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May 28 to June 1st, 2008: 29th Bayern-rundfahrt
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31.05.2008 5. Bad Neustadt - Erlangen (161 km)
New bunch sprint after animated stage
Results:
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Heinrich Haussler
Christian Knees
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39th at 0"
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4th at 14"
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The gaps between the GC contenders at the start of the last stage were very small and therefore the stage was very animated from the beginning. During the different attempts, the yellow jersey virtually changed shoulders several times and the team of its owner Knees had lots of work. The man in yellow himself was part of some offensive groups at the beginning and had to take turns at the front of the peloton several times to reel in the attacks, especially the most promising one of the day with Obst, Kotzubek and Grabsch. They had up to two and a half minutes of advantage enought for Bert Grabsch, team-mate of Kim Kirchen, to dream of the overall victory. But Milram and Gerolsteiner worked for a general regroupement, so that the stage was to finish with another massive sprint. Time bonus at the finish was 10 seconds, so that Kim Kirchen had lost all his chances to grab in-extremis the overall lead and he didn't pariticpate in the final sprint, crossing the line in the middle of the pack in 39th position. Gerolsteiner on the other hand was highly motivated for the stage win and they were rewarded for their work with the win of Heinrich Haussler, ahead of Bernaudeau and Khalilov. Christian Knees finished the stage in the same time than the winner and secured his overall win a head of Dietziker, Terpstra and Kim Kirchen. The latter should be very satisfied with this result in his first race after a whole month without competition.
30.05.2008 4. Bad Neustadt an der Saale (25,9 km clm)
Schumacher very convincing
Results:
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Stefan Schumacher
Christian Knees
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8th at 56"
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4th at 14"
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Stefan Schumacher was very convincing in the fourth stage of the Bavarian Tour, a time-trial of 26 kilometeres around the small town of Neustadt an der Saale. On a course with a climb at mid-race, the Gerolsteiner rider needed 32'57" and, at an average speed of 47,6 km/h, he was 22 seconds faster than the Dutch time-trial champion Stef Clement. Of course, the former Amstel winner had a revange to take after an unsuccessfull spring campaign and after he had lost plenty of time in the first stage, making it impossible for him to defend his overall title in this stage race. Kim Kirchen showed a solid performance, finishing 8th of the stage behind Schumacher, Clement, Knees, Lemoine, Dietziker, Terpstra and Gretsch, but in front of specialists like Grabsch or Roberts. In 33'53" (average speed 45,9 km/h), Kim has lost 56 seconds on stage winner Schumacher and is now in 4th position overall, 14 seconds behind hte new leader Christian Knees. Nothing is decided yet before tomorrow's last stage.
29.05.2008 2. Straubing - Neusäss (220 km)
Second win for Ciolek
Results:
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Gerald Ciolek
Gerald Ciolek
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8th at 0"
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12th at 26"
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Just like the first and the second stage, the third one also finished in a massive sprint and this time, favourite Gerald Ciolek didn't fail his goal to win another stage and he finished ahead of Paul Voss and Paolini. Eventually, Ciolek's team High Road had again worked a lot for him, especially in the first racing hour, ridden at very high speed with lots of attacks. Daniel Becke and Kim Lachmann finally were allowed to break away, but the team-mates of the yellow jersey caught them again, in time for the bunch sprint. In the final part of the race, the speed was again very high and on the twisty local circuit, the peloton broke into several pieces: only 40 riders battled out the stage victory among them. The last rider of his team to support Gerald Ciolek was Kim Kirchen who led through the last corner and opened the sprint for his young mate. Ciolek made his effort at the right time and when he passed Kirchen, the Luxemburgish rider already knew that it would be good enough for the stage victory and raised his hands up in the air. Without this gesture, Kim would have taken one of the first places in the sprint because even by finishing at his ease, he still took 8th place in the stage classification. Before tomorrow's deciding time-trial, Kim still is in contention for a good overall result, since he is now in 12th position, 26 seconds late on his team-mate.
29.05.2008 2. Straubing - Neusäss (220 km)
Pollack fastest in bunch sprint
Results:
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Olaf Pollack
Gerald Ciolek
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49th at 0"
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16th at 16"
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The second act of the Bayern Tour, a real marathon of 220 kilometers, has also finished in a bunch sprint won by German rider Olaf Pollack who prevented Ciolek from his second stage win in two days. The man in the yellow jersey evenually finished second of the day ahead of Schröder, Paolini et a hundred other riders. But if the profile of the stage was less hilly than yesterday, the stage wasn't easy at all under big heat, especially for Kim Kirchen and his team-mates. With the yellow jersey in their possession, they had to take their responsabilities, control the race and do all the work behind the different breaks. The most promising move of the day was formed by Scherzinger, Ganser and Hess, who had up to 12 minutes advantage during the stage but were caught again with 10 kilometers to go. High Road has prepared the sprint for Ciolek, but Pollack showed out to be faster at the end. In a twisty and nervous final, marked by a crash in the last turn, Kim Kirchen stayed a little bit further back in the group in order to avoid the most dangerous places at the front. He has finished in 49th position in the middle of the pack.
