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Scroll down to read these articles from the web site of L'Equipe. Translated by Walt Ballenberger
Cycling News Home Page
Paris-Roubaix- Cancellara by himself- 04/09/06
Tour du Pays Basque- Marchante the winner- 04/08/06
Tour du Pays Basque- Stage for Voeckler- 04/07/06
Tour du Pays Basque- Freire in a sprint- 04/-6/06
Tour du Pays Basque- Sanchez does it again- 04/05/06
Tour du Pays Basque- Sanchez Wins- 04/04/06
Tour du Pays Basque-Valverde Wins- 04/03/06
Tour of Flanders- Boonen Victorious- 04/02/06
Three Days of La Panne- Hoste victorious- 03/30/06
Three Days of La Panne- Eisel at the finish- 03/29/06
Three Days of La Panne : Hoste in a sprinte- 03/28/06
Landis to miss the Giro- 03/26/06
Paris-Roubaix- Cancellara by himself- 04/09/06
The Swiss Fabian Cancellara (CSC) won Paris-Roubaix on Sunday. Just before the finish line he broke
away from two Belgians, Lief Hoste and Peter Van Petergem, which the Belgian Tom Boonen, the big
favorite in the race, took fifth place.
But there were theatrics after the finish because Hoste and Van Petegem were disqualified for crossing
a railroad passage that was down, which is against the rules. Thus Tom Boonen (Quick Step) and the
Italian Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) ended up on the podium.
Fourth in 2004 and fifth in 2005, Cancellara finally managed to win during the 104th edition of this
classic. He was able to launch an attack and stay away from the other big favorites in the race.
It should be noted that the race officials are still deliberating and the final classification could still
change.
Tour de Pays Basque- Marchante the winner- 04/08/06
Jose Angel Gomez Marchante (Saunier Duval) on Saturday won the Tour du Pays Basque by taking the
time trial of 24 km in the final stage at Zalla. The Spaniard won by 6 seconds over his compatriot
Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) who also ended up second in the general classification at 7
seconds behind, having the same time as his teammate Antonio Colom.
The leader before the final stage, Samuel Sanchez (Euskatel) fell back during his time trial effort and
finally finished 6th in the event at 42 seconds behind. A professional for three years, Gomez
Marchante, 25 years of age, surprised everyone by winning his first Pro Tour event and the first of the
season for his team. “I thought I could finish in the top three but didn’t think I would win. This is a big
surprise” declared the victor. The Spaniard, only 6th on Friday and nine seconds behind Sanchez, had
to wait for the runs of Valverde and Colom, who weakened near the finish, before he could savor his
victory.
Tour du Pays Basque- Stage for Voeckler – 04/07/06
The French rider from Bouygues Telecom, Thomas Voeckler, crossed the finish line first on the fifth
stage which was 178 km in length. The Spaniard Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) held onto the lead in the
general classification.
Holder of the yellow jersey for ten days in the Tour de France 2004, the Frenchman beat out his
companion in the escape, Jens Voigt. “A lot of riders were far back in the general classification,
including me”, explained Voeckler. “It was possible for the escape to succeed. But this was difficult
against Voigt, he won a stage three years ago and wanted to win another today. So I kept a close eye
on him at the end”.
Voeckler thus took his tenth career victory, the first since a stage win in the Four Days of Dunkirk in
May, 2005. “I am happy to have won in this country that loves cycling. It’s a little like it is in Brittany in
France. Even though I am not Spanish, I had a lot of encouragement from the public here”, added the
man from the Alsace.
Heading the general classification since Tuesday, the Spaniard Samuel Sanchez held onto his lead and
shares the same cumulative time with his compatriot Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros). The Italian
Davide Rebellin is in third place, two seconds behind.
Tour du Pays Basque- Freire in a sprint- 04/06/06
Oscar Freire (Rabobank) won the 4th stage of the Tour du Pays Basque between Lerin and Vitoria on
Thursday in a sprint. The three-time world champion beat out the leader of the general classification
Smauel Sanchez (Euskatel) and the German Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner). This victory was a
consolation for the Spaniard after having lost the first stage on Monday to his compatriot Alejandro
Valverde (Iles Baléares) by only nine millimeters.
Tour du Pays Basque- Sanchez does it again- 04/05/06
Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) reinforced his first place in the general classification by taking his second
victory on Wednesday in the 3rd stage between Segura and Lerin.
