17 posts tagged “road racing”

Giro 7: Petacchi takes second win on Mugello track

19/05/2007
Alessandro Petacchi won his second Giro stage after beating Thor Hushovd and Paolo Bettini in a bunch sprint on the Mugello motor racing track in Scarperia. Jeff Jones reports for procycling.com.

Milram delivered Alessandro Petacchi to pole position on the Mugello motor racing track in Scarperia as the Italian sprinter claimed his second stage win in this year's Giro. Petacchi had the perfect lead out from Brett Lancaster and Alberto Ongarato, and was able to hold off Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole) and world champion Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step) to the finish. Overnight leader Marco Pinotti (T-Mobile) had few problems in today's stage, finishing comfortably in the pack to keep the maglia rosa.

From start to finish

At 254km, the seventh stage was easily the longest of the Giro. Starting in Spoleto, it featured just one climb, the 12.4km Valico Croce di Mori with 55km to go. It finished on the famous Mugello motor racing track in Scarperia.

It took nine kilometres before the break of the day was established, with four riders forming the move: Rubens Bertogliati (Saunier Duval-Prodir), Beñat Albizuri (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Fabien Patanchon (Française Des Jeux) and Elio Aggiano (Tinkoff Credit Systems). Albizuri was the best placed rider on GC but was 22'00 behind leader Marco Pinotti, so the breakaway group wasn't a big threat to the T-Mobile man and his team.

The quartet averaged 39km/h for the first three hours, passing from Umbria into Tuscany and reaching its maximum advantage of 11'30 after 125km in Montecchio. The fourth hour saw the average lift to 39.9km/h, but Predictor-Lotto had stepped on the gas in the bunch and pegged the group back to 7'30. The breakaways suffered on the Valico di Croce and were just a minute ahead of the peloton at the top, with Bertogliati taking the points ahead of Patanchon and Albizuri. Tinkoff's Aggiano was already dropped from the break, but the remaining three were caught just inside 40km to go.

The climb saw several sprinters lose contact with the peloton, including Thor Hushovd, Max van Heeswijk, Danilo Napolitano, Roberto Förster and Juan Jose Haedo. They were able to regain the main group with 20km to go, as Quick.Step powered away on the front for its world champion Paolo Bettini. Petacchi's Milram squad took advantage of this to save all its men for the finale, but Predictor-Lotto contributed a rider to the pace making.

After passing through Scarperia with 10km to go, the peloton reached the Mugello track with 5km left. Milram took over from Quick.Step and kept the pace high around the 15 bends that characterise the circuit. Salvatore Commesso (Tinkoff) attacked with 2km left to try to steal the stage, but was hauled back at the kilometre to go mark. Then CSC's Fabian Cancellara went as Brett Lancaster and Alberto Ongarato wound it up for Petacchi, with Bettini glued to Petacchi's wheel.

Cancellara wasn't quite fast enough to hold off the sprinters, and lasted until 250m left. Petacchi came off Ongarato's wheel inside the final 200m with Bettini making a huge effort to come past, but the world champion was no match for Petacchi's power and faded to third. Thor Hushovd was second, his chasing efforts in the last 40km perhaps costing him the necessary energy to overtake Petacchi. Marco Pinotti finished 95th, in the same time as the winner, and kept the race lead.

Sunday's eighth stage is a tough one between Barberino Di Mugello and Fiorano Modenese over 200 km and crossing the Apennine mountains. It finishes on Ferrari's test-track, celebrating 60 years of the famous Italian automotive brand.

