24/3 Final Stage: 7/7 Lloret de Mar - Barcelona 127.1 km
Christina Reports:
Starting where we finished yesterday in Lloret de Mar. A costal town and tourist destination located about 75 km north of Barcelona. The area is known to have been settled by Iberians from about 400 BC and later by Romans. The first written document mentions Lloret de Mar in 966.
It is 13°C partly clouded with very little wind.
Sant Pere del Bosc current version from 1789:
The route goes inland over 3 climbs, the last and hardest La Conreria originally the location of an Augustinian convent from the thirteenth century, before the last flat 30 km to Barcalona.
We anticipate a mass sprint finish and expect to sit in the peloton protecting Sonder.
The Race:
The morning breakaway is 5 riders. About mid stage they have got 3’30 to the peloton. Besides that nothing happens over the climbs, seems everyone is content to sit in the peloton.
At the last climb the peloton speeds up, and about 20 riders fall out, getting close to the 20 km mark the pace is very high, the distance is now reduced to about a minute.
We get a sprint train up with Bak – Quaade – Høberg – Enger, but getting closer and closer it seems that the train is not strong enough to hold in the very fast pace. Enger decides to grab the wheel of Marco Canola from Androni Giocattoli at take it from there. Jack Bauer (Garmin) is now alone in front
TV Highlight - The Final Sprint
The stage was won by Jack Bauer in front of Michał Kwiatkowski, Enger got blocked a little but got a top 5. More important for us Davide Malacarne won the overall Mountain calcification.
Christina: We had hoped for a little more in the GC, our best was Kenny Elissonde (18), but with a stage win and the KoM, we are happy with the result.
Winner profile:
Today’s stage winner Jack Bauer was born in the small town of Takaka in New Zealand, current ITT national champion. This was his first win since stage 2 in Tour of Utah back in 2011. Jack Bauer started as a professional in 2010 riding for British Continental Team Endura Racing, since 2012 he has been with American World Tour team Garmin.
The overall race winner Michał Kwiatkowski is on a high roll. After riding in Yellow for 10 day he won last year’s Tour de France, he also won Tour de Suisse and Tour of Beijing last year. Finishing no.2 on UCI World Tours. This was his first win after moving from Quick Step to Katusha for this season, but probably not the last.
25/3-28/3 2016 Driedaagse van De Panne-Koksijde 2.HC
Even though Driedaagse van De Panne-Koksijde is not a classic, first held in 1977, it has become an important preparation for Tour of Flanders often providing a strong field of world tour riders. The last ITT stage is often as decisive as the cobbled stages.
Our best result last year was a stage 3rd, finishing way outside the GC. But with a stronger squad this time we hope to get in top 10.
Our leader for the race is Tony Gallopin, with Mads Würtz Schmidt as outsider.
Roster:
Tony Gallopin - Mads Würtz Schmidt - Yves Lampaert - Mike Teunissen – Philip Nielsen - Martin Pedersen - Anders Bjerregård - Lasse Christiansen
25/3 Stage 1/4 Middelkerke – Zottegem 191.2 km – 2 HC
Rasmussen Reports:
The race passes over the cobbled road Haaghoek, located in Sint-Kornelis-Horebeke. From the Ferrariskaarten created by Joseph de Ferraris in 1770 it shows that originally it connected the village “Haeghoeck” with the larger “Saint Cornelis Hoorebeck” we may assume that the village gave name to the famous road, today protected as a cultural monument.
It is cloudy, 9°C and with winds up to a strong breeze.
We expect this stage to be crucial regarding the final GC, we will do anything to keep Tony in front as long as possible and we won’t try any risky early breakaways. Last year this stage was won by Tom Boonen, Pacheco got in 3rd.
The Race:
The breakaway of the day starts of almost immediately, it is Sander Helven from GUNK and Fabio Polazzi from Wallonie-Bruxelles, Helven clearly the stronger by unlike either of then could make it to the finish.
The peloton takes it easy, but it is quite tense the strong breeze might be able to break the bunch up at any time. But that does not happen and the peloton is together right up to the last 40 km.
On the last cobbled section the actual race starts. A lot of riders attack and the break are almost over. Helven is alone in front with just 13 sec. to the next group. 30 km to the line.
Over the cobbled section 8 riders gets a gap, Hoogerland, Martens, Ponzi, Favilli and others. Würtz Schmidt and Michael Valgren is able to squeeze free of the peloton, hunting the group in front. The time differences are quite small under 30 sec. between the groups.
From the peloton Tony Gallopin sets a very high pace, steadily laying the peloton behind and passing by riders falling back from the front group. Tony eventually gets contact with Würtz Schmidt and together the reach the two riders in front just in time for the final. Getting close to the 1 km mark the riders are: Tony, Schmidt, Paul Martens (Argos) and Favilli (Quick Step)
TV Highlight: The final in Zottegem
Tony Gallopin wins the stage in front of Elia Favilli. Poul Martens takes the last podium.
Rasmussen: Fantastic result and teamwork, 1 & 4 on the stage. Mads is so much a part of this victory with the work he did for Tony on the last 6 km.
But the time gained was limited, it is a very open GC.
Winner Profile:
This was Gallopin’s 2nd victory after his transfer to Christina Watches from Coca Cola for this season, also winning the 3rd. stage in Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen. With other good result Tony is now 2nd on CQ-ranking and 7th on WT ranking.
27 years old Gallopin was born in Dourdan, a relative small town and commune located in the forest area just 50 km south of Paris. Turning professional in 2008 riding for Auber 93.
