Shonak wrote:
Current reporters should be forbidden to post "report is coming soon". Always gets my hopes up.
'
Would it help if I said that I have written every word of the report, but somebody else is using the computer with the pictures on it, so as soon as I can use that I can upload the pictures and post it.
The race starts in San Luis for a 165km stage. The race is flat, with barely any altitude gained and most the race is slightly downhill. The only real danger of the stage is that at about 80km in, the race will change direction, which could bring a wind change. Cannondale will have the pressure piled upon them today, as Peter Sagan is a head and shoulders above the rest of the competition, although, anything can go wrong on the day or maybe somebody else could do well, so Gerald Ciolek, Sacha Modolo and Theo Bos could give Sagan a run for his money. Other contenders include the Champion System duo Schnaidt and Belletti, Tom Veelers, British sprinter Ben Swift, Allan Davis of Orica and Yauheni Hutarovich. The two sprints of the day are placed together, so the break away will likely take it.
The race begins in San Luis. 165km await the stage today.
A rare occurance, but the peloton lets the first attempt of the day establish a reasonable gap. Malaysian National Champion Muhammad Othman (Champion System) leads the attacks, with Luca Wakkerman (Lampre) close behind just metres behind, Thomas Palmer (Drapac) tries to hold on to the attack, it looks like he'll get back up though.
Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) had a rear wheel puncture, but the team didn't panic and sent Chad Haga, Larry Warbase and Brent Bookwalter back to pace him back to the peloton. The group should make it back with limit or no impact on Tejay.
A close sprint where Luca Wackermann (Lampre) just holds out to stay ahead of a late sprint from Muhammad Othman (Champion System), Thomas Palmar (Drapac) is significantly slower in the sprint, so if the break does make it to the end, he may need to be alone.
77km Left and the next intermediate sprint is in just 12 kilometres. The break has a 4 minute and 30 seconds gap.
Sprint Results:
Position
Name
Points
Total Points
1
Luca Wakkermann
6
6
2
Muhamamad Othman
4
4
3
Thomas Palmar
2
2
Luca Wackermann (Lampre) with a more convincing gap on Muhammad Othman (Champion System) this time. Thomas Palmar (Drapac). The peloton can be seen in the distance.
There will be no more sprints today with Villa Mercedes just 64 kilometres today. The leaders have a gap of 4 minutes on the peloton.
Sprint Results:
Position
Name
Points
Total Points
1
Luca Wakkermann
6
12
2
Muhamamad Othman
4
8
3
Thomas Palmar
2
4
A green train of Bardiani and Cannondale have upped the pace, with Gorka Nieve the first casualty of the increased pace. 30km left and the break has 2 minutes. That doesn't look like a big enough gap.
Luca Wakkerman has been giving everything to keep the break away, as they hit the 20km to go banner, they only have 1 minute and 10 seconds left. Bardiani has been giving everything up the front, with 1 or 2 riders from both Cannondale and MTN - Qhuebka helping.
10km left, but Palmar has resigned and is back in the peloton, these two have had the final handshake and will watch the peloton take over, will one of them have another go for most combatative? Will another rider attack? or will we see a bunch sprint?
The break has been caught by the Bardiani train.
3km Left and we get 2 shots of the peloton. The MTN - Qhuebeka train leads, followed by Sagan's Cannondale train. Davis struggles to keep up next to Sagan, maybe slowing down to grab his wheel. The Bardiani train with Modolo at the back races on the other side of the road, funnily enough, the three biggest sprinters have 2 lead-out men left each. Just behind the Bardiani train is Hutarovich, with Veelers ready to grab his wheel, Schnait is following the Dutchman, Swift is on his wheel.
If gaps should form in the bunch, it's worth knowing that only a few GC names are near the front, we can spot Kangert, Van Garderen and Betancur in the top 15, while Johnsson and Henao are in the top 25, none of the other GC names are anywhere near the front, unless Sagan goes for GC.
1.5 kilometres to go, the sprinters are all up the front, the peloton looks like this:
Sabatini
Lasca
Shaqif
Sagan
Lander
Fortin
Tekeste
Modolo
Ciolek
Hutarovich
Davis
Veelers
Schnaidt
Swift
Harrini
There is a bike length gap to the rest of the peloton, nothing serious, but nobody is strong enough to win from behind that.
