27th Chrono des Nations - 1.1 ME/1.1 WE/1.1 MJ

France, October 19, 2009

2007 results Results men elite Results women Results men U23 Results men junior Results women junior Past winners

Clement says goodbye in style, too

By Jean-François Quénet in Les Herbiers

Winner Stef Clement (Bouygues Telecom) was fastest
Photo ©: Mathieu Istil

One week after Philippe Gilbert presented Française des Jeux with a superb parting gift by winning Paris-Tours before heading home to Belgian squad Silence-Lotto, Stef Clement did the same for Bouygues Telecom on home soil. Desperate to win a race before going back to Rabobank next year, Clement took the Chrono des Nations title. "I’ve come second a couple of times but it’s been a difficult year for me and for the team; it's much better to part ways on a high note," said the Dutchman after taking the crown in a thrilling finale.

Never before in the history of the late-season French time trial event had the top four riders finished within four seconds of each other. The 2006 winner Raivis Belohvosciks led at the first check point, while Italian champion Marco Pinotti had the best time at halfway; Clement finished strongly, although not as strong as Manuel Quinziato, though. The Liquigas rider was probably the most impressive after missing part of the course just four kilometres after the start. "It’s my fault," he said regretfully when he realised he’d missed the win by only two seconds.

Sweden's Suzanne Ljunskog gives it a little extra gas
Photo ©: Mathieu Istil

"I was close to winning the time trial at the Three Days of De Panne and also at the Vuelta a Espana," said Quinziato. "I’ve won two races in South Africa at the beginning of the season, but I wanted to get something big this year and this was a fantastic opportunity. I have come to this race before, it’s a very prestigious time trial. I’m so disappointed..."

Belohovosciks suffered a little mechanical trouble that cost him another win and Pinotti could feel at the end of the time trial the consequences of having raced the Giro di Lombardia the day before. Clement might have been a little fortunate that his adversaries didn’t experience such a smooth day but he deserved the win for his dedication to time trialling and putting himself in the best condition to win.

"I came two days before the race", he said. "Time trialling is something very serious. I never had a real look at the start list. I only decided that I’d have done my best for the team where I’ve spent three great years. Since the Olympics I didn’t feel good. I only did one week at the Vuelta. I prepared for this race with no stress at all, and I only did two hours on the bike daily. But yesterday I felt the strength in my legs already. When I recognised the course I did it at 40km/h. I started the race very fast."

It’s a real achievement for Bouygues Telecom to win the Chrono des Nations just 20 kilometres away from their headquarters. Now Clement will begin another phase of his career at Rabobank. "At this stage I'd prefer to go and ride for a true leader, rather than stay with a team where everybody still has to fight for position," said Clement. "I’m going back to where everything started for me and I'll return home riding with colleagues that I know well. Rabobank has a plan for a backing a Dutch leader at the Tour de France and I’m excited to be part of this plan."

The women's race was not as close. Susanne Ljungskog (Team Flexpoint) finished first with a time of 28.37.94. Frenchwoman Jeannie Longo (Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz) was eight seconds slower in second place while Charlotte Becker (Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung) claimed third at 49 seconds.

Results

Elite men - 48.5km 

1 Stef Clement (Ned) Bouygues Telecom                                   1.00.58, (47,731 km/h)
2 Manuel Quinziato (Ita) Liquigas                                          0.02
3 Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat) Scott - American Beef                          0.03
4 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Team Columbia                                        0.04
5 Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Scott - American Beef                           0.50
6 Gregor Gazvoda (Slo) Perutnina Ptuj                                      0.58
7 Eugen Wacker (Kgz) Kyrgyzstan National Team                              0.59
8 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Russian National Team                               1.30
9 Andry Grivko (Ukr) Team Milram                                           1.41
10 Florian Morizot (Fra) Auber 93                                          2.04
11 Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                  2.15
12 David Le Lay (Fra) Agritubel                                            2.17
13 Mateusz Taciak (Pol) Polish National Team                               2.34
14 Sébastien Turgot (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                 2.36
15 Dimitri Champion (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                 2.41
16 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Française des Jeux                               2.47
17 Matej Jurco (Svk) Team Milram                                           2.49
18 Matti Helminen (Fin) Palmans                                            2.50
19 Anthony Roux (Fra) Française des Jeux                                   2.52
20 Dominique Cornu (Bel) Silence - Lotto                                   2.58
21 Michael Faerk Christensen (Den) Glud og Marstrand                       3.07
22 Perrig Quemeneur (Fra) Bouygues Telecom
23 Timothy Gudsell (NZl) Française des Jeux                                3.15
24 Damien Gaudin (Fra) Bouygues Telecom                                    3.16
25 Noan Lelarge (Fra) Bretagne-Armor Lux                                   3.19
26 Dmytro Grabovskyy (Ukr) Quick Step                                      4.11
27 Anthony Charteau (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne                                 4.44
28 Christophe Diguet (Fra) Auber 93                                        6.23
29 Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Silence - Lotto                                    7.36

