25.04.10 Liège - Ans (258 km)
Top 10 for the Schlecks
Results:
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Alexandre Vinokourov
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6th at 1'07"
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9th at 1'07”
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Just like they have promised, Frank and Andy Schleck have provided some spectacular action, once more, at an edition of Liège-Bastogne-Liége that was full of supsense. But again, the result wasn't at the same level of their performance, even if with two Top 10 places, the brothers today had their best result for this Ardennes week. Misfortune and tactical reasons forced the two riders from Luxemburg to lower their ambitions, but another rider profited from these conditions to realize a remarkable comeback and win for a second time in Liège: Alexander Vinokourov. He broke away with about 15 kilometres to go with another Alexander from the East, Kolobnev and both of them took advantage of the fact that the favourites looked at each others to build up a comfortable advantage, before resisting with a superb effort in the last kilometres.
They were eight to escape out of the peloton right after the start, but Veikkanen, Perez Lezaun, Devenyns, Bouet, Terpstra, Finetto, De Gendt and Bellemakers were not able to resist for a long time to the peloton after Jens Voigt started the action with an attack on the côte the Wanne, with around 70 kilometres to go. Unfortunately for him, the German found himself chasing alone behind the break and he had to stop his effort in the côte de Maquisart, a new climb on the Doyenne. Saxo-Bank was up at the front in Mont-Theux with Laurent Didier, but the big names were still hiding further down in the pack. Even in the terrible côte de la Redoute, they were not at the front with Barredo and Tankink leading the race, before the big battle that was expected to take place on the côte de la Roche aux Faucons, the same place where Andy Schleck decided the race in his favour in last year's edition. And just like foreseen, the red-white-blue jersey of the Luxembourg champ jumped out of the peloton at the beginning of the climb, even before the steepest part. But then, things didn't work out as well as 12 month ago. First, it was Frank Schleck who had bad luck, and while he was supposed to be at the front to help his brother in his attack, he had to stop at the back of the back for a bike change. He had to take a spare bike of a team-mate and than make a big effort to come back to the front of the race. But most of all, the opposition seemed much stronger this year than in the last edition. Philippe Gilbert, who was passed nearly like a junior rider by our National hero last year, seems much stronger this year and immediately, he jumped after the wheel of Andy and stayed with him. Alberto Contador, who was absent of last year's edition, was the next to bridge up to the two leaders, while world champion Cadel Evans was also working hard and brought back several more riders, including Valverde, Vinokourouv and Kolobnev. Those two escaped a little bit after the climb and the race became very tactical behind them, everybody wanting to bridge up to the front alone without taking the fast Valverde with him. Despite a late and promising attempt from Gilbert, Vinokourov and Kolobnev resisted until the end and with around 500 metres to go, the rider from Astana dropped the one from Katusha on the last uphill to Ans to take his second win after 2005 in the Doyenne, the oldest of all the classics. One minute later, Valverde took third place in the race by winning the sprint of the chasers, a group of ten in which Andy Schleck took 6th position and Frank Schleck, who came back from out of nowhere in the last kilometres on his spare bike that didn't suit him, took 9th place after a very strong final.