They hit the 1km Banner and Sagan is a long way ahead, he hasn't even done any work in the wind yet! Fortin leads Sacha Modolo, who might be the only rider still in contention, Hutarovich follows, with Schnaidt on his wheel, Veelers tries to catch up, Swfit races behind him, with Harrini on one side and Ciolek's on the other side, unfortunately Tekeste just wasn't strong enough and he ruined his teammates chances. Davis is the only sprinter on the other side of the road.
500 metres left as Sagan and Modolo leave there lead-outs, almost everyone is in a line behind him and Lasca, but Modolo has just entered the wind, while the others have raced in it for much longer. Ciolek desperately tries to make up the gap.
Peter Sagan wins the first stage of the tour de San Luis!
Schnaidt beats Harrini for 2nd by a matter of millimetres. While Ciolek pulls off a miracle sprint for 4th, Hutarovich comes in 5th, Ben Swift takes 6th, Veelers gets 7th, while a Fading Modolo takes 8th, Sagan's lead out Lasca take 9th for his strength, while Allan Davis rounds out the top 10 for Orica Greenedge.
It turns out a gap of almost 3 minutes split the peloton mid-stage. The biggest name involved was Muriel.
Peter Sagan takes every jersey and the stage, we've just shown yellow and the stage.
Results:
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Peter Sagan
Cannondale Pro Cycling
3h36'21
2
Fabian Schnaidt
Team Champion System
s.t.
3
Fabrizio Harrini
Colombia
s.t.
4
Gerald Ciolek
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
5
Yauheni Hutarovich
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
6
Ben Swift
Sky Procycling
s.t.
7
Tom Veelers
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
8
Sacha Modolo
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
9
Francesco Lasca
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
10
Allan Davis
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
Spoiler
[table]11 Filippo Fortin Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox s.t.
12 Carlos Betancur AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
13 Benjamin Giraud AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
14 Fabio Sabatini Cannondale Pro Cycling s.t.
15 Yonas Tekeste MTN - Qhubeka s.t.
16 Sebastian Lander Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox s.t.
17 Larry Warbasse BMC Racing Team s.t.
18 Tejay Van Garderen BMC Racing Team s.t.
19 Matthias Friedemann Team Champion System s.t.
20 Tanel Kangert Team Giant - Shimano s.t.
21 Marouane Shaqif MTN - Qhubeka s.t.
22 Hugo Houle Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox s.t.
23 Sergio Henao Sky Procycling s.t.
24 Joshua Edmonson Sky Procycling s.t.
25 Cheng Ji Team Giant - Shimano s.t.
26 Theo Bos Belkin Pro Cycling Team s.t.
27 Alexander Wetterhall Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox s.t.
28 Diego Johnson Orica - GreenEdge s.t.
29 Dario Cataldo BMC Racing Team s.t.
30 Julian Arredondo Caja Rural - Seguros RGA s.t.
31 Russell Downing Team NetApp - Endura s.t.
32 Dominik Nerz Team NetApp - Endura s.t.
33 Janier Acevedo Team Champion System s.t.
34 Linus Gerdemann MTN - Qhubeka s.t.
35 Pieter Weening Orica - GreenEdge s.t.
36 Maxime Monfort Trek Factory Racing s.t.
37 Nelson Oliveira Trek Factory Racing s.t.
38 Pierre De la Montagne Team Giant - Shimano s.t.
39 Jose Alarcon Caja Rural - Seguros RGA s.t.
40 Łukasz Owsian CCC Polsat - Polkowice s.t.
41 Juan Pablo Asquez Caja Rural - Seguros RGA s.t.
42 Steven Kruijswijk Belkin Pro Cycling Team s.t.
43 Nathan Brown Cannondale Pro Cycling s.t.
44 Sebastian Henao Belkin Pro Cycling Team s.t.
45 Arnold Jeannesson Trek Factory Racing s.t.
46 Chris Horner Trek Factory Racing s.t.
47 Gorka Verdugo Caja Rural - Seguros RGA s.t.
48 Johann Nokkvason CCC Polsat - Polkowice s.t.
49 Michal Golas CCC Polsat - Polkowice s.t.
50 Cristian Delle Stelle Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox s.t.
51 Wilco Kelderman Belkin Pro Cycling Team s.t.
52 Paul Voss Team NetApp - Endura s.t.
53 Winner Anacona Orica - GreenEdge s.t.
54 Lawson Craddock BMC Racing Team s.t.
55 Joseph Dombrowski Sky Procycling s.t.
56 Matthew Busche Trek Factory Racing s.t.
57 José Mendes Team NetApp - Endura s.t.
58 Steve Morabito BMC Racing Team s.t.
59 Edoardo Zardini Team NetApp - Endura s.t.
60 Sylwester Szmyd CCC Polsat - Polkowice s.t.
61 Dennis Van Niekerk MTN - Qhubeka s.t.
62 Josh Burton Cannondale Pro Cycling s.t.
63 Ioannis Dimitriou Team NetApp - Endura s.t.
64 Ángel Madrazo Caja Rural - Seguros RGA s.t.
