65th Vuelta a España - Stage 7 Reactions
Rider and team reactions to Alessandro
Pettachi's win in Orihuela. Comments from the stage winner, points leader Mark
Cavendish and more....
© 2010 Vuelta a España
Previews:
Favorites
Preview
Points -
Sprinters
King of the
Mountains
Team & Rider
Start List
Stage Seven of the 2010 Vuelta finished with a bunch sprint in Orihuela with
Lampre Farnese-Vini's Alessandro Petacchi taking the spoils ahead of
HTC-Columbia's Mark Cavendish and Saxo Bank's Juan Jose Haedo. Quick Step's
Andreas Stauff and Garmin Transition's Tyler Farrar rounded off the top five
whilst Belgian Philippe Gilbert, of Omega Pharma-Lotto, retained the overall
race lead.Here are a selection of post stage comments.
Alejet Delivers!
Photo © 2010 Fotoreporter
Sirotti
Lampre/Farnese
Vini
Stage Winner Alessandro Petacchi on the win and his team's efforts...
"What a beautiful victory: it gives me huge satisfaction also because I
conquered it thanks to my team mates' efforts. I can remember perfectly every
metre in the last 2 km: first, Bole took the head of the bunch, raising the
speed and ending his performance at -700 mt; then it was Furlan's turn and he
was fantastic in leading the bunch just to the chicane, in which Hondo entered
at full speed; I followed Hondo's wheel and when I overtook him I was riding at
a speed much higher than the opponents. In these early stages I pedalled with
the target of the victory in my mind, I was focused only on the success, so now
I'm very happy for having reached this victory".
DS Piovani on the tactics for the day...
"Today, what we had planned in the morning meeting with the athletes, worked in
a perfect way. We controlled the breakaway and we caught it when it was the
proper moment. Then, our riders gave their best in order to help Petacchi in the
sprint: our staff that had already reached the arrival told us that the road
became narrower at 350 mt to go, so we decided to enter in the last kilometer in
the head position of the bunch. Also thanks to this action, Petacchi could
perform an amazing sprint."
Petacchi leads to the line as Cavendish finds a a gap from behind Ale Jet...
Photo © 2010 Fotoreporter
Sirotti
HTC-Columbia
Mark Cavendish on losing out on the win but leading the points
classification...
"I was on Petacchi’s wheel and a Quick Step rider came to the front. He was
sprinting but not sprinting. It was my problem for being in the box; I should
have been out of it if I wanted to go for the win. My team did a good job, so
I’m disappointed. I’m in the points jersey, so that’s ok but I can send
congratulations to Petacchi. He’s a great guy."
Team Saxo Bank
DS Bradley McGee on Juan Jose Haedo's third place finish on the stage and
an important stage to come...
“Obviously, JJ [Haedo] was very motivated for a top result and on the final
kilometers of the stage, Stuart [O'Grady], Kasper [Klostergaard] and Dominik
[Klemme] did a fantastic job positioning him before the road narrowed in shortly
before entering the finish line. I'm sure JJ will only get better throughout the
race. By the look of it, tomorrow's stage could be crucial for the overall
outcome of the race and Fränk [Schleck] is definitely ready for it.
Team Quick Step
Andreas Stauff on his fourth place finish...
"I did my best. The last kilometre went really fast. I took the wheel of the
Petacchi's train and so I was well placed, but not strong enough to win. It's
one of my first sprints at such so high level and I was in the middle of the
kings of the sprint. It's a dream and I'm very happy about my performance"
Team Katusha
Sixth placed Denis Galimzyanov on his fall affecting his sprint...
"Today I fell before the last climb and after that I suffered the race rhythm.
In the sprint I was in good position but, like I said before, I didn't feel
myself well and in the last corner with 300 metres to go a HTC rider moved a lot
and I stopped for a second."
Cervelo Test Team
Ds Philippe Mauduit on the team'e performance...
"The team did a great job putting Theo [Bos who finished 17th on the stage] into
position, as he is still learning how to handle the sprints in a grand tour. The
sprints at the Vuelta are harder than anything Theo has done so far on the road
and today's was a narrow finish. But he's a quick learner and I believe we will
see a better sprint from him before the end of this race."
Xavier Tondo on losing time due to a split in the bunch and the vital
stages to come...
"I am very angry right now, because the group split into two parts and I lost
time. The last two kilometers were very fast. Some riders finished their work
and then sat up, and the group was broken," Tondo said. "I made a big sprint to
try to catch the first group. It was very close. I almost caught them. It is my
own fault. I should have been more attentive and in the front group."
Tomorrow the Vuelta starts for real. Catí is short, but it's very steep and
we will see who is in condition to try to win this Vuelta. The first week has
been very nervous, but it hasn't been so hard. On these two stages this weekend
it will be very important not to lose time."
Team Milram
Robert Förster 4th top ten performance
The sprinter, who won a stage in the Vuelta for Team Gerolsteiner in 2006,
finished the in sixth place today.
Team manager Gerry van Gerwen Satisfied...
"The team fulfilled the tactical assignments of the sport directors very well.
Almost every day we can be seen at the front of the field with our good riding.
With a little luck, Robert Förster can be on the podium in the sprint finishes
and maybe even bring in a stage win. After a convincing first Vuelta week, the
riders must now survive the difficult mountain stages and then look again for
the chance to win.“
Dominik Roels in the break of the day
Milram youngster Dominik Roels made it into the day's escape group for the
second time at this year's Vuelta. He attacked with three others shortly after
the stage started and brought in a lead of up to 10:27. As the stage went along,
the teams with the speedy sprinters organized the chase and the four were caught
only five kilometers before the finish.
Team Sky
Team Manager Dave Brailsford on the sad news that Team Sky soigneur Txema
González has passed away in Seville...
We are devastated to report that Txema tragically passed away on Friday evening
in hospital in Seville. His close family were with him. Txema will be remembered
as a warm-hearted colleague who was a joy to work with and was universally
respected by our team and throughout the pro cycling scene. Our thoughts are
with his family and friends."
Team Rabobank
Adri van Houwelingen on Oscar Friere's fitness...
"Oscar indicated that the most hopeful start in this Vuelta, but the feeling is
less as the days go on. Oscar said he senses no improvement after surgery in his
complaints [Friere had surgery to help respiratory problems]. That is hardly
reassuring "
Celebrating our tenth year!
Help
Support the Daily Peloton
| 
