As the teams that are riding here are much stronger than they were last year, we wanted to get a guy up the road, so that we would have someone on the podium tonight, even if Simon or Mark weren't able to get the stage win. So we put Millar up the road and he took the KoM point, so that was good for us as we needed to do that in front of our home crowd, and David wanted to impress as he is riding in Scotland so his family are here to watch, and he has a lot of fans here, so he wanted to do them proud. When Dave was brought back with 10 kilometres to go, we hit the front with our lead out train, and the with 3 km to go, I kicked and the group strung out behind us, then Fabian launched the sprint and Simon came past him to win easily, but how could he lose really, he had the strongest lead out man in the business and with Mark in reserve we knew that we were going to be strong when it came to the sprints. Adam
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Today we just wanted to try and control the race, and then try to put Simon in the position to win the race. The way the race was shaping, we decided to put Dave up the road again, as there were lots of attacks so we started to think that the break may stay away, although OPQS brought back most of the groups until there was just 3 guys up the road, so we knew they would brought back before the finish, so we just sat back and then tried to save as much energy as possible. Then in the finale we tried to keep the pace high so that nobody could get away, unless Simon was with them, and then Moreno went away with Simon so we sat up and let the group go, so we could see that there were 4 guys, and Simon just sat on the back for a while, and then he attacked them on the penultimate climb, but the group stayed together, and then when they hit the final climb Simon just left them, and rode away to double up as we won here last year as well. I attacked on the final climb and was able to bridge across to the second group on the road, so that was good as we limited the gap, although Simon has a minutes lead now so he's sitting pretty. Adam
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There are no tactics today for our team, we just all need to go as hard as possible, and then hopefully we can defend the lead for the rest of the race. I'm happy with my ride today as I set a new PB for a 10 mile time trial, so what more can I ask for, I think that Fabian and Simon did a great performance, and I'm very happy that we have kept the jersey, and extended the lead, so we can't complain, we are riding very well as a team, and I'm looking forward to the next few days. Adam
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Today we wanted to let a break go, although as the time gaps aren't very big, we need to make sure that they are well down on GC, although yesterday went well for us. On the first climb I decided to have bait of a go, so I went on the attack, and managed to win the KoM points, which was my aim really, but the bunch weren't really bothered about chasing, so I decided to keep going and see what happens, as it doesn't matter if I am caught as I'm not the team leader, and it means that the race is hard and fast which suits Simon. After I was caught Gibby (Matt Gibson) attacked and started to build up a decent lead, which meant he was virtual leader on the road, as he is a very strong rider, so it was good to see him have a go. After he was brought back we tried to keep the bunch together and then me and Fabian put in a lot of work to lead Simon out and it worked perfectly as he easily took the win, so it was a very successful day for us. Adam
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We knew today would be the last key stage, so we wanted to control the race and then set Simon up to defend the jersey, we knew the finish may suit a rider like Moreno, so we wanted to make sure Simon was in the best position to follow any attacks. We managed to keep the bunch together until the final climb, where Simon was able to get the better of all the other riders and he sealed the GC victory, with two days left, as there are no more hard stages. Adam
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Today was quite an easy day for us, we let the break go and then AG2R brought the break back, so we tried to set Simon up for the win, and Mark put him in the perfect position and Simon was able to finish it off. Adam
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today was just about getting to the finish in one piece so we decided to let the break go if they got away, but Fabian went with them and it just turned into a free for all, so it was really hard. Then Fabian seat up and the break started to go away, however we managed to bring it back with 1 kilometre to go, and Simon took his final and best win in book. Although I am his brother so I have a biased opinion! Adam
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This is my first world time trials championships, so I'm very excited about my chances here. I think the course suits me as it is rolling, so it suits a punchy rider, and I think that if I get my ride judged correctly, then I think I could win it. Fabian is obviously the favourite as he is super strong at the moment, as he showed in the Tour of Britain when he took 20 seconds out of me in a 10 mile time trial, so I hope to be on the podium, but to win would be a dream for me. When I set off I was very nervous as I am one of the favourites despite being only young, so I feel under pressure to perform but I think its good to be nervous. After the first few checkpoints I was ahead, so I started to feel better and then in the final few kilometres I just went for it, and I managed to get the best time, nearly 1 and a half minutes ahead of 2nd, and then only Fabian beat my time, so I'm delighted to get 2nd. Simon
