I started a one-rider story with Denis Menchov, who recently signed for the Spanish team Geox-TMC. I will simulate races where Denis doesn't ride, and report from Denis' (1st person) perspective. Hopefully, this story ends with Denis retiring :)
DB: PCM.daily's 2011
Difficulty: Hard
February/March 2011
After six years with the Dutch Rabobank team I had the urge to take a new path and joined the Spanish Geox-TMC team, taking with me domestiques Ardila and Kozontchuk. Earlier already, Geox had signed Carlos Sastre.
So far, I won the Vuelta in 2007 (as well as 2005, officially..) and the Giro in 2009, and finished 3rd in last year's Tour de France. You probably guessed it already, my goal is to win the Tour. A problem could be that some of my competitors are about ten years younger then I am.. But I'm still younger than Lance Armstrong.
I just turned 33 last week, but I promise I will spend a few more years on the bike. As said, I head for the Tour this year, and maybe the Vuelta afterwards. But there's a second problem I haven't experienced for several years: wildcards. Yes, we (and the managers asked me firmly to take part in that) have to fight in smaller races to get an invitation for the big ones.
My first race will be in March, hopefully at the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya.
But first about the other cyclists of the team. The strongest in the mountains are probably former Tour winner Carlos Sastre and Juan Jose Cobo. Also, Fabio Duarte, a young guy from Colombia, seems quite a strong climber. See below for an overview of all riders:
Our sponsors want us to be present (and show some good results in form of an overall victory) at Tour de France and Volta Ciclista a Catalunya. Moreover, we are expected to finish in the top 5 in this years Vuelta, and top 10 at Pais Vasco early in the year. Looks like some tough goals to me.
However, let's see what the team has achieved so far...
Surprisingly, our team was invited for the first stage race of the year, Australia's Tour Down Under. The team went there with among others Rafael Valls and Xavier Florencino, and Daniele Colli for the sprints.
Colli did well, taking a fifth and a second place in the first and last stage respectively. He finished 7th in GC at the end, and Valls won the KOM and finished 13th overall.
We met again in Spain to train in the rougher terrain, and for the team to take part in a couple of smaller races. Given the orientation of the team towards hilly races the organizers decided to concentrate on Spanish races for the time being. The team took part at the Vuelta a Mallorca, while I trained my time trialling. As you can see, I wasn't the only one, as I met Roman Kreuziger doing the same.
Sastre took part in Mallorca, but he wasn't up to anything yet. That changed two weeks later in Andalucia, where we could celebrate the first stage win (Sastre won the hilly opening time trial) and a second place by Sastre in the GC. At about the same time there were rumours that Astana is interested in signing him for next season.. But not only Astana had an eye on us: after denying us a wildcard for Milan-San Remo, we were allowed to take part in the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya and as Pais Vasco in March and April. This means, my first race will be in Catalonia.
The training started to get more and more serious, and a couple of races without outstanding results were completed by the younger riders and domestiques of our team. The weather is getting better, we followed Paris-Nice (won by Brajkovic) and Tirreno-Adriatico (won by Vinokourov) on television after training, and now it's getting time for me to get into the bus to my first race in 2011 and for Geox at Volta Ciclista a Catalunyia.
ProTour results January / March
Tour Down Under 1. Tyler Farrar (Garmin - Cervelo)
2. Samuel Dumoulin (Cofidis)
3. Tom Boonen (Quick Step)
The first Volta was organized 100 years ago, a few years after the French and Italian big Tours, and several years before the Spanish 'Vuelta'. What started with a few dozens of cyclists and three stages developed into a 7-stage ProTour race, taking place right before the cobble season.
Since you never know who's in shape and who is not, making predictions about the winner is often difficult. With Contador, Evans, Nibali and Basso, the Schlecks, and many more big guys in the peloton, there is definitely someone who will attack in stages 3, 4 or 5 - those with some serious climbs. But we will start with a short prologue of 4.5 kilometers around Lloret de Mar, about one car-hour from Barcelona at the coast.
Except myself, we have Duran and Valls for the climbs, and Kump might try to get some top-10s in the sprints. Moreover, there are Brandle, Felline and Gianetti to help whereover help is required. Florencio will try to make it through the first and only mountain stage, and may attack in the second half of the race.
To make it short: I'm not in shape. And I prefer time trials to be a bit longer, though I liked the uphill part. Well, a lot of big names finished 20 and more seconds behind the winner, including me, while others fought for victory.
