25th February 2010 - Vuelta a AndalucÃa Stage 5 (Torrox Costa to Antequera)
Iglinskiy wins final stage, but Wiggins finish causes an Astana Outrage
Maxim Iglinskiy won the final stage of the Vuelta a AndalucÃa, in a Astana and Footon-Servetto dominated Top 10, but their delight soon turned to outrage, as Team Sky's Bradley Wiggins won the Overall Classification Jersey.
Wiggins, who took one of the Intermediate Sprints along the route, finished the Vuelta a AndalucÃa on the same time as Alexandre Vinokourov overall, but due to a higher average position over the 5 stages, took the Overall Victory. The decision did not seem to go down well with the Astana team, who finished the final stage with 5 rider in the Top 10.
On a day of little attacks and a fast paced peleton, it was Stefano Garzelli who was the most active on the stage, as he took the Mountain Classification Jersey on the final with 43 points overall. After a disappointing Vuelta a AndalucÃa, this was a good finish for him. The pace of the peleton could be visible seen, as only 57 riders remained in the pack after the first climb.
Next came the moment for controversy. As the peleton approached the Intermediate Sprint at the 58km, Team Sky hit the front, making sure it was Wiggins who crossed the line first. He did, gaining 6" in the process, thanks to the bonus seconds. This tied him with Vinokourov overall, and who it would all end was up in the air.
Kiendys did not last long on his own sadly, and it was the 10km to go mark when Baugnies was caught. So a mass sprint for the remaining 40 riders would be the outcome. Astana and Footon-Servetto hit the front, and soon they split the rest of the riders on the final rise to the finish. But on the decent to the line, everyone was back together and as Astana and Footon refused to sprint at the end, it was clear something had upset them.
As the results were announced, the reason revealed itself. Vinokourov had lost his Overall Lead on the final day, thanks to the higher average of finishes on the stages accumulated by Wiggins. Vinokourov in the end gets the consolation of the Points Jersey, but no doubt that will not make up for the lose of the Overall.
Muted celebrations from the Astana Team
The Day's Race in Photos
Spoiler
The start line in Torrox
Grazelli after his small attack on Mountain climb number 1
The Peleton on a descent
Kiendys goes on the attack at the finish
Baugnies all alone on the stage after his strong attack
Team Reaction to the Race:
Despite the controversial finish to the race, it was still a success for the team. For many of the riders, like Löfkvist and Gerrans, this was their first race of the season in the colours of Team Sky, and they did extremely well.
Wiggins was outstanding all race long. On the stages, he was able to push Vinokourov to his limits, in particularly stage 1 where he dropped him 3 times, and in the Time Trial, he was able to claw back the necessary time to push the battle to the final stage. Lets hope he can show this sort of form and fitness at first in the Giro d'Italia, where a Top 10 finish on GC is the target, and of course later at the Tour de France in July.
The GP dell'insubria-Lugano is a single day road race based in and around Lake Como. Travelling across the border to Italy and back again to Switzerland, this is the 2nd edition of the race, having first run in 2009. It is classified as a 1.1 on the UCI Europe Tour.
Team Sky head to the event with the same bunch of riders which came back from the Tour de Haut Var. Having taken the KOM Jersey at the event, Peter Kennaugh is the rider who comes into this with some form, but with Dario Cioni and Morris Possoni heading onto home soil for a small section of the race, they will also be looking to impress.
The one and only winner of the event in 2009 was Francesco Ginanni.
beagle wrote:
sounds same unrealistic as attack...but as said before, your story, your choice
well i did not think i would still win it, as vino had 2 win against my 1 in the tt. but i do think it was a bit unfair on vino, but i have never been his biggest fan. any other rider and it probably wouldnt have happened
27th February 2010 - GP dell'insubria-Lugano (Campione d'Italia-Pieve Vergonte)
The second ever GP dell-insubria-Lugano takes the riders to Campione d'Italia to Pieve Vergonte, with the peleton riding around the beautiful Italian and Swiss Alpine Lakes.
