March 25, 2012 (Spain) – Michael Albasini gave GreenEDGE its second WorldTour overall victory at the Volta a Catalunya. The double stage winner took the leader’s jersey with his win on the opening stage and he never let it go.
“We’re extremely excited to give these victories to our supporters,” added Sports Director Neil Stephens. “We always do our very best, but the results don’t always show that. When you work really hard and come out with the win, it’s an outstanding feeling.”
The final stage was a short, nervous day between Badalona and Barcelona that included three category three climbs and a category one climb. The early break of nine riders never gained more than two minutes on the field, and the last rider from the break was reabsorbed around 30 kilometers from the finish on the slopes of the penultimate climb.
“There was really no moment today when we were under terrible pressure,” said Neil Stephens. “Those moments came earlier in the week. Today, we observed the different objectives of the other teams. When Garmin made their interests known, we let them ride on the front and took a secondary role. We knew all we needed to do was get Michael to the final climb. He started the day with a 1:30 lead. Even if he had gotten into a bit of a trouble on the last climb, which he never did, it would have been unlikely for him to lose that much time.”
Albasini not only stayed with the lead group on the final climb, he also managed to stay with the leaders on the technical descent. Julien Simon (Saur-Sojasun) took his second stage win ahead of Francesco Gavazzi (Astana) and Damiano Cunego (Lampre-ISD). Albasini finished on the same time as the stage winner to retain both the leader’s jersey and his 1:30 advantage over Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi). Jurgen Van den Broeck (Lotto-Belisol) rounded out the overall podium two seconds further down.
“I had Daryl [Impey] with me on the final climb,” explained Albasini. “He has been by my side throughout the entire week. Each of my teammates did everything we asked them to do. They rode an incredible race, and I’m happy to pay them back by finishing off the job with the win.”
“An outsider might think the results that we’ve achieved up to this point are out of proportion for what to expect from a new team,” noted Stephens. “We had our first get together in September. The boys began working closely with one another in December. The staff has been working on this team for well over a year. There will be points throughout the year that we might not get as many results. We hope our fans will be patient and remember that we are team that always gives our very best.
Results
1. Julien Simon (Fra) Saur – Sojasun 2:47:02
2. Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Pro Team Astana
3. Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre – ISD
4. Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling
5. Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Pro Team Astana
6. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team
7. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
8. Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
9. Maciej Paterski (Pol) Liquigas-Cannondale
10. Denis Menchov (Rus) Katusha Team
11. Matteo Carrara (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
12. Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin-Barracuda
13. Dario Cataldo (Ita) Omega Pharma – QuickStep
14. Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Liquigas-Cannondale
15. Daryl Impey (RSA) GreenEdge Cycling Team
16. Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi
17. Martin Kohler (Sui) BMC Racing Team
18. Sergio Pardilla Belllón (Esp) Movistar Team
19. Marcos Garcia (Esp) Caja Rural
20. Brice Feillu (Fra) Saur – Sojasun
21. Miguel Minguez Ayala (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi
22. Alberto Losada Alguacil (Esp) Katusha Team
23. David Arroyo Duran (Esp) Movistar Team
24. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team
25. Peter Stetina (USA) Garmin-Barracuda
26. Kevin De Weert (Bel) Omega Pharma – QuickStep
27. Michal Golas (Pol) Omega Pharma – QuickStep
28. Yukihiro Doi (Jpn) Project 1t4i
29. Fabrice Jeandesboz (Fra) Saur – Sojasun
30. Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin-Barracuda
31. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Pro Team Astana
32. Michael Albasini (Sui) GreenEdge Cycling Team
33. Oliver Zaugg (Sui) RadioShack-Nissan
34. Adrián Palomares Villaplana (Esp) Andalucia
35. Yuriy Trofimov (Rus) Katusha Team
36. Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Movistar Team
37. Jose Vicente Toribio (Esp) Andalucia
38. Bruno Pires (Por) Team Saxo Bank
39. Egor Silin (Rus) Pro Team Astana
40. Xabier Zandio Echaide (Esp) Sky Procycling
41. Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) FDJ-Big Mat 00:14
42. Christian Meier (Can) GreenEdge Cycling Team
43. Mathias Frank (Sui) BMC Racing Team
44. Yoann Bagot (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne
45. Ben Gastauer (Lux) AG2R La Mondiale
46. Luis Angel Mate Mardones (Esp) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 00:20
47. Jordi Simon (Esp) Andalucia
48. Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
49. Antonio Piedra Perez (Esp) Caja Rural
50. Cédric Pineau (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
51. Stefan Denifl (Aut) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
52. Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre – ISD
53. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
54. Davide Appollonio (Ita) Sky Procycling
55. Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank
56. Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
57. Steve Morabito (Sui) BMC Racing Team
58. Serge Pauwels (Bel) Omega Pharma – QuickStep
59. Iván Velasco Murillo (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi 00:25
60. Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) BMC Racing Team 00:30
61. Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Project 1t4i 00:38
62. Francis Mourey (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat 00:40
63. Petr Ignatenko (Rus) Katusha Team 00:51
64. Laurent Didier (Lux) RadioShack-Nissan 00:54
65. Rémy Di Gregorio (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 00:56
66. Thomas Rohregger (Aut) RadioShack-Nissan
67. Francis De Greef (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team 01:10
68. David Moncoutie (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 01:41
69. Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre – ISD 01:56
70. Maxime Mederel (Fra) Saur – Sojasun
71. Ivan Santaromita (Ita) BMC Racing Team 02:15
72. Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 02:23
73. Kristof Vandewalle (Bel) Omega Pharma – QuickStep
74. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin-Barracuda 02:28
75. Denys Kostyuk (Ukr) Lampre – ISD
76. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Omega Pharma – QuickStep
77. Alexsandr Dyachenko (Kaz) Pro Team Astana
78. Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre – ISD 02:41
79. Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Movistar Team
80. Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 03:28
81. Tomasz Marczynski (Pol) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
82. Jean Marc Marino (Fra) Saur – Sojasun 05:19
83. Matthew Busche (USA) RadioShack-Nissan
84. Allan Davis (Aus) GreenEdge Cycling Team 06:24
85. André Fernando Santos Martins Cardoso (Por) Caja Rural
86. Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Esp) Rabobank Cycling Team 06:44
87. Yann Huguet (Fra) Project 1t4i
88. Branislau Samoilau (Blr) Movistar Team 07:36
89. Gatis Smukulis (Lat) Katusha Team
90. Johann Tschopp (Sui) BMC Racing Team
91. Sergio Carrasco (Esp) Andalucia
92. Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Lampre – ISD
93. Gustavo Cesar (Esp) Andalucia 08:34
94. Jesus Rosendo Prado (Esp) Andalucia
95. Stef Clement (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
96. Romain Zingle (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne
97. Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
98. Luke Roberts (Aus) Team Saxo Bank
99. Julian Sanchez Pimienta (Esp) Caja Rural
100. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Pro Team Astana
101. Marco Bandiera (Ita) Omega Pharma – QuickStep
102. José Luis Cano (Esp) Andalucia
103. David De La Cruz Melgarejo (Esp) Caja Rural
104. Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) GreenEdge Cycling Team
105. Jorge Azanza Soto (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi
106. Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne
107. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Barracuda 09:08
108. Alex Howes (USA) Garmin-Barracuda 12:29
109. Brett Lancaster (Aus) GreenEdge Cycling Team
110. Denis Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team 12:41
111. Martijn Keizer (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
112. Javier Ramirez (Esp) Andalucia
113. Victor Cabedo (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi
114. Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Project 1t4i
115. Benjamin Noval Gonzalez (Esp) Team Saxo Bank
116. Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat
117. Aitor Galdos (Esp) Caja Rural
118. David De La Fuente Rasilla (Esp) Caja Rural
119. Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank
120. Morris Possoni (Ita) Lampre – ISD
121. Maxim Belkov (Rus) Katusha Team
122. Thierry Hupond (Fra) Project 1t4i
123. Sergey Renev (Kaz) Pro Team Astana
Final GC
1. Michael Albasini (Sui) GreenEdge Cycling Team 24:15:45
2. Samuel Sanchez Gonzalez (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi 01:30
3. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team 01:32
4. Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin-Barracuda
5. Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky Procycling
6. Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre – ISD
7. Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) Pro Team Astana
8. Matteo Carrara (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team
9. Dario Cataldo (Ita) Omega Pharma – QuickStep
10. Sergio Pardilla Belllón (Esp) Movistar Team
11. Denis Menchov (Rus) Katusha Team
12. Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin-Barracuda
13. Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Liquigas-Cannondale
14. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team
15. Peter Stetina (USA) Garmin-Barracuda
16. Alberto Losada Alguacil (Esp) Katusha Team 02:16
17. Adrián Palomares Villaplana (Esp) Andalucia 02:23
18. Brice Feillu (Fra) Saur – Sojasun
19. Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 02:36
20. Yuriy Trofimov (Rus) Katusha Team 03:07
21. Chris Anker Sörensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank 03:41
22. Mathias Frank (Sui) BMC Racing Team 03:55
23. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Omega Pharma – QuickStep 04:24
24. Marcos Garcia (Esp) Caja Rural 04:25
25. Fabrice Jeandesboz (Fra) Saur – Sojasun 04:29
26. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 05:32
27. Steve Morabito (Sui) BMC Racing Team 07:57
28. Miguel Minguez Ayala (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi 08:06
29. Rémy Di Gregorio (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 08:11
30. Julien Simon (Fra) Saur – Sojasun 08:23
31. David Arroyo Duran (Esp) Movistar Team 08:40
32. Bruno Pires (Por) Team Saxo Bank 08:41
33. Daryl Impey (RSA) GreenEdge Cycling Team 09:18
34. Oliver Zaugg (Sui) RadioShack-Nissan 10:16
35. Petr Ignatenko (Rus) Katusha Team 10:23
36. Thomas Rohregger (Aut) RadioShack-Nissan 10:28
37. Jose Vicente Toribio (Esp) Andalucia 10:36
38. Yukihiro Doi (Jpn) Project 1t4i
39. Christian Meier (Can) GreenEdge Cycling Team 10:50
40. Romain Bardet (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 10:51
41. Serge Pauwels (Bel) Omega Pharma – QuickStep 10:56
42. Luis Angel Mate Mardones (Esp) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne
43. Alexsandr Dyachenko (Kaz) Pro Team Astana 11:09
44. Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Pro Team Astana 12:47
45. Iván Velasco Murillo (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi 13:26
46. Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 14:07
47. Stefan Denifl (Aut) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 14:34
48. Francis De Greef (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team 14:39
49. Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Esp) Rabobank Cycling Team 14:50
50. Matthew Busche (USA) RadioShack-Nissan 15:18
51. Xabier Zandio Echaide (Esp) Sky Procycling 15:29
52. Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Project 1t4i 15:56
53. Maxime Mederel (Fra) Saur – Sojasun 16:26
54. Mikael Cherel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 16:34
55. Mauro Santambrogio (Ita) BMC Racing Team 17:18
56. Yoann Bagot (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 17:19
57. Egor Silin (Rus) Pro Team Astana 17:29
58. Maciej Paterski (Pol) Liquigas-Cannondale 18:03
59. Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre – ISD 18:45
60. Cédric Pineau (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat 18:58
61. Ben Gastauer (Lux) AG2R La Mondiale 19:15
62. Ivan Santaromita (Ita) BMC Racing Team 19:20
63. David De La Cruz Melgarejo (Esp) Caja Rural 19:31
64. Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Movistar Team 21:39
65. Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) FDJ-Big Mat 22:22
66. Michal Golas (Pol) Omega Pharma – QuickStep 23:05
67. David Moncoutie (Fra) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 24:23
68. Tomasz Marczynski (Pol) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 25:11
69. Johann Tschopp (Sui) BMC Racing Team 26:08
70. Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin-Barracuda 27:27
71. Kevin De Weert (Bel) Omega Pharma – QuickStep 27:44
72. Branislau Samoilau (Blr) Movistar Team 27:51
73. Gatis Smukulis (Lat) Katusha Team 28:16
74. Antonio Piedra Perez (Esp) Caja Rural 28:21
75. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Barracuda 29:06
76. Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Pro Team Astana 31:41
77. Laurens Ten Dam (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 32:11
78. Kristof Vandewalle (Bel) Omega Pharma – QuickStep 32:24
79. Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre – ISD 32:59
80. André Fernando Santos Martins Cardoso (Por) Caja Rural
81. Sandy Casar (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat 33:02
82. Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 33:19
83. Jordi Simon (Esp) Andalucia 33:40
84. Davide Appollonio (Ita) Sky Procycling 33:43
85. Laurent Didier (Lux) RadioShack-Nissan 35:40
86. Martin Kohler (Sui) BMC Racing Team 36:25
87. Jorge Azanza Soto (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi 36:32
88. Denys Kostyuk (Ukr) Lampre – ISD 37:05
89. Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Movistar Team 37:20
90. Maxim Belkov (Rus) Katusha Team 37:56
91. Leonardo Bertagnolli (Ita) Lampre – ISD 37:58
92. Jean Marc Marino (Fra) Saur – Sojasun 38:02
93. Francis Mourey (Fra) FDJ-Big Mat 38:45
94. David De La Fuente Rasilla (Esp) Caja Rural 40:39
95. Stef Clement (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team 40:50
96. Matteo Bono (Ita) Lampre – ISD 41:35
97. Paolo Longo Borghini (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 42:50
98. Alex Howes (USA) Garmin-Barracuda 45:42
99. Matthieu Sprick (Fra) Project 1t4i 45:54
100. Thierry Hupond (Fra) Project 1t4i 46:18
101. Yann Huguet (Fra) Project 1t4i 47:07
102. Martijn Keizer (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 47:35
103. Allan Davis (Aus) GreenEdge Cycling Team 47:41
104. Denis Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol Team 48:20
105. Luke Roberts (Aus) Team Saxo Bank 49:51
106. Fumiyuki Beppu (Jpn) GreenEdge Cycling Team
107. Benjamin Noval Gonzalez (Esp) Team Saxo Bank 50:36
108. Jesus Rosendo Prado (Esp) Andalucia 51:12
109. Victor Cabedo (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi 51:20
110. Morris Possoni (Ita) Lampre – ISD 53:04
111. Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale 54:18
112. Sergio Carrasco (Esp) Andalucia 55:03
113. Javier Ramirez (Esp) Andalucia 55:18
114. Sergey Renev (Kaz) Pro Team Astana
115. Romain Zingle (Bel) Cofidis, Le Credit en Ligne 57:15
116. Juan José Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank 58:07
117. José Luis Cano (Esp) Andalucia 59:29
118. Gustavo Cesar (Esp) Andalucia
119. Brett Lancaster (Aus) GreenEdge Cycling Team
120. Andrey Kashechkin (Kaz) Pro Team Astana 59:35
121. Marco Bandiera (Ita) Omega Pharma – QuickStep 1:00:00
122. Julian Sanchez Pimienta (Esp) Caja Rural 1:02:32
123. Aitor Galdos (Esp) Caja Rural 1:09:57
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