BONJOUR L'ESTONIE

Tour of Estonia takes off in May

In May 2013 Estonia will host the very first UCI stage race called Tour of Estonia. Tour of Estonia is a part of UCI Europe Tour and with it’s 4 stages lasts for 3 days, informed BC marketing and communication representative at Club Tartu Maraton Greete Kempel.

The tour takes off in Viimsi, just nearby Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, on the 30^th of May with 125 km (10x 12,5 km) and continues on the same day with the 3 km individual time trial in the heart of Tallinn – in the old town. The second day takes the riders through Estonia from Tallinn to the 2^nd largest city Tartu with 185 km, the tour will end on 1^st of June with attractive city loop Tartu GP – 150 km (12x12,5 km).

At the moment there are in total of 19 teams registered to Tour of Estonia, including for example pro-continental teams, Rusvelo (RUS), CCC Polsat Polkowice (POL) and Androni Giocattoli – Venezuela (VEN).

Kirsipuu joins Astana as sporting director

Estonian cyclist Jan Kirsipuu, the Baltic state's most successful rider, is quitting the saddle and joining Kazakh team Astana as sporting director.

"My task will be technical support and coordinating team-work during races. I know the Astana team and that helped me get the job," the 43-year-old told Estonian public broadcaster ERR on Monday.

He said he had inked a one-year contract with Astana, whose line-up includes 25-year-old countryman Tanel Kangert.

After turning professional in 1993 - two years after Estonia regained its independence from the Soviet Union - Kirsipuu raced for French teams including Casino and Credit Agricole. He retired initially in 2006, only to return to racing three years later.

 

Baltic Chain Tour II stage won Gediminas Bagdonas

Gediminas Bagdonas from Lithuanian national Team won Baltic Chain Tour second stage from Viljandi to Otepää. This was fifth UCI win for Lithuanian champion this year.

183 km race was full of action from the very beginning. Break-away followed by another break-away, but no-one got away from peloton.First intermediate sprint had a group finish and over the line came first Bagdonas himself, securing green jersey as most active rider so far.

Soon after intermediate sprint 5-men group escaped from peloton and quickly had almost three minute gap with chasers. Nothing was decided yet as there was still more than 60km to go. In this group were Erland (Plussbank), Gröndahl (Plussbank),  Jõessar (Estonian National Team), Mihkel Räim (Saaremaa Viking) and Artur Shaymuratov from Katusha. They were working hard together until mountain climb, where Erland and Räim went for the climb finish. Räim was quicker and won it.

Soon after it Erland and Shaymuratov left other three behind. Second intermediate sprint victory was to be decided by these two and Erland was quickest this time. They worked well together unitl 20 km before finish the peloton caught them. By that point it seemed that there's going to be group finish, but approximately 10km before finish Evtushenko from Katusha decided to go for glory alone. About 1-2 kilometers before finish he was caught and group finish was to come. Bagdonas was quickest again and won the stage in front of 80-men group. Dylan Groenewegen from Cycling Team De Rijke came second and Indulis Bekmanis from Rietumu - Delfin came third.

Estonian Cycling Weekend 2012 brought over 7000 participants

On the 27th of May Estonia hosted the biggest mass sport road cycling event of the Baltic States – SEB 31st  Tartu Rataralli which was also the last event of Estonian Cycling Weekend 2012, informs BC Club Tartu Maraton.

First unofficial results state that events of the SEB 31st Tartu Rattaralli had altogether 7285 participants from whom 1885 persons finished 137 km long distance and 2053 persons crossed the finish line of the shorter, 74 km long distance. In addition to that, other records were broken – children’s races set new participants record, altogether 3347 children participated in the children’s events.

This year the first place of SEB 31st Tartu Rattaralli went to Denmark. Rene Joergensen from team Christina Watches – ONFONE was the first to cross the finish line. Second place went to Janek Tombak (Estonia) and third place to Oskari Kargu. Fastest woman of SEB 31st Tartu Rattaralli was Grete Treier who placed 32nd in the overall ranking.

Course of Tartu Rattaralli is appreciated among foreigners also. Rene Mandri, the winner of the SEB Tartu Grand Prix 2012 says: “My teammates also like the course a lot and they enjoy riding by numerous forests.” Mandri also adds that Tartu Rattaralli is compulsory for road racers: “Riding on the course of Tartu Rattaralli is pure pleasure and there is no better time to find your bike and hit the road.”

