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Monte Paschi Eroica
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| Crommy |
Posted on 31-05-2008 15:24
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Welcome to the Monte Paschi Eroica 2009.
The "gravel" (cobblestone) sections cover 8 sections totalling over 70km here, and with some huge hills, this race is wide open!
We enter section 2 - Radi, with the pack surprisingly still intact, and Beat Zberg (Festina), Swiss RR champion leading the way
Edited by Roman on 16-10-2016 22:49
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| Crommy |
Posted on 31-05-2008 15:27
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And now it's Guerra (Accumalux-Formex) who really kicks the pace up a notch up a cobbled hill of 26.1%!!!!!!!!!
The pack is really thinning out, looks like it's breaking up, lets see who makes the cut
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| Crommy |
Posted on 31-05-2008 15:30
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Over the top, and a front group of about 40. But this is group 2, and Backstedt has failed to make that cut along with Hammond (both Procycling-BBC) amongst some stronger helpers
And even further back is the whole Erste team, including Coyot in this group led by Muravjev. He'll find it hard to make it back into the pack
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| Crommy |
Posted on 31-05-2008 15:32
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But the peloton fails to capitalise on the opportunity, and the bunch is more or less back together, now including Backstedt, Coyot etc. just before segmento 3
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| Crommy |
Posted on 31-05-2008 15:34
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Finally, an attack!
It's Paolo Bettini (American Suzuki) attacking on the hills rather than the cobblestones, and the pack is letting him go. Bold strategy there, he was the last American Suzuki rider left in the main group
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| Crommy |
Posted on 31-05-2008 15:36
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Bettini has quickly built up a lead, it's over 2 minutes with 100km to go as we hit the segmento 4, Lucignano d'Asso.
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| Crommy |
Posted on 31-05-2008 15:38
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Now we're onto segmento 5, and the lead is now over 3 minutes, the pack still at 60 riders, but fracturing
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| Crommy |
Posted on 31-05-2008 15:41
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Now Staf Scheirlinckx attacks, but nothing comes of it, he goes nowhere
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| Crommy |
Posted on 31-05-2008 15:43
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50km to go, after a big break in cobbles, we enter segmento 6, which is over 10km long.
Bettini holds a 2'30 lead, but that won't last much longer, with the pack down to 38 riders
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| Crommy |
Posted on 31-05-2008 15:44
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Gert Steegmans punctures! Boogerd drops back to try and get him back into it, but it couldn't have come at a worse time
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| Crommy |
Posted on 31-05-2008 15:46
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Incredible stuff here. Not only has Bettini actually increased his lead, but super-Boogerd has actually got Steegmans back into the bunch!!!
What is the pack doing?
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| Crommy |
Posted on 31-05-2008 15:48
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Finally, someone breaks clear!
It's Clement Lhotellerie of Nintendo-Honda.
Not through an attack, but he was up front going up a hill, got a gap with a few helpers, who dropped back for their leader, and now he is left alone
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| Crommy |
Posted on 31-05-2008 15:50
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What is going on?!?!
Now De Vocht (Magenta All-Stars) has actually broken clear on the flat - no attack, he just rode away. What is this pack doing?
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| Crommy |
Posted on 31-05-2008 15:50
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42km to go, and Backstedt punctures ending his chances, and Franzoi falls and abandons!
Bad luck to both France TV and Procycling - BBC
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| Crommy |
Posted on 31-05-2008 15:53
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Off the cobblestones, only 1 section to go.
Here it stands
E1: Bettini
E2: Lhotellerie + 1'42
E3: De Vocht + 57"
Peloton: 38 riders + 1'07
Festina are pushing the pace for Burghardt
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| Crommy |
Posted on 31-05-2008 15:54
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Pack now down to 15 riders due to Festina pacing (here's Burghardt taking a pull)
28km to go
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| Crommy |
Posted on 31-05-2008 15:58
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Lhotellerie catches Bettini, quickly passing him as the final cobble section begins
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| Crommy |
Posted on 31-05-2008 16:00
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20 km to go, and De Vocht catches Bettini!!!
The pack isn't far behind though, and Lhotellerie not far in front either
Current standings:
E1: Lhotellerie
E2: De Vocht + Bettini + 24"
P: + 55"
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| Crommy |
Posted on 31-05-2008 16:02
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But De Vocht has blown his chances!!!
He must of exhausted himself chasing, and couldn't get past Bettini, and is caught with 15km to go.
Lhotellerie has a 2 minute lead, this is going to be tight!
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| Crommy |
Posted on 31-05-2008 16:03
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Burghardt attacks!
But Virgin Media clamp down on him straight away, times up for the cobble specialists as we just have plain old road remaining
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