The first 'favourite' who could hold the expectations was Gerdemann, who finished in 6'07". Zabriskie came close to that (+5"), and the only one who could beat Gerdemann in the end was Roman Kreuziger, who finished 6'02". Our best result was the 11th place for Matthias Brandle, who missed the top-10 by a few hundreds.
Gerdemann (left) and Kreuziger
Stage result
1
Roman Kreuziger
Pro Team Astana
6'02
2
Linus Gerdemann
Leopard Trek
+ 5
3
David Zabriskie
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 11
4
Peter Sagan
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 13
5
Carlos Barredo
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
6
Beñat Intxausti
Movistar Team
+ 15
7
Ignatas Konovalovas
Movistar Team
s.t.
8
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 16
9
Markel Irizar
Team RadioShack
s.t.
10
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
+ 17
Spoiler
11
Matthias Brändle
Geox - TMC
s.t.
12
Nicolas Vogondy
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
13
Tomas Vaitkus
Pro Team Astana
+ 18
14
Tiziano Dall'Antonia
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
15
Robert Hunter
Team RadioShack
s.t.
16
Rinaldo Nocentini
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 19
17
Vladimir Karpets
Katusha Team
s.t.
18
Cadel Evans
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
19
Andrey Kashechkin
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
20
Jürgen Van de Walle
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 20
21
Cameron Meyer
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
22
Jakob Fuglsang
Leopard Trek
s.t.
23
Jussi Veikkanen
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
24
Chris Horner
Team RadioShack
s.t.
25
Maarten Tjallingii
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 21
26
Borut Božic
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
27
Olivier Kaisen
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
28
Oleg Chuzhda
Caja Rural
s.t.
29
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
s.t.
30
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 22
31
David Millar
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
32
Mauro Finetto
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
33
Xavier Florencio
Geox - TMC
s.t.
34
Bruno Pires
Leopard Trek
s.t.
35
Tanel Kangert
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
36
Jack Bobridge
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
37
Chris Froome
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
38
Sandy Casar
FDJ
s.t.
39
Fredrik Kessiakoff
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
40
Andreas Klöden
Team RadioShack
s.t.
41
Gianni Meersman
FDJ
+ 23
42
Danny Pate
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
43
Stef Clement
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
44
Arkaitz Durán
Geox - TMC
s.t.
45
Manuele Boaro
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
46
Kanstantsin Siutsou
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
47
Vincenzo Nibali
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
48
Alex Dowsett
Sky ProCycling
+ 24
49
Steve Houanard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
50
Fabio Felline
Geox - TMC
s.t.
51
Martin Mortensen
Leopard Trek
s.t.
52
Matteo Carrara
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
53
Michele Scarponi
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
54
Denis Menchov
Geox - TMC
s.t.
55
Sergio Pardilla
Movistar Team
+ 25
56
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ
s.t.
57
Chad Beyer
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
58
Danilo Hondo
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
59
Francesco Masciarelli
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
60
David Le Lay
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 26
61
Alan Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
62
Graeme Brown
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
63
Ivan Basso
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
64
Robert Kiserlovski
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
65
Daniel Martin
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
66
Iván Velasco
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
67
Rafael Valls
Geox - TMC
+ 27
68
Peter Velits
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
69
Aleksejs Saramotins
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
70
Ezequiel Mosquera
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
71
Pim Ligthart
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
72
Dominique Rollin
FDJ
s.t.
73
Robert Wagner
Leopard Trek
+ 28
74
Peter Kennaugh
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
75
Ángel Madrazo
Movistar Team
s.t.
76
Jesús Hernández
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
77
Michel Kreder
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
78
Eduard Vorganov
Katusha Team
+ 29
79
Johann Tschopp
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
80
Elia Viviani
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
81
Mauro Santambrogio
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
82
Francisco Pérez
Movistar Team
s.t.
83
Eros Capecchi
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
84
Pavel Brutt
Katusha Team
s.t.
85
Mads Christensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
86
Davide Appollonio
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
87
Matthias Frank
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
88
Rubén Reig
Caja Rural
+ 30
89
Vicente Reynès
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
90
Fränk Schleck
Leopard Trek
s.t.
91
Daniel Navarro
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
92
Diego Milán
Caja Rural
s.t.
