4 posts tagged “team discovery”

Paris-Nice Live Play By Play..Thank you Euro Sport

Mar 17, 2007
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LIVE COMMENTS

14:57 NOTHING IS DECIDED: With three category one climbs left in a 129.5 kilomtre final stage of Paris-Nice, the final stage could prove decisive! Join us tomorrow to follow all the action LIVE!
14:54 Going into Sunday's final stage in Nice, Davide Rebellin still leads Alberto Contador by six seconds, with Sanchez moving into third overall at 16 seconds back and Tadej Valjavec (SLO) dropping to fourth at 23 seconds back.
0 km LUIS SANCHEZ TAKES THE WIN: But not the yellow jersey.... What will the gap be?? A mass sprint is won by Milram sprinter Mirco Lorenzetto, who takes second-place a futher 28 seconsd back with all fo the main favourites and the yellow jersey Davie Rebellin, who should maintain his lead and take this edition of Paris-Nice! Sanchez should move into third overall..... Rebellin finishes ninth in this penultimate stage.
2 km Sanchez might not take the yellow jersey! His lead is 40 seconds, and 33 seconds over the escapees......
4 km LUIS SANCHEZ IS ATTACKING!! The Caisse D'Epargne rider has left his team-mate and Contador and has a 40-second lead over the peloton and 23 seconds over his former comrades.... Dramatic finale in this dramatic Race to the Sun....
6 km Chavanel cracks! The Frenchman's day is over as the three Spaniards are flying across the coastline....
8 km The lead has dropped, but is not gone.... 24 seconds with less than 10-km left to go....
12 km Sanchez (Esp/Gce) waits for team-mate Lopez-Garcia. The trio of Spaniards are attacking the GC!
17 km Lopez-Garcia and Contador have caught Chavanel, who has clearly lost a step. The Frenchman, who is excellent on the descent, is obviously waiting to play his card on the final climb.
20 km Contador attacks! No hesitation from the Discovery leader, who senses this is his moment to claim victory. Rebellin is losing ground and likely his yellow jersey!!
23 km Discovery Channel pick up the pace to try and protect Contador in the GC, Chavanel's lead is starting to drop.
25 km CONTINUING TO DROP! Sylvain Chavanel is not giving up, but the escape group seems to be. The final col du Tanneron (cat.2), in 5 km, will be decisive as will be the final descent.
28 km The lead is dropping! Chavanel (Fra/Cofidis) has 40 seconds over the escape group and 1'16" over the peloton....
30 km Leipheimer doesn't seem motivated to counter! Chavanel is going for the win: 30" lead for the Frenchman.
33 km Chavanel attacks! The Frenchman from Cofidis took advantage of a flat to launch his offensive. He takes 15 seconds over his fellow escapees, and could even have a shot at Rebellin's yellow jersey!
38 km Final intermediate sprint Chavanel (3 pts), Leipheimer (2 pts) and Sanchez (1 pt).
40 km Voeckler (Fra/Bouygues Telecom) and Leipheimer (USA/Discovery Channel) are arguing over the workload now as the break-away begins to struggle....
48 km With a few descents until the final sprint the escapees are being helped by the course. The road is slippery, which is helping the Frenchmen Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) and Chavanel (Cofidis).
50 km The peloton accelerates to close the gap by a bit (1'30").
52 km Crash in the peloton! Matthew White (Discovery) loses hsi balance and takes out Fernandez with him (Saunier-Duval).
57 km One more climb to go. Celle de Mons (cat.3) does not hurt our leaders, who advance their lead (1'45").
61 km SUMMIT OF OUR DAY'S BIGGEST CLIMB: The col de Bourigaille (cat.1) - Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) still leads the escape. Danielson (USA/Discovery), Sanchez (Esp/Gce), Leipheimer (USA/Discovery), and Vandevelde (USA/CSC) are all still there. Chavanel is falling back and the peloton still has a 1'40" gap to make up.
82 km At the summit of the Saint-Arnoux (cat.3): Chavanel rides the wheel of Voeckler, who still leads this escape group, which still has two minutes over the peloton. The lead has been stable for about 15 kilometres.
