@The Rider: Haha, the team manager has offered a temporary solution for the rest of the race. @Shonak: We all hope so
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spoiler
Note: the wheels of our teams our missing. It will be fixed in the next stage.
Stage 2
The favorites
*****
Francisco Pacheco
****
Juan José Haedo
***
Diego Milán
**
Fred Rodriguez
*
Ian Wilkinson
The weather
13°C, cloudy, easy wind, rainy
Race report
With 156 kms to go, Uchima from Nippo is the first to attack.
His attack doesn't reach far though, so the new attacks, with Khieu in there start. The attacks keep coming and it doesn't seem like we will have a stable break before the first mountain sprint. Khieu takes the points there.
We still don't have a stable break at the first intermediate sprint, which is won by Hayakawa.
We continue with a massive pace. It seems like it's going to be like this for a while. At the second mountain sprint, Khieu wins again and looks secure of the KoM classification.
Slowly but surely the lead for the break gets bigger. No bigger than 2 minutes though. As Khieu's mission is accomplished, he decides to return to the pack.
In front, the break goes on. The final mountain sprint goes to Hayakawa. The pack is working hard now though. It reels the break in with 25kms to go.
Jelly Belly and UnitedHealthCare keep on pulling and don't allow a late attack. With 3kms to go we have 3 trains. Hammarling only has Fatbardh in front of him though.
With 1km to go the sprinters launch their sprints.
At the finish
Fred Rodriguez wins. Hammarling came 6th.
@Ollfardh: Let's hope we can beat him today @The Hobbit: He's there, doing a great job in the sprint train @Shonak: It wasn't too bad by Kristian indeed @Jesleyh: He is doing very well so far
Stage 3
The favorites
*****
Fred Rodriguez
****
Juan José Haedo
***
Graham Briggs
**
Jake Keough
*
Francisco Pacheco
The weather
14°C, little bit cloudy, dry, very windy
Race report
Not everyone feels blocked by the prospect of a mass sprint. Davis (Node4), Uchima (Nippo) and Høberg (Christina Watches) attack quite early.
Just before sprint 1 4 new riders join: Mikkel Mortensen, Zangerle, House and Simon. Høberg wins the first sprint though.
The pack is already working hard and at sprint 2, won by Zangerle, the lead has decreased to 1min17.
The pack keeps on working until the 3rd sprint. Davis decides to attack from the break though. This causes chaos in the 2nd group. With 20kms to go he has just over a minute lead. While the 2nd group is reeled in Davis wins the intermediate sprint.
Davis keeps on fighting, but it doesn't help. With 10kms to go, it's over for him.
With 4kms to go Kristian and Rodriguez seem to have the best positions.
Under the banner Bazzana is doing a good job for Keough. The other sprinters are coming as well though.
At the finish
Keough delivers. A good sprint by Kristian ensured him of his first top-5. No changes in the GC means Peter has hung on for 4th. Combine that with the KoM victory it's a great result all in all.
Race description:
Our first cobbled race. Although there aren't many sections, they are quite late in the race, so they should be quite decisive.
The startlist
Our squad Armin Berg-Hansen will mainly serve as a domestique on the first flat, or go into the break. Peter de Groote will probably have a quite similar role. Jonas Ek isn't in his best shape yet, but he might do some good pulls in the end. Johnnie Flodder might hang on on the cobbled sections and then do well in a sprint. Fatbardh Haxhi will be one of our leaders today. He is good on the cobbles, good on the flat and a very good final sprint. Khieu Tet Khamphan will be co-leader with Fatbardh. He has already proven to be a great fighter and a good competitor. Peter Pal will also serve as a domestique. He might survive quite long though being a good puncher. Djaja Susanto is another domestique here, he is most likely to do his share on the flat.
The favorites
*****
Bernard Eisel
****
Johan Vansummeren
***
Maarten Wynants
**
Daniel Oss
*
Ramon Sinkeldam
The weather
8°C, bit cloudy, dry, very windy
Race report
We don't have to wait long for the first attacks. Sys (Crelan), Sprengers (Topsport) and Alafaci (Leopard) attack.
Some other attacks follow, but only Ludvigsson (Argos) is able to catch up with the 3. The 4 riders get a lead that's increasing and increasing and as we reach the hilly section the lead is 4 minutes.
