Yes it is that time of year again. The Nation Championships.
Selected NC TT Champions:
Belgium - Vandyck*
Canada - Veilleux
Colombia - Uran
Czech Republic - Kreuziger
Denmark - Krog
France - Roux
Germany - Sutterlin
Great Britain - Faiers
Italy - Balloni
Netherlands - van der Lijke
Norway - Boasson Hagen
Poland - Majka
Portugal - N Oliviera
Russia - N Novikov
Spain - Castroviejo
Switzerland - Frank
Ukraine - Karnulin
USA - Craddock
What can I say about Vandyck! ...
1
Niels Vandyck
Qatar Optics - Duvel
57'38
2
Valentin De Ridder
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 27
3
Zico Waeytens
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 32
4
Yannick Eijssen
Herbalife
+ 51
5
Ben Hermans
RIM
+ 1'02
6
Tim Declercq
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
+ 1'06
7
Thomas De Gendt
TEAM Iberdrola
+ 1'20
8
Dries Beatse
YouTube
+ 1'32
9
Justin Van Hoecke
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 1'37
10
Jan Ghyselinck
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1'55
After 8 years without riding for a pro team he only goes and wins a stage in the Giro and then goes on to win the Belgian TT title! This is some fairy-tale. We have already agreed to send 7 Qataris to the tdf, that leaves 2 spaces open. I think Vandyck has justified a place in our tdf team for Qatar Optics' finest moment.
With the tdf and NC RRs beckoning we headed out with, most of, our tdf squad to Hong Kong. We won the race last season with the home favourite, Long, and will look to do the same here.
We always had domestiques keeping things in check on the front of the peloton.
A two man break got away today with around 60 KM to go. Yousef Al Ghanim showed well on the front of the peloton, putting others in difficulty, without suffering too much.
Sudanese rider, Bahari, leads Eddie Aurel!
It was great to race alongside our continental team and, of course, my son!
The break takes it today.
Riding for Banco de Chile the Russian, Ignatiev, takes the win. The break looked to be in control but the Russian held off well in the closing kilometres as the teams in the peloton slowed down towards the finish at the only point when our guys weren't setting the pace.
Despite working for C.S.Long, Al Sulimani leads home the favourites @ '29 for a very nice 3rd place.
That leaves us with just the Tour de Haut Var to race before we hit the tdf.
RESULTS:
1
Dimitry Ignatiev
Banco de Chile
2h30'37
2
Vitaliy Buts
Meiji - Lampre CT
s.t.
3
Abdurahman Al Sulimani
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 29
4
Elias Schmäh
Belavia
s.t.
5
Filipe Gabriel Macedo
Belavia
s.t.
6
Jakob Rathe
Belavia
s.t.
7
Olivier Perron
Armavia - Provamel
s.t.
8
Chan Siu Long
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
9
Patrick Gretsch
Jupiler
s.t.
10
Robert Kiserlovski
TEAM KazMunayGas
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Mikk Toruste
Viru Beer
s.t.
12
Thibault Boonen
Japan Airlines
s.t.
13
Niki Østergaard
Rockwell Collins
s.t.
14
Ivan Markovic
Viru Beer
s.t.
15
Adam Blythe
Belavia
s.t.
16
Pieter Serry
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
17
Juan José Lobato
Cantabria Infinita
s.t.
18
Matthew Rowe
Belavia
s.t.
19
Yousef Al Ghanim
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
20
Steven Van Vooren
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
21
Arnaud Molmy
Armavia - Provamel
s.t.
22
Steven Lampier
Wiggle - Rexona
s.t.
23
Kim Borry
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
24
Adrian Rybalko
Meiji - Lampre CT
s.t.
25
Erick Rowsell
Wiggle - Rexona
s.t.
26
Dylan Van Baarle
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
27
Marco Zanotti
Meiji - Lampre CT
s.t.
28
Haakon Pettersen
Ridley
s.t.
29
Alex Bowden
Belavia
s.t.
30
Aiden Murray
Belavia
+ 1'20
31
Ricardo Vilela
Panathinaikos
+ 1'46
32
Nelson Oliveira
Pearl
s.t.
33
Dominic Klemme
Jupiler
s.t.
34
Josué Moyano
TEAM KazMunayGas
s.t.
35
Ricky Jørgensen
Rockwell Collins
s.t.
36
Stéphane Libert
Armavia - Provamel
s.t.
37
Thomas Murray
Team Nippo
s.t.
38
Lorenzo Thierry
Armavia - Provamel
s.t.
39
Danylo Litynskyi
Meiji - Lampre CT
s.t.
40
Niels Wytinck
Japan Airlines
s.t.
41
Abzal Negodyayev
TEAM KazMunayGas
s.t.
42
Valerey Valynin
Banco de Chile
s.t.
43
Joan del Bosque
Meiji - Lampre CT
s.t.
44
Joeri Adams
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
45
Adriano Malori
Domina Vacanze
s.t.
46
Frans-Leonard Markaskard
Ridley
s.t.
47
Julien Vermote
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
48
José David Martínez
Kaai Kari
s.t.
49
Aleksei Durchenko
Banco de Chile
s.t.
50
Luca Barla
Domina Vacanze
s.t.
51
Rodrigo Barragan
Cantabria Infinita
s.t.
52
Lucas Krog
Rockwell Collins
s.t.
53
Joe Wright
Armavia - Provamel
s.t.
54
Abdulatif Al Yazeedi
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
55
Preben Timmermans
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
56
Diego Fernandez
Cantabria Infinita
s.t.
57
José Rodrigues
Pearl
s.t.
58
Niki Terpstra
Jupiler
s.t.
59
Evgeni Mirov
Armavia - Provamel
s.t.
60
Joaquín Torres
Cantabria Infinita
s.t.
61
Tommy Paulsen
Ridley
s.t.
62
Arturo Mora
Cantabria Infinita
s.t.
63
Zhambyl Smirnov
TEAM KazMunayGas
s.t.
64
René Göbel
Jupiler
+ 2'50
65
Vincent Vandevelde
Japan Airlines
+ 3'57
66
Anuar Chelyakov
TEAM KazMunayGas
s.t.
67
Guido Palma
Kaai Kari
s.t.
68
Yevgeny Glovatsky
TEAM KazMunayGas
s.t.
69
Maxim Pokidov
Alpro
s.t.
70
Phil White
Belavia
s.t.
71
Renat Vasilyev
Alpro
s.t.
72
Mikhail Antonov
Alpro
s.t.
73
Azamat Chelyakov
TEAM KazMunayGas
s.t.
74
Ladislav Benes
Japan Airlines
s.t.
75
Abdurahman Al Muwalid
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
76
Andrei Smirnov
TEAM KazMunayGas
s.t.
