Roman Kreuziger - Team Liquigas

Breakaway in vain

Wed April 21, 2010, 18:19

Roman was close to achieving a great success at the 74th edition of La Fleche Wallonne in Belgium. With 28 kilometers to go he broke away in a four-rider group but they were chased down by another strong group with three kilometers remaining.

Together with Roman, Frank Schleck (Ag2R), David Loosli (Lampre) and Bram Tankink (Rabobank) were in the breakaway. “Unfortunately for me and Frank, the two others were not interested in pulling. They were told not to speed it by their teams because Lampre was supposed to ride for Cunego and Rabobank for Gesink. If they had been pulling they might have finished, maybe, third and fourth but they drew a blank. There’s nothing that can be done now. But if Ivanov, for example, had been in the group with us, I am convinced that we would have pulled that off to the finish. I am not saying I would have won but chances were high,” Roman admitted. 
When the chasing group with the other favorites swallowed them he knew that it was all over. He eased off on the last climb on Mur de Huy. “I was riding casually next to the BMC team’s car and watched the last meters of the race on the TV inside the car,” he revealed. Everyone was happy in the BMC camp because the current world champion Cadel Evans clinched the victory. 
All in all, Roman was pleased with his performance. "I think I showed myself in a positive way. I am in good form and I can only look forward to the Sunday’s Liege-Bastogne-Liege. I showed that I am not scared to figure something out even though it didn’t work out. As a team we did a good job in today’s race. Too bad for Nibali, who was in the front, that he didn’t manage to keep up with the favorites in the last 100 meters.” 
Results (195.5 km): 1th Evans (Aus/BMC) 4:39:24, 2nd Rodriguez (Sp/Katusha), 3rd Contador (Spa/Astana) , 4th Anton (Spa/Euskaltel) +6, 5th Cunego (Lampre) +9, 6th Gilbert (Bel/Lotto), 7th Horner (USA/Radioshack), 8th Valverde (Spa/Caisse d’Epargne) +11, ... 94th Roman Kreuziger (Cze/Liquigas-Doimo) +2:39.

This article is also translated :
Únik bohužel nevydržel
Fleche Wallonne: inutile fuga per Kreuziger - Translated by: A&J Sport as Image