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12.07.2007/ Tour of Austria: Rohregger defends yellow, Pfannberger 'King of the Glockner', Voigt renewed with CSC, Presentation Tour Down Under 2008, Ricardo Escuela won opening stage Cascade
Classic, Skil Shimano for Tour of Qinghai Lake, Tour de France: Di Gregorio out
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 June 2007 will receive a picture in 20 X 30 CM format with original handwritten
autograph of Michael Boogerd.
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Toyota United's Sean P. Tucker: "There are ... only two ways to fix the problem of doping"
Bjarne Riis comments on Jaksche allegations
Jörg Jaksche: We can discuss the whole thing in court, my pleasure!
New: Pevenage: "Of course I admit that I was in contact with Fuentes."
Special Coverage Tour de France 2007
Tour of Austria: Rohregger defends yellow, Pfannberger 'King of the Glockner'
Thomas Rohregger from Tyrol defended on the Glockner stage from Kitzbuehel to Prägraten at the Großvenediger
his Hervis leader jersey. Happyness also by his Elk teammate Christian Pfannberger, who crowned itself to the 'King of the
Glockner'! The stage-win after 184 kilometers in Osttirol took the Belgian Lotto professional Björn Leukemans, this year on
the fourth place at Paris-Roubaix.
The first large high point of the day with delightful weather conditions provided
state champion Christian Pfannberger. He sat down from the top group three kilometers before the Fuschertörl and happened
after 14 turns and 13 kilometers as the first the Fuschertörl. Pfannberger, which collected numerous mountain points and therefore
took the Wiesbauer mountain jersey, set up a new record on the Glockner, in a time of 47,23 minutes from Ferleiten to the
Fuschertörl!
On the last ten kilometers up to Prägraten the top group was permanently attacked but only one was successful:
Bjoern Leukemans reached Prägraten with a protection of 32 seconds. Gerrit Glomser provided with rank two his best stage placement.
"For me it is the largest success in my career. Austria round travel has international an outstanding reputation and
I am proud of my performance," said Leukemans in the goal.
Also the "King of the Glockner” Christian Pfannberger
jubilated: 'The win on the Großglockner was already a large goal before the start. This title remains eternally!"
Stage 3
The Tiroler Thomas Rohregger celebrated his biggest career victory on Tuesday at the Kitzbüheler
Horn. The professional of the team 'Elk Haus Simplon' won the third stage of the 59th edition of the Tour of Austria (2HC).
He acclaimed a solo victory at the final hike on the stage from Salzburg up to the Kitzbüheler Horn forward his team colleague
Christian Pfannberger .Third place won the Slovene Jure Golcer followed by the Belgian champion Stijn Devolder. In the overall
classement Rohregger accepted the Hervis jersey.
A group of 15 top-class sportsman disposed ten kilometers after the
start at the Salzburger airport, which was only placed up by the main field at the beginning of the 8.5 kilometers long rise
to the alpine house at the Kitzbüheler Horn. The first attack came from Rohregger, Glomser and Golcer, at which Thomas Rohregger
could rapidly acquired a comfortable lead over. Up to the goal the Kramsacher saved 18 seconds over his team colleagues Christian
Pfannberger who won the stage on the Horn last year. 'It is like a Hollywood film: "A win on my favorite mountain in my hometown
is a dream. The whole last year I aimed on this day and it disbursed."
Results
Stage 3
1 Thomas Rohregger (Aut) Elk Haus-Simplon
4.37.27 (39.75 km/h)
2 Christian Pfannberger (Aut) Elk Haus-Simplon
0.18
3 Jure Golcer (Slo) Tenax-Salmilano
0.47
4 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel
1.13
5 Ruslan Pidgornyy (Ukr) Tenax-Salmilano
1.55
6 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Relax-GAM
2.03
7 Gerrit Glomser (Aut) Volksbank
2.37
8 Andreas Ortner (Ger) RC ARBÖ Resch & Frisch Gourmetfein Wels
3.04
9 Jürgen Pauritsch (Aut) Swiag Pro Cycling Team
3.17
10 Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Tinkoff Credit Systems
3.20
Stage 4
1 Björn Leukemans (Bel) Predictor-Lotto
5.03.45 (36.29 kph)
2 Gerrit Glomser (Aut) Volksbank
0.32
3 Morris Possoni (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
0.33
4 Ruslan Pidgornyy (Ukr) Tenax-Salmilano
5 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Relax-GAM
6 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel
7 Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel) Quickstep-Innergetic
8 Thomas Rohregger (Aut) Elk Haus-Simplon
9 Christian Pfannberger (Aut) Elk Haus-Simplon
10 Jure Golcer (Slo) Tenax-Salmilano
General Classification after stage 4
1 Thomas Rohregger (Aut) Elk Haus-Simplon
17.16.15
2 Christian Pfannberger (Aut) Elk Haus-Simplon
0.33
3 Jure Golcer (Slo) Tenax-Salmilano
1.04
4 Stijn Devolder (Bel) Discovery Channel
1.33
5 Ruslan Pidgornyy (Ukr) Tenax-Salmilano
2.16
6 Oscar Sevilla (Spa) Relax-GAM
2.24
7 Gerrit Glomser (Aut) Volksbank
2.47
8 Morris Possoni (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
3.50
9 Andreas Ortner (Ger) RC ARBÖ Resch & Frisch Gourmetfein Wels
3.58
10 Vasil Kiryienka (Blr) Tinkoff Credit Systems
4.10
Voigt renewed with CSC
One of Team CSC's major profiles - the 35-year old German Jens Voigt - has had his contract
extended for another two years.