93
John Degenkolb
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
94
Grega Bole
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
95
Michael Albasini
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
96
Dmitriy Fofonov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
97
Bjorn Selander
Team RadioShack
+ 31
98
Philip Deignan
Team RadioShack
s.t.
99
Alfredo Balloni
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
100
José Herrada
Caja Rural
s.t.
101
Jorge Azanza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
102
Volodymir Gustov
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
103
Russell Downing
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
104
Romain Zingle
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
105
Juan José Oroz
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
106
Martin Velits
HTC - Highroad
+ 32
107
Rubén Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
108
Grischa Niermann
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
109
Bram Tankink
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
110
Timothy Roe
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
111
Arnaud Labbe
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
112
Marco Marzano
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
113
Arnold Jeanneson
FDJ
+ 33
114
Frederique Robert
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
115
Benjamín Noval
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
116
Manuele Mori
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
117
Marc De Maar
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
118
Julian Dean
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
119
Jérôme Pineau
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
120
Íñigo Cuesta
Caja Rural
s.t.
121
Andy Schleck
Leopard Trek
s.t.
122
Francesco Chicchi
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
123
Frederik Willems
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
124
Morris Possoni
Sky ProCycling
+ 34
125
Kjell Carlström
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
126
Alexandre Pliuschin
Katusha Team
s.t.
127
Jonas Aaen Jørgensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
128
Chris Barton
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
129
Joaquín Sobrino
Caja Rural
s.t.
130
Xabier Zandio
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
131
Caleb Fairly
HTC - Highroad
+ 35
132
Enrique Sanz
Movistar Team
s.t.
133
Matthew Brammeier
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
134
David López
Movistar Team
s.t.
135
Luis Ángel Maté
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 36
136
Amets Txurruka
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
137
Daniele Pietropolli
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
138
Marko Kump
Geox - TMC
s.t.
139
Sven Van Dousselaere
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
140
Addy Engels
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
141
Rubén Martínez
Caja Rural
s.t.
142
Klaas Lodewyck
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
143
Petr Ignatenko
Katusha Team
s.t.
144
Murilo Fischer
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 37
145
Dimitriy Muravyev
Team RadioShack
s.t.
146
Andy Cappelle
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
147
Garikoitz Bravo
Caja Rural
s.t.
148
Mikel Nieve
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
149
Ben Gastauer
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
150
Samuel Dumoulin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 38
151
Lloyd Mondory
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
152
Óscar Pujol
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
153
Thomas Rohregger
Leopard Trek
s.t.
154
Juan Manuel Gárate
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
155
Joan Horrach
Katusha Team
s.t.
156
Julien Bérard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
157
Michal Golas
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
158
Zdenek Stybar
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
159
Mickaël Buffaz
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 39
160
Frédéric Guesdon
FDJ
s.t.
161
Frederik Veuchelen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 40
162
Miguel Mínguez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
163
Francesco Bellotti
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
164
Nico Sijmens
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 41
165
Mirko Selvaggi
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
166
Alexander Porsev
Katusha Team
+ 42
167
Nikolas Maes
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
168
Arnaud Gérard
FDJ
s.t.
169
Arkimedes Arguelyes
Katusha Team
s.t.
170
Manuel Cardoso
Team RadioShack
s.t.
171
Guillaume Bonnafond
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 43
172
Sergey Lagutin
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
173
Noe Gianetti
Geox - TMC
+ 44
174
Gorazd Stangelj
Pro Team Astana
+ 45
175
Steve Chainel
FDJ
+ 46
176
Anthony Ravard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
Tomorrow will be a flat stage, before we hit the mountains in stage 3.
The first real stage of this years Volta will lead us over a few hills in the beginning, and end quite flat with some local rounds in Banyoles, where we expect a mass sprint finish.
As usual, a small group got away from the peloton, consisting of LeLay (AG2R), my former team mate Clement (Rabobank), Bobridge from Garmin, and Beyer (BMC).
They built up a lead of 6 minutes, before the peloton, led by Astana and Moviestar, started to reel them in again, which happened at about 9 kilometers from the finish. At the same moment, several riders crashed. Four riders, including Mosquera, had to step off their bike and went to the hospital. In front the sprint unfolded, which was won by Peter Sagan. Marko Kump finished 8th, ahead of Brown and Hondo.
David Millar suffered a puncture when the peloton was at high speed and never came back. In the end, he'd lost more than 7 minutes on the pack.
