March 24, 2013 (Barcelona, Spain) – Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin-Sharp won the overall as Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team took the final Stage 7 from El Vendrell to Barcelona (Montjuïc) 122.2km. Canada’s Christian Meier (ORICA-GreenEDGE) held on to claim the Sprint and 100th Tour de France Sprint Classifications. Photo of Meier in White Jersey HERE– ed.
Christian Meier earned the points and TDF 100 sprint jerseys on the first stage of Volta a Catalunya. Following stage one, he shared his intent to hold onto them until the race finish in Barcelona. Mission accomplished. With the support of his ORICA-GreenEDGE teammates, Meier heads home to Gerona having earned both jerseys. It is Meier’s second points jersey. His first came in 2009 at Vuelta Pais Vasco.
“I want to thank all of my teammates and the staff for supporting my goals with the jerseys throughout the week,” Meier said. “Chasing these types of jerseys isn’t always a priority for a team, but they showed faith in me to support my goal. All the guys were keen to help, and I really appreciate that.”
Meier earned the bulk of his points in both the points jersey and the TDF 100 jersey competition after spending stages one and two up the road.
“When you look at the intermediate sprint jersey for a smaller race, it’s clear that it’s a jersey for the opportunists,” explained Meier. “The rider that’s willing to go up the road, usually more than once, is the guy that can take it.”
Although Meier had a secure advantage in both competitions following the first two days of racing, he remained attentive to both the intermediate sprints and TDF 100 sprints until the finish.
“I still looked to get points wherever I could,” he explained. “The biggest thing was to keep an eye on the other guys that were close on points and make sure they didn’t get into a breakaway. I also took another one or two points out on the road that were leftover for the Tour sprints on days that only a small escape group was away.”
“For one of the Tour de France 100 sprints, Gerro [Simon Gerrans] led me out in the sprint,” continued Meier. “It’s not that often for me to get a role reversal like that. To have a rider like Gerro looking after my points shows the character of our team. Everyone is willing to do their part to help each other out.”
Meier was quick to emphasize that he is used to the helper role, and it’s one he relishes.
“We all work for each other,” Meier said emphatically. “Some of us, it’s more of our job to do the working than the opportunity-taking. I’m more of a worker, and I really enjoy that job. To know at the end of the day that it’s appreciated and that the guy that I usually work for now wants to work for me, that’s something really special.”
Meier was thrilled to play an integral role in the team’s Catalunya campaign.
“This was a highly successful week for the team,” said Meier. “At the beginning of the week, I said that if we could take a stage win, we could call the race a success. We obviously did that with Gerro yesterday. We put our mark on the race with the stage win. Brett [Lancaster] mixed it up in the sprints, and Travis [Meyer] had a great day today to finish eighth on the stage. The two jerseys are a big bonus.”
Results (brief)
1. Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 2:45:41
2. David Lopez Garcia (Esp) Sky Procycling
3. Robert Kiserlovski (Cro) RadioShack Leopard
4. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-Merida
5. Samuel Dumoulin (Fra) Ag2R La Mondiale 0:21
6. Julien Simon (Fra) Sojasun
7. Manuele Mori (Ita) Lampre-Merida
8. Travis Meyer (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
9. Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Omega Pharma-Quick Step
10. Jakob Fuglsang (Den) Astana Pro Team
28. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Sharp
73. Francois Parisien (Can) Team Argos-Shimano 2:35
104. Christian Meier (Can) Orica GreenEDGE 6:15
Final GC
1. Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin-Sharp 29:02:25
2. Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Esp) Katusha 0:17
3. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-Merida 0:00:34
4. Nairo Alexander Quintana Rojas (Col) Movistar Team 0:45
5. Bradley Wiggins (Gbr) Sky Procycling 0:54
6. Robert Gesink (Ned) Blanco Pro Cycling Team 1:07
7. Przemyslaw Niemiec (Pol) Lampre-Merida 1:18
8. Thibaut Pinot (Fra) FDJ 1:26
9. Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel) Lotto Belisol 1:28
10. Thomas Danielson (USA) Garmin-Sharp 1:41
66. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Sharp 31:59
83. Francois Parisien (Can) Team Argos-Shimano 39:22
110. Christian Meier (Can) Orica GreenEDGE 58:17
Sprint Classification
1. Christian Meier (Can) Orica GreenEDGE 12 pts
2. Karol Domagalski (Pol) Caja Rural 7
3. Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin-Sharp 7
4. Lucas Haedo (Arg) Cannondale Pro Cycling 6
5. Nicolas Roche (Irl) Team Saxo-Tinkoff 5
6. Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 4
7. Christophe Laborie (Fra) Sojasun 4
8. Cristiano Salerno (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling 4
100th Tour de France Sprint Classification
1. Christian Meier (Can) Orica GreenEDGE 7 pts
2. Carlos Verona (Esp) Omega Pharma-Quick Step 4
3. Martijn Keizer (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team 3
4. Tristan Valentin (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 3
5. Nicolas Edet (Fra) Cofidis, Solutions Credits 3
6. Tim Wellens (Bel) Lotto Belisol 2
7. Jean-Lou Paiani (Fra) Sojasun 2
8. Martin Kohler (Sui) BMC Racing Team 2
Mountain Classification
1. Cristiano Salerno (Ita) Cannondale Pro Cycling 109 pts
2. Nairo Quintana (Col) Movistar Team 51
3. Joaquim Rodriguez (Esp) Katusha 45
4. Mikel Astarloza (Esp) Euskaltel-Euskadi 41
5. Nicolas Roche (Irl) Team Saxo-Tinkoff 36
6. Karol Domagalski (Pol) Caja Rural 31
7. Daniel Martin (Irl) Garmin-Sharp 30
8. Christian Meier (Can) Orica GreenEDGE 28