The rest of the Tour de Suisse was kind of strange. I didn't even participate in the sprint in stage 2, because I couldn't get to the front. So in stage 3 I picked up some more mountain points. In stage 4 I got in another breakaway and conquered the KoM jersey.
In the final stage - a big mountain stage - I went solo and, probably to everyone's surprise, I came out of Suisse with a climber's jersey.
Not what I had expected from the Tour de Suisse, but certainly a nice surprise. No stage win, but a jersey, and a jersey I'll probably never conquer again, so I'll treasure it forever!
Oh, and a funny detail, this time I beat Sagan, I'm one place ahead of him!
General Classification
1
Wilco Kelderman
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
35h29'59
2
Simon Clarke
Orica GreenEdge
+ 4'41
3
Nairo Quintana
Movistar Team
+ 5'04
4
Rui Costa
Lampre - Merida
+ 6'53
5
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 7'16
6
Tejay Van Garderen
BMC Racing Team
+ 8'19
7
Rigoberto Urán
Lotto Belisol
+ 8'27
8
Daniel Martin
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 11'37
9
Yury Trofimov
Team Katusha
+ 14'00
10
Silvio Herklotz
Astana Pro Team
+ 14'47
(...)
42
Matthias Vleminckx
Orica GreenEdge
+ 52'54
43
Peter Sagan
Cannondale
+ 55'30
Mountain Points
1
Matthias Vleminckx
Orica GreenEdge
105
2
Ian Boswell
Team Sky
84
3
Marcel Wyss
IAM Cycling
34
4
Ivan Santaromita
Orica GreenEdge
34
5
Julien Simon
FDJ.fr
30
Let's take a look at the Dauphiné, too, to see what the TDF contenders are up to!
Critérium du Dauphiné
1
Chris Froome
Team Sky
25h59'46
2
Tom Dumoulin
ASUS
+ 1
3
Alberto Contador
Tinkoff - Saxo
+ 3'15
4
Richie Porte
Orica GreenEdge
+ 3'44
5
Warren Barguil
ASUS
+ 3'54
6
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Lotto Belisol
+ 4'10
7
Tanel Kangert
Astana Pro Team
+ 5'51
8
Janez Brajkovič
Astana Pro Team
+ 6'45
9
Peter Velits
BMC Racing Team
+ 7'53
10
Yoann Bagot
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 8'03
So now we look forward to the National Championships! I'm looking forward to defending my jersey!
Well, this has been weird. Reporting on winning the mountain jersey is not something I saw myself doing any time soon, especially not in a WT race.
But I guess anything's possible...
Matt
Here we are again. Last year I was able to take the national jersey after a tough battle with Philippe Gilbert. I'm in much better shape than last year, seeing how I'll be starting the Tour de France in less than a week. But the profile is less to my abilities.
Profile
I'm not making myself any illusions here. This will be very difficult for me to win. The field is strong,the hills are all decisive. My only chance is to keep the race somewhat locked and have it finish in a sprint.
And, per tradition, we go over to the coverage of the race!
Live Coverage Commentary by Michel Wuyts and José De Cauwer
Welcome to yet another edition of the National Road Race. Next to me is José De Cauwer. Welcome, José, what do you think of the profile?
It should make for an interesting race. The national coach will be watching today, you can be sure of that. Whoever gets over these hills okay, can do something in the Worlds later on.
(...)
The peloton has taken a rather fast start, not letting too many men ride too far. And now they're passing Café Poelkapelle, where you can taste a very rare beer, PoelieBier. The taste is quite bitter, have you ever had it, José?
No, I haven't, Michel. Lotto is doing most of the work. The defending champion is at the front, alert.
Do you think he can defend his jersey today?
It'll depend on how the race progresses. I mean, if...
Yes or no, José.
Hmm. Yes, he can.
First time over the hill. Well, literally. We see some attacks, but this won't be enough to break away. So far everything stays together.
We've arrived at the final climb. It has to happen now! And what's happening? Roelandts is making the pace for Vleminckx.
That's the way he has to do it. Discourage attackers.