65 Muhamad Othman Team Champion System s.t.
66 Silvio Herklotz Belkin Pro Cycling Team s.t.
67 Davide Rebellin CCC Polsat - Polkowice s.t.
68 Alfredo Balloni Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox s.t.
69 Tsgabu Grmay MTN - Qhubeka s.t.
70 Maciej Paterski CCC Polsat - Polkowice s.t.
71 Brent Bookwalter BMC Racing Team s.t.
72 Josef Hintermuller MTN - Qhubeka s.t.
73 Cayetano Sarmiento Caja Rural - Seguros RGA s.t.
74 Angelo Pagani AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
75 Chad Haga BMC Racing Team s.t.
76 Josué Moyano Caja Rural - Seguros RGA s.t.
77 Marek Rutkiewicz CCC Polsat - Polkowice s.t.
78 Danilo Wyss BMC Racing Team s.t.
79 Guillaume Boivin Cannondale Pro Cycling s.t.
80 Matteo Montaguti AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
81 Jonathan Dibben Cannondale Pro Cycling s.t.
82 Jacek Morajko CCC Polsat - Polkowice s.t.
83 Mart Ojavee Team Champion System s.t.
84 David Arroyo Caja Rural - Seguros RGA s.t.
85 Donato De Ieso Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox s.t.
86 Ian Boswell Team NetApp - Endura + 2'40
87 Merhawi Kudus MTN - Qhubeka s.t.
88 Raymond Kreder Team Giant - Shimano s.t.
89 Jens Keukeleire Orica - GreenEdge s.t.
90 Luke Durbridge Orica - GreenEdge s.t.
91 Christian Muriel Colombia s.t.
92 Firmansyah Sinaga Team Champion System s.t.
93 William Walker Drapac Cycling s.t.
94 Marc De Maar UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team s.t.
95 Davide Cimolai Orica - GreenEdge s.t.
96 Rory Sutherland Drapac Cycling s.t.
97 Moreno Hofland Belkin Pro Cycling Team s.t.
98 Félix Cárdenas Lampre - Merida s.t.
99 Manuel Belletti Team Champion System s.t.
100 Guillaume Bonnafond AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
101 Thomas Peterson Team Giant - Shimano s.t.
102 Hugh Carthy Cannondale Pro Cycling s.t.
103 Daniel Teklehaimanot Lampre - Merida s.t.
104 Mattia Cattaneo AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
105 Daniel Schorn Team NetApp - Endura s.t.
106 Pavel Kochetkov RusVelo s.t.
107 Ben Day UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team s.t.
108 Marco Corti Colombia s.t.
109 Jesse Sergent Trek Factory Racing s.t.
110 Sergei Pomoshnikov RusVelo s.t.
111 Jack Haig Drapac Cycling s.t.
112 Alexander Mironov RusVelo s.t.
113 Wilson Marentes Colombia s.t.
114 Mitchell Lovelock-Fay Drapac Cycling s.t.
115 Jeff Louder UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team s.t.
116 Christopher Jones UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team s.t.
117 Igor Boev RusVelo s.t.
118 John Murphy UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team s.t.
119 Carlos Quintero Colombia s.t.
120 Michael Hepburn Lampre - Merida s.t.
121 Juan Esteban Arango Colombia s.t.
122 Bruno Pires Colombia s.t.
123 Robert Förster UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team s.t.
124 Luca Wackermann Lampre - Merida s.t.
125 Evgeniy Kovalev RusVelo s.t.
126 Artur Ershov RusVelo s.t.
127 Luca Dodi Lampre - Merida s.t.
128 Matthew Lloyd Lampre - Merida s.t.
129 Stephen Clancy Team Novo Nordisk s.t.
130 Amir Rusli Drapac Cycling s.t.
131 Gordon McCauley Drapac Cycling s.t.
132 Martijn Verschoor Team Novo Nordisk s.t.
133 Tomohori Hatanaka Drapac Cycling s.t.
134 Justin Morris Team Novo Nordisk s.t.
135 Thomas Palmer Drapac Cycling s.t.
136 Andrea Peron Team Novo Nordisk s.t.
137 Thomas Raeymaekers Team Novo Nordisk s.t.
138 Johannes Fröhlinger Team Giant - Shimano s.t.
139 Joe Eldridge Team Novo Nordisk s.t.
140 Yann Huguet Team Giant - Shimano s.t.
141 Mirsamad Poorseyedi Team Champion System s.t.
142 Stephen Cummings Sky Procycling s.t.
143 Stefano Locatelli AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
144 Jasha Sütterlin Sky Procycling s.t.
145 Gorka Nieve Colombia + 6'33[/table]
GC:
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Peter Sagan
Cannondale Pro Cycling
3h36'01
2
Fabian Schnaidt
Team Champion System
+ 8
3
Fabrizio Harrini
Colombia
+ 12
4
Muhamad Othman
Team Champion System
s.t.
5
Gerald Ciolek
MTN - Qhubeka
+ 20
6
Yauheni Hutarovich
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
7
Ben Swift
Sky Procycling
s.t.
8
Tom Veelers
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
9
Sacha Modolo
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
10
Francesco Lasca
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Allan Davis
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
12
Filippo Fortin
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
13
Carlos Betancur
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
14
Benjamin Giraud
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
15
Fabio Sabatini
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
16
Yonas Tekeste
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
17
Sebastian Lander
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
18
Larry Warbasse
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
