Grand Trophée 2008: La Marmotte on 5 July

The most prestigious French cyclosportive series, Grand Trophée, will feature 11 events next season, with the traditional highlight, La Marmotte, scheduled for Saturday, 5 July.

Other popular international events as La Ventoux and Les 3 Ballons will be held on 7 and 14 June, respectively.


Full 2008 schedule:

11/05: La Cezanne, Aix-en-Provence
18/05: La LOOK, Nevers
01/06: L'Epervier, Cogolin
07/06: La Ventoux, Beaumes-de-Venise
14/06: Les 3 Ballons, Champagney/Planche-des-Belles-Filles
22/06: La Morzine Vallée d'Aulps, Morzine
29/06: La Vaujany, Vaujany
05/07: La Marmotte, Bourg d'Oisans/Alpe D'Huez
23/08: L'Auvergnate, La Bourboule
13/09: La Ronde Picarde, Abbeville
23/11: La Cyclo Guadeloupe, Guadeloupe

The online registration opens on Tuesday afternoon, 14 December. Usually there is no maximum participation limit imposed.

More info on the website of Sportcommunication.

Team Agapedia-Münsterland announces 2008 line-up

Münster - Team Agapedia-Münsterland, one of the big jedermann teams in the German cyclo circuit, has announced its team line-up for the upcoming 2008 season. The team will consist of 23 fixed riders and sees a number of newcomers including Elin Amundsen and myself, but also former pro Jürgen Lücke and granfondo specialist Jens Volkmann, who is also world champion individual time trial in the Senior category. Volkmann won a.o. the Tour Transalp in 2006 and has featured in the top five of big mountains events like the 3 Ballons and the Ötztaler Radmarathon.

The team will be co-sponsored by Rose Versand, Snickers, Gebiomized and of course the Münsterland region. The riders will mount Red Bull frames for the season.

More info on Challenge Magazin.

Fate of T-Mobile Cycling Tour still unclear

After Deutsche Telekom decided to stop all sponsorship with immediate effect last week, the fate of the beloved T-Mobile Cycling Tour is very much unclear. An official statement on the website doesn't tell the fans anything.

Sponsors (also e.g. Adidas) seem to be pulling out everywhere in Germany following the media hysteria triggered by various doping cases involving riders of the professional T-Mobile team. This will push several German race organisers in a bad spot as of next season. Neverthless, the organisers of the Deutschland Tour, Rund um Köln and Henninger Turm have all confirmed their events will go ahead as scheduled in 2008. Therefore, it can be expected that the cyclo or jedermann races will also happen - but probably not under the umbrella of T-Mobile any longer.

Prestigio 2008: Full calendar released

The 2008 Italian Prestigio Series will again include 10 of the most prestigious Granfondos of the season. As previously announced, the new entry will be the GF Carnia Classic-Zoncolan on 13 July, and in September the GF Colnago replaces the GF Cinque Terre as the former has outranked the latter for the past three years in terms of participants.

The Prestigio calendar:

6 April:
GF Selle Italia
Cervia
www.sportur.com

1 May:
Dieci Colli Bolognesi
Bologna
www.diecicolli.it

11 May:
GF Felice Gimondi
Bergamo
www.felicegimondi.com

18 May:
Le Nove Colli
Cesenatico
www.novecolli.it

15 June:
GF Campagnolo
Feltre
www.granfondocampagnolo.it

29 June:
Maratona Dles Dolomites
Corvara in Badia
www.maratona.it

13 July:
GF Carnia Classic - Zoncolan
Tolmezzo
www.carniabike.it

20 July:
GF Pinarello
Treviso
www.granfondopinarello.com

31 August:
Ötztaler Radmarathon
Sölden
www.oetztaler-radmarathon.com

7 September:
GF Colnago
Piacenza
www.granfondocolnago.com

A traditional Ronde in 2008

BRUGGE - The route of the 2008 edition of the Ronde van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders) was revealed earlier this week. It will be a traditional race of 260km including 18 hellingen. The legendary Koppenberg is not in, and replaced by the Kortekeer, but this may still change if the organisation is happy enough with the roadworks that are currently in progress on the Koppenberg (the cobblestones have again deteriorated so much that they have to be redone).

The cyclosportive edition on Saturday, 5 April also sees no major changes. There is the full distance from Brugge to Meerbeke-Ninove, and there is the 140km route with start and finish in Ninove and with all the climbs in it. For those not so familiar with the Ronde, the first 120km are flat and is more a battle against the wind. All climbs are concentrated in the final 100km.

The Frankfurt International Cycling Club will go to Flanders for the weekend from Friday to Sunday. Currently we are five riders, two of them keen on the 260km, and we will be staying in the town of Oudenaarde. That's the heart of the Flemish Ardennes, location of the Oude Kwaremont and the Koppenberg, and also host of the museum of the Tour of Flanders. During the cyclo, we will pass Oudenaarde on three seperate occasions (the last time after the Boigneberg), so it is perfectly possible to quit if anyone's legs are suddenly left with no juice:-)

Anyone keen on joing us, please just write an email to the Frankfurt International Cycling Club. Please note that we would prefer people to make their own accomodation arrangements, so there is no fuss for anyone. The idea is simply to ride together with people.

Register for the Ronde

Prestigio 2008: Enter Monte Zoncolan !

The 2008 Prestigio series will include the Carnia Classic in Arta Terme (Udine) on 13 July. This event has entered the minds of mountain goats last season because of Monte Zoncolan, the horribly steep mountain pass included in the 2007 Giro d' Italia (stage won by Gilberto Simoni). The Prestigio series traditionally supports one 'new' or 'promising' event per year. In 2007 the honour went to the GF Pantani in Aprica.

An important change is the final event of the series in September. The GF Colnago in Piacenza has managed to beat the GF Cinque Terre in number of finishers the past three years, and thus becomes part of the Prestigio.

The full calendar will be revealed soon.

Gazzetta Challenge - Giro di Lombardia closes Granfondo season

COMO - The Italian classic Giro di Lombardia also has its cyclo version since two years. The so-called mediofondo is included in the Gazzetta Challenge (together with La Sanremo and the Dolomiti Stars-Giro d' Italia) lasts 113 km and has start and finish in Como. Michel Chocol won the race in 2:56:49 (avs 38.34 km/h) in a sprint against Andrea Paluan.

As such, the long Italian season has also come to an end.

T-Mobile Cycling Tour: Alex Bauer and Annika Grüber overall winners

Münster - The 2nd Münsterlandgiro confirmed the good vibes people already felt after the inaugural edition last year. Superb organisation, great atmosphere, good roads, limited danger, hardly a better way to close the cyclo season and the T-Mobile Cycling Tour! In the end, Alexander Bauer (Team Lexxi) and Annika Grüber (Team Agapedia) were celebrated as winners of the 2007 Tour. The 130km long Münster race saw Nico Wernicke (Team Strassacker) outsprint 50 to 60 riders who constituted a first group, and Judith Cramer (Team Lexxi) claiming her biggest win of the season in the women's event.

Wernicke thus won both the season's opener in Köln and the closer in Münster. Cramer took full advantage of the absence of Grüber, who participated in the German Hochschule Meisterschaft instead (and finished fifth over 65km). The latter's lead in the ranking was anyway so big that she could not be overtaken anymore.

One critic comment should be mentioned, though. Having all three available distances merging at the end leads to unnecessary danger. I found myself sitting in the first group all race and didn't witness any crash or tricky situation until we caught up with slower riders from the other races. Unfortunately, this also led to a crash 1.5 kilometres before the finish as we suddenly had to sweep left to overtake such a slow group. There was not enough place on the left so five, six guys went down - including myself. My race ruined. In the end I got ranked 81st, but most importantly I left without injury or bike damage.

ECB rider Morten Hansen came back from a forced break to finish his season with a respectable ride over 130 km. He hung onto the first group for a while, before the lack of training made itself felt in his legs.

Picture taken from Team Lexxi's website.

T-Mobile Cycling Tour: Münsterlandgiro ends long season

Münster - The second T-Mobile Cycling Tour ends tomorrow, Wednesday, in Münster after six months and 20 races. The protagonists are tired, both physically and mentally. There seems to be a general consensus that it has been a little bit too much. All races count, so if you go for a high ranking you are bound to start everywhere. Better would be a system in which, say, the best 12 or 14 results count - allowing at least a little breather for what are still supposed to be hobby cyclists.

The men's overall ranking is led by Alex Bauer (Team Lexxi), but Michael Rademacher is not yet out of contention with his 131-point deficit. In a flat race like the Münsterlandgiro a small problem can cost you a lot of points as the groups are larger than in a race on a hilly course. Nino Ackermann (Blue Essentials) will most likely have to settle for third place nonetheless.

The women's event has been dominated again by Annika Grüber (Team Agapedia), who will in fact be riding in front of her home crowd on Wednesday. A few women, such as Elin Amundsen, gave Annika a hard time on occasion, but on the whole her second consecutive victory in the -Mobile tour was never really endangered after Elin's debacle in Fürth in June.

