2008 Internt'l Criterium & Track Update

Solid good weekend of racing. Yeah for Jens! I'm not sure I've yet met anyone who doesn't like him. He's so fun loving and such a freak of nature (in all the best meanings) with the determination he has. He's one of them that I just could never not cheer for. I would've loved to have seen Slipstream win but I'm pretty okay (and happy) that it was Jens (if not them). :-) When I see him take off in a race, John's stories of him come back to mind, and I get the biggest smile picturing him calling back to Bjarne about how he is just going to go. I love those stories! And a question... Does anyone else find it strange that they call it the International Criterium and yet there's no criterium stage? Just wondering.

Quick side note over to the track. The racing was exciting and FAST. On Saturday Mike and Colby finished 13th in the Madison. I'm so hoping we get to see Mike and company at the Olympics later this year. Catching blips here and there on the web is not enough! Jennie Reed is the keirin champ and she also picked up a well earned bronze in the woman's sprint! Way to go USA!!!


77th Critérium International - 2.HC
France, March 29-30, 2008

Slipstream: Laurent's Criterium International preview.

Slipstream Chipotle - H30
161 David Zabriskie (USA)
162 Magnus Backstedt (Swe)
163 Timothy Duggan (USA)
164 Christophe Laurent (Fra)
165 Trent Lowe (Aus)
166 David Millar (GBr)
167 Kilian Patour (Fra)
168 Thomas Peterson (USA)

Stage 1 - March 29: Signy-le-Petit - Charleville-Mézières, 193km
Results
1 Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank 4.50.04 (39.921 km/h)
9 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 0.10
15 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC
24 David Millar (GBr) Slipstream Chipotle - H30
26 Trent Lowe (Aus) Slipstream Chipotle - H30
33 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC
47 Christophe Laurent (Fra) Slipstream Chipotle - H30 6.51
54 Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC
85 Kilian Patour (Fra) Slipstream Chipotle - H30
86 Magnus Backstedt (Swe) Slipstream Chipotle - H30
98 David Zabriskie (USA) Slipstream Chipotle - H30
131 Timothy Duggan (USA) Slipstream Chipotle - H30 12.40
133 Craig Lewis (USA) High Road
143 Thomas Peterson (USA) Slipstream Chipotle - H30 22.01

Slipstream: CI Stage 1 - Millar, Lowe sitting pretty with 10" off lead.

Stage 2 - March 30: Les Vieilles Forges (Les Mazures) - Monthermé, 98.5km
Results
1 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Crédit Agricole 2.27.36
2 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC 0.04
7 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 1.39
18 Trent Lowe (Aus) Slipstream Chipotle – H30 1.43
33 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 1.50
39 David Zabriskie (USA) Slipstream Chipotle - H30 2.10
77 Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC 6.10
80 David Millar (GBr) Slipstream Chipotle - H30
108 Christophe Laurent (Fra) Slipstream Chipotle - H30 9.00
General classification after stage 2
1 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC 7.17.53
5 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 1.36
16 Trent Lowe (Aus) Slipstream Chipotle – H30 1.40
21 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 1.47
31 David Millar (GBr) Slipstream Chipotle - H30 6.07
46 David Zabriskie (USA) Slipstream Chipotle - H30 8.48
70 Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC 12.48
96 Christophe Laurent (Fra) Slipstream Chipotle - H30 15.38

Slipstream: CI Stage 2 - Strike-delayed recovery plan.
Slipstream: CI Stage 2 - Despite early, fast, frustrating stage, Lowe hangs in.
Team CSC: Fantastic Jens Voigt Did it Again.

Stage 3 - March 30: Charleville-Mézières - Charleville-Mézières, ITT, 8.3km
Results
1 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) High Road 10.16
5 David Zabriskie (USA) Slipstream Chipotle - H30 0.14
13 David Millar (GBr) Slipstream Chipotle - H30 0.26
15 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 0.27
23 Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC 0.34
25 Trent Lowe (Aus) Slipstream Chipotle - H30 0.35
43 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC 0.52
53 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 0.58
54 Christophe Laurent (Fra) Slipstream Chipotle - H30

Final general classification
1 Jens Voigt (Ger) Team CSC 7.29.01
2 Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) Team CSC 0.57
3 Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
6 Fränk Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 1.11
13 Trent Lowe (Aus) Slipstream Chipotle - H30 1.23
19 Andy Schleck (Lux) Team CSC 1.53
24 David Millar (GBr) Slipstream Chipotle - H30 5.41
35 David Zabriskie (USA) Slipstream Chipotle - H30 8.10
62 Bobby Julich (USA) Team CSC 12.30
92 Christophe Laurent (Fra) Slipstream Chipotle - H30 15.44

Teams
1 High Road 31.18
2 Team CSC 0.44
3 Slipstream Chipotle - H30 0.45
4 Cofidis 1.08
5 Karpin Galicia 1.09

Slipstream: CI Final - "Z" 5th in ITT; Lowe 13th, team 3rd overall.
Team CSC: Double Victory for Team CSC in Criterium International.