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A Tale of Two
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 11-08-2012 10:34
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Tour de France Champion
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PCM$: 400.00
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This story is now 1 week old, thanks to everyone for following! |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 11-08-2012 10:35
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Giro d'Italia - stage 10
It's stages like these when you can only lose the tour. You can never win here. So the main task of the day: don't lose any time!
The story of the day is this: De Gendt surrounded by his team mates, leaving some space for the breakaway, but not too much.
There were very few attacks, even on the last climb, so the breakaway would make it to the finish line.
In the end, it was Moser (a famous name) who won the stage. I finished well inside the peloton, that seemed to have lost its zest for attacking. Maybe they're waiting for the mountain stages.
However, I feel that I've never raced a GT before. We're at stage 10 now and it's getting a bit harder to be fresh at the start of each stage. Hopefully I won't crack, but I think I won't.
Result
| 1 | Moreno Moser | Liquigas-Cannondale | 4h46'04 | | | 2 | Daniele Pietropolli | Lampre-ISD | + 10 | | | 3 | Stef Clement | Rabobank Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 4 | Steve Chainel | FDJ-BigMat | s.t. | | | 5 | Dries Devenyns | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 6 | Michael Schär | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | | 7 | Cameron Meyer | Orica-GreenEDGE | + 37 | | | 8 | Oscar Gatto | Farnese Vini Selle Italia | + 47 | | | 9 | Haimar Zubeldia | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 1'40 | | | 10 | Vincenzo Nibali | Liquigas-Cannondale | s.t. | | | 11 | Ivan Basso | Liquigas-Cannondale | s.t. | | | 12 | Michele Scarponi | Lampre-ISD | s.t. | | | 13 | Sergio Luis Henao | Sky Pro Cycling | s.t. | | | 14 | Gianluca Brambilla | Colnago - CSF Inox | s.t. | | | 15 | Danilo Di Luca | Acqua & Sapone | s.t. | | | 16 | Damiano Cunego | Lampre-ISD | s.t. | | | 17 | Daniel Moreno | Katusha Team | s.t. | | | 18 | Roman Kreuziger | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | | 19 | Thomas De Gendt | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 20 | Matteo Carrara | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 21 | Sylvester Szmyd | Liquigas-Cannondale | s.t. | | | 22 | Rigoberto Uran | Sky Pro Cycling | s.t. | | | 23 | Ryder Hesjedal | Team Garmin-Barracuda | s.t. | | | 24 | Domenico Pozzovivo | Colnago - CSF Inox | s.t. | | | 25 | Jakob Fuglsang | Radioshack Nissan Trek | s.t. | | | 26 | Stefano Pirazzi | Colnago - CSF Inox | s.t. | | | 27 | Tejay Van Garderen | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | | 28 | Eric Lombaerts | Lotto-Belisol | s.t. | IanButler |
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| FreitasPCM |
Posted on 11-08-2012 11:26
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Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8389
Joined: 08-09-2009
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Decent placing from Lombaerts in today's stage.  |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 11-08-2012 12:16
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Giro d'Italia - stage 11
Today brings us another flat stage. One for the sprinters, that is, if they survive the small hills along the way...
The breakaway of the day consisted out of three riders, names we have seen before in this Giro: Voigt, Kiryienka & Nocentini.
For the first time in this Giro, I meddled in for the remaining points of the intermediate sprint. I just missed out on any point, though, too bad! Maybe next time will be better. Although it's not by the least I've been beaten (Goss, Cavendish)
Nearing the final sprint and having survived the final hill (barely), I was well positioned, I felt pretty good, maybe another win was in the air?
Going into the last turn, I was sprinting in Ventoso's wheel, and he in Petacchi's.
However, strangely enough, Gasparotto (who rode better over the hill than any sprinter, of course) beat all the sprinters to the finish line, how odd! Goss was second, Cavendish third.
I ended on a nice, fourth place.
Well, that isn't bad. In fact, it was a pretty good day, I'm starting to be a real outsider when it comes to sprints.
Tomorrow we have a tough but short hilly stage. Let's see if Eric dares another attack!
See you then and there! |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 11-08-2012 12:33
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
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Giro d'Italia - stage 12
Today will probably be a day for the fighters. The GC-contenders will probably try and take a few seconds on the final climb, but don't expect any attacks from long-out, as the rest day is still some time away, and two enormous mountain stages await us, right after the next, flat stage.
