BiciRace.com :: 2006 Vattenfall Cyclassics

2006 Vattenfall Cyclassics, Preview

Vattenfall Cyclassics, Germany

30 July, 243.2K

A Race for the Hard Sprinter

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2005 Results

Paolini (left) with 2005 Winner Pippo Pozzato, photo: Capture- The-Peloton.com

Sunday initiates the return of the big one day races with the running of the Hamburg Cyclassics. The 11th edition of the German race, this year known as the Vattenfall Cyclassics, is not as famed as the Classics Paris-Tours or Giro di Lombardia but still makes a nice win to your palmarès.

Last year it was a Quick-Step one-two, when Filippo Pozzato and Luca Paolini combined their forces to upset the small finishing group. This year the duo will return but on separate teams. Paolini is now with Liquigas and Pippo near the end of his contract with Quick-Step. Pippo, winner of Milano-Sanremo, might just carry over his strength gained in the Tour de France and become the only rider to ever pull off a Hamburg double.

Ballan, fresh from Tour, photo: Makoto.Ayano/ CyclingTime.com

Organizers are staying with last year's format, including four passes of the Waseberg in the closing circuits. The climb, 600 meters long and touching 19% gradient, will break the spirit of all but the toughest sprinters.

Alessandro Ballan, Paolo Bettini and Filippo Pozzato are the big names being touted around the BiciRace.com headquarters. Both Pozzato and Ballan are coming off of three weeks in France, while Bettini is coming off a months rest. Il Grillo Livornese, forcing the cooperation of Pippo, might take his first win in his new Maglia Tricolore. Ballan of Lampre-Fondital, if he finds the right winning move, can crush his rivals in a sprint from a small bunch. Also, don't count out the likes of Cristian Moreni (Cofidis) and Juan Antonio Flecha (Rabobank).

Parcours

Heat and distance will come into play. Sunday in Hamburg, like the rest of Europe, is predicted to be a scorcher; this combined with 243 kilometers will make for a worthy winner.

Past Winners:
2005 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Quick-Step
2004 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Cofidis
2003 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step-Davitamon
2002 Johan Museeuw (Bel) Domo-Farm Frites
2001 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom
2000 Gabriele Missaglia (Ita) Lampre-Daikin
1999 Mirko Celestino (Ita) Team Polti
1998 Leon Van Bon (Ned) Rabobank
1997 Jan Ullrich (Ger) Telekom
1996 Rossano Brasi (Ita) Team Polti