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14.08.2007/ Jens Voigt rode amazingly well to take second
place in the 158 kilometer stage five in Deutschland Tour from Sonthofen to Sölden. Only Spaniard David Lopez (Caisse d'Epargne)
managed to beat the German, who thereby expanded his overall lead. Rabobank's young gun Robert Gesink came in third.
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| Robert Gesink during last years Tour de l'Avenir (picture: Cyclingheroes) |
Overnight leader Jens Voigt, the event's defending champion, and race leader since Saturday is the day's other big winner
in Austria; The super-strong German distanced his principle GC rivals Damiano Cunego (Lampre) 2005 winner Levi Leipheimer
(Discovery) in the final kilometres to place second (13" behind Lopez) and strengthen his grip on the yellow jersey.
"I had a very good day today. Today was really about pushing it to the limit, it was every man for himself on the
tough final climb", quipped Voigt post-race: "I hope that will be keep me in the lead until the finish in Hannover."
21-year-old Dutch prodigy Robert Gesink was third on the day (18" behind Lopez), with stage four winner Damiano Cunego
in fourth (35" behind Lopez).
Rabobank's sports director Frans Maassen was very content after the official celebration of Gesink's performance. "Honestly,
we are not very surprised about this. We had expected a top-five ranking, but it is still a very special performance though.
It was, after all, the highest situated arrival of the season. And also compliments for Laurens Ten Dam. The guy rode a very
strong race. With regard to our team: they all made it to the finish in time. Koos's twentieth place was of course also a
good result. But then again, we sort of had expected that as well."
According to the team leader, a stage victory was not a realistic objective. "We cannot possibly expect something
like that from a 21-year old rider," is how he put Gesink's performance in the correct perspective. "Surprisingly,
it was a very fruitful day for Voigt."
Results
Stage 5
1 David Lopez Garcia (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 4.21.07 (36.028 km/h)
2 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC 0.12
3 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 0.20
4 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 0.33
5 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Unibet.com 0.46
6 Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Liquigas 1.04
7 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 1.10
8 Christian Pfannberger (Aut) Elk Haus-Simplon
9 Chris Anker Sørensen (Den) Team CSC 1.29
10 Josep Jufre Pou (Spa) Predictor-Lotto 1.43
General Classification after stage 5
1 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC 18.54.44
2 David Lopez Garcia (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0.33
3 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank 1.14
4 Chris Anker Sørensen (Den) Team CSC 1.24
5 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 1.31
6 Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Liquigas 2.19
7 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Unibet.com 2.34
8 Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 2.48
9 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 3.27
10 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Cofidis-Le Crédit par Téléphone 3.45
Related stories:
Race reports
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