Tour de San Luis - 2.1

Argentina, January 19-25, 2009

Photos

Stage 7 - January 25: San Luis - San Luis, 167.1 km

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Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

Argentina's Juan José Haedo (Saxo Bank) on top of the sprint in stage seven.
Juan José Haedo (Saxo Bank) wins in the Tour de San Luis.
Argentinean Juan José Haedo (Saxo Bank) wins stage seven of the Tour de San Luis.
Juan José Haedo (Saxo Bank) pumps his fist after winning stage seven of the Tour de San Luis.
Argentina's Juan José Haedo (Saxo Bank) wins the final stage of the Tour de San Luis.
Celebrations at the end of the Tour de San Luis.
Argentina's Alfredo Lucero called to the stage.
Alfredo Lucero awarded for the overall win in the Tour de San Luis.
Alfredo Lucero after winning the Tour de San Luis.
Alfredo 'El Flaco' Lucero crowned as the winner of the third annual Tour de San Luis
Argentina's Alfredo Lucero crowned as the winner of the third annual Tour de San Luis

Stage 6 - January 24: Potrero De Los Funes (Circuit), 121 km

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Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

Andriy Grivko (ISD)
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas)
Riders line up for the start stage six of the Tour de San Luis.
Alessandro Proni (LPR)
Ivan Basso (Liquigas) in the feed zone.
Ricardo Serrano (Fuji)
Stage six of the Tour de San Luis.
Fans wave the national flag
Fans were out in large numbers.
Riders take on water.
An Argentinean fan
A clear and hot day on the Formula One race track.
Riders started on the new Formula One race track in Alfredo Lucero (Team Argentina).
Stage six of the Tour de San Luis races along.
Matti Breschel (Saxo Bank)
Jorge Giacinti of Team Argentina.
Argentinean fans out for stage six of the Tour de San Luis.
Liquigas riders pass the feed zone.
Jackson Rodriguez (Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli) leads
Stage six was held on the new Formula One racetrack.
Race leader Alfredo Lucero (Team Argentina)
Luis Amaran (Colavita-Sutter Home) races towards his win.
Cuba's Luis Amaran (Colavita-Sutter Home) wins stage six of the Tour de San Luis.
Cuban Luis Amaran (Colavita-Sutter Home) wins stage six of the Tour de San Luis.
Cuban Luis Amaran (Colavita-Sutter Home) takes Tour de San Luis stage six.
Alessandro Proni (LPR) finishes the stage.
Riders exhausted after a hot day of racing in the Tour de San Luis.
Matti Breschel (Saxo Bank)
Kjell Carlström (Liquigas) finishes stage six.
Fans gather around Alfredo Lucero (Team Argentina).
Alfredo Lucero (Team Argentina) keeps the overall lead in the Tour de San Luis.
Alfredo Lucero (Team Argentina) celebrates his overall lead after stage six.

Images by Federico Blanco-Lanzi

Alfredo Lucero in th eleader's jersey
Luis Amaran (Colavita Sutter Home, centre) won ahed of Matti Breschel (Saxo Bank, left) and Manuel Belletti (Diquigiovanni)

Stage 5 - January 23: San Francisco Del Mote De Oro - Merlo (Mirador), 204.8 km

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Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

Xavier Tondo (Andalucía-Cajasur) wins the fifth stage of the Tour de San Luis.
Xavier Tondo (Andalucía-Cajasur) wins the stage.
Argentinean Alfredo Lucero preserves the race lead.
Jackson Rodriguez (Diquigiovanni) arrives.
Ivan Basso (Liquigas) finishes in sixth for the day.
Ivan Basso (Liquigas) comes to the finish line.
Italy's Ivan Basso (Liquigas) exhausted after his effort in stage five of the Tour de San Luis.
Ivan Basso (Liquigas) finds early season form in Argentina.
Ivan Basso (Liquigas)
Bikes loaded for the trip back down the mountains in stage five of the Tour de San Luis.

Images by Pablo Cersosimo Photography

The bunch enjoys the weather in Argentina
Basso enjoyed the sun shine as well.
Liquigas was one of the talked-about ProTour teams.
The three-man break that took off on the final climb
Mountains is attack time
Xavier Tondo (Andalucía - Cajasur) takes the win atop the final climb in Merlo.

