Road News and Results – April 10, 2009

Here’s the latest in results and cycling news for the day. Lance Armstrong gets a little love from the UCI, Alberto Contador remains in control in Spain, George Hincapie likens Paris-Roubaix to New York City and more…

Results:

• Jean-Eudes Demaret (Cofidis) won the final stage of the Circuit de la Sarthe, but the overall win went to David Le Lay (Agritubel)
• Columbia Highroad’s Marco Pinotti won the queen stage of the Tour of the Basque Country. Alberto Contador (Astana) is still in possession of the yellow jersey.

Paris-Roubaix News:

• Here’s something new. This year’s Paris-Roubaix will see the first Chinese racer to take on the cobblestones. Jin Long, 25, who has been a professional since 2006 was selected by the Dutch team Skil for the race.
• George Hincapie (Columbia Highroad) thinks that his experience riding the streets of New York will benefit him for Paris-Roubaix. He says that the environment required him to constantly maintain his concentration and to make split second decisions. for him, Roubaix was “love at first sight.”
• Dutchman Servais Knaven (Milram) will ride his 15th consecutive Paris-Roubaix on Sunday. He has finished the race with every try. Only Belgian Raymond Impanis has competed in the race more times (16).
• Forecasters are predicting clear weather on Sunday for P-R. Riders will be fighting dust instead of mud.

The news:

• Alessandro Ballan (Lampre-NGC) is hoping to make his comeback during the Catalan week in mid-May. He says that he is feeling better, but is waiting for the results of blood tests to confirm that he will be ready to race.
• The Lance Armstrong saga continues. He has received a bit of support from UCI president Pat McQuaid, who says that the French are acting improperly in their handling of the manner.
• Team Milram is looking to all-rounder Markus Fothen and sprinter Robert Förster to bring home some wins from the Tour of Turkey.
• After a fall at the Tour of the Basque Country, Astana’s Chris Horner flew home only to get the good news that his wrist was not broken. He’ll return to Europe in time for the Giro d’Italia.
• Rabobank’s Laurens ten Dam will spend 18 days in Tenerife to train for the Giro. He was previously slated to do the Amstel Gold Race and Liege-Bastogne-Liège, but says now that his focus is on Italy.
• Frank Schleck elected to not start the 5th stage of the Tour of the Basque Country. A reason was not given.

Tags: Agritubel, alberto contador, Alessandro Ballan, astana, cobblestones, Cofidis, columbia, cycling, Europe, George Hincapie, Italy, lampre-ngc, Lance Armstrong, Look, Milram, Paris-Roubaix, Rabobank, Spain, Turkey, UCI