Stage 4 between Heers and Andenne is the queen's stage, with 190 kilometres over hilly terrain, including famous climbs as the Mur de Huy, Cote de Saint Roch and La Flime (the last 2 twice).
18km to go
14 riders have started an early attack, and surprisingly, this one lasts untill the finish!! The domestiques of Boasson Hagen don't want to catch them, or are unable to, so we decide to do the chase with less than 20km to go. But because we are over 3'30 behind, the win is gone.
Finish
The hills in the last part of the stage didn't cause a shift in the leading group. So the best sprinter in it, Landbouwkrediets Davy Commeyne wins the stage, again an excellent resut for the Belgium team. Thomas Löfkvist finishes in 2nd and Nick Nuyens in 3rd.
The first peloton finishes 1'45 behind. Boasson Hagen eaily wins the sprint of it, followed by Terpstra and Dekker. Also here no big shifts. GC's number 3 and 4, Adriano Malori and Tyler Farrar, are missing in this group and fall back in the GC.
It's one bad day for Qantas Robbie McEwen. The former winner of the Tour's green jersey, crashes and is admitted to a hospital with a fractured skull. Is this the end of his great career?
Results
1
Davy Commeyne
Landbouwkrediet
4h37'08
2
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
3
Nick Nuyens
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
4
Peter Stetina
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
5
Björn Leukemans
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
6
Sergueï Ivanov
Katusha Team
s.t.
7
Andrey Kashechkin
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
8
Stuart O'Grady
Team Qantas
s.t.
9
Martin Mortensen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
10
Evgeni Petrov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
...
16
Niki Terpstra
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 1'45
GC
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
12h54'47
2
Gustav Erik Larsson
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 10
3
Geraint Thomas
Sky ProCycling
+ 17
4
Niki Terpstra
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 19
5
Chris Froome
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
6
Sebastian Langeveld
Team Qantas
+ 20
7
Thomas Dekker
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 22
8
Jakob Fuglsang
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
9
Christian Knees
Sky ProCycling
+ 23
10
Joost Posthuma
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 24
Points
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
6
67
2
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
0
40
3
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
0
38
4
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky ProCycling
28
34
5
Alex Rasmussen
Nespresso
0
32
Today's winner
Word from the DS
Too bad that we couldn't close the gap to the leading group. But when we would have succeeded, we would be without a change in the sprint against Boasson Hagen. With the places 4,7, 10 and 14 (Westra, at '27) before the decisive time trial tomorrow, we have a good chance to get a top 5 here.
Edited by dienblad on 02-03-2012 17:41
4th place, nice... it's going to be hard to get into the top-3, though. As for the transfers, I think Poels should really go to Rabobank. I will praise the Lord the day Cyanide gets realistic transfers in the game.
The Eneco Tour will probably be decided in stage 5, a 14.7km ITT in Roermond.
Lars Boom has to start early, due to some stupidous time loss in stage 3. He sets the best time so far in 21'12 ans must realize that that one stage will cost him a Top 3 in the GC.
Joost Posthuma is the best from our team, finishing in 21'23. It'll be the 11th time of the day.
Chris Froome is the first of the Top 5 to start and finishes 4 seconds behind Boom.
Niki Terpstra starts with the goal to enter the GC-Top 3. But just as his teammates Dekker (102nd at 1'09) and Westra (80th at '58) he collapses in the last few kilometres...... He sets the 63rd time in 21'53. Ow man, that's pretty bad....
Also Geraint Thomas rides a disappointing ITT: 25th in 21'39. He'll drop to the 9th place in the GC.
Gustav Erik Larsson is in a very good shape and needs to do '10 faster than Boasson Hagen. The Swedish TT-specialist sets the fastest time in 21'08, 4 seconds faster than Boom.
The last one to start is of course the leader in the GC. Edvald Boasson Hagen does what he has to do, stay within reach of Larsson. But ath line, he is even faster (21'02) and wins the ITT!
