Mainly a warm-up race for Giro d’Italia. We cannot expect to be very present in the GC but our climbers will do their best throughout the race to get something home. The race should show who will be the favourites for Giro d'Italia.

Stage 1 – TT
When Bøchman sets of as last Falcon none of the others have made themselves noticed. Lasse was expected to be our best bid for the TT and he handles the pressure well getting a provisional 4th.

Results:
1. Tony Martin, Omega Pharma - QuickStep
2. Edvald Boasson Hagen, Sky
3. Michael Rogers, Orica - GreenEdge
6. Lasse Bøchman, Falcon – STARK



Stage 2
Bøchman and many others tried their best to get in a break, but Omega Pharma – QuickStep was having none of it. Later on he tries going with Irish Champion Daniel Martin and Failli, but the two prove too strong on the climbs.

33 km to go and Yellow jersey Tony Martin tries to surprise the other favourites by attacking early, but in the end it cost him more than he gains. Jesper Hansen is looking good and tries to follow the various attacks, but when riders like Cunego, Evans and Nibali are setting the pace on the hills it is still too much for Hansen.
Cunego takes a solo victory but doesn’t gain any time except for bonus seconds. Hansen crosses the line in the peloton 2’32’’ later.

Results:
1. Damiano Cunego – Lampre - ISD
2. Rui Costa, Movistar
3. Joaquím Rodriguez, Katusha
52. Jesper Hansen, Falcon – STARK



Stage 3
Today Falcon manage to get in a solid BOTD with Mads Christensen, Swift, Pate and Hupond. Later the break expanded to 12 riders in total.

With 24 km to go the group has a lead of 3’35’’. They still have a decent chance of making it!
Christensen is struggling on the last climb and loses contact with the others as the favourites start attacking from behind. Bøchman and Hansen do their best to keep up, but can’t play a role in the pelotons sprint finish.

Results:
1. Ben Swift, Sky
2. Fabio Taborre, Acqua & Sapone
3. Sébastian Hinault, AG2R La Mondiale
46. Jesper Hansen, Falcon – STARK



Provisional Standing:
1 Damiano Cunego, Lampre - ISD
2 Rui Costa, Movistar Team
3 Joaquím Rodríguez Katusha Team
50. Jesper Hansen, Falcon - STARK


Mountains: Francesco Failli, Farnese Vini - Selle Italia

Points: Ben Swift, Sky

Young Rider: Karol Domagalski, Caja Rural

Lets hope the second half of the race gets more exciting for the Team

You will get there. Just don't give up

Come on, Falcon!

Stage 4
Early in the stage Bøchman got away along with strong riders such as Ventoso, Henao, Bozic and R. Feillu. Apparently the break was too strong for Lampre – ISD to accept. Later on he manage to get the “go� along with Henao, Feillu, Perget, Proch and Geschke.

That break is allowed as much as 5 and a half minutes and Lasse spots his chance to have a go at the Mountain jersey by winning the first KOM of the day getting second in the competition with same points as Failli.
Back in the peloton Katusha and Lotto is pulling over the climb reducing the main group to 68 riders. 20 km to go, 2’30’’ to the peloton and time for the last climb before the finish.

Henao attack and Bøchman tries to beat him, but only gets second in the sprint. Still enough for him to take over the jersey. The attacks on the climb push up the speed in the break and with 8 km to go they have a gap of almost 3 minutes, so the six are preparing to ride for the stage win. With Rodriguez coming from behind Bøchman decide to start the sprint early. It is looking good for the podium as Henao is far too strong for Lasse uphill, but on the last 100 m he gets passed by both Rodriguez and Vanendert.

Results:
1. Sergio Henao, Sky
2. Joaquím Rodriguez, Katusha
3. Romain Feillu, Garmin - Sharp
5. Lasse Bøchman, Falcon – STARK
Mountains: Lasse Bøchman



Stage 5
The big mountain stage. Jesper Hansen will have to do his best and see how far that goes. Lasse Bøchman will aim to defend his jersey, though it is a tough task ahead of him. As planned Lasse get in the early break along with strong riders like Nicki Sørensen, Paolo Tiralongo and Stefan Schumacher. On the first climb Bøchman defended the jersey nicely by winning the sprint, but with a max of 36 points left it is still far from won. On the second climb he gets second expanding his lead in the competition to 23 pts with 24 left to fight for.

In the third climb of the day the front group Taaramäe, Rogers and Frank, but that doesn’t stop Bøchman winning the sprint by putting in a strong attack 700 m from the top. Lasse now has a lead of 31 pts and with only 12 pts left to fight for the jersey is secured!
As the final climb starts 14 km from goal the 14 riders in front has 3’30’’ to the main peloton, where Lampre – ISD, Kastusha and Lotto Belisol.
With Rogers, Frank and Taaramäe setting the pace up the final climb Lasse fight bravely to hang in there.

