3rd stage from Molina di Ledro to Fai della Paganella, with 3 climbs, including two times to Fai della Paganella (alt. 1000m, 9.5km at 7.5%).
We try to make it a tough race, to tire the GC-contenders. Thoms De Gendt leads a group of 32 riders over the first summit of the Fai della Paganella.
Then with 5 climbing kilometres to go, Andy Schleck attacks out of the group, and immediately GC-leader Gabriele Bosisio counters. Bosisio even tries to drop our leader, but he doesn't succeed.
The 2 have been joined by Thibaut Pinot (AG2R) and also Damiano Caruso (Liquigas) and Emanuele Sella (Lampre) are about to close the gap, entering the last km.
Schleck is in the wheel of Bosisio when the sprint starts, but just like yesterday he is beaten by 31-year-old Italian, and even looses 5 seconds. Pinot finishes in 3rd at '11.
Results
1
Gabriele Bosisio
Lampre - Generali
4h46'06
2
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 5
3
Thibaut Pinot
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 11
4
Damiano Caruso
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 28
5
Emanuele Sella
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
6
Leonardo Bertagnolli
Lampre - Generali
+ 40
7
Francis De Greef
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
8
Francesco Masciarelli
Pro Team Astana
+ 53
9
John Gadret
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 58
10
Alexsandr Dyachenko
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
GC
1
Gabriele Bosisio
Lampre - Generali
9h38'15
2
Thibaut Pinot
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 1'14
3
Leonardo Bertagnolli
Lampre - Generali
+ 1'32
4
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 1'41
5
Damiano Caruso
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 1'46
6
Emanuele Sella
Lampre - Generali
+ 1'47
7
Tejay Van Garderen
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 2'05
8
Alexsandr Dyachenko
Pro Team Astana
+ 2'12
9
Francesco Masciarelli
Pro Team Astana
+ 2'17
10
Francis De Greef
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 2'32
Points
1
Gabriele Bosisio
Lampre - Generali
25
50
2
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
20
40
3
Tejay Van Garderen
Colnago - CSF Inox
4
29
4
Leonardo Bertagnolli
Lampre - Generali
10
28
5
Thibaut Pinot
AG2R La Mondiale
16
28
KOTM
1
Gabriele Bosisio
Lampre - Generali
16
2
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Ford
16
3
Jure Golcer
Adria Mobil
16
4
Emanuele Sella
Lampre - Generali
14
5
Massimo Giunti
Colnago - CSF Inox
1
2
Today's winner
Word from the DS
Good stage, but it's hard to fight for the win with a fitness under 80.
The 4th and last stage brings the riders from Andalo to Madonna di Campiglio over 157 tough kilometres. The finish is uphill, to the skiresort of Madonna di Campiglio at an altitude of 150 metres above sea level.
Before we go to the last climb, first a summary of the stage so far:
Our team worked hard to keep the pack together untill the first Intergiro. Our goal was to let Andy Schleck win the sprint and to receive 6 bonus seconds. Well, we did it succesfully. After that, a few attacks were seen, but the Lampre-team of GC-leader Gabriele Bosisio kept the pace high so no big gaps were created.
Shortly before the first KOTM-sprint at the Passo del Ballino, Thomas De Gendt attacked, to regain his KOTM-jersey. He got 2nd (behind Astana's Nuno Ribeiro) at both the first and the second (Passo del Duron) KOTM-sprint, so he has a good shot at winning the KOTM-jersey now. But Lampre did not wanted to let the 2 ride away, so a big first group starts the final climb.
Almost halfway up the climb, 7 kilometres before the finish, we attack the leaders jersey. First, Francis De Greef attacks and when nobody reacts, Andy Schleck jumps to his wheel.
De Greef works hard for the next 2 kilometres to create a nice gap, and under the bow of the last 5km, Schleck attacks. One rider has closed the gap to them, GC's number 2 Thibaut Pinot (AG2R). He can also follow Schleck's attack. Damiano Caruso (Liquigas) is in 4th at '34 and the group Bosisio follows at '48. His domestiques Bertagnolli and Sella work their asses off to keep the winner of the last 2 stages in the yellow jersey.
Déja-vu..... Another 2nd place for Andy Schleck, the 3rd in a row. He can't shake off Pinot in the last kilometres of the climb, so he decides to set himself in the wheel of the French climbing talent, because Pinot has a great chance in becoming the new GC-leader. But in the sprint, Pinot is too strong. Now the clock starts ticking.....