Results
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
21'02
2
Gustav Erik Larsson
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 6
3
Lars Boom
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 10
4
Jakob Fuglsang
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
5
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky ProCycling
+ 13
6
Chris Froome
Sky ProCycling
+ 14
7
Artem Ovechkin
Katusha Team
+ 16
8
Adriano Malori
Lampre - Generali
+ 17
9
Alex Rasmussen
Nespresso
+ 19
10
Ignatas Konovalovas
Movistar Team
+ 21
11
Joost Posthuma
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
GC
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
13h15'29
2
Gustav Erik Larsson
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 24
3
Jakob Fuglsang
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 52
4
Chris Froome
Sky ProCycling
+ 53
5
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky ProCycling
+ 59
6
Christian Knees
Sky ProCycling
+ 1'04
7
Joost Posthuma
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 1'05
8
Heinrich Haussler
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1'12
9
Geraint Thomas
Sky ProCycling
+ 1'14
10
Sylvain Chavanel
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 1'20
Points
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
25
92
2
Lars Boom
Rabobank Cycling Team
16
46
3
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky ProCycling
12
46
4
Gustav Erik Larsson
Saxo Bank SunGard
20
42
5
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
0
40
Today´s winner
Word from the DS
Now this was bad. Only Posthuma performed as expected, all the others disappointed a lot. So now our goal is to defend the 7th place of Posthuma in the GC.
In stage 6, we enter Belgium again, for a 189 kilometre stage with start and finish in Gent.
78km to go
4 riders have gone into an attack, and it could be succesful. Gregory Rast (Radio Shack), James Vanlandschoot (Veranda's), Martin Mortensen (Vacansoleil) and Baden Cooke (Qantas) are in the hilly section in the middle of the stage, and have a gap of 6 minutes to the peloton.
3km to go
The peloton miscalculated the chase again, so the 4 leaders will sprint for the stage win. In the peloton, Lieuwe Westra hits the tarmac, and he's the first of many riders that will crash. Among them is Christian Knees, GC's number 6, who will loose more than 2 minutes and his 6th position! Luckily, Westra can finish the stage.
Finish
The battle for the stage win is between Vanlandschoot and Cooke. The win goes to Team Qantas, as Cooke wins the sprint pretty easily.
The peloton finishes 1'35 behind.
Results
1
Baden Cooke
Team Qantas
4h30'50
2
James Vanlandschoot
Veranda's Willems - Accent
s.t.
3
Grégory Rast
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
4
Martin Mortensen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
+ 1'35
6
Heinrich Haussler
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
7
Grega Bole
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
8
Gert Steegmans
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
9
Bobbie Traksel
Landbouwkrediet
s.t.
10
Theo Bos
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
GC
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
17h47'54
2
Gustav Erik Larsson
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 24
3
Jakob Fuglsang
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 52
4
Chris Froome
Sky ProCycling
+ 53
5
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky ProCycling
+ 59
6
Joost Posthuma
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 1'05
7
Heinrich Haussler
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1'12
8
Sylvain Chavanel
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 1'20
9
Sebastian Langeveld
Team Qantas
+ 1'22
10
Daniele Bennati
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1'27
Points
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
16
108
2
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
8
48
3
Lars Boom
Rabobank Cycling Team
0
46
4
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky ProCycling
0
46
5
Gustav Erik Larsson
Saxo Bank SunGard
0
42
Today's winner
Word from the DS
Strange stage, as none of the teams with great sprinters wanted to do the chase...
For the last stage, we'll ride over the hills in Limbutgm the most southen province of the Netherlands. Start and finish are in Sittard-Geleen.
121km to go
6 riders in today's BOTD: Iván Velasco (Euskaltel), José Rujano (Androni), Stijn Vandenbergh (Katusha), Marco Corti (Nespresso), Danilo Hondo (Lampre) and Wouter Mol (Vacansoleil). The 6 create a maximum advantage of almost 11 minutes!
1500m to go
The final part of the stage is pretty awkward. Hondo and Mol have been caught and the 4 remaining leaders defend a small margin into the last 10 kilometres. Monster Energy do the chase in the peloton, together with Sony Ericsson. But suddenly, the Sony stop working and as a consequence, Thomas Dekker and Niki Terpstra have a 20-second gap to the peloton. Dekker works his ass off, and brings his team mate back to the 4 leaders, shortly before the last kilometre begins. The peloton is still 20 seconds behind!!
Finish
Marco Corti appears to be the only rider of the former BOTD, with some energy left, and starts the sprint. Terpstra immediately jumps at his wheel and with 500 metres to go, he starts his jump. And he succeeds! Niki Terpstra wins the last stage in the Eneco Tour, also jumping to the 8th place in the GC!
Results
1
Niki Terpstra
Monster Energy - Ford
5h18'10
2
Marco Corti
Nespresso
s.t.
3
Nick Nuyens
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
4
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
5
Bobbie Traksel
Landbouwkrediet
s.t.
6
Thomas Dekker
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
7
Heinrich Haussler
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
8
Sebastian Langeveld
Team Qantas
s.t.
