COMUNICATI
STAMPA DALLA CORSA
KANSTANTSIN
SIVTSOV WINS COLUMBIA-HIGHROAD'S THIRD GIRO
STAGE; THREE FINISH IN THE TOP
FOURMay 16, 2009
Columbia-Highroad’s Kanstantsin Sivtsov powered
to the most important victory of his professional career
on Saturday when he took a lone win in stage eight of
the Giro d’Italia.
Sivtsov’s
victory at the end of the 208 kilometre stage from Morbegno
to Bergamo came just 24 hours after Columbia-Highroad’s
Edvald Boasson Hagen’s win in the same race.
On
Saturday, Boasson Hagen was present in the
thick of the action again, leading in the bunch behind
Sivtsov for second place. A third Columbia-Highroad rider,
three-times World Time Trial Champion Michael Rogers,
finished fourth.
In
a spectacularly successful start to the Giro d’Italia
- second only in stature to the Tour de France - Columbia-Highroad
have now taken three stages, led the event for another
three, and have two riders, Thomas Lovkvist and Rogers,
in second and third place overall. All this in just eight
days racing.
Lovkvist
is also leading in the Best Young Rider’s competition,
Columbia-
Highroad
is in the number one spot in the Teams competition, and
Boasson Hagen is second overall in the points classification.
Overall,
the situation is looking equally good for Columbia-Highroad,
whose men’s and women’s teams have secured a
total of four wins in two days.
Whilst
Boasson Hagen and Sivtsov have clinched
stages of the Tour of Italy on Friday and Saturday, Linda
Villumsen and Ina-Yoko Teutenberg took the prologue and
first road stage respectively of the Tour de L’Aude
in France.
A
former U-23 World Champion in 2004, Sivtsov said that
on a personal level, Saturday’s victory was even
more important for him than taking the World’s title.
“I
think this is the
best win of my career, better than the World’s and
better than my victory in the Tour of Georgia last
year, too. Both of those are great races to win, but here,
for the first time, I won with my wife watching me. I
got to hug her afterwards and that made it the best win
of my career so far.”
Local
knowledge had helped the rider born in Bylorussia, but
who has moved to Italy.
”I
know the roads because I’ve lived here for a few
years. I knew the last 15 kilometres and attacked at the
right moment. When [rival Stefano] Garzelli [of
Italy] won here in another race, he proved that whoever
gets over the top of the final climb [close to today’s
stage finish] with a few seconds advantage can win. [Sports
director Valerio] Piva told me I had 20 seconds on the
bunch at the top, so I took it steady on the descent and
stayed away to win.”
Analysing
Columbia’s high level of success in the Tour of Italy,
Sivtsov said, “we’ve got a strong, well-rounded
team and all the riders get the chance to ride for themselves
and do something: Mark [Cavendish] in the sprint, Thomas
[Lovkvist] and Michael [Rogers] overall, and Edvald [Boasson
Hagen] in stages like yesterday. Today I won, but perhaps
another of my team-mates will win again later in the race.”
“The
guys were particularly motivated to do well in Bergamo
because a few of them live near here,” added team
manager Bob Stapleton. “Sivtsov lives just outside
the town and his wife was at the finish. They’re
expecting a baby in a few months as well, so it was a
nice reward for him.”
Looking
forward to Sunday’s stage of the Tour of Italy, Stapleton
was optimistic about a chances of a third straight victory
for Columbia-Highroad – this time, with Mark Cavendish.
“We
hope that Mark can come out to play tomorrow, and shows
again that he’s the fastest sprinter in the world.
The course suits him for sure and we’ll try to win
another stage and keep the run of success going.”
Asked
how he explained such an extra-ordinary run of victories,
Stapleton said “The guys
learned how to win together last year and our goal this
year was to be competitive in all the big races. We showed
it by winning Milan-San Remo, we’ve been good throughout
the Classics and we’ve been competitive in all the
major races. In the Grand Tours the eyes of the world
are on cycling and for the future of the team
we need to show we can do well here and well in the Tour
de France, too.”
Cunego
all'attacco, ma l'azione non va a buon fine
Giro
d'Italia, 8^tappa 16/05/2009 -
Damiano Cunego era atteso come uno dei protagonisti della
8^tappa del Giro d'Italia, la Morbegno-Bergamo, e il corridore
della Lampre-NGC ha in effetti provato a piazzare una
zampata.
