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Argos-Shimano’s Matthieu Sprick was admitted to a hospital with a cerebral thrombosis, the team announced on Thursday.
According to the team, physicians have called Sprick’s condition as a “small cerebrovascular accident.” In a statement on Thursday, the team confirmed that Sprick was “conscious and speaking but has some symptoms of paralysis.”
A type of stroke, a cerebral thrombosis is a blockage of a blood vessel in the brain caused by a clot.
Sprick is undergoing tests, observation, and treatments and the team said it would provide additional details as available.
Sprick recently returned to training following a fracture of his navicular bone, a bone on the medial side of the foot. He crashed hard in a pile-up during stage 1 of the Circuit de la Sarthe.
We will publish complete results as they become available.- 1. Vincenzo NIBALI, Astana, in 44:29
- 2. Samuel SANCHEZ GONZALEZ, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at :58
- 3. Damiano CARUSO, Cannondale, at 1:20
- 4. Michele SCARPONI, Lampre-Merida, at 1:21
- 5. Rafal MAJKA, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 1:25
- 6. Rigoberto URAN URAN, Sky, at 1:26
- 7. Carlos Alberto BETANCUR GOMEZ, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 1:32
- 8. Stef CLEMENT, Blanco, at 1:36
- 9. Dario CATALDO, Sky, at 1:41
- 10. Danilo DI LUCA, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 1:52
- 11. Evgeny PETROV, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 1:54
- 12. Przemyslaw NIEMIEC, Lampre-Merida, at 1:56
- 13. Fabio Andres DUARTE AREVALO, Colombia, at 1:59
- 14. Wilco KELDERMAN, Blanco, at 1:59
- 15. Domenico POZZOVIVO, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 2:11
- 16. Franco PELLIZOTTI, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 2:12
- 17. Ben GASTAUER, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 2:14
- 18. Francis MOUREY, FDJ, at 2:15
- 19. José HERRADA LOPEZ, Movistar, at 2:16
- 20. Thomas DANIELSON, Garmin-Sharp, at 2:21
- 21. Yury TROFIMOV, Katusha, at 2:22
- 22. Kanstantsin SIUTSOU, Sky, at 2:25
- 23. Eros CAPECCHI, Movistar, at 2:26
- 24. Mauro SANTAMBROGIO, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 2:33
- 25. Cadel EVANS, BMC Racing, at 2:36
- 26. Stephen CUMMINGS, BMC Racing, at 2:39
- 27. Steven KRUIJSWIJK, Blanco, at 2:48
- 28. Benat INTXAUSTI ELORRIAGA, Movistar, at 2:49
- 29. Robert GESINK, Blanco, at 2:55
- 30. Fabio FELLINE, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 2:58
- 31. Tiago MACHADO, RadioShack-Leopard, at 3:02
- 32. Vladimir KARPETS, Movistar, at 3:05
- 33. Diego ROSA, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 3:07
- 34. Tanel KANGERT, Astana, at 3:19
- 35. Giovanni VISCONTI, Movistar, at 3:20
- 36. Serge PAUWELS, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 3:21
- 37. Tobias LUDVIGSSON, Argos-Shimano, at 3:22
- 38. Manuele BOARO, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 3:29
- 39. Robert KISERLOVSKI, RadioShack-Leopard, at 3:46
- 40. Juan Manuel GARATE, Blanco, at 3:53
- 41. Jérôme PINEAU, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 3:54
- 42. Christian KNEES, Sky, at 3:58
- 43. Steve MORABITO, BMC Racing, at 3:59
- 44. Xabier ZANDIO ECHAIDE, Sky, at 4:02
- 45. Sergio Luis HENAO MONTOYA, Sky, at 4:06
- 46. Thomas DEKKER, Garmin-Sharp, at 4:08
- 47. Vladimir GUSEV, Katusha, at 4:08
- 48. Emanuele SELLA, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 4:09
- 49. Jorge AZANZA SOTO, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 4:11
- 50. Christian VANDEVELDE, Garmin-Sharp, at 4:16
- 51. Leonardo Fabio DUQUE, Colombia, at 4:21
- 52. Darwin ATAPUMA HURTADO, Colombia, at 4:24
- 53. Rafael VALLS FERRI, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 4:24