The first, flat kilometers were very hard, as the wind blew the peloton to pieces.
Albasini was one of the first to attack, and he took some riders along with him to form the breakaway of the day.
As I enjoyed the view, the breakaway had a gap of nearly 15 minutes. As the best placed in the breakaway, Siutsou, was almost 20 minutes behind the leader, this threatened my position. Cordeel did some excellent work and decreased the gap to 12 minutes. Then Vacansoleil took over. Not so much to close the gap, but to set a pace impossible to attack from.
Nearing the end, the breakaway was sure of victory. Siutsou took the last mountain sprint and is one point from being KoM.
The fast pace caused a nervous peloton, with some (minor) falls. Chiarini was one of them.
The breakaway fought for the stage win and eventually it was Gerdemann who won, in front of Siutsou and Pirazzi.
Vacansoleil did great setting the pace, as nobody tried to get away.
We came in 7'04" after Gerdemann, so my position was secured, at least until the coming mountain stage!
Result
| 1 | Linus Gerdemann | Radioshack Nissan Trek | 4h17'28 | | | 2 | Kanstantsin Siutsou | Sky Pro Cycling | s.t. | | | 3 | Stefano Pirazzi | Colnago - CSF Inox | s.t. | | | 4 | Amaël Moinard | BMC Racing Team | + 31 | | | 5 | Michael Albasini | Orica-GreenEDGE | s.t. | | | 6 | Sandy Casar | FDJ-BigMat | s.t. | | | 7 | Stefano Garzelli | Acqua & Sapone | + 7'04 | | | 8 | Eric Lombaerts | Lotto-Belisol | s.t. | IanButler | | 9 | Damiano Cunego | Lampre-ISD | s.t. | | | 10 | Daniel Moreno | Katusha Team | s.t. | | | 11 | Thomas De Gendt | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 12 | Michele Scarponi | Lampre-ISD | s.t. | | | 13 | Domenico Pozzovivo | Colnago - CSF Inox | s.t. | | | 14 | Eros Capecchi | Liquigas-Cannondale | s.t. | | | 15 | Giovanni Visconti | Movistar Team | s.t. | | | 16 | Francesco Reda | Acqua & Sapone | s.t. | | | 17 | Sergio Luis Henao | Sky Pro Cycling | s.t. | | | 18 | Leonardo Bertagnolli | Lampre-ISD | s.t. | | | 19 | Gianluca Brambilla | Colnago - CSF Inox | s.t. | | | 20 | Robert Kiserlovski | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | |
GC
| 1 | Thomas De Gendt | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | 51h20'37 | | | 2 | Stefano Garzelli | Acqua & Sapone | + 6 | | | 3 | Sergio Luis Henao | Sky Pro Cycling | + 19 | | | 4 | Vincenzo Nibali | Liquigas-Cannondale | + 29 | | | 5 | Ivan Basso | Liquigas-Cannondale | + 1'01 | | | 6 | Daniel Moreno | Katusha Team | + 1'12 | | | 7 | Domenico Pozzovivo | Colnago - CSF Inox | + 1'47 | | | 8 | Rigoberto Uran | Sky Pro Cycling | + 2'12 | | | 9 | Jakob Fuglsang | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 2'15 | | | 10 | Thibaut Pinot | FDJ-BigMat | + 2'21 | | | 11 | Michele Scarponi | Lampre-ISD | + 2'32 | | | 12 | Ryder Hesjedal | Team Garmin-Barracuda | + 3'46 | | | 13 | Eric Lombaerts | Lotto-Belisol | + 4'05 | IanButler | | 14 | Mikel Nieve | Euskaltel Euskadi | + 5'14 | | | 15 | Gianluca Brambilla | Colnago - CSF Inox | + 5'16 | | | 16 | Hubert Dupont | Ag2r La Mondiale | + 5'19 | | | 17 | John Gadret | Ag2r La Mondiale | + 5'23 | | | 18 | David Arroyo | Movistar Team | + 6'47 | | | 19 | Tejay Van Garderen | BMC Racing Team | + 6'53 | | | 20 | Steven Kruijswijk | Rabobank Cycling Team | + 7'14 | |
The battle for the General Classification is still wide open! I expect Nibali to put some heavy pressure on De Gendt, and having the better team, it could work! And, of course, it's looking good for me, too! A have more than a minute on Nieve, so that's excellent, plus I can ride against time, so that'll come in handy on the final stage. However, there are still many mountain stages to come, so expect some major shifts in the GC to come. Let's hope it shifts to my advantage!
