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27.02.2007/ Tour of California: Leipheimer takes overall win, Tour of California
quotes, Jørgen V. Pedersen new sports director at CSC, Petacchi won final stage and overall of the Volta ao Algarve
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Tour of California: Ivan Dominguez won stage 7, Leipheimer takes overall
Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team’s Ivan Dominguez burst from a hard-charging pack to win the seventh
and final stage of the 2007 Tour of California today before a massive crowd lining the streets of downtown Long Beach.
The rider known as “The
Cuban Missile” outsprinted Graeme Brown (Rabobank) and Gerald Ciolek (T-Mobile) at the end of the 77.5 mile (124.7 km)
circuit race. His victory was the only one by a non-Pro Tour team at this year’s race and marks the second straight
year that Toyota-United has captured at least one stage win at the Tour of California.
“Ivan didn’t
just win, today he blew the doors off,” Toyota-United Team Director Harm Jansen said. “That’s the thing
I’m amazed about. I know he can win, but the way he wins is phenomenal.”
Dominguez said he remained
patient as field stormed down the finishing straight on Shoreline Drive . With teammate Henk
Vogels leading the way, Dominguez slotted in behind the wheel of Brown who won the Stage 1 field sprint in Sausalito on Monday.
“We were going really
fast in the last 100 meters, so it wasn’t easy to pass him (Brown),” Dominguez said. “This win was very
satisfying, perhaps the biggest of my career.”
Brown finished second
while Ciolek was third. All three received the same time of two hours, 39 minutes and 28 seconds. Toyota-United’s Henk
Vogels, who was instrumental in Dominguez’s win, was 8th, giving the team its fourth top 10 finish of the
Tour. At an average speed of 29.15 miles an hour, this stage was the fastest road race of this year’s tour.
Toyota-United Team
Director Harm Jansen said the team perfectly executed its pre-race game plan: Chris Wherry would get Dominguez and Vogels
to the front late in the race while teammates Justin England, Caleb Manion and Chris Baldwin marked the other teams’
moves.
“It played out exactly
the way we planned it,” says Jansen. “It doesn’t get better than that.”
Sunday’s victory was
particularly sweet considering Dominguez missed out on participating in two other bunch sprints earlier this week. In Stage
4, he got a flat tire with five kilometers to go and in Saturday’s Stage 6, he was dropped when the peloton split and
never regained the field.
“We’ve
been waiting all week for this opportunity,” Toyota-United Kirk Willett said. “We actually had our eyes on winning
this stage as far back as a month ago.”
Before Dominguez’s
heroics, one of his Toyota-United teammates figured prominently in a nearly race-long breakaway. Sean Sullivan was part of
a seven-rider group that rolled off the front of the pack on the first of 10 laps of a 7.5-mile circuit. At the halfway point
of the race, Sullivan’s group held a nearly three minute lead. It was not until the final lap – fewer than five
miles from the finish – that the breakaway group was caught.
Sullivan was also
part of the longest breakaway in this year’s race on Stage 4. During the 132-mile race from Seaside to San Luis Obispo,
the Australian was part of a seven-man group that was in the lead for nearly 110 miles.
Levi Leipheimer
(Discovery Channel Pro Cycling) won the race overall, finishing 21 seconds ahead of Jens Voigt (CSC). Leipheimer’s teammate,
Jason McCartney, was third, 54 seconds behind the winning time of 24 hours, 57 minutes and 24 seconds.