- 54. Johan LE BON, FDJ, at 4:26
- 55. Miguel MINGUEZ AYALA, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 4:26
- 56. Frederik VEUCHELEN, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 4:29
- 57. Brian BULGAC, Lotto-Belisol, at 4:30
- 58. Jose Rodolfo SERPA PEREZ, Lampre-Merida, at 4:35
- 59. Egoi MARTINEZ DE ESTEBAN, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 4:35
- 60. Edoardo ZARDINI, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 4:35
- 61. Salvatore PUCCIO, Sky, at 4:36
- 62. Juan Jose COBO ACEBO, Movistar, at 4:38
- 63. Daniele PIETROPOLLI, Lampre-Merida, at 4:39
- 64. Danilo HONDO, RadioShack-Leopard, at 4:45
- 65. Patrick GRETSCH, Argos-Shimano, at 4:48
- 66. Sacha MODOLO, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 4:52
- 67. Robert VRECER, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 4:54
- 68. Petr IGNATENKO, Katusha, at 4:54
- 69. Pavel BRUTT, Katusha, at 4:55
- 70. Ivan SANTAROMITA, BMC Racing, at 4:59
- 71. Giampaolo CARUSO, Katusha, at 4:59
- 72. Martijn KEIZER, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 5:00
- 73. Francis DE GREEF, Lotto-Belisol, at 5:01
- 74. Rob RUIJGH, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 5:02
- 75. Dominique ROLLIN, FDJ, at 5:04
- 76. Dirk BELLEMAKERS, Lotto-Belisol, at 5:05
- 77. Giairo ERMETI, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 5:06
- 78. Gorka VERDUGO MARCOTEGUI, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 5:10
- 79. Adam HANSEN, Lotto-Belisol, at 5:11
- 80. Thomas DAMUSEAU, Argos-Shimano, at 5:13
- 81. Christian MEIER, Orica-GreenEdge, at 5:14
- 82. Lars Ytting BAK, Lotto-Belisol, at 5:15
- 83. Danilo WYSS, BMC Racing, at 5:15
- 84. Sonny COLBRELLI, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 5:16
- 85. Gianluca BRAMBILLA, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 5:18
- 86. Robinson Eduardo CHALAPUD GOMEZ, Colombia, at 5:25
- 87. Grega BOLE, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 5:25
- 88. Pieter WEENING, Orica-GreenEdge, at 5:26
- 89. Mads CHRISTENSEN, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 5:27
- 90. Alex DOWSETT, Movistar, at 5:27
- 91. Kristijan DURASEK, Lampre-Merida, at 5:35
- 92. Francesco Manuel BONGIORNO, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 5:36
- 93. Stefano LOCATELLI, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 5:36
- 94. Paul MARTENS, Blanco, at 5:37
- 95. Albert TIMMER, Argos-Shimano, at 5:41
- 96. Dmitriy GRUZDEV, Astana, at 5:41
- 97. Fabio ARU, Astana, at 5:42
- 98. Koen DE KORT, Argos-Shimano, at 5:44
- 99. Nicola BOEM, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 5:50
- 100. Willem WAUTERS, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 5:52
- 101. Alessandro PRONI, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 5:53
- 102. Jesse SERGENT, RadioShack-Leopard, at 5:53
- 103. Hubert DUPONT, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 5:53
- 104. Luke DURBRIDGE, Orica-GreenEdge, at 5:54
- 105. Maurits LAMMERTINK, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 5:57
- 106. Stefano GARZELLI, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 5:57
- 107. Murilo Antonio FISCHER, FDJ, at 5:58
- 108. George BENNETT, RadioShack-Leopard, at 5:58
- 109. Valerio AGNOLI, Astana, at 5:59
- 110. Fabio SABATINI, Cannondale, at 6:01
- 111. Robert HUNTER, Garmin-Sharp, at 6:03
- 112. Elia VIVIANI, Cannondale, at 6:05
- 113. Jackson RODRIGUEZ, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 6:08
- 114. Laurent PICHON, FDJ, at 6:08
- 115. Matteo RABOTTINI, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 6:09
- 116. Brett LANCASTER, Orica-GreenEdge, at 6:15
- 117. Svein TUFT, Orica-GreenEdge, at 6:15