... And it stops at '32, which means Gabriele Bosisio is the winner of the Giro del Trentino 2012. When you made a bet at the bookmakers, you would be rich by now.... At least Schleck jumps to the 3rd place (and not the 2nd ).
Results
1
Thibaut Pinot
AG2R La Mondiale
4h09'54
2
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
3
Emanuele Sella
Lampre - Generali
+ 32
4
Damiano Caruso
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
5
Gabriele Bosisio
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
6
Francis De Greef
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
7
Leonardo Bertagnolli
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
8
Francesco Masciarelli
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
9
Cayetano Sarmiento
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
10
Tejay Van Garderen
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
Today's winner
GC
1
Gabriele Bosisio
Lampre - Generali
13h48'41
2
Thibaut Pinot
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 22
3
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 51
4
Leonardo Bertagnolli
Lampre - Generali
+ 1'32
5
Emanuele Sella
Lampre - Generali
+ 1'39
6
Damiano Caruso
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 1'46
7
Tejay Van Garderen
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 2'05
8
Alexsandr Dyachenko
Pro Team Astana
+ 2'12
9
Francesco Masciarelli
Pro Team Astana
+ 2'17
10
Francis De Greef
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 2'32
Points
1
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
26
66
2
Gabriele Bosisio
Lampre - Generali
12
62
3
Thibaut Pinot
AG2R La Mondiale
25
53
4
Leonardo Bertagnolli
Lampre - Generali
9
37
5
Emanuele Sella
Lampre - Generali
16
36
KOTM
1
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Ford
12
28
2
Thibaut Pinot
AG2R La Mondiale
16
26
3
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
12
24
4
Emanuele Sella
Lampre - Generali
10
24
5
Gabriele Bosisio
Lampre - Generali
6
22
U25
1
Thibaut Pinot
AG2R La Mondiale
13h49'03
2
Damiano Caruso
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 1'24
3
Tejay Van Garderen
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 1'43
4
Cayetano Sarmiento
Acqua & Sapone
+ 8'33
5
Carlos Betancourt
Acqua & Sapone
+ 9'43
Teams
1
Lampre - Generali
41h29'25
2
Pro Team Astana
+ 3'51
3
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 4'42
4
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 7'44
5
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 8'22
Overall winner
Word from the DS
This was a succesful Giro del Trentino, with 2 jerseys (Points & KOTM), 3 2nd places in a stage and the 3rd place in the GC. Off to Romandie with this group of riders!
Pinot is developping well, already 77 MO!
He deserved that stage win, since he has been in front in most stages in Trentino. And still a neat podium finish for Andy.
Edited by fcancellara on 31-12-2011 11:07
The riders that started in the Giro del Trentino hve taken the plain to the beautiful Rioja-region in Spain. Not to consume some of the famous wines, but to compete in the 52nd edition of the Vuelta a la Rioja. 47 of them were won by a Spanish rider.
The route is classified as hilly, but the highest altitude (the Alto de Villaroya) is about 900 metres above seas level. The last part of the race includes 2 steep climbs, the Alto de Labraza and the Alto de Moncaletre, and after a descend the fiish awaits after 198 kilometres in Logrones.
The race in 2011 was surprisingly won by Onda's Alejandro Marque.
Startlist
Spoiler
Monster Energy - Ford
1. A.Schleck
2. T.Bos
3. T.De Gendt
4. F.De Greef
5. M.De Maar
6. T.Dumoulin
7. P.Ligthart
8. R.Zingle
Our goal
Being still in the preparation fase for the Tour de Romandie, and the Giro d'Italia, this is a nice test for us. So we'll definitely try something in a breakaway and have someone left over to sprint for a top 3.
The race Marc de Maar is active in the first part of the race, as he wants to be in a breakaway. He succeeds in doing it, but that breakaway gets caught. Then, very strangely, De Maar has got a small gap to the peloton of about 20 seconds and he is pulling away second by second. There comes no reaction out of the peloton, so De Maar has started a monster solo ride with 175 kilometres to go. He reaches the Cima Félix Iglesias, the highest point of the race, with a gap of 11 minutes (!!) to the peloton. But there are still 150 kilometres to go...
