Deutschland-Tour 2005

August 16 – 2nd stage: Pegnitz – Bodenmais, 180 km

Jörg Jaksche was denied his first victory of the season by a few in the second stage of Deutschland Tour. Liberty Seguros-Würth team were the Team of the day with also Carlos Barredo in the beakaway of the day.

Quick-Step have achieved their second consecutive stage win in the Deutschland Tour, as Filippo Pozzato defeated Jörg Jaksche by a few millimeters at the finish line.

Three riders escaped relatively early in this second stage, from Pegnitz to Bodenmais: Enrico Poitschke (WIE), Carlos Barredo (LSW) and Mauro Facci (FAS) .But once the first 2nd-category climb of the day had been reached, the three soon lost a 4'30" lead. At about 26 kilometers from the finish, the breakaway had been caught by the peloton.

Some more attacks occured in the following kilometers, with Gerolsteiner's American rider Levi Leipheimer attempting to ride away from the pack on the second and last climb of the day, at 7km from the finish.

Eventually, the pack remained together and Jörg Jaksche was last to try an attack. In the final kilometer, the German of Liberty Seguros-Würth rode away from the bunch, but could not stay ahead long enough. The Italian Filippo Pozzato closed in on Jaksche, and surpassed the German in the last few meters to take the stage victory.

Quick-Step teammate Bram Tankink, who started the stage with a 50 seconds advantage over his nearest rival, lost time but managed to keep a 13 seconds lead, and maintains the Yellow Jersey over Pozzato. Jörg Jaksche is third, to 17 seconds.

Team CSC are unlucky to have sickness in the camp yesterday Kurt-Asle Arvesen had to abandon the race due to stomach problems, while today Fränk Schleck is the latest victim of the stomach bug.

However the CSC squad remain confident for the race

”Bobby feels totally flying at the moment and Peter showed potential as well. It was a tough finish and many of the big names were in trouble. Jens Voigt and Christian Müller lacked just a tiny bit in keeping up, so now Bobby looks as our best bet for a top spot. He climbed without any difficulty today so it looks very promising,” determined Kim Andersen about Julich, who won last week's Pro Tour race; Benelux Tour.

Meanwhile the German press is less than impressed by T Mobile.

Ullrich topp, T-Mobile flop commented the ARD site –

Jan Ullrich was completely isolated from his team mates at the end of the stage. Vinokourov is weakened by a bout of flu, Guerini and Kessler tried to help but could not hold on. In comparison, Gerolsteiner, riding for Levi Leipheimer , had Wegmann, Rebellin and Fothen riding in the top group…..”

The Quickstep Team are now on a double hatrick. Atfer tankink and Filippo Pozzato’s victories they could win three in a row tomorrow. However now the Belgian outfit may look towards the overall victory – “Now I won a stage I will go back to supporting Patrik Sinkewitz“, commented Filippo Pozzato .

Quick Step are also aiming for a hat trick of victories in the Tour as well . Michael Rogers won in 2003, Patrik Sinkewitz in 2004.

That said they will have some stiff competition over the next few days Davitamon-Lotto (van Huffel, Evans, Ardila), Liberty Seguros (Jaksche, Etxebarria, Contador) and Gerolsteiner (Leipheimer, Wegmann, Rebellin) to name but three.

Result Stage 2

1 Filippo Pozzato (ITA, Quick-Step) 180 km in 4h49'40''
2 Jörg Jaksche (ALL, Liberty Seguros) m.t.
3 Mauricio Ardila Cano (COL, Davitamon-Lotto) m.t.
4 Davide Rebellin (ITA, Gerolsteiner) m.t.
5 Philippe Gilbert (BEL, Francaise des Jeux) m.t.
6 Cadel Evans (AUS, Davitamon-Lotto) m.t.
7 Tadej Valjavec (SLO, Phonak Hearing Systems) m.t.
8 Marzio Bruseghin (ITA, Fassa Bortolo) m.t.
9 Alexandre Moos (SUI, Phonak Hearing Systems) m.t.
10 Dario David Cioni (ITA, Liquigas - Bianchi) m.t.

General Classification Stage 2:

1 Bram Tankink (PBS, Quickstep) in 8h52'49''
2 Filippo Pozzato (ITA, Quickstep) à 13''
3 Jörg Jaksche (ALL, Liberty Seguros-Würth Team) à 17''
4 Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (COL, Davitamon - Lotto) à 19''
5 Davide Rebellin (ITA, Gerolsteiner) à 23''
6 Philippe Gilbert (BEL, Française des Jeux) m.t
. 7 Cadel Evans (AUS, Davitamon - Lotto) m.t.
8 Tadej Valjavec (SLO, Phonak Hearing Systems) m.t.
9 Marzio Bruseghin (ITA, Fassa Bortolo) m.t.
10 Alexandre Moos (SUI, Phonak Hearing Systems) m.t.

August 15 – 1st stage: Altenburg – Plauen, 170 km

The rain in Spain did not fall on the plain today, but instead went on holiday to Germany. The opening stage of Deutschland Tour, from Altenburg to Plauen was held in appalling weather conditions of cool tempretures. gusting winds and rain which gave the race the aura of a Spring Classic.

Such conditions should always give the breakaway the upper hand, the spray from the peloton makes it hard for it to maintain its momentum, and as the peloton is forced to slow on the corners , it takes longer for the riders to reorganise themselves back into a speeding train. The wet and cold effects the morale of the riders, all of which favours tough guys prepared to have a go.

Jörg Ludewig (DOM) who will be riding for T Mobie next season was the first to try his luck after 8 kilometres of racing, but he was soon reeled back in.

The three riders made the break of the day : Bernhard Eisel (FDJ), Bram Tankink (QST) and the Spanish rider Juan José Cobo (SDV) got a gap and the lead just kept growing.

With the rain falling and a soggy peloton slumbering, the lead rose to 9 minutes before local teams , T Mobile and Gerolstiener decided enough was enough and started to chase the escaped Trio down. However in the terrible weather conditions and Ullrich putting on a black rain jacket ( it is warmer and more water resistant than the magenta ones, Jan suffers in the cold “explained his friend and adviser Rudy Pevenage)

The peloton however misjudged the determination of the three escapees. ”When the break had a lead of more than seven minutes with just 30 kilometers to go, we moved towards the front of the peloton to help Gerolsteiner and T-Mobile take the lead. It wasn't possible to catch the three-man break, but at least we managed to reduce their lead considerably” explained CSC’s Kim Andersen.

With 20 kilometres to go Tankink, afraid of Bernard Eisel’s well known sprinting abilities launched an attack and said goodbye to his two companions. After the race Eisel admitted he was riding at his limit and could do nothing about Tankinks attack.

Bram Tankink is nicknamed the “Tank” , a nickname very appropriate to his profession. During the 1st World War when the British were developing a rugged off road motorised War machine to ensure secrecy, they spread the rumour it was to be used as a water carrier to front line troops – a water tank. Bram Tankink is a “water carrier” domestique of the highest order, but today he had his moment of glory.

The rain kept pouring down and Tankink did fall on a rain washed corner, but was soon up and back on course for victory and take the leaders jersey with around 3 minutes advantage on the favourites.

Even though Tankink has about three minutes on the peloton it's not serious – it's up to Quick Step to control the race now. Ahead of us is a very tough race with many difficult stages so nothing's decided yet,” said sports director Kim Andersen after the stage, which took place in pouring rain.

”The weather wasn't exactly great, but hopefully it'll change. Both Bobby and Jens feel great, but unfortunately Kurt-Asle couldn't see the stage through to the end, as he was suffering from a stomach bug,” added Kim Andersen

Stage 1 Results

1. Bram Tankink (HOL, Quick Step-Innergetic) en 4h00'23" 2. Juan José Cobo (ESP, Saunier Duval-Prodir) à 0'48" 3. Bernhard Eisel (AUT, Française des Jeux) à 0'51" 4. Sébastien Hinault (FRA, Crédit Agricole) à 3'07" 5. Daniele Bennati (ITA, Lampre-Caffita) à 3'07" 6. Christian Siedler (ALL, Team Wiesenhof) à 3'07" 7. Luciano Pagliarini (BRE, Liquigas-Bianchi) à 3'07" 8. David Etxebarria (ESP, Liberty Seguros) à 3'07" 9. Cyril Lemoine (FRA, Crédit Agricole) à 3’07’’ 10. Rory Sutherland (AUS, Rabobank) à 3’07’’

Tour of Germany – T Mobile Reports, Parcours , Teams , Past winners

Its all change next season for T Mobile. Zabel and Vinokourev move to pastures they may or may not be green, but certainly won’t be the famous pink or magenta of T Mobile.

However one rider remains at the centre of the Magenta Army. As Lance Armstrong, on the podium in Paris remarked ,“a special person and a special rider”.

Jan Ullrich , in spite of his mighty palmares which include podiums of the Tour de France, Vuelta a Espana and the Tour de Suisse, Jan Ullrich has never won his home Tour . A victory in the Deutschland-Tour could bring the 31-year-old closer to his goal to win all the World’s important tours, and cement his legend with his home crowd..

The T Mobile Team go into the race in a period of change, that will lead to an entirely new look to the squad next season. However, take away the departing Vinokourev’s efforts this season and the results of this top team look a little thin.

T Mobile are backing Ullrich for a home win, here is their assessment of the race to come -

"To me there’s no doubt I will be fighting for victory,“ says Ullrich, who in spite of a cold is one of the top favourites at the only German ProTour race. With six Tour-de-France participants riding alongside him, he has the support needed in a high-class field.

