23.04.2008 Liège - Ans (261 km)
Frank and Andy Schleck: perfect tactics
Results:
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Alejandro Valverde
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3rd at 0"
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4th at 30"
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12th at 1'03"
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The brothers Frank and Andy Schleck have realized a tactically perfect race during the 94th edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liège, finishing in third and fourth place of the "Doyenne". The public was not only amazed by the good performance of Frank the Elder, who confirmed his favourite status by finishing on the same podium spot than last year, but also by the tremendous ride of Andy the younger, who pleased the spectators with agressive racing: it was him who opened the race for good with an attack on the infamous La Redoute. Just like in the last years, a bigger group of around 100 riders was still together at the foot of the mighty climb and just as usual also, Paolo Bettini made his attack there. But the world champion had some problems with crashes this spring and he isn't as strong as normally this year. If it was Bettini who annihilated the efforts of Andy Schleck on the Redoute 12 months ago, things went the other way around this time: Andy jumped out of the wheel of the world champion and only one rider, German Stefan Schumacher, was able to follow him in the last meters of the climb. Both of them took of and chased the remaining riders of the early break, Rolland, Fothen and Brutt who were still several seconds ahead of the peloton after having had up to 10 minutes of advantage together with Kopp and Stubbe on the way down to Bastogne.
On the climb of Sprimont, Schumacher and Schleck took the lead of the race with around 20 seconds on a first peloton including Frank Schleck and Kim Kirchen, heading towards the new climb of this year's course, the côte de la Roche aux Faucons which replaced Sart-Tilman. Another ramp with very impressive gradients which didn't forgive any weakness. Schumacher had to pay his toll and was dropped by Andy Schleck, alone in the lead. But behind him, Joaquim Rodriguez, who loves this very steep ramps, put in an attack and only three riders were able to follow him: his team-mate Valverde, Rebellin and Frank Schleck. On top of the climb, the Schleck brothers found themselves together in the lead in a prominent group of four, together with Rebellin and Valverde, whereas Cunego, Evans and the surprising Pfannberger chased only ten seconds behind and even the first bigger group with Kim Kirchen, Bettini, Freire and the others was just a few meters away. Nothing was decided yet, even more as Andy attacked again before the côte de Saint-Nicolas. The younger Schleck tackled the penultimate climb several meters ahead of Rebellin, Valverde and his brother and forty seconds ahead of the first peloton with Kim Kirchen. After 250 kilometers of tough and brilliant racing, the legs were tired and Andy had to see the others riding past him without being able to hold on. But the numerous Luxemburgish crowd cheered on as brother Frank attacked this time. His move was very powerfull and he took two meters of advantage. Two meters, but not more than that since Rebellin and Valverde, both former winners in Liège, were still very strong and managed to come back into Franks wheel. The CSC riders tried one, two more times, but wasn't able to get rid of the two experienced riders. The race was to be decided in a three-man sprint and of course, fast man Valverde now became favourite number one. He launched the sprint just after the last turn out of second position and nor Schleck, nor Rebellin were able to come back to the front again. Valverde took the win, while Frank Schleck finished in third position, just like last year. Andy Schleck, on his side, was able to resist the chasers all the way up to Ans and finished on a superb fourth place, 30 seconds late. After him Pfannberger crossed the line, then Rodrigeuz, Evans and Dekker and afte that a first bigger group where Bettini, Freire and Nibali were faster than Kim Kirchen. The High-Road rider eventually finished 12th, rounding off the excellent performances from the riders of the Grand-Duchy. Three podium places in three races with a first, a second and a third place, what a fantastic week in the Ardennes for Luxemburgish cycling.
23.04.2008 Charleroy - Huy (200 km)
Kim Kirchen celebrates biggest win
Results:
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Kim Kirchen
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78th at 5'13"
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76th at 5'13"
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winner
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The euphoria goes on in the Ardennes classics for Luxemburgish cycling. After the second place of Frank Schleck in the Amstel Gold Race, Kim Kirchen did it even better today in the Flèche Wallonne and snatched the win under the rain, with several bike lengths of advance on Cadel Evans and Damiano Cunego. After a very fast begin with nearly 50 kilometers covered in the first racing hour, CSC showed themselves once more very agressive today, however without being rewarded. With Andy Schleck, Nikki Sörensen and Vladimir Kolobnev, the team had three riders in the first bigger break of the day that took off after around 100 kilometers, including riders like Vladimir Efimkin, Gilbert, Garcia-Acosta, Mourey, Fothen or Pinotti, team-mate of Kim Kirchen. In the peloton, the Lampre riders of Cunego and the Silence-Lotte helpers from Evans had to do the chasing work.