Results

1 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita, Team Milram) 6:14:44
2 Thor Hushovd (Nor, Credit Agricole) 0:00:00
3 Paolo Bettini (Ita, Quick Step - Innergetic) 0:00:00
4 Danilo Napolitano (Ita, Lampre-Fondital) 0:00:00
5 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa, Caisse d'Epargne) 0:00:00
6 Aliaksandr Usau (Blr, Ag2r Prevoyance) 0:00:00
7 Ariel Maximilian Richeze (Arg, Ceramica Panaria - Navigare) 0:00:00
8 Enrico Gasparotto (Ita, Liquigas) 0:00:00
9 Assan Bazayev (Kaz, Astana) 0:00:00
10 Koldo Fernandez (Spa, Euskaltel - Euskadi) 0:00:00
11 Robert Forster (Ger, Gerolsteiner) 0:00:00
12 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor, Team CSC) 0:00:00
13 Gabriele Balducci (Ita, Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo) 0:00:00
14 Robbie Mc Ewen (Aus, Predictor-Lotto) 0:00:00
15 Franck Renier (Fra, Bouygues Telecom) 0:00:00
16 Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita, Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo) 0:00:00
17 Nikolai Trussov (Rus, Tinkoff Credit Systems) 0:00:00
18 Alexei Markov (Rus, Caisse d'Epargne) 0:00:00
19 Paride Grillo (Ita, Ceramica Panaria - Navigare) 0:00:00
20 Max Van Heeswijk (Ned, Rabobank) 0:00:00
21 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr, Ag2r Prevoyance) 0:00:00
22 Volodymyr Bileka (Ukr, Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team) 0:00:00
23 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr, Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team) 0:00:00
24 Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat, Saunier Duval - Prodir) 0:00:00
25 Alberto Ongarato (Ita, Team Milram) 0:00:00
26 Steve Zampieri (Swi, Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone) 0:00:00
27 Lloyd Mondory (Fra, Ag2r Prevoyance) 0:00:00
28 David Canada Gracia (Spa, Saunier Duval - Prodir) 0:00:00
29 Nick Gates (Aus, Predictor-Lotto) 0:00:00
30 Pavel Brutt (Rus, Tinkoff Credit Systems) 0:00:00
31 Stefano Garzelli (Ita, Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo) 0:00:00
32 Andrei Kunitski (Blr, Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo) 0:00:00
33 Alexandre Pichot (Fra, Bouygues Telecom) 0:00:00
34 George Hincapie (USA, Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team) 0:00:00
35 Aitor Perez Arrieta (Spa, Caisse d'Epargne) 0:00:00
36 Steve Morabito (Swi, Astana) 0:00:00
37 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita, Ag2r Prevoyance) 0:00:00
38 Matti Breschel (Den, Team CSC) 0:00:00
39 Christophe Riblon (Fra, Ag2r Prevoyance) 0:00:00
40 Andy Schleck (Lux, Team CSC) 0:00:00
41 Sven Krauss (Ger, Gerolsteiner) 0:00:00
42 Jussi Veikkanen (Fin, Française des Jeux) 0:00:00
43 Matthias Russ (Ger, Gerolsteiner) 0:00:00
44 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita, Astana) 0:00:00
45 Massimo Codol (Ita, Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo) 0:00:00
46 Olivier Bonnaire (Fra, Bouygues Telecom) 0:00:00
47 Dario David Cioni (Ita, Predictor-Lotto) 0:00:00
48 Fabian Cancellara (Swi, Team CSC) 0:00:00
49 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita, Astana) 0:00:00
50 Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz, Astana) 0:00:00
51 Riccardo Ricco' (Ita, Saunier Duval - Prodir) 0:00:00
52 Ivan Ramiro Parra Pinto (Col, Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone) 0:00:00
53 Lilian Jegou (Fra, Française des Jeux) 0:00:00
54 Damiano Cunego (Ita, Lampre-Fondital) 0:00:00
55 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita, Lampre-Fondital) 0:00:00
56 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita, Credit Agricole) 0:00:00
57 Hubert Schwab (Swi, Quick Step - Innergetic) 0:00:00
58 Francisco J. Vila Errandonea (Spa, Lampre-Fondital) 0:00:00
59 William Walker (Aus, Rabobank) 0:00:00
60 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita, Liquigas) 0:00:00
61 Marco Marzano (Ita, Lampre-Fondital) 0:00:00
62 Andrea Noe' (Ita, Liquigas) 0:00:00
63 Andrey Mizourov (Kaz, Astana) 0:00:00
64 Franco Pellizotti (Ita, Liquigas) 0:00:00
65 Luis Felipe Laverde Jimenez (Col, Ceramica Panaria - Navigare) 0:00:00
66 Luca Mazzanti (Ita, Ceramica Panaria - Navigare) 0:00:00
67 Markel Irizar Aranburu (Spa, Euskaltel - Euskadi) 0:00:00
68 Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col, Rabobank) 0:00:00
69 Lorenzo Bernucci (Ita, T-Mobile Team) 0:00:00
70 Hubert Dupont (Fra, Ag2r Prevoyance) 0:00:00
71 Gilberto Simoni (Ita, Saunier Duval - Prodir) 0:00:00
72 Gorazd Stangelj (Slo, Lampre-Fondital) 0:00:00
73 Evgeni Petrov (Rus, Tinkoff Credit Systems) 0:00:00
74 Arnaud Gerard (Fra, Française des Jeux) 0:00:00
75 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita, Lampre-Fondital) 0:00:00
76 Mario Aerts (Bel, Predictor-Lotto) 0:00:00
77 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel, Predictor-Lotto) 0:00:00
78 Wim Vanhuffel (Bel, Predictor-Lotto) 0:00:00
79 Oliver Zaugg (Swi, Gerolsteiner) 0:00:00
80 Christian Knees (Ger, Team Milram) 0:00:00
81 Bingen Fernandez Bustinza (Spa, Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone) 0:00:00
82 Danilo Di Luca (Ita, Liquigas) 0:00:00
83 Tristan Valentin (Fra, Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone) 0:00:00
84 Emanuele Sella (Ita, Ceramica Panaria - Navigare) 0:00:00
85 Branislau Samoilau (Blr, Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo) 0:00:00
86 Julian Dean (NZl, Credit Agricole) 0:00:00
87 Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz, Astana) 0:00:00
88 Axel Merckx (Bel, T-Mobile Team) 0:00:00
89 Pablo Lastras Garcia (Spa, Caisse d'Epargne) 0:00:00
90 Josep Jufre Pou (Spa, Predictor-Lotto) 0:00:00
91 Koos Moerenhout (Ned, Rabobank) 0:00:00
92 Davide Rebellin (Ita, Gerolsteiner) 0:00:00
93 Eric Berthou (Fra, Caisse d'Epargne) 0:00:00
94 Stefano Zanini (Ita, Predictor-Lotto) 0:00:00
95 Marco Pinotti (Ita, T-Mobile Team) 0:00:00
96 Dionisio Galparsoro Martinez (Spa, Euskaltel - Euskadi) 0:00:00
97 José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa, Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team) 0:00:00
98 Yoann Le Boulanger (Fra, Bouygues Telecom) 0:00:00
99 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol, Lampre-Fondital) 0:00:00
100 Laurent Mangel (Fra, Ag2r Prevoyance) 0:00:00
101 Aketza Pena Iza (Spa, Euskaltel - Euskadi) 0:00:00
102 Dario Andriotto (Ita, Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo) 0:00:00
103 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun, Credit Agricole) 0:00:00
104 Alexandr Arekeev (Rus, Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo) 0:00:00
105 Iban Mayo Diez (Spa, Saunier Duval - Prodir) 0:00:00
106 David Arroyo Duran (Spa, Caisse d'Epargne) 0:00:00
107 Francis Mourey (Fra, Française des Jeux) 0:00:00
108 Rubens Bertogliati (Swi, Saunier Duval - Prodir) 0:00:00
109 Mathieu Heijboer (Ned, Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone) 0:00:00
110 Pavel Padrnos (Cze, Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team) 0:00:00
111 David Zabriskie (USA, Team CSC) 0:00:00
112 Fortunato Baliani (Ita, Ceramica Panaria - Navigare) 0:00:00
113 Vladimir Miholjevic (Cro, Liquigas) 0:00:00
114 Julio Alberto Perez Cuapio (Mex, Ceramica Panaria - Navigare) 0:00:00
115 Maxim Gourov (Kaz, Astana) 0:00:00
116 Alberto Losada Alguacil (Spa, Caisse d'Epargne) 0:00:00
117 Francesco Bellotti (Ita, Credit Agricole) 0:00:00
118 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita, Ceramica Panaria - Navigare) 0:00:00
119 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel, Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team) 0:00:00
120 Mauro Facci (Ita, Quick Step - Innergetic) 0:00:00
121 Benoit Joachim (Lux, Astana) 0:00:00
122 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita, Saunier Duval - Prodir) 0:00:00
123 Simone Masciarelli (Ita, Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo) 0:00:00
124 Julien Loubet (Fra, Ag2r Prevoyance) 0:00:00
125 Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita, Liquigas) 0:00:00
126 Hervé Duclos-Lassalle (Fra, Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone) 0:00:00
127 Amael Moinard (Fra, Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone) 0:00:00
128 Alessandro Vanotti (Ita, Liquigas) 0:00:00
129 Ricardo Serrano Gonzalez (Spa, Tinkoff Credit Systems) 0:00:00
130 Charles Wegelius (GBr, Liquigas) 0:00:00
131 Brett Lancaster (Aus, Team Milram) 0:00:00
132 Matthew Lloyd (Aus, Predictor-Lotto) 0:00:00
133 Angelo Furlan (Ita, Credit Agricole) 0:00:00
134 Pedro Horrillo Munoz (Spa, Rabobank) 0:00:00
135 Andrea Pagoto (Ita, Ceramica Panaria - Navigare) 0:00:00
136 Daniele Contrini (Ita, Tinkoff Credit Systems) 0:00:00
137 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr, Team CSC) 0:00:00
138 Matthew White (Aus, Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team) 0:00:00
139 Gregory Henderson (NZl, T-Mobile Team) 0:00:00
140 Ivan Rovny (Rus, Tinkoff Credit Systems) 0:00:00
141 Manuele Mori (Ita, Saunier Duval - Prodir) 0:00:00
142 Carl Naibo (Fra, Ag2r Prevoyance) 0:00:00
143 Salvatore Commesso (Ita, Tinkoff Credit Systems) 0:00:00
144 Matteo Tosatto (Ita, Quick Step - Innergetic) 0:00:00
145 Alessandro Cortinovis (Ita, Team Milram) 0:00:00
146 Leonardo Scarselli (Ita, Quick Step - Innergetic) 0:00:00
147 Steven Cummings (GBr, Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team) 0:00:00
148 Mirco Lorenzetto (Ita, Team Milram) 0:00:00
149 Thomas Fothen (Ger, Gerolsteiner) 0:00:31
150 Angel Gomez Gomez (Spa, Saunier Duval - Prodir) 0:00:54
151 Fabio Sabatini (Ita, Team Milram) 0:01:02
152 Nicolas Crosbie (Fra, Bouygues Telecom) 0:01:07
153 Frédéric Bessy (Fra, Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone) 0:01:07
154 Aitor Hernandez Gutierrez (Spa, Euskaltel - Euskadi) 0:01:16
155 Oscar Gatto (Ita, Gerolsteiner) 0:01:32
156 Michael Blaudzun (Den, Team CSC) 0:01:32
157 Nicolas Roche (Irl, Credit Agricole) 0:01:52
158 Tim Klinger (Ger, Gerolsteiner) 0:01:52
159 Juan José Haedo (Arg, Team CSC) 0:02:03
160 Arnaud Labbe (Fra, Bouygues Telecom) 0:02:32
161 Ivan Velasco Murillo (Spa, Euskaltel - Euskadi) 0:02:32
162 Mathieu Perget (Fra, Caisse d'Epargne) 0:03:07
163 Yohann Gene (Fra, Bouygues Telecom) 0:03:18
164 Dmitry Kozontchuk (Rus, Rabobank) 0:03:31
165 Martin Müller (Ger, Team Milram) 0:03:40
166 Michael Rasmussen (Den, Rabobank) 0:03:40
167 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus, Team CSC) 0:03:40
168 Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel, Quick Step - Innergetic) 0:03:40
169 Sergio Ghisalberti (Ita, Team Milram) 0:03:40
170 Frantisek Rabon (Cze, T-Mobile Team) 0:03:55
171 Giovanni Visconti (Ita, Quick Step - Innergetic) 0:05:15
172 Elio Aggiano (Ita, Tinkoff Credit Systems) 0:05:15
173 Addy Engels (Ned, Quick Step - Innergetic) 0:05:15
174 Brian Bach Vandborg (Den, Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team) 0:05:15
175 Joseba Zubeldia Agirre (Spa, Euskaltel - Euskadi) 0:05:31
176 Mickael Buffaz (Fra, Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone) 0:05:34
177 Fabien Patanchon (Fra, Française des Jeux) 0:05:34
178 Aaron Olson (USA, T-Mobile Team) 0:05:34
179 Cyrille Monnerais (Fra, Française des Jeux) 0:06:20
180 Thomas Voeckler (Fra, Bouygues Telecom) 0:06:39
181 Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus, Tinkoff Credit Systems) 0:06:44
182 Matteo Bono (Ita, Lampre-Fondital) 0:08:26
183 Christophe Kern (Fra, Credit Agricole) 0:09:46
184 Benat Albizuri Aransolo (Spa, Euskaltel - Euskadi) 0:16:00
185 Pierre Drancourt (Bel, Bouygues Telecom) 0:16:53
186 Anton Luengo Celaya (Spa, Euskaltel - Euskadi) 0:16:53