Philippe Gilbert! We've been waiting for this! And what's this? Vleminckx is hanging on for his life. You can see the pain on his face.
We're at the top. Vleminckx in first position, who would've thought that?
He's in great shape, no doubt. I'm curious for his first Tour.
He throws himself in the downhill, he's got a gap! Is this an attack?
They're chasing him hard now, but it's going downhill, they won't catch him in that discipline. I've seen the boy handle his bike back when he was at Topsport Vlaanderen, he knows how to steer.
Un-be-liev-able. Matthias Vleminckx came and conquered his second championship in a row. This boy is from outer space. The King of Flanders enlarges his empire to the whole of Belgium!
What an impressive race. Smart and gutsy race.
Result
1
Matthias Vleminckx
Orica GreenEdge
4h22'59
2
Philippe Gilbert
BMC Racing Team
+ 54
3
Kenneth Vanbilsen
FDJ.fr
s.t.
4
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
5
Jan Bakelants
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
6
Tim Wellens
Team Europcar
s.t.
7
Thomas De Gendt
Lotto Belisol
+ 1'41
8
Olivier Chevalier
Wallonie - Bruxelles
s.t.
9
Jelle Vanendert
ASUS
s.t.
10
Pieter Serry
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
That's it, folks. We'll see you next Friday, for the start of the Tour de France. We'll see our "new" Belgian Champion make his debut there, in this fabulous jersey.
I thank José, I thank the crew and until Friday, for the Tour!
END Live Coverage
I'm so very happy about my race. Everything went perfect! If that climb had been 100 meters longer, Gilbert would've been gone, but I managed to hang on and surprise him at the top. I'm very proud of how I raced today and I'm really honored to wear this jersey for another year!
National Championships
Simon Yates finally won his first National Road Race. His brother, Adam managed a third place and so we had two brothers on the podium. Kroes is only 23 years old and beat some of the finest punchers of the Benelux. He's a real talent and I'm curious how he'll develop further.
I can't wait for the Tour de France!
See you there,
Matt
I guess Hervé is located to far from Rémouchamps for Gilbert, but seriously, Matt, you ride cobbles like Boonen, ride hills together with Gilbert and you are downhilling like Nibali! Really liked the Michel Wuyts and José de Cauwer coverage, laughed out loud when Michel told about the café xD
PS: If Michel would have said you were a favorite for the WC, I would have panicked: he was sure Nuyens would win in Geelong :/ But José is a wise old man and I trust he has a good eye for those kind of predictions
Congrats Matthias, great win! Also like the Dutch NC winners(both actually )
And of course, the Suisse winner
That domination by Wilco Edited by Jesleyh on 06-05-2014 15:13
jona500 - Matt is riding around quite well lately, that's true. I don't think Gilbert was in top form, or he would've dropped Matthias on the climb. I tried to sound like a realistic Michel Wuyts
José knows what he's talking about, indeed. Michel Wuyts is something else, he can be a strange guy sometimes
Thanks!
Shonak - Yeah, just the confidence he needed to make his Tour successful, I hope All hail!
Martial1 - Aha, interesting theory
sutty68 - Thanks! Always nice to win a race where you can wear the outcome for a season
Jeselyh - Kelderman is turning into a little monster. He rode Quintana into damnation
FonsDeSpons - That makes two of us! Thanks.
I can't thank you enough for these great comments. I'm really happy I have some extremely loyal followers. Hope you're enjoying this as much as I am writing it!
Tour coming up!
My very first Grand Tour, my very first Tour de France.
Let me tell you, it's quite the experience. We're three stages in now, and I'm totally overwhelmed by this. It's nothing like a classic, really, way different. I'm not sure it's my style exactly. Too much circus, too much nerves. But, hey, it's the Tour, so let's make the most of it!
Profile
A short prologue. It doesn't matter much what I do here, but I might as well try and get a good spot.
The crowd came to see the riders in big numbers! Cycling surely is alive around here!
I was so nervous to start here. It was a strange feeling, like I was a neopro all over again.
But I did all right. Well, I stayed upright, so that's a successful start, right?
Ritchie Porte, whom we based our team on for this Tour, put in a super effort and finished 6th!
