Though I'm a little late to the party, congratulations for making it into the WT, the teams looks strong enough to get some good results. And this TdU is already proving it, always good to start with a few points.
Rasmussen report: We are back in Adelaide for a final short circuit race in the city. As mentioned above South Australia was proclaims new colony in 1836, The site for Adelaide was chosen by Colonel William Light who was also designing the layout of its streets and parks, his plans also included surrounding the city with 1,700 acres of parklands. His plan is known as Light's Vision.
William Light by George Jones (undated)
The plan is to protect Tony Gallopin in the front of the peloton just to avoid a crash, and hope to create a good finish for Kristian Sbaragli.
Temperatures are high 29°C, today with a rather strong breeze up to 46 km/h. The morning break is 6 riders, including two very strong fighters Michael Albasini (BMC) and Jan Bakelants (Lotto Belisol) they get about 3 minutes.
At the last categorized passage over Montafiore Hill, with about 32 km to the line Jan Bakelants attacks, from there the others in the breakaway loses more and more time to him.
With about 8 km to the line, Jan Bakelants has more than a minute lead, the sprinter teams gives up and a moment of indecision reduces the pace remarkably. But the strong Mike Teunissen with our team on wheel continues, suddenly we are in a situation where we have got a nice gap.
Jan Bakelants wins the stage in Adelaide with 43 seconds to the next group.
Mike Teunissen burns himself up completely and passes by the other from the breakaway, Tony Gallopin takes the wheel of Kristian Sbaragli, in that way we secure that Gallopin gets 2nd in front of Sbaragli.
Rasmussen: It is 2016, but miracles still happens – Great stage for us.
The Event was first held in 1974 as “Trophée Méditerranéen” the first winner was French rider Charles Rouxel. In 2014 Ellisonde became 5th in this race mainly due to a strong podium finish on stage 4. Lasse Bøchman won the KoM in the same year.
We expect to see the ITT at stage 2, and the uphill finish to Mont Faron at stage 4 to be the most important for the final GC, but stage 5 could also be important with a steep climb just 25 km before the finish.
The medium size ITT of 24.1 km combined with few and small climbs makes it a hard race to predict. We have set an internal goal of a top 5 GC.
Kenny Elissonde will be our leader, with Mike Teunissen as his Lieutenant and Francisco J. Pacheco as the sprinter. We also hope to see Rasmus Quaade in the top of the ITT results.
Roster
Francisco J. Pacheco
Kenny Elissonde
Philip Nielsen
Rasmus Quaade
Lasse Christiansen
Mads Würtz Schmidt
Mike Teunissen
Great WT start, looking at the rankings after the TdU should put a smile on everyone's face. I hope you haven't booked too many races in February, don't forget, you are in the WT now, three Grand Tours and lots more stage racing for your 25 riders.
No not that many races, in fact I think we got a little to many riders, some of the weaker riders will get under 50 race day. How many days is optimal ?
Rasmussen Reports: We are in Limoux for the first stage of Tour Méditerranéen, the route will take is over two minor climbs in Massif des Corbières before a finish at the cost in Gruissan.
Limoux was mentioned for the first time in 844, in a charter by Charles le Chauve, King of France. In the early Middle Ages the town was prosperous from trade of linen and leather. Today Limoux has a population of about 10.000 people.
Profile:
Two different attempts to breakaway was reeled back in by a very aggressive peloton. Getting closer and closer to the climb, Elissonde attacks taking the opportunity to place himself in the top of the KoM classification.
After the climbs and the intermediate sprint, the peloton slows down. A group of riders decides to get some TV time or maybe even a lucky stage win.
As so often before on the early stages, the peloton is led by hungry sprinter teams and way too fast for the breakaway, the break is over near the 10 km mark.
Our train is sitting in front when the sprint starts, but in the left side facing a right turn, we are taking the long way round the corner.
Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) wins the stage to Gruissan , in front of Benoit Drujon (AG2R), our best is Francisco José Pacheco (4). All of our riders get the same time as the winner.
Rasmussen: Fine top 5 and a good effort from Elissonde taking the early KoM lead.
AbhishekLFC: Thanks.
Kiserlovski01: Yep, there was a clear gap, but the organizers must have decided it was not enough, very happy with the result anyway.
