THIS WEEK IN PRO CYCLING
Stage 3: Kolobnev robs sprinters at Paris-Nice; Pellizotti keeps lead
You can’t blame Tom Boonen if he shot his arms up in triumph thinking that he had won a hard-fought, rising sprint into Maurs at the end of the lumpy 215.5km third stage at Paris-Nice.
When he heard over his course radio that Russian rouleur Alexandr Kolobnev -- the lone holdout from the day’s four-man breakaway -- was dangling 20 seconds off the front with 7km to go, he assumed like everyone else his Quick Step henchmen would finish off the job to set up the mass gallop.
So the 2005 world champion was in for an unpleasant surprise when he looked across the finish line to see a Team CSC soigneur hugging a jubilant yet exhausted Kolobnev.
“The sprint was so intense we lost track of the riders. We caught three of them and when I heard the gap was 20 seconds with 7km to go, normally you think we would catch him,” said Boonen, who did win the bunch sprint, just not the stage. “We didn’t go less than 80kph in the final seven kilometers. He was impressive.”
An alert Kolobnev covered an early move that also included Heinrich Haussler (Gerolsteiner), Fabio Baldato (Lampre-Fondital) and Nicolas Vogondy (Agritubel) that chugged away in the opening 5km.
The quartet still held a four-minute lead over a Cat. 2 climb with 42km to go, but Quick Step put the hammer down to set up Tornado Tom after Boonen came up short in the opening two stages.
With the gap trimmed to less than two minutes, the powerful 2004 Russian national champion refused to give up and went away on his own.
Topography and desire played in Kolobnev’s favor. The final 20km dropped some 400 meters, including a steep 170-meter descent over the final 3.5km into the scenic valley to the finish in Maurs.
“When I saw a sign that said it was a 7 percent descent, I just went as fast as I could because I knew I still had a chance. I was going 80kph on the descent,” Kolobnev said. “I put everything into the pedals. I never hurt so much and I know I will hurt tomorrow, but right now I feel pretty good!”
A sixth-year pro, Kolobnev’s display of panache even impressed his sometimes-stern Team CSC boss, Bjarne Riis.
“Chapeau,” Riis said with a smile. “He was the strongest in the group, but I really didn’t think he would make it when you have such a big road and the sprint teams working together behind you. That was impressive.”
Overnight leader Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas) finished safely in the bunch to retain the overall lead, but sprinter Daniele Bennati (Lampre-Fondital) pulled within two seconds after taking third in the stage and collecting a time bonus.
Looking back and ahead
Another fine spring morning welcomed the 159 starting riders in Limoges. Pellizotti was the star attraction in the maillot jaune after his punchy attack to win Tuesday’s stage and steal the jersey away from David Millar (Saunier Duval-Prodir).
Millar – winner of Sunday’s opening prologue - was philosophical following the late-stage fireworks that caused the bunch to split. Several of the pre-race favorites such as Bobby Julich (CSC), Alberto Contador and Levi Leipheimer (both Discovery Channel) lost 17 seconds respective to the Millar group.
“That descent coming into Limoges was treacherous and it split the group. I had to give everything to bridge across to that lead group, my arms were just wobbly at the finish,” Millar said. “No one was thinking about Pellizotti, but now he’s the favorite to win if you ask me. Some of the big favorites lost time yesterday that’s really going to make a difference. He shouldn’t have any problem at Mende, it’s a climb that suits him well. It reminds me of what we saw at Valencia [Alto de Campello], perfect for a guy like Contador.”
Many riders were already looking ahead to Thursday’s 169.5km decisive climbing stage from Maurs to Mende, finishing atop the Cat. 1 La Croix-Neuve (3.1km at 10.1 percent).
The route features four Cat. 2 climbs as it pushes east across the Massif Central and ends with the Montée Laurent Jalabert in honor of his Tour de France stage victory there in 1995.
Millar wasn’t the only rider comparing Mende to the Campello summit finish. Team CSC’s Frank Schleck used the Spanish climb to vault into third overall last month at the Tour of Valencia behind overall winner Alejandro Valverde.