Of course, De Maar is still in the lead at the summit of the Alto de Labraza. But his gap has decreased a lot: 3'39 with 43km to go. The chasing group consists of 29 riders, with our best riders still in it.
De Maar also survives the last climb of the day, the Alto de Moncaletre. 31 kilometres before the finish, he leads a group of 5 with 1'06. In this group are Javier Moreno (Caja Rural), Ángel Madrazo (Movistar), Massimiliano Gentili (D'Angelo), David De la Fuente (LA-Antarte) and Julien El Fares (Cofidis). The peloton is only 1'30 behind.
And with 15 kilometres to go, a solo of 160 has ended for De Maar. Immediately, we see the next attack out of the first group (the two groups have joined in the descend). Again El Fares and Moreno are the ones, but the riders form Movistar do the pace in the group.
ANd that's with a reason. When Moreno and El Fares manage to create a little gap, 2 Movistar riders attack and join them. Rui Costa and Ángel Madrazo are the ones, but one rider has sneaked with them: Andy Schleck. So a group of 5 riders is in the lead entering the last 5 kilometres.
Having some energy left, Schleck uses a small uphill part to attack out of the leading group. He manages to get a gap of 15 seconds and that gap is increasing every 100 metres. 2 kilometres before the finish in Logrones, he has a gap of almost 20 seconds!
And he manages to keep it! Andy Schleck becomes the 5th non-Spanish winner of the Vuelta a la Rioja. Madrazo wins the sprint for the 2nd place, beating Julien El Fares. Thomas De Gendt wins the sprint of the peloton and takes the 6th place.
Results
1
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
5h23'17
2
Ángel Madrazo
Movistar Team
+ 20
3
Julien El Fares
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
4
Javier Moreno
Caja Rural
s.t.
5
Rui Costa
Movistar Team
s.t.
6
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
7
Mateusz Komar
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
8
David De la Fuente
LA - Antarte
s.t.
9
Aitor Galdos
Caja Rural
s.t.
10
Miguel Rubiano
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Davide Rebellin
Pisanellastoria - Guerciotti
s.t.
12
Jonathan Castroviejo
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
13
Julián Sánchez Pimienta
Caja Rural
s.t.
14
Sergio Pardilla
Movistar Team
s.t.
15
Alexander Efimkin
Team Type 1
s.t.
16
Francis De Greef
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
17
Massimiliano Gentili
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
18
José Herrada
Caja Rural
s.t.
19
Jesús Del Nero
Orbea Continental
s.t.
20
Pim Ligthart
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 2'13
21
Stefan Schumacher
Pisanellastoria - Guerciotti
+ 2'47
22
Iván Gutiérrez
Andalucía Caja Granada
s.t.
23
Jarlinson Pantano
Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia
s.t.
24
André Cardoso
Tavira - Prio
s.t.
25
Luis Pasamontes
Movistar Team
+ 3'18
26
Tony Gallopin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 3'52
27
Samuel Dumoulin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
28
Jacek Morajko
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
29
Cândido Barbosa
LA - Antarte
s.t.
30
Luca Ascani
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
31
Antonio Piedra
Andalucía Caja Granada
s.t.
32
Antonio Colom
Andalucía Caja Granada
s.t.
33
Yaroslav Popovych
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
s.t.
34
Romain Sicard
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
35
Ángel Vallejo
Burgos 2016 - Castilla y León
s.t.
36
Luis Ángel Maté
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
37
Tom Dumoulin
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 4'52
38
Maurizio Biondo
Pisanellastoria - Guerciotti
+ 5'55
39
José Alberto Benítez
Andalucía Caja Granada
s.t.
40
Luis Felipe Laverde
Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia
s.t.
41
Jaume Rovira
Tavira - Prio
s.t.
42
Antonio Olmo
Tavira - Prio
s.t.
43
Ricardo García
Orbea Continental
s.t.
44
Nicolas Vogondy
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 6'24
45
Alejandro Marque
Onda
+ 6'43
46
Thierry Hupond
M&M's
s.t.
47
Bert De Waele
Landbouwkrediet
s.t.
48
Dirk Bellemakers
Landbouwkrediet
s.t.
49
Aurélien Passeron
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
50
Sérgio Sousa
LA - Antarte
s.t.
51
Robert Vrecer
LA - Antarte
s.t.
52
Rafael Serrano
Barbot - Efapel
s.t.
53
Davide Frattini
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
s.t.
