February 27, 2005
Kim Kirchen

Results

GP di Lugano

Links:

Rik Vergrugghe is the winner of the GP Lugano held on a tough course. Kim Kirchen finishes in a group more than 1 minute down.

report on www.cyclingnews.com

February 26, 2005
Kim Kirchen

Results

GP Citta di Chiasso

Links:

winner

Pictures: www.ciclismogiovanile.com /

Kim Kirchen wins the GP Città di Chiasso in a sprint in front of 22 other riders, among them his team-mates Dario Frigo and Vlodomyr Gustov, but also riders like Michael Rogers or Davide Rebellin. On the difficult course around the town of Chiasso, the three Fassa Bortolo riders were present in a ten-men break that formed on the last laps. While serveral other riders catched up with the leading group, the team worked well together in order to profit from the rapidity of Kim at the finish. And the Luxemburgish rider has fulfilled expectations by jumping out of the wheel of Figueras with hundred meters to go and by winning with more than 2 bike lengths of advance.

report on www.cyclingnews.com

www.cyclingnews.com

February 20, 2005
Kim Kirchen

Results

Classic Haribo

Links:

DNF

Belgian rider Gorik Gardeyn wins the Classic Haribo after having been in a break that started at km 7 and remained in the lead during the whole race. Only 19 riders are in the result list, the rest of the peloton is outside the time limit..

report on www.cyclingnews.com

February 20, 2005
Kim Kirchen

Results

Tour du Haut Var

Links:

DNF

Kim Kirchen has experienced back problem in the race around the city of Draguignan and had to abandon it. Philippe Gilbert, who seems to feel well on Southern France's roads, wins his second victory for the season.

report on www.cyclingnews.com

February 15, 2005
Kim Kirchen

Results

Trofeo Laigueglia

Liens:

Winner

Photos: www.cyclingnews.com /

After the good results of the riders of ACC Contern in Tour Med, the festival goes on: Kim Kirchen wins the 42nd Trofeo Laigueglia in the sprint of a small break in front of Franco Pellizotti, Paolo Tiralonga and Dario Frigo. These four riders have crossed the finish line 37" before the next 4 chasers and with 51" advance on the main field. It was Franco Pellizotti who attacked on the last climb, the Passo de Balestro, and exploded what remained of the peloton: only Kim Kirchen was able to follow him. A little later, Frigo and Tiralonga closed the gap to the leaders so that Fassa Bortolo had two riders in the lead. The Luxemburgish rider then won the sprint easily, because he has accorded himself perfectly with his teammate Frigo who attacked with one kilometer and a half to go. When he was caught again, in the last kilometer, he offered his support to Kim and led out a long sprint for him.

report on www.cyclingnews.com

www.fassabortolo.com

February 9-13, 2005

Frank Schleck
Kim Kirchen

Tour Méditéranéen

Results

13.02.2005: 5. Cabriès - Marseille (122 km)

Links:

30th at 0" of Robert Hunter

No big overall changes in the last stages that finishes in a bunch sprint, even though there were enough climbs to divide the peloton. But after having neutralized the early two-men break, the CSC and Liquigas teams controlled the race until the finish line. Robert Hunter of South Africa wins the stage, Jens Voigt the final classification and the Luxemburgish riders keep their good positions: Schleck 2nd overall and in the points classification as well as best young rider, Kirchen 8th overall and 6th in the points classification.

the stage on www.cyclingnews.com

Photos: www.cyclingnews.com

8th at 2'27" of Jens Voigt

25th at 0" of Robert Hunter

2nd at 49" of Jens Voigt

Results

12.02.2005: 4. Bouc Bel'Air - Berre l'Etang (36 km) team-time-trial

Links:

8th at 1'30" of CSC

After a more carefull beginning, Team CSC ends very strong and becomes winner in the team-time-trial at 54 km/h of average speed. Frank Schleck takes the second place in the overall classification. The Fassa Bortolo team with Kim Kirchen finishes in 8th position, with the Luxemburgish rider also coming down to that position in the overall classification.

the stage on www.cyclingnews.com

Photos: www.team-csc.com

8th at 2'27" of Jens Voigt

winner

2nd at 49" of Jens Voigt

Results

11.02.2005: 3. La Garde - Toulon-Mont Faron (134 km)

Links:

8th at 24" of Jens Voigt

Another great performance of the ACC Contern riders in the 3rd stage with a fourth place for Frank Schleck and an eight place for Kim Kirchen on top of the Mont Faron. Jens Voigt is on his way to the overall victory in this Tour Med, after he has dominated the climbers on their favorite stage today. It was Schleck who had the mission to lead the peloton in the Mont Faron climb and under his impression, the lead group got smaller and smaller. An attack of Rebellin with 2 km to go temporarily put Kirchen and Schleck in difficulty, but both of them managed to get back to the first before Jens Voigt made everything clear. In addition to the good positions of the Luxemburgish riders overall, we can find Frank Schleck as leader of the best young riders classification and second in the points classification.

the stage on www.cyclingnews.com

Photos: www.team-csc.com / www.cyclingnews.com

4th at 57" of Jens Voigt

4th at 18" of Jens Voigt

3rd at 49" of Jens Voigt

Results

10.02.2005: 2. Villeneuve-Loubet - Bormes-les-Mimosas (131 km)