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We had Ivan (Basso) in the car with Rod Ellingworth today, so we were confident that we were confident we'd get the team tactics right as they are both very good at that sort of thing, the plan was to put Brad in the break, but for him just to sit on and ride easily, as we didn't have many riders so we didn't want to have to chase the break down, as it would mean we didn't have any riders in the finale. Brad managed to get in the break, but it was just two guys, so we would of hoped more would of gone away, as then it would mean that there would be less teams to chase it, and it would have a better chance of survival, but oh well you have to just wait and see what happens, so we let him go and they started to build a decent lead. With 4 laps to go we went hard on the climb, and we managed to split the group, but they caught us on the descent, so we backed off and then with 3 laps to go I attacked up the climb to test everyones legs, and Valverde and Boasson Hagen came with me so Pete and Simon responded and we got a gap, so we kept going and other the top there was 9 of us, with 3 GB riders and 2 Spaniards so we thought it would stay away so Pete and I started to ride on the front of the group. Then the gap went out, so we knew we were going to stay away to the finish, then Sagan and Boasson Hagen attacked so Simon followed and Valverde and Betancur bridged across, and I knew that I wasn't going to see them again until the finish. Then I heard that Simon had attacked over the final climb, and I was screaming down the radio at him to go as hard as he could. I'm over the moon I can't believe my brother is the World Champion, I'm just so happy for him. Adam
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Our ride today was very disappointing we brought a strong team, but we went out to easy, and the other teams were able to hold the fast pace, but we couldn't accelerate to their pace, hopefully we can sort ourselves out for the GC, but its only 20 seconds so its not to bad, but yeah we should of done a lot better. Adam
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Yesterday in Italy, a new cycling king was crowned. Simon Yates took a solo victory to make himself King of the World of cycling. The 23 year old Britain, attacked over the final climb to take a well deserved victory. Yates was backed by a strong group of British riders, that also included his twin brother Adam Yates, who said, "I can't believe it my brother is the World Champion, I'm so proud of him, he rode with his head and its an honour to call him my brother."
Yates himself was keen to share the credit for his win with his teammates, "I couldn't of won it without this guys yesterday, they all killed themselves for me and I'm so happy, last night I was just lying in bed and I started crying, it was such a beautiful win, and I can't believe that its mine. I hope to do the jersey proud in the next few weeks, but I think it won't sink in properly for a while."
Yates' Dad told us, "I'm so proud, he's worked so hard all year and this is what he gets for it, the team were great for him, and they are all young guys, so its great for him, he's the next big thing and I'm amazed to think he's my son. I'm so happy and he deserves it as he has been so committed this year, and he got his reward for it. I just can't believe it!"
As his Dad said, nobody can believe what this man has managed to do, making him the third Briton to win the title after Tom Simpson and Mark Cavendish. It seems that everyone around Yates knew he was capable, but to win at this age is something special!
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Today was my first race in the rainbow bands, and I wanted to make sure I showed them off to everyone, and to show that I deserved to win them, so we decided to go for the sprint at the finish. We wanted to get a guy in the break, so that we didn't have to ride on the front all day so we had the legs for the lead out in the finale. So we put Joe up the road, and the break was allowed to go eventually, and then Joe took the KoM points so that meant we'd have a guy on the podium at the end of the day, which was good for us, as there are a lotm of good sprinters, so it would be hard for me to win the stage, although I believe I can do it. Then when Joe was caught we messed the lead out up and we were to far back coming into the final 5 kilometres so we had to make a big effort to get back up and that took nit out of me, but I think my sprint was good and I managed to get up there for the win, and I think 4 th is good considering the quality of sprinters here. Simon
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Today I fancied my chances for the stage win, so we put Joe up the road again, as I knew I would need as many people as possible of the final climb, except he got away on his own, and the others just let him go, and the gap started to get quite big, so we were in a good place. Then after Joe was caught Fabian attacked and nobody chased him, so he started to build up a lead, and then Moreno went so we followed and then sat up, so fabian had over a minute with less than 5 kilometres to go. Then Valverde attacked and I had no response, and he bridged across to Fabian quite easily and went away from him and he took the stage and the jersey, so I'm gutted that i couldn't stay with him, but tomorrow we will have to change tactics. Simon
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I knew that today's stage didn't suit me as well as yesterday as the final climb was quite long so we decided to set it up for Andy or Adam, depending on who was the strongest come the finale, as Andy is in the form of his life, and its great to see him regain the form of 2010, when he won the Tour. We wanted to keep the race together and then to try and split it on the first climb, so we put Dave on the front to prevent any attacks. However we saw a strong group go away, so I went with it to monitor the group, as I knew I wouldn't be up there for the finish, and it meant that the guys had stronger legs for later in the race. Then when we hit the final climb, I still had a decent lead so I went for it and I got the gap, but then Andy and Nibali caught me with 2 kilometres to go and I just had nothing left. Although I was able to hold on for 4th, but Andy and Nibali gained some decent time on Valverde, so it was a great ride, and Adam was able to finish with Valverde, so we did pretty well as a team, so we are all happy we got the stage and Adam didn't lose much time. Simon
