Andreas Kloden of Astana Drops Dekker To Reinforce Tour de Romandie Lead
ZINAL, Switzerland, May 3, 2008 (AFP) - Astana’s Andreas Kloden distanced one of his main rivals for the Tour de Romandie title Saturday after a hilly fourth stage won by Italian Francesco De Bonis of Gerolsteiner.
De Bonis claimed the fourth and penultimate stage of the Swiss stage race, finishing ahead of French climber John Gadret and Spaniard Manuel Beltran.
But it was Dutchman Thomas Dekker’s failure to keep in touch with Kloden on what proved a difficult day of climbing that provided the biggest drama.
Rabobank’s defending champion began the day only six seconds down on Kloden after the German beat him to victory in the race’s time trial on Friday.
Kloden promptly lay down his victory credentials on the day’s final climbs where he played a pivotal role controlling the group of chasing riders.
Dekker, winner of the last edition, retired 25km from the finish on the climb to Grimentz, his body langugage suggesting he had simply run out of gas.
De Bonis said after his stage win: “The breakaway went too early. When I found myself alone I began to fell tired. I was scared when I saw Gadret coming back at me 100m from the line. It was only 50m out that I thought I’d done it.”
Kloden now leads Liquigas rider Roman Kreuziger of the Czech Republic and Italian Marco Pinotti, of High Road, by 35 and 43 secs respectively ahead of Sunday’s final stage.
Rabobank’s best placed rider is former Tour of Spain winner Denis Menchov, who is fourth at 45.
Sunday’s final stage is a 154.2km ride between Le Bouveret and Lausanne.
- Results of the Tour of Romandie fourth stage, a 112km run between Sion and here on Saturday:
1. Francesco De Bonis (ITA/Gerolsteiner) 3hr 28min 6sec, 2. John Gadret
(FRA) at 3s, 3. Manuel Beltran (ESP) 5, 4. Sandy Casar (FRA) 7, 5. Roman Kreuziger (CZE) s.t., 6. Andreas Kloden (GER) s.t., 7. Manuel Garate (ESP) s.t., 8. Marco Pinotti (ITA) s.t., 9. Denis Menchov (RUS) s.t., 10. Mikel Astarloza (ESP) s.t.
Overall
1. Andreas Kloden (GER/Astana) 12hr 59min 41sec, 2. Roman Kreuziger (CZE) at 35s, 3. Marco Pinotti (ITA) 43, 4. Denis Menchov (RUS) 45, 5. Mikel Astarloza (ESP) 54, 6. Sandy Casar (FRA) 1:05, 7. Manuel Garate (ESP) 1:08, 8.
John Gadret (FRA) 1:14, 9. Maxim Iglinsky (KAZ) 1:52, 10. Angel Gomez (ESP) s.t
Categories: News, Races, Tour of Romandie, team astana
Tags:
Leave a Reply