The 2nd stage from Tczew to Bydgoszcz, 151 kilometres, is pancake flat, so a mass sprint?
62km to go
The story of this race is predictable: a BOTD gets a few minutes advantage, but the sprinters teams keep everything in control to let it end in a mass sprint.
So Mitchell Docker (Qantas), Alberto Ongarato (Vacansoleil), Jimmy Casper (Saur) and Luca Barla (Androni) know their attempt will be fruitless, but some time on TV makes the sponsors happy!
1km to go
They get caught with 6 kilometres to go. Team Sky and Sony Ericcson have done most of the work, we didn't... We try to do the same as yesterday, but this time our train fails to get in the front of the peloton. So with one km to go, Marcel Kittel is outside the top 10...
The battle for the win will go between Mark Cavendish and André Greipel. Is Cav too early in the lead?
Finish
Cavendish stays in the lead untill 50 metres before the finish. Then he gets passed by André Greipel, his former HTC-team mate/rival. It's only the 3rd win of the year for Greipel, besides two stage wins in the Tour of California. Cav finishes in 2nd, Hushvd in 3rd and Kittel finishes in 5th after a great sprint, gaining a lot of places in the last kilometre.
Results
1
André Greipel
Sony Ericsson
3h16'33
2
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
3
Thor Hushovd
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
4
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
5
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
6
Filippo Pozzato
Katusha Team
s.t.
7
Óscar Freire
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
8
Matti Breschel
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
9
Sacha Modolo
Team Type 1
s.t.
10
Alessandro Petacchi
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
GC
1
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Ford
7h09'27
2
André Greipel
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
3
Thor Hushovd
BMC Racing Team
+ 2
4
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
+ 4
5
Yukiya Arashiro
Team Europcar
s.t.
6
Aidis Kruopis
Team Qantas
+ 5
7
Jimmy Casper
Saur - Sojasun
+ 6
8
Mitchell Docker
Team Qantas
s.t.
9
Koldo Fernández
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
10
Alberto Ongarato
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
Points
1
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Ford
16
36
2
Thor Hushovd
BMC Racing Team
18
36
3
André Greipel
Sony Ericsson
20
36
4
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
19
31
5
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
17
30
Today's winner
Word from the DS
Sometimes our train works, most times it doesn't. And today, it didn't. But Kittel showed his strength with a strong sprint. Would it be enough to beat Cav and Greipel? We'll never know.
The 3rd stage in the Tour de Pologne starts in Gniezno, and finishes after 172 flat kilometres in Rawicz. The prediction is a 3rd mass sprint in a row.
80km to go
With beautiful weather conditions, Said Haddou (Europcar), Francisco Pacheco (Movistar), Brian Vandborg & Matteo Tosatto (Saxo), Cyril Lemoine (Saur), Mark Renshaw (Rabobank), Piotr Sztobryn (CCC), Martin Mortensen (Vacansoleil) and Danilo Wyss (BMC)are in an attack and take a maximum lead of 6 minutes. But with Team Sky and Sony Ericsson controlling the pace of the peloton, they won't stand a chance today.
3km to go
With less than 10km to go, the BOTD gets caught. We try to set up a train again, with a better result than yesterday. But nevertheless, we aren't as good as Team Sky, with Ben Swift and Bernhard Eisel leading out Mark Cavendish.
1km to go
Entering the last kilometre, Cavendish has still his final lead out man left (Eisel). Greipel and Farrar are on his wheel. Marcel Kittel is in 11th place, he lost more than 5 places when his lead out Sep Vanmarcke had to make the pace, but because of a bad day (-2), the young Belgian couldn't stay in front.
Finish
After getting beaten yesterday, Cavendish didn't want to get beaten twice in a row. And he wins the sprint with a terrific effort! Farrar finishes in 2nd, Hushovd in 3rd and Kittel (form: 0) in 8th. Because of the win, Cav takes over the GC-lead.
Results
1
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
3h51'53
2
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
3
Thor Hushovd
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
4
André Greipel
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
5
Allan Davis
Team Qantas
s.t.
6
Matti Breschel
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
7
Alessandro Petacchi
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
8
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
9
Óscar Freire
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
10
Roberto Ferrari
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
GC
1
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
11h01'14
2
Thor Hushovd
BMC Racing Team
+ 4
3
André Greipel
Sony Ericsson
+ 6
4
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
5
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 10
6
Yukiya Arashiro
Team Europcar
s.t.
7
Aidis Kruopis
Team Qantas
+ 11
8
Jimmy Casper
Saur - Sojasun
+ 12
9
Mitchell Docker
Team Qantas
s.t.
