Hill stages haven't been my strong suit so far, but I want to change that today! As we go more than 200 kilometers once again from Rieti to Fermi, we're coming really close to the Adriatic coast.

Today we're in a bit of a predicament, both Rafal Majka for the overall and Peter Sagan for the stage win have ambitions and want the team's support for it. Let's see how the DS decides ...

Lukas Pöstlberger is our man in the breakaway today. He's proven to be a very valuable asset in the past few days, and he continues to do so.

With a few good puncheurs in our squad, I was given a free role today! So for the first time in a while, I was enjoying just riding next to the guys without having to worry about protecting anyone, which was really nice!

With all those short but extremely steep ramps, we were very careful not to get caught behind any split that might occur. Thomas De Gendt was now the sole leader, but he would get caught soon as well.

I was at the very front of the group when Alejandro Valverde and Rui Costa attacked. Not expecting it this early, both Peter and Rafal were a little further behind.

But as a few more attacks followed, Rafal made his way to the front to cover them as well.

A few kilometers later, they were back with the main group. This group, however had shrunk to about 20 riders - and we were still there, showing presence with Rafal, Peter and myself at the front!

More attacks kept coming, led by Pantano, Alaphilippe and again Valverde. This time it was Peter who went after them.

Only Benoot managed to catch up with the trio, but we were close behind!

Into the final steep ramp, Rafal and Peter ordered me to the front to try and keep everything together, just as Alaphilippe attacked once more.

A small gap opened, but I had brought my A-game today and kept it small. I was pacing so much that Peter even had trouble following me at one point.

Rafal still had something in the tank, so he led the chase into the final kilometer.

And while a few riders passed him, he actually managed to close the gap to the front so that no time differences were awarded! As Cháves couldn't keep up today, this means he'll jump to 6th overall.

Selwink wrote:
A great performance today, ensuring a better place for Majka and showing that the legs are good

Masterblaster01 wrote:
Great ride! Emu top 20 already, Majka close to top 5

cunego59 wrote:

Btw, has anyone a solution for the photobucket problem? Or if not, does anyone have alternative mini pictures of the classification jerseys?

Tamijo wrote:
That was a great ride from Emanuel, doing all the could for the team.

Kiserlovski01 wrote:


Surprise.

The last road stage before the concluding time trial tomorrow is mostly flat with a few hills scattered inbetween. With one of them just before the finish, this may be an opportunity for the more punchy sprinters - and we happen to have the best of them on our team. The objective for today is therefore a stage win with Peter Sagan!

I'm not particularly needed in a helping role today, so I was allowed to go on the attack. And that I did, right from the get-go.

And we got away! I had nine companions for the day, most prominently Matthew Hayman and Maurits Lammertink.

Just for fun, I sprinted for the only mountain sprint. No one reacts, and there's nothing for me to gain either. But why not? At this point, we have about 3'20 on the peloton.

Over the next few dozen kilometers, the advantage went up and down. Not everyone in our group was relaying, and the pack didn't seem to know what it wanted either.

Into the final 10 kilometers, We still had more than 1'30 on the pack. It was looking really good. However, with quite a few better sprinter in the group, I knew I had to try something on the small hill that was coming up.

I wasn't the only one who thought like that. Lammertink attacked just as I was about to, and I quickly grabbed his wheel.

I overtook Lammertink and headed into the finale with a tiny advantage on the riders behind me. They were all better rouleurs than me - would it be enough?

A few hundred meters to go, and I was completely empty. Every kick hurt, and Matthieu Ladagnous led the chase. They were coming quickly ...

... and they got me. So close, yet so far. This was heartbreaking!

cunego59 wrote:
Awesome! If you don't mind, I'll start using them from now on. Or, from next week on, I don't have time to edit everything now as I'm about to head for Düsseldorf tonight So I don't know if I can post something tomorrow either. If not, reports will resume monday at the latest though.

My first time trial of the season concludes this year's Tirreno - Adriatico. It's a short one, with 10 kilometers only, so not too much room for big time gaps. However, it's still a tight race for the win between Astana team mates Aru and Fuglsang. The Dane is 17 seconds behind, and arguably the better time trialist.

Rafal Majka's sixth place is pretty safe, but I might be able to prevent my third 16th place in a row and break into the Top 15, as I'm 10 seconds behind Domenico Pozzovivo. Also, Maciej Bodnar had his eyes set on this stage for a while. Let's see what he can do.

And he put in an amazing time. This would stand for a long time, that's for sure, but would it be enough?

The dream lasted 101 for riders, then it was over. Maxime Monfort beat his time by 4 seconds.

I felt decent today, but short courses like this don't suit me as well. The only rider I had to worry about was starting right after me - Domenico Pozzovivo. On the checkpoint, I had already put 8 seconds on him. And that grew to 14 at the finish line! Top 15, here I come!

Rafal just had to get through unharmed today. 32 seconds on Chàves behind him, 33 on Valverde in 5th - nothing would change for him in that regard.

The stage winner of today is Vasil Kiryienka. He beats Monfort's time by an additional six seconds - the Belarusian was in a league of his own today.

Fabio Aru was fighting hard for his overall lead. He had lost only 5 seconds in the first half, and another 6 after the checkpoint. With 6 seconds of advantage, Fabio Aru is the winner of this year's Tirreno - Adriatico.

VoetsT wrote:
Mission "top 15" accomplished

Tamijo wrote:
Not the very best ITT comming 77th, but who care as long as it was a step up the GC.

Good race by Maciej Bodnar.

sutty68 wrote:
Nice time tria from Bodnar

And in the end a great overall result for Buchmann

Masterblaster01 wrote:
Good enough time trial
And it's a shame for stage 6 But keep getting in those breakaways and you'll get there surely!

First held in 1911, the Volta a Catalunya is the fourth-oldest still-existing cycling stage race in the world, and one of three World Tour stage races in Spain. For the most time, it has been dominated by Spanish riders as well, but only one of the recent six editions has been won by a local rider - Joaquim Rodriguez in 2014.

Many riders will be challenging for the win on the course through the autonomous community of Catalonia, which will also take a trip to the Pyrenees and end on the traditional circuit in Barcelona. Can a Spanish rider take the green-and-white jersey once more?

It's a really tough course once again this year with two major mountain top finishes and four additional hilly stages, where you're always in danger of losing valuable time. Add the 40 kilometers of team time trial, and you have a very varied course, and you can be sure the eventualy winner will be well-deserved.

I'm the dedicated leader for this race, despite Patrick Konrad's overall win in Abu Dhabi. The team managers said they wanted to see what I can do with a full squad behind me - the pressure is on! I'm shooting for a Top 10, something that should usually be in reach, but looking at the starting field is going to be a tough challenge.

And it really is a team well-suited to support me: Maciej and Jan are here for the otherwise terrifying team time trial, Patrick and Jay will provide me with valuable assistance uphill. Cesare and Christoph are allround domestiques while Erik has a joker role.