Matthews triumphs at Rund um Köln
Australian tops Kittel, Nizzolo in field sprint finale
2010 U23 world champion Michael Matthews (Rabobank) continues to impress in his first season as a ProTour rider as he sprinted to victory in Germany's Rund um Köln. The 20-year-old Australian topped Marcel Kittel (Skil-Shimano) and Giacomo Nizzolo (Leopard Trek) to take his third victory of the season.
"I did not expect to win, but I had good legs today," said Matthews. "And the team was good, so I just had to remain calm and stay out of trouble. This was really an easy day for me.
"It's been a while [since the team won a race] so it's a good win for the team and for myself. I look confidently ahead to the coming races."
The race was dominated by a five-man break comprised of Jens Voigt (Leopard Trek), Cesare Benedetti (NetApp), Dominik Nerz (German National Team), Jarno Gmelich (Cyclingteam Jo Piels) and Thierry Hupond (Skil-Shimano). The escapees at one point held a six-minute advantage over the peloton but chase efforts primarily undertaken by Vacansoleil-DCM and Rabobank ultimately neutralised the move with 50km remaining in the 203.5km race.
Rabobank, starting the minimum six-rider team, played a smart tactical game, albeit with some risk involved. "Jos van Emden and Coen Vermeltfoort together with Vacansoleil brought the break back, but that also meant that they were gone sixty kilometres from the finish line," said Rabobank team manager Frans Maassen.
The team still had three sprinters in its arsenal, Matthews, Graeme Brown and Theo Bos, but when Brown and Bos were dropped on the final climb Matthews became the primary sprinting option.
"We had the feeling that Matthews would be our man, but we would make our decision after the last climb," said Maassen. "Matthews had at the time only Tom Jelte Slagter to assist him, but fortunately Bos and Brown made it back and could help keep the peloton together."
Despite a number of attacks in the race's endgame, the teams of the sprinters ensured a field sprint finish in which Matthews proved the quickest on the streets of Cologne.
1 | Michael Matthews (Aus) Rabobank Cycling Team | 4:50:50 |
2 | Marcel Kittel (Ger) Skil - Shimano | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
3 | Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Leopard Trek | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
4 | David Kopp (Ger) Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
5 | Aidis Kruopis (Ltu) Landbouwkrediet | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
6 | Grischa Janorschke (Ger) Nutrixxion Sparkasse | Row 5 - Cell 2 |
7 | Andreas Dietziker (Swi) Team Netapp | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
8 | Blaz Jarc (Slo) Adria Mobil | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 | Wouter Weylandt (Bel) Leopard Trek | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
10 | Dries Hollanders (Bel) An Post - Sean Kelly | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
11 | Silvan Dillier (Swi) Team Vorarlberg | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
12 | Kasper Jebjerg (Den) Glud & Marstrand - LRO | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
13 | Kurt Hovelynck (Bel) Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly | Row 12 - Cell 2 |
14 | Michaël Baer (Swi) Team Netapp | Row 13 - Cell 2 |
15 | Joeri Stallaert (Bel) Landbouwkrediet | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
16 | Robert Förster (Ger) German National Team | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
17 | Sylwester Janiszewski (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
18 | Graeme Brown (Aus) Rabobank Cycling Team | Row 17 - Cell 2 |
19 | Egidijus Juodvalkis (Ltu) Landbouwkrediet | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
20 | Kenny Terweduwe (Bel) An Post - Sean Kelly | Row 19 - Cell 2 |
21 | Pim Ligthart (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
22 | Jacob Fiedler (Ger) Team NSP | Row 21 - Cell 2 |
23 | Pieter Ghyllebert (Bel) An Post - Sean Kelly | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
24 | Blazej Janiaczyk (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice | Row 23 - Cell 2 |
25 | Martin Hunal (Cze) AC Sparta Praha | Row 24 - Cell 2 |
26 | Danilo Hondo (Ger) German National Team | Row 25 - Cell 2 |
27 | Andreas Hofer (Aut) Tyrol Team | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
28 | Roy Curvers (Ned) Skil - Shimano | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
29 | Cesare Benedetti (Ita) Team Netapp | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
30 | Markus Eichler (Ger) Team NSP | Row 29 - Cell 2 |
31 | Jasper Hamelink (Ned) Cyclingteam Jo Piels | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
32 | Stefan Ganser (Ger) Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 | Alexander Schmitt (Ger) Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland | Row 32 - Cell 2 |
34 | Ricardo Van Der Velde (Ned) Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
35 | Stefan Kirchmair (Aut) Tyrol Team | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 | Michaël Vanderaerden (Bel) Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