21.04.10 Charleroi - Huy (198 km)
Frank Schleck caught at the foot of the wall
Results:
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Cadel Evans
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9th at 11”
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42nd at 47"
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DNF
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Frank Schleck was undoubtfully among the stronges riders of this Flèche Wallonne and, just like at the Amstel Gold Race, he was very offensive and animated the race, but just like in the Amstel too, he arrived at the foot of the last hill with some faster riders than him, including winner Cadel Evans. Both races were very similar indeed with an early break (Loosli, Champion, Gourgue, Augé and Palumbo) that had several minutes advantage but was caught later on when Saxo Bank appeared at the front of the peloton. Jens Voigt and Laurent Didier opened the big battle when they broke away with Moreau and some others, and then the Schlecks took over. On the second ascent of the Mur de Huy, Andy Schleck took the lead of the peloton, he accelerated and stretched it out in a long, single file and then brother Frank attacked just before the summit of the infamous climb. Together with Kreuziger, Schleck the older bridged up to the two leaders of the race, Bram Tankink and David Loosli, and they quickly took half a minute of advance. But the rider from Luxemburg didn't get too much support in the break, Tankink and Loosli were at the front since long ago and Kreuziger maybe was also a little bit tired. Frank looked very strong and as Astana maintained the chase in the peloton with Andy Schleck in good position just behind them, he was able to maintain the gap on the côte d'Ereffe, but couldn't resist to the big chasing pack on the long downhill to Huy, on wide and open roads. The break was caught at the foot of the mur de Huy, with Saxo's last chance of success being Andy Schlek. But the Luxemburgish champion wasn't at his best on the steep slopes and he was not able to follow the very best. Maybe he had wasted too much of his power by preparing and protecting the attack of his brother and did not respect the unwritten rule of this wall: wait, wait, wait ... until the end. And there was one rider who waited nearly until the end and timed his move to perfection, he is called Cadel Evans. The world champion stayed a little bit at the back when Igor Anton took off with Contador no his wheel, even before the steepest slopes of the climb. He was still a few meters behind when the winner of last year's Tour de France passed Anton and took the lead of the race, but he slowly moved up and produced his effort only in the last few meters to pass Contador and take the win. Maybe the Spaniard was a little bit tired because due to the ashes of an Icelandic volcano, he had to travel nearly 2000 kilometres by car to come to the race and he wasn't able to resist to the acceleration of the man with the rainbow stripes. Cadel Evans won the Flèche Wallonne a few meters ahead of Joaquim Rodriguez, who followed him like a shadow on the last ascent and Alberto Contador in third position. 11 seconds later, Andy Schleck showed a strong finish on the Mur and finished in a good 9th place, while brother Frank was somewhat disappointed in 42nd place, 47 seconds down on the winner. But there was another rider from Luxemburg who was disappointed, Kim Kirchen. Since his epic win in 2008, Kirchen has never been able to defend his title under correct conditions, since he had some health problems last year and also this year. After a good start into the season, where he covered lots of kilometres in different races, Kim had to stop riding his bike at the beginning of the month due to an infection in the saddle area. He has resumed training again since then, but isn't fit enough yet to compete in tough races like the Flèche Wallonne. He stopped the race after the first ascent of the mur de Huy, having raced for his leader Joaquim Rodriguez until then.
18.04.10 Maastricht - Valkenburg (257 km)
Gilbert stronger than the Schlecks
Results:
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Philippe Gilbert
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7th at 7"
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18th at 25”
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This was a thrilling performance by the Schleck brothers during the finale of the Amstel Gold Race, when they showed themselves very offensive. Unfortunately, there was one rider stronger than them and it was a very strong Philippe Gilbert who stayed at the front permanently during the last 30 kilometres and still had enough strength left to take the win on the Cauberg. Rafael Valls, Staf Scheirlinckx, Peter Wrolich, Sebastien Delfosse, Thierry Hupond, Steven Van Vooren and Arnoud Van Groen didn't wait until the last kilometres to start the action and they broke away very early to take a 7 minute lead on the rest of the pack. But the two Schlecks were eager to have a difficult race and their team Saxo Bank soon raised the speed in the peloton. With 30 kilometres to go, the break was history and the serious things began on the Kruisberg and the very tough Eyserbosweg. On both of these climbs, Andy Schleck was at the front and he attacked on the second one. Only a few riders like Gilbert, Kreuziger, Cunego, Kolobnev or brother Frank were able to follow the young Schleck but they were still numerous to chase behind them and there was regroupement even before the next climb, the Fromberg. Here, Frank Schleck showed himself at the front with a powerfull acceleration, but nor him, nor Cunego, Ivanov, Kolobnev or Gilbert were able to get away for good depite all their attempt. After the terrible, steep Keutenberg, these five riders formed a very prominent break but once again, the chasers bridged up again with only Kolobnev staying at the front while the Cauberg approached. The Russian was also swallowed up a the foot of his last climb and it was Philippe Gilbert who launched the final sprint with 500 meters to go. The dominant man of the last autumn campagn jumped away with a powerfull acceleration and nobody was able to follow him. Gilbert took the win 2 seconds ahead of surprising Canadian Ryder Hesjedal and Enrico Gasparotto. Frank Schleck crossed the finish line in 7th position, 7 seconds behind the winner. This is of course a disappointing result compared to the previous year, but Frank has showed a great race today and shouldn't have any regrets. Just like Andy who had opened the final on the Kruisberg and was still present in the lead group at the end to take 18th place, 25 seconds late on Philippe Gilbert.