28.05.2008 1. Freyung - Sankt Englmar (175 km)
Ciolek knows how to climb
Results:
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Gerald Ciolek
Gerald Ciolek
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11th at 0"
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11th at 10"
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The first day of the Bayern-rundfahrt was already the most selective one, meant to shape the overall classification just like Saturday's time-trial. A tough race for Kim Kirchen to resume racing after a break of a whole month. But the Luxemburgish rider showed that he hasn't lost much of his shape from April and finished among the Best of the stage. Despite the hilly course through the Bavarian forest, it was a sprinter who crossed the line in first position, ahead of the likes of Wegmann and Kroon, those riders who particularely like this kind of uphill finish. But Gerald Ciolek is known to have some nice climbing skills, since he has been U23 world champion on the Salzburg course and recently finished second in the Queen stage at the 4 days of Dunkerque. The stage started calmly and only Stefan Denifl showed some offensive mood, taking up to 7 minutes of advantage in a nice solo effort. But Gerolsteiner controlled the race and made sure that Denifl was caught again before the last climb. Fabian Wegmann seemed able to reward his team-mates with a win, but he was passed shorlty before the line by Ciolek who took his first victory for this season. 25 riders only were in the first group, among them Kim Kirchen who took 11th place in an uphill finish that suited him very well.
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May 4, 2008: 81st Giro della Toscana
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04.05.2008 Sansepolcro - Rigutino (195 km)
Gavazzi fastest sprinter
Results:
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Mattia Gavazzi
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56th at 0"
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The course of the 81st edition of the Giro della Toscana led the riders up to 1.000 meters above sea-level and had three tough climbs on the menu, but the final kilometers were mostly flat, and it was no real surprise that the race ended in a bunch sprint. 56 riders presented themselves to the judge on the finish line in Rigutino after 194,7 kilometers, among them also Frank Schleck. But the Luxemburgish rider didn't match up with the sprinters for the win and crossed the line in 56th position, as last rider of this first group. In his head, he was surely already thinking about a few days of recovera after the spring campaign and before the preparation for the rest of the season begins. The star of the day was another son of a famous former professionnal rider, since Mattia Gavazzi, whose father Pierino won among others Milano-San Remo and Paris-Bruxelles several years ago, showed out to be fastest in the sprint, ahead of Chicchi, Balducci and Richeze in this order.
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May 3, 2008: 32nd Gran Premio Industria & Artigianato Larcianese
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04.05.2008 Sansepolcro - Rigutino (195 km)
Solo win for Ratti
Results:
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Eddy Ratti
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DNF
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The 32nd edition of the Gran Premio Industria e Artigianato had some stars lining up to battle for the victory on the different loops around the city of Larciano. But Schleck, O'Grady, Pellizotti, Nibali, Simoni, Paolini and the others had to settle down further back in the classification, since the race was won by Eddy Ratti of the modest Nippo-Endeko team, who arrived at the finish on his own. The Italian rider was part of a break of four men, who took over the lead in the final, even if their advantage on the next chasing group of 10 riders remained very thin. With 2 kilometers to go, Ratti managed to leave the other three behind him and he crossed the finish line alone, 4 seconds ahead of Ginanni, Laverde and Ermeti in this order. Around 30 seconds later, Pasquale Mute won the sprint of the next chasers, among them Paolini, Carlström and Noé. On the extremely tough course, 63 out of 125 riders at the start did not finish the race, among them also Frank Schleck.