7/2: Stage 2/5 Le Cap d'Agde - Sète (Mt Saint-Clair) ITT 24.1 km
Rasmussen Reports: We are in Le Cap d'Agde, for the only ITT of this tour. Agde is one of the oldest towns in France, founded in 525 B.C. as a Greek colony, by settlers originating from what is today west Turkey. Today the town has about 25.000 inhabitants.
Market day in Agde:
We hope to see the Danish Champion Rasmus Quaade get in the top of the results today, regarding
Elissonde we hope that he won’t lose more than around 1’30 is he did in 2014.
Profile:
The stage was won by Adriano Malori (Cannondale) with 22 sec. to world champion Nelson Oliveira (RusVelo), previous race leader Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) lost 1’19, ending 16th in the GC.
Kristoff in the final climb:
Our best was Rasmus Quaade (10th) losing 40 sec., Francisco José Pacheco (29th) losing 1’21, and Kenny Elissonde (36th) losing 1’38
Rasmus Quaade:
Rasmussen: I was expecting a little more from Rasmus, but losing only 18 sec. to the world champion is not bad, I guess the competition was just hard today. Elissonde did what we had expected. We got Rasmus in the GC but that won’t last.
8/2: Stage 3/5 Cabries - St Remy de Provence: 144 km
Rasmussen Reports: The tour caravan has traveled almost 200 km to Cabriés just north of Marseille. Cabries was first mentioned in 1098 with reference to its church “ecclesiam de Caprarium” and in 1200 with reference to its castle “Castrum Caprerio”, Today the municipality (Commune) has a population of about 9.000.
We expect only Elissonde to be able to compete in terrain like this. We will protect him as long as possible, after that he will have to watch: Moser (Vodafone), Roche & Van den Broeck (Liberty Seguros), Battaglin (Cannondale) and Bardet (FDJ), trying not to lose time, we expect them to be the strongest for the GC.
Profile:
14°C, a little cloudy with a moderate breeze. The morning break 4 riders, Laurent Didier (Leopard – Continental) takes the first KoM sprint.
The pace is very high, already from the the 2nd climb with more than 50 km left, riders start to fall behind.
With about 30 km left a series of attacks starts from the peloton, they are all reeled back in. At the 20 km mark the breakaway is over, but that does not stop the attacks, this time it is 9 riders fronted by Jelle Vanendert (Vacansoleil).
The group with Vanendert did not get away either. Then on the last climb it is Kenny Elissonde with Rein Taaramäe (Banco) Vasil Kiryienka (Vodafone) setting in a very hard puch. Over the top they have opened up a gap of 36 sec.
Rein Taaramäe wins the stage over Vasil Kiryienka, the trio get 41 seconds to the favorite group of 34 riders.
Rasmussen: We would off course prefer a stage win, but a very fine stage by Ellisone taking podium and important time on the favorites, now 11th 1’22 after Taaramäe.
Francisco got in with the favorite group and is 20th at 1’58, a very fine result also.
As opposed to what we expected Taaramäe will definitely have to be counted as a favorite now.
Stage:
1
Rein Taaramäe
Banco Santander
3h32'16
2
Vasil Kiryienka
Vodafone
s.t.
3
Kenny Elissonde
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
4
Enrico Battaglin
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 41
5
Arthur Vichot
FDJ.fr
s.t.
6
Moreno Moser
Vodafone
s.t.
7
Sergey Firsanov
Katusha Team
s.t.
8
Sonny Colbrelli
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
9
Tobias Ludvigsson
Raiffeisen
s.t.
10
Jan Polanc
Team Differdange - Losch
s.t.
CG:
1
Rein Taaramäe
Banco Santander
7h19'34
2
Vasil Kiryienka
Vodafone
+ 7
3
Tom Dumoulin
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 57
4
Lieuwe Westra
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 1'00
5
Kristof Vandewalle
GUNK
+ 1'06
6
Tobias Ludvigsson
Raiffeisen
+ 1'10
7
Adriano Malori
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 1'11
8
Moreno Moser
Vodafone
+ 1'15
9
Alexandre Geniez
La Pomme Marseille
s.t.
