American Bobby Julich grabbed his CSC team's second stage race victory inside a week after winning the inaugural Tour of Benelux asit finished in Holland on Wednesday.

Julich powers into the overall title.

Photo: AFP

Julich stormed to victory in the final stage time trial, held over 26.2km, to leave Dutch favorite Erik Dekker, down in second place in the general classification.

The 33-year-old Julich started the time trial with a 37-second deficit on overnight leader Rik Verbrugghe of QuickStep.

However Julich has become something of a specialist in the race against the clock over the past two years - and by the halfway mark he had already taken over a minute in time from the veteran Belgian.

Julich came over the finish line victorious, but admitting he was a little surprised.

"It wasn't a perfect course for me today, it was too flat and there was a lot of wind. But it went really well," said Julich. “I felt great the whole week and today that came through in my ride."

Dekker, who had started the final test with a 13-second deficit to Verbrugghe, admitted the better man had won.

"I came to win today but Julich was simply better," said Dekker, who won at least a part of this race last year. The Tour of Benelux, which features on the International Cycling Union's Pro Tour series, is a fusion of the Tour of Belgium and the Tour of the Netherlands - which Dekker won in 2004.

Julich meanwhile is showing some great form for his Danish CSC team. The American also won Paris-Nice earlier in the year and Tour de France runner-up Ivan Basso won the Tour of Denmark last week.
Agence France Presse

Results - Stage 7 - Benelux Tour
1. Bobby Julich (USA), CSC 26.2km in 31:14
2. Leif Hoste (B), Discovery, at 0:37
3. Erik Dekker (Nl), Rabobank, at 0:45
4. Jan Hruska (Cz), Liberty Seguros, at 0:55
5. José Enrique Gutierrez (Sp), Phonak, at 1:01
6. Thomas Dekker (Nl), Rabobank, at 1:05
7. Janez Brajkovic (Slo), Discovery, at 1:10
8. Bert Roesems (B), Davitamon-Lotto, at 1:15
9. Stijn Devolder (B), Discovery, at 1:23
10. Marzio Bruseghin (I), Fassa Bortolo, at 1:23

FullResults
Final Overall
1. Bobby Julich (USA) CSC 29hr 08min 01sec
2. Erik Dekker (Nl), Rabobank, at 0:21
3. Leif Hoste (B), Discovery Channel, at 0:41
4. Thomas Dekker (Nl), Rabobank, at 0:54
5. Michael Blaudzun (Dk), CSC, at 1:07
6. Rik Verbrugghe (B), QuickStep, at 1:16
7. Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Sp), Liberty Seguros, at 1:22
8. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (B), Discovery Channel, at 1:28
9. Andreas Klier (G), T-Mobile, at 1:57
10. Serguei Ivanov (Rus), T-Mobile, at 2:12

FullResults

Mancebo looks for motivation
Francisco Mancebo said his decision to leave Illes Balears to lead the French Ag2r team will give him new motivation as he takes aim for the Tour de France podium in 2006. Fourth overall this year, Mancebo rode his entire eight-year career with Illes Balears (before Banesto), but said it was time for a change. “First, the economic was impressive, I’m not going to deny that,” he said in an interview with the Spanish sports daily MARCA. “Now I can say, now that the deal is done, that after so many years, I needed a change of air, more than anything for the head. Changing teams will bring new hope, like starting anew.” Mancebo will bring David Navas and possibly another rider with him to the French team. He was hoping to convince Leonardo Piepoli to join as well, but it looks like the Italian will stay with Saunier Duval. Mancebo denied his departure was triggered by the high-profile arrival of Alejandro Valverde, though he admitted all the media attention on the younger star ruffled some feathers. “It’s better to have him as a teammate than a rival,” Mancebo said of Valverde. “There were some misunderstandings, that’s true, but all that’s forgotten.” Mancebo said he will be the French team’s central leader for the Tour, despite the recent signing of French star Christophe Moreau. According to Mancebo, Moreau has already been told he’ll be working for Mancebo. “I believe I can improve on the fourth place,” he said. “Next year, Armstrong won’t be there, so the race will be much more open. I still have to improve in the time trial.” Ag2r is the leading favorite to gain ProTour status for the spot being vacated by Fassa Bortolo, which will fold at the end of the 2005 season.

