Intro
Hi. I've decided to try my hand at story writing after enjoying following a handful of other stories since I first got PCM09. However, I've never really been able to get into playing the game so much myself although I've always wanted to write my own story... so I wont be playing the game as such, but rather spectating at the races and reporting.
Perhaps interest might not be so high as other stories because I'm playing on an older version (although I've updated some rosters and will be doing further work on selectively updating teams etc. as I go). I also think people generally would prefer to see a story where the user picks a team but maybe some people will find the concept interesting.
The database I'm using is a little one I made based on an original real name database, with a few personal stat edits and, as I say, some sporadic transfers to somewhat reflect current squads (teams & leaders will be presented in next post). I decided that promising young riders Waarrar Wahtsakes and Xesus Tirando would replace the hole left by their corresponding ex-riders in their memory.
2009 Calander
You can click on the race to jump to the race report.
The pre-season is coming to an end and it is almost time for the riders to get back on their bikes for the new 2009 season. Whilst some riders claim to have been struggling to get back into shape such as reigning Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre, others such as Sky-Cervelo's young Edvald Boassen Hagen and Cofidis' highly rated Estonian climber Rein Tarremae have been oozing with newfound confidence.
Meanwhile, British time-trialist Bradley Wiggins certainly seemed in good spirits, tweeting that he "thought he had found his climbing legs" after a pre-season ride where he dropped team mate Christian Vandevelde. That is, until poor "Wiggo" returned to the team hotel to find out that, unbeknown to him, he had been set up with a motorised bike for the climb by Garmin team mate David Zabriskie, much to the amusement of Norwegian world champion Thor Hushovd. Wiggins has since signed with the new Sky-Cervelo setup for reasons unknown.
Cya Top Tour
This year 18 teams of 11 diffferent nationalities will be racing against each other in the cycling calender's biggest events to compete for the Cya Top Tour rankings. All will be raring to go as the first event, the Tour of Australia, draws ever nearer.
AG2R La Mondiale
Nation: France
Team Leaders: Rinaldo Nocentini, John Gadret, Aurelien Clerc
Astana
Nation: Kazakhstan
Team Leaders: Lance Armstrong, Alexander Vinokourov, Gregory Rast
BMC Racing Team
Nation: USA
Team Leaders: Cadel Evans, Alessandro Ballan, George Hincapie
Caisse d'Epargne
Nation: Spain
Team Leaders: Jose Rojas, Alejandro Valverde, Marzio Bruseghin
Euskaltel - Euskadi
Nation: Spain
Team Leaders: Samuel Sanchez, Igor Anton, Mikel Astarloza
Fuji - Servetto
Nation: Spain
Team Leaders: Denis Menchov, Carlos Sastre, Juan Jose Cobo
Garmin - Slipstream
Nation: USA
Team Leaders: Johan Vansummeren, Thor Hushovd, Heinrich Haussler
Liquigas
Nation: Italy
Team Leaders: Ivan Basso, Vicenzo Nibali, Franco Pellizotti
Milram-Trek
Nation: Luxembourg
Team Leaders: Fabian Cancellara, Andy Schleck, Frank Schleck
Quick Step
Nation: Belgium
Team Leaders: Sylvain Chavanel, Tom Boonen, Gerald Ciolek
Rabobank
Nation: Netherlands
Team Leaders: Maarten Tjallingi, Matti Breschel, Sebastian Langeveld
Silence-Lotto
Nation: Belgium
Team Leaders: Philippe Gilbert, Andre Greipel, Jurgen Van den Broeck
Team Columbia - High Road
Nation: USA
Team Leaders: Mark Cavendish, Peter Velits, Lars Ytting Bak
Team Katusha
Nation: Russia
Team Leaders: Joaquin Rodriguez, Filippo Pozzato, Robbie McEwen
Team Saxo Bank
Nation: Denmark
Team Leaders: Alberto Contador, Nick Nuyens, Juan Jose Haedo
Team Sky-Cervelo
Nation: Great Britain
Team Leaders: Edvald Boassen Hagen, Geraint Thomas, Bradley Wiggins
Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
Nation: Netherlands
Team Leaders: Bjorn Leukemans, Stijn Devolder, Romain Feillu
Continental Tour
Of course there is more to cycling than life in the Cya Top Tour peleton. Indeed there are also many great riders and teams unable to make the cut for the top level who will compete in the Continental Tour this year, and aim to be accepted into Top Tour races via wild cards. Here is a preview of the main Continental teams:
Acqua Sapone - Caffe Mokambo
Nation: Italy
Team Leaders: Stefano Garzelli, Luca Paolini, Francesco Masciarelli
BBOX - Bouygues Telecom
Nation: France
Team Leaders: Thomas Voeckler, Pierre Rolland, William Bonnet
Cofidis - Le Credit En Ligne
Nation: France
Team Leaders: Rein Taaramae, Alexandre Usov, David Moncoutie
Francaise des Jeux
Nation: France
Team Leaders: Yauheni Hutarovich, Arnold Jeannesson, Sandy Casar
LPR Brakes Farnese Vini
Nation: Switzerland
Team Leaders: Danilo Di Luca, Daniele Pietropolli, Gabriele Bosisio
Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni
Nation: Columbia
Team Leaders: Jose Rujano, Alberto Loddo, Gilberto Simoni
Edited by pcm2009fan on 26-07-2011 12:41
The first event of the season sees the Ausies battle it out for the right to their national jersey, and provides a perfect training ground for my reporting technique.
