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03.06.2007/ Tour of Bavaria: Schumacher takes fourth stage, Darren Lill won Mt. Hood's toughest stage, Tour of
Belgium: Gesink is the king of the Ardennes, Rashaan Bahati won CSC invitational, Godefroot press conference
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The writer of the best letter in June 2007 will receive a picture in 20 X 30 CM format with original handwritten
autograph of Michael Boogerd.
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New: Special coverage Giro d'Italia 2007
Tour of Bavaria: Schumacher takes fourth stage
German rider Stefan Schumacher (Gerolsteiner) took the overall lead at the Tour of Bavaria after having won the penultimate
stage time trial at the Bayern Rundfahrt on Saturday with both start and finish in Rothenburg ob der Tauber.
"When you win, then you're always satisfied," said the 25-year-old Schumacher, who won the Amstel Gold Race this spring.
"The season has been great for me so far, it can keep on like this. In the Bayern Rundfahrt there is 'Tour d'honneur' in the
last stage. There will be attacks, but we are here with a strong team and I think we will keep things under control."
T-Mobile's Bert Grabsch was second fastest over the rain-soaked 24km course, three seconds back, to take his best result
of the season. "The parcours today was very tough. Whoever were able to get over the hills in the biggest gear were always
going to clock the fastest times. All credit to Bert, but also to Schumacher", said T-Mobile sports director Jan Schaffrath.
"It was wet and windy and second place was good result for the team."
Jens Voigt (CSC) was third – 14 seconds behind his fellow countryman, while his teammate Fränk Schleck surprised
with a fourth place – just five seconds behind Voigt. Both Schumacher and Voigt had to ride in heavy rain. "Of course
I would have liked to have been first, but I'm not disappointed. I have to remain realistic," Voigt said. "The rain was not
a deciding factor. I rode in the rain, but Schumi did too, and even for Bert Grabsch it rained for half the time. Certainly
I don't take a lot of risks -- after all, I'm 35 years old and have four children. The others were simply faster than me and
so they deserved to finish higher."
"Jens was locked in a tight battle with Schumacher throughout the entire stage. There was a climb halfway through, where
they had the exact same intermediate time at the top, but on the descent Jens was a bit nervous of crashing in the rain, so
he took it easy, which probably cost him the stage," explained CSC sports director Kim Andersen, who was very surprised with
Schleck.
Sunday's final stage is a 160.7km trek over fairly flat terrain from Rothenburg to Furth. T-Mobile sports director Jan
Schaffrath: "Stefan Schumacher is a good climber and sprinter. It will be hard ask to take yellow from him. Therefore we will
just try to defend our podium place, and maybe set up another chance for Gerald Ciolek in a bunch sprint."
Results
Stage 4
1 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner
30.44 (46.84 km/h)
2 Bert Grabsch (Ger) T-Mobile Team
0.03
3 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC
0.14
4 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC
0.19
5 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana
0.24
6 Olaf Pollack (Ger) Team Wiesenhof Felt
0.43
7 Nicki Sørensen (Den) Team CSC
0.45
8 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner
0.48
9 Peter Velits (Svk) Team Wiesenhof Felt
0.51
10 Sebastian Siedler (Ger) Team Milram
0.52
General Classification after stage 4
1 Stefan Schumacher (Ger) Gerolsteiner
13.51.58
2 Bert Grabsch (Ger) T-Mobile Team
0.08
3 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC
0.14
4 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC
0.24
5 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana
0.29
6 Sebastian Siedler (Ger) Team Milram
0.47
7 Nicki Sørensen (Den) Team CSC
0.50
8 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner
0.53
9 Peter Velits (Svk) Team Wiesenhof Felt
0.56
10 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC
0.57
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| Stefan Schumacher with another win (picture: Cyclingheroes) |
Darren Lill won Mt. Hood's toughest stage
Intent on making sure Stefano Barberi remained in the King of the Mountains jersey at the Mt. Hood Cycling
Classic, Toyota-United Team Director Kirk Willett devised a plan Saturday that would pay even bigger dividends.
Facing
the toughest stage of the race, Willett instructed Barberi and teammate Burke Swindlehurst to initiate a break early on in
Stage 5’s 89-mile (143.2 km) Wy’East Road Race. The result was an eight-man group that stayed in front nearly
the entire stage, with Swindlehurst finishing second, followed by teammate Justin England in third.
“We had
a plan set up for today and everyone executed the plan exactly as we discussed,” Willett said. “We came out of
that with second and third on the day and the KOM jersey. That’s a pretty darn good day.”
Darren Lill
(Navigators Insurance Cycling Team) rode away from Swindlehurst and Barberi in the final kilometers to win the stage by 21
seconds. England jumped out of the peloton with 3.1 miles (5 km) to go and finished seven seconds behind Swindlehurst. The
result moved England up to sixth place overall, two minutes and 55 seconds behind race leader Nathan O’Neill (Health
Net presented by Maxxis).
