October 9/11 11:57 am - Tour of Beijing: Stage 5 and Final GC

Posted by Editoress on 10/9/11
 

Martin wins inaugural Tour of Beijing

Galimzyanov rushes to final stage win

Photos

Katusha produced the perfect strategy to deliver both a final stage win and the green jersey to their number-one man Denis Galimzyanov but it was, as expected, Tony Martin who secured a commanding victory in the inaugural Tour of Beijing - the UCI’s first WorldTour event in Asia.

For many this conclusion may have been inevitable after the world time trial champion’s domination of his specialty on day one and the 17 second lead he established then and held until today’s finale. But it required the steely resolve that his HTC-Highroad teammates displayed to keep him in the red jersey from start to finish.

Martin was joined on the final Tour podium by Garmin Cervelo’s David Millar, who like the winner had been in second spot since stage one, and Chris Froome (Sky Pro Racing) who finished third.

The victory tops and tails a stellar year for the 26-year-old German, having begun 2011 with another win on general classification in Paris-Nice in early March.

“It’s been a fantastic year and now a fantastic week for me,” Martin said

“It’s really nice to have a victory and makes me so proud to win the first race here.

“But we had a very strong team that was pulling the whole time and I have to thank them for the win. The whole team was magnificent.”

On the subjects of his transition from time trial specialist to stage race winner and the future, Martin expressed both satisfaction with progress to date and confidence for what is to follow.

“I think for the moment I can win every time trial and when the mountains are not too hard, I can stay with the best,” he said.

“I will be happy if I can make the same races next year as this year. So many dreams came true this year I really have to think about what can be better, so I will be happy if I can be in the same races again.

“But the Olympics is also a big goal.”

The Tour winner has one more race in France – Le Chrono Des Nations - one he has every intention of trying to win, before taking a well earned break.

Galimzyanov on the other hand is already set for his holiday after his fine season ending performance today.

“Of course I am very, very happy because this is my first victory on the pro tour,” the stage and green-jersey winner said.

“I needed the team to bring me to the last kilometre in a good position and they did it.

“I am happy about the jersey of course, but I am happier about the stage. For me it is much more important.

“I am in good condition and I did my job but today was my last race for the season and to win the race is amazing.”

His Katusha team director obviously had confidence that their man could deliver, opting not to contest the second intermediate sprint in which his main rival for the green jersey, Liquigas-Cannodale’s Elia Viviani drew level on points and then choosing to simply block any further point scoring by yesterday’s stage-winner in the final such opportunity by sending teammate Vladimir Isaychev to the front to take the final sprint point on offer.

Galimzyanov then only had to finish ahead of Viviani for the green jersey to almost certainly be his. But the team clearly had the greater prize in mind with the 24-year-old Russian eventually an emphatic winner of the stage ahead of Saxobank-Sungard’s JJ Haedo, who had to be content with a minor podium placing for a second day in a row, and Viviani in third.

Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil – DCM) was adjudged the day’s most aggressive rider for his part in a three many breakaway with Alexandr Pliuschin (Katusha) and Francesco Reda (Quickstep). Their escape lasted for around 90 km but in the end was mostly in vain apart from Westra’s award and a jump up the points category leader board for Pliuschin after his wins in the three intermediate sprints.

With an event free 118km ride from the start in Tian An Men Square to the Water Cube, that included 12 circuits of Beijing Olympic Park and ended with a mass finish, the contest for all the other jerseys played out as expected.

Radioshack’s Ben King remained in the white jersey (for the young rider classification) he had taken over in Yong Ning on Friday. It was good news all round for the 22-year-old American, who had his finest day in cycling - and in the presence of a big gathering of team sponsors.

“This is really special for me. It is my first WorldTour stage race and it has been an incredible experience to have my teammates taking care of me,” King said.

“Last year I was just doing my best in US domestic races. I am young and want to improve and having the trust and support of teammates is the best way to learn.

“Today we had lots of sponsors here and it is great to go on the podium in front of them to reward their investment.”

Eskaltel Euskadi’s Igor Anton only had to safely negotiate today’s course to the finish to be certain of the polka dot jersey as winner of the king of the mountains category. He did just that – and with a final total of 22 points, he had a clear margin of four over his nearest rival, Lloyd Mondory (AG2R – La Mondiale).

Just as Martin’s win on GC had been as inevitable, so too was Sky Pro Racing’s team victory. Their formidable performance on day one that delivered three riders into the top five and another in the top twenty, and the resilience that kept three of them in those spots until the finish, easily fended off any challenge.

In the end Omega Pharma-Lotto finished second, 59 seconds adrift whilst Rabobank was a further nine seconds back, edging out Quickstep for third by just two seconds.

Tour of Beijing