Stage 8
Today is a flat stage but the high wind speeds will not make things easy. I was able to sit back for the early part of this race, wearing my new yellow jersey that I earned yesterday.
In the lead was 2 groups, one with 2 riders and another with only 1 rider. Despite the lack of numbers, they were able to build a large gap.
Eventually, the high winds forced a split in the peloton. Bellis, McAree, and Dodds were in the first group but I had missed it, and was only in the 2nd group. All the riders dropped back and joine my group. The leading group was only 24 riders and none of them were anywhere close to me in the GC so we let other teams chase. But no one did, and the gap reached 3 minutes. As it has been all week, no one is willing to do any work and the breakaway continued to ride away. With 30km to the leading group was no where in site.
Even though everyone was worn out, we sent riders up front to limit the lead. We were able to get it back within 2 minutes but they would not be caught. Giordani was holding off the leading peloton and looked like he would take the win.
But he was passed by Brown, and Brown took another victory for Silence Lotto.
Stage Results
1 Graeme Brown Silence - Lotto 3h29'56
2 Kenny Van Hummel Skil - Shimano s.t.
3 Manuel Cardoso Liberty Seguros s.t.
4 Leonardo Giordani Acqua & Sapone - Caffé Mokambo s.t.
5 Staf Scheirlinckx Silence - Lotto s.t.
6 Alessandro Bisolti Ceramica Flaminia - Bossini Docce s.t.
7 Rubén Lobato Elvira Rock Racing + 1'03
8 Giannunzio Infanti LPR Brakes Farnese Vini s.t.
9 Frank Pipp Rock Racing s.t.
10 David Loosli Liberty Seguros s.t.
11 Jacob Rosenbarger Rock Racing s.t.
12 José Mendes Liberty Seguros s.t.
13 Christophe Brandt Silence - Lotto s.t.
14 Mario Aerts Silence - Lotto s.t.
15 Mauro Santambrogio CSF Group - Navigare
+ 2'26
16 Diego Milán Acqua & Sapone - Caffé Mokambo s.t.
17 Samuel Caldeira Palmeiras Resort / Tavira s.t.
18 Kim Nielsen Team Designa Køkken s.t.
19 Mikel Gaztañaga Contentpolis - Ampo s.t.
20 Clemens Frankhauser Acqua & Sapone - Caffé Mokambo s.t.
21 Roberto Ferrari LPR Brakes Farnese Vini s.t.
22 Bernardo Riccio Ceramica Flaminia - Bossini Docce s.t.
23 Daniel Martin Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
24 Campbell Dodds Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
25 Stefan Van Dijk Verandas Willems s.t.
26 Vicente García de Mateos Rubio Contentpolis - Ampo s.t.
27 José Alberto Benítez Xacobeo - Galicia s.t.
28 Pieter Jacobs Silence - Lotto s.t.
29 Huub Duyn Skil - Shimano s.t.
30 Massimiliano Maisto Acqua & Sapone - Caffé Mokambo s.t.
Stage 9
Another flat stage but the wind is no where near as high as yesterday so hopefully there won't be any problems. McAree was FINALLY successful in getting into a break.
However, for once the breakaway was caught
. The sprinters began setting up and we set up a large train. Close, followed by me, Bellis, and then Dodds. With 6km left Close left me in charge. I was able to put Dodds in great position and with 2.5km left, I pulled out.
And Dodds rode away to a victory, beating the other sprinters by bike lengths. But the big news was that there was a gap. The fast pace by the trains had split the peloton in two, and I was in the lead group. Moreno was not, and finished 46 seconds back.