Con Arroyo e Boasson Hagen, Cunego si è infatti
unito, lungo la discesa del Colle del Gallo, a Leipheimer,
Horner, Garzelli, Pellizotti e Rogers, scattati poco prima
della vetta della salita: gli otto corridori hanno provato
a dare consistenza al vantaggio della fuga, ma la presenza
di un uomo di classifica come Leipheimer ha indotto la
squadra della maglia rosa a controllare l'attacco.
Una volta annullata l'azione degli otto attaccanti è
partito in contropiede Siutsou: il bielorusso è
riuscito a guadagnare un buon margine sul gruppo, tanto
da arrivare in solitaria sul traguardo di Bergamo con
21" di vantaggio su Boasson Hagen (2°), vincitore
dello sprint del plotone dei migliori.
Cunego ha provato a prendere parte alla volata degli inseguitori,
ma si è trovato chiuso e ha dovuto cambiare più
volte la traiettori, ottenendo il 7° posto finale,
mentre Bruseghin si è classificato al 9° posto.
La graduatoria generale vede Di Luca al comando, Bruseghin
20° a 3'24" e Cunego 21° a 3'37".
"In avvio di tappa avevo chiesto di entrare nelle
fughe se queste fossero state consistenti, ma purtroppo
nessuno dei nostri è riuscito a unirsi all'attacco
che ha caratterizzato la prima parte della tappa - ha
commentato il ds Copeland - Nella parte centrale della
tappa abbiamo di conseguenza provato a tenere un ritmo
costante ma efficace per limitare la fuga, visto che Cunego
ha confermato che stava bene e voleva provare a vincere:
l'azione del Colle del Gallo era ottima, peccato che fosse
presente anche Leipheimer. Oggi ho visto bene anche Bruseghin,
sempre nelle prime posizioni con tranquillità".
"Mi sarebbe piaciuto vincere davanti a tanta gente,
ho tentato di inserirmi in una buona azione, ma purtroppo
non ci hanno dato troppo spazio - ha spiegato Cunego -
Sono rammaricato anche per la volata, perché c'è
stata un po' di confusione e non sono riuscito a trovare
una traiettoria efficace".
Injured Reserves: Vande Velde
recovering from Giro crash
May,
16th 2009
- Team
Garmin-Slipstream’s Christian Vande Velde,
who crashed out of the Giro d’Italia during
stage three, continues to undergo examinations at home
in Girona. The results so far have confirmed that
he sustained one rib fracture, a severe contusion and
sprain to his mid-back and a hairline fracture to his
pelvis but team doctor Prentice Steffen cautions, “We
need to continue to run tests, so it is still too soon
to speculate on the extent of his injuries or how they
will affect racing and training.”
“Christian
is incredibly strong and a seasoned pro, so we know he
will pull through this. As a team, we just want him to
take the time to heal properly. That is what’s most
important,” said Matt White, director
at Garmin-Slipstream who continues to direct the team
at the Giro d”Italia. “As
for the team that remains in the Giro, we are down a leader
in Italy but the guys will continue to race each day with
Christian in mind.”
Vande
Velde remains cautiously optimistic: “I’m
taking it day by day. The first couple of days were excruciating
but the pain is getting more manageable. I’m going
to keep working with the team’s medical staff and
let them determine when I can get back on the bike. I
can’t thank everyone enough for all of the concern
and support. I know Lucas, who is also recovering from
a crash, feels the same.”
horner
works and works...and works some more
92nd Giro d'Italia
Stage
8: Morbegno to Bergamo, 209km/130mi
By
Cathy Mehl
Big
efforts in a big race….that’s what it takes
from riders with the belief that they can win a Grand
Tour. Team Astana’s Chris Horner found himself
in the right move on the last rated climb of the day and
quickly put himself at the disposal of teammate Levi Leipheimer
when the latter bridged across to join the group. Quickly
putting time into the race leader Danilo Di Luca, the
chasing group eventually made their way back to Levi’s
break, but not without digging deep to make it happen.
On the line a solo effort by Kanstantsin Sivtsov
(Columbia) was rewarded by a stage victory, followed by
his teammate and yesterday’s winner Edvald Boasson
Hagen. Di Luca mustered up the strength to sprint for
3rd and gained a few seconds, maintaining his race lead
for another day.