“This race has been really tough, with good courses,” England said. “But
I think our team has represented itself well. We’ve been active in the breakaways – both today and yesterday –
but we really would have liked to have come away with a stage win.”
Barberi said he envisioned the early breakaway
being able to stay away on the course that featured 9,200 feet of climbing. At one point, the escapees had a four-minute lead.
“It was a good group of guys and everyone was working well together,” Barberi said. “There was no
looking back. We were either going to win the stage or destroy the rest of the field. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get
the win.”
With only Sunday’s 60-minute Downtown Criterium remaining in the six-day race, Barberi needs
only to finish to win the first-ever special classification of his three-year professional career.
Toyota-United also
moved into third place Saturday in the team classification behind Navigators Insurance Cycling Team and Health Net presented
by Maxxis.
Results
Stage 5
1 Darren Lill (RSA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
3.46.08 (37.149 km/h)
2 Burke Swindlehurst (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling
0.21
3 Justin England (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling
0.28
4 Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
0.36
5 Nathan O' Neill (Aus) Health Net presented by Maxxis
6 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Health Net presented by Maxxis
0.40
7 Stefano Barberi (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling
8 Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Priority Health/Bissell
0.42
9 Aaron Tuckerman (USA) Team Rubicon
0.53
10 Glen Chadwick (NZl) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
General Classification after stage 5
1 Nathan O' Neill (Aus) Health Net presented by Maxxis
12.47.28
2 Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
0.05
3 Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) Priority Health/Bissell
0.32
4 Glen Chadwick (NZl) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
2.13
5 Cameron Wurf (Aus) Priority Health/Bissell
2.44
6 Justin England (USA) Toyota-United Pro Cycling
2.55
7 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Health Net presented by Maxxis
3.01
8 Chris Lieto (USA) California Giant/Specialized
3.03
9 Ben Kneller (USA) Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory
3.33
10 Darren Lill (RSA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
3.34
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| Burke Swindlehurst, Stefano Barberi and Darren Lill on the final climb (picture: Kurt Jambretz) |
Tour of Belgium: Gesink is the king of the Ardennes
Robert Gesink (Rabobank) has, for now, been able to crown his successful spring season by claiming a great victory in the
Tour of Belgium. The big Rabo-talent won the king stage on Saturday after he had initiated an impressive attack on La Redoute.
Geesink rode away from all the top-class riders on the steep climb, which is known from Liège-Bastogne-Liège. During the remaining
eight kilometers to the finish, he managed to stay ahead of the big favorites for the final victory. In Aywaille, he still
had 12 seconds left of his maximum lead of 25 seconds.
The Russian Vladimir Gusev passed the finish line in the pursuing group and, therefore, kept his leader's jersey. The leading
position was, however, frequently under pressure during the Ardennes stage. The number three in the general classification,
Rick Flens, was one of the brave attackers. At twenty kilometers from the finish, Flens placed an attack. Together with Mathé
Pronk, he was able to create a little gap, but Gusev still had three teammates with him, who were then able to close that
gap again. Flens was captured shortly before the start of La Redoute.
Dekker enjoys it 'a lot'
The acceleration by Flens was one of the many displayed by a Rabo-youngster
in a very special stage, during which team leader Erik Dekker was continuously amazed by what was happening. "This Tour was
put on the program specifically for the younger riders, and what they have demonstrated today certainly shows why that was
a good decision, because it was absolutely amazing. I enjoyed it a lot watching it from behind the wheel," was Dekker's opinion
on his younger cyclists Robert Gesink, Kai Reus and Rick Flens. All three have shown something special. Gesink with (quote
by Dekker:) 'more than ten attacks and a world-class finale,' Reus with a long high-spirited escape for which he was even
praised by his fellow-escapee Gert Steegman, and Flens with a daring attack on the leader's jersey.
"Whether the latter was smart at that moment, is another matter," concluded Dekker after the stage. "But, I just let Rick
go, because it was so wonderful and exciting to see. Besides, Rick did not lose a lot of time in the end, so the damage was
very limited." After Flens was captured, the Rabo team, for the umpteenth time this stage, played the card of the best climber
that the Netherlands has had in years, Robert Gesink. "He asked me about it on Friday: 'What should I do, go early or wait
for La Redoute?' Well, he did both. He initiated around five attacks during the first hour of racing. During the finale, he
had two more fierce attempts, and then the breakaway on La Redoute, which was of course impressive," said the team leader.