General classification after stage 7

1 Marco Pinotti (Ita, T-Mobile Team) 5:59:16
2 Hubert Schwab (Swi, Quick Step - Innergetic) 0:03:30
3 Danilo Di Luca (Ita, Liquigas) 0:04:12
4 Franco Pellizotti (Ita, Liquigas) 0:04:38
5 Andrea Noe' (Ita, Liquigas) 0:04:47
6 Vincenzo Nibali (Ita, Liquigas) 0:04:47
7 Luis Felipe Laverde Jimenez (Col, Ceramica Panaria - Navigare) 0:04:49
8 Andy Schleck (Lux, Team CSC) 0:05:05
9 Damiano Cunego (Ita, Lampre-Fondital) 0:05:06
10 David Zabriskie (USA, Team CSC) 0:05:15
11 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita, Astana) 0:05:19
12 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita, Astana) 0:05:19
13 Andrey Mizourov (Kaz, Astana) 0:05:19
14 Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz, Astana) 0:05:19
15 Francisco J. Vila Errandonea (Spa, Lampre-Fondital) 0:05:29
16 Paolo Tiralongo (Ita, Lampre-Fondital) 0:05:29
17 Marzio Bruseghin (Ita, Lampre-Fondital) 0:05:29
18 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol, Lampre-Fondital) 0:05:29
19 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr, Team CSC) 0:05:36
20 Stefano Garzelli (Ita, Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo) 0:05:37
21 Riccardo Ricco' (Ita, Saunier Duval - Prodir) 0:05:45
22 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr, Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team) 0:05:55
23 José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa, Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team) 0:05:55
24 David Arroyo Duran (Spa, Caisse d'Epargne) 0:06:02
25 Evgeni Petrov (Rus, Tinkoff Credit Systems) 0:06:10
26 Gilberto Simoni (Ita, Saunier Duval - Prodir) 0:06:12
27 Leonardo Piepoli (Ita, Saunier Duval - Prodir) 0:06:12
28 Aitor Perez Arrieta (Spa, Caisse d'Epargne) 0:06:29
29 Iban Mayo Diez (Spa, Saunier Duval - Prodir) 0:06:31
30 Dario David Cioni (Ita, Predictor-Lotto) 0:06:34
31 Wim Vanhuffel (Bel, Predictor-Lotto) 0:06:34
32 Massimo Codol (Ita, Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo) 0:06:36
33 Alexandr Arekeev (Rus, Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo) 0:06:36
34 Luca Mazzanti (Ita, Ceramica Panaria - Navigare) 0:06:39
35 Ivan Ramiro Parra Pinto (Col, Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone) 0:06:44
36 Emanuele Sella (Ita, Ceramica Panaria - Navigare) 0:06:46
37 Julio Alberto Perez Cuapio (Mex, Ceramica Panaria - Navigare) 0:06:48
38 Dmitriy Muravyev (Kaz, Astana) 0:06:51
39 Pablo Lastras Garcia (Spa, Caisse d'Epargne) 0:06:55
40 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel, Predictor-Lotto) 0:06:57
41 Christian Knees (Ger, Team Milram) 0:07:05
42 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita, Ceramica Panaria - Navigare) 0:07:07
43 Steve Zampieri (Swi, Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone) 0:07:12
44 Bingen Fernandez Bustinza (Spa, Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone) 0:07:12
45 Mario Aerts (Bel, Predictor-Lotto) 0:07:17
46 Charles Wegelius (GBr, Liquigas) 0:07:21
47 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita, Ag2r Prevoyance) 0:07:23
48 Hubert Dupont (Fra, Ag2r Prevoyance) 0:07:23
49 George Hincapie (USA, Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team) 0:07:23
50 Volodymyr Bileka (Ukr, Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team) 0:07:27
51 Giuseppe Palumbo (Ita, Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo) 0:07:30
52 Francesco Bellotti (Ita, Credit Agricole) 0:07:41
53 David Canada Gracia (Spa, Saunier Duval - Prodir) 0:07:42
54 Branislau Samoilau (Blr, Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo) 0:07:45
55 Matthew Lloyd (Aus, Predictor-Lotto) 0:07:56
56 Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col, Rabobank) 0:08:00
57 Alberto Losada Alguacil (Spa, Caisse d'Epargne) 0:08:01
58 Josep Jufre Pou (Spa, Predictor-Lotto) 0:08:06
59 Matthias Russ (Ger, Gerolsteiner) 0:08:10
60 Pietro Caucchioli (Ita, Credit Agricole) 0:08:17
61 Amael Moinard (Fra, Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone) 0:08:21
62 Jussi Veikkanen (Fin, Française des Jeux) 0:08:24
63 William Walker (Aus, Rabobank) 0:08:25
64 Olivier Bonnaire (Fra, Bouygues Telecom) 0:08:41
65 Davide Rebellin (Ita, Gerolsteiner) 0:08:44
66 Marco Marzano (Ita, Lampre-Fondital) 0:09:04
67 Oliver Zaugg (Swi, Gerolsteiner) 0:09:10
68 Aketza Pena Iza (Spa, Euskaltel - Euskadi) 0:09:12
69 Yoann Le Boulanger (Fra, Bouygues Telecom) 0:09:17
70 Andrei Kunitski (Blr, Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo) 0:09:21
71 Aitor Hernandez Gutierrez (Spa, Euskaltel - Euskadi) 0:09:28
72 Dionisio Galparsoro Martinez (Spa, Euskaltel - Euskadi) 0:09:44
73 Lorenzo Bernucci (Ita, T-Mobile Team) 0:10:18
74 Ricardo Serrano Gonzalez (Spa, Tinkoff Credit Systems) 0:10:21
75 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr, Ag2r Prevoyance) 0:10:32
76 Paolo Bettini (Ita, Quick Step - Innergetic) 0:10:39
77 Francis Mourey (Fra, Française des Jeux) 0:10:40
78 Nicolas Crosbie (Fra, Bouygues Telecom) 0:11:48
79 Koos Moerenhout (Ned, Rabobank) 0:12:23
80 Fortunato Baliani (Ita, Ceramica Panaria - Navigare) 0:12:42
81 Pavel Padrnos (Cze, Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team) 0:12:46
82 Carl Naibo (Fra, Ag2r Prevoyance) 0:12:53
83 Leonardo Scarselli (Ita, Quick Step - Innergetic) 0:13:16
84 Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa, Caisse d'Epargne) 0:13:35
85 Pavel Brutt (Rus, Tinkoff Credit Systems) 0:14:06
86 Markel Irizar Aranburu (Spa, Euskaltel - Euskadi) 0:14:14
87 Andrea Pagoto (Ita, Ceramica Panaria - Navigare) 0:14:23
88 Vladimir Miholjevic (Cro, Liquigas) 0:14:26