90 km New abandons, with a Bouygues Telecom trio quitting. Rous, Crosbie and Lefèvre are done, along with Calzati (Fra,AG2R). Baldato (Ita/Lampre) and Wielinga (Ned/Saunier Duval) have also abandoned.
96 km Voeckler conserves his lead at the col de Défens (cat.2). Leipheimer (USA/Discovery) is just behind him. Danielson (E-U/Discovery), Sanchez (Esp/Gce), and Chavanel (Fra/Cofidis) follow.
103 km Escapees at the top of the côte de Saint-Andrieux (cat.2): Voeckler takes the points, Danielson charges to second in front of Sanchez, Chavanel and Leipheimer, who can smell the yellow jersey.
112 km Slight change in the group at the summit of the Tuillières: Leipheimer (USA/Discovery) arrived fourth behind Sanchez (Esp/Gce). Voeckler (Fra/Bouygues Telecom), Chavanel (Fra/Cofidis), and Danielson (USA/Discovery) form the lead trio. The escapees have lost some of their lead: 1'40".
115 km Leaders approaching the côte des Tuillières (cat.2).
125 km Voeckler (Fra/Bouygues Telecom) takes the points at the Taradeau, followed by French compatriot Chavanel (Cofidis), and then Danielson (USA/Discovery), Sanchez (Esp/Gce), and Leipheimer (USA/Discovery). The five men have a 2'15" lead over the peloton.
127 km The six escapees (Sanchez, Chavanel, Danielson, Voeckler et Vandevelde) attack the Taradeau with a 2'05'' advantage over the peloton.
140 km Today's stage takes the riders over eight climbs, in addition to the côte de Réal Martin: the côte de Taradeau, cat. 2 (km 73,5), the côte des Tuillières, cat. 2 (km 88), the col de Saint-Andrieux, cat. 2 (km 96,5), the col du Défens, cat. 2 (km103, 5), the col de Saint-Arnous, cat. 3 (km 117,5), the col de Bourigaille, cat. 1 (km 138,5), the côte de Mons, cat. 3 (km 143) and the col du Tanneron, cat. 2 (km 180).
149 km The stragglers fall back into the peloton, while the escap group steady their lead at1'30''.
155 km Chavanel and company are still in it, with a 45'' gap over the peloton.
160 km Four more abandons in this killer maiden stage, two at Gerolsteiner, Zberg (Sui) and Haussler (Ger), plus Baranauskas (Ltu/Agritubel) and Nazon (Fra/AG2R).
164 km Six men break out of the peloton to take the lead: Sanchez (Esp/GCE), Vandevelde (USA/CSC), Leipheimer (USA/Discovery), Danielson (USA/Discovery), Chavanel (Fra/Cofidis), Voeckler (Fra/Bouygues Telecom). That is good news for Levi Leipheimer, who will need to make his attack on the GC today if he has any hope of winning this race. Riding with a fellow Disco, and not a bad one at that as Tom Danielson is a top-notch domestique.
16 km First abandon of the day: Veneberg (Ned/Rabobank).
174 km Chavanel was caught...without a fight. The Frenchman waited for the litte group, then surrendered his lead of about 100 metres over the peloton.
175 km First bonus points go to the French: Chavanel, then Pineau (Bouygues) and Julich (USA/CSC) take the intermediate sprint points at Tavernes (km 25).
179 km Gilbert (Bel/Française des Jeux) tried a stunted attack, but Chavanel was able to counter quite nicely. The French rider from Cofidis takes 10'' over a group of 15 riders and 20'' over the peloton.
181 km Two early escapes caught. A group of six riders led by Rodriguez (GCE), then Flecha (Rabobank) were very quickly reeled back into the peloton.
187 km Points and bonus seconds for the top-three to reach the intermediate sprint points at Tavernes (km 25) and Montauroux (km 165,5).
194 km AT THE SUMMIT OF THE FIRST CLIMB: Sinkewitz (GER/T-Mobile), Rodriguez (ESP/GCE) and Posthuma (NED/Rabobank) were the first at the summit of the côte de Réal Martin.
196 km Nine climbs on today's stage. We start with the Réal Martin, a Cat. 3, at kilometre 5.
200 km Three men did not take today's start : Francisco Ventoso (Esp - Saunier Duval), Iban Velasco (Esp - Euskaltel) and Xavier Florencio (Esp - Bouygues Telecom). 147 rider's at the day's start in this penultimate stage.
200 km REAL START GIVEN AT 10:00 CET!

