Home

Recently on Cyclingnews.com


Dauphiné Libéré
Photo ©: Sirotti

HEW Cyclassics - CDM

Germany, August 1, 2004

2003 results     Map    Start List    Results

Commentary by Jeff Jones

Complete live report

Live coverage starts: 14:30 CEST
Estimated finish time: 17:15 CEST

14:33 CEST    135km/115km to go
Welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of the HEW Cyclassics Cup in Hamburg, Germany, the sixth round of the World Cup that we left off back in Liege in April. Today's race is 250 km, consisting of a 170 kilometre figure eight followed by an 80 km circuit that incorporates three 12.7 km laps, each lap featuring the steep climb of the Waseberg. In total, this 15% ascent has to be tackled five times, making this edition of HEW somewhat tougher than previous editions.

Favourites for today include World Cup leader Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner), along with last year's winner Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step), World Champion Igor Astarloa (Lampre), Jan Ullrich and Andreas Klöden (T-Mobile), Stuart O'Grady (Cofidis) and Danilo Di Luca (Saeco). In the event that it comes down to a bunch sprint (rare in recent years), the likes of Tom Boonen (Quick.Step), Erik Zabel (T-Mobile), Thor Hushovd (CA), Tom Steels (Landbouwkrediet), Jaan Kirsipuu and Jean Patrick Nazon (Ag2r) should be up there in contention.

The race started at 11:15am and after 20 km, four riders managed to get clear: Steffen Radochla (Illes Balears), Roberto Lochowski (Wiesenhof), Rik Reinerink (Chocolade Jacques) and Lars Michaelsen (Team CSC). They currently have a lead of 9'20 after 135 km, although it was as much as 14'30 after 73 km. The chase has begun, with T-Mobile particularly active.

14:42 CEST    140km/110km to go
It's quite warm weather today in Hamburg: the sun is shining brightly and temperatures are around the 30 degree mark. The peloton is making some serious inroads into this four man breakaway, and at the last time check had brought them back to 7'56.

14:46 CEST    145km/105km to go
The break's chances are reduced even further now, as Lars Michaelsen (CSC) is sitting on and not doing any work.

14:53 CEST    150km/100km to go
The first of the five Waseberg climbs is approaching rapidly, with the leaders having another 5 km to go before they hit the 600m/16 percent wall. Their gap is now a mere 6'20, down from a maximum of 14'30.

14:57 CEST    152km/98km to go
The leaders are now racing alongside the river Elbe up towards the Waseberg, being chased by a rapidly moving peloton.

15:03 CEST    156km/94km to go
The leaders make their way up the Waseberg for the first time, cheered on by an estimated crowd. But their advantage is melting like sands through the hourglass (how do you like your metaphors anyway?) and now stands at 5'25.

Roberto Lochowski (Wiesenhof) has a mechanical problem, and needs a bike change.

15:10 CEST    160km/90km to go
The peloton flies up the Waseberg, with Bettini and Ullrich riding near the front, side by side. The leading group is losing momentum due to the fact that Michaelsen is no longer working. Now it's just Lochowski, Reinerink and Radochla sharing the pace making.

4'35 over the top for the peloton.

15:13 CEST    162km/88km to go
The four leaders are back along the Elbe, with the peloton closing all the time. Once they hit the finish line at 80 km to go, they'll come back out to the Waseberg for 3 x 12.7 km laps, which should be fun.

15:18 CEST    165km/85km to go
Lochowski is back in the leading group after his mechanical, and rolling through for his turns.

15:25 CEST    170km/80km to go
The leading quartet cross the start/finish line with less than four minutes advance on the main peloton, which is continuing to wind up as the finale of this World Cup draws nigh.

With 100 World Cup points for the winner of today's race, we could see a change in the World Cup leadership, but only if Davide Rebellin has a bad day. The Italian who won both Amstel Gold and Liege-Bastogne-Liege sits on top of the standings with 200 points, 54 ahead of Michael Boogerd (Rabobank) and 69 ahead of Steffen Wesemann (T-Mobile). The top 10 in the World Cup are as follows:

1 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner                               200 pts
2 Michael Boogerd (Ned) Rabobank                                   146
3 Steffen Wesemann (Ger) T-Mobile Team                             131
4 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank                                      127
5 Erik Dekker (Ned) Rabobank                                       115
6 Magnus Bäckstedt (Swe) Alessio - Bianchi                         100
7 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step - Davitamon                        98
8 Peter Van Petegem (Bel) Lotto - Domo                              95
9 Leif Hoste (Bel) Lotto - Domo                                     84
10 Erik Zabel (Ger) T-Mobile Team                                   80

15:31 CEST    175km/75km to go
T-Mobile, Gerolsteiner, Rabobank and Quick.Step are the main movers and shakers in the peloton, as none of them have riders in the break. The bunch is still quite large, as it hasn't been a particularly selective race so far.