77
Patrik Tybor
Wiggle - Rexona
+ 5'17
78
Benjamin Sydlik
Focus - Allianz
s.t.
79
Thomas Schmidt
Focus - Allianz
s.t.
80
Antonio Santoro
Domina Vacanze
s.t.
81
Matthias Friedemann
Jupiler
+ 5'37
82
Sacha Modolo
Domina Vacanze
+ 5'54
83
Christian Moberg Jørgensen
Rockwell Collins
s.t.
84
Ryan Carlton
Panathinaikos
s.t.
85
Joshua Edmonson
Wiggle - Rexona
s.t.
86
Oliver Poom
Viru Beer
s.t.
87
Sam Bewley
Kaai Kari
s.t.
88
Nico Risi
Domina Vacanze
s.t.
89
Jaroslav Cernoch
Panathinaikos
s.t.
90
José Gonçalves
Pearl
s.t.
91
Pavel Kochetkov
Alpro
s.t.
92
Andrew Fenn
Wiggle - Rexona
s.t.
93
Andrey Solomennikov
Alpro
s.t.
94
Alessandro Fantini
Domina Vacanze
s.t.
95
Cameron Richards
Kaai Kari
s.t.
96
Tomas Vaitkus
Viru Beer
s.t.
97
Guido Garavaglia
Domina Vacanze
s.t.
98
Mark McNally
Wiggle - Rexona
s.t.
99
Jonas Rausch
Alpro
s.t.
100
Andreas Kukk
Viru Beer
s.t.
101
Siarhei Papok
Kaai Kari
+ 6'34
102
Rafael Serrano
Cantabria Infinita
s.t.
103
Chris Opie
Panathinaikos
s.t.
104
Yuzuru Suzuki
Team Nippo
s.t.
105
Luís Tavares
Pearl
s.t.
106
Scott Thwaites
Panathinaikos
s.t.
107
Victor Manakov
Banco de Chile
s.t.
108
Emeric Frere
Japan Airlines
s.t.
109
Felix Huber
Focus - Allianz
s.t.
110
Tobias Schatz
Jupiler
s.t.
111
Jordi Simón
Cantabria Infinita
s.t.
112
Mark Renshaw
Kaai Kari
s.t.
113
Ali Sanad Al Muwalid
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
114
Samet Yildiz
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
115
Dave Whyte
Wiggle - Rexona
s.t.
116
Diogo Valentim
Pearl
+ 7'44
117
Rolands Lobanovs
Viru Beer
s.t.
118
Yusuke Hatanaka
Team Nippo
s.t.
119
Stephen Adams
Wiggle - Rexona
s.t.
120
Marcel K. Hafner
Focus - Allianz
s.t.
121
Arnau Contador
Cantabria Infinita
s.t.
122
Stanislav Sokolov
Banco de Chile
s.t.
123
Morten Høberg
Rockwell Collins
s.t.
124
Jonas Aaen Jørgensen
Team Nippo
s.t.
125
Robert Jantscher
Panathinaikos
s.t.
126
Odin Helgesen
Ridley
s.t.
127
Pierpaolo De Negri
Domina Vacanze
s.t.
128
Raphaël Janssens
Accent Jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
129
Elliott Vázquez
Meiji - Lampre CT
s.t.
130
Franco Castro
Japan Airlines
s.t.
131
Sotiris Dimas
Panathinaikos
s.t.
132
Uffe Lynge Larsen
Rockwell Collins
s.t.
133
Nadjib Bahari
Optics Continental
+ 8'45
134
Samuel Honkala
Viru Beer
s.t.
135
Vladislav Abramovich
Banco de Chile
s.t.
136
Ali Sanad Al Hardi
Optics Continental
s.t.
137
Eddie Aurel
Optics Continental
s.t.
138
René Mandri
Viru Beer
s.t.
139
Maaz Al Hardi
Optics Continental
s.t.
140
Julian Vogel
Focus - Allianz
s.t.
141
Stefan A. Born
Focus - Allianz
+ 9'43
142
Yoshinori Hashimoto
Meiji - Lampre CT
s.t.
143
Hassan Al Temiyat
Optics Continental
s.t.
144
Rajab Al Hardi
Optics Continental
s.t.
@ sutty - It was great to keep that jersey, Tunisia will be thrilled!
Nice to see that you took one nc. What are the stats from Van der Lijke?
As an reaction on your reaction on my reaction (): Well, actually I don't let the game decide which sponsor will be there next season. Many jerseys in the database don't have nc's and I really like it when there are nc's in-game. So I just download packs and add them (or use my own created jerseys ofc, but downloading a pack is less difficult ). I've already downloaded many packs and I'll use them in the future. There are really great packs downloadable.
Looking forward to the tour. Hope really one of the Qataris gets to snatch a stage win or at least a podium at some point. That'd be huge. Imagine the buzz.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Familiar names in the past Rui Costa and Janez Brajkovic made the break today. They now ride for continental teams Eddie Merckx and Fuji respectively.
The break are caught and the 2020 winner of this race, Lemerchand, attacks with 10 KM to go.
Al Ghanim knew this was the attack to go with but despite attacking, he could not bridge across. However, he looked certain for a top 10 place as Talansky and Pirazzi did manage to ride across.
Talansky takes the win!
The American wins from a quality select group to take the race lead.
FOR US .... all was going well, until ..... with 900 meters to go, uphill, Al Ghanim fell and would lose any hopes of a top 10 as a result.
Our NCs, Turkish and Qatari, they both will be heading to the TDF.
Brajkovic would make the break again today, and despite the presence of Capecchi he would secure the KOM jersey.
Al Ghanim attacks!
With 3 KM to go our Qatari leader puts in an attack out of the big favourites group with the steep final hill still to come.
Pirazzi wins today though.
Once Al Ghanim, who finished 10th on the stage, hit the final wall of a climb he immediately cracked. Pirazzi, ever aggressive, was the best up the final climb today and is rewarded with the stage win and just misses out on the GC which goes to Talansky thanks to those old time bonuses.
That is it folks. Next stop: The TDF
STAGE RESULTS:
1
Stefano Pirazzi
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
5h37'40
2
Andrew Talansky
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 9
3
Jules Lemarchand
Eurosport
s.t.
4
Patrice Pion
Alstom
+ 17
5
Sebastian Witek
TEAM Eddy Merckx
+ 30
6
Rolando Galvez
Pearl
s.t.
7
Bob Jungels
Emporiki Bank - UPC
s.t.
8
Frédéric Clavel
Bank BGZ - Schuller
s.t.
9
Eros Capecchi
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
s.t.
10
Ahmed Al Ghanim
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 40
Spoiler
11
Usama Al Hamdani
Japan Airlines
s.t.
