Valverde wins Dauphine Libere

Eurosport - Sun, 14 Jun 21:59:00 2009

Controversial Spaniard Alejandro Valverde won his second successive Dauphine Libere while the eighth and final stage - a 146-kilometre run from Faverges to Grenoble - was won by Dutchman Stef Clement.

CYCLING Alejandro Valverde (centre) with Alberto Contado (l) and Cadel Evans (r) - 0

Australia's Cadel Evans finished second in the general classification for the third year running, with Spain's 2007 Tour de France champion Alberto Contador third.

Despite not having won a stage in the race, as he did en route to victory in the 2008 Dauphine, Caisse d'Epargne rider Valverde dominated proceedings after taking the lead from Evans on Thursday.

The 29-year-old benefited from Contador's efforts to neutralise Evans in the mountains in a bid to demonstrate his dominance over the Australian prior to the start of this year's Tour de France on July 4.

At the summit of the last climb on Sunday, Valverde rested his hand on Contador's shoulder as if to thank him for his support, after Evans had made several vain attempts to accelerate away during the ascent.

Valverde, however, faces a worldwide two-year ban if cycling's world ruling body the UCI acts upon evidence yet to be delivered by the Italian sporting authorities about his alleged involvement in the Operation Puerto doping affair.

Italy's Olympic Committee has already banned him from racing on Italian soil, ruling him out of the Tour de France, which passes through Italy's Val D'Aosta region on July 21.

Valverde has repeatedly proclaimed his innocence and is expected to launch an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

"This time last year when I won the Dauphine I sat in this very same press room and spoke about winning the Tour," Valverde said.

"This time round, all I can say is that I hope to go to the Tour and that everything gets decided beforehand."

"But all I can do for now is wait. "It's a very difficult situation and very frustrating but I try not to get angry," the 29-year-old added.

"Almost everything that has happened to me in this case is unjust, but I get a lot of support from my team, I'm sure it'll work out well at the end."

In Sunday's 146km final stage, German time-trial world champion Bert Grabsch enjoyed a long spell as leader before being reeled in 37km from the finish.

Clement, who rides for Rabobank, and America's Timothy Duggan took to the front and were joined by France's Sebastien Joly, all three having been members of an initial 28-man breakaway.

Joly sought to sprint free from his two fellow front-runners with 1500 metres to go, only for the 26-year-old Clement to prevail in the dash to the line.

"I've never won a road race before, just lots of time trials, so when I got into today's break I was determined not to let this one get away," the 2007 world time trial bronze medallist said.

Stage eight results:

1. Stef Clement (Netherlands / Rabobank ) 3h 30m 17s

2. Tim Duggan (U.S. / Garmin ) same time

3. Sebastien Joly (France / Francaise des Jeux ) +2"

4. Adam Hansen (Australia / Columbia ) +1:31"

5. Aliaksandr Kuchynski (Belarus / Liquigas )

6. Igor Anton (Spain / Euskaltel ) +1:33"

7. David Moncoutie (France / Cofidis ) +1:56"

8. Daniele Righi (Italy / Lampre )

9. Hubert Dupont (France / AG2R ) +1:58"

10. Maarten Wynants (Belgium / Quick-Step ) +2:05"

Overall results:

1. Alejandro Valverde (Spain / Caisse d'Epargne ) 26h 33m 15s

2. Cadel Evans (Australia / Silence - Lotto ) +16"

3. Alberto Contador (Spain / Astana ) +1:18"

AFP

Comment 33 - 52 of 52

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  1. Contador lost credibility when he repeatedly pulled­ back Evans to help out Valverde. Contador had no­ reason to do this, he was already in 3rd, he didn't­ attack Evans for 2nd or even 1st on GC, he blatenly­ rode for Valverde who sat in the wheels the whole day­ Saturday. For the first time ever, Evans tried to­ attack a yellow jersey but he was pulled back by­ Contador working ofr his compatriot but NOT team mate. ­

    These things happen but in my opionion it wasn't­ very sporting of Contador and Evan's should have­ bashed him for doing it!

    From mcreedle1, on Tue 16 Jun 9:14AM

  2. Phillip C - I think that's a little harsh, as there­ was some exciting racting, not least on Mt Ventoux. ­ Sadly, the timing of the Dauphine is such that the top­ riders will never go "full bore" (as Mr Kelly­ would put it), for fear of depleting enegery levels and­ adversely affecting the form they're building for­ the Tour. Although curiously, the top riders are­ designated team leaders, when perhaps it would be­ better for them to ride in support of another rider?

    From pedro118118, on Tue 16 Jun 9:12AM

  3. Quite possibly the most boring stage race I have ever­ witnessed. The UCI should declare it null & void.­ Completely fixed. PS I'm sorry Cadel, but­ you'll never win a Tour.You just can't do a­ sustained breakaway.philc

    From Phillip C, on Mon 15 Jun 9:49PM

  4. Actually I said riders. What I should have said was­ athletes because you know a bunch of those bags were­ from other sports that they never talk about like maybe­ soccer.

