Monday, July 16, 2012

Izagirre moves up on final day + Tour














Ion Izagirre moved up from eighth to seventh on today's concluding stage in the Tour of Poland, thus securing the team some vital WorldTour points.

The last stage, a 131km ride in and around Krákow, was wholly uninteresting from an orange point of view, as it was a day for the sprinters to shine. Argos-Shimano's Teutonic speedster John Degenkolb duly delivered, besting impressive veteran Matthew Hayman and team colleague Ben Swift. Izagirre had no trouble staying with the pack, crossing the line in 21st.

"I'm very pleased with my result", he told www.fundacioneuskadi.com upon crossing the line. "I haven't competed since the Giro d'Italia, so to return in this manner is satisfying. Well, I did the national champs (where he finished 35th), but that's only one day. So to return in a week-long WorldTour stage race and finish seventh overall makes me content. The season is turning out well for me. I felt good in Tirreno-Adriatico, I was on-song in the Classics, and I came around in the Giro. Do to a good Giro was the goal in the first part of the season and it was a success, the stage-win included", he said, adding that he'll line-up in the Ordizia and Getxo classics next.

He was once again pretty much on his own though, as none of his team-mates managed to go the distance. Antón came in half a minute in arrears, while Sicard, who's rumoured to be on the move after this season, continues to jo-jo from the solid to the lacklustre. The Frenchman came in 90 seconds back, finishing the race in 39th.

Adrián Sáez posted a DNF.

Stage seven results:
  • (1, John Degenkolb (Argos-Shimano), 2:50:32)
  • 21, Ion Izagirre, s.t.
  • 66, Juan José Oroz, 0:28
  • 72, Igor Antón, 0:30
  • 73, Miguel Minguez, s.t.
  • 112, Romain Sicard, 1:29
Final general classification:
  • (1, Moreno Moser (Liquigas), 30:15:49)
  • 7, Ion Izagirre, 0:29
  • 29, Igor Antón, 4:14
  • 39, Romain Sicard, 8:10
  • 54, Miguel Minguez, 17:05
  • 99, Juan José Oroz, 37:45
Over in France, Euskaltel missed out on the main break and therefore had a relatively easy day in the saddle. The 159km 15th stage from Samatan to Pau was the last before the final rest day, meaning the riders in orange are likely to confront the Pyrenees from Wednesday and onwards well rested and ready to go.

Egoi Martínez stayed with the pack and hung onto his 18th overall.

Stage 15 results:
  • (1, Pierrick Fédrigo (FDJ), 3:40:15)
  • 33, Egoi Martínez, 11:50
  • 95, Rubén Pérez, s.t.
  • 104, Pablo Urtasun, s.t.
  • 110, Jorge Azanza, s.t.
  • 137, Gorka Izagirre, s.t.

8 comments:

Kristof said...

I doubt Sicard takes his job very serious. I would prefer they spend their money on a good contract for the Izagirre brothers, instead of keeping Sicard.

Anonymous said...

I agree with Kristof. Sicard showed a lot of potential and has failed to deliver. The Izagirre brothers are producing good rides and results are looking good. We need to keep these two no matter what!

Richie

Stephen said...

Who is he off to? One of the French teams?

He has been dissapointing, maybe this just isn't the team for him.


Yes, we need to keep the brothers. With those two plus Landa and a couple of the others the team has a very bright future.

Kristof said...

However Sicard gets what he deserves (no selection) it shows once again where Euskaltel still fails; giving the youngsters chances. I can understand he is very disappointed in the fact he may not ride TDF , as a Frenchman, maybe If I was Sicard I would be pretty angry too, if you see they selected Azanza (has so many chances and always rides anonymous) and Astarloza (rider which almost caused the end of Euskaltel). Seems to me the same reason Intxausti and Castro were leaving, however I wonder if this last one allready regrets this.

Magnus said...

He's reported to be close to some French teams. And it's a good point you're making there, Kristof, the team really ought to select youth for the biggest races a lot more. Azanza and Astarloza surely don't represent the future.

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