Looking like he did the day before, the Spaniard dominated at the end on a 3rd category climb. On a
slope of 15%, Sanchez powered past Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner), Alberto Contador (Liberty
Seguros), Leonardo Bertagnolli (Cofidis), Jose Angel Gomez Marchante (Saunier Duval) and Cadel
Evans (Davitamon-Lotto) in the last 200 meters. Alejandro Valverde, winner of the first stage, finished
13th at 10 seconds behind.
Sanchez is already thinking about a third victory in this 46th Tour du Pays Basque, as he has already
given up on the individual time trial in the final stage which will take place in Zalla on Saturday.
“Contador (2nd in the general classification at the moment) is better than me in the time trial, but there
are some climbs and that works in my favor”, he stated.
Tour du Pays Basque- Sanchez Wins- 04/04/06
The Spaniard Samuel Sanchez, rider for the Euskatel-Euskadi team, won the 2nd stage of the Tour du
Pays Basque on Tuesday and took the lead in the general classification. Sanchez beat out his
compatriot Alberto Contador in a sprint finish. Alejandro Valverde, winner the day before, finished third
at 2 seconds behind the leader at the head of a group of several riders.
“I tried to win a hundred times this season and never managed to do so, but this victory makes all the
effort worthwhile”, declared the rider of the Basque team, which until now was the only team in the Pro
Tour that did not have a victory this season.
Tour du Pays Basque- Valverde Wins- 04/03/06
The Spaniard Alejandro Valverde (Baléares-Caisse d'Epargne) just demonstrated, if that were even
necessary, that he is the favorite in this Tour du Pays Basque. He won the first stage, 130 km around
Irun on Monday. He was in front of solid riders such as his compatriot Oscar Freire (Rabobank), triple
world champion, and the Italian Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner).
Valverde and Freire were out front in a group of 50 riders on the climb of Jaizkebel, near the finish. “It
was very contested, but the most important thing was that the finish was between two Spaniards. In any
case, if Oscar would have won, I would still be happy”, said a patriotic Valverde at the finish.
Valverde, 24 years of age, was prudent about his chances of victory for the event, even if he is in very
good condition. “There is a big time trial at the final stage, and this does not help me, but I definitely
feel better than I would have imagined”, he confirmed.
The second stage on Tuesday will take place over 155 km between Irun and Segura. It will go over 12
mountain passes, including the last one which is only 7 km from the finish.
Tour of Flanders- Boonen Victorious- 04/02/06
Tom Boonen (Quick Step) on Sunday won his second consecutive Tour of Flanders which took place
between Bruges and Meerbeke. The big favorite of this race, he beat out his compatriot Leif Hoste
(Discovery Channel) in a sprint. He can thank his teammates who judged the course perfectly. The
Belgian took advantage of his win to take the lead in the general classification of the Pro Tour.
Boonen gained an advantage while getting the lead after the climb of the Koppenberg, with 72 km to the
finish. On his wheel were a group of six riders, including Paolo Bettini, Peter Van Petegem and George
Hincapie, who tried hard to pull away. While the peleton was working hard over the climb, the escape
riders were able to build a gap. With 33 km to the finish, the world champion (Boonen) decided to
accelerate on the summit of the Valkenberg, and only Hoste was able to stay with him.
The two men then worked together successfully to build a gap over the others. The final result was
thus between the two Belgians, and at the end of the sprint it was Tom Boonen who took that advantage
over the recent winner of the Three Days of La Panne. Hoste started his sprint first, but Boonen was
too strong and he pulled away in the last meters of the race. The American George Hincapie came in
third by leading the first group of pursuers at about one minute behind the heroes of the day. The first
Frenchman, Anthony Geslin, finished 18th.
Three Days of La Panne- Hoste victorious- 03/30/06
The Belgian Leif Hoste (Discovery Channel) won the Three Days of La Panne on Thursday after a time
trial of 11 kilometers, which was the fourth and final stage of the event. He beat two of his teammates in
this race, the American George Hincapie and the Belgian Stijn Devolder. In the general classification
Hoste defeated the Austrian Bernhard Eisel, who began this last stage wearing the white leader’s jersey.
Three Days of La Panne- Eisel at the finish- 03/29/06
The Austrian Bernhard Eisel (Française des Jeux) took the second stage of the Three Days of La
Panne in a sprint finish on Wednesday. After 227 km between Zottegem et Oostduinkerke, he beat out
the Italian Danilo Napolitano and the Belgian Nico Eeckhout. Eisel took advantage of the win to take the
lead in the general classification in front of the Belgian Leif Hoste, who follows by 4 seconds
“I was having a very good day. I felt good in the climbs and I thought I did an intelligent sprint by
protecting myself as long as possible from the wind” said the pleased Austrian, who took second place
in the stage on Tuesday.