12
Anthony Delaplace
Alstom
+ 59
13
Enzo Jeannin
Gillette
s.t.
14
Alexandre Geniez
Eurosport
s.t.
15
Daan Olivier
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
16
Johan André
Auber 93 - BigMat
s.t.
17
Yegor Dementyev
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
s.t.
18
Vincenzo Russo
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
s.t.
19
Jannick Van Damme
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
20
Fabio Polazzi
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
21
Johan Le Bon
Fuji - Avia
s.t.
22
Florian Bissinger
LKT - T-Mobile
+ 1'19
23
Mikaël Chérel
Gillette
s.t.
24
Ruben Zepuntke
LKT - T-Mobile
s.t.
25
Yoann Barbas
Gillette
s.t.
26
Thibault Boonen
Japan Airlines
s.t.
27
Yannick Albertini
Gillette
+ 1'30
28
Kevin Peeters
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
s.t.
29
Sebastien Pristl
LKT - T-Mobile
s.t.
30
Olivier Perron
Armavia - Provamel
s.t.
31
Emeric Frere
Japan Airlines
s.t.
32
Frederik Verkinderen
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
33
Jérôme Coppel
Emporiki Bank - UPC
s.t.
34
Rui Costa
TEAM Eddy Merckx
s.t.
35
Juan José Lobato
Cantabria Infinita
s.t.
36
Michael Rodriguez
TEAM Iberdrola
s.t.
37
Rémi Thevenet
Eurosport
s.t.
38
Matthieu Ladagnous
Alstom
s.t.
39
Giacomo Nizzolo
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
s.t.
40
Klaas Lodewyck
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 1'55
41
Mathieu Allaire
Eurosport
s.t.
42
Kevin Denis
Alstom
s.t.
43
Thomas Damuseau
Alstom
s.t.
44
Paulo Garcia
Pearl
s.t.
45
Kamil Zielinski
TEAM Eddy Merckx
+ 2'04
46
Niels Vandyck
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
47
Simon Daniel
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 2'09
48
Kevin Torres Alonso
El Al Israel Airlines - iBanesto.com
+ 2'15
49
Logan Chaix
Bank BGZ - Schuller
s.t.
50
Diego Milán
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
+ 2'22
51
Delio Fernández
El Al Israel Airlines - iBanesto.com
+ 2'30
52
Raul Mora
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 2'35
53
Simon Spilak
Auber 93 - BigMat
+ 2'59
54
Janez Brajkovič
Fuji - Avia
+ 3'10
55
Arnaud Molmy
Armavia - Provamel
+ 3'15
56
Gijs Bakker
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 3'55
57
Juan Antonio Esperanza
Dukla
+ 4'11
58
Kun Jiang
Dukla
+ 4'18
59
Julien Theron
Alstom
+ 4'22
60
Florent Pruvot
Gillette
s.t.
61
Pieter Van de Voorde
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 4'28
62
Mateusz Komar
TEAM Eddy Merckx
+ 4'34
63
Franco Castro
Japan Airlines
+ 4'40
64
Kevin Florent
Eurosport
s.t.
65
John Darwin Atapuma
TEAM Iberdrola
+ 6'02
66
Kamil Witkowski
TEAM Eddy Merckx
+ 7'08
67
Fabio Piscopiello
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 7'15
68
Alexander Debakker
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 7'20
69
José Gonçalves
Pearl
s.t.
70
Matthieu Halleguen
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 8'00
71
Daniel Plaza
TEAM Iberdrola
+ 8'07
72
Iván Sesma
El Al Israel Airlines - iBanesto.com
+ 8'17
73
Rémy Beauvais
Fuji - Avia
+ 8'23
74
Mattéo Crespin
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 12'50
75
Patrick Crawford
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 12'58
76
Rodrigo Borja
Cantabria Infinita
+ 13'02
77
Rodrigo Barragan
Cantabria Infinita
s.t.
78
Thomas Bonin
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 13'11
79
Jonathan Thiré
Alstom
s.t.
80
Enrique Sanz
Japan Airlines
s.t.
81
Roger Kluge
LKT - T-Mobile
+ 13'20
82
Nico Hecker
LKT - T-Mobile
+ 13'30
83
Pim Ligthart
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
s.t.
84
Joaquín Torres
Cantabria Infinita
+ 13'36
85
Stéphane Grenier
Fuji - Avia
s.t.
86
Anuar Manan
Dukla
s.t.
87
Vincent Vandevelde
Japan Airlines
s.t.
88
Léo Christophe
Gillette
s.t.
89
Roger Bruyere
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 13'49
90
Abdurahman Al Muwalid
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
91
Jarosław Marycz
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
+ 13'59
92
Aurélien Passeron
Armavia - Provamel
+ 14'07
93
Federico Rocchetti
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 14'11
94
Edwig Cammaerts
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
+ 15'17
95
Arnau Contador
Cantabria Infinita
+ 17'45
96
Kwok Wing Wai
Dukla
+ 19'17
97
Stéphane Libert
Armavia - Provamel
+ 19'48
98
Adrian Torres
Fuji - Avia
s.t.
99
Walter Porras
TEAM Iberdrola
+ 19'56
100
Justin Jules
Auber 93 - BigMat
+ 20'04
101
Marcel Huber
LKT - T-Mobile
s.t.
102
Roger Dupuy
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 20'20
103
Patrice Fremont
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 20'27
104
Joe Wright
Armavia - Provamel
+ 20'51
105
José Rodrigues
Pearl
+ 23'03
106
Lorenzo Thierry
Armavia - Provamel
+ 23'07
107
Vincent Coudray
Alstom
+ 23'14
108
Luís Tavares
Pearl
+ 23'20
109
Artem Zaleski
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 23'25
110
Tristan Cellier
Auber 93 - BigMat
+ 23'33
111
Samet Yildiz
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 23'42
112
Román Osuna
Cantabria Infinita
s.t.
113
Diogo Valentim
Pearl
s.t.
114
Ali Al Asmari
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
115
Jesse Anthony
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 23'54
116
Donovan Arnould
Fuji - Avia
s.t.
117
Lukasz Modzelewski
TEAM Eddy Merckx
s.t.
118
Jon Alvares
El Al Israel Airlines - iBanesto.com
s.t.
119
Miguel Ángel Salgado Álvarez
El Al Israel Airlines - iBanesto.com
+ 24'08
120
Simon Hahn
LKT - T-Mobile
s.t.
