Focus & Team Milram: Markus Fothen Fourth Out Of break Group.
Vittel: 16/07/2009
Team MILRAM just barely missed out on a podium place in the 12th stage of the Tour de France. After 211.5 kilometers from Tonnerre to Vittel, Markus Fothen sprinted across the finish line as the third in a chase group behind stage winner Nicki Sörensen (Saxo Bank), to finish fourth. In the sprint for second place, the MILRAM rider finished behind only Laurent Levefre (Bbox Bouygues-Telecom) and Italian Franco Pellizotti (Liquigas). The main field, which could only claim the eighth place, came in 5:58 minutes later, led by Mark Cavendish (Columbia). There were no changes in the top of the overall rankings. Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2r) continues to hold the lead going into the upcoming difficult stages.
“Today we had planned to be in the decisive group. After we had been in every group to go, I was lucky enough to be in the right one,” said Markus Fothen.
“In the finale we waited at first, when Nicki Sörensen attacked. Unfortunately we waited too long. But I tried everything today. It wasn’t enough for a place in the top three, but I am still very satisfied with myself,”
the MILRAM rider continued.
After a fast and at times hectic start, the seven-man strong group formed after about 100 km. The group around Markus Fothen dominated the rest of the stage and was able to stay away for the win. An early move in the fight for the stage win was made with 22 km to go, when Nicki Sörensen opened the finale with an attack. Only Sylvain Calzati of Agritubel was able to follow the Dane at that time, but had to let him go five km before the finish, when Sörensen again attacked and went for his solo win. The chase group around MILRAM’s Markus Fothn came to the finish 48 seconds later.
Result:
1 Nicki Sörensen (DEN) Saxo Bank 4:52:24
2 Laurent Lefevre (FRA) Bbox Bouygues Telecom + 48
3 Franco Pellizotti (ITA) Liquigas
4 Markus Fothen (GER) Team MILRAM
5 Egoi Martinez (ESP) Euskaltel
6 Sylvain Calzati (FRA) Agritubel
7 Remi Pauriol (FRA) Cofidis + 1:33
8 Mark Cavendish (GBR) Columbia-HTC + 5:58
9 Thor Hushovd (NOR) Cervelo TestTeam
10 Marco Bandiera (ITA) Lampre
…
34 Christian Knees (GER) Team MILRAM
39 Peter Wrolich (AUT) Team MILRAM
43 Linus Gerdemann (GER) Team MILRAM
70 Peter Velits (SVK) Team MILRAM
84 Johannes Fröhlinger (GER) Team MILRAM
107 Fabian Wegmann (GER) Team MILRAM
119 Gerald Ciolek (GER) Team MILRAM
149 Niki Terpstra (NED) Team MILRAM
The stages 2009:
4.07. Etappe 1 : Monaco – Monaco (15,5 km / EZF)
5.07. Etappe 2: Monaco – Brignoles (187 km)
6.07. Etappe 3: Marseille – La Grande-Motte (196,5 km)
7.07. Etappe 4: Montpellier – Montpellier (39 km / MZF)
8.07. Etappe 5: Le Cap d’Agde – Perpignan (196,5 km)
9.07. Etappe 6: Gérone – Barcelone (181,5 km)
10.07. Etappe 7: Barcelone – Andorre Arcalis (224 km)
11.07. Etappe 8: Andorre-la-Vieille – Saint-Girons (176,5 km)
12.07. Etappe 9: Saint-Gaudens – Tarbes (160,5 km)
13.07. Ruhetag in Limoges
14.07. Etappe 10: Limoges – Issoudun (194,5 km)
15.07. Etappe 11: Vatan – Saint-Fargeau (192 km)
16.07. Etappe 12: Tonnerre – Vittel (211,5 km)
17.07. Etappe 13: Vittel – Colmar (200 km)
18.07. Etappe 14: Colmar – Besançon (199 km)
19.07. Etappe 15: Pontarlier – Verbier (207,5 km)
20.07. Ruhetag in Verbier
21.07. Etappe 16: Martigny – Bourg-Saint-Maurice (159 km)
22.07. Etappe 17: Bourg-Saint-Maurice – Le Grand-Bornand (169,5 km)
23.07. Etappe 18: Annecy – Annecy (40,5 km / EZF)
24.07. Etappe 19: Bourgoin-Jallieu – Aubenas (178 km)
25.07. Etappe 20: Montélimar – Mont Ventoux (167 km)
26.07. Etappe 21: Montereau-Fault-Yonne – Paris Champs-Élysées (164 km)
Total distance: 3445km
The Team MILRAM at the Tour de France:
Gerald Ciolek (22 / GER / Ermatingen,SUI), Markus Fothen (27 / GER / Kaarst), Johannes Fröhlinger (24 / GER / Freiburg im Breisgau), Linus Gerdemann (26 / GER / Kreuzlingen,SUI), Christian Knees (28 /GER / Euskirchen), Niki Terpstra (25 / NED / Haarlem), Peter Velits (24 / SVK / Riemst, BEL), Fabian Wegmann (29 / GER / Freiburg im Breisgau), Peter Wrolich (35 / AUT / Klagenfurt)
Directeur Sportif:
Christian Henn (GER / Heidelberg)
Assistant Directeur Sportif:
Raoul Liebregts (NED / Sint Oedenrode)