The „Race to the Sun“ is the second most important French stage race, next to the Tour de France, one of the most prestigious races in general and the first highlight of the UCI World Tour calendar. In its long history since 1933, Paris – Nice had popular winners like Eddy Merckx, Miguel Indurain or Laurent Jalabert, but no one could put his mark on the race as much as Sean Kelly, who took the win seven times in a row from 1982-88.
This year's edition is rather easy. Following the short, 4.6 kms long, prologue in Issy-les-Moulineaux, the pack travels over three mostly flat stages southwards. The last four stages are all very hilly but only one of them finishes uphill. An allround puncheur should have the best chances on this parcours.
Spoiler
Result in 2011
1
Sandy Casar
FDJ
2
Brice Feillu
Leopard - Trek
3
David Moncoutié
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
4
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - ISD
5
Amets Txurruka
Euskaltel - Euskadi
Favorites
Alejandro Valverde (Unicef) , Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma)
Andy Schleck (Leopard)
Roman Kreuziger (Liquigas) , Robert Gesink (Rabobank)
A strong start list. With only a short prologue and a couple of hilly stages, the course is perfectly suited for the likes of Valverde and Gilbert. The climbers among the other favorites don't have much opportunities to gain time on the pure puncheurs. But you also have to consider that in early March, the shape plays a big part as well.
Team Liquigas
Roman Kreuziger aims to fulfill the sponsor goal and finish on the podium. He's in good shape and we're very optimistic. Peter Sagan and Marco Marcato, who gives his debut for Liquigas, should provide strong support.
As Jacopo Guarnieri isn't in shape at all, we'll try something in the sprints with Tiziano Dall'Antonia.
Report - Part One
Last year, the French dominated the GC and for quite some time, it looked the same for the prologue: The Saur duo Jimmy Engoulvent and Cyril Lemoine were on top of the ranking for most of the day. But then, the big favorites came and eventually, the Frenchmen finished 5th and 8th, respectively.
The first rider to make a serious for the stage win is Tony Martin (T-Mobile). But he soon is overtaken by World Champion Fabian Cancellara (Leopard). After a while, Stijn Devolder (Skil) surprises and slips in between them. The only one who could challenge Cancellara is Liquigas leader Kreuziger, who is only parts of a second slower than the Swiss.
In his first time trial of 2012, Cancellara underlines his world champion status.
1
Fabian Cancellara
Leopard – Trek
6'35
2
Roman Kreuziger
Liquigas – Cannondale
s.t.
3
Stijn Devolder
Skil – Shimano
+ 3
Nine riders around Martijn Maaskant (Garmin) and Jerome Coppel (Movistar) are the break of the day with a maximum advance of seven minutes. Mostly due to Quick·Step, they're caught with 10 kms to go.
And in the sprint, we see why: Francesco Chicchi provides Tom Boonen with a perfect lead out and the Belgian has no problems to finish the job in the rather weak competition in front of Sébastien Hinault (Ag2r) and Oscar Freire (Rabobank). Dall'Antonia finish within the Top 10.
Tom Boonen shows that he's still a great sprinter.
1
Tom Boonen
Quick·Step Cycling Team
4h04'02
2
Sébastien Hinault
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
3
Oscar Freire
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
Surprisingly, Euskaltel's leader Mikel Astarloza is today's solo break, followed by Tom Peterson and Sébastien Turgot (Europcar). But they are all back in the peloton early enough, again mostly due to Quick·Step. And despite some late attacks, the bunch sprints for the win.
And again, Quick·Step builds the perfect train. The last kilometers are uphill which suits Boonen in addition, and he takes his second win. Heinrich Haussler comes close but can't overtake him. Tiziano Dall'Antonia on seven scores his second Top 10.
Thanks to a great team work, Boonen seems to be the best sprinter here.
1
Tom Boonen
Quick·Step Cycling Team
4h14'57
2
Heinrich Haussler
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
3
Anthony Geslin
Saur – Sojasun
s.t.
In an attempt to gain the mountain jersey, we again send Peterson in the break. But he is just too exhausted from yesterday, can't collect enough points and soon falls back. Which is a pity because the other three members of the break make it to the line.
Mickael Buffaz is the next rider who can't keep up but he remains in front of the pack and comes in third. In the sprint for the win, Nico Eeckhout edges out his compatriot Sep Vanmarcke (Garmin) who overtakes the overall. Alejandro Valverde leads the pack over the line 1'01 later.
Nico Eeckhout provides the first surprise of this race.
Lots of strong riders were in today's break, among them the likes of Kim Kirchen and Andy Schleck, overall favorites who already lost some time. Liquigas wasn't keen on giving them too much freedom and soon took over the control in the pack.
They were successful but soon, Serguei Ivanov (Katusha) and Sébastien Joly (Saur) broke free. As the pack entered the last climb, they were still in front. With 3 kms, Roman Kreuziger launched an attack. Alejandro Valverde and Philippe Gilbert followed. Ivanov was only little in front as the sprint began. Valverde and Gilbert could overtake him, but the Russian clinged on to the third.
Stage win and the leader's jersey for Philippe Gilbert.
1
Philippe Gilbert
Omega Pharma – Lotto
4h20'20
2
Alejandro Valverde
Unicef – Oracle
+ 8
3
Serguei Ivanov
Katusha Team
s.t.
4
Roman Kreuziger
Liquigas – Cannondale
s.t.
5
Stijn Devolder
Skil – Shimano
+ 24
During the whole day, Liquigas made a reasonable pace and no escapee broke free until about halfway through the stage. Roman Kreuziger could take the first intermediate sprint and overtakes the leader jersey. Afterwards, T-Mobile's super domestique Kim Kirchen began a solo ride. As he was already minutes back in the GC, he could gain minute after minute.
The favorites started their moves with 20 kilometers to go. One after another, they attacked but none of the really got away. So eventually, a large bunch of 60 riders approached the finish line – to sprint for the second spot! Because Kim Kirchen makes it and celebrates his first win after his comeback!
He's too exhausted to celebrate but Kim Kirchen is back on the top level!
1
Kim Kirchen
Team T-Mobile
4h26'07
2
Alexandr Kolobnev
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 57
3
Mirco Lorenzetto
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
The hardest stage of this year was dominated by three escapees: Pierre Rolland (Europcar), Mikel Astarloza (Euskaltel) and Anthony Roux (FDJ). The Spaniard overtook the mountain jersey and for some time, it looked as though they could succeed but then, the pack woke up and they were caught 5 kms in front of the finish.