Stage result
1
Peter Sagan
Liquigas - Cannondale
4h12'02
2
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
s.t.
3
Grega Bole
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
4
Samuel Dumoulin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
5
Borut Božic
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
6
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
7
Daniele Pietropolli
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
8
Marko Kump
Geox - TMC
s.t.
9
Graeme Brown
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
10
Danilo Hondo
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Tiziano Dall'Antonia
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
12
Maarten Tjallingii
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
13
Mauro Finetto
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
14
Jérôme Pineau
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
15
Rubén Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
16
Juan Manuel Gárate
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
17
Francesco Chicchi
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
18
Robert Hunter
Team RadioShack
s.t.
19
Sergey Lagutin
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
20
Nico Sijmens
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
21
Arkaitz Durán
Geox - TMC
s.t.
22
Pim Ligthart
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
23
Murilo Fischer
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
24
Denis Menchov
Geox - TMC
s.t.
25
Manuele Mori
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
26
Nikolas Maes
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
27
Rafael Valls
Geox - TMC
s.t.
28
Elia Viviani
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
29
Aleksejs Saramotins
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
30
Addy Engels
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
31
Ángel Madrazo
Movistar Team
s.t.
32
Peter Velits
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
33
Bjorn Selander
Team RadioShack
s.t.
34
Ignatas Konovalovas
Movistar Team
s.t.
35
Daniel Navarro
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
36
Matthias Brändle
Geox - TMC
s.t.
37
Matteo Carrara
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
38
Fredrik Kessiakoff
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
39
Tanel Kangert
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
40
Jack Bobridge
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
41
Cadel Evans
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
42
Carlos Barredo
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
43
Roman Kreuziger
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
44
Dimitriy Muravyev
Team RadioShack
s.t.
45
Arnaud Labbe
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
46
Zdenek Stybar
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
47
Xavier Florencio
Geox - TMC
s.t.
48
Vladimir Karpets
Katusha Team
s.t.
49
Francesco Bellotti
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
50
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
51
Fabio Felline
Geox - TMC
s.t.
52
Bram Tankink
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
53
David Zabriskie
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
54
Philip Deignan
Team RadioShack
s.t.
55
Dmitriy Fofonov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
56
Martin Mortensen
Leopard Trek
s.t.
57
Gorazd Stangelj
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
58
David López
Movistar Team
s.t.
59
Beñat Intxausti
Movistar Team
s.t.
60
Julian Dean
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
61
Cameron Meyer
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
62
Jakob Fuglsang
Leopard Trek
s.t.
63
Jürgen Van de Walle
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
64
Linus Gerdemann
Leopard Trek
s.t.
65
Anthony Ravard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
66
Andrey Kashechkin
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
67
Francesco Masciarelli
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
68
Jussi Veikkanen
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
69
Frederique Robert
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
70
Sandy Casar
FDJ
s.t.
71
Andy Cappelle
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
72
Eduard Vorganov
Katusha Team
s.t.
73
Oleg Chuzhda
Caja Rural
s.t.
74
Arnold Jeanneson
FDJ
s.t.
75
Vicente Reynès
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
76
Lloyd Mondory
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
77
Joaquín Sobrino
Caja Rural
s.t.
78
Volodymir Gustov
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
79
Steve Houanard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
80
Íñigo Cuesta
Caja Rural
s.t.
81
Mads Christensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
82
Sergio Pardilla
Movistar Team
s.t.
83
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
84
Marc De Maar
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
85
Guillaume Bonnafond
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
86
Alan Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
87
Julien Bérard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
88
Robert Wagner
Leopard Trek
s.t.
89
Steve Chainel
FDJ
s.t.
90
Johann Tschopp
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
91
Ivan Basso
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
92
Michel Kreder
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
93
Michele Scarponi
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
94
Russell Downing
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
95
Rubén Martínez
Caja Rural
s.t.
96
Chad Beyer
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
97
Vincenzo Nibali
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
98
Mikel Nieve
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
99
Eros Capecchi
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
100
Mauro Santambrogio
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
101
Jorge Azanza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
102
Arnaud Gérard
FDJ
s.t.
103
Matthias Frank
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
104
Kanstantsin Siutsou
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
105
John Degenkolb
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
106
Manuele Boaro
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
107
Klaas Lodewyck
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
108
Pavel Brutt
Katusha Team
s.t.
109
Stef Clement
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
110
Francisco Pérez
Movistar Team
s.t.
