Was really hoping that the Team would rule in Norway

You gotta leave some races yet to be conquered for next year, huh

Thanks for the comforting words. We had hoped to achieve more in Norway, but we hadn't brought any of our top-riders and Christina Watches - Onfone had...

But yeah Ian we will conquer it next year

Stage 14
This is going to be a tough day for the flatland riders as it starts with a 10 % climb and has several other tough climbs on the menu. The time limit might very well get relevant again today…
As no one dare attack this early Lars Bak decide to lead the peloton over the first climb, the second is taken by Talansky, Muravyev and Di Luca, who have attacked hoping to get away. In the end only Talansky and Muravyev can build a gap and goes into the descent with 1’40’’ on the peloton.
On the flat the duo is joined by a bunch of other riders. Among those Jeppe Lykke Hartvig Nielsen.
With 12 km to the top of Passo di Monte Giovo the break ahs build a lead of more than nine minutes to the peloton. And best as everything looks quiet Nibali crashes in the front on the peloton. Fortunately the pink jersey gets back in the saddle and can continue, but who knows how this will affect him?
It looks like Jeppe chose the wrong day to break away as Jesús Hernández and Talansky pull the front group apart near the top.
With 60 km to go Hernandez, Talansky and Tankink in front have almost two minutes to the second group counting Hansen and Löfkvist and 19 minutes to the peloton. The three will probably decide the stagewin between them.
Up the Passo delle Erbe Hernandez lose his companions and is now riding alone to glory.
Behind Christensen is struggling in the grupetto and Hansen is in a group with Henao and Cunego. 2 km from the top they catch up with Nielsen, who takes the lead helping his captin to lose as little time as possible.
With 20 km to go Hernandez has 6 minutes to Talansky and 12 minutes to the first of the GC contenders. And it looks like Nibali got a bit hurt in the crash as Antón and Quintana have gained a 1’30’’ lead on Nibali, Urán and Scarponi.
On the final climb the Spaniard in front start looking really tired and he is losing a lot of time as Antón and Quintana are chasing madly behind with a lead of more than 2’30’’ to Nibali, who is now alone as he could not keep up with Urán, Scarponi and Pozzovivo.
5 km to go and Antón can almost smell the victory as he slowly pulls away from Quintana after passing Hernandez. With 2’30’’ to Nibali he might even end up taking the Maglia Rosa today!
Nothing seems to affect the Basque rider as he just continues to expand his lead while removing a bit of saliva to look good for the cameras on a 10% section of the mountain.
Antón reach Plan de Corones to a majestic victory. 3 minutes later Scarponi arrives and more than 8 minutes later Nibali reach the top as the 6th rider. Looks like a very expensive crash for the Italian!
In the rear Michael Færk Christensen have left the grupetto fearing the time limit might end in a massacre.

Results:
1. Igor Antón, Euskaltel - Euskadi
2. Michele Scarponi, Lampre - ISD
3. Nairo Quintana, Movistar
21. Jesper Hansen, Falcon – STARK



[b]Provisional Standing:
Screenshot
19. Jesper Hansen Falcon – STARK + 40’10’’

Mountains: Jesús Hernández, Saxo-Tinkoff
Points: Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas – Cannondale
Young rider: Nairo Quintana, Movistar

What a great day for Anton, huh

Jesper still inside the top twenty, he is really riding well

Wow Anton... What a win! You can do it with Jesper as well! Just hang on!

That's Anton for you. Good race by the team.

Stage 15
After some hard days in the mountains a lot of riders are pleased with looking forward to 185 km of mostly flat road.
Michael Færk Christensen went in the break along with 10 other riders, but Garmin – Sharp, Farnese Vini and Sky won’t allow the opportunity for a bunch sprint to slip by.

And in spite of a combined attack from Bak and Bøchman with 5 km to go it does end in the expected sprint and a very close one of that.

Results:
1. Michael Matthews, Rabobank
2. Yaheni Hutarovich, FDJ - BigMat
3. Allan Davis, Orica - GreenEdge
20. Christofer Stevenson, Falcon – STARK

Wonder what the team'll say on the press conference

Falcon – STARK have called for a press conference on the second rest day of the Giro without revealing the topic. The Rear Wheel was apparently the only media interested in covering it, so this is exclusive news just for our readers.

Team manager Allan Grønborg starts out:


One of the team’s scouts takes the microphone:


Brian Steen Matzen is not completely unknown to the cycling fans in spite of being an amateur. He is currently leading the U23 ranking with more pts than number two and three combined. These are his results from the U23-season so far:

	Race	Overall	Stage wins	Podiums	Top 10’s
	Grand Prix de Portugal	1	3/3	-	-
	Ronde van Vlaanderen Espoirs	27	NA	NA	NA
	Liège – Bastogne – Liège Espoirs	1	NA	NA	NA
	La Côte Picarde	26	NA	NA	NA
	ZLM Tour	73	NA	NA	NA
	Giro delle Regioni	1	2/6	2	2
	Ronde de l’Izard	1	1/4	-	2

It seems Allan has more to say:

Ooooh nice sponsor
Like the name: Rear Wheel, behind Falcon

No Ian its the rear wheel behind Nordic cycling.

Yeah I know, I was shortening it, because the focus lay on Rear Wheel

Thanks for the compliment on the magazine name.

Really happy about the new sponsor. Next season we will have almost three times the budget we had this season, so it's going to be an interesting transfer season

Stage 16

Another horribly hard mountain stage. First up is Stelvio and then it just continues…
Rossi is the only rider stupid enough to attack on the first kilometer approaching Stelvio. And he is reeled back in as soon as the climb gets serious. Still Mourey (FDJ), Cataldo (Quickstep), Talansky (Garmin) and Paterski (Liquigas) manage to build a decent lead.

Up the Passo del Mortirolo the picture is pretty much the same. The four in front now have 17 minutes to the peloton, but Euskaltel seem to have it under control.

In the rear Christensen have lost contact along with three of the top sprinters: Bosic, Hutarovich and Appolonio. These four will most likely miss the time limit today.
On the top of Passo del Gavia Cataldo and Kruijswijk have gotten rid of Talansky and the others. The gap is constant at 17 minutes. None of the riders threaten Antón in the GC.

Approaching the final summit Kruijswijk looks to get rid of Cataldo and rides to a solo win. Behind Nibali is trying his best to regain some of the lost time, but can’t quite get the gap he needs and in the end Anton and Scarponi counters him on the top of the climb.

21 rider came in outside the timelimit. Among those Christensen and Stevenson.

Results:
1. Steven Kruijswijk, Rabobank
2. Dario Cataldo, Omege Pharme - Quickstep
3. Paolo Tiralongo, Astana
35. Jesper Hansen, Falcon – STARK



Provisional standing:

19. Jesper Hansen Falcon – STARK + 43’56’’

Mountains: Jesús Hernández, Saxo-Tinkoff
Points: Vincenzo Nibali, Liquigas – Cannondale
Young rider: Nairo Quintana, Movistar

Poor Rossi, did he survive the race?
Jesper is getting some nice top 20 finishes!

He did. He was caught about five km up the mountain. Then attacked again a few times just two find out he's not that good a climber...

Looks like Matzen is going to be a brilliant addition to the Team for next season

Is that 4 out for the team now. Hansen stilling doing FANTASTIC though