In a competitive race in which there were crashes, three riders tried to break away near the end. But
the Belgians Andy Capelle and Sven Renders as well as the Spaniard Angel Castresana saw the
peleton swallow them up, led by the Lampre, Quick Step and Discovery Channel teams. Eisel and the
Française des Jeux squad kept up with the group and managed to take the win.
Three Days of La Panne : Hoste in a sprint – 03/28/06
The Belgian Leif Hoste (Discovery Channel) took the 1st stage of the Three Days of La Panne on
Tuesday, which took place over 194 km between Middelkerke et Zottegem, in a sprint during the last 50
meters of the race. He left behind the Austrian Bernhard Eisel (Française des Jeux) and the Belgian
Gert Steegmans (Davitamon-Lotto), with whom he had escaped. The peleton crossed the line a minute
behind the leader.
Results of the first stage-
1. Leif Hoste (BEL/Discovery Channel) over 194 km in 4h39'55" (41. 6 km/h)
2. Bernhard Eisel (AUT/Française des Jeux) s.t.
3. Gert Steegmans (BEL/Davitamon-Lotto) s.t.
4. Luis-Leon Sanchez (ESP/Liberty Seguros) at 12"
5. Luca Paolini (ITA/Liquidas) at 42"
6. Filippo Pozzato (ITA/Quick Step) at 47"
7. Danilo Napolitano (ITA/Lampre) s.t.
8. Roberto Petito (ITA/Tenax) s.t.
9. Jeremy Hunt (GBR/Ubinet.com) at 1'00"
Landis to miss the Giro- 03/26/06
Team Phonak announced on Sunday that its rider, Floyd Landis, will not participate in the next Tour of
Italy, to be held from 6-28 May. The American, recent winner of Paris-Nice, prefers to concentrate on
preparing for his main objective, the Tour de France.
“It is very reasonable. Floyd has had a very good start to the season (he also won the Tour of
California), and he will be able to prepare for the Tour in an organized manner. But we will have a
competitive team in the Giro”, declared John Le langue, manager of the Swiss team. In May Landis is
planning to practice several stages of the Tour de France before entering the Criterium of the
Dauphine on 4-11 June.
Cycling News Home Page
Paris-Roubaix- Cancellara by himself- 04/09/06
Tour du Pays Basque- Marchante the winner- 04/08/06
Tour du Pays Basque- Stage for Voeckler- 04/07/06
Tour du Pays Basque- Freire in a sprint- 04/-6/06
Tour du Pays Basque- Sanchez does it again- 04/05/06
Tour du Pays Basque- Sanchez Wins- 04/04/06
Tour du Pays Basque-Valverde Wins- 04/03/06
Tour of Flanders- Boonen Victorious- 04/02/06
Three Days of La Panne- Hoste victorious- 03/30/06
Three Days of La Panne- Eisel at the finish- 03/29/06
Three Days of La Panne : Hoste in a sprinte- 03/28/06
Landis to miss the Giro- 03/26/06
Paris-Roubaix- Cancellara by himself- 04/09/06
The Swiss Fabian Cancellara (CSC) won Paris-Roubaix on Sunday. Just before the finish line he broke
away from two Belgians, Lief Hoste and Peter Van Petergem, which the Belgian Tom Boonen, the big
favorite in the race, took fifth place.
But there were theatrics after the finish because Hoste and Van Petegem were disqualified for crossing
a railroad passage that was down, which is against the rules. Thus Tom Boonen (Quick Step) and the
Italian Alessandro Ballan (Lampre) ended up on the podium.
Fourth in 2004 and fifth in 2005, Cancellara finally managed to win during the 104th edition of this
classic. He was able to launch an attack and stay away from the other big favorites in the race.
It should be noted that the race officials are still deliberating and the final classification could still
change.
Tour de Pays Basque- Marchante the winner- 04/08/06
Jose Angel Gomez Marchante (Saunier Duval) on Saturday won the Tour du Pays Basque by taking the
time trial of 24 km in the final stage at Zalla. The Spaniard won by 6 seconds over his compatriot
Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne) who also ended up second in the general classification at 7
seconds behind, having the same time as his teammate Antonio Colom.