The pack, lead by Sky, Omega Pharma, Belkin, Radioshack, Lotto and Vacansoleil, is still taking it easy.
The race is going along very easy, nothing special is happening. The pack looks like picking up a little higher pace, but everyone is still able to hang on with ease. The cobbles are coming closer though. The break reaches the cobbles with 88kms to go and a lead of 4min40.
After the first cobbled section, we decide to prepare some riders for the higher level. Peter is the first to by having to do some relays in the pack.
We slowly advance in the race, although the pace does get higher. On the second cobbled section we still don't have a split though. On the 3rd cobbled section still nothing happens, despite the hard work of Lodewyck. It's the beginning of a massive pace by BMC. The wind could bring several riders into trouble.
Just after the next cobbled section we do get attacks. Bak and Wynants give it a shot.
Although they work hard and even reach Sys and Sprengers, who were dropped, they are reeled in before the final cobbles. As we hit that section, Ludvigsson leads ahead of Alafaci and Oss. Our riders are still doing well in the pack.
With 7.5kms to go we have 6 leaders with a lead of a minute: Hushovd, Oss, Eisel, Steegmans, Gallopin and Marcato.
The pace in the pack was incredible though and the 7 leaders (Commeyne had joined) only have 28 seconds left.
With 1km to go Marcato suddenly has a huge gap and should hang on to that with ease.
And he does it! Marco Marcato wins Le Samyn. The sprint was quite disappointing for us, as our riders were exhausted.
@Jesleyh: Next race he'll be there @baia: I think they are pretty good for the team. We don't aim on the rankings and the switch conti-wt will be easier for the riders if they do races like there. Thanks a lot BTW, although I think I mistimed a little just a bit.
February overview
Important Races
Race
Winner
Tour of Qatar
Mark Cavendish
Tour of Oman
Vincenzo Nibali
Volta ao Algarve
Luis Leon Sánchez
Omloop het Nieuwsblad
Peter Sagan
Clásica de Almería
Arnaud Démare
Rankings Worldtour
1. Garmin-Sharp
160
1. José Joaquin Rojas
106
2. Movistar Team
106
2. Fredrik Kessiakoff
80
3. Astana
80
3. Rohan Dennis
73
Continental
1. Team Europcar
269
1. Damien Gaudin
117
2. Team IAM
182
2. Bryan Coquard
84
3. Androni
157
3. Tom Zirbel
68
26. Projob-Odfjell
22
51. Peter de Groote
12
CQ Ranking
1. Omega Pharma
1331
1. José Joaquín Rojas
460
2. Movistar
1273
2. Peter Sagan
421
3. Sky
1001
3. Tony Gallopin
323
51. Projob-Odfjell
23
279. Peter de Groote
12
Rider of the month
Peter Sagan (Winner Omloop, 2nd GC Oman, 3 stage wins Oman)
Surprise rider of the month
Tanel Kangert (Victory Vuelta a Murcia)
Team rider of the month
Peter de Groote (4th GC Valley of the Sun Stage Race)
@Ian: He sure did great @Ollfardh: My experience is they have quite similar startlists most of the time. Besides, with MSR coming up riders like Oss aren't likely to participte. @mvhoogdalem: We can't have them all the time, so we try to make most of it
@Shonak: Thanks a lot! Although all credits should go to The Rider
Trofej Umag
Our squad Armin Berg-Hansen might give it a try in the break, if not, he will be domestique. Jonas Ek will be important in the sprint train today, as he is strong on the flat. Johnnie Flodder will be our sprinter for today. In case our plan 1 doesn't work, we will use him for the sprint. Fatbardh Haxhi will be the leader for today. He has said he wants to peak for this race, so he will most likely give it a try with a late attack. Simon Holt has his season start here. He will most likely be lead-out for Johnnie, as he has a good sprint Heiko Kalichmann also starts his season here. A domestique role also seems very likely to the German. Khieu Tet Khamphan will probably be third man in the sprint train for Johnnie, but only if Fatbardh doesn't succeed in his plan. Ásgeirr Silferberg will also be a domestique. He might also go in the break though.
The startlist
The favorites
*****
Benjamin Giraud
****
Benoit Drujon
***
Yoeri Havik
**
Jasper Stuyven
*
Enrico Rossi
The weather
26°C, very sunny, clear sky, easy wind
Race report
Right from the start we have some attacks. The first one, of 8 riders, doesn't seem very likely to get space from the pack.