Andy Schleck was very strong in the break, he took more turns than anyone else and, whereas the main field had decreased the gap significantly, he remained in the lead together with Efimkin, Sörensen, Martins, Pinotti and Van den Broek. But the pack was closing in and with around 40 kilometers to go, the break was caught again with only Efimkin and Van den Broek showing some more resistance. After that, there were lots of attacks in the field, but nobody really managed to get away except Grivko, who made an impressive solo attempt over several kilometers. On the côte the Ben-Ahin, Wegmann and Larsson tried their luck together with Alexander Efimkin, twin brother of Vladimir, but after a crash of Larsson in the descent, they were also reeled in shortly before the "Mur". Kim Kirchen and Frank Schleck had stayed quietly in the main field until then, but with the rain and slippery roads in the last kilometers, Frank didn't want to take any risk regarding Liège-Bastogne-Liège. He took the time to put his rain-jacket on to avoid catching a cold and finished the race without further ambition together with his brother Andy. But Kim Kirchen, on the other hand, remained in contention for the win. He doesn't dislike rain and cold, he loves this particular race and, most of all, had excellent legs. Unlike at the Amstel Gold Race, he had waited until the very end and saved all his strength for the last climb, well guided by the little voice in his earplug. At the beginning of the ultimate ramp, Kim put himself behind the wheel of Rebellin, master of tactics in the Ardennes classics. On the steepest part of the climb, Cadel Evans accelerated and only the Strongest were able to hold the backwheel of last year's Tour de France runner-up: Cunego, Gesink, Dekker, Albasini, Rebellin and ... Kim Kirchen who produced his effort with around 200 meters to go. The Luxemburgish rider even felt strong enough to change to the big ring in this less steeper part, and nobody was able to hold him. Kirchen finally won the 72nd Flèche Wallonne with one second advantage on Evans and 2 seconds on Cunego, Gesink, Dekker and Rebellin in this order. The two Schleck brothers rode the last uphill side by side and finished in 76th respectively 78th position, 5 minutes down on Kim Kirchen. Two podium spots in two races, this calls for more next Sunday !!!
20.04.2008 Maastricht - Valkenburg (257 km)
Only Cunego can stop Frank Schleck
Results:
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Damiano Cunego
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2nd at 0"
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73rd at 5'25"
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20th at 1'00"
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Frank Schleck has been once more tremendous in the Amstel Gold Race, the race he won two years ago. It was him who dominated the final, him who made the deciding attacks, but in the end, there was one rider faster than him in the ultimate straight line: Damiano Cunego, the small Italian who passed the long rider from CSC in the last meters of the Cauberg to snatch the win. But the Luxemburgish riders did a big job today, a fantastic and very agressive race. Andy Schleck was the first to show himself, he played a very important role in the tactics of CSC, who wanted to make the race very tough. With around 50 kilometers to go, at a moment where the advantage of the early break conisting of Kristof Vandewalle, Albert Timmer and Youri Krivtsov began to decrease rapidly, the riders from Bjarne Riis put on the pressure. Arvesen, Sörensen, Larsson, Andy Schleck and Co put the hammer down at the front of a peloton that tightened more and more, ready to burst on the small roads of Limburg. But it was Kim Kirchen who made a first selection. The High Road captain felt very strong, too strong maybe because he began his attacks with around 40 kilometers to go, too early according too most of the commentators. On the Loorberg, 36 kilometers from the finish, Kirchen followed an acceleration from the talented Gesink and rode into a break with Aerts, Gilbert and Astarloa. Too many good riders, according to the other favourites, who organized the chase. Andy Schleck and Alessandro Ballan worked for their leaders to reel in the break shortly before the Gulpenerberg. At the Kruisberg, with 25 kilometers to go, Kim Kirchen accelerated again at the front of an exploding peloton.