Following a flat start to the stage, the riders end with 2 difficult climbs after a 3 lap circuit around the finish in Pieve Vergonte. With two steep climbs in the last 20km, this should be a stage for a puncheur and climber, and the sprinter's team should not really be involved too much at the finish.
Riders to Watch: M. Scarponi, D. Martin, N. Roche, S. Szmyd My Tip for the Stage: N. Roche. The Irishman has shown year on year that he is constantly improving in his climbing ability, and today will be a good test what stage he is at this year.
-- GP dell'insubria-Lugano Report and Results to Follow --
27th February 2010 - GP dell'insubria-Lugano (Campione d'Italia-Pieve Vergonte)
Martin late attack gets him victory in the Lakes
Dan Martin's late attack on the final climb was enough to take victory ahead of an advancing peleton in Pieve Vergonte. The Garmin man left his rival in the saddle and did enough to hold on in the final metres.
On a day of little attacks, it was only in the final laps of the circuit at the finish where the action hotted up. The only attack on the stage was by Miche rider Przemyslaw Niemiec, but it only lasted for around 15 kilometres, gaining no more than a minute in the process. The peleton seemed very keen on stopping any attack on the flat, as firstly Garmin-Transitions and then AG2R La Mondiale took control.
As the riders entered the final 3 lap circuit in Pieve Vergonte, Martin made his first move. Followed by Possoni of Team Sky and Nocentini of AG2R, they gained around 45" over the pack before deciding to be allowed to be caught again on the next decent. And then with the others looking at each other for the next move, Martin went again, and there was no reaction for any other rider, and despite attacking just 10km beforehand, Martin looked in good shape as he pulled out a 37" lead.
On the decent to finish, the pack couldn't fully get the Garmin man in their sights, and he looked like he would take the win. But it was not going to be an easy end for him. Behind the sprint of the remaining peleton had started, and were closing in fast, but it was just too late as Martin came across the line with metres to spare and take his first win of the season.
Martin celebrates his well timed win
The Day's Race in Photos
Spoiler
The startline in Campione d'Italia
The Miche rider goes on the attack
The peleton in the finishing circuit
Irish National Champion Nicolas Roche
Dan Martin makes his winning move
The peleton on the final climb
Results
Final Standings:
1
Daniel Martin
Garmin - Transitions
4h05'11
2
Rinaldo Nocentini
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
3
Emanuele Sella
CarmioOro NGC
s.t.
4
Morris Possoni
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Alexandre Botcharov
Team Katusha
s.t.
...
35
Sylvain Calzati
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
46
Peter Kennaugh
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
52
Dario Cioni
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
58
John-Lee Augustyn
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
90
Chris Froome
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
Team Classification Standings:
1
Team Katusha
12h15'33
2
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
3
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
4
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
5
ISD - Neri
s.t.
...
8
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
Team Reaction to the Race:
It was a good enough by the Team, missing out on a podium place by a matter of inches. With no really attacks on the stage, we knew it would be down to the final climb that would decide the outcome, and we sadly got in the wrong positions when it came to Martin's second and decisive attack for the win, which was a little disapponting. Again, Chris Froome is looking short of form, but at this is early stage of the season, it is not a major worrying point.
The Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is first Cobbled Classic of the season, and will be an early test for those who have the Paris-Roubaix and Ronde van Vlaanderen in their Season Plan.
First run in 1945 as a Cobbled Classic rival to the Ronde van Vlaanderen, it used many of the same climbs found on the RvV, and is widely used by riders in Preparation for the bigger event. Until 2009, it was called the Omloop Het Volk, named after the Het Volk newspaper, but when the newspaper stopped publishing, the name was changed to Het Nieuwsblad.
Team Sky come here with a strong cobbled team. Juan Antonio Flecha will be the leader for the race, with Edvald Boasson Hagen in support. They will be both aided by Matthew Hayman and Ian Stannard. It will be a good test for the team as we prepare for the Paris-Roubaix and Ronde van Vlaanderen in late March.