89 Frantisek Rabon (Cze, T-Mobile Team) 0:14:28
90 Lilian Jegou (Fra, Française des Jeux) 0:14:32
91 Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus, Team CSC) 0:14:57
92 Ivan Velasco Murillo (Spa, Euskaltel - Euskadi) 0:15:00
93 Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor, Team CSC) 0:15:08
94 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun, Credit Agricole) 0:15:12
95 Mauro Facci (Ita, Quick Step - Innergetic) 0:15:54
96 Alessandro Petacchi (Ita, Team Milram) 0:16:15
97 Sergio Ghisalberti (Ita, Team Milram) 0:17:20
98 Mirco Lorenzetto (Ita, Team Milram) 0:17:53
99 Assan Bazayev (Kaz, Astana) 0:17:58
100 Steve Morabito (Swi, Astana) 0:18:10
101 Daniele Contrini (Ita, Tinkoff Credit Systems) 0:18:49
102 Enrico Gasparotto (Ita, Liquigas) 0:18:56
103 Salvatore Commesso (Ita, Tinkoff Credit Systems) 0:19:21
104 Gorazd Stangelj (Slo, Lampre-Fondital) 0:19:40
105 Hervé Duclos-Lassalle (Fra, Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone) 0:19:44
106 Aliaksandr Usau (Blr, Ag2r Prevoyance) 0:20:04
107 Axel Merckx (Bel, T-Mobile Team) 0:20:23
108 Jurgen Van Goolen (Bel, Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team) 0:20:29
109 Steven Cummings (GBr, Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team) 0:21:00
110 Mathieu Perget (Fra, Caisse d'Epargne) 0:21:08
111 Tristan Valentin (Fra, Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone) 0:22:29
112 Brian Bach Vandborg (Den, Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team) 0:23:23
113 Ariel Maximilian Richeze (Arg, Ceramica Panaria - Navigare) 0:23:24
114 Rubens Bertogliati (Swi, Saunier Duval - Prodir) 0:23:28
115 Simone Masciarelli (Ita, Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo) 0:23:36
116 Alessandro Vanotti (Ita, Liquigas) 0:24:02
117 Pedro Horrillo Munoz (Spa, Rabobank) 0:24:28
118 Matti Breschel (Den, Team CSC) 0:24:35
119 Brett Lancaster (Aus, Team Milram) 0:24:53
120 Angel Gomez Gomez (Spa, Saunier Duval - Prodir) 0:24:54
121 Maxim Gourov (Kaz, Astana) 0:25:00
122 Frédéric Bessy (Fra, Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone) 0:25:03
123 Christophe Kern (Fra, Credit Agricole) 0:25:05
124 Matteo Tosatto (Ita, Quick Step - Innergetic) 0:25:10
125 Matthew White (Aus, Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team) 0:25:15
126 Julien Loubet (Fra, Ag2r Prevoyance) 0:25:49
127 Julian Dean (NZl, Credit Agricole) 0:26:16
128 Jurgen Van De Walle (Bel, Quick Step - Innergetic) 0:26:40
129 Angelo Furlan (Ita, Credit Agricole) 0:26:47
130 Manuele Mori (Ita, Saunier Duval - Prodir) 0:26:55
131 Franck Renier (Fra, Bouygues Telecom) 0:27:01
132 Alessandro Spezialetti (Ita, Liquigas) 0:28:01
133 Fabian Cancellara (Swi, Team CSC) 0:28:50
134 Giovanni Visconti (Ita, Quick Step - Innergetic) 0:28:52
135 Christophe Riblon (Fra, Ag2r Prevoyance) 0:28:54
136 Joseba Zubeldia Agirre (Spa, Euskaltel - Euskadi) 0:29:03
137 Michael Rasmussen (Den, Rabobank) 0:29:06
138 Addy Engels (Ned, Quick Step - Innergetic) 0:29:09
139 Fabien Patanchon (Fra, Française des Jeux) 0:29:15
140 Robert Forster (Ger, Gerolsteiner) 0:29:20
141 Dmitry Kozontchuk (Rus, Rabobank) 0:29:28
142 Ivan Rovny (Rus, Tinkoff Credit Systems) 0:29:31
143 Thomas Fothen (Ger, Gerolsteiner) 0:29:45
144 Benoit Joachim (Lux, Astana) 0:29:48
145 Alexei Markov (Rus, Caisse d'Epargne) 0:30:11
146 Robbie Mc Ewen (Aus, Predictor-Lotto) 0:30:14
147 Alberto Ongarato (Ita, Team Milram) 0:30:39
148 Lloyd Mondory (Fra, Ag2r Prevoyance) 0:30:44
149 Mathieu Heijboer (Ned, Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone) 0:30:51
150 Max Van Heeswijk (Ned, Rabobank) 0:30:53
151 Eric Berthou (Fra, Caisse d'Epargne) 0:31:03
152 Dario Andriotto (Ita, Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo) 0:31:35
153 Paride Grillo (Ita, Ceramica Panaria - Navigare) 0:31:47
154 Michael Blaudzun (Den, Team CSC) 0:33:01
155 Arnaud Gerard (Fra, Française des Jeux) 0:33:07
156 Martin Müller (Ger, Team Milram) 0:33:11
157 Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat, Saunier Duval - Prodir) 0:33:35
158 Alessandro Cortinovis (Ita, Team Milram) 0:33:37
159 Koldo Fernandez (Spa, Euskaltel - Euskadi) 0:33:44
160 Nicolas Roche (Irl, Credit Agricole) 0:33:48
161 Gabriele Balducci (Ita, Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo) 0:35:20
162 Thor Hushovd (Nor, Credit Agricole) 0:35:34
163 Danilo Napolitano (Ita, Lampre-Fondital) 0:35:45
164 Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus, Tinkoff Credit Systems) 0:35:47
165 Stefano Zanini (Ita, Predictor-Lotto) 0:36:06
166 Thomas Voeckler (Fra, Bouygues Telecom) 0:37:13
167 Yohann Gene (Fra, Bouygues Telecom) 0:37:18
168 Tim Klinger (Ger, Gerolsteiner) 0:37:38
169 Juan José Haedo (Arg, Team CSC) 0:37:41
170 Benat Albizuri Aransolo (Spa, Euskaltel - Euskadi) 0:37:58
171 Arnaud Labbe (Fra, Bouygues Telecom) 0:38:18
172 Sven Krauss (Ger, Gerolsteiner) 0:38:30
173 Laurent Mangel (Fra, Ag2r Prevoyance) 0:38:49
174 Fabio Sabatini (Ita, Team Milram) 0:41:24
175 Mickael Buffaz (Fra, Cofidis, Le Credit Par Telephone) 0:41:48
176 Oscar Gatto (Ita, Gerolsteiner) 0:43:01
177 Pierre Drancourt (Bel, Bouygues Telecom) 0:43:12
178 Aaron Olson (USA, T-Mobile Team) 0:43:28
179 Alexandre Pichot (Fra, Bouygues Telecom) 0:43:38
180 Gregory Henderson (NZl, T-Mobile Team) 0:44:46
181 Nick Gates (Aus, Predictor-Lotto) 0:46:40
182 Nikolai Trussov (Rus, Tinkoff Credit Systems) 0:48:57
183 Elio Aggiano (Ita, Tinkoff Credit Systems) 0:51:41
184 Cyrille Monnerais (Fra, Française des Jeux) 0:51:49
185 Matteo Bono (Ita, Lampre-Fondital) 0:54:21
186 Anton Luengo Celaya (Spa, Euskaltel - Euskadi) 1:06:10