54
Sergio Henao
Barbot - Efapel
s.t.
55
Javier Megías
Team Type 1
s.t.
56
Nairo Quintana
Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia
s.t.
57
Tomasz Marczynski
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
58
Enrique Sanz
Movistar Team
s.t.
59
John Darwin Atapuma
Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia
s.t.
60
Francisco José Pacheco
Movistar Team
+ 7'39
61
Víctor De la Parte
Caja Rural
s.t.
62
Marc De Maar
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 8'19
63
Javier Iriarte
Movistar Team
+ 8'35
64
Giuseppe Muraglia
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
+ 8'52
65
Garikoitz Bravo
Caja Rural
+ 9'28
66
Romain Zingle
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
67
Tiziano Dall'Antonia
LA - Antarte
+ 9'46
68
Kevin Peeters
Landbouwkrediet
s.t.
69
Henry Frusto
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
70
Mariusz Witecki
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
71
Daniel Mestre
Tavira - Prio
s.t.
72
Luca Celli
Pisanellastoria - Guerciotti
s.t.
73
Julien Fouchard
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
74
Reinier Honig
Landbouwkrediet
+ 10'28
75
Adrián Palomares
Andalucía Caja Granada
s.t.
76
José Antonio De Segovia
Burgos 2016 - Castilla y León
s.t.
77
Walter Proch
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
78
Ricardo Vilela
Onda
s.t.
79
Rubens Bertogliati
Team Type 1
s.t.
80
Félix Cárdenas
Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia
s.t.
81
Krzysztof Szczawinski
CCC Polsat Polkowice
+ 11'22
82
Francisco Mancebo
Orbea Continental
+ 11'43
83
Matthias Kessler
Team NSP
s.t.
84
Marlón Pérez
Barbot - Efapel
s.t.
85
Alexandre Geniez
M&M's
s.t.
86
Javier Benítez
Andalucía Caja Granada
s.t.
87
Stéphane Bonsergent
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
88
Arturo Mora
Caja Rural
s.t.
89
Pierre Cazaux
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
90
Víctor Cabedo
Orbea Continental
+ 13'28
91
Javier Francisco Aramendia
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 14'32
92
Rui Sousa
Barbot - Efapel
s.t.
93
Pablo Urtasun
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
94
Delio Fernández
Onda
s.t.
95
Marco Frapporti
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
96
Moisés Dueñas
Burgos 2016 - Castilla y León
+ 15'08
97
Michael Matthews
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
s.t.
98
Gerben Löwik
M&M's
+ 15'43
99
Christopher Jones
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
s.t.
100
Mikel Bizkarra
Orbea Continental
s.t.
101
Hélder Oliveira
LA - Antarte
s.t.
102
Gianluca Randazzo
Pisanellastoria - Guerciotti
s.t.
103
Elia Rigotto
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
104
Theo Bos
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
105
Tom Veelers
M&M's
+ 17'07
106
Kenny Van Hummel
M&M's
s.t.
107
Silvère Ackermann
Barbot - Efapel
s.t.
108
Iñaki Isasi
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
109
Bart Dockx
Landbouwkrediet
s.t.
110
Raúl Alarcón
Barbot - Efapel
s.t.
111
Jorge Azanza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
112
Ronan Van Zandbeek
M&M's
s.t.
113
Egidijus Juodvalkis
Landbouwkrediet
s.t.
114
Danilo Andrenacci
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
+ 18'04
115
Ricardo Mestre
Tavira - Prio
+ 18'59
116
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
117
Sławomir Kohut
Pisanellastoria - Guerciotti
+ 19'16
118
Daniel Silva
Onda
+ 19'32
119
Cristiano Fumagalli
Pisanellastoria - Guerciotti
+ 20'50
120
Bruno Sancho
LA - Antarte
s.t.
121
Simone Campagnaro
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
122
Vidal Celis
Tavira - Prio
s.t.
123
Kohei Uchima
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
124
Piotr Sztobryn
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
125
Laszló Bodrogi
Team Type 1
s.t.
126
José Vicente Toribio
Andalucía Caja Granada
s.t.
127
Pablo Lechuga
Andalucía Caja Granada
s.t.
128
Lluis Guillermo Mas
Burgos 2016 - Castilla y León
s.t.
129
Hannes Blank
Team NSP
s.t.