De Gendt wins as Wiggins holds Paris-Nice lead

NICE — Belgium's Thomas de Gendt won the seventh and penultimate stage of the Paris-Nice here Saturday with a lead of more than six minutes over Estonia's Rein Taaramae and nine minutes over the peloton.

Bradley Wiggins retained the race leader's yellow jersey, on the eve of Sunday's 9.6 km uphill time trial from Nice to the Col d'Eze, putting him on course to become the race's first British winner since Tom Simpson in 1967.

At 219.5 km, Saturday's stage from Sisteron to Nice was the longest of the race.

Vacansoleil rider De Gendt and Cofidis' Taaramae broke from the peloton in the 48th kilometre and stretched their advantage to almost 13 minutes.

Fifty-six kilometres from the finishing line, De Gendt outdistanced the Estonian as they neared the summit of the Col de Vence, and pulled further ahead as they began the long ride down into Nice.

De Gendt has sported the number 103 in the race, which he noted had proven lucky before.

"It's the same one I had last year when I won the first stage," he said.

Cyclists prepare for Eastern Europe's biggest race

Claiming to be Eastern Europe's largest road cycling event, the Estonian Cycling Weekend will commence its 10th year with a boom from the starting gun next week.

The action begins with a 186-kilometer trip from Tallinn to Tartu on May 27. On the following day, competitive cyclists will race around Tartu, and on May 29, thousands will tour the hilly southern Estonian landscape.

"The occasion got its start from a desire to bring top-level professional cyclists to Estonia, to offer local stars a quality competition, and to bring cycling into the mainstream spotlight," said spokesman Uko Urb.

A number of important international cycling clubs have found their way to the event in recent years, including AG2R, Oktos, Cofidis, Landbouwcredit Colnago and Jartazi. The races will also give Estonian cyclists a chance to collect points for entry into London's Olympic Games.

Ott Tammik

Crocodile Trophy 4 : A first for Kirsipuu

Up until now Estonian superstar Jaan Kirsipuu has taken a back seat at the Crocodile Trophy. However, the flat terrain towards the bush outpost of Chillagoe suited him perfectly and he claimed his first stage win.

Austrian Philipp Ludescher came in second and Allan Oras (EST) followed in third.

It was in 1999 that Kirsipuu achieved the first Tour de France stage win for Estonia. In 2010 he succeeded in the Crocodile Trophy with a finishing time of 4:55.03. Just like in his prime as a sprinter, the elevenfold Estonian Champion prevailed on 157 long, but mostly flat kilometres against seven opponents. Fellow Estonian Allan Oras completed the fantastic team result with a third place.

“To be the stage winner feels great," said Kirsipuu. "Especially because I thought that Bart would be the right man in the right place of that finishing corner. That's why I had tried to get away several times for the last 5 kilometres and I succeeded at the third attempt."

So far he had been “only” the leader of his age masters category, but now Kirsipuu is keen. “The coming flat stages should suit me even better”, he said, obviously fancying a few more top rankings.

Whilst racers kept coming across the finish line, Sydney-rider Peter Clayton from Dee Why sat in the emergency room of Mareeba hospital. He had crashed 15km before the third depot and arrived there with terrible pain in his hand. His supporting uncle took him to get X-rays done – diagnosis: broken thumb. However, the determined Croc-racer didn't want to give up. He had his uncle drop him off again and he continued his race from where he had been forced to pause it. As the last rider of the day, he finally crossed the finish line with a cheeky smile.

Roche still in hunt on Volta a Catalunya

Nicolas Roche finished in the peloton in Thursday's fourth stage of the Volta a Catalunya, which was won by German Jens Voigt.

SaxoBank rider Voight pipped Estonia's Rein Taaramae to earn victory in a dramatic uphill sprint duel at the end of the 209.7km stage from Oliana to Asco. It is Voigt's first stage win since a serious accident in last year's Tour de France.

Opening stage winner Paul Voss of Germany led a bunch of two dozen chasers - including Roche - across the line for third, 34 seconds later.

Roche has dropped one place in the overall standings to fifth position, 1'20" behind leader Rodriguez.

Spaniard Joaquim Rodriguez retained his overall lead for the second successive day, but compatriot Xavier Tondo continues to shadow Rodriguez closely and is just is 10 seconds behind.

After receiving congratulations from race hostesses wearing traditional 'gandella' head-dresses, Voigt told reporters that as a result of his terrible Tour de France crash in July, he had not ridden his bike for two months.