Kim wasn't able to get away, but tried once more a few kilometers later, on the Eyserbosweg, where he took off with Johan Van Summeren. But again, the favourites were carefull and didn't let them get more than 10 seconds advantage, only to catch both of them a little bit further on. The decision was about to fall, because with the Keutenberg, the penultimate and steepest of the 31 climbs was next on the program. If Kim Kirchen paid his efforts and was just a little bit too short to get onto the good train, it was another Luxemburgish rider who showed out to be the strongest. Frank Schleck accelerated in the Keutenberg and after his move, a royal break of nine riders formed: Schleck, Rebellin, Cunego, Valverde, Dekker, Rodriguez, Kroon, Pfannberger and Ivanov. 10 seconds later, there was another group chasing with Freire, Nocentini, Gesink, defending champion Schumacher and Kim Kirchen. At the front, both Caisse d'Epargne and CSC had numeric superiority and they tried to profit from this by attacking. Frank Schleck made at least half a dozen attempts, but Rebellin and the others chased after him, with Rodriguez sacrifying his chances for Valverde. If Schleck wasn't able to break away, the high speed of the group made sure that the chasers couldn't bridge up and stayed around 15 seconds behind them. The nine tackled the Cauberg together for the last gime, but after more than 250 rollercoaster kilometers, the legs were tired. Valverde and Cunego bet on a sprint, but Frank Schleck hadn't spoken his last word yet. With several hundred meters to go, the Luxemburgish rider went to the front of the group and raised the speed. One after the other, the other riders were dropped out of his wheel. All of them but one. Damiano Cunego held on to Schleck and went past him at the end to take the victory with two bike length of advantage. The CSC rider was of course disappointed, because he deserved the win, but he rode a perfect race today and quickly couldn't laugh again. The name of the rider finishing 2 seconds behind him in third spot, Alejandro Valverde, witnesses of the extraordinary performance of Schleck the elder. Kim Kirchen, whose group at one moment seemed able to bridge up again after the Keutenberg, finally gave it up and climbed the Cauberg on his rythm, finishing in 20th spot just one minute down on the duo Cunego-Schleck. Andy Schleck, on his side, lost contact to the Best at the beginning of the Keutenberg, once his teamword done, and he crossed the finish line in 73rd position in the first bigger group of around 30 riders, a little bit more than 5 minutes down on is brother. What an exciting race and, most of all, what a tremendous begin to an week of Ardennes classics that promises lots of emotions.
13.04.2008 Amorebieta - Amorebieta (172 km)
Cunego faster than Valverde
Results:
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Damiano Cunego
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17th at 12"
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23rd at 44"
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Frank and Andy Schleck have participated after the Vuelta al Pais Vasco to the Klasika Primavera, a one-day race around the cities of Amorebieta and Igorre, reknowned also for their cyclo-cross events. The souvenirs of the bad weather conditions still haunted the riders, but the sun was shining today, even if they had to get up very early to line up at 9h30 in the morning already for 172 kilometers with 6 climbs. CSC was very motivated and especially Inigo Cuesta and Andy Schleck, who seems to have recovered from his health problems, showed themselves very active at the front of the peloton, trying to make a selection.
They fulfilled their task since among the 30 riders that began the last lap together in the lead, there were 6 out of CSC: two Schlecks, Kolobnev, Sörensen, Gustov and Sastre. But in the ultimate climb, Damiano Cunego and Alejandro Valverde showed themselves very strong, breaking away together. Frank Schleck wasn't far behind and lacked only a few meters to bridge up to the two favourites. But if Carlström and Astaloza managed to catch the leading duo in the very last minutes of the race, Frank was stuck in the first chasing group, around 15 seconds behind. Cunego finally was the fastest on the line and took the victory with a narrow margin on Valverde, whereas Schleck didn't participate in the sprint of his group for fifth place. This one was won by Kolobnev ahead of Tiralongo, while the Luxemburger took 17th position, 12 seconds late on Cunego. Andy Schleck finished the race in a second chasing group at 44", together with riders like Beltran, Gustov or Gomez-Marchante, and he is noted in 23rd place in the result list.
12.04.2008 6. Orio - Orio (20 km ITT)
Contador Strongest
Results:
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Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador
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17th at 1'57"
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10th at 2'05"
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12th at 1'35"
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7th at 1'43"
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Alberto Contador really was the Strongest in this Tour of the Basque country since, after having won already the first stage, he also wom in impressive manner the final time-trial and has led the race from the beginning until the end. The winner of last year's Tour de France has ridden the 20 kilometers in 29'10", 22" faster than Cadel Evans and 27" better than Thomas Dekker. Damiano Cunego in fourth place was already 48" late, whereas all the other contenders had more than a minute deficit on the Astana rdier. Of course, the course was tailor-made for Contador, with an uphill of up to 20" gradient after 3 kilometers already.
