July:
Schleck
Kirchen
News from our riders:
July: |
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| July 26 - 30, 2004: FRANK SCHLECK at the Tour des Régions Wallonnes |
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Results | 30.07.2004: 5th stage: Brussels - Charleroi | Links: | |
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| 68th at 25" of Chavanel |
One more stage with lots of riders attacking from the beginning, among them also Frank Schleck. Later, he had to change from attackin to defending, because team CSC rode hard to ensure a massif sprint. But afterwards, he had to pay for his efforts, because he was dropped towards the end of the stage. | |
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| 62nd at 37'23" of Löwik |
Results | 29.07.2004: 4th stage: Jodoigne - Bruxelles | Links: | |
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| 40th at 5'28" of Kirsipuu |
A similar stage to yesterday: lots of attacks in the first part of the race, until a group finally managed to get away and the bunch calmed down. But today, the peloton kept the gap with the break in reasonable areas. 6 riders were in the good group today, but not Schleck and Joachim, despite the fact that they tried several times at the beginning of the stage. Kirsipuu the sprinter won the stage with a solo ride on the last 10 km. | |
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| 63th at 37'12" of Gabriel |
Results | 28.07.2004: 3th stage: Andenne - Nivelles | Links: | |
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| 51th at 36'54" of Reynaud |
A much more easier stage on paper than the days before, but it brought great changes in the overall classifications. After a very fast beginning with attacks going on an on in the first 50 kilometers, 35 riders isolated themselves in front of the race. All the teams were represented, so the main field decided to let them go, whith the gap getting bigger and bigger. The peloton passed the finish line over 36 minutes later than the break, in other words outside the time limit, but the officials decided not to withdraw all these riders. Frank Schleck didn't belong to the good group, but so did the other Luxemburgish rider Benoît Joachim who took a nice 8th place today. | |
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| 63th at 37'12" of Gabriel |
Results | 27.07.2004: 2nd stage: Amay - Arlon | Links: | |
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| 63th at 0" of Guidi |
Again a very selective and animated stage in the Ardennes of the Province of Luxembourg. But nevertheless, it endet in a mass sprint, because the break that the peloton chased behind all day was caught with only 10 km to go. Frank Schleck finished the stage in the main field with good news: his CSC-teammate Fabrizio Guidi takes the victory after he prepared him the sprint. | |
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| 59th at 30" of Roulston |
Results | 26.07.2004: 1st stage: Aubel - Bassenge | Links: | |
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| 59th at 17" of Roulston |
The last winner of the race (Julian Dean) having been at that time in the CSC-team, Frank Schleck has the number 1 on his back for this Tour des Régions Wallonnes. The first stage was already one of the most difficult ones with no less than 8 climbs. Frank Schleck was very active in the stage, being part of a chasing group behind two leaders, that broke away in the côte de la Vecquée, with 88 km to go. After the general regroupment, he tried his luck again and got away with 2 other riders: Nuyens and Baguet. With 10 km to go, their advance was of 28" on a peloton split into several pieces, but a little later they were caught again by a bunch of 70 riders. | |
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| 59th at 17" of Roulston |
July 3 - 25, 2004:
KIM KIRCHEN at the
Results
25.07.2004: 20th stage: Montereau - Paris/Champs-Elysées
Links:
26th at 0" of Boonen
Traditionnal showdown on the Champs Elysées with a massiv sprint. Kim Kirchen was often among the first of the peloton, but the teams of the sprinters made a very high speed, so that attacking in the final was impossible. He finishes his very good first Tour with another top 30 place in a stage. Lance Armstrong is the first rider ever with 6 overall victories in the Tour de France.
63th at 1.55'52" of Armstrong
15th at 184p of McEwen
Virenque
Results
24.07.2004: 19th stage: Besançon - Besançon (time-trial)
Links:
47th at 7'13" of Armstrong
A new demonstration of Lance Armstrong who shows that he is not only the boss in the mountains, but also on the flat stages. At every intermediate point, the result is respected: 1. Armstrong, 2. Ullrich, 3. Klöden. Kim Kirchen has done a very regular race with good times: 25'25" for 18 km (48th at 2'38"), 47'04 for 35 km (49th at 4'33"), 54'37" for 40 km (47th at 5'17"), 1.05'40" for 47,5 km (47th at 6'23"), 1.14'02" for 55 km.