Paris-Nice...Stage 4 Alberto Contador of Discovery Team

Mar 16, 2007
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Contador scores stage, Rebellin seizes lead at Paris-Nice

By Andrew Hood

Courtesy of
VeloNews European correspondent

This report filed March 15, 2007

A weary Contador exults in victory

photo: AFP

For the second time in two weeks, Alberto Contador delivered a big win in the 2007 season ahead of some pretty heady company. Last month at the Tour of Valencia, he beat Spanish sensation Alejandro Valverde at the key climbing stage up Alto de Campello.

Contador hit the repeat button Thursday in the explosive 169.5km fourth stage at Paris-Nice. The new Discovery Channel recruit dropped the likes of L'Alpe d'Huez winner Frank Schleck and Tour de France candidate Cadel Evans on the short but steep summit finish to La Croix-Neuve to take an impressive win.

But rather than surge into the overall lead, Contador could end up short in the fight for the yellow jersey. The Spaniard was among several pre-race favorites who lost 19 seconds Tuesday when the peloton fractured on the perilous run into Limoges, and that difference came back to haunt him in Mende.

The man to beat?

photo: Graham Watson

"I was really upset with the guys on Tuesday because I told them those seconds could be very expensive," said Discovery Channel sport director Dirk Demol. "I'm really proud of Alberto that he won the stage today because everyone was saying he was the favorite, but we could have had the jersey, too, if we didn't lose that time Tuesday."

Complete results

Wily veteran Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner) measured his efforts perfectly on the 3.1km climb to finish second at two seconds back, enough to take the maillot jaune away from overnight leader Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) and keep it out of Contador's hands.

Rebellin, who finished safely with the lead bunch on the fast run into Limoges, held a 17-second advantage to Contador going into the Mende finale. After the time bonuses were calculated, Rebellin took a six-second lead to Contador with three stages to go. Tadej Valjavec (Lampre-Fondital) bounced into third at 31 seconds back while Pellizotti slipped to fourth at 31 seconds back.

Still, even Rebellin admits Paris-Nice is far from over. No fewer than 17 rated climbs await the peloton in what should be an exciting three-day shootout between the experienced Rebellin and the ambitious Contador.

The break

photo: Graham Watson

"I couldn't follow Contador because he was too strong so I tried to keep him within 50 meters to control the damage," Rebellin said. "It's nice to have the leader's jersey but it will be very hard to control the race. The final three days are very hard."

On paper, Discovery Channel has a much stronger team than Gerolsteiner. And they proved it during Thursday's stage, sending five riders to the front of the pack over the Cat. 2 Cote de Chabrits late in the stage to neutralize a dangerous three-man breakaway featuring Sandy Casar (FDJeux).

Contador easily followed an early move by Valjavec on the lower ramps of the La Croix-Neuve climb and then powered away unanswered with about 1km to go.

Now, Discovery Channel will need to go on the offensive to try to rattle Rebellin. Time bonuses will be vital. On paper, Rebellin is a better sprinter than Contador, but nothing's ever decided in cycling until the final sprint.

Early break to nowhere
Good weather continues to hang around Paris-Nice. Instead of cold and snow that's plagued the race the past few years, idyllic spring weather has blessed the 65th Race to the Sun - so far.

Beautiful scenery, but a tough day in the saddle

photo: Graham Watson

"I almost didn't want to come to this race because the weather is usually so bad," said Christian Vande Velde (CSC). "But the weather has been great - this is not normal for Paris-Nice!"

After an interesting opening four days of racing - with two different leaders and an interesting mix of winners - Paris-Nice was set to change gears in the 169.6km fourth stage from Maurs to Mende. Three Cat. 2 climbs softened up the bunch in the opening half of the stage that later dipped along the scenic Lot Valley.