19
Tejay Van Garderen
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
20
Matthias Friedemann
Team Champion System
s.t.
21
Tanel Kangert
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
22
Marouane Shaqif
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
23
Hugo Houle
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
24
Sergio Henao
Sky Procycling
s.t.
25
Joshua Edmonson
Sky Procycling
s.t.
26
Cheng Ji
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
27
Theo Bos
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
28
Alexander Wetterhall
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
29
Diego Johnson
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
30
Dario Cataldo
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
31
Julian Arredondo
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
32
Russell Downing
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
33
Dominik Nerz
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
34
Janier Acevedo
Team Champion System
s.t.
35
Linus Gerdemann
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
36
Pieter Weening
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
37
Maxime Monfort
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
38
Nelson Oliveira
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
39
Pierre De la Montagne
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
40
Jose Alarcon
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
41
Łukasz Owsian
CCC Polsat - Polkowice
s.t.
42
Juan Pablo Asquez
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
43
Steven Kruijswijk
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
44
Nathan Brown
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
45
Sebastian Henao
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
46
Arnold Jeannesson
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
47
Chris Horner
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
48
Gorka Verdugo
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
49
Johann Nokkvason
CCC Polsat - Polkowice
s.t.
50
Michal Golas
CCC Polsat - Polkowice
s.t.
51
Cristian Delle Stelle
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
52
Wilco Kelderman
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
53
Paul Voss
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
54
Winner Anacona
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
55
Lawson Craddock
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
56
Joseph Dombrowski
Sky Procycling
s.t.
57
Matthew Busche
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
58
José Mendes
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
59
Steve Morabito
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
60
Edoardo Zardini
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
61
Sylwester Szmyd
CCC Polsat - Polkowice
s.t.
62
Dennis Van Niekerk
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
63
Josh Burton
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
64
Ioannis Dimitriou
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
65
Ángel Madrazo
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
66
Silvio Herklotz
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
67
Davide Rebellin
CCC Polsat - Polkowice
s.t.
68
Alfredo Balloni
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
69
Tsgabu Grmay
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
70
Maciej Paterski
CCC Polsat - Polkowice
s.t.
71
Brent Bookwalter
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
72
Josef Hintermuller
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
73
Cayetano Sarmiento
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
74
Angelo Pagani
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
75
Chad Haga
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
76
Josué Moyano
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
77
Marek Rutkiewicz
CCC Polsat - Polkowice
s.t.
78
Danilo Wyss
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
79
Guillaume Boivin
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
80
Matteo Montaguti
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
81
Jonathan Dibben
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
82
Jacek Morajko
CCC Polsat - Polkowice
s.t.
83
Mart Ojavee
Team Champion System
s.t.
84
David Arroyo
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
85
Donato De Ieso
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
86
Luca Wackermann
Lampre - Merida
+ 2'48
87
Thomas Palmer
Drapac Cycling
+ 2'56
88
Ian Boswell
Team NetApp - Endura
+ 3'00
89
Merhawi Kudus
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
90
Raymond Kreder
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
91
Jens Keukeleire
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
92
Luke Durbridge
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
93
Christian Muriel
Colombia
s.t.