63th at 1.56'11" of Armstrong
15th at 150p of McEwen
Virenque
Results
23.07.2004: 18th stage: Annemasse - Lons le Saunier
Links:
31th at 11'29" of Mercado
A break that starts early and goes through until the finish line: a classic transition stage between the alps and a time-trial. Kim Kirchen had a teammate in the break with Flecha and so he didn't do any move in the peloton. He has crossed the line within the first riders in the main field, but without really sprinting for the 7th place.
64th at 1.48'58" of Armstrong
14th at 150p of McEwen
Virenque
Results
22.07.2004: 17th stage: Bourg d'Oisans - Le Grand Bornand
Links:
100th at 33'27" of Armstrong
New victory for Lance Armstrong. Once more, with 2 climbs to go, the yellow jersey as well as Klöden, Ullrich and Basso told their teammates to accelerate the rythm. After the giants Glandon et Madelaine, that caused a lot of problems to many riders and the peloton melted like snow in the sun. Under the impulse of US Postel, the 4 best riders isolated themselves on the last climb together with Llandis. In the sprint for the victory, Armstrong was by far the strongest of them. Kim Kirchen was dropped with about 50 km to go togther with riders like Zabel or O'Grady. He finished the stage at his ryhtm, a little less than 2 minutes before the gruppetto. Tomorrow is an easier stage which should suit him better.
64th at 1.48'58" of Armstrong
14th at 147p of McEwen
Virenque
Results
21.07.2004: 16th stage: Bourg d'Oisans - L'Alpe d'Huez (time-trial)
Links:
36th at 4'27" of Armstrong
Lance Armstrong has been flying in this mountain time-trial, being the best at all the intermediate times, except the very first one. The 6th victory of the American seems now almost certain, because Ullrich and Klöden have lost more than 1 minute today, Basso even more than 2. Kim Kirchen has done well in the stage, finishing in the first third of the riders. He rode very regularely, catching soon Stuart O'Grady who started just before him, then climbing at the same rythm on the second part of the course than at the beginning. On the climb, he has lost around 21 seconds per kilometer on Armstrong. Here are the intermediate times of Kim: 2'09" for 1,5 km (32nd at 8" of Cancellara); 26'30" for 9,5 km (45th at 3'02"); 37'41" for 12,5 km (38th at 4'00"); 44'08" for 15,5 km.
57th at 1.15'01" of Armstrong
12th at 142p of McEwen
Virenque
Results
20.07.2004: 15th stage: Valreas - Villard-de-Lans
Links:
65th at 16'14" of Armstrong
In the col de l'Echarasson, unique climb of the 1st category of this stage, the battle took place after a surprising attack of Jan Ullrich. Kim Kirchen was in the peloton at that moment, but he was not able to follow the rythm of the best. He was not at his best today and finished the stage in a little group with 3 other riders. In front, the CSC riders provoqued a regroupement of ten riders, offering the stage victory and the yellow jersey to Lance Armstrong because this group would never be joined again.
59th at 1.10'35" of Armstrong
11th at 137p of McEwen
Virenque
Results
18.07.2004: 14th stage: Carcassonne - Nîmes
Links:
55th at 14'12" of Gonzalez
New victory for Fassa Bortolo, the third for this Tour de France. It was concluded by Aitor Gonzalez, who completely missed the mountain stages so far, but made a strong impression on the stage of today, entirely flat. Strong crosswinds and lots of attacks made the first two hours of racing very hard. Tossato, Flecha and finally Gonzalez were on the attack for Fassa Bortolo today and the latter managed to get into the good break. After that, the peloton calmed down and Kim Kirchen could calmly stay in the middle of the field for the rest of the stage.
59th at 54'12" of Voeckler
9th at 137p of McEwen
Virenque
Results
17.07.2004: 13th stage: Lannemezan - Plateau de Beille
Links:
55th at 23'54" of Armstrong
After yesterday's stage, it was known for sure that Kim Kirchen would not take a place among the best in the overall classification. So today the most important was to save some strength for the next stages to come. When the US Postal team raised the speed on the Col d'Agnès, Kim was dropped like many other riders. He then rode the last two climbs in a little group at his own rythm. Extraordinary performance by Thomas Voeckler who was in difficulty from the beginning, but showed real fighting spirit to keep the yellow jersey for 22 seconds at the end. But the only one who might be at the same level of Lance Armstrong for the overall win seems to be Yvan Basso.
