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Westra on the podium in the Volta ao Algarve's GC
Vacansoleil-DCM’s Lieuwe Westra on Bianchi Pico Crono Carbon placed fourth at Volta ao Algarve's fourth and final stage, a 34,8 km-ITT from Marim to Tavira (Portugal) on Sunday, February 17th. Dutch rider clocked 46:25, one minute and 16 seconds slower than Tony Martin, stage and race winner.
Thanks to the result in the final ITT Westra kept the third position in the GC. Vacansoleil-DCM's rider, third placed in the penultimate stage on saddle of Bianchi Oltre XR as well, closed the race one second behind Michal Kwiatkowski and 59 behind Martin.
Reda gave an encore taking final podium at Tour Méditerranéen
Italian Francesco Reda on Bianchi Sempre Pro clinched the second position for the second day in a row at Tour Méditerranéen fifth stage, 192 km from Bandol to Grasse (France), on Sunday, February 10th.
As happened the day before on the Mount Faron, Androni Giocattoli’s rider was one of the strongest on the last climb, in the wake of today winner, Belgian Jurgen Roelandts.
Thanks to the runner-up placement in the final stage (fourth podium overall for Androni Giocattoli and Bianchi Sempre Pro in 2013), Reda went up to the third position in the General Classification.
Tour Méditerranéen’s: Reda is second on Mount Faron stage-4
Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela’s Francesco Reda on Bianchi Sempre Pro took second at Tour Méditerranéen stage-4, 145 km from Rousset to Mount Faron (France), on Saturday, February 9th.
Reda displayed imporessively on the final climb, best placed of the chasing group behind the stage winner Jean-Christophe Peraud. The 30-year-old Italian rider preceded Bauke Mollema and Alexandre Geniez.
Androni Giocattoli and Bianchi Sempre Pro bikes got today the third podium placement in 2013: Miguel Angel Rubiano Chavez had taken third at Tour de San Luis' stage-5 on January 25th, whilst Francesco Gavazzi clinched success at Argentinian race’s final stage two days later.
Markus clinched third at Tour of Qatar’s final stage
Vacansoleil-DCM’s Barry Markus on Bianchi Oltre XR took third at Tour of Qatar’s stage-6, 116 km from Sealine Beach Resort to Doha Corniche (Qatar), on Friday, February 8th. His teammate Kenny Robert Van Hummel placed sixth.
Markus, 21-year-old from Amsterdam (Netherlands), reaffirmed his sprinter’s skills by taking a third notable result in Asia – after runner-up placements in the third and fourth stage – and finished second behind the Mark Cavendish in the Points classification.
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Markus grazes victory again at Tour of Qatar’s stage-4
Dutch Barry Markus on Bianchi Oltre XR placed second at Tour of Qatar’s stage-4, 160 km from Camel Race Track to Al Khor Corniche (Qatar), on Wednesday, February 6th.
Twenty-four hours later, team Vacansoleil-DCM’s rider pushed Mark Cavendish the closest again in the bunch sprint, preceeding Italian Andrea Guardini. Markus had been runner-up on the Tour of Qatar’s third stage as well.
The 21-year-old Dutchman got the third seasonal Top-5 placement in Al Khor Corniche.
Barry Markus takes second at Tour of Qatar’s stage-3
Team Vacansoleil-DCM’s Barry Markus on Bianchi Oltre XR clinched second at Tour of Qatar’s stage-3, 143 km from Al Wakra to Masaieed (Qatar), on Tuesday, February 5th.
The Dutch rider sprinted for victory crossing the white line behind the former world champion Mark Cavendish.
It was the second seasonal Top-5 placement for the 21-year-old athlete from Amsterdam, after the fifth position at Tour Down Under’s stage-4 in Tanunda (Australia) last January 25th.
Westra placed third at Etoile de Bessèges final ITT
Vacansoleil-DCM's Lieuwe Westra on Bianchi Pico Crono Carbon took third at Etoile de Bessèges’ final stage, an ITT in Ales (France) on Sunday, February 3rd. The Dutch rider covered the 9,7 km course in 15:08, 23 seconds behind stage winner Anthony Roux.
Westra's teammate Frederik Veuchelen, on Pico Crono Carbon as well, placed seventh with a 15:20 time.
In Etoile de Bessèges GC, Westra moved up to the eighth position, whilst Veuchelen placed 13th.
Leukemans is fifth at Etoile de Bessèges’ third stage in France
Team Vacansoleil-DCM’s Bjorn Leukemans on Bianchi Oltre XR took fifth at Etoile de Bessèges' third stage, 152 km in Bessèges’ nearby (France), on Friday, February 1st. Belgian went up to fifth position in the GC as well.
Leukemans was part of a 11-rider breakaway together with his teammate Bert-Jan Lindeman, tenth placed in Bessegès and sixth overall after three stages. Team Vacansoleil-DCM is third in the Teams Classification.
In the opening stage, 154 km from Bellegarde to Beaucaire, Kris Boeckmans on Oltre XR had gone close to podium, clinching fourth.
