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July 30, 2006: 11th Vattenfall Cyclassics
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30.07.2006 Hamburg - Hamburg (243 km)
Freire wins sprint, Kirchen in the lead group
Results:
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Oscar Freire
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33rd at 0"
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The Pro-Tour race of Hamburg, called cyclassics by the organizer even if it is only the 11th edition, suits well to Kim Kirchen and he has often performed well there. The Waseberg, real wall of 15 % gradient to be climbed several times, is an uphill that matches perfectly his abilites. The Luxemburgish champion is at the front during the race and plays a key-role in the T-Mobile tacticts around himself, Lorenzo Bernucci and Matthias Kessler. Several times, Kirchen is offensive at the front, together with Philippe Gilbert and, later, with Paolo Bettini. But even if the course is hilly, it isn't really that tough and there are regroupements after each attackes. Gilbert and Wegmann have to experience that on their own because they have a small lead on top of the last ascent of the Waseberg, but can't do anything against the chasing bunch behind them. Once more, the race in Hambourg is to be decided in a sprint of a lead group, and this year, the front group is particularely big with around 50 riders in it. No question for Kim Kirchen to match up with the sprinters in such a big group, because the specialists are there: Freire, Zabel, Pozzato, Nuyens or Ciolek. After a very, very narrow sprint, they pass the finish line in this order, whereas Kim Kirchen is in 33rd position. There is no revenge for Erik Zabel, who has already been beaten by Freire in a photo-finish-sprint at Milano-San Remo 2004. The race has been dominated for a long time by a three-men break with Corey Sweet, Laszlo Bodorgi and Dario Andriotto but they have been caught again with around 70 km to go after a spectacular crash of the Italian Liquigas rider.
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July 29, 2006: Luk Challenge Chrono in Buhl
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29.07.2006 Buhl - Buhl (77,7 km TTT with teams of 2 riders)
Second place for Frank Schleck and Fabian Cancellara
Results:
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Fothen / Lang
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2nd at 1'22"
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For the second time, Frank Schleck participates in the Luk Challenge in Buhl, a time-trial with teams of 2 riders that usually has some of the most prominent riders of the world at the start with this year Boonen, Julich, Voigt, Rogers, Leipheimer or Sastre, supported by the specialists like Cancellara, Lang, Honchar or Wauters. After his performances in the time-trials of the Tour de France, Serhiy Honchar surely is the number one favourite today with as partner is no other than three times world champion Michael Rogers. But the T-Mobile duo disappoints because after being in the lead for the first half of the race, they have some difficulties in the last part and finish only in fourth position. The surprise, on the other hand, comes from the Gerolsteiner team Markus Fothen and Sebastian Lang. Perfectly led by the very strong German champion, who does most of the work as admitted by Fothen, they win the race in 1.31'06" for 77,7 km, which means an average speed of 51,17 km/h. 1'22" behind the two Germans, Frank Schleck takes second position. Of course, with Fabian Cancellara, he has a pefect partner, a real time-trial specialist, and the duo does particularely well in the last lap. At the beginning of this last lap, the two CSC riders are still only in fourth position with an avarage speed of 50,22 km/h, but they manage to increase their effort and fight their way back to second position, with a narrow margin of 11 seconds on Niels Scheunemann and Belgian champion Marc Wauters. Final time of Schleck and Cancellara: 1.32'29" for 77,7 km (average speed 50,41 km/h).
After his strong performances in the Tour de France, Frank Schleck is enroled for several criteriums in the Netherlands and in Denmark. Here are some results:
24.07.2006
| 26.07.2006
| 27.07.2006
| 31.07.2006
| Dags na de Tour
| Decoplant GP
| GP Jyske Bank
| Drai van de Kai
| Boxmeer (NED)
| Hadsten (DEN)
| Silkeborg (DEN)
| Roosendaal (NED)
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| 1. Michael Boogerd
| 1. Frank Schleck
| 1. Allan Johansen
| 1. Oscar Freire
| 3. Frank Schleck
| 2. Robbie McEwen
| 9. Frank Schleck
| 7. Frank Schleck
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Pictures: cyclingnews.com / cykelsport.dk
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July 1 - 23, 2006: 93rd Tour de France
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23.07.2006 20: Sceaux-Antony - Paris (155 km)
Another American in Paris
Results:
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Thor Hushovd
Floyd Landis
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Robbie McEwen
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Michael Rasmussen
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24th at 8"
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11th at 17'46"
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33rd at 245 p.
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5th at 70 p.
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After seven years domination of Lance Armstrong, it is another American, Floyd Landis, who writes his name into the palmares of the Tour de France. A competely crazy Tour de France with situations that we weren't used to since Indurain or Armstrong: spectacular weaknesses, impressive solo rides, early breaks with favourites that go until the end, it was a Tour of another age. Like 40 or 50 years ago, when the riders from a small European country where among the best of the World. They are again among the Best now, the riders from Luxembourg, and after Kim Kirchen failed only by little in the last two years, the whole country waited for a stage win. And Frank Schleck realized the exploit. Not only he took a stage, he took the most legendary one to Alpe d'Huez and in a very convincing manner. This victory crowns a very good Tour from Schleck and even if he was devoted most of the time to team-work for CSC, he finishes of eleventh overall, has several top-ten placings in mountain stages and is also fifth in the KOM competition. Today's stage comes down to the traditionnal showdown on the Champs-Elysées with several break attempts. The most convincing one involves a bigger group with Popovych, Voigt, Astarloza, Horner, Vansummeren, Garcia Acosta, Portal, Charteau, Hernandez, Millar, Gilbert, Mengin, Fedrigo, Knees and Duenas Nevado with 30 km to go. But the sprinter teams are attentive and after 15 km of chase, the riders are all regrouped again. In the last lap, Frank Schleck moves up the field with O'Grady in his wheel and despite some last attacks of Flecha, Hincapie or Popovych, the bunc sprint is unavoidable. Robbie McEwen is the fastest sprinter as his green jersey witnesses, but the Australian makes his move too early and this is all profit for Thor Hushovd. With a very powerfull acceleration, the Norwegian takes the lead and finishes this Tour de France like he has begun it in Strasbourg: with a stage victory.
22.07.2006 19: Le Creusot - Monceau-les-Mines (57 km time-trial)
Landis approaches the stars
Results:
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Serhiy Honchar
Floyd Landis
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Robbie McEwen
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Michael Rasmussen
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31rd at 5'39"
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11th at 17'46"
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32nd at 213 p.
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5th at 69 p.