As the pace was so high, again no favorite could get away and 47 riders sprinted for the win. Sylvain Chavanel was long in front after a late attack but eventually was overtaken. The sprint was an easy thing for Anthony Geslin who had a nice gap on Ryder Hesjedal and Luis Leon Sanchez.
Saur has a terrific season so far, Geslin scores their 12th win.
1
Anthony Geslin
Saur – Sojasun
4h56'36
2
Ryder Hesjedal
Team Garmin – Cervélo
s.t.
3
Luis Léon Sánchez
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
The last stage provided less but longer climbs. Before today, the Top 5 were still within one minute, Roman Kreuziger led with only four seconds to Philippe Gilbert. Today's break had no impact today and the pack climbed the last ascent together as Gilbert attacked!
But as always during this race, and although all favorites cover the move, they just don't get away. They can't open a gap, no matter what. So again, a bigger group (34 riders) will sprint for the win and with 6 bonus seconds to get, Gilbert would have to win the stage to overtake Kreuziger. And guess what? That's exactly what he does! With an imense speed, he outsprints Alejandro Valverde and takes the overall. Kreuziger has to make do with second.
Second stage win plus the overall – a great race for Philippe Gilbert.
1
Philippe Gilbert
Omega Pharma – Lotto
3h23'58
2
Alejandro Valverde
Unicef – Oracle
s.t.
3
Rigoberto Urán
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
Classifications
Overall
1
Philippe Gilbert
Omega Pharma - Lotto
30h44'52
2
Roman Kreuziger
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 2
3
Alejandro Valverde
Unicef - Oracle
+ 11
4
Stijn Devolder
Skil - Shimano
+ 27
5
Enrico Gasparotto
Pro Team Astana
+ 56
6
Michele Scarponi
Lampre - ISD
+ 1'02
7
Chris Horner
Unicef - Oracle
+ 1'08
8
Fabian Cancellara
Leopard Trek
+ 1'14
9
Iván Gutiérrez
Movistar Team
+ 1'23
10
Heinrich Haussler
Sky ProCycling
+ 1'24
Spoiler
11
Ryder Hesjedal
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
12
Luis León Sánchez
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
13
Maxime Bouet
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
14
Peter Sagan
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 1'29
15
Rigoberto Urán
Sky ProCycling
+ 1'33
16
Robert Gesink
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1'35
17
Sylvain Chavanel
Leopard Trek
+ 2'43
18
David López
Movistar Team
+ 2'51
19
Anthony Geslin
Saur - Sojasun
+ 3'08
20
Stefano Garzelli
Katusha Team
+ 3'09
21
Sandy Casar
FDJ
s.t.
22
Samuel Dumoulin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 3'15
23
John Gadret
Saur - Sojasun
+ 3'17
24
Tony Martin
Team T-Mobile
+ 3'35
25
Sergueï Ivanov
Katusha Team
+ 3'40
26
Yaroslav Popovych
Unicef - Oracle
+ 3'48
27
Pierrick Fédrigo
FDJ
+ 3'57
28
Matti Breschel
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 4'16
29
Staf Scheirlinckx
Skil - Shimano
+ 4'26
30
Mikaël Chérel
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 4'48
31
Andy Schleck
Leopard Trek
+ 4'50
32
Cyril Gautier
Team Europcar
+ 5'14
33
Sebastian Langeveld
GreenEdge Cycling
+ 5'28
34
Przemyslaw Niemiec
Lampre - ISD
+ 5'30
35
Alexandr Kolobnev
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 5'57
36
Kevin Seeldraeyers
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 6'17
37
Thomas De Gendt
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 6'19
38
Jan Bakelants
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 6'21
39
Kim Kirchen
Team T-Mobile
+ 6'46
40
Andreas Klöden
Team T-Mobile
+ 6'57
41
Mikel Astarloza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 7'01
42
Daniel Navarro
Movistar Team
+ 7'35
43
Tom Boonen
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 7'57
44
Benjamín Noval
Movistar Team
+ 8'17
45
Paolo Tiralongo
Pro Team Astana
+ 8'30
46
Luis Pasamontes
Movistar Team
+ 8'40
47
Cyril Lemoine
Saur - Sojasun
+ 8'45
48
Sébastien Joly
Saur - Sojasun
+ 9'43
49
Pierre Rolland
Team Europcar
+ 9'47
50
Francis De Greef
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 10'06
51
Alexandre Geniez
Skil - Shimano
+ 10'15
52
Anthony Roux
FDJ
+ 10'25
53
Stephen Cummings
Sky ProCycling
+ 10'27
54
Sep Vanmarcke
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 10'42
55
Richie Porte
GreenEdge Cycling
+ 10'59
56
Jürgen Van de Walle
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 11'27
57
Francesco Gavazzi
Lampre - ISD
+ 11'58
58
Mirco Lorenzetto
Pro Team Astana
+ 12'43
59
Jakob Fuglsang
Leopard Trek
+ 12'51
60
Andrey Kashechkin
Lampre - ISD
+ 12'55
61
Juan José Oroz
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 12'58
62
Dimitriy Muravyev
Unicef - Oracle
+ 13'10
63
Giuseppe Palumbo
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 13'14
64
David Millar
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 13'27
65
Frantisek Rabon
Team T-Mobile
+ 13'36
66
Pablo Lastras
Movistar Team
+ 14'10
67
Bradley Wiggins
Sky ProCycling
+ 14'25
68
Aleksejs Saramotins
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 14'36
69
Bram Tankink
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 15'03
70
Florian Stalder
BMC Racing Team
+ 15'04
71
Andriy Grivko
Pro Team Astana
+ 15'29
72
Óscar Freire
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 15'30
73
Denys Kostyuk
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
74
Murilo Fischer
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 15'39
75
Stefan Schumacher
Team T-Mobile
+ 15'49
76
Tiziano Dall'Antonia
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 16'06
77
Robert Kiserlovski
Pro Team Astana
+ 16'17
78
Philip Deignan
Unicef - Oracle
+ 16'18
79
Christophe Riblon
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 16'19
80
David Tanner
GreenEdge Cycling
+ 16'26
81
Marcus Burghardt
BMC Racing Team
+ 17'48
82
Rémi Pauriol
FDJ
+ 18'10
83
Eduard Vorganov
Katusha Team
+ 18'16
84
Gorka Izagirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 18'21
85
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ
+ 18'36
86
Omar Fraile
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 19'07
87
Roy Curvers
Skil - Shimano
+ 19'28
88
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 21'32
89
Stijn Vandenbergh
Katusha Team
+ 22'05
90
Johann Tschopp
GreenEdge Cycling
+ 22'18
91
Julien El Fares
Movistar Team
+ 22'31
92
Mickaël Buffaz
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 22'37
93
Yoann Le Boulanger
Team Europcar
+ 22'55
94
Manuel Quinziato
BMC Racing Team
+ 22'56
95
David Zabriskie
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 23'37
96
Anthony Delaplace
Saur - Sojasun
+ 23'44
97
Simon Spilak
Lampre - ISD
+ 24'24
98
Maarten Neyens
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 24'28
99
Olivier Kaisen
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 25'04
100
Brice Feillu
Leopard Trek
+ 25'35
101
Vladimir Gusev
Katusha Team
+ 25'36
102
Martijn Maaskant
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 25'39
103
Julien Vermote
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 26'04
104
Artem Ovechkin
Katusha Team
+ 26'58
105
Dominic Klemme
Leopard Trek
+ 27'03
106
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
+ 27'50
107
Aurélien Duval
Saur - Sojasun
+ 27'57
108
Romain Sicard
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 28'10
109
Julien Loubet
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 28'11
110
Marco Marcato
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 28'29
111
Tristan Valentin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 28'37
112
Addy Engels
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 28'48
113
Haimar Zubeldia
Pro Team Astana
+ 28'54
114
Assan Bazayev
Pro Team Astana
+ 29'32
115
Steve Morabito
BMC Racing Team
+ 29'56
116
Sébastien Hinault
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 30'33
117
Damiano Caruso
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 30'37
118
Dario Cioni
Sky ProCycling
+ 30'43
119
Mattia Cattaneo
Lampre - ISD
+ 30'55
120
Pierre Cazaux
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 32'39
121
Jérôme Coppel
Movistar Team
+ 33'26
122
Bert De Backer
Skil - Shimano
+ 33'58
123
Óscar Sevilla
Unicef - Oracle
+ 34'48
124
Kevin Van Impe
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 35'09
125
Julian Dean
GreenEdge Cycling
+ 36'53
126
Wesley Sulzberger
GreenEdge Cycling
+ 37'12
127
Christophe Laurent
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 37'38
128
Damien Monier
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 38'15
129
Maxim Iglinskiy
Pro Team Astana
+ 38'27
130
Geoffroy Lequatre
Unicef - Oracle
+ 38'58
131
Damien Gaudin
Team Europcar
+ 43'46
132
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 43'50
133
Javier Francisco Aramendia
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 44'23
134
Mickaël Delage
FDJ
+ 45'44
135
Valerio Agnoli
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 46'41
136
Arnaud Coyot
Saur - Sojasun
+ 48'56
137
Chris Barton
BMC Racing Team
+ 50'54
138
Peter Velits
Team T-Mobile
+ 50'56
139
Thomas Bonnin
Skil - Shimano
+ 51'23
140
Matthew Wilson
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 51'49
141
Nico Eeckhout
FDJ
+ 53'32
142
Koen De Kort
Skil - Shimano
+ 54'28
143
Jens Keukeleire
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 57'22
144
Robert Hunter
Unicef - Oracle
+ 57'46
145
Patrick Gretsch
Team T-Mobile
s.t.
146
Giacomo Nizzolo
Leopard Trek
+ 58'03
147
Davide Viganò
Leopard Trek
+ 58'17
148
Thomas Peterson
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 59'03
149
Leigh Howard
GreenEdge Cycling
+ 1h00'17
150
Yuriy Krivtsov
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 1h01'29
151
Svein Tuft
GreenEdge Cycling
+ 1h02'24
152
Vladimir Isaychev
Katusha Team
s.t.
153
Danilo Wyss
BMC Racing Team
+ 1h04'28
154
Rick Flens
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1h04'49
155
Bernhard Eisel
Team T-Mobile
+ 1h04'59
156
Jimmy Engoulvent
Saur - Sojasun
+ 1h05'58
157
Sébastien Turgot
Team Europcar
+ 1h07'21
158
Thomas Damuseau
Skil - Shimano
+ 1h10'57
159
Vincent Jérôme
Team Europcar
+ 1h14'57
160
Sébastien Chavanel
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 1h15'28
161
Christopher Sutton
Sky ProCycling
+ 1h16'14
162
Alexander Kristoff
BMC Racing Team
+ 1h16'37
163
Arnaud Gérard
FDJ
+ 1h18'12
164
Arkimedes Arguelyes
Katusha Team
+ 1h20'45
165
Greg Henderson
Sky ProCycling
+ 1h28'49
166
Tadej Valjavec
Lampre - ISD
+ 1h33'12
167
Vicente Reynès
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 1h38'54
168
Jacopo Guarnieri
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 1h40'59
169
Nicolas Sanderson
Sky ProCycling
+ 1h41'58
170
Sebastian Lang
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 1h42'47
171
Giovanni Bernaudeau
Team Europcar
+ 1h47'23
172
Francesco Chicchi
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 1h49'46
173
Saïd Haddou
Team Europcar
+ 2h01'35
174
Renaud Sorin
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 2h11'15
Points
1
Alejandro Valverde
Unicef - Oracle
84
2
Anthony Geslin
Saur - Sojasun
79
3
Roman Kreuziger
Liquigas - Cannondale
77
4
Philippe Gilbert
Omega Pharma - Lotto
75
5
Stijn Devolder
Skil - Shimano
63
Mountain
1
Mikel Astarloza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
59
2
Anthony Roux
FDJ
39
3
Pierre Rolland
Team Europcar
30
4
David Millar
Team Garmin - Cervélo
27
5
Frantisek Rabon
Team T-Mobile
24
Young Riders
1
Peter Sagan
Liquigas - Cannondale
30h46'21
2
Rigoberto Urán
Sky ProCycling
+ 4
3
Cyril Gautier
Team Europcar
+ 3'45
4
Alexandre Geniez
Skil - Shimano
+ 8'46
5
Anthony Roux
FDJ
+ 8'56
Teams
1
AG2R La Mondiale
92h18'53
2
Unicef - Oracle
+ 58
3
Leopard Trek
+ 2'48
The Winner
On a course that seemed to be made for a rider like him, the best puncheur in the world didn't disappoint. Philippe Gilbert wins already his first race of the season and starts his Ardennes preparation perfectly. I guess we can expect a lot of him this year.