121
Robin Guiot
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 24'19
122
Andres Charún
TEAM Iberdrola
+ 24'25
123
Viktor Konopka
Dukla
+ 24'32
124
Juraj Hradok
Dukla
+ 28'16
125
Dorian Moisan
Eurosport
+ 28'25
126
Diego Fernandez
Cantabria Infinita
+ 28'43
127
Milan Jerábek
TEAM Eddy Merckx
+ 29'23
128
Adam Macek
TEAM Eddy Merckx
+ 29'33
129
Hendrik Linden
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 30'00
130
Luis Ángel Maté
El Al Israel Airlines - iBanesto.com
+ 30'09
131
Robin Duhamel
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
+ 32'22
132
Samuel Estevez
TEAM Iberdrola
+ 32'43
133
Lionel Ledoux
Auber 93 - BigMat
+ 34'17
134
Donovan Lecourt
Auber 93 - BigMat
+ 34'26
135
Tim K. Hahn
LKT - T-Mobile
s.t.
136
Ali Sanad Al Muwalid
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 35'27
137
Abdulatif Al Zaid
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 39'02
138
Nicolas Fernandez
Cantabria Infinita
+ 41'25
FINAL GC:
1
Andrew Talansky
Emporiki Bank - UPC
11h03'07
2
Stefano Pirazzi
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 3
3
Jules Lemarchand
Eurosport
+ 12
4
Patrice Pion
Alstom
+ 1'10
5
Rolando Galvez
Pearl
+ 1'23
6
Frédéric Clavel
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 1'43
7
Sebastian Witek
TEAM Eddy Merckx
+ 1'49
8
Bob Jungels
Emporiki Bank - UPC
s.t.
9
Vincenzo Russo
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 1'52
10
Jannick Van Damme
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Johan Le Bon
Fuji - Avia
s.t.
12
Usama Al Hamdani
Japan Airlines
+ 1'59
13
Ruben Zepuntke
LKT - T-Mobile
+ 2'12
14
Enzo Jeannin
Gillette
+ 2'18
15
Daan Olivier
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
16
Johan André
Auber 93 - BigMat
s.t.
17
Yegor Dementyev
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
s.t.
18
Fabio Polazzi
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
19
Logan Chaix
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 2'28
20
Mikaël Chérel
Gillette
+ 2'38
21
Anthony Delaplace
Alstom
+ 2'42
22
Yannick Albertini
Gillette
+ 2'49
23
Sebastien Pristl
LKT - T-Mobile
s.t.
24
Olivier Perron
Armavia - Provamel
s.t.
25
Matthieu Ladagnous
Alstom
s.t.
26
Giacomo Nizzolo
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
s.t.
27
Frederik Verkinderen
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 3'13
28
Jérôme Coppel
Emporiki Bank - UPC
s.t.
29
Eros Capecchi
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 3'37
30
Kevin Denis
Alstom
+ 3'38
31
Ahmed Al Ghanim
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 3'47
32
Alexandre Geniez
Eurosport
s.t.
33
Raul Mora
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 3'54
34
Thomas Damuseau
Alstom
+ 4'05
35
Yoann Barbas
Gillette
+ 4'11
36
Juan José Lobato
Cantabria Infinita
+ 4'22
37
Rui Costa
TEAM Eddy Merckx
+ 4'27
38
Emeric Frere
Japan Airlines
+ 4'37
39
Rémi Thevenet
Eurosport
s.t.
40
Kamil Zielinski
TEAM Eddy Merckx
+ 5'11
41
Diego Milán
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
+ 5'19
42
Michael Rodriguez
TEAM Iberdrola
+ 5'28
43
Paulo Garcia
Pearl
+ 5'36
44
Florian Bissinger
LKT - T-Mobile
+ 6'25
45
Klaas Lodewyck
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 6'33
46
Kevin Peeters
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
+ 6'36
47
Janez Brajkovič
Fuji - Avia
+ 6'47
48
Mathieu Allaire
Eurosport
+ 7'01
49
Simon Daniel
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 7'15
50
Florent Pruvot
Gillette
+ 7'29
51
Simon Spilak
Auber 93 - BigMat
+ 8'05
52
Kun Jiang
Dukla
+ 9'05
53
Juan Antonio Esperanza
Dukla
+ 9'17
54
Thibault Boonen
Japan Airlines
+ 9'23
55
Julien Theron
Alstom
+ 9'28
56
Kevin Florent
Eurosport
+ 9'46
57
Niels Vandyck
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 10'14
58
Arnaud Molmy
Armavia - Provamel
+ 11'25
59
Gijs Bakker
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 12'05
60
Fabio Piscopiello
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 12'21
61
Pieter Van de Voorde
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 12'38
62
Franco Castro
Japan Airlines
+ 12'50
63
Matthieu Halleguen
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 13'06
64
Mattéo Crespin
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 14'09
65
John Darwin Atapuma
TEAM Iberdrola
+ 14'12
66
Kamil Witkowski
TEAM Eddy Merckx
+ 15'18
67
José Gonçalves
Pearl
+ 15'30
68
Kevin Torres Alonso
El Al Israel Airlines - iBanesto.com
+ 15'37
69
Delio Fernández
El Al Israel Airlines - iBanesto.com
+ 15'52
70
Roger Kluge
LKT - T-Mobile
+ 16'27
71
Daniel Plaza
TEAM Iberdrola
+ 17'07
72
Patrick Crawford
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 18'04
73
Alexander Debakker
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 19'59
74
Rémy Beauvais
Fuji - Avia
+ 21'02
75
Rodrigo Borja
Cantabria Infinita
+ 21'12
76
Rodrigo Barragan
Cantabria Infinita
s.t.
77
Thomas Bonin
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 21'21
78
Enrique Sanz
Japan Airlines
s.t.
79
Iván Sesma
El Al Israel Airlines - iBanesto.com
+ 21'39
80
Nico Hecker
LKT - T-Mobile
+ 21'40
81
Stéphane Grenier
Fuji - Avia
+ 21'46
82
Jonathan Thiré
Alstom
+ 22'11
83
Mateusz Komar
TEAM Eddy Merckx
+ 22'15
84
Pim Ligthart
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
+ 22'30
85
Joaquín Torres
Cantabria Infinita
+ 22'36
86
Anuar Manan
Dukla
s.t.
