17th Tour de Maroc - 2.5

Morocco, April 2-15, 2001

Stage list      Teams

The Stages

  • Stage 1 - April 2: Rabat-Meknès, 138 km
  • Stage 2 - April 3: Souk El Arbaa-Tanger, 160 km
  • Stage 3 - April 4: Tanger-Tétouan, 140 km
  • Stage 4 - April 5: Ouazzane-Fès, 138 km
  • Stage 5 - April 6: Fès-Khénifra, 162 km
  • Stage 6 - April 7: Khénifra-Beni Mellal, 130 km
  • Stage 7 - April 8: Beni Mellal-Marrakech, 198 km
    Rest day in Marrakech
  • Stage 8 - April 10: Marrakech-Agadir, 151 km
  • Stage 9 - April 11: Agadir-Essaouira, 173 km
  • Stage 10 - April 12: ITT Essaouira-Ounara-Essaouira, 49 km
  • Stage 11 - April 13: Essaouira-Safi, 147 km
  • Stage 12 - April 14: Safi-El Jadida, 157 km
  • Stage 13 - April 15: El Jadida-Casablanca, 150 km

Preview

Tour de Maroc is back after eight years, a race that, together with the Tour of Algeria, once was an important preparation for the European amateur season with many top amateurs riding it each year. Nevertheless local star Mohamed El Gourch managed to win it three times in the early sixties. The field is quite impressing compared to other North African events with several second division teams.

The teams

Selle Italia-Pacific                  Glud & Marstrand Horsens
St-Quentin-Oktos                      Amore & Vita
Atlas-Lukullus                        Ficonseils-RCC Conseils Assurances
Marco Polo CC                         Algeria
Bulgaria                              Czech Republic
Egypt                                 Germany
New Zealand MTB/Marco Polo mix        Russia
South Africa                          Tunisia
Turkey                                Morocco A
Morocco B

Stage 1 - April 2: Rabat - Meknès, 138 km

The first major attempt came at the top of the Aïn El Jouhra when five riders left the peloton behind. He group disintegrated however and with 14 kilometres left to the finish in Meknès Balliani (Ita) and Bollmanne (Ger) were left at the front and they almost made it. With only a couple of hundred metres to the line they were caught. The Italian even managed to roll in as third on the stage now won by Estonian Andrus Aug ahead of New Zealander Glen Mitchell.

1 Andrus Aug (Est) Amore & Vita
2 Glen Mitchell (NZl)
3 Fortunato Baliani (Ita) Selle Italia-Pacific

Stage 2 - April 3: Souk El Arbaa - Tanger, 160 km

More or less at the gun two locals, Mouhcine Rhaïli and Brahim Lachab, attacked and Brendon Vesty of New Zealand tagged along. The trio worked well together but at the Jemaât Khémiss Sahel climb, with 73 kilometres to go, the group fell apart and with 32 kms to go Mouhcine Rhaïli was the last man to be caught. The sprint went to Colombia and Selle Italia's John Fredy Garcia.

1 John Fredy Garcia (Col) Selle Italia-Pacific         4.17.04
2 Stéphane Grémaud (Swi) Ficonseils-RCC Conseils 
3 René Obst (Ger)

General classification after stage 2

1 Andrus Aug (Est) Amore & Vita 
2 John Fredy Garcia (Col) Selle Italia-Pacific  
3 Fortunato Baliani (Ita) Selle Italia-Pacific    

Stage 3 - April 4: Tanger-Tétouan, 140 km

1 Dimitri Galkin (Rus)                                 3.15.47
2 Slavomir Kohout (Pol) Amore & Vita                      0.01
3 Nicolas White (RSA) South Africa

General classification after stage 3

1 Slovomir Kohout (Pol) Amore & Vita          

Teams classification

1 Atlas Lukulus                                       32.04.40
2 Selle Italia Pacific                                    0.02
3 Amore & Vita                                            0.17

Stage 4 - April 5: Ouazzane-Fès 138 km

Sapa and Eddayif managed to get a gap and since none of them are seriously involved in the overall classification the peloton let them duel for the stage win.

1 Marcin Sapa (Pol) Atlas Lukullus
2 Tayeb Eddaiyf (Mar) Morocco A


General classification after stage 4

1 Slovomir Kohout (Pol) Amore & Vita          

Points classification

1 John Fredy Garcia (Col) Selle Italia-Pacific

Climbers classification

1 Nicolas White (RSA) South Africa

Stage 5 - April 6: Fès-Khénifra, 162 km

1 Nathan Dahlberg (NZl) New Zealand MTB/Marco Polo     4.13.10
2 Frederic Lecroisnier (Fra) Saint Quentin - Oktos        1.04
3 Jacques Leroux (RSA) South Africa


General classification after stage 5

1 Nathan Dahlberg (NZl) New Zealand MTB/Marco Polo

Points classification

1 John Fredy Garcia (Col) Selle Italia-Pacific  
 
Climbers classification

1 Fortunato Baliani (Ita) Selle Italia-Pacific    

Stage 6 - April 7: Khénifra-Beni Mellal, 130 km

Moroccoan Regragui and German Harry Trumheller was the day's echapistes as they took off early to build a lead of 3.07 with 25 kilometres left to ride. The peloton however caught them with only two kilomtres to go. Atlas-Lukullus' Marek Maciejewski won the sprint with Nathan Dahlberg still in the leader's jersey.