- 118. Ricardo MESTRE, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 6:17
- 119. Paolo TIRALONGO, Astana, at 6:18
- 120. Marco MARCATO, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 6:22
- 121. Danny PATE, Sky, at 6:22
- 122. Maarten TJALLINGII, Blanco, at 6:22
- 123. Paolo LONGO BORGHINI, Cannondale, at 6:24
- 124. Miguel Angel RUBIANO CHAVEZ, Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela, at 6:25
- 125. Giacomo NIZZOLO, RadioShack-Leopard, at 6:29
- 126. Ramunas NAVARDAUSKAS, Garmin-Sharp, at 6:29
- 127. Simone STORTONI, Lampre-Merida, at 6:31
- 128. Frederik WILLEMS, Lotto-Belisol, at 6:34
- 129. Alan MARANGONI, Cannondale, at 6:37
- 130. Tiziano DALL’ANTONIA, Cannondale, at 6:39
- 131. Vicente REYNES MIMO, Lotto-Belisol, at 6:46
- 132. Roberto FERRARI, Lampre-Merida, at 6:46
- 133. Fredrik Carl Wilhelm KESSIAKOFF, Astana, at 6:47
- 134. Julien VERMOTE, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 6:47
- 135. Pablo LASTRAS GARCIA, Movistar, at 6:48
- 136. Luca PAOLINI, Katusha, at 6:52
- 137. Iljo KEISSE, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 6:53
- 138. Filippo POZZATO, Lampre-Merida, at 6:54
- 139. Peter STETINA, Garmin-Sharp, at 6:58
- 140. Rory SUTHERLAND, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 6:59
- 141. Rafael ANDRIATO, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 7:00
- 142. Edwin Alcibiades AVILA VANEGAS, Colombia, at 7:04
- 143. Ioannis TAMOURIDIS, Euskaltel-Euskadi, at 7:13
- 144. Luka MEZGEC, Argos-Shimano, at 7:14
- 145. Andrey ZEITS, Astana, at 7:17
- 146. Daniel OSS, BMC Racing, at 7:22
- 147. Michal GOLAS, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 7:22
- 148. Francisco José VENTOSO ALBERDI, Movistar, at 7:29
- 149. Yaroslav POPOVYCH, RadioShack-Leopard, at 7:35
- 150. Pim LIGTHART, Vacansoleil-DCM, at 7:41
- 151. Wilson Alexander MARENTES TORRES, Colombia, at 7:43
- 152. Guillaume BONNAFOND, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 7:46
- 153. Cameron WURF, Cannondale, at 7:53
- 154. Nelson Filipe SANTOS SIMOES OLIVEIRA, RadioShack-Leopard, at 7:56
- 155. Matteo TRENTIN, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 7:57
- 156. Bruno PIRES, Saxo-Tinkoff, at 8:00
- 157. Mark CAVENDISH, Omega Pharma-Quick Step, at 8:05
- 158. Gert DOCKX, Lotto-Belisol, at 8:05
- 159. Jarlinson PANTANO, Colombia, at 8:09
- 160. Jens KEUKELEIRE, Orica-GreenEdge, at 8:18
- 161. Bert DE BACKER, Argos-Shimano, at 8:22
- 162. Stefano PIRAZZI, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 8:28
- 163. Marco CANOLA, Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, at 8:38
- 164. Cayetano José SARMIENTO TUNARROSA, Cannondale, at 8:47
- 165. Kenny DE HAES, Lotto-Belisol, at 8:53
- 166. Jens MOURIS, Orica-GreenEdge, at 9:07
- 167. Oscar GATTO, Vini Fantini-Selle Italia, at 9:28
- 168. Cristiano SALERNO, Cannondale, at 9:33
- 169. Adam BLYTHE, BMC Racing, at 11:42
- 170. Davide APPOLLONIO, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 11:47
- 171. Manuel BELLETTI, Ag2r La Mondiale, at 14:31
- 172. Maxim BELKOV, Katusha, at 14:44
Vincenzo Nibali took the stage win he wanted to complement his maglia rosa on Thursday at the Giro d'Italia. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) won the stage 18 individual time trial at the Giro d’Italia on Thursday in Polsa. Nibali was the last starter and logged the fastest time, a 44:29, in the 20.6-kilometer climbing test to win his first stage of the 96th Giro.
Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) was second, at 58 seonds, and Damiano Caruso (Cannondale) was third, at 1:20.
Nibali extended his hold on the maglia rosa with three days of racing remaining. He leads second overall Cadel Evans (BMC Racing) by 4:02 and third overall Rigoberto Urán (Sky) by 4:12.
