Ollfardh wrote:
Right, I got the progress points for the next break more or less figured out, I'll open a new thread once we get halfway Suisse and Dauphiné
Gonna annoy you with three nice late Dauphine/Suisse/Pre-break related posts then
REPORT - CRITÉRIUM DU DAUPHINÉ
STAGE 3: AMBÉRIEU-EN-BUGEY - TARARE
Hello Ladies and Gentleman,
The third stage of Critérium du Dauphiné starts in Ambérieu-en-Bugey and takes us to Tarare. As it is only 161km of racing, the stage may be called a shorter one. The first two stages did not shape up the GC so much and Amador (MOV) is still more than two minutes in the lead. Today will not decide the GC as well, because the stage is rather hilly. In the second part of the stage, the riders will take on two climbs to Col de Écharmeaux and Col des Sauvages while the first one is much longer, but the latter one will surely decide the stage win today as afterwards there is only the descend until the finish line. The question is if some sprinters could survive the last climb or if we will see a climber at the front today. Or will there even be a breakaway making it to the end?
We have superb conditions outside as with 24 degrees and blue, but bit cloudy sky, riders and spectators will be delighted for sure.
150km to go
Right from the start we see attacks at the front, but until now nobody could really create a gap. At the moment, there is another attack that looks promising. We have Jungels (RLT), Lagutin (VCD), Moser (CAN), Ballan (BMC), El Fares (SOJ) and Gérard (BSE) up there with Taborre (VIN) trying to close in.
140km to go
The breakaway was caught again, but now Ballan and Taborre show that they are not willing to give up and go again.
136km to go
I thought, we would have our breakaway of the day, but I was proven wrong. Slagter (BEL) in white jersey, Iglinskiy (AST) and again Gérard attack and close in on the duo in front. But the peloton also increased its pace due to the attack, so will they bring everything back together?
110km to go, E1 – 1:00 – Peloton
The pack does not stop chasing, so the escapees are really struggling. They are attacking each other all the time to higher their chances, but nobody is giving in and so all five are still in front, but with a small lead only. We already went 50km, but have no established breakaway. Maybe we will see a day without a real break of the day? The picture we see symbols that whole part of the race as there are always attacks in the head group, but nobody can get clear.
100km to go
Movistar and Lotto-Belisol have brought the break back and everything is together again. But as the distance to the first climb is not big anymore, we should see more serious attacks from now I think with decent climbers in there. However, all riders have seemingly wasted much energy as the first 60km were ridden with a thrilling pace.
85km to go, E1 – 2:00 – Peloton
I really, really do not understand the pack today – or we could say Movistar’s tactics rather. They did not let go the first breakaway and did everything to reel them back in, but now as Moser (CAN), Chavanel (OPQ), Danielson (GRS), Cattaneo (LAM) and Gesink (BEL) attack, they do just nothing and the lead group opens up a good gap. They now are on the foot of Col de Écharmeaux, but the first 20km still have many flat and not so steep parts, so we still have time until the climbing begins.
60km to go, E1 – 3:25 – Peloton
Now on the climb, the guys in front still work together pretty well and behind Movistar is chasing with all its riders. The break is very dangerous with Chavanel, Gesink and Danielson being 3:24 behind as most favourites are. Little fun fact: The Lotto rider on the left is Greipel securing things for his team and always able to act if necessary. Yes, indeed, one of the world’s top sprinters is working for his teammates in a race that does not fit him at all. By the way, we have seen Kittel (ARG) grabbing bottles for his team as well.
47km to go, E1 – 2:47 – Peloton
The KoM sprint, which is not on top of the mountain, is not contested at all. We see Danielson taking 4 points in front of Gesink (3), Moser (2) and Cattaneo (1). None of them is a threat to Amador (MOV) for now at all, who is at 44 points. Movistar’s work in the peloton slowly reduces the advantage and they will surely do that even better on the upcoming flat part.
25km to go, E1 – 1:47 – Peloton
Movistar is heavily taking advantage on the flat now and started to decrease the gap in a fast manner over the last kilometers. They receive some help from Euskaltel working for overall third Nieve. The intermediate sprint remains uncontested as well in the front group with Cattaneo taking it ahead of Danielson and Moser.
17km to go, E1 – 0:59 – Peloton
We now hit the final climb, Col des Sauvages. The pack is chasing heavily but now we await bigger attacks – or will there be only a small selection with a big group coming to the finish line?
12km to go, E1 – 0:44 – Peloton
Here they come. Big attacks happening now 2km before the summit. It is Kwiatkowski (OPQ) followed by Spilak (KAT) and Martin (GRS). Obviously Chavanel shall be used as a pacemaker later on – strong team tactics here!
10km to go, – E1 – 0:18 – Cattaneo – 0:35 – Peloton
The attacks from the pack were neutralized and then somehow nobody wanted to attack but Movistar was just riding up that climb all the time. Therefore we have an altogether peloton with only a small gap to the front. The front group dropped Cattaneo, who is struggling to get back. Nobody cared for the KoM where Danielson took 4, Chavanel 3, Gesink 2 and Moser 1 point. Behind, only a few riders have been dropped on this hard climb(thanks to the good AI) and literally everybody could grab the stage win if he recovers well in the descend? Will this be the only chance for Kittel and Greipel to perform?
5km to go, E1 – 1:07 – Peloton
Right after we saw that Cattaneo joined his companions again, it is now Martin (GRS) who attacks on the descend. In the first half of the descend, the pack was even slower than the head group, where Moser is setting an incredible pace. Will the pack catch the late breakaway? We don’t know yet. By the way, it seems like we will not see any main sprinters contending at all, because all the big names (which are for what reasons ever pretty many) are way too far behind. It will probably a puncheur with a strong acceleration though. Behind Martin are Spilak, Kwiatkowski and Amador, then Mollema (BEL), Froome (SKY), Izagirre and Nieve (both EUS) follow.