5 km to go and it turn in to a battle between the favourites. Taaramäe attack two km from goal and wins the KOM. Not that it matters for the Dane, who is riding towards the top alongside Scarponi.
It’s a fierce battle in front the last few kilometers but Taaramäe just manage to hold on to the lead taking the stage.

Results:
1. Rein Taaramäe, Saxo Bank – Tinkoff Bank
2. Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas - Cannondale
3. Joaquím Rodriguez, Katusha
13. Lasse Bøchman, Falcon – STARK
Mountains: Lasse Bøchman



Stage 6 - TT
As none of our riders are present in the GC this is not a very important stage for us. Bøchman is a decent TT’er and have shown good form, so he might have something in the bag to show his jersey best possible.
First Falcon – STARK rider on the course is Michael Færk Christensen who is 3rd best on both intermediate and in goal.
Stevenson gets 2nd best on the intermediate, but is only provisionally 8th on goal.
Ludvigsson does better beating Stevenson on the intermediate and 7th in goal.
As last Falcon on the road Bøchman is provisional 5th on the intermediate and 4th in goal 12 seconds slower than Boasson Hagen. Still 44 riders to go.
German world champion Tony Martin destroys everything beating Boasson Hagen's time by 44 seconds, but ends up getting beaten by Cadel Evans.

Results:
1. Cadel Evans, BMC
2. Tony Martin, Omega Pharma - Quickstep
3. Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas - Cannondale
23. Lasse Bøchman, Falcon – STARK



Final Standing:

40.

Lasse Bøchman

Falcon – STARK

+9’02’’

Mountains: Lasse Bøchman, Falcon – STARK
Points: Joaquím Rodriguez, Katusha
Young rider: Karol Domagalski, Caja Rural
Team: Sky Procycling

A better second half to the race resulting in Bochman claiming the Mountains prize

KoM! Very nice

Nice mountain jersey. Nice job

This month we have seen Matti as a very competent lieutenant for Tom Boonen. How have it been to have to dedicate yourself to helping the big favourite?


So you’re not disappointed that Rabobank replaced you as cobble-captain this season?


Does that mean that the rumours of you leaving Rabobank are false?


What about the rest of the season?


Who should The Rear Wheel interview next month, and what should we ask him?


Rider of the month: Joaquím Rodriguez, Katusha. Given for a great performance winning Romandie, third in Pais Vasco and some decent placings in the Ardenne Classics.
Nordic rider of the month: Lars Ytting Bak, Falcon – STARK. Hushovd did what he was signed to do, but he couldn’t have done it without the support of Lars Bak. After working hard for his captain Lars still managed 11th in Roubaix and 7th in Ronde van Vlaanderen. Madsens victory in Pino Cerami is also largely due to Bak. Finally he picked up the win in the first Scandinavian race of the season Himmerland Rundt.

World tour ranking:
1. Thor Hushovd, Falcon - STARK
2. Jelle Vanendert, Lotto Belisol
3. Tom Boonen, Rabobank

1. Falcon - STARK
2. Rabobank
3. RadioShack - Nissan
8. Saxo Bank – Tinkoff Bank

CQ-ranking:
1. Thor Hushovd, Falcon - STARK
2. Jelle Vanendert
3. Tom Boonen, Rabobank
28. Lars Ytting Bak, Falcon - STARK
112. Kjell Carlström, Falcon - STARK
204. Gustav Erik Larsson, Vacansoleil - DCM

1. Falcon – STARK (WT)
2. Movistar (WT)
3. Rabobank (WT)
7. Farnese Vini – Selle Italia (CNT)
9. Cofidis, le credit en ligne (CNT)
23. Saxo Bank – Tinkoff Bank
34. Christina Watches – Onfone
58. Glud & Marstrand
64. Blue Water
68. Joker Merida
74. Øster Hus
78. Concordia Forsikring
NA. Svenska Cyklister

U23 races:
Four U23-classics have been ridden. Brian Matzen won Liège – Bastogne – Liège Espoirs and remains on top of the U23 ranking. The month gave a few decent secondary positions for other Danish riders. No young riders from the rest of the North have made themselves noticed in the races this far.

Short news:
Christina Watches – Onfone have made public that they wish to be the third Nordic team in this year’s Tour de France. We expect three of the four wildcards will go to AG2R, Europcar and Saur – Sojasun. CWO’s chances of grabbing the final spot seems very slim.

Katusha have announced that they will cease sponsorships after this season. Another big Russian Company, Gazprom, is ready to take over sponsorship of the team.

