purepasd wrote:
I like your story a lot, but I feel like you don't need to summarise objectively. If we just get the Astana/Vino angle, maybe with a few thoughts on the race, tactics for coming days, and on Astana's opportunities regarding other teams succes or the contrary. To be honest I don't care what kind of injuries some riders may have, or if Barguil won a stage in a small French race. Maybe others do? Nonetheless, I still enjoy following.
Thanks for following
Won't attempt to justify my "style" - but i like to give also a general idea of what is going on also not Astana related, inside the race as well as in the Evaluation.
I know some won't find that necessary, but should be catagorized in a way that you can easily skip it.
The weather is perfect, sunny with just a few clouds and very little wind.
The morning break is just two riders, Julien Vermote (Quick Step) and Twan Castelijns (LottoNL-Jumbo)
Starting the climb to Le Croci de Calenzano (8.4km at 3.7%) they got 3’39”
Astana won’t risk a breakaway win, they decide to lead the peloton, Alessandro Vanotti and Bakhtiyar Kozhatayev is leading the peloton up the hardest climb of the race, Passo della Consuma (18.7 km at 6.2%)
The distance is 2’08, 110 km to go.
Over the top we got another attack, Zilioli (Nippo), Bonifazio (Trek), Silin (Katusha), Dupont and Chérel both Ag2r La Mondiale.
Eros Capecchi is working hard on the downhill and with 60 km left they are caught. There are no longer any riders in front of the peloton.
Everyone can take a breather, but not for long. Bonifazio , Silin and Dupont tries again.
Team LottoNL – Jumbo set five riders in front, the pace is very hard.
The last 26 km of the race is a circuit, passing La Giostra four times, 1.3 km at 6.8%, hardest on the last 700 m.
When the trio in front starts the climb first time, the distance is 37”
The break is over just after the first climb.
Over the next 3 rounds we got several attempts, Stefan Denifl, Paul Martens, Lars Petter Nordhaug, Franco Pellizotti, Davide Formolo and Niccolò Bonifazio
are all out trying their luck, but when the front passes La Giostra the last time a larger group is together.
It is Aru passing first in front of Nordhaug and Martens, just 2.6 km to the line.
Paul Martens (LottoNL – Jumbo) wins the reduced sprint in front of Lars Petter Nordhaug (Sky), Marco Marcato grabs the last podium, outsprinting Aru from behind.
Evaluation:
Overall:
This was the 32 year old German first win of the season and his first win since a stage in Baloise Belgium Tour back in 2014.
Most of the favorite teams did fine, but Trek – Segafredo might be a bit disappointed, the constant attacks from Bonifazio did not pay out and they got no rider in top 25.
Astana:
Being a top favorite for the race Aru’s 4th place was a bit of a disappointment, would have expected him to get on the podium.
Alexander Vinokourov was briefed from head of Astana’s Medical team Dr. Tschugainow.
As requested we have taken a look at Trialongo, he is not feeling great, but we don’t see any reason that he should not be able to continue in Tour of Romandie. Just let him have an easy ride on the next stage.
You know we are following also Cataldo, as requested you took him out of Toscana, we hope to be able to cure this back pain in time for the Giro, but request no races up till then.
De Vreese’s Knee, is healing as planed and we have started the rehabilitation program, but don’t expect him to race for another month.
The sun is shining, but there is a fresh to strong breeze.
We got an early attack from two strong riders, Gianluca Brambilla ( Quick Step) and Jérôme Coppel (IAM), the sudden change in pace resulting from the attack, provide for confusion in the peloton and we get a crash right in the middle of the bunch.
It is total chaos, as more and more riders collide with others already on the ground.
We got two large groups behind the peloton, one with Igor Antón , Thibaut Pinot and Alberto Contador at 1’41 (44 riders), another with Tejay Van Garderen at 2’52 (16 riders)
Legitimized by López KoM, Astana sets Tanel Kangert in front, setting pace on the first uncategorized climb, but group Alberto Contador make it back on the climb. Over the top group Van Garderen is 2’45 behind the peloton.
The duo in front got 2’42 to the peloton.
Rein Taaramae (Katusha) attacks and joins the breakaway.
With 125 km to the line, group Van Garderen rejoins the peloton.
Astana is still worried about López KoM ambitions, it is decided that what was supposed to be a rest day for Paolo Tiralongo is now over, he joins the front to help Tanel Kangert, keep the break under control.
