The first road stage of the race is a flat ride with a few hills. The team was checking out the finish yesterday and it is slightly uphill, I would expect most of the sprinters to misjudge the finish. He hope that Eisel can get on the podium today. I will represent the team in the break.
The Race
I attacked from the gun, and I was never joined by any other riders. I took 16 KOM points on the day, and I will wear the KOM jersey tomorrow.
After the last KOM point, I sat up and was caught in the descent with 30 kms to go, and the race would end in a sprint.
With 5 km to go, our mini-train of Puccio, Sutton, and Eisel is near the front and battling Argos-Shimano for control of the race.
With 2 km to go, Marcel Kittel goes around his leadout man. Will he run out of steam?
With 400 m to go Kittel has run out of gas and Eisel is going by! Who will take the win?
Bernhard Eisel takes the win making it 2 for 2 for Team Sky! what an exciting sprint finish, as Kittel died with 400 m to go, and the Austrian takes his first win since 2010!
Stage Results
1
Bernhard Eisel
Sky Procycling
4h12'17
2
Marcel Kittel
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
3
Mark Cavendish
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
4
John Degenkolb
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
5
Gert Steegmans
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
6
Matthew Goss
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
7
Manuel Belletti
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
8
Daryl Impey
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
9
Allan Davis
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
10
Christopher Sutton
Sky Procycling
s.t.
GC Standings
1
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Procycling
4h25'43
2
Vincenzo Nibali
Astana Pro Team
+ 11
3
Alberto Contador
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 23
4
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Lotto Belisol
+ 24
5
Rafal Majka
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 25
6
Cadel Evans
BMC Racing Team
+ 27
7
Ian Boswell
Sky Procycling
s.t.
8
Bauke Mollema
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 28
9
Chris Horner
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 30
10
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
Points
1
Marcel Kittel
Team Argos - Shimano
26
26
2
Bernhard Eisel
Sky Procycling
25
25
3
Mark Cavendish
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
19
19
4
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Procycling
0
15
5
John Degenkolb
Team Argos - Shimano
13
13
KOM
1
Ian Boswell
Sky Procycling
18
18
2
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Procycling
0
12
3
Vincenzo Nibali
Astana Pro Team
0
8
4
Alberto Contador
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
0
6
5
Egoi MartÃnez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
6
6
U25
1
Rafal Majka
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
4h26'08 (1)
2
Ian Boswell
Sky Procycling
+ 2 (2)
3
Thibaut Pinot
FDJ.fr
+ 6 (3)
Post Race Comments- Another day, another win. I also move into 7th place in the GC, and I have the KOM lead. Tomorrow's stage is hilly, and we will protect Wiggo's lead.
sutty68: It was, I hope he can stay there baia: He timed it perfectly, that win was really unexpected. It probably had a lot to do with form, Eisel with a 1 and great rhythm.
Today's stage is designed for the breakaway. I would expect the escapees to take this one, although it may go to a late attacker. The team has no goals today, except to keep the lead.
The Race
An eight man group got away after about 25 km. It included: Lindeman of Vacansoleil, Landa of Euskatel, Kroon of Saxo Bank, Herrada of Movistar, Nerz of BMC, Anacona of Lampre, Kolobnev of Katusha, Saramontis of IAM.
Not much happened for the next 125 km, until Carlos Betancur attacked the peloton on the final climb. The breakaway still led by 3 minutes.
Uran took matters into his own hands, and flew away from the bunch, crossing the gap to Betancur. This group leads the bunch by 2 minutes as the climb is topped.
With three kilometers left, all the break was swept up by the charging bunch, except for Kolobnev. The Russian still leads by 30 seconds.
1 km to go, and the Russian is going to take the stage, as he still leads the bunch by 25 seconds.
The Russian took the win! Nibali leads the bunch for second place, ahead of Contador. I finish in a very good 5th place behind Cadel Evans.
Results
No change in GC
Post Race Comments- I admit that I'm very surprised by a fifth place. I didn't think I could sprint that well! Tomorrow's stage is another hilly stage, but it is more of a GC danger as the last climb is closer to the finish line.
TomC: I hope so too MrTeamSky: It has, about the sprint, Kittel completely mistimed it, and Eisel had MUCH better form and rhythm. sutty68: Maybe later in the season
Today's stage will have a bigger selection than yesterday, and we should we a group of around 30-45 riders contesting the finish. I hope to keep my high GC placing, and keep Wiggins in the yellow.
The Race
Dombrowski went into the breakaway today, along with: Visconti of Movistar, Hoogerland of Vacansoleil, and Pietropolli of Lampre.
We jump to the final climbs, and Visconti is the last rider caught by the bunch, as Pozzovivo launches an attack with 25 km to go.
