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Sánchez wins in Spain
Olympic road champion Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) won for the first time in 2009 after nipping David de la Fuente (Fuji-Servetto) at the line to claim Sunday’s GP de Llodio in Spain. Sánchez covered the 175.5km course in 4 hours, 3 minutes, 58 seconds, crossing the line just ahead of De la Fuente, the winner in 2007. Rounding out the podium was Ezequiel Mosquera (Xacobeo-Galicia), who came through one second back. JJ Rojas (Caisse d’Epargne) led across a dozen-strong chase group at 21 seconds slower.
Voigt wins Critérium International for fifth time
Jens Voigt (Saxo Bank) was fast just enough in Sunday’s individual time trial to win the Critérium International for a record-tying fifth time. The veteran German was fifth in the 8.3km course in Charleville-Mézières and held off a challenge from Danny Pate (Garmin-Slipstream), who started the third and final stage in second place, just seven seconds off Voigt’s time.
Fontana kicks off new Pro XC Tour
American mountain bike racing begins a new chapter this weekend at Southridge Park in Fontana, California. On Sunday, the hilly park in this Los Angeles suburb hosts the opening round of USA Cycling’s Pro Cross-country Tour (ProXCT), a seven-race collection of UCI-sanctioned events which is set to replace the National Mountain Bike Series (NMBS) as the premier cross-country series in North America. The Fontana race is also the second round of the Kenda Cup West, the west-coast wing of the Sho Air-Specialized U.S. Cup.
Connie Carpenter offers a primer on the Omnium in time for Sunday’s world championship in that event
Editor's Note: Connie Carpenter is in Pruszkow, Poland, covering the Track World Championships for VeloNews.com while supporting her son, Taylor Phinney. Carpenter is a former world champion on the track and an avid fan of track cycling.
Redlands Crit: BMC’s Jackson Stewart and Columbia’s Ina Yoko Teutenberg win at Redlands
Jeff Louder (BMC) and Amber Neben (Nurnberger Shoair) retained their yellow jerseys after the dust settled in bunch sprints for both the men’s and women’s Redlands Downtown Criteriums in Saturday’s stage 2 at the Redlands Cycling Classic. The top five in the men’s GC remained virtually unchanged, while Neben’s advantage over second placed Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (Columbia-High Road) narrowed from 14 seconds to just 2 seconds due to time bonuses.
Denmark takes Madison gold
Denmark relieved Britain of yet another world crown when they won the men's Madison gold at the world track cycling championships in Pruszkow, Poland, Saturday. Australia took the silver with the Czech Republic claiming the bronze. Defending champions Britain, featuring the two-man team of Mark Cavendish and fellow Manxman Peter Kennaugh, finished sixth at a lap down. Kennaugh suffered a crash before the seventh of the 10 sprints where points can be picked up for the first four riders over the line during the 200-lap race.
The Coach(ed) Corner: The importance of being humbled
There’s a commonly held sports adage that says the best way to get better at your chosen activity is to play with people who are better than you. I certainly don’t agree with this in all cases. Hoops with LeBron would only equal thunder dunks in face. I’d probably drown in Michael Phelps’ wake. And clearly Troy Polamalu could rip all our heads off.
Cunego takes Coppi e Bartali
Lampre’s Damiano Cunego wrapped up his second Coppi e Bartali title on Saturday despite being beaten in a sprint finish by Cadel Evans (Silence-Lotto) on the fifth and final stage. Evans, the reigning champion, edged out Cunego, also the 2006 winner, and Italian Giovanni Visconti at the end of a 178.5km trek from Scandiano to Sassuolo. The Australian, who finished second overall, had begun the day 28 seconds behind Cunego with Massimo Giunti a further four seconds back.
Casper sprints to win at Critérium International
Besson Chaussures-Sojasun’s Jimmy Casper showed off his strong early season form Saturday, winning the opening stage of France’s Critérium International , a 190km ride from Monthois to Charleville-Mézières. The 30-year-old Casper had already won two stages in Etoile de Bessèges in February. Casper said he was especially pleased to be a member of a small continental squad making a mark on a prestigious race . Casper was quick to praise Christian Prudhomme, the director of cycling at ASO, for having "invited a small team to the Critérium International.”
Pozzato wins Harelbeke
Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) got the big win he was looking for with victory in the E3 Prijs Harelbeke on Saturday. Considered a preview for next weekend’s Tour of Flanders, the Italian out-kicked Tom Boonen (Quick Step) to win by a bike length. Maxim Iglinskiy (Astana) came in third to round out the podium.
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