8th March 2011 - Paris-Nice
(Cosne-Cours-sur-Loire - Nuits-Saint-Georges)
Stage 3 is classified as flat by the Race Organisers, but the route profile shows that it is far from that. Up and down all day, with a nasty 4.6km climb 19km from the end, this could be a day where the break stays away!
Race Report
8km: It was a damp start to the stage, and a total of 16 riders attacked off the front as soon as the 0km flag dropped.
16km: A group that size was never really going to be successful, and it was soon brought back. A smaller 4 man break, with another rider in gap in between, was next to form, with Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) looking like the main danger.
73km: A number of teams took up the control of the peleton over the early parts of the stage, as the gap grew to over 9'34".
103km: As the halfway point was reached, we decided to take over the chase, and the time between the break and the peleton began to tumble. Yukiya Arashiro (Europcar) was the first to be caught.
182km: As the break hits the base of the short climb, their gap was down to just 2'12". The chase was going to be made more difficult though, as the heavens opened! The helicopter shot just shows how bad it was.
188km: Over the top of climb, van Avermaet was out on his own. He dropped the rest of the break with a huge attack on the climb, taking maximum points at the KoM sprint in the process.
195km: I had made it over the climb really easily, and was feeling good as we came in towards the finish. However, there was still a problem... We were the breakaway one rider at a time, and there was no sight of van Avermaet.
209km: There was a reason why we couldn't catch van Avermaet... He descended like a mad man in the wet conditions, and takes a great victory on the line! I won the sprint for 2nd place, crossing the finish 1'10" behind van Avermaet.
9th March 2011 - Paris-Nice
(Crêches-sur-Saône - Belleville)
Today is going to be a long day in the saddle. Lots of mountains as we head into the Vosges Mountains. I see this a day for the break, but I think some of the GC favourites will start showing their cards as well.
Race Report
Gatis worked hard at the start, getting himself into the break, with the target being the KoM Jersey. Sadly that did not work out, as Murilo Fischer (Garmin) and Egoi MartÃnez (Euskatel) dominated when the route went upwards.
In the peleton, I was able to hold the pace until the penultimate climb. I was feeling ok, but when the pace was upped to chase down the break, I was spat out the back.
The peleton making their way through the forested Vosges Mountains
Gatis was eventually dropped by his fellow escapees, and coming into the final 5km, only 4 riders remained. Karsten Kroon (BMC) tried to solo to victory, but he was pulled back, and it would be MartÃnez who was the strongest to take the win, in front of Fischer and David De la Fuente (Geox).
Now that I have posted the first Mountain stage of Paris - Nice, I have a question to ask the followers about the stages in which Cav is not going to really feature.
Do you prefer the write up of the report like I have done above, with a brief report with a few nice screenshots, or would you prefer it to be posted like all the other stages, with a more indepth report?
Also, would you like to see the results of the other HTC guys on the stage, or are you happy just seeing Cav's results?
Alakagom wrote:
I'd say I am happy with short reports in races Cav won't contend, but you could mention best HTC rider on the day to see how well the team did.
Anyway, brilliant screen of Vosges Mountains, really like it. Looking forward to next stages and MSR.
10th March 2011 - Paris-Nice
(Saint-Symphorien-sur-Coise - Vernoux-en-Vivarais)
So it's onto Stage 5, and more mountains. The steep climb, around 20km from the end, will definitely give everyone an idea who is there or thereabouts in the battle for GC ahead of the ITT tomorrow.
So before, I proceed with the Stage 5 Race Report, I thought I would just give you a run down of the Best Placed HTC riders in each of the Classification.
53
Michael Albasini
+ 2'48"
1
Mark Cavendish
71pts
-
-
-
11
Tejay van Garderen
+ 2"
Race Report
Again the HTC tactic was to put Gatis in the breakaway, again targeting the KoM Sprints. With so many points available over the entire stage, the KoM jersey was a very realistic target. However, it was not to be for Gatis. Egoi MartÃnez escaped with Gatis, and his intentions were clear. He wanted to have the jersey on his shoulders. MartÃnez was strong on the climbs, dominating in the sprint, taking most of the points in the process. The jersey would be all his for tomorrow's ITT.
The peleton making their way up the Col de la Croix de Chaubouret
The break away got a maximum of 9'43" on the stage before the pace was increased by Astana and SaxoBank. Their plan was to get Roman Kreuziger and Alberto Contador in the best position to take time out of their GC rivals. As the peleton hit the bottom of the main climb, the break was caught, and it was set for a great finish. Contador attacked first, taking Kreuziger and Rigoberto Urán (Sky) with him. Tony tried to follow, but just couldn't match the acceleration of the his rivals.
Tejay hit the front of the severely depleted peleton, pulling back the 3 attackers. As it all get together again in the final 2km, the group splintered, with Tejay in the front half and Tony in the back half. Sadly Tony could do nothing about it. He was running on empty.
Back at the front, cresting over the final climb, 4 riders had again broken clear, and it was Contador who takes a fine victory. Tejay crossed the line 7th, 35" behind Contador. I finally finished, with Bernie in tow, in 93rd place, 9'30" back.
A great victory, but Contador just misses out taking Yellow
11th March 2011 - Paris-Nice
(Rognes - Aix-en-Provence)
And so, yet another stage with does not really suit me. It is only a short Time Trial, but the climb 5km from the end will make it very difficult for the more TT specialists.
Race Report
Cavendish sets off on the course
As I set off on the route, it was Alex who was the early pace setter, but his lead did not last long. In the time that it took me to finish the TT, 4 riders came across the line in a faster time than him. Approaching the line, the board above the Finish showed that David Millar (Garmin) was leading in a time of 39'02". I came in 25th place, 1'18" down on Millar.
Millar led the ITT for a long time, that was until Bert hit the road. He was really up for this today, and went out hard, catching his minute man in front before the climb. He crossed the line 2" quicker than Millar. What a great ride from Bert. Many big TT riders came and went on the course, struggling with the climb, losing time, and Bert's lead stayed intact.
It was a fine TT performance from Cavendish, who is looking strong ahead Milano - San Remo
That was until Tony was next to finish. The German Champion, clearly determined to show something after yesterday's disappointment, caught not only his minute man in front, but the rider in front of him! Tony was on fire! Powering towards the finish, he took 20" off the time of Bert, and making a HTC 1-2!
The team was buzzing as Tejay went out on the course. He aim was just to limit his losses to the GC rivals, and try to gain time on the next stage, but the young American went one better, crossing the line in a time of 38'31", 9" quicker than Tony! HTC 1-2-3 now! Could this day get any better?
The GC rival started to cross the line, and not a single one of them could get close to the time of Tejay. Contador finished 39" down, and Kreuziger was a little closer at 27" back. Sadly the all HTC podium was spoilt by Kreugizer finsihing in 3rd, but it was still a great stage for the team.
After this victory, can van Garderen challenge for GC honours?
8th March 2011 - Paris-Nice 