    From chad, on Mon 15 Jun 5:16PM

  5. There is this thing that riders liked to do which they­ do not feel is cheating they would drain a couple of­ bags of blood in a bag when there oxygen levels where­ high and then when there oxygen was depleted they would­ transfuse there own blood back into themselves to boost­ there levels. This according to the doctor was for­ there good health. From what I gather there were no­ laws in Spain prohibiting this practice.

    From chad, on Mon 15 Jun 5:04PM

  6. Deja vu, anybody. At least this time we don't have­ to hear him being talked up for the tour.

    From loriblack18, on Mon 15 Jun 4:56PM

  7. so how did the italians get hold of the Puerto bags /­ DNA samples? Presumably they must have them in order to­ match it to Valverde's DNA taken at races. Anyone­ know?

    From keir_williams, on Mon 15 Jun 2:44PM

  8. Actually the "evidence" doesn't exist at­ all. Operation Puerto was an investigation into the­ possibility that patients health were being put at risk­ through questionable medical practices. It is likely­ that the authorities took this tact because at the time­ there were no laws in Spain prohibiting Blood Doping.­ Once it was established that the procedures were being­ conducted in accordance with existing medical protocol,­ there was no more case.

    Since the blood bags seized­ are no longer part of a criminal investigation, the­ Judge ruled that they are not evidence, and cannot be­ used as evidence in any other case. Technically they­ belong to the donors,

    From ai, on Mon 15 Jun 1:31PM

  9. Its not fair that Valverde is kept waiting. These­ accusations need to be investigated quikly and an­ outcome given. If he is found guilty of malpractice we­ may as well give up on cycling as he has always come­ across as a fair rider

    From kellyseamus43, on Mon 15 Jun 1:28PM

  10. Fair play to Evans - he has attacked over the last­ couple of stages. Thing is, he had little to loose­ (apart from his podium place on GC I suppose), so was­ still in keeping with his no risk approach. He lost­ the race by riding too conservatively on the Vountoux. ­ Frankly, he never once looked like putting AV or AC in­ diffulculty, but it was more entertaining to watch.

    From pedro118118, on Mon 15 Jun 9:59AM

  11. Does anyone know how the Italians got hold of the DNA­ from the Puerto bags? I know they took Valverdes DNA­ from when he raced in italy, but no-one has yet­ explained how they managed to get the details of the­ Puerto bags.

    From keir_williams, on Mon 15 Jun 9:32AM

  12. Good to see Evans trying, but come the Tour he and his­ team will not be in the running.
    Contador, Armstrong,­ Schleck - too many better riders.
    Cyclecrank co uk

    From cyclecrank70, on Mon 15 Jun 9:29AM

  13. To ai--- not the same. this is not guilt by association­ supposedly the Italians matched his blood to bags found­ in Puerto. Get your facts straight and stop making­ false comparisons.

    From chad, on Mon 15 Jun 7:24AM

  14. Cavemanleong-- We hear the same from Cadel fans every­ Year. I don't think the peleton will even afford­ him a podium this year or maybe not even top 5. Well­ good luck anyway.

    From chad, on Mon 15 Jun 7:19AM

  15. I feel bad for Cadel. Getting tagged teamed by two­ Spaniards can't be very pleasant. At least now no­ one can say Cadel Evans doesn't ever attack. You­ really can't win against two riders who are not so­ much as riding for their own team but for their fellow­ countryman as well. But if Cadel's current form is­ anything to go by, watch out for him at the Tour.

    From cavemanleong, on Mon 15 Jun 3:50AM

  16. Sastre evans schlecks contador great tour in store.

    From iancampbell11, on Sun 14 Jun 11:38PM

  17. Does anyone else think Valverde was checking­ Contador's neck size - for his complimentary Caisse­ D'Epargne jersey ?

    From ffogil, on Sun 14 Jun 10:12PM

  18. Evans hasn't got the kick and everyone knows that -­ he's v. competent, but just hasn't got what it­ takes to win the TDF.
    The Schlecks, Contador and­ Armstrong (who has been written off by everyone) are­ the ones to beat for me.

    From waynelynn, on Sun 14 Jun 9:49PM

  19. I was sceptical about someone's comment about­ Caisse D'Epargne riding for Contador in the Tour­ but now I am not so sure should Astana not make him­ no.1, but I definitely wouldn't bet against him­ riding for them next year.

    From jbandbetsymac, on Sun 14 Jun 6:56PM

  20. Cadel looked strong in this race and Contodor not as­ strong as usual. i thinnk Cadel will be in good shape­ for the TDF but i do not think he will be able to keep­ up with the Shleck brothers and Contodor in the high­ mountains day after day without good tema mates.

    From allan c, on Sun 14 Jun 6:44PM
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