Posts Tagged ‘tirreno adriatico’
Rodríguez wins GP Miguel Indurain
April 3rd, 2010
Joaquin Rodríguez (Katusha) continued on his strong spring streak and followed up his overall victory at the Volta a Catalunya with a win at the GP Miguel Indurain in Spain on Saturday.
Rodríguez out-kicked former Caisse d’Epargne teammate Alejandro Valverde for the victory, with Michel Kreder (Garmin-Transitions) confirming his promise by crossing the line third at 8 seconds back.
“I am very happy to win,” Rodríguez told reporters after the race. “I have never won before in Navarra and this victory today was possible thanks to the excellent work of my team.”
The six-climb, 180km race finishing with a short but steep uphill finish on the Cat. 3 Basílico de Puy was ideal for Rodríguez, who switched from Caisse d’Epargne to Katusha to get more opportunities to ride as a captain. So far, the move is paying off in spades.
Caisse d’Epargne did the lion’s share of work to reel in an early, five-man breakaway that dominated the first 100km of the hilly terrain of Spain’s Navarra region.
Katusha drove to the front in the closing 20km to control the race and set up Rodríguez for the final charge up the short climbing finish, something of a specialty for “Purito,” a two-time winner at Montelupone at Tirreno-Adriatico.
Igor Antón (Euskaltel-Euskadi) tried to upset the Katusha juggernaut, but ran out of gas in the final kilometer.
Rodríguez timed it just right and distanced Valverde by 6 seconds.
Kreder — a 22-year-old in his first year with Garmin after two seasons with Rabobank’s development team who rode well at Catalunya to finish seventh overall — capped an excellent ride to snag the final spot on the podium.
It was a strong showing across the board for Garmin-Transitions, with Peter Stetina notching a 20th placing at 19 seconds back against a top-notch field of riders heading to the Vuelta al País Vasco and Christian Meier slotting into 23rd.
1. Joaquin Rodriguez (Sp), Team Katusha 4:52:40
2. Alejandro Valverde (Sp), Caisse D`Epargne, at 0:06
3. Michel Kreder (Nl), Garmin-Transitions, at 0:08
4. Alesander Kolobnev (Rus), Team Katusha, at 0:10
5. Ruben Perez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 0:12
6. Beñat Intxasuti (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 0:14
7. Mauro Finetto (I), Liquigas-Doimo, at 0:14
8. Maxime Bouet (F), Ag2r-La Mondiale, at 0:14
9. Juan Jose Oroz (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 0:14
10. Valerio Agnoli (I), Liquigas-Doimo, at 0:18
11. Angel Vicioso (Sp), Andalucia-Cajasur, at 0:19
12. Arkaitz Duran (Sp), Footon-Servetto, at 0:19
13. Ivan Velasco (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 0:19
14. Amets Txurruka (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 0:19
15. Kristijan Koren (Slo), Liquigas-Doimo, at 0:19
16. Rene Mandri (Est), Ag2r-La Mondiale, at 0:19
17. Alberto Benitez (Sp), Footon-Servetto, at 0:19
18. Egoi Martiniez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 0:19
19. Aitor Perez (Sp), Footon-Servetto, at 0:19
20. Peter Stetina (Usa), Garmin-Transitions, at 0:19
21. Gustavo Cesar (Sp), Xacobeo Galicia, at 0:24
22. Jose Herrada (Sp), Caja Rural, at 0:25
23. Christian Meier (Can), Garmin-Transitions, at 0:25
Schleck geeft alweer op
March 23rd, 2010
HTC-Columbia Banking on Cavendish for Milan-San Remo
March 21st, 2010
HTC-Columbia will take part in Saturday's Milan-San Remo Classic aiming for victory for a second straight year with Mark Cavendish.
"He's the winner of the 2009 race and he's our best option for winning the race in 2010," says HTC-Columbia team manager Rolf Aldag.
"Although I'm sure all seven team-mates are also capable of getting good results in their own right, they will do everything they can to support him."
After not winning a stage in the recent Tirreno-Adriatico race like Cavendish did last year, Aldag says "it was a pity it didn't happen but in a way it means less pressure on him. Nobody will be looking at us to chase now if there's a breakaway of 20 riders.
"We'll keep on assessing the situation as the race unfolds. Mark's very clever and very honest and he'll let us know exactly what's going on. He won't just kill his team-mates for no reason.
"We always put a lot of emphasis on communication between the riders in HTC-Columbia and it was a big part of how we won the race last year. It'll be a big part of our game plan again this year, too.