Favourites: Allan Davis, Cadel Evans, Simon Gerrans
The Australians were out in the sun for their first chance of the year to stretch their legs.
Team Drapac Porsche were out showing off their colours today, but Sky-Cervelo also had 5 men present in the mini-peleton and it was indeed them who took up the early pace-making.
Allan Davis and Chris Sutton appeared to touch wheels going round a bend early on but both made it back into the pack unscathed.
Trent Lowe was the first to make his move with 75km to go, Sky-Cervelo first letting him gain 1 minute then 2..3..4... and with 40km to go he finds himself at 7''30' back to the pack!
As the Sky-Cervelo boys fell off the pace, tired from their effort, Evans, Gerrans, Davis and O'Grady all made their moves but surely it was going to be too little too late?
And indeed it was to be Lowe's day as he found himself rewarded for his brave early attack and powerful ride to the finish line.
O'Grady led Evans over the line in the sprint for second... over 5 minutes back on Lowe!
Unfortunately I found out the hard way that my export button doesn't work full stop, so I guess I'll have to copy from the results screen. I recovered today's results from the glitched export file:
1. Trent LOWE (GRM) 4h47'21
2. Stuart O'GRADY (MRM) + 5'06
3. Cadel EVANS (BMC) + s.t
4. Allan DAVIS (AST) + 5'54
5. Simon GERRANS (SKY) + 6'35
6. Matthew LLOYD (SIL) + s.t.
7. Heinrich HAUSSLER (GRM) + 8'24
8. Baden COOKE (SAX) + s.t.
9. Matthew GOSS (THR) + s.t.
10. Graeme BROWN (RAB) + s.t.
Lowe will wear the Australian National Champion's Jersey for 2009!
Tour of Australia
The Tour of Australia / Tour Down Under is a 6 stage Tour suited for sprinters but also serving as the first taste of action for some riders we are likely to see later at the major classics.
Race favourites include Sylvain Chavanel of Quickstep, Luis Leon Sanchez of Rabobank & Fabian Cancellara of Milram-Trek
Stage 1
Today should be a day for the sprinters with pre-stage favourites being Matty Breschel, Mark Cavendish & his team mate Bernhard Eisel.
Pre-race favourite Sylvain Chavanel looked resplendent in his French National Champion's jersey at the startline, while Trent Lowe can be seen in the background enjoying his first outing in his new outfit.
A break of 10 riders eventually got away. Geoffroy Lequatre leads them on whilst Leif Hoste sits at the back.
Later Fletcha made a move across to them and struggled on by himself until he was caught as he went under the 10km banner, Rabobank having done most the work to bring him back.
As Fletcha was caught, the sprinters began to move into position in anticipation of a sprint finish. On the left Sebastian Chavanel led Bonnet then Boonen, Hutarovich, Bozic and Renshaw. The big favourites, Cavendish, Petacchi and Breschel, seemed to be too far back.
Bonnet led Boonen and Hutarovich into the final bend whilst Bozic and Haussler made their moves down the middle...
But Bonnet just pipped Haussler to the line ahead of Boonen and it will be Bonnet who dons the first yellow leader's jersey of the Tour. Haussler receives a consolation in the form of green.
In good news, the export button worked this time, let's hope this is the beginning of a new trend
Stage Standings
1 William Bonnet BBOX - BOUYGUES TELECOM 3h39'23
2 Heinrich Haussler GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM s.t.
3 Tom Boonen QUICK STEP s.t.
4 Yauheni Hutarovich FRANÇAISE DES JEUX s.t.
5 Stuart O'Grady MILRAM-TREK s.t.
6 Borut Bozic VACANSOLEIL PRO CYCLING TEAM s.t.
7 Mark Cavendish TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD s.t.
8 Matti Breschel RABOBANK s.t.
9 Alessandro Petacchi LAMPRE - N.G.C s.t.
10 Sylvain Chavanel QUICK STEP s.t.
Bad news, a glitch in the game is preventing me from entering the next stages as a 3d race. I simmed on ahead in a copy and tested a few races in the future but they seem ok. I guess I'll just have to sim the rest of the tour and post the results.