9
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
s.t.
10
Sylvain Chavanel
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
Today's winner
GC
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
23h06'04
2
Gustav Erik Larsson
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 24
3
Jakob Fuglsang
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 52
4
Chris Froome
Sky ProCycling
+ 53
5
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky ProCycling
+ 59
6
Joost Posthuma
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 1'05
7
Heinrich Haussler
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1'12
8
Niki Terpstra
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 1'20
9
Sylvain Chavanel
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
10
Sebastian Langeveld
Team Qantas
+ 1'22
Spoiler
11
Daniele Bennati
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1'27
12
Bobbie Traksel
Landbouwkrediet
+ 1'31
13
Nick Nuyens
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 1'37
14
Thomas Dekker
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 1'51
15
Xavier Florencio
Nespresso
+ 1'53
16
Maarten Neyens
Lotto - Belisol
+ 1'57
17
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
+ 2'53
18
Lieuwe Westra
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 3'12
19
Evgeni Petrov
Pro Team Astana
+ 3'27
20
José Ángel Gómez Marchante
Team Europcar
+ 3'29
21
Karsten Kroon
BMC Racing Team
+ 3'35
22
Marcel Wyss
Nespresso
+ 3'39
23
Grega Bole
Lampre - Generali
+ 3'48
24
Francis De Greef
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 3'49
25
Stuart O'Grady
Team Qantas
+ 4'16
26
Maarten Tjallingii
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 4'40
27
Gert Steegmans
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 4'44
28
Christian Knees
Sky ProCycling
+ 4'48
29
Rein Taaramäe
Sony Ericsson
+ 4'49
30
Theo Bos
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 4'57
31
Hayden Roulston
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 5'09
32
Gorik Gardeyn
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 5'23
33
Baden Cooke
Team Qantas
+ 5'27
34
David Veilleux
Team Europcar
+ 5'35
35
Juan Mauricio Soler
Movistar Team
+ 5'36
36
Tom Stubbe
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 5'39
37
Geraint Thomas
Sky ProCycling
+ 6'21
38
Bert Scheirlinckx
Landbouwkrediet
+ 6'31
39
Nico Keinath
Sony Ericsson
+ 6'35
40
Robert Wagner
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 6'41
41
Wesley Sulzberger
Team Qantas
+ 6'57
42
Yury Trofimov
Pro Team Astana
+ 7'04
43
Dimitriy Muravyev
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
44
Filippo Pozzato
Katusha Team
+ 7'13
45
Lars Ytting Bak
Lotto - Belisol
+ 7'46
46
Sergueï Ivanov
Katusha Team
+ 7'49
47
Davide Malacarne
Team Europcar
+ 7'52
48
Björn Leukemans
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
49
Marco Corti
Nespresso
+ 7'55
50
Jurgen Van Goolen
Veranda's Willems - Accent
+ 8'37
51
Martin Mortensen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 8'46
52
Bert Grabsch
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 8'52
53
Coen Vermeltfoort
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 9'12
54
Iván Velasco
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 9'15
55
Simone Masciarelli
Sony Ericsson
+ 9'21
56
Ion Izagirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 9'23
57
Matthew Goss
Team Qantas
+ 9'25
58
Juan José Haedo
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 9'36
59
Grégory Rast
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 9'37
60
Timothy Roe
Sony Ericsson
+ 9'40
61
Davy Commeyne
Landbouwkrediet
+ 9'54
62
Fabio Duarte
Nespresso
+ 9'56
63
Kenny Dehaes
Lotto - Belisol
+ 10'23
64
Alex Rasmussen
Nespresso
+ 10'31
65
Nicki Sørensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 10'35
66
Geert Omloop
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 10'37
67
Jens Mouris
Team Qantas
+ 10'40
68
Leif Hoste
Katusha Team
+ 10'43
69
Matteo Carrara
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 10'47
70
Denis Galimzyanov
Katusha Team
+ 10'48
71
Rasmus Quaade
Sony Ericsson
+ 10'50
72
Marcel Sieberg
Lotto - Belisol
+ 10'52
73
Mark Renshaw
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 10'53
74
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
+ 11'00
75
Gabriele Bosisio
Lampre - Generali
+ 11'03
76
Eduard Vorganov
Katusha Team
+ 11'11
77
Lars Boom
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 11'14
78
Giacomo Nizzolo
