Farrar repeats at Vattenfall Cyclassics

Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Transitions) showed he has fully recovered from his Tour de France fractures and is set for a strong second part of the season by taking a repeat victory at the Vattenfall Cyclassics race in Hamburg.

Nobody has ever won back-to-back versions of the German ProTour race during its 15-year history but Farrar again got some special help from teammate Julian Dean and had the speed to come past Edvald Boasson Hagen (Team Sky) and Andrei Greipel (HTC-Columbia) to win the sprint. Norway’s Alexander Kristoff (BMC) was fourth and Australia’s Allan Davis (Astana) completed the top five.

Boasson Hagen was given a great lead-out from Team Sky in the final two kilometres but perhaps went a little early. He tried to hold his speed and threw his bike at the line but Farrar was faster and put his arms up in celebration. He knew he had got it.

“It’s amazing to have won again,” Farrar said.

“It always takes a lot of luck to win a one-day race like Vattenfall. To have that luck for two years in a row it’s nice for me. I love this race. It’s kind of the perfect for me, for my characteristics."

Farrar’s painful injuries at the Tour de France are now a rapidly fading memory. And like most of the best sprinters in the world, Farrar will ride the Vuelta a España as preparation for a shot at the world road race championships in Melbourne, Australia, on October 3.

“I had a rough month with injuries at the Tour de France because I broke my wrist. To come back and win again makes me feel like things are on the right track. I’ll ride a few more one-days and then the Vuelta and the world championships. They’re the important ones for me,” he said.

Five rider breakaway

The 216.6km race began with a long loop into the Hamburg countryside before the traditional circuits that include the testing and leg burning Waseberg climb through the trees.

The peloton seemed to enjoy the ride in the cool but dry conditions and allowed the early breakaway of Nikolai Trusov (Katusha), Sebastian Lang (Omega Pharma-Lotto), Gatis Smukulis (Ag2r-La Mondiale), Anthony Geslin (Francaise des Jeux) and Robin Chaigneau (Skil-Shimano) to gain a massive lead of 16:30.

After 120km of riding the peloton finally awoke and began to chase but the five fought on and were first to the top of the Waseberg, with the gap still 7:45 with 65km to go. The peloton, and especially the sprinters’ teams, knew they would have to chase hard if they wanted to catch them but it was going to be close.

Fortunately the Waseberg slowed the break and eventually split it on the penultimate time up through the trees.

Trusov was the first to attack and he was joined by Smukulis and Geslin. They had a lead of 2:50 with 30km to go but Garmin-Transitions, Team Sky, Lampre-Farnese Vini and home team Milram all put riders on the front and the gap began to come down rapidly.

Rain on some parts of the course worried the sprinters but they raced on, fighting for position in the bunch before the last climb of the Waseberg. The climb only lasts 700 metres but has a section at 15% and it is vital to be near the front to try and save your legs for the sprint.

The likes of Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto) and Filippo Pozzato (Katusha) did not want a bunch sprint finish and attacked over the top of the climb. They got a gap but were joined by the very young but very talented Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Doimo). He was riding for Daniele Bennati and so refused to contribute greatly to the attack, meaning the bunch was rapidly back together. It was a clear signal the race would end in a sprint.

Up front the breakaway also faded and lost speed after the Waseberg. A couple of huge turns by Fabian Cancellara brought the trio into view and they were eventually swept up with eight kilometres to go.

Gerben Löwik (Francaise des Jeux) and then the duo of Martin Elmiger (Ag2r-La Mondiale) and Christian Knees (Milram) tried to break away but the sprinters could feel victory was in their grasp and neutralised their escapes.

Rain made the final kilometres dangerous and Quick Step’s Wouter Weylandts took a tumble but somehow everyone else stayed up and it was dry in the centre of Hamburg.

Lampre, Team Sky, Garmin-Transitions, Rabobank and Liquigas-Doimo all fought for the front in the final five kilometres but nobody wanted to take control of the sprint. With two kilometres to go, Team Sky decided to make their move riding to set up Boasson Hagen. Everyone else fought for position on Boasson Hagen’s wheel, knowing that the road was wide and fast in the final 500 metres.

Boasson Hagen hit out early and looked fast with 300 metres to go but he went a little bit early. He faded and his rivals pounced. Farrar went around the outside of the young Norwegian and was clearly faster, while Greipel tried to sneak through on the left, hoping the shorter inside line would open up for him. Farrar was the fastest though, while Greipel was stuck between the barriers and Boasson Hagen.

At the line it was close as all three threw their bikes, but Farrar was the first to celebrate, knowing he had won again and taken a special repeat victory.

Next stop is the Vuelta for sprints against Mark Cavendish and then the big end of season showdown at the world championships.