59th at 54'12" of Voeckler
9th at 122p of McEwen
Virenque
Results
16.07.2004: 12th stage: Castelsarrasin - LaMongie
Links:
124th at 26'10" of Basso
Over the last days, it was often a member of an early break that took the stage victory, so why not today. That's what must have thought Kim Kirchen today, because he was on the attack from km 2 on. Together with Ljundquist, an other rider living in Luxemburg, Vansevenant and Finot, he created a maximum gap of over 4 minutes. But before the two first really big climbs of this Tour, the peloton won't let them go. Under the impulse of the teams of the yellow jersey and of Lance Armstrond, the gap melted slowly. The break was caught in the worst possible moment, just at the foot of the Col de l'Aubisque, after 160 km of efforts. In this climb the field burst directly into pieces and Kim Kirchen found himself in the second group. After all the efforts, he was suffering a lot and soon caught by the "grupetto" in which he finished the stage. On the last climb, Lance Armstrong exploded everything and took time to all his opponents except the sole Yvan Basso.
65th at 35' de Voeckler
9th at 122p of McEwen
Virenque
Results
15.07.2004: 11th stage: St.Flour - Figeac
Links:
75th at 6'19" of Moncoutié
The Fassa Bortolo squad is collecting the top-ten places with another 2nd position for Juan-Antonio Flecha today. Like in the 6th stage, the Spaniard was in the early break, taking away from Kim Kirchen all pressure but also limiting his possibilities to attack. But the Luxemburgish rider seemed not quite as good as in the last days on a stage that should have fitted him very well. He finished in the 4th part of the main field that splitted into pieces during the last sprint. Tomorrow the big things start with the Pyrenees.
38th at 12'59" of Voeckler
9th at 132p of McEwen
Virenque
Results
14.07.2004: 10th stage: Limoges - St.Flour
Links:
8th at 5'19" of Virenque
First day in the mountains, even if they were only of middle height and an attack without surprise: since yesterday it was well known that Richard Virenque wanted to do a "big thing" on this day of the "Fête Nationale". Together with Axel Merckx first, then on his own, he managed to conclude a break of over 200 km with a solo win and took back "his" King-of-the-Mountains jersey. Behind Virenque, the peloton became smaller and smaller on the 9 climbs of different categories of the "Massif Central": 72 riders still together in the last kilometers. But on the ultimate small climb to the finish, this group exploded and the 14 strongest riders stayed together, among them a tremendous Kim Kirchen. Very calm the whole day in the field, he was at the front in the final to take another top-ten place in a stage.
34th at 12'38" of Voeckler
9th at 117p of McEwen
Virenque
Results
13.07.2004: 9th stage: St.Léonard de Noblat - Guéret
Links:
16th at 0" of McEwen
Kim Kirchen seems to have well negociated the rest day because, like in the previous stages, he was very attentive at the front of the peloton. He has also once more participated in the final sprint which took place despite the long, long break of Landaluze and Simeoni and despite of the small climbs of the day.
56th at 12'38" of Voeckler
11th at 125p of McEwen
Bettini
Results
11.07.2004: 8th stage: Lamballe-Quimper
Links:
2th at 0" of Hushovd
The victory was close, very close ... With a superb tactical move, Kim Kirchen suprised the peloton and nearly won the stage. With two km to go, on a small climb, Paolo Bettini attacked with McEwen in his wheel, and this attack disorganised the sprinters' teams. With 800 m to go, the two riders were caught, then Kim made his move. He got 50, then 100 meters on the field and victory seemed possible. But on the 200 last meters, strongman Hushovd sprinted away from everybody and came around the Fassa Bortolo rider just before the finish line. Thor, the Viking celebrated his victory, whereas the Luxemburgish champion had tears of disappointment.
59th at 12'38" of Voeckler
11th at 98p of McEwen
Bettini
Results
10.07.2004: 7th stage: Chateaubriand-St.Brieuc
Links:
18th at 10" of Pozzato
Nice reward for Fassa Bortolo with the victory of Filippo Pozzato. Along with CSC and Iles Baleares, they were among the most active teams at the end of the stage, with successive attacks of Cancellara, Flecha and Pozzato. Kim Kirchen was very attentive and at the front of the field, even when it broke in two pieces for a moment, an he participated in the sprint of the peloton.
