Oscar Freire out of Vuelta as Rabobank is looking ahead to Bauke Mollema – Cycling Update
Oscar Freire who finished third on stage 7 at the Vuelta a Espana 2011 behind Marcel Kittel who finished first and Peter Sagan second. Freire could not continue the race as he has abandoned his Vuelta tour during stage 8 and has also missed the opportunity
to race at the mega event just before the World Championships.
The 35-year-old entered the Vuelta a Espana with breathing problems and could not continue any longer than stage 7 as Rabobank manager Erik Breukink mentioned, “On Friday, he finished the stage with breathing problems and fatigue but this morning it seemed
that he had recovered and we all thought that he was going to continue to improve in the race,” Erik further added. “However, this morning [Saturday] on the first ramps of the Puerto de Mijares, his problems returned and he took the decision to pull out.”
Team Rabobank is now down to two riders as the Danish cyclist Breschel Matti has already withdrawn the tour after a crash at stage 6 who might also miss the chances at World Championships. Team is now riding with 7 riders that include Barredo Llamazales
Carlos, Garate Juan Manuel, Kruijswijk Manuel, Kruijswijk Steven, Martens Paul, Mollema Bauke, Sanchez Gil Luis Leon and Slagter Tom Jelte.
Bauke Mollema of Rabobank finished second at the stage 9 finishing seconds behind Daniel Martin of Garmin Cervelo with Steven Kruijswijk of Rabobank at 17thposition. Mollema is now leading the general classifications with a total time of 37:11:17
and is at second position at the point’s classification with 62 points. Rabobank Cycling Team is at the third position after the stage 9 team’s classification with Geox-TMC at first and Team RadioShack at third position.
Team Rabobank is looking ahead at the Dutch cyclist Bauke Mollema to continue his good form in the coming weeks of the Vuelta a Espana 2011 as the 26-year-old is participating in his first Vuelta as he finished 12th at the Giro d’ Italia 2010
with a 70th position over all at the Tour de France 2011.
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