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Saturday's EuroFile: Tonkov wins in Spain, Efimkin in France; mountain bikers mass in Madrid

Published: May. 7, 2005
Efimkin wins
Efimkin wins
Photo: AFP

Tonkov wins in Spain
Instead of racing in the Giro d’Italia, Russian veteran Pavel Tonkov won the opening stage of the Clasica de Alcobendas in the suburbs north of Madrid on a hot Saturday afternoon.

The 36-year-old won the opening stage of the so-called “mini-Vuelta a España,” which finished with a Cat. 1 climb atop the Puerto de Navacarrada. The “czar” punched the accelerator with 500 meters to go to finish ahead of José Angel Gómez Marchante (Saunier Duval) and Fran Pérez (Milaneza).

“I’m very pleased with this victory. I felt my condition improving by the day and today I proved it,” said Tonkov, who won the Giro in 1996. Tonkov decided to keep racing with the rather modest LPR team rather than retire. He lives not far from Alcobendas and often trains on the nearby roads.

“I know the roads around here fairly well,” he said. “To win on this day gives me a lot of satisfaction.”

Many of the top stars not racing in the Giro are racing here this weekend to hone their form ahead of bigger targets later in the summer. Among them are Paco Mancebo (Illes Balears) and David Moncoutie (Cofidis).

The race concludes Sunday with a morning road stage and an afternoon time trial.

Clasica de Alcobendas, Stage 1
1. Pavel Tonkov (Rus), Lampre, 3:55:53
2. JosÈ Angel Marchante (Sp), Saunier Duval, at 0:08
3. Fran Pérez (Sp), Maia, at 0:13
4. M.A. MartÌnez Perdiguero (Sp), Phonak, at 0:19
5. Paco Mancebo (Sp), Illes Baleares, at 0:22

Efimkin wins in Dunkirk, Fedrigo takes over
Another Russian was winning in France as Vladimir Efimkin (Barloworld) claimed Saturday’s fourth stage of the Four Days of Dunkirk. French rider Pierrick Fedrigo (Bouygues Telecom) took the lead away from Team CSC after finishing second at 19 seconds back.

The course hit Mont Lambert six times and Efimkin shot away in the finale to score the win, crossing the line 20 seconds ahead of Fedrigo. Opening-stage winner Thor Hushovd (Crédit Agricole) did well to finish third at 21 seconds back with Spanish climber Josep Jufre (Relax).

Overnight leader Linus Gerdemann (CSC) slipped to fifth overall at 22 seconds back, but the 22-year-old German defended his jersey well against much more experienced riders in his first race with Team CSC.The five-day Four Days of Dunkirk (they’re French, what can we say?) concludes Sunday with the 165.6km fifth stage from Bourbourg to Dunkirk.Four Days of Dunkirk, Stage 4, Boulogne-sur-Mer to Boulogne-sur-Mer, 173km
1. Vladimir Efimkim (Rus), Team Barloworld, 4:39:56
2. Pierrick Fedrigo (F), Bouygues Telecom, at 0:19
3. Thor Hushovd (Nor,) Crédit Agricole, at 0:21
4. Josep Jufre (Sp), Relax Fuenlabrada, same time
5. Bert De Waele (B), Landbouwkrediet-Colnago, s.t.

Overall standings after four stages
1. Pierrick Fedrigo (F), Bouygues Telecom, 17:31:36
2. Vladimir Efimkin (Rus), Team Barloworld, at 0:12
3. Christophe Moreau (Fra), Crédit Agricole, at 0:19
4. Petr Bencik (Cze), Ed’ System-Zvvz, at 0:21
5. Linus Gerdemann (Ger), Team CSC, at 0:22

Mountain bikers ready to rock in Madrid
A blaring Iberian sun blasted down on Madrid’s Casa de Campo for Saturday’s training runs as the mountain bike world descended on this expansive park west of Spain’s capital for the second leg of the 2005 UCI World Cup.

A fast course, dusty conditions and lots of rowdy fans are what’s on tap for Sunday’s extravaganza. Madrid is bucking for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games and wants to showcase one of its proposed venues with a high-profile performance this weekend. An estimated 30,000 wine-drinking, flag-waving fans are expected to turn up.

“I like this course and I am feeling strong now, but I have a horrible start position so I don’t expect to be on the podium,” said veteran Bart Brentjens, who won the marathon World Cup premiere event last weekend in Italy. “I didn’t race in (Belgium), so I’m like in the 70s for start position, so trying to get around that many guys will be difficult. But this is a fast course and I’ve had some good results here.”

The favorites in the men’s heat include Olympic champion Julian Absalon, a winner in Spa two weeks ago, Belgian arch-rival Roel Paulissen, and local favorite Jose Antonio Hermida.

“Julian is the favorite in just about every race he starts these days and we’ve already seen he’s starting the season strong, so it will be hard to beat him,” said Paulissen, who finished second to Absalon in the Spa season opener. “It’s going to be hot, but I don’t mind the heat. What I want to do is get near the front right away, because otherwise you’re choking on dust all day and it really affects my breathing.”

In the women’s heat, Olympic champion Gunn-Rita Dahle is sure to be motivated to make up for a loss to Canadian phenom Marie-Hélène Premont in Belgium. Alison Sydor and local-fave Marga Fullana will also be keen to get the season off to a fast start.

“This course is so fast that you have to be really strong to hold your position because there’s not really anything technical enough to make a difference,” Premont said. “It’s going to be hot for so early in the year. It should be a good race.”

This weekend also marks the first round of the 2005 UCI Trials World Cup. Grouped together at the world championships for the last several years, the two disciplines will be held at the same time in Madrid, a big first for the World Cup. Some of the trials competitions will take place in Plaza España right in the heart of Madrid in prime tapas time, sure to draw a big crowd.