Boonen loads up for the day's work

photo: Graham Watson

A demanding final 20km was sure to change the composure of the race, revealing once and for all who would be a serious candidate for overall victory. The Cat. 2 Cote de Chabrits (2.4km at 6.8 percent) at 162km and the Cat. 1 summit finish at La Croix-Neuve (3.1km at 10.1 percent) made for a dramatic setting.

Paris-Nice was rolling into Mende for the first time, but the city has played host to two memorable Tour de France stage finishes. In 1995, Laurent Jalabert won here wearing the green jersey, prompting officials to later christening the climb the Montée Laurent Jalabert. In 2005, Spanish rider Marcos Serrano won in what was Lance Armstrong's final Tour.

It was in that Tour that upstart Australian Cadel Evans pipped Armstrong in a bunch sprint for 11th place in the lead group of favorites behind stage winner Serrano.

Danielson, meanwhile, was sweating on behalf of Contador and Leipheimer

photo: Graham Watson

Evans - who would finish fourth today at Paris-Nice and bounce to sixth overall - remembered the encounter.

"I rode this climb in the 2005 Tour and remember the finish well. He didn't like that very much," Evans said with a laugh. "I know this climb well. I've done it a few times. It's a stage that suits me well, but I came to this Paris-Nice just to make a test, not to really challenge for the overall."

Thierry Marichal (FDJeux) didn't take the start, leaving 157 riders in the peloton. Marichal was called to be a witness in a "pot belge" doping investigation in Belgium and is due to appear in court on March 30.

An early break that included 17 riders was quickly squashed and the day's first climb at the Cote de Quotidiane at 9.5km split the group into two. Sandy Casar (FDJeux) attacked on the backside and Dmitry Muravyev (Astana) and Amael Moinard (Cofidis) grabbed his wheel. The trio built a six-minute gap at the day's second climb at 30km and the day's breakaway was set.

"Sandy told us yesterday he would attack today," FDJeux boss Marc Madiot told Letour.fr. "Unfortunately, there are too few riders in the break. A couple more would have been better. I'm afraid the peloton will move up a gear in the finale and the script should be the same as planned with the decision taking place in the last climb."

And Pellizotti? He was watching that jersey slip off his shoulders

photo: Graham Watson

At 76km, the gap was pushing eight minutes and Discovery Channel put two of its riders - Matthew White and Tomas Vaitkus - on the front to help Liquigas.

"Liquigas wasn't pushing as hard as we would have liked and we didn't want the breakaway getting 12 to 15 minutes gap," Demol said. "It was a short stage and Casar is a good climber, so we took our responsibility."

Discovery Channel put even more riders on the front of the bunch heading up the Cat. 2 Cote de Chatrits at 162km to bring down the gap to a safe 45 seconds coming into Mende.

Tom Danielson buried himself at the front of the peloton, working hard for team captains Contador and Leipheimer. The Coloradan led the Discovery Channel train up the Chatrits and helped slice into the Casar group's lead.

Moinard and Casar shelled Muravyev going over the Cote de Chabrits

photo: Graham Watson

"We were 100 percent behind Alberto and Levi today. That's how this team works," Danielson said. "I like Paris-Nice, but my form isn't in top shape to challenge for the GC. We rode hard at the front to control the break to set up Alberto."

Final surge
The La Croix-Neuve is a Napoleonic mountain; short but tough. The brief but very steep climb features ramps as steep as 12 percent and gave the peloton its first real taste of hard climbing this season.

Team CSC's Andy Schleck - younger brother of Amstel Gold winner Frank Schleck - surged out of the lead group to drive the peloton to the base of the climb. Names were white-washed on the road and a good-sized crowd was lining the route - not Tour de France-style, five people deep - but enough to give the climb a sense of drama.

Then it was Valjavec, Contador and Rebellin fighting it out for the win

photo: Graham Watson

Casar held a 45-second gap at the base of the climb, but would be caught halfway up and hold on to finish 19th.

Tadej Valjavec (Lampre-Fondital), a consistent if under-rated climber, was the first big name to leap away as the peloton started to fracture under the pressure of the first kilometer.

Latching on were Contador, Evans and David Lopez Garcia, a surprise stand-in for Caisse d'Epargne captains Luis Leon Sanchez or Joaquim Rodriguez. The quartet chugged away to drive a wedge between chasers such as Pellizotti, Sebastien Joly (FDJeux), Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) and Leipheimer.