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April 30 - May 4, 2008: 59th Flèche du Sud
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04.05.2008 Kayl - Esch/Alzette (165 km)
Wyss resists, Drucker tries again
Results:
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Malaya Van Ruytenbeek
Marcel Wyss
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94th at 8'25"
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72nd at 9'35"
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For the second day in a row, Jempy Drucker was part of a long break during this last stage of the Flèche du Sud, between Kayl and Esch-sur-Alzette. Already after 2 kilometers, the National cyclo-cross champion followed the move of Christian Poos and found himself in the lead, together with the Luxemburgish time-trial champion, with an Ukranian (Agarkov), a Kazakh (Teulbayev), a German (Hess) and a Dutch rider (Helmantel). But today, the maximum advantage of Drucker & co has never exceeded four minutes and their attempt didn't have much chances to succeed since the battle for the final overall victory was still open. Steve Fogen has attacked the peloton with the help of Jempy Drucker, who threw his last forces into the battle after the long break, before finishing the stage at his ease on 94th position, more than 8 minutes down on the winner. Fogen, in the yellow jersey of best Luxemburgish rider, was joined in the lead by the other GC contenders of this Flèche du Sud: Wyss, Van Garderen, Kostyuk, Stetina, Van Ruitenbek and Blok. The Best were up there and fought out the stage victory in a sprint: Van Ruitenbeek was fastest on the line, ahead of Fogen and the winner from Wiltz, Kostuyk. Marcel Wyss, despite the fact that he was without team-mate in the end, managed to cover all the moves and finished the stage in 7th position, within the leading group. The Swiss rider thereby claimed the overall victory of the 59th edition of the Flèche du Sud. Jempy Drucker, on his side, paid the price for his agressive riding by losing a Top 20 spot overall, replaced by the 72nd position in the final classification. But this wasn't the most important in this race, the first for him this season, the most important was to know that his preparation for the winter is on a good way and to show that he can do very well in road-races too.
03.05.2008 Preizerdaul - Roeser (169 km)
Jempy Drucker has a long day out
Results:
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Tom Flammang
Marcel Wyss
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61st at 0"
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18th at 1'09"
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Jempy Drucker has offered himself a long day out in the lead of the race on Saturday, during the third stage between Preizerdaul and Roeser. At the very beginning, after an attack of Laurent Didier, a break of 13 rider formed with, besides Drucker and Didier, some very valuable riders like Florian Salzinger or Fredrik Johansson, the runner-up of Grans-prix Ostfenster 2006 in Berbourg, as well as some team-mates of the GC contenders like East (United-States for Vangarderen) or Henning (Atlar Romer for Wyss). But if the beginning of the stage was very hilly with the climbs of Hierheck, Michelau or Berdorf and favoured the leading group who built up a 6 minute lead, the course got flatter and flatter towards the end, thus giving an advantage to the chasing peloton. Jempy Drucker has been virtually overall leader during most of the stage and in the pack, a coalition has formed between several teams like the United States or Ukrania to reel in the break. Despite a last attempt from Ligthart who exploded the group of 13 with one lap to go, the pack came closer and closer to the leader and with 10 kilometers to go, there was a general regroupement. A bunch sprint was expected and the former professional Tom Flammang, who had been in difficulty in yesterday's stage, suprised everyone by sprinting faster than everyone, taking the victory on the line ahead of the Swedish rider from Differdange, Hakan Nilsson. Jempy Drucker wasn't rewarded for his offensive attempt and finished the stage in the middle of the pack, just like overall leader Marcel Wyss who was able to defend his lead despite having lost it virutally during the day.
02.05.2008 Ettelbruck - Wiltz (142 km)
Kostuyk master of the "Knupp"
Results:
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Denys Kostyuk
Marcel Wyss
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22nd at 36"
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20th at 1'09"
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The Luxemburgish riders in general and Jempy Drucker in particular did again a very good job on the second stage of the Flèche du Sud, the queen stage with half a dozen sharp climbs and the finish on top of the infamous "Knupp" in Wiltz, with up to 20 % of gradient and well known from the Tour of Luxembourg. From the beginning, the stage was very animated and a break by Johansson, Berenbosch and Van Dulmen, launched with around 50 kilometers to go, didn't have much chances to succeed. The Luxemburgish riders were up at the front, like Jempy Drucker who was among the Best on the first passage in Wiltz. Team captain Ben Gastauer tried his luck, taking with him a group of strong riders like Brian Vandborg, yellow jersey Wyss, yesterday's stage winner Van Gaderen, Kostyuk and the riders from Differdange Naibo and Knutsen. But the Luxemburgish U23 champion maybe did a little bit too much work in this break, which he regretted later on the last climb up to the finish. Gastauer was dropped with one kilometer to go, whereas Ukranian rider Denis Kostyuk took the victory in the sprint, ahead of Van Garderen, Naibo and Wyss who defended the leader jersey. Around 30 seconds later, Steve Fogen led the peloton in 10th position, a small peloton of around 15 riders in which Jempy Drucker crossed the finish line in 22nd position, 36" behind the winner. In the overall classification, Jempy takes in extemis a Top 20 position, a little bit more than a minute late on Wyss.