The leader before the final stage, Samuel Sanchez (Euskatel) fell back during his time trial effort and
finally finished 6th in the event at 42 seconds behind. A professional for three years, Gomez
Marchante, 25 years of age, surprised everyone by winning his first Pro Tour event and the first of the
season for his team. “I thought I could finish in the top three but didn’t think I would win. This is a big
surprise” declared the victor. The Spaniard, only 6th on Friday and nine seconds behind Sanchez, had
to wait for the runs of Valverde and Colom, who weakened near the finish, before he could savor his
victory.
Tour du Pays Basque- Stage for Voeckler – 04/07/06
The French rider from Bouygues Telecom, Thomas Voeckler, crossed the finish line first on the fifth
stage which was 178 km in length. The Spaniard Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) held onto the lead in the
general classification.
Holder of the yellow jersey for ten days in the Tour de France 2004, the Frenchman beat out his
companion in the escape, Jens Voigt. “A lot of riders were far back in the general classification,
including me”, explained Voeckler. “It was possible for the escape to succeed. But this was difficult
against Voigt, he won a stage three years ago and wanted to win another today. So I kept a close eye
on him at the end”.
Voeckler thus took his tenth career victory, the first since a stage win in the Four Days of Dunkirk in
May, 2005. “I am happy to have won in this country that loves cycling. It’s a little like it is in Brittany in
France. Even though I am not Spanish, I had a lot of encouragement from the public here”, added the
man from the Alsace.
Heading the general classification since Tuesday, the Spaniard Samuel Sanchez held onto his lead and
shares the same cumulative time with his compatriot Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros). The Italian
Davide Rebellin is in third place, two seconds behind.
Tour du Pays Basque- Freire in a sprint- 04/06/06
Oscar Freire (Rabobank) won the 4th stage of the Tour du Pays Basque between Lerin and Vitoria on
Thursday in a sprint. The three-time world champion beat out the leader of the general classification
Smauel Sanchez (Euskatel) and the German Fabian Wegmann (Gerolsteiner). This victory was a
consolation for the Spaniard after having lost the first stage on Monday to his compatriot Alejandro
Valverde (Iles Baléares) by only nine millimeters.
Tour du Pays Basque- Sanchez does it again- 04/05/06
Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) reinforced his first place in the general classification by taking his second
victory on Wednesday in the 3rd stage between Segura and Lerin.
Looking like he did the day before, the Spaniard dominated at the end on a 3rd category climb. On a
slope of 15%, Sanchez powered past Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner), Alberto Contador (Liberty
Seguros), Leonardo Bertagnolli (Cofidis), Jose Angel Gomez Marchante (Saunier Duval) and Cadel
Evans (Davitamon-Lotto) in the last 200 meters. Alejandro Valverde, winner of the first stage, finished
13th at 10 seconds behind.
Sanchez is already thinking about a third victory in this 46th Tour du Pays Basque, as he has already
given up on the individual time trial in the final stage which will take place in Zalla on Saturday.
“Contador (2nd in the general classification at the moment) is better than me in the time trial, but there
are some climbs and that works in my favor”, he stated.
Tour du Pays Basque- Sanchez Wins- 04/04/06
The Spaniard Samuel Sanchez, rider for the Euskatel-Euskadi team, won the 2nd stage of the Tour du
Pays Basque on Tuesday and took the lead in the general classification. Sanchez beat out his
compatriot Alberto Contador in a sprint finish. Alejandro Valverde, winner the day before, finished third
at 2 seconds behind the leader at the head of a group of several riders.
“I tried to win a hundred times this season and never managed to do so, but this victory makes all the
effort worthwhile”, declared the rider of the Basque team, which until now was the only team in the Pro
Tour that did not have a victory this season.
Tour du Pays Basque- Valverde Wins- 04/03/06
The Spaniard Alejandro Valverde (Baléares-Caisse d'Epargne) just demonstrated, if that were even
necessary, that he is the favorite in this Tour du Pays Basque. He won the first stage, 130 km around
Irun on Monday. He was in front of solid riders such as his compatriot Oscar Freire (Rabobank), triple
world champion, and the Italian Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner).
Valverde and Freire were out front in a group of 50 riders on the climb of Jaizkebel, near the finish. “It
was very contested, but the most important thing was that the finish was between two Spaniards. In any
case, if Oscar would have won, I would still be happy”, said a patriotic Valverde at the finish.
Valverde, 24 years of age, was prudent about his chances of victory for the event, even if he is in very
good condition. “There is a big time trial at the final stage, and this does not help me, but I definitely
feel better than I would have imagined”, he confirmed.
The second stage on Tuesday will take place over 155 km between Irun and Segura. It will go over 12
mountain passes, including the last one which is only 7 km from the finish.
