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13.04.2007/ Tour of Basque Country: Voigt did it again!, Circuit
de la Sarthe: Albasini takes third stage, Solari wins GP Pino Cerami, Cretskens
and Hulsmans out for Paris-Roubaix, Pat Mcquaid to support Unibet.com, Basque
Country: Rasmussen and Dekker out!, Milram for Paris-Roubaix, T-Mobile
for Paris-Roubaix, Astana for Paris-Roubaix
Mailbox - win a picture in poster format with Original Autograph of Michael Boogerd
Letterbox: You can send your letters with ideas, comments and other things you would like to let us and
our readers to know to: letters@cyclingheroes.de . Some of the letters will be published on our website. We can only publish letters with your full name, hometown
and country.
Please note: your letter should not be longer than 350 words. The editor choose every month "The letter of the month".
The writer of the best letter in April 2007 will receive a picture in 20 X 30 CM format with original handwritten
autograph of Michael Boogerd.
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Dave Shields about Saul Raisin: "The story of his fight to return to pro cycling is mind boggling"
Picture gallery: Tour of Flanders, April 8, 2007
Picture gallery Cologn Classic - Rund um Köln, April 9, 2007
New: Henk Vogels: "Nice to get back in the winners circle"
Tour of Basque Country: Voigt did it again!
The spectators witnessed a regular deja vu on Thursday, when they watched Team CSC's
German freight train Jens Voigt take a comfortable victory in fourth stage of Vuelta Ciclista a Pais Vasco – his fourth
victory in the history of this particular race.
For the second day in a row Voigt was part of the early break and with
about 45 kilometers left of the 176-kilometer stage from Vitoria-Gasteiz to Lekunberri he dropped the other members of the
break and never looked back.
This M.O. was practically identical to Voigt's previous victories in Vuelta Ciclista a
Pais Vasco (in 1998, 2004 and 2005), and the spectators showed their appreciation and support for the German Team CSC rider
all the way to the finish line. CSC Sports director Kim Andersen was also full of admiration after the stage.
"It was
truly brilliant. Not just the victory – but the way he did it. He initiated the break himself after 80 kilometers and
took nine other riders along with him. Then about 50 kilometers before the end he suffered a flat, which meant extra work
to catch up again. But he managed and after that he dropped them just like that. It was fantastic," said a very excited Kim
Andersen.
The performance was even more impressive considering the fact that Voigt was also in a break yesterday during
the third stage, where he ended up being dropped on the final climb.
"Yesterday I didn't feel that strong and the riders
in the break were very strong. I felt much better today. Already from the beginning of the break I got the feeling that my
chances were better today. And yes, when the opportunity arose I made a move. I like to keep my tactics simple – that's
the best way for me," explained Voigt.
Results
stage 4 Tour of Basque Country
1 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC
4.32.15
2 José Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 1.39
3 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse
d'Epargne 1.53
4 Rinaldo Nocentini
(Ita) Ag2r Prévoyance
5 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
6 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor-Lotto
7 Alberto Contador (Spa) Discovery Channel
8 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner
9 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
10 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
11 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner
12 Ezequiel Mosquera (Spa) Karpin-Galicia
13 Juan José Cobo (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir
14 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team CSC
15 Tadej Valjavec (Slo) Lampre-Fondital
16 Antonio Colom (Spa) Astana
17 Joaquím Rodríguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
18 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas
19 Koldo Gil (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir
20 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Relax-GAM
2.13
21 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Cofidis
22 Ángel Vicioso (Spa) Relax-GAM
23 Charles Wegelius (GBr) Liquigas
24 Patxi Vila (Spa) Lampre-Fondital
25 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
General classification after stage 4 Tour of Basque Country
1 Ángel Vicioso (Spa) Relax-GAM
17.14.26
2 José Angel Gomez Marchante (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 1.46
3 Juan José Cobo (Spa) Saunier
Duval-Prodir 1.54
4 Tadej Valjavec
(Slo) Lampre-Fondital
2.09
5 Koldo Gil (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir
6 Joaquím Rodríguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
2.11
7 Samuel Sánchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
8 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner
9 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team CSC
2.13
10 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
2.17
11 Manuel Beltrán (Spa) Liquigas
2.20
12 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
2.21
13 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
2.34
14 José Antonio Redondo (Spa) Astana
2.35
15 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Relax-GAM
2.43
16 Antonio Colom (Spa) Astana
2.44
17 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas
2.55
18 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor-Lotto
3.00
19 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner
3.10
20 Bernhard Kohl (Aut) Gerolsteiner
3.11
21 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
3.20
22 Patxi Vila (Spa) Lampre-Fondital
4.13
23 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Crédit Agricole
4.18
24 Iker Camaño (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir
4.20
25 José Miguel Elías (Spa) Relax-GAM
4.43
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| Jen Voigt with another win in Basque Country (picture: Cyclingheroes) |
Circuit de la Sarthe: Albasini takes third stage
Michael Albasini won the third stage of Circuit de la Sarthe yesterday by winning the final
sprint before Duma and Vogondy.
