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HEW Cyclassics - CDM
Germany, August 1, 2004
2003 results Preview Start List Past winners
World Cup resumes in Hamburg
By Jeff Jones
 |
The men's road World Cup resumes this Sunday in Germany with the HEW Cyclassics Cup in Hamburg. Often criticised for not being selective enough, the parcours has been made harder through a modification of the finishing circuit to feature four climbs of the Waseberg (a short 15% climb), instead of the usual two. Thus, it will be harder than ever for the sprinters to triumph in Hamburg.
Last year, Paolo Bettini, Davide Rebellin, Jan Ullrich, Igor Astarloa and Mirko Celestino managed to escape on the last climb to fight it out for the honours, with Bettini taking the victory ahead of Rebellin and Ullrich. This year, it's likely that the same contenders will be vying for the prize, with World Cup leader Rebellin in form again and the top favourite ahead of Bettini. T-Mobile's Tour contingent of Jan Ullrich, Andreas Klöden and Erik Zabel will all be present and are strong candidates for the victory, no matter how the race unfolds.
Saeco's Danilo Di Luca, fresh of his win in the Brixia Tour, will be their main man on Sunday, while Rabobank's Erik Dekker and Oscar Freire will both be riders to keep an eye on. And if Bettini doesn't fire in the Quick.Step camp, there's always Tom Boonen. Igor Astarloa will front up in his World Championship colours for Lampre, with strong support from Gianluca Bortolami and Francesco Casagrande.
Look for Max van Heeswijk in US Postal-Berrry Floor, which is one of the few teams that will not be using any of its Tour de France riders. If it comes down to a sprint, Thor Hushovd (Credit Agricole), Tom Steels (Landbouwkrediet), Jaan Kirsipuu and Jean Patrick Nazon (Ag2r), and Jimmy Casper and Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) should all be competitive.
The route
The 250.3 km parcours is split into two sections: A 170 kilometre figure eight, taking the riders along the Elbe river for a substantial portion. This includes the famous bridge over the Elbe, the Köhlbrandbrücke, which is also a fairly gradual climb. Once the riders cross the start finish on Mönckebergstrasse again, they have to complete an 80.6 kilometre loop which includes three 12.7 km laps. Each lap contains the steep 15 percent Waseberg climb, with an additional ascent coming at 16 km to go on the run into the finish. The Waseberg also appears on the big circuit after 154 km, which means that it will have to be climbed a total of five times.
Live coverage
Cyclingnews will be covering the HEW Cyclassics live from start to finish. Coverage starts at 14:30 CEST (Europe)/10:30 EDT (USA East)/7:30 PDT (USA West)/22:30 AEST (Australia East).
Past winners
2003: 1 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step-Davitamon 253 kms in 5.58.20 (42.396 km/h) 2 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 3 Jan Ullrich (Ger) Team Bianchi 2002: 1 Johan Museeuw (Bel) Domo-Farm Frites 253 kms in 5.43.35 (44.216 km/h) 2 Igor Astarloa (Spa) Saeco Longoni Sport 3 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 2001: 1 Erik Zabel (Ger) Team Deutsche Telekom 253 kms in 5.59.02 (41.945 km/h) 2 Romans Vainsteins (Lat) Domo-Farm Frites 3 Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank 2000: 1 Gabriele Missaglia (Ita) Lampre-Daikin 253 kms in 6.17.22 (39.90 km/h) 2 Francesco Casagrande (Ita) Vini Caldirola-Sidermec 3 Fabio Baldato (Ita) Fassa Bortolo 1999: 1 Mirko Celestino (Ita) Team Polti 253 kms in 6.20.39 (39.88 km/h) 2 Raphael Schweda (Ger) Team Nurnberger 3 Romans Vainsteins (Lat) Vini Caldirola 1998: 1 Leon Van Bon (Ned) Rabobank 253 kms in 6.09.31 (41.14 km/h) 2 Michele Bartoli (Ita) Asics 3 Ludo Dierckxsens (Bel) Lotto-Mobistar 1997: 1 Jan Ullrich (Ger) Telekom 160 kms in 4.10.04 (38.38 km/h) 2 Wilfried Peeters (Bel) Mapei 3 Jens Heppner (Ger) Telekom 1996: 1 Rossano Brasi (Ita) Team Polti 160 kms in 3.33.18 (45.00 km/h) 2 Bert Dietz (Ger) Telekom 3 Steffen Rein (Ger) Team Nürnberger
Past Winners by Mario Stiehl, www.world-of-cycling.com.