130
Amaro Antunes
LA - Antarte
s.t.
131
Jon Aberasturi
Orbea Continental
s.t.
132
Eloy Teruel
Caja Rural
s.t.
133
Pascual Orengo
Burgos 2016 - Castilla y León
s.t.
134
André Schulze
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
135
Tino Thömel
Team NSP
+ 21'55
136
Omar Lombardi
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
137
Marcin Sapa
CCC Polsat Polkowice
+ 22'21
138
Fabian Bruno
Team NSP
+ 24'54
139
Boy Van Poppel
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
+ 26'02
140
Fang Han
M&M's
s.t.
141
Martin Reimer
M&M's
s.t.
142
Samuel Caldeira
Barbot - Efapel
s.t.
143
Stefano Pirazzi
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
144
Angelo Pagani
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
145
Raffaele la Rosa
Team Type 1
s.t.
146
Olaf Kerkhof
Team Type 1
s.t.
147
Manuele Caddeo
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
148
Alberto Morrás
Onda
s.t.
149
Juan Villegas
Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia
s.t.
150
Hans Dekkers
Landbouwkrediet
+ 27'23
151
João Pereira
Tavira - Prio
s.t.
152
Robert Förster
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
s.t.
153
Sebastien Baldauf
Team NSP
s.t.
154
Thomas Fothen
Team NSP
+ 28'59
155
Ramon Ajuntas
Movistar Team
+ 29'39
156
Sven Forberger
Team NSP
+ 29'58
157
Hugo Salazar
Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia
s.t.
158
Bruno Lima
Onda
s.t.
159
Ludovic Turpin
Burgos 2016 - Castilla y León
s.t.
160
Adrian Hegyvari
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
s.t.
161
Ciro la Porta
Pisanellastoria - Guerciotti
+ 32'28
162
Andrea Pasqualon
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 33'19
163
Sérgio Ribeiro
Barbot - Efapel
s.t.
164
Jorge Cardona
Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia
s.t.
165
Hilton Clarke
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
+ 36'58
166
Charles Bradley Huff
Team Type 1
+ 38'37
167
Martijn Verschoor
Team Type 1
+ 40'22
168
Mauro Abel Richeze
Team NSP
+ 41'41
169
Alexandre Jacquet
Landbouwkrediet
s.t.
170
Juan José Arregui
Tavira - Prio
+ 44'07
Today's winner
Word from the DS
2 things to say. First, we're very proud of Marc De Maar with an incredible solo ride. He deserved more than to get caught 15 kilometres before the finish. And secondly, great ride by Andy Schleck, taking the first win of the season. Looking forward with confidence to the Tour de Romandie and the Giro with this team!
All eyes are focused at Liege, for the 98th edition of Liege - Bastogne - Liege. "La Doyenne" is considered as the world's toughest classic race, with lots of steep climbs in the Belgian Ardennes and a length of over 250 kilometres. The route has been changed a few times in the last years, but the organisation has seemed to find the route they love, with the Redoute, Roche-aux-Faucons and the Saint-Nicolas in the last 35 kilometres.
59 of the previous 97 editions were won by a Belgian rider, with the best rider in the history, Eddy Merckx, being the record holder with 5 wins. Unfortunately the victory list consists some riders that got caught at dping in their career, such as Alexandre Vinokourov, Alejandro Valverde, Danilo di Luca, Davide Rebellin and Tyler Hamilton...
Philippe Gilbert finally won the race in 2011. It's his home race, and the Côte de la Redoute is located in his backyard. He was too fast for Rodríguez and Evans.
The question is who can beat this guy? Lotto's Philippe Gilbert is the best hilly rider in the world, and with wins in the Amstel Gold Race and La Fleche Wallonne in the last week, he has shown that he is in top form.
Maybe this guy. Damiano Cunego got 2nd in the Amstel Gold Race and the win in Liege - Bastogne - Liege is won of his most important season goals.
The 3rd of the big favourites is Joaquim Rodríguez. He showed good form in the Vuelta al Pais Vasco , as well as in the Amstel Gold Race. He is eager to become the 2nd Spanish winner of La Doyenne, and the first to do it without suspicion.
Outsiders **Robert Gesink, Cadel Evans (Katusha), Igor Antón (Euskaltel), Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana) * Rigoberto Urán (Sky), Alberto Contador (Saxo Bank), Simon Gerrans (Qantas), Frank Schleck (Nissan)
Our goal
Our sponsor wants a top 3, but we will be happy with a top 5.