Stage Results
1 Mark Cavendish TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD 2h56'34
2 Yauheni Hutarovich FRANÇAISE DES JEUX s.t.
3 Heinrich Haussler GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM s.t.
4 Matti Breschel RABOBANK s.t.
5 Bernhard Eisel TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD s.t.
6 Alessandro Petacchi LAMPRE - N.G.C s.t.
7 Francesco Chicchi LIQUIGAS s.t.
8 Danilo Hondo LAMPRE - N.G.C s.t.
9 Waarrar Wahtsakes MILRAM-TREK s.t.
10 Koldo Fernandez EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI s.t.
Stage 4
Burnside Village - Angaston
143km
Stage Results
1 Matti Breschel RABOBANK 2h55'26
2 Danilo Hondo LAMPRE - N.G.C s.t.
3 Mark Cavendish TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD s.t.
4 Heinrich Haussler GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM s.t.
5 Mark Renshaw TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD s.t.
6 Stuart O'Grady MILRAM-TREK s.t.
7 William Bonnet BBOX - BOUYGUES TELECOM s.t.
8 Bernhard Eisel TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD s.t.
9 Tom Boonen QUICK STEP s.t.
10 Koldo Fernandez EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI s.t.
Stage 5
Snapper Point - Willunga
148km
Stage Results
1 Sylvain Chavanel QUICK STEP 3h38'25
2 Fabian Cancellara MILRAM-TREK + 11
3 Stuart O'Grady MILRAM-TREK s.t.
4 Matteo Carrara VACANSOLEIL PRO CYCLING TEAM s.t.
5 Anthony Charteau BBOX - BOUYGUES TELECOM s.t.
6 David Millar GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM s.t.
7 Enrico Gasparotto LAMPRE - N.G.C + 29
8 Nico Sijmens COFIDIS - LE CREDIT EN LIGNE s.t.
9 Amets Txurruka Ansola EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI s.t.
10 Alexandre Pichot BBOX - BOUYGUES TELECOM s.t.
Stage 6
Adelaide
90km
Stage Results
1 Mark Cavendish TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD 1h50'13
2 Heinrich Haussler GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM s.t.
3 Matti Breschel RABOBANK s.t.
4 Yauheni Hutarovich FRANÇAISE DES JEUX s.t.
5 Bernhard Eisel TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD s.t.
6 Mark Renshaw TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD s.t.
7 Angelo Furlan LAMPRE - N.G.C s.t.
8 Koldo Fernandez EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI s.t.
9 Alessandro Petacchi LAMPRE - N.G.C s.t.
10 Tom Boonen QUICK STEP s.t.
General Classification
1 Sylvain Chavanel QUICK STEP 18h17'29
2 Fabian Cancellara MILRAM-TREK + 13
3 David Millar GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM + 15
4 Anthony Charteau BBOX - BOUYGUES TELECOM + 17
5 Stuart O'Grady MILRAM-TREK + 19
6 Matteo Carrara VACANSOLEIL PRO CYCLING TEAM + 21
7 Matti Breschel RABOBANK + 36
8 Alexandre Pichot BBOX - BOUYGUES TELECOM + 39
9 Enrico Gasparotto LAMPRE - N.G.C s.t.
10 Antonio Colom TEAM KATUSHA s.t.
Points Classification
1 Matti Breschel RABOBANK 110
2 Mark Cavendish TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD 93
3 Heinrich Haussler GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM 91
4 Yauheni Hutarovich FRANÇAISE DES JEUX 69
5 Sylvain Chavanel QUICK STEP 58
Mountains Classification
1 Anthony Charteau BBOX - BOUYGUES TELECOM 4
2 Yukiya Arashiro BBOX - BOUYGUES TELECOM 4
3 David Millar GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM 3
4 Matti Breschel RABOBANK 2
5 Gianni Meersman FRANÇAISE DES JEUX 2
Young Rider Classification
1 Matti Breschel RABOBANK 18h18'05
2 Nicolas Roche AG2R LA MONDIALE + 3
3 Mark Cavendish TEAM COLUMBIA - HIGH ROAD + 17
4 Heinrich Haussler GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM + 34
5 Ignatas Konovalovas CAISSE D'EPARGNE + 35
Team Classification
1 BBOX - BOUYGUES TELECOM 54h54'20
2 QUICK STEP + 39
3 TEAM SKY-CERVELO + 46
So Sylvain Chavanel lived up to all expectation and goes away with the first Top Tour victory of the year, whilst Matti Breschel took the points and young rider jerseys home. Anthony Charteau took the Mountains class. whilst his team, BBOX, held the best team time.
Shame I could only post the results as I like this race but I'll be making a compromise...
Next Race: Californian Road
Edited by pcm2009fan on 26-07-2011 13:30
January's rankings are reflected purely by performances in the first event of the year, the Tour of Australia, so it is no surprise to see the podium finishers Chavanel, Cancellara & Millar rounding out the top 3 individually. Meanwhile in terms of teams it is Milram - Trek leading Quick Step and Garmin - Slipstream.
Individual
Teams
You can click on the images to get a better quality picture of the rankings Edited by pcm2009fan on 26-07-2011 14:09
Favourites:
Bradley Wiggins (SKY-CERVELO PRO CYCLING)
Janez Brajkovic (ASTANA)
Andreas Kloden (ASTANA)
Levi Leipheimer (ASTANA)
Ivan Basso (LIQUIGAS)
Phillipe Gilbert (SILENCE-LOTTO)
The route of this popular American non-Top Tour race sees the riders begin with a tiny 5km prologue whilst stages 2,4,5,6 & 8 have terrain suitable for the sprinters present such as Gerald Ciolek or Allan Davis. Stage 3 is lumpy enough to seperate the race favourites from the pretenders before the 25km ITT on stage 7 and the hilly finale to Escondido on the last day decide this year's winner.
