tomasz Lisowicz CCC - Polsat - Polkowice s.t.
16 Marcin Osinski Mróz - Action - Uniqa s.t.
17 Jens Mouris Mitsubishi - Jartazi - Protech s.t.
18 Michael Kurth Team Kuota - Senges + 12
19 John Degenkolb Thüringer Energie Team + 13
20 Domenik Klemme Team 3C Gruppe s.t.
78 Jonas Aaen Jørgensen Team GLS - Pakke Shop + 27
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| niconico |
Posted on 03-05-2008 19:06
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4102
Joined: 09-07-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Gemenci Nagydij – Stage 2
This stage’s profile fits me quite well with a bunch of hills and flat finish. Mørkøv is in peak condition though so it could be about getting him into a perfect position, but as we took off the captain’s role hadn’t been assigned to anyone yet. I’m getting into form as this is one of my last tune-up races before Post Danmark so I might be able to do something.
Christoffer Stevenson, who despite having won the Swedish Championships is without a national champion jersey, was in the break for us today.
But with 20 kilometres to go the last breakaway rider was reeled in and things might come down to a mass sprint. Me and Mørkøv took part in Points sprint about 6 kilometres from the finish and here we opened up a gap to the pack with 3 other riders, including race leader Roberts.
Me and Mørkøv took the chance and sat a furious pace at the front to try and open the gap further, but it didn’t work. Mørkøv was at the front and I still felt more or less fresh so I told him to slow down while I tried an attack.
Here the cameras apparently stopped working as there was no pictures after this one. I gave it my all and I had opened up a gap with a few kilometres to go. This was going to be tight. I started sprinting as soon as I hit the home straight but the pack was gaining on me. I thought I was going to be caught on the line but I kept going and somehow I managed to hold them off and take my first win since Tour de Normandie.
It felt very good as I haven’t won in ages. Mørkøv was a big part of my win today and he was the first I talked to after the race. This means I will move up rapidly in the GC to 6th, 11 seconds off the new leader, Mahoric, and with tomorrow’s stage also being hilly I might just try and go after a podium spot in this race.
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