Van Petegem is looking focused, sitting towards the back of the bunch next to Klöden.

Rik Reinerink (Jacques) is now on his own, the only survivor of the break.

15:35 CEST    178km/72km to go
Rik Reinerink, who attacked Steffen Radochla a few km previously, is now solo as he navigates the back part of the course. The peloton comes through the feed zone a couple of minutes behind him, with many riders grabbing feedbags while the pace is not too high.

Astarloa looks happy with his lunch.

Lochowski is now back in the peloton, leaving just Reinerink and Radochla out front.

15:37 CEST    180km/70km to go
Reinerink has got a nice tempo going as he rides 2'05 in front of the Quick.Step/T-Mobile/Rabobasnk/Gerolsteiner led peloton, which has now caught Radochla.

Servais Knaven is doing a turn on the front.

15:39 CEST    182km/68km to go
Schaffrath (T-Mobile), Posthuma (Rabobank), Serpellini (Gerolsteiner), Cretskens and Knaven (Quick.Step) are doing the work in the peloton to bring back the lone Rik Reinerink. The gap is stable at 2'10 now.

Rebellin is surrounded by plenty of teammates, but he's easy to pick out in his World Cup leader's jersey and World Cup styled bike.

15:42 CEST    185km/65km to go
The peloton is getting more and more nervous, with Alessio-Bianchi bringing up Bäckstedt, Saeco putting Di Luca in front and Lotto-Domo working to position Van Petegem.

Reinerink gets a Coke from his team director Johan Capiot.

15:43 CEST   
Reinerink is suffering a lot as he rides alone ahead of the peloton. He's been out there for over 150 km, first of all with three others and now alone. His gap has fallen to 1'25.

15:45 CEST    186km/64km to go
Bäckstedt does a turn on the front of the peloton with Italian champ Moreni on his wheel. Moreni hasn't had much of a chance to show off his red, white and green jersey, but he looks good in it.

15:47 CEST    187km/63km to go
Steels and Bortolami show themselves at the front too. Then Serpellini takes over with Rebellin on his wheel. Position is everything before the Waseberg.

Ullrich and Hiemstra are chatting, some way back in the field.

Reinerink has just 1'00 of his lead left.

15:49 CEST    188km/62km to go
Reinerink knows that he's not going to last long, and has taken a couple of extra bidons on board to give them to his teammates when he's caught.

It's over now as the Dutchman sits up. He's quickly swallowed by the peloton.

A De Nardi rider punctures his front wheel. It's not the best of changes, but he's now rolling again.

15:50 CEST   
Lotto-Domo has taken over the work in front of the peloton now, keeping the tempo high and Van Petegem in a good position.

15:51 CEST    190km/60km to go
Van Bon, Vansevenant and Vierhouten are sitting on the front, riding at 45 km/h. They are challenged by a couple of Fassa Bortolo riders - looks like Tosatto and Pozzato.

15:53 CEST    192km/58km to go
The nervousness in the bunch is like it's the final 5 km, but there's still 58 km to go. Importantly, the next ascent of the Waseberg is approaching in 4 km. It's still Lotto and Fassa on the front. No-one has bothered counter-attacking yet, as the tempo is too high.

15:55 CEST    194km/56km to go
The roads narrow through the trees but the speed doesn't let up, as Fassa continues to hammer on the front of the bunch.

15:56 CEST   
The crowds are thick on the Waseberg, waiting in anticipation for the riders. Vierhouten is on the front now, followed by Dierckxsens.

15:57 CEST    196km/54km to go
Gerolsteiner assumes the position just before the descent through the trees down to the Elbe.

15:58 CEST   
The peloton is quite stretched, and Boonen and Steels are well placed in the top 10. Fabian Wegmann is ready to take over the pace making in front for Rebellin, but not yet. Löwik (Jacques) is third wheel.

16:00 CEST    198km/52km to go
The bunch hits the Waseberg for the second time with two Gerolsteiners in front. One immediately pulls off and Wegmann gives it some gas, with Löwik sticking to his wheel. But then Wegmann punctures. He will be annoyed.

Löwik is swallowed as the whole bunch crosses the top together. Zanini and Guidi first over. Celestino, Bettini and Astarloa looked good.

16:00 CEST   
Zabel is a long way back - nearly last wheel over the top. He's moving fast though, so it might have been a flat.

