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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
Tour of Romandie- Evans at the finish- 04/30/06
Tour of Romandie- Valverde in a sprint- 04/29/06
Tour of Romandie- Contador leader- 04/28/06
Tour of Romandie- Horner takes it- 04/27/06
Tour of Romandie- McEwen in force- 04/26/06
Tour of Romandie- Savoldelli takes it- 04/25/06
Tour of Georgia- Landis by a little- 04/24/06
Liege-Bastogne-Liege- Valverde Doubles Up 04/23/06
Tour of Romandie- Evans at the finish- 04/30/06
For a master’s stroke, it takes a master. Despite trailing the leader Alberto Cantador by 51 seconds
before the 5th and final stage on Sunday, an individual time trial of 20.4 km at Lausanne, the
Australian Cadel Evans (Davitamon) had a double win by taking the time trial and also winning the
event.
Evans beat out the Belgian Leif Hoste and the American Bobby Julich in the time trial, and finished
ahead of the Spaniards Alberto Contador and Alejandro Valverde in the general classification.
Tour of Romandie- Valverde in a sprint- 04/29/06
Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne-Iles Baléares) won the major stage in the Tour of Romandie, a
loop of 128 kilometers around the town of Sion and which included, among others, three first category
climbs (Ovronnaz, Veysonnaz et Crans). The man in the best form of everyone in the peleton showed
himself to be the fastest by beating the group of favorites in a sprint. The Swiss Alexandre Moos
(Phonak) and the Australian Cadel Evans (Davitamon-Lotto) were second and third respectively in this
fourth stage.
In the general classification, Valverde made big gains by taking back 10 seconds from the race leader,
his compatriot Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros). On the day before the final decisive stage, an
individual time trial of 20 kilometers around Lausanne, Valverde is only 6 seconds out of the yellow
leader’s jersey. It should be noted that during the prologue on the first day of the event, a race of 3.4
km, Valverde took 12 seconds from Contador. The recent winner of Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the
Flèche Wallonne, Valverde thus confirms his excellent condition. A good climber, good sprinter and
finisher, he will be a feared outsider in the next Tour de France.
The stage was animated for most of the race by the Ukrainian Andrei Kashechkin (Liberty Seguros),
who was for a long time the virtual yellow jersey holder and who was at the head of the race over the
three big climbs, but he was caught with only one kilometer to go to the finish line by the group of
favorites. The chase was led by the teammates of Valverde and was helped along by Christophe
Moreau (AG2R), who was racing for his sprinter John Gadret, and this was fatal for the Ukrainian.
Tour of Romandie- Contador leader – 04/28/06
Alberto Contador won the 3rd stage of the Tour of Romandie on Friday and took the leader’s yellow
jersey in the event. The Spaniard from the Liberty Seguros team was alone in front and won by 24
seconds over a chase group led by Alejandro Valverde, who is now in second place in the general
classification. The former leader, the American Chris Horner, finished more than a minute behind
Contador.
Tour of Romandie- Horner takes it- 04/27/07
The American Chris Horner (Davitamon) took over the lead in the event after his success on Thursday
in the second stage around Porrentruy over 171.2 km. He beat out the German Jörg Jaksche and the
Swiss Alexandre Moos.
As for the general classification, Horner has a lead of seven seconds over the Italian Paolo Savoldelli,
the former leader, and the Spaniard Alejandro Valverde, who finished 4th on Thursday.
Tour of Romandie- McEwen in force- 04/26/06
Robbie McEwen won the first stage of the Tour of Romandie in a sprint. This stage was a tour around
Payerne. The Lotto team leader easily outdistanced the Italians on the Milram team, Mirco Lorenzetto
and Daniele Bennati. Arnaud Gérard finished in 8th place.
The stage was marked by a long escape by Dimitri Konyshev, the old Russian warrior (age 40) from
the Team LPR, who was in a solitary breakaway for 123 kilometers. The sprinters teams did their work,
however, and he was caught at the 20 kilometer marker before the finish. From then on it was a battle
of the strong men, and MeEwen proved himself to be the fittest. Paolo Savoldelli kept his lead in the
general classification.
Tour of Romandie- Savoldelli takes it- 04/25/06
As he did in 2000 and 2001, Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery Channel) on Tuesday won the prologue (3.4
km in 4'27"31) of the Tour of Romandie in Geneva. He beat out by only 63 hundredths of a second the
Spaniard Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne/Iles Baléares), who was the winner last Sunday of
Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Flèche Wallonne before that. The Australian Bradley McGee
(Française des Jeux), who took this race in 2004, came in third.
The Italian, who already has won the Tour of Romandie in 2000, gained some confidence for his title
defense of the Giro from 6-28 May. Savoldelli, who is strong and agile, could be a candidate for the
final victory here, but many of his opponents think Valverde is the favorite.
For his first competition of the season, Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) finished 90th (4’53”48). Having delayed
his season start which was to have been at the Circuit of the Sarthe because of a knee injury, he is
preparing for the Giro (6-28 May). His physical condition will be discussed by many even if his sporting
director Rudy Pevenage has indicated that he is here to “accumulate some kilometers in race
conditions”.
