Stage 1 Report
Italian
cyclist Giuseppe di Grande (Mapei) won the first stage
of the Tour of Romandie, contested between Kriegstetten
and Le Locle, over 167.3 kms. with British Chris
Boardman (Gan) holding the overall lead. Di Grande
made a great escape in the last kilometers of the
stage together with his compatriot Giuseppe Guerini,
which he beat in the sprint, finishing with a time of
4:54:12 at an average spped of 34.222 km/h. Di Grande
and Guerini came in with a six second advantage over
Dutch Michael Boogerd, who lead the group of all the
main riders, among them Boardman and Marco Pantani
amongst others, who came in 8 seconds later. The
strong tempo imposed by Mapei in the second half of
the stage on the second climb at La Sagne helped Di
Grande and Guerini's attack, both of whom were able to
reach the finish line with a small advantage. In the
attack, some of the important riders of the race were
dropped, like Festina's Laurent Dufaux and Richard
Virenque, who came in two minutes behind and Swiss
Pascal Richard, who lost more than five minutes, while
Boardman admitted to have suffered more than expected,
but he fought enough to retain the leader's jersey.
British cyclist Chris Boardman retained his overall lead after the first stage
of the
Tour of Romandy here on Wednesday but admitted it had been a struggle.
The 23-year-old Sicilian Giuseppe Di Grande led home an Italian one-two in a
sprint finish with Giuseppe Guerini after
they broke away in the last part of the 167.3km stage leaving Dutchman
Michael Boogerd to finish third six seconds off the
pace.
The 28-year-old Boardman, the hour world record holder, leads Dutch veteran
Eric Breukink by two seconds after
winning Tuesday's prologue but was pessimistic about his chances of holding
on.
"I really suffered a lot out there to retain my leader's green jersey,"
Boardman said.
Boardman was not alone among the race favourites to suffer as both Laurent
Dufaux and Richard Virenque finished down
the peloton over two minutes behind, while Switzerland's Olympic champion
Pascal Richard, returning after recovering
from a broken pelvis, was over five minutes behind.
1. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Saeco 4.21.46
2. Mario Traversoni (Ita) Mercatone Uno
3. Fabio Baldato (Ita) MG-Technogym
4. Sven Teutenberg (Ger) US Postal
5. Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank
6. Mario Manzoni (Ita) Roslotto
7. Zbigniew Spruch (Pol) Mapei
8. Giuseppe Tartaggia (Ita) Batik
9. Gabriele Colombo (Ita) Batik
10. Paolo Lanfranchi (Ita) Mapei
11. Alexei Sivakov (Rus) Roslotto
12. Gabriele Missaglia (Ita) Mapei
13. Andrea Noe (Ita) Asics
14. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Roslotto
15. Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal all s.t.
16. Boogerd (Ned)
17. Aebersold (Swi)
18. Peron (Ita)
19. Chassot (Swi).
21. Baffi (Ita)
25. Scirea (Ita)
26. Bettini (Ita)
27. D. Rebellin (Ita)
28. Di Grande (Ita)
35. Zaina (Ita)
41. Valoti (Ita)
44. Guerini (Ita)
51. Coppolillo (Ita)
53. Gotti (Ita)
56. Petito (Ita)
58. Barbagli (Ita)
Overall after Stage 2:
1. Chris Boardman (GB) Gan 9.26.04
2. Erik Breukink (Ned) Rabobank 0.02
3. Dariusz Baranovski (Pol) US Postal 0.03
4. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Roslotto 0.04
5. Giuseppe Guerini (Ita) Polti 0.05
6. Johan Bruyneel (Bel) Rabobank 0.06
7. Peter Meinert-Nielsen (Den) US POstal 0.09
8. Giuseppe Di Grande (Ita) Mapei s.t.
9. Wjatscheslaw Jekimow (Rus) US Postal 0.14
10. Beat Zberg (Swi) Mercatone Uno 0.15
11. Gabriele Colombo (Ita) Batik 0.16
12. Tony Rominger (Swi) Cofidis 0.17
13. Pavel Tonkow (Rus) Mapei 0.18
14. Roberto Petito (Ita) Saeco 0.19
15. David Plaza (Spa) Cofidis 0.20
16. Bogeerd (Ned) 0.22
17. Meier (Swi)
18. Garcia Casas (Spa) 0.25
19. Peron (Ita) 0.26
20. Shefer (Kaz) 0.27
21. Faresin (Ita) 0.28
23. D. Rebellin (Ita) 0.31
24. Noe (Ita) 0.32
25. Simoni (Ita) 0.33
26. Donati (Ita) 0.36
28. Zaina (Ita)
31. Gotti (Ita) 0.39
32. Coppolillo (Ita) 0.44
37. Pantani (Ita) 0.58
41. Pellicioli (Ita) 1.02
43. Gasperoni (Ita) 1.16
45. Fil. Casagrande (Ita) 1.19
46. Bettini (Ita) 1.23
47. Cenghialta (Ita) 1.30
Stage 2 Report
Mario Cipollini led an Italian sweep of the first three places on the
second stage of the Tour of Romandie on Thursday, but it was a bad day for
compatriot Claudio Chiappucci who was not
allowed to start after a failing a blood test.
Cipollini claimed the 173km stage from Le Locle to Estavayer-le-lac in an
exciting sprint, crossing two bike lengths ahead of
the charging pack in a time of four hours 21 minutes 46 seconds.
He was followed across the line by two of his countrymen, Mario Traversoni in
second and Fabio Baldato third.
World hour record holder, Chris Boardman of Britain retained the leader's green
jersey, crossing 22nd in the same time as the
winner.
He has a two second advantage over Dutchman Erik Breukink.
1. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Saeco 4.36.40
2. Jan Svorada (Cze) Mapei
3. Massimo Strazzer (Ita) Roslotto
4. Gianmatteo Fagnini (Ita) Saeco
5. Adriano Baffi (Ita) US Postal
6. Mario Traversoni (Ita) Mercatone
7. Francois Simon (Fra) Gan
8. Gianluca Valoti (Ita) Polti
9. Fabio Baldato (Ita) MG
10. Mirko Rossato (Ita) Scrigno all s.t.
11. Andrea Noe (Ita) Asics
12. Sven Teutenberg (Ger) US Postal
13. Enrico Cassani (Ita) Polti
14. Roland Meier (Swi) Post Swiss Team
15. Fabian De-Waele (Bel) Lotto all s.t.
Overall:
1. Erik Breukink (Ned) Rabobank 14.02.34
2. Chris Boardman (Gbr) Gan 0.01
3. Dariusz Baranowski (Pol) US Postal 0.04
4. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Roslotto 0.05
5. Giuseppe Guerini (Ita) Polti 0.06
6. Johan Bruyneel (Bel) Rabobank 0.07
7. Peter Meinert-Nielsen (Den) US Postal 0.10
8. Giuseppe Di Grande (Ita) Mapei s.t.
9. Viatcheslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal 0.15
10. Beat Zberg (Swi) Mercatone 0.16
11. Gabriele Colombo (Ita) Batik 0.17
12. Tony Rominger (Swi) Cofidis 0.18
13. Pavel Tonkow (Rus) Mapei 0.19
14. Roberto Petito (Ita) Saeco 0.20
15. David Plaza (Spa) Cofidis 0.21
Stage 3 Report
Italy's Mario Cipollini overcame a snow storm and a tightly bunched field to
win the weather-shortened third stage of the Tour of Romandie on Friday.
Cipollini was timed at four hours 36 minutes 40 seconds around the 161 kilometre
stage from Estavayer-le-lac to Monthey th0.had shortened 10km because of the
bad weather.
The Italian outsprinted Jan Svorada of the Czech Republic and compatriot
Massimo Strazzer, who finished third, to claim his
second straight stage win.