The strongest competition comes from his own country: Team Gerolsteiner boasts no less than four top contenders. Climbing specialist and Tour stage winner Georg Totschnig, Italian Davide Rebellin, Tour sixth Levi Leipheimer and Fabian Wegmann all aim for the podium.

Defending champion Patrik Sinkewitz (Quick Step) is also keen to repeat last year’s success. The tough profile may play into his hands, but the other favourites will be sure to keep a close watch on Sinkewitz, making things more difficult for him this time.

Two mountain summit arrivals – one of which on the Rettenbachferner at 2 684 m, the highest in this year’s UCI ProTour calendar – are certainly not to Jens Voigt’s taste. The CSC pro will be nonetheless one of the stage race’s stars - and always capable of day wins.

Somewhat low-key, but still a force to be reckoned with is Aussie Cadel Evans. Davitamon-Lotto pro is back to form this year and placed eight at the Tour, behind „king of the mountains“ Michael Rasmussen, who also participates.

For Danilo di Luca (Liquigas) it is most of all a matter of defending his top position in the ProTour ranking in Germany. „I willl try to pull something off at some stages,“ says the Italian.

The group of “young guns” is spearheaded by the Tour’s second best young rider Andrey Kashechkin (Crédit-Agricole) and also includes the Swiss Fabian Cancellara (Fassa Bortolo) and Vladimir Karpets (Illes Balears) from Russia. (MF)

Stages

August 15 – 1st stage: Altenburg – Plauen, 170 km
August 16 – 2nd stage: Pegnitz – Bodenmais, 180 km
August 17 – 3rd stage: Bodenmais – Kufstein, 232 km
August 18 – 4th stage: Kufstein – Sölden, 175 km
August 19 – 5th stage: Sölden – Friedrichshafen, 215 km
August 20 – 6th stage: Friedrichshafen – Singen (Hohentwiel), 175 km
August 21 – 7th stage: Singen (Hohentw.) – Feldberg (Schwarzwald), 173 km
August 22 – 8th stage: Ludwigshafen – Weinheim, EZF, 30 km
August 23 – 9th stage: Bad Kreuznach – Bonn, 170 km

The Teams

Bouygues Telecom (FRA) : Laurent Brochard (FRA), Walter Bénéteau (FRA)
• Crédit Agricole (FRA) : Andrey Kashechkin (KAZ), Curil Lemoine (FRA)
• Cofidis (FRA) : Stuart O’ Grady (AUS), Peter Farazijn (BEL)
• CSC (DAN) : Jens Voigt (ALL), Franck Schleck (LUX)
• Domina Vacanze (ITA) : Allesandro Bertolini (ITA), Quaranta (ITA)
• Discovery Channel (USA) : Pavel Padrnos (TCH), Roger Hammond (BEL)
• Davitamon-Lotto (BEL) : Cadel Evans (AUS), Axel Merckx (BEL)
• Euskaltel-Euskadi (ESP) : Unai Etxebarria (ESP), Iker Flores (ESP)
• Fassa-Bortolo (ITA) : Fabian Cancellara (SUI), Kim Kirchen (DAN)
• Française des Jeux (FRA) : Bradley McGee (AUS), Philippe Gilbert (BEL)
• Gerolteiner (ALL) : Levi Leipheimer (USA), Davide Rebellin (ITA)
• Illes Balears-Caisse d’épargne (ESP) : Vladimir Karpets (RUS), Unai Osa (ESP)
• Lampre-Caffita (ITA) : Gianluca Bortolami (ITA), Alessandro Ballan (ITA)
• Liquigas-Bianchi (ITA) : Danilo Di Luca (ITA), Luciano Pagliarini (ITA)
• Liberty Seguros-Würth (ESP) : Jörg Jaksche (ALL), David Etxebarria (ESP)
• Phonak-Hearing Systems (SUI) : Fabrizio Guidi (ITA), Nicolas Jalabert (FRA)
• Quick Step-Innergetic (BEL) : Filippo Pozzato (ITA), Patrik Sinkewitz (ALL)
• Rabobank (HOL) : Michael Rasmussen (DAN), Joost Posthuma (HOL)
• Saunier Duval-Prodir (ESP) : Chris Horner (USA), Nicolas Fritsch (FRA)
• T-Mobile (ALL) : Jan Ullrich (ALL), Alexander Vinokourov (KAZ)
• Team Wiesenhof : Jens Heppner (ALL), Ralf Grabsch (ALL)

Previous winners: 2004 - Patrik Sinkewitz (GER)
2003 - Michael Rogers (AUS)
2002 - Igor Gonzales de Galdeano (ESP)
2001 - Alexander Vinokourov (Team Telekom)
2000 - David Plaza (ESP)
1999 - Jens Heppner (GER)