10
Nicolas Roche
Liberty Seguros - Würth
+ 1'22
Points:
1
Rein Taaramäe
Banco Santander
34
2
Vasil Kiryienka
Vodafone
32
3
Adriano Malori
Cannondale Pro Cycling
31
Mountain:
1
Laurent Didier
Leopard - Trek Continental Team
36
2
Rémy Di Gregorio
Jules
36
3
Kenny Elissonde
Christina Watches - Onfone
32
Team: Vodafone
Young: Tobias Ludvigsson - Raiffeisen
Edited by Tamijo on 14-05-2016 21:15
9/2: Stage 4/5 Rousset – Toulon Mont Faron: 144.0 km
Rasmussen Reports: We have traveled 90 km back east to Rousset, the settlement dates back to Roman times but was first mentioned on paper in 1050 as Rosselun. In the Middle Ages the town was fortified by wall and a castle which no longer exist.
l'église de l'Immaculée Conception (1893):
We expect another stage where only the best uphill riders can compete. This is the stage where Ellisonde can possibly gain the most in the GC, due to the hard final on Mont Faron. In 2014 he finished 3rd, moving to GC top 5.
Profile
Perfect weather for a race day. 17°C with just a gentle breeze and an almost clear sky. The morning break is 3 riders, pretty good riders but all of them about 6 min behind in the GC.
The breakaway gets more than 5 minutes, it is Banco Santander for Rein Taaramäe, and Christina Watches for Elissonde doing all the hard work today. With 30 km to the line the distance is down to 4’20.
Over the top of Col de Garde (cat.2) Romain Bardet (FDJ) attacks countered by Nicolas Roche (Liberty Seguros), With 6 km to the line for the breakaway, there is 3’04 to group Bardet, 3’52 to a peloton of 185 riders.
Romain Bardet descending from Col de Garde:
On the final climb Elissonde attacks, trying to gain some time on the other favorites, there is still 5 riders in front of him.
Simon Clarke (RusVelo) attacks up front and rides the last 4 km alone, he wins the stage with 50 sec to Hubert Dupont (BigMat), Nicolas Roche takes the last podium 1’37 after Clarke, Bardet get the same time.
Rein Taaramäe catches up to Ellisonde, they get in at 2’21. A group with Kiryienka and Moser get in at 3’21. Vandewalle at 3’59, all the other favorites lose more than 4’20 today.
Taaramäe/Ellisonde crossing the line:
Rasmussen: A great day for us, many riders lost a lot of time today, hopefully we can now hold on to our goal of a top5.
Stage:
1
Simon Clarke
RusVelo
3h43'39
2
Hubert Dupont
BigMat - Auber 93
+ 50
3
Nicolas Roche
Liberty Seguros - Würth
+ 1'37
4
Francis Mourey
FDJ.fr
s.t.
5
Romain Bardet
FDJ.fr
s.t.
6
Rein Taaramäe
Banco Santander
+ 2'21
7
Kenny Elissonde
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
8
Dominik Nerz
BMC Racing Team
+ 3'21
9
Jelle Vanendert
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
10
Moreno Moser
Vodafone
s.t.
GC:
1
Rein Taaramäe
Banco Santander
11h05'34
2
Nicolas Roche
Liberty Seguros - Würth
+ 30
3
Vasil Kiryienka
Vodafone
+ 1'07
4
Kenny Elissonde
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 1'22
5
Romain Bardet
FDJ.fr
+ 1'42
6
Moreno Moser
Vodafone
+ 2'15
7
Sergey Firsanov
Katusha Team
+ 2'23
8
Dominik Nerz
BMC Racing Team
+ 2'33
9
Kristof Vandewalle
GUNK
+ 2'44
10
Alexandre Geniez
La Pomme Marseille
+ 2'53
Points:
1
Rein Taaramäe
Banco Santander
44
2
Vasil Kiryienka
Vodafone
37
3
Adriano Malori
Cannondale Pro Cycling
31
Mountain:
1
Laurent Didier
Leopard - Trek Continental Team
36
2
Rémy Di Gregorio
Jules
36
3
Kenny Elissonde
Christina Watches - Onfone
34
Team: Vodafone
Young: Kenny Elissonde - Christina Watches - Onfone
Rasmussen Reports: The Caravan has traveled just 17 km west from Toulon to Grasse, for the last stage heading for Grasse located inland near Cannes. Bandol is a coastal town and municipality (commune) of about 7500 inhabitants, the town dates back to the late 1500’s. Bandol is also a famous Wine district.
We expect the stage to be another possibility for the GC contenders to battle for time on the last uncategorized but rather hard climb before the finish. The long descend before the finish does not suit Elissonde well, he needs good legs not to lose time.