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After several changes and suspense until the end, the Tour de France 2006 seems finally promised to a winner this evening in the person of Floyd Landis from the Phonak team. Despite a more carefull start than his main rival Perreiro, despite a very strong performance from Klöden, the American hasn't failed in the time-trial and should, without accident, win the Tour de France 2006. After a third of the distance, Landis wins only 10 seconds on Oscar Perreiro and the question comes up weather there will be a potential final winner this evening because if both of them continue at the same speed until the finish, they will be within seconds only in the overall classification. But on the second part of the course, the rider from Phonak is faster and at the second time-check, after 34 km, he has a minute of advance on Perreiro. At the finish, the Spanish rider, who does one of the best time-trials of his carreer, is 1'29" late on Landis and looses the yellow jersey and probably the overall victory to the American for 59". As for the stage victory, the two riders are preceeded by a pair of T-Mobiel riders. Serhiy Honchar is as impressive as in the first test against the clock and takes the victory without discussion in 50,5 km/h average speed. The other one, Andreas Klöden, still battles for a good overall placing and with his nice performance, he manages to throw a disappointing Carlos Sastre (20th at 4'42") off the podium. For Frank Schleck, the main goal in this time-trial is to catch a Top 10 position overall, but the task isn't easy because his main rival is three times world champion against the clock Michael Rogers. The Luxemburgish rider takes a strong start (20th after 16,5 km), loosing only 11 seconds to the Australian. But on the second part of the course, the flattest one, Schleck looses more time to Rogers (1 minute) and to the other favourites (2'10"). After that, he is once again faster and riders constantly (31st at km 51 and at the end) to the finish line, where he is 5'39" late on Honchar and has nearly the same time than Zubeldia, Moreau or Hincapie. He can't progress in the overall classification, but doesn't loose any position either, because Michael Boogert isn't at his best today and the only threat from behind comes from a very strong Cunego who finishes just one position behind Schleck.
21.07.2006 18: Morzine-Avoriaz - Macon (197 km)
Finally Quick-Step with Tossato
Results:
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Matteo Tossato
Oscar Perreiro
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Robbie McEwen
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Michael Rasmussen
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39th at 8'03"
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11th at 13'51"
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32nd at 213p.
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5th at 69p.
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The biggest climbs are over and there is only a time-trial left to decide over the final overall victory in Paris. But today, there is still a transition stage with 3 smaller climbs between the Alps and the Beaujolais region. For sure, there are several riders who have to consider this stage as their last chance for a victory and of course, there are attacks. After an aborted attempt from Moreau and Popovych, 15 riders break clear at km 48: Martinez (DSC), Zabriskie (CSC), Sinkewitz (TMO), Calzati (AG2R), Leipheimer, Scholz (GST), Flecha (RAB), Aerts (DVL), Tosatto (QSI), Hinault (C.A), Isasi (EUS), Moreni (COF), Vaugrenard (FDJ), Quinziato (LIQ) and Pineau (BTL). There are strong riders in this group and at 45 km/h average speed, they increase their advantage up to 3'30" at km 100, then up to 6 minutes with 30 km to go. But the cooperation isn't good any more in the group and Leipheimer tries his luck together with Isasi, but they are caught again 10 km later. Leipheimer's team-mate Scholz is the next to attack and he has support of Moreni and Tossato. The three work well together and quickly gain 30 seconds af advantage on their former break companions, which they will keep until the end. The sprint is undecided between Moreni and Tossato, but the Quick-Step rider can hold his country-fellowman of and offer the victory to his team, that is without leader since the abandon of Boonen. The bunch, that has been led for most of the time at moderate speed by Saunier Duval, crosses the finish line 8 minutes later, which Frank Schleck in it. For him, as for all the other GC contenders, it is a statu quo today while waiting for the all-deciding stage of tomorrow.
20.07.2006 17: St.Jean de Maurienne - Morzine-Avoriaz (201 km)
Floyd is back, big performance by Schleck
Results:
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Floyd Landis
Oscar Perreiro
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Robbie McEwen
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Michael Rasmussen
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6th at 7'08"
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11th at 13'48"
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29th at 211p.
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5th at 69p.
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What a performance by Floyd Landis !!! One day after having known the biggest defeat of his career, the American stands up again and attacks. At the first climb, the col des Saisies, Landis accelerates and even if Evans, Klöden, Sastre and Rogers manage to stay with him for a while, they are dropped a little bit later by the Phonak captain, who quickly catches up with the riders of the early break before him. They had more than 10 minutes advance at the foot of the climb, but only Patrick Sinkewitz from T-Mobile manages to hold the wheel of Landis. Over the climbs of Aravis, Colombière and Châtillon-sur-Cluses, the American increases his advantage to 9 minutes and is virtual leader again of the most crazy Tour de France of this last years. With the col de Joux-Plane, last climb of the day aproaching, the Caisse d'Epargne riders around Perreiro still don't manage to decrease the gap, so that CSC and T-Mobile
decide to lead the chase together. Voigt, Vandevelde and Honchar ride flat out to limit the advantage of the leader to 6 minutes at the foot of the Joux-Plane. After 2 kilometeres in the col, Frank Schleck accelerates very hard with Carlos Sastre in his wheel and nao one is able to follow him. Schleck gives a perfect lead-out to his captain and then lets himself fall back to the next chasers: Moreau, Menchov, Boogerd, Evans and Cunego. Klöden and Perreiro are a little bit further back. The climb is very tough and the battle at distance between Sastre and Landis superb. The American is still very strong and doesn't crack, whereas Klöden and Perreiro also find their legs back in the final part of the climb. The suspense is very big as to know who will wear the yellow jersey. Finally, Landis takes an extraordinarey stage victory in Morzine with 5'42" advance on Sastre, whereas Klöden, Perreiro and Schleck cross the finish line one minute and a half later. In the overall classification, Perreiro keeps the lead by a narrow margin of 12" on Sastre and 30" on Landis, who is back in the battle for the overall victory. Klöden is now 2'29" late and seems out of contention in the deciding final time trial. Frank Schleck, for his part, is now 11th overall after yet another big performance today. He is 1'35" behind Michael Rogers who is sitting in 10th position and will fight on Saturday for a Top 10 placing overall.
19.07.2006 16: Bourg d'Oisans - La Toussuire (182 km)
Big efforts from Rasmussen and Perreiro
Results:
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Michael Rasmussen
Oscar Perreiro
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Robbie McEwen
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Michael Rasmussen
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18th at 8'37"
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13th at 13'48"
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40th at 221p.
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3rd at 79p.
