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Like expected after the performances of the three Luxemburgish Heroes in the Grande Boucle, the popular success of the 12th Gala Tour de France was enormous with up to 35.000 estimated spectators all around the course. It was a big party for cycling, althouht a little bit altered by some "fans"
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35.000 estimated spectators
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with no respect for the installations of the organizer and with no respect for other people, especially children, and ready for everything to approach the stars. Of course, the Luxemburgish riders had the favours of the public, but they did everything they could to fulfill the expectations. The amateurs, some of whom were able to show themselves in the early laps, as well as the profesionnals animated the race with lots of attacks. It was only justice that one of the Luxemburgish riders, namely Andy Schleck, won the race ahead of two more experienced riders, double Giro d'Italia winner Gilberto Simoni and Christophe Mengin, the neighbour from the Lorraine region who will retire at the end of the season.
51 riders line up for the 12th edition of the Gala Tour de France, after that the Yuppi's trophy had already
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51 riders at the start
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showed some talent among the youngest and after the public had been able to admire stars from yesterday in the historical parade. Two laps to warm up and to get to know the turns of the course and the big show is ready to begin in the third lap with an attack from Pascal Triebel.
He is the first rider to show himself at the front, together with his team-mate Claude Degano and David Claerebout, but behind them, Alessandro Ballan leads the chase, decided to show to the amateurs that the professionnal riders are willing to battle.
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Alessandro Ballan was very offensive
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The former winner of Ronde van Vlaanderen attacks himslef on the next lap, taking with him Paul Bentner and David Claerebout, again. Due to the big work of Ballan at the front, for which he was rewarded most agressive rider at the end, the three riders managed to stay in the lead of the race for four laps, before Steve Fogen bridged up just in time to win the first intermediate sprint. Together with the Preti Mangini rider, some other riders also got to the front: Remy Di Greorio, Benoît Joachim, Vicenzo Centrone, Jempy Drucker, Matteo Tossato and, one lap later, Henry Raabe Mendez.
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Frank Schleck attacks
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There are indeed now 10 riders in the lead with several seconds of advantage and if the star riders of the Tour de France still want to take part in the decision for the victory, they have to react. Kim Kirchen and the Schleck brothers move up to the front and lead the chases together with their team-mates Sioutsou and Gustov. After another 10 laps, just enough time for Steve Fogen to win another intermediate sprint and take the overall win in the points classification ahead of Ballan, the break is caught again and the race is open once again.
Frank Schleck then makes his first move wiht Simoni, Ducker and Sioutsou.
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Benoît Joachim leads the deciding break
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The Luxemburgish champion is quickly caught again, but shows another attack shortly after, this time together with Barredo. The multiple accelerations of Schleck the elder soon show some result: the peloton is split into pieces and 7 riders find themselves in the lead, battling out the victory: Frank and Andy Schleck, Gilberto Simoni, Christophe Mengin, Kim Kirchen, Benoît Joachim, Florent Brard, Alessandro Ballan toujours, Carlos Barredo and Christian Poos. A prominent group, and even if the Preti Mangini team tries to bring back Comesso to the front, it will be all in vain. Attacks are frequent in teh leading group and, whereas former French champion Florent Brard tries to get away, Ballan, Bonnaire, Barredo and Poos are dropped, leaving only 6 in the lead.
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Andy Schleck winner of the Gala Tour de France 2008
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The race enters its deciding act: in the penultimate lap, Kim Kirchen attacks and managed to get a gap, but he is joined by Andy Schleck shortly after. Under the eyes of the excited spectators, the two Luxemburgish riders begin the last lap with several seconds advantage on the next chasers, whereas Frank Schleck, who feels rather tired after the Tour de France, has to let it go. The public on place Guillaume is expecting a sprint victory from Kim Kirchen, but suddenly, the pictures on the big screen show Andy Schleck alone in the lead. The white jersey winner of the last Tour de France has managed to get rid of the Columbia rider on the uphill part and flies to a solo victory. Schleck wins the 12th edition of the Gala Tour de France with 12 seconds advantage on Gilberto Simoni, who takes the better of Mengin, Joachim and Kirchen for the next podium places.
Gala Tour de France '08 >>
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