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Today we decided to try and split the race on the climbs, and then set Andy up for the intermediate sprints as the bonus seconds will move him closer to Valverde. Every time up the hill e hit it hard and the group go slowly smaller until the final time over, only Nibali and Valverde could follow, so we went as hard as we could, and the gap started to open, so we pressed harder, and then we made sure that Andy was the last man to lead me out as it would mean he got the bonus seconds, but Andy blew up so I had to go early, but I was able to hold off Valverde for the win, so I'm very happy as this win means a lot to me, so to win is great as the team rode so hard today, and Im so happy to be a part of this great team. This win also means I've won a stage in each Grand Tour this year, so I'm very proud of my achievement and I can't wait until tomorrow and the future as I think I have a lot of wins still in me. Simon
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Today we wanted to let a break get up the road, as we knew we needed to save our legs for the finale, so we had Dave check who was in the break to make sure they weren't a threat overall. However nobody was going away so we decided to keep the bunch together for the sprints as then Andy could gain the jersey via bonus seconds, and he managed to pick up the first set, and then Dave and Fabian went to the front and the pace increased, then Andy won the second sprint as well, so he had a 5 second lead on Valverde, and Simon managed to pick up 2nd so that meant hey was now level on points with Valverde, so that was good for us as we used the sprints to gain time and points on our rivals. Then Valverde and Moreno attacked over the final climb, but we didn't panic and we just brought them back slowly, and then chased hard on the descent, then when we hit the final climb, we kicked as hard as we could and we managed to beat Valverde, so that was a couple of seconds gained, and that means Andy is now in the race lead, so thats a great result for us. Adam
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People keep asking me who's the leader of the team, as Andy is in the leader's jersey, and to be honest, we don't have a leader, we have decided that whoever has the lead after the time trial will be the leader, and until then we will race against each other as days like these, we aren't going to lose time for not riding as a unit, but in the high mountains we know that we will have to work together to beat Valverde as he is on home roads, so he will be very determined to win. Anyway today was an easy day for us we just sat back and took it easy for the day, and tried to save energy where possible. Adam
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Today we wanted to put Fabian up the road as he is a decent climber, and it would mean we wouldn't have to work later in the race, as a lot of the stages follow the sam sort of pattern, so we need to learn and suit our tactics according to this. The bunch wouldn't let Fabian go so we sent Dave up the road, ad they were allowed to go, so we just sat back to try and relax and to keep or legs for the finale. Going up the penultimate climb I had a go and I got away over the summit, so I kept going as hard as I could and the gap started to open up behind, so I was going well, but Dave had been dropped up the road, so we had to do something about the stage, and I saw this as my time to gain time on the others. However I went to hard and I blew up when we hit the final climb, and then Andy went and managed to distance Val;verde and Nibali, so that was good, although in the moutons I will gain the time back, and I think I can still win the race, Simon was gutted today, as he lost big time, when he should of gone well, but thats racing you've got to learn from your mistakes, and the next few days I'm sure will be very different. Adam
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Today should suit me, so the plan was to control the race and then for the guys to work for me for the finish or to get a guy up the road and then for them to go for the finish, and we decided to send Fabio Aru in the break today, as he is a strong climber so he wouldn't be dropped over the final few climbs. I think today is going to be a good stag for us as Andy is happy as he gained time on all the GC contenders, and I think once we hit the mountains they will struggle to stay with us as we have strong mountain team. Although at the start of the stag they wouldn't let Fabio go up the road as he was a threat to Valverde, so we sent Joe and Fabian up the road as they are both strong riders and they can control the race very well, so the break would be able to potentially stay away. The break was able to stay away but Vichot was able to outsmart Joe, so he got the win, and then we couldn't keep with Valverde as the finish really suited with him, but we managed to limit our loses so Andy is now 1 second behind him on GC, but he'll get that back with interest in the time trial. Simon
Stage 10 - Flat Road race
Today we took as almost an unofficial rest day, as we wanted to sea energy for tomorrow, so we just took it easy and let Simon have a go at the finish, but he knew tomorrow is where we need to have as much energy as possible to kill of Valverde and Nibali. Adam
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