111
Rinaldo Nocentini
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
112
Daniel Martin
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
113
David Le Lay
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
114
Romain Zingle
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
115
Markel Irizar
Team RadioShack
s.t.
116
Fränk Schleck
Leopard Trek
s.t.
117
Andreas Klöden
Team RadioShack
s.t.
118
Amets Txurruka
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
119
Andy Schleck
Leopard Trek
s.t.
120
Alexandre Pliuschin
Katusha Team
s.t.
121
Michael Albasini
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
122
Gianni Meersman
FDJ
s.t.
123
Tomas Vaitkus
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
124
Alex Dowsett
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
125
Matthew Brammeier
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
126
Dominique Rollin
FDJ
s.t.
127
Alexander Porsev
Katusha Team
s.t.
128
Davide Appollonio
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
129
Jesús Hernández
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
130
Frederik Willems
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
131
Xabier Zandio
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
132
Peter Kennaugh
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
133
Chris Froome
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
134
Chris Barton
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
135
Kjell Carlström
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
136
Bruno Pires
Leopard Trek
s.t.
137
Thomas Rohregger
Leopard Trek
s.t.
138
Chris Horner
Team RadioShack
s.t.
139
Alfredo Balloni
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
140
Grischa Niermann
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
141
Benjamín Noval
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
142
Nicolas Vogondy
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
143
Timothy Roe
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
144
Morris Possoni
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
145
Frederik Veuchelen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
146
Petr Ignatenko
Katusha Team
s.t.
147
Caleb Fairly
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
148
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ
+ 2'21
149
Mirko Selvaggi
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
150
Frédéric Guesdon
FDJ
s.t.
151
Robert Kiserlovski
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
152
Garikoitz Bravo
Caja Rural
s.t.
153
Mickaël Buffaz
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
154
Diego Milán
Caja Rural
s.t.
155
Juan José Oroz
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
156
Joan Horrach
Katusha Team
s.t.
157
Noe Gianetti
Geox - TMC
s.t.
158
Iván Velasco
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
159
Jonas Aaen Jørgensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
160
Arkimedes Arguelyes
Katusha Team
s.t.
161
Michal Golas
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
162
Sven Van Dousselaere
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
163
José Herrada
Caja Rural
s.t.
164
Óscar Pujol
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
165
Miguel Mínguez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
166
Enrique Sanz
Movistar Team
+ 3'49
167
Manuel Cardoso
Team RadioShack
s.t.
168
Olivier Kaisen
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
169
Martin Velits
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
170
Rubén Reig
Caja Rural
s.t.
171
David Millar
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 7'38
172
Ben Gastauer
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 18'08
GC Rankings
1
Peter Sagan
Liquigas - Cannondale
4h18'04
2
Roman Kreuziger
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
3
Linus Gerdemann
Leopard Trek
+ 5
4
David Zabriskie
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 11
5
Carlos Barredo
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 13
6
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
+ 15
7
Ignatas Konovalovas
Movistar Team
s.t.
8
Beñat Intxausti
Movistar Team
s.t.
9
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 16
10
Markel Irizar
Team RadioShack
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
+ 17
12
Matthias Brändle
Geox - TMC
s.t.
13
Nicolas Vogondy
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
14
Tiziano Dall'Antonia
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 18
15
Robert Hunter
Team RadioShack
s.t.
16
Tomas Vaitkus
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
17
Cadel Evans
BMC Racing Team
+ 19
18
Vladimir Karpets
Katusha Team
s.t.
19
Andrey Kashechkin
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
20
Rinaldo Nocentini
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
21
Mauro Finetto
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 20
22
Cameron Meyer
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
23
Jürgen Van de Walle
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
24
Jakob Fuglsang
Leopard Trek
s.t.
25
Jussi Veikkanen
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
26
Chris Horner
Team RadioShack
s.t.
27
Borut Božic
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 21
28
Maarten Tjallingii
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
29
Jack Bobridge
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
30
Oleg Chuzhda
Caja Rural
s.t.
31
Tanel Kangert
Pro Team Astana
+ 22
32
Fredrik Kessiakoff
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
33
Xavier Florencio
Geox - TMC
s.t.
34
Sandy Casar
FDJ
s.t.
35
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
36
Andreas Klöden
Team RadioShack
s.t.
37
Bruno Pires
Leopard Trek
s.t.
