brewers90 wrote:
But he's from Moldova

TheManxMissile wrote:
Cervero with a shock Top10, showing at least some fight still left in him. And great to see the African team getting the win on "home" soil.

Allright, here's the result of having too much free time
Another report for you guys

The sixth stage of La Tropicale Amissa Bongo takes place today, 18 January 2013. This should probably be a (slightly boring) mass sprint stage. Considering the wind of yesterday, there is a realistic chance for echolon’s today. I think a lot of people would like to see that, except probably Belkin, who want to limit the gaps, I suppose
The only close ranking left is the KoM jersey, though if Brouwer has a bad day, there’s still a chance for Gavazzi to overtake him in the points ranking.

Favourites:

Willem Brouwer(BEL)


Gerald Ciolek(MTN)
Barry Markus(VAC)


Juan José Lobato(EUS)
Fabrizio Harrini(COF)
Francesco Gavazzi(AST)

The Stage
130km –
Break is formed, 6 men. Hovelynck(CRE), Kurek(CCC), Peron(TNN, 5 KoM points), Tatarinov(RVL), Chinese Champion Xu(CSS) and Gil(Androni). Again, that is a full-CT break. If Peron wins both KoM sprints today, he’d be the new owner of the polka dots. Also, bad news for the echelon-fans, no wind today. Gil is the best placed rider, being 58th in GC, on 5’17.
122km – Xu wins the KoM sprint, so Vanthourenhout keeps the jersey for another day.. Tatarinov gets dropped from the break, already?!
112km – Xu wins the IS as well. Peloton on 3’50.
90km – It looks like it’s a controlled breakaway, the gap keeps around 4’30-5’00.
66km –
After winning the KoM sprint, Hovelynck decides to attack from the breakaway. The peloton is only 3’30 away, and I’m not sure what the heck Hovelynck is planning to do.
56km – Yeah… He’s reeled in, of course. Peloton at 3’00.
28km –
Sojasun’s Engoulvent goes for a solo attack, trying to bridge the 1’25 gap to the escapees. The odds of a win are very small, but I’d never forgive myself if I ignore his attack and he’d still grab the win.
20km – While the escapees pass the 20km banner, Engoulvent is already back in the peloton, and a 1’10 gap remains.
10km –
Only 30 seconds remain, it’s pretty certain that they are not going to hold this gap. No headwind that can help them today…
4500m –
Nobody in the peloton wants to bridge the last seconds, and Gil(AND) tries to go alone, just in case the escapees make it, considering Hovelynck(CRE) is by far the best sprinter in the group.
2500m –
The sprint trains seem to show no mercy. Hovelynck starts his sprint early, hoping he can stay ahead, but the odds are against him. There are 3 clear sprint trains showing, with MTN only having 2 men left. Tsatevitch is the Russian behind the Vacansoleil train, while Gavazzi, the green jersey wearer, and Lobato, will most likely fight for Ciolek’s wheel, but are badly positioned.
1500m –
The 3 big guns(Brouwer, Ciolek&Markus) all having 1 man left, and positioned well, while the escapees are now fully reeled back in. Lobato & Gavazzi are out of position.
1000m –
All of the 3 are now getting out of their leadout’s wheels. Tsatevich also at an impressive speed, with Felline being the Androni guy coming from behind.
500m –
Tsatevitch actually looking really good! Brouwer & Markus are slowly getting closer, with Ciolek being a bit disappointing, on the far left.
300m-
The Russian still ahead, can he surprise here?
Finish –
Nooo, it’s Barry Markus stealing the victory here! He’s got the better of Brouwer here, as well. Tsatevitch must be very disappointed, being so close to a big victory here. At least he holds to his second place. Ciolek makes 4th, while Gavazzi saves his points-classification-damage by getting 5th.
Harrini, sadly enough, does not seem to perform(53th), he wasn’t even really involved in the leadout-work for Adrien Petit.

Results

1	Barry Markus	Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team	3h09'55
2	Alexey Tsatevitch	Katusha Team	s.t.
3	Willem Brouwer	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	s.t.
4	Gerald Ciolek	MTN - Qhubeka	s.t.
5	Francesco Gavazzi	Astana Pro Team	s.t.
6	Juan José Lobato	Euskaltel - Euskadi	s.t.
7	Fabio Felline	Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela	s.t.
8	Leonardo Duque	Colombia	s.t.
9	Kris Boeckmans	Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team	s.t.
10	Adrien Petit	Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	s.t.

GC

1	Willem Brouwer	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	19h21'54
2	Francesco Gavazzi	Astana Pro Team	+ 1'09
3	Geoffroy Lequatre	Bretagne - Séché Environnement	+ 1'25
4	Jacobus Venter	MTN - Qhubeka	s.t.
5	Paul Martens	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	+ 1'41
6	Gerald Ciolek	MTN - Qhubeka	+ 1'51
7	Francesco Reda	Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela	+ 2'00
8	Delfi Cervero	FDJ.fr	+ 2'03
9	Nicolas Edet	Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	+ 2'04
10	Emanuele Sella	Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela	+ 2'10
11	Jarlinson Pantano	Colombia	+ 2'28
12	Sébastien Delfosse	Crelan - Euphony	+ 2'29
13	Florian Vachon	Bretagne - Séché Environnement	+ 2'40
14	Jérémie Galland	Sojasun	s.t.
15	Pim Ligthart	Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team	s.t.
16	Robert Vrecer	Euskaltel - Euskadi	s.t.
17	Laurens De Vreese	Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise	+ 2'52
18	Jure Kocjan	Euskaltel - Euskadi	+ 2'56
19	Luca Paolini	Katusha Team	s.t.
20	Sep Vanmarcke	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	s.t.

Points

1	Willem Brouwer	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	16	101
2	Francesco Gavazzi	Astana Pro Team	12	87
3	Gerald Ciolek	MTN - Qhubeka	14	70
4	Juan José Lobato	Euskaltel - Euskadi	10	41
5	Alexey Tsatevitch	Katusha Team	20	40

KoM

1	Sven Vanthourenhout	Crelan - Euphony	0	13
2	Laurens De Vreese	Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise	0	11
3	Riccardo Chiarini	Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela	0	8
4	Jelle Wallays	Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise	0	8
5	Marco Corti	Colombia	0	8

U25 jersey: Willem Brouwers
Team classification: Belkin

Stromeon wrote:
Wasn't expecting quite such a tough TdU startlist, so will have to hope for some breaks from Sorensen and Kroon and maybe McDermott can steal a top 10 in the sprint