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RACE REPORTS: ENECO TOUR: CHAVANEL STORMS TO PROLOGUE VICTORY
Road Bike Action & AFP
August 18, 2009
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(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
French rider Sylvain Chavanel of the Quick Step team took the leader's jersey after winning the prologue of the seven-stage Eneco Tour ProTour cycling race being held in the Netherlands and Belgium. Chavanel covered the 4.4km in 4min 55sec to finish one second ahead of American Tyler Farrar, winner Sunday of Hamburg's Cyclassics, with Belgian rider Tom Boonen in third a further second back.
"It was a quick race, not very difficult, not too technical. I had a good feeling, so I was able to demonstrate my power," explained 30-year-old Chavanel. "It's my first time competing in the Eneco Tour. I'm going to try and stay focused throughout the week to live up to my team's ambitions," he said. "The aim is obviously the overall victory. I haven't taken my foot off the pedal since the Tour de France. I'm continuing to train well - I'm in form."
Two-time defending champion Jose Ivan Gutierrez of Spain finished ten seconds behind Chavanel while Britain's Bradley Wiggins, fourth in the Tour de France and one of the race favourites, finished fourth at two seconds. Wednesday's 184km first stage which runs between Aalter and Ardooie in Belgium will favor the sprinters.
Eneco Tour
Prologue, 4.4km
1. Sylvain Chavanel (Fra/ Quick Step) 0:04:55
2. Tyler Farrar (USA/Garmin-Slipstream) @ .01
3. Tom Boonen (Bel/Quick Step) @ s.t.
4. Bradley Wiggins (GBr/Garmin-Slipstream) @ .02
5. Joost Posthuma (Ned/Rabobank) @ s.t.
6. Vincenzo Nibali (Ita/Liquigas) @ .04
7. Juan Antonio Flecha (Spa/Rabobank) @ s.t.
8. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor/Team Columbia-HTC) @ .05
9. Maarten Tjallingii (Ned/Rabobank) @ s.t.
10. Nikolas Maes (Bel/Topsport Vlaanderen) s.t.
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