178km to go, Côte de Saint-Roch (1.0km at 11%)
A big group, that eventually will grow to 16 riders, form th ebreak of the today. Climbing the Côte de Saint-Roch, 10 riders are present. Th emost famous ones are Rein Taaramäe (Sony Ericsson), Remi Pauriol (FDJ), Marek Rutkiewicz (Vacansoleil) and Dominique Cornu (Lotto). At this moment they have a lead of 2'38 to the peloton. Some riders are bridging the gap, such as Mauro Santambrogio (BMC), Sébastien Joly (Saur) and Iván Basso (Garmin).
127km to go
At one of the many little climbs between the Côte de Saint-Roch and Houffalize, the peloton has broken into many pieces. Behind the 16 leaders follows a first group of 47 riders at 3'01. A big 2nd group follows at 5'05. In this 2nd group ride Frank Schleck, Alberto Contador, Samuel Sánchez, Cadel Evans and Rigoberto Urán. Is there a decision in LBL this early in the race??
96 km to go, Côte de Wanne (2.7km at 7.3%)
When we realized that some of the favourites were already behind, we send Lefevre & Westra to the front of the first group to set a high pace. Because of this, all but 3 of the leading group get caught in the ascend of the Côte de Wanne. Only Basso, Joly and Santambrogio are up front. The first peloton follows at '48, the 2nd at 3'35.
53km to go
But unfortunately, none of the teams of the other favourites (Lotto, Lampre) help us, so with 53 kilometres to go, the 2 groups emerge. Only the 3 leaders are up front, a peloton of 57 riders follows at 1'31. But do the riders that had to chase still have enough energy left?
47km to go, Mont-Theux (2.6km at 5.9%)
At the summit of the Mont-Theux, the 3 leaders get caught and Jakob Fuglsang (Nissan - Radio Shack) is the next one to attack.
35km to go, Côte de la Redoute (2.0km at 8.8%)
Fuglsang gets caught in the descend towards the town of Sougné-Remouchamps and then the riders have to climb the toughest climb of the race, the Côte de la Redoute with a maximum gradient of 22%!. A group of 48 riders start the climbs, but it's sure that there will be a split after this climb.
33km to go, summit of the Redoute
The big guys didn't show themselves in the ascend of the Redoute. So Fuglsang attacked again and is the first one at the summit. '33 behind him comes a group of 18 riders, with all the favourites, except Rigoberto Urán and Chris Horner.
18km to go, Côte de la Roche aux Faucons (1.5km at 9.5%)
Finally, we see Philippe Gilbert. He was hidden in the peloton the entire race, but in the ascend of the Côte de la Roche aux Faucons he has taken control of the pace. Fuglsang has been caught and Santambrogio been dropped, so still 18 riders that have a chance for the win. In this group are Robert Gesink, Peter Sagan & Jelle Vanendert, all of them feeling pretty well.
15km to go
But what's this? After the summit of the Roche aux Faucons, Alberto Contadoer and Franco Pellizotti get dropped, as did Jens Voigt in the ascend. So 15 riders left...
6km to go, Côte de Saint-Nicolas (1.2km at 8.3%)
The leading group of 15 has entered the suburbs of Liege and have started the last real climb, the Saint-Nicolas. Everybody is waiting for Gilbert to attack, but he doesn't! Is he not strong enough, or is he that confident that he can win in the sprint? Nevertheless, this paralyzes his opponents, as none of them attack, including our 3 riders in this group.
4km to go
Shortly before the riders enter Ans, were the finish is located, we see the answer to the earlier question if the riders that got behind early in the race didn't wasted too much energy in the chase. First Contador got dropped, now Cadel Evans and Samuel Sánchez. Also Denis Menchov, Igor Antón, Roman Kreuziger and Jakob Fuglsang are riding deeply in the red and seem to get dropped. Our 3 riders are still in the first group of 9!
1km to go, Côte d'Ans
The last part of the race is going uphill again. We've decided to put all our cards on Robert Gesink, as he feels still strong. He's in the wheel of Jelle Vanendert entering the last kilometre. But then happens what everybody was waiting for along the road: Philippe Gilbert unleashes his powers and is blasting away. Damiano Cunego and Joaquim Rodríguez try to follow, but for sure they can't follow him?
