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February 19-26, 2011: 1st Tour of South Africa
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26.02.2011: 7. Paarl – Paarl (104 km)
Drucker finishes on a good note
Results:
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Bernardo Riccio
Kristian House
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7th at 0”
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34th at 14'27”
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The last stage was held on a 10 kilometre circuit around the city of Paarl, at the East of Cape town and it finished again in a bunch sprint, allowing Jempy Drucker to finish the stage race on a good note by taking 7th in the stage classification, while Italian Bernardo Riccio took his second win in three days. It was on the third out of 10 laps that the break of the day developped with nine riders named Van den Houte, Reza, Woolcock, Baxter, White, Evans, McLeod, Seyffert as well as one of the most talented African cyclists ever, Daniel Teklehaimanot. But the team-mates of the yellow jersey and the MTN squad of Impey chased behind them and there was a general regroupement in the last lap, when Jempy Drucker had frightning moment, breaking his wheel at a very bad moment. During the massive sprint, Bernardo Riccio didn't leave any chance to his main opponents Verschoor, Gene, Schulze, Brown, Fouche and Drucker, who had fought his way back to the front after the incident with around 15 kilometres to go. The final overall win for Kristian House never was in doubt today and, due to the gap that he created on the first day, the Britisch rider won the title more than 2 minutes ahead of the home riders Johann Rabie and Daryl Impey. Jempy Drucker finished the race in 34th position overall and should be very pleased with his three Top 10 placings in different stages.
25.02.2011 : 6. Hermanus – Old Helshoogte Pass (140 km)
Big win for Lill
Results:
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Darren Lill
Kristian House
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80th at 11'54”
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35ème à 14'27”
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It is a fact that the riders of the Tour of South Africa are seeing some very different countrysides during their race. After the first stages around Pretoria and Johannesbourg, after a trip to the Indian Ocean and ahead of the final part next to Cape Town, today's Queen stage took them to the famous wineyards of Stellenbosch, with a mountain top finish on the Old Helshoogte Pass. But there wasn't much time to enjoy the views because the course was very hard and on the climb of Franschhoeck, the peloton exploded behind the lonely leader of the moment David George. Jempy Drucker was not able to follow the strongest on that climb and he found himself in a second group as they tackled the two last climbs of the day. On the final climb, once George reeled in, South African National Champion Darren Lill launched a strong attack and he took off for the stage win. At around 20 seconds behind him, Daryl Impey and Johann Rabie tried to ged rid of yellow jersey Kristian House for the overall battle, but House lost just a couple of seconds to the two South Africans, securing a probable overall victory for tomorrow. At nearly 12 minutes behind the stage winner, Jempy Drucker arrived at the top in position 80, in a small group with among others the winner of stage 3, Yohann Gene.
24.02.2011 : 5. Oudtshoorn – Barrydale (175 km)
Another Top 10 for Drucker
Results:
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Bernardo Riccio
Kristian House
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7th at 0”
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11th at 3'04”
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Despite the considerable heat, the beginning of the fifth stage has again seen numerous attacks, but it was only after 70 kilometres that a group was allowed to get away. They were 6 riders to try their luck: Day, Maartens, Hendricks, Gebresilassie as well as Frank Dressler from team Differdange and Drucker's team-mate, Gregory Habeaux. They had a gap that grew to more than 4 minutes during the stage, but nevertheless,
all six of them were caught again with less than 7 kilometres to go, Maartens and Habeaux being the two last to resist. After another tough stage, they were still 80 in contention for the win in a massive sprint and Jempy Drucker caught up with the battle at the front, taking 7th position behind winner Bernardo Riccioas well as Impey, Van Heerden, Gene, Fouche and Brown in this order. Ahead of tomorrow's deciding stage, Jempy is now 11th overall in a classification that is still led by Britain's Kristian House.
23.02.2011: 4. Bloukrans Bridge - George (153 km)
5th place for Drucker in George
Results:
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Davide Torosantucci
Kristian House
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5th at 22”
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13th at 3'04”
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It was a strong performance by Jempy Drucker on the fourth stage where there was another big selection in the last kilometres with a group of 20 staying well ahead of the rest of the peloton, a group in which Jempy finished the stage in 5th place, 22 seconds down on the stage winner Davide Torosantucci. The racing started very fast, but despite numerous attempts and a hilly profile, no break managed to form and only Jay Thomson opened the road solo for a moment, before being caught
again ahead of the last 20 kilometres. On the very steep ramp of Wilderness, the strongest riders emerged and, among them, House, Drucker, Berneaudeau and Impey seemed capable of winning hte stage. But Italian rider Torosantucci was able to profit from the tactical game in the leading group and he could break away with less than 10 kilometres to go. At the end, he took the stage win 18 seconds ahead of the next chasers, Reza and Lill, and another four seconds ahead of a bigger group, in which Jempy Drucker took second place in the sprint, thus being noted as fifth in the day's rankings. In the overall classification, Drucker also moves up a bit and he is now 13th, 3 minutes behind Kristian House who doesn't show a singl sign of weakness.
22.02.2011: 3. Nelson Mandela Bay - Summer Strand (177 km)
Genious Gene
Results:
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Yohann Gene
Kristian House
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21st at 42”
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16th at 3'04”
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The third stage of the Tour of South Africa was among the most difficult ones, with some small climbs towards the end of the course and, most of all, lots of wind to create a selection. A group of 12 riders showed out to be stronger than the rest on the two last uphills and, led by Daryl Impey, they took a minute advantage on the next chasers. The stage win was decided in a sprint and Frenchman Yohann Gene from the Europcar team was the fastest ahead of Rabie and Gregory Habeaux, a team-mate of Jempy Drucker. It was the team of the future stage winner that has lauched the big battle in the wind, with around 60 kilometres to go and divided the peloton in several pieces. Jempy Drucker was able to hang on to the first group and they were about 50 at the front when they tackled the final part of the race at 50 km/h. But when the winning break formed at 10 kilometres from the finish, the rider from Luxemburg had a flat tyre and he ended the stage in 21st position in a second bunch, about 40 seconds behind the first group that also contained overall leader Kristian House. The beginning of the stage was marked by a break of Johann van Zyl, Tomasz Kiendys and Arran Brown who were leading the race until Europcar decided to accelerate in the crosswinds.
20.02.2011: 2. Montecasino - Montecasino (156 km)
neutralized stage
Results:
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Kirstian House
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The second stage of the Tour of South Africa has been neutralized for security reasons, as there were several car drivers who did not respect the traffic restrictions imposed by the race. After a very fast and nervous beginning, the riders stepped down off their bikes about 50 kilometres into the race, when there had been several traffic incidents.
19.02.2011: 1. Menlyn Park - Montecasino (154 km)
House brings it home
Results:
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Kristian House
Kristian House
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15th at 2'22”
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15th at 2'22”
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Before facing the cold and wet races in Flanders, Jempy Drucker made a trip into the sun of South Africa to open his road season, for a newly created stage race with big ambitions for the years to come. The first stages were more of a flat kind and Jempy had some ambitions for possible sprint decisions. But the opening stage was dominated by two riders who were leading for a long while and whose attempt would be rewarded with the stage win. After a very fast start, former British road champion Kristian House and Czech rider Martin Blaha escaped from the peloton and they built up a comfortable margin of more than 6 minutes. Despite the implication of the Europcar team in the chase, Kristian House managed to maintain a significant lead after dropping Blaha, and the rider from Rapha Condor won the stage 2'22" ahead of a first group led by home rider Herman Fouche. The peloton splitted up into two pieces after a heavy crash and some of the pre-race favourites like Anthony Charteau had some bad luck. Jempy Drucker, on his side, he was able to maintain himself at the front and crossed the finishing line in the first group of around 70 units, taking 15th position in the day's rankings.
27.02.2011 Almeria - Almeria (180 km)
Pelucchi in good mood
Results:
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Matteo Pelucci
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DNF
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57th at 0"
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Lots of riders that had just finished the Ruta del Sol continued to race on Spanish soil at the Clasica Almeria, which was held only three days after the Tour of Andalucia. But among the members of Leopart-Trek, some wer ill and if sprinter Nizzolo wasn't present at the start, Andy Schleck alos quit the race after around 60 kilometres of racing. Italian Matteo Pelucci, on the other hand, was in good mood and he won the traditionnal massive sprint, ahead of pre-race favourite Rojas or Dutchman Pim Ligthart. In the leading group of about 60 riders who sprinted for the victory after 180 kilometres with 4 small climbs, Frank Schleck was also present, but he did not participate in the battle for the win, he preffered to stay safe at the end of the group and finished 57th. Without sprinter, the Leopards had to ride aggressively and it was Jens Voigt who was often at the front in a few breaks together for example with riders like Christian Vandevelde or Johnny Hoogerland. But in Almeria, the bunch sprint is tradition and this year did not change the rules.
