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Last Updated: 2 Apr 2018 - 8:45:17 PM |
MARTIN SIXTH IN FLÈCHE WALLONNE, ROCHE ELEVENTH IN ITALY
By Shane Stokes
18 Apr 2012,
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Irish rider Dan Martin has once again shown his strong climbing ability, netting a superb sixth place in the Flèche Wallonne Classic today.
The Garmin Barracuda competitor recovered from a bad position heading on the wall-like last climb of the Mur de Huy, being very far back when the big guns started to put in their final effort.
He overtook many riders en route to his high finish.
The race was won by the Spaniard Joaquim Rodriguez, who finished second in both 2010 and 2011. He burst clear of the peloton with 200 metres to go and eked out a four-second winning margin over Michael Albasini (GreenEdge) and last year’s winner, Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing Team).
Martin was a further five seconds back crossing the line. Had he been more fortunate in terms of his position, he would have been much closer to the podium.
The result bodes well for Sunday’s Liège-Bastogne-Liège Classic, which will also be held over tough Belgian climbs.
Irishwoman Siobhan Horgan finished a solid 42nd in the earlier women’s event. She was five minutes 12 seconds behind the winner, Evelyn Stevens (Specialized Lululemon), who defeated 2011 winner Marianne Vos (Rabobank).
Horgan is currently chasing world ranking points to try to secure a place in the London Olympics.
Meanwhile Martin’s first cousin Nicolas Roche raced to a fine eleventh on today’s mountainous second stage of the Giro del Trentino.
The Ag2r La Mondiale rider was twelve seconds behind the winner Damiano Cunego (Lampre-ISD), who was quickest in a three-man sprint to the line.
Like Martin, Roche will compete in Liège-Bastogne-Liège this Sunday. He’ll be encouraged by today’s result as it comes after a quiet period for him.
He is now fourteenth overall behind the new leader, Matthias Frank (BMC Racing Team).
Flèche Wallonne (WorldTour):
1, Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team, 4 hours 45 mins 41 secs
2, Michael Albasini (Swi) GreenEdge Cycling Team, at 4 secs
3, Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC Racing Team
4, Jelle Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team, both same time
5, Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Astana Pro Team, at 7
6, Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin – Barracuda, at 9
7, Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
8, Vincenzo Nibali (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
9, Diego Ulissi (Ita) Lampre – ISD, all same time
10, Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team, at 11
Elite Women: Huy:
1, Evelyn Stevens (USA) Team Specialized – lululemon, 123 kilometres in 3 hours 26 mins 32 secs
2, Marianne Vos (Ned) Stichting Rabo Women Cycling Team, same time
3, Linda Villumsen (NZl) GreenEdge – AIS, at 20
4, Lucinda Brand (Ned) AA Drink - Leontien.nl Cycling Team, at 27
5, Ashleigh Moolman (RSA) Lotto Belisol Ladies, at 41
6, Judith Arndt (Ger) GreenEdge – AIS, same time
7, Megan Guarnier (USA) TIBCO - To The Top, at 44
8, Clara Hughes (Can) Team Specialized – lululemon, at 48
9, Emma Johansson (Swe) Hitec Products - Mistral Home Cycling Team, both same time
10, Karol-Ann Canuel (Can) Vienne Futuroscope, at 51
Irish:
42, Siobhan Horgan (Team GSD Gestion) at 5 mins 12 secs
Giro del Trentino (2.HC)
Mori - Sant'Orsola Terme:
1, Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-ISD, 152 kilometres in 3 hours 59 mins 30 secs
2, Carlos Betancur (Col) Acqua&Sapone
3, Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana, both same time
4, Eros Capecchi (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale, at 3 secs
5, Franceso Reda (Ita) Acqua&Sapone
6, Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R-La Mondiale
7, Mathias Frank (Swi) BMC Racing Team, all same time
8, Marc de Maar (AHo) UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team, at 9 secs
9, Alesandro Bisolti (Ita) Team Idea
10, Bartosz Huzarski (Pol) Team NetApp, both same time
Irish:
11, Nicolas Roche (Ag2r La Mondiale) at 12 secs
General classification:
1, Mathias Frank (Swi) BMC Racing Team, 4 hours 15 mins 23 secs
2, Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana, at 3 secs
3, Carlos Betancur (Col) Acqua&Sapone, at 7
4, Marco Pinotti (Ita) BMC Racing Team, at 9
5, Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-ISD, at 10
6, Francesco Reda (Ita) Acqua&Sapone, at 16
7, Eros Capecchi (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale, at 19
8, Miguel Angel Rubiano (Ita) Androni-Giocattoli, at 27
Irish:
14, Nicolas Roche (Ag2r La Mondiale) at 1 min 1 sec
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