16:02 CEST    199km/51km to go
Michele Bartoli attacks over the top, looking back at Zanini to come through. But Zanini doesn't look too enthused. Brochard, Flecha come past and close the gap. Zanini is still there, but playing a blocking role for Bettini.

16:03 CEST   
Brochard does a strong turn but with Zanini on his wheel, he can't continue with it. The rest of the peloton comes back to them.

A CSC rider counters - Frank Høj's.

16:05 CEST    200km/50km to go
Høj's gets a bit of a gap but Bortolami brings a few others up to him. It looks like a 10 man group or so and immediately it falls apart as Merckx counters. Merckx does his turn but no-one wants to continue. 50 km to go.

16:08 CEST    201km/49km to go
Høj's does another turn in front but sits up and the rest of the peloton comes up to him. Fassa's Marzio Bruseghin is next, just riding hard tempo. The peloton is stretched, but not strung out in one line yet.

16:10 CEST    202km/48km to go
Bruseghin continues to drive the tempo up as a Brioches rider attacks - Rony Martias. He gets three others for company and they get a small gap. But Bruseghin doesn't want to let them go.

16:11 CEST    204km/46km to go
Martias continues but he can't break clear. Bruseghin is there again, leading the peloton up past the Brioches rider. Pozzato is right on his wheel. And Steels.

Matt Wilson (FDJeux.com) has generously donated his back wheel to Carlos Da Cruz after a mechanical. That will probably be the end of Wilson's race.

16:13 CEST   
Zanini, riding strongly, takes over from Bruseghin with Ullrich on his wheel. Bruseghin now sits in third wheel. The speed is increasing as the next climb of the Waseberg approaches. Rebellin is up in about 10th.

16:14 CEST    208km/42km to go
Baldato gets to the front on the descent to the Elbe, while his teammate Bäckstedt is sitting last wheel in the peloton.

16:15 CEST    209km/41km to go
The peloton strings itself out along the Elbe en route to the Waseberg for the third time. Ullrich is still right up there - we'll see what he can do, although he might wait for another lap.

16:17 CEST    210km/40km to go
Baldato pulls off at the base of the climb and Bruseghin takes over. Zanini is right up there with Paolini on his wheel. They hit the climb again and it's a big spring. Bettini, Di Luca, Cancellara and Moreni in front, with Rebellin chasing just off the back.

Bettini, Di Luca and Rebellin are the top three over the top. Astarloa and Ullrich are up there in the top 10, as is Moreni.

16:17 CEST   
Steels has lost about 50 positions on the climb and is not in a good position. Da Cruz is on the back next to Bäckstedt. Also not a good position. There are splits.

16:18 CEST    211km/39km to go
over the top there's about 15 riders with a small gap to the peloton, but they don't seem committed yet. Kashechkin is there, and drives the pace up.

16:20 CEST    211km/39km to go
O'Grady takes over in front with the rest of the break not far behind. Rebellin is definitely there, as are Ullrich and Bettini.

16:21 CEST    212km/38km to go
Danilo Hondo has made the sprint and is working hard too. Flecha, Ullrich, a couple of Saecos come up to help. Ullrich is closing a lot of gaps. Good idea, as Astarloa and Rebellin are ahead.

16:23 CEST    213km/37km to go
O'Grady attacks again, and Bettini and Rebellin personally chase him down. Two more climbs of the Waseberg to come, and we have about 20 men in the lead, but the group is growing all the time.

16:25 CEST    216km/34km to go
The cooperation in the lead group is hopeless, but somehow it's managing to keep the peloton at bay. In front we have: Ullrich, Rebellin, O'Grady, Astarloa, Di Luca, Hondo, Balducci, Bettini, Kirchen, Flecha, Bortolami, Camenzind, among others. The peloton is at 10 seconds.

Hondo drives the tempo now, with Flecha on his wheel.

16:26 CEST   
Hondo signals for Flecha and the rest to roll over. The peloton is now 20 seconds back and not looking particularly interested. Astarloa has two other Lampres in the front group, which now numbers at least 25.

16:28 CEST   
The peloton is fairly modest in size, with T-Mobile jerseys to the fore including Klöden. The gap is 12 seconds, but it doesn't look like T-Mobile is chasing considering Ullrich is in front.

16:29 CEST    218km/32km to go
More names in the lead group: Ullrich, Rebellin, Hondo, O'Grady, Astarloa, , Bortolami, Ballan, Di Luca, Balducci, Moreni, Bettini, Kirchen, Flecha, Camenzind, Kashechkin, Gilbert, Dekker, Pozzato, Bartoli, Merckx.