87
Aurélien Passeron
Armavia - Provamel
+ 23'07
88
Roger Bruyere
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 24'29
89
Stéphane Libert
Armavia - Provamel
+ 25'44
90
Léo Christophe
Gillette
+ 26'15
91
Jarosław Marycz
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
+ 26'38
92
Arnau Contador
Cantabria Infinita
+ 26'45
93
Federico Rocchetti
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 26'50
94
Abdurahman Al Muwalid
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 27'11
95
Edwig Cammaerts
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
+ 27'54
96
Walter Porras
TEAM Iberdrola
+ 28'56
97
Justin Jules
Auber 93 - BigMat
+ 29'04
98
Marcel Huber
LKT - T-Mobile
+ 30'44
99
Vincent Vandevelde
Japan Airlines
+ 32'07
100
Adrian Torres
Fuji - Avia
+ 32'27
101
Roger Dupuy
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 33'42
102
Patrice Fremont
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 33'49
103
Joe Wright
Armavia - Provamel
+ 34'13
104
Lorenzo Thierry
Armavia - Provamel
+ 35'46
105
José Rodrigues
Pearl
+ 36'25
106
Vincent Coudray
Alstom
+ 36'36
107
Luís Tavares
Pearl
+ 36'42
108
Artem Zaleski
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 36'47
109
Kwok Wing Wai
Dukla
+ 36'58
110
Diogo Valentim
Pearl
+ 37'04
111
Jesse Anthony
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 37'16
112
Simon Hahn
LKT - T-Mobile
+ 37'30
113
Robin Guiot
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 40'56
114
Samet Yildiz
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 41'23
115
Andres Charún
TEAM Iberdrola
+ 42'06
116
Luis Ángel Maté
El Al Israel Airlines - iBanesto.com
+ 44'18
117
Román Osuna
Cantabria Infinita
+ 45'07
118
Juraj Hradok
Dukla
+ 45'57
119
Dorian Moisan
Eurosport
+ 46'06
120
Miguel Ángel Salgado Álvarez
El Al Israel Airlines - iBanesto.com
+ 48'03
121
Diego Fernandez
Cantabria Infinita
+ 48'17
122
Tristan Cellier
Auber 93 - BigMat
+ 50'22
123
Ali Al Asmari
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 50'31
124
Donovan Arnould
Fuji - Avia
+ 50'43
125
Lukasz Modzelewski
TEAM Eddy Merckx
s.t.
126
Jon Alvares
El Al Israel Airlines - iBanesto.com
s.t.
127
Viktor Konopka
Dukla
+ 51'21
128
Tim K. Hahn
LKT - T-Mobile
+ 53'39
129
Hendrik Linden
Emporiki Bank - UPC
+ 55'32
130
Milan Jerábek
TEAM Eddy Merckx
+ 56'12
131
Robin Duhamel
TEAM Dexia - Telenor
+ 56'17
132
Ali Sanad Al Muwalid
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 1h00'59
133
Lionel Ledoux
Auber 93 - BigMat
+ 1h01'06
134
Adam Macek
TEAM Eddy Merckx
+ 1h04'00
135
Abdulatif Al Zaid
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 1h05'51
136
Nicolas Fernandez
Cantabria Infinita
+ 1h06'28
137
Samuel Estevez
TEAM Iberdrola
+ 1h07'10
138
Donovan Lecourt
Auber 93 - BigMat
+ 1h08'53
@ MrUFo - That is a great idea, I can't wait to put some of my own jerseys into the game though. Speaking of your career you may want to speed it up ' a tad' because at the rate your going you are only managing one season per year! SPEED UP MrUFo!!
Key Stats of van der Lijke: MO (77) - TT(77) PRO (74) everything else is well down. Rides for a continental team, his last year in WT was in 2017 when he finished 17th in Vuelta.
@ sutty - I didn't see the NC coming, with a comparatively small team it is a pretty big deal to get the NC from Belgium. Shame Kritskiy couldn't win a 7th Russian TT title though!
It would be great for Al Sulimani to finish on the podium on ANY stage in the TDF.
@ duxili - Very nice! Those dragons hold some mysteries! Maybe they know where that Malaysian Aircraft went!
@ Shonak - I'm looking forward to it. Regardless of the results there, to start with 7 Qataris will be the pinnacle, paves the way for Qataris to come and do something special down the line. But, YES! A stage win would be insane.
Yes, it is true. The upcoming 2021 TDF will be my last race as the Qatar Optics - Duvel manager for we have agreed that Arni van Heylen, who is currently a coach here, will take over directly afterwards.
With the 'pinnacle' moment of this Qatar Optics story coming up at the TDF, where we enter with 7 Qataris, I could hardly think of a more apt time to step down.
I would have loved to be in charge next season, where amongst other things: the TDF will start in the USA, the Vuelta will start in Qatar and the world championships will be held in the middle east. But as it has been agreed, for some time now, that Sven Nys will take charge at the end of the season, I feel the time is right to call it a day here after this TDF. Although I do so with a heavy heart.
With Jelly-Sun coming up to 3 years old I will be spending a lot of time, all my time, at home, in Belgium for the rest of the year, making up for lost time.
But hey. There is little time to reflect now, we have a TDF to race! Let's go and give it our best shot.
When we started this story we set ourselves three goals. Two have long been achieved and now we are on the precipice of completing the third and final goal.
' We will enter the 2021 TDF with 7 Qataris'.
Our Team:
Ahmed Al Ghanim:
Spoiler
Ahmed comes to this TDF as our top GC rider. It is, however, very unlikely that he will finish in the top 20 so he may well go a stage hunting.
Abdurahman Al Sulimani:
Spoiler
Al Sulimani is certainly the most decorated Qatari rider, so far. If he gets into a break on a hilly day, you never know...
Yousef Al Ghanim:
Spoiler
The broth of Ahmed, Yousef, is riding his first year in a pro team. He has quickly established himself as a quality teammate, and has been building up to this race, expect to see him in some breaks for sure.
Abdualtif Al Yazeedi:
Spoiler
Abdulatif may hang in longer than most of our guys when it comes to the few mountainous stages.
Ali Al Asmari:
Spoiler
We expect a decent TT performance from Ali on the first stage TT, which is over 30 KM in length.
Abdulatif Al Zaid:
Spoiler
Well we hardly could have left out Al Zaid for this monumental moment for Qatar! He won the first 2 editions of the Qatar NC RR but those days seem long behind him now. He is the face of the team in Qatar, as he is a much loved personality there!
Ali Sanad Al Muwalid:
Spoiler
Ali Sanad is our fastest Qatari sprinter, he may not challenge in the bunch sprints but may have a chance if a break is allowed to get away on the flat stages. He is the two time and current Qatari NC, so expect to see him vaunting his NC jersey in the breaks a lot!
Now, the two non Qataris. Both have been fantastic for us:
Niels Vandyck:
Spoiler
The Belgian TT champion. With heavy Belgian sponsorship in the team it is just that a Belgian makes the squad. However, Niels is not here to make up the numbers he damned well earned his spot on this team.
and finally:
Samet Yildiz:
Spoiler
What a servant for our team, a true legend. Well over a baker's dozen wins to his name as a Qatar Optics rider. The Turkish champ doesn't come to the TDF in great form, but after a few days he will no doubt shine once we hit the sprints.