“I
never saw Chris this good. He's skinny, he's ready,”
said DS Alain Gallopin. “I
know him very well because I brought him onto the FDJ
team. When he was young he was a fantastic rider. Don't
forget a few years ago he was top twenty at the tour,
riding for (Cadel) Evans all day. There are not a lot
of riders able to do this. When he doesn't break anything
(bones), he's perfect. I'm not surprised to see him this
good. He's a fantastic rider - very professional and motivated.”
Gallopin continued with, “I think it's very important
for Levi to have Chris. He's a good teammate. He'll do
the same thing for Levi that he did for Evans.”
Horner
is on the move
General
Manager Johan Bruyneel gave his opinion on race
tactics, saying, “The attack
today was not planned at all. The plan was just to stay
with the favorites and stay out of trouble. But all of
a sudden there was this little group and Horner was in
there, Rogers was in there and Levi saw that LPR
wasn't looking very strong. He made the decision himself
to bridge across and I think it was a smart move. Di
Luca and Basso weren't there. With a little bit of
luck they could have made it to the finish and taken a
minute. Who knows? It was a good try without spending
so much energy. I think it was a smart move.”
Many
attacks were put in straight from the start with a successful
break of 10 men finally staying away after 42km of racing.
Included in the group were Giovanni Visconti (ISD)
who has found himself in most of the previous breaks and
Johann Tschopp (Bbox). With the stunning view of Lago
d’Iseo on their right, the riders worked well together
over the first climb of Culmine di San Pietro but
their efforts fell apart later in the race and they were
brought back into the race on the last rated climb.
On
the climb of Col de Gallo with 32km left to race, Damiano
Cunego (Lampre) led an attack that included Horner,
Columbia’s Michael Rogers, Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas),
and Stefano Garzelli (Acqua e Sapone). Leipheimer
bridged across bringing Edvald Boasson Hagen (Columbia-Highroad)
and David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne) with him to
make a formidable group on the front. Di Luca didn’t
respond, nor did Ivan Basso (Liquigas) as the front group
led by Horner setting a punishing pace to put time into
Di Luca. On the descent the group gained enough time
to put Rogers in the virtual Maglia Rosa, but once they
hit the last unrated climb of Bergamo Alta, the LPR-led
chasers caught Levi’s group with 16km to go.
Sivtsov
jumped from the front with 15km to go and quickly gained
an advantage, chased momentarily by Yaroslav Popovych,
but the Team Columbia rider stayed away for the solo victory,
making it two stage wins in a row for the USA-based team.
Leipheimer maintained his 4th place on GC with Horner
still in 8th.
Regarding
the condition of seven-time Tour de France champion
Lance Armstrong, Bruyneel commented after
the race: "For Lance, he's
feeling 
better
and better. Today he was looking good and feeling good
and that's what we want. I think some people are disappointed
with the first two mountain stages. But I think it's expected
if you consider 6 weeks ago he was in the hospital having
collarbone surgery. People were questioning if he was
going to race the Tour. He had a good Gila, comes over
here, looks good in the TTT and all of a sudden people
think that he's going to be there with the favorites,
but you have to be realistic - he's coming back after
three years, didn't do any big races yet, no real big
climbs. I like what I see. And I expect him to improve.
I'm not expecting results. I know he wants to try for
a stage win because champions always need confirmation
because a win is win. But I would like to see that he
feels good on the bike and is there with the favorites
and the big guys in the mountains in the last week.
Lance
is feeling better and better
The
team continues to perform well too, with four riders in
the top 25. “Lance is doing
like I expected," said Johan. "Overall
the team looks very good. I think we have a very solid
team, but the purpose was not to come in and dominate
the race. We know that Levi is one of the favorites, but
it's not our intentions to control the race from day 1.
There are certain teams here who have been planning their
whole season for this. I'm happy how things have gone.
The time-trial will be important and then we'll see how
things go in the mountains. For Levi, I think he has some
good chances."