24.02.2011: 5. Cordoba - Antequera (163 km)
Oscar Freire bis
Results:
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Oscar Freire
Markel Irizar
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31st at 0”
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13th at 20”
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37th at 10"
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81st at 24'25"
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Just like all the other stages of the Ruta del Sol 2011, the last one also ended in a bunch sprint, even if a small climb inside the last kilometer shaked the peloton considerably and they were only 33 to sprint for the win. A win that was for the second day in a row for Oscar Freire, who was faster than Samuel Sanchez, Hivert, Appolonio and Uran. The strong riders were at the front in this last rush, with Van den Broek taking 7th in the stage, final overall winner Irizar 19th and Frank Schleck 31st and secont-to-last in the leading group. Four riders have animated the stage during most of the time, but Radio Shack controlled things for Irizar and Leipeheimer and the advantage of Bessy, Bernabeu, Zabalo and Barta never exceeded three minutes. With 10 kilometres to go, the gab was down to a minute and they were caught at just three kilometres from the finish. Andy Schleck has not participated in the sprint for the victory, he let himself fall out of the leading group on the last small hill and finished a few seconds behind in 37th position. In the overall classification, the younger Schleck never played a major role, but his older brother did and he could have done even better, were the stages more selective. Frank was in good shape in Andalucia and finished 13th in the end, his deficit of 20 seconds on the three first, Irizar, Van den Broeck and Leipheimer, coming only from the prologue on the first day.
23.02.2011: 4. La Guardia Jaen - Cordoba (174 km)
Andy at the front again
Results:
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Oscar Freire
Markel Irizar
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73rd at 0”
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17th at 20”
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93rd at 53"
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95th at 24'15"
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For the second time in two days, Andy Schleck was at the front of the race and today, his escape lastet a lot longer than yesterday. Andy attacked right after the start and together with Javier Moreno, he gained a small minute of advantage after 20 kilometres of hard battle. Two more riders, the two Spaniards Palomares and Hector Gonzalez, were able to break away from the peloton at that moment and after another half an hour of chasing, they bridged up to the two leaders, making it four in front.
The peloton took it easyer now and, when Andy Schleck was the first to pass on top of the Puerto de Arjona, only climb of the day, the four leaders were 6 minutes ahead. But then, after 100 kilometres of racing, several teams raised the speed dramatically in the peloton and the gap melted fast: from 4 minutes at 50 kilometres from the finish, it was down to 3 20 kilometres later and only 2 minutes were left with 25 to go. Rabobank, Vancansoleil et Saur-Sojasun worked together and at 15 kilometres from the conclusion, after nearly 160 of them at the front of the race with 45 km/h average speed, the adventure of Schleck & co was finished. Movistar showed up at the head of the peloton and no other attack was successfull, not even the one of the impressive Jens Voigt. After two disillusions, Oscar Freire dominated the bunch sprint this time and won ahead of Engoulvent, Galdos, Marcato and Hunter. Frank Schleck crossed the finish line in the middle of the peloton in 73rd place, while a tired Andy lost contact in the last kilometres and finished a minute late on the winner.
22.02.2011: 3. Otura - Jaen (175 km)
Andy Schleck attacked
Results:
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Francisco Ventoso
Markel Irizar
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29th at 0”
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18th at 20”
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58th at 0"
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84th at 23'22"
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Francisco Ventoso was second yesterday behind Hivert, but he did it better today by taking the flowers in Jaen, after a stage that did not have any big influence on the overall classification despite its four climbs of third and fourth category. But on the Luxemburg side, the fact of the day was an early attack by Andy Schleck, who broke away 10 kilometres into the stage with Xavier Zabalo, Marco Marcato and Hector Gonzalez. But the four of them only gained a small gap and after a few kilometres of chase, the peloton brought them back again. More attacks followed on the hilly course with, among others, Tom Stamsnijder of Leopard-Trek in a group of 7 or, a little bit later, four Spanish riders on theri own with up to 5 minutes advantage. But Rabobank for Freire and Radio Shack for Irizar worked in the peloton and, with 10 kilometres to go, there was another general regroupement. In a slightly uphill sprint finish, Francisco Ventoso was faster than Lobato as well as Appolonio and Nizzolo, the team-mate of the Schlecks. Both of them finished the stage inside the peloton, in 29th place for Frank and 58th for Andy. Frank remains though in good position overall, but the following stages will be less hilly.