Stage 4 - January 22: San Luis - La Carolina, 159 km

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Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

Matti Breschel (Saxo Bank) took the sprint for second.
Jose Serpa (Diquigiovanni) takes the win with a last minute solo attack.
An ESPN helicopter lost control and crashed but fortunately the occupants were not seriously injured.
Riders rolling in after the finish see the wreckage of an ESPN helicopter.
A bit of quick work with the fire extinguisher keeps the situation from getting worse.
Riders were shocked to see a helicopter crash after the finish line.
The long, gradual climb was not hard enough to shed the sprinters.
It was a lovely day in Argentina.
The wreckages of the helicopter
The peloton all together.
Franciso Martinez (Andalucia-Cayasur) rolled up his sleeves to maximize his tanning.
Ivan Basso (Liquigas) had a peaceful day.
The Argentina-A team protect the lead of Alfredo Lucero.
The big blue sky in Argentina.
Matti Breschel (Saxo Bank) leads the peloton home.
The ESPN helicopter before its untimely demise.
A member of the Cuban team
Jose Serpa (Diquigiovanni) takes the win
The helicopter crash drew a little attention away from the bike race going on.
Riders assemble at the start of stage four.
The Diquigiovanni teammates Serpa and Gavazzi shared the podium on stage four.
The stage four podium Brechsel, Serpa and Gavazzi.
A rider from Andalucia-Cayasur on the attack.
Dmytro Grabovsky (ISD) has a mechanical during stage four.
Riccardo Serrano (Fuji Servetto)

Images by Pablo Cersosimo Photography

The bunch rolls over a bridge
Liquigas in the bunch
It was a nice day at the lake
The bunch rides on windy roads
Maximiliano Badde of the Argentinean National team is almost in the dirt...
Attack the bunch when they rid piano!
The break with rolls along with (l-r) Andy Guptill, Alessandro Vanotti and Martin Garrido.
Vanotti gets good training on the front.
Xavier Tondo makes his move
The break on the lake.

Stage 3 - January 21: San Luis - San Luis (ITT), 19.8 km

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Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

Ivan Basso back in time trial action
Basso sprinted to ninth place in the race against the clock.
Basso was visibly happy with his performance.
Basso gets aero.
Dmytro Grabovsky of ISD after the race.
Alfredo Lucero took over the race lead and is now ahead by almost two minutes.
Jorge Giacinti is in third place in the general classification after the time trial.
Basso sweated after the effort in the heat.
Jorge Giacinti won the time trial.
Winner Jorge Giacinti after the race.
Dmytro Grabovsky takes off for the lone effort of pain.
Basso pedals through Argentina at an elevated pace.
Lasse Bøchman (Saxo Bank) finishes his race.
Dmytro Grabovsky during his effort against the clock.
Lucas Haedo lost his race lead on stage three.
Haedo's teammate Davide Frattini took things easy as he is expected for work duties over the next few days
Alessandro Proni (ISD) looks for the finish line.
Ricardo Serrano did the best he could to imitate a time trial bar.
Time trial specialist Brian Vandborg hasn't put in his high gear for the season yet.
David De La Fuente would rather be racing up some mountain.
Murilo Fischer of Brazil also opted to ride without the time trial bars.

Images by Pablo Cersosimo Photography

Andry Grivko (ISD) close to the line.
Grivko finished fifth and was 22 seconds slower than the winner.
Jesus Rosendo Prado inches closer to the finish line.
Jackson Rodriguez powers home
Carlos José Ochoa in the time trial
The start house was a good place to get away form the sun.
But once off it was relentless heat
Stage 1 winner Mattia Gavazzi on his way.
Gavazzi has sprinter's muscles which aren't necessarily good for time trialing...
Kjell Carlström from Finland also found the heat very different than a summer at home.
David De La Fuente likes to go solo in the mountains but less so in a time trial.
Carlström along the Southamerican highway.
Murilo Fischer on the drops.
Brian Vandborg is admired by a spectator on a faster machine.
Tom Zirbel finished second
Bissel was happy with today's race.
Basso gave it all until the line.
Basso fighted and ended the day in ninth.

Stage 2 - January 20: San Luis/La Toma - Mirador Del Potrero, 174.4 km

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Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

Basso checks out the weather before the start and realises that shades will be good while long sleeves won't be.
Haedo takes a breather in a break where everyone did their share at the front.
Haedo leads a cooling-off Lucero and Prado.
Liquigas at the front
The tour is in Argentina alright.
Liquigas in the bunch
The peloton rides through pretty Argentina.
The peloton followed the break in respectful distance and was concerned about staying cool.
With the mountains at the end the field strung out on the lead-up to the climb.
The break of the day powers up the final climb.
Carlos Ochoa (Diquigiovanni) attacks the final climb hard and finishes fourth.
Lucas Sebastian Haedo wins the stage after the three-man break survived the day.
Haedo is proud of his leader's jersey and happy that he gets to share the moment with his father.
The break filled the podium with (l-r) second-placed Nazaret Prado (Brazil), winner Lucas Sebastian Haedo and third-placed Alfredo Lucero (Argentina A).
Gabriel Curucet is the president of the Argentinean cycling federation and congratulates the winner.