With 15 km to go Albasini attacked and a breakaway group of six riders
was formed. The decisive action has taken place on the last slope with about one km to go.
Todays fourth and
final stage is announced as the decisive one: on the climbs leading the riders to the finish-line of Mans the general classification
will be decided. Andreas Klöden defended his yellow jersey.
Results stage 3 Circuit de la Sarthe
1 Michael Albasini (Sui) Liquigas
4.33.42 (40.6 km/h)
2 Vladimir Duma (Ukr) Ceramica Flaminia
0.04
3 Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) Agritubel
4 Christophe Kern (Fra) Crédit Agricole
0.12
5 Noan Lelarge (Fra) Bretagne-Armor Lux
0.15
6 Mikhaylo Khalilov (Ukr) Ceramica Flaminia
0.18
7 Maryan Hary (Fra) Cofidis-Le Crédit par Téléphone
8 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française des Jeux
0.21
9 Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Crédit Agricole
10 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas
11 Mathieu Ladagnous (Fra) Française des Jeux
12 Markus Zberg (Swi) Gerolsteiner
13 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana
14 David Lelay (Fra) Bretagne-Armor Lux
15 Markus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner
0.28
16 Laurent Brochard (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
0.33
17 Matteo Priamo (Ita) Ceramica Panaria-Navigare
0.35
18 Christophe Edaleine (Fra) Crédit Agricole
19 Charles Guilbert (Fra) Bretagne-Armor Lux
20 Simon Gerrans (Aus) AG2r Prévoyance
21 Maxime Méderel (Fra) Auber
22 Paul Martens (Ger) Skil-Shimano
23 Julien Loubet (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance
24 Ludovic Turpin (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance
25 José Alberto Martinez Trinidad (Spa) Agritubel
General Classification after stage 3
1 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana
2 Nicolas Vogondy (Fra) Agritubel
0.04
3 Vladimir Duma (Ukr) Ceramica Flaminia
0.10
4 Michael Albasini (Swi) Liquigas
0.15
5 Christophe Kern (Fra) Crédit Agricole
6 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas
0.16
7 Mathieu Ladagnous (Fra) Française des Jeux
8 Benoît Vaugrenard (Fra) Française des Jeux
0.20
9 Maryan Hary (Fra) Cofidis-Le Crédit par Téléphone
0.23
10 Markus Fothen (Ger) Gerolsteiner
0.29
11 Markus Zberg (Swi) Gerolsteiner
12 Kilian Patour (Fra) Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle 0.31
13
Christophe Edaleine (Fra) Crédit Agricole
0.36
14 Jonathan Hivert (Fra) Crédit Agricole
0.37
15 Laurent Brochard (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
0.38
16 José Alberto Martinez Trinidad (Spa) Agritubel
0.40
17 David Lelay (Fra) Bretagne-Armor Lux
0.42
18 Simon Gerrans (Aus) AG2r Prévoyance
0.43
19 Mikhaylo Khalilov (Ukr) Ceramica Flaminia
0.44
20 Paul Martens (Ger) Skil-Shimano
0.45
21 Damien Monier (Fra) Cofidis-Le Crédit par Téléphone
0.48
22 Matej Mugerli (Slo) Liquigas
0.50
23 Maxime Méderel (Fra) Auber
0.51
24 Christophe Moreau (Fra) AG2r Prévoyance
1.01
25 Noan Lelarge (Fra) Bretagne-Armor Lux
1.02
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| Will Andreas Klöden win his second overall classification of this year? (Picture: Tim de Waele ) |
Solari wins GP Pino Cerami
The Italian Luca Solari (Team LPR) has won GP Pino Cerami yesterday. Solari was the fastest
of the breakaway group and beat his teammate Marco Marcato and Bert Dewaele (Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner) in the sprint.