See you tomorrow for another flat stage, followed by two mountain stages! |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 11-08-2012 13:16
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
Joined: 22-08-2010
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Great to see Eric up there in 13th on the GC |
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| Avin Wargunnson |
Posted on 11-08-2012 13:17
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World Champion
Posts: 14236
Joined: 20-06-2011
PCM$: 300.00
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Great,great story Ian, i like your story writing and i am the fan of Eric and Stijn just as i met them. I have not read the wholy story so far, i am only at page 5, but the boys had yet great start to their carrers. Good luck for the rest of season, i will follow closely. 
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 11-08-2012 13:22
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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Giro d'Italia - stage 13
The question we have to ask ourselves in this 13th stage of the Giro is: "Do I feel lucky, punk?"
Cordeel opened the race with a brilliant attack, starting from the start line.
It seems that age has no impact on this man, as he slips into the breakaway of the day again. No doubt he is the greatest attacker of the peloton: Jens Voigt.
Maaskant completed the breakaway.
They crossed the mountain sprint with Voigt leading and Cordeel second.
The peloton started to reel in the breakaway as everyone was expecting a mass sprint in this shortest stage of the giro. Three teams were working: Team Sky, GreenEdge and Lampre.
At the intermediate sprint, Cordeel asked if he could take the points and, more importantly, the €1000 bonus. No one made a big deal out of it so Cordeel crosses the line first, earning the team and himself some extra money. We're glad we brought him!
It seems that Cavendish is finally back to his old self as he squashes the competition with several meter. What a strength, what a power! I finish 13th, Eric 15th.
Result
| 1 | Mark Cavendish | Sky Pro Cycling | 3h16'13 | | | 2 | Matthew Goss | Orica-GreenEDGE | s.t. | | | 3 | Romain Feillu | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 4 | Alessandro Petacchi | Lampre-ISD | s.t. | | | 5 | Enrico Gasparotto | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | | 6 | Thomas De Gendt | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 7 | Danilo Di Luca | Acqua & Sapone | s.t. | | | 8 | Gianluca Brambilla | Colnago - CSF Inox | s.t. | | | 9 | Francisco Ventoso | Movistar Team | s.t. | | | 10 | Matteo Carrara | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 11 | Sacha Modolo | Colnago - CSF Inox | s.t. | | | 12 | Lieuwe Westra | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 13 | Stijn Van Gent | Lotto-Belisol | s.t. | IanButler | | 14 | Daniel Moreno | Katusha Team | s.t. | | | 15 | Eric Lombaerts | Lotto-Belisol | s.t. | IanButler |
Points
| 1 | Matthew Goss | Orica-GreenEDGE | 95 | | | 2 | Thomas De Gendt | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | 95 | | | 3 | Mark Cavendish | Sky Pro Cycling | 88 | | | 4 | Francisco Ventoso | Movistar Team | 77 | | | 5 | Stijn Van Gent | Lotto-Belisol | 60 | IanButler | | 6 | Sacha Modolo | Colnago - CSF Inox | 58 | | | 7 | Romain Feillu | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | 56 | | | 8 | Alessandro Petacchi | Lampre-ISD | 56 | | | 9 | Gianluca Brambilla | Colnago - CSF Inox | 55 | | | 10 | Eric Lombaerts | Lotto-Belisol | 54 | IanButler |
Well, what follows are two monstrous mountain stages, so stay tuned! |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 11-08-2012 13:25
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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@sutty: Thanks, it's an incredible race so far. But there are many heavy stages yet to come, so let's hope he can keep that place, because the competition is hard
@Avin: I'm glad you started following and I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy writing it! |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 11-08-2012 13:25
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34654
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A great days racing from both Stijn and Eric |
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| johannes-w |
Posted on 11-08-2012 13:40
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Breakaway Specialist
Posts: 833
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Cant wait for the real mountain stages now!!!
I hope Eric can show something great again , but also the GC lead seems to be very interesting - I am curious to see where Henao will end up |
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 11-08-2012 14:07
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 16429
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I thought this story was slowing down! 