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The second stage in the Alps seems even tougher on paper than the first one yesterday, with the three giants col du Galibier (43 km of climbing), col de la Croix de Fer via the terrible Glandon (23 km) and the final climb to La Toussuire long of 18 km, plus col du Télégraphe and du col du Mollard (5 km each). But like yesterday, the race starts very fast with Michael Rasmussen, who wants a second title of King of the Mountains, but has several points to catch up behind De la Fuente. The Dane from Rabobank attacks at km 5 km and takes with him Sandy Casar and Tadej Valjavec. Despite several riders like Popovych, Rubiera, Simoni, Gomez-Marchante or Sinkewitz in a counter-attack, the trio resists and crosses the sumnit of the Galibier in the lead, with 4'40" on the main field. In the col de la Croix de Fer, where the peloton is 7 minutes late, but swallows up most of the riders of the counter-attack, Rasmussen drops Casar and then Valjavec to take the lead of the race alone. This is the moment chosen by CSC to make the race a little bit tougher and Frank Schleck moves up in the peloton with Sastre in his wheel. They increase the pace in the peloton and thus reduce it, but then step back after the move of Leipheimer who takes over alone the poursuit of Rasmussen, leaving the work to ohter teams. On top of the col de la Croix de Fer, Rasmussen has 5 minutes advantage on Leipheimer and 8 minutes on the group of favourites with Frank Schleck that is 30 riders strong. At the beginning of the climb to La Toussuire, Schleck works again for Sastre and leads the group of the favourites during the first kilometers. But after an attack of Denis Menchov, he is dropped with about 15 km to go and continous at his rythm. After the enormous efforts of yesterday and lots of word done today, this is the climb that is too much for him to stay with the very Best. But his effort isn't useless because Carlos Sastre attacks stronly in the groups of the favourites and he can get a gap, whereas yellow jersey Floyd Landis is surprisingly in difficulties. Michael Rasmussen wins the stage 1'41" ahead of a Sastre, who takes time on his major opponents with Perreiro, Klöden and Evans being closest to the Spaniard. A very convincing Oscar Perreiro takes the yellow jersey to the surprise of everyone and is has now 1'50" advance on Sastre and 2'29" on Klöden in the overall classification, where Frank Schleck has lost one position (13ht at 13'48"): suspense, suspense for tomorrow's last mountain stage and the time-trial of Saturday.
18.07.2006 15: Gap - L'Alpe d'Huez (187 km)
FRANK SCHLECK WINS AT L'ALPE D'HUEZ
Results:
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Frank Schleck
Floyd Landis
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Robbie McEwen
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David De la Fuente
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winner
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12th at 7'07"
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41st at 221p.
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2nd at 34p.
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Frank Schleck wins a stage in the Tour de France. Not any stage, but the most beautiful, the one he dreams of, the one to l'Alpe d'Huez. To begin the trilogy of the Alpes, the riders have to deal with a legendary stage, passing over the col de l'Izoard and its lunar landscape called "Casse Déserte" at 2360 m, then the col de Lautaret and finally the 21 turns of the Alpe d'Huez. Team CSC chooses to launch a big attack in this stage and after a very fast beginning (50,8 km in the first hour), they initiate a big break of 25 riders containing Frank Schleck, but also the rouleurs Jens Voigt and David Zabriskie. In addition to the three CSc riders, there are other prominent riders in this group like Hincapie, Garzelli, Cunego, Merckx, Chavanel, de la Fuente, Wegmann, Arroyo and more. Stefano Garzelli finds that the speed isn't high enough and he attacks out of the group to cross the sumnit of Izoard alone with one minute of advance on Schleck and 14 other
riders, whereas the peloton is noted at 6'30". But after Briançon, several teams like Phonak, Rabobank or T-Mobile send riders to the front of the pack to support the chase with the helpers of maillot jaune Perreiro. On top of the Lautaret, the gap
between the peloton and the leading group that has swallowed Garzelli drops down to 4'15". On the descend from Lautaret, Zabriskie and Voigt do a pefect job in the lead group, so that the Schleck groups attacks the final climb to Alpe d'Huez with still more than 3 minutes of advantage. Chavanel is the first to attack, then Cunego and soon they are only two left in front: the Lampre captain and ... Frank Schleck. The Luxemburgish rider once more seems very impressive and easy, doing most of the work in front, but Mazzoleni can bridge up to the duo. With 2 km to go, where the road is the steepest, Schleck's moment has come: one acceleration is enough to drop Cunego and fly to the victory. 40 years after Edy Schütz, Frank Schleck wins a stage of the Tour de France, 11 seconds in front of the Italian. Behind them, T-Mobile set the speed at the beginning of the climb and Klöden is the first of the favourites to play his card, followed by Landis and Evans, whereas Menchov and yellow jersey Perreiro have difficulties. After another attack from Floyd Landis, Cadel Evans is dropped, but Carlos Sastre comes back a little later with Leipheimer, after having had some support from the incredible Jens Voigt. But Klöden and Landis are the strongest and they can once again drop their opponents after an acceleration from the German to finish 25 seconds ahead of Sastre. Floyd Landis takes back the yellow jersey and just like after the Pyrenees, he seems again favourite no 1 for the final overall victory. Frank Schleck moves up to 12th position at 7 minutes overall and can, after his performance of today, hope for a Top 10 classification in Paris. He is now also 2nd in the KOM competition behind De la Fuente.
16.07.2006 14: Montélimar - Gap (180 km)
Frank Schleck attacks, Fedrigo wins
Results:
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Pierrick Fedrigo
Oscar Perreiro
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Robbie McEwen
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David De la Fuente
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18th at 7"
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20th at 10'06"
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74th at 241p.
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20th at 56p.
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For the first time in this Tour de France, Frank Schleck can go on his own for the stage win and in the last climb of the day, the col de la Sentinelle with 8 km to go, he follows an acceleration of Michael Boogerd. Around 30 seconds behind the leading Commesso and Fedrigo, the two riders create a gap to the rest of the peloton. But unfortunately, Boogerd is only interested in the KOM points and acts in support of his team-mates Menchov and Rasmussen. The attempt of Frank Schleck doesn't have any success, but it shows an important thing: the rider from CSC is strong, very strong and just before the last, deciding week, he feels better than ever in this Tour de France. The high speed up the col de la Sentinelle at the end of a hilly stage and the bad state of the roads due to the excessive heat have consequences for lots of riders and at the sumnit, only around 40 riders are left in the first group, trying to chase down Comesso and Fedrigo. These two remain out of an early break of 6 riders that forms around km 50 and can take up to 6 minutes of advance, before a spectacular crash eliminates three out of the six (Kessler, Verbrugghe and Canada), while Aerts is dropped on the last climb. The riders from Discovery Channel smell the victory because George Hincapie should be the fastest rider in the group of the favourites, and so they lead the chase. But the two riders in front are strong and with one kilometers to go, they still have 11" of advance. A little hesitation in the chasing group leads Vandevelde to an attack, but it is already too late: Comesso and Fedrigo can sprint for the stage victory and in a very tactic duell, the Frenchman takes the flowers. Frank Schleck finishes 7 seconds later in the group of the favourites and can remove up to the 20th position overall. Tomorrow is rest-day in Gap, before the queen stage to Alpe d'Huez waits for the riders.
