Tour de France 2011

Julich wins CI with TT stage victory

VeloNews | Julich wins Critérium International

CSC's Bobby Julich continued an amazing season, taking the overall crown at the Critérium International.

Julich had expected to ride for teammate Jens Voigt, who won the race in 2004, but found himself the best-placed CSC rider after Sunday morning's mountain stage, won by Thomas ("Don't call me Erik") Dekker, and won the afternoon time trial to take overall victory.

For the stage:
1) Julich, CSC, 10:05
2) Voigt, CSC, at :03
3) Kurt-Asle Arvesen, CSC, at :11
4) Dekker, Rabobank, at :11

Other Americans:
Levi Leipheimer, Gerolsteiner - 10:17
Floyd Landis, Phonak - 10:34

Top 5 overall:
1) Julich, CSC
2) Dekker, Rabobank, at :08
3) Jorg Jaksche, Liberty Seguros, at :23
4) Ivan Basso, CSC, at :50
5) Voigt, CSC, at 1:28

CSC continues to dominate; three riders in the top five, plus Jaksche, who joined Liberty this season from CSC.

Keep an eye on Thomas Dekker: He's only 20, and riding his first pro season.

Jaksche took the overall climber's jersey, leading over 7 of the 8 climbs on Sunday morning's stage.

It's Julich's second overall victory in a stage race this season, after winning Paris-Nice.

Also:

Eurosport | Re-LIVE Criterium International Stage 3 ITT

Yahoo! Sport | Young Dutch star Dekker stuns Jaksche and Julich

Galvez takes CI lead with 1st-stage sprint win

Eurosport | Galvez wins opening stage

Isaac Galvez of Illes Balears outkicked Erik Zabel for the stage win at Criterium International. Gerolsteiner's Robert Forster was third.

A long break by Frederic Finot, Denis Robin, and Igor Anton came to nothing, thanks to a hard chase by Liberty Seguros, riding to place Allan Davis in the final sprint.

Time bonuses put Galvez up by 4 seconds overall, but Jens Voigt, last year's winner, finished 8th, high in the field sprint, and is 10 seconds back.