"I belong with Team CSC and I'm extremely happy we've agreed on extending our contract.
I want to spend the remaining part of my career her at Team CSC and luckily I've still got lots of time left. This team means
a lot to me both professionally and personally. I fell that I'm among my best friends, when I'm at work - and who could ask
for more really. I feel a great responsibility for the new young talents and at the same time I'm still highly motivated to
make some great results of my own. Even though the cycling sport is going thru some rough times at the moment I'm still one
hundred percent motivated, and I feel that with our Anti-Doping Program we're helping to pave the way for a healthy and safe
future. I'd very much like to be a part of that and I'd also like to maintain some sort of relationship with the team, when
I eventually decide to park my bike in the garage," says Jens Voigt.
"Jens is not only one of the biggest stars in
this sport, he's also vital to our team in so many ways. He's the most attacking rider in the peloton and there's no doubt
that he is totally invaluable to us. There is only one Jens Voigt and it's a great pleasure to have him on our team. His approach
to riding a bike and his attitude to both his work and colleagues is utterly unique. He's not afraid to lead the way and his
personality is definitely a big inspiration to the new riders," says CSC Sports Director Kim Andersen.
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| Jens Voigt during the prologue of the 2007 Tour de France (picture: Cyclingheroes) |
Presentation Tour Down Under 2008
The 2008 Tour Down Under race routes have been announced
today. The Australian stage race will
return to Glenelg for the first time in six years, with an event first - the Team Presentation will be free to the public
from our Presentation Podium prior to the start of the Down Under Classic. Glenelg will also host the finish of the Mutual
Community Fun Tour and Mini Tour for kids presented by UniSA .
Next year’s Tour Down Under will be a special 10th anniversary event with new race routes and racing across two weekends,
Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith announced today.
"It’s our tenth tour and it will be bigger and better than ever," the Minister said.
The event, running between January 20 and 27, will return to Glenelg for the first time in six years, with the Teams Presentation,
the finish of the Mutual Community Fun Tour and Mini Tour for kids presented by UniSA all being held at the Bay.
The Minister returned this week from a successful visit to London for the start of the Tour de France where she raised
the international profile of the Tour Down Under.
The visit was in anticipation of the United Cycling Institute’s (UCI) meeting in September, where the outcome of
the push for the Tour Down Under to achieve Pro Tour status will be determined.
"Our aim was to reinforce Adelaide as the cycling capital of Australia and a natural cycling location for a Pro Tour event
outside of Europe,” Minister Lomax-Smith said."
"Thousands of people have already seen Oppy the Kangaroo promoting our event and our state at this year’s Tour de
France and today we unveil a new television campaign aimed at enticing more and more visitors to experience our brilliant
Tour,” said the Minister."
"Today’s announcement of race tours and event details give even greater opportunities for the public to become involved
in and support the Tour Down Under."
"Cycling fans will have more chances to cheer on the world’s best cyclists at next year’s Tour Down Under as
the event is expanded to include two weekends of elite cycling action with a program of festivities, which includes an extra
day of racing action."
"The first day of the Tour Down Under (Sunday 20th January) at Glenelg will be a great family day with the Down Under Classic
, and in an event first, the Team Presentation will be Free to the public."
"The Breakaway Series, with the Mutual Community Challenge Tour, Mutual Community Fun Tour and the UniSA Mini Tour for
Kids, offers something for everyone to be enticed to start pedalling now."
"I urge everyone to celebrate a decade of premier international cycling in Australia, and be part of cycling’s brilliant
party next January," the Minister said.
The 2008 stages of the Tour Down Under:
Sunday 20 January 2008 Down Under Classic Glenelg
Monday 21 January 2008 Rest Day
Tuesday
22 January 2008 Stage 1 Mawson Lakes to Angaston
Wednesday 23 January 2008
Stage 2 Stirling to Hahndorf
Thursday 24 January 2008
Stage 3 Unley to Victor Harbor
Friday 25 January 2008
Stage 4 Mannum to Strathalbyn
Saturday 26 January 2008
Stage 5 Willunga to Willunga
Sunday 27 January 2008 Stage 6 Adelaide
City Council Street Circuit
Ricardo Escuela won opening stage Cascade Classic
Chris Baldwin’s second-place finish led four Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team riders in the
top 12 on the Ironhorse-Brooks Resources Prineville Road Race on Stage 1 Wednesday at the Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling
Classic.
