Team Garmin-Slipstream

Algarve stage 2: Maaskant’s great escape

Woody — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:40:38 +0000

Young Martijn Maaskant kicked off stage 2 of the Volta ao Algarve in Portugal by attacking just five kilometers in to today’s 184 kilometer stage. He and five other riders stayed out front for more than 175 kilometers, building their lead to more than seven minutes at one point. The peloton engulfed just in time for a mass sprint finish in Lagos. Along the way, Martijn scooped up his fair share of KOM points and moved to second in the mountains classification overall. Will Frischkorn moved to 10th in the overall classification.

Garmin-Slipstream stage 2 results
1. Koldo Fernandez 4h56′54″
21. David Millar +00″
32. Danny Pate +00″
43. Will Frischkorn +00″
97. Julian Dean +00″
105. Hans Dekkers +00″
111. Huub Duyn +00″
123. Blake Caldwell +00″
165. Martijn Maaskant +00″

Mountains Classification
1. Celestino Pinho 13 pts
2. Martijn Maaskant 11 pts
3. Helder Oliveira 8 pts
4. Will Frischkorn 8 pts

Garmin-Slipstream GC
1. Koldo Fernandez 9h28′23″
10. Will Frischkorn +12″
53. Hans Dekkers +14″
67. David Millar +14″
69. Julian Dean +14″
81. Danny Pate +14″
129. Huub Duyn +14″
131. Blake Caldwell +14″
159. Martijn Maaskant +1′14″

Cycle Sport: JV on the business of bike racing

admin — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:35:38 +0000

In the February issue of Cycle Sport magazine, Jonathan Vaughters writes about the business of bike racing in “The Credit Crunch Bunch”.

An excerpt: “We are trying to create a stable business that can survive the ups and downs…This stability is key to the future of cycling and key to the anti-doping struggle. As soon as the finances are viewed as a year-to-year proposition, athletes feel pressure to survive and never have an ‘off’ day, which, as we know, can lead to poor decisions when it comes to the temptation of doping. It’s just another example of how economics and anti-doping efforts are intertwined.”

“The Credit Crunch Bunch” pdf provided courtesy of Cycle Sport magazine. Check out Cycle Sport’s very own Twitter feed.

California stage 4: Farrar 5th in Clovis sprint

Matt White | Directeur Sportif — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:02:51 +0000

Special Tour of California report from Directeur Sportif Matt White

Yesterday threatened to be one rude stage with a hell of a lot of climbing. With five categorized climbs and many more along the route, the race could have easily gone to pieces. The field went out of the blocks and the first hour was very fast and aggressive. Everyone was looking to be in that elusive break.

It finally went on the first climb and we had Tommy D in it along with Chris Horner and a couple of other GC contenders. It splintered not long after, and with the exit of all GC dangers, Astana settled down into a rhythm that enabled the field to stay together during the next four climbs.

After leaving the very challenging mountain sector, all there was left to do was reel in the escapees. With Tyler Farrar in good form, we had Trent Lowe and Tom Peterson join in the chase to ensure a bunch sprint. Tyler (above left) finished a very credible 5th!

The good news is the weather was sensational. The team is well and ready to get down to the business end of the Tour of California.

Garmin-Slipstream stage 4 results
1. Mark Cavendish 4h42′38″
5. Tyler Farrar +00″
16. Steven Cozza +00″
33. Tom Danielson +00″
38. Christian Vande Velde +00″
45. Tom Peterson +00″
47. Dave Zabriskie +00″
59. Svein Tuft +00″
103. Trent Lowe +46″

Garmin-Slipstream GC
1. Levi Leipheimer 13h51′14″
2. Michael Rogers +24″
3. Dave Zabriskie +28″
14. Tom Danielson +42″
23. Tom Peterson +5′56″
27. Christian Vande Velde +6′04″
41. Steven Cozza +9′08″
49. Svein Tuft +15′13″
73. Trent Lowe +24′51″
83. Tyler Farrar +29′52″

Team Classification
1. Astana 55h42′46″
2. Garmin-Slipstream +3′58″
3. Team Saxo Bank +5′41″

Pedal Magazine talks to Svein Tuft

Woody — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 07:55:41 +0000

Canada’s Pedal Magazine catches up with current Canadian national time trial champion and all around good guy Svein Tuft during the Tour of California.

Everyone is talking about Palomar Pass (1,707m/5,123 ft.) on to the final stage as the nasty one. What are your thoughts?
Svein: I used to train a lot down there so I know it well, but it’s not just the Palomar, it’s the actual climb after Cole Grade that is tough, especially if your legs are zapped from Palomar. So at that point it’s all hands on deck trying to stay with our GC leaders to get to the finish. I’m there for Dave (Zabriskie) helping him thru - my GC is over, I’m fine with that. I’m really happy to see our boys doing well here.

CycleTo: More Sun, Less Hair

admin — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 06:36:25 +0000

CycleTo talks to Dave Z about the welcome sunshine and his new do.

Algarve stage 1: Dekkers 4th in sprint, 8th overall; Frischkorn 6th overall, King of Mountains

Woody — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 17:51:52 +0000

Hans Dekkers kicked off his 2009 season today at the Volta au Algarve by finishing a close 4th in the massive sprint in to Olhao, Portugal. Will Frischkorn (above) made the day’s decisive break and finished 1st and 2nd on the day’s two climbs, taking over the mountains classification. He also apparently scooped up enough time bonuses along the way to move up to 6th in GC. Rounding out Garmin’s top ten is Hans, who is 8th overall.