Liquigas Resumé
What a weird race. Basically, we had only one stage that allowed bigger time gaps – the fifth one. Good thing that we were close to the front there. Although it's of course a pity that Roman lost the overall on the last stage, but second is very good as well and we achieved our sponsor goal so we are quite pleased.
Just finished reading through ENTIIRE story! Amazing work my friend, and bad luck in Paris - Nice, Gilbert is very overrated in sprint I think.. for good measure!
Of course it's a shame to lose the lead like that, but I think you can be well pleased with Kreuziger for a very nice 2nd! Nice to see Sagan as the best young rider too.
FreitasPCM wrote:
But Liquigas can't win everytime, eh?
My thoughts exactly And in retrospect, I'm not unhappy about this outcome as I got six seconds from intermediate sprints and only therefore got the leaders jersey in the first place. Which is, as I think now, a bit of "cheating" as they the computer didn't contest in them. So the overall win would have been a bit "undeserved", if you know what I mean. I won't use them from now on.
@ Teddy The Creator: Thanks a lot It's always nice to have new readers and to see that people enjoy my story!
@ pcm2009fan: Yep, I'm pretty happy with the 2nd anyway. The young riders classification is a nice bonus
well you fulfilled the season goal and a second place in worldtour is a great result - hopefully the seconds are in your favor in tirreno best of luck!
The „Race of the two Seas“ is an Italian one week race, one of the most important ones of the race calendar, and runs parallel to Paris – Nice. The record winner, with six consecutive wins from 1972-77, is the Belgian Roger de Vlaeminck.
The stages between the Thyrrhenian and the Adriatic coast provide both flat and hilly terrains and thus are the perfect preparation for la Classicissima, Milano – San Remo. This year's edition is particularly easy so that both puncheurs and hilly sprinters might have the opportunity to win this.
Concurrence-wise, Tirreno – Adriatico is a bit the opposite to Paris – Nice. Fewer strong puncheurs but a lot of strong sprinters. Katusha provides an enormously strong team to support Rodriguez, Damiano Cunego is in awesome shape, Thor Hushovd might be the most promising sprinter.
Team Liquigas
Damiano Cunego is one of the top favorites. Ponzi and Finetto should be able to do well in the sprints, Capecchi and Busche aren't the best support for Cunego. We aim for the win nevertheless.
Report – Part One
Eros Capecchi was part in the first break of the race along with Michael Barry (Sky), Sascha Modolo (Colnago) and David Loosli (BMC). Euskaltel and Katusha brought them back soon enough. Within the last 20 kilometers, lots of riders, among them Igor Anton, Damiano Cunego and other favorites, attacked but no one succeeded.
The stage was decided in a bunch sprint of 80 riders. Leonardo Bertagnolli (Katusha) won it in front of Oscar Gatto. Mauro Finetto ends up fourth.
Katusha underlines their strong ambitions with the first stage win.
1
Leonardo Bertagnolli
Katusha Team
3h23'10
2
Oscar Gatto
Farnese Vini – Neri Sottoli
s.t.
3
Daniele Pietropolli
Lampre – ISD
s.t.
On the flat stage, GreenEdge and T-Mobile ensured that the escapees had no chance. A bunch sprint should decide the race.
Liquigas tried to build a sprint train with Longo Borghini and Finetto for Ponzi and it worked quite well, but with 5 kms, most sprint trains suddenly broke and a very chaotic sprint began. Eventually, Matthew Goss had the best speed. Ponzi achieved a decent fifth place.
Gossy is faster than Rojas and his former team mate Cavendish and scores his first stage win.
1
Matthew Goss
GreenEdge Cycling
3h42'05
2
José Joaquin Rojas
Movistar Team
s.t.
3
Mark Cavendish
Team T-Mobile
s.t.
An eight men break was reeled in by T-Mobile who obviously had a lot of trust in Cavendish finishing better than yesterday's third. The sprint began and T-Mobile indeed built a nice train for the Manx Man with Ciolek and Degenkolb.
Mauro Finetto and the other top sprinters sat on his wheel as Cavendish overtakes his lead out Degenkolb with already 1,5 kms to go – way too early. Finetto had a bad day and couldn't keep up, but Goss, Farrar and Rojas flew past him and the latter took the stage win.
In a close sprint, Rojas takes his eigth season win!
1
José Joaquin Rojas
Movistar Team
3h36'51
2
Matthew Goss
GreenEdge Cycling
s.t.
3
Tyler Farrar
Team Garmin – Cervélo
s.t.
A large break including the likes of Igor Antón (Leopard) and José Rujano (Androni), who both already lost time, got a maximum gap of 11 minutes. And it turns out that the break is too strong. The only thing the pack could do was to prevent them from taking the overall but the escapees fight for the win. 10 kms from the finish line, Igor Anton and Johan Vansummeren (Garmin) attack and get away.
The Belgian outsprints Anton and takes the win while their fellow escapees almost caught up with them. Vansummeren also advances to third spot overall, only 5 seconds behind. Anton is back in the business as well. The pack crosses the line 3'06 later.
Today's stage could be one out of two stages that could actually produce time gaps. A rather strong break around Leipheimer (Unicef) and Rohregger (Leopard) creates a large gap. None of them is a danger in the GC, nevertheless Liquigas takes control of the pace and only a smaller group of ~40 riders enters the last climb. Oliver Zaugg (Skil) jumps from that group to the front.
A short way from the top, Damiano Cunego attacks but never reaches the escapees. Although he creates a gap of 1'20, he is caught on the descent by a strong Movistar Team, the escapees were still in front. On the last small ascent, the front group splits. Some of them are caught by the closing favorites but four make it to the line: Thibaut Pinot (FDJ) wins the stage in front of Oliver Zaugg who overtakes the general lead.
Cunego leads the chasing group into the finish 22 seconds later. A strong Rojas kept contact and remains in second position. Cunego advances to fifth, 28 seconds behind Zaugg. 16 riders are within that time. It will be a close challenge.
FDJ will have a hard time in World Tour, Pinot contributes to their success with that win!
1
Thibaut Pinot
FDJ
4h53'34
2
Oliver Zaugg
Skil – Shimano
s.t.