On top of this climb, the futur winner had already built up the majority of his advantage on Evans, 18 seconds to be precise. But also on the other parts of the cours, at 41 km/h average speed through twisty and narrow roads in the town of Orio, Contador and his good technical skills were as fast as the real rouleurs Evans and Dekker. The two Luxemburgish riders present on the race surely didn't appreciate the course that much. Kim Kirchen and Frank Schleck don't like taking risks, especially not in this period where the first major goals of the season are imminent and rode the many turns and the bad roads with much care, thus losing some time. Neither of them finally was in contention for the podium spots. Kim has finished the stage at an average speed of 39 km/h in 12th position, 1'35" behind Contador and in nearly the same time than his team-mate Pinotti, Italian time-trail champion. Under sunny conditions, for the first time this week, Frank Schleck rode the 20 km in 31'07" (38,6 km/h average speed) which meant 17th place for him, 1'57" late on Contador but ahead of riders like Karpets, Sastre, Rebellin or Popovych. As expected, the final overall classification looks a lot like the result of the day: 1st Contador, 2nd Evans at 30", 3rd Dekker at 35", 4th Cunego at 57", 7th Kim Kirchen at 1'43" and 10th Frank Schleck at 2'05". The two Luxemburgish riders of course have made a good impression on this Vuelta, with both of them finishing in the Top 10 placings and with the two stage victories from Kim Kirchen. This is of course a good sign with just one week to go until the Ardennes classics. Only negative point: Andy Schleck didn't finish the race due to health problems which are surely a result of the extemely bad weather.
11.04.2008 5. Vitoria Gasteiz - Orio (162 km)
Cunego wins, Schleck crashes, Kirchen 4th
Results:
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Damiano Cunego
Alberto Contador
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DNF
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15th at 0"
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10th at 8"
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4th at 0"
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3rd at 8"
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The last stage of the Vuelta al Pais Vasco before the closing time-trial tomorrow promised of course a thrilling race, since around 30 riders were still staying in 15 seconds or less overall and thus could pretend on the overall win, among them also Frank Schleck and Kim Kirchen. The course was selective, notably the very steep Alto de Aia with 15 kilometers to go, and the offensive riders were numerous and motivated: the pace was very fast from the beginning and during the first kilometers already, the peloton splitted up several times. At this speed, most of the attacks of course had only few chances to succeed and nor Mugerli, Martens and Grivko, nor Martinez and Kohl, the two major early breaks of the day, managed to get more than two minutes of advantage. Around 60 riders tackled together the first slopes of the Alto de Aia, led by Caisse d'Epargne. Frank Schleck and Kim Kirchen were also riding at the front of this group, just like Contador of course in his very easy looking style. The Spaniard was the first to react to an attack from Rodriguez, after which a break of four riders formed: Contador, Rodriguez, Evans and Frank Schleck. The four arrived at the summit in the lead, whereas Kim Kirchen was in a second group a few seconds later and other contenders had to climb off their bike in the steep slopes with up to 26% gradient. On the next kilometers, on the rain-soaked roads to the finish, more riders including Kirchen and Cunego bridged up to the front group, while Frank Schleck attacked several times without success. But the last word was for Damiano Cunego who broke away in the very last kilometer with Contador and was faster than the Spaniard in the sprint for the stage victory. 5 seconds later, Kim Kirchen finished in 4th position behind Thomas Dekker, whereas Frank Schleck was involved in a crash together with among others Herrero and he crossed the finish line in 15th place, 48" late on Cunego. But due to the fact that the decision for the stage victory was influenced by the crash, all the riders of the first group will be noted with the same time than the winner. In the overall classification, Contador has now 8 seconds advantage on Cunego and on Kim Kirchen who moves up in third spot. Frank Schleck also climbs several positions overall and he is now 10th, also 8 seconds late. Before tomorrow's deciding time-trial, the two Luxemburgish riders still have all their chances on a podium place in this Vuelta. Andy Schleck abandoned the race today due to some minor health problems.