94
Firmansyah Sinaga
Team Champion System
s.t.
95
William Walker
Drapac Cycling
s.t.
96
Marc De Maar
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
97
Davide Cimolai
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
98
Rory Sutherland
Drapac Cycling
s.t.
99
Moreno Hofland
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
100
Félix Cárdenas
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
101
Manuel Belletti
Team Champion System
s.t.
102
Guillaume Bonnafond
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
103
Thomas Peterson
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
104
Hugh Carthy
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
105
Daniel Teklehaimanot
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
106
Mattia Cattaneo
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
107
Daniel Schorn
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
108
Pavel Kochetkov
RusVelo
s.t.
109
Ben Day
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
110
Marco Corti
Colombia
s.t.
111
Jesse Sergent
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
112
Sergei Pomoshnikov
RusVelo
s.t.
113
Jack Haig
Drapac Cycling
s.t.
114
Alexander Mironov
RusVelo
s.t.
115
Wilson Marentes
Colombia
s.t.
116
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay
Drapac Cycling
s.t.
117
Jeff Louder
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
118
Christopher Jones
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
119
Igor Boev
RusVelo
s.t.
120
John Murphy
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
121
Carlos Quintero
Colombia
s.t.
122
Michael Hepburn
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
123
Juan Esteban Arango
Colombia
s.t.
124
Bruno Pires
Colombia
s.t.
125
Robert Förster
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
126
Evgeniy Kovalev
RusVelo
s.t.
127
Artur Ershov
RusVelo
s.t.
128
Luca Dodi
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
129
Matthew Lloyd
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
130
Stephen Clancy
Team Novo Nordisk
s.t.
131
Amir Rusli
Drapac Cycling
s.t.
132
Gordon McCauley
Drapac Cycling
s.t.
133
Martijn Verschoor
Team Novo Nordisk
s.t.
134
Tomohori Hatanaka
Drapac Cycling
s.t.
135
Justin Morris
Team Novo Nordisk
s.t.
136
Andrea Peron
Team Novo Nordisk
s.t.
137
Thomas Raeymaekers
Team Novo Nordisk
s.t.
138
Johannes Fröhlinger
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
139
Joe Eldridge
Team Novo Nordisk
s.t.
140
Yann Huguet
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
141
Mirsamad Poorseyedi
Team Champion System
s.t.
142
Stephen Cummings
Sky Procycling
s.t.
143
Stefano Locatelli
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
144
Jasha Sütterlin
Sky Procycling
s.t.
145
Gorka Nieve
Colombia
+ 6'53
Points:
Rank
Name
Team
Points
General
1
Peter Sagan
Cannondale Pro Cycling
25
25
2
Fabian Schnaidt
Team Champion System
20
20
3
Fabrizio Harrini
Colombia
16
16
4
Gerald Ciolek
MTN - Qhubeka
14
14
5
Luca Wackermann
Lampre - Merida
12
12
6
Yauheni Hutarovich
AG2R La Mondiale
12
12
7
Ben Swift
Sky Procycling
10
10
8
Tom Veelers
Team Giant - Shimano
9
9
9
Muhamad Othman
Team Champion System
8
8
10
Sacha Modolo
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
8
8
Spoiler
11
Francesco Lasca
Cannondale Pro Cycling
7
7
12
Allan Davis
Orica - GreenEdge
6
6
13
Filippo Fortin
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
5
5
14
Thomas Palmer
Drapac Cycling
4
4
15
Carlos Betancur
AG2R La Mondiale
4
4
16
Benjamin Giraud
AG2R La Mondiale
3
3
17
Fabio Sabatini
Cannondale Pro Cycling
2
2
18
Yonas Tekeste
MTN - Qhubeka
1
Combatitivity:
1. Luca Wackermann
2. Muhammad Othman
3. Thomas Palmer
Ollfardh wrote:
Erm, Bos? Any chance you could sprint? What is it with my riders this season, it seems they don't want to sprint..
The game listed him as a favourite. Maybe he didn't feel like it.
mvhoogdalem wrote:
What a lead-out from the Cannondale boys. Easy victory for Peter. Luckily this year other teams are willing to help in chasing the breakaway.