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 11'15
79
Igor Abakoumov
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 11'24
80
Rigoberto Urán
Sky ProCycling
+ 11'27
81
Kristof Vandewalle
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 11'29
82
Staf Scheirlinckx
Lotto - Belisol
+ 11'31
83
Stijn Vandenbergh
Katusha Team
+ 11'36
84
Sam Bewley
Sony Ericsson
+ 11'37
85
Bernhard Eisel
Sky ProCycling
+ 11'38
86
Allan Davis
Team Qantas
+ 11'54
87
Jan Kuyckx
Lotto - Belisol
+ 12'34
88
Artem Ovechkin
Katusha Team
+ 12'36
89
Markel Irizar
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 12'40
90
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 12'50
91
Damien Gaudin
Team Europcar
+ 12'54
92
Maarten Wynants
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 12'59
93
Martijn Keizer
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 13'00
94
Mirco Lorenzetto
Androni Giocattoli
+ 13'34
95
Koen Barbé
Landbouwkrediet
+ 13'51
96
Sergio Pardilla
Movistar Team
+ 14'38
97
Daniel Martin
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 14'39
98
Michele Scarponi
BMC Racing Team
+ 14'58
99
Kevin Seeldraeyers
Pro Team Astana
+ 15'06
100
Nikolas Maes
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 15'12
101
Ignatas Konovalovas
Movistar Team
+ 15'14
102
Andriy Grivko
Pro Team Astana
+ 15'28
103
Robert Hunter
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 15'31
104
Ben Hermans
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 15'45
105
James Vanlandschoot
Veranda's Willems - Accent
+ 15'48
106
Volodymir Gustov
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 16'08
107
Frederik Veuchelen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 16'09
108
Francisco Pérez
Movistar Team
+ 16'23
109
Adriano Malori
Lampre - Generali
+ 16'26
110
Jens Debusschere
Veranda's Willems - Accent
+ 16'38
111
David Arroyo
Movistar Team
+ 16'43
112
Kim Borry
Veranda's Willems - Accent
+ 16'47
113
Marko Kump
Nespresso
+ 16'53
114
Maxime Vantomme
Katusha Team
+ 16'55
115
Danilo Hondo
Lampre - Generali
+ 17'04
116
Benjamín Noval
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 17'30
117
Mathieu Sprick
Team Europcar
+ 18'09
118
Balint Szeghalmi
Lampre - Generali
+ 18'16
119
Luca Solari
Androni Giocattoli
+ 18'27
120
Aketza Peña
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 18'33
121
Anders Lund
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 18'34
122
Wouter Van Mechelen
Veranda's Willems - Accent
+ 18'35
123
Peter Stetina
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 18'54
124
Kevin Van Impe
Lotto - Belisol
+ 19'29
125
Job Vissers
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 19'31
126
Ben Swift
Sky ProCycling
+ 19'38
127
Kim Kirchen
Sky ProCycling
+ 19'42
128
Kalle Kriit
Sony Ericsson
+ 20'01
129
Paolo Tiralongo
Pro Team Astana
+ 20'08
130
Enrico Gasparotto
Lampre - Generali
+ 20'26
131
Jelle Wallays
Lotto - Belisol
+ 20'30
132
Sven Nys
Landbouwkrediet
+ 20'32
133
Bjorn Selander
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 20'53
134
Jef Peeters
Landbouwkrediet
+ 21'28
135
Rick Flens
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 21'43
136
Maxim Gourov
Pro Team Astana
+ 22'05
137
Sven Renders
Veranda's Willems - Accent
+ 22'26
138
Andrea Grendene
Androni Giocattoli
+ 23'09
139
Piet Rooijakkers
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 23'37
140
Enrico Zen
Androni Giocattoli
+ 24'30
141
Saïd Haddou
Team Europcar
+ 24'33
142
Carlos José Ochoa
Androni Giocattoli
+ 24'53
143
Bram Schmitz
Veranda's Willems - Accent
+ 25'01
144
Andrea Moletta
Lampre - Generali
+ 25'05
145
Adrien Petit
Team Europcar
+ 25'14
146
Gorazd Stangelj
Pro Team Astana
+ 26'28
147
Jonathan Bellis
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 26'56
148
Baptiste Planckaert
Landbouwkrediet
+ 27'12
149
Tom Leezer
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 27'57
150
Andrew Bajadali
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 28'11
151
Wouter Mol
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 29'09
152
Marco Pinotti
BMC Racing Team
+ 29'10
153
Jorge Azanza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 29'40
154
Danilo Wyss
BMC Racing Team
+ 29'44
155
Gabriel Rasch
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 29'54
156
Yannick Eijssen
BMC Racing Team
+ 29'56
157
Grégory Habeaux
Veranda's Willems - Accent
+ 30'22
158
Pello Bilbao
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 30'47
159
Jimmy Engoulvent
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 31'48
160
Antonio Santoro
Androni Giocattoli
+ 33'49
161
Michal Golas
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 44'14
162
Simon Zahner
BMC Racing Team
+ 48'07
163
Filippo Bortolotti
Nespresso
+ 55'17
164
Réginald Lallement
Team Europcar
+ 59'39
165
Jorge Montaña
Movistar Team
+ 1h01'17
166
Dirk van Dongen
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 1h01'59
167
Alexandre Castro
Team Garmin - Cervélo
+ 1h03'06
Points
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
18
126
2
Niki Terpstra
Monster Energy - Ford
25
60
3
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
12
60
4
Heinrich Haussler
Rabobank Cycling Team
14
54
5
Lars Boom
Rabobank Cycling Team
2
48
U25
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
23h06'04
2
Rein Taaramäe
Sony Ericsson
+ 4'49
3
David Veilleux
Team Europcar
+ 5'35
4
Nico Keinath
Sony Ericsson
+ 6'35
5
Davide Malacarne
Team Europcar
+ 7'52
Teams
1
Sky ProCycling
69h19'14
2
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 1'00
3
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 1'06
3
Team Qantas
+ 1'11
4
Katusha Team
+ 2'41
Overall winner
Word from the DS
Boasson Hagen is the deserved winner of this Eneco Tour, considering he won the 2 stage against the clock. We can be very happy, with a stage win by Niki Terpstra (his frst win of the season!!), and two riders in the top 10 in the GC. WIth a bad time trial, I think this was the best result possible.
While 8 riders were riding in the Netherlands and Belgium, 8 other ones showed u in France for the Tour de l'Ain. Last year's edition of this 5-stage race was won by Pierre Rolland. We didn't take part last year.
The favourites *** Igor Antón (Euskaltel), Luís Léon Sánchez (Rabobank), Thomas De Gendt ** David Moncoutié (Cofidis), Damiano Caruso (Liquigas), Tejay van Garderen (Colnago) * Bauke Mollema (Rabobank), Sandy Casar (FDJ), Blel Kadri (AG2R)
Our goals
The usual, a stage win and top 5 in the GC.
Stage 1
The Tour de l'Ain kicks off with a 3.7km short prologue in Bourg-en Bresse.
Rabobank makes it a 1-2-3 with Luís Léon Sánchez, Stef Clement and Bauke Mollema. Thomas De Gendt has a good start with the 9th place.
Results
1
Luis León Sánchez
Rabobank Cycling Team
4'57
2
Stef Clement
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 7
3
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 8
4
Tejay Van Garderen
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 10
5
Blel Kadri
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 12
6
Benoît Vaugrenard
FDJ
+ 13
7
Anthony Roux
FDJ
s.t.
8
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ
s.t.
9
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
10
Steve Houanard
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 14
Stage 2
The second stage from Meximieux to Saint Vulbas is the only chance for the sprinters.
But the sprinters have bad luck today, as the BOTD with 13 riders finishes just in front of the peloton (the peloton is awarded with same time). Matthieu Ladagnous (Française des Jeux) wins the sprint of the leading group, and also takes the lead in the GC.
1
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ
3h13'18
2
Ronan Racault
Big Mat - Auber 93
s.t.
3
Gaetan Bille
Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole
s.t.
4
Cyril Dessel
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
5
Walter Proch
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
6
Wim Van Huffel
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
7
Nicolas Edet
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
8
Arnaud Labbe
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
9
Matthieu Halleguen
Bretagne - Schuller
s.t.
10
Cameron Wurf
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
Stage 3
The 3rd stage from Parc des Oiseaux to Bellignat is the first hilly one.
A group of 18 riders sprints for the stage win. Of these 18, David Moncoutié, Gianni Meersman and Igor Antón tried to attack a few time sin the last 20km. But it turned out to be a sprint. Rob Ruijgh did an excellent job leading out Thomas De Gendt, but the Belgian rider got passed by Luís Léon Sánchez 300metres before the finish. So 2nd and 3rd today.
1
Luis León Sánchez
Rabobank Cycling Team
3h14'36
2
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
3
Rob Ruijgh
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
4
Blel Kadri
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
5
Jérémy Roy
FDJ
s.t.
