- HOT TOPICS:
- The new VeloNews.com (BETA)
Sunday's Euro-file: Aldag outshines Ullrich; Gustov takes Regio-Tour; Ribeiro seizes lead in Portugal
Rolf Aldag (Telekom) won the Tour of Bochum on Sunday, a 175.2km race through the streets of this Rhine industrial city.
In front of more than 300,000 spectators, come especially to acclaim Bianchi’s Jan Ullrich, runner-up in this year’s Tour de France, Aldag crossed more than 50 meters ahead of Dane Rene Jorgensen.
Ullrich, who earlier had been given a "fair-play" award by the German Olympic Committee (DOG) for his sportsmanlike behavior in this year’s Tour, finished fifth.
Results
1. Rolf Aldag (G), Telekom), 175.2 km in 4:08:07
2. Rene Jorgensen (Dk), Team fakta, at 0:09
3. Lubor Tesa (Tch), at 0:14
4. Erik Zabel (G), Telekom, at 0:47
5. Jan Ullrich (G), Bianchi, s.t.
Adidas-Solomon reconsiders Ullrich
German sports manufacturing giant Adidas-Salomon has indicated that it would be willing to sponsor Jan Ullrich again following his sterling performance in the 2003 Tour de France.
Adidas canceled Ullrich's contract a year ago after the German rider, 29, tested positive for amphetamines in June last year. A month later, Ullrich confessed that he had taken two Ecstasy pills on a night out.
However, Adidas-Salamon chairman Herbert Hainer said that Ullrich and Adidas could work together again if the Bianchi team captain can sustain his current form on the road.
Ullrich finished second to Lance Armstrong in last month's Tour.
"If we announce a contract it does not have to be for eternity," Hainer told the Berlin-based newspaper Tagesspiegel. "If the sportsman develops more and can repeat the form he has showed this year, then there is always a way back."
Hainer explained that it was not the policy of Adidas to sponsor drug users, but acknowledged that people make mistakes.
"We always said that we do not want to work with sports people who have tested positive for drugs," added Hainer. "That is why we had to cancel the contract of Jan Ullrich a year ago. But Jan is a really nice person, and of course he has made mistakes."
Hainer also said that Adidas could sponsor Ullrich's current team Bianchi for next season. "Of course we have spoken with Bianchi and are interested," stated Hainer. "But it is too early for us to go on board."
The Bianchi team is still looking for a co-sponsor for the coming season.
Gustov takes overall at Regio-Tour
Ukrainian Volodymir Gustov (Fassa Bortolo) won the 19th edition of the Regio-Tour on Sunday, finishing the fifth and final stage in 17th place, a half-minute behind Spain’s Ruben Plaza (iBanesto.com).
Gustov, in yellow since taking second place in Thursday’s time trial, is the first Ukrainian to win the Regio-Tour in the Upper Rhine.
The final stage – which was trimmed from 171.4km to 155.2km because of the continuing heat wave – saw Plaza outsprint German Torsten Hieckmann in 3:55:01. The Spaniard had managed to join a group of five that escaped with 10km remaining.
Frenchman Patrice Halgand (Jean Delatour), who won the Regio-Tour in 2001, this year won the best-climber classification.
Results
1. Ruben Plaza (Sp), iBanesto.com, 155.2 km in 3:55:01
2. Torsten Hieckmann (G), Telekom, s.t.
3. Thomas Ziegler (G), Team Wiesenhof, at 0:06
4. Ludovic Martin (F), Jean Delatour, s.t.
5. Tomasz Brozyna (Pol), CCC-Polsat, at 0:08
6. Kevin de Weert (Ned), Rabobank, 0:12
7. Karsten Kroon (Ned), Rabobank, 0:28
8. Christophe Le Mevel (F), Crédit Agricole, s.t.
9. Santo Anza (I), Landbouwkrediet-Colnago, s.t.
10. Gilles Bouvard (F), Jean Delatour, s.t.
Final overall
1. Volodymir Gustov (Ukr), Fassa Bortolo, 19:42:33.
2. Ronny Scholz (G), Gerolsteiner, at 0:02
3. Christian Moreni (I), Alessio, at 0:03
4. Eladio Jimenez (Sp), iBanesto.com, at 0:17
5. José Ivan Gutierrez (Sp), iBanesto.com. at 0:26
6. Gilles Bouvard (F), Jean Delatour, at 0:34
7. Laurent Lefèvre (F), Jean Delatour, at 0:35
8. Christopher Jenner (F), Crédit Agricole, at 0:36
9. Grischa Niermann (G), Rabobank, at 0:37
10. Javier Pascual (Sp), iBanesto.com, at 0:46
Ribeiro takes stage, jersey in Portugal
Nuno Ribeiro of Portugal won the fifth stage of the Tour of Portugal on Sunday to take over the race leader's yellow jersey.
Ribeiro covered the 208.3km ride from Figueira da Foz to Torre in a 5:44:26 seconds, also taking a 10-second bonus.
Spain's David Blanco finished second and Claus Moller of Denmark third.
Results
1. Nuno Ribeiro (Por), LA-Pecol, 208.3km in 5:44:26 (average speed: 36,286 km/h)
2. David Blanco (Sp), P.Ravessa-Bom Petisco, at 1:20
3. Claus Moller (Dk), Milaneza-MSS, at 1:33
4. Rui Lavarinhas (Por), Milaneza-MSS, at 1:49
5. Nelson Vitorino (Por), P.Ravessa-Bom Petisco, at 2:00
Overall
1. Ribeiro, 21:17:45
2. Blanco, at 1:20
3. Moller, at 1:39
4. Lavarinhas, at 1:59
5. Vitorino, at 2:05
Piepoli claims hat trick in Subida UrKiola
Leonardo Piepoli (iBanesto.com) won Sunday’s 106.5km Subida UrKiola in the Basque Country near Durango, Spain. It was the Italian’s third victory here, following wins in 1995 and 1999.
Piepoli crossed seven seconds ahead of Belgian Dave Bruylandts (Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf), his companion in the winning breakaway, launched less than 4km from the finish.
Results
1. Leonardo Piepoli (I), iBanesto.com), 160.5km in 3:53:59
2. Dave Bruylandts (B), Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf, at 0:07
3. Haimar Zubeldia (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 0:39
4. Mauricio Ardila (Col), Marlux-Wincor Nixdorf, at 0:54
5. Gorka González (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 1:00
6. Aitor Kintana (Sp), Labarca-2-Café Baque, at 1:27
7. David Latasa (Sp), Kelme-Costa Blanca, s.t.
8. Jonathan Gonzalez (Sp), ONCE-Eroski, at 1:30
9. Joaquim Lopez (Sp), Paternina-Costa de Almeria, at 1:59
10. Julien Fernandez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 2:01