Garmin-Slipstream stage 1 results
1. Heinrich Haussler 4h31′43″
4. Hans Dekkers +00″
33. Will Frischkorn +00″
38. Julian Dean +00″
81. Martijn Maaskant +00″
113. David Millar +00″
125. Danny Pate +00″
130. Blake Caldwell +00″
138. Huub Duyn +00″

Mountains Classification
1. Will Frischkorn 8 pts
2. Helder Oliveira 8 pts
3. Thomas Berkhout 2 pts

Garmin-Slipstream GC
1. Heinrich Haussler 4h31′33″
6. Will Frischkorn +08″
8. Hans Dekkers +10″
40. Julian Dean +10″
83. Martijn Maaskant +10″
114. David Millar +10″
126. Danny Pate +10″
130. Blake Caldwell +10″
138. Huub Duyn +10″

Cozza’s Cali: Attack of the killer musettes

Steven Cozza — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 11:29:18 +0000

Steven Cozza reports from the Tour of California rain forest.

I’m starting to feel like a scuba diver out there. The rain just keeps coming.

Yesterday was a day of survival. My legs felt like cement. But I wasn’t alone. It was hard all around. I swear the Astana guys were all dizzy or something. About 70 kilometers into the race, Chris Horner went down hard. Then 20 kilometers later, Levi crashes. Everyone was alright, but guys were pretty nervous I guess.

Coming back from the team car after grabbing bottles for the guys, I had four musette bags to carry. Musettes are like purses for cyclists. Each bag has two water bottles and other goodies. So I was carrying eight bottles plus the two on my bike and food. My guess is an extra 15 pounds.

Trent came by and grabbed two bags as we hit the last climb of the day. Then the straps of the other bags started wrapping around my neck. I started choking so I pulled over to toss them. I was so tangled up in them that it took me a few minutes to unwind…ha, ha. It must have been funny to see all of this happening to me. I know my director Whitey and Dr. Shannon were cracking up in the car. It was not my day at all. Simply survival.

Today’s the longest day of the Tour of California. It’s supposed to be clear. That would be nice for a change.

Thanks for reading, Steven

California stage 3: Farrar 4th in bunch sprint

Woody — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 09:59:20 +0000

Surviving another agonizingly wet, cold day, the Argyle Armada safely delivered Tyler Farrar (above left) to the finish in Modesto where he took 4th in the nerve-wracking final sprint. There were no changes to the general classification and Dave Zabriskie is still sitting strong in third overall.

The race heads in to the Sierra Mountains today where the peloton will tackle four categorized climbs including the 1200-meter Crane Valley Road.

Garmin-Slipstream stage 3 results
1. Thor Hushovd 4h28′12″
4. Tyler Farrar +00″
36. Christian Vande Velde +00″
37. Tom Danielson +00″
39. Svein Tuft +00″
46. Steven Cozza +00″
47. Dave Zabriskie +00″
54. Tom Peterson +00″
91. Trent Lowe +00″

Garmin-Slipstream GC
1. Levi Leipheimer 13h51′14″
2. Michael Rogers +24″
3. Dave Zabriskie +28″
14. Tom Danielson +42″
23. Tom Peterson +5′56″
30. Christian Vande Velde +6′04″
42. Steven Cozza +9′08″
51. Svein Tuft +15′13″
75. Trent Lowe +24′05″
85. Tyler Farrar +29′52″

Team Classification
1. Astana 41h34′52″
2. Garmin-Slipstream +3′58″
3. Team Saxo Bank +5′41″

Cyclingnews: Vaughters proud of his prodigy

Woody — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:11:02 +0000

Cyclingnews talks to Garmin-Slipstream’s Jonathan Vaughters about Tom Peterson’s (right with Christian) first professional race win.

“I’ve coached Tom since the beginning of his career so I was pretty damn happy that he won today,” Vaughters said to Cyclingnews yesterday. “I’ve coached him one-on-one and am in constant contact with him. This is like when your little prodigy grows up and wins.”

Peterson scores first US win for Garmin-Slipstream!

admin — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:05:16 +0000

Special Tour of California report from Directeur Sportif Matt White

Today was a big day for the team. During the Silver City training camp, we spoke about turning some of those near misses of last year into wins for 2009. It takes real confidence to turn opportunities into successes. And I hope today was a big lesson in the value of confidence, especially for our young guys.

The team and Tom executed everything that was asked of them. The reward is Tom Peterson scored the biggest win of his career.

We also limited our losses on the defending champ Levi, who once again showed he is the man to beat for the overall victory. We certainly are not going down without a fight .

Tomorrow is another day and I think everybody here is praying for this rain to stop. These conditions are really draining our riders.

Garmin-Slipstream stage 2 results
1. Tom Peterson 5h06′20″
7. Tom Danielson +21″
10. Dave Zabriskie +21″
26. Christian Vande Velde +1′52″
54. Steven Cozza +4′51″
58. Svein Tuft +11′05″
68. Trent Lowe +11′05″
100. Tyler Farrar +17′10

Garmin-Slipstream GC
1. Levi Leipheimer 9h23′02″
2. Michael Rogers +24″
3. Dave Zabriskie +28″
14. Tom Danielson +42″
23. Tom Peterson +5′56″
30. Christian Vande Velde +6′04″
43. Steven Cozza +9′08″
52. Svein Tuft +15′13″
82. Trent Lowe +24′05″
90. Tyler Farrar +29′52″

Sprint Classification
1. Francisco Manebo 25 pts
2. Tom Peterson 15 pts
3. Levi Leipheimer 12 pts

Team Classification
1. Astana 28h10′16″
2. Garmin-Slipstream +3′58″
3. Team Saxo Bank +5′41″