Team Astana’s Andreas Klöden took over the lead in the Italian stage race Tirreno-Adriatrico (March 11th-17th) after winning the 5th stage, an individual time trial from Loreto to Macerata. Klöden finished the 30 kilometer course in 41:32 and was more than 20 seconds faster than Stijn Devolder. Swedish rider Thomas Lökvist finished third at 21 seconds behind. Michele Scarponi and Mikhail Ignatiev finished fourth and fifth, 21 and 32 seconds respectively. In the General Classification Klöden leads now by six seconds to Thomas Lökvist.

Klöden was exhausted but happy after his strong performance. “I liked the course,” said the overall winner of the 2007 Tirreno-Adriatico. “On purpose I started very fast. I had the best time at the first time split which was good for my confidence. At the second time split I was second, but had a better time than my competitors for the general classification. It gave me a boost and extra forces to tackle the difficult climb at 4 kilometers from the finish. I am very happy. I was a bit uncertain because of three crashes in the last two days, but my condition is so good that it didn’t prevent me from performing very well. I really worked hard to be good in this race. I succeeded.”

Tirreno-Adriatico finishes on Tuesday. Tomorrow is a tough and long stage, 235 kilometer between Civitanove Marche and Camerino. “A few days ago we lost Jani Brajkovic after a crash, but I have big confidence in my other teammates. It will be hard but we will defend this leader’s jersey”, concluded Andreas Klöden.

Result Stage 5: Loreto-Macerata, ITT 30 K
1 Andreas Klöden (Astana) 41:32; 2 Stijn Devolder 0:20; 3 Thomas Lökvist 0:21; 4 Michele Scarponi; 5 Mikhail Ignatiev 0:32; 6 Robert Gesink 0:40; 7 Stefano Garzelli 0:41; 8 Edvald Boasson Hagen 0:52; 9 Linus Gerdemann 0:58; 10 Jérôme Coppel 1:00

General Classificationafter Stage 5:
1. Andreas Klöden (Astana); 2 Thomas Lökvist 0:06; 3 Michele Scarponi 0:21; 4 Stefano Garzelli 0:41; 5 Davide Rebellin 1:02; 6 Vincenzo Nibali 1:07; 7 Linus Gerdemann 1:22; 8 Ivan Basso 1:25; 9 Ryder Hesjedal 1:26; 10 Johan Vansummeren 1:34

Alberto Contador 2nd In Final Stage Paris-Nice

In Paris-Nice, Alberto Contador finished 2nd in the 8th and last stage. He was determined to gain back the time he lost the day before and broke out of the peloton early. In the end he took back 17 seconds on overall winner Luis León Sánchez. The stage win was for Spaniard Toni Colom. Alberto Contador finished 4th overall, 1:24 behind Sánchez.

“I promised my teammates that I would try to take back what I lost yesterday,” said Alberto Contador. “I had nothing to lose. I knew the chances were small but I prefer to try something than to stay hidden in the peloton. I could not win the stage, and I didn’t come closer in the overall GC, but I am satisfied about this Paris-Nice. I won two key stages and this race proved that my preparation and training were good.”
The next race for Alberto Contador will be the Vuelta a Castilla y León (March 23th-27th).