15.07.2006 13: Béziers - Montélimar (230 km)
Voigt and Perreiro rewarded for long break
Results:
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Jens Voigt
Oscar Perreiro
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Robbie McEwen
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David De la Fuente
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73rd at 29'57"
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23rd at 10'06"
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81st at 244p.
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33rd at 70p.
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Third marathon stage in three days with 230 km between Béziers and Montélimar, the city of nougat candy. But above all, it is the heat, nealry 40 degrees Celsius in the shade, that affects the riders. Five of them don't seem to bother about these difficult conditions and they manage to conclude sucessfully a break of 213 km at 42 km/h average speed, and pass the finish line half an hour before the main field. What a performance for Sylvain Chavanel, Manuel Quinziato, Andrei Grivko, Jens Voigt and Oscar Perreiro. Two riders in the break will be well rewarded for all the pain with a stage victory for Jens Voigt and the yellow jersey for Oscar Perreiro. Both of them are the strongest in the group, but the German is physically and mentally a class on his own. With a big acceleration at 1 km from the finish line, he forces Perreiro to dig very deep in order to come back and the Spaniard never recovers from that and isn't able to pass the Voigt in the sprint. This certainly will boost the morale of Frank Schleck and team CSC, who are somewhat unlucky since the beginning of the Tour. The Luxemburgish rider finishes the stage in the peloton, where only Phonak leads today, no other team takes its responsabilities. And so it comes that the peloton rider with a rather slow speed through the stage, wich is certainly appreciated by lots of exhausted riders that have already the difficult stage of tomorrow in their mind. Frank Schleck tooses two more positions overall today, but is certainly happy with the way the stage turns out and can even maybe enjoy a glass of champagne this evening.
14.07.2006 12: Luchon - Carcssone (212 km)
Popovych's revenge
Results:
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Yaroslav Popvych
Floyd Landis
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Robbie McEwen
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David De la Fuente
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43rd at 4'25"
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21st at 8'37"
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80th at 226p.
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31st at 70p.
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The stage of 14th of July knows a very fast beginning, because after yesterday, the positions overall are a bit more clear and several riders hope therefore to have more liberties in a break. Not only the French riders attack on their National celebration day, but a whole bunch of very different riders: climbers like Rasmussen, Cunego, Guerini or Moncoutié, rouleurs like Voigt, Hincapie, Backstedt, Millar, sprinters like Hushovd, Bennati, McEwen or Boonen as well as lots of other riders try their luck in the different breaks, but each time, there is a team in the peloton to set up the chase and bring all the riders back together. Finally, a group of four with famous riders manages to get a gap: Oscar Freire, Yaroslav Popovich, Alessandro Ballan and Christophe Le Mevel take off after 100 km and build up an advantage of 4 and a half minutes. The first part of the stage is hilly with 3 climbs and after km 140, it gets flatter and flatter until the finish line, but the rivalries between the sprinter teams delay the chase behind the break. Phonak only controls the gap without decreasing it, and so the four leading riders can even play some tactical games in the last kilometers with several attacks from Popovych, Freire and Ballan, whereas Le Mevel is dropped. The Ukranian rider finally is the strongest when he attacks with 2 km to go and he can go solo to the finish line to win the stage in front of Ballan and Freire. A revenge for the Discovery team, who hasn't known any big glory yet in this Tour de France. The peloton with Frank Schleck in it finishes 4 minutes late, and the Luxemburgish rider shouldn't have had any problems to finish this so-called transition stage without damage.
13.07.2006 11: Tarbes - Pla-de-Beret (207 km)
Menchov wins, Schleck on superb 8th place
Results:
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Denis Menchov
Floyd Landis
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Robbie McEwen
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David De la Fuente
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8th at 1'31"
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20th at 8'37"
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80th at 209p.
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29th at 70p.
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The difficulties of the day with the classics Tourmalet, Aspin, Peyresourde, then the col du Portillon and the final climb to Pla-de-Beret don't seem to fear off any attacks, because several riders, among them Verbrugghe, Gilbert, Garcia Acosta, O-Grady, Moerenhout or even Moreau try their luck from the beginning with a high pace as result. Finally, a group of four riders is allowed by the peloton to get away: Camano, De la Fuente, Wegman and Flecha take up to 8 minutes of advance, but then AG2R reacts. The speed increases in the peloton and whereas Frank Schleck still seems very easy, some other riders have difficulties: Mayo like yesterday, but also Horner, Savoldelli, Rubiera, Chavanel, Honchar, Garate,
Garzelli or Popovych. The peloton gets smaller and smaller and at the summit of the col de Peyresourde, they are only around 40 together with an impressive Frank Schleck in the wheels of the AG2R riders, whereas De la Fuente remains alone in the lead. In the col the Portillon, T-Mobile makes the speed at the head of the first groupe and there are a lot more victims, among them Moncoutié, Dessel the yellow jersey or Hincapie. De la Fuente crosses the summit with one and a half minutes of advance on Schleck and around 25 other chasers. The rider of Saunier-Duval is caught at the foot of the last climb to Pla-de-Beret, where Rabobank takes control of the race. After the accelerations from Boogerd and Menchov, Frank Schleck is dropped from the lead group and only 7 riders remain in front: the two Rabobank, Sastre, Leipheimer, Klöden, Landis and Evans, whereas Schleck is trying to come back together with Moreau and Zubeldia. After several accelerations, there are only three left, Landis, Menchov, Leipheimer, of whom Denis Menchov wins the stage in a sprint and Floyd Landis takes the yellow jersey. Frank Schleck doesn't finish far behind in 8th place, 1'30" late and together with Klöden and Zubeldia. Of course he moves up numerous positions in the overall classification and is now 20th at 8 minutes and a half of Floyd Landis. He also opens his accounts in the points and mountains classifications.
