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STAGE 8: ROAD BIKE ACTION FIRST EDITION NEWS: JULY 12, 2008
Road Bike Action & AFP
July 12, 2008
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Pozzato Pushing To Win
"Its too bad” Liquigas rider Filippo Pozatto sighed after Stage 7, where he finished 3rd. Compared to last year, I am even skinnier and can hang on the climbs better, so I am more competitive, even on these hilly, nervous Tour stages. Caisse d’Epargne rode well to win. My Nibali e Kreuziger tried to bring back Sanchez, but they couldn’t. However, I will keep trying to win".
Freire With Rabobank Until 2010
Defeated by Cavendish in Stage 5’s sprint, Oscar Freire found some consolation last night: the three-time world champion renewed his contract with Rabobank for another two years. “Knowing that we will have Oscar with us until 2010,” said Rabobank team manager Erik Breukink today, “this provides us with security because we appreciate Freire’s value, and we both wanted to move forward together.”
Schumacher’s Tour Success Gets Sponsor Interest
Stefan Schumacher’s stage success & Maillot Janue in the Tour de France has sparked interest among potential sponsors to replace Gerolsteiner, whose contract concludes at the end of this year. Team manager Hans-Michael Holczer reports, “There’s finally some movement in the market for us; we even had a concrete contact, so that is something positive. Hopefully it will lead quickly to good news for the riders.” Last week Holczer announced that his search for a new sponsor had come up empty and that his riders could look for employment elsewhere, but everything has suddenly changed now that Schumacher has won a stage and worn the Maillot Jaune. Currently in 3rd overall, just 16” behind Maillot Jaune Kim Kirchen, Schumacher is certainly a candidate for another stage win.
Dead Dog In The Road: Moreau Abandons Le Tour
After an early attack on Stage 7 that was covered by Team Columbia, 37 year old 2007 French champion Christophe Moreau (Agritubel), (nicknamed "The Dog" because his tongue lolls around when he's going hard) found the second day of climbing at the 2008 Tour de France too much for him and abandoned at the feed zone in Ussel after 85km. Moreau was fourth in the 2001 Tour and was sitting in 42nd gc at the 2008 Tour when he quit. Also calling it a day at the 2008 Tour was Ag2r's tiny French climber John Gadret, while Garmin's gigantic Swede Magnus Backstadt finished outside the time limit and was eliminated from the Tour De France.
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