- HOT TOPICS:
- The new VeloNews.com (BETA)
Friday's EuroFile: Voeckler wins in Dunkirk; Raisin recovers; Ribero released; Nürnberger scores big in Spain
- Article Extras
- Photos
Voeckler wins in Dunkirk, Gerdemann takes over
French champion Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Télécom) won Wednesday’s third stage of the Four Days of Dunkirk, but the real story was new overall leader Linus Gerdemann.
The 22-year-old German moved into the yellow jersey (as well as the best climber’s jersey and the young rider’s jersey) in his first race with Team CSC. Talk about some serious podium time.
“I have three jerseys, I have three jerseys,” was all Gerdemann could muster after leaving the podium, trying to convince himself what had just happened was real.
Gerdemann wisely followed an attack by Christophe Moreau (Crédit Agricole) near the end of the 195.6km stage from Liévin to Sangatte that ended with a climb. Ten riders opened up a gap on the main bunch that excluded previous leaders Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole) and Philippe Gilbert (FDJeux).
Voeckler shot away in the final meters to grab the stage victory, but Gerdemann came through fifth, good enough to move into the overall lead.
The race continues Saturday with the 173.4km fourth stage on a hilly circuit course at Boulogne-sur-Mer. Gerdemann will have his work cut out for him to keep hold of the jersey through Sunday’s finale, but a taste of the podium could spur his motivation.
Four Days of Dunkirk, Stage 3, Liévin to Sangatte (Cap Blanc Nez), 193.6km
1. Thomas Voeckler (F), Bouygues Telecom, 4:55:04
2. Ruggero Marzoli (I), Acqua & Sapone , at 0:16
3. Pierrick Fedrigo (F), Bouygues Telecom, same time
4. Andy Schleck (Lux), Team CSC, s.t.
5. Linus Gerdemann (G), Team CSC, s.t.
Overall standings after three stages
1. Linus Gerdemann (G), Team CSC 12:51:27
2. Pierrick Fedrigo (F), Bouygues Telecom, s.t.
3. Ludovic Turpin (F), Ag2r , at 0:04
4. Christophe Moreau (F), Crédit Agricole, s.t.
5. Andy Schleck (Lux), Team CSC, s.t.
Raisin recovering from Dunkirk mishap
Saul Raisin’s Four Days of Dunkirk didn’t last even one day, but at least the promising American rider wasn’t seriously injured after a mishap with a motorcycle prompted an early departure from the French race.
The Crédit Agricole rider didn’t finish Wednesday’s opening stage after touching pavement in an unfortunate incident involving one of the motorcycles that are part of any bike race.
“A motorcycle ran into the back of me and I hit the ground hard,” Raisin told VeloNews in an e-mail. “I cracked my hip and my collarbone. Luckily, the injuries are not major, and after the swelling goes down, I should be back soon. I’m not sure what I have coming up next, but I am positive for the rest of the year.”
The 22-year-old Raisin had just returned to Europe after a solid ride in the Tour de Georgia, where he finished 13th overall and was second in the young rider’s competition.
Ribeiro released by Liberty
A day after failing routine blood-screening tests, Nuno Ribeiro has been released from his two-year contract by his Liberty Seguros team on the dawn of the start of the 88th Giro d’Italia.
According to a team statement, Ribeiro will immediately leave the team and await the results of anti-doping tests conducted taken Friday.
Ribeiro tested with a hematocrit reading of 52 percent, two points above the 50 percent “speed limit,” a result that immediately prompted a 15-day forced stop for the Portuguese rider.
High hematocrit levels indicate, but do not prove, the presence of banned blood doping products. Should anti-doping tests reveal banned substances, Ribeiro would face a two-year racing ban.
Schleicher, Arndt win in Spain
Regina Schleicher (Nürnberger) won her second consecutive stage Friday in the finale of the Vuelta a Castilla y León Femininas.
Teammate Judith Arndt sewed up the overall title after finishing safely in the main bunch in the 114km third stage in northern Spain. Arndt won the opening stage Wednesday and wasn’t threatened as the final two days came down to mass sprints.
The race served as a warm-up ahead of Sunday's GP Castilla y Leon, the sixth stop in the 11-round World Cup series. Through five rounds, Oenone Wood leads Mirjam Melchers-Van Poppel by nine points with Nicole Cooke sitting in third with 125 points.
Vuelta a Castilla y León Femininas, Stage 3, Burgo De Osama to Arando Del Duero, 114.2km
1. Regina Schleicher (Ger), Nürnberger Versicherung, 2:57:29
2. Anita Valen (Nor), Vlaanderen, same time
3. Monica Holler (Swe), Elk Haus-Tirol Noe, s.t.4. Katia Longhin (Ita), S.C. Michela Fanini, s.t.5. Giorjia Broncini (Ita), A.S. Team, s.t.
Final overall standings
1. Judith Arndt (Ger), Nürnberger 8:32:01
2. Noemi Cantele (Ita), Team Bigla, at 0:02
3. Sara Carrigan (Aus), Van Bemmelen, at 0:05
4. Marta Vilajosana (Spa), Spanish national team, at 0:06
5. Anna Zugno (Ita) ,Safi-Pasta Zara, at 0:10