10
Koldo Fernández
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
Points
1
Thor Hushovd
BMC Racing Team
18
54
2
André Greipel
Sony Ericsson
17
53
3
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
20
51
4
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Ford
13
49
5
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
19
49
Today's winner
Word from the DS
From 1st to 5th to 8th.... The results aren't getting better. But what to expect with only 1 rider with a positive daily form???
The 4th stage for the sprinters is between Legnica and Nysa. Contrary to the previous 3 stages, this one consists a few tough climb in the middle of the route. After the last summit, 45 flat kilometres remain.
127km to go Francis De Greef is battling with the current KOTM-leader Aidis Kruopis for the points at the first two smaller climbs. He can beat the Lithuanian rider pretty easily.
45km to go
The pace in the peloton, set by Team Sky, is that high that no one can escape today. Francis De Greef leads the peloton over the 3rd (Klodzka Gora) and 4th and last (Jawornik Wielki) climb of the day, becoming the new virtual KOTM-leader.
5km to go
A big crash and following pile-up 5 kilometres before the finish takes out half of the peloton. Most important victim is Swiss Fabian Cancellara, who can continue the stage. Less luck is for Mirko Selvaggi (fractured arm) and Koldo Fernández (fractured skull), who have to abandon the race.
Finish
The pile up causes some sprinters to loose some ground. Unfortunately, Marcel Kittel is one of them. He was very lucky not to crash, as he was riding next to Cancellara when he crashed. But he lost to many places, and had to settle with 10th.
The 4th mass sprint brings to 4th different winner. After Kittel, Greipel, Cavendish, it's the best sprinter of Le Tour who wins it. Tyler Farrar takes his 10th win of the year, beating Greipel and Cavendish.
Results
1
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
5h12'10
2
André Greipel
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
3
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
4
Filippo Pozzato
Katusha Team
s.t.
5
Yukiya Arashiro
Team Europcar
s.t.
6
Óscar Freire
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
7
Matti Breschel
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
8
Thor Hushovd
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
9
Sacha Modolo
Team Type 1
s.t.
10
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
GC
1
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
16h13'20
2
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 3
3
André Greipel
Sony Ericsson
+ 4
4
Thor Hushovd
BMC Racing Team
+ 6
5
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 10
6
Yukiya Arashiro
Team Europcar
+ 14
7
Jimmy Casper
Saur - Sojasun
+ 16
8
Alberto Ongarato
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
9
Mark Renshaw
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 18
10
Óscar Freire
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 20
Points
1
André Greipel
Sony Ericsson
19
72
2
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
21
70
3
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
18
69
4
Thor Hushovd
BMC Racing Team
15
69
5
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Ford
11
60
KOTM
1
Francis De Greef
Monster Energy - Ford
18
18
2
Juan Antonio Flecha
Sky ProCycling
6
6
3
Aidis Kruopis
Team Qantas
2
5
4
Jeremy Hunt
Sky ProCycling
4
4
5
Blazej Janiaczyk
CCC Polsat Polkowice
4
4
Today's winner
Word from the DS
Some bad luck tday, but that can happen... The next 3 stages will shake up the GC, with mountain / uphill finishes.
The 5th stage of the Tour de Pologne brings us to the mountains. After 200 kilometres, the finish lies at the Korbielow. The final climb is 10.9 kilometres long, has an average gradient of 8.4% and the riders finish at an altitude of 1545 metres. And still, this is called a hilly stage
17km to go
The first part of the race is pretty boring. Some riders try to get away, a leading group of 15 riders is formed, Team Sky thinks it is too big, they catch them and after that, 2 riders form the BOTD. Ion Izagirre (Euskaltel) and Luca Barla (Androni) take a maximum lead of 5 minutes, but get caught before the foot of the final climb.
7km to go
Our goal for today is to bring Jelle Vanendert the win. To achieve this goal, Andy Schleck himself in front of the peloton and sets a high pace. After 4 ascending kilometres, all but 8 opponents have been dropped. Only Chris Horner & Philippe Gilbert (Lotto), Roman Kreuziger, Dimitry Muravyev & Fredrik Kessiakoff (Astana), Francis De Greef, Ben Hermans (Radio Shack) and Chris Anker Sorensen (Saxo Bank) can follow the pace.
4km to go
3 more kilometres and only Kreuziger, Gilbert and Horner can follow. Kreuziger looks very strong, whereas Horner is about to get dropped. So far is our tactic working great.