3
Thomas Rohregger
Leopard – Trek
s.t.
4
Francesco Ginanni
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
5
Damiano Cunego
Liquigas – Cannondale
+ 22
Another strong break dominated the probably decisive sixth stage: Baden Cooke (GreenEdge), Denis Menchov (Geox), Frederico Canuti (Colnago) and Kristof Vandewalle (Quick·Step) created a gap of 12 minutes. Luckily, none of them was a danger in the GC, because the pack wasn't able to bring them back.
Eventually, Baden Cooke was the fastest of the group. He outsprinted Canuti, Menchov finished third. But the important fight happened behind them: The last kilometers provided a good opportunity, probably the last one, to create time gaps for the favorites. But only one rider who really did something was Damiano Cunego. He attacked with 4 kms to go and really got away! He secured the fifth spot, now he had to wait for the time.
Cunego needed 29 seconds for the overall and the clock showed … 35! 35 seconds, that's enough. The Italian overtakes the lead by seven seconds to Zaugg. Mauro Finetto was in the front group all the time and sits in seventh position overall.
Not surprisingly, Baden Cooke is the fastest of the escapees!
1
Baden Cooke
GreenEdge Cycling
5h33'58
2
Frederico Canuti
Colnago – CSF Inox
s.t.
3
Denis Menchov
Geox – TMC
+ 20
4
Kristof Vandewalle
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Damiano Cunego
Liquigas – Cannondale
+ 3'17
6
Leonardo Bertagnolli
Katusha Team
+ 3'52
The last stage is almost completely flat, no changes in the GC were expected. Matthew Busche took part in the break but they were caught early enough. The mass sprint could begin.
It was pretty unexciting, all sprinters followed Garmin's lead for Tyler Farrar, who made the mistake of being in the wind too early and lost lots of places. Overtaking him, José Rojas again underlined his sprinting supremacy of this season, winning another stage and advancing to third place in the GC. Mauro Finetto does good finishing fifth, Cunego defends his lead and comes in with the pack.
The outstanding sprinter of the early season: José Joaquín Rojas.
1
José Joaquín Rojas
Movistar Team
3h39'37
2
Mark Cavendish
Team T-Mobile
s.t.
3
Oscar Gatto
Farnese Vini – Neri Sottoli
s.t.
Classifications
Overall
1
Damiano Cunego
Liquigas - Cannondale
30h15'20
2
Oliver Zaugg
Skil - Shimano
+ 7
3
José Joaquín Rojas
Movistar Team
+ 9
4
Leonardo Bertagnolli
Katusha Team
+ 25
5
Daniele Pietropolli
Lampre - ISD
+ 31
6
Mauro Finetto
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 35
7
Alessandro Ballan
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
8
Mikel Nieve
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
9
Jérôme Pineau
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
10
Simon Gerrans
GreenEdge Cycling
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
s.t.
12
Vasil Kiryienka
Movistar Team
s.t.
13
Jelle Vanendert
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
14
Alessandro Bertolini
Androni Giocattoli
+ 1'30
15
Alexandre Vinokourov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
16
Ben Hermans
Unicef - Oracle
+ 1'45
17
Matthew Goss
GreenEdge Cycling
+ 1'48
18
Oscar Gatto
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 1'54
19
Simone Ponzi
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 2'04
20
Juan Antonio Flecha
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
21
Luca Paolini
Katusha Team
s.t.
22
Alessandro Petacchi
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
23
Allan Davis
GreenEdge Cycling
s.t.
24
Thor Hushovd
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
25
Francesco Masciarelli
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
26
Filippo Pozzato
Katusha Team
s.t.
27
Christian Knees
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
28
Sérgio Paulinho
Unicef - Oracle
s.t.
29
Alessandro Vanotti
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
30
Giovanni Visconti
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 2'22
31
Juan Mauricio Soler
Movistar Team
s.t.
32
Andrey Amador
Movistar Team
s.t.
33
Igor Antón
Leopard Trek
+ 3'41
34
David Loosli
BMC Racing Team
+ 3'47
35
Xavier Florencio
Lampre - ISD
+ 3'51
36
Alessandro Bisolti
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
37
Aleksandr Kuschynski
Katusha Team
s.t.
38
Maxime Monfort
Leopard Trek
s.t.
39
Fabian Wegmann
Leopard Trek
s.t.
40
Benoît Vaugrenard
FDJ
s.t.
41
Rubén Plaza
Movistar Team
s.t.
42
Raffaele Ferrara
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
43
Michel Kreder
Skil - Shimano
s.t.
44
Nick Nuyens
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
45
Manuele Mori
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
46
Rubén Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
47
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
s.t.
48
Francesco Failli
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
49
Luca Mazzanti
Katusha Team
s.t.
50
Gianni Meersman
FDJ
s.t.
51
Kanstantsin Siutsou
Team T-Mobile
s.t.
52
Francesco Ginanni
Androni Giocattoli
+ 4'29
53
Daniel Lloyd
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 5'06
54
Rodrigo García
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 5'09
55
Eros Capecchi
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
56
José Vicente García Acosta
Movistar Team
+ 5'27
57
Iván Velasco
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
58
Marzio Bruseghin
Movistar Team
s.t.
59
Kristof Vandewalle
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 5'33
60
Denis Menchov
Geox - TMC
+ 6'05
61
Thibaut Pinot
FDJ
s.t.
62
Thomas Rohregger
Leopard Trek
+ 6'12
63
Michael Barry
Sky ProCycling
+ 6'15
64
Jens Voigt
Leopard Trek
+ 6'20
65
Levi Leipheimer
Unicef - Oracle
+ 6'37
66
Dario Cataldo
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 6'38
67
Dries Devenyns
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
68
Daniele Ratto
Geox - TMC
+ 6'56
69
Vitaliy Buts
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
70
Juan José Cobo
Geox - TMC
s.t.
71
Mauro Santambrogio
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
72
Rafael Valls
Geox - TMC
s.t.
73
George Hincapie
BMC Racing Team
+ 7'16
74
Koldo Fernández
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 7'19
75
Niki Terpstra
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
76
Paolo Longo Borghini
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
77
Federico Canuti
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 7'45
78
Geraint Thomas
Sky ProCycling
+ 7'51
79
Jérémy Roy
FDJ
+ 8'07
80
Danilo Hondo
Lampre - ISD
+ 8'59
81
Gerald Ciolek
Team T-Mobile
+ 9'06
82
Grega Bole
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
83
David De la Fuente
Geox - TMC
+ 10'49
84
Johan Vansummeren
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 10'50
85
Baden Cooke
GreenEdge Cycling
s.t.