“I know from Valencia my form is good, so I can’t imagine it would get worse since then,” said Schleck, who was fifth overall in last year’s Paris-Nice. “The stage will be the first point to make differences to see who can win this Paris-Nice. I hope to have a good day.”
Others to watch include Tadej Valjavec (Lampre), Davide Rebellin (Gerolsteiner), Luis Leon Sanchez (Caisse d’Epargne) and Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel).
Pellizotti was coy about his chances. When asked if he thinks he can defend the jersey, he simply remarked: “I hope so. I have good form, but it will be an intense climb with many interests in play.”
Kolobnev powers away
On Wednesday, Kolobnev’s plan was simply to cover the team’s interest. In Tuesday’s second stage, CSC missed out on a 17-man breakaway early on, forcing Bjarne’s Army to go on the march to reel in the aggression.
“We missed that big move Tuesday, so we wanted to be in all the breakaways today. It wasn’t really my intention to try to win the stage,” Kolobnev said. “I covered that move early and we stayed away. I really didn’t start believing in my chances until very late in the stage.”
The quartet worked well together and held a 10-minute gap just before the feed zone at 99km. Vogondy was anxious to have his Agritubel team represented (the continental team is keen to earn a bid to the 2007 Tour de France) while Baldato has four Paris-Nice stages in his career.
Haussler was active in the break as well. Paris-Nice is the German-Australian’s first real racing of the 2007 season after struggling with a knee problem and having a wisdom tooth pulled earlier this year.
Heinrich scooped up the points in three Cat. 3’s in the opening 60km and then settled in for a long push across the Dordogne Valley toward the southern reaches of the Massif Central.
Heinrich went hard again when the road turned up at the Cat. 2 Cote du Fangas (8.7km at 4.5 percent) at 173.5km to secure the best climber’s jersey. When Kolobnev powered away, the Gerolsteiner rider had nothing left.
“When Kolobnev attacked, I just couldn’t follow. The team told me to chase the climber’s points because no one expected the break to stay away,” Heinrich said. “When it’s four against the peloton, you usually don’t make it to the finish.”
Race notes
Stage-winner Alexandr Kolobnev is relatively unknown among his Team CSC teammates. He missed out on the team’s nearly three-week training camp in California after he couldn’t get approved for a travel visa to the United States. … Kai Reus, a Dutch rider on Rabobank, abandoned, leaving 158 riders in the peloton. … Medical report: Andy Schleck (CSC) – digestive problems; Heinrich Haussler (Gerolsteiner) – headache; Alberto Ongarato (Milram) – pain in finger; Kai Reus (Rabobank) – abandoned due to pain in right knee. Jury decisions – none
Jerseys
Overall leader: Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas); best climber: Heinrich Haussler (Gerolsteiner); points jersey: Daniele Bennat; (Lampre-Fondital); best young rider, Romain Kreuzinger (Liquigas); best team, Liquigas
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Results
1. Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus), CSC
2. Tom Boonen (B), Quick Step-Innergetic, at 0:12
3. Daniele Bennati (I), Lampre, same time
4. Mathew Hayman (Aus), Rabobank, s.t.
5. Jean-Patrick Nazon (F), Ag2r Prevoyance, s.t.
6. Luca Paolini (I), Liquigas, s.t.
7. Mirco Lorenzetto (I), Milram, s.t.
8. Mikel Gaztanaga (Sp), Agritubel, s.t.
9. Josep Jufre Pou (Sp), Predictor-Lotto, s.t.
10. Romain Feillu (F), Agritubel, s.t.
Overall
1. Franco Pellizotti (I), Liquigas
2. Daniele Bennati (I), Lampre, at 0:02
3. David Millar (GB), Saunier Duval, at 0:06
4. Roman Kreuzinger (Cz), Liquigas, at 0:07
5. Sébastien Joly (F), Francaise des Jeux, at 0:08
6. Luis Leon Sanchez (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne, s.t.
7. Francisco Ventoso (Sp), Saunier Duval, at 0:10
8. Thomas Voeckler (F), Bouygues Telecom, at 0:11
9. Joost Posthuma (Nl), Rabobank, s.t.
10. Murilo Antonio Fischer (Bra), Liquigas, at 0:13
