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Dekker wins soggy start to Critérium International
Dutch veteran Erik Dekker rekindled his acquaintance with victory by winning the first of the three stages that make up the Critérium International Saturday in Charleville-Mezieres.
The Rabobank stalwart, who has struggled for form of late due to injury, outsprinted Italy's Tour de France hopeful Ivan Basso (CSC) and Ukrainian Andriy Grivko (Milram) — both of whom had been earlier breakaway companions — after Spaniard Igor Astarloa (Barloworld) lost control and crashed on the slippery conditions home straight. Astarloa was credited with the same time as the lead group.
Basso, the Tour's runner-up last year behind Lance Armstrong, is in second place at only four seconds back and remains a big favorite for overall victory after Sunday's final two stages - a 101km race over hilly terrain followed by an individual time trial over 8.3km.
In spite of Astarloa's misfortune Dekker did brilliantly to take the win after a 192km stage in difficult conditions, with his Rabobank team having to fight off the sustained efforts of Basso's CSC outfit.
The 34-year-old former winner of the old World Cup circuit, which gave way to the Pro Tour last season, is in his last season as a professional and will later become a team manager with Rabobank.
With the tough one-day classics races practically on his doorstep, Dekker hopes to cap his career with victory in the Tour of Flanders next Sunday.
"I'm dreaming of winning the Tour of Flanders," said Dekker, who finished runner-up in the race in 2001. "The biggest challenge for me is to end my career at the top. Since Paris-Nice I've been feeling really good and I want to have a good classics campaign.
2. Ivan Basso (I), CSC, same time
3. Andriy Grivko (Ukr), Milram, at 0:02
4. José Ivan Gutierrez (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears, at 0:10
5. Pieter Weening (Ned), Rabobank, s.t.
6. Constantino Zaballa (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears, s.t.
7. Ronny Scholz (Ned), Gerolsteiner, s.t.
8. Bradley McGee (Aus), Française des Jeux, s.t. br>9. Igor Astarloa (Sp), Barloworld, s.t.
10. Igor Anton (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, s.t.
FullResults
Overall
1. Erik Dekker (Ned), Rabobank 4:29:04
2. Ivan Basso (I) at 0:04
3. Andriy Grivko (Ukr), Milram, at 0:08
4. Igor Astarloa (Sp), Barloworld, at 0:10
5. Constantino Zaballa (Sp) Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears, at 0:16
6. Jose Ivan Gutierrez (Sp), Caisse d'Epargne-Illes Balears, at 0:20
7. Pieter Weening (Ned), Rabobank, s.t.
8. Ronny Scholz (Ned), Gerolsteiner, s.t.
9. Bradley McGee (Aus), Française des Jeux, s.t.
10. David Lopez (Sp), Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 1:23
FullResults