86
Markel Irizar
Unicef - Oracle
+ 11'07
87
Gianluca Mirenda
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 11'12
88
Michael Rogers
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
89
Michael Matthews
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 11'26
90
Sacha Modolo
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 11'36
91
Tom Veelers
Skil - Shimano
+ 11'40
92
Fabio Felline
Geox - TMC
+ 11'43
93
René Weissinger
Team T-Mobile
+ 11'46
94
Daniele Bennati
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
95
Marco Frapporti
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
96
Filippo Savini
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
97
Thomas Dekker
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 12'11
98
Matthew Busche
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
99
Egoi Martínez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 12'20
100
Ignatas Konovalovas
Movistar Team
+ 13'11
101
Walter Proch
Androni Giocattoli
+ 13'22
102
Francesco Reda
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
103
Dennis Van Winden
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 13'55
104
Andrew Talansky
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 14'06
105
Stuart O'Grady
GreenEdge Cycling
+ 14'37
106
Tomas Vaitkus
GreenEdge Cycling
+ 14'40
107
Bert Grabsch
Team T-Mobile
+ 14'51
108
Alberto Contoli
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
109
Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy
Pro Team Astana
+ 15'15
110
Elia Favilli
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 15'46
111
Juan Manuel Gárate
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 16'27
112
Wim Van Huffel
FDJ
s.t.
113
Matthias Brändle
Leopard Trek
s.t.
114
Tom Slagter
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
115
Fredrik Kessiakoff
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
116
Bruno Pires
Leopard Trek
+ 16'33
117
Marcel Kittel
Skil - Shimano
+ 17'20
118
Matthew Hayman
GreenEdge Cycling
s.t.
119
Gert Steegmans
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
120
Tyler Farrar
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 17'30
121
Ramunas Navardauskas
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 18'22
122
John Degenkolb
Team T-Mobile
+ 18'49
123
Takashi Miyazawa
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
124
Francisco José Ventoso
Pro Team Astana
+ 19'07
125
Adam Hansen
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
126
Fred Rodriguez
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
127
Riccardo Chiarini
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
128
Yukihiro Doi
Skil - Shimano
+ 19'49
129
André Greipel
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 20'30
130
Denis Galimzyanov
Katusha Team
s.t.
131
Dominique Rollin
FDJ
+ 20'43
132
Pierpaolo De Negri
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 20'48
133
Mark Cavendish
Team T-Mobile
+ 21'03
134
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
+ 22'19
135
Mikhaylo Khalilov
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 22'24
136
Henry Frusto
Androni Giocattoli
+ 22'35
137
Hayden Roulston
Team T-Mobile
+ 22'45
138
Bjorn Selander
Unicef - Oracle
+ 23'05
139
Steve Chainel
FDJ
+ 24'18
140
Valentin Iglinskiy
Pro Team Astana
+ 24'19
141
Andrea Pasqualon
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 33'51
142
Arnaud Courteille
FDJ
+ 34'57
143
Martin Reimer
Skil - Shimano
+ 36'00
144
Manuel Cardoso
BMC Racing Team
+ 38'39
145
Mark Renshaw
Team T-Mobile
+ 38'56
146
Massimo Giunti
BMC Racing Team
+ 40'30
147
Roman Kireyev
Pro Team Astana
+ 41'17
148
Davide Appollonio
Sky ProCycling
+ 42'36
149
Maarten Wynants
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 43'18
150
Michał Kwiatkowski
Unicef - Oracle
+ 44'07
151
Grégory Rast
Unicef - Oracle
+ 44'28
152
Alberto Loddo
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 44'42
153
Cameron Meyer
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 45'32
154
Jens Debusschere
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 48'28
155
Daniel Sesma
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 48'38
156
Robert Wagner
Leopard Trek
+ 50'38
157
Kenny Van Hummel
Skil - Shimano
s.t.
158
Andreas Klier
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 50'41
159
Fang Han
Skil - Shimano
+ 53'36
160
Martin Kohler
BMC Racing Team
+ 54'34
161
Daniele Colli
Geox - TMC
s.t.
162
Robbie McEwen
Unicef - Oracle
+ 57'20
163
Unai Iparragirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 57'47
164
Klaas Lodewyck
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 58'34
165
Manuele Caddeo
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 59'31
166
Simone Cadamuro
Androni Giocattoli
+ 1h00'18
167
Gert Dockx
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 1h02'54
168
Bernardo Zanchi
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 1h05'09
169
Theo Bos
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1h08'15
170
Graeme Brown
GreenEdge Cycling
+ 1h13'22
171
Ben Swift
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
172
Maciej Bodnar
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 1h14'17
173
Kenny Dehaes
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 1h14'55
174
Maxim Gourov
Pro Team Astana
+ 1h37'09
175
Tomas Alberio
Geox - TMC
+ 1h44'50
Points
1
José Joaquín Rojas
Movistar Team
35
2
Matthew Goss
GreenEdge Cycling
29
3
Oscar Gatto
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
29
4
Mark Cavendish
Team T-Mobile
25
5
Leonardo Bertagnolli
Katusha Team
20
Mountain
1
Federico Canuti
Colnago - CSF Inox
16
2
Igor Antón
Leopard Trek
13
3
David Loosli
BMC Racing Team
13
4
Sacha Modolo
Colnago - CSF Inox
13
5
Francesco Ginanni
Androni Giocattoli
12
Young Riders
1
Simone Ponzi
Liquigas - Cannondale
30h17'24
2
Michel Kreder
Skil - Shimano
+ 1'47
3
Thibaut Pinot
FDJ
+ 4'01
4
Daniele Ratto
Geox - TMC
+ 4'52
5
Rafael Valls
Geox - TMC
+ 4'52
Teams
1
Quick·Step Cycling Team
90h44'13
2
GreenEdge Cycling
+ 2'38
3
Androni Giocattoli
+ 4'15
The Winner
What an amazing season for the Italian! After his second spot in Australia, he jumped from win to win with this being the absolute highlight! At the moment, he's unstoppable but can he hold that shape until the Ardennes? That will be the big question.