67th at 12'50" of Voeckler
25th at 101p d'O'Grady
Bettini
Results
09.07.2004: 6th stage: Bonneval-Angers
Links:
29th at 0" of Boonen
Another relatively calm stage for Kim Kirchen until less than 1 km from the finish line. In good position for the sprint, he was caught like mots of the riders in a big crash and lost some seconds. No work for Fassa Bortolo today because sprinter Petacchi did not start this morning and Juan-Antonio Flecha was in a break that developped after 25 km only. The spaniard was caught by the field with only 1 km to go.
70th at 12'50" of Voeckler
28th at 93p d'O'Grady
Bettini
Results
08.07.2004: 5th stage: Amiens-Chartres
Links:
30th at 12'33" d'O'Grady
There are days where the first break gets through until the end. Today was a day like that: strong winds and heavy rain didn't encourage the peloton to chase hard behind the 5 brave men, led by Stuart O'Grady and the unstoppable Piil. Thomas Voeckler, French champion and also in this break, is the new leader of the race. The other champion in red-white-blue, Kim Kirchen, had a day without problems in the bunch, although there were a lot of accidents. He says that his form is very good and he feels relaxed. Alessandro Petacchi feels a lot worse: Will his fall of today change the Fassa Bortolo team tacticts for the days to come?
70th at 12'50" of Voeckler
22th at 91p of Mc Ewen
Bettini
Results
07.07.2004: 4th stage: Cambra-Arras (TTT)
Links:
111th at 2'40" of USP
The Fassa Bortolo squad never was in line for the victory in this team-time-trial. At all the intermediate points, they were far away from the best although they made a strong finish: 16th at 1'09" after km 19; 13th at 2'07 after km 42, 11th at 2'48 after km 57 and 9th at 2'40" at the finish. No doubt that the absence of Marco Velo, two punctures and a fall made this difficult exercise even harder for Kim and his team-mates. Best team on this rainy day: the men from US Postal who made Lance Armstrong's rivals loose more precious time.
67th at 3'15" of Armstrong
17th at 71p of Mc Ewen
Bettini
Results
06.07.2004: 3rd stage: Waterloo-Wasquehal
Links:
5th at 0" of JP Nazon
Inversed roles on the 3rd stage of the Tour de France. Fassa Bortolo has prepared the final sprint as usual, but not Petacchi was their fast man today but ... Kim Kirchen with a 5th place. This course of this stage was designed to honour the great classics of the north with several difficulties of the "Ronde" and of Paris-Roubaix. On one of the paved sections, an accident broke the peloton into two pieces, with riders such as Mayo, Moreau, Hushovd and Cipollini behind. In front, several teams made a high pace until the finish, so that the unlucky riders lost more than 3 minutes today.
58th at 51" of Mc Ewen
17th at 71p of Mc Ewen
Bettini
Results
05.07.2004: 2nd stage: Charleroi-Namur
Links:
64th at 0" of McEwen
A little bit less of pression on Kim Kirchen's shoulders today as the Fassa Bortolo squad choosed not to have two goals and focuse only on the final sprint today. Yesterday, Kim rode in front of the bunch for the whole day, today he led the Fassa Bortolo train "only" in the last five kilometers. Once more, Petacchi did not realize a perfect sprint (8th like yesterday), but so did Robbie McEwen.
137th at 58" of Hushovd
Hushovd
Bettini
Results
04.07.2004: 1st stage: Liège-Charleroi
Links:
136th at 0" of Kirsipuu
A lot of work for the Fassa Bortolo squad today and Kim was often in front of the field until km 170. He made the pace in order to help defending the yellow jersey as well as preparting the sprint. The team realizes half of its goals only because Petacchi missed his sprint but Cancellara keeps the jersey.
Photos: www.cyclingnews.com / acc contern / grahamwatson.com
138th at 50" of Cancellara
Hushovd
Bettini
Results
03.07.2004: Prologue in Liège
Links:
142th at 42" of Cancellara
Kim Kirchen not among the best today, but in the last third of the riders, just behind French champion Thomas Voeckler and before Gilberto Simoni. But his objective was surely not to do well in this prologue, it was to save strength because he will have to do a lot of work the next days: preparing sprints for Petacchi, trying to get into some breaks or helping to defend the yellow jersey of Cancellara. His team-mate has realised his objective no 1 for the season by winning this prologue.
142th at 42" of Cancellara
Cancellara
Cancellara
Photos: www.cyclingnews.com 
Photo: www.acccontern.lu
Photo: www.acccontern.lu
Photo: www.grahamwatson.com
Photos: www.cyclingnews.com
Photos: www.cyclingnews.com
Photos: www.cyclingnews.com
Photos: acc contern
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