Stage Results
1 Campbell Dodds Garmin - Slipstream 4h04'52
2 Mikel Gaztañaga Contentpolis - Ampo s.t.
3 Mauro Santambrogio CSF Group - Navigare s.t.
4 Jonathan Bellis Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
5 Jonas Vangenechten Silence - Lotto s.t.
6 Graeme Brown Silence - Lotto s.t.
7 Francesco Failli Acqua & Sapone - Caffé Mokambo s.t.
8 Diego Milán Acqua & Sapone - Caffé Mokambo s.t.
9 Roberto Ferrari LPR Brakes Farnese Vini s.t.
10 Huub Duyn Skil - Shimano s.t.
11 Kenny Van Hummel Skil - Shimano s.t.
12 David García Dapena Contentpolis - Ampo s.t.
13 Samuel Caldeira Palmeiras Resort / Tavira s.t.
14 Bernardo Riccio Ceramica Flaminia - Bossini Docce s.t.
15 Justin Van Hoecke Verandas Willems s.t.
16 Stefan Van Dijk Verandas Willems s.t.
17 Manuel Cardoso Liberty Seguros s.t.
18 Cristiano Fumagalli Ceramica Flaminia - Bossini Docce s.t.
19 Cândido Barbosa Palmeiras Resort / Tavira s.t.
20 Clemens Frankhauser Acqua & Sapone - Caffé Mokambo s.t.
21 Claudio Cucinotta Ceramica Flaminia - Bossini Docce s.t.
22 Tom Criel Landbouwkrediet - Colnago s.t.
23 Daniel Martin Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
24 José Alberto Benítez Xacobeo - Galicia s.t.
25 Vicente García de Mateos Rubio Contentpolis - Ampo s.t.
26 Enrico Rossi Ceramica Flaminia - Bossini Docce s.t.
27 Marco Corsini LPR Brakes Farnese Vini + 46
28 Sven Nys Landbouwkrediet - Colnago s.t.
29 Cristiano Benenati Acqua & Sapone - Caffé Mokambo s.t.
30 Javier Moreno Andalucía Cajasur s.t.
GC
1 Daniel Martin Garmin - Slipstream 37h09'57
2 Javier Moreno Andalucía Cajasur + 47
3 Jonathan Hivert Skil - Shimano + 3'56
4 Stefano Garzelli Acqua & Sapone - Caffé Mokambo + 5'21
5 José Alberto Benítez Xacobeo - Galicia + 6'12
6 Enrico Zen LPR Brakes Farnese Vini + 6'42
7 Jurgen Van Goolen Landbouwkrediet - Colnago + 6'45
8 Aitor Pérez Arrieta Contentpolis - Ampo + 8'48
9 John Devine Rock Racing + 8'58
10 Xavi Tondo Andalucía Cajasur + 9'02
11 Steve Morabito Liberty Seguros + 9'20
12 David García Dapena Contentpolis - Ampo + 11'18
13 Enrico Rossi Ceramica Flaminia - Bossini Docce + 11'23
14 Rubén Lobato Elvira Rock Racing + 11'45
15 Staf Scheirlinckx Silence - Lotto + 12'03
16 Iban Mayoz Xacobeo - Galicia + 12'35
17 Lasse Bøchman Team Designa Køkken + 12'39
18 Theo Eltink Skil - Shimano + 12'51
19 Egoi Martínez Euskaltel - Euskadi + 13'38
20 Mario Aerts Silence - Lotto + 13'59
21 Alessandro Bisolti Ceramica Flaminia - Bossini Docce + 15'17
22 Manuel Cardoso Liberty Seguros + 15'39
23 Adrián Palomares Contentpolis - Ampo + 16'00
24 Clemens Frankhauser Acqua & Sapone - Caffé Mokambo + 16'08
25 Steve Houanard Skil - Shimano + 16'14
26 Ryder Hesjedal Garmin - Slipstream + 16'36
27 David Loosli Liberty Seguros + 17'19
28 Javier Aramendía Team Designa Køkken + 17'55
29 Cristiano Benenati Acqua & Sapone - Caffé Mokambo + 17'56
30 Raúl García de Mateos Rubio Xacobeo - Galicia + 18'19