Levi Makes It Two In A Row...

LEIPHEIMER MAKES IT TWO WINS IN A ROW WITH VICTORY AT BRASSTOWN BALD MOUNTAIN   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     Atlanta, Ga. (April 19, 2007) – With less than two miles to the top of Brasstown Bald Mountain, American Levi Leipheimer of Discovery Channel Pro Cycling team made his move past a group of four riders to capture Stage Five of the 2007 Tour de Georgia. The victory, in a time of 4.33’33”, is Leipheimer’s second straight at the Tour de Georgia.     His teammate, Tom Danielson (USA) of Discovery, last year's Brasstown Bald stage winner, took second (38 seconds back).  Third place on the signature mountain stage went to American Anthony Colby of Colavita/Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light, the highest placing rider out of the original eight-man break. He finished one minute behind Leipheimer.    “David Millar (Prodir-Saunier Duval) really turned up the gas at the end of the climb. (Gilberto) Simoni (Prodir-Saunier Duval) took over. He’s very smart with his effort. He was hitting it hard on the steep parts. After a while, at the 5k to go mark, it was just Tom (Danielson) and I on his wheel. I sensed that he had slowed down a little bit and I tried hitting him hard a little bit,” said Leipheimer of his determined charge. “I felt great yesterday and today and I had the legs to keep going.”   The standings in the General Classification will remain unchanged as, Slovenian Janez Brajkovic of Discovery Channel will remain as the overall leader, ahead of American Christian VandeVelde of Team CSC by a slim 12 seconds. Prodir-Saunier Duval’s David Canada Gracia moved into third place.       It was a picture-perfect day through the southern Applachian Mountains for Stage Five, sunny skies, mild temperatures and a light breeze made weather less of a factor than in last year’s rainstorm. Today's 107 mile (172.1 km) stage saw riders contest Category 2 and 3 and climbs en route to finishing at Brasstown Bald, an H.C. (hors categorie) mountaintop finish. Excited fans, who lined the entire three miles of the road leading to Georgia’s highest point (4,784 feet/ 1458 meters), witnessed a group of eight riders in an eight-man break, including third-place finisher Colby.     Discovery riders Leipheimer, Danielson, and Brajkovic and Team CSC’s VandeVelde stayed at the front of the peloton most of the day. Brajkovich shadowed VandeVelde up the final climb, maintaining the AT&T Leader’s jersey.    “I just focused on his wheel... He attacked at least 20 times and I have to say it was hard, but I was able to stay with him and that’s all that matters,” said Brajkovic of his strategy. “For sure we kept the jersey, but there are two stages more until the race is over, I cannot say that I’ve won the race. We’ll have to wait for the next couple of days.”     Daniele Contrini of Tinkoff Credit Systems continues as the Maxxis Sprint Leader. For his efforts in dictating the pace throughout the race and being in the eight-man break, Alexandre Moos of BMC Racing was awarded the Dent Wizard Most Aggressive Rider. Ryder Hesjedal of Health Net presented by Maxxis captured the United Community Bank King of the Mountain jersey.  Belgian Kevin Seeldrayers of Quick Step-Innergetic will remain as the GE Energy Best Young Rider.      Stage Six will start at Lake Lanier Islands, the first time the Tour has held a Stage Start at this lake resort in Hall County. Lake Lanier Islands Resort with its picturesque shoreline is one of Georgia’s top attractions, hosting more than seven million visitors each year. The race begins at 12:00 noon and will cover 113.7 miles/ 182.9 km. With climbing over for the week, riders will face Maxxis Sprint Lines at Buford and Social Circle.   Another first will be the finish at the 3,200-acre Stone Mountain Park, which hosts some four million visitors annually.  Riders will make two laps in the park and are expected to complete the course between 4:10 p.m. to 4:50 p.m.   Official Results Stage Five Results Position            No.      Country            Rider    Team    Time     Gap  1. 5   USA    LEIPHEIMER Levi      DSC    4.33'33"  2. 2    USA    DANIELSON Thomas DSC    4.34'11" 38"                                                                                3. 91  USA    COLBY Anthony          COL    4.34'33"           1'00"                                                                4. 61  AUS    O'NEILL Nathan         HNM   4.34'39"           1'06"                                                                    5. 31  ITA      SIMONI Gilberto         SDV    4.34'52"           1'19"                                                                6.124 SUI      MOOS Alexandre        BMC   4.34'58"          1'25"                                                                     7. 62 CAN    HESJEDAL Ryder       HNM   4.35'02"      1'29"                                                                      8.141 USA    DEVINE John               USA    4.35'03"           1'30"                                                                9. 18 USA     VANDE VELDE Christian       CSC    4.35'11"           1'38"                                                   10. 3 SLO     BRAJKOVIC Janez     DSC    4.35'11"                                                                                 General Classification Position            No.      Country      Rider    Team    Time     Gap                           1.         3          SLO     BRAJKOVIC Janez     DSC             18.57'03"                                                           2.         18        USA    VANDE VELDE Christian       CSC    18.57'15"         12"                                  3.         33        ESP     CANADA GRACIA David      SDV    19.00'07"         3'04"

Tom Boonen landed his fourth consecutive victory in E3 Prijs Vlaanderen, the Belgian semi classic.