Contador gets it

photo: Graham Watson

Contador surged ahead with about 1km to go as Valjavec and Schleck wilted under the pace. Rebellin chased hard to pass the fading trio and rolled under the banner two seconds slower.

"I didn't know if there was someone else ahead of me or not, so that's why I didn't celebrate too much," Contador said, alluding to Tom Boonen's ill-timed celebration Wednesday when Alexandr Kolobnev had already cleared the line. "The team today was fundamental to reel in the breakaway and carry me to the base of the climb. They did a great job."

The 65th Paris-Nice continues Friday with the rollercoaster, 178km fifth stage from Sorgues to Manosque. The caravan transfers out of the Massif Central into the Rhone Valley and then the route zig-zags across the Vaucluse and Luberon on some of Provence's most scenic roads.

Two Cat. 2's open up the festivities in the opening 70km with two Cat. 3's at 124km and 145.5km, respectively, before two more unrated climbs with a fast descent and a rising finish into Manosque.

Jerseys
Maillot jaune - Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner); climber's jersey - Heinrich Haussler (Gerolsteiner); points jersey - Daniele Bennati (Lampre-Fondital); best young rider - Alberto Contador (Discovery Channel); best team - Caisse d'Epargne

Medical report
Sylvain Calzati (Ag2r), minor digestive problems; Alessandro Vanotti (Liquigas), abandon due to persistent digestive problems

Peloton
153 riders remain; Thierry Marichal (FDJeux) did not start; four abandons - Massimiliano Mori (Lampre), Angelo Furlan (Credit Agricole), Benoit Vaugrenard (FDJeux) and Alessandro Vanotti (Liquigas)

Official results - Stage 4, Paris-Nice
1. Alberto Contador (Sp), Discovery Channel, 169.5 km in 4:07:26 (41.101kph)
2. Davide Rebellin (I), Gerolsteiner, at 00:02
3. David Lopez Garcia (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne, at 00:12
4. Cadel Evans (Aus), Predictor-Lotto, at 00:13
5. Tadej Valjavec (SLO), Lampre, at 00:17
6. Frank Schleck (Lux), CSC, at 00:28
7. Sébastien Joly (F), Francaise des Jeux, at 00:33
8. Levi Leipheimer (USA), Discovery Channel, at 00:33
9. Thomas Lövkvist (Swe), Francaise des Jeux, at 00:33
10. Franco Pellizotti (I), Liquigas, at 00:40

Complete results

Overall, at After Stage 4
1. Davide Rebellin (I), Gerolsteiner, 17:40:34 (42.578kph)
2. Alberto Contador (Sp), Discovery Channel, at 00:06
3. Tadej Valjavec (SLO), Lampre, at 00:23
4. Franco Pellizotti (I), Liquigas, at 00:31
5. Sébastien Joly (F), Francaise des Jeux, at 00:32
6. Cadel Evans (Aus), Predictor-Lotto, at 00:35
7. David Millar (GB), Saunier Duval, at 00:42
8. Frank Schleck (Lux), CSC, at 00:42
9. David Lopez Garcia (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne, at 00:43
10. Samuel Sanchez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 00:46

To see how the stage developed, simply click here to open our Live Update Viewer.

Amgen Stage 5 Time Trail Pictures...Solvang 2007

Feb 27, 2007
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Team Discover

Jason McCartney Tour of California

Thor Horsvald

Photo's Courtesy of Jamie Kohm

Amgen Tour of California..Final Stage 7 in Long Beach

Feb 26, 2007
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After eight days leading the peloton of 144 elite, international cyclists that included Olympic medalists and world champions, Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team's Levi Leipheimer (USA) was crowned as champion of the 2007 Amgen Tour of California today with a total time of 24 hours, 57 minutes and 24 seconds. A resident of Santa Rosa, Calif., Leipheimer is the second consecutive Californian to win the title.

"It's one of my most satisfying victories because our team really had to fight hard. I don't know if any other team could have done it besides the Discovery Channel team," said Leipheimer.

The race continued to attract record crowds, besting its own record of 1.3 million fans last year, and shoring its place as the most attended cycling race in the U.S.