12.07.2006 10: Cambo-les-Bains - Pau (191 km)
Mercado takes the stage, Dessel the jerseys
Results:
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Juan Mercado
Cyril Dessel
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Robbie McEwen
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Cyril Dessel
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34th at 7'23"
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65th at 11'43"
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There hasn't been any big battle between the favourites on the first stage in the Pyrenees to Pau, passing the Col du Soudet (HC - 15 km at 7%) and the col de Marie-Blanque (I - 9 km at 8%), the first bigger climbs in the Tour de France 2006. As expected, the Soudet acts mainly as observation round and none of the favourites attacks in the T-Mobile led peloton. The team in Magenta rides a steady, but not too fast speed and besides Iban Mayo, none of the favourites has any problems to follow. At the front, the remaining riders of an early break still have 10 minutes of advantage: Cyril Dessel, Juan Mercado, Christophe Rinero, Inaki Isasi, Christian Moreno, Cédric Vasseur and Inigo Landaluze. T-Mobile continues to lead the pack after the Soudet, but immediately behind them, Frank Schleck and Carlos Sastre are very attentive and ideally placed, surrounded by several other CSC team-mates. In the col de Marie-Blanque, the action remains uneventful at the front of the peloton, where T-Mobile continues leading. Nevertheless, several riders are in difficulties at the back of the pack: Merckx, Voeckler, Moncoutié, Fothen, Leipheimer, Cunego, but also Honchar, the man with the yellow jersey. Only the two strongest riders in the break, Dessel and Mercado, stay up front and they have enouth advantage to cut the cake in two at the finish: Mercado takes the stage win and Dessel the maillot jaune and the polka-dot mountains jersey. They are also both at the top of the overall classification now, where Dessel, who has won in the year 2000 ACC Contern's Grand-prix Ostfenster in Berbourg, leads with 2'34" advantage on Mercado and 3'45" on Honchar. Frank Schleck finishes in the first group of around 70 riders and moves up more than 20 spots overall, now 11'43" late on the new leader. The stage of tomorrow will be much more difficult than today with 5 climbs to do and a mountain top finish, and will give us probably more informations on the GC contenders than the one of today.
11.07.2006 9: Bordeaux - Dax (170 km)
Bis for Freire before the mountains
Results:
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Oscar Freire
Serhiy Honchar
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Robbie McEwen
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Jérôme Pineau
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34th at 0"
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86th at 7'58"
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Before the mountains arrive tomorrow, another flat stage has to be done between Bordeaux and Dax. Despite the completely flat profile, it isn't an easy stage for the riders because of the heat, the monotone, long and straigth roads between the forests of the Landes region and most of all the speed, more than 47 km per hour average. A stage for the sprinters and they don't want to miss this last opportunity before the Pyrenees, although not everybody agrees on a bunch sprint: after the attacks of Coyot and Joly, Christian Knees initiates a break and takes with him Walter Beneteau and Stéphane Augé. The three riders work well together and with 100 km to go, they have built up a lead of up to 8 minutes. Time for the sprinters to react and Lampre, Davitamon, Crédit Agricole or Quick-Step all send one or more riders to the front of the pack. Of course the advantage of the front men decreases. Their collaboration isn't perfect any more because Knees wants to get rid of the two others and the result is that they are all caught with 3,5 km to go. Despite a last attempt from Stuart O'Grady, the massive sprint takes place and of course, it is all about tactics. Boonen starts too early, McEwen too late, but Oscar Freire has the perfect timing and wins the stage with a narrow margin on the Australian with the green jersey. Frank Schleck manages to cross the line in the first part of the peloton that counts only 85 riders. Crashes in a very nervous final tear the pack into pieces and several riders like Fothen or Leipheimer loose some seconds. Tomorrow is the first mountain stage, but it is not the most difficult one, the kind of stage that should suit very well to Frank Schleck on paper, but wait and see how is his form after a tough opening week in his first Tour de France.
09.07.2006 8: St.Méen-le-Grand - Lorient (181 km)
Calzati rewarded
Results:
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Sylvain Calzati
Serhiy Honchar
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Robbie McEwen
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Jérôme Pineau
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72nd at 5'16"
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89th at 7'58"
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There are riders that always trie their luck and whose names are cited more often than usual in early breaks. Sylvain Calzati is one of them and he is rewarded today for many kilomters in breaks at different races with a win in a Tour de France stage ... after a long break. These attemps do not succeed very often, but today, several conditions work in favour of the break: a tired peloton after a long week of racing, a tough time-trial yesterday and a fast beginning of the stage with lots of attacks as well as several major teams represented at the front (T-Mobile, CSC, Davitamon, Crédit Agricole and Liquigas). And most of all, they are only strong men out there: Zabriskie, Kessler, Halgand, Aerts, Carlström and Calzati. Their attack occurs at km 45 shortly after the first big attempt of the day around Voigt, Etzebarria, Weening and some ohters is reeled in. Their advantage quickly climbs to over 7 minutes because the only team to work for a moderate tempo in the peloton is Phonak, who don't want a rider like Kessler to take too much field. 30 km from the finish, the leaders still have a gap of more than 3 minutes, but the tactical games beginn. Zabriskie and Kessler are feared and the riders look at each others. Sylvain Calzati decides that is the moment to attack and with an extraordinary performance, the Frenchman manages to stay in front until the finish line, holding of not only the chasers Carlström and Halgand, but also the complete bunch, who still doesn't chase very hard until the end. After a fast and tough beginning, Frank Schleck and the other riders in the main bunch have a rather calm day, and he is looking forward to the rest day of tomorrow, where he can look at his wounds, but also prepare for the first Pyreneen stages that aren't far away any more.
08.07.2006 7: St.Grégoire - Rennes (52 km individual time-trial)
Honchar takes the yellow after having had the pink
Results:
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Serhiy Honchar
Serhiy Honchar
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Robbie McEwen
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Jéròme Pineau
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72nd at 5'16"
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89th at 7'58"
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First big challenge for the candidates to the succession of Lance Armstrong on the roads of the Tour de France, with an individual time-trial of 52 km on a mostly flat course with long straight roads that surely advantage the specialists. And one of those specialists is called Serhiy Honchar, the one that is able to ride a bigger gear than all the ohters, so that it looks sometimes rather slow, but in fact it is really fast. So fast, that the Ukranian, former world champion of the discipline, is best placed at all the intermidiate times and wins the stage at 50,54 average speed, one minute in front of Floyd Landis. The American from the Phonak team seems now the number one favourite for the overall victory, because he takes time on all the major contestants: about a minute on Klöden, Menchov, Evans and Karpets, nearly two minutes on Moreau, Sastre, Savoldelli or Hincapie and three minutes on Popovych. Other riders loose even more time, like Leipheimer or Cunego who come in more than 6 minutes late on the winner. In addition to the stage win, Serhiy Honchar also takes the yellow jersey, after having had the pink already in this year's Giro d'Italia. One has to say the the big winner of this time-trial is in fact the whole T-Mobile team: after an impressive collective performance, they place now 4 of their riders (Honchar, Rogers, Sinkewitz et Klöden) among the 6 best overall. This will surely give them tactical opportunities for the days to come. The loser of the time-trial seems to be team CSC: Zabriskie misses top 10, Julich crashes out of the race, Voigt finishes in last place, only Sastre is doing well, whereas Frank Schleck makes a good time-trial (72nd at 5'16"), without being superb. The Luxemburgish riders takes a slow start (91st at 2'08" after km 16) and it is on that first part where he loses most of the time. After that, he finds a better rythm and manages to gain several positions until km 23, where he is in 70th position (at 3'48"), befor staying constant (73rd at 4'45 after km 46) until the finish line. He finally takes 72nd position, placing in front of riders like Leipheimer, Verbrugghe, Simoni or Voigt. It will be difficult now for Frank to make a good final classification in Paris, but on the other hand, his handicap of 8 minutes in the overall classification will surely provide him with more liberty for the stages to come, with perhaps an opportunity for a good result in a stage.