Veteran German Jens Voigt won the Criterium International for the third time with a typically attacking display in Sunday's road stage.

 

Freire nails it.

photo: Graham Watson

This time there won't be an asterisk next to his victory.

Oscar Freire (Rabobank) unleashed a masterful sprint to win Saturday's centenary celebration of Milan-San Remo ahead of Allan Davis to claim victory in emphatic style to erase the memories of 2004 when he won by a whisker ahead of the celebrating Erik Zabel.

Freire, 31, came off Alessandro Petacchi's wheel with about 100 meters to go in the season's longest classic and swept up the left side of the Via Roma to surge across the line clear by a bike length ahead of Davis (Discovery Channel) and Tom Boonen (Quick Step-Innergetic).

"I felt good and I was on the wheel of Petacchi and I had good legs," the smiling Freire said at the line. "In the end it's only the victory that counts and I am very happy for myself and the team. What would make me happy now? To win the world's a fourth time."
Full Results

The traditional start in Milan...

photo: Graham Watson

A daring attack by Italian phenom Riccardo Riccò (Saunier Duval-Prodir) and Philippe Gilbert (FDJeux) over the Poggio was reeled in with under 2km to go to set up the mass sprint in the centenary edition of La Primavera.

Strong tailwinds along the final 50km helped the peloton keep a tight rein on any would-be escapees to assure a sprint finish.

... the usual celebration in San Remo...

photo: Graham Watson

The three-time world champion won Milan-San Remo three years ago when Zabel celebrated what he thought was his fifth victory too early and the cagey Freire stabbed his bike across the line to win.

This time around, Freire was sure he was safely across the line before throwing both arms up into the cloudy Italian sky in delight. Three Aussies finished in the top 5 with Davis second, Robbie McEwen (Predictor-Lotto) fourth and Stuart O'Grady (CSC) fifth.

... with a long and beautiful ride in between.

Milram had Zabel and another Milram rider to catapult 2005 winner Alessandro Petacchi, but "Ale-Jet" stalled with 100 meters to go and coasted across the line eighth without contesting the sprint.

"Everything was perfect, until the last 150 meters," Petacchi said. "I don't have any real excuse. The team was perfect and the only one who wasn't was me. I felt good on the final climbs and in the sprint, well, it shouldn't be forgotten that I broke my kneecap seven months and perhaps I'm still paying for that."

A good part of the day involves a pleasant ride along the coast

photo: Graham Watson

Just how good is Freire on the Via Roma? In seven consecutive starts, he's never finished worse than seventh (in 2003), won twice (2004, 2007) and finished third in 2000.

The oft-injured Spaniard has an uncanny nose for big-time results.

He hardly raced after winning the Vattenfall Cyclassics last July, suffering from headaches and dizziness from complications of a neck treatment. The Rabobank captain returned to racing in style this spring, winning his first race at the Challenge Mallorca and then two stages and the overall at the Ruta del Sol in Spain.

Ricco and Gilbert were caught with 2km to go

photo: Graham Watson

"My secret for overcoming all of these troubles is my head," Freire told reporters. "I always think positively. I know my body and I know when to listen to myself. This morning, before the race, I believed I could win even more. I knew I was ready."

On Saturday, he was among the five-star favorites and he read the race perfectly. After coming off the torturous Poggio descent, he snagged the ideal position of being on Petacchi's wheel, with Boonen, McEwen and O'Grady stacked up behind him in the final 300 meters.

"I decided to get behind Petacchi in the final kilometer because I knew his team would lead him out and that it was the best position," Freire told Eurosport. "I had the legs, the position and even had the space to get past Petacchi, so it was a perfect sprint."

Freire has one of the best finishing sprints in the business and made easy work of the dying Petacchi and easily stayed ahead of the surging Boonen. The surprising Davis came off the sixth wheel to power into second.

The victory marks the fourth win on the Via Roma by Spanish riders. Freire owns two and Miguel Poblet the other two with wins in 1957 and 1959, respectively. There was another Spaniard in the top-10 in the form of Vicente Reynes of Caisse d'Epargne with ninth.

"I was in good position with 400-300 meters to go when McEwen tried to pass me on the left and it closed me off," Reynes said. "I had to brake and as a result I couldn't make the sprint as I wanted. It's too bad because I felt really good and I believe I could have finished third or fourth on the Via Roma. Now I just have to forget it and think about the upcoming classics. I have big hopes for Flanders, Ghent-Wevelgem and Roubaix, where I hope to be at the front with all the favorites."

Early breaks
The race started in downtown Milan with a good-sized crowd of enthusiastic fans to cheer on Milan-San Remo's centenary celebration. José Joaquín Rojas (Caisse d'Epargne), Thor Hushovd and Francesco Belloti (both Crédit Agricole) didn't take the start, but some 197 riders did.

The day's escape was expected...

photo: Graham Watson

There were some early stabs at breakaways but finally six riders extracted themselves to mark the day's main action. In the group were: Andrei Kunitski (Acqua e Sapone), Koen De Kort (astana), Emanuele Sella (Panaria-Navigare), Aitor Hernandez (Euskaltel), Roberto Traficante (LPR) and Pavel Brutt (Tinkoff).

Following a script typical of Milan-San Remo, the peloton enjoyed a Saturday morning siesta while the sextet chugged away, building up a lead of nearly eight minutes at 120km. Frédéric Guesdon (FDJ) and José Enrique Gutierrez (LPR) both crashed in the feed zone, but continued in the race.

.. chased when things got worrisome...

photo: Graham Watson

The day's main obstacle came on the Cat. 1 Passo di Turchino over a sharp spine of mountains that separates the Mediterranean Coast from the interior valley of northern Italy.

Sella led the way up the climb as the peloton remained at about seven minutes back. Three riders - Guennadi Mikhailov (Astana), Daniele Contrini (Tinkoff) and Marco Fertonani (Caisse d'Epargne) - crashed on the descent with the last two abandoning.

... and eventually reeled in.

photo: Graham Watson

There was another crash involving Iban Mayoz (Euskaltel) and Paolo Longo Borghini (Barloworld) without serious consequence as the leaders - down to five after Traficante became unglued over the Tirchino - still held a considerable lead of more than seven minutes as it hit the Med coast. Rabobank, Liquigas and Milram led the peloton.

Lampre and Milram upped the pace and trimmed the lead to 3:24 at Alassio. Several riders crashed, including Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) and Axel Merckx (T-Mobile), as the peloton zeroed in on the breakaway.

Kopp suffered a broken nose and a concussion.

photo: Graham Watson

At Capo Mele - one of the spectacular headlands that juts into the Mediterranean Sea - saw De Kort lose contact with the berakaway. Brutt and Sella were caught after sweeping down the Capo Cervo at 247km while Gerolsteiner suffered more crashes with, Heinrich Haussler, Fabian Wegmann and David Kopp all going down hard, with Kopp being transported away in an ambulance with a neck brace.

Marco Zanotti (Unibet.com) crashed coming through Imperia. The final three - Kunitski, Hernandez and Brutt - are swept up with about 30km to go.

Cipressa and Poggio
The Cipressa and Poggio presented the last chance for the head-bangers to spoil the chances for the sprinters.

Voeckler on the attack.

photo: Graham Watson

First to try their luck were Manuel Quinziato (Liquigas) and Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom), but that move was quickly reeled in. About midway up the Cipressa, Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas), fresh off a stage-win at Paris-Nice, darted away, quickly marked by Andrea Moletta (Gerolsteiner). Chasing too was Yaroslov Popovych (Discovery Channel), another stage-winner at Paris-Nice.

