TNT Sports
GP des Nations bids adieu
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Published 19/09/2004 at 19:46 GMT+1
Germany's Michael Rich won the last Grand Prix des Nations, a 54km individual time-trial around the Normandy city of Elbeuf, on Sunday. The International Cycling Union (UCI) has decided to take the race out of next year's calendar saying it clashes with the schedule of the road world championships.
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There was no surprise in this last Grand Prix, a race made for time trial specialists in which Germans have often shone.
Rich, who won last year's event at Dieppe, clocked a winning time of one hour eight minutes and 24 seconds.
He beat compatriot and team mate Uewe Peschel, who has twice won the race, by 10 seconds with Spain's Jose-Ivan Guttierez 36 seconds behind in third.
"I had a pretty good race today," Rich said. "I was a little bit late after the first of the two laps but I felt really strong and I never get worried. I gave everything I had in the last 15 kilometres.
"It's good to win today because in a few years people will remember that I was the last winner of the Grand Prix des Nations."
It was the perfect way for Rich to prepare for the world championships in the Italian city of Bardollino in 10 days as he confirmed his place among the favourites for the gold medal.
"You never can tell with time trials," he said. "In Athens (at the Olympics) I was certain that I could snatch a medal and eventually I came in fifth.
"I don't know how I will be physically in ten days. (Tour de France winner) Lance Armstrong, (Olympic champion American) Tyler Hamilton and (Briton) David Millar are absent.
"It gives (me) an extra chance but there will be some other strong guys to tame."
Millar was suspended from the sport for two years last month after admitting taking the banned drug EPO.
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