There are plenty of strongmen starting this race including Bradley Wiggins, Phillipe Gilbert and Ivan Basso. Astana have gone all out, sending Brajkovic, Kloden, Kreuziger and defending champion Levi Leipheimer for the G.C., aswell as Vaitkus and Davis for the sprints! But it is hard to tell who is feeling strongest this early in the season.
Silly me - I didn't realise there were no replays for time trials and so I have no pictures for today But it was probably a good stage to learn my mistake on as there was little to report from the flat little prologue through Sacramento.
Linus Gerdemann set a good early time before Roman Kreuziger came through 1 second ahead of him. Luis Leon Sanchez and Bradley Wiggins looked good in their national TT champion jerseys but neither could live up to their titles in terms of their times. Hincapie came through in second place just fractions of a second slower than Kreuziger with the best time out of the Americans but it is Astana's Roman Kreuziger who will take the first leader's jersey of the race, congratulations to the young Czech!
A hopeful break formed consisting of 13 riders, whilst Katusha and BMC did the pacemaking to ensure they never got much more than a 5 minute gap, whitling the peleton down to less than 70 riders over the main climb in the process...
But all of a sudden the chase became disorganised and Astana were nowhere to be seen to defend their jersey. The 7 riders left from the initial break have a lead of 2 minutes at 20km to go!
Aerts and Zandio see the oppurtunity and make their moves! Zandio is the better placed of the two after the prologue.
Zandio leads the duo into the final km... will Aerts have the legs to come around him...?
With 700m left he comes out of his slipstream and...
Mario Aerts takes the win... just! But will Zandio take the leader's jersey?
In a Cancellara-like move, Lars Boom leads the peleton over the line... 28 seconds after the leaders, which is enough to see Zandio in yellow for Sky-Cervelo!
Export failed again...
Stage Results
1. Mario Aerts SILENCE-LOTTO 4h15'46
2. Xabier Zandio SKY-CERVELO PRO CYCLING s.t.
3. Lars Boom RABOBANK + 28
4. Marc De Maar RABOBANK s.t.
5. Mauro Facci QUICK STEP s.t.
6. Filippo Pozzato TEAM KATUSHA s.t.
7. Allan Davis ASTANA s.t.
8. George Hincapie BMC RACING TEAM s.t.
9. Kurt-Asle Arvesen SKY-CERVELO PRO CYCLING s.t.
10. Enrico Gasparotto LAMPRE - N.G.C s.t.
General Classification
1. Xabier Zandio SKY-CERVELO PRO CYCLING 4h20'13
2. Mario Aerts SILENCE-LOTTO +7
3. Lars Boom RABOBANK +27
4. George Hincapie BMC RACING TEAM +33
5. Roman Kreuziger ASTANA +33
6. Thomas Vaitkus ASTANA +33
7. Linus Gerdemann MILRAM - TREK +34
8. Markus Fothen MILRAM - TREK +34
9. Bradley Wiggins SKY-CERVELO PRO CYCLING +35
10. Kurt-Asle Arvesen SKY-CERVELO PRO CYCLING +35
Edited by pcm2009fan on 26-07-2011 16:05
I'm afraid I don't have any pictures since Sophos Autoupdate caused pcm to crash just as I'd started watching the replay... there always seems to be something lol
Anyway, Matteo Bono lead a chasing group of 8 over the first climb of the day, however the peleton, keen to avoid a repeat of yesterday, reeled them in by 30km to go.
With 3km left to the second mountain point, the climbers made their move, instigated by Lampre's Enrico Gasparotto.
Gilbert led a group of 19 riders over the top, but meanwhile yellow jersey Zandio was struggling with Wiggins, 1:40 back. Leipheimer, Kloden and Brajkovic were keeping them company...
19 became 13 on the descent, then 14 as Voigt clawed his way back to the leading group just before the sprint opened up: Gilbert surged past the others to take the stage win and seemingly the leader's jersey ahead of Gasparotto.
And indeed Zandio crossed the line 1:55 back with Wiggins and the Astana boys... at least they have one less problem now as Kreuziger was in the leading group, snatching the young rider's jersey, and will now surely be Astana team captain for the race.
Stage Results
1 Philippe Gilbert SILENCE-LOTTO 4h40'31
2 Enrico Gasparotto LAMPRE - N.G.C s.t.
3 George Hincapie BMC RACING TEAM s.t.
4 Ivan Basso LIQUIGAS s.t.
5 Joaquin Rodriguez O. TEAM KATUSHA s.t.
6 Markus Fothen MILRAM - TREK s.t.
7 Linus Gerdemann MILRAM - TREK s.t.
8 Fabian Wegmann MILRAM - TREK s.t.
9 Mikel Astarloza EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI s.t.
10 Serguei Ivanov TEAM KATUSHA s.t.
General Classification
1 Philippe Gilbert SILENCE-LOTTO 9h01'03
2 George Hincapie BMC RACING TEAM + 6
3 Enrico Gasparotto LAMPRE - N.G.C + 6
4 Roman Kreuziger ASTANA + 14
5 Linus Gerdemann MILRAM - TREK + 15
6 Markus Fothen MILRAM - TREK + 15
7 Jens Voigt MILRAM - TREK + 17
8 Filippo Pozzato TEAM KATUSHA + 18
9 Mikel Astarloza EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI +19
10 Ivan Basso LIQUIGAS + 21
Edited by pcm2009fan on 26-07-2011 23:31
Stage Favourites
Allan Davis (AST)
Gerald Ciolek (MRM)
Filippo Pozzato (KAT)
Gilbert looked good at the start line having replaced his usual Belgian colours for yellow... but how long can he now keep the jersey for?
