Roche and Deignan wrap up successful Tour of Beijing

Posted 09 October 2011

Nicolas Roche and Philip Deignan rounded off a successful Tour of Beijing by finishing in the bunch on the final stage won by Denis Galimzyanov (Katusha) as Tony Martin (HTC-Highroad) celebrated victory overall.

The short 118 kilometre stage from Tian An Men Square to the Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium began with a short run to a flat 7.5 kilometre circuit which was completed twelve times.

A three man group made up of Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil), Francesco Reda (Quickstep) and Alexandr Pliuschin (Katusha) escaped on arrival on the circuit and succeeded in building up a lead of almost two minutes.

The trio were caught on the penultimate lap as the stage came down to an inevitable bunch sprint with the Liquigas-Cannondale team once more taking control of events.

Galimzyanov had the faster turn of speed at the finish holding off Juan Jose Haedo (Saxo Bank) as stage four winner Elia Viviani (Ligquigas-Cannodale) took third.

Roche (AG2R La Mondiale) finished 49th on the stage with Deignan (Team Radioshack) close behind in 56th position.

Martin, who led the inaugural version of the race from start to finish after victory in the opening individual time trial, celebrated victory with a 17 seconds winning margin over David Millar (Garmin Cervelo) with Chris Froome (Team Sky) third at 26 seconds.

Roche, who bagged the stage three win, finished 11th overall just 48 seconds down while Deignan, who placed second on that same stage, finished 31st overall at 1’08”.

Results:

Stage 5: Tian An Men Square – Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium, 118 kilometres

1.  Denis Galimzyanov (Rus) Katusha Team 2:19:44     
2.  Juan José Haedo (Arg) Saxo Bank Sungard          
3.  Elia Viviani (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale          
4.  Matteo Trentin (Ita) Quickstep Cycling Team          
5.  Davide Appollonio (Ita) Sky Procycling          
6.  Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Quickstep Cycling Team          
7.  Heinrich Haussler (Aus) Team Garmin-Cervelo          
8.  Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) Leopard Trek          
9.  Alexander Kristoff (Nor) BMC Racing Team          
10.  Sébastien Hinault (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale

49. Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale  - same time
56. Philip Deignan (Irl) Team Radioshack – same time

Final general classification

1.  Tony Martin (Ger) HTC-Highroad 13:39:11     
2.  David Millar (GBr) Team Garmin-Cervelo 0:00:17     
3.  Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Procycling 0:00:26     
4.  Stephen Cummings (GBr) Sky Procycling 0:00:35     
5.  Olivier Kaisen (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:00:39     
6.  Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Rabobank Cycling Team 0:00:41     
7.  Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:00:43     
8.  Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Pro Team Astana          
9.  Dario Cataldo (Ita) Quickstep Cycling Team          
10. Niki Terpstra (Ned) Quickstep Cycling Team 0:00:46   

11. Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale at 48 seconds
31. Philip Deignan (Irl) Team Radioshack at 1 minute, 08 seconds

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