63rd Tour de Romandie - Prologue Just In
Columbia/Highroad's Frantisek Rabon stopped the clock to take the yellow
jersey. Sandy Casar and Alejandro Valverde split by a seconds on the podium.
Prologue 3.1 km Luzanne
Française des jeux's Fin, Jussi Veikkanen set the early time to beat with a time
of 3:48 minutes and for some time it looked like the rider would take the yellow
jersey on the opening day of the Swiss six day tour of the Rhine valley and Alps
on the border of Switzerland and France. But the Chezch Republic's Rabon set
asid Veikkanen's time by four seconds Czech Frantisek Rabon from Team
Columbia-High Road who finished the 3.1 kilomtres in the fastest time. He beat
Veikkanen with a four seconds advantage pushing him into second.
As the favorites and big guns unloaded the Fin's excellent performance proved
good enough for 7th place with Sandy Casar a whisper away at 2 seconds behind of
Rabon. Tyler Farrar of Garmin followed to climb into 4th with a strong
performance by Alejandro Valverde displacing Farrar for the last podium step.
Roman Kruizeger, Rabon's compatriot turned in a fast time to for 5th, second
to Farrar in the battle for the best young riders jersey. Kazakhstan's Maxim
Iglinskiy of Astana finished sixth.
Swiss and Olympic Time Trial champion Fabian Cancellara finished a surprising
11th but he may have been slowed over the distance gaining familiarity with his
new time trial bike on it for only the second time.
"Fabian tested our newly developed time trial bike for the first time
yesterday, and he rode it for the second time today, where he finished
eleventh", sports director Dan Frost said after the race. "The race lasts
until Sunday and the three kilometres today will not play any role in the
overall standings by then, so we are fully confident and looking forward to the
mountains and especially the team time trial later this week".
Team Saxo Bank may be the team to beat bringing a strong and multi-talented
team to ride in support of Cancellara, many of which will participate in the
Giro d'Italia, Nicki Sřrensen and Matthew Goss Lars Bak, Juan Jose Haedo, Chris
Anker Sřrensen, Anders Lund, Jens Voigt, Jurgen van Goolen, and Jason McCartney.
Alejandro Valverde commented after the prologue, “I wanted to race here in
Romandy to go on improving my condition and the result I got today is the proof
that the job I achieved last week in the classics week was the right one and has
been very important therefore. We were lucky because it has been raining since
we arrived in Switzerland yesterday and it just stopped before the race started.
The course, all flat and only 3.1 kilometers was for specialists but I had very
good feelings and that gave me the possibility to do so well. The Tour of
Romandy is a race that I like very much and I hope to be better and better all
through the week so that I can win a stage.”
Columbia/Highroad
The 25-year-old Czech time trial specialist had never before taken a prologue
win, but on Tuesday’s course he was two seconds faster than Sandy Casar of
France, with Spain’s Alejandro Valverde in third.
Riding as the reigning Czech national time trial champion, Rabon was
victorious on the 3.1-kilometre prologue through the streets of Lausanne,
Switzerland. His win is the Columbia-Highroad men’s team’s 19th of the season
and the second for Rabon in 2009 after he took stage three of the Tour of Murcia
in Spain.
Rabon’s victory in Romandie also means Columbia-Highroad has taken the
prologue of the Swiss ProTour race for two years running. Last year Mark
Cavendish won the same opening stage. “To be honest I was targeting the top ten,
nothing better,” Rabon said afterwards.
“When I got the fastest time, I sat down and wondered which of the last guys
off, maybe [Fabian] Cancellara, maybe [teammate] Mark [Cavendish], would beat
it. This race is very much for the guys who are preparing for the Tour of Italy,
and I thought one of them would have a better chance.”
“But it didn’t happen, continued Rabon. “Maybe I should have been more
hopeful because I’ve had some good results in time trials this year, a win in
Murcia and a third place in time trials both in the Criterium International and
in the Circuite de la Sarthe. Even though I pulled out of Liege-Bastogne-Liege
and was a bit disappointed about that, I knew my condition had been good before
then. The course itself on Tuesday was supposed to be completely flat, but in
fact it was trickier than that, with one kilometre flat, one kilometre downhill,
and one up! But I went full gas anyway, there was no point in doing anything
else because it was so short, and it worked out.”
“We’ll see what happens next. I’ve ridden Romandie two times before and I
know the climbs a bit. In any case I’ll go all out and try to defend my lead for
as long as possible and the best I possibly can.”
Stage 1 profile
On Wednesday the riders will face the first of three mountain stages, from
Montreux to Fribourg, they must cover a total of 1,989 meters of climbing in
176.2 kilometers. Halfway through the stage, the 1,508 meter category 1 climb of
Col de Jaune looms large and will be where Rabon will have to make his stand to
wear yellow at the start on Thursday.
