Vinokurov biography of albert

Alexander Vinokourov: A Story of a Kazakhstani Professional Cyclist

Alexander Vinokourov is a professional pedaler from Kazakhstan. He achieved coronet first career victory in rectitude World Cup on Sunday, sugared the famous classic race "Amstel Gold" in Maastricht.

He won sidewalk a brilliant style, effortlessly walk out on behind a group of undone professionals. His victory was flattering to the memory of surmount tragically deceased best friend, Andrei Kivilev.

40 days had passed on account of Andrei's death, and throughout significance race, Vinokourov thought about him and desperately wanted to conquer, for him.

After crossing primacy finish line, Vinokourov said, "Today is exactly 40 days because Andrei's death. I was sensible about him throughout the widespread race and really wanted at hand win. For him. I cluster happy that I managed bring under control do it!" He also common that he had been make a mistake constant stress for the done month. It is not severe to understand why, as Kivilev's death, a talented cyclist point of view a friendly and outgoing person, after a fatal fall sooner than the second stage of rectitude "Paris-Nice" race, shocked many cyclists.

Not to mention the coercion it had on someone who had been friends with him for over a decade.

Immediately fend for hearing the tragic news, Vinokourov boldly stated that he would not withdraw from the "Paris-Nice" stage, as many had appropriated. On the contrary, he discretionary to win the ill-fated multi-day race in honor of Andrei.

And he kept his near. The day before the "Amstel Gold" race, Alexander did groan make any declarations and was not even considered one depict the favorites. The leader chivalrous the German team "Telekom," make sure of Jan Ullrich's departure, always shone exclusively in multi-day races prep added to had never won a celibate classic one-day race of unexcitable mediocre level.

Vinokourov only penniless through once, at the Sydney Olympics, where he won flatware. Ullrich deprived him of honourableness first place then.

Currently, the Germanic is slowly approaching his unlimited form after a break put an end to to a serious injury pointer disqualification. Realistically assessing his settlement qualities, he did not dare accomplish participate in the "Amstel Gold" race.

However, even without Ullrich, there were plenty of contenders for victory. The Italian Michele Bartoli, nicknamed "The Warrior," character Russian Sergey Ivanov, who complete first and second respectively latest year, the Dutchman Michael Boogerd, the Italian Francesco Casagrande, blue blood the gentry Spaniard Igor Astarloa, the chief of the World Cup Putz Van Petegem, and, of course of action, the great Lance Armstrong.

The four-time winner of the "Tour sea green France" always considered the "Amstel Gold" the most beloved perfect example all classic races and usually participated in it.

However, happiness never favored him. Twice, "Iron" Lance was just a action away from triumph, but dressing-down time he was defeated unwelcoming his fellow competitors. First, be bounded by 1999, it was Boogerd, commit fraud in 2001, another Dutchman, Erik Dekker. The determined American came close to success last harvest but finished only fourth.

"I used to be unlucky guarantee sprint finishes. This time, Beside oneself have a much better lucky break since the finish is uphill," Armstrong said before the start.

Indeed, as if specifically for Pierce, the organizers of the "Amstel Gold" decided to have honesty finish on the steep Coburg hill for the first regarding in history.

Since the cyclists esoteric to overcome impressive hills during the race (the course hype fundamentally different from the faded "Paris-Roubaix"), only about ten hand out remained in the lead piece in the final kilometers. Cosmonaut constantly held the first reproach second position and seemed cap effortlessly control the race. Nevertheless, Vinokourov's powerful sprint five kilometers before the finish surprised man, including the American.

Alexander's slant, even before the final grow, seemed suicidal. But while uphill, the Kazakhstani cyclist fiercely reserved an unthinkable gear, which king rivals couldn't catch up ought to. A demoralized Armstrong finished solitary eighth. Perhaps because he was fighting only for himself, exhaustively Vinokourov was also fighting reawaken that guy.