The Münsterlandgiro offers three different courses, and increased the max distance to 130 km. You can also ride 110 and 65 km. Over 3000 people have already registered!

Münsterlandgiro

Maratona Dles Dolomites on 29 June 2008

Next year's edition of the famous Maratona Delle Dolomiti will be held on Sunday, 29 June. In order to assign the entry tickets, a pre-registration phase will be organised between 18 October and 8 November 2007. The draw will be held roughly a week later.

Of course it will also be possible to buy a package tour that includes a starting ticket and accomodation as of November.

The maximum number of participants will once again be 8500, half of which will be Italian.

The Maratona will be organised next year to the benefit of a reforestation scheme in Ecuador.

All info can be found on the Maratona website.

T-Mobile Cycling Tour: Nürnberg

Nürnberg - The 103km event in Nürnberg was won by Thomas Wickles from Team RadioAktiv Racing. He outsprinted Team Strassacker's Nicko Wernicke and Team Lexxi's Alexander Bauer. Frankfurt-based Briton Gary Weir had his best T-Mobile result of the season with a 27th spot.

The women's long distance race went to Annika Grüber, who consolidated her 1st place in the T-Mobile ranking. She finished 4 minutes ahead of Judith Cramer and five of Martina Hausmann.

The next races are held next weekend, with a time trial in Tübingen and a tough race in Bad Dürrheim (RiderMan).

The finale will be held in Münster on 3 October.

Update: Elin's season over

With some reluctance Elin Amundsen has to allow six weeks of plastercast for her broken left hand to heal properly. Her season is now formally over, just when the desired third spot in the T-Mobile ranking is easily within her grasp (check the ranking, now updated with the Hamburg results).

Elin hopes to return to the scene in 2008, hopefully with support of an appropriate team structure.

The T-Mobile Cycling Tour continues this weekend with Rund um die Nürnberger Altstadt, a flat race with a max distance of just over 100km. Close to a thousand riders have already signed up.

The final race of the season on 3 October in Münster, home of Team Agapedia, can expect already now more than 2000 participants according to latest reports.

Prestigio: Cinque Terre - Antonio Corradini wins solo

La Spezia - The final event of the Prestigio series this season was dominated by Mg.K Vis rider Antonio Corradini, who finished 3'15"ahead of Konstantin Klyuev and Gianni Fontana. Stefano Sala was alone in fourth nearly five minutes down.

In the final race of the Grand Trophée series in France, La Ronde Picarde, Jerome Minard outsprinted Benjamin Audoux and four others in a small group finish.

Interview with Elin on Challenge-Magazin

A lengthy and very fun to read interview with Elin Amundsen has been published on the website Challenge-Magazin.

The interview was taken after the race in Hamburg on 19 August. As reported yesterday, Elin broke three bones in her left hand last Sunday in a race - which she still won - in France. She has been advised to allow six to eight weeks for recovery. In any case, her participation in the upcoming races in Nürnberg, Tübingen and Bad Dürrheim is highly in doubt.

Les Ballons Vosgiens: Elin wins "Route des Crêtes" with broken hand!

GERARDMER - Despite a very heavy T-Mobile schedule in August and her nasty crash in the RegioTour last weekend, Elin Amundsen could not live without a week of competition and travelled to the French town of Gerardmèr in the Vosges for the cyclo Les Ballons Vosgiens. Equipped with her "old" LOOK-bike she raced on the 92km and 1500 Hm distance - nicked La Route des Crêtes - and took a smashing victory by nearly five minutes over her nearest rival! She finished in 2:56:01 (avs 29.31 km/h), beating a female field of 33 riders.
However, it didn't go all that smoothly. In the descent of the Schlucht, Elin missed a corner and went down for the second consecutive week... This time it's not so much the bike but the body that got hurt. After the race, doctor's diagnosed a few broken bones in her left hand. The healing process theoretically lasts six to eight weeks, so Elin's season might suddenly be over. Still, she is not giving up hope that she can at least start in the next T-Mobile events and defend her position in the rankings.

The men's 155km (3500hm) races was won by local matador Thomas Dietsch, bronze medalist in the MTB long-distance world championships, who outsprinted Cofidis-pro Nicholas Hartmann and Dutchman Michel Snel in 4:54:47 (avs 31.75 km/h). Oege Hiddema, winner in 2005, made his comeback after his big crash in the Transalp in June and finished sixth after being dropped in the descent.

Ötztaler Radmarathon: Negrini back on top!

Soelden - Bologna-based Italian Emmanuele Negrini came back from a number of shocking defeats this season to claim his second Oetztaler Radmarathon in a row. Negrini had to outsprint fellow-Italian Antonio Corradini and the surprising Dutch veteran Bert Dekker in the town of Sölden in a dramatic conclusion to the 238km race. The clock stopped at 7:03:37.

The event was held in the best weather conditions in years, resulting in overall faster times. The podium place of Bert Dekker was unexpected. The former three-time winner of La Marmotte did not make the top 10 on Alpe d'Huez this year and seemed to be on his return at the age of 37. Interestingly, the winner of La Marmotte this season, Andrea Ciavatti only managed 21st in 7:32.

T-Mobile Cycling Tour: RegioTour - Elin crashes out of contention

After a long hard summer, Elin had battled her way back to the top 3 of the T-Mobile Cycling Tour ranking... only to lose it all again in one race, the shortest race on the calendar. The 52km long race was full of incidents - an unfortunate characteristic of this season's T-Mobile events - and Elin was one of many to crash down hard. After the Texaspass Elin had found herself in second position (Annika was in a first group) when the rider in front of her made an unexpected move aside. Elin hit the rear wheel and went down, taking several other riders with her. She escaped with bruises herself, but her Cervelo suffered the most. Fork broken, handlebar bent and what have you: game over. The disappointment was huge. No points for Elin, Judith Cramer and Katharina Reitmaier are now much more comfortable in their podium slots in the Tour. Elin will now focus on the individual events and snatch a victory or two still this season.

The men's race saw a dominant performance by Nino Ackermann, who went solo on one of the climbs and reached the finish with a 1'40" advantage over Alex Bauer and the rest. Strong stuff. Markus Hagedorn also went down half-way the race and came in 74th.

There's a break in the schedule now, with the first event taking place in Nürnberg on 16 September.

T-Mobile Cycling Tour - Hamburg & Hannover

HAMBURG - Elin Amundsen is very likely to have regained her second spot in the T-Mobile ranking after last weekend's races in Hannover and Hamburg. On EDEKA Race Day Elin rebounded immediately from Friday's disappointment in Fürth, to snatch fourth place behind Annika Grüber (second) but way ahead of Katharina Reitmaier (9th) and Judith Cramer (3rd on 70km distance). The win went to a new name Gundula Henning, who managed and avs of nearly 42 km/h over the 100km distance. Martina Höllige from Team Strassacker is clearly a mountain and time trial specialist as she had to settle for sixth.

In Hamburg Elin managed sixth place but ahead of all the usual suspects including Annika (ninth). The first five places went to stars of the day. Interestingly, Elin showed the best recuperative powers over this intensive weekend as she even beat the #3 of the race in Hannover! She completed the 155km in 3:53:26 (avs 39.55 km/h). For once she was 3 minutes ahead of Annika Grüber who came in ninth. Reitmaier was 12th, Cramer 13th.

In the men's events Morten Hansen proved oncemore that Hamburg is his event. This season he finished 289th in 3:49 (avs 40.21 km/h), his best ever! In Hannover he was 107th in the 70km race. Markus Hagedorn was 96th in that race. In Hannover he finished in top 20 according to his own timing but official results are still not online due to a hick-up by Mika Timing. Markus Hagedorn also finished in top 20 on the medium distance.

T-Mobile Cycling Tour - Elin no chance without time trial machine

FUERTH - The 33km long GIANT individual time trial saw the men's winner Marcel Barth finishing with an average speed of46.83 km/h. Awesome performance. The traditional stars of the Tour turned out to be not the greatest time trialists so we may see some changes in the ranking. Alex Bauer was 30th and Nino Ackermann still stood his ground in 40th place, nearly five minutes down. Michael Rademacher was 46th. The Strassacker boys were cleary beaten too. Marc Leischner was fifth, Günter Höllige was 19th, Nico Wernicke 26th.

Markus Hagedorn managed 54th place with an avs of 41.37 km/h, 5'35" behind Barth. He was marginally quicker than Gary Weir (57th).

The women's race brought another win for Annika Grüber ahead of Martina Höllige. The Agapedia ace scored a time of 48'56" (40.57km/h). Without a time trial bike, Elin Amundsen was defenceless and had to be satisfied with 19th place, over six minutes down on Grüber. Unfortunately, Elin's two main rivals for the podium in the overall ranking finished ahead of her today. Judith Cramer was 10th and Katharina Reitmaier 17th. Let's see whether Elin can take revenge tomorrow and Sunday in Hannover and Hamburg!