We ourselves don't want it either so we send Ásgeirr to reel in the 8 riders. With 127kms to go, the break is reeled in. The new break consists of 5 riders: Armin Berg-Hansen, Bouvry (Etixx), Stocker (Atlas), Clarke (Synergy) and Dakteris (Differdange).
The pace now drops a bit and the lead for the break grows. The break decides to cheer up the spectators a little.
The pack also seems encourages though, as it increases the pace now. The pace isn't extremely high though. With 50kms to go, the lead is 2min45. With 33kms to go, Vermeltfoort decides to attack!
Fatbardh also gives it a try.
Unfortunately, the pack is too strong for him. With 20kms to go, the lead for the break is just over a minute. Perhaps Fatbardh will get another chance. Vermeltfoort is reeled in with 14kms to go.
While the break is reeled in, Sentjens gives it another go!
Under the banner he still has a gap, but Stuyven, Flodder and Holohan are approaching.
At the finish
Sentjens holds on! He makes it a victory. Flodder wins the sprint for 2nd, which is a great result for the Dutchman.
Results
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Roy Sentjens
Cyclingteam De Rijke - Shanks
3h33'58
2
Johnnie Flodder
Projob - Odfjell Development Team
s.t.
3
Liam Holohan
Madison Genesis
s.t.
4
Simon Holt
Projob - Odfjell Development Team
s.t.
5
Samuel Caldeira
OFM - Quinta da Lixa
s.t.
6
Steven Tronet
BigMat - Auber 93
s.t.
7
Benoit Drujon
BigMat - Auber 93
s.t.
8
Mathieu Drujon
BigMat - Auber 93
s.t.
9
Graham Briggs
Team Raleigh
s.t.
10
Justin Jules
La Pomme Marseille
s.t.
11
Sam Bennett
An Post - Chainreaction
s.t.
12
Khieu Tet Khamphan
Projob - Odfjell Development Team
s.t.
13
Jasper Stuyven
Bontrager Cycling Team
s.t.
14
Nikolai Trussov
Cyclingteam De Rijke - Shanks
s.t.
15
Benjamin Giraud
La Pomme Marseille
s.t.
16
Kasper Klostergaard
Concordia Forsikring - Riwal
s.t.
17
Christoph Pfingsten
Cyclingteam De Rijke - Shanks
s.t.
18
Enrico Rossi
Meridiana Kamen Team
s.t.
19
Ronan Van Zandbeek
Cyclingteam De Rijke - Shanks
s.t.
20
Martin Mortensen
Concordia Forsikring - Riwal
s.t.
Spoiler
21
Fabien Bacquet
BigMat - Auber 93
s.t.
22
Tommy Nankervis
Bissell Cycling
s.t.
23
Stefan Schumacher
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
24
Grischa Janorschke
Nutrixxion - Abus
s.t.
25
Yannick Martinez
La Pomme Marseille
s.t.
26
Johnnie Walker
Drapac Cycling
s.t.
27
Heiko Kalichmann
Projob - Odfjell Development Team
s.t.
28
Julian Alaphilippe
Etixx - iHNed
s.t.
29
Jonas Ek
Projob - Odfjell Development Team
s.t.
30
Diego Milán
Team Differdange - Losch
s.t.
31
Coen Vermeltfoort
Cyclingteam De Rijke - Shanks
s.t.
32
Filippo Baggio
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
33
Florian Senechal
Etixx - iHNed
s.t.
34
Alejandro Marque
OFM - Quinta da Lixa
s.t.
35
Hélder Oliveira
OFM - Quinta da Lixa
s.t.
36
Floris Goesinnen
Drapac Cycling
s.t.
37
Ivan Rovny
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
38
Oleksandr Polivoda
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
39
Steven Van Vooren
An Post - Chainreaction
s.t.
40
Michael Berling
Concordia Forsikring - Riwal
s.t.
41
Ásgeirr Silferberg
Projob - Odfjell Development Team
s.t.
42
Dan Craven
Synergy Baku Cycling Project
s.t.
43
Mathieu Chiocca
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
44
Antonio Barbio
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
45
Anuar Manan
Synergy Baku Cycling Project
s.t.