37 | Gediminas Bagdonas (Ltu) An Post - Sean Kelly | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
38 | Julian Hellmann (Ger) Team Heizomat | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
39 | Marcello Pavarin (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
40 | Luc Hagenaars (Ned) Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
41 | Pim De Beer (Ned) Cyclingteam Jo Piels | Row 40 - Cell 2 |
42 | Emmanuel Van Ruitenbeek (Ned) Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
43 | Mark McNally (GBr) An Post - Sean Kelly | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
44 | Maurits Lammertink (Ned) Cyclingteam Jo Piels | Row 43 - Cell 2 |
45 | Christian Knees (Ger) German National Team | Row 44 - Cell 2 |
46 | Robert Retschke (Ger) Team Netapp | Row 45 - Cell 2 |
47 | Tomas Okrouhlicky (Cze) AC Sparta Praha | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
48 | Michal Golas (Pol) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
49 | Marco Haller (Aut) Adria Mobil | Row 48 - Cell 2 |
50 | Alexander Gottfried (Ger) Team Netapp | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 | Arne Hassink (Ned) TT Raiko Argon 18 | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
52 | Tomasz Kiendys (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
53 | Alberto Ongarato (Ita) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
54 | Kristjan Fajt (Slo) Adria Mobil | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
55 | Alexander Nordhoff (Ger) Seven Stones | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
56 | Björn Schröder (Ger) Nutrixxion Sparkasse | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
57 | James Spragg (GBr) Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
58 | Jan Oelerich (Ger) TT Raiko Argon 18 | Row 57 - Cell 2 |
59 | Primoz Segina (Slo) Adria Mobil | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
60 | Patrick Bercz (Ger) Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland | Row 59 - Cell 2 |
61 | Bart Dockx (Bel) Landbouwkrediet | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
62 | Harald Totschnig (Aut) Tyrol Team | Row 61 - Cell 2 |
63 | Edwig Cammaerts (Bel) Landbouwkrediet | Row 62 - Cell 2 |
64 | Kevin Hulsmans (Bel) Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly | Row 63 - Cell 2 |
65 | Sergej Fuchs (Ger) Nutrixxion Sparkasse | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
66 | Björn Thurau (Ger) Team NSP | Row 65 - Cell 2 |
67 | Thierry Hupond (Fra) Skil - Shimano | Row 66 - Cell 2 |
68 | Mario Schoibl (Aut) Tyrol Team | Row 67 - Cell 2 |
69 | Mario Vogt (Ger) Team Heizomat | Row 68 - Cell 2 |
70 | Norbert Durauer (Aut) Tyrol Team | Row 69 - Cell 2 |
71 | Jens Voigt (Ger) Leopard Trek | Row 70 - Cell 2 |
72 | Bertjan Lindeman (Ned) Cyclingteam Jo Piels | Row 71 - Cell 2 |
73 | Stefan Denifl (Aut) Leopard Trek | Row 72 - Cell 2 |
74 | Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Leopard Trek | 0:00:16 |
75 | Brian Megens (Ned) Cyclingteam Jo Piels | Row 74 - Cell 2 |
76 | Stefan Poll (Aut) Team Vorarlberg | 0:00:18 |
77 | Tomaz Nose (Slo) Adria Mobil | Row 76 - Cell 2 |
78 | Troels Ronning Vinther (Den) Glud & Marstrand - LRO | 0:00:19 |
79 | Ladislav Fabisovsky (Cze) AC Sparta Praha | 0:00:20 |
80 | Maxim Belkov (Rus) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | Row 79 - Cell 2 |
81 | Kajetan Fricke (Ger) Team Vorarlberg | 0:00:22 |
82 | René Obst (Ger) Team NSP | Row 81 - Cell 2 |
83 | Lucas Schädlich (Ger) Team NSP | Row 82 - Cell 2 |
84 | Steffen Radochla (Ger) Nutrixxion Sparkasse | Row 83 - Cell 2 |
85 | Tom Jelte Slagter (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team | Row 84 - Cell 2 |
86 | Christopher Roth (Ger) Seven Stones | Row 85 - Cell 2 |
87 | Christoph Pfingsten (Ger) German National Team | Row 86 - Cell 2 |
88 | Andreas Klier (Ger) German National Team | Row 87 - Cell 2 |
89 | Matthias Bertling (Ger) Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland | Row 88 - Cell 2 |
90 | Dimitri Claeys (Bel) Team Netapp | Row 89 - Cell 2 |
91 | Stefan Van Winden (Ned) Cyclingteam Jo Piels | Row 90 - Cell 2 |
92 | Jarno Gmelich (Ned) Cyclingteam Jo Piels | Row 91 - Cell 2 |
93 | Pawel Charucki (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice | Row 92 - Cell 2 |
94 | Mitja Mahoric (Slo) Adria Mobil | Row 93 - Cell 2 |
95 | Martin Pedersen (Den) Leopard Trek | Row 94 - Cell 2 |
96 | Gorik Gardeyn (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | Row 95 - Cell 2 |
97 | Dirk Müller (Ger) Nutrixxion Sparkasse | Row 96 - Cell 2 |
98 | Tom Stubbe (Bel) Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly | Row 97 - Cell 2 |
99 | William Clarke (Aus) Leopard Trek | 0:00:27 |
100 | Marcus Burghardt (Ger) German National Team | 0:00:28 |
101 | Huub Duyn (Ned) Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly | Row 100 - Cell 2 |
102 | Cheng Ji (Chn) Skil - Shimano | 0:00:31 |
103 | Jan Deutschmann (Ger) TT Raiko Argon 18 | Row 102 - Cell 2 |
104 | Theo Bos (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team | 0:00:35 |
105 | Nils Plötner (Ger) Team Heizomat | Row 104 - Cell 2 |