01.05.2008 Schifflange - Rumelange (164 km)
Drucker on attack
Results:
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Tejay Vangaderen
Marcel Wyss
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63rd at 2"
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26th at 35"
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5 riders have animated for a while the first stage of the Fleche du Sud, between Schifflange and Rumelange with a trip to the East of the country. Carl Naibo, French rider of the home team of Differdange, went away together with Van Ruitenbeek, Dimitriyev, Kondrut and Schreurs: the five riders opened up an advantage of 3 minutes and a half. They arrived together on the four tough local circuits around Rumelange with the traditionnal climb of Langengrund, but the peloton reduced the gap. On the ultimate lap and despite a strong attempt from Naibo, the front of the peloton with among others Jempy Drucker in the first rows, came closer and closer. The Luxemburgish rider attacked on the last climb up to Langengrund, taking with him several other riders, but despite his good legs, there was a general regroupement with only a few kilometers to go. A massive sprint seemed unavoidable, but an American rider with the name of Teejay Vangaderen attacked with 500 meters to go and managed to keep a small gap until the finish line. He took the stage win 2 seconds ahead of Valentin Iglinsky, who led a peloton in which Jempy Drucker took 63rd position. There are only few overall changes where Wyss holds on to the lead and Drucker moves up to 26th place.
30.04.2008 Prologue in Pétange (6,1 km ITT)
Wyss takes the prologue
Results:
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Marcel Wyss
Marcel Wyss
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37th at 35"
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37th at 35"
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February ins't long ago and September is still a long way to go, but the cyclo-cross specialists are already preparing their next winter season. This is also the case for Jempy Drucker, for whom next season will probably be a very crucial one regarding his future in the disciplin. He just comes back from a training camp with Fidea in Portugal, where he was one of the most active riders of the team, together with three times world champion Erwin Verwcken and continues his preparation with the Fleche du Sud, a five-day stage race in the Luxemburgish National team around Ben Gastauer. His first road race of the season is a very prestigious one, having in its palmares names like Charly Gaul, Alex Zülle or Bradley Wiggins among other, just like Kirchen father and son (Erny won in 1973, Kim in 1999) and Schleck father and son (Johny won in 1963, Andy in 2004). Jempy Drucker has finished the prologue in the streets of Petange in 37th spot, at an average speed of 43 km/h for 6 kilometers, 35 seconds behind the winner Marcel Wyss. The Swiss of the Atlas Romer team has needed 7'51" for his course, at an average speed of 46,6 km/h and was 3 seconds faster than German Gretsch, 5 seconds better than Lindgren from Sweden and 8 seconds ahead of Danish rider Brian Vandborg.
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May 1st, 2008: 48th Rund um den Henninger Turm
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01.05.2008 Frankfurt - Frankfurt (179 km)
Karsten Kroon with a little help from Andy Schleck
Results:
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Karsten Kroon
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9th at 4"
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After the Flèche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Andy Schleck showed once again his offensive skills today at Rund um den Henninger Turm, by getting into a big break initiated by Gerolsteiner and out of which nine riders battled out the victory in the end. After a first, vain attempt by Fröhlinger and Timmer, they were 21 to get away after around 100 kilometers, among them six riders of Gerolsteiner and two from CSC. There were very prominent riders in the group with Rebellin, Wegmann, Tankink, Wesemann, Goubert, Knees, Andy Schleck, Karsten Kroon and more. High Road was not represented in the break and they were the ones who had to chase hard in the peloton, but without being able to reel in the first group, driven very hard by Gerolsteiner. On the climb of Mammolsheim, one of the most difficult places in the course, Rebellin accelerated, followed by Wegmann, then Schleck, Kroon, Glasner, Wesemann, Ardila, Knees and Roche: they were only nine remaining in the lead. The peloton was still nearly 2 minutes behind and appeared the victory was to be decided among the riders in the leading group. The roles at CSC were clear: Andy had to follow attacks and try to get away, whereas Kroon focused totally on the sprint. And these tactics paid of because despite attempts from Rebellin, Schleck or Knees, the nine riders stayed together until the end and prepared to sprint during the last kilometers. Andy Schleck followed a last acceleration by Wegmann and then opened the sprint with Kroon in his wheel. The Dutch rider made his move with at the right time and remained in the lead until the line, even if Rebellin came back very fast at the end. After 2004, Karsten Kroon wins for the second time in Francfort, whereas Andy Schleck finished the race at his ease on the back of the group, crossing the finish line in 9th position, with his hands in the air and celebrating the win of his team-mate.
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