April 2010
Batavian weeks
Back in the Netherlands, Jempy Drucker has showed that his tough program during the month of April started to earn him some fruits, since he finished two times in seventh position in one week-end, each time in a sprint of a leading group.
Results:
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| Arno Walaard Memorial
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Stefan Van Dijk
7th at 0"
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| Ronde van Noord-Holland
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Robert Wagner
7th at 0"
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In the Arno Wallaard Memorial Jempy Drucker was already at the front twelve months ago, when he finished 9th in one of his first races of the season. This year, he also matched up in the sprint for the win with 86 other riders, a group that formed with around 40 kilometres to go. Until then, the race has been made difficult by very high speed and numerous attacks.
The favourites were up at the front and when a group of 14 riders including Geert Omloop, Jens Mouris and Alexandre Usov broke away close to the end, the team of Veranda Willems was able to chase them down with the help of, among others, Differdange. The first peloton regrouped with 4 kilometres to go, the speed was still very high (44 km/h average speed for the winner) and in the final sprint, Stefan Van Dijk, Denis Flahaut and local hero Kenny Van Hummel were a class better than all the others. After a close look at the photo-finish, Van Dijk was declared as winner with only a few milimetres margin on Van Hummel, while Jempy Drucker finished at a good 7th postion in this very animated sprint, a few metres back on the winner of the day.
On the day after, the Ronde van Noord-Holland saw nearly the same riders at the start for another 211 kilometres of hot action. In the long straight lines with lots of crosswinds, the peloton broke into pieces even before half of the race. They were 27 at the front and Jempy Drucker found himself shortly behind in a second group of 17 riders, including Chaigneau, Sinkeldam, Ruigh, his team-mate Kaupas or German Radochla among others. After a long and hard chase, this group bridged up to the leaders, leaving 44 riders at the front with around 70 kilometres to go. But the wind still was very strong and provided further selection at the head of the race where only 16 riders remained at 40 kilometres fromt he finish, among them 4 contenders from Skil-Shimano and one from Luxemburg. Despite several attacks in the last kilometres, the victory was decided in a sprint of this group and German Robert Wagner was faster than, in this order, Omloop, Mouris, Radochla, Hegreberg, Brenterch and Jempy Drucker in 7th place.
The month of April is a Batavian one for Jempy Drucker since he participates in a series of renowned races in the Netherlands, most of them with first-class line-up including teams like Rabobank, Saxo Bank, Columbia or Cervélo.
Results:
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| Hel van het Mergelland
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Yann Huguet
DNF
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| GP Pino Cerami
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Jure Kocjan
30th at 7"
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| Ronde van Drenthe
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Alberto Ongarato
DNF
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| Dwaars door Drenthe
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Enrico Rossi
DNF
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| Paris-Camembert
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Sebastien Minard
50th at 9'45"
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| Rund um Düren
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Sven Krauss
DNF
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The first race of the series was the Hel van het Mergelland, also named litlle sister of the Amstel Gold Race since it takes place in the same region on a similar course with lots of turns and small climbs. And the National cyclo-cross champ showed himself offensive on the tough roads of Mergelland, getting into a big escape that contained riders like the Dutch National champion Koos Moerenhout, his team-mate from Rabobank Jos Van Emden, Dominik Klemme of Saxo-Bank or the Skil riders Yann Huguet and Simon Geschke.