Previous winners of the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad include Nick Nuyens, Philippe Gilbert, Filippo Pozzato and most recent in 2009, Thor Hushovd.
27th February 2010 - Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (Ghent-Ghent)
The 65th Omloop Het Nieuwsblad has the riders travelling on a looped circuit, starting and ending in Ghent. With 9 cobbled sections on the route, this will be a stage for a Cobbled Specialist, and should test the legs of the riders with the other classics in mind.
Riders to Watch: T. Boonen, F. Pozzato, J. Flecha, S. Devolder My Tip for the Stage: S. Devolder. As a 2-time winner of the Ronde van Vlaanderen and former Belgian National Champion, Stijn Devolder should know these roads like the back of his hand, and I think he will come out on top today
-- Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Report and Results to Follow --
27th February 2010 - Omloop Het Nieuwsblad (Ghent-Ghent)
Boonen takes the win in Ghent
Tom Boonen won the 2010 Omloop Het Nieuwsblad by 38",ahead of team-mate Stijn Devolder and Team Sky's Juan Antonio Flecha.
Due to problems of the game crashing during the stage, it had to be simulated without a report being able to be produced. The photos provided are from before the game crashed
The Day's Race in Photos
Spoiler
A wet start in Ghent
Belgian National Champion Tom Boonen is well protected by his team
The day's breakaway
It was a cold, wet and misty day for the riders
The peleton on one of the nine cobbled sections
Results
Final Standings:
1
Tom Boonen
Quick·Step
4h44'28
2
Stijn Devolder
Quick·Step
+ 38
3
Juan Antonio Flecha
Sky Professional Cycling Team
+ 1'07
4
Martijn Maaskant
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
5
Tom Veelers
Skil - Shimano
+ 1'29
...
27
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky Professional Cycling Team
+ 3'36
53
Christopher Sutton
Sky Professional Cycling Team
+ 4'49
57
Ian Stannard
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
67
Russell Downing
Sky Professional Cycling Team
+ 5'17
72
Matthew Hayman
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
140
Davide Viganò
Sky Professional Cycling Team
+ 17'07
144
Michael Barry
Sky Professional Cycling Team
+ 17'27
Team Classification Standings:
1
Quick·Step
14h15'31
2
Garmin - Transitions
+ 3'13
3
Liquigas - Doimo
+ 3'58
4
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 4'47
5
Landbouwkrediet
+ 6'06
...
7
Sky Professional Cycling Team
+ 7'25
Team Reaction to the Race:
This was a good test for the guys. Juan Antonio Flecha's podium finish is a good result, and we can build on this ahead of the major Classics in late March and April.
thanks. sadly it had to be simulated. i tried 3 times to play the stage and it would always crash on the finish line, and it would crash when it was on detailed simulation as well
The Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne is the second cobbled classic of the season, held one day after the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad. First run in 1945, it now hold a 1.1 classification on the UCI Europe Tour.
Team Sky go to the event with the same team which took part in the Het Omloop Nieuwsblad. Again, Juan Antonio Flecha and Edvald Boasson Hagen will lead the team, with Matthew Hayman and Ian Stannard aiding them.
The Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne has been won by a rider from Quick-Step for the last 4 years, with Nick Nuyens, Steven de Jong, and Tom Boonen all winning the race. Tom Boonen won in 2009, and will look to defend his title this year.
28th February 2010 - Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne (Kuurne-Kuurne)
After an undulating start to the stage with 5 cobbled sections, the route flattens out towards the end, and if the sprinters can survive the beginning of the race, we should have a mass sprint at the finish today.
With a strong start list this year, expect fireworks along the route and at the end, as the favourites battle it out.
Riders to Watch: T. Hushovd, T. Boonen, F. Cancellara, F. Pozzato My Tip for the Stage: T. Boonen. The Belgian National Champion is a 2-time winner of the event, and following his victory at the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad yesterday, he is going into this event with a bit of form.
-- Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne Report and Results to Follow --
long week at my new job, so had no free time... weekend off though 