46
Ryan Eastman
Bontrager Cycling Team
s.t.
47
Romain Bacon
BigMat - Auber 93
s.t.
48
Daniele Aldegheri
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
49
Matteo Fedi
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
50
Rob Britton
Team Raleigh
s.t.
51
Matija Kvasina
Team Gourmetfein Simplon
s.t.
52
Blazej Janiaczyk
Bank BGZ
s.t.
53
Niels Wytinck
An Post - Chainreaction
s.t.
54
Nikola Aistrup
Concordia Forsikring - Riwal
s.t.
55
Patrik Sinkewitz
Meridiana Kamen Team
s.t.
56
Oleksandr Surutkovych
Synergy Baku Cycling Project
s.t.
57
Yoann Paillot
La Pomme Marseille
s.t.
58
Dirk Müller
Nutrixxion - Abus
s.t.
59
Constantino Zaballa
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
60
Simon Bigum
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
61
Frederik Wilmann
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
62
Dieter Bouvry
Etixx - iHNed
s.t.
63
Fatbardh Haxhi
Projob - Odfjell Development Team
s.t.
64
Angelo Furlan
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
65
Christofer Stevenson
Concordia Forsikring - Riwal
s.t.
66
Mario Costa
OFM - Quinta da Lixa
s.t.
67
Shane Archbold
An Post - Chainreaction
s.t.
68
Glenn O'Shea
An Post - Chainreaction
s.t.
69
Alfredo Balloni
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
70
Darren Lapthorne
Drapac Cycling
s.t.
71
Stéphane Rossetto
BigMat - Auber 93
s.t.
72
Mats Andersson
Concordia Forsikring - Riwal
s.t.
73
Joshua Berry
La Pomme Marseille
s.t.
74
Armin Berg-Hansen
Projob - Odfjell Development Team
s.t.
75
Lukas Pöstlberger
Team Gourmetfein Simplon
s.t.
76
Laurent Van den Bak
An Post - Chainreaction
s.t.
77
Michael Stevenson
Concordia Forsikring - Riwal
s.t.
78
Jason Bakke
La Pomme Marseille
s.t.
79
Dominic Jelfs
Madison Genesis
s.t.
80
Ike Groen
Cyclingteam De Rijke - Shanks
s.t.
81
Ed Clancy
Rapha Condor - JLT
s.t.
82
Antoine Duchesne
Bontrager Cycling Team
s.t.
83
Stanislav Kozúbek
Bauknecht - Author
s.t.
84
Yoeri Havik
Cyclingteam De Rijke - Shanks
s.t.
85
Amaro Antunes
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
86
João Carlos Matias
OFM - Quinta da Lixa
s.t.
87
Luke Grivell-Mellor
Rapha Condor - JLT
s.t.
88
Jimmi Sørensen
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
89
Tomáš Koudela
Etixx - iHNed
s.t.
90
Peter Mathiesen
Concordia Forsikring - Riwal
s.t.
91
Manuel Stocker
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
92
David Clarke
Synergy Baku Cycling Project
s.t.
93
Dion Beukeboom
Cyclingteam De Rijke - Shanks
s.t.
94
Peter Erdin
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
95
Kristian House
Rapha Condor - JLT
s.t.
96
Alexander Gottfried
Nutrixxion - Abus
s.t.
97
Adrien Chenaux
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
98
Mieszko Bulik
Bank BGZ
s.t.
99
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
100
Janis Dakteris
Team Differdange - Losch
s.t.
101
Adam Phelan
Drapac Cycling
s.t.
102
Thomas Rostollan
La Pomme Marseille
s.t.
103
David Boily
Amore & Vita
s.t.
104
Sjef De Wilde
Team Differdange - Losch
s.t.
105
Rafael Reis
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
106
Michael Torckler
Bissell Cycling
s.t.
107
Nicolas Lüthi
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
108
Nathan Brown
Bontrager Cycling Team
s.t.
109
James Oram
Bontrager Cycling Team
s.t.
110
Paavo Paajanen
Team Differdange - Losch
s.t.
111
Alexandre Blain
Team Raleigh
s.t.
112
Myron Simpson
Team Differdange - Losch
s.t.
113
Uri Martins
Amore & Vita
s.t.
114
Sascha Weber
Team Differdange - Losch
s.t.