92 km to go, just before the start of côte de Bure, the distance is reduced to 1’35” Miguel López accelerates, determined to defend his KoM and free his teammates from the hard work in front.
With 72 km to go López joins the breakaway, the peloton is at 2’02”
López gets 6 KoM points on Col de la Croix 2nd behind Brambilla.
After Col de la Croix, Movistar start pulling very hard in the peloton, at the start of Col des Rangiers the breakaway is over.
Movistar Anacona with teammate Quintana on wheel starts to open a gap on the hard climb.
40 km to go, we got Anacona and Quintana in front, at 43” Nibali and Wouter Poels (Sky) chasing and at 1’48 the peloton, now 77 riders.
They are all caught at the last climb to côte de Bure, we now has about 30 riders in front with 25 km to go, but some notable riders are missing Contador, Froome, Pinot, Péraud and Gallopin are in groups further back.
The pace is still hot, over the next 15 km the group is reduced to 24 riders
First successful attack is Jan Bakelants (Ag2r) and Simon Geschke (Giant), they open a gap of 34” and then also Diego Ulissi (Lampre) accelerates.
10 km to the line, group Contador/Froom 41” behind group Nibali/ Quintana.
Ulissi has diamond legs today he flies by Bakelants and Geschke, laying more and more distance to everyone behind him.
Ulissi claims a solo victory in Porrentruy, Ben Swift (Sky) 2nd with a last minute attack, Geschke takes the last podium.
Evaluation:
Overall:
This was the 2nd stage win by the 26 years old Italian, after he also won a stage in Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, in March.
Starting the stage as 7th in GC, Tejay Van Garderen coming in 8th at 1’38 took over the race lead, quite a surprise on a stage that on paper should not be that difficult. Considering Tejay was in trouble at the first part of the race very good job from BMC.
Quite unexpected there was a lot of top riders loosing serious time today, this is some of them.
All times compared to Diego Ulissi, leader at 1’38”
Nibali
2'02
Contador
3'31
Barguil
2'24
Froome
3'31
Chaves
2'24
Péraud
3'31
Majka
2'24
Pinot
3'31
Poels
2'24
Gesink
6'12
Astana:
A very hard and complex stage but when it was over Astana is pleased with the result, Nibali moved up in GC and maybe more important closer to Quintana, the rider Astana expect to be the most dangerous after Contador and Froome has lost time.
The team is also pleased that López could hold the KoM.
The sun is shining. The side/tailwind (37-47 km/h) all day will make it harder for the peloton to control the race.
We got a morning breakaway of 3 riders, a little unusual two from the same team. It is Marcel Sieberg (Lotto Soudal), Maxim Belkov and Rein Taaramae both (Katusha). Taaramae is best placed in the GC at 10’52.
Astana having lost Paolo Tiralongo won’t react, even though Taaramae's 13 points will be a clear threat to the KoM. Lotto Soudal is leading the peloton, but with Sieberg in front they are far from serious about it. The distance grows to more than 7 minutes.
After the 90 km mark, Giant, Astana and Trek joins the pursuit. Lotto Soudal is still working with two riders, they obviously don’t believe in Sieberg’s possibilitys.
When the peloton starts the hardest climb of the stage Les Paccots (4.6km at 6.3%) the gap is reduced to 4’23, 78 km to go. López accelerate over the top to get the points he can.
BMC have taken over the poursuivant.
López have got a message over the team radio to continue his attack, on the climb to Soren (5.4 km at 4.8%) he has caught a very drained Sieberg. 55” behind the leaders.
Peloton is at 2’23 with 35 km to the line.
Over the next 20 km López and Sieberg are brought back.
On the climb to Treyvaux (2.6 km at 2.8%) first Nibali and Scarponi and later Esteban Cháves (Orica), attacks.
Cháves seems to have diamonds, passing Nibali easily.
Rein Taaramae take a solo victory in Fribourg with 1’15 down to Esteban Cháves, Silvan Dillier (BMC) wins a reduced bunch sprint, another 26” behind Taaramae
Evaluation:
Overall:
This was the 1st season win by Katusha’s 28 years old Estonian climber, his first win since winning the general classification in Arctic Race of Norway last August.
The only other important result was Esteban Cháves moving from 9th to 7th in GC, making his podium ambitions if not likely then at least more possible.
