Rasmussen:
While the other riders is back from holidays, Mitchell Lovelock-Fay stayed in Australia to take part in the national championship, he sendt us a report.
Buninyong Town Hall:
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay: The race took place in a Buninyong, suburb of Ballarat in Victoria, Australia, a hilly race. A morning break of 6 riders got away, and got over 5 minutes to the peloton.
The break:
I stayed in the peloton, expecting “Orica – GreenEdge” to bring back the attackers, having pretty good legs on the day, I was hoping for a good finish on the last hill.
I was sitting in the rain, waiting for the peloton to take action:
But the peloton was not able to catch the break, and the stage was won from the breakaway, I followed an attack by Heinrich Haussler on the last hill, and got in 12th. (+1'17)
Campbell Flakemore (Drapac Cycling) takes the win today:
OZrocker: Thanks, will be a tough year for the team, facing stronger riders in the races, but that i fine, even more fun if its hard, and more satisfying if we make it.
Christina: We are in Limoux in the south of France, heading into the northern parts of the Massif des Corbières (pre- Pyrénées) for Gruissan at the Mediterranean coast, passing over Col du Paradis (altitude 627 m).
This is our first race of the season, making everyone very exited, the boys can't wait to get out on the road. We have brought our A team here, with Kenny Elissonde and Lasse Bøchman, both in a leader role, and with Pacheco as our sprinter. The management would very much like a stage win here, but any remarkable result will do.
Limoux:
On today’s stage we like to get Schumacher in a break, hoping he might be able to get in top of KoM clacification. Later we will see what the team can to in the sprint.
Profile:
Roster:
Angelo Furlan
Francisco José Pacheco
Kenny Elissonde
Lasse Bøchman
Martin Pedersen
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay
Stefan Schumacher
Yves Lampaert
Schumacher did get in a break, but they were reeled quickly, getting closer to the mountain it was finally Lasse Bøchman who got away, we got a little worried about that, he might damage his possibility’s later, if he used to much energy today. The other rider in the break was a relative weak Christian Helmig (Team Differdange – Losch) not a big help in a break like this.
But on the other hand he was no contest for Bøchman, who easily took all 3 sprints on the stage. Bøchman at Col du Paradis:
On the second mountain the front group, had 2.35 down to Damien Gaudin (Team Europcar) and Juan Antonio Flecha (Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team), and another 4’27 to the peloton. Lasse Bøchman let go of the gas, hoping for the poursuivant to catch up, and get a stronger group. They got up with 53 km to go at this point the peloton was 3’31 behind.
But the peloton was too strong, so we prepared for the sprint. The speed was frantic and it was hard to keep at train together, in the end it was Francisco José Pacheco who had to fight alone, he came in 11th. All our riders got in without losing time, the winner was Andrew Fenn (Sojasun). The bonus seconds got Lasse Bøchman a good position in the GC.
7/2 Le Cap d'Agde – Sete (Mt Saint-Clair) ITT: 24.1 km
Christina: The caravan have moved about 70 km north along the Mediterranean coast to Cap d'Agde for a time-trail to Mount Saint-Clair on the narrow strip of land between the “Étang de Thau” lagoon and the Mediterranean.
Cap d'Agde:
With prominent pro-tour riders like Chris Froome, Van Garderen and Lars Boom, we know this is not a time-trail we can win, but we expect Lasse Bøchman to do well and maybe stay in GC top 20, we know Kenny Elissonde will have a hard time today, but we hope he won’t lose to much time.
Profile:
The Race:
Angelo Furlan set a very bad time having a horrible day, coming in at 191 + 3'24
Martin Pedersen not much better 155 +2’42
Francisco José Pacheco, Yves Lampaert, Mitchell Lovelock-Fay all made fine times, coming in a 52-50-48 at times from +1’31 to +1’28
Kenny Elissonde did unexpectedly good, coming in at 42 +1’24
Lasse Bøchman’s legs was very bad on the day, maybe paying the price of yesterday’s adventures, he came in at 40 +1’19 (what a disappointment to everyone in the team)
Stefan Schumacher on the other hand was flying, coming in at 19 +1’02
In the CG, we now got Schumacher at 19 (+ 1’08) Bøchman at 31 (+1’19) and Elissonde at 42 +1’30
Christina: After the ITT, the caravan has moved almost 200 km to Cabriés just north of Marseille in Provence, the stages moves from Cabries north up to a sprint in Charleval, and then west into the Alpilles Natural Regional Park, finishing in St. Remy de Provence in idyllic town in the northern part of the Natural Park.
St. Remy de Provence:
With Bøchman more or less out of the GC, we decided that he should work on holding the dots, and attack if possible, then it was up to Schumacher and Elissonde to focus on the GC.
Profile:
The Race:
Bøchman counter attacks on Alexandr Kolobnev (Katusha Team) but others try to follow, on the break was over, Bøchman attacks again now Kolobnev counters, and this time they get away.
The first attack:
Kolobnev takes the sprint, Bøchman takes the first climb. After that it seems like Kolobnev won’t work for the break, and Bøchman has to do almost everything alone.
In the meantime Pierrick Fédrigo (FDJ.fr) and Warren Barguil (Argos – Shimano) attacks on the first climb, others attempt to follow, it ends up with a group of 3, between the front and the peloton.
Warren Barguil gets away from the peloton:
With about 70 km left for the front group, Bøchman/ Kolobnev had 2.15 back to group Fédrigo and 6.15 to the peloton. Kolobnev was now more active, the front was able to get over the next two climbs, and then melted together with the 2nd.group. The peloton got split on the climbs, but Stefan Schumacher and Kenny Elissonde was with the favorites in a group of about 60 riders, when the break was finally over some 15-20 km before the finish. Elissonde, Schumacher and Lasse Bøchman got home in the same time as the winner Carlos Betancur (AG2R La Mondiale), Elissonde best at 9th.
Christina: The Caravan have traveled 90 km back east, to Rousset 20 northeast of Marseille. The stage from Rousset to the sprint in the small town of Signes, is relative flat, but at the end comes a cat. 2 climb to Col de Garde followed by a very steep climb to Mont Faron, overlooking the coastal city of Toulon some 60 km east of Marseille.
The harbour city of Toulon seen from Mont Faron:
With no early climbs on the stage, we have chosen to keep Lasse Bøchman in the peloton today, instead Mitchell Lovelock-Fay is free to attack if possible.
Profile:
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay attempts several times early on the stages, but could not get away, in the end a group of 5 gets away, Movistar Team sets the speed, and it is nice and easy.
The Break:
Juan Antonio Flecha (Vacansoleil – DCM) attacks and closes the gap to the front, so it is to some surprise that is it Vacansoleil – DCM that takes over the lead of the peloton and set a very high speed, mid stage.
B. Van Poppel (Vacansoleil – DCM) pulling the bunch forward:
It was clear early on the stage that Stefan Schumacher had bad legs today, and the pain in Bøchman’s face, told us he was not feeling very good either. The only comfort was that Kenny Elissonde was looking fine, and Mitchell Lovelock-Fay did an amazing job protesting him. They were the only two riders we had left in the peloton of 40 riders, when Chris Froome attacked at the bottom of the last descend, before the final climb, to catch the final 4 rider, still 30 sec in front.
Froome attacks:
Now it was every man for himself, everyone attacking and falling back again. Elissonde had dynamite legs, and took over rider by rider on his way up towards the finish.
No one however could follow Froome, he took another win.
Elissonde came in right behind Daniel Martin (Lampre – Merida), making the stage podium, a brilliant day for him.
Christina: Before I give you the results, I have to say, I can’t get that smile of my face, Kenny Elissonde & Christina Watches will be on everyone's lips tonight.