 

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Full Results
1Tyler Farrar (USA) Garmin - Transitions5:02:36
2Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Sky Professional Cycling TeamRow 1 - Cell 2
3André Greipel (Ger) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 2 - Cell 2
4Alexander Kristoff (Nor) BMC Racing TeamRow 3 - Cell 2
5Allan Davis (Aus) AstanaRow 4 - Cell 2
6Daniele Bennati (Ita) Liquigas-DoimoRow 5 - Cell 2
7Thomas Leezer (Ned) RabobankRow 6 - Cell 2
8Enrique Mata (Spa) Footon-ServettoRow 7 - Cell 2
9Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 8 - Cell 2
10Marco Marcato (Ita) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 9 - Cell 2
11Yoann Offredo (Fra) Française Des JeuxRow 10 - Cell 2
12Jurgen Roelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 11 - Cell 2
13Frédéric Guesdon (Fra) Française Des JeuxRow 12 - Cell 2
14Peter Wrolich (Aut) Team MilramRow 13 - Cell 2
15Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Quick StepRow 14 - Cell 2
16Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo BankRow 15 - Cell 2
17Christopher Sutton (Aus) Sky Professional Cycling TeamRow 16 - Cell 2
18Mathew Hayman (Aus) Sky Professional Cycling TeamRow 17 - Cell 2
19Matthieu Ladagnous (Fra) Française Des JeuxRow 18 - Cell 2
20Roy Curvers (Ned) Skil - ShimanoRow 19 - Cell 2
21Daryl Impey (RSA) Team RadioshackRow 20 - Cell 2
22Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 21 - Cell 2
23Serguei Ivanov (Rus) Team KatushaRow 22 - Cell 2
24Bram Tankink (Ned) RabobankRow 23 - Cell 2
25Pablo Lastras Garcia (Spa) Caisse d'EpargneRow 24 - Cell 2
26Manuel Antonio Leal Cardoso (Por) Footon-ServettoRow 25 - Cell 2
27Mirko Selvaggi (Ita) AstanaRow 26 - Cell 2
28Grégory Rast (Swi) Team RadioshackRow 27 - Cell 2
29Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 28 - Cell 2
30Gerben Mijnheer Löwik (Ned) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 29 - Cell 2
31Danilo Hondo (Ger) Lampre-Farnese ViniRow 30 - Cell 2
32Alessandro Ballan (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 31 - Cell 2
33Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 32 - Cell 2
34Lloyd Mondory (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 33 - Cell 2
35Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Team MilramRow 34 - Cell 2
36Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo BankRow 35 - Cell 2
37Andrey Amador Bakkazakova (CRc) Caisse d'EpargneRow 36 - Cell 2
38Paul Voss (Ger) Team MilramRow 37 - Cell 2
39Gert Steegmans (Bel) Team RadioshackRow 38 - Cell 2
40Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 39 - Cell 2
41Inaki Isasi Flores (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 40 - Cell 2
42Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank0:00:07
43Alberto Losada Alguacil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne0:00:08
44Kristijan Koren (Slo) Liquigas-DoimoRow 43 - Cell 2
45Svein Tuft (Can) Garmin - TransitionsRow 44 - Cell 2
46Gianni Meersman (Bel) Française Des JeuxRow 45 - Cell 2
47Maarten Tjallingii (Ned) RabobankRow 46 - Cell 2
48Matthew Busche (USA) Team Radioshack0:00:12
49Jens Voigt (Ger) Team Saxo BankRow 48 - Cell 2
50Mitchell Docker (Aus) Skil - ShimanoRow 49 - Cell 2
51Tomas Vaitkus (Ltu) Team RadioshackRow 50 - Cell 2
52Xabier Zandio Echaide (Spa) Caisse d'EpargneRow 51 - Cell 2
53Mickael Delage (Fra) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 52 - Cell 2
54Pavel Brutt (Rus) Team KatushaRow 53 - Cell 2
55Grischa Niermann (Ger) RabobankRow 54 - Cell 2
56Enrico Gasparotto (Ita) AstanaRow 55 - Cell 2
57Martin Kohler (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 56 - Cell 2
58Ben Swift (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling TeamRow 57 - Cell 2
59Murilo Antonio Fischer (Bra) Garmin - TransitionsRow 58 - Cell 2
60Marcus Burghardt (Ger) BMC Racing TeamRow 59 - Cell 2
61Florian Stalder (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 60 - Cell 2
62Nick Nuyens (Bel) RabobankRow 61 - Cell 2
63Dominic Klemme (Ger) Team Saxo BankRow 62 - Cell 2
64Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Team KatushaRow 63 - Cell 2
65Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese ViniRow 64 - Cell 2
66Matteo Tosatto (Ita) Quick StepRow 65 - Cell 2
67Greg Henderson (NZl) Sky Professional Cycling TeamRow 66 - Cell 2
68Maarten Wynants (Bel) Quick StepRow 67 - Cell 2
69Vasili Kiryienka (Blr) Caisse d'EpargneRow 68 - Cell 2
70Sam Bewley (NZl) Team RadioshackRow 69 - Cell 2
71Christian Knees (Ger) Team MilramRow 70 - Cell 2
