BiciRace.com :: 2006 Vattenfall Cyclassics

2006 Vattenfall Cyclassics, Report

Vattenfall Cyclassics, Germany

30 July, 243.2K

Classical Freire in Hamburg

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Freire outsprints Zabel and Pozzato, photo: www.ciclismovitamia.it

Oscar Freire (Rabobank) edged-out Zabel and Pozzato to win the 11th Hamburg Cyclassics. It was a classical finish for the 30 year-old Spaniard, who formed part of a small group after the final ascent of the Waseberg with 15K remaining. Freire, with two stage wins in the 2006 Tour de France, will have a nice gift to bring home to his wife and their newly born child.

It was a warm day for the peloton in Hamburg. In the first one-day ProTour race since April the riders covered a 243K parcours. The race started with a big 150K loop but the kicker would be the final two 42K circuits. Each circuit contained two ascents of the Waseberg, a 600m long climb with sections touching 19% gradient. The final ascent left the riders with -16K to the finish in Mönckerbergstrasse.

Bodrogi in early escape, photo: Capture- The-Peloton.com

An early breakaway sparked the day. Three riders, Laszlo Bodrogi (Crédit Agricole), Dario Andriotto (Liquigas) and Corey Sweet (Wiesenhof-Akud), went free at the 40K marker. The trio gained up to 13 minutes but was brought back down to 9 minutes by 120K. Matters got worse when Andriotto collided with the TV motorbike. The Italian got back on his bike but could not rejoin his Aussie and Hungarian companions.

The Waseberg appeared four times, at kilometer 108.6, 173.6, 215.5 and 227.5. The climb was doing the damage to the duo up the road, while behind the German squadras of Gerolsteiner, T-Mobile and Milram were whipping the pace to cut the gap to zero for an eventual reshuffling.

With 60K remaining, just after the second of four ascents of the Waseberg, the day was over for Bodrogi and Sweet. Counter-attacks were going left and right but none were allowed any significant freedom. The riders passed the finishing town of Mönckerbergstrasse at -52K and BiciRace.com was impressed by last year's winner, Pippo Pozzato. The Italian was pedaling oh so smooth and looked ready for a repeat.

Racing along the river Elbe, towards the third ascent of Waseberg, a rider gained some space. From the Lampre-Fondital-led peloton jumped Philippe Gilbert (Française Des Jeux). The Belgian, winner of a stage in the Dauphiné Libéré, worked himself a respectable gap by the top of Waseberg. The only thing Gilbert needed was reinforcement, and that came from Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner).

Final podium, photo: www.ciclismovitamia.it

The Belgian hesitated enough for Wegmann to close the gap. The duo maintained a half-minute advantage, not a whole lot, heading towards the final ascent of Waseberg. Behind all hell was breaking loose.

Riders attempted to jam free of the peloton before the top of the day's final peak; trying to avoid a sprint show down. Alessandro Ballan (Lampre-Fondital) launched a move towards the summit that pulled free small escape. Sweeping up the front duo, the escape looked like it could work. The riders, after Ballan departed, were Davide Rebellin, Andrea Moletta (Gerolsteiner), Luca Paolini (Liquigas), Mirko Celestino (Milram), Giuliano Figueras (Lampre-Fondital) and Manuele Mori (Saunier Duval-Prodir).

Paolo Bettini, photo: www.ciclismovitamia.it

Alexander Vinokourov, full of piss and vinegar after his Tour dismissal, was expected to show for newly formed Astaná-Würth. Instead it was his younger side-kick, Andrey Kashechkin. Six-man escape caught, "Kash" was firing off some missiles in an attempt to break the hold of the gruppo before reaching the streets of Mönckerbergstrasse.

Freire, working for his win, quickly marked the young gun. Kash under control, the drive was mainly led by Quick-Step. Last year's winner, Pippo, was helping Tankink and Tosatto to setup for their Italian Champion Paolo Bettini. Rabo, Milram and Lampre also added their muscle; Ballan turned his services over to Figueras, Rabo helping Tour double stage winner, Freire, and il Treno Milram for Zabel.

German Zabel launched a huge sprint that was upset by Wegmann, who had hung in the lead gruppo. Wegmann made contact with Freire but it was not enough to stop the Spaniard. Freire spoiled a possible home win for Zabel by edging past in the final meters. Instead of Bettini for Quick-Step, it was last year's winner, Pippo, locking-in third.