The Giro d’Italia continues Friday with the 139km 19th stage from Ponte di Legno to Val Martello. The Passo di Gavia and Passo dello Stelvio are both on the menu, but organizers may be forced to reroute the stage due to snow.
Sanchez nearly hangs on to the stage win
The climbing TT started in the Mori Velodrome and quickly headed skyward, gaining a total of 1,018 vertical meters. After a flat opening kilometer, the road climbed at a steady six-percent gradient for 6km. After a brief respite, the climb kicked up again, rising for almost 7km with an average gradient of seven percent and ramps as steep as 10 percent.
Cool temperatures and rain blanketed the corsa rosa on Thursday.
Stage 8 time trial winner Alex Dowsett (Movistar) has an engine built more for the flat chronos than the climbing tests and after an early bike change, he did not factor.
“It’s a completely different race [than a flat time trial],” he said. “I didn’t enjoy that much. It’s a completely different dynamic. It’s pure power-to-weight ratio. There’s not a lot of technique to it. If there is, I don’t have it. I paced my effort quite well. I had to change my time trial bike right at the bottom, because my gears were not working. If there was an edge to be had, it was on my TT bike. I had to swap straight away and do the rest on my road bike.”
Stef Clement (Blanco) registered an early fast time, finishing in 46:05 to take the lead with the GC heavy hitters still to come.
Damiano Caruso (Cannondale) registered a 45:49 to unseat Clement and take the lead just moments before Evans rolled down the start ramp as the penultimate starter. The 2011 Tour de France champion was focused in the start house, his mouth closed, before he burst onto the track to try and erase his 1:26 gap to Nibali.
Moments later, Nibali exploded out of the start house, resplendent in his pink skinsuit.
Best young rider contender Rafal Majka (Saxo-Tinkoff) set the second fastest time at the time check halfway into the stage, but it was 2008 Olympic champion Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi) blazing the quickest path up to Polsa. The Spaniard logged the day’s best time, in 45:27.
“I am content with the legs I had up the stage,” said Sánchez. “I’ve been looking for a stage victory in this Giro. I’ve had good sensations in the last week. It was getting wet and some of the corners were getting dangerous.”
Evans rode through the intermediate time check well off Michele Scarponi’s (Lampre-Merida) new fastest time; it was clear the Aussie was not on a good ride. Nibali was doing the opposite, however, and set a new standard at the halfway point. For his part, Urán was holding his own and protecting his third overall placing.
Majka dropped off the pace on the upper reaches of the climb and logged the third fastest time at the finish, 27 seconds slower than Sánchez. Best young rider Carlos Betancur (Ag2r La Mondiale) was chasing Majka, climbing out of the saddle, his bike lurching from left to right, over the final kilometer. The Colombian finished seven seconds adrift of Majka, forfeiting the white jersey ahead of the race’s final three stages.
The rain began falling harder as the GC leaders climbed toward the finish. Scarponi pushed to the finish in the saddle, but saw his hopes of a stage win close with 100 meters to go when the clock ticked over Sánchez’s mark. The race’s 2010 champion logged the third fastest time, 23 seconds adrift.
Down the road, Nibali was putting big time into Evans, extending his overall lead beyond two and then three minutes as the Aussie neared the finish.
Urán sprinted over the line to log the fifth fastest time, 28 seconds slower than Sánchez, and defend his podium position against Scarponi, who would leave the stage 1:02 off the Colombian’s overall time.
Evans stood on the pedals and pushed his way into the fence-lined final kilometer. Nibali was not far behind.
With Nibali only 100 meters behind him, the top times ticked by as Evans rode into the final 400 meters. Backstage, Sánchez shook his head. Evans logged the 24th fastest time, 1:38 down. The Spaniard could dream of the stage, but not for long.
Less than a minute later, Nibali pushed toward the line, looking down at his handlebars. He crossed the line, in pouring rain, with the stage win in hand and pumped his right fist in celebration.
Ramunas Navardauskas thought he won stage 17 before realizing that Giovanni Visconti finished ahead of the pack. Photo: Graham Watson | www.grahamwatson.com MORI, Italy (VN) — Ramunas Navardauskas (Garmin-Sharp) might have raised his hands in error yesterday after crossing the line second, but there’s no doubt that the Lithuanian is coming out as one of the revelations of this year’s Giro d’Italia.