Horner’s
successful day reinforces his return to racing after his
accident in Pais Vasco. Regarding his part in the big
move of the day, he said, “Levi
came across and we had 8 guys with a lot of power and
honestly I thought we could go the distance. We lost Cunego
a little bit at the top. I accelerated and probably should
have eased up a little bit to keep him with us. But sometimes
you get a little carried away. It just never really got
fully organized. And I heard there were 4 or 5 teams behind
chasing us.” Overall he is enjoying his time in Italy:
“It's been a really good Giro. When I crashed and
broke my collarbone I thought it might not be possible
for the Giro, but I just kept working hard on the home
trainer. The collarbone is coming along good and I think
in a few days it'll be 100 percent.”
Horner
continued, “After the rest
day, that's when it's the real Grand Tour stages. We're
going to see big explosions, big attacks, big time gaps….
And then we'll see who has the form.” 
Racing
Note: On the descent of the climb Rabobank rider
Pedro Horrillo suffered a horrific crash that sent
his bike over a barrier with him tumbling after it. He
was airlifted to the hospital in Bergamo and is reported
in very serious condition. Cycling News reports he is
in an induced coma and on a respirator with fractured
ribs, a broken leg and a punctured lung. We wish him a
successful and speedy recovery.
Siutsou (Columbia) wins the 8th
stage in Bergamo after attacking from a first group of
favourites, where Kessiakoff keep his usual position.
Héctor González shows his courage with 140
kilometers on the move
....................................................................................................
Another
win came into Columbia - High Road's counter at
today's breathtaking journey in the Centenary Giro d'Italia.
After the win by today's 2nd placed Edvald Boasson Hagen
in yesterday's stage down to Chiavenna, the young Norwegian
seconded the way of team mate Kanstantsin Siutsou of Belarus
in his victory at the 8th stage, over 211 kilometers from
Morbegno to Bergamo, after the tall climber from the yellow
squad made his move at the 10-km mark. The stage went
marked by the long escape by ten riders in the 40th kilometer,
within those being FUJI-SERVETTO's young promise Hector
González, in a brilliant action that oversized
his very first appearance at a grandtour.
Hector
showed his elegant manners on climbing and had force enough
to try a late attempt at the last major ascent of the
day's route, the 2nd. Cat. Colle dell Gallo, with
25 kms from the finish. However, his short try was aborted
by the other escapers, while the peloton was just getting
selected to a smaller 25-rider group. Fredrik Kessiakoff,
the leading Boy in Blue at this year's Corsa Rosa, was
for another time into the main field, as his 23rd position
overall reamins unchanged, just as Di Luca's (LPR) leadership
does. The ninth stage of the Italian stagerace, the last
before the first rest day, will come tomorrow over a circuit
course in Milano for 156 kilometers.
GIRO
D'ITALIA. OTTAVA TAPPA: OTTAVO JACKSON RODRIGUEZ
Prima
ci prova Carlos Ochoa con una fuga da lontano insieme
ad una decina di corridori, poi prova lo sprint Jackson
Rodriguez che conclude ottavo. La frazione odierna di
209 km che ha portato il gruppo da Morbegno a Bergamo
è stata vinta con una bella azione solitaria, partita
ai 12 km dall'arrivo, da Siutsou della Columbia. Di Luca,
che ha tentato un allungo sullo strappo finale di Bergamo
alta ma senza fortuna, mantiene la maglia rosa di leader
della classifica generale. Nella classifica giovani, il
nostro venezuelano Jackson Rodriguez mantiene il terzo
posto.
Tschopp
tente sa chance
Johann
Tschopp a appliqué à la lettre le
plan dressé par Christian Guiberteau et
Jean François Rodriguez en prenant place
dans l'échappée matinale. Bien parti, ce
groupe de dix coureurs a pourtant dû rendre les
armes dans le final face à l'insistance des Lampre
de Damiano Cunego.
TOUR
D'ITALIE-8e ETAPE
Au
matin de cette 8e étape, la donne était
claire: les Bbox Bouygues Telecom devaient prendre
l'échappée du jour. Sur un parcours vallonné
qui pouvait leur convenir, trois Turquoises étaient
ainsi missionnés à cet effet en la personne
de Johann Tschopp, Thomas Voeckler et Mathieu Sprick.
Après une première heure de course très
active en tête du peloton, les hommes de Jean
François Rodriguez et Christian Guiberteau
réussissaient à prendre le bon coup
grâce à leur grimpeur suisse particulièrement
en jambe en cette journée lombarde.
