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Amstel Curaçao Race - NE
Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles, November 5, 2006
2005 Results Results Past winners
Valverde wins as Dekker bids farewell to cycling
Once again Curaçao was the host of the Amstel Curaçao Race. In the fifth edition Erik Dekker competed for the last time as a cyclist.
After the race Dekker looked emotionally untouched, but at night, during the party that race director Leo van Vliet held for his countryman, Erik showed his emotions. The NOS, the Dutch national TV station, had made a documentary about Dekker, that was shown to the audience. After that Mart Smeets, anchorman of the Dutch TV show Studio Sport, addressed the crowd, while Erik Dekker, with wife and son, was at the podium. An impressive firework display was the end of the official party and the beginning of the after party. A Caribbean party at the famous Mambo beach club.
The race was neutralised by UCI commissioner Martin Bruyn and race director Leo van Vliet for the first 20 kilometers. A local shower made the Caribbean asphalt so slippery that it was too dangerous to continue. Directly after the restart Alejandro Valverde took off. Erik Dekker reacted. The two got company from Frank Schleck and local hero Johan van den Berg. Van den Berg, a second year bicycle racer and medalist at the Caribbean championships, impressed again, but blew up his engine after doing turns with the pros.
At the finish line the break away group, just made it, before a second group, and Valverde won the sprint, ahead of Schleck and Dekker. The winner of the Pro Tour was too fast. If Schleck had won, he would have become the second rider to have won both Amstel races (Amstel Gold race and the Amstel Curaçao Race), and the first one to have done so in the same year. Valverde was exhausted in his second outing at the 87 kilometer race. "Everybody thinks that it is an easy short race, but we need to go to the limit, every time again, in this climate".
One of the competitors was Francesco Moser. Moser could keep up with the present pros for a long time and eventually finished 28th.
Dekker was not the only person to be honored during the after party. The initiator and race director was decorated by the Curaçao Tourism Board for bringing this race to the island for the fifth time. In the past five years Curaçao has become the cycling capital of the Caribbean. In this period, Curaçao hosted the Caribbean road race championship, a mountain bike world cup and five Amstel Curaçao Races.
The Amstel Curaçao Race is the only road race where pros compete with riders of all levels. Every year lots of recreational racers, especially from Holland and Belgium, travel to the Caribbean to enjoy this.
Photography
For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here
Images by Leo van Vliet
- The podium (l-r): Frank Schleck(CSC), Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) and Erik Dekker (Rabobank).
- Local riders mix it up with the pros in the neutralised section.
- The Rabobank team were looking to set Erik Dekker up for the win in his farewell race.
- Hincapie, Dekker and Valverde enjoying the company of some local ladies.
Results
