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LATEST NEWS: SCHLECK AIMS FOR YELLOW
Road Bike Action & AFP
June 20, 2010
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(Photo: Roberto Bettini)
Schleck Aims For Yellow
Frank Schleck said his Tour of Switzerland victory Sunday has given him an extra boost as he prepares to go one better than his two consecutive top-five finishes in the Tour de France. Schleck's younger brother Andy, the Tour de France runner-up to Alberto Contador in 2009, will shoulder Saxo Bank's main yellow jersey hopes at the July 3-25 epic. However Schleck is brimming with confidence himself after his 13th place finish in Sunday's 26.9km time-trial gave him a 12-sec overall lead on Lance Armstrong, and the Tour of Switzerland crown.
"It certainly gives me confidence going into the Tour de France," said Schleck, who has won two mountain stages on the Tour de France in recent years. (My brother) Andy also went very hard and attacked very, very hard in the sixth stage. We are going to be there for the Tour de France to challenge the best in the world."
The 30-year-old, who won stage three of the race earlier in the week, admitted he was surprised to win the Tour of Switzerland on the basis of a time-trial but said it was all part of his plan to tackle the world's most famous bike race.
"I am not a time-trial specialist but Andy and I have been training for them this year. Today there was no pressure, I just wanted to do a good time-trial as preparation for the Tour de France and it worked well."
Schleck overturned the overall lead of Dutchman Robert Gesink who, after losing over two minutes in the race against the clock, could only finish fifth overall. But he insisted that the 24-year-old Rabobank rider will be one to watch when the Tour gets underway.
"Robert has made a lot of progress in time-trials. This morning I thought he was going to win the Tour of Switzerland," said Schleck. "He is one of the riders I most admire because he really works hard. He is a serious candidate for the Tour de France."
Another serious contender is RadioShack's Lance Armstrong, who put in a strong time-trial to finish 12 seconds behind Schleck in second place. But Schleck did not dwell on the seven-time Tour de France winner's timely return to form. "There isn't a great deal to say about Lance. He has talent in every department," he said.
The Tour de France begins in Rotterdam on July 3 and ends in Paris on July 25.
 Moncoutie is the first French winner of the Route du Sud since Thomas Voeckler in 2006 (Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)
France's David Moncoutie of Cofidis won the Route du Sud cycling race here on Sunday after the third and final stage, which was won by Australian Mitchell Docker. Skil rider Docker crossed first after the 189.3km ride from Lavour to Castres, which was marked by several accidents.
Moncoutie, 35, had taken the leader's jersey after Saturday's mountain time-trial in the Pyrenees. The peloton faced three tough climbs on the final stage, including the category one Pas de Sant. It proved too much for 20 riders who abandoned. A 12-man breakaway escaped from the peloton with 10 going on to the final sprint, which saw 24-year-old Docker just stealing it from the French pair of Sebastien Duret (Bretagne-Schuller) and Johan Mombaerts (Big-mat Auber).
Moncoutie finished 14 seconds behind to retain his 10-second lead over Frenchman Alexandre Geniez (Skil) and his 31-second advantage over Italian Fortunato Baliani (Miche). Last year's winner, the Pole Przemyslaw Niemec (Miche Silver Cross) finished fifth. Moncoutie is the first French winner here since Thomas Voeckler in 2006.
 Hansen at Paris-Roubaix in April (Photo: Yuzuru Sunada)
Hansen Wins Ster Elektrotoer
Australian time-trial specialist Adam Hansen of HTC-Columbia claimed the first stage race victory of his career on Sunday at the Ster Elektrotoer in Holland. Hansen took the race lead after winning Saturday's hilly second stage and managed to defend his lead by finishing safely in the pack in Sunday's final stage held over 174km from Arcen to Helmond.
Team sports director Tristan Hoffman, a former winner in 1991 when the race was known as the Teleflex Tour, said Hansen had ridden his way into contention as the race went on. "Adam said he specifically wanted to ride this race rather than doing the Tour of Switzerland, and he certainly made a good choice," said Hoffman. "After doing so well on Saturday's stage, he became the team leader for the race, and he gave it everything he could to make sure he could win." |
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