21.02.2011: 2. Almunecar - Adra (162 km)
Another one for Saur-Sojasun
Results:
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Jonathan Hivert
Markel Irizar
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19th at 0”
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18th at 20”
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84th at 22'57"
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89th at 23'22"
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Despite the fact that it was a difficult stage with three major climbs, it finished in a massive sprint of a leading group of 43 riders, in which Frank Schleck was also present. For the second day in a row, it was a French rider from Saur-Sojasun who took the flowers, because Jonathan Hivert suprised the favourites by sprinting faster than Ventoso, Freire, Devolder and Ivanov in this order. Befor that, there have been five riders in an early break: Marcato, De la Cruz, Ramírez Abeja, Sicard and Aritz Etxebarria attacked at kilometre 27 and had up to 6 minutes advantage. But in the toughest climb of the day, the peloton exploded and twenty riders animated the chase, causing the gap to melt quickly. Among the 20 riders, there were several Movistar riders, but also GC favourits like Van den Broeck, Samuel Sanchez, Leipheimer, Zubeldia and also Frank Schleck. On the descent of the Puerto de Polopos, another group bridged up to them, making it 40 in the chase, 3 minutes behind the five leaders. Rabobank and Radio Shack controlled the group and they allowed only Fabio Duarte to slip away and replace the members of the early break in the lead. But with 5 kilometres to go, the former U23 world champion was also reeled in, leaving the place for a sprint decision. Just like in the main climb, Frank Schleck was always present at the front of his group and he finished the stage as 19th, in the same tim than the winner. He is still 20 seconds late overall on the new leader, Markel Irizar. Andy Schleck, on his side, was hiding indside the main buch during the second half of the race, finishing 89th of the stage, more than 23 minutes down on Hivert. But earlier this day, he was among the riders who rode hard on the main climb, causing the peloton to break into several parts.
20.02.2011: 1. Prologue à Benahavis (6,8 km clm)
Engoulvent is going fast
Results:
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Jimmy Engoulvent
Jimmy Engoulvent
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29th at 20”
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29th at 20”
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40th at 25"
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40th at 25"
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Jimmy Engoulvent has already proved several times that he can be very fast in short and violent efforts, for example at the Tour de Luxembourg where he has won the prologue twice. The Frenchman did the same at the Vuelta Andalucia, a race that is better known as Ruta del Sol, when he was faster than Radio Shack's Markel Irizar on a course that is very similar than the one in Luxemburg, with a very steep and cobbled climb at the end. On the next positions, Jurgen Van den Broeck and Levi Leipheimer showed impressive early form, respectively one and two seconds late, while the fifth place was again for a time-trial specialist, Jéròme Coppel. The Schleck brothers didn't have any great ambitions for this prologue, but at 20 seconds, Frank Schleck was not too far away from the Best, ahead of the hilly stages of the next days. He is noted in the same time than Karpets or team-mate Stamsnijder in 29th position, while brother Andy followed a few seconds later in 40th place, 25 seconds behind the winner and in the same second than three times world champion Oscar Freire.
06.02.2011 Palma de Mallorca (116 km)
Trofeo Palma
Results:
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Tyler Farrar
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120th at 0"
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Just like last year, the Schleck brothers have opened their 2011 season at the Challange Mallorca, and it was Frank who had the honour to be the first of the two to ride in the new Leopard-Trek jersey, since he participated in the opening criterium in Palma de Mallorca, while Andy was waiting for day two before entering the action. They were 191 to line up on the traditional flat course along the haven of Palma, where a massiv sprint was expected after the ten laps. De Haes, Ramírez, Chuzdha, Ji, Baer, Verona and Eglin tried their luck with a long break but with tenty kilometres to go, they only had 40 seconds advantage left on a peloton led by Radio Shack, but where Frank Schleck and the Leopards also showed up at the front from time to time, in order to protect sprinter Robert Wagner. They swallowed up the break in time for the bunch sprint where Tyler Farrar took the win with a narrow margin ahead of Ventoso and Kittel, while Wagner could not match the battle for the win. After a day with good sensations in his legs, Frank Schleck finished the Trofeo Palma in the peloton in 120th position, one place behind his team-mate Martin Mortensen.