1km to go
Also Gilbert has to let the leading group go, so only 3 riders are in the lead. But Vanendert is struggling as well, and under the flamme rouge, Kreuziger attacks. Vanendert looks at Schleck and his eyes tell enough: "I won't make it, go get him!".
Finish
And so it happens. Andy Schleck overtakes Kreuziger and wins at the Korbielow. Kreuziger finishes in the same time, Vanendert follows at '20 and Gilbert at '46.
Results
1
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
5h03'11
2
Roman Kreuziger
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
3
Jelle Vanendert
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 20
4
Philippe Gilbert
Lotto - Belisol
+ 46
5
Chris Horner
Lotto - Belisol
+ 2'04
6
Ben Hermans
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 2'15
7
Chris Anker Sørensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 2'44
8
Brice Feillu
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
9
Maxime Monfort
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 3'46
10
Carlos Barredo
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Fabian Wegmann
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 4'39
12
Greg Van Avermaet
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
13
Dimitriy Muravyev
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
14
Fredrik Kessiakoff
Pro Team Astana
+ 5'01
15
Francis De Greef
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
16
Filippo Pozzato
Katusha Team
+ 5'26
17
Ángel Madrazo
Movistar Team
+ 5'43
18
Grega Bole
Lampre - Generali
+ 6'08
19
George Hincapie
BMC Racing Team
+ 6'35
20
Davide Malacarne
Team Europcar
+ 6'44
21
Thor Hushovd
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
22
Tony Martin
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
23
Juan José Oroz
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
24
Yukiya Arashiro
Team Europcar
s.t.
25
Alessandro Ballan
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
26
Gustav Erik Larsson
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
27
Tom Boonen
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 7'30
28
Joost Van Leijen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
29
David Zabriskie
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
30
Lars Ytting Bak
Lotto - Belisol
+ 7'59
31
Andriy Grivko
Pro Team Astana
+ 8'09
32
Francesco Gavazzi
Lampre - Generali
+ 8'32
33
Daryl Impey
Team Qantas
s.t.
34
Jesús Herrada
Movistar Team
s.t.
35
Aleksandr Kuschynski
Katusha Team
+ 8'51
36
Grégory Rast
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 9'09
37
Linus Gerdemann
Katusha Team
+ 9'19
38
Janez Brajkovič
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
39
Matti Breschel
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
40
Johan Vansummeren
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 9'37
41
Maarten Tjallingii
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 10'03
42
Zdenek Stybar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 10'21
43
Jorge Azanza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
44
Cyril Lemoine
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
45
Javier Francisco Aramendia
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 10'34
46
Tiago Machado
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 10'53
47
Donato Cannone
Androni Giocattoli
+ 11'12
48
Jan Kuyckx
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
49
Manuele Mori
Lampre - Generali
+ 11'32
50
Geraint Thomas
Sky ProCycling
+ 11'59
51
Ion Izagirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
52
Maxim Iglinskiy
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
53
Mirco Lorenzetto
Androni Giocattoli
+ 12'14
54
Jose Mendes
CCC Polsat Polkowice
+ 12'29
55
Vicente Reynès
Lotto - Belisol
+ 12'40
56
Juan Antonio Flecha
Sky ProCycling
+ 13'15
57
Rémy Di Gregorio
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
58
Chris Barton
Sony Ericsson
+ 13'26
59
Blazej Janiaczyk
CCC Polsat Polkowice
+ 13'36
60
Sacha Modolo
Team Type 1
s.t.
61
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
62
Bernhard Eisel
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
63
Manuel Belletti
Team Type 1
s.t.
64
André Greipel
Sony Ericsson
+ 13'58
65
Sep Vanmarcke
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
66
Jonas Aaen Jørgensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
67
Sébastien Rosseler
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
68
Valentin Iglinskiy
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
69
Krzysztof Szczawinski
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
70
Baden Cooke
Team Qantas
s.t.
71
Jack Bobridge
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
72
Francisco Pérez
Movistar Team
+ 15'08
73
Óscar Freire
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
74
René Mandri
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
75
Mateusz Taciak
CCC Polsat Polkowice
+ 15'17
76
Gert Steegmans
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 16'10
77
Hayden Roulston
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
78
Rubén Pérez
Movistar Team
s.t.
79
Igor Abakoumov
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
80
Manuel Quinziato
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
81
Tomasz Kiendyś
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
82
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
83
Dennis Van Winden
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
84
Alberto Ongarato
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
85
Jarosław Marycz
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
86
Sébastien Turgot
Team Europcar
+ 17'30
87
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
88
Jean-Marc Marino
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
89
Cyril Bessy
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
90
Maxim Lefèvre
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
91
Balint Szeghalmi
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
92
Luca Barla
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
93
Matteo Tosatto
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
94
Pablo Urtasun
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
95
Alex Dowsett
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
96
Tom Leezer
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
97
Pablo Lastras
Movistar Team
s.t.