07.07.2006 6: Lisieux - Vitré (189 km)
Robbie McEwen ... once again
Results:
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Robbie McEwen
Tom Boonen
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Robbie McEwen
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Jéròme Pineau
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134th at 0"
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104th at 3'19"
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A very interesting beginning of the stage today with a group around yellow jersey Tom Boonen, but also riders like Sinkewitz, Flecha, Merckx, Hushovd or Gilbert that breaks clear, forcing some teams to do a lot of work in the peloton, like team CSC of Frank Schleck. Mostly Julich and Voigt are making speed in front of the peloton, whereas the Luxemburgish rider doesn't have to take any turns. His right arm whitnesses from his crash of yesterday and Frank tries to go through the stage without suffering too much. But he seems to be allright and rides once more very attentively in the peloton, always among the 30 first riders. After around 20 km of heavy chase, things calm down because only Magnus Backstedt, Anthony Geslin and Florent Brard stay in front out of the initial group of 17 riders. The traditionnal cat and mouse game begins: the break is allowed to build up a bigger gap (5 minutes maximum) before the pack opens the chase. The former winner of paris-Roubaix, the third of the last World Chamionships and the French National Champion have to admit it: their advantage decreases and the outcome of their adventure in front is truly uncertain. And so it happens: the three leaders are caught with 4 km to go and the peloton prepares itself for a bunch sprint. The last kilometers are very hectic, with turns and roundabouts, but the finishing straight is large and perfect for the battle between the fast men. Boonen and Bennati are both supported by their teams, but Robbie McEwen also gets a perfect lead-out by Steegmans and he wins his third stage victory in very convincing manner.
06.07.2006 5: Beauvais - Caen (225 km)
Freire wins, Schleck crashes
Results:
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Oscar Freire
Tom Boonen
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Robbie McEwen
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Jéròme Pineau
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149th at 2'07"
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104th at 3'11"
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Samuel Dumoulin (AG2R) and Björn Schröder (Milram) are the names of the two brave who hold the peloton at distance for a long time today. After a fast beginning, during which several groups manage to get away from the peloton, but are all caught again, Dumoulin and Schröder can get a gap around km 35. The riders in the peloton decide to calm down, so that the two in front get a maximal gap of 13 minutes, before the usual teams react. Quick-Step are the first to open the chase, followed by Davitamon and later on Credit Agricole. The gap decreases to 5 minutes at km 175m, where a crash without bigger consequences involves among others Moncoutié, de la Fuente and maillot jaune Tom Boonen. 25 km from the finish, the gap is still of 3 minutes, but then it goes down faster and faster with Dumoulin and Schröder being caught by the field at 5 km from the finish line. At that moment another crash happens in the peloton, and unfortunately, Frank Schleck finds himself on the tarmac. He rode very attentively at the front of the pack during the whole day, with several of his team-mates around him, but can't avoid the crash which involves half a dozen other riders. Frank stands up, quickly checks himself and his bike and goes on, but he has lost time and crosses the finish line 2 minutes and 7 seconds behind Oscar Freire, who beats Tom Boonen in the massive sprint for the stage victory. The world champion once more loses the sprint, but he can consolidate the overall lead with now 13 seconds advance on Michael Rogers. Frank Schleck of course loses several positions overall and is now in 104th position, 3 minutes down on Boonen.
05.07.2006 4: Huy - St.Quentin (207 km)
McEwen doubles the score
Results:
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Robbie McEwen
Tom Boonen
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Robbie McEwen
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Jéròme Pineau
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37th at 0"
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64th at 52"
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After 2 days in the Benelux-countries, the Tour finds his way back to France with a finish in St.Quentin. But before that, the riders have to cross Belgium in Boonen-mania, and of course, the National hero, world champion and yellow jersey wants to schow himself. Shortly after the first climb, he mixes up with a break of 5 riders, but of course the peloton won't let go such a group. Another break has no such a famous guest in it and thus has more chances to succeed: Egoi Marinez, Bradley Wiggins, Christophe Mengin, Laurent Lefèvre and Cédric Coutouly attack at km 18 and they manage to get an advantage of four and a half minutes on the rest of the riders, until Boonen and McEwen sends their teams to the front in order to reduce the gap. And their efforts pay off: the advantage of the break is 3 minutes at km 150, 2 minutes with 35 km to go and only one at 20 km from the finish, where Iban Mayo is involved in a crash. The timing is perfect and the break is caught with 2 km to go, so that a massive sprint is unavoidable. Credit Agricole works a lot in the sprint preparation, but then Robbie McEwen is brought into an ideal position by his team-mate Geert Steegmans and, after a powerfull acceleration, the Australian wins with several lengths of advance on Galvez, Freire, Hushovd and Boonen, who keeps the yellow jersey. Frank Schleck finish also in the first part of the peloton in 37th position.
04.07.2006 3: Esch-sur-Alzette - Valkenburg (216 km)
Kessler strongest, Schleck in first group
Results:
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Matthias Kessler
Tom Boonen
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Tom Boonen
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Jéròme Pineau
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45rd at 5"
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65th at 52"
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Matthias Kessler doesn't give up easily and despite the failure of his attack yesterday, he tries again today on a stage with a similar profile, but with the last hill being much closer to the finish line. And the German seems really the strongest for the moment on those short climbs, because nobody is able to follow his attack on the mighty Cauberg, event though Gilbert hangs on to his wheel for a moment. Without weakening, the Kessler holds on to his effort and keeps 5" of advance until the finish line, despite the heavy work from Michael Boogerd behind him. At the finish, Michael Rogers surprises by winning the sprint of the first group, thus securing a double score for Kim Kirchen's T-Mobile team. Frank Schleck is also very strong on the Cauberg where he surely remembers his victory in the Amstel Gold Race in late April. He appears often among the first in the pack on the last kilometers and doesn't hesitate to go to the front in order to be in good position at the foot of the climb. Even though Frank can't follow the acceleration of Kessler, he is able to hang on to the next chasing group, taking 45th place at the finish. Among the 48 riders of his group, there are most of the favourites, but not Valverde and Dekker, who give up the race after a heavy crash, nor the climbers Rasmussen, Rujano, Cunego or Mayo, for whom the Cauberg is maybe to short. Tom Boonen is well in the first group and he will be starting tomorrow in his home country Belgium with the yellow jersey on his shoulders, because Hushovd is a little bit short on the Cauberg and looses the jersey to the World champ. The day is also marked by boiling heat, and by a long break, nearly 200 km, of 5 riders, Voigt, Pineau, Etxebarria, Laurent and Arrieta, of whom the latter is the strongest and stays in the lead until the foot of the last climb.