Hamburg winner Freire, photo: www.ciclismovitamia.it

The Spaniard became a father for the first time two weeks ago, 16 July, when his wife, Laura, gave birth to baby Marcos in Switzerland. Hamburg proved a nice victory for Oscar, Laura and young Marcos. Bravo Oscarito!

Results: 5:30'02", 44.212 K/h
1 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank
2 Erik Zabel (Ger) Milram
3 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Quick-Step
4 Nick Nuyens (Bel) Quick-Step
5 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Wiesenhof-Akud
6 Gregory Rast (Swi) Phonak
7 Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Ag2R Prévoyance
8 Giuliano Figueras (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
9 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
10 Manuele Mori (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir
10 Sébastien Hinault (Fra) Crédit Agricole
12 Vicente Reynes (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
13 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner
14 Luca Paolini (Ita) Liquigas
15 Uros Murn (Slo) Phonak
16 Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) Liquigas
17 Bram Tankink (Ned) Quick-Step
18 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Gerolsteiner
19 Erki Pütsep (Est) Ag2R Prévoyance
20 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
21 Cristian Moreni (Ita) Cofidis
22 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Discovery Channel
23 Pablo Lastras (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
24 Roy Sentjens (Bel) Rabobank
25 Michael Barry (Can) Discovery Channel
26 Alexander Efimkin (Rus) Barloworld
27 Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick-Step
28 Jérôme Pineau (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
29 Riccardo Riccò (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir
30 William Bonnet (Fra) Crédit Agricole
31 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française Des Jeux
32 Anthony Geslin (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
33 Kim Kirchen (Lux) T-Mobile
34 Hugo Sabido (Por) Barloworld
35 Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) Ag2R Prévoyance
36 Gorazd Stangelj (Slo) Lampre-Fondital 0.03
37 David Millar (GBr) Saunier Duval-Prodir
38 Salvatore Commesso (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
39 Johan Van Summeren (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
40 Mirko Celestino (Ita) Milram
41 Andrea Moletta (Ita) Gerolsteiner
42 Marc De Maar (Ned) Rabobank 0.06
43 Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Cofidis
44 Marco Velo (Ita) Milram
45 Lorenzo Bernucci (Ita) T-Mobile 0.09
46 Daniele Nardello (Ita) T-Mobile
47 Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Astaná
48 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick-Step 0.13
49 Alessandro Ballan (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
50 Alexander Vinokourov (Kaz) Astaná 0.21
51 Gerben Löwik (Ned) Rabobank 0.39
52 Joseba Albizu (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0.57
53 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
54 Piet Rooijakkers (Ned) Skil-Shimano
55 Paul Martens (Ger) Skil-Shimano 1.17
56 Björn Schröder (Ger) Milram
57 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Crédit Agricole 1.40
58 Markel Irizar (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
59 Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Bouygues Telecom 1.49
60 Aitor Pérez Arrieta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears 1.55
61 Daniel Becke (Ger) Milram
62 Christian Knees (Ger) Milram
63 Stephan Schreck (Ger) T-Mobile
64 Roger Hammond (GBr) Discovery Channel
65 Guennadi Mikhailov (Rus) Discovery Channel
66 Volodymyr Bileka (Ukr) Discovery Channel
67 Koldo Fernández (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
68 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Team CSC 2.03
69 Carlos Barredo (Spa) Astaná 7.32
70 Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Astaná
71 Olaf Pollack (Ger) T-Mobile
72 Mikel Pradera (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
73 Joaquím Rodríguez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
74 Sergio Paulinho (Por) Astaná
75 Christian Leben (Ger) Wiesenhof-Akud
76 Artur Gajek (Ger) Wiesenhof-Akud
77 Piotr Mazur (Pol) Saunier Duval-Prodir
78 Assan Bazayev (Kaz) Astaná
79 Oliver Zaugg (Swi) Saunier Duval-Prodir
80 Serguei Yakovlev (Kaz) Astaná
81 Eric Leblacher (Fra) Française Des Jeux
82 David Kopp (Ger) Gerolsteiner
83 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas
84 Allan Johansen (Den) Team CSC
85 Mathew Hayman (Aus) Rabobank