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| francopell |
Posted on 11-08-2012 14:16
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Domestique
Posts: 652
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A week and you're already halfway through the Giro This story is going really well! |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 11-08-2012 16:23
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
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@sutty: It is, although I'm hoping for some more excellent races I think another top 5 place for Van Gent shouldn't be impossible.
@johannes-w: Henao is riding pretty well, I think he has a big chance of ending on the podium. Although there are still some important stages to come, so no one can afford to lose time there.
@baseball: it is  but I tried to do some extra races today as I'm away tomorrow I'm slowly slowing down 
@francopell: Thank you
Well, next stage (mountain stage) will be uploaded either tonight (after the movie) or tomorrow morning (before the rehearsal) See you then! |
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| PCM rulezz |
Posted on 11-08-2012 19:20
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Protected Rider
Posts: 1467
Joined: 21-05-2011
PCM$: 200.00
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Some decent results for Stijn. I hope that Eric wins another mountain stage and Stijn another sprint
Winners never quit, quitters never win.
It's difficult not to be happy when you're surrounded by Belgians. - Mark Cavendish
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 11-08-2012 19:21
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
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That's quite optimistic, PCM rulezz
But they shall try their best!
Although Eric will try and hang on in the GC more than get another stage win, I reckon, but you never know!
Thanks for following! |
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| fernando97 |
Posted on 11-08-2012 19:24
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Posts: 2167
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I can`t wait for the mountains!!! |
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| TomC |
Posted on 11-08-2012 20:19
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Domestique
Posts: 470
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PCM$: 200.00
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Very good race for you and Eric looks good before mountains also Stijn is doing well at flat stages |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 12-08-2012 10:18
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
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Thanks guys
Mountain stage coming up! |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 12-08-2012 10:47
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21854
Joined: 01-05-2012
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Giro d'Italia - stage 14
Well, this is a mountain stage, ending uphill. Today we had a rather special tactic, a big gamble, but should it succeed, it would pay of big time!
Vacansoleil layed down an easy pace, trying to somewhat control the race.
But after about a half hour, our intentions and our tactic became mighty clear. We were about to make this particular stage a living hell. We put an incredibly fast pace on the peloton., with Bak, Bille and Bulgac.
When the first mountain came, it was up to Dennis Vanendert to continue to hard pace.
And then I finally took over, going strong. I thought the best defense might be an offense, so I gradually quickened in the pace, hoping to anticipate any attacks.
At the top, I had a 2'32" lead, and I took the full 10 mountain points, along with the 5 I already had, I'm virtually the KoM.
On the last climb I got caught pretty fast. I did however force De Gendt to take matters in his own hands (here chasing another escapee), as his team was long gone. If you'd ask me, Nibali has a big chance of winning the Giro if he takes advantage of the weaker team of De Gendt.
But the effort of my attack started to take its toll. I felt the pace was too high for me.
And then it came. I dropped. What a big slap in the face. I felt incredibly weak, I just couldn't hold on to that group. I can't imagine what they think of me now.
Basso won the sprint for the stage win.
I finish 25th, not good! I drop down to the 17th place on the GC. Then I guess it's "goodbye top 10". However, top 10 was never the plan, but it was a secret ambition. I'm really very tired and there's another mountain stage tomorrow. Then we finally have another rest day, I need it!
Worst of all is I let the team down, they worked incredibly hard for me today, and I let them down, I'm not even in the lead for KoM, as Basso took 15 points on the final climb.