The winner, of course, for the French crowd: Tony Martin. Quite the effort from Der Panzerwagen.
Result - Stage 1
1
Tony Martin
BMC Racing Team
8'57
2
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 11
3
Mark Cavendish
Team Sky
+ 17
4
Tejay Van Garderen
BMC Racing Team
+ 19
5
Rohan Dennis
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
6
Richie Porte
Orica GreenEdge
+ 20
7
Geraint Thomas
Team Sky
+ 21
8
Damien Gaudin
Team Katusha
s.t.
9
Kristof Vandewalle
Lotto Belisol
+ 24
10
Sergey Firsanov
Team Katusha
s.t.
(...)
44
Matthias Vleminckx
Orica GreenEdge
+ 35
Spoiler
11
Lars Boom
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 25
12
Cameron Meyer
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
13
Chris Froome
Team Sky
s.t.
14
Tom Dumoulin
ASUS
s.t.
15
Lieuwe Westra
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
16
Jesse Sergent
Trek Factory Racing
+ 26
17
Niki Terpstra
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
18
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
19
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
20
Wilco Kelderman
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
21
Simon Spilak
Astana Pro Team
+ 27
22
Jonathan Castroviejo
Movistar Team
s.t.
23
Rui Costa
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
24
Peter Velits
BMC Racing Team
+ 28
25
Ramunas Navardauskas
BMC Racing Team
+ 29
26
Vladimir Gusev
Team Katusha
+ 30
27
Evan Huffman
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
28
Sebastian Langeveld
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
29
Tanel Kangert
Astana Pro Team
+ 31
30
Riccardo Zoidl
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
31
Ian Stannard
Team Sky
+ 32
32
Alexander Kristoff
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
33
Sylvain Chavanel
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
34
Maxime Monfort
Lotto Belisol
+ 33
35
Michel Koch
Cannondale
s.t.
36
Jérémy Roy
FDJ.fr
s.t.
37
Janez Brajkovič
Astana Pro Team
+ 34
38
Gediminas Bagdonas
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
39
Maciej Bodnar
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
40
Thomas De Gendt
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
41
Geoffrey Soupe
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
42
Roman Kreuziger
Tinkoff - Saxo
+ 35
43
Alberto Contador
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
44
Matthias Vleminckx
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
45
Dario Cataldo
Team Sky
+ 36
46
Philippe Gilbert
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
47
Ion Izagirre
Movistar Team
+ 37
48
Jérôme Coppel
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
49
Danny Van Poppel
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
50
Vincenzo Nibali
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
51
Michael Rogers
Tinkoff - Saxo
+ 38
52
Robert Gesink
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
53
André Greipel
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
54
Wout Poels
ASUS
+ 39
55
Benoit Jarrier
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
56
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ.fr
s.t.
57
Fabio Felline
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
58
Zdenek Stybar
ASUS
s.t.
59
Vasil Kiryienka
Team Sky
+ 40
60
Steven Kruijswijk
ASUS
s.t.
61
Beñat Intxausti
Movistar Team
+ 41
62
Marcus Burghardt
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
63
Kristjan Koren
Cannondale
s.t.
64
Sébastien Turgot
Movistar Team
+ 43
65
Rigoberto Urán
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
66
Tyler Farrar
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
67
Nairo Quintana
Movistar Team
s.t.
68
Paul Voss
ASUS
+ 44
69
Boy Van Poppel
ASUS
s.t.
70
Pieter Weening
Orica GreenEdge
+ 45
71
Thor Hushovd
Cannondale
s.t.
72
Nicolas Roche
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
73
Rafal Majka
Tinkoff - Saxo
+ 46
74
Barry Markus
ASUS
s.t.
75
Sep Vanmarcke
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
76
Arnaud Demare
FDJ.fr
s.t.
77
Yoann Bagot
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 47
78
Tom Boonen
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
79
Matthieu Boulo
Team Europcar
s.t.
80
William Bonnet
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
81
Andy Schleck
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
82
Bauke Mollema
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
83
Salvatore Puccio
Lampre - Merida
+ 48
84
Ryder Hesjedal
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
85
Aidis Kruopis
Cannondale
+ 49
86
Sergio Henao
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
87
Carlos Betancur
Movistar Team
s.t.
