Cerv?lo TestTeam is participating in four races, two each for the Women’s and Men’s squads across Europe.
Tour de Suisse Stage 6: Oberriet / SG – Bad Zurzach
Mark Cavendish won the sixth stage of the Tour de Suisse in Bad Zurzach, defeating second place finisher Oscar Freire (Rabobank) and third placed Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre – N.G.C.). Cerv?lo TestTeam’s Thor Hushovd (NOR) finished fourth.
"It was a furious start today; the peloton was fast and by the first 50 km it had already split into three different groups," said Sports Director Marcello Albasini. "Then the tempo returned to normal and Reto Hollenstein, a Swiss rider with the Vorarlberg-Corratec Team escaped. After a while our team started to bring him back helped by Columbia-Highroad and Rabobank. We finally brought Hollenstein back into the peloton, just 18 km from the finish. Cerv?lo TestTeam did a great job holding the group together and Brett Lancaster performed a good lead out for Thor Hushovd. Hushovd then took over and tried to win the stage but didn’t have the fastest legs at the end and finished fourth. We are working well together as we continue to prepare for our goal, the Tour de France."
Ster Elektrotoer – Stage 2: Eindhoven – Sittard/Geleen
Andre Greipel (Team Columbia-Highroad) won the 175 km second stage from Eindhoven – Sittard today in the Ster Elektrotoer in the Netherlands. Second place went to Danilo Napolitano (Team Katusha) with Tom Boonen (Quick Step) in third. Roger Hammond had the best result today for Cerv?lo TestTeam finishing tenth.
"Today’s race was determined by a sprint at the finish," said Sports Director Jean Paul Van Poppel. "We saw it coming this morning because of the course layout and the fact that the wind was not very strong – both good indicators of a sprint finish. We tried to make a breakaway but it didn’t work. Then on the last 10 km Volodymir Gustov was in a small breakaway but it was pulled back into the group 8 km from the finish. Today was nothing special but we are hoping that as the stages get harder and the wind hopefully stronger, we can do something over the next few stages."
Giro delle Trentino: Stage 1
The two stage Giro delle Trentino began today around Lake Garda (in Italian Laco di Gardo), the largest lake in Italy, situated about halfway between Venice and Milan. The 106 km stage started in Arco and finished in Monzambano. The team’s plan today was to stay quiet, as tomorrow’s stage will be very hard with an uphill finish and today’s stage, based on past experience, would end in a sprint.
"With the weather around the 30 degree mark, the peloton took it easy for the first hour," said Cerv?lo TestTeam’s Geert Broekhuizen. "Halfway through the race, Claudia H?usler crashed but she was not hurt. Following the crash there was a 12 rider breakaway that included Patricia Schwager and Emilie Aubry from Cerv?lo TestTeam. The break was pulled in before the first mountain of the day and from there until the finish it was tough and dangerous. Some groups tried to attack but because of the high speed that was not possible. Cerv?lo’s riders Claudia H?usler and Carla Ryan were in the front and survived the day. Regina Schleicher from Equipe N?rnberger Verschicherung won the mass sprint edging out Nicole Cooke and Alessandra d’Ettorre."
"Our goal today was not to use all our energy because tomorrow there will be a tough climb," said Claudia H?usler. "I think we did well, we are all in the same time and it was one big bunch in the end. I am prepared for tomorrow and I know the final climb as I did it a few years ago. It is really, really steep and very, very hard, and I think the best will win tomorrow."
Pooley and team dominate Stage 1, Grand Boucle
The women of Cerv?lo TestTeam, led by Emma Pooley, dominated the first stage of the 2009 Grand Boucle. The 18.3 km time trial in Bressuire, France saw the women’s team take five of the first six places. Marianne Vos (DSB Bank) was the lone non-Cerv?lo rider in the top 6, finishing second. Third place was taken by Christiane Soeder, fourth by Regina Bruins, fifth by Kirsten Wild and sixth by Sarah D?ster.
"Today was the first stage of the Grande Boucle; as the title defender we have some ambitions and today’s stage was the perfect start," said Sports Director, Manel Lacambra. "Although we had five women in the top six we are keenly aware that second place is held by the strong Marianne Vos who currently leads the UCI ranking. The course was 18.3 km long and very technical with a lot of downhills, which is normally not our strength, as we like it more when it is hard. But as you can see in the results, the ladies did a great job. So far the overall situation is looking good for us, but the race has just started and we have three more stages to go."
Website: Cerv?lo TestTeam