1 Marek Maciejewski (Pol)Atlas-Lukullus                2.58.29
      

General classification after stage 6

1 Nathan Dahlberg (NZl) New Zealand MTB/Marco Polo

Stage 7 - April 8: Beni Mellal-Marrakech, 198 km

At the summit of Jemaït Imdaline, with 76 kilometres to go, the peloton was split in three but regrouped on the following flats and this the longest stavge ended in a bunch sprint with Estonian Andrus Aug taking his second stage win in mythic Marrakech.

1. Andrus Aug (Est) Amore & Vita                       4.15.25
2. Piotr Zaradny (Pol) Atlas-Lukullus
3. Nicolas White (RSA) South Africa


General classification after stage 7

1 Nathan Dahlberg (NZl) New Zealand MTB/Marco Polo

Points classification

1 Andrus Aug (Est) Amore & Vita  
 
Climbers classification

1 Fortunato Baliani (Ita) Selle Italia-Pacific

Stage 8 - April 10: Marrakech-Agadir, 151 km

After the rest day in Marrakech the cyclists headed towards the coast facing cold winds and the rest continued on wheels. Despite a couple of climbs no serious efforts were made along the way. An attack at the highest climb of the day at Abdelmoumen won the Russian Galkin the mountain prime but soon after the peloton once again rolled on towars the tourist resort Agadir at the atlantic coast. Amore & Vita's Estonian Andrus Aug strengthened his grip on the green points jersey by winning the stage narrowly ahead of Piotr Zaradny, Atlas-Lukullus.

1. Andrus Aug (Est) Amore & Vita
2. Piotr Zaradny (Pol) Atlas-Lukullus 
2. Chalnier Stetoslov (Bul) Bulgaria

General classification after stage 8:

1 Nathan Dahlberg (NZl) New Zealand MTB/Marco Polo

Points classification

1 Andrus Aug (Est) Amore & Vita  
 
Climbers classification

1 Fortunato Baliani (Ita) Selle Italia-Pacific

Stage 9 - April 11: Agadir-Essaouira, 173 km

Three climbs, but most of all tough and cold winds were the difficulties of the day. Some minor attacks, from Swiss Maillard and Moroccan Bilal came to nothing although the latter had 3.30 as most but it was still early on. Nex to try his luck was Lecroisnier of St Quentin and he was caught only some kilometers from the finish in the town of Essaouira. So once again a bunch sprint. And once again victory for Andrus Aug.

1. Andrus Aug (Est) Amore & Vita                   4.43.13
2. Piotr Zaradny (Pol) Atlas-Lukullus
3. John Fredy Garcia (Col) Selle Italia-Pacific

General classification after stage 9:

1 Nathan Dahlberg (NZl) New Zealand MTB/Marco Polo

Points classification

1 Andrus Aug (Est) Amore & Vita  
 
Climbers classification

1 Fortunato Baliani (Ita) Selle Italia-Pacific

Stage 10 - April 12: ITT Essaouira-Ounara-Essaouira, 40 km

1. Marcin Sapa (Pol) Atlas-Lukullus                1.08.34
2. Nicolas White (RSA) South Africa                   0.02
3. Dimitri Galkin (Rus)                               0.35
4. Przemyslaw Mikolajczyk (Pol) Atlas-Lukullus        1.12
5. Slawomir Kohut (Pol) Amore & Vita                  2.05

8. Abdelaâti Saadoune (Mar)                           3.54

General classification after stage 10:

1 Nathan Dahlberg (NZl) New Zealand MTB/Marco Polo

Points classification

1 Andrus Aug (Est) Amore & Vita  
 
Climbers classification

1 Fortunato Baliani (Ita) Selle Italia-Pacific

Stage 11 - April 13: Essaouira-Safi, 147 km

The eleventh stage, 147 kms, from Essaouira-Safi Hot was hot with heavy and shifting winds. The peloton was intact most of the way and Pole Zaradny won the sprint and also won the green points jersey.

1. Piotr Zaradny (Pol) Atlas-Lukullus      4.13.22
2. John Fredy Garcia (Col) Selle Italia-Pacific  
3. Marcin Lewandowski (Pol) Atlas-Lukullus


General classification after stage 11:

1 Nathan Dahlberg (NZl) New Zealand MTB/Marco Polo

Points classification

1 Piotr Zaradny (Pol) Atlas-Lukullus   
  
Climbers classification

1 Fortunato Baliani (Ita) Selle Italia-Pacific  

Stage 12 - April 14: Safi-El Jadida-Casablanca

Two riders, Moroccoan Bilal and Seele Italia's Italian Degli'Innocenti made a break-away and had more than five minutes to the peloton with 28 kilometres to the finish in El Jadida but the duo was caught with only four kilometres remaining to the disappointment of the home crows still waiting for a local stage win. Now Zaradny took his second stage in a row ahead of countryman Lemandowsky.