Gesink had no doubts at all on La Redoute after he had consulted Erik Dekker through his communication-apparatus. Dekker:
"I told him he had to escape, because if you wait too long you will not be able to get away alone and then Robert will not
win this stage. Gesink's reaction: "I felt very strong during the entire day and even still on La Redoute. I noticed that
the others were experiencing problems during the climb, which is why I started accelerating. I started to doubt a little bit
after I had reached the top, because it was still a long way to go and the margin was minimal, but I still succeeded and that
is just wonderful. It is my first victory with the professionals and a great one. Now to the Dauphiné, where I hope I will
be able to demonstrate my skills again."
Results
Stage 4
1 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank
4.30.59 (44.21 km/h)
2 Leif Hoste (Bel) Predictor - Lotto
0.13
3 Bert De Waele (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner
4 Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Chocolade Jacques - Topsport Vlaanderen
5 Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Skil - Shimano
6 Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Tinkoff Credit System
7 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team
8 Tom Danielson (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team
0.17
9 Pieter Mertens (Bel) Predictor - Lotto
0.44
10 Sven Nevens (Bel) Jartazi Promo Fashion
General Classification after stage 4
1 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team
12.50.22
2 Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Skil - Shimano
0.39
3 Leif Hoste (Bel) Predictor - Lotto
0.40
4 Sébastien Rosseler (Bel) Quickstep - Innergetic
0.53
5 Rick Flens (Ned) Rabobank
1.13
6 Bert Roesems (Bel) Predictor - Lotto
1.14
7 Gianni Meersman (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team
1.25
8 Bert De Waele (Bel) Landbouwkrediet - Tönissteiner
1.32
9 Greg Van Avermaet (Bel) Predictor - Lotto
1.34
10 Maarten Den Bakker (Ned) Skil - Shimano
2.16
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| Robert Gesink during last years Tour de l'Avenir (picture: Cyclingheroes) |
Rashaan Bahati won CSC invitational
Ivan Stevic of the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team came within inches of winning the sprint finish Saturday
at the 10th annual CSC Invitational.
It was a drag race from the final corner to the finish line, with Stevic being
narrowly edged by Rashaan Bahati (Rock & Republic Cycling Team) while Hilton Clarke (Navigators Insurance Cycling Team)
was third.
“It was a long sprint and into a headwind, so it probably helped Rashaan that he was able to come
from behind me,” Stevic said. "I'm happy for him and his team.”
Stevic’s finish was the second runner-up
placing on the day for the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team. At the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic in Oregon, Burke Swindlehurst and
Justin England finished second and third, respectively, on Stage 5 at that National Race Calendar event.
Stevic, the
reigning Serbian National Champion, said he received a perfect leadout from teammates Chris Wherry and Henk Vogels on the
final lap of the 62-mile (100 km), 100-lap race that is billed as the “Hardest Crit in America.” The only glitch,
Stevic said, was that he came around Vogels on the outside of the final turn, rather than the inside.
“I should
have told Henk I was coming up on the inside,” Stevic said. “I can usually do the corners really tight, so I usually
go to the inside. Rashaan saw my mistake and jumped, and there was no way to catch him.”
Toyota-United Team
Director Harm Jansen said he was pleased the team performed so well despite the absence of its top sprinter, Ivan Dominguez,
who is recovering from a crash that injured his back and ribs.
"Ivan Stevic was really fantastic today," Jansen said.
"We had only six guys in the race and we got second place, so I'm pretty happy about it."
Of Toyota-United’s
six riders, two of them – Jose Manual Garcia and Caleb Manion – were not feeling 100 percent in the 90-degree
heat. Garcia was suffering from stomach problems and Manion was experiencing back pain, Stevic said.
“Everyone
did what they could today,” Stevic said. “With eight laps to go, I almost crashed and went all the way to the
back of the bunch. But Chris (Wherry) came back and got me and took me right back to the front. We were very lucky that he
was feeling good today.”
In the early going of the race, Victor Rapinski (Navigators Insurance) ventured off
on a solo breakaway and was within 15 seconds of lapping the field on the five-turn, one-kilometer course through Arlington’s
Clarendon district before several teams began working hard on the front.
Rapinski was eventually brought back and,
in the closing laps, Toyota-United and Team CSC controlled the front to set up the bunch sprint.
“It looked
like it was going to come down to a bunch sprint,” Jansen said, “so we played it that way.”
Results
1 Rahsaan Bahati (USA) Rock & Republic
2 Ivan Stevic (Srb) Toyota-United
3 Hilton Clarke (Aus)
Navigators Insurance
4 Shawn Milne (USA) Health Net-Maxxis
5 Alex Candelario (USA) Jelly Belly
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| Even a bike throw at the line isnt enough to stop Bahati (picture: Charles M. Herskowitz) |
Godefroot press conference
Former T-Mobile and Telekom team manager Walter Godefroot will held a press conference on Tuesday (11:00
CET). The press conference will be held in Ghent (Belgium) and it is expected that Godefroot will speak about the wave of
confessions of former team Telekom riders.
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