Formerly retired Estonian rider wins first tour stage

Samantha Lane

JAAN Kirsipuu retired from professional cycling three years ago aged 37 and seemingly satisfied with being regarded as one of Estonia's most successful athletes. After being a national champion eight years running, wearing the yellow jersey for six days in the 1999 Tour de France and winning four stages in the world's most famous bike race, bowing out seemed perfectly reasonable.

Yesterday, a couple of months after turning 40 and in the unlikely setting of Ballarat, Kirsipuu was the surprise winner of the first stage of this year's Herald Sun tour.

In victory, which came after 149 kilometres of racing, he proved that the staying power that made him so successful a decade ago is still there. To win Kirsipuu had to hold off the best sprinter in the best team entered in the race, Chris Sutton of ProTour outfit Garmin-Slipstream, who is 15 years his junior.

In a short-lived retirement, Kirsipuu became manager of a Latvian cycling team, but the itch for competing had not been entirely scratched. At the beginning of this year he took up with a Norwegian outfit, then moved to Malaysian team LeTua, which has a UCI Continental licence and for which he won yesterday.

Kirsipuu võidutses Saaremaa velotuuri proloogil

Eile Tartus alanud jalgratturite mitmepäevasõidu Saaremaa velotuuri proloogi võitis Jaan Kirsipuu.

Varem kahel korral Saaremaa velotuuri võitnud Kirsipuu kulutas 4,8 km läbimiseks täpselt 6 minutit. Esikolmikusse jõudsid veel Martin Puusepp ja Ain-Alar Juhanson, kes kaotasid Kirsipuule vastavalt 11 ja 13 sekundit.

«Arvasin, et Ervin Korts-Laur võidab proloogi ära, sest ta tegi eelmisel nädalal väga tugeva temposõidu,» rääkis Kirsipuu, lisades, et eelnevalt kardetud konkurent tuli millegipärast vale rattaga sõitma ja seepärast ilmselt ka kaotas.

End teisipäeval suhteliselt hästi tundnud Kirsipuu ütles, et proloogil välja sõidetud 11 sekundiline edu on suur ja ei ole ka. «Saaremaa velotuuril võib juhtuda palju asju,» tõdes rattaäss.

Tema sõnul võib olla küljetuulega vales kohas, mõni rattakumm võib puruneda ning võibki heast kohast ilma olla. «Õnneks on meil siiski küllalt tugev tiim, kes suudab selliseid äpardusi vältida, kuid selget ei ole proloogi järel veel midagi,» lisas Kirsipuu.

Saaremaa velotuuri tänane etapp viib ratturid Tartust Viljandisse, mitmepäevasõit lõppeb laupäeval Kuressaares.

Toimetas Madis Kalvet

Kirsipuu (not an old man yet !) wins Tartu Rattamaraton

Jaan Kirsipuu from Estonia proved the fastest man at the 11th SEB Tartu Rattamaraton when he took his third consecutive win. His time over 89km was 2.42.49. Second place went to the young Martin Loo from Estonia at 2.42.50. Ivan Seledkov from Russia finished third in 2.43.17.

Kirsipuu, the retired professional road racer, took the highest place after a sprint finish with Loo. The pair held a safe lead over the rest of the chasers for the last quarter of the race.

Tartu Rattamaraton is the biggest mountain bike event in Baltic States. This year more than 4,700 people registered for 89km race. The race is organized by the Club Tartu Maraton. The same club will host the European Championships in Mountain Bike Marathon in 2009.

In France, we love you Jaan ! Carry on showing .... you are great ....

Mart Ojavee (Estonia Kalev Chocolate) wins the fourth stage of the FBD Insurance Rás

* Après sa victoire mardi lors de la troisième étape de la course cycliste FDB Insurance Ras, le champion canadien a terminé deuxième lors de la quatrième étape mercredi en se faisant devancer d'une demi-roue par l'Estonien Mart Ojavee (Estonia Kalev Chocolate) à l'issue de 138 kilomètres entre Sligo et Dungloe, en Irlande.

À cause de travaux effectués sur la chaussée, les trois derniers kilomètres étaient différents de ce qui était annoncé dans les documents officiels de la course. En conséquence, le cycliste de Boucherville a dû puiser encore plus dans ses réserves pour arracher cette deuxième place.

«Ils (les organisateurs) ne nous ont pas avertis que les derniers kilomètres étaient plus sinueux que prévu, a-t-il dit. C'était le chaos pour préparer le sprint. Un trou s'est formé dans le «lead out» d'une des équipes et j'ai été coincé derrière des gars qui venaient de lever le pied après avoir terminé leur effort.