And this was the good break of the day, even if Jempy Drucker wasn’t strong enough to follow the strongest until the end and abandoned the race later on, just like half of all the riders. Some more riders bridged up to the group, including Laurent Didier, and they made it to the end. With thirty kilometres to go, Frenchman Yann Huguet and Dutchman Jos Van Emden escaped out of the leading group and they arrived at the finish as a leading duo, with Huguet being faster in the two-man sprint than Van Emden. Dominik Klemme took third place only 10 seconds behind the winner, while Luxemburg’s Laurent Didier finished in 13th position. A few days later, Jempy Drucker lined up in the Grand-prix Pino Cerami,
another famous event with a plamares including Eddy Merckx, Joop Zoetemelk, Bernard Hinault, Andrei Tchmil or Michele Bartoli. Despite lots of attacks on the hilly course between Saint-Ghislain and Frameries, the race ended in a massive sprint of about 40 riders, among them Jempy Drucker. On the uphill finishing straight, Slovenian Jure Kocjan showed his strength and won several meters ahead of Stefan Van Dijk, Marco Marcato and Anthony Geslin. Strong performance by Jempy Drucker though who ended in 30th position, 7 seconds late on the winner, since the peloton split up a little bit on the last few hundred metres. Back in the Netherlands, Drucker abandoned the two races in Drenthe, known as Albert Achterhes Profronde and Dwars door Drenthe. The two races included a short, but steep climb, the WAM-Berg to be tackled several times and some cobblestones and were dominated by Italian riders, with Ongarato winning a bunch sprint on the first day and Enrico Rossi taking the victory against Arnoud van Groen on the second race. Paris-Camembert was won by Frenchman Sebastien Minard ahead of Maxime Mederel. The two riders escaped in the final out of a leading group of twenty riders, including Leonardo Duque, Nicolas Roche or Christophe Moreau, that had a big advantage over the main group. Jempy Drucker arrived in Camembert 10 minutes later in the peloton led by Robin Chaigneau and finished in 50th place. Nice performance by the rider from Luxemburg since only 71 riders finished the 207 kilometres of this classic race that was once won by Kim Andersen. In Rund um Düren, Jempy Drucker’s team-mate Christian Poos showed a strong race and finished in 6th place, in a sprint of a leading group with around 50 riders that dominated the races from beginning to the end. The other 130 riders, including Jempy Drucker, arrived at the finish outside the time-limit and the were not noted in the result list. Winner in Düren was Sven Krauss, who showed out to be faster than Michael Schweitzer, Steffen Radochla and cyclo-cross specialist Christoph Pfingsten.
11.04.10 Amorebieta - Amorebieta (172 km)
Frank Schleck boostes his self-confidence
Results:
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Samuel Sanchez
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3th at 5"
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DNF
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On the day that his team-mate Fabian Cancellara entered cycling history with a legendary win in Paris-Roubaix, Frank Schleck also boosted his self-confidence with a third place in the Klasika Primavera in Amorebieta. This race often counts as a sort of prolongation of the Tour of the Basque country with rather the same line-up and offers to those riders yet another opportunity to ride on hilly grounds. Andy Schleck was amont the first rider to attack and he was during the whole day at the front, being part of a
break with nine riders of Spanish accents, among them local rider Azanza. They took up to 7 minutes advantage, but then Caisse d’Epargne showed some reaction in the peloton and started the chase. After about one hundred kilometres of riding, the gap was down to three minutes again and they were also only three remaining at the front: Andy Schleck, Jorge Azanza and Delio Fernandez had left the others behind them and formed a leading trio. Their advantage melted more and more and after 147 kilometres in the lead of the race, the break came to an end. Andy Schleck abandoned shortly after, with a very good training session in his legs. Meanwhile, the race entered its deciding kilometres and it was Frank Schleck who made a big move by responding to an attack from Rigoberto Uran. Only Samuel Sanchez and Igor Anton were able to follow the rider from Luxemburg on the climb with the name of Muniketagane. The three of them took the lead of the race with 10 kilometres to go, but for Frank Schleck, it was a difficult game against the two riders from Euskatel, even if David Bernabeu bridged up to them shortly after. Anton attacked several times and Schleck brought him back, but then he wasn’t able to follow the acceleration of Samuel Sanchez, with 4 kilometres to go. The Olympic champion finally won the race 5 seconds ahead of his team-mate Anton and Frank Schleck, in third position, with the next chasers being already at their back.