Euskaltel had 2 men in the day's break: Isasi & Azanza Soto. They were joined by De Maar of Rabobank, Hulsmans of Quick Step, Murphy of OUCH and Zitta of PSK-Author. Chuzhda of Cont Ampo trailed behind them for most of the day.
Silence-Lotto defended Gilbert's jersey well today, and later Katusha helped them to claw back the 8 minute deficit to the break. Despite not having a main sprinter, Sky led the pack into the final few kilometres.
With 5km to go it is Gerrans leading the pack with Arvesen on his wheel. Hincapie is just behind them whilst Ciolek and Wahtsakes are on their respective team mate's wheels. Pozzato & Gilbert are lurking ominously at the back of the train.
Pozzato makes a move down the middle and he seems to be leading Gilbert, Arvesen and Hincapie in a 4 man dash for the line!
And the Italian takes it ahead of Gilbert and Arvesen! Hincapie comes in 4th to defend his green jersey.
Gilbert does a good job to defend his own jersey but thanks to bonifications Pozzato is closing in on him, now at 10 seconds back.
Stage Results
1 Filippo Pozzato TEAM KATUSHA 4h12'38
2 Philippe Gilbert SILENCE-LOTTO s.t.
3 Kurt-Asle Arvesen SKY-CERVELO PRO CYCLING s.t.
4 George Hincapie BMC RACING TEAM s.t.
5 Gerald Ciolek QUICK STEP s.t.
6 Tomas Vaitkus ASTANA s.t.
7 Waarrar Wahtsakes MILRAM - TREK s.t.
8 Allan Davis ASTANA s.t.
9 Marcin Sapa LAMPRE - N.G.C s.t.
10 Fabian Wegmann MILRAM - TREK s.t.
General Classification
1 Philippe Gilbert SILENCE-LOTTO 13h13'29
2 Filippo Pozzato TEAM KATUSHA + 10
3 George Hincapie BMC RACING TEAM + 18
4 Enrico Gasparotto LAMPRE - N.G.C s.t.
5 Roman Kreuziger ASTANA + 26
6 Linus Gerdemann MILRAM - TREK + 27
7 Markus Fothen MILRAM - TREK s.t.
8 Jens Voigt MILRAM - TREK + 29
9 Mikel Astarloza EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 31
10 Ivan Basso LIQUIGAS + 33
Yay managed to get images and a successful export for once Edited by pcm2009fan on 26-07-2011 22:25
Today's route is fairly lumpy but the climbs are likely too far out for anyone to make a lasting impression on the standings. Expect to see a depleted bunch sprint at the finish.
Stage Favourites:
A. Davis (AST)
F. Pozzato (KAT)
D.Napolitano (KAT)
Report
The day's break included former Tour de France "winner" Flloyd Landis aswell as Sky-Cervelo's Thomas Lovkvist. Grendene, Meyer and Nose dropped off on the early climbs to leave a group of 5 riders out front.
However they failed to get a lead of above five minutes and whilst Thomas Lovkvist tried his best going solo he was eventually swallowed under the 10km banner.
As the sprinters began to line themselves up, race radio reported a fall involving 11th placed Laurens Ten Dam. Whilst his Rabobank team mates dropped back to help him, they couldn't prevent him losing over 3 minutes to the favourites.
Meanwhile another culprit of a late crash was escapee Flloyd Landis, who was forced to abandon the race with a fractured kneecap.
Napolotino, Brown, Wahtsakes & Chicchi had all been dropped on the climbs but most of the main sprinters were all up at the front looking strong. Ciolek had Arvesen for company at the front whilst Davis and Gilbert lined up behind yesterday's winner, Pozzato.
But suddenly out of nowhere the green jersey of George Hincapie launched himself down the inside with less than 2km to go in a last-gasp move!
...And found himself with a lead of several bike-lengths going under the flamme rouge - could Big George hold on and spoil the show...?
Yes he could, and he crossed the line to take an emphatic victory on home soil, much to the delight of the crowd! He certainly seems to be living up to his title as King of the Sprinters!
In the background Pozzato came around Arvesen to take 2nd place on the day and put himself 2 seconds ahead of Gilbert in the process. But it will be the shoulders of George Hincapie which don the leader's jersey tommorow after his great win propelled him to the top of the standings. What a great day for him and for his BMC team!
