At the first climb of the race, Pascal Hungerbühler (Volksbank) broke away together with the two Belgians Vanendert (Chocolade Jacques) and Seeldrayers (Quick Step) as well as his team mate Tonti. Hungerbühler showed up at several mountain- and sprint premiums. "But it was clear that it wouldn't be a lucky escape. Only four riders, this was just for the television broadcast. That's why I'm not angry that it finally didn't work out. I think I presented the Volksbank-colours very well", says the Swissman after the race. When it came down to the finish line it was showtime for the sprint specialists. A fall on the last 1000 meters riffled the cards anew, even for René Weissinger (Volksbank) . "The fall prevented a better results for some riders. It was very hectic, I even didn't get around to sprintig, I just rolled across the finish line", describes the rider from Germany. "I felt very well at the climbs, so I'm satisfied with the result."

 

Team CSC's Argentinean sprinter found himself in the company of some of the major profiles in Rund um Köln, and after battling it out with Alessandro Petacchi (Milram) and Graeme Brown (Rabobank), Haedo was even able to claim a very convincing victory.

”The team did their work perfectly and delivered J.J. ready for the sprint, where he was truly excellent. He won with a sizeable margin and it wasn't exactly inexperienced riders, he beat. This was his first victory in Europe and it definitely wont be the last. I think we've found a sprinter with huge potential in Haedo,” said CSC sports director Alain Gallopin after the win, which is Haedo's third and Team CSC's seventh this season.

 

Results Cologn Classic 2007:

 

1 Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) Team CSC             4.50.09 (42.02 km/h)
2 Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank                      
3 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Team Milram            
4 Ciaran Power (Irl) Navigators                    
5 Markus Zberg (Sui) Gerolsteiner                  
6 Tilo Schüler (Ger) Team Sparkasse                
7 René Obst (Ger) Team 3CG-Gru                     
8 Luke Roberts (Aus) Team CSC                      
9 Rene Weissinger (Ger) Team Volksbank             
10 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Navigators                 
11 Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner                
12 Marco Marcato (Ita) LPR                         
13 Benny De Schrooder (Bel) Chocolade Jacques      
14 Steffen Radochla (Ger) Wiesenhof                
15 Danilo Wyss (Sui) Team Atlas-Romer              
16 Daniele Callegarin (Ita) LPR                    
17 Peter Pichler (Aut) Team Elkhaus                
18 Mala Van Ruitenbeek (Ned) Team Regiostrom       
19 Andreas Schillinger (Ger) Team Sparkasse        
20 Martin Hebik (Cze) Team Heinz von Heiden        
21 Benjamin Brooks (Aus) Navigators                
22 Geert Steurs (Bel) Predictor-Lotto              
23 Peter Velits (Svk) Wiesenhof                    
24 Laurent Didier (Lux) Team Regiostrom            
25 Sergej Fuchs (Ger) Team 3CG-Gru