Baldwin was out-sprinted to the summit of Pilot Butte by Ricardo Escuela (Successfulliving.com presented
by ParkPre), who won the stage in three hours, 38 minutes and 13 seconds. Baldwin finished 21 seconds behind, followed by
Phil Zajicek (Navigators Insurance Cycling), 27 seconds behind Escuela.
Joining Baldwin in the top 12 was Toyota-United’s
Chris Wherry (sixth, at 41 seconds), Justin England (seventh, at 45 seconds) and Burke Swindlehurst (11th, at 53 seconds).
Only 15 riders finished within a minute of the leader.
“The plan for today’s stage was to do whatever
we could to make sure those four guys didn’t have to do anything,” Toyota-United Team Director Kirk Willett said.
“We were going to be happy if it was an 80-rider bunch starting at the base of the final climb. With Heath (Blackgrove)
covering the long break, it was sort of a get-out-of-jail-free card.”
By placing Blackgrove in a break of seven
riders early on in the race, Toyota-United was afforded the luxury of sitting in the pack for much of the 91.2-mile (146.7
km) stage. Joining him in the escape were two riders from Successfulliving.com, plus Doug Ollerenshaw (Health Net presented
by Maxxis), Ben Day (Navigators Insurance Cycling Team), Scott Zwizanski (Priority Health Cycling Team presented by Bissell)
and Scott Nydam (BMC Professional Cycling Team).
Their lead reached a maximum gap of seven minutes and 45 seconds
before the pack began chasing on the way up the stage’s other climb, which came about 30 miles (48 km) from the finish.
Because not everyone in the break was fully committed to making it stick, Willett said Toyota-United chipped in to help bring
it back.
"We put Chepe Garcia and Stefano Barberi on the front and Priority Health had two guys working and BMC put
some guys in," he said.
Navigator’s Day, who had been the primary driver of the break, began to fade with about
10 kilometers remaining – including the final ascent to Pilot Butte (elevation: 4,138 feet). Immediately, his Navigators
team massed at the front to finally reel in the escapees about a third of the way up the final climb.
"Baldwin didn’t
have the best position when he started the climb but he’s riding well and caught up to the leaders about halfway up
the climb," Willett said. "With about a kilometer or so, he started driving it to the line and only Zajicek and Escuela were
there. Escuela came around him in the last 150 meters or so."
Baldwin is looking for his first victory of the season
while Wherry is the race’s defending champion. With Wednesday’s balanced placings, Toyota-United leads the team
classification.
Thursday’s stage is the 79.5-mile (127.9 km) Meridian Realty McKenzie Pass Road Race, which
travels through the Dechutes National Forest past jagged lava fields featuring spectacular mountain views. It finishes with
a gradual, 35-mile ascent of McKenzie pass to one of Central Oregon's favorite attractions, the Dee Wright Observatory, which
sits at an elevation of 5,187 feet.
Willett said without any time bonuses up for grabs, he expects Successfulliving.com
will be motivated to keep the leader’s yellow jersey on the back of Escuela. That should help Toyota-United conserve
its energy for Friday morning’s all-important 15-mile (24.1 km) Bend Research, Inc.–Skyliners Time Trial, he said.
"The last climb Thursday is never steeper than five percent but it’s hard enough that the non-climbers will
be eliminated," Willett said. "Still, for the top 10 to 15 riders, it is unlikely to be a decisive stage."
Results
Stage 1
1 Ricardo Escuela (Successful Living.com P/B Park) 3.38.13 (40.709 km/h)
2
Chris Baldwin (Toyota-United)
0.21
3 Phil Zajicek (Navigators Insurance)
0.27
4 Benjamin Jacques-Maynes (Priority Health Bissell) 0.33
5 Jeff Louder (Health
Net presented by Maxxis) 0.41
6 Chris Wherry (Toyota-United)
7 Justin England (Toyota-United)
0.45
8 Darren Lill (Navigators Insurance)
0.49
9 Corey Collier (Team Einstein's Cycling)
0.53
10 David Vitoria (BMC Pro Cycling Team)
Skil Shimano for Tour of Qinghai Lake
Part of Team Skil-Shimano is currently in China preparing for the Tour of Qinghai Lake, which is scheduled
for 14 through 22 July. Skil-Shimano’s Maarten Tjallingii won last year’s edition.
The Skil-Shimano delegation
– Floris Goesinnen, Albert Timmer (both Netherlands), David Deroo, Clément LHotellerie (both France), Jin Cheng, Fang
Xu and Jin Long (all China) – arrived in Xining, where the world’s highest race is set to get underway, on 4 July.
The riders are staying at around 2300 metres altitude to acclimatise ahead of the race, starting with some light training.
Team doctor Peter Janssen is following the riders’ progress closely and it is he who will decide how the sessions develop.
The Tour of Qinghai Lake – which is 1342.7 km in length – rises to around 3880 m at one point, although altitude
never actually falls below 1771 m.
Tour de France: Di Gregorio out
Rémy Di Gregorio (FD Jeux) will not start at todays 5th stage of the Tour de France. Di Gregorio crashed
yesterday and although he finished the stage, he was examined at a local hospital were the doctors found out that the French
FD Jeux Tour rookie suffered a broken elbow.
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