Matthews triumphs at Rund um Köln

2010 U23 world champion Michael Matthews (Rabobank) continues to impress in his first season as a ProTour rider as he sprinted to victory in Germany's Rund um Köln. The 20-year-old Australian topped Marcel Kittel (Skil-Shimano) and Giacomo Nizzolo (Leopard Trek) to take his third victory of the season.

"I did not expect to win, but I had good legs today," said Matthews. "And the team was good, so I just had to remain calm and stay out of trouble. This was really an easy day for me.

"It's been a while [since the team won a race] so it's a good win for the team and for myself. I look confidently ahead to the coming races."

The race was dominated by a five-man break comprised of Jens Voigt (Leopard Trek), Cesare Benedetti (NetApp), Dominik Nerz (German National Team), Jarno Gmelich (Cyclingteam Jo Piels) and Thierry Hupond (Skil-Shimano). The escapees at one point held a six-minute advantage over the peloton but chase efforts primarily undertaken by Vacansoleil-DCM and Rabobank ultimately neutralised the move with 50km remaining in the 203.5km race.

Rabobank, starting the minimum six-rider team, played a smart tactical game, albeit with some risk involved. "Jos van Emden and Coen Vermeltfoort together with Vacansoleil brought the break back, but that also meant that they were gone sixty kilometres from the finish line," said Rabobank team manager Frans Maassen.

The team still had three sprinters in its arsenal, Matthews, Graeme Brown and Theo Bos, but when Brown and Bos were dropped on the final climb Matthews became the primary sprinting option.

"We had the feeling that Matthews would be our man, but we would make our decision after the last climb," said Maassen. "Matthews had at the time only Tom Jelte Slagter to assist him, but fortunately Bos and Brown made it back and could help keep the peloton together."

Despite a number of attacks in the race's endgame, the teams of the sprinters ensured a field sprint finish in which Matthews proved the quickest on the streets of Cologne.