«J'ai donc dû les contourner et amorcer mon sprint à 200 m de l'arrivée au bas d'une bosse, a-t-il poursuivi. Même si j'étais déjà une quinzaine de mètres derrière les deux premiers, j'ai quand même pu en rattraper un.»

Jaan ja Monika šoppasid koos

Kaarel Tigas, Greta Kaupmees

Pensionile jäänud profiratturit Jaan Kirsipuud ja tantsutreener Monika Tuvi on viimasel ajal nähtud pidudel teineteise seltskonda nautimas ning täna Viru Keskuses koos šoppamas.

Möödunud sügisel kolmandat korda isaks saanud Kirsipuu jäi koos Tuviga kaamerasilma ette esimest korda neljapäeval ajakirja FHM peol ning samal õhtul klubis Hollywood. Paar oli kogu aeg teineteise kõrval, ööklubis lausa teineteise külge klammerdunud. Ei jäänud kahtlust, et midagi susiseb.

Neid kahte on koos nähtud ka Tartu ööklubis Atlantis ning selle nädala kolmapäeval klubis Hollywood.

"c'est une joie de rallier une équipe comme Ag2r, dont on dit chez nous qu'elle est un peu estonienne."

* On a connu Jaan Kirsipuu, meilleur ambassadeur sportif de l'Estonie dans le monde du cyclisme. On va devoir dorénavant se familiariser avec le nom de René Mandri. A 22 ans, ce dernier fait partie de la génération montante de son pays en compagnie de Rein Taaramae, petit prodige de la Roue d'Or Saint-Amandoise, sur lequel Cofidis à déjà pris une option. Vainqueur des Monts du Lubéron, pour ses débuts professionnels cette saison sous les couleurs d'Auber 93, et acteur d'un bon Tour de l'Avenir, l'ex sociétaire de l'EC Saint-Etienne Loire s'apprête à faire la découverte du ProTour au sein d'une équipe Ag2r Prévoyance plus que jamais ambitieuse. Le coureur balte, qui a déjà fait la démonstration de belles dispositions sur les routes de l'Hexagone, devrait selon toute logique s'avérer un renfort très apprécié au sein du groupe de Vincent Lavenu, déjà très riche

en éléments de valeurs.

René, vous êtes tout juste de retour en France après votre coupure survenue au lendemain du Mondial ?
"Je viens tout juste de réintégrer Aix-les-Bains et la France après deux mois en Estonie. Un grand plaisir d'abord, il faut l'avouer, de retrouver les miens ainsi que les amis. Après une coupure d'un mois environ, j'ai repris l'entraînement depuis quasiment quatre semaines. Le climat n'était pas des plus propices à la pratique du vélo de route dans mon pays à cette époque, alors j'ai préféré faire du VTT sur les routes parfois un peu enneigées. 1000 kilomètres environ. Autrement, j'ai eu la surprise d'être fêté par mon club formateur de Jögeva pour ma médaille d'argent remportée au Championnat d'Europe en ligne de Valkenburg en juillet.

Semaine Jaan Kirsipuu

* A l'occasion du retrait des pelotons de Jaan Kirsipuu, Cyclismag consacrera les loupes de la semaine autour de la carrière du coureur estonien. Aujourd'hui, le cyclisme dans les Pays Baltes, en Estonie.

Le cyclisme estonien

Comme ses voisins baltes le cyclisme estonien fait parler de lui dès les débuts des Soviétiques dans les pelotons professionnels puisque Tomas Kirsipuu passe pro en 1989 chez Kelme. L'expérience ne durera qu'un an, mais c'est bientôt son frère, Jaan, qui va faire parler de lui.
Passé chez les amateurs en France, il rejoint l'équipe Chazal en 1992 et va faire de la France son terrain de prédilection, particulièrement la Coupe de France (voir Loupe du 09/10/2006) et les courses à étapes (voir Loupe du 14/10/2006). Avec près de 130 victoires au compteur, Jaan Kirsipuu a marqué le cyclisme de la fin des années 1990 et du début des années 2000.
Lauri Aus et Janek Tombak ont suivi la même voie que Kirsipuu en faisant le bonheur de leur employeur français. Les Estonien comptent moins de succès de prestige que leurs voisins baltes, mais la future génération s'avère très prometteuse et compte des coureurs très complet. René Mandri a montré de belles promesses pour sa première année aux côtés des pros chez Auber 93 et va maintenant découvrir le Pro Tour chez AG2R. Pour leur première année chez les espoirs Tanel Kangert et Rein Taaramäe ont réalisé des performances plus qu'encourageantes. Le dernier cité a semé la terreur dans les peloton français remportant notamment deux Coupe de France.
Parallèlement, l'Estonie s'est également investit structurellement dans le cyclisme. L'équipe continentale Kalev existe depuis 2004. Des courses UCI sont organisées à Tartu et Tallinn depuis 2002 et sont maintenant classées en 1re catégorie. Enfin, l'Estonie a organisé les championnats d'Europe espoirs 2004 à Otepää.