Hondo, Ullrich and Bettini are in front.

16:30 CEST   
It looks like Hondo has the task of working, but the peloton will probably just catch them before the next time up the Waseberg. It's more or less back together on the descent now.

16:32 CEST    219km/31km to go
The peloton is together, but very stretched out along the Elbe thanks to Hondo's work. Rebellin is in fourth wheel.

16:32 CEST   
Hondo takes the left hander onto the climb, driving it to the foot. O'Grady, Astarloa and Moreni are right on his wheel. Van Petegem has managed to get himself up there too.

16:34 CEST    220km/30km to go
The sprint up the climb is led by Di Luca, who has Astarloa, Rebellin, Celestino on his wheel.

Di Luca is first over ahead of Rebellin, Celestino and Bettini. Then a little gap to Astarloa and Ullrich. Freire and O'Grady are well placed. The rest of the peloton is in tatters again, and it only gets worse from now on.

16:35 CEST    221km/29km to go
An update on the Posties: Yes they are in the race, but they haven't been spotted near the front yet.

Bettini and Astarloa get to the front, but always Rebellin is there to mark them. And Ullrich, who looks good still.

Merckx attacks.

16:36 CEST    222km/28km to go
Merckx gets O'Grady for company on the descent, then Guidi, Bettini and Freire. Bettini counters hard! Merckx chases.

16:38 CEST    223km/27km to go
Bettini and Merckx are now together, and it looks like Freire is trying to close the gap. But he can't, and the rest of the front group comes up. Bettini has his head down and is powering with Merckx glued to his wheel.

Rebellin counters now with Di Luca stuck to him. Four leaders.

16:38 CEST    225km/25km to go
Astarloa is up there too! Nice group. Then Ullrich brings a couple up. About 10-12 riders in front.

16:39 CEST    226km/24km to go
Erik Dekker and Juan Antonio Flecha take advantage of a lull in the tempo to attack. Paolini comes up to join them.

16:41 CEST    227km/23km to go
Hondo is on the front of the chasing group, setting tempo for Rebellin.

It's Tosatto in front, not Flecha. But they are now caught anyway.

16:43 CEST    230km/20km to go
Rebellin has ordered his two Gerolsteiner henchmen to ride as hard as possible before the final climb of the Waseberg. Meanwhile the front group is sorting itself out. Matt White is up there, helping out O'Grady. That's a good sign for the Sydneysider, who did not get to ride the Tour due to an unfortunate crash before the prologue.

Bettini and Paolini are in deep discussion.

16:44 CEST   
The lead group, which can't be more than 30 strong, has a 30 second lead over the peloton. Impressively, Zabel has got himself up there. He's sitting on Kirchen, who is sitting behind Rebellin.

A Domina Vacanze rider attacks. It's 20 year old Francesco Failli.

16:45 CEST    231km/19km to go
Failli has a nice little gap but the Gerolsteiners don't want to let him go. It's about 5 seconds at the moment.

16:46 CEST   
Failli fails as Rebellin's men get him. It looks like Sebastian Lang and Danilo Hondo on the front.

16:48 CEST    232km/18km to go
There's a group with Aldag and Kroon trying to get up to the leading bunch, but it's not going to happen. Hondo leads on the descent down to the Elbe for the last time.

16:48 CEST    233km/17km to go
Hondo and Lang are towing Rebellin, Bettini and Astarloa to the foot of the climb. It's a set move, and it'll probably work.

16:49 CEST   
Hondo hammers to the foot then pulls off. Lang hammers a bit more, then it's up to Rebellin.

16:49 CEST   
Ullrich moves up and attacks from the bottom!

16:50 CEST    234km/16km to go
Astarloa counters and looks good. Rebellin, Bettini, Ullrich and Gilbert are all there. As is Di Luca.

16:50 CEST   
Bettini, Astarloa and Rebellin first over the top. Then a gap to Di Luca, Flecha and Ullrich. Then there is much pain.

16:51 CEST    235km/15km to go
It's the usual suspects: Paolo Bettini, Igor Astarloa and Davide Rebellin forming a lead group over the top of the climb. Ullrich is leading a group of seven behind them.

16:52 CEST    236km/14km to go
Merckx, Di Luca, Gonchar, Ullrich, Gilbert, Freire are in the group of seven chasing the three leaders, who are now about 10 seconds clear.

16:53 CEST   
The three leaders are cooperating well, while the group behind is not. Bossoni is there for Lampre, and he won't be working with Astarloa in front.

Ullrich and Di Luca accelerate.

16:54 CEST    237km/13km to go
Di Luca and Ullrich close the gap, but the others are there too. 10 leaders.