Result (export crash)
GC:
Points: Tony Gallopin
Young: Mads Würtz Schmidt
Team: Argos Shimano
26/3 Stage 2/4 Oudenaarde – Koksijde 191.7 km – 2 HC
Rasmussen Reports:
The race starts in Oudenaarde, famous for its tapestry production in 16th and early 17th century.
De Collegiale Sint-Walburgakerk built between 1150 and 1620. The 88 m tall tower constructed from 1498-1624 is a town landmark; the church is dedicated to Saint Walburga a non from the 700’s.
It is very cloudy, 8°C with a gentle breeze.
Collegiale Sint-Walburgakerk:
The stage includes some cobble section’s but is not as hard and hilly as yesterday with a long flat section before the finish. Our main focus is not to lose time. We will try to lead the pack if necessary.
The Race:
A huge morning break of 11 riders gets established within the first 20 km of the stage.
With Tony riding in the white leader jersey, we take responsibility setting several riders in front to pull the bunch, the break get no more than 3’30.
It is raining very hard, resulting in some crashes, we have Nielsen down but he gets up in time to get back without losing much energy.
The weather takes its toll on the riders, getting close to the finish most are wet, dirty and tired looking forward to a bath after the stage is over.
Closing in on the final km, the peloton is close to the remainders from the breakaway, who are all looking tired and empty, it looks like a mass sprint finish.
TV highlight : Final in Koksijde - Stage II
The stage was won by Nacer Bouhanni in front of Svend Vandousselaere, Tony takes the last podium.
Rasmussen: A good stage, podium and Tony still in white leader jersey.
Winner Profile
25 years old Stage winner Nacer Bouhanni was born in Épinal in north eastern France. Starting his professional career in 2010 riding for Française des Jeux.
This was his 2nd win of the season after winning stage 2 in Tour of Oman, riding for Europcar since the beginning of the season.
GC:
Points: Tony Gallopin
Young: Emiel Dolfsma (Belkin)
Team: Vodafone
25/3-28/3 2016 Driedaagse van De Panne-Koksijde 2.HC
27/3 Stage 3/4 De Panne - De Panne 112.1 km
Rasmussen Reports
:
Today a short flat stage in and around De Panne, an costal town and tourist destination in Belgium close to the French border. It is just 8°C with a strong breeze, and dark clouds.
“Dünendörfchen” (Dunes village) by German artist Gustav Schönleber 1901
We expect a fast stage, due to the narrow gaps in the GC, we will take part in the hunt if a dangerous breakaway are formed.
The Race:
It is very cold and raining heavily on the start grid and the start is slow without attacks, but that does not last, closing in on the intermediate sprint the attacking begins.
It ends in a breakaway of 8 riders, some of them only 28 sec. behind in the GC, we have to get riders up front and set a high pace to control the situation. The rain has stopped for a while.
Other teams start helping with about 50 km left, the pace gets very high, we can now let go of the front. Some of the weaker riders have a lot of trouble just hanging on, at the 10 km sign the breakaway are within reach.
Our team is hurt by the hard chase all day, we only got Mike Teunissen left to help Tony Gallopin on the last 6 km.
TV Highlight – The Sprint in De Panne
The stage was won by Gaetan Bille Quick Step in front of Romain Feillu Europcar. Our best was Tony (8) and Mike (10)
Christina: Hard race for everyone, but we didn't lose the lead, now we need Tony to have a great ITT.
Winner Profile:
Today’s winner was 27 years old Belgian rider Gaëtan Bille, riding for Omega Pharma - Quick-Step. Bille was born in German city Soest.
This was Gaëtan Bille’s the first victory since winning the 2012 Grand Prix Pino Cerami. Bille started as professional in 2009 riding for Verandas Willems.
25/3-28/3 2016 Driedaagse van De Panne-Koksijde 2.HC
28/3 Final Stage 4/4 De Panne ITT 11.2 km
Rasmussen Reports:
The final stage is an ITT in De Panne. With a close GC this stage will be crucial to the outcome of the race. It is just 6°C with clouds but little wind.
The Race:
At the point where Tony Gallopin is about to start his ITT as the last riders, it has been a very bad day for us, everyone on the team is outside top 100. Geraint Thomas from Astana is leading the stage and the race so far, Tony can lose 27 sec. and stay in the lead, he needs a top 10 on the stage.
Tony on the route:
Gallopin loses 32 sec. to Thomas, a 15th. on the stage, not enough to win overall, but enough for a race podium behind Julien Vermote.
Rasmussen: Always hard to lose form a leading position, but aiming for a top 10 and getting a podium we can only be happy, looking good for the cobbled WT races coming up. Tony also won the points jersey.
Winner Profine:
29 years old Geraint Howell Thomas born in Birchgrove district in the city of Cardiff,
Wales. The started as a Professional in 2006 riding for Recycling.co.uk, He transferred to Astana for this season after riding for Sky/Vodafone since 2010.
This was his first stage & race win since 2014 where he won two times, winning “Baloise Belgium” and one stage in Tour de Suisse. In 2015 he had no wins, but became 9th in Tour de France and 5th in the Vuelta ending 28th overall in the world tour.
GC:
Points: Tony Gallopin
Young: Danny Van Poppel – Argos Shimano
Team: Vodafone
Volta Ciclista a Catalunya (WT)
Driedaagse van De Panne-Koksijde 2.HC
. Mads with a great assist too!