6
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
7
Gianni Meersman
FDJ
s.t.
8
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
9
Sandy Casar
FDJ
s.t.
10
David Le Lay
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
Stage 4
The 4th stage from Nantua to Lélex is very hilly and will shake up the GC.
At the penultimate climb, the Col de Menthieres, with 26km remaining, Igor Antón attacks. A small group including Sánchez, Moncoutié, Caruso, Cattaneo and Ruijgh can follow him. But in the last climb to the finish, Antón attacks again. He wins the stage, in front of LLS and Moncoutié. Ruijgh finishes in 6th, De Gendt in 7th.
1
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
3h43'28
2
Luis León Sánchez
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
3
David Moncoutié
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
4
Damiano Caruso
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 31
5
Mattia Cattaneo
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 1'30
6
Rob Ruijgh
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
7
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 1'49
8
Blel Kadri
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 2'24
9
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
10
Domenico Pozzovivo
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
Stage 5
The final stage with the start in Belley contain 110 easy kilometre and than 18 ascending kilometres (average gradient 6.7%) to the summit of Le Grand Colombier.
Rob Ruijgh has a lot of bad luck, as he has a puncture a few km before the foot of the last climb, so he has to find a way along the entire peloton in the ascend and will loose his top 10 in the GC.
Early in the climb, with still 16km to go, Igor Antón attacks and no one sees him again. He take shis 2nd stage win, and also the GC. Thoma De Gendt had a bad day and misses the top 10 in the GC by 1 second.
1
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
3h27'16
2
David Moncoutié
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 46
3
Luis León Sánchez
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1'24
4
Domenico Pozzovivo
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 1'47
5
Mattia Cattaneo
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 2'01
6
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 3'13
7
Mikel Astarloza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 3'39
8
Blel Kadri
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
9
Sandy Casar
FDJ
s.t.
10
Alessandro Bisolti
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
GC
1
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
13h43'16
2
David Moncoutié
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 1'02
3
Luis León Sánchez
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1'03
4
Mattia Cattaneo
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 4'08
5
Damiano Caruso
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 4'50
6
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 6'04
7
Tejay Van Garderen
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 6'32
8
Blel Kadri
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 6'34
9
Sandy Casar
FDJ
+ 6'36
10
Mikel Astarloza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 6'38
11
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 6'39
12
Rob Ruijgh
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 8'28
Points
1
Luis León Sánchez
Rabobank Cycling Team
16
86
2
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
25
58
3
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank Cycling Team
10
43
4
Blel Kadri
AG2R La Mondiale
8
42
5
David Moncoutié
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
20
41
KOTM
1
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Ford
4
36
2
Luis León Sánchez
Rabobank Cycling Team
12
34
3
David Moncoutié
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
14
28
4
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
20
26
5
Domenico Pozzovivo
Colnago - CSF Inox
20
20
Overall winner
Word from the DS
With a second place in a stage, and the KOTM-jersey, we can be satisfied. Too bad we missed the Top 10 in the GC with just one second....
The 92nd edition of the Tre Valli Varesine (race of the 3 valleys), won last year by noone else than Robert Gesink. It's a nice h8illy race in the Italian province of Varese.
Very interesting reports from Netherlands and France. Terpstra got fantastic win, and in France it was pure unluckiness. Good luck in Tre Valli Varesine, you should do well
123km to go
Being one of the favourite teams to win this race, we decide to be present in the breakaways, so we dont have to work to chase it. So Wilco Kelderman takes part in a 18-man BOTD, with riders as Fredrik Kessiakoff, M. Rubiano, Tom Peterson and Fofonov in it. They have a maximum lead of about 5 minutes.
57km to go
With 5 laps to go on the final circuit, the work done by Lampre - Generali and Colnago pays off. The peloton has almost catched the breakaway, and is spit into a few parts, causing several outsiders as Jure Kocjan and Eros Capecchi to get dropped.
10km to go
After an attempt by Colnago's Simone Stortoni, who stood no chance against the raging peloton, it's a Lampre-rider who attacks in the final lap. Emanuelle Sella attacks out of the peloton, just after the last lap has started.
3km to go
Both Colnago and Monster Energy work to close the gap and when the final climb starts, Sella is caught. Robert Gesink has the best legs from our riders, and Peter Sagan works excellent for him, placing him before the attack. And with a little over 3 kliometres to go, Gesink attacks. Giovanni Visconti tries to follow him, but is about to crack.