Results stage 7
1 Ivan Dominguez (Cub) Toyota United Pro
2.39.28 (46.92 km/h)
2 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank
3 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) T-mobile
4 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas
5 Robert Förster (Ger) Gerolsteiner
6 Thor Hushovd (Nor) Credit Agricole
7 Fred Rodriguez (USA) Predictor-Lotto
8 Henk Vogels (Aus) Toyota United Pro
9 Brice Jones (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
10 Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team CSC
11 Alejandro Acton (Arg) Colavita Sutter Home
12 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step
13 Nicolar Reistad (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
14 Alexander Candelario (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
15 Garrett Peltonen (USA) Priority Health Cycling Team
16 Viktar Rapinski (Blr) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
17 Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Liquigas
18 Veleriy Kobzarenko (Ukr) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
19 Russell Downing (GBr) Health Net Presented By Maxxis
20 Josep Jufre Pou (Spa) Predictor-Lotto
21 Michael Barry (Can) T-mobile
22 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC
23 Taylor Tolleson (USA) Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle
24 Peter Hatton (Aus) Colavita Sutter Home
25 Bram De Groot (Ned) Rabobank
26 Brent Bookwalter (USA) USA National team
Final General Classification
1 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel
24.57.24
2 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC
0.21
3 Jason McCartney (USA) Discovery Channel
0.54
4 Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC
1.06
5 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC
1.16
6 Christian Vandevelde (USA) Team CSC
1.24
7 Michael Rogers (Aus) T-mobile
1.32
8 Ben Day (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
1.38
9 Franco Pellizotti (Ita) Liquigas
1.41
10 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Health Net Presented By Maxxis
1.57
11 Christopher Horner (USA) Predictor-Lotto
2.09
12 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-mobile
2.16
13 Rory Sutherland (Aus) Health Net Presented By Maxxis
14 Jakob Piil (Den) T-mobile
2.19
15 Dimitri Fofonov (Kaz) Credit Agricole
2.21
16 Danny Pate (USA) Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle
2.31
17 Christopher Baldwin (USA) Toyota United Pro
18 Bram Tankink (Ned) Quick Step
2.37
19 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner
2.44
20 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank
2.50
21 Mads Kaggestad (Nor) Credit Agricole
2.54
22 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
3.05
23 Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Liquigas
3.10
24 Anthony Colby (USA) Colavita Sutter Home
25 Josep Jufre Pou (Spa) Predictor-Lotto
3.11
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| Dominguez won the final stage (picture : Toyota United) |
Tour of California quotes
Levi Leipheimer (Discovery Channel)
On cycling as a profession
“For me it is special because this is exactly what I
wanted to do with my life.”
On leading each stage of the race
“This year’s race
was extremely competitive. Team CSC and the other teams really put a lot of pressure on us. Without that level of competition
this victory wouldn’t be as satisfying as it is. It’s really one of my most satisfying victories.”
On
his victory
“Maybe my most satisfying victory. I don’t know if I could call it my biggest victory.
I have a wall at home with some jerseys on it and I can tell you this jersey is going on that wall.”
On
Discovery Channel Pro’s plan of attack
“We knew that everyone was going to come out and be aggressive.
We counted on the other teams trying to win the stage. We tried to keep the gap close, so it was manageable for those teams
to bring it to a sprint.”
On Hincapie’s injury
“Obviously that’s a big
blow to our team. Now he’s going to miss the Classics. This race wasn’t supposed to be so difficult for us to
win. The team was put under a lot of pressure. It was a big blow for us to loose George (Hincapie). We’re looking forward
to having him back. The team is not the same without him.”
On the climbs
“Sierra was
the hardest climb. That’s where I had to put in the most effort to keep up with Jens (Voigt).”
Ivan Dominguez (Toyota-United)
On the crowds
“This crowd was huge. I live here in LA (Agoura Hills) and so for
me, this one is bigger than NY (referring to the crowds at another race).”
On the climbs
“Every day was hard.”
Bobby Julich (CSC)
On overall competition
“I thought it (the race) was fantastic. It was just much
more interesting this year. All of the riders here were more fit and aggressive. We got in a couple of wins as well. It’s
good for us to start the season off with a couple of wins. We always want to win that classification (overall team) in every
race that we do.”
On the difference in level of competition between teams
“There’s
definitely a gap still (between ProTour and Continental teams). I was pretty impressed with Jonathan’s team (Team Slipstream
powered by Chipotle). The Amgen Tour of California is very nice to let the American teams compete and not just let in ProTour
teams. They (the Continental teams) need to step it up and take advantage of that.”
Jason McCartney (Discovery Channel)
On the race overall
“Last year was the inaugural year and no one knew what to expect,
but it’s just fantastic. From start to finish, there was a lot of sweat on the road. And it ended up being a really
great race.”
Christoph Laurent (Credit Agriciole), winner of the mountain jersey
On overall competition
“This week is a very good week for me. Fantastic finish.
There were lots of people at the start and finish…and the encouragement was great. The races in Europe have to be envious
of this race. There isn’t a race in Europe that is this well organized.”
Robert Gesink (Rabobank), winner of the young riders competition
On the race overall
“The organization, I think, was really good. It was a perfect
race. The course was good, we had good conditions. I am very happy to win here in America. If it is on my team’s schedule
next year, I won’t hesitate to come back here.”
Gerald Cioloek (T-Mobile)
On the race overall
“I will take home
some good impressions of California. It’s a really nice race. I’d like to compete here next year, and maybe come
here for training. It’s well organized; many, many people come here to watch the race; it’s good.”
Jonathan Vaughters (Team Slipstream)
On the race overall
“It’s been great. The organization level, the crowd level,
the enthusiasm surrounding it…it’s on par with the Grand Tours around the world. The atmosphere isn’t that
of real excitement (at other races), but at this race the fans are like those at the Tour de France. The fans are ecstatic.
After watching this race it shocks me that cycling isn’t bigger in the US. It’s enormously exciting …If
we could build this race up to a three week tour, why would we even go race in Europe?”