"In only its second year, the Amgen Tour of California continues to grow as the largest cycling event in America, and we've been proud to host the best field of cyclists ever to race on U.S. soil," said Shawn Hunter, president of AEG Sports, presenters of the race. "We love this sport, and we are committed to making it bigger and better every year to come. We want this race to be as important on U.S. soil as the Tour de France is in that country one day."

Patrick Dempsey (Grey's Anatomy) was one of the cycling fans on hand today, in support of Amgen's Breakaway from Cancer™ complementary initiative.

"The 2007 Amgen Tour of California has been a thrilling race that saw the world's best cyclists battle it out on some of the most punishing and spectacular terrain that California has to offer," said George Morrow, Amgen executive vice president, global commercial operations.

The seventh and final stage of the Amgen Tour of California was held in Long Beach, Calif., with enthusiastic crowds lining the ten laps of a 7.75-mile (12.5 km) circuit.

Leipheimer maintained a 21-second lead over Team CSC's Jens Voigt (GER) in the general classification to put Voigt second overall, with Discovery Channel Pro's Jason McCartney (USA) placing third overall. Team CSC riders took the next three spots, securing a win for Team CSC in the team classification.

"It's been an interesting race, and first of all I want to say the courses are very good. There is great potential in this race. I think it has a big future," said Bjarne Riis, Team CSC's Directeur Sportif.

Agoura Hills, Calif.-based Ivan Dominguez (CUB) of the Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team won the stage in an electrically charged sprint to the finish. He outpaced Rabobank's Graeme Brown (AUS) and T-Mobile's Gerald Ciolek (GER), who took second and third in the stage.

The attacks in today's stage began within the first minute of racing, and before halfway through the first lap, a breakaway group of seven riders had formed, including Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle's Danny Pate (USA), who was voted by journalists as the Adobe Most Aggressive Rider.

For the first four laps, the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team chased alone, but were eventually joined by Team BMC, then Rabobank and Team CSC. The gap slowly closed, absorbing the breakaway riders by the final lap, when sprinters were moved up to the front of the peloton by their teams for the final sprint to the line.

Team CSC's Juan Jose "J.J." Haedo (ARG) appeared to be boxed in approaching the line and finished tenth in the stage, but claimed the Herbalife Sprints classification jersey. Other jerseys awarded today included the Union Bank Best Young Rider Jersey to Rabobank's Robert Gesink (NED) and the California Travel and Tourism King of the Mountains Jersey to Credit Agricole's Christophe Laurent (FRA).

For full results, archived footage, team information and more, please visit the official race Web site at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

Race title sponsor Amgen created the Breakaway from CancerTM initiative in 2005 as a complementary component to its title sponsorship to the Amgen Tour of California. The initiative raises awareness and funds for vital non profit services and programs supporting people affected by cancer.

"Amgen is proud to sponsor this hugely successful race, which is helping advance the popularity of cycling in America," Morrow added. "As a company dedicated to tapping the power of pioneering science to fight serious illness, we are equally proud of our Breakaway from Cancer™ initiative."

At the conclusion of today's race, in celebration of the initiative, Breakaway from Cancer™ spokesperson and "Grey's Anatomy" television star Patrick Dempsey took the stage to recognize Amgen and the non profit organizations that are benefiting from the initiative this year: The National Coalition of Cancer Survivorship, the oldest survivor led advocacy organization in the nation, and The Wellness Community, an international organization dedicated to providing support, education and hope to people affected by cancer.

"I'm pleased and proud to be a part of the Breakaway from Cancer™ initiative as it raises awareness and funds for the extremely valuable resources and services offered by both The Wellness Community and The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship," said Dempsey.

"Through the Breakaway from Cancer™ initiative, Amgen, The Wellness Community and The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship have reached hundreds of thousands of people with hope and information about vital services for those affected by cancer," said Cynthia Schwalm, vice president and general manager, Amgen Oncology. "We plan to continue the Breakaway from CancerT initiatives throughout the year and will continue to raise awareness and support for organizations that provide support and resources for people affected by cancer."

For the latest information on the Breakaway from Cancer initiative and ways to support those living with the illness, visit www.breakawayfromcancer.com.