"Milan-San Remo is a very difficult race to predict, there are so many different interests at play and it's by no means guaranteed there will be a bunch sprint. But it could happen, and the team will be working for Mark and supporting him 100 percent. There is no plan 'B'."
HTC-Columbia for Milan-San Remo:- Michael Albasini (Swi); Lars Bak (Den); Mark Cavendish (GB); Bernhard Eisel (Aut); Matt Goss (Aus); Maxime Monfort (Bel); Michael Rogers (Aus); Peter Velits (Svk).
HTC-Columbia Looking For Another Cavendish Win At Milan-SanRemo
March 19th, 2010
San Luis Obispo, CA -19th March 2010 – HTC-Columbia will take part in Saturday’s Milan-San Remo Classic aiming for victory for a second straight year with Mark Cavendish.
“He’s the winner of the 2009 race and he’s our best option for winning the race in 2010,” says HTC-Columbia team manager Rolf Aldag.
“Although I’m sure all seven team-mates are also capable of getting good results in their own right, they will do everything they can to support him.”
After not winning a stage in the recent Tirreno-Adriatico race like Cavendish did last year, Aldag says “it was a pity it didn’t happen but in a way it means less pressure on him. Nobody will be looking at us to chase now if there’s a breakaway of 20 riders.
“We’ll keep on assessing the situation as the race unfolds. Mark’s very clever and very honest and he’ll let us know exactly what’s going on. He won’t just kill his team-mates for no reason.
“We always put a lot of emphasis on communication between the riders in HTC-Columbia and it was a big part of how we won the race last year. It’ll be a big part of our game plan again this year, too.
“Milan-San Remo is a very difficult race to predict, there are so many different interests at play and it’s by no means guaranteed there will be a bunch sprint. But it could happen, and the team will be working for Mark and supporting him 100 percent. There is no plan ‘B’.”
HTC-Columbia for Milan-San Remo:
Michael Albasini (Swi);
Lars Bak (Den);
Mark Cavendish (GB);
Bernhard Eisel (Aut);
Matt Goss (Aus);
Maxime Monfort (Bel);
Michael Rogers (Aus);
Peter Velits (Svk).
For more information on Team HTC-Columbia, please visit www.highroadsports.com
HTC-Columbia Banking on Cavendish for Milan-San Remo
March 19th, 2010
HTC-Columbia will take part in Saturday's Milan-San Remo Classic aiming for victory for a second straight year with Mark Cavendish.
"He's the winner of the 2009 race and he's our best option for winning the race in 2010," says HTC-Columbia team manager Rolf Aldag.
"Although I'm sure all seven team-mates are also capable of getting good results in their own right, they will do everything they can to support him."
After not winning a stage in the recent Tirreno-Adriatico race like Cavendish did last year, Aldag says "it was a pity it didn't happen but in a way it means less pressure on him. Nobody will be looking at us to chase now if there's a breakaway of 20 riders.
"We'll keep on assessing the situation as the race unfolds. Mark's very clever and very honest and he'll let us know exactly what's going on. He won't just kill his team-mates for no reason.
"We always put a lot of emphasis on communication between the riders in HTC-Columbia and it was a big part of how we won the race last year. It'll be a big part of our game plan again this year, too.
"Milan-San Remo is a very difficult race to predict, there are so many different interests at play and it's by no means guaranteed there will be a bunch sprint. But it could happen, and the team will be working for Mark and supporting him 100 percent. There is no plan 'B'."
HTC-Columbia for Milan-San Remo:- Michael Albasini (Swi); Lars Bak (Den); Mark Cavendish (GB); Bernhard Eisel (Aut); Matt Goss (Aus); Maxime Monfort (Bel); Michael Rogers (Aus); Peter Velits (Svk).
Cavendish Keeps Milan-SanRemo Favourites Guessing
March 19th, 2010
Britain’s Mark Cavendish is maintaining hopes of pulling off a rare double by winning the gruelling Milan-SanRemo when it opens the one-day classics season on Saturday.
However more than one of the Isle of Man sprinter’s rivals are aware of his apparent lack of form, and they will be ready to anticipate the kind of move that handed Cavendish a shock, but deserved, victory last year.
In 2009 Cavendish started ‘La Primavera’ as an outsider after what some now believe was a deliberately mediocre performance on the hills of the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race the week before.
But after sailing over the Cipressa and Poggio climbs, Cavendish chased down Heinrich Haussler after the German launched a late bid for the win to claim his first major classics crown, and become the first Briton to win the race since Tom Simpson in 1964.