86 Franck Renier (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
87 Yannick Talabardon (Fra) Crédit Agricole
88 Claudio Corioni (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
89 Mauro Facci (Ita) Barloworld
90 Julian Dean (NZl) Crédit Agricole
91 Pieter Mertens (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
92 Joseba Zubeldia (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
93 Alexandre Usov (Blr) Ag2R Prévoyance
94 Mark Scanlon (Irl) Ag2R Prévoyance
95 Aart Vierhouten (Ned) Skil-Shimano
96 Mathieu Heijboer (Ned) Cofidis
97 Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) Skil-Shimano
98 Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Quick-Step
99 Matthias Kessler (Ger) T-Mobile
100 José Antonio Redondo (Spa) Astaná 10.12
101 Aurélien Clerc (Swi) Phonak 10.20
102 Luciano Pagliarini (Bra) Saunier Duval-Prodir 11.00
103 Corey Sweet (Aus) Wiesenhof-Akud
104 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Crédit Agricole
105 Michael Albasini (Swi) Liquigas
106 Anton Luengo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
107 Marcus Zberg (Swi) Gerolsteiner
108 Diego Caccia (Ita) Barloworld
109 David Loosli (Swi) Lampre-Fondital
110 Wouter Weylandt (Bel) Quick-Step
111 Steffen Radochla (Ger) Wiesenhof-Akud
112 Kevin Van Impe (Bel) Quick-Step
DNF Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team CSC
DNF Jakob Piil (Den) Team CSC
DNF Luke Roberts (Aus) Team CSC
DNF Kurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Team CSC
DNF Marcus Ljungqvist (Swe) Team CSC
DNF Matti Breschel (Den) Team CSC
DNF André Korff (Ger) T-Mobile
DNF Thomas Ziegler (Ger) T-Mobile
DNF Martin Elmiger (Swi) Phonak
DNF Bert Grabsch (Ger) Phonak
DNF Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) Phonak
DNF Robert Hunter (RSA) Phonak
DNF Steve Morabito (Swi) Phonak
DNF Alexei Markov (Rus) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears
DNF Jurgen Van den Broeck (Bel) Discovery Channel
DNF Jason McCartney (USA) Discovery Channel
DNF Max Van Heeswijk (Ned) Discovery Channel
DNF Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank
DNF Joost Posthuma (Ned) Rabobank
DNF Matteo Carrara (Ita) Lampre-Fondital
DNF Mario Aerts (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
DNF Christophe Brandt (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
DNF Nick Gates (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto
DNF Gert Steegmans (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
DNF Peter Van Petegem (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
DNF Wim Vansevenant (Bel) Davitamon-Lotto
DNF Sven Krauss (Ger) Gerolsteiner
DNF Volker Ordowski (Ger) Gerolsteiner
DNF Peter Wrolich (Aut) Gerolsteiner
DNF Guido Trentin (Ita) Saunier Duval-Prodir
DNF Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Saunier Duval-Prodir
DNF Jimmy Engoulvent (Fra) Crédit Agricole
DNF Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Crédit Agricole
DNF Arnaud Coyot (Fra) Cofidis
DNF Hervé Duclos-Lassalle (Fra) Cofidis
DNF Tyler Farrar (USA) Cofidis
DNF Thierry Marichal (Bel) Cofidis
DNF Tristan Valentin (Fra) Cofidis
DNF Iker Flores (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
DNF Iban Iriondo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
DNF Alan Pérez (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi
DNF Simon Gerrans (Aus) Ag2R Prévoyance
DNF Laurent Mangel (Fra) Ag2R Prévoyance
DNF Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Ag2R Prévoyance
DNF Enrico Poitschke (Ger) Milram
DNF Sebastian Siedler (Ger) Milram
DNF Dario Andriotto (Ita) Liquigas
DNF Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Liquigas
DNF Marco Milesi (Ita) Liquigas
DNF Stefano Zanini (Ita) Liquigas
DNF Stef Clement (Ned) Bouygues Telecom
DNF Andy Flickinger (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
DNF Christophe Kern (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
DNF Ludovic Auger (Fra) Française Des Jeux
DNF Christophe Detilloux (Bel) Française Des Jeux
DNF Frédéric Finot (Fra) Française Des Jeux
DNF Ian McLeod (RSA) Française Des Jeux
DNF Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française Des Jeux
DNF Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) Française Des Jeux
DNF Igor Astarloa (Spa) Barloworld
DNF Giosuè Bonomi (Ita) Barloworld
DNF Enrico Degano (Ita) Barloworld
DNF Jeremy Maartens (RSA) Barloworld
DNF Kenny Van Hummel (Ned) Skil-Shimano
DNF Masahiro Shinagawa (Jpn) Skil-Shimano
DNF Tomoya Kano (Jpn) Skil-Shimano
DNF Felix Odebrecht (Ger) Wiesenhof-Akud
DNF Lars Wackernagel (Ger) Wiesenhof-Akud
DNF Gregor Willwohl (Ger) Wiesenhof-Akud