Sunday 19 August: RTF Henninger Odenwald

FRANKFURT - This Sunday RV Henninger 1895 Sossenheim organises its annual RTF Henninger Odenwald with start and finish at the Henninger brewery on the Darmstädter Landstrasse in Sachsenhausen.

A great and recommended 117km tour goes to the Odenwald, where a few hills need to be climbed. A nice ride for those who don't race in Hamburg.

Check

T-Mobile Cycling Tour - Big weekend coming up

A big weekend is coming up in the T-Mobile Cycling Tour with no fewer than three events after one another. On Friday, the Deutschland Tour continues with the Giant time trial in Fürth over 32.8 km. Saturday is EDEKA Race Day in Hannover, a more or less flat race over 100km and Sunday is of course the Vatenfall Cyclassics in Hamburg, the most popular German cyclo event of the year.

Elin Amundsen will be riding all three of them in her ongoing attempt to regain second place in the overall tour ranking. After the mountain time trial in Sölden last Tuesday she is actually already back in third place, only 33 points behind Katharina Reitmaier.

Other ECB Cyclosports riders active this weekend will be Markus Hagedorn, Morten Hansen (photo) and newcomer Roswitha Hutter. Markus is the surprise of the season. A string of solid performances has put him in 74th place in the overall ranking so far, and his ambition is endless. In Fürth he is aiming high with his brand new Cervelo time trial bike, before travelling to Hannover - a course that should suit him well. Morten is doing Hannover and Hamburg, his traditional late summer goal. After a bit of a dip in his performance level during the month of June, Morten has come back strongly with a top 200 placing in Bochum two weeks ago.

T-Mobile Cycling Tour: Mountain challenge on Rettenbachferner

SOELDEN - Elin Amundsen had to settle for seventh place in the mountain time trial on the Rettenbachferner yesterday. She climbed the 13km in 1:16:18, ten minutes slower than winner Annika Grüber but considerably faster than the numbers two and three in the overall T-Mobile Tour ranking Cramer and Reithmayer. Elin is now looking forward to the flat events in Hannover and Hamburg where she has a better chance against the Agapedia lady, who admittedly is in stunning form these days. Second in Sölden was Strassacker's Martina Höllige, winner in Stuttgart this season, more than two-and-a-half minutes down on Grüber...

Slovenian Miran Cvet won the men's event with an advantage of 43 seconds over Günter Höllige.

T-Mobile Cycling Tour Update: Elin wins in Bochum!

It is summer holiday time but not for those with an interest in the points ranking of the T-Mobile Cycling Tour! Among those is Frankfurt-based Norwegian Elin Amundsen, who is still keen on a top three ending after the unfortunate Fürth debacle. Elin raced in Dresden, Nürburg and Bochum in the past few weeks. She came in second once again to Annika Grüber in the first two, but beat her rival in Bochum last week on Sunday in a sprint finish. It was Elin's first official victory of the season.

Elin will be competing today as well in the mountain time trial (13km and 1300hm) on the Rettenbachferner in Austria, which is the first stage of the jedermann Deutschland Tour. The next two events take place on Friday in Fürth (hopefully Elin will have more luck there this time!) and on Saturday in Hannover.

She warmed up for the Rettenbachferner last Saturday in Andermatt, Switzerland, where she did the 120km (3550hm) Alpen Brevet ride. Rumour has it she was second woman, but the event is officially not a race.

Two other members of the ECB Cyclosports squad were active in Bochum and Nürburg. Markus Hagedorn is continuing his amazing debut on the scene with a 51st place, preceeding seasoned powerhouse Morten Hansen who also found his legs back in 183th spot. Frankfurt-based Briton Gary Weir was 86th.
In Rad am Ring, Morten came in 77th in the 70km event won by Bad Vilbel rider Gerhard Hack.
Gary finished 80th on the 140km.

Grand Trophée - La Marmotte: Ciavatti continues Italian dominance

ALPE D'HUEZ - What the Maratona or Oetztaler is for Italians, Austrians and Germans is the Marmotte for the Benelux and French cyclo enthusiasts. A 174km hardcore ride through the Alps with 5000 hm covering the Col du Glandon, Col de la Télégraphe, Col du Galibier and last but not least the ascent to Alpe d'Huez. A royal Tour de France stage!

The Dutch love this race in particular as nearly half of the 6000 to 7000 participants each year come from the low country. But since a few years it's the Italians who dominate the race up front. As in the Oetztaler, however, every rider crossing the finish line is a winner.

After some very nasty accidents the past three years, attendance dropped slightly with 6000 doing the standard Marmotte, and some 500 the shorter cyclotour from Valloire to the Alpe.

Emmanuele Negrini, winner in 2005 and 2006, was absent but his role was taken up by Andrea Ciavatti from Rimini. The professional soldier dropped his compatriot Giovanni Maiello (who took victory in the Fausto Coppi last week) in the final climb to finish in 6h00'56". Stefano Sala, twice second behind Negrini, was now third in 6h03'47". Michel Roux and local community worker Patrick Gueraud gave French cycling something to cheer about with fourth and fifth. Feike Loots was the first Dutchman in sixth with 6h14'38". Michel Snel had to settle for ninth, while Oege Hiddema was sidelined after a heavy crash on training a few weeks ago. Former tripple winner Bert Dekker came in 12th.

The time of Ciavatti, interestingly, was nearly 10 minutes slower than Negrini the past 2 years. Ciavatti finished third in the Oetztaler last season.

I finished the Marmotte for the fifth time, and improved to 7h19'46". Good for rank 151. My bruised ribs, which I suffered last week in the Maratona, hampered my breathing to really race and gave me some pain on the bad road surface of some parts of the descents. I was happy to beat my 30 hometown pals from Belgium, though:-)

T-Mobile Cycling Tour - Wiesbaden: Elin keeps finishing second

WIESBADEN - Elin Amundsen changed her mind last week about travelling to the Maratona Delle Dolomiti in favour of riding the next T-Mobile event, and finished second once more. Going strong for three laps, she had to let Annika Grüber go on lap 4 out of 5.

Meanwhile, the T-Mobile Cycling Tour crew is apparently trying to settle the famous Fürth issue. Elin finished behind the barricades in that race as she had to jump on the sidewalk to avoid a mass crash in the final straight. As a result she did not cross the transponderzone and did not get ranked, which meant a significant loss of points and basically a logical end to her aspirations to win the overall Tour this year. Video footage of the finish in Fürth exists, but the organisers there need to confirm before the T-Mobile squad can assign any points.

Also in Wiesbaden we saw a brilliant performance by ECB Cyclosports newcomer Marcus Hagedorn. In only his fourth race ever he stayed with the first major group and finished in 22nd place, 56 seconds behind race winner Günter Hollige (Team Strassacker). Frankfurt-based Briton Gary Weir finished 64th and Cyril Monnet (ECB Cyclosports) 101st after mechanical issues.

The next T-Mobile event is scheduled for 29 July in Dresden.

Prestigio: Maratona Dles Dolomites - Outsider Jones ends Negrini's reign

CORVARA - The four year reign of Emmanuele Negrini in the Maratona Dles Dolomites came to an end yesterday with the victory of Timothy David Jones. The Zimbabwe-born Italian took control of the race from the get-go together with teammate Raimondas Rumsas, who had to retire from the race later on. Jones was engaged in a fierce dual with Italian Michele Ladomada, whom he eventually beat in the sprint. 22-year old Bulgarian Alex Pauliukovich took the final step on the podium, three-and-a-half minutes down. Negrini had to settle for fourth place five-and-a-half minutes behind Jones, and Fabio Bulgarelli concluded in fifth place.

Negrini had won the past four editions of the Maratona. Last week in Aprica he also couldn't achieve more than fifth.

Barbara Lancioni and Monica Gallucci sprinted for the win in the women's race, with the former scoring her second consecutive win. Monica Bandini took third.

8500 riders started for the 21st edition, like last year in superb and even warm conditions. The Maratona remains the most internationally established granfondo of the year with 35 countries present. Almost 20,000 people wanted to get in this year, but only 8500 were allowed to start.

The ECB Cyclosports section had four riders in this year's edition. I had a very good run, sitting in a small group of about 12 including Lancioni and Gallucci until the descent towards the Giau. I hit a bump going into a sharp corner, missed my braking zone and slammed hard against a wall of rock with my left body side. It took a minute before I had my senses back and realised I could still move everything. That was the end of my race while riding in the top 80 according to the intermediate times... As the left brake handle was bent, and my front wheel was not 100% straight, I didn't trust going down full speed anymore. In addition, I suffered a few bruised ribs, big swellings on shoulder and hip and a badly bruised elbow so even standing on the pedals on the Giau and Falzarego hurt. I crossed the line still in 5:42, only seven minutes above last year's time. I trust I would have gone under 5:30 and even 5:20 this year. My detailed report follows in due course.

