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Some losses are promises of victories. That was the case Sunday to Philippe Gilbert. Gone too far, a little lonely, the world champion was unable to return to Roman Kreuziger, winner of the Amstel Gold Race. He had been surpassed by Alejandro Valverde, Simon Gerrans and intriguing Michal Kwiatkowski. All are still in contention Wednesday. They go to the Province of Hainaut Liège through the Namur with one goal: to be there when it counts, for the third and final climb of the Mur de Huy formidable (1.2 km 10% passing a 22 %).

All plus some others who were absent from the final of the Amstel: Peter Sagan, worn favorite disappeared in the Cauberg, which can be hard to believe he has found the punch in such a short time,'' Joaquim Purito ''Rodriguez, the defending champion, shot in the left thigh and hesitated 48 hours before embarking, Richie Porte, who comes to this classic officially help Sergio Henao, and even Alberto Contador, not very committed volunteer. Between a tired, a cripple, a deputy and a forced Gilbert seems more capable. Sunday, the Belgian showed great things leading the chase behind Kreuziger. This is not the Gilbert of 2011, the year of his only victory on the Fleche Wallonne. The 2013 will be a favorite without margin. The suspense wins.

Two days of the Amstel Gold Race, Andy Schleck has an update on his health after a fracture of the sacrum in June 2010 which ruined the season the winner of the Tour de France in 2010, and his early season winded. "I had the wind in the face, as they say in cycling. But it will turn out, "he told the newspaper including The Daily Luxembourg. The younger of the Schleck brothers did not want much to do with plans for the future. "I do not know when I'll be fine. I do not know if it will be this year or next year. I realize now that it was not possible for me to go from almost nothing at the top level in just six months. For an injury, it's not as if we continued to train. "

The Luxembourger however relied on his partner and his family through this difficult time. "I came out of the tunnel. Now I do not want to dwell on it. I prefer to focus on positive things and there are many. "Starting with a gradual return to competition. Inevitably, his ambitions will be measured in the Ardennes classics. "If I can not even pretend to win one, I'll show me, keep working, see how I am in the race," he says. Andy Schleck said he plans to participate in the Tour of California in May, before making a tough course with mountain reconnaissance stage of the Tour. "Then the Tour de Suisse, national championships and then the Tour de France."

Before deciding against the clock, Chavanel had already slipped into the group of strong men Tuesday in the step of the mountains, which served small rehearsal before the Tour of Flanders. Sunday in the Round, given its history in the event (2nd in 2011) and its current form, it will necessarily runners to watch: "Now I'm going to get. I'm not a favorite of the race, a good outsider but not a favorite. We have a strong group and I hope we will have a strong team for Sunday. "The declaration of the winner is not trivial because Tom Boonen, not starting Thursday morning after tested for two days, will be the leader announced OP-QS, despite a state of uncertain form. "And there will be more competition in the coming days," admits Chavanel, with a thought for

In the absence of great leaders, the Three Days of De Panne had the opportunity to discover new names at the top of the rankings. After a lot of work to Arnaud Démare, the second step of the first and fourth Wednesday again, Johan Le Bon (FDJ) has confirmed his good on Belgian roads and know-how against the clock to hit the fourth final position, a second from the podium. The runner 22 years ago earned its place (taking advantage of the package Dominique Rollin) for the Tour of Flanders.

A week after his failure on Milan-San Remo, Peter Sagan (Cannondale) has learned from his mistake. Nervous and lacking clarity in the final in Italy, the Slovak had missed a great opportunity to win his first classic. About Ghent-Wevelgem, still sharp, he decided Sunday to bend the case alone to clinch the 75th edition of the Belgian semi-classic, which he took second place last year. Aided by his teammate Maciej Bodnar, he placed a particularly effective against, four kilometers from the finish line to part company with twelve other breakaway companions. Eisel, Popovych and Vandenbergh, author of the first banderille few moments earlier, could not follow him to challenge the victory. Fan of the show, Sagan crossed the line and wheeling with a smile. And he signs his sixth win this season. Borut Bozic (Astana) and Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) completed the podium while Matthieu Ladagnous (FDJ), the first French rider took the 6th place.