Elite women - 20.870km

1 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Team Flexpoint                                  28.37,94 (43,758 km/h)
2 Jeannie Longo (Fra) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz                          0.08
3 Charlotte Becker (Ger) Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung                    0.49
4 Bridie O'Donnel (Aus) Australian National Team                           0.56
5 Amber Neben (USA) Team Flexpoint                                         1.12
6 Trine Schmidt (Den) Team Flexpoint                                       1.18
7 Edwige Pitel (Fra) Team Pro Feminin Les Carroz                           1.27
8 Karine Gautard (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope                                  2.28
9 Ludivine Henrion (Bel) AA-Drink Cycling Team                             2.31
10 Julie Augizeau (Fra) VC Aizenay                                         3.01
11 Audrey Cordon (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope                                  3.02
12 Kelly Druyts (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen Thompson Ladies Team             3.27
13 Emmanuelle Merlot (Fra) Vienne Futuroscope                              3.38
14 Magali Mocquery (Fra) UV Aube                                           5.39
15 Mélanie Briot (Fra) VC St-Sébastien                                     7.26
16 Dorine Moras (Fra) VC St-Antoine la Gavotte                             8.01

Women Junior, 17.230 km

1 Mélodie Lesueur (Fra) French National Team                              25.40,21 (40,278 km/h)
2 Jennifer Letué (Fra) French National Team                                0.22
3 Margot Ortega (Fra) French National Team                                 1.10
4 Roxane Fournier (Fra) French National Team                               1.23
5 Steffi Jamoneau (Fra) French National Team                               1.41
6 Sarah Thibaud (Fra) CC Montois                                           2.14
7 Aurore Verhoeven (Fra) VC St-Julien-en-Genevois                          2.28
8 Marion Bertho (Fra) EC Evel                                              2.31
9 Jolien d'Hoore (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen                                 2.42
10 Claudia Opsomer (Fra) Pôle espoir St-Amand                              3.33
11 Carole Vallée (Fra) VC Lionnais                                         3.53
12 Ornella Croni (Fra) CSM Villeneuve-la-Garenne                           4.07
13 Angélique Gerard (Fra) UC Guinefort                                     7.22

Men U23, 38.610 km

1 Julien Fouchard (Fra) Côtes d'Armor Cyclisme                            50.04,67 (46,270 km/h)
2 Fabien Taillefer (Fra) US St-Austrebethe                                 0.12
3 Daniel Kreutzfeld (Den) Danish National Team                             0.17
4 Nicolas Boisson (Fra) CC Etupe                                           0.39
5 Romain Lemarchand (Fra) CM Aubervilliers                                 0.57
6 Ben Hermans (Bel) Davo                                                   1.31
7 Dimitri Le Boulc'h (Fra) VC La Pomme                                     1.33
8 Bryan Nauleau (Fra) Vendée U                                             1.38
9 Jérôme Cousin (Fra) Vendée U                                             1.50
10 Yann Moritz (Fra) Pôle espoir Limousin                                  1.51
11 Hophra Gérard (Bel) VC Ardennes                                         2.03
12 Peter Brouzes (Fra) CC Nogent                                           2.04
13 Stéphane Rossetto (Fra) CC Nogent                                       2.09
14 Yannick Ricordel (Fra) U Nantes-Altantique                              2.10
15 Tony Gallopin (Fra) Auber 93                                            2.22
16 Jonathan Dufrasne (Bel) Belgian National Team
17 Kévin Reza (Fra) Vendée U                                               2.31
18 François Niay (Fra) VC Rouen                                            2.58
19 Willy Roseau (Fra) U Nantes-Altantique                                  3.25
20 Nicolas Giulia (Fra) VC Rouen                                           5.16
21 Rémi Grelier (Fra) La Rcohe-Vendée Cyclisme                             5.46
DNS Nicolas Bonnet (Fra) VC Lyon-Vaux-en-Velin
DNS Morgan Lamoison (Fra) Blois CAC 41