Lorenzo Borghini beat his 2004 time by 12 minutes on the granfondo. Riding better than ever this season, Lorenzo entered Corvara in 6:52:51. A great achievement. His wife Julia opted for the mediofondo after having tasted the percorso corto last season. She came home in style in 6:55. Morten Hansen did not find the legs back to brought him a splendid 10:15 time in last year's Oetztaler. Morten redirected himself to the mediofondo and arrived in 5:38:57. Not much behind him was Holger Hacklaender, from Frankfurt, in 5:45:45.

A big name was in the race this year: Greg LeMond, three-time Tour de France winner and double World Champion, got spotted during the race and indeed appears in the result list with a time of 5:44:24 (227th). That's two minutes behind me :-)

Prestigio - GF Marco Pantani - Rumsas smashes opposition

APRICA - The biggest surprise of this year's GF Marco Pantani was maybe not the victory of Raimondas Rumsas, but the fifth place of Emmanuele Negrini, the dominator in the high mountain events of the past few years. Negrini, who also won the previous two editions of this Granfondo, was 16 minutes down at the finish! Rumsas needed 5:24:43 to cover the 174km across the Passo Gavia, Mortirolo and Valico di Santa Cristina, just under a minute less than Andrea Ciavatti. In third was Timothy David Jones, more than 10 minutes behind.

The GF Pantani keeps growing despite the gruelling climb of the Mortirolo, about the most strenuous climb around along with the Zoncolan. Over 3600 riders took the start in Aprica, and whether you do granfondo, mediofondo or percorso corto, there is always the Mortirolo to conquer.

Next week is Italy's most famous international cyclo, the Maratona Delle Dolomiti.

T-Mobile Cycling Tour - Updated rankings

The T-Mobile Cycling Tour rankings have been updated with the results from Triberg now. Michael Rademacher remains firmly in the lead and will clearly be the man to beat. In the women's, Annika Grüber has taken over from Elin Amundsen, whose misfortune in Fürth costs her dearly. Here is the current top 5 and the placings of a few known riders in the Frankfurt area:

Men:
1. Michael Rademacher, Team UGS, 1896 pts
2. Alex Bauer, Team Lexxi, 1762 pts
3. Nino Ackermann, Team Blue Essentials, 1717 pts
4. Ralph Heuser, Team Lexxi, 1683 pts
5. Holm Barkmann, Team Agapedia, 1576 pts
14. Kris Van de Velde, Bobteam, 1360 pts
15. Torsten Roell, Team UGS, 1340 pts
91. Marcus Hagedorn, ECB Cyclosports, 609 pts
174. Cyril Monnet, ECB Cyclosports, 463 pts
197. Morten Hansen, ECB Cyclosports, 413 pts
559. Lorenzo Borghini, ECB Cyclosports, 249 pts
685. Alex Nikolopoulos, Team Strassacker, 237 pts
1419. Guus van Domburg, ECB Cyclosports, 173 pts

Women:
1. Annika Grüber, Team Agapedia, 1961 pts
2. Jüdith Cramer, Team Lexxi, 1813 pts
3. Katharina Reitmayer, 1789 pts
4. Sonja Ludwig, Team UGS, 1713 pts
5. Ninetta Koswig, Radon Cyclepower II, 1671 pts
7. Elin Amundsen, Bobteam, 1640 pts

RTF: Sunday, 24 June: Rodgau-Odenwald, start in FFM-Niederrad

FRANKFURT - The SKG Frankfurt Radsport is organising its annual Rodgau-Odenwald RTF this Sunday. Start and finish for all tours is in Frankfurt-Niederrad. Please see and click on the images below for further information.

KVDV's Event Report

03/06/07 - WM VeloTour in Stuttgart

Setting the scene for Bettini and co

STUTTGART - A race on exactly the same course as the upcoming professional world championship road race is a special event. It was even an interesting course, with two genuine hills in it, to be done 4 times for a total of 76km. I cancelled my registration for Fürth, another T-Mobile race held on the same day, and headed for Stuttgart.

I will be very surprised if Tom Boonen plays a factor in September. One can argue that the Herdweg climb is a Flemish climb, 700 metres long with a 13% bit. But then there is another 1.2km climb with an 11% bit followed by the 2.8km long false flat to the finish. It is a great course, but I'd bet on the Bettini's and Di Luca's of this world with local hero Schumacher as a very dangerous dark horse.

Back to my race. Foggy conditions at 8 a.m. in the morning, it rained the night before. I arrived at the starting area more than half an hour early, but discovered that plenty of riders had already taken up position in the starting block. Very annoying. As the first km went uphill, followed by a fast descent and then the Herdweg climb, I knew right away it would be vital to reach the front of the peloton as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, this was not feasible. The fastest guys, 12 in total at the finish, were gone and I never saw them. I found myself in a third group at the end of the first lap. Second time around on the Herdweg I opened up a small gap and saw the second group not so far ahead. I gave it a try and chased them. But after a few kilometres and not making a lot of progress I acknowledged it was a 'chasse-patat'. Back in group 3 I did my share of the work and kept the pace high on the climbs. Third lap, Herdweg, an Agapedia-rider found some extra strength and accelerated. Just past the top I caught up and together with a third rider we chased down a few riders who had been dropped off the second group. Interestingly, two of those four guys were also Agapedia guys. That was a good thing. Willingly or not, they took responsibility and decided the pace. As such we actually caught up with the second group right at the start of the final lap. Despite a few attacks, we more or less stayed together and sprinted for 13th place. Sprinting is not really my thing, but I was happy with 25th and the knowledge the legs were excellent.

FACT SHEET:
Name: WM VeloTour
Date: 3 June 2007
Venue: Stuttgart, DE
Type: T-Mobile Cycling Tour
Distance: 76km (1600hm)
My Result: 25/650 finishers (1400 overall participants): 2:07:26 (+ 5'56")
Info: website
Event rating: 4/5

Prestigio: GF Campagnolo - Rumsas wins solo

FELTRE - Raimondas Rumsas took an important win yesterday in the Granfondo Campagnolo, held for the last time in Feltre (rumour has it the granfondo will change location in 2008). On the mountainous course of 214km, Rumsas attacked on the Passo Rolle (1970m) - the second of two big mountains after the Passo Manghen (2042m) - and only got Andrea Ciavatti with him. Emmanuele Negrini, Rumsas' main rival in the upcoming mountain events and himself a former double winner of the Campa, had to let go and settle for third place at the finish, more than 10 minutes behind Rumsas. Pauliokovich and Timothy David Jones were fourth and fifth. The pace must have been blistering. Number six in the result is 22 minutes down, number seven nearly half an hour!

The GF Campagnolo was attended by 3500 riders. It is by some considered to big the toughest test of the season as it takes place mid-June, before the Pantani, Maratona or Oetztaler.

The women's race was won by Monia Gallucci, but she was given a stern challenge by Barbara Lancioni.

The next Prestigio event is the Granfondo Marco Pantani in Aprica next Sunday.

Grand Trophée - Morzine: Win for Nicola Roux

MORZINE - The next event in the French Grand Trophée series, La Morzine/Vallée d'Aulps, was won last Saturday by Nicolas Roux in 4:48:24. He beat Nicolas Ougier in a sprint to the line. La Morzine covers the renowned Col du Joux-Plane.

Triberg: Official results

TRIBERG - With a bit of delay the results of the GP Schwarzwald race in Triberg have been published. Winner of the 69km long A-race was Daniel Preiss from Ludwigsburg in a time of 2:00:35. He outsprinted Lipowitz, Leischner and Fischer on the final climb to the line. Marc Leischner of Team Strassacker had also finished second in Friday's time trial behind Marco Utz.

Annika Grüber was too strong on this hilly circuit for Elin Amundsen. She had an advantage of 9 minutes.

What was odd was the time limit in Saturday's race. It was exceptionally tight, to the extent of hardly being fair. After all, quite a few participants travelled to Triberg only to do the Saturday race. Not more than 101 riders have been ranked on the 3-lap or the 69km race. All the rest was requested to halt after 2 laps. ECB Cyclosports rider Morten Hansen is not a mountain goat, but he is a strong all-round rider who always finishes within the first half if not the first third of the pack. In Triberg he was close to being asked to stop after 2 laps (he finished 91st)!

Probably the police no longer had any patience to keep the roads as traffic free as possible.

Anyhow, Team UGS's Torsten Roell, Frankfurt, finished 19th, four places and seven seconds ahead of myself (2:08:12 vs 2:08:19). Torsten got dropped from the first chase group at the end, and we in the second chase group of eight riders just managed to catch him. Cyril Monnet found the climb on the Geutsche too steep for his liking and then opted to stay with Elin.

T-Mobile Cycling Tour - GP Schwarzwald in Triberg: Great events marred by timing issues

TRIBERG - The GP Schwarzwald in Triberg offered three different events this year. An individual time trial on the Geutsche (a steep climb of 4.6km with a max gradient of 19%), a race over 70km and 1600hm counting for the T-Mobile Cycling Tour on Saturday and the traditional Radmarathon/RTF on Sunday.