Stage Results
1 George Hincapie BMC RACING TEAM 4h51'26
2 Filippo Pozzato TEAM KATUSHA s.t.
3 Kurt-Asle Arvesen SKY-CERVELO PRO CYCLING s.t.
4 Allan Davis ASTANA s.t.
5 Philippe Gilbert SILENCE-LOTTO s.t.
6 Gerald Ciolek QUICK STEP s.t.
7 Enrico Gasparotto LAMPRE - N.G.C s.t.
8 Linus Gerdemann MILRAM - TREK s.t.
9 Staf Scheirlinckx SILENCE-LOTTO s.t.
10 Markus Fothen MILRAM - TREK s.t.
General Classification
1 George Hincapie BMC RACING TEAM 18h04'53
2 Filippo Pozzato TEAM KATUSHA s.t.
3 Philippe Gilbert SILENCE-LOTTO + 2
4 Enrico Gasparotto LAMPRE - N.G.C + 20
5 Roman Kreuziger ASTANA + 28
6 Linus Gerdemann MILRAM - TREK + 29
7 Markus Fothen MILRAM - TREK s.t.
8 Jens Voigt MILRAM - TREK + 31
9 Mikel Astarloza EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 33
10 Ivan Basso LIQUIGAS + 35
Indeed with such experience and a decent time trial on him, Hincapie may well have put himself in the position of race favourite with today's performance.. we'll have to wait and see if he can hold the leader's jersey all the way!
Edited by pcm2009fan on 26-07-2011 23:55
Today's stage should be a formality bunch sprint, unless a break is allowed to get away. In any case, Filippo Pozzato will see this as his last opportunity to snatch the leader's jersey before the time trial, and he only needs a single bonus second over Hincapie to do so.
The wind is strong today so the riders will have to be careful to avoid any splits in the peleton.
Stage Favourites
A. Davis (AST)
F. Pozzato (KAT)
G. Ciolek (QST)
Race Report
A break of 8 riders got a maximum gap of 10 minutes but once again Katusha and Silence-Lotto collaborated to reel in the escapees.
It looked like Pozzato could have a chance of gaining the bonus seconds he needed over Hincapie at the final intermediate sprint but he was nowhere to be seen as Gerrans led Hovelynck & his team-mate Napolitano over the line.
As the sprint began, Pozzato seemed well positioned on Gilbert's wheel...
But all of a sudden he was nowhere to be seen as Maaskant led the way with Voigt and Ivanov coming up on his right.
Voigt & Maaskant were neck and neck as they approached the finish line...!
But Voigt took the win a wheel's length ahead of the dutchman & moved himself into 4th place in the standings in the process. Hincapie will again wear the leader's jersey during tommorow's time trial.
Stage Results
1 Jens Voigt MILRAM - TREK 4h52'53
2 Martijn Maaskant GARMIN - SLIPSTREAM s.t.
3 Serguei Ivanov TEAM KATUSHA s.t.
4 Karsten Kroon BMC RACING TEAM s.t.
5 Murilo Fischer LIQUIGAS s.t.
6 Roman Kreuziger ASTANA s.t.
7 Markus Fothen MILRAM - TREK s.t.
8 Joaquin Rodriguez O. TEAM KATUSHA s.t.
9 Fabian Wegmann MILRAM - TREK s.t.
10 Bradley Wiggins SKY-CERVELO PRO CYCLING s.t.
General Classification
1 George Hincapie BMC RACING TEAM 22h57'46
2 Filippo Pozzato TEAM KATUSHA s.t.
3 Philippe Gilbert SILENCE-LOTTO + 2
4 Jens Voigt MILRAM - TREK + 11
5 Enrico Gasparotto LAMPRE - N.G.C + 20
6 Roman Kreuziger ASTANA + 28
7 Linus Gerdemann MILRAM - TREK + 29
8 Markus Fothen MILRAM - TREK s.t.
9 Mikel Astarloza EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 33
10 Ivan Basso LIQUIGAS + 35
Today is the best chance for the team leaders to gain time on their opponents, but they will have to have the sufficient time-trialing ability if they wish to do so. George Hincapie looks well poised to defend his jersey but the American still has much more work to do before he can lay claim to this race.
Stage Favourites
B. Wiggins (SKY)
R. Kreuziger (AST)
L. Gerdemann (MRM)
Race Report
As the favourites warmed up at the start line, Quick Step's Rosseler was out setting the early fastest time, but it was unlikely to hold for long.
After Brajkovic briefly held the fastest time of the day, his team mate Kloden was the next to roll through with a new fastest time for the German.
Leipheimer, L.L. Sanchez and Bradley Wiggins set out consecutively and all set good times at the first checkpoint, but it was British Time Trial Champion Wiggins who came out best of the trio to better Kloden's time.
As the top ranked riders began to roll out, the last man, George Hincapie, looked composed in the start house.
It was Kreuziger and Fothen who were setting the best provisional times out of the favourites...
4th placed Voigt, 3rd placed Gilbert and 2nd placed Pozzato all put out solid time trials to defend their positions in the standings, but it was the race leader George Hincapie who was out shattering Kreuziger's provisional time!