Finish
No they can't! Gilbert even creates a gap of 8 seconds and takes the Ardennes triple, and his 2nd win in a row in his most beloved La Doyenne! This time, Purito gets 2nd, followed by Cunego and Robert Gesink. Sagan & Vanendert finish in 7th and 8th.
Results
1
Philippe Gilbert
Lotto - Belisol
6h42'33
2
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
+ 8
3
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
4
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
5
Fränk Schleck
Nissan - Radio Shack - Trek
s.t.
6
Alexandre Vinokourov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
7
Peter Sagan
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
8
Jelle Vanendert
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
9
Simon Gerrans
Team Qantas
s.t.
10
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1'06
Spoiler
11
Jakob Fuglsang
Nissan - Radio Shack - Trek
s.t.
12
Roman Kreuziger
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
13
Denis Menchov
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
14
Cadel Evans
Katusha Team
+ 2'08
15
Samuel Sánchez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
16
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 3'58
17
Franco Pellizotti
Lampre - Generali
+ 4'30
18
Chris Horner
Lotto - Belisol
+ 4'53
19
Jens Voigt
Nissan - Radio Shack - Trek
+ 5'00
20
Rigoberto Urán
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
21
Mauro Santambrogio
BMC Racing Team
+ 5'57
22
Ben Hermans
Nissan - Radio Shack - Trek
+ 7'55
23
Chris Anker Sørensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 8'12
24
Leonardo Moser
Androni Giocattoli
+ 8'29
25
Andreas Klöden
Nissan - Radio Shack - Trek
+ 9'16
26
Vasil Kiryienka
Pro Team Astana
+ 10'01
27
Ivan Basso
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
28
Wout Poels
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
29
Sébastien Joly
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
30
Ángel Vicioso
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
31
Kevin De Weert
Nissan - Radio Shack - Trek
s.t.
32
Alessandro Bertolini
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
33
Michel Kreder
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
34
Johann Tschopp
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
35
Rob Ruijgh
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
36
Michele Scarponi
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
37
Kim Kirchen
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
38
Lieuwe Westra
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
39
Linus Gerdemann
Katusha Team
+ 10'28
40
Emanuele Sella
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
41
Maxime Monfort
Nissan - Radio Shack - Trek
s.t.
42
Nuno Ribeiro
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
43
Janez Brajkovič
Nissan - Radio Shack - Trek
+ 11'06
44
Tadej Valjavec
Pro Team Astana
+ 11'29
45
Alexsandr Dyachenko
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
46
Kanstantsin Siutsou
Sky ProCycling
+ 12'06
47
Anthony Geslin
FDJ
+ 18'07
48
Bradley Wiggins
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
49
Christian Vande Velde
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 18'47
50
Karsten Kroon
BMC Racing Team
+ 19'07
51
Mikel Astarloza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 19'17
52
Jonathan Hivert
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
53
Paul Martens
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
54
Romain Feillu
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
55
Oliver Zaugg
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
56
Juan José Oroz
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
57
Jussi Veikkanen
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
58
Matthew Lloyd
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
59
Bart De Clercq
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
60
Jonas Aaen Jørgensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
61
Alberto Losada
Katusha Team
s.t.
62
David Loosli
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
63
Wim Van Huffel
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
64
Brice Feillu
Saur - Sojasun
+ 21'44
65
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ
s.t.
66
David López
Movistar Team
s.t.
67
Rubén Plaza
Movistar Team
s.t.
68
Óscar Sevilla
Movistar Team
s.t.
69
Simon Clarke
Team Qantas
s.t.
70
Rafael Valls
Nespresso
s.t.
71
Egor Silin
Katusha Team
s.t.
72
Jérémy Roy
FDJ
s.t.
73
Vladimir Karpets
Katusha Team
s.t.
74
Arkaitz Durán
Nespresso
s.t.
75
Sandy Casar
FDJ
s.t.
76
Ryder Hesjedal
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
77
Tom Leezer
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
78
Guillaume Levarlet
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
79
Zdenek Stybar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
80
Gustavo César Veloso
Movistar Team
s.t.
81
Marco Pinotti
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
82
Eduardo Gonzalo
Movistar Team
s.t.