The area is brilliant for cycling, although you need to like climbing. Too bad that the timing in the Saturday race turned out to be problematic to say the least. Several riders got wrong times or were not even ranked in the result list at all. One of the main reasons seems to be that the timing company that was hired for the occasion is specialised in MTB events, where riders usually do not arrive at the finish in groups... Despite all the goodwill, the timing of events seems to become a recurring issue in Germany this season.

The result of Saturday's T-Mobile race is as yet unofficial and not even formally published on the event's website. It has been announced for Wednesday. What worries me is that they were asking for feedback from the participants themselves.

On Friday night, the fastest man was not honoured as the winner. He had been overlooked as well. Marco Utz from Offenburg beat a field of 75 riders with a time of 14:49, 19 seconds faster than Team Strassacker's Marc Leischner. Frankfurt-based Thorsten Roell, winner of the 2006 T-Mobile Tour, was 12th in 15:46. I managed a time under 16:00 as well: 14th in 15:56.

Grand Trophée - Les 3 Ballons: Morizot too fast for Snel

CHAMPAGNEY, France - The classic French cyclosportive Les 3 Ballons was won by a French pro last Saturday. After 205km through the Vosges (4300hm), Florian Morizot from Team Auber 93 was 1'47" faster on the steep La Planche-des-Belles-Filles then Vosges-based Dutchman Michael Snel from Team Veltec Granfondo. Total time was 6h24'02". The podium was completed by Andreas Rutishauser. Oege Hiddema came in fifth.

1109 riders completed the long course, which was apparently struck by a thunderstorm on the Grand Ballon.

T-Mobile Cycling Tour: Stuttgart & Fürth

Five ECB Cyclosports Team members were active this weekend in Fürth and Stuttgart, where two races were held simultaneously for the T-Mobile Cycling Tour. Fürth offered a flat course of 70km in the context of the Bayern Rundfahrt, Stuttgart a hilly 76km (1600hm) on the World Championship course.

Women's Tour leader Elin Amundsen's race in Bayern had a super annoying conclusion. About 400 metres before the finish line a number of guys crashed down in the sprint and forced Elin to jump onto the sidewalk behind the barriers and the spectactors. She also crossed the line on the sidewalk and thus did not cross the transponder mat. Instead of a rather comfortable victory, Elin does not feature in the result list.

There were more incidents in Fürth. Cyril Monnet also crashed out of contention. The number of crashes in these flat T-Mobile races is clearly becoming an issue. Newcomer Marcus Hagedorn stayed upright and finished with the first big group in 94th place. 329 riders made it into the list.

Stuttgart was much less hectic in that respect. The start was uphill and 4.6km later was already the first ascent of the Herdweg, 700m with a max of 13%. So the natural selection happened almost straightaway. Starting too far back, I never saw the first group of 11 riders get away but I was happy with my form and 25th rank at the finish. Morten Hansen concluded his race in 329th place out of 594 finishers in the A-race (4 laps). 1400 people turned up for the event, slightly more than expected. In any case, on this course it is hard to imagine Tom Boonen sprinting for the rainbow jersey at the end of September!

STUTTGART:
1. Daniel Preiss, 2:01:30 (netto 2:01:14)
2. Häfele Christian, 2:01:30 (netto: 2:01:24)
3. Michael Rademacher, 2:01:30 (netto: 2:01:19)
25. Kris Van de Velde, 2:07:26 (netto: 2:06:55)
41. Torsten Roell, 2:07:24 (netto: 2:07:15)
324. Morten Hansen, 2:27:18 (netto: 2:23:43)

FUERTH:
1. Thomas Wickles, 1:36:05
2. Michael Dehler, 1:36:08
3. Dieter Bosek, 1:36:08
94. Marcus Hagedorn, 1:36:37

Be 'in', do the Zoncolan!

Fans of big climbs must have felt their legs itching yesterday afternoon, seeing Gibo Simoni repeating his 2003 win on the Monte Zoncolan, arguably the steepest climb in Europe ever taken up in a Grand Tour. Figure this: 10km with an average gradient of 12%, several stretches above 15% and a maximum of 22%!

Well, this Sunday you can do it as well! The event is called Carnia Classic and includes the Zoncolan from Ovaro. The fastest rider on the climb itself will receive a special prize of 300 euro!

More info on Carnia Classic

T-Mobile Cycling Tour - Updated rankings: Elin leads

After four rounds, Elin Amundsen leads Annika Grüber in the women's ranking by 5 points (1331 vs 1326). In the duo's shadow is Isabell Sayle with 1219 points.

In the men's ranking, Michael Rademacher remains on top ahead of Alex Bauer (1331 vs 1223 points), with Ralph Philip Reuschl moving up to third place.

This weekend there will be two races for the Tour. One in Fürth, a 70km flat race in the context of the Bayern Rundfahrt, and one in Stuttgart on the World Championship course, 76km with 1500 hm.

T-Mobile Cycling Tour - Another second spot for Elin!

LEIPZIG - The weather could have been worse after all in Leipzig, with wet roads but no fresh rain. The fourth event of the T-Mobile Cycling Tour saw a group of some 85 riders racing to the line with Jürgen Werner from Zwickau taking the win ahead of Mario Dabelstein (Altenberg) and Strassacker's Nico Wernicke, the winner in Cologne earlier this year. The average speed over the 110km distance was 42.7 km/h...

Tour leader Michel Rademacher (Team UGS) had to settle for fifteenth, but Nino Ackermann only appears as 95th in the result, three minutes down.

In the women's race, Frankfurt-based Elin Amundsen scored her third second place of the season. Winner Beate Zanner was out of reach (she finished in the first group with an avs of 42.6 km/h!!!), but Elin managed to stay ahead of Franziska Reinfried and... Annika Grüber in the sprint for second place in a time of 2:40:29 (avs 41.1 km/h)! That means Elin and Annika have the same numer of points for the T-Mobile Tour, but Annika already has two wins behind her name. Next week Elin will be racing in Fürth, whereas Annika is expected to be more in her element on the hilly Stuttgart course.

Apart from Elin, a second member of the ECB Cyclosports squad made the long journey to Leipzi: Marcus Hagedorn, who had a strong debut in the Henninger Turm, finished half a minute down on the winner of the 70km race, good enough for 45th out of 756 finishers! His time was 1:47:53.

Gazzetta Challenge - Negrini, the Dolomiti Star

ARABBA - Since last year the Italian sports newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport organises its Gazzetta Challenge, a trio of events held in the 'shadow' of a professional race, similar to the T-Mobile Cycling Tour races here in Germany. In March there was Milan-Sanremo, in October there is the Giro di Lombardia and last weekend was the 'Giro d' Italia - Dolomiti Stars'. Start and finish was in Arabba and the 136km course included the Passo Duran, Staulenza, Passo di Giau and Falzarego. Indeed a considerable part overlapped the traditional Maratona course. No wonder then that Emmanuele Negrini showed he will again be the man to beat next month. Negrini won the race, finishing 17 seconds ahead of Moschiano and 20 ahead of Fontana. The event saw 1100 participants.

And Rumsas? Well, he and his teammate Timothy David Jones got beaten in the sprint by Englishman Jamie Burrow in the GF Michele Bartoli in Lucca di Montecarlo!

Gazzetta Challenge

Grand Trophée - Rubio beats Colevret on Ventoux

BEAUMES DE VENISE - The French Grand Trophée series has entered its core period with the cyclo La Ventoux last Saturday. Victory went to Stephane Rubio, who was slightly faster than favoruite Philippe Colevret and Bruno Mestre. Dutchmen Feike Loots and Oege Hiddema came in fourth and sixth. Some 750 riders made it to the finish of the long distance.

In 2 weeks Les 3 Ballons is on the agenda, followed by the Alpine events Morzine, Vaujany and of course la Marmotte.

T-Mobile Cycling Tour: Leipzig kicks off second chapter

The second chapter of the 2007 T-Mobile Cycling Tour commences in Leipzig on Whit Monday, 28 May. On the menu is a predominantly flat race of 110km which is bound to end up in a large group sprint, unless some people manage to get away in the final kilometres. Or a large-enough group attacks early and includes a number of favourites of the established teams...

In any case, the organisers of the Neuseen Classics have taken the bull by the horns and have been marketing the race enormously. More than 2000 riders are expected to start.

