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14.06.2007/ Dauphiné Libéré: Vinokourov is ready for the Grand Boucle,
Milram for Tour de Suisse, Astana for Tour de Suisse
Mailbox - win a picture in poster format with Original Autograph of Michael Boogerd
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Dauphiné
Libéré: Vinokourov is ready for the Grand Boucle
Kazakh Alexander Vinokourov took the overall lead of the Dauphine Libere after winning Wednesday's time trial. The
Astana pro finished66 nine seconds ahead of his team mate Andrey Kashechkin in the 40.7-km long individual time trial.
Vinokourov
was very happy with his win: "The Dauphine is always a great test for the Tour de France, and this shows I'm on track for
July," he told reporters. "I can't say it was a surprise, I was motivated and when I clocked the fastest time at the first
checkpoint, I decided to go all out. "You can't win the Tour without winning time trials, so this is an excellent omen."
The
33-year-old hinted that he could cede control of the Dauphine to his team mate Kashechkin.
"It would give him a good
morale boost if he won here, just like I did when I was younger," Vinokourov said.
"My only dream now is to win the Tour.
We'll see if he can take over on tomorrow's stage on the Mont Ventoux."
Team CSC's
Dave Zabriskie came in third. "Dave did well today, but the two Astana riders were incredibly strong, so there was nothing
he could've done. In the Giro he was also beat by two guys from Astana, so he wasn't exactly thrilled, when he crossed the
finish line, because he felt he might've had a realistic chance today," said CSC Sports Director Alain Gallopin after the
stage and continued:
"The others did ok as well. Christian Vande Velde was feeling all right on top of his crash yesterday
so that was god news."
Results
Stage 3
1 Alexander
Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana 52.08.95
(46,841 km/h)
2 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana
0.08.45
3 David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC
0.37.38
4 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor-Lotto
0.38.12
5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank
0.39.52
6 Stef Clement (Ned) Bouygues Telecom
1.06.13
7 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis
1.09.41
8 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel 1.10.68
9
Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 1.17.60
10 David Millar
(GBr) Saunier Duval-Prodir 1.35.52
General
Classification after stage 3
1 Alexander
Vinokourov (Kaz) Astana
10.23.23 (40,511 km/h)
2 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astana
0.02
3 David Zabriskie (USA) Team CSC
0.32
4 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank
0.40
5 Cadel Evans (Aus) Predictor-Lotto
0.41
6 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel
1.03
7 Stef Clement (Ned) Bouygues Telecom
1.05
8 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis
1.07
9 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
1.12
10 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval-Prodir
1.33
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| Vinokourov seems to be ready for the Tour (picture: Kathleen Poulos) |
Milram for Tour de Suisse
Erik Zabel is captain of Team Milram's selection starting at the Tour de Suisse (16 to 24 June) on Saturday. The ProTour
race over nine stages is an important test for the Tour de France.
Erik Zabel starts the race accordingly: "From the sportive point of view the race is extremely challenging. The whole
purpose of the race is to test your condition again in the high mountains," the Zabel says. Of course he wants to try to
take his own chances. "There are two stages for sprinters. These we want to make use of," Zabel, who will have an experienced
team at his side, continues.
Milram for Tour de Suisse:
Erik Zabel, Mirko Celestino, Sergio Ghisalberti, Ralf Grabsch, Alberto Ongarato, Enrico Poitschke, Bjoern Schroeder,
Sebastian Schwager
Sports Director:
Oscar Pellicioli
Astana for Tour de Suisse
The Tour de Suisse, which will take place from Saturday 16th to Sunday 24th of June, will feature a highly distinguished course with some
beautiful mountain stages. No less than six famous mountain passes will have
to be overcome in the Swiss Alps, amongst them the Nufenen. The Furka, the Susten
and the Grimsel will all have to be accomplished in just one day! This challenge
will prove if the peloton is ready.
German riders Andreas Klöden and Matthias Kessler will use the race as a very welcome preparation for the Tour de France. They will be
supported in this challenge by a Swiss trio, composed of Thomas Frei, Michael
Schär and Gregory Rast, who just won the Tour of Luxemburg. There is no doubt,
the Swiss cyclists will do everything to shine on the roads of their home country.
Astana for Tour de Suisse: Igor Abakoumov (BEL), Thomas Frei (SUI), Matthias Kessler (GER), Andreas Klöden (GER), Andrej Mizurov (KAZ), Daniele Navarro (ESP), Gregory
Rast (SUI) et Michael Schär (SUI).
Sports Director: Mario Kummer.
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| Andreas Klöden will start at the Tour de Suisse (picture: Cyclingheroes) |
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