Race Goals:
* Make 13 breakaways
*** 3 Top 10 finishes
****** Win a stage
We have set some goals for the team here, but in truth the fact we start with 7 Qataris is the real achievement of this tour. A Qatari may not win anything in le Tour for some time, but you can not doubt these 'pioneers of Qatari cycling' are certainly paving the way.
@ YvesStevens - Why not! Stages in the USA, China, Australia or the cobbles of Belgium certainly change up the tour and make it more dynamic. Edited by The Rider on 15-03-2014 12:03
Okay so the route isn't a 'cake walk' as I previously described it, but it is fair to say it is not the most difficult in recent memory. It is one of the easier routes in modern times.
Stage 19 is certainly the stand out stage.
Spoiler
The Favourites:
Spoiler
There is no Pinot or double defending champion, Elissonde, here. However, a range of the very bets GC riders in the world are here gunning for victory. Salas is the standout favourite, he has 1 GC to his name and has finished 2nd to 4th in has last 3 GCs. Teammate, Eijssen, won the closest TDF in history over Schleck in 2015 and won't be too far off.
We certainly can't count out our former rider Sicard who won the Dauphine and Schleck who won the tour de Suisse. We have seen virtually nothing of Cattaneo since he won the 2019 Giro in emphatic style, could he take the win? Or could the old French favourite, Jeannesson, take a popular win?
The four wildcard teams are: Alstom, Fuji, LG and Volvo and they will look to mix things up. Whilst world class puncheurs such as van der Sande and sprinters such Kittel and Matthews also make the star studded startlist.
This is theTDF. Anything can and probably will happen!
@ MrUFo - That would be good! Well, I hope to do a 'flash back' after every stage so show some of the key moments. I think your very kind with your words about the squad!
@ duxili - Well the 2014 Giro starts in Ireland so why can't the 2022 Vuelta start in Qatar? Hopefully we can achieve one of the challenging goals.
@ Yves Stephens - Thanks, it has been a long ride. I must have started the save almost 2 years ago!
An outstanding preview, especially the rider section. Looking forward to the race. Qatar Optics will rise above - or go down at least with guns blazing!
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
We start this TDF with the longest stage 1 you are likely to see. Within the first half of the stage the riders must tackle the Millau viaduct and its steep narrow roads.
We don't have anyone really capable to challenge for a high result but it will be interesting to see what Ahmed Al Ghanim and our newly crowned Belgian champ can do.
Our Belgian champ outlined the superb Millau Aqueduct.
Vandyck was our first rider off the ramp and one of the more competent TT men who started very early on.
Vandyck sets the early fastest time.
Starting so early it always seemed Vandyck would set the fastest time and he did. would pass his 2 minute man on the way to a time of 1'03'29. That was a good 1'00 faster than the next man at that time.
Then came Roux!
Anthony Roux would smash all times at all the checkpoints not too long after Vandyck had taken the lead. Roux would finish the best part of 2 minutes ahead of Vandyck with a time of 1'01'46. Many people were sure this time would be good enough for the win.
How wrong they were!
An Alstom rider rides along the top of the Aqueduct.
Soon news reaches us of a phenomenal time at the first checkpoint by the American, van Garderen. He is a good '36 faster than Roux. But can he resist with the rest of the course being mostly flat?
van Garderen moves into the lead.
van Garderen goes '59 faster than Roux, it is pretty clear that that time would be unassailable as when you put that kind of time into the French champ you have the stage win wrapped up.
The USA and Norwegian champs.
Craddock would come home the next best on the day, but still a large '29 down on his teammate whilst Boasson Hagen would finish in the top 15.
Spaniard and GC favourite Salas was a bit down at the first checkpoint but rallied to finish 13th, which puts him in a great position already.
AND.... Ahmed Al Ghanim rode a stunner! He was just '5 seconds off a top 10 place on the day. A good sign for him in this race, maybe?
STAGE 1 RESULTS:
1
Tejay Van Garderen
John Deere - Electronic Arts
1h00'47
2
Lawson Craddock
John Deere - Electronic Arts
+ 29
3
Anthony Roux
FDJ - BigMat
+ 59
4
Ben King
TEAM UnitedHealthcare - M&M's
+ 1'14
5
Johan Le Bon
Fuji - Avia
+ 1'17
6
Taylor Phinney
ExxonMobil
+ 1'36
7
Ivar Slik
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1'43
8
Thomas Bonnin
FDJ - BigMat
+ 1'47
9
Robin Girardin
Alstom
s.t.
10
Matthias Frank
B&O - Red Bull
+ 1'50
11
Ahmed Al Ghanim
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 1'55
Spoiler
12
Vincenzo Nibali
E.ON
+ 1'58
13
Ibai Salas
Herbalife
+ 2'03
14
Chris Barton
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 2'25
15
Edvald Boasson Hagen
FDJ - BigMat
+ 2'31
16
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
17
Benoit Jarrier
RIM
+ 2'33
18
Tom Dumoulin
Argos Oil - Wii
+ 2'36
19
Jack Bobridge
TEAM UnitedHealthcare - M&M's
+ 2'41
20
Niels Vandyck
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 2'42
21
Thomas Dekker
Argos Oil - Wii
+ 2'43
22
Andy Schleck
LG
s.t.
23
Andrey Amador
Herbalife
+ 2'44
24
Zico Waeytens
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 2'46
25
Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy
Herbalife
+ 2'47
26
Jonathan Castroviejo
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 2'48
27
Rigoberto Urán
Argos Oil - Wii
+ 2'59
28
Gabriele Pizzaballa
Lampre - UniCredit
+ 3'01
29
Michel Bruno
Cessna - Specialized
+ 3'02
30
Yannick Eijssen
Herbalife
+ 3'05
31
Robert Gesink
YouTube
+ 3'12
32
Romain Sicard
YouTube
+ 3'14
33
Kenneth Andreasen
E.ON
+ 3'19
34
Luke Rowe
Herbalife
+ 3'20
35
Michael Matthews
Lampre - UniCredit
s.t.
36
Roman Kreuziger
Lampre - UniCredit
+ 3'22
37
Fabio Duarte
ExxonMobil
+ 3'23
38
Wout Poels
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 3'26
39
Cyril Gautier
YouTube
+ 3'29
40
Kohei Uchima
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 3'33
41
Matteo Trentin
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 3'35
42
Arnold Jeannesson
FDJ - BigMat
+ 3'38
43
Fabio Felline
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 3'40
44
Henri Patin
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 3'44
45
Mattia Cattaneo
B&O - Red Bull
+ 3'45
46
Jarl Salomein
Cessna - Specialized
+ 3'46
47
Giorgio Frau
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 3'49
48
Jérémy Maillard
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
49
Lionel Pere
Herbalife
+ 3'50
50
Michael Mørkøv
B&O - Red Bull
+ 3'52
51
Chris Froome
YouTube
+ 3'53
52
Marcel Kittel
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 3'56
53
Logan Chaix
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 4'01
54
Davide Malacarne
Lampre - UniCredit
+ 4'07
55
Janez Brajkovič
Fuji - Avia
+ 4'08
56
Arkaitz Durán
John Deere - Electronic Arts
+ 4'10
57
Tosh Van der Sande
Herbalife
+ 4'12
58
Travis Meyer
TEAM UnitedHealthcare - M&M's
s.t.