Erik Breukink of the Netherlands snatched the green leader's jersey from
Britain's Chris Boardman who had worn it since
More
Already winner of the second stage, Mario Cipollini wins in
a sprint under a tremendous rain also stage 3 close in front of
Jan Svorada.
Because of very bad weather conditions the route had to be changed.
The riders couldn't pass the Col des Mosses at an altitude of 1452
meters, since it snowed too much.
The bad weather didn't hinder Dutchman Erik Breuking to take three
seconds to Chris Boardman in an intermediate sprint. Thanks to this
bonification, he is now the new leader of the Tour de Romandie.
To remark, that Marco Pantani and Luc Leblanc, both considered as
favorites for the final overall, have given up the race, probably to
prevent from health problems shortly before the Tour of Italy, which
begins in a week.
And More
Italian
Marco Cipollini (Saeco) achieved his second stage
victory in the Tour of Romandie, when he won the
sprint of the third stage, disputed over 161 kms.
between Estavayer and Monthey, while Dutchman Erik
Breukink (Rabobank) became the new overall leader due
to the bonus seconds. Cipollini won by only a few
centimeters over Jan Svorada (Mapei) and compatiot
Massimo Strazzer (Roslotto). Thirty three year old
Breukink, who won his last race, four seasons ago, was
able to put on the leader's jersey thanks to the
intermediate bonuses. An event th0.stands out in this
stage happened at km. 17, when the riders stopped
riding because of the excessive wind th0.was blowing
which made the normal development of the stage
impossible, forcing the judges to change the route of
the stage. The organization went along with the
cyclists' petiton and deviated the peloton by another
road where the wind wasn't as intense. This change
made the stage shorter than previously planned.
Another Stage 3 Report
Italian sprint specialist Mario Cipollini won his second successive stage of
the Tour of Romandy here on Friday though the peloton had to shelter from a
four minute hailstorm.
The 30-year-old Cipollini, known as the 'Italian Stallion' for his playboy
image despite since getting married, won the third stage in a tight sprint
finish overhauling Czech Jan Svorada and another Italian Massimo Strazzer --
Dutchman Erik Breukink took the leader's green jersey and leads previous holder
Chris Boardman by a second.
"I timed it perfectly hiding in the peloton with 150 metres to go and then I
pounced," Cipollini said.
The 33-year-old Breukink, third in the 1990 Tour de France, was pleased to
be in the lead but was more concerned with the weather conditions which had
forced the peloton to take cover under a bridge, after only going 17km, during
a four minute hailstorm.
"It wasn't a great day because of the appalling weather conditions but it's
still good to have taken the overall lead at a bonus sprint as I thought Chris
might do well at those," Breukink said.
The weather was so bad that the organisers shortened the course by a dozen
kilometres though it didn't stop two of the leading riders Frenchman Luc
Leblanc and Marco Pantani of Italy retiring.
Their retirements had more to do with avoiding injury ahead of the Tour of
Italy which starts in just over a week.
1. Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei 4.23.02
2. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Francaise des jeux 0.34
3. Giuseppe Guerini (Ita) Polti s.t.
4. Gilberto Simoni (Ita) MG-Technogym 0.48
5. Beat Zberg (Sui) Mercatone Uno s.t.
6. Andrej Teteriuk (Kaz) Lotto 1.00
7. Alexander Chefer (Kaz) Asics s.t.
8. Pascal Herve (Fra) Festina 1.17
9. Giuseppe Di-Grande (Ita) Mapei 1.48
10. Filippo Simeoni (Ita) Asics
11. Chris Boardman (Gbr) GAN
12. Mauro Gianetti (Sui) Francaise des jeux
13. Peter Meinert (Den) US Postal
14. Oscar Pelliccioli (Ita) Mercatone Uno all s.t.
15. Ivan Gotti (Ita) SAECO 2.39
39. Erik Breukink (Ned) Rabobank 11.00
Overall after Stage 4:
1. Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei 18.25.54
2. Giuseppe Guerini (Ita) Polti 0.27
3. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Francaise des jeux 0.51
4. Beat Zberg (Sui) Mercatone Uno 0.55
5. Gilberto Simoni (Ita) MG-Technogym 1.09
6. Alexander Chefer (Kaz) Asics 1.19
7. Andrej Teteriuk (Kaz) Lotto 1.20
8. Chris Boardman (Gbr) GAN 1.40
9. Peter Meinert (Den) US Postal 1.49
10. Giuseppe Di-Grande (Ita) Mapei s.t.
11. Pascal Herve (Fra) Festina 1.55
12. Mauro Gianetti (Sui) Francaise des jeux 2.28
13. Oscar Pelliccioli (Ita) Mercatone Uno 2.42
14. Vjatscheslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal 2.59
15. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 3.07
33. Erik Breukink (Ned) Rabobank 10.51
Stage 4 Report
Russia's Pavel Tonkov proved his fitness to defend his Giro d'Italia crown by
claiming the fourth stage of the Tour of Romandie on Saturday.
Tonkov, who broke a finger in a training crash on January 4 and his wrist in
another spill during the Tour of the Basque country in March, looked fully recovered as he powered away from the field on the last
eight kilometres of a tortuous climb to Veysonnaz.
It was a dominating performance by the Russian, who finished 34 seconds clear
of Italy's Davide Rebellin and Giuseppe Guerini.
``This was a test for my left wrist, which I think is still fractured,'' said
Tonkov, after the 149.4 km stage. ``This victory allows
me to look positively ahead towards the Giro d'Italia.''
Tonkov gained overall leadership with one stage on Sunday remaining.
1. Mario Cipollini (Ita) Saeco 1.31.47
2. Adriano Baffi (Ita) US Postal
3. Mario Manzoni (Ita) Roslotto
4. Fabio Baldato (Ita) MG-Technogym
5. Gabriele Missaglia (Ita) Mapei
6. Filippo Casagrande (Ita) Scrigno
7. Gianmatteo Fagnini (Ita) Saeco
8. Scott Sunderland (Aus) GAN
9. Andrea Noe (Ita) Asics
10. Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank all s.t.
Overall after Stage 5:
1. Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei 19.57.41
2. Giuseppe Guerini (Ita) Polti 0.27
3. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Francaise des Jeux 0.51
4. Beat Zberg (Sui) Mercatone Uno 0.55
5. Gilberto Simoni (Ita) MG-Technogym 1.09
6. Alexander Chefer (Kaz) Asics 1.19
7. Andrej Teteriuk (Kaz) Lotto 1.20
8. Chris Boardman (Gbr) GAN 1.40
9. Peter Meinert (Den) US Postal 1.49
10. Giuseppe Di-Grande (Ita) Mapei s.t.
11. Pascal Herve (Fra) Festina 1.55
12. Mauro Gianetti (Sui) Francaise des Jeux 2.28
13. Oscar Pelliccioli (Ita) Mercatone Uno 2.42
14. Vjatscheslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal 2.59
15. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 3.07
1. Chris Boardman (Gbr) GAN 24.10
2. Vjatscheslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal 0.17
3. Erik Breuking (Ned) Rabobank 0.36