Jørgen V. Pedersen new sports director at CSC
He has never worked as a sports director before and he has not raced himself for a number of years now,
but nonetheless Team CSC's new sports director Jørgen V. Pedersen brings with him lots of experience. This past weekend Pedersen
kicked off his new career in Tour du Haut Var.
The path leading him to his new job this season has been an interesting
one for the sympathetic 47-year-old Dane, who as a highlight in his career held the yellow jersey for five days in Tour de
France, 1986 - as the second Dane ever – the first being his fellow sports director at Team CSC, Kim Andersen.
He
began his career as a pro cyclist back in 1984 with Davide Boifava as a sports director at the Carrera crew, with Giro-winner
Roberto Visentini and Guido Bontempi as the big profiles. The following year he got his debut in Tour de France, where he
besides his five days in yellow in 1986 also won a stage in 1987. He also won a stage in Paris-Nice, Vuelta a Espana as well
as a second place in Tour of Denmark during his career.
But in 1990 his cycling career came to an end after a serious
accident. But that was the beginning of a just as successful career as a “civilian” within the sport.
"I
quit cycling after a bad accident during Tour de Loire in 1990, where I crashed into a car and broke my jaws, my arms, my
legs and a few other bones. I still can't feel my one cheek, because I tore some nerves there," explains Pedersen and continues:
"Prior
to that I'd been training in Hans Henrik Palm's fitness center in Copenhagen and had become friends with him. He visited me
at the hospital and asked me if I was going back to cycling again. I told him no, not really - I'd had enough. So in stead
I was introduced to the fitness industry in which I've worked for about 15 years," says Jørgen V. Pedersen, who has co-owned
Form & Fitness and later fitness.dk, which was sold to Parken Sport & Entertainment in 2006.
Already a number
of years back there was talk about Jørgen V. joining Team CSC, when he contacted his old colleague, Bjarne Riis and offered
his assistance.
"I called and spoke to Bjarne a few years ago, and then all of a sudden he calls me up and asks if
I want to work with him on the sponsorship with Nobili in 2006, where I've been responsible for the contact between the team
and the sponsor. It has been a fun and interesting job," says Pedersen.
"Then, when Tristan Hoffman announced this
fall, that he was leaving his job as a sports director Bjarne had to find a replacement. And in the end he asked me and we
have come to an agreement, which in a way completes the circle for me after having started as a rider myself," says the Dane,
who has the following comments about his own strengths and expectations:
"A lot has happened within the cycling sport
since I was a rider and of course I'll have to get my self up to speed, so I'll be taking it slow at the beginning watching
and learning from the other sports directors. I've got quite a lot of contacts through my previous job – especially
in Italy - so I won't have a problem with all the practical stuff. But life as a rider is very different from when I was a
neo-pro living in a small room with no heating or phone in the early eighties. So it's probably a whole other mentality now
as well. But I'm very much looking forward to it all," finishes Pedersen, who has his first big assignment in Tirreno-Adriatico.
Source: CSC
Petacchi won final stage and overall of the Volta ao Algarve
Alessandro Petacchi unstoppable. On Sunday the Milram sprinter also won the last stage of the Volta ao Algarve
in Portimao, celebrating his third win in a row. Therefore, the overall victory was not to be taken from the Italian anymore.
In Portimao he outpaced Fabrizio Guidi (Barloworld) and Olaf Pollack (Wiesenhof-Felt), who followed on the next ranks.
After
the Algarve-Tour had begun unhappily for Alessandro Petacchi, who was set back from the first to the fourth rank on the first
stage - a surprise even for his competitors - he gathered momentum. From the third stage onwards, the 33 year-old celebrated
one win after the other. With his second victory in Lagos he took over the yellow jersey for the overall lead, defending it
on the last stage with another win.
During the whole tour Petacchi could count on his team mates, who were always at
his side to the last meters. They also supported him on the last stage from Vila do Bispo to Portimao, when seven riders broke
away early after ten kilometres. Together with Team Predictor-Lotto Team MILRAM organised the chase and outpaced the escapees
with the German Daniel Musiol (Wiesenhof-Felt) when eight kilometres were still to go. After a good work by his team mates
Alessandro Petacchi won the bunch sprint once again. Marco Velo, the last rider before Petacchi in the “Milram-Train”,
was tenth.
Apart from the yellow jersey for the overall lead Petacchi takes along the best sprinter's jersey. 20 seconds
behind the Italian, René Haselbacher (Astana) is second of the overall classification. “This is the fourth time I won
a stage race,” Petacchi was pleased. “I’m very happy about that, and especially about my good condition.
This is extremely important for my mind and for the whole season. Especially for Milan – Sanremo,” the Italian
summed up.
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