[Spunout]

Another great finish. Almost Asta, definitely Valverde. CSC always in shape, all of the time for 3rd and 4th.

 

[Argentius]

Wow. I raelly think Valverde is the next big thing.

What's with the Spaniards suddenly hopping all over the Fleche? They're not known for their classics, but, ever since Astarloa won this one in '03, somehow it's been dif.

This year, it's a Spanish 1-2, not to mention 7,8 and 15,16,18. 4 riders of the top 10, 7 of the top 20. And one of them is IBAN MAYO. I know 16th is nothing to shout about, but that guy hasn't given anyone ANYTHING to shout about, 'specially out of spain, fer a while now...

 

[Francis Cebedo]

Wow! Great results list here. Sooo many players. Even my friend Voeckler is there. Looks like an uphill finish.

<img src="https://www.letour.fr/stf/fwh/2005/images/profil.gif">

Results - 202 km


1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 4.42.45 (42.865 km/h)
2 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
3 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team CSC
4 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC
5 Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) T-Mobile Team 0.03
6 Danilo Di Luca (Ita) Liquigas 0.05
7 David Etxebarria (Spa) Liberty Seguros-Würth Team 0.07
8 Koldo Gil Perez (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 0.10
9 Serguei Ivanov (Rus) T-Mobile Team 0.12
10 Matthias Kessler (Ger) T-Mobile Team 0.14
11 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner 0.16
12 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step-Innergetic
13 Benoit Salmon (Fra) Agritubel 0.23
14 Eddy Mazzoleni (Ita) T-Mobile Team 0.24
15 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Saunier Duval-Prodir 0.26
16 Igor Astarloa (Spa) Barloworld
17 Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Team Milram 0.29
18 Iban Mayo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
19 Christopher Horner (USA) Davitamon-Lotto
20 Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team 0.31
21 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française des Jeux 0.32
22 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 0.34
23 Francisco Mancebo (Spa) AG2R Prevoyance
24 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank
25 Ruggero Marzoli (Ita) Lampre-Fondital 0.36</pre>

 

[terzo rene]

Valverde definitely has a few more fast twitch fibers than most. No matter how hard he has to push into the run up to the finish he always seems to have that extra burst in reserve.

 

[euro-trash]

Looks like an uphill finish.

That's the understatement of a lifetime.

 

[cadence90]

Huy Huy Huy Huy Huy

Looks like an uphill finish.

That's not an uphill finish...it's a d*mn*d cliff!!!!
(The last is not this years' pic, but the gradient hasn't changed one bit.)
.

.

.

 

[atpjunkie]

perfect finish for Valverde.

I thought he'd be a contender in Amstel but he clearly showed this is his kind of finish. He'll be a threat at L-B-L as well. Schelck continues to impress, Bjarne has a winner there.

 

[Francis Cebedo]

That's the understatement of a lifetime.

You call that a hill?

There should be more one day races like this. A lot more!!

It's kind of nice to see the modern grand tour riders and the climbers to have a shot at the win.

francois

 

[svend]

1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 4.42.45 (42.865 km/h)
2 Samuel Sanchez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
3 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team CSC
4 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team CSC
5 Patrik Sinkewitz (Ger) T-Mobile Team 0.03

Well I was close.....CSC is again the best team out there........consistency consistency consistency

 

[atpjunkie]

that older (2001) pic of the Muur (last photo)

was I the only one who noticed Boogered again glued to Bettini's wheel?

 

[cadence90]

Why else post it?

was I the only one who noticed Boogered again glued to Bettini's wheel?

Heh heh...

I would think Bogart would be completely fluent in Italian, after all these years of locking on, but I doubt il Grillo has much to say to him....

 

[rcnute]

Don't forget Nicole Cooke.

 

[fastfullback]

Alejandro sure is a talent, isn't he? And note the small always-tan Italian finishing just outside the top 5... Danilo seems to be ramping up well for the Giro.

I kinda dig that kit Alejandro's wearing. Looks like it will be hot in July, though. Incentive to win your national championship and get a lighter-colored jersey.

 

[mquetel]

Great race, very exciting last 20km or so... and I am really pleased about the coverage we are getting from cycling.tv

On a related note, did anyone notice the race wrap up on cyclingnews.com where they called this Valverde's biggest career win, so far? I would have thought that a mountain top stage win in the Tour would be considered more valuable... I guess it all depends on what you consider biggest.

 

[atpjunkie]

well one thing is for sure

Heh heh...

I would think Bogart would be completely fluent in Italian, after all these years of locking on, but I doubt il Grillo has much to say to him....

I'm sure Boogered knows the musculature of the back of Paolo's legs and a$$ probably better than Mrs Bettini.

 

[euro-trash]

they called this Valverde's biggest career win, so far? I would have thought that a mountain top stage win in the Tour would be considered more valuable... I guess it all depends on what you consider biggest.

I definately think this is up to interpretation. I'd consider today bigger than a tour stage (even a mountain one), but I can certainly understand those that differ. The mountain stage probably showed more of his talent, meaning he confirmed he can climb well enough to be a threat in a grand tour someday, but in prestige, I would say today is bigger (but I'm biased to the classics).

 

[terzo rene]

Great race, very exciting last 20km or so... and I am really pleased about the coverage we are getting from cycling.tv

On a related note, did anyone notice the race wrap up on cyclingnews.com where they called this Valverde's biggest career win, so far? I would have thought that a mountain top stage win in the Tour would be considered more valuable... I guess it all depends on what you consider biggest.

In an interview yesterday Alejandro said the Tour stage was bigger, so it was the reporter's spin not his. Also said he was now really motivated for Liege.