10.04.2008 4. Viana - Vitoria Gasteiz (171 km)
Second victory for Kim Kirchen
Results:
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Kim Kirchen
Alberto Contador
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100th at 0"
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95th at 7'15"
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44th at 0"
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21st at 8"
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winner
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5th at 8"
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Another very selective stage with 5 climbs of first and second category, which was undecided until the very end. On the last straight line only, the riders of the early break were caught by the peloton and it was once more Kim Kirchen who was fastest in the sprint, winning the stage ahead of his team-mate Possoni and yesterday's winner Herrera. 5 riders escaped after a very animated race begin, but the advantage of Stubbe, Cataldo, Lloyd, Txurruka and again Possoni never exceeded three minutes and a half. The team-mates of leader Contador assumed the control in the peloton and made sure that the gap remained in reasonable dimensions.
On the Alto de Zaldiaran, with only 10 kilometers left to go, Possoni, Lloyd and Txurruka dropped the other two riders, whereas the gap to the peloton had decreased to 40 seconds. Astana was still in control of the field but they didn't receive any support of the other teams, so that the gap melted only slowly on the next kilometers. With 4 kilometers to go, it was still of 27 seconds and two kilometers later, the three riders in the break still had 14 seconds. They arrived together in the lead onto the finishing straight and Possoni was the strongest of them. The Italian looked like he could win the stage, but the peloton came back very quickly in the end. Herrero and Kirchen sprinted at his front and the Luxemburgish rider passed his team-mate just before the line to take his second win in just three days. Behind Kim, nearly the complete peloton passed the finish line, so that he wasn't able to move up any place overall where he is still stuck in 5th place behind Contador, however, the High Road captain took over the lead in the points competition. Frank and Andy Schleck had a rather uneventfull race despite the rain and the wind and both of them finished the stage inside the main group, in 44th and 100th position.
09.04.2008 3. Erandio - Viana (195 km)
Herrero finally rewarded
Results:
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David Herrero
Alberto Contador
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117th at 0"
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119th at 7'15"
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89th at 0"
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21st at 8"
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9th at 0"
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5th at 8"
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After the brilliant victory of Kim Kirchen in yesterday's stage, Team High Road were of course highly motivated today and the sent their young climber Morris Possoni on the attack in the longest stage of this Tour, 195 kilometers between Erandio and Viana. After an hour of very hard racing with lots of attacks, the Italian rider managed to break away with Paul Martens and over the numerous small climbs of today's course, both of them created a gap of up to six minutes on the peloton. Possoni was only 15 seconds behind Contador overall this morning and so the Astana riders had to react and after a huge collective effort, they reeled in the break around 20 kilometers from the finish. There was still one climb of second category to be done, the Alto de Aguilar and it was Gomez Marchante who showed himself very active. The Saunier Duval rider stretched out the peloton without really creating a decision since around eighty riders were still together at the summit. Frank Schleck did most of the downhill part to the finish at the front of the peloton and just like yesterday, the stage was to be decided in a sprint. After two third places in the two previous stages, David Herrero was finally rewarded since the rider of the modest Karpin Galicia team took the victory ahead of Luis Leon Sanchez and Paolo Bettini. Kim Kirchen battled again for the stage vitory and behind Rebellin, Cunego and Nocentini, he finished ninth in a sprint that suited him less than on the uphill finish of yesterday. Frank and Andy Schleck were also present in the leading group, but stayed away from the agitations of the sprinters in a twisty and dangerous final. They finished the stage in 51st and 77th position respectively. There are only few changes overall where Contador remains in yellow and Kirchen gains one position.
08.04.2008 2. Legazpi - Erandio (153 km)
First season win for Kim Kirchen
Results:
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Kim Kirchen
Alberto Contador
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117th at 0"
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119th at 7'15"
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89th at 0"
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21st at 8"
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winner
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6th at 8"
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Today was one of the rare stages in this year's Tour of the Basque Country that was suitable for a sprint finish, because on the way down to the coast into the suburbs of Bilbao, "only" 6 climbs were to be tackled by the riders and the last 40 kilometers were more or less flat. But before that, the climbers were again on their favourite ground and four of them showed themselves on the Alto de Ixua, unique climb of the first category today. Horrach, Bertagnolli, Landaluze and Arrieta accelerated and crossed the summit with more than 3 minutes advantage on the peloton. But with strong winds and against the sprinter teams that supported Astana in the chase, the break didn't have big
chances to succeed and they had only one minute advantage left with 30 kilometers to go. After a first passage on the finish line, where the rain made his appearance once more, the four escaped riders were reeled, despite a last solo attempt from Albasini. There were several attacks on the last kilometers with even yellow jersey Contador showing himself at the front of the pack, but the bunch sprint had become unavoidable and the Karpin Galicia and Euskatel riders led the peloton to the last straight line. No pure sprinter has lined up at this race and so it was the fastest of the alrounders that battled out the victory such as Rebellin, Nocentini, Bettini, Cunego or ... Kim Kirchen who opened the sprint very early and resisted until the line. First season win for the Luxemburgish rider who did a fantastic sprint, holding nobody less than world champion Bettini at distance, as well as Herrero, Nocentini and Cunego in this order. After some difficult opening months due to sickness, Kim seems to find his right form and moral just in time for the Ardennes classics. The Schleck brothers also finished the stage in the peloton and were noted with the same time than the winner, even if they crossed the line several seconds after Kirchen. In fact, they had been delayed by a crash in the last turn, Frank finished in 89th position and Andy in 117th. The younger of the two brothers doesn't seem to affected by yesterday's crash where he suffered some serious cuts on one side and his hands. There are only few overall changes where Contador holds the lead while Kim Kirchen moves up in 6th position.