03.07.2006 2: Obernai - Esch-sur-Alzette (228 km)
Kessler tries, McEwen wins
Results:
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Robbie McEwen
Thor Hushovd
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Robbie McEwen
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David delaFuente
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33rd at 0"
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125th at 57"
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It is animated and with a lot of suspense, the stage that brings the peloton to the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg, to the town of Esch-sur-Alzette in particular, and the profile of the stage certainly has to do with that. Up and down all day, this gives some ideas to Spanish riders who are best when it goes uphill. David de la Fuente and Aitor Hernandez are the ones that attack at km 1 and over the climbs of Panours and Valsberg, take over 11 minutes of advantage. But through the valley of the Moselle, the sprinter's teams wake up and the gap decreases. On the climb of Kédange, there are only 3 minutes of advantage left and Hernandez is struggling, so David de la Fuente continues on his own. But he knows that his chances are small and not only the sprinters, but also Fabian Wegmann, the man with the King of the Mountains jersey on his shoulders, doesn't want him to go too far. The German rider attacks in the peloton on the climb of Kanfen and passes De la Fuente on the one at Volmerange-les-Mines, but will be reeled in himself a little bit later. Matthias Kessler then attacks on the climb of Langegronn, with 6 km to go and takes 15" of advantage. It doesn't look too bad for the German rider, and behind him, the peloton looses more time due to a crash. With 500 m to go, Kessler still has 10" of advantage, but the sprint is launched behind him at full speed and the peloton, with McEwen in the lead, swallows up the T-Mobile rider only a few meters from the line. World champion Tom Boonen is beaten by McEwen, whereas Thor Hushovd has another frightning moment when he slips out of his pedal in the middle of the sprint. But the Norwegian quickly finds back his smile because due to the bonus seconds, he takes back the yellow jersey from Hincapie. Frank Schleck rides up at the front today, he wants to be in a good place when the race enters his home country, and maybe even try something. The attack of Kessler on the last climb ruins his plans, but by riding very attentively, the Luxemburgish rider avoids the crash that happens in the last kilometers of the very dangerous route through the former mining city. Schleck crosses the finish line in the first group in 33rd position, but also all the other riders, that cross the line later due to the crash, are credited with the same time than him.
02.07.2006 1: Strasbourg - Strasbourg (183 km)
Jimmy Casper creates the surprise
Results:
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Jimmy Casper
Greorge Hincapie
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Jimmy Casper
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Fabian Wegmann
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122nd at 0"
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145th at 47"
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The first stage of the Tour de France 2006 developps in very traditionnal manner, with a long-distance break (Augé, Sprick, Vaugrenard, Portal, Benneteau, Wegmann and Extebarria) taking over 4 minutes of advance, before the sprinter's teams chase it down near the finish, opening the way for a royal bunch sprint. But more suprising is the name of the winner: Jimmy Casper surely knows a good season 2006 with victories in the Tour de Picardie and the Grand-prix de Denain so far, but no-one really thougth him able to beat the (nearly) complete sprinter-elite in a Tour de France stage. But the French rider perfectly exploits a somewhat unusual sprint in the crosswinds, whereas the big favourits find themselves trapped. Tom Boonen mainly, whose Quick-Step train doesn't work out well and who finds himself in the wind at the front of the pack with 500 m to go. Robbie McEwen also, who clearly is the fastest in the last 200 meters, but who is stuck in like Freire and some others on the right side of the road, whereas Casper flyes to victory right in the center. Thor Hushovd is also trapped by an American named George Hincapie, who has the good idea to sprint for some bonus seconds in the last intermediate sprint and thus takes over a bloody yellow jersey from the Norvegian. Because Hushovd is hit in the middle of the sprint by an object held by a spectator and crosses the line with his right arm covered in blood. A very spectacular cut, but which shouldn't prevent him from continuing the next stages. Frank Schleck, on his side, knows a rather quiet day and he passes the finish line in the middle of the peloton in 122nd position, far away from the neck-breaking action of the sprinters.
01.07.2006 1: Strasbourg - Strasbourg (prologue 7 km)
The power of Thor Hushovd
Results:
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Thor Hushovd
Thor Hushovd
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147th at 46"
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147th at 46"
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After some very difficult days related to the Spanish anti-doping campaign, the Tour de France finally begins for good with a prologue of 7,1 km in the streets of Strassbourg, without Ullrich, Basso, Mancebo, Vinokourov and some others. On the Luxemburgish side, the latest happenings of course also change things because Frank Schleck, who was meant to support Basso without any other ambition during this Tour, could take a more interesting role in the new CSC tactics and thus have some opportunities to play his own card. But until then, we will have to wait a little bit because his performance in today's ultra-flat time-trial are rather modest. If he makes still quite an acceptable time after half of the course, (80th at 12" at km 3,7), Frank finishes really bad by taking 147th place aout of 176 rider, 46 seconds behind the winner Thor Hushovd. The facts are there, in the second half of the race, the Luxemburgish rider was 10 km per hour slower than in the first part (42 km/h against 52 km/h). At the front, we have the favourites for this sort of exercise: the sprinters (Hushovd winner, O'Grady 6th, Boonen 12th), the GC contenders (Hincapie 2nd, Valverde 5th, Savoldelli 8th, Landis 9th, Karpets 11th) and of course the specialists (Zabriskie 3rd, Lang 4th, Rogers 7th or Gonchar 10th). Among the deceptions, we note Leipheimer who loses 21 seconds, Voigt who is 24 seconds late, Menchov 26, Cunego 41 and Di Lucca 43. But while wating for the battle of the bonus seconds tomorrow, Thor the Viking is in yellow this evening.
23.07.2006 5: Dresde - Dresde (150 km)
SECOND VICTORY FOR ANDY SCHLECK
Results:
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Andy Schleck
Vladimir Gusev
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winner
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23rd at 9'47"
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48th at 3'31"
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63rd at 42'32"
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Another victory for the Schleck family! Two days after his first victory in a professionnal road-race, the youngest of the family does it again in the Sachsen-Tour, and in quite a convincing manner. On the first climb of the day, Andy accelerates in order to take points for the KOM and assure his overall victory in this classification. He is the first up the climb with in his wheel Belloti and Rutkewietz, but also Linus Gerdemann of T-Mobile. Behind them there is a gap to the rest of the peloton and the four riders decide to continue on their way. Discovery Channel of leader Gusev doesn't chase too hard behind them and so they can take 4 minutes of advance. With 15 km to go, on the hilly final course in Dresden, it is the most reknown rider of the group, Linus Gerdemann, who attacks, and only Andy Schleck manages to follow him.