The trio held a slender lead over the summit and went snaking down the descent when Moletta misjudged a corner and skidded off the road, slamming his bike into a cement wall and light post. Moletta twisted and flipped into light post and was KO'd for the race.

Popovych quickly countered that move, leaving Voeckler behind, but Pellizotti stayed with him for a while.

Mirko Celestino (Milram) and Patxi Vila (Lampre) chased out of the main pack at 10 seconds with the main bunch at 18 seconds back on the flats heading toward the Poggio.

Quick Step-Innergetic with some help from Team CSC helped neutralize the Celestino/Vila move on the flats between the two climbs while Pellizotti and Popovych held a 28-second gap.

Popovych was caught at the base of the Poggio.

With 10km to go, Popovych was taking his last sip of water as CSC and Quick Step revved up the chase heading toward the base of the Poggio to snuff the move just as the peloton turned onto the final climb.

CSC's Karsten Kroon and Quick Step's Carlos Barredo led the way to reel in Popovych and Pellizotti when Gilbert, Riccò and Matthias Kessler (Astana) attacked. Popovych tried to hang on, but Riccò punched the accelerator once more to drop everyone except Gilbert.

Gilbert leads on the Poggio

photo: Graham Watson

Gilbert was following Ricco's wheel with 3km to go with 10 seconds while world champion Paolo Bettini (Quick Step-Innergetic) was leading the chase in the main pack on the serpentine descent.

The leading pair hit the flats coming into San Remo with a slender gap of seven seconds, but they were swarmed by the lead pack with just under two kilometers to go to set up the sprint.

Lampre and Milram were in good position, but it was Freire without the help of teammates who sprang away for the win.

The 98th Milan-San Remo
1. Oscar Freire (Rabobank)
2. Allan Davis (Discovery Channel)
3. Tom Boonen (Quick Step-Innergetic)
4. Robbie McEwen (Predictor-Lotto)
5. Stuart O'Grady (CSC)
6. Erik Zabel (Milram)
7. Gabriele Balducci (Acqua e Sapone)
8. Alessandro Petacchi (Milram)

Full Results

Tour of Italy Cycling Champion Withdraws From Milan-San Remo Classic
By VOA Sports 22 March 2007

Ivan Basso (2006 photo)

Reigning Tour of Italy cycling champion Ivan Basso will not race in this week's Milan-San Remo Classic because of a wrist sprain he suffered in last week's Tirreno-Adriatico race.

The 29-year-old Discovery Channel team rider is still in pain after injuring his wrist in a fall last Friday. Basso started Saturday's stage, but was not able to finish because of the pain.

Basso's manager told the French newspaper L'Equipe's website that other than the wrist problem, Basso is in good condition and is training regularly. However, Giovanni Lombardi said it would not be wise for Basso to risk competing in a 300-kilometer race.

The 98th Milan-San Remo Classic is Saturday, and is the longest classic in the modern calendar.

The route crosses the Lombardi plain and the Po River, and includes climbs up the Passo Del Turchino midway through and the Cipressa and the Poggio late in the race.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.

 

 

Contador claims the mantle as next big Spanish hope

photo: Graham Watson

The future is now for Alberto Contador after the Spanish climber pulled the double at Paris-Nice on Sunday to win the final stage and claim the overall prize that positions him as Spain's next great hope.

The 24-year-old Discovery Channel rider uncorked a searing attack on the Cat. 1 Col d'Eze to gap overnight leader Davide Rebellin and drove home a stirring victory on Nice's Promenade des Anglais to turn a six-second deficit into a 26-second winning margin.

"This is my biggest win of my career," Contador said. "I came here with the idea of winning and, even though it took a while, I'm very happy to have been able to win."

Contador was haunted by the 17 seconds he forfeited Tuesday when the peloton split on the tricky finish into Limoges in stage two. Contador won Thursday's summit finish to Mende, but the cagey Rebellin - who did finish safely with the front group at Limoges - snuck into the yellow jersey by six seconds.

"We made a big mistake there," said Discovery sport director Dirk Demol. "I was really angry with the boys. I told them those seconds could prove very expensive."

Contador takes the stage and the overall

photo: Graham Watson

Contador's raid into Cannes yesterday failed to dislodge Rebellin, but Discovery Channel was determined to shake the Italian in Sunday's four-climb, 129.5km finale over the narrow mountain roads above the Cote d'Azur.

Rebellin could only count on three inexperienced teammates while Discovery Channel clearly had superior firepower.

Discovery demonstrated its intentions when it put its six riders at the front over the day's main hurdle at the Cat. 1 Col de la Porte in the opening 60km. Tom Danielson, Levi Leipheimer and Yaroslav Popovych later took damaging pulls on Col d'Eze before Contador attacked.

"We wanted to ride today like we held the leader's jersey," said Discovery's Leipheimer. "We wanted to put the team on the front and kind of intimidate everyone. That can really make a difference."

Rebellin was finding allies in the peloton all week to help him hold his slender lead, but in the mano-a-mano battle on Col d'Eze, it was every man for himself as the acceleration whittled the lead group down to the 10 strongest riders.

A course profile is worth 1000 words

Contador gapped Rebellin by 37 seconds over the Eze summit. Rebellin showed signs of life after trimming that difference to 17 seconds with two kilometers to go, but this time he wasn't getting any help on the chase. Only Team CSC's Frank Schleck took pulls for Rebellin in the final kilometers to the finish.

Rebellin had a feeling this was gonna happen

photo: Graham Watson

Contador soared across the line, celebrating his double, while Rebellin - who finished second to Jorg Jaksche in 2004 - had already resigned himself to his fate.

"I knew starting today it would be hard to win and I was ready to accept that I might lose. Contador showed again today he's the strongest on the climbs," Rebellin said. "I couldn't do anything to follow him up the final climb. Their entire team was very strong."

Contador's success gives Discovery Channel its second big win of the season following Leipheimer's Tour of California victory.

Discovery Channel eagerly picked up Contador following the collapse of Liberty Seguros last year in the wake of the Operación Puerto investigation. Contador was later cleared of any connection to the alleged blood-doping ring to pave the way for his arrival at the American team.

Voeckler lays down the law

photo: Graham Watson

Contador is already being hailed as Spain's next great stage-race contender, but he nearly died in 2004 when he suffered a cerebral aneurysm that caused him to crash during the Vuelta a Asturias in Spain. Quick action from a race doctor kept him from choking on his own tongue and an emergency surgery left him with 60 stitches in his head.

A natural-born climber, Contador returned to the winner's circle with a stage at the 2005 Tour Down Under. Last year, he won stages at the Tour of Romandie and the Tour du Suisse.

He won a stage ahead of Spain's reigning star, Alejandro Valverde, in last month's Vuelta a Valencia in Spain, but a spill earlier in the week cheated him of overall victory.

Paulinho in the escape

photo: Graham Watson

No hard feelings
Sunday's finale wasn't going to be one of those ceremonial parades. The 129.5km seventh and final stage started and finished in sunny Nice. With four rated climbs, capped by the spectacular Cat. 1 climb up Col d'Eze towering above the sparkling Mediterranean Coast, the stage was set for an explosive finale.