In a very nervous and amputated fifty kilometers due to weather conditions (183 km instead of 253 km) race, attacks quickly Fuse. From the first kilometers after the start given Gistel, the peloton split ... five, before finding some difficulty unit. As André Greipel, Mark Cavendish tried his luck before entering the rank and cross the line in complete anonymity. Winner of the GP E3 Friday, Fabian Cancellara put ashore during refueling. The Swiss chose to preserve for the Tour of Flanders next Sunday, which will be the main favorite. Other big names expected on the Ronde, Tom Boonen, titleholder may go down in history if successful fourth, also threw in the towel on Sunday after a fall.

François Parisien won Friday the fifth stage of the Tour of Catalonia between Rialp and Lleida (175 km). Canadian training Argos-Shimano beat the French sprint Samuel Dumoulin (AG2R-La Mondiale) and Stéphane Poulhiès (Cofidis). The race was animated by Olivier Kaisen (Lotto-Belisol) and Tristan Valentin (Cofidis). Parties after fifty kilometers in this transition, the two men have long resisted the peloton but were eventually taken less than 15 kilometers from the finish. Andrey Kashechkin (Astana) and Marcus Burghardt (BMC) have in turn attempted a coup before the finish but it is a sprint that victory was played and Parisian French is surprised his opponents.

Daniel Martin (Garmin-Sharp) still leads the overall standings ahead Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) and Quintana Rojas (Movistar). Irish took advantage of subsidies an intermediate sprint to earn a few seconds. Bradley Wiggins remains on him at the foot of the provisional podium. Program Saturday's penultimate stage of 179 kilometers between Almacelles and Valls.

After denial for one year, Rolf Soerensen end confessed to doping during his career. "I took EPO periodically during the 90s, he said through a statement Monday. In some cases, I also resorted to cortisone. There is no excuse for what I did, but I felt compelled to do as the others. "

"I will not give any names. No allegations against a particular person. It's not my type, said Soerensen, winner of two stages of the Tour de France, one in 1994 and one in 1996. The only thing I can say is that, as everyone now knows, I was not the only one. "

Two years in prison were required by the trial attorney in Puerto doping case Friday in Madrid, against the main defendant, Eufemiano Fuentes. The Spanish doctor is accused of leading a "fraudulent and criminal wrongdoing," whose goal was to improve the performance of athletes against compensation network. Billed as "the soul and the ideologist" of the network in the indictment of the prosecutor Rosa Calero, Fuentes, like his four co-defendants are charged with endangering public health by practicing several blood transfusions cyclists. They pleaded not guilty.

Rosa Calero pointed method Fuentes, who was carrying bags of blood in backpacks in the middle of cold drinks to keep them at the right temperature. This process "neglects hygiene standards and creates a real risk to the health of those receiving transfusions," she said. Another representative of the Crown also emphasized the role of the four co-defendants, including Manolo Saiz and Vicente Belda, former Liberty Seguros team managers and Kelme, who have presented their riders to Dr. Fuentes.

Like last year, the Italian Vincenzo Nibali kept through the blue jersey of overall Tirreno-Adriatico, against a yet more elevated plateau. "I'm really happy with this second win in a row, because it is a valuable victory against opponents known as Contador, Froome and Rodriguez," said the climber of Astana. Nibali has more than held in against the clock of 9.2 km, which closed the race, finishing in 12th place with 26'' of the winner, the German Tony Martin (Omega Pharma), champion the world of specialty.