59
Jan Ghyselinck
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 4'14
60
Tom Van Asbroeck
RIM
+ 4'15
61
Salvatore Puccio
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 4'18
62
Brent Miles
ExxonMobil
+ 4'22
63
Giovanni Visconti
Volvo
+ 4'23
64
Nacer Bouhanni
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
65
Ali Al Asmari
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 4'26
66
John Degenkolb
Argos Oil - Wii
+ 4'31
67
Danny Van Poppel
Argos Oil - Wii
+ 4'35
68
David Gutiérrez Palacios
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 4'37
69
Thomas Damuseau
Alstom
+ 4'39
70
Ian Stannard
E.ON
+ 4'40
71
Maksym Petrus
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 4'41
72
Marko Kump
B&O - Red Bull
+ 4'44
73
Fabian Bruno
E.ON
s.t.
74
Lars Boom
Argos Oil - Wii
+ 4'46
75
Víctor Cabedo
ExxonMobil
s.t.
76
Björn Thurau
Ribena - France Télécom
+ 4'49
77
Ronan Van Zandbeek
Argos Oil - Wii
+ 4'53
78
Kristof Goddaert
YouTube
+ 4'54
79
Alexandre Pliuschin
ExxonMobil
s.t.
80
Anthony Anne
RIM
+ 4'55
81
Gerald Ciolek
Argos Oil - Wii
s.t.
82
Romain Bardet
Volvo
+ 4'57
83
Guillaume Malle
Ribena - France Télécom
+ 4'59
84
Vladimir Kolosov
LG
+ 5'00
85
Julien Theron
Alstom
+ 5'03
86
Ian Bibby
E.ON
+ 5'08
87
Ronnie Mikkelsen
B&O - Red Bull
+ 5'09
88
Damien Gaudin
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
89
Ben Swift
Lampre - UniCredit
s.t.
90
Jasper Stuyven
YouTube
+ 5'10
91
Charles Sanson
Cessna - Specialized
s.t.
92
Kevin Denis
Alstom
+ 5'11
93
Dennis Vanendert
YouTube
s.t.
94
Grégory Joseph
RIM
+ 5'13
95
Matthew Goss
Lampre - UniCredit
s.t.
96
Quincy Vens
RIM
s.t.
97
Bryan Duque
Ribena - France Télécom
+ 5'15
98
Nikolas Maes
ExxonMobil
+ 5'16
99
Anthony Delaplace
Alstom
+ 5'17
100
Eugenio Alafaci
Lampre - UniCredit
+ 5'18
101
Romain Hardy
RIM
s.t.
102
Fabio Aru
John Deere - Electronic Arts
s.t.
103
Mikhail Ignatiev
LG
+ 5'19
104
Tom Slagter
Argos Oil - Wii
s.t.
105
Eros Capecchi
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 5'21
106
Olivier Martin
Cessna - Specialized
+ 5'22
107
Omar Lombardi
LG
s.t.
108
Mike Rudling
E.ON
+ 5'24
109
Yousef Al Ghanim
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
110
Giacomo Nizzolo
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 5'25
111
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck
RIM
s.t.
112
Abdulatif Al Yazeedi
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 5'26
113
Joshua Berry
TEAM UnitedHealthcare - M&M's
+ 5'29
114
Nicholas Walker
TEAM UnitedHealthcare - M&M's
+ 5'30
115
Alexey Tsatevitch
B&O - Red Bull
s.t.
116
Matthieu Halleguen
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 5'33
117
Jelle Vanendert
YouTube
+ 5'35
118
Tony Gallopin
B&O - Red Bull
+ 5'40
119
Alessandro De Marchi
John Deere - Electronic Arts
+ 5'41
120
Sebastian Lander
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
121
Alexey Bauer
LG
s.t.
122
Filippo Fortin
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 5'42
123
Fernando Miguel Lopes
ExxonMobil
s.t.
124
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 5'43
125
Laurent Didier
ExxonMobil
s.t.
126
Mathias Marais
Ribena - France Télécom
s.t.
127
Elia Favilli
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 5'44
128
Christophe Laborie
Cessna - Specialized
+ 5'45
129
Joseba Larralde
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 5'46
130
Raul Mora
Bank BGZ - Schuller
s.t.
131
Gianluca Brambilla
Lampre - UniCredit
s.t.
132
Gaël Le Bellec
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 5'54
133
Yohan Fouche
Ribena - France Télécom
s.t.
134
Caleb Ewan
TEAM UnitedHealthcare - M&M's
s.t.
135
Jens Keukeleire
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
136
Abdurahman Al Sulimani
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 5'55
137
Samuel Levy
FDJ - BigMat
+ 5'58
138
Paul Beck
Herbalife
s.t.
139
Johan Andersen
B&O - Red Bull
s.t.
140
Eduard Prades
Volvo
+ 6'01
141
Thomas Nissen
B&O - Red Bull
s.t.
142
Mattéo Crespin
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 6'02
143
Rémy Di Gregorio
Alstom
+ 6'04
144
David Dvorsky
Fuji - Avia
+ 6'06
145
Yann Valade
Ribena - France Télécom
+ 6'08
146
Jérémie Blot
Bank BGZ - Schuller
s.t.
147
Arnaud Demare
Ribena - France Télécom
+ 6'10
148
Simone Ponzi
TEAM UnitedHealthcare - M&M's
s.t.
149
Andrea Guardini
YouTube
+ 6'12
150
Kevyn Ista
RIM
s.t.
151
Aidis Kruopis
E.ON
+ 6'13
152
Mark Cavendish
E.ON
s.t.
153
Axel Sylvestre
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
154
Luca Wackermann
John Deere - Electronic Arts
s.t.
155
Kris Boeckmans
RIM
s.t.
156
Nolan Thuillier
Ribena - France Télécom
+ 6'14
157
Adrian Torres
Fuji - Avia
+ 6'15
158
Mathieu Delaroziere
FDJ - BigMat
+ 6'16
159
Leigh Howard
ExxonMobil
+ 6'17
160
Laurent Pichon
Alstom
+ 6'20
161
Arkadi Novikov
LG
+ 6'22
162
Stéphane Grenier
Fuji - Avia
s.t.
