Paris - Nice - Stage 1


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The first stage is 4 kilometers long individual time trial. The first good time was set by Konovalovas (Movistar) 6'49''. Van Emden, our the best time trialist is 4'' seconds behind and he is currently 5th. Not good day for him.



Next serious rider is Rogers (Pepsi). He finishes with the same time as Konovalovas, but is a bit slower. Grivko (Astana) wasn't the favourite for today, but he beats the best time with 5 seconds!



Hushovd (Garmin) is 3'' slower than Grivko and he is second. Brajkovic (Pepsi) is also a favourite today, but he has no form yet and finishes 7'' behind.



Van Garderen (HTC) is a very strong time trialist, but he lost the first place with one second! Kreuziger (Astana) was second last year, he lost only with Gesink and he seems to be very dangerous this year. He is the best with time 6'43''.



Gesink finished 7'' behind him, the same as Gilbert (Omega). Contador (Saxo Bank) is the biggest surprise. He finishes 28th with 8'' to Kreuziger.



Results:

Paris - Nice - Stage 2


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We have the breakaway up front. There are some solid riders like Offredo (FDJ) or Hammond (Garmin), but there are too many sprinter teams.



Astana doen't look interested in leading the pack, so the breakaway is looking better with every kilometer.



Liquigas and Europcar set the very fast pace, to catch the break...



...and they did really nice job. 30 kilometers to go, the break is only a minute ahead.



Europcar prepared their train very well. Liquigas is closed when the break is caught. Kreuziger (Astana) is in the front, so Gesink wants to be on his wheel, because the peleton can split every second.



3kms to go, Van Emden helped Gesink to get on Kreuziger's wheel. In the front we have Europcar leading out Turgot and Liquigas leading out Guarnieri. Some big names like Hushovd or Boonen, lost the contact with leading riders.



Last kilometer. Appollonio (Sky) is trying to surprise everyone, the same Degenkolb (HTC), but the main sprinter of Liquigas and Europcar are starting their sprint too.



Jacopo Guarnieri is today's winner! Second place for Degenkolb and the third for Turgot.



Results:

Paris - Nice - Stage 3


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This stage is a bit more difficult than the yesterday's. There is a 4-men breakaway up front.



Today other teams want to chase the break too. Omega works for Gilbert. Last meters are 5% uphill, which should be great for him.



The breakaway is doing nice, but the pace in the peleton is very high.



Dekker looks good today, so Rabobank also helps to chase the break.



The break is chased and there is Saur in the front, helping their leader, Goss.



3kms to go, Europcar is moving to the front and the sprint starts. Gesink is on Kreuziger's (Astana) wheel, but they won't fight for the stage win.



Last kilometer and in front we can see Saur again. Dekker tries to keep Appollonio's wheel, but it's too fast for him.



And Goss is the winner! What a sprint by him, no one could surprise him in last meters.



Results:

Paris - Nice - Stage 4


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Stages are getting more difficult, but this one should for sprinters too. We have Kruijswijk in the breakaway.



The peleton lets the break to go 10 minutes ahead, but there is still 130 kilometers to go.



Astana is trying to keep the leader's jersey, while the Saur is working for Goss.



40kms to go, we are on the most step climb, but the peleton is only 2'45'' behind.



Also the Europcar is in the front. If Turgot will be on the 1st or 2nd place, he will be a leader.



There are some attacks in the peleton, but the pace is really high.



Last riders are chased. Dekker hopes, that the sprinters are exhausted after some hills. There is a downhill, which ends a kilometer before the finish and then there's a little hill, so he has a big chance today.



Saur is leading for Goss, while Dekker keeps Hushovd's wheel.



And Goss wins again! Turgot is second and he is a new leader. Dekker finished in 4th position.



Results:

Tirreno - Adriatico



Rabobank send its classic squad to Tirreno, preparing them for Milano - Sanremo and Cobble classics. The route is rather hilly with some flat stages. There are strong sprinters like Cavendish or Haussler and Some hilly specialists like: Cunego, Sanchez, Anton or Sagan.

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Tirreno - Adriatico - Stage 1


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The first stage of this race is quite hilly, but some sprinters would like to take a win today.



Monsalve (Androni) and Tjallingii attacked on the first climb and on the top they had 2'30'' lead.



Few kilometers later, Taaramae (Cofidis) joined them. Now they have 5 minutes over the peleton.



Lampre and Liquigas are doing great, but it will be hard to catch the break.



50 kms to go and the break is still 4'50'' in front. It will be very close at the end.



Monsalve and Tjallingii are doing great and Taaramae has problems with keeping this pace.



The peleton has a big problem with catching Monsalve and Tjallingii. Even Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel) is chasing them at the front.



Marcato (Acqua) is trying to attack from the peleton, while Taaramae is chased.



Tjallingii started sprint very early and he has surprised Monsalve and he gained few meters on a hill.



And he wins! Monsalve was very strong, but on a downhill Tjallingii was much better.



Haussler brings the peleton. He could win, but his team didn't helped chasing the breakaway.



Results: