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RACE REPORTS: THE VANDEMAN CAN! VANDEVELDE WINS TOUR OF MISSOURI
Road Bike Action
September 14, 2008
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Team Columbia came to Missouri with the strongest team the US circuit has seen all year, with super-sprinter Mark Cavendish, TT titan Mick Rogers and strongman George Hincapie. Out of seven stages, Columbia won took four, with three for Cavendish and Canadian Michael Barry grabbed one. Despite this domination,
it was Garmin-Chipotle rider Christian Vandevelde that took home the overall victory with a brilliant TT win
Branson.
Columbia launched Cavendish to sprint wins in Stages One and Two. It was in the stage three-time trial that Vande Velde took control of the race. Vande Velde took the victory by 21-seconds over Michael Rogers in the 18-mile TT around the country music town of Branson.
In stage four it was back to Team Columbia but this time it was Michael Barry who took an impressive solo win in the 95-mile stage. Stage five saw Rabobank rider Boy Van Poppel take a surprise win over his teammate with a tired Cavendish back in fourth. Stage six saw the return of Cavendish as he avenged his stage five loss with a powerful sprint to victory.
On Sunday’s final stage the remnants of Hurricane Ike caused portions of the course in downtown St. Louis to be closed. This left the riders with five laps on a 10.5-mile circuit. A breakaway of Kirk O’Bee and Jeremy Powers animated most of the race, but again the Columbia team showed their strength and set the sprint up for Cavendish but Francesco Chicchi (Liguigas) had other plans and out kicked the young Columbia rider to the line. Vandevelde finished safely in the group and maintained his lead over Rogers for his biggest career win.
Tour of Missouri / Final General Classification
1 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team Garmin-Chipotle
2 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team Columbia
3 Svein Tuft (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
4 George Hincapie (USA) Team Columbia
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