1 Alejandro Valverde (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 2 Frank Schleck (Lux) CSC 3 Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 4 Michael Barry (Can) Discovery Channel 5 Bart Brentjens (Ned) Giant racing team 6 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank 7 George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel 8 Maarten den Bakker (Ned) Team Milram 9 Nico Eeckhout (Bel) Chocolade Jacques 10 Frank Nijssen (Ned) HSV de kampioen 11 Barry Bakker (AHo) Kooyman Techniek 12 Jaime Perestrelo (AHo) Pedal Pushers 13 Jerry Otten (AHo) Pedal Pushers 14 Marc Wauters (Bel) Rabobank 15 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 16 Jan Boven (Ned) Rabobank 17 Kasper Klostergeard (Den) CSC 18 Andy Schleck (Lux) CSC 19 Stefan Vreugdenhil (Ned) WWV 20 Jeroen Kampman (Ned) WV Meteoor 21 Thijs Quartel (AHo) Kooyman Techniek 22 Peter Reijmer (AHo) Kooyman Techniek 23 Johan Berg van den (AHo) TEC 24 Loek Smit (AHo) TEC 25 Iwan Jonker (AHo) TEC 26 Kees Barendregt (Ned) PRC Delta 27 Hein Zwinkels (Ned) WWV 28 Francesco Moser (Ita) Vino Moser Norfresh 29 Joey Bestebreurtje (Ned) MTS Europroduchts 30 Luc Verbaeken (Bel) Passion & Pain Bikers 31 Geert Ruiter de (Ned) BBB 32 Quinten Winkel (AHo) WV Meteoor 33 Willy Aladro (USA) Potomac Pedelers 34 Raymond Brummelhuis (AHo) Potomac Pedelers 35 Laurens Keessen (AHo) Bellisima 36 Jean Paul Driessen (AHo) Bellisima 37 Mitja Toorenburg van (Aru) Tribike Aruba 38 Ronnie Gruppen (AHo) TEC 39 Jan Piet Boven (Ned) Maasland 40 Jan Vollebregt (Ned) Team Pelikaan 41 Sjonny Kastelein (Ned) 42 Justus Lubbe van der (AHo) TEC 43 Simon De Kerpel (AHo) TEC 44 Tonny Elsakker van (Ned) Bergen op Zoom 45 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Davitamon Lotto 46 Pedro Cano Spa Norfresh 47 Jim Muir (USA) Duvel 48 Alex Vries de (Ned) Verkade Westland 49 Ronald Kampman (Ned) WWV 50 Jonathan Wilson (AHo) SSCC 51 Bas Tuijl van (AHo) Pedal Pushers 52 Alistair Monte (AHo) SSCC 53 Danny Karipawiro (AHo) TEC 54 Richard Kos (AHo) TEC 55 Rene Scheper (AHo) SMS 56 Wim Jansen (Ned) Bejan Rings 57 Robert Gottlieb (USA) Duvel 58 Erik Oort van (AHo) TEC 59 Nico Boxhoorn (AHo) Saddle Boys 60 Henry Dorego (AHo) Saddle Boys 61 Wil Dijk van (AHo) Bellisima 62 Teague Swalm (USA) US Navy 63 Vergion Elisabeth (AHo) US Navy 64 Edwin Bonne (AHo) TEC 65 Sandy Fluonia (AHo) Tec 66 Arjan Siersma (AHo) TEC 67 Tarcisio Persegona (Ita) Vino Moser Norfresh 68 Vincent Cannister (AHo) Tec 69 Gino Hodge (Aru) Aruba 70 Peter Horst van de (AHo) Tec 71 Johan Minkjan (Ned) WTCG Geesteren 72 Herman Last (Ned) TC Hattem 73 Dominic Messerschmidt (AHo) TC Hattem 74 Kimberly Messerschmidt (Bel) Lotto Olympia Tienen 75 Ingemar Habat (AHo) SSCC 76 Gert Jan Dam van (AHo) WTCG Geesteren 77 Marcel Duinkerken (AHo) TC Hattem 78 Andre Klinken van (AHo) Pedal Pushers 79 Richard Rosalina (AHo) Pedal Pushers 80 Rene Clarijns (AHo) Bellisima 81 Edilson Andrea (AHo) SSCC 82 Sander Hoorn van den (AHo) Team Meralda 83 Fred de Jonge (Ned) Ijzendijke 84 Roeland Taams (AHo) Bellisima 85 Mark Mosterd (Ned) Team Meralda 86 Hassan Zink (AHo) SSCC 87 Gerda Fokker (AHo) Team Meralda 88 Paul Veerkamp (Ned) 89 Agostin Coita Pita De (AHo) TC Hattem 90 Quinten Antonia (AHo) Triathlon ver. Breda 91 Symon Sloot (AHo) Firgos 92 Sergio Toscana (Ita) Vino Moser Norfresh 93 Dirk Praag van (Bel) Casino ploeg 94 Piet Dubbelman (Ned) Linie crossers 95 Pauline Nipius (AHo) Bellisima 96 Ivano Carrozzino (Ita) Vino Moser Norfresh 97 Hans Verhagen (Ned) Sparta Rotterdam 98 Hainrew Wanga (AHo) Dasia 99 Eliane de Jonge (Ned) Ijzendijke 100 Dennis Kloos (Ned) Zwartewaal 101 Frank Meskers (AHo) De trots van Noordwijk 102 Karel Keetels (AHo) Triathlon ver. Breda 103 Arie Imhoff (AHo) Citco 104 Gerard Karelse (AHo) Bellisima 105 Xavier Peters (Ned) Miami Vice 106 Jose Galmeijer (AHo) Pedal Pushers 107 Ric Burg van der (Ned) 2 ride 4roses 108 Martin Jacobs (AHo) Tec DNF Jan Heeswijk van (Ned) WVS Schijndel DNF Christ Heeswijk van (Ned) WVS Schijndel DNF Johan Tembuyser (Bel) WTC Welle DNF Patrick Lyons (USA) Duvel DNF Daan Rijntjes (Ned) Procomm van hemert DNF Eric Brabander de (AHo) WVS Schijndel DNF Rob Blaauw (AHo) Bellisima DNF Danailyson Concepcion (AHo) SSCC DNF Arie Buitenhuis (AHo) WVS Schijndel DNF Leo Wolters (AHo) WVS Schijndel DNF Theo Verouden (Ned) Middelbeers DNF Luigi Gazzini (Ita) Vino Moser Norfresh DNF Jose Martina (AHo) Dasia DNF Peter Mosterd (Ned) WWV DNF Driekes Weert van der (Ned) Thriatlon ver. Hilversum DNF Gea Weert van der (Ned) Thriatlon ver. Hilversum DNF Erik Werps (Ned) 2 ride 4 roses DNF Peter Koppen van (Ned) Alfa Accountants DNF Timothy Kook (AHo) SSCC DNF Osvaldo Marchena (AHo) TEC DNF Rik Lugtenburg (Ned) Maasland DNF Santiago Gonsalez (AHo) Pedal Pushers DNF Gerd Glaudemans (AHo) TEC DNF Deniel Juliana (AHo) 2 ride 4roses DNF Aichel Magdalena (AHo) SSCC DNF Ryadh Monte (AHo) SSCC DNF Inroh Martina (AHo) SSCC DNF Valere Menten (Bel) CSC DNF Jeroen Honing van der (Ned) TWC de kempen DNF Ed Ooms (AHo) Kooyman Techniek DNF Dennis Laan van der (AHo) Citco DNF Arnold Pagen (AHo) TEC DNS Pablo Gimenez (AHo) Miami Vice DNS Victor Gimenez (AHo) Miami Vice Best Curaçao rider 1 Barry Bakker (Aho) Kooyman Techniek 2 Jaime Perestrelo (Aho) Pedal Pushers 3 Jerry Otten (Aho) Pedal Pushers 4 Thijs Quartel (Aho) Kooyman Techniek 5 Peter Reijmer (Aho) Kooyman Techniek 6 Johan Berg van den (Aho) TEC 7 Loek Smit (Aho) TEC 8 Iwan Jonker (Aho) TEC 9 Quinten Winkel (Aho) WV Meteoor 10 Raymond Brummelhuis (Aho) Potomac Pedelers 11 Laurens Keessen (Aho) Bellisima 12 Jean Paul Driessen (Aho) Bellisima 13 Ronnie Gruppen (Aho) TEC 14 Justus Lubbe van der (Aho) TEC 15 Simon De Kerpel (Aho) TEC 16 Jonathan Wilson (Aho) SSCC 17 Bas Tuijl van (Aho) Pedal Pushers 18 Alistair Monte (Aho) SSCC 19 Danny Karipawiro (Aho) TEC 20 Richard Kos (Aho) TEC 21 Rene Scheper (Aho) SMS 22 Erik Oort van (Aho) TEC 23 Nico Boxhoorn (Aho) Saddle Boys 24 Henry Dorego (Aho) Saddle Boys 25 Wil Dijk van (Aho) Bellisima 26 Vergion Elisabeth (Aho) US Navy 27 Edwin Bonne (Aho) TEC 28 Sandy Fluonia (Aho) Tec 29 Arjan Siersma (Aho) TEC 30 Vincent Cannister (Aho) Tec 31 Peter Horst van de (Aho) Tec 32 Dominic Messerschmidt (Aho) TC Hattem 33 Ingemar Habat (Aho) SSCC 34 Gert Jan Dam van (Aho) WTCG Geesteren 35 Marcel Duinkerken (Aho) TC Hattem 36 Andre Klinken van (Aho) Pedal Pushers 37 Richard Rosalina (Aho) Pedal Pushers 38 Rene Clarijns (Aho) Bellisima 39 Edilson Andrea (Aho) SSCC 40 Sander Hoorn van den (Aho) Team Meralda 41 Roeland Taams (Aho) Bellisima 42 Hassan Zink (Aho) SSCC 43 Gerda Fokker (Aho) Team Meralda 44 Agostin Coita Pita De (Aho) TC Hattem 45 Quinten Antonia (Aho) Triathlon ver. Breda 46 Symon Sloot (Aho) Firgos 47 Pauline Nipius (Aho) Bellisima 48 Hainrew Wanga (Aho) Dasia 49 Frank Meskers (Aho) De trots van Noordwijk 50 Karel Keetels (Aho) Triathlon ver. Breda 51 Arie Imhoff (Aho) Citco 52 Gerard Karelse (Aho) Bellisima 53 Jose Galmeijer (Aho) Pedal Pushers 54 Martin Jacobs (Aho) Tec 55 Eric Brabander de (Aho) WVS Schijndel 56 Rob Blaauw (Aho) Bellisima 57 Danailyson Concepcion (Aho) SSCC 58 Arie Buitenhuis (Aho) WVS Schijndel 59 Leo Wolters (Aho) WVS Schijndel 60 Jose Martina (Aho) Dasia 61 Pablo Gimenez (Aho) Miami Vice 62 Victor Gimenez (Aho) Miami Vice 63 Timothy Kook (Aho) SSCC 64 Osvaldo Marchena (Aho) TEC 65 Santiago Gonsalez (Aho) Pedal Pushers 66 Gerd Glaudemans (Aho) TEC 67 Deniel Juliana (Aho) 2 ride 4roses 68 Aichel Magdalena (Aho) SSCC 69 Ryadh Monte (Aho) SSCC 70 Inroh Martina (Aho) SSCC 71 Ed Ooms (Aho) Kooyman Techniek 72 Dennis Laan van der (Aho) Citco 73 Arnold Pagen (Aho) TEC
Past winners
2005 Tom Boonen (Bel) Quick Step 2004 Oscar Freire Gomez (Spa) Rabobank