Liquigas Resumé
At the risk of boring you, the fact is that it was another great race for the team. We got the overall and the sixth spot for Finetto, plus the best young rider for Simone Ponzi. What can I say?
Okay, okay I will try extreme in Catalunya and Pais Vasco and see how it works. Apart from that, it was one of the strangest races I've ever raced. Just look at the GC: 13 riders within 35 seconds. It was as if no one wanted the win^^ Well, I did
The longest classic in professional cycling was firstly held in 1907. It's commonly seen as the most important one day classic at all, being the first of five monuments. The winner will write his name in the books of history. Eddy Meckx achieved this more often than anyone else, he took the incredible amount of seven victories in San Remo!
The course is mostly flat, the highest point is passed about halfway through the race: The Passo del Turchino is the first small challenge. The small but tough hills shortly before the finish, the Cipressa and the Poggio, are an opportunity for good rouleurs to break away and spoil the sprinter's show.
The elite of both puncheurs and sprinters attend La Classicissima. Whatever the outcome will look like, we can expect a tough battle of world class cyclists.
Team Liquigas
With Peter Sagan – who had an amazing development recently – and Damiano Cunego, we have two strong puncheurs in case Simone Ponzi or Mauro Finetto aren't able to survive the distance. We're prepared for all possible events.
Thank you both. I don't know what happened to Sagan because I never experienced such a thing before: I mean, at Paris-Nice, he had 80 in hill, and a week after, he suddenly has 83?! Well, I won't complain... He is our new Ardennes leader now.
Now we have the group of the day. 13 riders including Stefan Schumacher (T-Mobile), Tomas Löfkvist (Sky) and Chris Horner (Unicef) are 2'30 in front.
.
Km 150:
The escapees pass the Passo del Turchino with an advance of more than six minutes.
.
Km 165:
Riding along the coast, Rabobank, Lampre and Garmin take over responsability of the pace and control the advance.
.
Km 203:
A couple of minor riders suffer from punctures but they mostly can catch up with the pack. The advance of the escapees starts to melt.
.
Km 251:
The pack reaches the Capos. With 47 kms to go, the pack is down by 4 minutes.
.
Km 255:
A quite surprising move happened then: Juan Antonio Flecha (Sky), Nick Nuyens (Omega) and – Mark Cavendish attack! The best sprinter in the world doesn't rely on sprinting...
.
Km 263:
Over the last Capo, the three are caught again.
.
Km 272:
Last year's winner Thor Hushovd and Sylvain Chavanel (Leopard) are the next to try their luck.
.
Km 276:
The pack splits on the Cipressa. 20 riders remain in the front group. Hushovd and Chavanel reached the original break and are 1'20 in front.
.
Km 280:
On the descent, the peloton reunites. Meanwhile, Thor Hushovd is the only one left in front with a bit more than a minute.
.
Km 292:
We're in the decisive phase now. Damiano Cunego attacks on the Poggio. Hushovd and Chavanel, who caught up with him, are still 40 seconds in front.
.
Km 296:
Cunego caught up with the two, those three riders will decide the race. Can Hushovd win the race for the second time in a row?
.
Km 298:
Or not? The three watched each other for too long and the pack caught up with them.
.
Km 299:
Sagan leads the pack on the last kilometer. Tom Boonen on the left starts the sprint.
.
Km 299:
Tom Boonen takes the win spectaculary. No one could challenge him today.
.
Km 299:
Behind him, Cunego saved enough energy to sprint to second spot. Sponsor goal achieved. Kolobnev finishes third.
Result
1
Tom Boonen
Quick·Step Cycling Team
7h31'15
2
Damiano Cunego
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
3
Alexandr Kolobnev
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
4
Filippo Pozzato
Katusha Team
s.t.
5
Thor Hushovd
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
6
Philippe Gilbert
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
7
Stijn Devolder
Skil - Shimano
s.t.
8
Sylvain Chavanel
Leopard Trek
s.t.
9
Juan Antonio Flecha
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
10
Alessandro Ballan
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Simone Ponzi
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
12
Alessandro Petacchi
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
13
Leonardo Bertagnolli
Katusha Team
s.t.
14
Peter Sagan
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
15
Marcus Burghardt
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
16
Matti Breschel
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
17
Daniele Bennati
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
18
Simon Gerrans
GreenEdge Cycling
s.t.
19
Alexandre Vinokourov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
20
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
s.t.
21
Fabian Cancellara
Leopard Trek
s.t.
22
Sergueï Ivanov
Katusha Team
s.t.
23
Niki Terpstra
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
24
Stefano Garzelli
Katusha Team
s.t.
25
Tyler Farrar
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
26
Daniele Pietropolli
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
27
Luis León Sánchez
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
28
Mauro Finetto
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
29
Tony Martin
Team T-Mobile
s.t.
30
Nick Nuyens
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
31
Sebastian Langeveld
GreenEdge Cycling
s.t.
32
Luca Solari
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
33
Robbie McEwen
Unicef - Oracle
s.t.
34
Jens Voigt
Leopard Trek
s.t.
35
Jelle Vanendert
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
36
Dominique Rollin
FDJ
s.t.
37
Kevin Seeldraeyers
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
38
Vasil Kiryienka
Movistar Team
s.t.
39
Davide Rebellin
Katusha Team
s.t.
40
Enrico Gasparotto
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
41
Dries Devenyns
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
42
Michele Scarponi
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
43
Gert Steegmans
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
44
George Hincapie
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
45
Alejandro Valverde
Unicef - Oracle
s.t.
46
Staf Scheirlinckx
Skil - Shimano
s.t.
47
Luca Paolini
Katusha Team
s.t.
48
Matthew Hayman
GreenEdge Cycling
s.t.
49
Chris Horner
Unicef - Oracle
s.t.
50
Francesco Masciarelli
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
51
Mauro Santambrogio
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
52
David Arroyo
Movistar Team
s.t.
53
Matthew Goss
GreenEdge Cycling
s.t.
54
Stefan Schumacher
Team T-Mobile
s.t.
55
Wesley Sulzberger
GreenEdge Cycling
s.t.
56
Paolo Longo Borghini
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
57
Thomas Dekker
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
58
Christian Knees
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
59
Robert Gesink
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
60
Stuart O'Grady
GreenEdge Cycling
s.t.
61
Marko Kump
Geox - TMC
s.t.
62
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky ProCycling
+ 1'33
63
Przemyslaw Niemiec
Lampre - ISD
+ 1'54
64
Dominic Klemme
Leopard Trek
s.t.