The race was visited by Tour de France managing director Jean-Luc Leblanc who was impressed by the organization. He suggested however that the race should chose date allowing an even stronger field since April is an important period of the European season.

1. Piotr Zaradny (Pol) Atlas-Lukullus       4.56.05
2. Marcin Lewandowski (Pol) Atlas-Lukullus    
3. Chanlier Stetsolov (Bul) Bulgaria

General classification after stage 12:

1 Nathan Dahlberg (NZl) New Zealand MTB/Marco Polo

Points classification

1 Piotr Zaradny (Pol) Atlas-Lukullus   
  
Climbers classification

1 Fortunato Baliani (Ita) Selle Italia-Pacific  

Stage 13 - April 15: El Jadida-Casablanca, 150 km

Estonian Andrus Aug won the final stage in Casablanca of the tour of Morocco ahead of Pole Zaradny who thus defended the green points jersey that he took from the Estonian two days before.

1. Andrus Aug (Est) Amore & Vita                 4.24.46
2. Piotr Zaradny (Pol) Atlas-Lukullus      
3. John Fredy Garcia (Col) Selle Italia-Pacific  

Final general classification:

1 Nathan Dahlberg (NZl) Marco Polo                48.52.52
2 Fortunato Baliani (Ita) Selle Italia                1.45
3 Marcin Lewandowski (Pol) Atlas Lukullus             2.28
4 Jan Sipeky (Svk) De Nardi                           3.16
5 Andrei Ptchelkine (Rus)                             3.44
6 Jacques Le Roux (RSA)                               5.10
7 Nicholas White (RSA) HSBC                           5.14
8 Stig Dam (Den) Glud & Marstrand Horsens             5.44
9 Przemyszlaw Mikolajczyk (Pol) Atlas Lukullus        6.34
10 Frédéric Lecrosnier (Fra) Saint-Quentin - Oktos    7.19
11 Marcin Sapa (Pol) Atlas Lukullus                  10.40
12 Ivan Terenine (Rus)                               11.33
13 Vadim Kravchenko (Kaz)                            11.55
14 Serguey Lavrinenko (Kaz)                          11.56
15 Tayeb Ed Daif (Mar)                               12.03
16 Slawomir Kohut (Pol) Amore e Vita                 13.01
17 Piotr Zaradny (Pol) Atlas Lukullus                13.05
18 René Obst (Ger)                                   17.04
19 Jhon Freddy Garcia (Col) Selle Italia             17.49
20 Morten Pedersen (Den) Glud & Marstrand Horsens    18.41
21 Ruber Alveiro Marin (Col) Selle Italia            18.49
22 Ahmed M.Raihi (Tun)                               19.36
23 Dimitri Pavi Degl.Innocenti (Ita) Selle Italia    19.56
24 Brian Larsen (Den) Glud & Marstrand Horsens       20.49
25 Andrus Aug (Est Amore e Vita                      22.21
26 Fares Allik (Alg)                                 22.55
27 Mert Mutlu (Tur)                                  23.52
28 Dmitri Galkin (Rus)                               25.29
29 Morne Bester (RSA) IBM Lotus                      25.31
30 Csaba Szekeres (Hun) Selle Italia                 27.25
31 Jérôme Desjardins (Fra) Saint-Quentin - Oktos     28.41
32 Nevzatt Kiral (Tur)                               29.29
33 Abdelatif Saadoune (Mar)                          29.51
34 Omar Slimane Zitoune (Alg)                        29.54
35 Vincent Templier Saint-Quentin - Oktos            30.25
36 Brendon Vesty (NZl) Navigators                    31.03
37 Laurent Paumier (Fra) Saint-Quentin - Oktos       31.27
38 Glen Anthony Mitchell (NZl)                       32.33
39 Jacob Gram Nielsen (Den) Glud & Marstrand Horsens 33.25
40 Hassan Malekimizan (Tur) 
41 Mikhail Mikheev (Rus)                             34.18
42 Arv Hvam (Dan Glud & Marstrand Horsens            34.34
43 Sébastien Laroche (Fra) Ville de Charleroi        35.00
44 Riadh Baatout (Tun)                               36.03
45 David Chassot (Swi) Ficonseils                    36.39
46 Harry Trumheller (Ger)                            36.49
47 Markus Kammermann (Swi) Ficonseils                36.51
48 Merouane El Farouki (Mar)                         36.55
49 Marek Maciejewski (Pol) Atlas Lukullus            38.11
50 Stetoslav Chanliev (Bul)                          38.23

Courtesy of Stephane David

Points classification

1 Piotr Zaradny (Pol) Atlas-Lukullus   
  
Climbers classification

1 Fortunato Baliani (Ita) Selle Italia-Pacific