The challenging Tour in west Switzerland ends on Sunday in Geneva after six
days after 663.6 km of racing in the west of Switzerland through the valleys and
mountains of the Rhine river including the Alps and Jura mountains. With the
varied terrain featured during the tour, and the team time trial on stage three
the advantage may go to the stronger time trial machines like Columbia, Saxo
Band and Astana who dominate in the event. The sprinters only have one stage to
go for a stage victory with the remaining stages (three) sure to sharpen the
climbers legs for the Giro.
Columbia/Highroad also has hopes pinned on British sprinter Mark Cavendish
returning to racing after a short break following the Ghent-Wevelgem Classic .
Last year Cavendish won the prologue in the Swiss race, and Romandie is his last
event before he takes part in the Tour of Italy.
Young Tony Martin will also be testing his legs in anticipation of his
participation in the tour de France, “Some of the riders in Romandie are
doing the Tour as well, so on the flatter stages we want to practice how we do
the last three kilometres with Mark,” Tony Martin said. “I did Romandie last
year, and I like it very much - good roads, good hotels and well- organized. My
only complaint is there’s no long individual time trial this year, and it would
be better for me if there were. It’s not so mountainous this time, though, as it
has been some years, which is a plus. That way if we get a good result in the
team time trial, we have a good chance of staying ahead,” added Martin.
“It’s an important race for Mark [Cavendish] because it’s his last before the
Giro D’Italia, but there’s no pressure here,” adds team sports director Tristan
Hoffman. “If he gets a win, then that’s great. But really we see Romandie as
part of his build-up for Italy, one last test before the Giro.”
Cervélo TestTeam
"The guys did not have a really good prologue today," said Sports Director,
Marcello Albasini. "Our two best finishers were
Ignatas Konovalovas in 23rd place and Marcel Wyss in 30th place. Ignatas is a
long time trial rider, and we were quite happy with his performance in the
prologue. Marcel is not a time trial specialist, so to end 9 seconds behind the
winner, Frantisek Rabon, is not too bad. Before the race we were expecting a
strong ride from Dominique Rollin and in the first part of his ride he give
everything he had and did very well, but after the climb he didn't have the legs
to finish strong."
63rd Edition Tour de Romandie Stages:
Switzerland - UCI ProTour
4/28 - Prologue: Lausanne 3.1 km
4/29 - Stage 1: Montreux - Fribourg 176.2 km
176.2 km
4/30 - Stage 2: La Chaux-de-Fonds - La Chaux-de-Fonds
161.5 km
5/01 - Stage 3: Yverdon-les-Bains
14.8 km TTT
5/02 - Stage 4: Estavayer-les-lacs - Sainte-Croix
157.5 km
5/03 - Stage 5: Aubonne - Genčve
150.5 km
Total distance: 663.6 km
Race Website
Main Sponsor: Credit Agricole Banking
Race Jerseys:
Leader: Yellow
KOM: Pink
Points Sprinter: Green
Best Young Rider: Green & White
Most Combative Rider is awarded a red dossard (rider number)
63rd Tour de Romandie Prologue
Results & General Classification
3.1 km - 03:44:56 - 49,821 km/h
1 57 Rabon Frantisek Thr Cze 03:44:56
2 131 Casar Sandy Fdj Fra 03:46:56 02:
3 71 Valverde Belmonte Alejandro Cse Esp 03:47:52 03:
4 125 *Farrar Tyler Grm Usa 03:48:41 04:
5 91 *Kreuziger Roman Liq Cze 03:48:61
6 5 Iglinskiy Maxim Ast Kaz 03:48:75
7 138 Veikkanen Jussi Fdj Fin 03:48:93
8 132 *Coppel Jeróme Fdj Fra 03:49:35 05:
9 94 Quinziato Manuel Liq Ita 03:49:36
10 81 Freire Gomez Oscar Rab Esp 03:49:41
11 21 Cancellara Fabian Sax Sui 03:49:76
12 54 *Martin Tony Thr Ger 03:49:88
13 77 *Uran Rigoberto Gce Col 03:49:90
14 63 Gilbert Philippe Sil Bel 03:49:90
15 177 *Taaramae Rein Cof Est 03:50:65 06:
16 112 Astarloza Charreau Emuiksel Esp 03:50:71
17 181 Kessiakoff Fredrik Fuj Swe 03:50:98
18 47 Serov Alexander Kat Rus 03:51:25 07:
19 13 *Cornu Dominique Qst Bel 03:51:25
20 191 Moos Alexandre Bmc Sui 03:51:63
21 1 Morabito Steve Ast Sui 03:51:78
22 144 Elmiger Martin Alm Sui 03:52:10 08:
23 31 *Konovalovas Ignatas Ctt Ltu 03:52:18
24 41 Karpets Vladimir Kat Rus 03:52:36
25 158 *Voss Paul Mrm Ger 03:52:43
26 194 *Frank Mathias Bmc Sui 03:52:50
27 6 Rast Gregory Ast Sui 03:52:52
28 12 *Cataldo Dario Qst Ita 03:53:12 09:
29 51 *Cavendish Mark Thr Gbr 03:53:14
30 38 *Wyss Marcel Ctt Sui 03:53:19
31 48 *Trussov Nicolay Kat Rus 03:53:27
32 17 Rosseler Sébastien Qst Bel 03:53:31
33 61 Evans Cadel Sil Aus 03:53:36
34 45 Pozzato Filippo Kat Ita 03:53:45
35 117 Oroz Ugalde Juan Joseeus Esp 03:53:49
36 192 *Bookwalter Brent Bmc Usa 03:53:69
37 18 Schwab Hubert Qst Sui 03:53:90
38 87 *Stamsnijder Tom Rab Ned 03:53:96
39 198 Zberg Markus Bmc Sui 03:53:98
40 46 *Rovny Ivan Kat Rus 03:54:07 10:
41 161 Sprick Mathieu Bbo Fra 03:54:08
42 155 *Roels Dominik Mrm Ger 03:54:13
43 88 Ten Dam Laurens Rab Ned 03:54:16
44 164 Haddou Said Bbo Fra 03:54:17
45 111 Anton Hernandez Igoreus Esp 03:54:28
46 8 Zubeldia Agirre Haimar Ast Esp 03:54:38
47 137 Roy Jérémy Fdj Fra 03:54:38
48 35 King Edward Ctt Usa 03:54:40
49 187 Jufre Pou Josep Fuj Esp 03:54:61
50 156 Rohregger Thomas Mrm Aut 03:54:68
51 146 *Loubet Julien Alm Fra 03:54:81
52 107 Zagorodny Volodymyr Lam Ukr 03:55:04 11:
53 3 Dyachenko Alexsandr Ast Kaz 03:55:26
54 74 Lastras Garcia Pablo Gce Esp 03:55:38
55 55 Pinotti Marco Thr Ita 03:55:43
56 97 Vandborg Bach Brian Liq Den 03:55:54
57 152 *Barla Luca Mrm Ita 03:55:78
58 174 Hary Maryan Cof Fra 03:55:78
59 128 *Van Der Velde Ricardogrm Ned 03:55:91
60 28 Voigt Jens Sax Ger 03:55:92
61 151 Fothen Marcus Mrm Ger 03:56:03 12:
62 92 Corioni Claudio Liq Ita 03:56:05
63 157 Scholz Ronny Mrm Ger 03:56:09
64 162 Belgy Julien Bbo Fra 03:56:09
65 122 *Cozza Steven Grm Usa 03:56:21
66 67 Van Den Broeck Jurgen Sil Bel 03:56:23
67 104 *Buts Vitaliy Lam Ukr 03:56:29
68 93 *Guarnieri Jacopo Liq Ita 03:56:44
69 52 Barry Michael Thr Can 03:56:59
70 62 Dockx Bart Sil Bel 03:56:61
71 16 *Malacarne Davide Qst Ita 03:56:66
72 33 Gómez Marchante José Esp 03:56:79
73 53 *Lewis Craig Thr Usa 03:56:92
74 73 Charteau Anthony Gce Fra 03:57:08 13:
75 195 Louder Jeffry Bmc Usa 03:57:13
76 2 Bazayev Assan Ast Kaz 03:57:14
77 37 Rollin Dominique Ctt Can 03:57:18
78 154 Müller Martin Mrm Ger 03:57:35
79 147 *Pliuschin Alexandre Alm Mol 03:57:69
80 134 Le Mével Christophe Fdj Fra 03:57:74
81 166 Labbe Arnaud Bbo Fra 03:57:77
82 153 Fothen Thomas Mrm Ger 03:57:83
83 85 Menchov Denis Rab Rus 03:57:95
84 7 *Schär Michael Ast Sui 03:58:21 14:
85 142 Arrieta Lujambio Joséa-Llumis Esp 03:58:28
86 171 Moncoutié David Cof Fra 03:58:31
87 43 Mcewen Robbie Kat Aus 03:58:34
88 176 Sijmens Nico Cof Bel 03:58:43
89 182 Camano Ortuzar Iker Fuj Esp 03:58:45
90 141 Valjavec Tadej Alm Slo 03:58:78
91 178 Usov Alexandre Cof Bul 03:58:79
92 103 Bono Matteo Lam Ita 03:58:90
93 127 Patour Kilian Grm Fra 03:58:94
94 42 Horrach Rippoll Joankat Esp 03:58:97
95 84 *Kozontchouk Dmitry Rab Rus 03:59:01 15:
96 14 Facci Mauro Qst Ita 03:59:19
97 118 Urtasun Perez Pablo Eus Esp 03:59:22
98 101 Caucchioli Pietro Lam Ita 03:59:23
99 82 Clement Stef Rab Ned 03:59:27
100 113 Fernandez De Larreae Koldo Esp 03:59:40
101 58 Siutsou Konstantin Thr Blr 03:59:45
102 145 Goubert Stephane Alm Fra 03:59:47
103 75 Losada Alguacil Albergtoce Esp 03:59:66
104 66 Scheirlinckx Staf Sil Bel 03:59:71
105 96 Szmyd Sylvester Liq Pol 03:59:71
106 115 Isasi Flores Inaki Eus Esp 03:59:81
107 25 Mccartney Jason Sax Usa 04:00:09 16:
108 188 Serrano Gonzalez Ricardo Esp 04:00:27
109 196 Mckissick Ian Bmc Usa 04:00:33
110 135 *Meersman Gianni Fdj Bel 04:00:38
111 86 Moerenhout Koss Rab Ned 04:00:47
112 56 *Possoni Morris Thr Ita 04:00:52
113 165 *Jerome Vincent Bbo Fra 04:00:62
114 44 Petrov Evgeni Kat Rus 04:00:84
115 167 *Le Floch Guillaume Bbo Fra 04:00:88
116 163 Gené Yohann Bbo Fra 04:01:32 17:
117 197 *Wyss Danilo Bmc Sui 04:01:42
118 83 De Groot Bram Rab Ned 04:01:70
119 95 *Sabatini Fabio Liq Ita 04:01:94
120 24 *Lund Anders Sax Den 04:02:11 18:
121 121 *Martin Daniel Grm Irl 04:02:26
122 136 Mourey Francis Fdj Fra 04:02:44
Page 1 Sur 2 - 28/04/2009 - 20:08:24
123 27 Van Goolen Jurgen Sax Bel 04:02:70
124 133 *Di Grégorio Rémy Fdj Fra 04:02:75
125 184 Cobo Acebo Juan Jose Fuj Esp 04:02:75
126 23 Haedo Juan Jose Sax Arg 04:02:96
127 32 Fleeman Daniel Ctt Gbr 04:03:01 19:
128 105 Marzano Marco Lam Ita 04:03:16
129 76 Portal Nicolas Gce Fra 04:03:19
130 22 Bak Lars Ytting Sax Den 04:03:21
131 65 Lang Sebastian Sil Ger 04:03:81
132 143 *Bonnafond Guillaume Alm Fra 04:03:83
133 72 *Amador Bikkazakovag Andre Rc 04:03:96
134 168 *Sokolov Evgueny Bbo Rus 04:03:96
135 98 Zaugg Olivier Liq Sui 04:04:49 20:
136 172 Brard Florent Cof Fra 04:05:70 21:
137 175 Kern Christophe Cof Fra 04:05:90
138 124 Euser Lucas Grm Usa 04:06:02 22:
139 106 *Ponzi Simone Lam Ita 04:06:17
140 185 De La Fuente Rasilla David Esp 04:06:23
141 26 *Sörensen Chris Anker Sax Den 04:06:30
142 123 Duggan Timothy Grm Usa 04:06:31
143 15 Hulsmans Kevin Qst Bel 04:06:74
144 68 Wegelius Charles Sil Gbr 04:07:33 23:
145 4 Hernandez Blazquez Jaesstus Easlbperto04:07:44
146 114 Galdos Alonso Aitor Eus Esp 04:07:63
147 186 Gómez Gómez Ángel Fuj Esp 04:07:65
148 11 *Seeldrayers Kevin Qst Bel 04:07:71
149 34 Gustov Volodymir Ctt Ukr 04:07:88
150 193 *Bovay Steve Bmc Sui 04:08:15 24:
151 183 *Capelli Ermanno Fuj Ita 04:08:33
152 36 Pujol Óscar Ctt Esp 04:08:73
153 64 *Jacobs Pieter Sil Bel 04:09:25 25:
154 116 Landaluze Intxaurraeguas Inigo Esp 04:09:43
155 126 *Meier Christian Grm Can 04:09:66
156 173 Buffaz Mickaël Cof Fra 04:10:25 26:
157 78 Zandio Echaide Xabier Gce Esp 04:10:84
158 148 *Senac Jean-Charles Alm Fra 04:11:85 27:
159 102 Bindi Emanuele Lam Ita 04:12:07 28
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