65
Tomas Vaitkus
GreenEdge Cycling
s.t.
66
Adam Hansen
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
67
Francesco Gavazzi
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
68
Sep Vanmarcke
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 2'29
69
Marco Marcato
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
70
Michael Albasini
GreenEdge Cycling
s.t.
71
Nico Eeckhout
FDJ
s.t.
72
Anthony Roux
FDJ
s.t.
73
Roy Curvers
Skil - Shimano
s.t.
74
Danilo Hondo
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
75
Andrey Kashechkin
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
76
Martijn Maaskant
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
77
Johan Vansummeren
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
78
Dario Cataldo
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
79
Daniel Sesma
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
80
Simone Masciarelli
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
81
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ
+ 3'59
82
Oliver Zaugg
Skil - Shimano
s.t.
83
Bram Tankink
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
84
Kevin Van Impe
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
85
Thomas Bonnin
Skil - Shimano
+ 4'32
86
Maurizio Biondo
Acqua & Sapone
+ 5'06
87
Andreas Klöden
Team T-Mobile
s.t.
88
Gianni Meersman
FDJ
s.t.
89
Bernhard Eisel
Team T-Mobile
s.t.
90
José Joaquín Rojas
Movistar Team
s.t.
91
Mark Cavendish
Team T-Mobile
s.t.
92
Francis De Greef
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
93
André Greipel
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
94
Davide Ricci Bitti
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
95
Diego Caccia
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
96
Kim Kirchen
Team T-Mobile
s.t.
97
Mirco Lorenzetto
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
98
Theo Bos
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
99
Bert De Backer
Skil - Shimano
s.t.
100
Rubén Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
101
Grischa Niermann
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
102
Fred Rodriguez
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
103
Imanol Erviti
Movistar Team
s.t.
104
Gorka Izagirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
105
David Millar
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
106
Jakob Fuglsang
Leopard Trek
s.t.
107
Sérgio Paulinho
Unicef - Oracle
s.t.
108
Ryder Hesjedal
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
109
Wim Van Huffel
FDJ
s.t.
110
Olivier Kaisen
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
111
Andreas Klier
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
112
Assan Bazayev
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
113
Hayden Roulston
Team T-Mobile
s.t.
114
Juraj Sagan
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
115
Giampaolo Caruso
Katusha Team
+ 6'37
116
Linus Gerdemann
Team T-Mobile
+ 7'02
117
Marzio Bruseghin
Movistar Team
s.t.
118
Yohan Offredo
FDJ
s.t.
119
Javier Francisco Aramendia
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 8'59
120
Mauricio Alberto Ardila
Geox - TMC
s.t.
121
Giacomo Nizzolo
Leopard Trek
+ 9'17
122
Adam Sznitko
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
123
Daniel Oss
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 9'43
124
Tanel Kangert
Pro Team Astana
+ 11'54
125
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
126
John Murphy
BMC Racing Team
+ 12'11
127
Alexsandr Dyachenko
Pro Team Astana
+ 12'59
128
Olivier Bonnaire
FDJ
+ 13'21
129
Maxim Gourov
Pro Team Astana
+ 15'00
130
Alessandro Proni
Acqua & Sapone
+ 17'51
131
Danilo Napolitano
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
132
Fabio Taborre
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
133
Christian Moreni
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
134
Radoslav Romanik
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
135
Ángel Vicioso
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
136
Rubén Plaza
Movistar Team
s.t.
137
Emanuele Sella
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
138
Levi Leipheimer
Unicef - Oracle
s.t.
139
Geraint Thomas
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
140
Vicente Reynès
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
141
Dimitriy Muravyev
Unicef - Oracle
s.t.
142
Grégory Rast
Unicef - Oracle
s.t.
143
Maxime Monfort
Leopard Trek
s.t.
144
José Vicente García Acosta
Movistar Team
s.t.
145
Yaroslav Popovych
Unicef - Oracle
s.t.
146
Alan Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
147
Andy Schleck
Leopard Trek
s.t.
148
Coen Vermeltfoort
Skil - Shimano
s.t.
149
Michel Kreder
Skil - Shimano
s.t.
150
Rigoberto Urán
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
151
Jérôme Pineau
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
152
Rodrigo García
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
153
Julien El Fares
Movistar Team
s.t.
154
Manuel Quinziato
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
155
Wojcieck Halejak
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
156
Iván Velasco
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
157
Andrea Noè
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
158
Giairo Ermeti
Androni Giocattoli
+ 18'44
159
Jonathan Monsalve
Androni Giocattoli
+ 19'35
160
Fabio Duarte
Geox - TMC
s.t.
161
Dimitry Kozontchuk
Geox - TMC
s.t.
162
Carlos Betancourt
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
163
Giuseppe Di Salvo
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
164
Omar Bertazzo
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
165
Leonardo Giordani
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
166
Giampaolo Cheula
Geox - TMC
s.t.
167
Arkaitz Durán
Geox - TMC
s.t.
168
Marcel Wyss
Geox - TMC
s.t.
169
Dario Cioni
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
170
Vincenzo Garofalo
Androni Giocattoli
+ 20'07
171
David Gutiérrez Gutiérrez
Geox - TMC
+ 20'24
172
Francesco Di Paolo
Acqua & Sapone
+ 23'43
173
Antonio Santoro
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
174
Nicholas Walker
Sky ProCycling
+ 26'07
175
Ivan Santaromita
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
176
Alistair Duncan
Sky ProCycling
+ 29'57
The Winner
After last year's Paris – Roubaix triumph, Tom Boonen continues to win monuments with his first win ever at Milano – San Remo. We sure can expect big things of him in the cobbled classics.
Liquigas Resumé
We're pretty happy with the result. A Top 3 was the goal and we thought it would be the hardest of all our goals this season. The last kilometers were a total up and down, as we first thought we did it, having Damiano in the supposed decisive move, then it seemed to be a desaster as the pack caught them again, but finally Cunego took all his remaining energy and terrifically got a great second spot. With Simone and Peter just outside the Top 10, the whole team did very well!
for good measure!
And in retrospect, I'm not unhappy about this outcome as I got six seconds from intermediate sprints and only therefore got the leaders jersey in the first place. Which is, as I think now, a bit of "cheating" as they the computer didn't contest in them. So the overall win would have been a bit "undeserved", if you know what I mean. I won't use them from now on.
)