This one should have been posted before "The Rear Wheel" but here goes:


This race is hard enough for a breakaway to succeed and easy enough to end in a bunch sprint.
Stevenson and Cort are working hard all day to get the success for the breakaway. CCC and Christina Watches – Onfone is pulling for the sprint.

Going in to the last 10 km 2 riders have a 24 second lead to a 50-rider peloton containing the entire Falcon – STARK team.
Rene Jørgensen (CWO) attack with 5 km to go and Michael Færk Christensen tries to follow him, but can’t quite hang on. Jørgensen wins and Reihs dominates the sprint behind getting a double for the Danish team.



Results:

The rankings are pretty pleasing at the moment

Looking good

Can't wait for the Giro.

Can I ask please for the team attributes please These are some fantastic results, and I'd like to see how the riders are progressing

sutty and Ian: Sure are

Jakstar: Luckily you won't have to wait much longer

Neillster: Sure. The results are great so I understand your curiosity. The only reason I have not posted stats and detail is for the realism (you wouldn't know these things IRL).
The results have all been made in races where the rider were in exceptional form (P-R: Hushovd 99 pts, T-A: Hansen >95pt all race etc.) and the attacking style of racing will cost later on. The riders haven't got the skills for GT results anyway, so I have made the early races top priority as the necessary points are easier to win in those races than in the TdF...

Forgive me for saying so, but you're damn lucky you got Hushovd, in World Tour standings

Ian: There's nothing to forgive - You're completely right. And I would have been in serious trouble had he picked up a spring injury

Edit: The team has 640 WT-pts and Hushovd won the 473 of them. Without Hushovd's points the team would be third-lowest ranking WT-team

For this the teams first ever Grand Tour the ambitions are small. We will chase the breakaways and get whatever we can. The sponsor want us to wear the Mountain Jersey, so that will be the target for the first few stages. After that we’ll see what happens.

Favourites:
The big favourite has to be Nibali, who is highly motivated to win his home country’s grand tour. Riders like Scarponi, Hesjedal, Van den Broeck, Antón and Evans will be a challenge for the Italian though.
Most people agree that the white jersey most likely will be a battle between Nairo Quintana and Romain Sicard.
Complete startlist:


Stage 1 – Prologue
We’ll start with an 8 km flat TT.
None of the first four Falcons managed to do anything worth mentioning, but Sky’s Swede Thomas Löfkvist held provisional best for a good while. First Löfkvist is beaten by Pinotti and shortly after also by Lasse Bøchman, who is 2 seconds slower than the Italian.
Lars Bak just manage to squeeze in to the provisional top 5 and as the captains get ready Falcon – STARK have two riders in the top 5, while Pinotti maintains the lead.

Results:
1. Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas - Cannondale
2. Michele Scarponi, Lampre - ISD
3. Marco Pinotti, BMC
5. Lasse Bøchman, Falcon – STARK
10. Lars Ytting Bak, Falcon – STARK



Stage 2
A mostly flat stage, but with a small hill followed by a rather long descent about 30 km from goal could mix things up a bit.
It takes more than 60 km, but in the end Lars Bak get away with 9 other riders. The break never seems likely to make it, but they will get to fight for the right to wear the KOM-jersey tomorrow. On the climb Bak shows everyone who’s boss leaving the other breakers behind.

With 18 km to go and a gap of one minute Lars decide to push up the speed and get away along with Franzoï, but the attempt amount to nothing as Lampre – ISD pull them in quickly.
But Falcon – STARK is not that easily beaten! With 5 km to go Lasse Bøchman manage to get a decent gap by himself, but is caught by the sprinters right before the finish line.

Results:
1. Danilo Napolitano, Lampre - ISD
2. Davide Appolonio, Sky
3. Tyler Farrar, Garmin - Sharp
5. Lasse Bøchman, Falcon – STARK
Mountains: Lars Ytting Bak



Stage 3

Categorized as hilly, but the steep climb just before goal could do some real damage if the big names decide to use it in the GC battle.
BOTD has 11 minutes and Lasse Bøchman is the best placed rider in there. He can’t match Callagarin and Wegmann on the hills though and the German ends up taking the mountain jersey.

With 30 km to go seven riders have a gap of just under four minutes to the peloton. Nibali has just one helper left, but luckily for him Lampre and Euskaltel are ready to work.
6.5 km to the top and Nibali goes on the attack quickly passing the breakaway.
As expected Jesper Hansen is the strongest Falcon on the climb, but that doesn’t amount to following Nibali and Cunego.

Results:
1. Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas - Cannondale
2. Damiano Cunego, Lampre - ISD
3. Igor Antón, Euskaltel - Euskadi
24. Jesper Hansen, Falcon – STARK

Great! Sponsor goal already achieved, and even some top 5 finishes, after just 3 stages

A more than decent start in this Giro!
The startlist is very strong, btw!