Links:

3rd at 0" of Philippe Gilbert

The young Belgian rider Philippe Gilbert, who has prepared this road season by doing some cyclo-cross races in Belgium and Luxemburg during the off season, has won this stage in front of Frank Schleck and Kim Kirchen. In a difficult final with two climbs, lots of turns and some crashes, the Luxemburgish CSC-rider seemed able to claim the victory, but he was beaten on the line by several milimeters. Kim Kirchen also participated in the sprint of the small lead group of 7 riders that has taken control of the race after an acceleration of Jens Voigt with Davide Rebellin and Frank Schleck in the last climb, joined by Kim Kirchen and the others in the final kilometer. The two Luxemburgish riders are now 3rd and 4th overall whereas Frank Schleck is 4th in the points classification and second in the best young rider classification: He will wear the red jersey for the mountain top finish of Mont Faron.

the stage on www.cyclingnews.com

Photos: www.team-csc.com / www.cyclingnews.com

4th at 23" of Jens Voigt

2nd at 0" of Philippe Gilbert

3rd at 21" of Jens Voigt

Results

09.02.2005: 1. San Remo - Menton (130 km)

Links:

66th at 17" of Jens Voigt

The opening stage of the Tour Med is won by Jens Voigt in great form at the beginning of this season, after team CSC with Frank Schleck had done great work the whole stage over. The German rider has been part of a break that managed to get away in the mighty Poggio di San Remo. Ten kilometers from the finish, Voigt set off for another irresistable solo ride, whereas his former break compagnons were caught by the chasers. In the main group, Kim Kirchen and Frank Schleck crossed the line 17 seconds behind.

the stage on www.cyclingnews.com

Photos: www.cyclingnews.com / www.team-csc.com

66th at 27" of Jens Voigt

41st at 17" of Jens Voigt

41st at 27" of Jens Voigt

February 2-6, 2005

Frank Schleck / Andy Schleck

Etoile de Bessèges

Results

06.02.2005: 5. Gagnières - Bessèges (148 km)

Links:

35th at 0" of Tom Steels.

Jimmy Casper wins the last sprint of this "Etoile de Bessèges" whereas Tom Steels is victim of a crash in the last kilometer. Both of the Schleck brothers finish the stage in the main field and their overall result is very positive for the first race of the season: 8th in the final general classification for Frank, 6th in the mountains competition and 7th in the best young rider ranking for Andy.

the stage on www.cyclingnews.com

8th at 5'19" of Freddy Bichot

65nd at 0" of Tom Steels

57th at 19'42" of Freddy Bichot

Results

05.02.2005: 4. Allegre-les-Fumades (152 km)

Links:

51st at 0" of Tom Steels.

Another massive sprint and another victory for Tom Steels in today's stage. Andy Schleck has again attacked today and taken two more points in the King of the Mountains competition. The two Schleck brothers finish the stage side by side in the peloton.

the stage on www.cyclingnews.com

7th at 5'19" of Freddy Bichot

52nd at 0" of Tom Steels

63rd at 19'42" of Freddy Bichot

Results

04.02.2005: 3. Branoux-les-Tallades - La Grande Combe (143 km)

Links:

3rd at 51" of Jens Voigt.

Stage victory for the CSC team by Jens Voigt, unstoppable on this hilly course. After not having been present in the breaks at the beginning of the stage, team CSC reacted on the last climb, dividing the peloton into several groups, before the German rider took off for an irresistable solo ride. Behind him, Frank Schleck had the mission to control the chasers and the Luxemburgish rider did well, taking the second place of this group of twenty riders at the finish. Andy Schleck finished the stage in a third group, also with about 20 riders.

the stage on www.cyclingnews.com

7th at 5'19" of Freddy Bichot

74th at 15'10" of Jens Voigt

63rd at 19'42" of Freddy Bichot

Results

03.02.2005: 2. Nîmes - St.Ambroix (149 km)

Links:

23rd at 0" of Tom Steels.

Massive sprint on the second stage. Tom Steels is led out by Van Petegem an wins in front of Jan Kirsipuu and Jean-Patrick Nazon whereas the Schleck brothers could also be found in the main pack. Both of them have been very active today: first Andy participated in a break, even catching some mountain points, later on Frank attacked but none of them managed to stay ahead.

the stage on www.cyclingnews.com

27th at 5'23" of Freddy Bichot

54th at 0" of Tom Steels

36th at 5'23" of Freddy Bichot

Results

02.02.2005: 1. Marseille - Luminy (128 km)

Links:

52nd at 5'10" of Freddy Bichot

Freddy Bichot of the Française des Jeux team is the winner of the first stage, having managed to stay away for the whole day in a break of 3 riders together with cyclo-cross rider Arnaud Labbe, 11th of the World Championships 2 days ago, and Tour de Luxembourg winner Maxime Monfort. Team CSC have done some work behind the break in the beginning, but they stopped their efforts soon. On the somewhat hilly roads of southern France, the peloton broke into several parts, Andy and Frank Schleck were in the first of the three pelotons, led by their teammate Jens Voigt.

the stage on www.cyclingnews.com

52nd at 5'23" of Freddy Bichot

32nd at 5'10" of Freddy Bichot

32nd at 5'23" of Freddy Bichot