The swiss one day race is about to begin. We have had very great experiences with this race the two last years that we've ridden it.
In 2011 Rasmus Sterebo won the race and in 2012 Peter Kennaugh took the 6th spot.
This year we come with huge expectations, since Østergaard has been showing great shape.
We will try to make the finish a mass sprint in a reduced group, so Østergaard can do what he is best to do.
profile
The Team
2012 results
1
Pablo Lastras
Farnese Vini
2
Domenico Pozzovivo
Colnago
3
Pawel Sztobryn
Bank BGZ
4
Davide Cimolai
Liquigas
5
Valery Kobzarenko
Team Type 1
Favourites
N. Østergaard
S. Dumolin, V. Nibali
M. Santambrogio, J. Hoogerland, S. Spilak
It took some time to get a break established, so with 130 km to go Sterebo tried his luck, following M. Pinotti (Geox)
Sterebo gets into the break
The two riders builded up a nice gap, but unfortunately they weren't the only one who wanted to be in the breakaway. Therefore other riders attacked and the two riders was now a in a 12 men group
The duo becomes a dusin
With 95 km to go, something really unexpected happened.
It was Vincenzo Nibali who broke away from the pack. The biggest favourite of them all caught the breakaway, but of course nobody wanted him to be there, and therefore the group was caught again
Nibali on his way to the front group
Sterebo feld really good today, and therefore he didn't wanted Nibali to break his plans. Sterebo therefore broke away some kilometres after the breakaway was caught. This time he got 2 other riders with him. It was, G. Muraglia (D'Angelo) and Michael Rasmussen (Adria)
Sterebo in the new 3 men break
The breakaway worked very fine, but with 10 km to go it was over because the riders within the break couldn't agree on who was going to make the hard work.
On the way upwords the final climb, some riders escaped from the pack. Østergaard was having an amazing time, and saw this as a good chance. Therefore he broke away, on the wheel of M. Santambrogio (Astana)
Østergaard takes the wheel of M. Santambrogio as he strikes away from the pack
The rider in front of Santambrogio couldn't keep the pace going and feld backwords again. After that, Santambrogio took over with Østergaard in his wheel.
With 3 km to go, these two riders were in front alone. Østergaard was in perfect position if Santambrogio could drive fast enough to keep the pack behind them...
Østergaard and Santambrogio alone in the front
With one kilometer left, Santambrogio and Østergaard was still in front. Santambrogio was driving slower and slower and Østergaard just had to go past him to get to the finish
Østergaard in perfect position with the finish line in sight
And he did... Østergaard easily pasted Santambrogio and was now all alone in the front. Could he do again? could he really extend his already being succes from Tour du Haut var...?
Østergaard with the line in sight
Yes he could! Østergaard had a long time to celebrate his victory and secure another great victory. This wasn't even just a small race, this was a sponsor goal, which would make our sponsors really happy!
Østergaard wins!!!
Results
Of couse i forgot to export the results...
I was too busy celebrating the victory
Race evaluation
I don't know what to say about this victory... There have been so many great results at the moment and the guys have worked really hard to make the results achieveable.
We just have to enjoy the great times for the moment - Because maybe it won't be the same when we get further in the season...
We've been staying another day in the Swiss country to ride the next race on the schedule.
Østergaard is ready and confident for this race and wants to get the Swiss double-up. The teams and lineups are the same, only the route has changed, so we'll try our best.
profile
The Team
2012 results
1
Niki Østergaard
Team EnergiFyn - TDC
2
Peter Sagan
Liquigas
3
Robert Kiserlovski
Astana
4
Przemyzlaw Niemiec
Lampre
5
Vladimir Miholjevic
Aqua Sapone
Favourites
A. Galdos
N. Østergaard, V. Nibali
S. Dumolin, X. Florencio, S. Ponzi
After yesterdays win, Østergaard moved up to the first place in the individual Continental tour rankings. Therefore he started the race in the leaders jersey of this competition
Østergaard in the Continental Tour rankings leader jersey
Rasmus Sterebo won this race in 2011. Therefore he has got a huge love for this race, and therefore we agreed on that he had to go in the morning breakaway.