4. Johan Bruyneel (Bel) Rabobank 0.39
5. Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 0.50
6. Michael Blaudzun (Den) Rabobank 0.51
7. Toni Rominger (Sui) Cofidis 0.52
8. Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei 0.55
9. Peter Meinert (Den) US Postal 0.59
10. Andrea Peron (Ita) Francaise des Jeux 1.00
11. Andrej Teteriuk (Kaz) Lotto 1.01
12. Alexei Sivakov (Rus) Roslotto 1.02
13. Beat Zberg (Sui) Mercatone Uno 1.04
14. Roland Meier (Sui) Post Swiss Team 1.08
15. Dariusz Baranowski (Pol) US Postal 1.09
16. Bruno Boscardin (Sui) Festina 1.10
Final Overall :
1. Pavel Tonkov (Rus) Mapei 20.21.41
2. Chris Boardman (Gbr) GAN 0.45
3. Beat Zberg (Sui) Mercatone Uno 1.04
4. Andrej Teteriuk (Kaz) Lotto 1.27
5. Giuseppe Guerini (Ita) Polti 1.42
6. Peter Meinert (Den) US Postal 1.54
7. Davide Rebellin (Ita) Francaise des Jeux 2.08
8. Gilberto Simoni (Ita) MG-Technogym 2.16
9. Vjatscheslav Ekimov (Rus) US Postal 2.21
10. Alexander Chefer (Kaz) Asics 2.23
11. Giuseppe Di-Grande (Ita) Mapei 2.43
12. Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 3.47
13. Pascal Herve (Fra) Festina 3.56
14. Mauro Gianetti (Sui) Francaise des Jeux 4.24
15. Felix Garcia Cassas (Esp) Festina 4.30
16. Ivan Gotti (Ita) Saeco 4.35
17. Dariusz Baranowski (Pol) US Postal 4.54
18. Oscar Pelliccioli (Ita) Mercatone Uno 5.00
19. Roland Meier (Sui) Post Swiss Team 5.27
20. Filippo Simeoni (Ita) 6.16
21. Andrea Noe (Ita) Asics 6.24
22. Michele Coppolillo (Ita) MG-Technogym 6.48
23. Laurent Dufaux (Sui) Festina 6.51
24. Richard Virenque (Fra) Festina 7.00
25. Roberto Conti (Ita) Mercatone Uno 7.05
26. Fabian Jeker (Sui) Festina 7.34
27. Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Roslotto 7.57
28. Toni Rominger (Sui) Cofidis 8.11
29. Alexander Moos (Sui) Saeco 9.03
30. Enrico Zaina (Ita) Asics 9.50
31. Laurent Madouas (Fra) Lotto 10.25
32. Erik Breuking (Ned) Rabobank 10.32
33. Andrea Peron (Ita) Francaise des Jeux 11.23
34. David Plaza (Spa) Cofidis 11.58
35. Frederic Bessy (Fra) Casino 12.42
36. Piotr Ugrumov (Rus) Roslotto 13.21
37. Cristian Gasperoni (Ita) Scrigno 13.26
38. Armin Meier (Sui) Batik 13.34
39. Michael Blaudzun (Den) Rabobank 15.05
40. Bobby Julich (Usa) Cofidis 15.08
Special Classifications
Points:
1. Cipollini (Ita) Saeco 63 points
2. Tonkov (Rus) Mapei 44
3. Guerini (Ita) Polti 36
4. Di Grande (Ita) Mapei 32
5. Teaversoni (Ita) Mercatone Uno 30
GP of Mountains:
1. Madouas (Fra) Lotto 23 points
2. Aebersold (Sui) Swiss Post Team 18
3. Garcia Casas (Esp) Festina 12
4. Tonkov (Rus) Mapei 11
5. Petito (Ita) Saeco 8
6. Guerini (Ita) Polti 8
Final Report
Russia's Pavel Tonkov held off Britain's Chris Boardman to win the Tour of
Romandie on Sunday.
Boardman, the hour world record holder, claimed the fifth and final stage, a
21.7 km time trial, in a time of 24 minutes 10 seconds but could not overcome
the lead Tonkov had built up in the mountains on Saturday.
Tonkov was eighth, 54 seconds behind Boardman, but it was enough to give him a
45 seconds win over the Briton and his fourth Tour win.
The day began with Italy's Mario Cipollini winning the first half of the fifth
stage, a 69.3 km sprint from Montreux to Nyon.
Cipollini was followed home by countrymen Adriano Baffi and Mario Manzoni, the
entire field finishing in the same time as the winner.
The victory confirms Tonkov's fitness ahead of the defence of his Giro d'Italia
title.
He broke a finger in a training crash in January and his wrist in another spill
during the Tour of the Basque country in March.