Tour of Georgia- Landis by a little- 04/24/06
Floyd Landis added the Tour of Georgia to his victory list after the 6th and final stage on Sunday which
was raced over 190.2 km between Cumming and Alpharetta.
The American, 30 years of age, beat out his compatriot Thomas Danielson in the general classification
by a mere 4 seconds. He thus succeeds him as champion of the event. Everything was decided on
the 3rd day when Landis finished 4 seconds ahead of Danielson In the individual time trial. This was a
gap that never changed until the end, despite the mountain stage on Saturday which Danielson won by
the width of a tire.
The rider from the Phonak team, a former lieutenant of Lance Armstrong, has taken three victories this
season, including his successes in the Tour of California and Paris-Nice.
It was Juan Jose Haedo from Argentina from the Toyota-United team who crossed the finish line first in
the last stage. He beat the Canadian Gordon Fraser and the Swiss Aurelien Clerc in a sprint. As in
the final stage of the Tour de France, this Tour of Georgia finished with the riders going 6 laps around
a 5 km circuit.
Classification of the 6th and final stage :
1. Juan Jose Haedo (ARG/Toyota-United), the 190.2 km in 4h37'44"
2. Gordon Fraser (CAN) s.t.
3. Aurélien Clerc (SUI) s.t.
4. Fred Rodriguez (USA) s.t.
5. Yaroslav Popovych (UKR) s.t.
...
Final General Classification :
1. Floyd Landis (USA/Phonak) 19h23'10"
2. Thomas Danielson (USA) at 04"
3. Yaroslav Popovych (UKR) 1'55"
4. José Enrique Gutierrez Cataluna (ESP) 2'11"
5. Janez Brajkovic (SLO) 2'15"
6. David Zabriskie (USA) 2'31"
7. Nathan O'Neill (AUS) 3'45"
8. Marco Pinotti (ITA) 3'54"
9. Christopher Baldwin (USA) 4'01"
10. Cesar Augusto Grajales (COL) 4'20"
Liège-Bastogne-Liège- Valverde Doubles Up- 04/23/06
At 26 years of age, Alejandro Valverde (Iles Baléares - Caisse d'Epargne) entered into the history
books on Sunday by being the first Spaniard to win Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the doyen of the classics.
Valverde, who already won the Fleche Wallonne four days earlier, beat out the Italians Paolo Bettini
(Quick Step) et Damiano Cunego (Lampre).
Cycling News Home Page
Tour of Romandie- Evans at the finish- 04/30/06
Tour of Romandie- Valverde in a sprint- 04/29/06
Tour of Romandie- Contador leader- 04/28/06
Tour of Romandie- Horner takes it- 04/27/06
Tour of Romandie- McEwen in force- 04/26/06
Tour of Romandie- Savoldelli takes it- 04/25/06
Tour of Georgia- Landis by a little- 04/24/06
Liege-Bastogne-Liege- Valverde Doubles Up 04/23/06
Tour of Romandie- Evans at the finish- 04/30/06
For a master’s stroke, it takes a master. Despite trailing the leader Alberto Cantador by 51 seconds
before the 5th and final stage on Sunday, an individual time trial of 20.4 km at Lausanne, the
Australian Cadel Evans (Davitamon) had a double win by taking the time trial and also winning the
event.
Evans beat out the Belgian Leif Hoste and the American Bobby Julich in the time trial, and finished
ahead of the Spaniards Alberto Contador and Alejandro Valverde in the general classification.
Tour of Romandie- Valverde in a sprint- 04/29/06
Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne-Iles Baléares) won the major stage in the Tour of Romandie, a
loop of 128 kilometers around the town of Sion and which included, among others, three first category
climbs (Ovronnaz, Veysonnaz et Crans). The man in the best form of everyone in the peleton showed
himself to be the fastest by beating the group of favorites in a sprint. The Swiss Alexandre Moos
(Phonak) and the Australian Cadel Evans (Davitamon-Lotto) were second and third respectively in this
fourth stage.
In the general classification, Valverde made big gains by taking back 10 seconds from the race leader,
his compatriot Alberto Contador (Liberty Seguros). On the day before the final decisive stage, an
individual time trial of 20 kilometers around Lausanne, Valverde is only 6 seconds out of the yellow
leader’s jersey. It should be noted that during the prologue on the first day of the event, a race of 3.4
km, Valverde took 12 seconds from Contador. The recent winner of Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the
Flèche Wallonne, Valverde thus confirms his excellent condition. A good climber, good sprinter and
finisher, he will be a feared outsider in the next Tour de France.
The stage was animated for most of the race by the Ukrainian Andrei Kashechkin (Liberty Seguros),
who was for a long time the virtual yellow jersey holder and who was at the head of the race over the
three big climbs, but he was caught with only one kilometer to go to the finish line by the group of
favorites. The chase was led by the teammates of Valverde and was helped along by Christophe
Moreau (AG2R), who was racing for his sprinter John Gadret, and this was fatal for the Ukrainian.