88
Bryan Coquard
Team Europcar
s.t.
89
Tim Wellens
Team Europcar
s.t.
90
Maarten Wynants
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 50
91
Arthur Vichot
FDJ.fr
s.t.
92
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar Team
s.t.
93
Kenneth Vanbilsen
FDJ.fr
s.t.
94
Silvio Herklotz
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
95
Enrico Gasparotto
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
96
Nicolas Edet
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
97
Joseph Dombrowski
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
98
Jempy Drucker
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
99
Diego Ulissi
Lampre - Merida
+ 51
100
Jelle Vanendert
ASUS
s.t.
101
Juan José Lobato
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
102
Arnold Jeannesson
FDJ.fr
s.t.
103
Bart De Clercq
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
104
Adrien Petit
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
105
Clément Koretzky
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
+ 52
106
Nikolas Maes
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
107
Daniele Bennati
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
108
Julian Alaphilippe
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
109
Chris Anker Sørensen
Tinkoff - Saxo
+ 53
110
Wesley Kreder
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
111
Yannick Eijssen
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
112
Niccolo Bonifazio
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
113
Elia Favilli
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
114
Stefano Agostini
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
115
Elia Viviani
Cannondale
s.t.
116
Greg Van Avermaet
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 54
117
Mattia Cattaneo
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
118
Simone Ponzi
Team Sky
+ 55
119
Davide Malacarne
Cannondale
s.t.
120
Luka Mezgec
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
121
Filippo Pozzato
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
122
Mickaël Delage
Team Europcar
s.t.
123
Theo Bos
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
124
Natnael Berhane
Team Europcar
s.t.
125
Warren Barguil
ASUS
s.t.
126
Alessandro Vanotti
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
127
Yury Trofimov
Team Katusha
s.t.
128
Fabio Taborre
Bardiani CSF
+ 56
129
Thomas Voeckler
Team Europcar
s.t.
130
Matteo Trentin
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
131
Kevin Reza
Team Europcar
s.t.
132
Marco Coledan
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
133
Marko Kump
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
134
Mitchell Docker
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
135
Pierrick Fédrigo
FDJ.fr
s.t.
136
Greg Henderson
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
137
Romain Feillu
Team Sky
s.t.
138
Alessandro Ballan
Team Katusha
s.t.
139
Steele Von Hoff
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
140
Stéphane Poulhiès
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 57
141
Steve Chainel
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
142
Davide Appollonio
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
143
Daniel Martin
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
144
Kenny Van Hummel
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 58
145
Rinaldo Nocentini
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
146
Francesco Lasca
Team Katusha
s.t.
147
Fabio Sabatini
Cannondale
s.t.
148
Daniel Moreno
Movistar Team
s.t.
149
Francesco Gavazzi
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
150
Laurent Pichon
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
151
Cayetano Sarmiento
Cannondale
+ 59
152
Kris Boeckmans
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
153
Marco Canola
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
154
Jonas Vangenechten
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
+ 1'00
155
Pierre-Luc Périchon
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
156
Johan Vansummeren
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
157
Alexander Porsev
Team Katusha
s.t.
158
Tom Slagter
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
159
Rémy Di Gregorio
Team Europcar
s.t.
160
Andrew Fenn
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
161
Thomas Degand
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
162
Nicola Ruffoni
Lampre - Merida
+ 1'01
163
Maxim Iglinskiy
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
164
Gavin Mannion
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
165
Vincent Jérôme
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
166
Janier Acevedo
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
167
Mirko Selvaggi
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
+ 1'02
168
Franco Pellizotti
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
169
Enrico Montanari
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
170
Sacha Modolo
FDJ.fr
s.t.
171
Mikel Nieve
Team Sky
s.t.
172
Nacer Bouhanni
Movistar Team
s.t.
173
Aurélien Duval
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
174
Kevin Pauwels
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
+ 1'03
175
Adam Yates
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
176
Yannick Martinez
Team Europcar
s.t.