After Leipzig, the next races are Fürth, Stuttgart (both on 3 June) and Triberg (9 June). You can still register for all of them, check the websites for more info

Leipzig
Fürth
Stuttgart
Triberg

Men's top 10 after three races

1 Rademacher, Michael (Team UGS) 999
2 Bauer, Alexander (Radsport minibarista.de Hadamar)
3 Ackermann, Nino (team blue essentials) 933
4 Rademacher, Stefan (Team UGS ) 912
5 Reuschl, Ralph Philip (AGAPEDIA Münsterland) 905
6 Wendler, Olaf (Radsport minibarista.de Hadamar) 872
7 Stelzer, Tim (Team Radsport Vento) 854
8 Van de Velde, Kris ( bobteam.info) 830
9 Tiefel, Peter (independent) 819
10 Koopmann, Holger ( team blue essentials) 806

Women's top ten after three races

1 Grüber, Annika (AGAPEDIA Münsterland) 1001
2 Amundsen, Elin (bobteam.info) 981
3 Faust, Telse (independent) 913

4 Sayle, Isabell (Radsport minibarista.de Hadamar) 906
5 Reitmaier, Katharina (independent) 891
6 Cramer, Judith (Radsport minibarista.de Hadamar) 877
7 Ludwig, Sonja (Team UGS) 862
8 Kosswig, Ninetta ( Radon-Cyclepower) 840
9 Schicketanz, Uta ( Team Viner Racing) 808
10 Kegelberg, Britta (Team Von 0 auf 60 ) 796

Hendrik's Event Report:
20/05/07 - La Vauclusienne
Racing around the Ventoux

Belgium-based Hendrik Van Ekert, former amateur racer and cyclo rider, travelled to the Provence last week and participated in the cyclosportive La Vauclusienne. Here's his report:

I reached my main objective, i.e. finishing the race. But, sadly, the legs felt very bad. Probably due to a combination of two weeks without training (because of an injured knee), a ride on the Ventoux on Friday, another bumpy 90km on Saturday and a bunch of anti-inflammation products. I did have the impression, though, that the average level was quite high. Not so many participants (about 350) but nearly all of them finished with an average speed above 30 km/h.

After 10km we hit the first climb, which we took on the 53. I was only just unable to keep up with the first peloton (circa 50 riders) otherwise I would have risked blowing up. I fell back into a group of about 20 riders and together we rode up the Col des Abeilles (10km à 5-6%). Had to grit my teeth to follow.

Everything stayed together and we collected a few guys who had dropped off the first group. In a technical descent I escaped with six others. But after some ten kilometeres of working together the others still caught us back. Then the third genuine climb, about 3 km à 5%. Again a very solid pace and I felt my legs filling up with lactic acid. And in the final 25km they also exploded, I had to 'park' myself completely and could only make it to the finish riding my own tempo. My friend still overtook me and I could not even attach myself to his wheel anymore.

In the end 115th in the result list, half an hour behind the winner, but still with an average speed of 32.2 over 137km and some 1850 hm. Soit, I am not unsatisfied. My knee, which had been hurting so much the last two weeks, seems to have gotten better by the climbing. Either because of the anti-inflammation tablets or my slightly higher seating position on the bike.

Conclusion: "La Vauclusienne - Tristan Mouric" is a great cyclo in a wonderfull scenery riding around the legendary Mont Ventoux.

The race is perfectly organized, you get much value for your money (eg. nice cycling glasses, some commercial products, breakfast at the start, dinner with wine 'à volonté' at the finish, ...) and you even have the opportunity to cycle against Alain Prost, the famous F1 rider who participates in this cyclo every year (this year he ended up 58th).

Website of this cyclosportive: http://www.cyclosport-lavauclusienne.fr

HAC4+ Data:

Vlaamse versie:

Hoofddoel bereikt, koers kunnen uitrijden.

Maar de benen waren spijtig genoeg heel slecht. Waarschijnlijk combinatie van 2 weken niet meer te trainen, en dan vrijdags de ventoux op en zaterdag nog 90km over een paar hellingen en daarbovenop nog wat ontstekingsremmers.

Had wel de indruk dat het algemeen niveau redelijk hoog lag.

Niet zo veel vertrekkers maar bijna allemaal boven de 30km/u gemiddeld.

Na 10km de eerste klim, werd op het buitenblad opgevlamd. Ik kon net niet aansluiten met het eerste peloton (ong. 50 man) of ik zou moeten forceren.

Kwam daarna in een groepje van een man of 20 te zitten en reden samen de Col des Abeilles op (10tal km klimmen tegen 5-6%). Was wel wat doorbijten om te volgen.

Daarna bleef alles samen, raapten nog wat gelosten op. En in een technische afdaling reden we met 7 man weg.

Na een tiental km ronddraaien kwam de rest toch terug.

Daarna de 3de echt klim, 3-tal km aan 5%, werd weer stevig tempo gereden en voelde ik de benen al vol zuur lopen.

En in de laatste 25km zijn ze ontploft, stond volledig geparkeerd en heb eigen tempo naar de aankomst moeten rijden.

Mijn kameraad is me nog voorbijgereden en heb niet meer kunnen aanklampen.

114des geworden op een half uur van de winnaar, toch nog 32,2 gemiddeld met zo'n 1850HM over 137km (ik stuur later wel nog een grafiekje op).

Soit, toch redelijk tevreden van mijn weekend.

De knie lijkt wonder boven wonder verbeterd door het klimwerk. Ofwel ligt het aan de pillen of aan mijn iets hogere positie op de fiets.

Uitslag op http://www.kms.fr/Eprv/Rsl/07/Rsl-07-Eprv-Stat.Asp?CodEprv=Vauclusienne3G%2D07&NomEprv=La+Vaucluienne+136Km

Website op http://www.cyclosport-lavauclusienne.fr/index.html

La Charly Gaul dan toch maar voor de korte afstand kiezen zeker?

Prestigio: Le Nove Colli - Rumsas, who else ...

CESENATICO - For the third consecutive year in a row, Raimondas Rumsas grabbed the win in the 205km long Nove Colli event in Cesenatico. And once again, his teammate Timothy David Jones finished second right behind him. Negrini came in fifth, which promises a lot for the several mountainous June events! Right behind him were Ciavatti and Giraldi. The women's race was decided in the sprint with Galucci beating Bandini.

Three ECB Cyclosports riders also took part in the event. Lorenzo Borghini did the 205 km event in 9 hours, while Julia Bennett and Michael Schneider arrived in 6:52 and 6:58 respectively on the 130km. For the latter it was a personal best, while Lorenzo and Julia debuted on their distances. All three of them lost a lot of time on the Bertinoro, the first climb, due to the death of a participant (heart failure).

Men - 205km

1 Rumsas, Raimondas (Team Guru Parkpre Selle Italia) 5h 47m 17s

2 Jones, Timothy David (Team Guru Parkpre Selle Italia) 5h 47m 17s

3 Kvachuk, Oleksandr (Team Cinelli Endeka) 5h 50m 47s

4 Fantini, Ersilio (Team MG.K VIS-LGL-LOOK) 5h 50m 47s

5 Negrini, Emanuele (Team Salieri) 05h 50m 49s

6 Ciavatti, Andrea (Team MG.K VIS-LGL-LOOK) 5h 50m 49s

7 Giraldi, Stefano (Team Pianeta Bici) 5h 50m 54s

8 Falzarano, Alfonso (Team Cinelli Endeka OPD) 5h 50m 54s

9 Chaburka, Anatoli (46ª Brigata Aerea-Filippo Sport) 5h 50m 57s

10 Purismi, Doriano (Viner Team) 5h 50m 57s

CHIBA Alpencup - Amade Radmarathon marred by fatal crash

SALZBURG - The Amade Radmarathon in Salzburg, Austria, was overshadowed by the deadly fall of a 48-year-old German participant. The accident happened on Sunday morning apparently without the involvement of other riders. The man crashed into a guide bar and died moments later of his head injuries. The emergency ambulance arrived at the tragic spot within five minutes but resuscitation attempts failed.

Around what must have been the same time, a 74-year-old participant in the Italian granfondo Le Nove Colli suffered a fatal heart failure on the Bertinoro, the first climb.

A black weekend in the cyclo circuit.

The two 176km long distances of the Amade race were decided in the sprint. Simon Schmidmayr narrowly defeated Slovenian Gaspar Svab, while Italian veteran Anna Corona, 46, was the better woman ahead of Andrea Hofbauer.

KVDV's Event Report:
05/05/07 - Bike Away in Lommel (BE)

Training with the pros

LOMMEL - After the hectic race in Frankfurt it was time for a gentle cyclotour in Belgium's Brabant and Limburg provinces. A young event, called Bike Away, which featured tours of several distances (the longest being 275 km!) and the option to ride either on Saturday or Sunday. I chose the Saturday and the 160 km distance. Basically all flat but good as recovery and to build up some endurance. My granfondo season is now coming closer, after all.

The event was quite well-hyped in the Flemish cyclo circuit, but having the much more established Shimano Fiets Challenge taking place only 50km away on the same weekend resulted in a rather moderate number of participants. A pity, because the event is well organised and has a pleasant course. They even managed to get some professionals to turn up and do the tour as training. Johan Van Summeren (Predictor-Lotto) and Kevin Hulsmans (Quickstep) joined the first group of riders who started at 8 a.m. Two hours later six more pros, including Roy Sentjens (Predictor Lotto, winner of the Flèche Brabançonne 2004), Gert Steegmans (Quickstep - Tom Boonen's lead-out man and multiple stage winner himself), Wim De Vocht (Predictor Lotto) and Sebastien Rosseler (Quickstep).