O'Grady extends his stay at Cofidis
Sprinter Stuart O'Grady has signed a new two-year deal with Cofidis, the team's director, Francis Van Londersie announced on Wednesday.

The 32-year-old Australian, whose best performance in this summer's Tour de France was a second place finish in the 15th stage, has a winning record most sprinters would be proud to own.

The Adelaide-born rider won Olympic gold in the Madison with compatriot Graeme Brown last year, a rare achievement which demanded that O'Grady hark back to his former days on the track.

In 1993, O'Grady was part of the record-breaking Australian four-man pursuit team before eventually embarking on his road career.

Five years later, he won the 14th stage of the Tour De France to become the proud owner of the race leader's yellow jersey. The Australian rider joined Cofidis in 2003 from another French team, Crédit Agricole.-Agence France Presse Disco eyes two Spanish riders
Discovery Channel seems ready to bolster its Spanish contingent and appears to be very interested in Egoi Martínez and Angel Gómez Marchante. According to a report in the Spanish daily Diario Vasco, Martínez is expected to sign a two-year deal with the American team at this weekend’s Clásica San Sebastian while negotiations are underway with the promising Gómez Marchante to buy him out of his final year of his contract with Saunier Duval. A strong climber, Gómez Marchante has posted a string of impressive top-10 finishes in stages in Setmana Catalana, Paris-Nice and the Dauphiné Libéré. According to the Basque daily, Martínez received an e-mail this week confirming the offer. Euskaltel-Euskadi manager Miguel Madariaga says the deal is all but done. “We could match the offer, but the offer is very good and he’s going to leave,” he said. “I spoke to Bruyneel about it and I know that the rider said he owes us a lot, but an offer from Discovery Channel doesn’t come along every day.” Martínez, 27, won the 2003 Tour d’Avenir and finished 41st in his Tour de France debut in 2004. In other moves
In other moves: Australian Matt Hayman has extended his contract with Rabobank for two years. The Aussie has been with the team since 2000 and has won three races in his career, including a stage-win this year in the Tour de Saxe.

Dutch rider Karsten Kroon is reportedly leaving Rabobank to join Team CSC.

Aitor Perez Arrieta, a Spanish rider on the continental team Spiuk, has signed a two-year contract to join Illes Balears.

Colombian Freddy González, winner of the 2004 Tour of Langkawi, has signed on with the Relax-Fuenlabrada to race the Vuelta a España. No Freire changes Spain's plans
The likely prospect that three-time world champion Oscar Freire won’t be starting this year’s world’s race in Madrid has forced changes in Spain’s best-laid plans for victory on home roads. “We have lost an important rider who, if the race came down to a sprint, was sure to win a medal. He’s capable of beating Petacchi,” Spanish national team coach Francisco Antequera to Europa Press. “Now I have to make plans without him.” Freire isn’t expected to race the world championships (Sept. 20-25) after set-backs in his recovery from surgery in mid-June on a bone in his hip. To complicate matters, Alejandro Valverde, who abandoned the Tour de France with knee problems, isn’t likely to start the Vuelta a España and might not be ready for the world’s, either. “His participation is up in the air as well,” Antequera said. “Since the Tour he hasn’t shown signs of life. If he’s in shape to start the world’s, he’ll be one of the favorites.” One name suggested as a team leader if Freire and Valverde aren’t available is Miguel Angel Martín Perdiguero, winner of last year’s Clásica San Sebastian. Antequera said the world’s course isn’t “hard enough” for 2003 world champion Igor Astarloa. Landbouwkrediet-Colnago confirmed for Tour of Britain
Tour of Britain officials have confirmed Landbouwkrediet-Colnago will start Aug. 30 in Glasgow. One rider who will be searching for success is Matthieu Criquielion, the son of 1984 world champion Claudy Criquielion. Joining Matthieu for the six-day race will be British Olympic medalist and world team pursuit champion Steve Cummings. Landbouwkredit-Colnago for Tour of Britain
Steve Cummings
Glenn D’Hollander
Tony Bracke
James Van Landschoot
Mathieu Criquielion
Jean Claude LeBeau