The 25-year-old Lithuanian has been on a tear in the second half of the Giro. Once Garmin lost its GC options with the departure of an ill Ryder Hesjedal, the team cut him loose.
Navardauskas quickly delivered, winning stage 11 out of a breakaway. Over the past two days, he claimed bunch sprints in stage 16 for fourth and stage 17 for second, respectively.
“It’s been a very good Giro for me. I am very happy,” Navardauskas told VeloNews. “It’s a very big step to win the stage. What we are doing here is good. We still hope to show some things in the coming days.”
His Giro victory, coupled with a stage win at the Tour de Romandie, has confirmed what everyone inside the Garmin organization already knows.
“This Giro has shown Ramunas how good he is,” said Garmin sport director Charly Wegelius. “I think it’s an open book. There’s not a lot he cannot do in cycling. Maybe he’s a little bit big to get over huge mountains, but there are plenty of things to keep him busy.”
The 6-foot-3 Navardauskas had an impressive under-23 career, capped by a victory in the espoirs Liège-Bastogne-Liège while racing with Velo Club La Pomme Marseille in 2010.
Garmin picked him up in 2011 and surprised many when the team tapped him to race the Tour that same year. He proved an able teammate, helping motor the squad to the team time trial victory and the team GC prize, and made it to the finish line in an impressive grand tour debut.
Last year, Navardauskas snagged the pink jersey when Garmin won the team time trial in stage 4 of the Giro before helping pace Hesjedal to win the overall. Later in the season, he rode to second overall at the Tour of Denmark to confirm his promise as a stage racer.
Wegelius said the future is bright for Navardauskas, who can also do well in the classics, time trials, and shorter stage races.
“He’s got a huge engine. Hopefully he realizes how good he is. There are a lot of one-week stage races he could win, perhaps a Milano-San Remo, or a world championships,” Wegelius said. “I hope that the fact that he is such a nice guy doesn’t get in the way of his ambition. He is always the first to come back to get water bottles.”
Navardauskas has helped raise the spirits of his stricken Garmin teammates, who have been hobbled by crashes, illnesses, and otherwise bad luck.
“This year, it’s just been bad luck from the beginning. Our silver lining is the ‘honey badger,’” said Peter Stetina. “It’s all about Ramunas, it’s pretty amazing.”
Navardauskas picked up the nickname a few years ago when a youtube video was going viral.
“It was during the Circuit de la Sarthe. The ‘honey badger’ video went viral at the same time, and he was just doing ridiculous stuff that defied all logic of strength, and it just caught on,” Stetina explained. “We started calling him the honey badger. It still fits to this day.”
For Navardauskas, the future is bright. Even he doesn’t know where the roads will take him.
“I have no idea, actually. I can do everything OK. You never know when the legs are going to be good,” he said. “I am trying to help the team, to get into breakaways, to try to win a stage. I am trying to do my best. You never know when is your day. You have to try to take the chance.”
Navardauskas certainly lives up to his nickname. He’s not afraid of much.
Estonian champion key man for Astana at Giro d’Italia
Kimmage, Millar Wyman and the AIGCP respond
- repost from USA Cycling Referee Marijn Braadbaart
Posted 21 May 2013 - 05:23 PM
That was an interesting race (Ofallon Crit) and I am amazed at how many people race without having ever having looked at the rules. This is the interpretation of the USAC rulebook per the people who wrote the rule-book and who resolve disputes about rules interpretations:
1) Once the break (leaders) have caught (lapped) the field, then the entire field (break-away riders and original field) can race together just as they did when they started their first lap from the starting gun.
2) OTOH, you can NOT drop back from the field and wait for your team-mate who is in a break, and then help your team-mate lap the field. You can sit on his wheel, but you can't help him. Once he laps the field (on his own or with the other breakaway riders) then item 1) above applies.
Them's the rules. I'm planning on doing a quick explanation of the "lapped rider" rules next time I'm reffing Tue Night Worlds.
Marijn - Please join Granada Cyclery this Saturday for the 2nd training ride in it's training event series. The ride rolls out @ 9:30, which includes 23 and 53 mile routes to choose from in the low traffic rolling roads of the St.Paul area in St. Charles county. This is a No drop ride, all abilities welcome(helmet required) Support vehicle out on route, free food and drinks post ride. For more information please visit www.granadabicycle.net or call 636 936 2453.
All the very best in everything you do!!