Another disappointing stage for fans of Froome, Contador, Pinot and Péraud they all lost another 2 minutes compared to Tejay Van Garderen
Astana:
GC wise an unimportant stage seem from Astana perspective, just making it even more clear that the competitors are Van Garderen and Nairo Quintana, with Esteban Cháves the most dangerous outsider.
We got a huge and very dangerous breakaway, with many strong riders from diffrent top teams.
Albert Timmer (Giant), Beñat Intxausti (Sky), Björn Thurau (Wanty), Bob Jungels (Quick Step), Cameron Meyer (Dimension Data), George Bennett (LottoNL – Jumbo), Haimar Zubeldia (Trek), Miguel Ángel López (Astana), Robert Kišerlovski (Tinkoff), Sergey Chernetckii (Katusha) and Steve Morabito (FDJ)
With this many teams reprecented in the breakaway it is up to BCM, they take the lead in the peloton and keep the distance low, when the break starts the climb to Col des Mosses (13.4 km at 4.2%) it is 2’27.
Zubeldia wins the KoM sprint in front of Intxausti.
The group is strong on the climb, over the top the distance is increesed to 4’52. This will be a hard pursuit for BMC, if no other teams are unwilling to help.
In the breakaway the pace set on Col des Giettes (9.9 km at 7.3%) is fierce, one by one the riders drop.
The situation over the top:
Jungels, Zubeldia, Kišerlovski, Intxausti, Bennett
At 1’05 Chernetckii, Morabito
At 1’20 López, Meyer
At 3’32 Thurau
At 3’46 Timmer
At 8’52 Peloton 143 riders
Kišerlovski wins the KoM in front of Intxausti.
On the descent Chernetckii, Morabito, López and Meyer makes it back to the front.
With the distance close to 9 minutes Movistar react, they ad José Herrada and Anacona to the pursuit, the distance start to melt.
The 9 riders left in the breakaway starts the climb to Col de la Petite Forclaz (5km at 9.6%) with a gap of 4’55, 25 km to the finish.
The group explode on the climb, only Intxausti, Kišerlovski and Bennett passes the top together. Intxausti wins the KoM. This time López will slow down a bit, trying to become an outpost fore Nibali.
Movistar’s Izagirre is pulling very hard in front, the peloton is getting smaler and smaller.
Race leader Tejay Van Garderen is in trouble, he is losing contact with the favorite group.
Aproaching the final climb up to the finish at Champex-Lac (11.6 km at 7.9%)
Intxausti, Kišerlovski and Bennett in front
The rest of the 9 breakaway riders spread in between, López at 2’16
At 5’11 The favorite group are redused to 10 riders over the top, it is Nibali (Astana), Pierre Rolland (Cannondale), Pieter Serry (Quick Step), Quintana and Izagirre (Movistar) Esteban Cháves (Orica) Barguil (Giant) König and Landa (Sky) and Contador (Tinkoff)
At 6’00 Alexis Vuillermoz (Ag2r) Mathias Frank (IAM ), Wilco Kelderman (LottoNL – Jumbo) Christopher Froome (Sky) Rafał Majka (Tinkoff)
It seems clear that the stage winner with be from the leading trio.
It the start of the climb Bennett hit the wall no longer able to follow the fast pace set by Intxausti
In the favotire group Quintana opens with a very hard acceleration at 10 km
Nibali with Cháves on wheel get contact with López, with a little more than 5.0 km to the top they are 41” behind Quintana. 3’27 behind the leaders.
Beñat Intxausti Elorriaga win on Champex-Lac, beating Robert Kišerlovski on the final 100 meters.
Nibali comes in 7th at 2’47”, losing 50” to Quintana.
Evaluation:
Overall:
This was the 1st season win by the 30 years old Spanish rider, his last win was the 8th stage of Giro d'Italia, in May last year.
The stage was a catastrophe for BMC, pre-stage race leader Van Garderen is now 17th, 7’17” behind Quintana.
The most positive result regarding the GC, must be Etixx - Quick Step with no clear favorite for the tour, they now got Pieter Serry and Bob Jungels at 5th and 6th with just a final ITT left.
Astana:
A very hard stage where Nibali was fighting very hard not to lose too much to Quintana, the fact that López was out there waiting, might have saved him from further time loss.
Seen retrospectively Astana is fine with the result, as there is a final ITT where it is not completely impossible to take 51 sec. on a perfect day.
28/4-2016 Giro della Toscana
26/4-1/5 2016 Tour de Romandie
30/4-1/5 2016 Vuelta a Asturias 2.1
