Schleck takes Curacao criterium

By published

Alternative event features stars in shortened race

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It was a solo win for Frank Schleck.

It was a solo win for Frank Schleck. (Image credit: Amstel Curacao Race)
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Niki Terpstra (Milram) has a shoer after the action

Niki Terpstra (Milram) has a shoer after the action (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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The riders enjoy the sun

The riders enjoy the sun (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Andy Schleck goes on the attack

Andy Schleck goes on the attack (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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The Schlecks dry off after rain canceled the race on Saturday

The Schlecks dry off after rain canceled the race on Saturday (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Petacchi and Hondo have a drink

Petacchi and Hondo have a drink (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Petacchi and Hondo before the start

Petacchi and Hondo before the start (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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The riders line-up at the start

The riders line-up at the start (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Petacchi wins the sprint for second place

Petacchi wins the sprint for second place (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Terpstra, Schleck and Petacchi

Terpstra, Schleck and Petacchi (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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The top three in the race

The top three in the race (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Fränk Schleck is congratulated on his win

Fränk Schleck is congratulated on his win (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Fränk Schleck wins alone

Fränk Schleck wins alone (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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The winner's podium

The winner's podium (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Petacchi and Schleck chat on the podium

Petacchi and Schleck chat on the podium (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Fränk Schleck makes his move

Fränk Schleck makes his move (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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THe podium: Petacchi, Schleck, Terpstra

THe podium: Petacchi, Schleck, Terpstra (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Fränk Schleck gets the kisses

Fränk Schleck gets the kisses (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Petacchi beats Terpstra

Petacchi beats Terpstra (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Rabobank on the front

Rabobank on the front (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Tony Martin wins the MCB jersey

Tony Martin wins the MCB jersey (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Hondo leads the line

Hondo leads the line (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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The riders are about to roll off

The riders are about to roll off (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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The riders await the start

The riders await the start (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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The finish was near the warm sea

The finish was near the warm sea (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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The mini TV-helicopter hovers above the riders

The mini TV-helicopter hovers above the riders (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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The riders just after the finish area

The riders just after the finish area (Image credit: Bettini Photo)
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Alessandro Petacchi wins the sprint for second.

Alessandro Petacchi wins the sprint for second. (Image credit: Amstel Curacao Race)
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The podium: Alessandro Petacchi, winner Frank Schleck and third palced Niki Terpstra

The podium: Alessandro Petacchi, winner Frank Schleck and third palced Niki Terpstra (Image credit: Amstel Curacao Race)
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Frank Schleck, Tony Martin, Andy Schleck and Alessandro Petacchi before the start.

Frank Schleck, Tony Martin, Andy Schleck and Alessandro Petacchi before the start. (Image credit: Amstel Curacao Race)
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The podium (l-r): Niki Terpstra, Frank Schleck and Alessandro Petacchi.

The podium (l-r): Niki Terpstra, Frank Schleck and Alessandro Petacchi. (Image credit: Amstel Curacao Race)
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Alessandro Petacchi during the race.

Alessandro Petacchi during the race. (Image credit: Amstel Curacao Race)
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Tony Martin (HTC-Columbia) leads the peloton.

Tony Martin (HTC-Columbia) leads the peloton. (Image credit: Amstel Curacao Race)
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Frank Schleck (Saxo Bank) wins in Curacao.

Frank Schleck (Saxo Bank) wins in Curacao. (Image credit: Amstel Curacao Race)
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Frank Schleck pins his ears back and heads for home.

Frank Schleck pins his ears back and heads for home. (Image credit: Amstel Curacao Race)
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Frank Schleck strings out the field.

Frank Schleck strings out the field. (Image credit: Amstel Curacao Race)
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Alessandro Petacchi leads the field off the start line

Alessandro Petacchi leads the field off the start line (Image credit: Amstel Curacao Race)

Fränk Schleck took what will surely be his last win in a Saxo Bank jersey on Sunday when he won the ninth edition of the Amstel Curacao Race on the Caribbean island in the Dutch Antilles.

Schleck jumped away from the rest of the peloton to win alone, while Italy’s Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Farnese Vini) edged out Niki Terpstra (Milram) in the sprint for second place.

A total of 150 riders took part, including 15 professionals. These include Andy and Fränk Schleck, Petacchi, Terpstra, Grischa Niermann, Bauke Mollema and Koos Moerenhout (Rabobank), Danilo Hondo (Lampre-Farnese Vini), Jakob Fuglsang (Saxo Bank), Matteo Bono (Lampre-Farnese Vini), Jurgen van de Broeck (Omega Pharma-Lotto), Tony Martin (HTC-Columbia) and Wout Poels (Vacansoleil).

The professionals dominated the action dominated from the start and Schleck was keen to add his name to the list of winners.

"I absolutely wanted to win. Two years ago my brother Andy won. I also wanted my name on the honor roll,” he said.

The race was originally scheduled for Saturday but heavy rain forced organiser Leo van Vliet to delay it 24 hours. Instead the riders held a meet and greet session on Saturday and then raced on Sunday.

“Curacao is our second home. We are always welcomed by the organizers and also by the locals and so we wanted to give something back," Schleck said after the decision of the riders to race on Sunday.

Results

#Rider Name (Country) Team
1Frank Schleck (Lux) Saxo Bank
2Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini
3Niki Terpstra (Ned) Team Milram
4Steven de Jongh (Ned)
5Grischa Niermann (Ger) Rabobank
6Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank
7Koos Moerenhout (Ned) Rabobank
8Guy Smet (Bel)
9Danilo Hondo (Ger) Lampre-Farnese Vini
10Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Saxo Bank
11Andy Schleck (Lux) Saxo Bank
12Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini
13Jurgen van de Broeck (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
14Tony Martin (Ger) HTC-Columbia
15Wout Poels (Ned) Vacansoleil
16Frank Nijssen (Ned)
17Gyasi Sulvaran (ANE)
18Daniel Grabiel Juliana (ANE)

SQL Integrator best climber
#Rider Name (Country) Team
1Frank Schleck (Lux) Saxo Bank

Lions Dive intermediate sprint
#Rider Name (Country) Team
1Danilo Hondo (Ger) Lampre-Farnese Vini

Sprint classification
#Rider Name (Country) Team
1Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini

MCB Bank most aggressive rider
#Rider Name (Country) Team
1Tony Martin (Ger) HTC-Columbia

HBN Law Best Curacaose rider
#Rider Name (Country) Team
1Gyasi Sulvaran

 

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