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Brajkovic springs Dauphine surprise
June 14, 2010, Monday
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SLOVENIA'S Janez Brajkovic won the Criterium du Dauphine yesterday, putting an eloquent case for inclusion in Lance Armstrong's team at next month's Tour de France.
The former under-24 world time-trial champion, who won Wednesday's 49-kilometer individual time trial, held off the challenge of Tour de France champion Alberto Contador to score his first major victory in a stage race.
The 26-year-old Brajkovic is not yet certain to be on his RadioShack team's roster for the Tour, which starts on July 3, but he undoubtedly improved his chances.
"It's a good thing for me. Let's hope I can do the Tour this year. If not, maybe next year," he said after crossing the line in Sallanches, France, in the final, 148-km stage.
Brajkovic, who has spent almost his entire professional career under the guidance of Armstrong's team director Johan Bruyneel, finished one minute 41 seconds ahead of Spain's Contador overall.
Third place went to American Tejay van Garderen, who was another minute adrift.
Brajkovic, impressive against the clock, also showed real climbing skills in the penultimate stage to l'Alpe d'Huez, but he said he had not yet reached his full potential.
Risk a crash
"I was lucky today because Alberto did not attack me. I guess he did not want to risk a crash in the downhills so it was great for us.
"Don't forget Contador did not come here in his best shape but to prepare for the Tour," he said.
The final stage ended with five laps of a bumpy circuit with a tricky descent and the favorites took no chances.
By contrast, Norway's Edvald Boasson-Hagen, arguably the peloton's greatest prospect, made a bold move in the last lap to win the stage on his own, ahead of Spain's Arkaitz Duran and Russia's Egor Silin.
In Lugano, Switzerland, Fabian Cancellara slumped exhausted in his seat and held his head in his hands after winning the opening time trial of the Tour of Switzerland on Saturday.
The defending overall champion had dug deep to repeat last year's opening-day victory. Swiss Cancellara holds a one-second advantage over Czech Roman Kreuziger with Germany's Tony Martin was third.
Following his third place in the recent Tour of Luxembourg, seven-time Tour de France champion Armstrong finished off the pace, 29 seconds back in 44th place.
The Tour of Switzerland ends on June 20.
The former under-24 world time-trial champion, who won Wednesday's 49-kilometer individual time trial, held off the challenge of Tour de France champion Alberto Contador to score his first major victory in a stage race.
The 26-year-old Brajkovic is not yet certain to be on his RadioShack team's roster for the Tour, which starts on July 3, but he undoubtedly improved his chances.
"It's a good thing for me. Let's hope I can do the Tour this year. If not, maybe next year," he said after crossing the line in Sallanches, France, in the final, 148-km stage.
Brajkovic, who has spent almost his entire professional career under the guidance of Armstrong's team director Johan Bruyneel, finished one minute 41 seconds ahead of Spain's Contador overall.
Third place went to American Tejay van Garderen, who was another minute adrift.
Brajkovic, impressive against the clock, also showed real climbing skills in the penultimate stage to l'Alpe d'Huez, but he said he had not yet reached his full potential.
Risk a crash
"I was lucky today because Alberto did not attack me. I guess he did not want to risk a crash in the downhills so it was great for us.
"Don't forget Contador did not come here in his best shape but to prepare for the Tour," he said.
The final stage ended with five laps of a bumpy circuit with a tricky descent and the favorites took no chances.
By contrast, Norway's Edvald Boasson-Hagen, arguably the peloton's greatest prospect, made a bold move in the last lap to win the stage on his own, ahead of Spain's Arkaitz Duran and Russia's Egor Silin.
In Lugano, Switzerland, Fabian Cancellara slumped exhausted in his seat and held his head in his hands after winning the opening time trial of the Tour of Switzerland on Saturday.
The defending overall champion had dug deep to repeat last year's opening-day victory. Swiss Cancellara holds a one-second advantage over Czech Roman Kreuziger with Germany's Tony Martin was third.
Following his third place in the recent Tour of Luxembourg, seven-time Tour de France champion Armstrong finished off the pace, 29 seconds back in 44th place.
The Tour of Switzerland ends on June 20.
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