Better, he took over four seconds to Alberto Contador, third overall after the disappointment of Joaquim Rodriguez (36th, 43'' Martin) and dropped eleven seconds Britain's Chris Froome, the leader of Sky, the only could still dethrone. In the final standings, Nibali, first rider to achieve doubled since Tony Rominger in 1989 and 1990, finished with 23'' ahead of Froome and 52'' on Contador. The Italian, who had seized the blue shirt at the formidable sixth stage Monday confirmed its status as favorite in the Tour of Italy in 2013 where he will be particularly opposed to Britain's Bradley Wiggins, winner of the 2012 Tour de France.

By winning in 19 years and one month, Thomas Boudat Sunday became the youngest winner (at least for the last 25 years) of a circuit Blaye wines which ended in a bunch sprint. The ideal scenario for young Girondin whose training Vendée U perfectly managed the race to achieve this outcome. And the cry that sprang from his lungs when he crossed the line spoke volumes about his joy and relief. For, since he said internationally as a junior last year, Thomas Boudat, resident of Pôle France Talence formed VC Langon, decided to follow the path of Joseph Cigano his grandfather (in 1950) and Alain Cigana his cousin (in the 1970s) who ran among professionals.

To this end, he joined the Vendée U formation where we wanted to replace Bryan Coquard young and brilliant past pistard professional Europcar. But in such a team, you have to say quickly because all the riders eat the same ambition. Noticed at the forefront in his early racing in the Vendée, he relied heavily on Bordeaux-Saintes but the strategy of the team has changed at the last moment he found himself delivered to himself in the sprint on the National Course. During the Tour of Canton St. Ciers, two weeks ago, he had good legs but a teammate Romain Cardis, who was appointed team leader. And during the Tour of Canton Courçon March 30 in Charente-Maritime, Thomas Boudat only came from behind the escapees, sprinted a lap too early!

Tirreno-Adriatico has taken a new dimension Sunday in Abruzzo. Tenors took things in hand in this very long period of 230 km. Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) won solo in Chieti, where Christopher Froome (Sky) took over the overall lead, following his stage victory. The British took power dispossessing Polish Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma) blue jersey and he probably asked a key option on the final victory in the 2013 edition.

Despite the length of the stage, all came from the big guys in the short but tough final climb Via Salomone. On this slope offering crossings 15% Rodriguez feasted in good puncher he is. However, there is little thought. "This is a step that suited me but I did not expect to win because I did not feel good at all, told Purito. I thought I did not have good legs, especially after all the rain we had this week. this victory means a lot to me because there are a lot of very good runners here. These are not easy to beat guys. "

In this "mountain" along 360 meters, with an average slope approaching 13 percent with a 20 percent passing, Roelandts won the first. Sagan, in turn, was asphyxiated by the pace of Cancellara turned at the top with 6 seconds. But Switzerland has quickly widened the gap thereafter, on the road leading back to Oudenaarde. After this against the clock, an exercise that allowed him to win Olympic gold (2008) and four world titles, Cancellara was preceded by nearly a minute and a half Sagan and Roelandts who crossed the line in that order. A few seconds before the first sprint of the pack, set by the Norwegian Alexander Kristoff before Béarnais the FDJ Matthew Ladagnous. Finally, we also noted that five French (Ladagnous, Turgot, Offredo, Chavanel and Jerome are in the top 20).

"The two strongest were before," admitted Sylvain Chavanel (13th), the French promoted leader of the Omega Pharma team after the premature withdrawal of defending champion, Belgian Tom Boonen, who fell from the 19th km . But, given the recital issued by the winner on a course that delivers a relentless and predictable verdict, it appears unlikely that the presence of the triple winner of the "Ronde van Vlaanderen" would have changed the outcome. Boonen, who suffers no fracture, but has been asked stitches, also not be out of Paris-Roubaix on Sunday, said Patrick Lefevere, his manager.

On the line, located at an altitude of 957 meters, preceded teammate Froome 30 seconds to become the first British winner of the event since Chris Boardman in 1996.