07.04.2008 1. Legazpi - Legazpi (137 km)
Contador unstoppable
Results:
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Alberto Contador
Alberto Contador
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120th at 7'14"
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120th at 7'14"
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21st at 8"
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21st at 8"
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23rd at 8"
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23rd at 8"
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Whereas the snow is still holding off the spring time in Luxemburg, the three professionnal riders of the ACC Contern had hoped to find some sun in a somewhat warmer region, the Basque country, but they also had to experience rain and cold on the first stage which took the riders over 137 kilometers and 8 climbs on a loop around the city of Legazpi. The Vuelta al Pais Vasco is used by lots of riders as preparation for the Ardennes classics and is reknown for its extremely tough stages. But Egoi Martinez, Iban Mayoz and Michael Buffaz are not the one to be afraid of these conditions and they took off after 15 kilometers already, holding a maximum lead of up to three minutes on a peloton led most of the time by Astana and Caisse d'Epargne. But unfortunately for them, after 100 kilometers in the lead, the break was reeled in on the last climb of the day. An attack of Mosquera was followed by another one of Alberto Contador on the Alto de Deskarga and both of them crossed the summit of the climb with a few seconds advantage on a small peloton led by Damiano Cunego and Cadel Evans. The favourites were up front, including Kim Kirchen and Frank Schleck, and they chased the former Tour de France winner on the remaining kilometers, who had dropped Mosquera in the meantime. But apparently, it wasn't fast enough for Kirchen who attacked and tried to bridge up alone. But Contador was unstoppable today and, while Kim was caught again, the Astana rider reached the finish line as solo winner, 3 seconds ahead of Mosquera and 8" better than Herrero, who led a group of 25 riders over the line, among them most of the favourites including Frank Schleck as 21st and Kim Kirchen in 23rd position. Andy Schleck, who had crashed in a downhill with around 30 kilometers to go, didn't take any risk after that on the wet and slippery roads and he finished the stage 7 minutes behind the winner in 120th place, in a small group with among others Kohl, Mourey or Mayoz, one of the riders of the former break.
05.04.2008 Estella - Estella (199 km)
Wegmann wins for the second time
Results:
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Fabian Wegmann
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31st at 28"
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60th at 1'29"
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Before continuing their preparation at the Tour of the Basque country on Monday, Frank and Andy Schleck also had on their program the Gran Premio Miguel Indurain, who took place in honour of the five-times Tour de France winner in his native region around Pamplona, on hilly terrain at the foot of the Pyrenees. The finish was on top of a climb and even if Jorge Azanza, Eduardo Vorganov and Rafael Serrano tried their luck in an early break, it was a compact group of around 60 riderd, among them also Frank and Andy Schleck, that arrived at the foot of the last ascent to battle out the victory. Andy let himself fall off the group at the very beginning of the very steep uphill and finished one and a half minutes late on the winner in 60th place. Frank stayed in contact with the Best for quite a while and he crossed the finish line at the Basilique of Estella in a second, smaller group with among others his team-mates Sastre and Sörensen as well as Valverde. The Luxemburgish rider was noted in 31st position, 28 seconds late on the winner. The winner was somebody who knows well the race since Fabian Wegmann has already won here two years ago and, he knows well the climb and saw exactly where to attack. The Gerolsteiner rider wins ahead of Swiss Albasini and, a few seconds later, Rodriguez, Herrero and Ricco.
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Drucker
