During the last few editions, the Clásica San Sebastián has established a tradition that unknown riders usually claim the final victory in the former world-cup race. That tradition was not broken this year; the Italian Leonardo Bertagnolli of team-Liquigas defeated home-rider Juan Manuel Gárate from team-Quickstep. The duo broke away from a group of favorites - which included Rabo ProTeam representative Robert Gesink, who by the way finished in the middle bracket - late during the stage. During the final phase of the race on the Jaizkibel and the Gurutze, the young rider was the equal of all climbers.

It was, remarkably, the descent of the Gurutze that turned out to be the decisive part of the race in the Basque-country. During the climb, Alejandro Valverde and Carlos Sastre had already tried to force a breakthrough in the race, but their plan failed because the remaining cyclists had anticipated their plan and had therefore been able to swiftly respond to it. Shortly after the top was reached, Bertagnolli and Gárate slipped away almost unnoticed. For a long time, the gap seemed to be bridgeable for the 25 other riders.

Very strong impression
The co-operation in the pursuing group behind the Spaniard and the Italian was, however, all but effective. The Spanish teams were fighting amongst each other, which negatively affected Gesink's chances. The Rabo-rider made a very strong impression; Gesink was perfectly able to keep up with the pace in the group of favorites. He responded quickly on the Jaizkibel when the captains in the pack picked up the pace even further. Seven riders - who were initially part of an original 23-men lead group that included no Rabo's - were still riding in the front during these stage developments.

After the finish, Rabobank's sports director Frans Maassen was full of praise for Gesink, the only rider with a protected status. "He performed very well. The Clásica San Sebastián is always a difficult race, particularly with these temperatures and with this tempo, for which we are of course also to blame. When we were not represented in the escape, we had to minimize the gap. That did not positively affect the team, however." Marc de Maar, Pedro Horrillo and Joost Posthuma had to be therefore sort of sacrificed.

Four men in second group
Maassen was disappointed that the second group had not been able to come back after the climb of the Jaizkibel. "Had the group experienced more luck and had it been able to rejoin the group in front, we would have been represented with five men, because William Walker, Koos Moerenhout, Theo Eltink, and Juan Antonio Flecha were still in that group. Unfortunately, that is not what happened." The team leader observed a very strong performance by Alejandro Valverde. "That did not go for the rest of his team, though. At that moment, no one exerted any control during the finale."

Carlos Sastre (CSC) came in seventh. "We were pretty much in control the whole day and had three riders in the finale, which is impressive in it itself in a tough race like this. The race was decided quite late and Carlos [Sastre] did well once the battle for the victory started for real. Two riders managed to escape and Carlos crossed the finish line in the second group and took a nice seventh place," said CSC sports director Alain Gallopin.

 

 

1 Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Liquigas                    5.12.42 (43.186 km/h)
2 Juan Manuel Gárate (Spa) Quick.Step Innergetic               
3 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne                 0.18
4 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre-Fondital                      
5 Carlos Barredo (Spa) Quick.Step Innergetic                   
6 Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                      
7 Carlos Sastre (Spa) Team CSC                                 
8 Iñigo Landaluze (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi                   0.28
9 Xavier Florencio (Spa) Bouygues Telecom                      
10 Giovanni Visconti (Ita) Quick.Step Innergetic            0.37

 

 

 

 

 

Tom Boonen decided to donate his appearence fee to a charity organisation. Boonen received the money for the Herentals Criterium of Thursday night, 2nd August. Boonen will support the Hospital UZ Pellenberg and the project “Move to improve” handled by Doctor Guy Molenaers.

"I was not well last night - the Tour de France 2007 Green Jersey explains - I have been able to effect only two laps of the circuit before being forced to stop because of some intestinal problems. I felt very bad, also for all my supporters.. In accordance with the race organization I've decided to destine my cachè  to “Move to Improve”. I’m sure that they will know how to use these money in a right way." 

 

 

 

Theo de Rooij has decided, in consultation with Rabobank, to step down as general director of the Rabobank Cycling Teams. After the disappointments of the most recent Tour de France, De Rooij wishes to have the time and rest to consider the future. Rabobank understands and respects this decision.

Since the foundation of the Rabobank Cycling Plan in October 1995, Theo de Rooij has been involved in the Rabobank Cycling Teams. In 2004 he exchanged his role as a team leader in the professional team for a position as general director of the Rabobank Cycling Teams.

Under the responsibility of Theo de Rooij, over the span of twelve years Rabobank, has won 6 World titles, 81 national championships, 10 World Cup Classics and 27 stages in the three grand tours. His contribution to a total number of 1738 victories was a crucial one.

Theo de Rooij: "This farewell is hard, really hard. The team – it is all the world to me. But I did not see another choice."

De Rooij was heavily critized in the Netherlands after he excluded Danish yellow jersey holder Michael Rasmussen after stage 16 at this years Tour de France.

Willet leaves Toyota-United

Kirk Willett will trade his responsibilities as Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team Director for a backpack full of books following this weekend’s races in North Carolina.

Willett, 37, begins medical school at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland after he directs Toyota-United Saturday at the Presbyterian Hospital Invitational Criterium in Charlotte and Sunday at the Hanes Park Criterium in Winston-Salem, N.C.

"It’s always exciting to move on to new things and new challenges," Willett said. "But at the same time, I’ve spent so much time investing and learning in one aspect of my life that I’m saying goodbye to something that’s been a part of me for 20 years."

His plan to become a physician dates back to his pursuit of a career in medicine in the late 80s and early 90s. But he put the schooling on hold to start a career in racing that included time with the U.S. National Team (both domestically and abroad), as well as stints with the Nutra Fig, Mercury and Prime Alliance cycling teams.

Willett took a break from cycling after spending three years (2000-2003) as team director for Prime Alliance. After graduating summa cum laude with a degree in general science from the University of Oregon, he accepted Toyota-United Team Owner Sean P. Tucker’s invitation in January to get back into the sport as co-director with another former racer, Harm Jansen.

"The opportunity to bring Kirk on board – with his experience as both a racer and a director – was one that we could not pass up," Tucker said. "In addition to being a tremendous tactician and motivator, he helped create camaraderie this year that is not one often seen in a sport that tends to focus on individuals. He will definitely be missed."

Willett said he would like nothing more than for Toyota-United to send him out a winner. The squad is locked in a fierce battle with Health Net presented by Maxxis for the lead in the team category of the National Race Calendar standings.

"Not to sound greedy, but winning this weekend would go a long ways toward winning the NRC," Willett said. "We have a lot of guys who are motivated to lay it all on the line. Win, lose or draw, I’ll be able to say we gave everything we had to winning."

As part of his new endeavor, Willett and his wife, Tina, and their two young sons, Liam and Noah, have moved from their longtime home in Bend, Ore., to Portland. Willett said commuting to school by bike means he won’t be saying goodbye to the sport for good.

"Hopefully, I’ll get out to a local race once a year,” he said. “For sure I’m going to be involved in the sport in some way for the rest of my life. But who knows exactly what form that will be. We’ll have to see where my education takes me. I’ve done it for so long, it will always be a part of me."