Well Bardiani spent a long time making sure they had a good train, they are definitely going to use it, even if they won't win. ;P
I would be happy if any of my guys sprinted. I had 74-76-78 in Gabon, no train. Here a 77 sprinter, doesn't bother. In TDU I had another train 76-76-78, nope not gonna happen. Some sprinters team we are
Stage 2 of the Tour Down Under provides the next challenge. The typical stage to Stirling is fairly hilly, and should end with either a late attack or a sprint of the punchy sprinters. Top favourite for today should surely be race leader Weschenbach.
Many riders seem excited to break away today. Too many to actually form a break. When reaching the first intermediate no group is ahead of the pack. The sprinters fail to actually sprint though, and Hansen (Lotto) thus takes the points ahead of Haller (Katusha) and Pate (Sky).
At the first KoM we do find a group ahead of the pack though. Ewan (Orica) takes the points, ahead of Aregger (IAM) and Vanotti (Astana). Minard (AG2R) is also chasing in the background.
Eventually these 4 get a gap large enough for the pack to let go, meaning the break of today consists of these 4 riders.
In the back of the pack 2 riders go down. Howson (Omega Pharma) and Sbaragli (Movistar) manage to pick up their bikes and head back to the pack soon though.
More riders go down just a bit later: Agnoli, Tiralongo (Both Astana) and GC 4th Bettiol (Cannondale) crash.
Up front Ewan takes the second KoM as well, and with his total amount of points now at 20 he will wear the mountains jersey tomorrow. Minard and Aregger come 2nd and 3rd.
Ewan is clearly in shape today, as he also takes the intermediate sprint with 65km to go. The lead for the 4 escapees is down to 3m23 on the pack, which still is fully complete.
After a rather uneventful 40km Ewan attacks with 27km to go. His lead to the pack is just 1m20 now.
He holds on to a small but stable gap on the chasers, and with 20km to go his lead on the pack is 1m10. Probably won't be enough for victory, but his courage should be rewarded.
With 14km to go the chase is caught by the pack. Ewan is 43s ahead now.
As expected his attempt ends. That he held on until 7.5kms from the line is impressive though. Now the sprint preparations start probably, unless we get a new attack from the pack.
We at least have some attempts. Vichot (FDJ) and Moser (Cannondale) try to get away, but BMC, in this case Yates, blocks the attempt.
Moser tries on his own with 5km to go, but an armada of BMC is behind him, probably ensuring he won't get away.
Moser now does get a gap though. It may be small, and there may still be 4kms to go, but he is away!
An overhead shot of the pack teaches us the following: Hanzen is getting a very strong lead-out, although Kakhi, Kristoff, Greipel and Bennati are positioned well as well. Weschenbach and the Sky-train seem to have more trouble today.
With 3km to go Sky manages to get next to BMC, but the question is how much effort this has cost.
Moser is caught very soon, and it seems a sprint will decide the winner.
Weschenbach gets a very luxurious lead-out from Mark Cavendish himself, but it seems like he can't catch up yet. 2.3kms to go until the line.
It's even worse for the race leader: When dropping back Eisel blocks Weschenbach, and he falls back.
Further behind Gerrans, Haussler and Guardini attempt to catch up with the BMC train. Meanwhile Weschenbach heads back to the front.
At the incline of 4% Felline manages to ride next to Cavendish, thus providing an ideal lead-out. Kakhi has ditched Hanzen's wheel.
Almost all sprinters launch now. Weschenbach on the far right, with Greipel behind him. Kakhi goes through the middle, the others go on the far left. Only Hanzen waits.
With 800m to go Weschenbach has seized the lead, but the others are exceeding his speed now.
With 500m to go he still leads, but everyone is trying to get past him. Greipel, Kakhi and Kristoff all seem capable of passing him, but he might hang on.
However, he fades soon. Kristoff takes the lead at the far left now. Hanzen has the highest pace, but he's probably too far.
And indeed, it's Kristoff winning. Bennati comes 2nd, just a tiny bit ahead of Hanzen, who surely mistimed his sprint. Greipel comes 4th, Weschenbach 5th. Kakhi comes 6th, Gerrans 7th. Schröder, Haussler and Cavendish complete the top-10. Kristoff also seizes the leader jersey.
At the final climb a large group of 108 was dropped. No GC-contenders seem to be in. The main victim is probably Stybar. 1m35 is their loss.
Stage 1 San Luis - Villa Mercedes 
The team just tried to protect Nokkvason, good team effort with all staying in from 