"On
afait la course qu'il fallait faire. Les gars n'ont rien
à se reprocher. En début de course, tous
étaient très vigilants et très solidaires.
Finalement, Johann a réussi à se glisser
dans le bon coup, preuve que notre tactique était
la bonne", témoigne Jean-François.
Présent en tête de course avec un groupe
de dix coureurs au sein duquel émargeait des clients
comme Visconti (ISD), Cataldo (Quick step), Lopez Garcia
(Caisse d'Epargne), Petrov (Katusha) ou Vanendert
(Silence-Lotto), Tschopp pouvait espérer aller
à bout, d'autant que l'équipe LPR du maillot
rose de Danilo Di Luca semblait disposé
à laisser filer mais la volonté des coéquipiers
de Damiano Cunego de ne pas laisser l'écart augmenter
les a condamné.
"Tout
pour aller au bout"
"L'échappée
avait tout pour aller au bout mais la Lampre en a décidé
autrement. Je ne sais pas trop pourquoi ils se sont acharnés
à rouler comme ça toute la journée
alors que manifestement Cunego n'est pas au mieux. Sans
eux, Tschopp avait sa chance mais il tout de même
montré qu'il était dans le coup",
poursuit Jean-François qui a apprécié
le comportement global de l'équipe au cours de
cette 8e étape finalement remportée par
le surprenant Biélorusse Konstantin Siutsou
(Columbia). Dimanche, la 9e étape se courra en
circuit dans les rues de Milan. Un garçon comme
Said Haddou pourrait être tenté d'y tenter
sa chance.
Giro
d'Italia: une 8ème étape difficile
La
8ème étape du Giro menait les coureurs de
Morbegno à Bergame. 209 kms parcourus sur
un rythme effréné et des difficultés
qui ont fait quelques dégâts dans le peloton.
Finalement, c'est le biélorusse Kanstantsin Siutsou
qui s'impose après avoir réussi à
prendre quelques secondes d'avance au peloton dans les
derniers kilomètres.
Laurent
Biondi, directeur sportif de l'équipe
AG2R LA MONDIALE, revient sur cette 8ème étape:
«
Ça a été une étape très
difficile. Le peloton a roulé vite pendant toute
la journée, à plus de 42 km/h de moyenne!
Les coureurs ont du monter cinq « petits »
cols avant d'arriver dans un final très difficile.
A 5 km de Bergame, ils ont du passer une dernière
bosse avec un fort pourcentage, puis un secteur pavé
en mauvais état. Ça ressemblait un peu à
l’arrivée du Tour de Lombardie il y a quelques
années.
Ce rythme soutenu a fait pas mal de dégâts.
Renaud Dion, qui était dans une des échappées
du début de journée, n’a pas réussi
à récupérer assez vite et il s’est
retrouvé dans un gruppetto. Quant à Julien
Loubet, il a été lâché
dès la première ascension et il n’a
jamais réussi à rentrer. La satisfaction
est la présence de Tadej dans le premier groupe.
Il a de bonnes sensations même s’il a roulé
« à bloc » toute la journée!
»
A
noter l'abandon de Julien Loubet. En manque de
sensations depuis le début du Giro, le Toulousains
a du mettre pied à terre en début d'étape.
Demain,
place à une étape au coeur de Milan. Pas
d'ascensions au programme de la journée mais de
multiples pièges sur un circuit en centre-ville.
Team
Quick Step stays in the Italian picture
16/05/2009 | 22:23
Again
a rider from our team attacked during the 8th stage in
the Giro d`Italia. After 34 kilometer Dario Cataldo
got in a breakaway of 10 riders. Almost 120 kilometers
into the stage, the gap was grown to 4 minutes. With the
last climb in sight, the lead of the escapees was down
to 1 minute and 15 seconds. The sign for Cataldo
and 3 other riders to attack again.
On
the final climb the bomb burst in the peloton, so the
group with Cataldo was reeled in quickly. After
the climb a group with the favorites and some luxe-helpers
was formed, amongst also our Kevin Seeldraeyers who defended
his 15th place in the overall. Siutsou was the only rider
who stayed out of reach for this group. He finished solo
in the streets of Bergamo.
Siutsou
Won in Bergamo - Anders Lund Crashed
[16.05
17:20] On
today's eighth stage of the Giro d'Italia 10 riders succeeded
creating a breakaway group where Team Saxo Bank,
unfortunately did not have riders represented. In the
main field Lampre and LPR Brakes slowly made the gap between
the group smaller, and shortly before the groups merged
Damien Cunego (Lampre), Chris Horner and Levi
Leipheimer (Astana), Michael Rogers and
Evald Boasson Hagen (Columbia High Road), Franco
Pelizotti (Liquigas) and Stefano Garzelli (Acqua
& sapone) pinged off.
This situation forced Danilo di Luca's team riders to
take the front since the leader's jersey was suddenly
in danger.
But
with 16 kilometres from the finish line the two groups
became one. Soon after Kanstantsin Siutsou took off and
the peloton didn't see him again since noone was close
to catch him before the finish line where he celebrated
his stage win.
"Lars
and Jens tried to follow on the last climb but they could
not follow the high pace. Earlier on the stage Anders
crashed but fortunately he is able to continue the race
tomorrow where we have a good chance of being in the front
and Haedo and Goss will hopefully show their sprinting
skills", said Torsten
Schmidt after the race and expresses joy after the
first week in Italy: "Jens
was very close to victory ealier this week, Kasper has
impressed everybody with his long breakaway and I'm sure
we will keep showing the colors the next two weeks".
CON
UNA GRANDE MOSTRA
FINO
AL 14 GIUGNO 2009
LO
SPAZIO VITERBI 50
ICONE RUSSE
ECCEZIONALMENTE
CONCESSE DAL MUSEO TRETYAKOV DI MOSCA
Bergamo,
15 maggio 2009 - L’esposizione
dal titolo L’ORO DELL’ANIMA offre al
visitatore un imperdibile viaggio attraverso cinque secoli,
dal XIV al XIX, di cultura, storia e spiritualità.
Lo
Spazio Viterbi, nel Palazzo della Provincia di Bergamo
ospita, fino al 14 giugno 2009, la mostra L’ORO DELL’ANIMA.
Icone russe dal XIV al XIX secolo del Museo Tretyakov
di Mosca, che presenta 50 capolavori provenienti dal museo
che, con oltre 6.000 pezzi, è la collezione più
importante al mondo di arte sacra russa.
Il
percorso espositivo cronologico prende avvio dalla fine
del XIV - inizio del XV secolo, con la "Natività
della Madre di Dio con santi", un tipico esempio
delle icone di Novgorod, caratterizzate dai colori intensi
e dalle forme precise.
La
mostra di Bergamo prende inoltre in esame uno dei fenomeni
più originali dell’arte russa, quello cioè
delle icone di Pskov che si caratterizzavano per essere
più concrete nella loro interpretazione dell'immagine
divina.
Tra
le iconografie più frequentate dalla pittura sacra
russa, vi è quella della Madre di Dio. A Bergamo
se ne possono ammirare vari tipi, dipinti in epoche diverse.
Le figure della Madre e del Bambino sono tratteggiate
da una linea di rara bellezza per la sua perfezione grafica.
Il disegno impeccabile e la linea precisa e sottile rendono
questa icona un eccellente prodotto dell'arte moscovita,
nella quale gli studiosi vedono echi della tecnica di
Andrej Rublev (1360-1430), il maggiore pittore russo di
icone.
Il
XVII secolo è un epoca di radicali cambiamenti
nella storia russa. La Russia non conobbe il Rinascimento
europeo, ma la seconda metà del ‘600 ne svolse
le stesse funzioni storiche. Nel campo dell'arte, una
nuova concezione aveva portato alla ricerca di nuovi ideali
artistici, di nuove immagini e nuovi mezzi espressivi.
L'artista più famoso di questi anni fu Simon Usakov
che introdusse una nuova tecnica a chiaro scuro per dipingere
l’incarnato. Questa maniera preparò gli artisti
russi al passaggio alle finiture nella ritrattistica del
XVIII secolo. In questo periodo, quando in Russia sta
nascendo un’ arte laica che diventa dominante, ufficiale,
le nuove tendenze pittoriche si fanno strada anche nella
pittura di icone. La mostra permetterà quindi di
farsi un'idea della profondità spirituale e dell'importanza
estetica della cultura antico russa in prospettiva storica.