Tour of Flanders- Boonen Victorious- 04/02/06
Tom Boonen (Quick Step) on Sunday won his second consecutive Tour of Flanders which took place
between Bruges and Meerbeke. The big favorite of this race, he beat out his compatriot Leif Hoste
(Discovery Channel) in a sprint. He can thank his teammates who judged the course perfectly. The
Belgian took advantage of his win to take the lead in the general classification of the Pro Tour.
Boonen gained an advantage while getting the lead after the climb of the Koppenberg, with 72 km to the
finish. On his wheel were a group of six riders, including Paolo Bettini, Peter Van Petegem and George
Hincapie, who tried hard to pull away. While the peleton was working hard over the climb, the escape
riders were able to build a gap. With 33 km to the finish, the world champion (Boonen) decided to
accelerate on the summit of the Valkenberg, and only Hoste was able to stay with him.
The two men then worked together successfully to build a gap over the others. The final result was
thus between the two Belgians, and at the end of the sprint it was Tom Boonen who took that advantage
over the recent winner of the Three Days of La Panne. Hoste started his sprint first, but Boonen was
too strong and he pulled away in the last meters of the race. The American George Hincapie came in
third by leading the first group of pursuers at about one minute behind the heroes of the day. The first
Frenchman, Anthony Geslin, finished 18th.
Three Days of La Panne- Hoste victorious- 03/30/06
The Belgian Leif Hoste (Discovery Channel) won the Three Days of La Panne on Thursday after a time
trial of 11 kilometers, which was the fourth and final stage of the event. He beat two of his teammates in
this race, the American George Hincapie and the Belgian Stijn Devolder. In the general classification
Hoste defeated the Austrian Bernhard Eisel, who began this last stage wearing the white leader’s jersey.
Three Days of La Panne- Eisel at the finish- 03/29/06
The Austrian Bernhard Eisel (Française des Jeux) took the second stage of the Three Days of La
Panne in a sprint finish on Wednesday. After 227 km between Zottegem et Oostduinkerke, he beat out
the Italian Danilo Napolitano and the Belgian Nico Eeckhout. Eisel took advantage of the win to take the
lead in the general classification in front of the Belgian Leif Hoste, who follows by 4 seconds
“I was having a very good day. I felt good in the climbs and I thought I did an intelligent sprint by
protecting myself as long as possible from the wind” said the pleased Austrian, who took second place
in the stage on Tuesday.
In a competitive race in which there were crashes, three riders tried to break away near the end. But
the Belgians Andy Capelle and Sven Renders as well as the Spaniard Angel Castresana saw the
peleton swallow them up, led by the Lampre, Quick Step and Discovery Channel teams. Eisel and the
Française des Jeux squad kept up with the group and managed to take the win.
Three Days of La Panne : Hoste in a sprint – 03/28/06
The Belgian Leif Hoste (Discovery Channel) took the 1st stage of the Three Days of La Panne on
Tuesday, which took place over 194 km between Middelkerke et Zottegem, in a sprint during the last 50
meters of the race. He left behind the Austrian Bernhard Eisel (Française des Jeux) and the Belgian
Gert Steegmans (Davitamon-Lotto), with whom he had escaped. The peleton crossed the line a minute
behind the leader.
Results of the first stage-
1. Leif Hoste (BEL/Discovery Channel) over 194 km in 4h39'55" (41. 6 km/h)
2. Bernhard Eisel (AUT/Française des Jeux) s.t.
3. Gert Steegmans (BEL/Davitamon-Lotto) s.t.
4. Luis-Leon Sanchez (ESP/Liberty Seguros) at 12"
5. Luca Paolini (ITA/Liquidas) at 42"
6. Filippo Pozzato (ITA/Quick Step) at 47"
7. Danilo Napolitano (ITA/Lampre) s.t.
8. Roberto Petito (ITA/Tenax) s.t.
9. Jeremy Hunt (GBR/Ubinet.com) at 1'00"
Landis to miss the Giro- 03/26/06
Team Phonak announced on Sunday that its rider, Floyd Landis, will not participate in the next Tour of
Italy, to be held from 6-28 May. The American, recent winner of Paris-Nice, prefers to concentrate on
preparing for his main objective, the Tour de France.
“It is very reasonable. Floyd has had a very good start to the season (he also won the Tour of
California), and he will be able to prepare for the Tour in an organized manner. But we will have a
competitive team in the Giro”, declared John Le langue, manager of the Swiss team. In May Landis is
planning to practice several stages of the Tour de France before entering the Criterium of the
Dauphine on 4-11 June.