83
Heinrich Haussler
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
84
Tom Stubbe
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 23'01
85
Leonardo Duque
Sony Ericsson
+ 23'32
86
Gabriele Bosisio
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
87
Tom Danielson
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
88
Nikolas Maes
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
89
Matthias Frank
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
90
Rémi Pauriol
FDJ
s.t.
91
Dries Devenyns
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
92
Marco Corti
Nespresso
s.t.
93
Nico Sijmens
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
94
Xavier Florencio
Nespresso
+ 24'46
95
Carlos Barredo
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
96
Rémy Di Gregorio
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
97
Levi Leipheimer
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
98
Jürgen Van de Walle
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
99
Juan Mauricio Soler
Movistar Team
+ 25'05
100
Pavel Brutt
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
101
Maarten Wynants
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
102
Stijn Vandenbergh
Katusha Team
s.t.
103
Rein Taaramäe
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
104
Amaël Moinard
BMC Racing Team
+ 25'49
105
Richie Porte
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 26'32
106
Anthony Roux
FDJ
s.t.
107
Laurens Ten Dam
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
108
David Moncoutié
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
109
Clément Lhotellerie
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
110
Thomas Rohregger
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
111
Florian Stalder
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
112
Wesley Sulzberger
Team Qantas
s.t.
113
Riccardo Chiarini
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
114
Chris Froome
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
115
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
116
Daniel Teklehaimanot
Team Qantas
s.t.
117
Serge Pauwels
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
118
Imanol Erviti
Movistar Team
s.t.
119
Danny Pate
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
120
Maxim Lefèvre
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
121
Dominique Cornu
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
122
Marek Rutkiewicz
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
123
Tony Martin
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 27'48
124
Luis León Sánchez
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
125
Sérgio Paulinho
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 29'29
126
Egoi Martínez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
127
Donato Cannone
Androni Giocattoli
+ 30'54
128
Iban Mayoz
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
129
Aitor Pérez Arrieta
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
130
Fabio Felline
Nespresso
+ 31'40
131
David Arroyo
Movistar Team
s.t.
132
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
+ 33'28
133
Maxime Vantomme
Katusha Team
+ 33'59
134
Fabrice Jeandesboz
Saur - Sojasun
+ 35'54
135
Timothy Roe
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
136
Yoann Le Boulanger
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
137
Igor Abakoumov
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 36'36
138
Trent Lowe
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
139
Arnold Jeanneson
FDJ
s.t.
140
Frederik Veuchelen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
141
Joost Posthuma
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
142
Fumiyuki Beppu
Team Qantas
s.t.
143
Martijn Keizer
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 37'55
144
Leonardo Piepoli
Androni Giocattoli
+ 38'14
145
Mickaël Buffaz
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 39'21
146
Chad Beyer
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
147
Peter Stetina
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 41'26
148
Travis Meyer
Team Qantas
s.t.
149
Ruslan Pidgornyy
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
150
Adam Hansen
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
151
Jarosław Marycz
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
152
Evgeni Petrov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
153
Julien Simon
Saur - Sojasun
+ 42'23
154
Sébastien Hinault
FDJ
s.t.
155
Daniele Ratto
Nespresso
+ 43'51
156
René Mandri
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
157
Enrico Zen
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
158
Andrew Bajadali
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
159
Aketza Peña
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 44'19
160
Matteo Bono
Lampre - Generali
+ 44'36
161
Andrey Kashechkin
Lampre - Generali
+ 44'44
162
Pieter Weening
Team Qantas
+ 47'07
163
Gorik Gardeyn
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 49'03
164
Nicolas Edet
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 49'53
165
Johnny Hoogerland
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 53'00
166
Volodymir Gustov
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 53'32
167
Christian Meier
Team Qantas
+ 53'53
168
Ion Izagirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 54'58
169
Arnaud Labbe
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 55'15
170
Alex Rasmussen
Nespresso
+ 57'19
171
Jan Tratnik
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 59'25
172
Tomas Alberio
Nespresso
+ 1h03'04
173
Óscar Freire
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 1h04'15
Today's winner
Word from the DS
Gilbert-domination. That's the only thing you can say about the last week... That guy is incredible. But too be honest, I think the same about Gesink, Sagan and Vanendert. They did a great job. And although they didn't get the sponsor goal, we are very, very happy with 3 guys in the top 8. Now let's focus on the Giro!! (but first Rund Um Köln, Tour de Romandie and Rund um den Finanzplatz - Frankfurt).
).