Images by Pablo Cersosimo Photography

The colourful peloton against the scenic backdrop of San Luis.
The Liquigas team is getting in some solid early season training.
The peloton was sluggish in the heat.
Andy Jacques-Maynes (Bissell) reaches for a drink while riding in the breakaway.
José Antonio Carrasco (Andalucia-Cajasur)
Jesus Rosendo (Andalucia-Cajasur) leads the peloton.
The eight-man breakaway went early in the second stage.
The peloton chugs away up the climb, with many riders conserving energy in the hot conditions.
The late-race break with Sebastian Haedo (Colavita-Sutter Home), Alfredo Lucero (Argentina-A) and Nazaret Prado (Scott-Brazil)
Sebastian Haedo (Colavita) won the stage from the breakaway and took over the lead in the GC, mountains and sprint classifications.

Stage 1 - January 19: San Luis - Villa Mercedes, 168.4 km

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Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

Oscar Gatto gets ready for the first stage.
Ivan Basso starts the day like he is used from home, with reading La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Giovanni Lombardi (r) with Marco Villa at the start.
The riders didn't have to pay
Liquigas takes in the sun in Argentina.
Alessandro Proni (ISD) pedals along.
Mattia Gavazzi was the fastest guy on a day when it seemed he could even match motorbikes.
Ricardo Serrano (Fuji-Servetto) during stage 1.
The pace in the beginning allowed everyone to get used to racing again.
Ivan Basso is back in the peloton.
Vincenzo Nibali gets his first race for the year under his belt.
The peloton .rides through Argentina
Team ISD gets ready for the first official race outing.
Basso enjoys his Cannondale.
ISD is eager to hit the road.
It was warm, but some managed to get shade.
Fuji-Servetto is sort of the successor tam to Saunier Duval.
Billboards acknowledge the peloton.
Gavazzi launched the sprint which then moved to one side of the road.
The sprint on the tight finishing straight.
JJ Haedo keeps his balance by leaning on Gavazzi.
Gavazzi had barely enough space to lift his arms.
Gavazzi lifts his arms
Sometimes sprints do look like Keirin.
The tight sprint between Gavazzi and Haedo where the Argentinean on the left ran out of room.
Mattia Gavazzi wins the sprint and Juan José Haedo's efforts to wrap his head around didn't help.
JJ Haedo after his close loss.
Gavazzi (c) smiles while the Haedos look on.
The podium with the top three.

Images by Federico Blanco-Lanzi

The day's winner Gavazzi of Italy enjoys the spot at the top.
The podium from left to right with second-placed Juan José Haedo, winner Mattia Gavazzi and Lucas Sebastian Haedo in third.

Pre-race training ride

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Images by Roberto Bettini/www.bettiniphoto.net

Ivan Basso (Liquigas) rides with this teammates.
Andriy Grivko leads Team ISD.
Ivan Basso, Alessandro Vanotti and Kjell Carlström (Liquigas), l-r, on in Argentina.
Ricardo Serrano (ISD)
Andriy Grivko (ISD) smiles.
Oscar Gatto (ISD) in Argentina.
Teams train on the roads of the Tour de San Luis.
Ivan Basso (Liquigas) on a training ride before the Tour de San Luis in Argentina.
Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas)
Team Fuji-Servetto
Ricardo Serrano of Team Fuji-Servetto, 2nd l.
Dmitry Grabovskiy (ISD) gives the thumbs up.
Ivan Basso (Liquigas) riding in Argentina with his teammates.
Oscar Gatto (ISD) relaxes
Giovanni Lombardi and Ivan Basso (Liquigas).
Ivan Dominguez (Fuji)
Andriy Grivko and Leonardo Scarselli (ISD)
Alessandro Proni (ISD)
Vincenzo Nibali and Ivan Basso (Liquigas)
Vincenzo Nibali and Ivan Basso (Liquigas)
Team ISD train before the Tour de San Luis stage race.
Argentina: riders train before the Tour de San Luis.
Davide Frattini with his Colavita-Sutter Home teammates.
Kjell Carlström (Liquigas), r, before a training ride.
Matti Breschel (CSC Saxo Bank)
ISD's Oscar Gatto, Andriy Grivko and Dmitry Grabovskiy, l-r.
Ivan Basso (Liquigas) looking down to his bars before riding in Argentina.
Italian Ivan Basso (Liquigas) looks at his glasses.
Ivan Basso (Liquigas) with his teammates before a terrain ride in Argentina.
Dmitry Grabovskiy (ISD)
Kurt-Asle Arvesen (CSC Saxo Bank)
Ivan Basso (Liquigas) tries out new handlebars.
Rough terrain in Argentina.
Davide Frattini with his Colavita-Sutter Home teammates.