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Full Results
1Michael Matthews (Aus) Rabobank Cycling Team4:50:50
2Marcel Kittel (Ger) Skil - ShimanoRow 1 - Cell 2
3Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Leopard TrekRow 2 - Cell 2
4David Kopp (Ger) Team Eddy Merckx - IndelandRow 3 - Cell 2
5Aidis Kruopis (Ltu) LandbouwkredietRow 4 - Cell 2
6Grischa Janorschke (Ger) Nutrixxion SparkasseRow 5 - Cell 2
7Andreas Dietziker (Swi) Team NetappRow 6 - Cell 2
8Blaz Jarc (Slo) Adria MobilRow 7 - Cell 2
9Wouter Weylandt (Bel) Leopard TrekRow 8 - Cell 2
10Dries Hollanders (Bel) An Post - Sean KellyRow 9 - Cell 2
11Silvan Dillier (Swi) Team VorarlbergRow 10 - Cell 2
12Kasper Jebjerg (Den) Glud & Marstrand - LRORow 11 - Cell 2
13Kurt Hovelynck (Bel) Donckers Koffie - Jelly BellyRow 12 - Cell 2
14Michaël Baer (Swi) Team NetappRow 13 - Cell 2
15Joeri Stallaert (Bel) LandbouwkredietRow 14 - Cell 2
16Robert Förster (Ger) German National TeamRow 15 - Cell 2
17Sylwester Janiszewski (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 16 - Cell 2
18Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 17 - Cell 2
19Egidijus Juodvalkis (Ltu) LandbouwkredietRow 18 - Cell 2
20Kenny Terweduwe (Bel) An Post - Sean KellyRow 19 - Cell 2
21Pim Ligthart (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 20 - Cell 2
22Jacob Fiedler (Ger) Team NSPRow 21 - Cell 2
23Pieter Ghyllebert (Bel) An Post - Sean KellyRow 22 - Cell 2
24Blazej Janiaczyk (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 23 - Cell 2
25Martin Hunal (Cze) AC Sparta PrahaRow 24 - Cell 2
26Danilo Hondo (Ger) German National TeamRow 25 - Cell 2
27Andreas Hofer (Aut) Tyrol TeamRow 26 - Cell 2
28Roy Curvers (Ned) Skil - ShimanoRow 27 - Cell 2
29Cesare Benedetti (Ita) Team NetappRow 28 - Cell 2
30Markus Eichler (Ger) Team NSPRow 29 - Cell 2
31Jasper Hamelink (Ned) Cyclingteam Jo PielsRow 30 - Cell 2
32Stefan Ganser (Ger) Team Eddy Merckx - IndelandRow 31 - Cell 2
33Alexander Schmitt (Ger) Team Eddy Merckx - IndelandRow 32 - Cell 2
34Ricardo Van Der Velde (Ned) Donckers Koffie - Jelly BellyRow 33 - Cell 2
35Stefan Kirchmair (Aut) Tyrol TeamRow 34 - Cell 2
36Michaël Vanderaerden (Bel) Donckers Koffie - Jelly BellyRow 35 - Cell 2
37Gediminas Bagdonas (Ltu) An Post - Sean KellyRow 36 - Cell 2
38Julian Hellmann (Ger) Team HeizomatRow 37 - Cell 2
39Marcello Pavarin (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 38 - Cell 2
40Luc Hagenaars (Ned) Team Eddy Merckx - IndelandRow 39 - Cell 2
41Pim De Beer (Ned) Cyclingteam Jo PielsRow 40 - Cell 2
42Emmanuel Van Ruitenbeek (Ned) Team Eddy Merckx - IndelandRow 41 - Cell 2
43Mark McNally (GBr) An Post - Sean KellyRow 42 - Cell 2
44Maurits Lammertink (Ned) Cyclingteam Jo PielsRow 43 - Cell 2
45Christian Knees (Ger) German National TeamRow 44 - Cell 2
46Robert Retschke (Ger) Team NetappRow 45 - Cell 2
47Tomas Okrouhlicky (Cze) AC Sparta PrahaRow 46 - Cell 2
48Michal Golas (Pol) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 47 - Cell 2
49Marco Haller (Aut) Adria MobilRow 48 - Cell 2
50Alexander Gottfried (Ger) Team NetappRow 49 - Cell 2
51Arne Hassink (Ned) TT Raiko Argon 18Row 50 - Cell 2
52Tomasz Kiendys (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 51 - Cell 2
53Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 52 - Cell 2
54Kristjan Fajt (Slo) Adria MobilRow 53 - Cell 2
55Alexander Nordhoff (Ger) Seven StonesRow 54 - Cell 2
56Björn Schröder (Ger) Nutrixxion SparkasseRow 55 - Cell 2
57James Spragg (GBr) Donckers Koffie - Jelly BellyRow 56 - Cell 2
58Jan Oelerich (Ger) TT Raiko Argon 18Row 57 - Cell 2
59Primoz Segina (Slo) Adria MobilRow 58 - Cell 2
60Patrick Bercz (Ger) Team Eddy Merckx - IndelandRow 59 - Cell 2
61Bart Dockx (Bel) LandbouwkredietRow 60 - Cell 2
62Harald Totschnig (Aut) Tyrol TeamRow 61 - Cell 2
63Edwig Cammaerts (Bel) LandbouwkredietRow 62 - Cell 2
64Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Donckers Koffie - Jelly BellyRow 63 - Cell 2
65Sergej Fuchs (Ger) Nutrixxion SparkasseRow 64 - Cell 2
66Björn Thurau (Ger) Team NSPRow 65 - Cell 2
67Thierry Hupond (Fra) Skil - ShimanoRow 66 - Cell 2
68Mario Schoibl (Aut) Tyrol TeamRow 67 - Cell 2
69Mario Vogt (Ger) Team HeizomatRow 68 - Cell 2
70Norbert Durauer (Aut) Tyrol TeamRow 69 - Cell 2
71Jens Voigt (Ger) Leopard TrekRow 70 - Cell 2
72Bertjan Lindeman (Ned) Cyclingteam Jo PielsRow 71 - Cell 2
73Stefan Denifl (Aut) Leopard TrekRow 72 - Cell 2
74Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Leopard Trek0:00:16
75Brian Megens (Ned) Cyclingteam Jo PielsRow 74 - Cell 2
76Stefan Poll (Aut) Team Vorarlberg0:00:18
77Tomaz Nose (Slo) Adria MobilRow 76 - Cell 2
78Troels Ronning Vinther (Den) Glud & Marstrand - LRO0:00:19
79Ladislav Fabisovsky (Cze) AC Sparta Praha0:00:20
80Maxim Belkov (Rus) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 79 - Cell 2
81Kajetan Fricke (Ger) Team Vorarlberg0:00:22
82René Obst (Ger) Team NSPRow 81 - Cell 2
83Lucas Schädlich (Ger) Team NSPRow 82 - Cell 2
84Steffen Radochla (Ger) Nutrixxion SparkasseRow 83 - Cell 2
85Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 84 - Cell 2
86Christopher Roth (Ger) Seven StonesRow 85 - Cell 2
87Christoph Pfingsten (Ger) German National TeamRow 86 - Cell 2
88Andreas Klier (Ger) German National TeamRow 87 - Cell 2
89Matthias Bertling (Ger) Team Eddy Merckx - IndelandRow 88 - Cell 2
90Dimitri Claeys (Bel) Team NetappRow 89 - Cell 2
91Stefan Van Winden (Ned) Cyclingteam Jo PielsRow 90 - Cell 2
92Jarno Gmelich (Ned) Cyclingteam Jo PielsRow 91 - Cell 2
93Pawel Charucki (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 92 - Cell 2
94Mitja Mahoric (Slo) Adria MobilRow 93 - Cell 2
95Martin Pedersen (Den) Leopard TrekRow 94 - Cell 2
96Gorik Gardeyn (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 95 - Cell 2
97Dirk Müller (Ger) Nutrixxion SparkasseRow 96 - Cell 2
98Tom Stubbe (Bel) Donckers Koffie - Jelly BellyRow 97 - Cell 2
99William Clarke (Aus) Leopard Trek0:00:27
100Marcus Burghardt (Ger) German National Team0:00:28
101Huub Duyn (Ned) Donckers Koffie - Jelly BellyRow 100 - Cell 2
102Cheng Ji (Chn) Skil - Shimano0:00:31
103Jan Deutschmann (Ger) TT Raiko Argon 18Row 102 - Cell 2
104Theo Bos (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team0:00:35
105Nils Plötner (Ger) Team HeizomatRow 104 - Cell 2
106Mitchell Docker (Aus) Skil - Shimano0:00:38
107Mathias Belka (Ger) TT Raiko Argon 180:00:46
108Roger Kluge (Ger) Skil - ShimanoRow 107 - Cell 2
109Dominic Klemme (Ger) Leopard TrekRow 108 - Cell 2
110Martin Reimer (Ger) Skil - Shimano0:00:49
111Blaz Furdi (Slo) Adria Mobil0:00:51
112Baptiste Planckaert (Bel) Landbouwkrediet0:01:01
DNFJos Van Emden (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 112 - Cell 2
DNFCoen Vermeltfoort (Ned) Rabobank Cycling TeamRow 113 - Cell 2
DNFJens Mouris (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 114 - Cell 2
DNFFrederik Veuchelen (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling TeamRow 115 - Cell 2
DNFDominik Nerz (Ger) German National TeamRow 116 - Cell 2
DNFJonathan Breyne (Bel) LandbouwkredietRow 117 - Cell 2
DNFHans Dekkers (Ned) LandbouwkredietRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Schwarzmann (Ger) Team NetappRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFMateusz Taciak (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFAndré Schulze (Ger) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFTomas Smolen (Pol) CCC Polsat PolkowiceRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFSebastian Forke (Ger) Nutrixxion SparkasseRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFSebastian Körber (Ger) Nutrixxion SparkasseRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Schweizer (Ger) Nutrixxion SparkasseRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFFlorian Monreal (Ger) Team Eddy Merckx - IndelandRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFSven Forberger (Ger) Team NSPRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFMarkus Fothen (Ger) Team NSPRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFTimo Thömel (Ger) Team NSPRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFJan Van Puyvelde (Ger) TT Raiko Argon 18Row 130 - Cell 2
DNFDominik Ivo (Ger) TT Raiko Argon 18Row 131 - Cell 2
DNFDavid Charles Brown (RSA) TT Raiko Argon 18Row 132 - Cell 2
DNFJoachim Tolles (Ger) TT Raiko Argon 18Row 133 - Cell 2
DNFChristian Mager (Ger) Team HeizomatRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFMarius Jessenberge (Ger) Team HeizomatRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFAlexander Krieger (Ger) Team HeizomatRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFHans Joachim Benning (Ger) Seven StonesRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Hümbert Jr (Ger) Seven StonesRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFRon Pfeifer (Ger) Seven StonesRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFDominik Brändle (Aut) Team VorarlbergRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFMatic Strgar (Slo) Team VorarlbergRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFRené Weissinger (Ger) Team VorarlbergRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFMarc Obkircher (Aut) Tyrol TeamRow 143 - Cell 2
DNFDaniel Rinner (Lie) Tyrol TeamRow 144 - Cell 2
DNFMartin Weiss (Aut) Tyrol TeamRow 145 - Cell 2
DNFSander Helven (Bel) Donckers Koffie - Jelly BellyRow 146 - Cell 2
DNFTomas Holub (Cze) AC Sparta PrahaRow 147 - Cell 2
DNFVaclav Hlavac (Cze) AC Sparta PrahaRow 148 - Cell 2
DNFTomas Hruby (Cze) AC Sparta PrahaRow 149 - Cell 2
DNFRostislav Krotky (Cze) AC Sparta PrahaRow 150 - Cell 2
DNFJiri Nesveda (Cze) AC Sparta PrahaRow 151 - Cell 2
DNFMathias Gade Jacobsen (Den) Glud & Marstrand - LRORow 152 - Cell 2
DNFKasper Linde Jorgensen (Den) Glud & Marstrand - LRORow 153 - Cell 2
DNFMichael Berling (Den) Glud & Marstrand - LRORow 154 - Cell 2
DNFChristian Moberg Jörgensen (Den) Glud & Marstrand - LRORow 155 - Cell 2
DNFJelle Posthuma (Ned) Cyclingteam Jo PielsRow 156 - Cell 2
DNFMatej Gnezda (Slo) Adria MobilRow 157 - Cell 2

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