And the unbeatable George steamrollered over the line to take his second stage win with an incredible time trial, putting a full 21 seconds into the 2nd placed Roman Kreuziger! Can anything stop Big George from victory here in California now?
Stage Results
1 George Hincapie BMC RACING TEAM 32'49
2 Roman Kreuziger ASTANA + 21
3 Markus Fothen MILRAM - TREK + 23
4 Filippo Pozzato TEAM KATUSHA + 25
5 Linus Gerdemann MILRAM - TREK + 26
6 Jens Voigt MILRAM - TREK s.t.
7 Bradley Wiggins SKY-CERVELO PRO CYCLING + 28
8 Philippe Gilbert SILENCE-LOTTO + 29
9 Lars Boom RABOBANK + 33
10 Levi Leipheimer ASTANA + 36
General Classification
1 George Hincapie BMC RACING TEAM 23h30'35
2 Filippo Pozzato TEAM KATUSHA + 25
3 Philippe Gilbert SILENCE-LOTTO + 31
4 Jens Voigt MILRAM - TREK + 37
5 Roman Kreuziger ASTANA + 49
6 Markus Fothen MILRAM - TREK + 52
7 Linus Gerdemann MILRAM - TREK + 55
8 Enrico Gasparotto LAMPRE - N.G.C + 1'01
9 Ivan Basso LIQUIGAS + 1'11
10 Mikel Astarloza EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 1'14
The top 4 remains the same but Hincapie now has a 25 second gap back to Pozzato. Meanwhile Roman Kreuziger jumps into 5th place ahead of Markus Fothen with his time trial performance.
Edited by pcm2009fan on 27-07-2011 14:20
Today will probably be the last chance the sprinters have before the race finishes... perhaps Allan Davis will be looking to overcome a disappointing race with a win today? That said, a breakaway could also have a shout in today's stage.
Stage Favourites
A. Davis (AST)
F. Pozzato (KAT)
D. Napolitano (KAT)
Race Report
Murphy of OUCH and De Maar of Rabobank led Bono, Galparsoro and Azanza Soto over the top of the day's only categorised climb with a lead of over 8 minutes on the peleton. With 60kms to go, that lead has extended to almost 10 minutes - it looks like the break are going to spoil the show from the sprinters today.
With Galparsoro less than 12 minutes behind in the General Classification, BMC jump to the front of the peleton to ensure no upset in the rankings today.
With 13 kms to go, Azanza Soto and Galparsoro jumped away from their fellow escapees...
And with 5 kms to go it is the lone figure of Galparsoro who has a lead of 26 seconds on the rest of the break.
But under the flamme rouge it doesn't look good for him as Murphy, De Maar and Bono (hiding behind the flag) bear down on him...
De Maar made a lunge down the middle in the last few metres and it certainly looked like he had taken the win, but Murphy and the race organisers seemed to have other ideas. In any case Murphy's OUCH team will be well pleased with this victory.
Gasparotto led the pack in the sprint for 6th place, with Hincapie safely making his way across the line 3'48 down on the break.
Stage Results
1 John Murphy OUCH - MAXXIS 3h49'27
2 Marc De Maar RABOBANK s.t.
3 Matteo Bono LAMPRE - N.G.C s.t.
4 Dionisio Galparsoro CONTENTPOLIS - AMPO s.t.
5 Jorge Azanza Soto EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 40
6 Enrico Gasparotto LAMPRE - N.G.C + 3'58
7 Kurt-Asle Arvesen SKY-CERVELO PRO CYCLING s.t.
8 Tomas Vaitkus ASTANA s.t.
9 Gerald Ciolek QUICK STEP s.t.
10 Filippo Pozzato TEAM KATUSHA s.t.
General Classification
1 George Hincapie BMC RACING TEAM 27h24'00
2 Filippo Pozzato TEAM KATUSHA + 25
3 Philippe Gilbert SILENCE-LOTTO + 31
4 Jens Voigt MILRAM - TREK + 37
5 Roman Kreuziger ASTANA + 49
6 Markus Fothen MILRAM - TREK + 52
7 Linus Gerdemann MILRAM - TREK + 55
8 Enrico Gasparotto LAMPRE - N.G.C + 1'01
9 Ivan Basso LIQUIGAS + 1'11
10 Mikel Astarloza EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI + 1'14
Allright lets see if I can get the final stage done & tidy my room up before dinner and then we can maybe move onto the next race this evening Edited by pcm2009fan on 27-07-2011 16:33
Stage Favourites
P. Gilbert (SIL)
J. Rodriguez O. (KAT)
S. Gerrans (SKY)
So it all boils down to today's hilly stage. The last two mountain classification climbs should be the deciding factor in Hincapie and co.'s attempts at winning this year's edition of the Californian Road. The mountains classification currently held by Galparsoro is also up for grabs today.
Race Report
BMC were keen to get out and get the early portion of the racing under control in the rather picturesque scenery.
Meanwhile a group of 7 attackers had formed at the front of the race, including Aitor Hernandez, second placed in the mountains points class. Hernandez was first over the main mountain sprint point and later also took the final mountain sprint to assert himself as the King of the Mountains winner.
