Not the biggest peloton (166 riders) started their journey in Salida.
From the start 2 riders got away.
They were soon caught by 2 others and created a BOtD.
I took it easy in the pack. I was perfectly placed behind Molina. We had a great talk through out the race.
A lot of teams were in front today. Their chasing was really organised.
When we reached the circuit breakaway had 7 minutes on the pack.
After few kilometers we were at the bottom of the first mountain. Karpets and Molina started to chase.
It didn't had the effect we expected as only 5 riders fall of the pack.
We let others do the pace on the flat part. They kept the pace quite high.
When we reached the mountain for the second time. Karpets came to front and gave it a full throttle. He was done after 3kms and ''chaser of the year'' came on the scene. With Quintana in the front only the best could keep up.
We again let the Katusha and BMC do the pace on the downhill.
When we reached the bottom Phillipe Gilbert started the real race with enormous acceleration.
Rodriguez followed.
Our DS knew that it's too early and that we still have 4 guys cappable of chasing. Alejandro stayed calm and sent Cobo,Visconti and Quintana to front. My job was to stay with Alejandro.
Meanwhile we were in front. Probabbly every team leader wanted to follow two top favourites.
They were cooperating really nicely and they soon overtooked the original BOtD.
After 5kms only Gilbert and Rodriguez were in front.
Suddenly something happened. Cadel Evans attacked out of the pack.
What does he had on his mind. I don't know. But it surely didn't worked as we caught them all after just 2kms.
Gilbert attacked again!
Rodriguez followed but this time I was on his wheel with Alejandro on mine!
I couldn't keep up with Joaquin his attacks are just too strong!
I at least took Alejandro from the pack. I surely could done better job. But I'm still not in the best form.
Then it was up to him. He turned thanked to me and than he turned on the jets.
He soon caught Gilbert and Rodriguez but as usually hapens leaders didn't cooperated well. Nibali and Contador caught them.
And not even after 2 kms it was all back together. Meanwhile that I jumped in front of Visconti I tried to keep his energy as high as possible.
Gasparotto attacked. De Gendt and Visconti followed!
But Evans was right behind Visconti and he never broke away. Evans soon caught also Gasparotto and De Gendt.
Gilbert attacked... Again!
Contador tried his luck too.
But it always came back together.
After 2 kms of silent. Rodriguez attacked Alejandro and De Gendt followed.
With 4 kms they had 20 seconds on the pack.
After 1km they were back in the pack and the sprint was about to begin.
Valverde was blocked for a while and because of that he wasn't in a best position for a sprint.
Kolobnev was leading the pack. But Vichot with Valverde on his wheel was coming fast.
Vichot was leading the pack but Alejandro was in even better position.
From nowhere there was Clement and it became a battle for 1st between 3 riders. Or didn't it?
Cadel Evans came with a speed of rocket and overtook everybody. Nibali was also coming fast on the right.
Alejandro made his last kick and...
Who came 3rd?
I came last from the front group. But it doesn't matter as Alejandro beat Clement on the line.
Cadel Enjoying his victory! He for sure deserved. Maybe only Gilbert deserved it more but it's in the team.
)