Was it Jaan's last victory ?

www.etvsport.ee valis eelmise nädala parimaks sportlaseks maanteerattur Jaan Kirsipuu, kes võitis Etoile de Besseges’i velotuuril kaks etappi.

Credit Agricole proff Kirsipuu on varem teatanud, et tänavune hooaeg võib jääda tema jaoks viimaseks suures spordis, kuid aasta alguses on 36-aastase eestlane tõestanud oma teravust.

Other :

Lisaks Kirsipuule alustas Prantsusmaal uut hooaega Auber 93 uusproff Rene Mandri, kes hooaja avavõistlusel pälvis 9. koha, saades finišis sama aja mis võitja Baden Cooke Austraaliast. Teistest Eesti maanteeratturitest teenis Ag2r-i Erki Pütsep Malaisa velotuuri etapil teise ning Aqua & Sapone Andrus Aug Itaalias neljanda koha.

Le Tour de Langkawi and Ag2r Prevoyance

KUALA LUMPUR -- French professional continental team Ag2r Prevoyance (Ag2r) will be making their second appearance in the 11th edition of the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) from Feb 3 to 12.

"We know what Ag2r are capable of. They are, arguably, the top professional continental (division two) outfit in the world, almost at the same level as some of the Pro Tour teams," said First Cartel managing director Imran Abdullah.

Imran said the French outfit, who were seasoned campaigners in the Tour de France, have an interesting riders line-up for the upcoming Tour.

"They will bring their two promising riders -- Putstep and Vaitkus -- who are no pushovers in the pro circles. Although it is early in the season, I expect Ag2r will put in a strong challenge for the honours in this year's LTdL," he said in a statement Wednesday.

The two riders who could hold the key to AG2R success in LTdL are Estonia's Erki Putstep and Lithuania's Tomas Vaitkus.

Putstep, 29, a late starter in professional cycling arena, turned pro with Ag2r in 2003.

While Vaitkus, who was the world point race champion, joined the professional outfit, also in 2003. He won the Lithuania's road race and time trial champion in 2004.

The team will also feature Laurent Mangel, 22, who previously made waves as an amateur cyclist in the Elite II (the French national division two category).

Also in the squad is the 20-year-old Julien Loubet, who have already established himself as one of the big French riders of the future.

He was the French under-23 national road race champion in 2004 and he did not wait long to register his first win as a professional when he bagged the Ronde du Sidobre race last year.

The team will also introduce their newly signed up riders, Carl Naibo and Renaud Dion.

Besides Ag2r, the other French team for this year's tour are Credit Agricole and Bouygues Telecom which have confirmed their participation earlier.

Imran said the 11th edition will also witness an interesting battle of young guns featuring Colombia Selle Italia's Jose Rujano, Credit Agricole's Saul Raisin and Bouygues Telecom's Sebastien Chavanel.

The 10-stage Hors category LTdL begins in Kuala Lumpur on Feb 3 and takes the peloton through 1,161.7km of scenic routes both urban and rural, throughout the west coast of the peninsula, before ending with the traditional Kuala Lumpur criterium on Feb 12.

BERNAMA

Kirsipuu outsprints Poland rivals

BYDGOSZCZ, Poland (Reuters) -- Estonia's Jaan Kirsipuu reminded his rivals he is still one of the fastest riders in the pack when he sprinted to victory in the third stage of the Tour of Poland on Wednesday.

The 36-year-old surged with 200 meters to go and hung on to reach the finish ahead of Italian Luca Paolini and Dutchman Max Van Heeswijk.

Paolini retained the overall leader's jersey after the 212 km ride from Ostroda to Bydgoszcz.

"It was the kind of finish I like. There was a small climb and the wind was blowing against us," said Kirsipuu who clinched his 122nd professional success and eighth in the Tour of Poland.