10.04.10 6: Orio - Orio (22 km c.l.m)
Horner suprises
Results:
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Chris Horner
Chris Horner
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41st at 2'14"
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14th at 2'58"
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In the Basque country, there isn’t really anything close to flat and even in the time-trials, there are some climbs. No easy climbs in fact since between Orio and Aia, the riders had to cover no less than 300 metres of change in altitude, while the way back to Orio was much easier. This seemed a tailor-made situation for Alejandro Valverde who reigned onto this race as from the first stage and usually climbs vetry well. But the surprise of the day came from Chris Horner, the American who seems to have found some new motivation in the RadioShack team, at nearly 39 years of age. He is in big shape right now and took the overall win in this Tour of the Basque country 7 seconds ahead of Valverde and 58 seconds before local rider Benat Intxausti. The two main protagonists of the day were separated by only 1 second before the stage, but Horner clearly was stronger today and took the stage win in 32’33” for 22 kilometres, at an average speed of 41 km/h. Valverde was 8 seconds late, then followed Montfort and Rogers from Columbia and the Euskatel riders Intxausti and Sanchez, while the time-trial specialists Klöden and Wiggins placed outside the Top 10. Andy Schleck also wasn’t among the best today, he finished in 41st position with a time of 34'47" (average speed 38,1 km/h), more than 2 minutes behind the winner. He had a bad day today and lost his overall Top 10 position, being noted now in 14th place with 2'58" deficit on the final overall winner. But this doesn’t seem very important, the main thing about this race is that Andy has found a decent level of shape again and that he is now able again to match with the best as soon as the road rises.
09.04.10 5: Eibar - Orio (170 km)
Joaquim Rodriguez shows punch
Results:
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Joaquim Rodriguez
Alejandro Valverde
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13ème à 20"
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6ème à 45"
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Already overall winner of the Tour of Catalunya, Joaquim Rodriguez seems to be in big form a few weeks ahead of the Ardennes classics, where he took second place in Liege-Bastogne-Liege last year, behind Andy Schleck. Just like his team-mate Kim Kirchen, the Spaniard absolutely loves short, steep climbs where he can show his explosive punch. Tremendously steep climbs like the one today with 20 kilometres to go on the Alto de Aia, where lots of riders had to put their feet to the ground on the impressive slopes. But not Joaquim Rodriguez, who flew away from the group of the GC favourites on the Aia, passing one by one the riders of the early break like Txurruka, Kolobnev or Efimkin to win solo in Orio, 14 seconds ahead of Alejandro Valverde. Together with Chris Horner and Samuel Sanchez, the overall leader reacted after Rodriguez’ acceleration to defend his yellow jersey and the three maybe strongest riders of the Vuelta Pais Vasco broke away from the rest of the peloton. Andy Schleck was also among the thirty riders who were still together in the CG favourites group at the foot of the Alto de Aia and he went well on the terrible climb. He wasn’t able to hold on to Rodriguez and Valverde, but finished the stage shortly behind in 13th place, 20 seconds late on the winner. He was in a second chasing group of ten together with riders like Casar, Montfort or former stage winner Gavazzi. Andy moves up another place in the overall classification and ahead of tomorrow’s deciding time-trial, he is now in 6th place, 45” behind Valverde.
08.04.10 4: Murgia Zuia - Eibar (160 km)
Andy Schleck is back again
Results:
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Samuel Sanchez
Alejandro Valverde
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DNS
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8th at 40"
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7th at 39"
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While the fact that Frank Schleck didn’t show up a the start in the morning due to his crash on the stage before wasn’t a real surprise, the good performance of brother Andy wasn’t really expected on today’s queen stage with 7 climbs, Andy is back again, despite a difficult start of the season with some health troubles and a sore knee. His optimism and fighting spirit were stronger than the setbacks and after some hard training, Andy seems on track again for his big goals during the spring. He was at the front today and even dared to attack in the final, finishing the stage in 8th position, 40 seconds behind the winner of the day Samuel Sanchez. The reigning Olympic champion had some troubles on the first stage, but he was impressive today, taking off on the last climb of the day when the early break of the day composed by Amets Txurruka, Aitor Pérez Arrieta, Ivan Santaromita, Johannes Frohlinger and Jakob Fuglsang had been caught. Andy Schleck and Chris Horner created a big selection with attacks on the Alto de Uzartza, with 6 kilometres to go, but nobody was able to match the acceleration of Samuel Sanchez just after the summit of the climb. As a very fast downhill rider, the Euskatel rider was without reach for his opponents on the descent to Eibar and he won with 2 seconds advantage on a trio composed by Valverde, Gesink and Horner. Andy Schleck was dropped by these riders just before the summit of Uzartza, while he had a tough time recovering from his suicide attack and he finished the stage a few seconds behind the winner, together with Damiano Cunego. At the overall classification, the rider from Luxemburg of course moves up several places to 7th position, 39 seconds behind Alejandro Valverde, who took back the overall lead from Oscar Freire.