Profile
The weather is almost like yesterday, but with winds up to a strong breeze, we have to be more careful the peloton might break over. The morning break is 6 riders, Jan Hirt (Leopard Continental) is the best placed at 6’04, Rémy Di Gregorio (Jules) is also in the break, 2nd in the KoM classification, he will secure the overall KoM win today. The break gets a max. of almost 8 min.
To some surprise it is FDJ for GC:5 Romain Bardet who decides to take responsibility, they suddenly sets a frantic pace, with more than 90 km left, the peloton get stretched immediately. It is going to be a very hard stage.
The high pace is too much for GC:9 Kristof Vandewalle (GUNK) he must have very bad legs, already with 50 km left, he starts hanging in the back of the peloton. He will lose 7’54 today.
The break is over and the fighting starts on the last uncategorized climb, only a small group of 17 riders makes it to the top together, the race leaders Taaramäe, Roche, Kiryienka, Elissonde and Bardet are all in the group. GC:7 Sergey Firsanov (Katusha) is not in the group.
Attacking continues on the descend, only 10 riders makes is to a reduced sprint. Enrico Battaglin (Cannondale) wins in Grasse.
Rasmussen: Perfect last stage, Elissonde did not feel very good on this stage, but he was fighting and kept his position in the GC and the Youth Jersey.
Final Results
Stage:
1
Enrico Battaglin
Cannondale Pro Cycling
5h02'11
2
Jelle Vanendert
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
3
Dominik Nerz
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
4
Romain Bardet
FDJ.fr
s.t.
5
Kenny Elissonde
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
6
Jan Polanc
Team Differdange - Losch
s.t.
7
Rein Taaramäe
Banco Santander
s.t.
8
Vasil Kiryienka
Vodafone
s.t.
9
Moreno Moser
Vodafone
s.t.
10
Nicolas Roche
Liberty Seguros - Würth
s.t.
GC:
1
Rein Taaramäe
Banco Santander
16h07'45
2
Nicolas Roche
Liberty Seguros - Würth
+ 30
3
Vasil Kiryienka
Vodafone
+ 1'07
4
Kenny Elissonde
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 1'22
5
Romain Bardet
FDJ.fr
+ 1'42
6
Moreno Moser
Vodafone
+ 2'15
7
Dominik Nerz
BMC Racing Team
+ 2'25
8
Jelle Vanendert
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 3'19
9
Jan Polanc
Team Differdange - Losch
+ 4'12
10
Enrico Battaglin
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 4'18
Points:
1
Rein Taaramäe
Banco Santander
53
2
Vasil Kiryienka
Vodafone
45
3
Enrico Battaglin
Cannondale Pro Cycling
39
Mountain:
1
Rémy Di Gregorio
Jules
62
2
Laurent Didier
Leopard - Trek Continental Team
36
3
Kenny Elissonde
Christina Watches - Onfone
34
Team: Vodafone
Kenny Elissonde - Christina Watches
Edited by Tamijo on 16-05-2016 09:52
It is our first time at Tour of the Algarve, a relative new stage race, first held in 1960 & 1961 and then annually from 1977, in recent years the tour have become a preparation for the spring season, with prominent winner like Alberto Contador (2009-10) and Tony Martin (2011) last year the race was won by French rider Damien Gaudin (BMC).
We expect the undulated stage 3 (16/2) with an uphill finish to Alto do Malhão and the 34.8 km ITT at stage 4 (17/2) to be the stages where this race is won. It is not unlikely that the winner of the ITT will also be the overall winner. The ITT is not quite flat, favouring riders with a combination of time trail and uphill skills.
Tony Gallopin should have the skills for a race like this, depending on the competition we face we expect a result between 6th and a podium.
Profiles:
With Tony as leader, we have got Morten Høberg as sprinter, but with none of our absolute top sprinters in the squad, we will try to take part in as many breaks as possible, Martin Pedersen and Mike Teunissen will be the riders appointed for this task, but other with good legs might also get the chance.
Roster:
Jens Juul
Mads Würtz Schmidt
Mike Teunissen
Tony Gallopin
Martin Pedersen
Anders Bjerregård
Yves Lampaert
Morten Høberg
Tour Down Under 22/1 – 27/1 (cat. WT)
Tour Méditerranéen 6/2 – 10/2 (cat. 2.1)
. How does the last two stages look?
Volta ao Algarve 14/2 – 17/2 (cat. 2.1)