"We agreed with Chris," said Holder, who won two weeks ago in Paris-Nice. "He came to that which had good legs to attack. When there was a gap behind him, nobody reacted. He must have continued effort. "

"Froomie" second last year's Tour de France, endorsed with visible pleasure he hopes the yellow jersey wearing next summer in the 100th edition of the Tour which will start on June 29 Porto Vecchio.

"This course has allowed me to see how I could have confidence in my team for the Tour," said the Briton. "We answered all attacks", including the offensive by Thomas Voeckler 60 kilometers from the finish in order to anticipate the rise of the Ospedale.

In this ascent, everything went according to a predictable scenario when training are presented Sky superior army. Even if all collective dominance is not necessarily good news in cycling, still traumatized by events such as numbers Gewiss team in the Flèche Wallonne 1994, the armada Festina then or in the U.S. Postal Tours of the time Armstrong.

22 years, Moreno Moser won the Strade Bianche ahead of his teammate and favorite Peter Sagan (Cannondale). Fabian Cancellara, the defending champion, failed the podium.

Moreno Moser won on Saturday the biggest victory of his young career. At 22, the Italian rider, professional for only one year, triumphed over treacherous roads of the Strade Bianche event created in 2007 is beginning to make a place in the global calendar. Portions of earth, its famous "white roads" and the final steep streets of Siena are not scared nephew Francesco Moser, 1977 world champion and three-time winner of Paris-Roubaix.

Member of a group of four riders in front, Moser initially benefited from the excellent work of a team of luxury, Peter Sagan, who annihilated the attempted return of Fabian Cancellara. Cooler and more comfortable in high percentages (a passage to 18%) in the last mile, the Italian has outpaced his opponents to fly to the victory ahead of Sagan, author of an impressive final climb. Rinaldo Nocentini, third GP Camaiore Thursday already behind Sagan, once again took third place. Cancellara, the defending champion, finished just off the podium.

The former French cyclist Richard Virenque said he was "delighted and excited" at the prospect of an upcoming advertising campaign for Festina watch brand for which he ran until 1998, resulting in the doping scandal exclusion from the Tour de France team.

In response to criticism on this project, Virenque replied: "My friendship with the boss Festina, Miguel Rodriguez, dating back to our first meeting and persist to this day. Mutual trust This now allows us to consider together many projects, in fact, the next international advertising campaign. "

"I recall that Festina has always remained faithful to the sport of cycling through, among others, the timing of its partnership in the Tour de France for more than 20 years," said Richard Virenque in a statement.

Present today in cycling as media consultant, the most popular French riders of his generation ended his career in 2004. During his career, he took on seven occasions (record type) the classification of the best climber in the Tour de France.

Race of the Two Seas is definitely very tough. After the victory of Matthew Goss Thursday, the winner of Sanremo 2011, the Slovak Peter Sagan phenomenon that has taken a step Friday. At the end of the 190 km race between Nami and Indicatore Scalo, the green jersey of the Tour de France last beat Mark Cavendish, who remains leader. The man from the Isle of Man indeed keeps his shirt "Azzurro" and is better than yesterday (5th), where he moaned against his team that had badly prepared his sprint he said.

Peter Sagan was a good performance on Friday in the third stage. With this victory (the fourth this season after two successful the Tour of Oman and the Grand Prix de Camaiore), Slovak and catches his lead back to 18 seconds thanks to Cavendish bonuses. The podium is completed by another rival "Cav", German André Greipel.

His compatriot Gerald Ciolek, who had already distinguished himself yesterday with the colors of the South African team MTN-Qhubeka, it ends in 4th place. Tyler Farrar (7th) and Thor Hushovd (8th) in addition to this top ten good level, with Italian Manuel Belletti (9th). The fourth stage will take place Saturday in the mountains, Narni summit in Prati di Tivo: 173 km of challenging course in which Cadel Evans, Alberto Contador and Vincenzo Nibali act favorites.