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RACE REPORTS: 63RD TOUR DE ROMANDIE STAGE 4: KREUZIGER CLIMBS TO OVERALL LEAD
Road Bike Action
May 2, 2009
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Kreuziger is now the overall leader by 18-seconds over Vladimir Karpets
(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) rode into the overall lead of the Tour de Romandie with a dominating ride in mountainous fourth stage to Sainte-Croix. Kreuziger was part of a four-man leading group that rode clear of a shattered peloton on the day's final climb.
Kreuziger jumped away from Estonian Rein Taaramae (Cofidis) and Vladimir Karpets (Katusha) in the final kilometers in effort to take a solo victory. In the final kilometer Kreuziger had a slight gap on Taaramae and Karpets, before Taaramae made a last ditch effort to catch Kreuziger. He managed to bridge up to Kreuziger but had nothing left for the charge to the line. Karpets came in for third 7-seconds back, while Fredrik Kessiakoff (Fuji-Servetto) came in fourth. Kreuziger's efforts earned him a slim lead in the overall classification, where he now sits 18-seconds ahead of Karpets, and 25 ahead of Taaramae.
Overnight leader Frantisek Rabon (Team Columbia-Highroad) struggled in the cold, rainy conditions and was dropped early on second category one climb. He would finish the day in 79th place overall over 21-minutes down.
63rd Tour de Romandie
April 28-May 3, 2009
Stage 4: May 2, Estavayer-le-Lac - Sainte-Croix, 157.5km
1. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 4.11.44 (37.587 km/h)
2. Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne
3. Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Team Katusha @ 0.07
4. Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) Fuji-Servetto @ 0.17
5. Mikel Astarloza (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi @ 0.45
6. Rémy Di Gregorio (Fra) Française Des Jeux @ 0.51
7. Dario Cataldo (Ita) Quick Step @ s.t.
8. Mathias Frank (Swi) BMC Racing Team
9. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
10. Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence-Lotto
General classification after stage 4
1. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 10.50.25
2. Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Team Katusha @ 0.18
3. Rein Taaramae (Est) Cofidis, Le Credit En Ligne @ 0.25
4. Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne @ 0.46
5. Rigoberto Uran (Col) Caisse d'Epargne @ 0.48
6. Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team Saxo Bank @ 1.01
7. Cadel Evans (Aus) Silence-Lotto @ 1.07
8. Tony Martin (Ger) Team Columbia – Highroad @ 1.08
9. Fredrik Kessiakoff (Swe) Fuji-Servetto @ 1.16
10. Kanstantsin Siutsou (Blr) Team Columbia - Highroad @ 1.21
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