98
Jesse Sergent
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
99
Matthew Wilson
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
100
Mitchell Docker
Team Qantas
s.t.
101
Allan Davis
Team Qantas
s.t.
102
Jürgen Roelandts
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
103
Maxime Vantomme
Katusha Team
s.t.
104
Javier Megías
Team Type 1
s.t.
105
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
106
Brian Vandborg
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
107
Alessandro Petacchi
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
108
Ben Swift
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
109
Piotr Sztobryn
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
110
Anthony Delaplace
Saur - Sojasun
+ 19'00
111
Julien Simon
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
112
Robert Hunter
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
113
Jos Van Emden
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
114
Francisco José Pacheco
Movistar Team
s.t.
115
Aidis Kruopis
Team Qantas
+ 19'34
116
Maxim Gourov
Pro Team Astana
+ 19'43
117
Martin Mortensen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
118
Alexander Porsev
Katusha Team
s.t.
119
Leif Hoste
Katusha Team
s.t.
120
Rafal Majka
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 20'10
121
Danilo Wyss
BMC Racing Team
+ 20'26
122
Roberto Ferrari
Androni Giocattoli
+ 20'50
123
Fabian Cancellara
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
124
Aaron Kemps
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
125
Benjamin King
Team Type 1
+ 21'16
126
Rick Flens
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
127
Salvatore Commesso
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
128
William Clarke
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
129
Jeremy Hunt
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
130
Enrique Sanz
Movistar Team
s.t.
131
Sam Bewley
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
132
Gabriel Rasch
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 21'41
133
Matthew Hayman
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
134
Assan Bazayev
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
135
Martin Kohler
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
136
Alexey Shmidt
Team Type 1
+ 22'07
137
Perrig Quemeneur
Team Europcar
s.t.
138
Laszló Bodrogi
Team Type 1
s.t.
139
Antonio Santoro
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
140
Sergio Hernandez
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
141
Marco Bandiera
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
142
Tony Hurel
Team Europcar
+ 22'42
143
Mark Renshaw
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 22'52
144
John Murphy
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
145
Jimmy Casper
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
146
Adriano Malori
Lampre - Generali
+ 23'04
147
Daniele Righi
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
148
Albert Timmer
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
149
Kamil Zielinski
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
150
Guillaume Le Floch
Team Europcar
s.t.
151
Aldo Ino Ilesic
Team Type 1
+ 23'32
152
Gorik Gardeyn
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 24'02
153
Piet Rooijakkers
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
154
Shawn Milne
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
155
Klemente Mitxeo
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 25'00
156
Francesco Ginanni
Androni Giocattoli
+ 25'33
157
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 26'28
158
Frederik Veuchelen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 27'50
159
Tomas Vaitkus
Team Qantas
+ 28'16
160
Saïd Haddou
Team Europcar
+ 29'03
161
Leigh Howard
Team Qantas
+ 30'23
162
Brett Lancaster
Team Qantas
s.t.
163
Charles Bradley Huff
Team Type 1
s.t.
164
Jonathan Bellis
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 30'39
165
Arkimedes Arguelyes
Katusha Team
s.t.
166
Giovanni Bernaudeau
Team Europcar
s.t.
167
Vitali Kondrut
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
168
Nikolai Trussov
Katusha Team
s.t.
169
Rasmus Quaade
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
170
Kristof Goddaert
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
171
Davide Cimolai
Androni Giocattoli
+ 33'42
172
Christophe Laborie
Saur - Sojasun
+ 34'18
GC
1
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
21h16'41
2
Roman Kreuziger
Pro Team Astana
+ 4
3
Jelle Vanendert
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 26
4
Philippe Gilbert
Lotto - Belisol
+ 56
5
Ben Hermans
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 2'25
6
Brice Feillu
Saur - Sojasun
+ 2'54
7
Chris Anker Sørensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
8
Maxime Monfort
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 3'56
9
Carlos Barredo
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
10
Fabian Wegmann
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 4'49
Points
1
André Greipel
Sony Ericsson
0
72
2
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
1
70
3
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
0
70
4
Thor Hushovd
BMC Racing Team
0
69
5
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Ford
0
60
KOTM
1
Francis De Greef
Monster Energy - Ford
3
21
2
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
12
12
3
Luca Barla
Androni Giocattoli
9
9
4
Jelle Vanendert
Monster Energy - Ford
6
8
5
Roman Kreuziger
Pro Team Astana
8
8
Today's winner
Word from the DS
You can say this was the wrong rider that won, but when the other guy has a better daily form (Schleck +2, Vanendert -1), you have to change tactics. Nevermind, very happy with the win, now we'll try to keep the leaders jersey!