On the next hill Quintana got away, and he lead the peloton by 25 seconds over the final climb.
With five kilometers to go, the two attackers were caught, and there was a field split, and 16 riders made the lead group that I was in.
1 km to go and Wiggins lead me out, and it should come down to be and Gasparotto. Could I take my first win?
I can't as Gasparotto takes a deserving win! Betancur and Wiggins even pass me at the line as I cracked with 200 m to go. For some weird reason, all the first 45 riders were given the same time, despite an obvious gap between riders 16 and 17.
Stage Results
1
Enrico Gasparotto
Astana Pro Team
4h09'22
2
Carlos Betancur
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
3
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Procycling
s.t.
4
Ian Boswell
Sky Procycling
s.t.
5
Rigoberto Urán
Sky Procycling
s.t.
6
Chris Horner
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
7
Michele Scarponi
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
8
Alexandr Kolobnev
Katusha Team
s.t.
9
Nairo Quintana
Movistar Team
s.t.
10
Cadel Evans
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
GC Standings
1
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Procycling
13h23'41
2
Vincenzo Nibali
Astana Pro Team
+ 9
3
Alberto Contador
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 23
4
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Lotto Belisol
+ 28
5
Rafal Majka
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 29
6
Cadel Evans
BMC Racing Team
+ 31
7
Ian Boswell
Sky Procycling
s.t.
8
Bauke Mollema
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 32
9
Chris Horner
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 34
10
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
Points
1
Alexandr Kolobnev
Katusha Team
8
36
2
Vincenzo Nibali
Astana Pro Team
2
34
3
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Procycling
16
31
4
Ian Boswell
Sky Procycling
13
30
5
Alberto Contador
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
0
26
KOM
1
Giovanni Visconti
Movistar Team
21
21
2
Ian Boswell
Sky Procycling
0
18
3
Joseph Dombrowski
Sky Procycling
11
13
4
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Procycling
0
12
5
Daniele Pietropolli
Lampre - Merida
10
10
U25
1
Rafal Majka
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
13h24'10 (1)
2
Ian Boswell
Sky Procycling
+ 2 (2)
3
Thibaut Pinot
FDJ.fr
+ 6 (3)
Post Race Comments- I admit that I'm dissapointed that I couldn't take the win today. I felt really strong throughout the day's hills, but I couldn't finish it off. Tomorrow is the big mountain stage, and the GC should be much clearer after the race is over. I would like to stay close enough to Majka take over the white jersey in the TT.
Last 2 stages were really great for Ian... the team is defending their leader really well but i thing something will change when the road starts to get high... hope Ian can hold his top10 but if not, KOM jersey will be an even better prize...
Today's stage is the only big mountain stage of this year's race. The Col de la Croix de fer will be climbed twice. The summit of the mountain is at the 10 km to go mark, and there should be a very small group that will decide the finish. I hope to stay in the top 10.
The Race
A seven man group got away at the foot of the first climb. It included :Ignatenko of Katusha, Bakelants of Radioshack, Nordhaug of Belkin, Fedrigo of FDJ, Vrecer of Euskatel, Lofkvist of IAM, and Moser of Cannondale.
At the foot of the final climb of the day, Bakelants, Fedrigo, and Nordhaug led the bunch by 1 30.
With 16 km still to climb, Quintana opened up the attacks, and caught the rest of the GC men offguard, getting a gap.
Five Kilometers later, a group of five is at the front: Uran, Wiggins, Quintana, Betancur, and Pozzovivo. 30 seconds back was: Nibali, Contador, Van Den Broeck, and the rest of the main favorites.
I was in the next group with: Evans, Majka, and Kloden. With Quintana and Betancur up the road, the white jersey looks out of reach.
At the summit, Pozzovivo had dropped back, and Contador, Nibali and Van Den Broeck had joined the leaders. I had been dropped by Majka and Evans.
With 1 km to go, Wiggins is leading out the sprint, but looks the strongest. Can he take his second stage win of the race?
Yes he can! Wiggo takes another win, the team's third in this race! Nibali is second, Betancur third, Van Den Broeck, and Uran fifth.
I caught Evans in the descent, and finished the stage in 11th place.
Stage Results
GC Standings
Post Race Comments- Despite falling out of the top 10, I'm satisfied with my ride today. The goal was always to keep Wiggins in the lead, and we achieved that. Tomorrow is the final stage, a 20 km, pan flat Time Trial. I would like to get into the top 10.
Great ride by Wiggins,
Ian did good, despite loosing top10 placement.. 34"sec behind Evans isn´t much but will be hard to get back into top10... all or nothing in that TT..