"I decided to stay behind Max van Heeswijk and to follow his pace. With 200 metres to go I made my move and I passed him," said a smiling Kirsipuu.

"It's good to win .............

27th and 28th of May : GP Tartu and GP Tallinn

SEB ÜHISPANGA TARTU GRAND PRIX 2005
UCI cl. ME 1.1
183 km Tartu - Otepää- Tartu

PROGRAMME

Thursday, May 26th 2005
SEB Ühispanga Tartu GP 2005 Race Office at Club Atlantis conference centre (Narva Rd 2, Tartu)
15:00 - 18:00	Checking of licenses and distribution of start numbers. Information for teams.
18:30 - 18:50	Press conference
19:00 - 19:30	Team Managers' Meeting
19:00 - 21:00	Supper in hotels
Friday, May 27th 2005
SEB Ühispanga Tartu GP 2005 Race Office at the start/finish area (next to Turu str 8, Tartu)
7:00 - 10:00	Breakfast in hotels
10:00 - 10:50	Handout of Radio Tour transmitters in Team parking lot
10:10 - 10:50	Signing of starting lists on the podium
11:00	Start
12:20 - 12:30	1st sprint at Otepää, in front of the Sport Centre on 58th km
13:15 - 13:25	2nd sprint at Otepää, in front of the Sport Centre (4. lap) on 97th km
15:30	Expected finish of the race in Tartu, in front of Tartu Sports´ Hall
15:35	Awarding ceremony 5 min after the winner's finish Public press conference for 3 best riders on the podium
15:30 - 17:00	Sauna in Aura Centre's Health Club (with participant's accreditation card)
15:30 - 17:00	Payout of prize money and travel compensation by the podium
16:00 - 18:00	Dinner in hotels
17:00 - 22:00	Teams' transportation from Tartu to Tallinn
Saturday, May 28th 2005
EOS Tallinn GP 2005 Race Office at Hotel Metropol, 7th floor (Mere pst.8B, Tallinn)
8:15 - 9:15	Checking of licenses and distribution of start numbers.
10:00	Team Managers' Meeting
13:00	Start
17:15	Expected finish of the race
19:00 - 22:30	Teams' transportation from Tallinn to Tartu
22:00 - 23:00	Supper in hotels
Sunday, May 29th 2005
SEB Ühispanga 24. Tartu Rattaralli Race Office at Tartu Sports Hall
7:00 - 10:00	Breakfast in hotels
11:00	Start for 133 km
14:10	Expected finish of the race
15:00	Awarding ceremony for 12 best riders
15:00 - 17:00	Payout of the prize money and traveling compensation by the podium
15:00 - 17:00	Dinner in hotels

Organizer: Klubi Tartu Maraton

KIRSIPUU SUR LE FIL

VÕIT !
SUUREPÄRANE !

1re étape : Liège - Charleroi
202.5 km
17h20 Le podium du jour

1. Jaan Kirsipuu (AG2R) 2. Robbie Mc Ewen (LOT) 3. Hushovd (CA)

17h17 Victoire de Kirsipuu au sprint

Jaan Kirsipuu (AG2R), le LOUP Estonien de Chambéry, s'impose à Charleroi au terme d'un sprint massif. L'Estonien a devancé d'extrême justesse l'Australien McEwen (Lotto) et le Norvégien Hushovd (Crédit Agricole). Kirsipuu, 34 ans, s'est adjugé la 4e victoire d'étape de sa carrière sur la Grande Boucle.

Kirsipuu wins opening stage

Full stage 1 results

Estonia's Jaan Kirsipuu took the opening stage of the Tour de France by the narrowest of margins in a sprint finish at Charleroi.
Australia's Robbie McEwen and Norway's Thor Hushovd took second and third respectively after a photo finish.

The 202.5km stage, starting in Liege, witnessed several crashes including Mario Cipollini and Bernhard Eisel.

Fabian Cancellara retained the yellow jersey after finishing as part of a crowded peloton.

Race favourite Lance Armstrong finished safely in 48th position to record the same time as Kirsipuu, dropping back to third place overall.

Hushovd moved to second overall, four seconds behind Cancellara.

"The sprint was incredible for me," said Kirsipuu after his fourth stage win on the Tour de France.
"I am really, really happy."

Australia's Bradley McGee, last year's prologue winner, suffered with back problems and finished more than six minutes behind the leaders.

In addition to Cipollini and Eisel, there were accidents for Spain's Oscar Sevilla and France's Guillaume Auger and Nicolas Jalabert.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/cycling/3865151.stm

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