Despite the final climb not being as difficult as yesterday, still today's stage is tougher. The reason for it that there are more climbs in it, even a cobbled section through Zakopane and the last 3 kilometres are on gravel roads. Looks challenging!
52km to go
We work hard to keep the peloton together, with the goal of bringing De Greef more KOTM-points and getting the stage win at the Morskie Oko.
Shortly before the cobbled section in Zakopane (and the uphill Intermediate sprint), Geraint Thomas has attacked. But he gets caught shortly after the IS.
36km to go Francis De Greef is the first at the summit of the Gliczarow, a very short and steep climb (1.7km at 12.4%).
15km to go
Ion Izagirre attacks at the penultimate summit, but also this attack will be fruitless. Our domestiques catch the Euskaltel-rider, so a complete peloton can start the final climb.
4km to go
Yesterday's number 2 Roman Kreuziger is the first to attack at the final climb (6.7km at 6.1%). He does it just before the gravel roads start. Andy Schleck is immediately at his wheel.
3km to go
When Kreuziger is loosing speed, Schleck is taking over. Also Gilbert is present at the front. The 3 have a gap to the others and will battle for the win today.
2km to go
With the help of Didi, Schleck is loading energy for the second attack. Jelle Vanendert follows at '36, together with Ben Hermans and Carlos Barredo.
1km to go
Second attack, and this time there is a gap. Gilbert and Kreuziger follow 11 seconds behind the GC-leader.
Finish
It's the 2nd win in a row for Andy Schleck. Kreuziger and Gilbert follow at '20, Vanendert at '34. It is obvious who is the strongest in the Tour de Pologne!
Results
1
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
4h32'22
2
Roman Kreuziger
Pro Team Astana
+ 20
3
Philippe Gilbert
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
4
Jelle Vanendert
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 34
5
Ben Hermans
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 1'04
6
Carlos Barredo
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1'27
7
Brice Feillu
Saur - Sojasun
+ 1'51
8
Francis De Greef
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 2'09
9
Tony Martin
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 2'19
10
Dimitriy Muravyev
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
GC
1
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
25h48'53
2
Roman Kreuziger
Pro Team Astana
+ 28
3
Jelle Vanendert
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 1'10
4
Philippe Gilbert
Lotto - Belisol
+ 1'22
5
Ben Hermans
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 3'39
6
Brice Feillu
Saur - Sojasun
+ 4'55
7
Carlos Barredo
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 5'33
8
Chris Anker Sørensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 5'55
9
Francis De Greef
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 7'30
10
Maxime Monfort
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 7'48
Points
1
André Greipel
Sony Ericsson
0
72
2
Thor Hushovd
BMC Racing Team
2
71
3
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
0
70
4
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
0
70
5
Filippo Pozzato
Katusha Team
6
63
KOTM
1
Francis De Greef
Monster Energy - Ford
25
46
2
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
14
26
3
Roman Kreuziger
Pro Team Astana
8
16
4
Jelle Vanendert
Monster Energy - Ford
4
12
5
Ion Izagirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
6
12
Today's winner
Word from the DS
Again, great riding by Andy Schleck. One tage to go, to finally win a World Tour stage race this year!
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So i have finally climb that massive mountain, read your story 85 pages long during the whole February. And it was certainly worth it.
Your story is perfect-nice rosters (maybe a bit too strong with Andy), nice screens, great reports, fantastic level of dedication to a story and fast updating and the icing on the cake -Monster girls
Results-wise last year was perfect, as the new team on the block you were simply stunning (well you have strong riders for it), especially with Gesink at Giro and Vuelta + Andy on Tour.
This year you emerged as one of the best in the World Tour, Andy was unlucky in Italy vs. Anton, but podium in Tour with Gesink + KOM is great, Evans and Nibali were too strong...
From now i am real-time follower, so good luck in August and Vuelta especially (however i dont like Andy much)
@ others: thank you, but the field is pretty weak here, only Kreuziger (and Gilbert a bit) is a challenger...
@ Avin Wargunnson: wow, thanks a lot, I really appreciate your comment. I really enjoy making this story, ony thing I would change in a future-story, is to have a squad that is a little less strong (1 instead of 2 top GT-contenders). And I'm happy you didn't get bored last month reading this, must have taken some time