1km to go
Entering the last kilometre, Gesink has created a gap of 19 seconds. Damiano Cunego is in 2nd, with Joost Posthuma in his wheel.
Finish
With a great display of power, Robert Gesink wins the Tre Valli Varesine for the 2nd year in a row. And believe it or nt, it's only his 2nd win of the year!
Cayetano Sarmiento (Acqua & Sapone) wins the sprint for the 2nd place, followed by Fabio Felline (Nespresso).
Results
1
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Ford
5h14'47
2
Cayetano Sarmiento
Acqua & Sapone
+ 20
3
Fabio Felline
Nespresso
s.t.
4
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
5
Emanuele Sella
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
6
Simone Stortoni
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
7
Arkaitz Durán
Nespresso
s.t.
8
Andrea Masciarelli
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
9
Giovanni Visconti
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
10
Nuno Ribeiro
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Joost Posthuma
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
12
Leonardo Pinizzotto
Pisanellastoria - Guerciotti
s.t.
13
Jack Bauer
Bank BGZ
s.t.
14
Rafael Valls
Nespresso
s.t.
15
Michele Gaia
Pisanellastoria - Guerciotti
s.t.
16
Enrico Rossi
Pisanellastoria - Guerciotti
s.t.
17
Peter Sagan
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
18
Fabio Negri
Pisanellastoria - Guerciotti
s.t.
19
Andrea Tonti
Pisanellastoria - Guerciotti
s.t.
20
Luca Pierfelici
De Rosa - Ceramica Flaminia
s.t.
21
Thomas Peterson
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
22
Fredrik Kessiakoff
Pro Team Astana
+ 1'20
23
Oscar Gatto
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
24
Manuele Mori
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
25
Fabio Taborre
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
26
Davide Rebellin
Pisanellastoria - Guerciotti
s.t.
27
Giampaolo Cheula
Nespresso
+ 1'48
28
Francesco Gavazzi
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
29
Miguel Rubiano
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
30
Coen Vermeltfoort
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
31
Wilco Kelderman
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
32
Leonardo Bertagnolli
Lampre - Generali
+ 2'53
33
Simon Spilak
Lampre - Generali
+ 3'07
34
Antonio D'Aniello
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
35
Filippo Savini
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
36
Diego Ulissi
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
37
Carlos Betancourt
Acqua & Sapone
+ 4'39
38
Daniele Ratto
Nespresso
s.t.
39
Alexsandr Dyachenko
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
40
Mikel Nieve
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
41
Luca Zanasca
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
42
Gianluca Brambilla
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
43
Constantino Zaballa
Pisanellastoria - Guerciotti
s.t.
44
Serguei Klimov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
45
Francesco Reda
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
46
Federico Canuti
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
47
Elia Rigotto
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
48
Cristiano Salerno
Androni Giocattoli
+ 5'01
49
Jackson Rodríguez
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
50
Pedro Merino
Pisanellastoria - Guerciotti
+ 6'03
51
Vladimir Miholjevic
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
52
Ángel Vicioso
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
53
Radoslav Romanik
Bank BGZ
s.t.
54
Frantisek Padour
PSK Whirlpool - Author
s.t.
55
Valerio Agnoli
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
56
Uros Murn
Adria Mobil
s.t.
57
Davide Torosantucci
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
58
Emanuele Vona
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
59
Pavel Gorenc
Adria Mobil
s.t.
60
Massimo Codol
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
61
Yuriy Agarkov
ISD - Lampre Continental
s.t.
62
Pierpaolo De Negri
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 8'24
63
Robert Radosz
Bank BGZ
s.t.
64
Petr Benčík
PSK Whirlpool - Author
s.t.
65
Guillaume Dessibourg
Atlas Personal
s.t.
66
Andrey Klyuev
Amore & Vita
s.t.
67
Matteo Rabottini
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
68
Dmitriy Fofonov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
69
Leonardo Giordani
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
70
Christian Moreni
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
71
Eddy Mazzoleni
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
72
Leonardo Moser
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
73
Mikhail Antonov
Itera - Katusha
+ 10'24
74
Daniele Nardello
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 12'19
75
Jarosław Rębiewski
Bank BGZ
s.t.
76
Andrey Mizourov
Pro Team Astana
+ 12'53
77
Kristjan Fajt
Adria Mobil
s.t.
78
Salvatore Commesso
Androni Giocattoli
+ 14'49
79
Blaz Jarc
Adria Mobil
s.t.
80
Eros Capecchi
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
81
Héctor Guerra
PSK Whirlpool - Author
s.t.