07.02.2011 Son Servera - Cala Millor (174 km)
Trofeo Cala Millor
Results:
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Tyler Farrar
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155th at 30"
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158th at 30"
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Double start for the Schleck brothers on the second day at the Trofeo Cala Millor, when Andy joined his brother for a ride on a flat course, although a littel bit more hillier than the day before. The two National champions from Luxembourg had to work a lot today since Leopard-Trek wanted to control the race but had missed the main break of the day that took off after 15 kilometres. Schleck and co have been leading the peloton for a long while behind the escaped Cozza, Pasamontes and Saez in order to provide a second chance to Wagner and Nizzolo in a massive print. The three leaders were caught in time, but Philippe Gilbert place a counter attack with 10 kilometres to go, forcing the sprinter teams to dig deep again in order to reel him in. After very fast final, Tyler Farrar too another win, sprinting faster than the talented German John Degenkolb and his HTC team-mate Leigh Howard. The two sprinters from the Luxemburg team also finished inside the Top 10, while the Schlecks did not take any risks on the narrow and dangerous roads in the final. They finished the race 30 seconds back on the winner, together with team-mate Jakob Fuglsang.
08.02.2011 Inca - Inca (167 km)
Trofeo Inca
Results:
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Ben Hermans
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88th at 15'58"
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Third day of racing and fist day in the mountains for the riders of the Challenge Mallorca, among them Frank Schleck was off-duty today, leaving it up to his brother Andy to show himself during the first part of the race. The riders from Leopard-Trek were once again very actif at the forn to the race, on the 167 kilometres in th noth of the island, with Andy Schleck and Jens Voigt being in the first line. There were lots of attacks from the start and Palomares, Saez, Clayes as well as McCartney were the ones who got a ticket for a long escape with up to 10 minutes advantage. But with Leopard and Movistar leading the peloton at high speed, the break was caught on the first slopes of the col the Puig Major, main climb of the day where the peloton split up into several pieces. They were around 25 at the front, including Jakob Fuglsang as well as Zaugg and Montfort, while Andy Schleck was moving down to the last part of the peloton, after his work for the team done. Three riders escaped from the leading group on the final part of Puig Major and they attacked the descent to the finish with around 15 seconds gap the the next chasers. Hermans, Tondo and Duran did not show any weekness on the downhill and they increased their advantage to nearly a minuter, before battling out the win in a three-man sprint. Young Belgian Ben Hermans was faster than Duran and Tonto, while Fuglsang took the 16th place today, in a small group led over the finish line by Murillo Fischer, 45 seconds behind the winner. Andy Schleck finished the race way down in the first grupetto, in 88th position and 16 minutes down on the winner.
09.02.2011 Deia - Deia (143 km)
Trofeo Deia
Results:
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José Rojas
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137th at 13'13"
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21st at 0"
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Andy and Frank rode together again at Trofeo Deia, on the second mountain stage where the climb of Puig Major was again set to play a major role. Jens Voigt was among the first attacker of the day during an extremely fast beginning, but it was a group of five including Philippe Gilbert as as Cheula, Malacarne, Zingle and Zabalo who was able to build up an advantage of three minutes. During the second half of the stage, the gap decreased again and the five only were 45 seconds ahead of the rest at the foot of the Puig Major, penultimate climb of the day. With Euskatel and Movistar leading the pack, the break was caught and they were around 45 riders to cross the summit of the climb at the front. Frank Schleck was well up there in the first group, just like Fuglsang, three more members from Leopard and some more famous riders like Tony Martin, Di Luca, Chavanel or Kolobnev. Andy Schleck, on his side, didn't want to dig deep today and he followed inside the main pack, a few minutes later. On the Coll den Bleda, the last difficulty of the day, Martin Velits tried his luck, just like Van Garderen, Duarte or De la Fuenta, but the victory was finally decided in a sprint of 34 units precisely, among them Frank Schleck. José Rojas, the sprinter who climbs well, didn't leave any chance to his opponents and won with several bike lengths advantage on Izaguirre, Cobo and Langeveld. Frank Schleck took 21st place at the finish, while Fuglsang was the last one of the leading groupe. 13 minutes later, Andy Schleck alos arrived in Deià in 137th place, in a small group containing also Voigt and Bruzeghin.
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