38
Chris Froome
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
39
Arkaitz Durán
Geox - TMC
+ 23
40
Vincenzo Nibali
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
41
Kanstantsin Siutsou
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
42
Manuele Boaro
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
43
Stef Clement
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
44
Chad Beyer
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
45
Gianni Meersman
FDJ
s.t.
46
David Le Lay
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
47
Denis Menchov
Geox - TMC
+ 24
48
Matteo Carrara
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
49
Fabio Felline
Geox - TMC
s.t.
50
Martin Mortensen
Leopard Trek
s.t.
51
Steve Houanard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
52
Michele Scarponi
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
53
Alex Dowsett
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
54
Danilo Hondo
Lampre - ISD
+ 25
55
Francesco Masciarelli
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
56
Sergio Pardilla
Movistar Team
s.t.
57
Graeme Brown
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 26
58
Grega Bole
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
59
Alan Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
60
Ivan Basso
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
61
Daniel Martin
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
62
Pim Ligthart
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 27
63
Rafael Valls
Geox - TMC
s.t.
64
Aleksejs Saramotins
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
65
Peter Velits
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
66
Dominique Rollin
FDJ
s.t.
67
Ángel Madrazo
Movistar Team
+ 28
68
Robert Wagner
Leopard Trek
s.t.
69
Michel Kreder
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
70
Jesús Hernández
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
71
Peter Kennaugh
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
72
Elia Viviani
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 29
73
Eduard Vorganov
Katusha Team
s.t.
74
Mads Christensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
75
Johann Tschopp
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
76
Mauro Santambrogio
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
77
Eros Capecchi
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
78
Matthias Frank
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
79
Francisco Pérez
Movistar Team
s.t.
80
Pavel Brutt
Katusha Team
s.t.
81
Davide Appollonio
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
82
Daniel Navarro
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 30
83
Dmitriy Fofonov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
84
Vicente Reynès
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
85
John Degenkolb
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
86
Fränk Schleck
Leopard Trek
s.t.
87
Michael Albasini
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
88
Bjorn Selander
Team RadioShack
+ 31
89
Philip Deignan
Team RadioShack
s.t.
90
Volodymir Gustov
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
91
Russell Downing
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
92
Jorge Azanza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
93
Romain Zingle
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
94
Alfredo Balloni
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
95
Rubén Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 32
96
Arnaud Labbe
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
97
Bram Tankink
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
98
Grischa Niermann
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
99
Timothy Roe
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
100
Jérôme Pineau
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 33
101
Francesco Chicchi
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
102
Manuele Mori
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
103
Julian Dean
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
104
Frederique Robert
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
105
Arnold Jeanneson
FDJ
s.t.
106
Íñigo Cuesta
Caja Rural
s.t.
107
Marc De Maar
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
108
Andy Schleck
Leopard Trek
s.t.
109
Frederik Willems
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
110
Benjamín Noval
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
111
Joaquín Sobrino
Caja Rural
+ 34
112
Alexandre Pliuschin
Katusha Team
s.t.
113
Kjell Carlström
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
114
Xabier Zandio
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
115
Chris Barton
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
116
Morris Possoni
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
117
David López
Movistar Team
+ 35
118
Matthew Brammeier
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
119
Caleb Fairly
HTC - Highroad
s.t.
120
Daniele Pietropolli
Lampre - ISD
+ 36
121
Marko Kump
Geox - TMC
s.t.
122
Addy Engels
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
123
Rubén Martínez
Caja Rural
s.t.
124
Klaas Lodewyck
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
125
Amets Txurruka
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
126
Petr Ignatenko
Katusha Team
s.t.
127
Murilo Fischer
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 37
128
Dimitriy Muravyev
Team RadioShack
s.t.
129
Andy Cappelle
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
130
Lloyd Mondory
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
131
Mikel Nieve
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
132
Samuel Dumoulin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 38
133
Juan Manuel Gárate
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
134
Zdenek Stybar
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
135
Julien Bérard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
136
Thomas Rohregger
Leopard Trek
s.t.
137
Francesco Bellotti
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 40
138
Frederik Veuchelen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
139
Nico Sijmens
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 41
140
Nikolas Maes
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 42
141
Arnaud Gérard
FDJ
s.t.
142
Alexander Porsev
Katusha Team
s.t.