72Wesley Sulzberger (Aus) Française Des JeuxRow 71 - Cell 2
73Joost Posthuma (Ned) RabobankRow 72 - Cell 2
74Angel Madrazo Ruiz (Spa) Caisse d'EpargneRow 73 - Cell 2
75Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 74 - Cell 2
76Michal Golas (Pol) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 75 - Cell 2
77Martin Pedersen (Den) Footon-ServettoRow 76 - Cell 2
78Elia Viviani (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo0:00:23
79Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Doimo0:00:27
80Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Liquigas-DoimoRow 79 - Cell 2
81Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 80 - Cell 2
82Björn Leukemans (Bel) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 81 - Cell 2
83Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 82 - Cell 2
84Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 83 - Cell 2
85Gatis Smukulis (Lat) AG2R La MondialeRow 84 - Cell 2
86Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La MondialeRow 85 - Cell 2
87Matthew Lloyd (Aus) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 86 - Cell 2
88Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Team Katusha0:01:21
89Mikael Cherel (Fra) Française Des Jeux0:01:27
90Koen De Kort (Ned) Skil - ShimanoRow 89 - Cell 2
91Simon Zahner (Swi) BMC Racing Team0:02:18
92Michel Kreder (Ned) Garmin - TransitionsRow 91 - Cell 2
93Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:02:25
94Juan Anto Flecha Giannoni (Spa) Sky Professional Cycling Team0:02:33
95Francis De Greef (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 94 - Cell 2
96Mario Aerts (Bel) Omega Pharma-LottoRow 95 - Cell 2
97Fabian Cancellara (Swi) Team Saxo BankRow 96 - Cell 2
98Anthony Geslin (Fra) Française Des JeuxRow 97 - Cell 2
99Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) BMC Racing Team0:03:37
100Ian Stannard (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team0:03:54
101Michael Albasini (Swi) Team HTC - Columbia0:04:50
102Ruben Perez Moreno (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:05:20
103Koldo Fernandez (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 102 - Cell 2
104Jose Joaquin Rojas Gil (Spa) Caisse d'EpargneRow 103 - Cell 2
105Tom Veelers (Ned) Skil - ShimanoRow 104 - Cell 2
106Vidal Celis Zabala (Spa) Footon-ServettoRow 105 - Cell 2
107Markus Eibegger (Aut) Footon-ServettoRow 106 - Cell 2
108Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 107 - Cell 2
109Mauro Da Dalto (Ita) Lampre-Farnese ViniRow 108 - Cell 2
110Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Team KatushaRow 109 - Cell 2
111David Deroo (Fra) Skil - ShimanoRow 110 - Cell 2
112Scott Davis (Aus) Astana0:05:28
113Andreas Stauff (Ger) Quick Step0:05:40
114Kevin Van Impe (Bel) Quick Step0:05:58
115Wouter Weylandt (Bel) Quick Step0:06:06
116Alan Perez Lezaun (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi0:06:15
117Vitaliy Buts (Ukr) Lampre-Farnese ViniRow 116 - Cell 2
118Mirco Lorenzetto (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini0:09:33
119Robbie McEwen (Aus) Team KatushaRow 118 - Cell 2
120Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre-Farnese ViniRow 119 - Cell 2
121Fabio Felline (Ita) Footon-Servetto0:09:39
122Sergey Renev (Kaz) Astana0:11:24
123Peter Velits (Svk) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 122 - Cell 2
124Simon Geschke (Ger) Skil - ShimanoRow 123 - Cell 2
125Sebastian Lang (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto0:11:32
126Daniel Oss (Ita) Liquigas-DoimoRow 125 - Cell 2
127Martijn Maaskant (Ned) Garmin - TransitionsRow 126 - Cell 2
128Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Liquigas-DoimoRow 127 - Cell 2
129Michele Merlo (Ita) Footon-ServettoRow 128 - Cell 2
130Martin Velits (Svk) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 129 - Cell 2
131Maxim Gourov (Kaz) Astana0:13:00
132Yuriy Krivtsov (Ukr) AG2R La MondialeRow 131 - Cell 2
133Robin Chaigneau (Ned) Skil - Shimano0:16:17
DNFJack Bobridge (Aus) Garmin - TransitionsRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFJulian Dean (NZl) Garmin - TransitionsRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFMatthew Wilson (Aus) Garmin - TransitionsRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFMatti Breschel (Den) Team Saxo BankRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFFrank Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo BankRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFStuart O'Grady (Aus) Team Saxo BankRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFGerald Ciolek (Ger) Team MilramRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFMarkus Fothen (Ger) Team MilramRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFLinus Gerdemann (Ger) Team MilramRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFLuke Roberts (Aus) Team MilramRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFValeriy Dmitriyev (Kaz) AstanaRow 143 - Cell 2