16:55 CEST    238km/12km to go
Gilbert puts his head down and hammers with Bossoni on his wheel. There is doubt. The group is watching each other as the pair get a gap.

16:56 CEST    239km/11km to go
Gilbert and Bossoni know that they have a great chance, as the other riders will be waiting for the rest to chase. There is a chase happening, with Gonchar and Ullrich in front.

16:56 CEST    240km/10km to go
It's still Gilbert and Bossoni, who are now at the foot of the descent with 10 km to go. The chase is not really committed. Freire comes through, past Merckx.

16:57 CEST    241km/9km to go
Bossoni takes over and gives it full gas, with Gilbert right on his wheel. There is a reaction from behind as Bettini attacks with Ullrich and Rebellin on his wheel.

16:58 CEST   
Rebellin, Ullrich and Bettini have just about closed the gap, with the rest of the break on their wheels. It's back together with 9 km to go.

16:58 CEST    242km/8km to go
Merckx is next to attack. Good move from the Belgian.

16:59 CEST    243km/7km to go
Merckx is leaning on the tops, as Bettini starts to chase behind. Ullrich is in last wheel. He has to get away in the final kilometres to have a chance, with riders like Freire, Rebellin, Astarloa and Bettini here.

17:00 CEST   
Merckx has a handy lead as Paolo Bossoni drives up the tempo for Astarloa. Rebellin, Gonchar and Freire come through for their turns. Then Astarloa.

17:01 CEST    243km/7km to go
Merckx is looking back as he sees he has 10 seconds. Ullrich does a turn, then drops back again.

17:01 CEST   
Astarloa does another turn, then Bossoni. Merckx is coming back slowly.

17:02 CEST    244km/6km to go
Bettini is next to take over and Merckx gives up the ghost. Back together with 6 km to go.

17:03 CEST    245km/5km to go
It's disorganised but the group is still together. Another group catches them from behind! Gilbert decides to attack. There's some 25 men now. Ooops.

17:04 CEST    246km/4km to go
Merckx attacks again and immediately feels the pain. But Rebellin has a teammate to help, and he sets the chasing tempo. Merckx is caught by three riders with 4 km to go.

17:04 CEST   
There's five leaders with Merckx but they can't stay clear. All together again.

17:05 CEST    247km/3km to go
It looks like Zabel is in the leading group too, so he might ask Ullrich to lead him out. Guidi is there for CSC.

17:05 CEST   
It's Hondo and Lang working for Rebellin with 3 km to go. Astarloa on Rebellin's wheel.

17:06 CEST    247.5km/2.5km to go
O'Grady is back in this group too - he's a good chance, depending on how much energy he used getting back on.

17:06 CEST    248km/2km to go
It's a combined Lampre/Gerolsteiner leadout with 2 km to go. O'Grady has placed himself next to Rebellin and Astarloa.

17:07 CEST    248.5km/1.5km to go
Ullrich attacks, but everyone realises the danger and he is caught by Merckx and Kirchen. The leading group of 30 has about 1.5 km to go.

17:07 CEST    249km/1km to go
Gonchar goes early, before the 1 km banner. It doesn't go anywhere. Gerolsteiner pulls it back together.

17:08 CEST   
The leadout is in full flight now with Hondo taking over at 800m to go with Paolini and Rebellin on his wheel. Then Astarloa.

17:09 CEST    250km/0km to go
Paolini starts the sprint, then Astarloa goes early, but it's Bettini then O'Grady who comes around on Bettini's right hand side. O'Grady wins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

O'Grady has won his first ever World Cup, and gets a big hug from teammate Matt White. Bettini took second, and was pretty annoyed with himself. Astarloa third, then Freire and Löwik.

17:13 CEST   
Rebellin was 6th and will keep his World Cup jersey. Zabel was 7th and Guidi took 8th.

Thanks for following our live coverage of the HEW Cyclassics today. We'll be back on live8.cyclingnews.com with the New York City Cycling Championship in about an hour from now, and also with a full report and results of HEW to be posted shortly.

Results

Provisional
1 Stuart O'Grady (Aus) Cofidis            5.51.39
2 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick.Step
3 Igor Astarloa (Spa) Lampre
4 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank
5 Gerben Lowik (Ned) Chocolade Jacques
6 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner
7 Erik Zabel (Ger) T-Mobile
8 Fabrizio Guidi (Ita) CSC

World Cup standings after round 6

1 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner         232 pts
2 Paolo Bettini (Ita) Quick Step             168
3 Oscar Freire (Spa) Rabobank                167

Mail the commentary team    

 

back to top