143
Sergey Lagutin
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 43
144
Guillaume Bonnafond
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
145
Gorazd Stangelj
Pro Team Astana
+ 45
146
Anthony Ravard
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 46
147
Steve Chainel
FDJ
s.t.
148
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ
+ 2'46
149
Robert Kiserlovski
Pro Team Astana
+ 2'47
150
Iván Velasco
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
151
Diego Milán
Caja Rural
+ 2'51
152
Juan José Oroz
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 2'52
153
José Herrada
Caja Rural
s.t.
154
Jonas Aaen Jørgensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 2'55
155
Sven Van Dousselaere
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 2'57
156
Garikoitz Bravo
Caja Rural
+ 2'58
157
Joan Horrach
Katusha Team
+ 2'59
158
Óscar Pujol
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
159
Michal Golas
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
160
Frédéric Guesdon
FDJ
+ 3'00
161
Mickaël Buffaz
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
162
Miguel Mínguez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 3'01
163
Mirko Selvaggi
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 3'02
164
Arkimedes Arguelyes
Katusha Team
+ 3'03
165
Noe Gianetti
Geox - TMC
+ 3'05
166
Olivier Kaisen
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 4'10
167
Rubén Reig
Caja Rural
+ 4'19
168
Martin Velits
HTC - Highroad
+ 4'21
169
Enrique Sanz
Movistar Team
+ 4'24
170
Manuel Cardoso
Team RadioShack
+ 4'31
171
David Millar
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 8'00
172
Ben Gastauer
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 18'45
Points
1
Peter Sagan
Liquigas - Cannondale
42
2
Roman Kreuziger
Pro Team Astana
25
3
Linus Gerdemann
Leopard Trek
20
4
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
20
5
David Zabriskie
Team Garmin - Cervélo
16
KOM
1
Chad Beyer
BMC Racing Team
16
2
David Le Lay
AG2R La Mondiale
12
3
Jack Bobridge
Team Garmin - Cervélo
10
4
Stef Clement
Rabobank Cycling Team
6
5
Alan Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
4
Next stage will be a mountain stage. Today at least I could follow the high pace towards the end, despite strong winds, without problems, and luckily made it through without fall.
Stage 3: La Vall d'En Bas - La Seu d'Urgeil (181km)
Today's stage brings us away from the sea close to the small country of Andorra, and that means we will hit some mountains. And indeed, today's stage is the only stage classified as mountain stage of the race. However, the low average steepness of the climbs due to many ups and downs, and the fact that there's a long descent before the finish will probably prevent large time gaps.
After the first hill a breakaway of 11 riders had formed, including Fabio Felline from our team. He took some KOM and sprint points on the way. Their advantage reached never more than 8 minutes, which was around the second intermediate sprint.
When we approached the pre-last summit (4th KOM sprint) I proved the air in front of the pack, and my legs, protected by Florencio. The air smelt better, and my legs were still fresh. I decided to drop back, and take a secure descent before the last mountain.
As soon as we hit the final mountain, no one less than Barredo, Karpets, Contador and Kreuziger attacked, but were soon reeled in by the pack. Contador and Karpets tried for a second time, but without success, because Astana set a high pace now. Contador and Karpets tried to get away for a third time not far from the summit, and this time we sent Duran to bring back the two. Means, we began on the descent with all favourites together (except for Horner, who never got back to the peloton after a puncture early in the stage).
I stayed in front, in the wheel of team mate Rafael Valls, and when the pack slowed down at a short climb during the descent we gave everything. Together we created a gap, cached the rest of the breakaway group that was still in front, and while the peloton had to navigate around this group of seven, I went for the final two kilometers in time trial style, while Valls, exhausted, stayed with the group.
Behind me, a fractured pack started to sprint, but thanks to percentages of nearly 10% in the final kilometer... I crossed the finish line before anyone could catch up with me.
I welcomed Rafael and thanked him for his incredible effort during the decisive moments of today's stage. But though I won this mountain stage, I'm still 14 seconds behind in the GC. The next two days we'll have huge hills in the last third of the stage, but both stages finish flat. Only the 6th stage will have a short uphill finish, unfortunately after a very flat stage..
Thanks for the comments! luigi, how did you know? Honestly, I had some doubts whether I will make it with the first group at all, haven't played on hard for a while (or never with pcm2010).
But the two stages before had a good impact on Denis' shape, helps a lot.
