Capannori: 11/03/2009

MILRAM’s Fabian Wegmann sprinted to a sixth place finish in the first stage of the stage race Tirreno-Adriatico (March 11-17/UCI Category HIS). The German Champion in the MILRAM jersey once again showed his good form after his second place finish at Eroica last weekend. The day’s win after 147 km between Cecina and Capannori went to Frenchman Julien El Fares (Cofidis), who also took the overall lead. He beat out his escape companion Vladimir Duma (Ceramica) in the closing sprint. The sprint of the chasers was won by Daniele Bennati (Liquigas), who thus took third place.

“Today was the first time this season that the peloton reckoned wrong,”

said Christian Henn, Team MILRAM’s Directeur Sportif.

“We went after the break group but they were very clever. Gerald Ciolek felt rather weak after his stomach problems over the weekend. So Peter Velits, Linus Gerdemann and Fabian Wegmann tried their best. We didn’t lose any time on the favorites and did well overall.”

“That was a good team performance today,”

said Fabian Wegmann.

“There were three of us together in the finale. Only the third place was up for grabs and there were enough good sprinters there, that we couldn’t really do anything. The finale was hectic but we did well and found a good position. So I am satisfied with sixth place.”

The opening stage of the “race between the seas”, run in mild temperatures of about 15 degrees Celsius, was dominated by the escape pair of Vladimir Duma (Ceramica) and Frenchman Julien El Fares of Team Cofidis. The two had a lead of up to six minutes over the peloton, which started its chase with 40 km to go. El Fares tried an attack with 20 km to go on the day’s only ranked climb.

Team MILRAM showed itself at the front often during the chase, while the Ukranian Dumas rode the descent with full risk and caught his escape companion again. The two were able to hold their lead to the finale. 200 meters before the finish line, Julien El Fares took off and won the closing sprint. 12 seconds later the Italian Daniele Bennatei (Liquigas) led the chasing field over the finish line.

The second stage on Thursday, March 12, runs 177 kilometers from Volterra to Marina di Carrara. From there the race heads to the east over the next few days across the Italian boot for a total of 1,095 kilometers, reaching its final destination of San Benedetto del Tronto on the Adriatic Sea. The race’s profile promises a combination which offers something to both all rounders and sprinters.

Result:
1 Julien El Fares (FRA) Cofidis 3:34:03
2 Vladimir Duma (UKR) Ceramica Flaminia
3 Daniele Bennati (ITA) Liquigas + 12
4 Alessandro Petacchi (ITA) LPR Brakes
5 Tom Boonen (BEL) Quick-Step
6 Fabian Wegmann (GER) Team MILRAM
7 Enrico Rossi (ITA) Ceramica Flaminia
8 Leonardo Duque (COL) Cofidis
9 Assan Bazayev (KAZ) Astana
10 Matti Breschel (DEN) Saxo Bank

The Team MILRAM line-up:
Gerald Ciolek (GER/Ermatingen,SUI), Johannes Fröhlinger (GER/Freiburg), Linus Gerdemann (GER/Kreuzlingen,SUI), Servais Knaven (NED/Meerle,BEL), Björn Schröder (GER/Berlin), Peter Velits (SVK/Riemst,BEL), Fabian Wegmann (GER/Freiburg), Peter Wrolich (AUT, Klagenfurt)

Directeur Sportif:
Christian Henn (GER)

Assistant Directeur Sportif:
Jochen Hahn (GER)

The stages 2009:
11. March Stage 1: Cecina – Capannori 147 km
12. March Stage 2: Volterra – Marina di Carrara 177 km
13. March Stage 3: Fucecchio – S. Croce sull’Arno 166 km
14. March Stage 4: Foligno – Montelupone 171 km
15. March Stage 5: Loreto – Macerata 30 km (EZF)
16. March Stage 6: Civitanova Marche – Camerino 235 km
17. March Stage 7: S. Benedetto – S. Benedetto 169 km
Total length: 1.095 Kilometer

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 11th, 2009 at 10:48 am and is filed under Focus & Team Milram. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.