The action began 4km from the top of the final climb as Kreuziger attacked, dragging Gilbert, Rodriguez, Basso & Astarloza with him whilst Boom, Arvesen & Voigt also made their moves behind.
Meanwhile Hincapie was biding his time in the main pack, although the only support he had to help him was in the form of Karsten Kroon.
Eventually Hincapie seemed to decide enough was enough and took matters into his own hands with 32km to go. Pozzato was quick to respond behind him.
And he made things look easy as he confidently rode across to the chasing group of 12 with Pozzato following suite. "Group Hincapie" had 45 seconds on the pack at this point.
Amidst the chaos, Hernandez & Zaugg were plugging away 4'30 up the road in search of a stage win...
But by 5km their lead was down to just a single minute! Rodriguez launched another attack with Gilbert & Voigt but Hincapie was having none of it and followed their every move.
And the quartet caught up with the two escapees with just 2km left to ride. Poor old Zaugg and Hernandez surely stood no chance in the sprint?
Gilbert had the most power left in his legs to cap off a successful Californian Road for him with a second stage win.
An exhausted Filippo Pozzato was the next man to roll in, 45 seconds down, and finds himself being nicked of a podium place in the last few kilometres after a solid week of racing from him. He will no doubt be disappointed with that result.
Stage Results
1 Philippe Gilbert SILENCE-LOTTO 4h16'13
2 Jens Voigt MILRAM - TREK s.t.
3 George Hincapie BMC RACING TEAM s.t.
4 Joaquin Rodriguez O. TEAM KATUSHA s.t.
5 Aitor Hernández G. EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI s.t.
6 Oliver Zaugg LIQUIGAS s.t.
7 Filippo Pozzato TEAM KATUSHA + 45
8 Kurt-Asle Arvesen SKY-CERVELO PRO CYCLING + 1'13
9 Jürgen Van De Walle QUICK STEP s.t.
10 Ivan Basso LIQUIGAS s.t.
A great and well deserved win for George Hincapie on home soil, with a couple of stage wins to complement his overall victory! Well done to him. Gilbert & Voigt both took stage wins and they will be happy to round off the podium with George.
Points Classification
1 George Hincapie BMC RACING TEAM 124
2 Filippo Pozzato TEAM KATUSHA 93
3 Philippe Gilbert SILENCE-LOTTO 90
4 Jens Voigt MILRAM - TREK 67
5 Kurt-Asle Arvesen SKY-CERVELO PRO CYCLING 67
George also takes the points jersey home after his two stage wins and consistent high place finishes throughout the Tour. The award is very much the cherry on the icing on the top of the cake for him.
Mountains Classification
1 Aitor Hernández G. EUSKALTEL - EUSKADI 62
2 Dionisio Galparsoro CONTENTPOLIS - AMPO 38
3 Marc De Maar RABOBANK 28
4 Pavel Zitta PSK WHIRLPOOL - AUTHOR 28
5 Matteo Bono LAMPRE - N.G.C 24
Aggressive riding from Aitor Hernandez on the final stage sees the Spaniard taking home a well deserved King of the Mountains jersey for Euskaltel - Euskadi.
Young Riders Classification
1 Roman Kreuziger ASTANA 31h42'15
2 Lars Boom RABOBANK + 58
3 Dario Cataldo QUICK STEP + 6'02 (3)
After winning the prologue on the first day, Kreuziger has been one of the strongest riders over the course of the race, and may well feel dissapointed to miss out on a podium spot. But he receives the best Young Rider award as consolation.
Team Classification
1 MILRAM - TREK 95h05'49
2 TEAM KATUSHA + 3'03
3 RABOBANK + 3'56 (3)
With Voigt on the podium aswell as Gerdemann and Fothen in the top 10 it is no surprise to see Milram topping this classification ahead of Katusha to round of a fairly successful Californian Road for them.
Next Race Paris - Nice
In other news I'm well chuffed with my new "Official Eurosport Race Calender" on the first post haha Edited by pcm2009fan on 27-07-2011 20:45
The standings in the Top Tour haven't changed since January but here are the monthly awards. No surprises as to the rider of the month
Meanwhile the battle is beggining to heat up for promotion to the Top Tour next year.. BBOX lead ahead of Acqua Sapone:
In other news, Milram - Trek have been claiming to be pulling out all the stops to get Swiss powerhouse Fabian Cancellara to resign a new contract, following his win at the Gent - Lokeren race ahead of Bjorn Leukemans in preparation for the major cobbled classics.
Edited by pcm2009fan on 27-07-2011 21:24
Favourites
A. Contador (SAX)
I. Basso (LIQ)
V. Nibali (LIQ)
J. Van den Broeck (SIL)
S. Chavanel (QST)
Along with Tirreno - Adriatico, Paris - Nice forms the first major stage racing challenge of the season. It will most likely be a pure climber who will take the win - a mountain-top finish at La Montagne de Lure on stage 6 should prove be a crucial stage for anyone contending for the podium but they will also have to get through 4 medium mountain stages to claim themselves winner of the race.
But it was probably a good stage to learn my mistake on as there was little to report from the flat little prologue through Sacramento.