163
Samet Yildiz
Qatar Optics - Duvel
s.t.
164
Daniele Ratto
John Deere - Electronic Arts
+ 6'23
165
Mattia Annunziata
TEAM Farnese Vini - Martini
+ 6'24
166
Elia Viviani
John Deere - Electronic Arts
+ 6'25
167
Vincent Pernet
FDJ - BigMat
+ 6'26
168
Sergey Kolesnikov
LG
s.t.
169
Jonathon McEvoy
E.ON
+ 6'29
170
Francesco Gavazzi
TEAM UnitedHealthcare - M&M's
+ 6'30
171
Francisco Javier Moreno
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 6'36
172
Aleksandr Chupalov
LG
+ 6'39
173
Rémy Beauvais
Fuji - Avia
s.t.
174
Damien Cotte
Cessna - Specialized
+ 6'41
175
Víctor Coronado
Volvo
s.t.
176
Remy Husson
Fuji - Avia
+ 6'43
177
Fabien Bacquet
Ribena - France Télécom
s.t.
178
Armindo Fonseca
Bank BGZ - Schuller
+ 6'44
179
Borja Mora
Volvo
+ 6'46
180
Marcel Bocanegra
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 6'47
181
Juan Valerón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 6'55
182
Juan Abalos
Volvo
+ 6'57
183
Jake Keough
TEAM UnitedHealthcare - M&M's
+ 6'59
184
Alexandre Aulas
Cessna - Specialized
+ 7'00
185
Marco Frapporti
John Deere - Electronic Arts
+ 7'04
186
Victor Monnier
Alstom
+ 7'05
187
Illya Matoushkin
Fuji - Avia
s.t.
188
Roberto Ezquerro
Volvo
+ 7'13
189
Donovan Arnould
Fuji - Avia
+ 7'17
190
Ali Sanad Al Muwalid
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 7'18
191
Raúl Cienfuegos
Volvo
+ 7'19
192
Vincent Coudray
Alstom
s.t.
193
Abdulatif Al Zaid
Qatar Optics - Duvel
+ 7'22
194
Haritz Orbe
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 7'33
195
Alessandro Morini
Lampre - UniCredit
+ 7'45
196
Francesco Miccoli
LG
+ 8'00
197
Rik van der Laan
Herbalife
+ 8'12
198
Victor Salgado
Volvo
+ 8'17
* After every stage in this TDF we will have a flashback showcasing a special moment in this Qatar Optics journey.
I was not even 2 months into my position as DS of Qatar Optics when I had an interview with Al Jazeera TV to discuss the whole team and Qatari project. Little, then, could I have imagined that, over four years down the line, I would be in a long term relationship with the anchor Jun Lee. A relationship which resulted in the birth of Jelly-Sun who is coming up to 3 years old. My, how time flies!
@ MrUFo87 - Rarely will you see such time gaps after stage 1! After thinking about it, what a ride by Al Ghanim on stage 1!
@ sutty - Being a smaller team I suppose we should be getting into them breaks!
@ Shonak - Thanks Shonak. Whatever happens there will be a whole load of fun/history on the way.
Stage 2 is a hilly stage. A hard terrain culminates with an uphill finish, this completes two hard stages to start this tour off.
STAGE 2:Millau - Ganges 137 KM
Stage Favourites:
***Pere(HLE) **van der Sande(HLE) *Gautier(YTE)
Volvo's young puncheur, Mora, takes max points at the first climb of the day just 5 KM in over the Millau Aqueduct.
We really wanted to make the break today, but we were unable to make the first move, largely due to poor positioning at the start of the race.
Al Sulimani to the rescue!
However, Al Sulimani soon spared our blushes. Realising it was now or never he put in a big effort to bridge the 1'20 gap to the break. A break which was allowed to get away. Many people do remember the first break of the TDF so to be in it was a great move.
Al Sulimani was over 4'00 down at the start of the day so, despite his prowess in this terrain, he was allowed to get away.
The Qatari champ is dropped early on.
Due to the hard nature of the stage many riders are dropped early on, would this mean consequences at the end of the stage?
Out front, the break saunters on taking it real easy. The pace is really slow this early in the GT, the main reason being no one wanted to push along the pace in the break.
Col de Serriere
Al Sulimani is hands down the most explosive in the break today and comfortably takes the 5 KOM points on offer at the top.
With 32 KM to go the break are not too far ahead of the peloton now. Al Sulimani attacks and gains 5 more KOM points at the col de Peyrefiche, he waits up on the descent. But, he will not wait too long. He pushes ahead realising the rest of the break are not up to it today.
With 15 KM to go Al Sulimani takes 5 more KOM points, he would be in the polka dots at the end of the stage! What a brave ride by a brave rider. The peloton are just '20 behind him with 15 KM to go but Al Sulimani resists the favourites group until 7 KM to go before being caught.
Cue the final climb.
After Spanish champ Salas ups the pace we have Gautier setting a strong tempo which is destroying the remnants of the peloton.
A strong finish sees Barton take the win.
The American looked in great shape today as he surged towards an empathic win. Salas moves up in the GC after finishing 2nd on the day leading home a five man group. van Garderen retains the lead.
A super day for Qatar Optics - Duvel.
The decision to put Al Sulimani in the break pays off big time today. There may have been decent riders in the break but none more hungry than the Qatari. We will be sporting the polka dots on stage 3, and with the flat nature of the next few stages, and more stages to follow.
But, sadly, this highlight was somewhat drowned out by an insane event....
28 Riders held up at a train crossing miss the time limit.
In the gruppeto with some 12 KM to go an unexpected 'mega train' holds up a lot of riders for a total of 7 minutes, the end result being they are timed out. The stage was running 40 minutes slower than the slowest estimate, which accounts for the train. The organisers, as ever, were stiff necked and would not budge on the strict 30 MIN time limit after the stage winner.
The group came home at 30'29 and there was out roar from many, including my self, at this farcical ruling. Cavendish and McEvoy were too of the bigger names to miss the cut and we lose four of our riders (Yildiz, Al Muwalid, Al Asmari and Al Zaid) in this bizarre incident.
It was tough going in the early stages with the team. This made winning all the more special. A 41 year old Pablo Lastras wins a stage and would later wrap up the overall in the Tour de Kumano, our first stage race success as Qatar Optics.
@ sutty - I hope to bring back some good memories of the team. Edited by The Rider on 18-03-2014 20:41
): Well, actually I don't let the game decide which sponsor will be there next season. Many jerseys in the database don't have nc's and I really like it when there are nc's in-game. So I just download packs and add them (or use my own created jerseys ofc, but downloading a pack is less difficult 