The final stage of this year's Tour of Romandie is a 20 km Individual Time Trial, that will decide the final GC. I would like to get back into the top 10, but it is unlikely that that will actually happen.
The Race
Dennis Van Winden set the best early time, the Dutchman came in with a time of 27 19. He ended up way down in 45th place.
Kristoff Vandewalle was the first man to beat the Dutchman, coming in with a very good time of 26 42. His time fared much better at the end of the day, with the Belgian finishing 11th.
Neither of these times were anywhere close to the time of world champion Tony Martin. The German rode a great ride, finishing with a time of 25 36.
I came in soon after the World Champion. I felt terrible throughout the ride, and finished 30th on the day 1 54 down on the winner.
Jurgen Van Den Broeck was the first rider close to Wiggins in the GC to finish, crossing the line with a time of 26 55.
The next rider to finish was Alberto Contador. The Spainard was slightly disappointing, finishing with a of 26 46.
Vincenzo Nibali was only 13 seconds behind Wiggins at the start of the stage, but he would need a great ride to dethrone Wiggins. The Italian did well finishing 7th with a time 1 20 down on the stage winner.
Bradley Wiggins rode a very good ride today. Not only did he defend his lead, he extended it to 1 33 over Vincenzo Nibali, and he took the stage win! Wiggo rode the course with a lightning-quick time of 25 14.
Stage Results
1
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Procycling
25'14
2
Tony Martin
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 22
3
Thomas De Gendt
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 1'14
4
Andreas Klöden
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 1'15
5
Cadel Evans
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
6
Tejay Van Garderen
BMC Racing Team
+ 1'19
7
Vincenzo Nibali
Astana Pro Team
+ 1'20
8
Chris Horner
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 1'26
9
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 1'28
10
Tanel Kangert
Astana Pro Team
s.t. ...
30
Ian Boswell
Sky Procycling
+ 1'54
Final GC Standings
1
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Procycling
18h45'21
2
Vincenzo Nibali
Astana Pro Team
+ 1'33
3
Alberto Contador
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 2'05
4
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Lotto Belisol
+ 2'19
5
Nairo Quintana
Movistar Team
+ 2'38
6
Rigoberto Urán
Sky Procycling
+ 2'40
7
Carlos Betancur
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 2'44
8
Bauke Mollema
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 3'04
9
Rafal Majka
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 4'04
10
Cadel Evans
BMC Racing Team
+ 4'05
11
Przemyslaw Niemiec
Lampre - Merida
+ 4'32
12
Andreas Klöden
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 4'39
13
Ian Boswell
Sky Procycling
+ 4'44
14
Chris Horner
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 4'45
15
Michele Scarponi
Lampre - Merida
+ 4'59
Points
1
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Procycling
15
71
2
Vincenzo Nibali
Astana Pro Team
6
60
3
Cadel Evans
BMC Racing Team
8
38
4
Alexandr Kolobnev
Katusha Team
0
36
5
Alberto Contador
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
0
36
KOM
1
Jan Bakelants
RadioShack - Leopard
0
34
2
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Procycling
0
24
3
Giovanni Visconti
Movistar Team
0
21
4
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
0
21
5
Ian Boswell
Sky Procycling
0
18
U25
Rank
Name
Team
General Time
1
Nairo Quintana
Movistar Team
18h47'59 (1)
2
Carlos Betancur
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 6 (2)
3
Rafal Majka
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 1'26 (3)
4
Ian Boswell
Sky Procycling
+ 2'06 (4)
Post Race Comments- First of all, what a great ride from Wiggins, he is definitely on form for the Giro. If the Giro TT goes as well as today, he is a shoe-in for the win. I admit I'm disappointed by my ride today. I expected to move up in the GC, but I moved down the ladder into 13th place. For those wondering, I didn't chase the KOM at the end becuase I was placed too highly (7th place entering the MT stage) and the bunch wouldn't let me go into the breakaway. Next up is the Giro, but first there will be two reports: a monthly review, and a Giro preview.
Well done... Wiggins did great, i´m sure he will have one strong start at the Giro and will wear pink pretty early... Ian did good, it just wasn´t his time yet... maybe in a close future he can lead the team here and manage overall...
![imageshack.us/a/img844/107/hm2y.jpg [/img]<br />
With 100 km to go, the peloton hit the top of the Col de la Croix for the first time. The break only lead by 5 minutes.<br />
[img]https://imageshack.us/a/img571/2759/qepl.jpg](https://imageshack.us/a/img844/107/hm2y.jpg [/img]<br />
With 100 km to go, the peloton hit the top of the Col de la Croix for the first time. The break only lead by 5 minutes.<br />
[img]https://imageshack.us/a/img571/2759/qepl.jpg)