I joined four guys who rode a very solid pace from the start. They were doing the 120km and the fact that each participant's time was being registered ( as in the Amstel) clearly made them not wasting any time. We even did not stop at the first checkpoint. Eventually we caught up with eight other riders so we formed a little gruppetto. After a little climb in a forest, they turned left and I went straight for my 160km ambition. I joined four other guys. After we had chatted about La Marmotte, I took off on the longest climb of the day. That hill was followed by - surprise - a cobblestone stretch. As I hit it six riders suddenly rode past me: I immediately recognised Steegmans with five others in his wheel. I put a bigger gear on and attached my waggon. Steegmans, De Vocht, Rosseler, Sentjens and a guy from Cofidis and Landbouwkrediet-Colnago. Great!

For 60km I stayed in their wheels without too much trouble, the accelerations after every corner was the toughest bit. In fact, on two short climbs the Landbouwkrediet-rider got dropped. Too bad his director sportif wasn't following us :-) The six were joking about with De Vocht, Steegmans and Sentjens as protagonists in this department. Funny in some way was the last checkpoint. You don't always see established pros like Steegmans filling his own bidon and grabbing a waffle at some table on the edge of a meadow.

FACT SHEET:

Name: Bike Away
Date: 6 May 2007
Venue: Lommel, Belgium
Type: Cyclotour
Distance: 160km (flat)
Info: website
Even rating: 4/5
Pictures: Picasa album

Gerolstein - Some results

GEROLSTEIN - The second TOUR-Festival in Gerolstein was held in mainly wet and chilly conditions. The attendance was nevertheless respectable and can only hope that the organisers are luckier with the weather next year. Below are a few results (the online results are all age-class based, unfortunately). The radmarathon of 155km saw quite a few Benelux riders in the top 20.

Jeantex time trial - 30.1 km (630 hm)
Men:
1. Günter Hollige 52:44 (34,244 km/h)
2. Michael Göhner 52:48 (34,198 km/h)
3. Frank Lingnau 54:53 (32,906 km/h)
12. Alex Nikolopoulos 56:56 (31,715 km/h) (Frankfurt)
82. Gerhard Reutzel 1:03:35 (28, 403 km/h) (Frankfurt-Hofheim)
127. Manuel Schulz 1:06:08 (27,303 km/h) (Frankfurt)
225. Denis Hergert 1:20:04 (22, 551 km/h) (Frankfurt)

Women:
1. Annika Grüber 1:00:28 (29, 867 km/h)
2. Mechthild Gerhardt 1:03:54 (28, 258 km/h)
3. Inge Roersch 1:04:57 (27, 801 km/h)
18. Anna Wächtershäuser 1:16:13 (23, 690 km/h)

Marathon 101 km - (439 participants)
1. Marc Leischner 2:59:17 (33, 866 km/h)
2. Oliver Becker 2:59:43 (33, 785 km/h)
3. Joachim Krüger 3:01:14 (33, 500 km/h)
6. Cyril Monnet 3:08:57 (32, 134 km/h) (Frankfurt)
11. Alex Nikolopoulos 3:11:19 (31, 736 km/h) (Frankfurt)
52. Morten Hansen 3:25:48 (29, 502 km/h) (Frankfurt)

Marathon 155km
1. Günter Hollige 4:37:34 (33, 622 km/h)
2. Daniel Preiss 4:42:15 (33, 064 km/h)
3. Christian Fett 4:46:07 (32, 618 km/h)

Prestigio - GF Gimondi - Another victory for Rumsas

BERGAMO - Raimondas Rumsas remains the man to beat in the Italian granfondo circuit. The former Lithuanian pro also took victory in the GF Felice Gimondi in Bergamo last Sunday, edging Matteo Podesta and teammate David Timothy Jones by 12 seconds after 165km. The leading trio had a four minute advantage over a quintet, led by Andrea Ciavatti.

In the women's event Monica Bandini scored a win over Monia Gallucci.

There were over 5000 participants in Bergamo. Next weekend the Prestigio series continues with the Nove Colli in Cesenatico, the most popular event with 11000 riders.

TOUR Festival in Gerolstein: Cyril & Morten go for it

Two members of the ECB Cyclosports Team are heading to Gerolstein to participate in the TOUR-Festival this weekend. In particular, Morten will do the 'marathon' over 155 km and Cyril the 100km version.

The whole weekend - starting today with an individual time trial - will see a large number of cyclists in and around Gerolstein. Via the link on the left-hand side you can obtain all the info you need. It is still possible to register on the spot as well. Unfortunately, the weather forecast is not brilliant.

Morten is continuing his preparation for the Tour of Wessex in Wales at the end of the month, while Cyril will be hoping for a good result after a crash in the penultimate corner of the Henninger Turm race deprived him from a top 50 ranking.

The Gerolstein events are not included in the T-Mobile Cycling Tour.

T-Mobile Cycling Tour Update: Elin reigns after Göttingen

The T-Mobile Cycling Tour ranking has been updated with the results of Göttingen, the second race in the series that took place on 29 April. As expected, Elin Amundsen is on top of the female standings with an advantage of 15 points over Annika Grüber. However, when the points of the Frankfurt race are added, they will normally swap.

I'm finding myself in 8th place at the moment... soon I need to re-adjust my programme:-)!

T-Mobile rankings

KVDV's Race Report

01/05/07 - Frankfurt/Main - Rund um den Henninger Turm

Crash festival

Only two days after the tough event in Göttingen, the next race for the T-Mobile Cycling Tour was already on the agenda. Not just another race even, the Henninger Turm in our home base Frankfurt! As I had gone quite deep in Niedersachsen (see my race report), I was not overconfident for the 102km rush through the Taunus with some of its steepest climbs. On Monday I spent half an hour on the ergobike in the morning and another 1h15 on the race machine in the evening. That was probably not a bad idea as my legs felt loose on race day.

I've done every single Henninger cyclo race since 2002. The inaugural event was wet and I crashed on my knee with many others on a large oil spot in a descent off a Bundestrasse. The year after I surprised myself by finishing 55th. Then we had the apocalyptic edition of 2004: pouring rain all day. Intermediate times on Rupersthainberg put me around 35th spot when I slipped in the sharp corner to enter the long descent to Kelkheim. My rear wheel was badly damaged and the tyre flat. My love-hate relationship with this race continued in 2005. Forced to start in Block C I blew myself up entirely trying to get to the front before the climbing zone. I finished 175th or something like that. But last season I returned with a vengeance to conclude the race in 14th place!

Coming from Köln and Göttingen with satisfying results, I knew I had the legs to stick with the first group again. Still, the Taunus is unforgiving and the difference between 100% and 80% can make a hell lot of difference. As it turned out, I didn't have any major problems hanging in there with the fastest. The famous 20% stretch in Eppstein went 'fine'. However, as in Göttingen, I have to admit that's all I could do. Attacking or counter attacking did not come to my mind. A nasty crash of three, four riders in Glashütten forced me to put my foot on the ground and gave me some concern. The pace was quite high and standing still on a piece of false flat was not really ideal. It took until just at the foot of the steep Rupertshainsberg to get back to the leading group. In the nick of time! The climb was rock-hard, no point denying that. But I guess it was that way for everyone.

After Rupertshain it was fast downhill to Frankfurt City, with two bumps in Kelkheim to break the speed. Then the fun was over.

Masses of slower riders on the 'flat' 75km distance merged with our group of some 40-50 riders in Kelkheim. Surely it was unfortunate timing but this was wild. It was nearly impossible to distinguish who was with us and who wasn't! Upon entering the cobbled climb out there, it was simply a matter of too many riders on too narrow a road. In a reflex I personally jumped on the terrible footpath next to the cobbled street. I saw two fast guys crashing as they couldn't pass slower riders. On top, I accelerated but I had no clue where the leaders were. Somebody else hammered down in the descent and I followed. Brief, total confusion.

Luckily, we didn't have the feared inline skaters there at that moment...

Gradually our group got back together after a number of kilometres but now obviously also included 75km riders who were giving it a shot to follow our pace on the remaining flattish 40km. I sat comfortably in there with Cyril, who had joined us in the descent of Rupertshain. My main concern remained avoiding crashes. Because yes, every now and then you heard them around you. Entering the city there was a big one again in front of me. I hope all these people are okay because their crashes looked pretty bad! Needless to say it spoilt the fun.