Men Junior, 20,870 km

1 Romain Bacon (Fra) Team La Courneuve                                    27.51,43 (44,962 km/h)
2 Kévin Labeque (Fra) Comité d'Aquitaine                                   0.15
3 Adrien Petit (Fra) Team Wasquehal                                        0.27
4 Romain Guillemois (Fra) Comité d'Aquitaine                               0.46
5 Jérémie Souton (Fra) Vendée U                                            0.50
6 Romain Delalot (Fra) JS La Ferté-Gaucher                                 0.52
7 Kévin Giraud (Fra) UC Nantes-Atlantique                                  0.56
8 Florent Mallegol (Fra) Comité de Bretagne                                0.57
9 Florian Deriaux (Fra) Antony Berny Cycliste                              1.06
10 Alexandre Piat (Fra) RO St-Amand                                        1.14
11 Anthony Perez (Fra) Pôle Espoir Toulouse                                1.15
12 Pierre Bonnet (Fra) ACV Aurillac                                        1.20
13 Florian Legrandais (Fra) Pôle Espoir Toulouse                           1.25
14 Florent Piet-Paquette (Fra) Team Bonnat 91
15 Julien Duval (Fra) UV Le Neubourg                                       1.33
16 Michael Cuming (Fra) Macclesfield Wheelers                              1.42
17 Morgan Gaschard (Fra) Vienne Agritubel                                  1.49
18 Damien Charrault (Fra) Dreux CC                                         1.53
19 Kévin Francillette (Fra) EC Pays des Olonnes                            1.55
20 Erwan Corbel (Fra) EC Rennes                                            1.56
21 Nicolas Chollet (Fra) VC Conlie                                         2.10
22 Richard Handley (Fra) Max Gear RT                                       2.11
23 Baptiste Despreaux (Fra) CC Montois                                     2.15
24 Alexis Demarty (Fra) UC Sablé                                           2.23
25 Mével Lebreton (Fra) EC Rennes                                          2.48
26 Vincent Hénaff (Fra) UC Nantes-Atlantique                               2.49
DNS Mathias De Chavigny (Fra) EC St-Etienne-Loire
DNS Benjamin Lecompte (Fra) PL Paul-Bert Tours
DNS Hugues Lebastard (Fra) Pédale Puceuloise

Past winners

Men
2007

1 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Crédit Agricole
2 Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat) Saunier Duval - Prodir
3 Stef Clement (Ned) Bouygues Telecom

2006

1 Raivis Belohvosciks (Lat) Team Universal Caffe'-C.B. Immobiliare
2 Brian Vandborg (Den) Team CSC
3 Matti Helminen (Fin) Profel Ziegler Continental Team

2005

1 Ondrej Sosenka (Cze) Acqua e Sapone
2 Michael Rogers (Aus) Quick Step
3 Vladimir Gusev (Rus) CSC

2004

1 Bert Roesems (Bel) Relax Bodysol
2 Vladimir Gussev (Rus) Team CSC
3 Sebastian Lang (Ger) Gerolsteiner

2003

1 Michael Rich (Ger) Gerolsteiner
2 Bert Roesems (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop
3 Uwe Peschel (Ger) Gerolsteiner

2002

1 Michael Rich (Ger) Gerolsteiner
2 Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Mapei-Quick Step Espoirs
3 Bert Roesems (Bel) Palmans-Collstrop

2001

1 Jean Nuttli (Swi) Phonak Hearing Systems
2 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Mapei-Quick Step
3 Sergey Gontchar (Ukr) Liquigas-Pata

2000

1 Jean Nuttli (Swi) Phonak
2 Sergey Gontchar (Ukr) Liquigas
3 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Mapei-Quick Step

1999

1 Sergey Gontchar (Ukr)
2 Gilles Maignan (Fra)
3 Christophe Moreau (Fra)

1998

1 Sergey Gontchar (Ukr)
2 Gilles Maignan (Fra)
3 Francisque Teyssier (Fra)

1997

1 Sergey Gontchar (Ukr)
2 Tony Rominger (Swi)
3 Francoise Teyssier (Fra)

1996

1 Chris Boardman (GB)
2 Laurent Brochard (Fra)
3 Neil Stephens (Aus)
 
1995 Pascal Lance (Fra)
1994 Pascal Lance (Fra)
1993 Chris Boardman (GBr)
1992 Arturas Kasputis (Ltu)
1991 Jan Karlsson (Swe)
1990 Jan Karlsson (Swe)
1989 Marco Jeletich (Ned)

Women

2007 Susanne Ljungskog (Swe) Team Flexpoint
2006 Priska Doppmann (Swi) Univega
2005 Edwige Pitel (Fra) VC La Pomme-Marseille
2004 Edwige Pitel (Fra) VC La Pomme-Marseille
2002 Zoulfia Zabirova (Rus) Usci Chirio
2001 Edwige Pitel (Fra) AVC Aix
2000 Jeannie Longo (Fra)
1999 Zoulfia Zabirova (Rus)
1998 Zoulfia Zabirova (Rus)

Past winners by Mario Stiehl, www.world-of-cycling.com