Just one thing, in this report between the two pictures there is a 'wall' of wrtting, its really hard to read, you could paragraph it or summarise it, or add more picuteres to 'tell' the events rather tan so much writing. It would look better and easier to read for your fans Edited by Alakagom on 02-04-2011 20:57
thanks
Contador's attacks followed up each other so quickly, afterwards I had no good shot of the situation, unfortunately. But I tried to help you with reading by splitting the paragraph in two.
From Oliana we will head south-west towards Asco. The first 150kms of today's stage are quite flat, followed by a small mountain we have to climb twice, before finishing after the descent in Asco.
The entire day, Leopard and Astana controlled the pace of the peloton. A group of six cyclists, including Horrach (Katusha), Siutsou (HTC) and Kump (Geox-TMC), formed the breakaway group, and over time, built up an enormous advantage of more than 11 minutes. With a minute behind they were followed by Marc De Maar (QuickStep).
The break was gone and seemed out of reach of the peloton being still 7 minutes ahead 50kms from the finish line. Leopard set a high pace when we climbed today's mountain for the first time with nearly the entire team, even including the Schleck brothers.
In front, two riders (Michel Kreder, Garmin; Mauro Santambrogio, BMC) shook off the remaining riders of the morning break and went on on their own. Soon, the Dutch Garmin-rider lost contact with Mauro, who now should take a solo victory.
Back in the pack, Contador attacked as yesterday. And again, he did so just before reaching the last summit of the stage. Since we expected him (and others) to do so, we had sent Rafael to the front and with another great performance he brought the group back to Contador.
Due to the high pace the pack broke apart in many smaller groups of max 30 riders. Some tried to get away, but no one succeeded. All but two riders who broke away in the morning were caught and left behind, the remaining two were impossible to catch. The pace was kept high, the lead rider was only 3'30" down in GC, and before the descent, his advantage today was still over 4'30".
As could be foreseen towards in the final kilometers, Santambrogio took the stage win, ahead of Kreder. In the chasing group, no more than 34 cyclists, Peter Sagan (Liquigas) started his sprint and was soon a few meters ahead. To his surprise, Albasini (HTC) appeared next to him and threatened Sagan's podium place. Sagan, however, could hold him off.
The clock showed 2 minutes when the chasing group crossed the line, enough to keep the winner back in the GC. Sagan earned 4 seconds for finishing 3rd and is race leader again.
"Tomorrow's stage" took a bit longer, I was buried in work.
That's inevitable from time to time, but shouldn't bring death to this story. Just random rest periods.
Thanks for following everyone !
Oh an by the way, Katusha publicly declared interest in signing Alberto Contador.
Today, we will start from Asco and make a large round through hilly terrain before we'll finish just 20 km from Asco in Cabaces. A small mountain topping at 12kms from the finish line might cause some breaks, if the hilly and slightly mountainous stage hasn't done so already.
A while after the start the pack let the breakaway riders go their way. These were 11 riders, first split in three groups, later they fought together. With 70 km into the stage their advantage was about 4 minutes. None of them formed a serious threat to the GC riders.
This changed, when Navarro (SaxoBank) attacked (GC: 42, 2'03"). However, no team did the effort to increase the speed, so Navarro closed the gap to the leading group, 5' in ahead of the peloton - as virtual leader.
20 km further, Liquigas set a higher pace in the peloton, to protect their leader and GC leader Peter Sagan. From the breakaway, only Navarro and Perez could stay in front, when Kreuziger (2nd, +4") attacked 2kms from the last summit. Soon, he closed the 40" gap to the top of the race (Navarro, Perez). Barredo tried to do the same, but he couldn't get away.
The small group in front got reeled in by Liquigas (thereby cutting down the peloton from 100 to about 40 cyclists), when first Karpets, then Contador, tried their luck, but without success. Then it was Kreuziger, again, who created a small gap in the final kilometer (left). Sagan, race leader with 4" ahead of Kreuziger, reacted (middle) - and being the by far better sprinter - closed the gap (right), but didn't win.
For me, it was too much today. I struggled in the final kilometers of the last climb, and had a hard time hanging onto the group in front. But luckily I did, and could finish with the group of Kreuziger (I'm the one at the very end on the picture below, with sunglasses so others don't see how tired I am). Journalists already told me I got a top-10 overall, I thought there were two more stages.
According to the journalist the race is over, but I think we will see again tomorrow. Two more flat stages are on my race program, with a short uphill finish tomorrow.
GL
Great win.