The two riders continue well together and take a nice advantage until the last kilometer, where they are pretty sure not to be caught again. Taktik games begin and Gerdemann, who is in first position, wants Schleck to pass him and to launch the sprint from the first position. But like an experienced rider, the youngster from CSC resists, forces Gerdemann to sprint in front and overtakes him in the very last meters to take his second stage victory. In addition, Schleck wins the pink jersey of best climber and the polka-dot jersey of the combination classification. A nice score !!! Kim Kirchen hasn't earned anything in this Sachsen-Tour, but that wasn't his goal. The Luxemburgish champion came to Sachsen in order to accumulate race kilometers for his next big objectives of the season, like the Hamburg cyclassics or the Deutschland Tour. He surely has found what he looked for with 770 tough kilometers through very hilly countryside. Today, Kim Kirchen finishes in the middle of the main peloton, like in all the other stages.
22.07.2006 4: Oschatz - Oschatz (24,6 km time-trial)
Schumacher faster than the specialists
Results:
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Stefan Schumacher
Vladimir Gusev
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91st at 4'24"
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27th at 13'32"
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31st at 1'48"
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68th at 42'32"
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Stefan Schumacher from the Gerolsteiner team creates a surprise today by beating the time-trial specialists in their favourite discipline. Schumi, who normally prefers short hills, takes the victory on a very flat course at 49 km/h average speed in front of Gusev, Rich and Cancellara. In the overall classification, the German is out of contention because he is 40 minutes late at the beginning of the stage and it is Russian rider Vladimir Gusev of Discovery Channel who takes the lead after his second place in the stage. He has 40 seconds of advance on Lorenzo Bernucci and should win the final overall classification tomorrow. Kim Kirchen does a good race against the clock on a course that doesn't really suit him. Without forcing too much, the T-Mobile rider finishes in 31'38" wich places him at 47 km/h average speed in 31st position, 1'48" behind Schumacher. Andy Schleck has to deal with his efforts of yesterday, during a 190 km escape and naturally can't hold up with the Best. The former National Champion against the clock finishes in 91st position out of 108 riders, 40 minutes and a half late on the winner and at an average speed of 43 km/h. Not far away from him in the classification, there are most of the riders who were with him in yesterday's long break.
21.07.2006 3: Chemnitz - Riesa (199 km)
STAGE VICTORY FOR ANDY SCHLECK
Results:
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Andy Schleck
Alexandr Kolobnev
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winner
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25th at 9'29"
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85th at 18'17"
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82nd at 41'05"
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It seems to be a Schleck-week because after the victory of Frank at L'Alpe d'Huez, here is another win for the family. Andy surely wasn't very happy to lose that much time yesterday and so he attacks from the beginning today. After km 8 out of 199, the CSC rider breaks away and takes 4 more riders with him: Marek Rutkewietz, Vlodomir Dyudya, Grischa Niermann and Francesco Bellotti. Lars Wackernagel and Sebastian Frey bridge up a little later and so we have 7 riders in front. Most of the Pro-Tour teams are represented (Milram, Rabobank, Crédit Agricole) and there isn't any big reaction in the peloton. The
seven riders increase their advantage up to 6 minutes at km 25, then up to 10 and even up to 20 minutes at km 150, because the peloton is still kind of sleeping under the big, big heat. Andy Schleck is among the two first on every climb, so that he can already look forward to a pink best climber jersey that awaits him at the finish. The last kilometers are more flat, but the leading group breaks into pieces after nearly 180 km of efforts and Andy manages to stay up front together with Rutkewietz and leaves the Polish rider behind him in the last meters. He takes the stage win with 3" of advance, whereas the next chasers are 14 and 28 seconds late. This evening, Andy has 4 new jerseys to fit into his luggage: a red one for the stage winner (!), a pink one for Best climber, a polka-dotted one for the leader in the combination classification and another one for being member of the Best team, CSC. Kim Kirchen, on his side, continues his goal to do as much race-kilometers as possible without forcin too much. He has another day in the peloton and crosses the finish line within it, 18 minutes behind Schleck.
20.07.2006 2: Oppach - Merane (228 km)
Schleck and Kirchen behind
Results:
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Danillo Hondo
Alexandr Kolobnev
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64th at 26'41"
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53rd at 27'19"
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67th at 26'41"
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71st at 40'25"
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The second stage of the Sachsen-Tour is also the longest one with 228 km, and this beautiful country in East-Germany has at least one thing in common with the Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg: there are no flat roads over here. This stage has once again several climbs which means that the race is animated and that the gaps are big. There are lots of attacks from the beginning and around km 70, the peloton breaks into two pieces with Andy Schleck and Kim Kirchen being in the second part. The gap between these two groups increases as the race goes on and at km 140, it is over 7 minutes. Under boiling heat, there are a lot of riders who abandon in the second group, whereas attacks continue in the first one, with Lorenzo Bernucci being the most active rider. But no-one can really get away at the front, so that 25 riders present themselves on the final straight line, where Danilo Hondo wins the sprint. Schleck and Kirchen cross the line more than 26 minutes later in the biggest group. The Luxemburgish champion complains about a lack of race kilometers in the legs after being without competition for more than 3 weeks now, but hopes to feel better in the next days.
19.07.2006 1: Dresden - Oybin (174 km)
Horillo wins, Schleck in the first group
Results:
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Pedro Horillo
Pedro Horillo
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24th at 36"
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24th at 46"
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65th at 13'42"
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65th at 13'52"
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While his elder brother does a fantastic Tour de France, Andy Schleck is enroled into the Saxen-Tour in Germany, together with Kim Kirchen. The first stage goes from Dresden to Oybin over 174 km and is already a little bit hilly with 4 climbs for the KOM competition. 3 riders open the road for several kilometers: Wouter van Mechelen, Christian Leben and Erik Hoffman break away at km 45 and they have up to 5'30" advantage on the peloton, before Milram and Gerolsteiner begin to reduce the gap. On the first local circuit, the main field swallows up the break, but soon breaks into several pieces on a tough course. Andy Schleck is at the front and tries to test his opponents with an attack on the penultimate climb. He crosses the sumnit in the lead with Bernucci in his wheel, but can't really get a gap. A little bit later, 10 riders break away with among others Gerdemann, Gusev, Bernucci and Horillo, the other Spanish rider at Rabobank who manages to leave in the last meters of the stage and to celebrate a narrow solo victory. Andy Schleck finishes in the first chasing group 36 seconds later, whereas Kim Kirchen crosses the finish line in the big bunch more than 13 minutes behind the winner. The Luxemburgish champion doesn't catch the good train in the final, but has two team-mates up front, so for him the stage is over and he can't do anything else than following the bunch until the finish line.
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Picture: acc contern