177
Giampaolo Caruso
Team Katusha
s.t.
178
Eugenio Alafaci
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
179
Ariel Maximiliano Richeze
Lampre - Merida
+ 1'04
180
Tosh Van der Sande
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
181
Robert Kiserlovski
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
182
Andrea Guardini
Team Katusha
s.t.
183
Lloyd Mondory
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 1'05
184
Fränk Schleck
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
185
Armindo Fonseca
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
186
Roberto Ferrari
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
187
Davide Viganò
Cannondale
+ 1'06
188
Alessandro Malaguti
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
189
Anthony Geslin
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
190
Simon Yates
Orica GreenEdge
+ 1'08
191
Arnaud Gérard
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
192
Guillaume Levarlet
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 1'09
193
Jean-Lou Paiani
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
+ 1'10
194
Julian Kern
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 1'13
195
Björn Leukemans
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
+ 1'18
196
Simon Clarke
Orica GreenEdge
+ 1'19
197
Sébastien Chavanel
FDJ.fr
s.t.
198
Esteban Chaves
Orica GreenEdge
+ 1'20
Tour de France - Stage 2
After a decent start, I wanted to start impressing the crowd around here!
Profile
This'll go fairly quickly, so better hold on tight! It's only too bad our team is based around Porte. I'm basically on my own, with the exceptional help from Docker and Clarke.
Since only two riders got away, the peloton didn't have to chase very hard. Me and Simon (Yates), both new Champions, had a very nice chat.
When the sprint started, I was quite far back. Being here alone isn't an easy task.
I fought my way to the front all right, though!
But 22 year old Van Poppel kept his pace to the line and took the victory here. I finished 2nd, not bad for my first non-TT stage in my first Grand Tour.
Result - Stage 2
1
Danny Van Poppel
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
3h53'49
2
Matthias Vleminckx
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
3
Alexander Kristoff
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
4
Mark Cavendish
Team Sky
s.t.
5
Steele Von Hoff
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
6
André Greipel
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
7
Barry Markus
ASUS
s.t.
8
Juan José Lobato
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
9
Arnaud Demare
FDJ.fr
s.t.
10
Nacer Bouhanni
Movistar Team
s.t.
Tour de France - Stage 3
Profile
Today is another sprinting chance, but even more so for me than yesterday. The finale will be tough and that's the way I like it!
Simon Yates made it real interesting by attacking with 10 kilometers to go. I was rooting for him!
Stybar dared to make the jump to the front, but the two didn't really find each other. Both were lenient to relay.
And so they were brought back by a hard working Sky.
This Tour de France is making me nervous, I went too early. Rookie mistake!
I'm in top shape, though, so I managed to hang on quite fine and finish 2nd, again.
Result - Stage 3
1
André Greipel
Lotto Belisol
5h33'45
2
Matthias Vleminckx
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
3
Alexander Kristoff
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
4
Arnaud Demare
FDJ.fr
s.t.
5
Mark Cavendish
Team Sky
s.t.
6
Danny Van Poppel
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
7
Adrien Petit
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
8
Luka Mezgec
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
9
Barry Markus
ASUS
s.t.
10
Bryan Coquard
Team Europcar
s.t.
All in all this is a good start. But I'll say it again, I'm not sure I'm cut out for this work. This is just a circus, really. Finding my way to the start every morning is a challenge on itself, with the press and whatnot. The Belgian press was camping at my hotel door, so to speak.
But I'm feeling strong, I'm feeling good. If I can just get a little luck thrown my way, I might get a victory out of this Tour!
Let's hope for the best,
Matt
Edited by Ian Butler on 07-05-2014 15:43
Impressive performance in NC and a very good start in Le Tour.
I have one question though: Who will wear the point jersey on the next stage? Matthias has to be placed high in that classification...
That green jersey should not be far away indeed, but you have time enough to get it because the NC-jersey is more beautifull anyway, are you participating in the 20-point intermediate sprints, King of Flanders?
Yeah, I like Suisse, but I can never manage to win here 
Tour de Suisse 
Critérium du Dauphiné 
National Championships - Road Race 
