Preview: Tour de Luxembourg
31 May 2009
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The five-day Tour de Luxembourg welcomes an international field of riders to its stage race, including home stars, brothers Fränk and Andy Schleck. The race starts Wednesday in the country's capital of Luxembourg City.
Riders face a 2.7-kilometre prologue on the first day. The next four days consist of road stages from 148 to 188 kilometres in distance.
Fränk and Andy Schleck will lead a strong Saxo Bank squad that also includes Fabian Cancellara and Stuart O'Grady. Andreas Klöden, winner of the Giro del Trentino, will lead locally registered team Astana.
There are a total of 15 teams participating: Astana, Bbox Bouygues, Cofidis, Euskaltel, Katusha, Saxo Bank, Agritubel, Barloworld, CSF, ISD, Landbouwkrediet, Skil, Vacansoleil, Vorarlberg and CT Differdange.
Last year's winner Joost Posthuma is unable his title as team Rabobank is not racing.
Tour de Luxembourg 2008
Prologue:
As expected, CSC's Fabian Cancellara was the fastest in the prologue of the Tour of Luxembourg. The world time trial champion needed only 3'38" to cover the 2.4 km in Luxembourg city. He also took the leader's jersey on a difficult city course that was mostly on cobblestones and included a 300 meter climb with a 25% gradient.
The race organiszers took advantage of the long summer daylight, with the first rider took the start at 19:17, and defending champion Gregory Rast (Astana) not leaving until 21:00. Dirk Bellemakers of Landbouwkrediet set an early best time of 4 minutes flat. He was soon topped by Jimmy Engoulvent of Credit Agricole, who came in at 3'43". The French rider's time held until the world champion took the course. Third place on the stage went to Harald Starzengruber of Team Elk Haus.
1 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC 3.38
2 Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Credit Agricole 0.05
3 Haral Starzengruber (Aut) Elkhaus - Simplon 0.12
4 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas
5 Kevin Ista (Bel) Agritubel
Stage 2:
J.J. Haedo of Team CSC won the mass sprint of the first stage in the Tour of Luxembourg, ahead of Romain Feillu (Agritubel) and Borut Bozic of Cycle Collstrop. Heado's team-mate Fabian Cancellara held on to the leader's jersey.
Claude Wolter of Team CC Differdange and Cyrille Lemoine (Credit Agricole) attacked after 10 kilometres and built up a lead of over four minutes before being caught by the peloton shortly before the finish. There were many further attempted attacks, but CSC held things together in the last few kilometres to set up the mass sprint.
1 Juan Jose Haedo (Arg) Team CSC 4.34.59 (38.66 km/h)
2 Romain Feillu (Fra) Agritubel
3 Borut Bozic (Slo) Cycle Collstrop
4 Tom Leezer (Ned) Rabobank
5 Mattia Gavazzi (Ita) Preti Mangi
Stage 3:
1 Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) Credit Agricole 4.56.40 (39.84 km/h)
2 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Cycle Collstrop
3 Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Credit Agricole
4 Romain Feillu (Fra) Agritubel
5 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC
Stage 4:
Michael Albasini of Team Liquigas won a two-man sprint to take the second stage of the Tour du Luxembourg, while his breakaway companion Joost Posthuma of Team Rabobank took over the leader's jersey. Team CSC's Fraank Schleck was third on the day.
Halfway through the stage, an 18 rider strong escape group formed. Further breaks out of this group went on until the final climb, when Albasini and Posthuma took off. Schleck was 13 seconds behind them, and the next riders came in at less than a minuted down, with the rest coming in from nearly four minutes to 20 minutes for the gruppetto.
Posthuma now leads Albasini in the overall by one second, with Schleck 18 seconds down. The final winner is expected to come from this threesome. The previous leader, Swiss Fabian Cancellara, dropped to 24th overall.
Rabobank Directeur Sportif Erik Dekker refused to start celebrating, saying, "We have not won the stage, and we have not won the general classification either. The track of tomorrow is a difficult one."
1 Michael Albasini (Swi) Liquigas 4.28.03
2 Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank
3 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 0.13
4 Jos Pimenta Costa M (Por) Benfica 0.52
5 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Rabobank
Stage 5:
Salvatore Commesso of Team Preti Mangimi won the final stage of the Tour du Luxembourg in an escape group, and Rabobank's Joost Posthuma held on to his one-second lead over Michael Albasini of Liquigas to take the overall win. CSC's Fränk Schleck was third overall. The 33 year-old Commesso, who rides for a Professional Continental team based in Luxembourg, was part of a fourteen man escape group which finished nearly three minutes ahead of the following peloton.
Earlier there was another escape gorup which had contained CSC's Andy Schleck and Rabobank's Laurens Ten Dam. That group had up to a three minute lead, which gave Ten Dams the "virtual" race ;ead. However, Credit Agricole led the chase to capture the group. "It was a remarkable situation," said Rabobank Directeur Sportif Erik Dekker. "Without having to do any lead work, everyone came back together, after which the fourteen broke away. Perhaps Frank Schleck was the best in this tour, but the best rider does not always win," he noted.