A year later, Cavendish’s late start to competition due mainly to dental problems appear to have left him short of full fitness.
And although some, including Italy’s 2006 champion Filippo Pozzato, have doubts Belgian rival Tom Boonen won’t count the Manxman out.
“I’d also have Cavendish in the reckoning although he still must improve a bit,” said the Belgian, whose personal favourite is on-form Italian sprinter Daniele Bennati of Liquigas.
Traditionally, Milan-San Remo is settled with a select bunch sprint after nearly 300km of racing, during which the Cipressa and Poggio climbs help deplete the field significantly.
Boonen, the 2005 world champion whose best finish was a third place in 2007, wouldn’t have it any other way: “San Remo is a classic sprint, as simple as that. It is an extremely difficult sprint; it’s hard, very hard.”
However a few non-sprint specialists will be hoping for a different ending.
Katusha rider Pozzato, Fabian Cancellara, the 2008 winner, and emerging Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen will spearhead teams hoping to upset the sprinters’ plans.
And while Pozzato has tipped Boonen, Bennati and Cancellara to be in the running, he practically ruled out Cavendish’s chances in his blog for cyclingnews.com.
“As you’d expect from an Italian and a former winner, I can’t wait for Saturday,” said Pozzato, who admits he was impressed with the way Boonen and Bennati were climbing and sprinting at the Tirreno last week.
“Cancellara also seemed to be coming into form. He kept well hidden at Tirreno but he could be there in the finale and ready to give it a go on the flat road before the finish.”
Pozzato believes this year Cavendish was truly suffering at Tirreno, and added: “You don’t need to be 100 percent to win Milan-San Remo, especially if you’re as fast as Cavendish but even so, I don’t think he’ll be a threat this year.”
Cancellara, of Saxo Bank, will return to the race for the first time since he powered away from a small group in the final two kilometres in 2008 to end Switzerland’s 21-year wait for a win.
Boasson Hagen, of Team Sky, won the last stage at Tirreno and despite San Remo being considerably longer his teammate Michael Barry is confident: “It’s a race we can win and we are going there with a plan to do just that.
“Edvald is in great form and we will ride for him.”
Cavendish’s sports director Brian Holm at Team Columbia, meanwhile, says he won’t be ruling the Briton out.
“I think his chances are more or less the same as last year,” he said.
“He surprised everyone last year and in some ways it looked too easy. We know it’s going to be difficult, but we’ll give it a try.
“I do truly believe he can do it again.”
Photo by: CorVos Pro
Martens will Freire zum dritten ´Classicissima´-Sieg verhelfen
March 19th, 2010
Louder, Bookwalter and Hincapie on Milan-San Remo team
March 17th, 2010
Reigning world champion Cadel Evans has been left off his BMC team’s roster for Saturday’s Milan-San Remo, the first one-day classic of the season.
Evans showed his early season form by finishing third overall Sunday in Italy’s Tirreno-Adriatico.
However BMC will be led by Italian Alessandro Ballan, who preceded Evans as world champion in 2008, with American George Hincapie, Dutchman Karsten Kroon and German Marcus Burghardt expected to play key roles. Americans Jeff Louder and Brent Bookwalter also will start.
BMC for Milan-San Remo:
Alessandro Ballan, Brent Bookwalter, Marcus Burghardt, George Hincapie, Karsten Kroon, Jeff Louder, Michael Schaer, Danilo Wyss.
Ballan, But No Evans For Milan-SanRemo
March 17th, 2010
PARIS, March 17, 2010 (AFP) – Reigning world champion Cadel Evans has been left off his BMC team’s roster for Saturday’s Milan-San Remo, the first one-day classic of the season.
Evans, a two-time runner-up on the Tour de France, showed his early season form by finishing third overall Sunday in Italy’s Tirreno-Adriatico stage race.
However BMC will be led by Italian Alessandro Ballan, who preceded Evans as world champion in 2008, with American George Hincapie, Dutchman Karsten Kroon and German Marcus Burghardt expected to play key roles.
At nearly 300km long, Milan-SanRemo is known as one of cycling’s five one-day ‘Monuments’ alongside the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and the Tour of Lombardy.
BMC team for Milan-SanRemo:
Alessandro Ballan (ITA), Brent Bookwalter (USA), Marcus Burghardt (GER), George Hincapie (USA), Karsten Kroon (NED), Jeff Louder (USA), Michael Schaer (SUI), Danilo Wyss (SUI).
Sanchez leidt World Ranking
March 17th, 2010
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