Along with him, he got the Spaniard R. Reig (Cantabria)
Sterebo and his breakaway companion
With 60 km left G. Caruso (Liquigas) attacked, which got the speed in the pack to grow very fast on a descend. This caused that our main captain Niki Østergaard fell in the pack in a solo crash
Østergaard crashes
We immediately reached by sending, Vanmarcke, Kness and O'Grady down to Østergaard, to try pulling him back into the pack
Østergaard gets help from his teammates, to get back into the pack
With the mass effort by the teammates, Østergaard came back into the pack. Luckily he weren't affected by the crash, but he had lost some important energy to get back into the pack
Østergaard back in the pack
After we had crossed the final major climb of the race, there were about 15 km to go. The group was now reduced to 19 riders, while the breakaway with Sterebo and Rieg was still in front, with a little gap
The pack with about 15 km left
R. Reig couldn't follow the pace by Sterebo and dropped down to the pack, leaving Sterebo alone. But this didn't last very long, since S. Dumolin (Geox) attacked from the pack, and joined Sterebo
Sterebo gets accompanied by S. Dumolin
But the duo was caught again by the Cantabria Infinita team.
With 6,5 km left, Anders Lund tried to make his contra attack. This attack was made because he was driving really well at the time, but also for to help Østergaard, by leaving the other guys who had no teammates left, to take the lead in the pack
Anders Lund strikes with 6,5 km to go
Appearently it was S. Dumolin who had to make all the hard work, bringing Lund back into the pack.
With about 3 km to go, Lund was almost caught, and S. Dumolin was in front with A. Galdos (Cantabria) and N. Østergaard in his wheel
The sprint starts...
When Lund was caught with 2 km to go, X. Florencio (Geox) and M. Eigbegger (Farnese Vini) came from behind in a very fast acceleration. Østergaard tried to follow Florencio on the outer left side of the road
Østergaard tries to follow X. Florencio in the left side
With 1 km left, Østergaard pasted Florencio. But also Galdos (Cantabria) in the outer right corner had done the same, while Eigbegger was going slower and slower.
It seemed like it was going to be a battle between Galdos and Østergaard
Østergaard and Galdos in the battle of victory
But this time Galdos was too fast.
A great win for the Spaniard who have had a great season start by winning the Tour de San Luis in January and now the GP di Lugano. Østergaard came in second, while Eigbegger took third
Another great result to end a brilliant month for our team.
A beautiful secondplace in this kind of races, is really great. I think we were very active in our way of riding, and that's the way we should have been driving. I'm very proud of the guys.
Hi guys and thanks for all your posetive responses.
I have had a great time sharing my Pcm career experiences with you guys, but i'm probably going to join the majority of the end by February Pcm stories.
When starting out this story, i feld completely sure that it was going to last forever, but almost all have that feeling...
I've used a lot of hours trying to share my experiences with you, and i've enjoyed them. But in the last couple of updates, i have been doing them because i feld it was my duty to keep it going, and that's my point.
I don't think you should use so much time on something you feel is a duty, when it was supposed to be just fun.
Therefore i'm ending this story today.
I wanna thank all of the great guys who have been commenting and have had wished me luck in my races. Every single comment makes you think it's worth keep writing for - Thank you! Without you, writing a story would be completely boring and painfull.
Sad news, andy! But I think it's the right choice, if you don't have any motivation. Thanks for sharing this, it was nice to follow your carrer with EnergiFyn. With great victories as wellEdited by poiup11 on 02-12-2011 15:09
So sorry to hear this bad news Andy, i have really enjoyed reading your story and awaiting the outcome of the Grand Tours. Maybe one day you will want to start again but until then enjoy the break
Thanks for following my story. I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed it, but sorry that i've disappointed you. I also hope to come back again some day, and i'll no doubt continue my career with Team EnergiFyn - TDC, but not as PcmDaily story
Seeing good stories ending is always sad news.. but I do understand your reasons! Hope we will you see being active here on forum though: You made some good things (faces, story) in relatively short time here