106 | Mitchell Docker (Aus) Skil - Shimano | 0:00:38 |
107 | Mathias Belka (Ger) TT Raiko Argon 18 | 0:00:46 |
108 | Roger Kluge (Ger) Skil - Shimano | Row 107 - Cell 2 |
109 | Dominic Klemme (Ger) Leopard Trek | Row 108 - Cell 2 |
110 | Martin Reimer (Ger) Skil - Shimano | 0:00:49 |
111 | Blaz Furdi (Slo) Adria Mobil | 0:00:51 |
112 | Baptiste Planckaert (Bel) Landbouwkrediet | 0:01:01 |
DNF | Jos Van Emden (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team | Row 112 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Coen Vermeltfoort (Ned) Rabobank Cycling Team | Row 113 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jens Mouris (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | Row 114 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Frederik Veuchelen (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | Row 115 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Dominik Nerz (Ger) German National Team | Row 116 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jonathan Breyne (Bel) Landbouwkrediet | Row 117 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Hans Dekkers (Ned) Landbouwkrediet | Row 118 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Team Netapp | Row 119 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Mateusz Taciak (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice | Row 120 - Cell 2 |
DNF | André Schulze (Ger) CCC Polsat Polkowice | Row 121 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Tomas Smolen (Pol) CCC Polsat Polkowice | Row 122 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Sebastian Forke (Ger) Nutrixxion Sparkasse | Row 123 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Sebastian Körber (Ger) Nutrixxion Sparkasse | Row 124 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Michael Schweizer (Ger) Nutrixxion Sparkasse | Row 125 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Florian Monreal (Ger) Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland | Row 126 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Sven Forberger (Ger) Team NSP | Row 127 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Markus Fothen (Ger) Team NSP | Row 128 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Timo Thömel (Ger) Team NSP | Row 129 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jan Van Puyvelde (Ger) TT Raiko Argon 18 | Row 130 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Dominik Ivo (Ger) TT Raiko Argon 18 | Row 131 - Cell 2 |
DNF | David Charles Brown (RSA) TT Raiko Argon 18 | Row 132 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Joachim Tolles (Ger) TT Raiko Argon 18 | Row 133 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Christian Mager (Ger) Team Heizomat | Row 134 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Marius Jessenberge (Ger) Team Heizomat | Row 135 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Alexander Krieger (Ger) Team Heizomat | Row 136 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Hans Joachim Benning (Ger) Seven Stones | Row 137 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Michael Hümbert Jr (Ger) Seven Stones | Row 138 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Ron Pfeifer (Ger) Seven Stones | Row 139 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Dominik Brändle (Aut) Team Vorarlberg | Row 140 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Matic Strgar (Slo) Team Vorarlberg | Row 141 - Cell 2 |
DNF | René Weissinger (Ger) Team Vorarlberg | Row 142 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Marc Obkircher (Aut) Tyrol Team | Row 143 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Daniel Rinner (Lie) Tyrol Team | Row 144 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Martin Weiss (Aut) Tyrol Team | Row 145 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Sander Helven (Bel) Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly | Row 146 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Tomas Holub (Cze) AC Sparta Praha | Row 147 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Vaclav Hlavac (Cze) AC Sparta Praha | Row 148 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Tomas Hruby (Cze) AC Sparta Praha | Row 149 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Rostislav Krotky (Cze) AC Sparta Praha | Row 150 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jiri Nesveda (Cze) AC Sparta Praha | Row 151 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Mathias Gade Jacobsen (Den) Glud & Marstrand - LRO | Row 152 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Kasper Linde Jorgensen (Den) Glud & Marstrand - LRO | Row 153 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Michael Berling (Den) Glud & Marstrand - LRO | Row 154 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Christian Moberg Jörgensen (Den) Glud & Marstrand - LRO | Row 155 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Jelle Posthuma (Ned) Cyclingteam Jo Piels | Row 156 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Matej Gnezda (Slo) Adria Mobil | Row 157 - Cell 2 |
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