82
Dimitry Ignatiev
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
83
Manuel Belletti
Team Type 1
s.t.
84
Rémy Cusin
Atlas Personal
s.t.
85
Roberto Ferrari
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
86
Francesco De Bonis
Amore & Vita
s.t.
87
Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
88
Alessandro Bertolini
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
89
Sacha Modolo
Team Type 1
s.t.
90
Iván Melero
Team Type 1
s.t.
91
Peter Kusztor
Atlas Personal
s.t.
92
Jiri Hudecek
PSK Whirlpool - Author
s.t.
93
Giuseppe Muraglia
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
94
Daniele Colli
Nespresso
s.t.
95
Aitor Pérez Arrieta
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
96
Tomasz Smolen
PSK Whirlpool - Author
+ 15'49
97
Sergey Firsanov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
98
Mikhail Ignatiev
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
99
Vitaliy Buts
ISD - Lampre Continental
s.t.
100
Artur Detko
Bank BGZ
s.t.
101
Tadej Valjavec
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
102
Vitaliy Popkov
ISD - Lampre Continental
s.t.
103
Giairo Ermeti
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
104
Alexander Kvachuk
ISD - Lampre Continental
s.t.
105
Kristjan Koren
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
106
Gaspare Boscolo
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
107
Patxi Vila
De Rosa - Ceramica Flaminia
s.t.
108
Jonathan Fumeaux
Atlas Personal
s.t.
109
Matthias Brändle
Nespresso
s.t.
110
David Dvorsky
PSK Whirlpool - Author
s.t.
111
Raffaele la Rosa
Team Type 1
s.t.
112
Dimitry Kozontchuk
Nespresso
s.t.
113
Paolo Bailetti
De Rosa - Ceramica Flaminia
s.t.
114
Tomasz Nose
Adria Mobil
s.t.
115
Paolo Locatelli
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 18'02
116
Jakub Vecera
PSK Whirlpool - Author
+ 18'15
117
Laszló Bodrogi
Team Type 1
s.t.
118
Dariusz Baranowski
Bank BGZ
s.t.
119
Benjamin King
Team Type 1
s.t.
120
Simone Campagnaro
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
121
Alexey Shmidt
Team Type 1
s.t.
122
Marc Lootens
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
123
Timothy Duggan
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
124
Jens Keukeleire
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
125
Dominik Nerz
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 19'30
126
Jaroslaw Dabrowski
Bank BGZ
s.t.
127
Oleg Berdos
De Rosa - Ceramica Flaminia
s.t.
128
Patrik Moren
Amore & Vita
s.t.
129
Gregory Bernard
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
130
Giuseppe De Maria
De Rosa - Ceramica Flaminia
+ 20'19
131
Sergio Laganà
De Rosa - Ceramica Flaminia
s.t.
132
Pirmin Lang
Atlas Personal
+ 21'30
133
Danilo Andrenacci
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
134
Volodymyr Kogut
Amore & Vita
s.t.
135
Gian Piero Cappello
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
136
Tomas Danacik
PSK Whirlpool - Author
s.t.
137
Mauro Da Dalto
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
138
Christian Schneeberger
Atlas Personal
s.t.
139
Giorgio Brambilla
De Rosa - Ceramica Flaminia
s.t.
140
David Rosch
Atlas Personal
s.t.
141
Kohei Uchima
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
142
Philipp Mamos
Amore & Vita
s.t.
143
Emilio Zini
Amore & Vita
s.t.
144
Valery Kobzarenko
ISD - Lampre Continental
s.t.
145
Jure Kocjan
Team Type 1
s.t.
146
Simone Giudici
Amore & Vita
+ 24'14
147
Michele Merlo
De Rosa - Ceramica Flaminia
s.t.
148
Antonio Manzoni
Adria Mobil
s.t.
149
Patrick Schubert
Bank BGZ
+ 24'51
150
Artem Topchanyuk
ISD - Lampre Continental
+ 27'18
151
Aleksey Kapustov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
152
Luca Roux
Atlas Personal
+ 27'38
153
Volodymyr Dyudya
ISD - Lampre Continental
+ 30'49
154
Johan Verhelst
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
155
Boris Kozlov
Itera - Katusha
+ 31'27
156
Mario Grande
Amore & Vita
+ 31'46
157
Cristano Bellotti
ISD - Lampre Continental
s.t.
158
Florent Savoye
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
Today's winner
Word from the DS
Perfect tactics, pefect racing, perfect win. I think we'll show up again next year!