1 Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Preti Mangi 3.36.43 (42.72 km/h)
2 Sergey Rudaskov (Rus) Cycle Collstrop 0.07
3 Dana Andonov Petrov (Bul) Benfica
4 Benoit Joachim (Lux) Astana 0.10
5 Gorazd Stangelj (Slo) Liquigas
Final General classification
1 Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank 17.43.02
2 Michael Albasini (Swi) Liquigas 0.01
3 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 0.18
4 Ignatas Konovalovas (Ltu) Credit Agricole 0.54
5 Assan Bazayev (Kaz) Astana 0.56
6 Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Rabobank 1.00
7 Thomas Rohregger (Aut) Elkhaus - Simplon 1.08
8 Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Cycle Collstrop 1.09
9 Jos Pimenta Costa M (Por) Benfica 1.10
10 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas 1.29
11 Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Preti Mangi 2.00
12 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank 2.02
13 Sergey Rudaskov (Rus) Cycle Collstrop 2.16
14 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Team CSC 3.16
15 Borut Bozic (Slo) Cycle Collstrop 4.53
16 Nico Sijmens (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Tönissteiner 4.56
17 Cyril Lemoine (Fra) Credit Agricole 4.58
18 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Credit Agricole 5.06
19 Clement Lhotellerie (Fra) Skil - Shimano 5.07
20 Kalle Kriit (Est) Mitsubishi-Jartazi 5.23
21 José Azevedo (Por) Benfica 5.54
22 Emilien Ben Berges (Fra) Agritubel 11.47
23 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 15.05
24 Dana Andonov Petrov (Bul) Benfica 17.23
25 Benoit Joachim (Lux) Astana 17.25
26 Koen De Kort (Ned) Astana 17.31
27 Gorazd Stangelj (Slo) Liquigas 17.32
28 Hannes Blank (Ger) CC Differdange 18.13
29 Jan Valach (Svk) Elkhaus - Simplon 19.14
30 Jav Benitez Pomares (Spa) Benfica 20.06
Past winners
2008 Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank
2007 Grégory Rast (Swi) Astana
2006 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Team CSC
2005 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Credit Agricole
2004 Maxime Monfort (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Colnago
2003 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Brioches La Boulangère
2002 Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Team Fakta
2001 Jorgen Bo Petersen (Den) Team Fakta
2000 Alberto Elli (Ita) Telekom
1999 Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank
1998 Lance Armstrong (USA) US Postal Service
1997 Frank Vandenbroucke (Bel)
1996 Alberto Elli (Ita)
1995 Rolf Järmann (Swi)
1994 Frans Maassen (Ned)
1993 Maximilian Sciandri (Ita)
1992 Jean-Philippe Dojwa (Fra)
1991 Gert-Jan Theunisse (Ned)
1990 Christophe Lavainne (Fra)
1989 Michel Cornelisse (Ned)
1988 Richard Trinkler (Swi)
1987 Sören Lilnedt (Den)
1986 Steven Rooks (Ned)
1985 Jelle Nijdam (Ned)
1984 Christophe Lavainne (Fra)
1983 Lucien Didier (Lux)
1982 Bernard Hinault (Fra)
1981 Youri Barinov (Rus)
1980 Bert Oosterbosch (Ned)
1979 Lucien Didier (Lux)
1978 Ludo Peeters (Bel)
1977 Bert Pronk (Ned)
1976 Frans Verbeeck (Bel)
1975 Frans Verbeeck (Bel)
1974 Freddy Maertens (Bel)
1973 Sylvain Vasseur (Fra)
1972 Roger Rosiers (Bel)
1971 Andre Diericks (Bel)
1970 Edy Schutz (Lux)
1969 David Boifava (Ita)
1968 Edy Schutz (Lux)
1967 Frans Brands (Bel)
1966 Edy Schutz (Lux)