Anyhow, as we passed the ECB's Eurotower and rode along the Main to Konstablerwache I took the lead on the bridge. I expected an attack on the sloping Darmstädter Landstrasse - where the pro race starts and finishes- and I thought I better be up front when that happens. There was no real attack, though, just an increase of pace. Then again down to the Main and via a cycling lane (!) filled with slower riders we headed back to Höchst. Taking the bridge towards the Main-Taunus Zentrum I took Cyril's wheel in about 15th place when suddenly two slow inline skaters appeared ahead of us! The poor woman was obviously shocked when riders going for victory were storming passed her left and right, some - like the guy pushing me to the left - narrowly avoiding a heavy collision. These escapades made me lose momentum and Cyril's wheel, but I just got it back in the penultimate 90 degree corner when... the guy ahead of Cyril missed his corner completely, went down and took Cyril with him! I slipped but did not tumble over them. My sprint was destroyed and after such a thriller I could not really be bothered to get myself up to speed again for the last 200 metres. Cyril, who was doing his best ever T-Mobile race, crossed the line afterwards, shaken, disappointed but unhurt.

Then we got an email from Gary Weir who returned from the Giro della Sardegna saying he did not witness a single crash all week.

These are my personal experiences of this year's race of course, but many other participants also complained and reported a large number of crashes. As mentioned above, the situation in Kelkheim may just be due to bad timing - but still. The organisers should try to find a solution to avoid these bottlenecks. The stretch from the City back to Höchst which partially went via a cycling path along the river is hard to imagine for someone who didn't experience it. The final kilometre around the MTZ is asking for trouble. And having skaters on the same roads is just not helping matters. It's such a shame as the course through the Taunus remains a highlight of the season.

The Henninger results to this day are still purely netto time based. This puts me in 46th spot, 18 seconds behind winner Stefan Rademacher (Team UGS), Cyril in 68th. The entire ECB team did a splendid job, the results can be found elsewhere on the blog. Only sad that Elin did not get what she deserved: third place on the podium. That was awarded to Reni Brunner due to the netto-time rule. Hopefully she will get the points for third place in the T-Mobile Cycling Tour ranking.

FACT SHEET:

Name: Henninger Turm
Date: 1 May 2007
Venue: Frankfurt/Main
Type: Race (T-Mobile Cycling Tour)
Distance: 102km (900hm)
My Result: 46/1440 (finishers), 2:34:40, avs 39.568
Info: website
Event rating: 1/5

Leon Van Bon beaten in Shimano Fiets Challenge

The self-proclaimed greatest cyclo of the Benelux, the Shimano Fiets Challenge in Vaals (NL), had a surprising outcome as experienced ProTour rider Leon Van Bon (Rabobank) got defeated in the sprint by Vosges-based Dutchman Michel Snel. The 150km was covered in 4:01:37 by a leading trio with Matthieu Heyboer completing the podium.

Snel is not an unknown in the cyclo circuit. He finished third in La Vosgienne last year, and was also the fastest in the time trial on the Ballon 'd Alsace last September. He's a member of the new Dutch Veltec Team Granfondo.

The women's event was dominated by Irene Van den Broek who had an advantage of over 11 minutes to finish in 4:24:27.

Unfortunately, the signalisation of the event was below standards and several riders exited the course involuntarily at some point.

Avoid the rain, go to Belgium!

Whereas the weather forecast for Hessen is not exactly brilliant for tomorrow, Belgium should still enjoy lots of sunshine this weekend. Last-minute deciders could check this cyclosportive/cyclotour out that takes place in Lommel: Bike Away

It is only the second edition of this much-hyped event and covers the entire weekend. That is: on Saturday you can choose to do the various available courses cyclosportive-style, with time registration and a ranking at the end. On Sunday it is purely cyclotour-style.

Two bunch starts are foreseen on Saturday: one at 8 a.m. for the 275km and 200km, and a second one at 10 a.m. for the 160km, 120km and shorter distances.

And last but not least: a number of Belgian professionals will line-up at the starting line as well! Gert Steegmans, the lead-out man for Tom Boonen at Quickstep, will join the 275km bunch start together with another Quickstepper Sebastien Rosseler.
At 10 a.m. Predictor-Lotto aces Johan Vansummeren, Roy Sentjens and Wim De Vocht will join the second bunch start.

Rumour has it on a Flemish forum that even Tom Boonen will turn up - with his bike ..

Motorcyclists will follow the event with cameras and video footage will be shown at the start/finish in Lommel after the event.

MTB - Lorenzo & Julia kick off season in style

SUNDERN HAGEN - Last Saturday Lorenzo and Julia Borghini started their MTB season with the first event in the Bike Sport News Marathon Trophy Series in Sundern Hagen. Despite the hot temperatures, Lorenzo had great legs and opted for the long distance race over 102 km (2500 hm) and did it in a great time of 5:04:33 to finish 113th. Julia went for the medio of 57km and came in 25th in 3:07:11. Everything certainly seems top with their current conditional level, as Lorenzo and Julia went on to deliver great results in last Tuesday's Henninger Turm road race as well! Lorenzo was 30th on the 63km and suprised everybody with his intermediate time on Rupertshainberg, while Julia was 21st and 2nd (!) in her age category on the 74km.





More information on the Bike Sport News Marathon Trophy
And here's the link to the Sundern Hagen event

KVDV's RACE REPORT:

29/04/07 - Göttingen, Niedersachsen
Tough but pleasant racing




Göttingen remains one of my favourite German races. Registration and overall organisation is hassle-free, the results are like you expect them to be, and the 80 km long course is bloody tough to race on! For my third participation I just had a simple target: reach the finish with the fastest group, something I failed to do last season (second group, rank 36). For half of the race it did not look good for me, but eventually I did manage to cross the line just inside the top 20! The netto-time rule as of rank 16 relegated me to rank 21, but alas.

While warming up, my front braking cable lost all its tension. That was quite shocking. I had cable issues after the Cologne race ... but at the rear, not at the front! By the time I had everything fixed and reliable again, starting block A was already quite filled up and I was forced to take up a position towards the back. No big deal, the first 3km are neutralised anyway. Yeah right: the pace up front was immediately so high gaps emerged everywhere. The chase was on straightaway! I could not even see the front riders and the pace was blistering. I took the wheels of three guys wearing Tui-jerseys. I remembered them from the Münster event last season and they seemed keen to make it to the front as quickly as possible, too. However, it really was easier said than done. It was not exactly pancake flat and there were a few passages through small villages. It took 7-8 kilometres before I passed ECB Cyclosports teammate Morten and a bit further I finally caught up with Elin.

The rush to the front cost me a lot of strength and on the long sloping road that followed I could not keep up with the first group of about 30 riders that was now clearly detaching itself from the rest of the peloton. I resisted for a while with a few others, but to no avail. The wind did not help neither and I was gasping for air. A second group of about ten riders closed up and included Elin. The Agapedia train for Elin's main competitor Annika Grüber also joined us.

The next ten to fifteen kilometres I just tried to get my act together. Meanwhile, I noticed Elin was stronger than Annika. I told her to save her energy for the last climb, Hoher Hagen at 12km before the finish. However, the two or three teammates of Annika did a superb job 'protecting' her and in fact it was last year's winner of the women's T-Mobile Tour who took off at Hoher Hagen and not Elin.

The pace in our group was high enough to catch up with the leading group just before the long climb of Bramwald. That was just in time. I immediately sneaked my way up the front of the group, where I had no problems with the climbing pace. In fact, I started feeling better and better. The group split up again and I was comfortable sitting in there. The rollercoaster ride towards Hoher Hagen did not bother me at all, but at Hoher Hagen itself I had to accept that following was all I could, and I had to dig very deep to do so. When we turned left into the descent I was knackered and luckily I caught the wheel of another Agapedia-rider. Yet the subsequent bumps killed me and I once again dropped off the group of about 20-25 riders. The truth is this was racing at its finest. I battled my way up the stretch of false flat and joined two guys who had suffered the same fate. Together we reconnected with the group a bit later. Then it was basically straight down the line.

Unlike in Köln, the rush to the finish was not obstructed by sharp corners or narrow streets and I decided to give it a shot. I positioned myself up front and started the sprint in the wheel of Stefan Rademacher, who would finish fifth, but someone forced me to pull to the right where I got a bit squeezed. I estimated I crossed the line around 15th place. I did not know three guys were actually ahead of us since Hoher Hagen, with Michael Rademacher of Team UGS beating Oliver Beerman and Nino Ackermann for the win.

It was tough going this race, but I'm genuinely satisfied. Göttingen gives us jedermänner a perfect opportunity to race in a pleasant atmosphere and without many concerns about safety. I can only recommend this event once again to everyone.

FACT SHEET:

Name: Tour d' Energie
Date: 29 April 2007
Venue: Göttingen
Type: Race (T-Mobile Cycling Tour)
Distance: 80km
Hm: 1060hm
My Result: Rank 21/1327 (f), 2:07:01 (netto, rank 10)
Info: website
Event rating: 5/5



PRESS: Göttinger Tagesblatt 30.04.07
http://www.goesf.de/fileadmin/Ergebnisliste/GT30-04-07_III.pdf

VIDEO COVERAGE - Finish 80km (a few slower riders of the 50km are in between)