Tour of Romandie- Contador leader – 04/28/06
Alberto Contador won the 3rd stage of the Tour of Romandie on Friday and took the leader’s yellow
jersey in the event. The Spaniard from the Liberty Seguros team was alone in front and won by 24
seconds over a chase group led by Alejandro Valverde, who is now in second place in the general
classification. The former leader, the American Chris Horner, finished more than a minute behind
Contador.
Tour of Romandie- Horner takes it- 04/27/07
The American Chris Horner (Davitamon) took over the lead in the event after his success on Thursday
in the second stage around Porrentruy over 171.2 km. He beat out the German Jörg Jaksche and the
Swiss Alexandre Moos.
As for the general classification, Horner has a lead of seven seconds over the Italian Paolo Savoldelli,
the former leader, and the Spaniard Alejandro Valverde, who finished 4th on Thursday.
Tour of Romandie- McEwen in force- 04/26/06
Robbie McEwen won the first stage of the Tour of Romandie in a sprint. This stage was a tour around
Payerne. The Lotto team leader easily outdistanced the Italians on the Milram team, Mirco Lorenzetto
and Daniele Bennati. Arnaud Gérard finished in 8th place.
The stage was marked by a long escape by Dimitri Konyshev, the old Russian warrior (age 40) from
the Team LPR, who was in a solitary breakaway for 123 kilometers. The sprinters teams did their work,
however, and he was caught at the 20 kilometer marker before the finish. From then on it was a battle
of the strong men, and MeEwen proved himself to be the fittest. Paolo Savoldelli kept his lead in the
general classification.
Tour of Romandie- Savoldelli takes it- 04/25/06
As he did in 2000 and 2001, Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery Channel) on Tuesday won the prologue (3.4
km in 4'27"31) of the Tour of Romandie in Geneva. He beat out by only 63 hundredths of a second the
Spaniard Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne/Iles Baléares), who was the winner last Sunday of
Liège-Bastogne-Liège and the Flèche Wallonne before that. The Australian Bradley McGee
(Française des Jeux), who took this race in 2004, came in third.
The Italian, who already has won the Tour of Romandie in 2000, gained some confidence for his title
defense of the Giro from 6-28 May. Savoldelli, who is strong and agile, could be a candidate for the
final victory here, but many of his opponents think Valverde is the favorite.
For his first competition of the season, Jan Ullrich (T-Mobile) finished 90th (4’53”48). Having delayed
his season start which was to have been at the Circuit of the Sarthe because of a knee injury, he is
preparing for the Giro (6-28 May). His physical condition will be discussed by many even if his sporting
director Rudy Pevenage has indicated that he is here to “accumulate some kilometers in race
conditions”.
Tour of Georgia- Landis by a little- 04/24/06
Floyd Landis added the Tour of Georgia to his victory list after the 6th and final stage on Sunday which
was raced over 190.2 km between Cumming and Alpharetta.
The American, 30 years of age, beat out his compatriot Thomas Danielson in the general classification
by a mere 4 seconds. He thus succeeds him as champion of the event. Everything was decided on
the 3rd day when Landis finished 4 seconds ahead of Danielson In the individual time trial. This was a
gap that never changed until the end, despite the mountain stage on Saturday which Danielson won by
the width of a tire.
The rider from the Phonak team, a former lieutenant of Lance Armstrong, has taken three victories this
season, including his successes in the Tour of California and Paris-Nice.
It was Juan Jose Haedo from Argentina from the Toyota-United team who crossed the finish line first in
the last stage. He beat the Canadian Gordon Fraser and the Swiss Aurelien Clerc in a sprint. As in
the final stage of the Tour de France, this Tour of Georgia finished with the riders going 6 laps around
a 5 km circuit.
Classification of the 6th and final stage :
1. Juan Jose Haedo (ARG/Toyota-United), the 190.2 km in 4h37'44"
2. Gordon Fraser (CAN) s.t.
3. Aurélien Clerc (SUI) s.t.
4. Fred Rodriguez (USA) s.t.
5. Yaroslav Popovych (UKR) s.t.
...
Final General Classification :
1. Floyd Landis (USA/Phonak) 19h23'10"
2. Thomas Danielson (USA) at 04"
3. Yaroslav Popovych (UKR) 1'55"
4. José Enrique Gutierrez Cataluna (ESP) 2'11"
5. Janez Brajkovic (SLO) 2'15"
6. David Zabriskie (USA) 2'31"
7. Nathan O'Neill (AUS) 3'45"
8. Marco Pinotti (ITA) 3'54"
9. Christopher Baldwin (USA) 4'01"
10. Cesar Augusto Grajales (COL) 4'20"
Liège-Bastogne-Liège- Valverde Doubles Up- 04/23/06
At 26 years of age, Alejandro Valverde (Iles Baléares - Caisse d'Epargne) entered into the history
books on Sunday by being the first Spaniard to win Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the doyen of the classics.
Valverde, who already won the Fleche Wallonne four days earlier, beat out the Italians Paolo Bettini
(Quick Step) et Damiano Cunego (Lampre).