1965 Vincent Denson (GB)
1964 Arie den Hartog (Ned)
1963 Yvon Molenaers (Bel)
1962 Jeff Plankaert (Bel)
1961 Charly Gaul (Lux)
1960 Marcel Ernzer (Lux)
1959 Charly Gaul (Lux)
1958 Jempy Schmitz (Lux)
1957 Gerard Saint (Fra)
1956 Charly gaul (Lux)
1955 Louison Bobet (Fra)
1954 Jempy Schmitz (Lux)
1953 Robert van den Stock (Bel)
1952 Jean Kirchen (Lux)
1951 Marcel Ernzer (Lux)
1950 Isidore de Ryck (Bel)
1949 Bim Diederich (Lux)
1948 Jean Goldschmit (Lux)
1947 Mett Clemens (Lux)
1946 Brik Schotte (Bel)
1939 Mett Clemens (Lux)
1938 Lucien Vlaeminck (Bel)
1937 Mett Clemens (Lux)
1936 Mett Clemens (Lux)
1935 Mett Clemens (Lux)
Startlist
ASTANA
1 RAST Grégory
2 IGLINSKIY Maxim
3 KLÖDEN Andreas
4 KUPESHOV Berik
5 MURAVYEV Dmitriy
6 RAIMBEKOV Bolat
7 DMITRIYEV Valeriy
8 SCHÄR Michael
BBOX BOUYGUES TELECOM
11 BOUYER Franck
12 CLAUDE Mathieu
13 GAUDIN Damien
14 JEROME Vincent
15 LABBE Arnaud
16 MARTIAS Rony
17 QUEMENEUR Perrig
18 TURGOT Sébastien
COFIDIS, LE CREDIT EN LIGNE
21 TAARAMAE Rein
22 BLAIN Alexandre
23 BLOT Guillaume
24 BRARD Florent
25 MONIER Damien
26 PORTAL Sébastien
27 SIJMENS Nico
28 VILLA Romain
EUSKATEL - EUSKADI
31 TXURRUKA Amets
32 GALDOS Aitor
33 URTASUN Pablo
34 PEREZ Ruben
35 IRIZAR Markel
36 VELASCO Ivan
37 HERNANDEZ Aitor
38 AGIRRE Josu
TEAM KATUSHA
41 DEHAES Kenny
42 HORRACH Joan
43 MARKOV Alexei
44 MIKHAILOV Guennadi
45 NAPOLITANO Danilo
46 ROVNY Yvan
47 VANTOMME Maxime
48 GALIMZYANOV Denis
TEAM SAXO BANK
51 SCHLECK Andy
52 SORENSEN Chris Anker
53 SCHLECK Fränk
54 LARSSON Gustav
55 SORENSEN Nicki
56 O´GRADY Stuart
57 BRESCHEL Matti
58 ARVESEN Kurt
AGRITUBEL
61 FEILLU Romain
62 BERGES Emilien Benoit
63 CAETHOVEN Steven
64 CUSIN Rémi
65 JALABERT Nicolas
66 LEBOULANGER Yoann
67 LEQUATRE Geoffroy
68 RAVARD Anthony
BARLOWORLD
71 BELLOTTI Francesco
72 CACCIA Diego
73 CALCAGNI Patrick
74 CORTI Marco
75 CUMMINGS Stephen
76 MERLO Michele
77 SCOGNAMIGLIO Carlo
78 THOMAS Geraint
CSF GROUP - NAVIGARE
81 CANUTI FEDERICO
82 DALL'ANTONIA Tiziano
83 FRAPPORTI MARCO
84 FINETTO MAURO
85 MARANGONI ALAN
86 POZZOVIVO Domenico
87 RICHEZE Mauro
88 SAVINI Filippo
ISD - NERI
91 KOSTYUK Denys
92 PIDGORNYY Ruslan
93 ABAKOUMOV Igor
94 KVACHUK Oleksandr
95 KONDRUT Vitalyy
96 VONA Emanuele
97 MIRENDA Gianluca
98 BELKOV Maxim
LANDBOUWKREDIET - COLNAGO
101 AMORISON Frédéric
102 BELLEMAKERS Dirk
103 DELFOSSE Sébastine
104 DROUILLY Mathieu
105 GOURGUE Benjamin
106 PEETERS Rob
107 RICCI POGGI Martial
108 VERHEYEN David
SKIL - SHIMANO
111 DOCKER Mitchell
112 DE KORT Koen
113 ELTINK Theo
114 HIVERT Jonathan
115 HOUANARD Steve
116 VEELERS Tom
117 DOI Yukihiro
118 DE BACKER Bert
VACANSOLEIL PRO CYCLING TEAM
121 BOZIC Borut
122 CARRARA Matteo
123 COOKE Baden
124 LAGUTIN Sergey
125 LEUKEMANS Bjorn
126 LHOTELLERIE Clement
127 LOWIK Gerben
128 MARCATO Marco
VORALRBERG - CORRATEC
131 VANHUFFEL Wim
132 MUSIOL Daniel
133 HOLLENSTEIN Reto
134 HASELBACHER Rene
135 LUDESCHER Philipp
136 GUFLER Alexander
137 BENETSEDER Josef
138 ACKERMANN Silvere
CT DIFFERDANGE
141 BLANK Hannes
142 CAPELLE Ludovic
143 DRUCKER Jempy
144 JOHANSSON Fredrik
145 NILSSON Hakan
146 RETSCHKE Robert
147 POOS Christian
148 HEYMANS Cyrille
Stage 2: Luxembourg - Mondorf-les-Bains
Stage 3: Schifflange - Differdange
Stage 5: Mersch - Luxembourg
Source: Cyclingnews.com
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