Result
| 1 | Ivan Basso | Liquigas-Cannondale | 5h47'42 | | | 2 | Michele Scarponi | Lampre-ISD | s.t. | | | 3 | Vincenzo Nibali | Liquigas-Cannondale | s.t. | | | 4 | Rigoberto Uran | Sky Pro Cycling | s.t. | | | 5 | Gianluca Brambilla | Colnago - CSF Inox | s.t. | | | 6 | John Gadret | Ag2r La Mondiale | s.t. | | | 7 | Thomas De Gendt | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 8 | Ryder Hesjedal | Team Garmin-Barracuda | s.t. | | | 9 | Sergio Luis Henao | Sky Pro Cycling | s.t. | | | 10 | Stefano Garzelli | Acqua & Sapone | s.t. | | | 11 | Domenico Pozzovivo | Colnago - CSF Inox | s.t. | | | 12 | Thibaut Pinot | FDJ-BigMat | s.t. | | | 13 | Jakob Fuglsang | Radioshack Nissan Trek | s.t. | | | 14 | Haimar Zubeldia | Radioshack Nissan Trek | s.t. | | | 15 | Damiano Cunego | Lampre-ISD | s.t. | | | 16 | Emanuele Sella | Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela | s.t. | | | 17 | Roman Kreuziger | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | | 18 | Tejay Van Garderen | BMC Racing Team | s.t. | | | 19 | Daniel Moreno | Katusha Team | s.t. | | | 20 | Mikel Nieve | Euskaltel Euskadi | s.t. | | | 21 | Hubert Dupont | Ag2r La Mondiale | s.t. | | | 22 | Steven Kruijswijk | Rabobank Cycling Team | + 42 | | | 23 | Robert Kiserlovski | Astana Pro Team | + 51 | | | 24 | Bauke Mollema | Rabobank Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 25 | Eric Lombaerts | Lotto-Belisol | + 2'22 | IanButler |
GC
| 1 | Thomas De Gendt | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | 60h24'32 | | | 2 | Stefano Garzelli | Acqua & Sapone | + 6 | | | 3 | Sergio Luis Henao | Sky Pro Cycling | + 19 | | | 4 | Vincenzo Nibali | Liquigas-Cannondale | + 21 | | | 5 | Ivan Basso | Liquigas-Cannondale | + 41 | | | 6 | Daniel Moreno | Katusha Team | + 1'12 | | | 7 | Domenico Pozzovivo | Colnago - CSF Inox | + 1'47 | | | 8 | Rigoberto Uran | Sky Pro Cycling | + 2'12 | | | 9 | Jakob Fuglsang | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 2'15 | | | 10 | Michele Scarponi | Lampre-ISD | + 2'20 | | | 11 | Thibaut Pinot | FDJ-BigMat | + 2'21 | | | 12 | Ryder Hesjedal | Team Garmin-Barracuda | + 3'46 | | | 13 | Mikel Nieve | Euskaltel Euskadi | + 5'14 | | | 14 | Gianluca Brambilla | Colnago - CSF Inox | + 5'16 | | | 15 | Hubert Dupont | Ag2r La Mondiale | + 5'19 | | | 16 | John Gadret | Ag2r La Mondiale | + 5'23 | | | 17 | Eric Lombaerts | Lotto-Belisol | + 6'27 | IanButler | | 18 | Tejay Van Garderen | BMC Racing Team | + 6'53 | | | 19 | Haimar Zubeldia | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 7'43 | | | 20 | Steven Kruijswijk | Rabobank Cycling Team | + 7'56 |
Mountain
| 1 | Ivan Basso | Liquigas-Cannondale | 18 | | | 2 | Eric Lombaerts | Lotto-Belisol | 15 | IanButler | | 3 | Moreno Moser | Liquigas-Cannondale | 12 | | | 4 | Kanstantsin Siutsou | Sky Pro Cycling | 11 | | | 5 | Amaël Moinard | BMC Racing Team | 11 | | | 6 | Michele Scarponi | Lampre-ISD | 10 | | | 7 | Stefano Pirazzi | Colnago - CSF Inox | 10 | | | 8 | Yury Trofimov | Katusha Team | 9 | | | 9 | Leonardo Bertagnolli | Lampre-ISD | 8 | | | 10 | Stef Clement | Rabobank Cycling Team | 8 | |
Points
| 1 | Thomas De Gendt | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | 104 | | | 2 | Matthew Goss | Orica-GreenEDGE | 95 | | | 3 | Mark Cavendish | Sky Pro Cycling | 88 | | | 4 | Francisco Ventoso | Movistar Team | 77 | | | 5 | Michele Scarponi | Lampre-ISD | 70 | | | 6 | Gianluca Brambilla | Colnago - CSF Inox | 67 | | | 7 | Ivan Basso | Liquigas-Cannondale | 67 | | | 8 | Stijn Van Gent | Lotto-Belisol | 60 | IanButler | | 9 | Sacha Modolo | Colnago - CSF Inox | 58 | | | 10 | Stefano Garzelli | Acqua & Sapone | 58 | |
In other news, the team have just signed the contract of a youth rider, he'll join the team in August. I didn't catch his name, though. |
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