With a baker's dozen still within a minute of Rebellin's lead, fans could count on some aggressive racing. Before the hostilities began, however, it was time for some reunions ahead of the start along Nice's Promenade des Anglais. Several riders who live along the Cote d'Azur enjoyed some family time. Team CSC's Bobby Julich and T-Mobile's Michael Barry were seen snuggling loved ones before the start.

Also spotted hugging were Contador and Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne). The buddies found themselves as adversaries at the end of Saturday's stage. León Sánchez attacked Contador with about 4km to go to win the stage and vault from 16th to third overall.

Danielson and Disco' get busy breaking legs

photo: Graham Watson

There were no hard feelings as the pair discussed the previous day's action.

"Alberto understands that I had to ride for my team's interest (Saturday)," León Sánchez told VeloNews. "Maybe we could have collaborated if I was a minute or more behind in the GC, but I was less than one minute and I still had my options for the podium. We're still friends, but during the race, it's like that."

Contador attacks

photo: Graham Watson

Rebellin, meanwhile, knew that he would be under fire all day long. He could only count on three friendly teammates (Bernhard Kohl, Matthias Russ and Thomas Fothen) after four team members abandoned in Saturday's heavy fire.

"We have a young team and we're paying for it now," Gerolsteiner sport director Udo Bolts told VeloNews. "It was just too hard for those young guys yesterday. When Contador attacked, Rebellin was at the limit and he couldn't follow. We've been finding some help from other teams like CSC, Lampre, Predictor-Lotto - that's really helped us a lot."

Voeckler on the march
With so much on the line, it didn't take long for the day's main breakaway to form.

Grinding it out and taking time

photo: Graham Watson

All the major teams were keen to have their jerseys represented. Among the riders in the first break were: Francisco Perez Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne), Sandy Casar (FDJ), Sylvain Chavanel (Cofidis), Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom), Roman Kreuzinger (Liquigas), Andy Schleck (CSC), Dmitry Fofonov (Credit Agricole) and Sergio Paulinho (Discovery Channel). Also bridging out were Stijn Devolder (Discovery Channel), Gorka Verdugo (Euskaltel) and Patxi Vila (Lampre), who finished second last year to Floyd Landis.

Chavanel popped out to win the day's first sprint at 15.5km and the time bonuses popped him ahead of compatriot Jerome Pineau into the top 10. Voeckler - who started the day in the best climber's jersey - was keen to consolidate his hold on the polka-dot tunic and charged over the Cat. 2 Cote de Duranus (2.4km at 6.4 percent) at 25.5km and then led the way up the day's main hurdle at the Cat. 1 Col de la Porte (7.2km at 7.2 percent) at 52km.

Discovery Channel didn't like the look of the big group's gap of nearly one minute and sent Yaroslav Popovych, Levi Leipheimer and Tom Danielson to the front. The breakaway was reeled in on the upper flanks of Porte while Voekler - who started the stage at 33rd at 6:08 back - was kept within range off the front with Danielson was second and Leipheimer third for the mountain points.

Sanchez chases

photo: Graham Watson

Voeckler - who's best remembered for his heroic defense of the yellow jersey in the 2005 Tour de France - buried himself to widen his gap to 1:45 coming to the base of the day's third climb at the La Turbie (7.6km at 4.8 percent).

Discovery Channel proved too much and drilled it up the Turbie to reel in Voeckler and force Rebellin's remaining teammates off the back. Danielson and Leipheimer set the pace over the top with Rebellin in damage control.

Horner lends a hand in the pursuit

photo: Graham Watson

Four riders - Francisco Perez Sanchez (Caisse d'Epargne), Alexandre Botcharov (Credit Agricole), Marcus Burghardt (T-Mobile) and Maxime Monfort (Cofidis) - peeled off the front on the backside of Turbie to hold a 37-second margin with 33km to go.

Four Disco jerseys still protected Contador's flank (Danielson, Leipheimer, Popovych and Devolder) as the bunch broiled toward the Col d'Eze finale.

Fireworks up Col d'Eze
The towering Col d'Eze (7.8km at 6.1 percent) is one of cycling's most glamorous climbs. The steep road winds out of Nice to tower above the Cote d'Azur with spectacular views of Cap Ferrat and Monte Carlo below.

The final podium

photo: Graham Watson

The leading quartet swing through the base of the climb nursing a 34-second lead on the main bunch, but against the Discovery Channel train, no one expected that to last very long. Danielson once again buried himself for the team to set a brutal pace on the lower flanks.

Several big names such as prologue winner David Millar (Saunier Duval) couldn't match the pace as the lead bunch quickly fractured. Danielson and Leipheimer pulled off and Popovych took a pull before Contador accelerated away.

Riding in the big ring, Contador exploded the main pack and quickly left Rebellin gapsing in a chase group that included Evans, Schleck, Valjavec and Pellizotti. Giving chase were David Garcia Lopez (Caisse d'Epargne) and Valjavec with Rebellin trying to limit the bleeding.

"Contador is one of the most explosive climbers in the peloton," said Demol. "He can quickly open a gap and he's strong enough to hold it."

There was some counter-attacking, but no one could follow the Spanish climber, who held a 40-second gap over the summit. Rebellin chased hard on the descent and clawed within 17 seconds with 2km to go, but fate was turning Contador's way.

He held on to win the stage by 19 seconds and become the first Spanish rider since Miguel Indurain to win in one of the most exciting finishes in recent memory.

Final jerseys
Winner - Alberto Contador (Discovery Channel); points - Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas); climber - Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom); best young - Contador; best team - Caisse d'Epargne

Americans
23. Bobby Julich (CSC), +3:41; 24. Chris Horner (Predictor-Lotto), +4:02; 26. Levi Leipheimer (Discovery Channel), +5:52; 39. Tom Danielson (Discovery Channel), +14:22

Medical report
Iban Mayo (Saunier Duval), crash at 1.5km, cuts and scrapes, stitches in left elbow; Gerbin Lowik (Rabobank), crash at 1.5km, cuts and scrapes

Peloton
Forty-seven riders did not finish or abandoned; leaving 81 official finishers. Christian Vande Velde, Dave Zabriskie (both CSC) were among the abandons.

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Paris-Nice - final stage
1. Alberto Contador (Sp), Discovery Channel, 129.5km in 3:15:47 (39.686 km/h)
2. David Lopez Garcia (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne, at 0:19
3. Joaquin Rodriguez (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne, same time
4. Samuel Sanchez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 0:22
5. Alexandre Botcharov (Rus), Crédit Agricole, s.t.
6. Franco Pellizotti (I), Liquigas, s.t.
7. Tadej Valjavec (Slo), Lampre, s.t.
8. Davide Rebellin (I), Gerolsteiner, s.t.
9. Frank Schleck (Lux), CSC, s.t.
10. Cadel Evans (Aus), Predictor-Lotto, s.t.

Overall
1. Alberto Contador (Sp), Discovery Channel
2. Davide Rebellin (I), Gerolsteiner, 00:26
3. Luis Leon Sanchez (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne, 00:42
4. Tadej Valjavec (Slo), Lampre, 00:49
5. Franco Pellizotti (I), Liquigas, 00:57
6. David Lopez Garcia (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne, 01:00
7. Cadel Evans (Aus), Predictor-Lotto, 01:01
8. Frank Schleck (Lux), CSC, 01:08
9. Samuel Sanchez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, 01:12
10. Joaquin Rodriguez (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne, 01:22

Full results