115
Anton Mikailov
Amore & Vita
s.t.
116
Viesturs Luksevics
Amore & Vita
s.t.
117
Lukasz Wisniowski
Etixx - iHNed
s.t.
118
Frank Dressler
Team Differdange - Losch
s.t.
119
Max Walsleben
Nutrixxion - Abus
s.t.
120
Christian Helmig
Team Differdange - Losch
s.t.
121
Mac Brennan
Bissell Cycling
s.t.
122
Pawel Cieslik
Bank BGZ
s.t.
123
Jan Sokol
Team Gourmetfein Simplon
s.t.
124
Connor O'Leary
Bontrager Cycling Team
s.t.
125
Adam Stachowiak
Bank BGZ
s.t.
126
Markus Eibegger
Team Gourmetfein Simplon
s.t.
127
Luka Grubic
Meridiana Kamen Team
s.t.
128
Frank Pipp
Bissell Cycling
s.t.
129
Tobias Dohlus
Nutrixxion - Abus
s.t.
130
Markus Hoelgaard
Etixx - iHNed
s.t.
131
Dariusz Batek
Bank BGZ
s.t.
132
Robbie Hucker
Drapac Cycling
s.t.
133
Alphonse Vermote
An Post - Chainreaction
s.t.
134
David Dvorsky
Bauknecht - Author
s.t.
135
Temesgen Teklehaimanot
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
136
Luis Filipe Fernandes
OFM - Quinta da Lixa
s.t.
137
Malcom Rudolph
Drapac Cycling
s.t.
138
Andrew Dahlheim
Bissell Cycling
s.t.
139
Eugenio Bani
Amore & Vita
s.t.
140
Christopher Baldwin
Bissell Cycling
s.t.
141
Andrea Piechele
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
142
Christoph Schweizer
Synergy Baku Cycling Project
s.t.
143
Daniel Holloway
Amore & Vita
s.t.
144
Josef Maňousek
Bauknecht - Author
s.t.
145
Hugh Carthy
Rapha Condor - JLT
s.t.
146
Nicolai Brøchner
Bissell Cycling
s.t.
147
Tural Isgandarov
Synergy Baku Cycling Project
s.t.
148
Tomas Kalojiros
Bauknecht - Author
s.t.
149
Konrad Czajkowski
Bank BGZ
s.t.
150
Sergey Sevostianov
Amore & Vita
s.t.
151
Volodymyr Starchyk
Amore & Vita
s.t.
152
Chris Snook
Madison Genesis
s.t.
153
Alexander Schmitt
Nutrixxion - Abus
s.t.
154
Florian Salzinger
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
155
Elliott Porter
Rapha Condor - JLT
s.t.
156
Jiri Polnicky
Bauknecht - Author
s.t.
157
Felix English
Rapha Condor - JLT
s.t.
158
Julian Kyer
Bissell Cycling
s.t.
159
Samir Jabrayilov
Synergy Baku Cycling Project
s.t.
160
Daniel Lehner
Team Gourmetfein Simplon
s.t.
161
Agshin Ismayilov
Synergy Baku Cycling Project
s.t.
162
Tomas Danacik
Bauknecht - Author
s.t.
163
Sebastian Schönberger
Team Gourmetfein Simplon
s.t.
164
Sam Witmitz
Team Raleigh
+ 3'32
165
Emanuel Kiserlovski
Meridiana Kamen Team
s.t.
166
Thomas Moses
Team Raleigh
s.t.
167
Evan Oliphant
Team Raleigh
s.t.
168
Jack Wilson
An Post - Chainreaction
s.t.
169
Alen Ivancec
Meridiana Kamen Team
s.t.
170
Endi Sirol
Meridiana Kamen Team
s.t.
171
Dean Downing
Madison Genesis
s.t.
172
Jack Pullar
Madison Genesis
s.t.
173
Tom Scully
Team Raleigh
s.t.
174
Mark Christian
Team Raleigh
s.t.
175
Andrew Tennant
Madison Genesis
s.t.
176
Robert Bush
La Pomme Marseille
s.t.
Post-race conclusion
I think we should be satisfied. 2nd is a great result! We did all we could to reel Sentjens in, so it was a shame we couldn't catch him. Anyway, we're going for the next race soon.
.. some nice screens there. 