DNFValentin Iglinskiy (Kaz) AstanaRow 144 - Cell 2
DNFDenis Galimzyanov (Rus) Team KatushaRow 145 - Cell 2
DNFStijn Vandenbergh (Bel) Team KatushaRow 146 - Cell 2
DNFFrederik Willems (Bel) Liquigas-DoimoRow 147 - Cell 2
DNFGraeme Brown (Aus) RabobankRow 148 - Cell 2
DNFGert Dockx (Bel) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 149 - Cell 2
DNFMatthew Harley Goss (Aus) Team HTC - ColumbiaRow 150 - Cell 2
DNFJason McCartney (USA) Team RadioshackRow 151 - Cell 2
DNFBjorn Selander (USA) Team RadioshackRow 152 - Cell 2
DNFJuan Mau Soler Hernandez (Col) Caisse d'EpargneRow 153 - Cell 2
DNFAngelo Furlan (Ita) Lampre-Farnese ViniRow 154 - Cell 2
DNFDavid Loosli (Swi) Lampre-Farnese ViniRow 155 - Cell 2
DNFAitor Hernandez Gutierrez (Spa) Euskaltel - EuskadiRow 156 - Cell 2
DNFDavide Malacarne (Ita) Quick StepRow 157 - Cell 2
DNFMarco Velo (Ita) Quick StepRow 158 - Cell 2
DNFKurt-Asle Arvesen (Nor) Sky Professional Cycling TeamRow 159 - Cell 2
DNFKristof Goddaert (Bel) AG2R La MondialeRow 160 - Cell 2
DNFRene Mandri (Est) AG2R La MondialeRow 161 - Cell 2
DNFAlexander Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La MondialeRow 162 - Cell 2
DNFJérémy Roy (Fra) Française Des JeuxRow 163 - Cell 2
DNFDavid Vitoria (Swi) Footon-ServettoRow 164 - Cell 2
DNFBorut Bozic (Slo) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 165 - Cell 2
DNFJens Mouris (Ned) Vacansoleil Pro Cycling TeamRow 166 - Cell 2
DNFFloris Goesinnen (Ned) Skil - ShimanoRow 167 - Cell 2
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Sprint 1 - Harburger Ringe, 11.9km
1Gatis Smukulis (Lat) AG2R La Mondiale3pts
2Sebastian Lang (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Anthony Geslin (Fra) Française Des Jeux1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Sprint 2 - Buchholz, 50.6km
1Sebastian Lang (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto3pts
2Anthony Geslin (Fra) Française Des Jeux2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Robin Chaigneau (Ned) Skil - Shimano1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Sprint 3 - Schulauer Straße, 127.9km
1Sebastian Lang (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto3pts
2Anthony Geslin (Fra) Française Des Jeux2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Robin Chaigneau (Ned) Skil - Shimano1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Sprint 4 - Mönckebergstraße, 152.9km
1Gatis Smukulis (Lat) AG2R La Mondiale3pts
2Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Team Katusha2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Sebastian Lang (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Sprints classification
1Sebastian Lang (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto9pts
2Gatis Smukulis (Lat) AG2R La Mondiale6Row 1 - Cell 3
3Anthony Geslin (Fra) Française Des Jeux5Row 2 - Cell 3
4Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Team Katusha2Row 3 - Cell 3
5Robin Chaigneau (Ned) Skil - Shimano2Row 4 - Cell 3
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Mountain 1 - Waseberg, 137.3km
1Robin Chaigneau (Ned) Skil - Shimano3pts
2Anthony Geslin (Fra) Française Des Jeux2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Sebastian Lang (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Mountain 2 - Waseberg, 176.9km
1Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Team Katusha3pts
2Anthony Geslin (Fra) Française Des Jeux2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Gatis Smukulis (Lat) AG2R La Mondiale1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Mountain 3 - Waseberg, 188.9km
1Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Team Katusha3pts
2Anthony Geslin (Fra) Française Des Jeux2Row 1 - Cell 3
3Gatis Smukulis (Lat) AG2R La Mondiale1Row 2 - Cell 3
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Mountains classification
1Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Team Katusha6pts
2Anthony Geslin (Fra) Française Des Jeux6Row 1 - Cell 3
3Robin Chaigneau (Ned) Skil - Shimano3Row 2 - Cell 3
4Gatis Smukulis (Lat) AG2R La Mondiale2Row 3 - Cell 3
5Sebastian Lang (Ger) Omega Pharma-Lotto1Row 4 - Cell 3

 

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