07.04.10 3: Viana - Amurrio (187 km)
Gavazzi wins, Frank Schleck crashes
Results:
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Francesco Gavazzi
Oscar Freire
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148th at 12'39"
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99th at 12'40"
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57th at 2"
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23rd at 3"
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Bad news for the Schleck family today since the older of the two brothers was involved in a crash and finished the stage with pain. With less than 10 kilometres to go, Frank was sent to the ground by a rider breaking in front of him and he landed in a ditch on the side of the road, Fortunately, he was able to get up and finish the stage in 99th position, more than 12 minutes late on the winner, but then he went straight to hospital in order to have a complete check-up on the deep cuts at the back of his neck. The stage itself finished in a bunch sprint and once again, Oscar Freire had to settle down with second place. Italian rider Francesco Gavazzi was faster than the three times world champion, Velits and Botchrov on the line. But Freire can find some consolation in the fact that he is the new overall leader of the race. Despite a long break from Egoi Martínez, Alan Pérez, Michael Albasini, Eduard Vorganov, Iban Mayoz and Rémy Di Gregorio, despite another tough course profile with four climbs, the sprinter teams controlled the race and they were still around hundred riders in contention for the win in the first peloton, among them also Frank Schleck. For him and his brother, the stage was a rather quiet one and they stayed attentive at the head of the peloton … until 10 kilometres from the finish when Frank went to the ground. Andy, on the other hand, finished the stage without trouble and is still in very good position overall ahead of tomorrow’s queen stage, only three seconds down on Freire.
06.04.10 2: Zierbana - Viana (217 km)
Another one for Valverde
Results:
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Alejandro Valverde
Alejandro Valverde
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34th at 1"
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17th at 1"
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47th at 1"
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23rd at 1"
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The second stage also turned into a sprint duell between Alejandro Valverde and Oscar Freire and if there was no controversy this time, it was again the the rider from Caisse d'Epargne who was on top of the list and of course retained his leader jersey. Three riders animated the stage for a long while, but Michael Rogers, Amets Txurruka and José Benitez were swallowed up again with about 30 kilometres to go, whereas the peloton was temporarily teared in pieces by heavy crosswinds. Despite some late attacks, like those from Gerdemann, Barredo or Vorganov or a very promising one from Wiggins, Hesjedal and Uran, the stage was decided in a sprint. The last break of three failed to go to the finish, but a peloton of 74 riders swallowed them up in the last straight line, with Valverde and Freire going to the front. The Schleck brothers were also in this group and they crossed the finish line in positions 34 and 47. Today was another tough day with more than 200 kilometres to be covered and especially the cross-winds section near to the finish, where they were up at the front with their team to try and create some gaps.
05.04.10 1: Zierbena - Zierbena (152 km)
Valverde wins on the green carpet
Results:
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Alejandro Valverde
Alejandro Valverde
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13th at 0"
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13th at 0"
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23rd at 0"
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23rd at 0"
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Alejandro Valverde has won the first stage of the Tour of the Basque country on the yellow carpet, after a penalty for Oscar Freire. The recent winner of Milano-San Remo eventually was the first over the line, but after a hard sprint along the barriers where Valverde had to stop his effort, the rider from Caisse d'Epargne was declared winner of the stage by the jury. They were still 24 to sprint for the victory at the end, among them the Schleck brothers who, once again, have lined up in the Vuelta Pais Vasco in order to prepare the Ardennes classics. After not having finished the Tour of Cataluny, Andy has put lots of hard training kilometres in his legs, but he will need those tough racing conditions in the Basque country to find back his level of last year, while Frank should see his form peaking very, very soon. Of course, the race doesn't lack of climbs as an ideal preparation for the Ardennes, the first stage showing already 5 of them on the route map. Euskatel have animated the chase behind the early break (Serguei Klimov, Christian Meier, Martin Pedersen, Gonzalo Rabuñal and Sergio Carrasco) and with the high speed, the bunch splitted up more and more while the group of the favourites decreased further on. On the last climb of the day, the Alto de las Calizas there were several attacks and Frank Schleck had a few meters advantage for a moment. He was brought back again but they were only 24 still together for the win at the summit. At the finish, the Schleck brothers took positions 13 and 23 in this group where several more favourites were also present (Valverde, Rodriguez, Cunego, Gesink), but some others like Sanchez, Voigt, Wiggins, Lövqvist or Gerdemann and Klöden were not at the front and lost some time.
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