Stage:
1
Chris Froome
Movistar Team
3h32'09
2
Daniel Martin
Lampre - Merida
+ 1'01
3
Kenny Elissonde
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
4
Carlos Betancur
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 1'17
5
Rémy Di Gregorio
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
6
Romain Bardet
FDJ.fr
+ 1'34
7
Ryder Hesjedal
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
8
Tejay Van Garderen
BMC Racing Team
+ 1'48
9
Alex Howes
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 2'27
10
Diego Ulissi
Lampre - Merida
+ 2'45
GC:
1
Chris Froome
Movistar Team
11h07'02
2
Ryder Hesjedal
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 2'36
3
Tejay Van Garderen
BMC Racing Team
+ 2'42
4
Kenny Elissonde
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 2'55
5
Daniel Martin
Lampre - Merida
+ 3'02
6
Carlos Betancur
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 3'19
7
Romain Bardet
FDJ.fr
+ 4'02
8
Rein Taaramäe
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 4'05
9
Ion Izagirre
Liberty Seguros - Würth
+ 4'12
10
Riccardo Zoidl
Team Differdange - Losch
+ 4'14
Points:
1
Chris Froome
Movistar Team
25
76
2
Carlos Betancur
AG2R La Mondiale
14
39
3
Lars Boom
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
0
38
Mountain:
1
Lasse Bøchman
Christina Watches - Onfone
0
58
2
Alexandr Kolobnev
Katusha Team
0
36
3
Chris Froome
Movistar Team
16
26
Young Rider:
1 Kenny Elissonde Christina Watches - Onfone
sutty68: Yes, shown very good form in this race, looking bright for the season. Ozrocker: Really hope Bøchman will hold on to the polka dots, only one stage left.
The Caravan have moved just 17 km west, the stages moves from Bandol to Grasse in the hilly terrain between Marseille and Nice. Starting uphill, then a flat part of about 90 km to the town Draguignan, after that 2 categorized climbs and 1 uncategorized right before the finish.
Bandol:
Pre-race strategy: The only tread to the KoM jersey is now Alexandr Kolobnev (Katusha) so we decide to stay in the front of the peloton, and watch if he makes a move, hoping others will break away, and take some points. If that happens we want to keep Bøchman close to Elissonde to help him later.
Profile:
The Race : A break-away takes off without Kolobnev, and the KoM seems assured, at least for now. The best rider in the break is over 8 minutes behind in the GC. We get in front with Movistar, helping to keep the break in line, but not to get them back in.
The break takes both mountain sprints, our KoM is safe.
At the unclassified climb before the finish Elissonde, now in his Yellow/Red Youth jersey, try’s to stir things up setting a high speed, but his labor was in vain, nobody important was set, and most of Movistar was sitting right behind him.
On the downhill towards the finish several riders attack and gets away, amongst them Cyril Gautier (FDJ.fr) and Daniel Martin (Lampre).
Daniel Martin:
It is Cyril Gautier who wins the stage 12 seconds in front of Jérôme Pineau (Omega Pharma - Quick·Step). Martin takes 23 sec on Kenny Elissonde, enough to gain a spot on the CG. Kenny Elissonde comes home with the Froome group, 55 sec after the winner.
Cyril Gautier:
Christina: Very good start of the season, even though we lost a bit on the last day, a top 5 is very nice in a race like this.
Stage:
1
Cyril Gautier
FDJ.fr
5h18'03
2
Jérôme Pineau
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 12
3
Gregory Brenes
Team Differdange - Losch
+ 32
4
Sep Vanmarcke
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Thomas Damuseau
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
6
Daniel Martin
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
7
Ryder Hesjedal
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 55
8
Chris Froome
Movistar Team
s.t.
9
Ivan Santaromita
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
10
Carlos Betancur
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
GC:
1
Chris Froome
Movistar Team
16h26'00
2
Ryder Hesjedal
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 2'36
3
Daniel Martin
Lampre - Merida
+ 2'39
4
Tejay Van Garderen
BMC Racing Team
+ 2'42
5
Kenny Elissonde
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 2'55
6
Carlos Betancur
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 3'19
7
Romain Bardet
FDJ.fr
+ 4'02
8
Rein Taaramäe
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 4'05
9
Jonathan Castroviejo
Movistar Team
+ 4'26
10
Diego Ulissi
Lampre - Merida
+ 4'31
Points:
1
Chris Froome
Movistar Team
8
84
2
Carlos Betancur
AG2R La Mondiale
6
45
3
Ryder Hesjedal
RadioShack - Leopard
9
44
Mountain:
1
Lasse Bøchman
Christina Watches - Onfone
0
58
2
Alexandr Kolobnev
Katusha Team
0
36
3
Chris Froome
Movistar Team
0
26
Team: Movistar Team
Young Rider: Kenny ElissondeEdited by Tamijo on 02-10-2015 08:49
Well done, the team did enough to keep both classifications and a top 5 GC! A pity that Kenny dropped a position right at the end but 4th to 5th is not a big loss