Cretskens and Hulsmans out for Paris-Roubaix
Cause of the fall in the descent of the Kemmelberg during Gent-Wevelgem last
wednesday, Wilfried Cretskens underwent some researches in the hospital of Kortrijk who could exclude any broken bones in
his right arm.
Cretskens has a severe bruising from the fall and a deep wound that
needed some stitches. Crestskens will be out for a period of two weeks.
Hulsmans also out for Paris Roubaix
Kevin Hulsmans had to quit on wednesday due to breath problems.
Hulsmans
has a bronchitis and will have to respect some days of rest.
Cause of these reasons Hulsmans and Cretskens will not participate at Paris
Roubaix.
Pat Mcquaid to support Unibet.com
UCI president Pat McQuaid and ProTour manager Alain Rumpf were at the start of Gent-Wevelgem
to support the Unibet.com ProTour team on Wednesday. McQuaid and Rumpf are angry that the ProTour Team Unibet.com is
not invited to participate in the ProTour races organised by ASO and RCS.
"There's no reason why Unibet.com should
not have been invited to Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico. RCS and ASO broke their agreement. We're currently looking into
the possibilities of taking legal action against ASO and RCS," said UCI President Pat McQuaid.
Basque Country: Rasmussen and Dekker out!
The Rabo ProTeam keeps suffering blows in the Basque Tour. On the first day, team captain Denis Menchov was
forced to drop out due to bronchitis. Three days later Thomas Dekker and Michael Rasmussen also had to leave the
tour involuntarily. The Danish climber contracted a stomach flu yesterday evening. He tried anyway on Thursday, even though
he was badly weakened. Unfortunately, his attempt proved to be futile just a few kilometers into the race. According to the
Rabobank team website Thomas Dekker gave up halfway through because his hip was hurting.
The Rabo rider had been suffering from it for a while but the pain was now also spreading to his right
leg. "It was just a precautionary measure to make sure he would not end up with a severe injury," clarified team leader Erik
Breukink. "We feel we have had enough misery this week. It has not turned out to be our lucky tour."
On his personal website tdmagazine.nl, Thomas Dekker said: "Final day in Basque Country. I became problems
with my back because I was sitting in a wrong position on my bike." Dekker also said he hopes to be fit for the classics.
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| Michael Rasmussen has got the flu (picture: Cyclingheroes) |
Milram for Paris-Roubaix
On Sunday (15 April) the 105th edition of Paris - Roubaix over 259.5 kilometers is scheduled.
Another endurance test for the riders, which makes high demands to man and material and is not wrongly called the "Hell of
the North".
Since the first edition in 1896, which saw the only German win so far by Josef Fischer, the course was hardly
changed. Merely the start was later relocated from Paris to Compiegne. However the drama of the race was unbroken. Many a
rider had to bury his hopes or ambitious goals on the cobbled passages. The "Queen of the classics", as the race is also called,
is loved by many a rider, and hated by just as much. The importance of the race can also be seen by the French government's
preserving some of the cobbled passages, which partly are still from the 19th century, for the race only.
28 cobbled passages, this year altogether 52.7 kilometers, make the peloton split up from kilometer 98 onwards.
The preliminary decision is often made on the last 50 kilometers, when one pavé followes the other.
Apart from Erik Zabel, who has to forgo a start at Paris - Roubaix due to his injury from the Tour of Flanders,
Sebastian Siedler is missing in Team MILRAM's selection. Siedler's child was born yesterday. His wife Kerstin and daughter
Pia are doing fine.
Milram for Paris-Roubaix:
Alessandro Cortinovis, Volodymyr Diudia, Ralf Grabsch, Brett Lancaster, Martin Mueller, Niki Terpstra, Marcel
Sieberg, Fabio Sabatini
Sport director: Gianluigi Stanga
T-Mobile for Paris-Roubaix
After Wednesday’s double success at Gent-Wevelgem; the T-Mobile Team approach Sunday’s Paris-Roubaix
(April 15) brimming with confidence. Spring-season sensation Marcus Burghardt showed on Wednesday that he knows how to win
on cobbles, and he is now a strong contender for a top placing at the torturous race they call ‘l'Enfer du Nord’
- the Hell of the North.
"I feel very strong at the moment and I am confident that I can match the best riders at Paris-Roubaix,"
quipped Burghardt. However, the 23-year old German power-house was quick to draw attention to the greater difficulty of Sunday’s
pavé-classic. "Paris-Roubaix has a different character, it’s 60km longer and much tougher, but I'm certainly motivated
and I have loads of confidence."
The lanky Burghardt knows the race well. In 2004 he placed fourth here in the U-23 race, and he lists the
‘Queen of the Classics’ as his favourite race. "It is fun to race on this unique course. I like the special atmosphere
here and, as I always say: 'Paris-Roubaix is the world’s greatest cyclo-cross race...'
Roger Hammond is no stranger
to cyclo-cross either, nor is he a stranger to Paris-Roubaix. The 33-year-old Briton enjoyed his finest career moment here
back in 2004, placing third in Roubaix’s old concrete Velodrome. And the man who took second ahead of the stocky Briton
that day is none other than Hammond’s current team director Tristan Hoffman.
"Roger’s strong and gutsy
ride paved the way for Marcus to win in Wevelgem. Fair play to him for the cool way he worked over Freire and Ventoso
in the finale. Paris-Roubaix is one of his big season objectives and he is ready," says Hoffman.
Team with many cards to play
Indeed, if there was a "man of the match" award at Gent-Wevelgem,
then it would surely have gone to Hammond for his perfect team play. Now, buoyed by form and results, Hammond is hungry for
more team success in France.
“Wednesday’s race was really good for the confidence. I am really looking
forward to Paris-Roubaix; it’s an absolutely massive race and a great race to get on the podium. We have a really strong
team and many cards to play. Tactically, the sporting managers got it spot on yesterday, so lets see what they have planned
for us in France.”
Bernhard Eisel is the other trump card the team can play. The Austrian sprinter
was fifth in Roubaix last season, and would dearly love the chance to use his top-end speed in a small group sprint for the
podium.
"It’s a dream situation for a sporting director to have so many options at my disposal", quips Tristan
Hoffman, who also sees Andreas Klier in a key role: "Andreas is getting stronger by the day, and he’s a dark horse to
pull off a surprise on Sunday."
Knaven's start in doubt
Joining the quartet on the stone torture test over
28 stretches of cobbles - 52.7 km in total – from Compiegne to Roubaix (259km) in France's north-east are Bert Grabsch,
Lorenzo Bernucci and sprinter Eric Baumann.
A question mark hangs over Servais Knaven’s fitness to start on Sunday.
The Dutchman came off his bike and landed in a gutter during Gent-Wevelgem. "Servais suffered bruised ribs, which are giving
him pain," says Hoffman, but he plans to give Knaven all the time he needs to make the cut. However, if the Dutch veteran
fails to regain race fitness in time, then US rider Aaron Olson will slot in as the team’s eighth man on Sunday.
The
T-Mobile for Paris-Roubaix:
Eric Baumann (27), Lorenzo Bernucci (27/Italy), Marcus Burghardt (23), Bernhard Eisel (26/Austria),
Roger Hammond (33/Great Britain), Bert Grabsch (31), Andreas Klier (31), Servais Knaven (36/Netherlands). Sport directors:
Tristan Hoffman (37/Netherlands) and Brian Holm (44/Denmark)
Astana for Paris-Roubaix
Considering the inferno in which the field will find itself this
Sunday, April 15, the slogan “the hardest of the hard”, is
also for this 105th edition
certainly not an exaggeration. They will depart from Compiègne
and arrive in Roubaix after 259.5 km, of which 52.7 km are divided into
28 cobblestone sections.
Amongst the eight participating cyclists of the Astana Cycling
Team is Koen De Kort (NED) who finished 14th
with the field at Gand – Wevelgem. According
to his own words he is in good shape and will have to be taken seriously;
even more so since he had already won this race in 2004 in the U23 category.
With the additional support of another young cyclist, Michael Schär (SUI),
who finished fourth last year with the U23, Astana can have realistic
ambitions.
Astana for Paris-Roubaix:
Koen De Kort (NED), René Haselbacher (AUT), Benoît Joachim (LUX),
Aaron Kemps (AUS), Alexey Kolessov (KAZ), Gennady Mikhailov (RUS), Gregory Rast (SUI) and Michael Schär (SUI). Sports Director:
Mario Kummer.
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| Gregory Rast and Koen De Kort during Sundays Tour of Flanders (picture: Cyclingheroes) |
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