3100m to go, E1 – 0:15 – E2 – 0:09 – Cattaneo – 0:36 – Martin – 0:13 – E5 – 0:20 – Peloton
Damn, you really feel how the descending skills make the difference here. Everything is split up, but thanks to our helicopter view, we have a nice picture to make it clear. At the front, there are Moser and Chavanel, who distanced Gesink and Danielson. Cattaneo is the last guy from the breakaway who dropped away again. Behind them you can see Martin, who attacked from the peloton. Behind him, a group of 8 followers created quite a gap over the fast chasing peloton. In this group now are Amador, Kwiatkowski, Spilak, Mollema, Gilbert (BMC), Froome, Nieve and Roche (TST). All in all, I would say it will be a breakaway win for now.
2300m to go, Moser – 0:05 – Chavanel – 0:19 – E3 – 0:23 – Martin – 0:10 – Peloton
So many happened in the last kilometer. Cattaneo came back to Danielson and Gesink, but they are probably just fighting for third. Behind then, the peloton is back together, but with Martin having a small margin over it. And now Moser attacks Chavanel at the front! Is this the winning move? Chavanel has to really fight his bike to get some acceleration and speed on the road. Will he be able to come back?
1500m to go, E1 – 0:32 – E2 – 0:29 – Peloton
Yes, Chavanel came back to Moser and it seems like they will sprint for the stage win in the end as they keep away the three other guys from the breakaway. Behind all that is the peloton, that already catched all former attackers, but there are gaps all over the place, so we will have to wait which groups will form for now.
1000m to go, E1 – 0:32 – E2 – 0:29 – E3 – 0:27 – Peloton
I can’t believe it, the Frenchman has found something left in the tank and instead of staying in the wheel of Moser after catching up, he attacked him right away. Moser obviously did not see that coming and the question is if he will be able to close the gap and sprint across now under the flame rouge. Behind, Gesink leads out Danielson and Cattaneo. From the peloton now emerged a 11-man group that has only a small lead established yet, so they can be catched again of course. In that group are in that row Martin, Amador, Gilbert, Kwiatkowski, Spilak, Mollema, Froome, Contador (TST), Nieve, Roche and Rogers (TST) – so Saxo-Tinkoff really profit from the situation now.
600m to go, E1 – 0:30 – E2 – 0:27 – E3 – 0:35 – Peloton
No, Moser has obviously nothing left in the tank and his left behind by Chavanel who now can celebrate his victory as there are only 600m left to race and the finish line right in sight (logic). Gilbert opens up his sprint in the group behind and therefore nearly catches Cattaneo, who is dropping away from Danielson, who is still in the wheel of Gesink. Also Kwiatkowski seems to have a big acceleration right behind Gilbert.
Finish line
And Sylvain Chavanel wins! He goes over the line first. Moser behind him will come in second. Then there are riders all over the road with no real groups to see but just everybody giving it everything. However, Danielson is now sprinting away from Gesink’s wheel and Gilbert is still flying behind, but the same goes for Kwiatkowski and the whole peloton. The question is now if we will see the latest breakaway take the Top10 places or the peloton riders.
Finish line
Danielson outsprinted Gesink for third with Gilbert passing Cattaneo to take fifth in front of him. The big group took the places behind with the peloton not able to reach them, but the question is, if there will be a gap given as there surely were gaps, but really small ones because there were riders all over the place. Froome won the sprint from the bunch for place 7 with Kwiatkowski, Mollema and Amador closing Top10.
And, no, there are no gaps given, which is indeed an acceptable decision. The GC stays the same, but Chavanel moved to fourth with his 0:46 gap on the peloton. In front of him are still Amador, Nieve (EUS, +2:03) and Trofimov (KAT, +2:03). Still about 100 riders can win as all of them have the same time as the main favourites with a +3:24 disadvantage.
I really, really do not understand the pack today – or we could say Movistar’s tactics rather.
Obviously the reporter is dumb or why would one not understand the tactic?
I try to explain it as easy as possible:
Our team tactic had the goal that a break can get the bonus seconds in the finish but would not be a danger for the GC for Amador.
Jungels (RLT), Lagutin (VCD), Moser (CAN), Ballan (BMC), El Fares (SOJ) and Gérard (BSE), Taborre (VIN)
This was the first group but it was way too weak for our likings as there is not enough power in that group to hold off the pack so it would have been a difficult job to time our effort in the peleton that they would take the win but with a lead that is not big enough to take the GC for now.
This was way better as we could be sure that they can stay at the front but they are not really a danger for Amador: Chavanel is a good TTer and can survive hills and mountains decently but he is still 2'28'' behind and that should be possible to defend. Danielson, Moser and Cattaneo are not too much ahead of Amador either and Gesink would prefer crashing over taking the GC so this was the easiest way to defend the GC lead.
And we were right, Froome and Kwiat would have taken some bonus seconds and therefore we got what we wanted.
And just imagine how many riders would have attacked in the decent if it they would have fighted for the win but they didnt as the fight for 6. wasnt worth it.
All in all, great (and easy) tactic and not "not understandable"
I really, really do not understand the pack today – or we could say Movistar’s tactics rather.
Obviously the reporter is dumb or why would one not understand the tactic?
I try to explain it as easy as possible:
Our team tactic had the goal that a break can get the bonus seconds in the finish but would not be a danger for the GC for Amador.
Jungels (RLT), Lagutin (VCD), Moser (CAN), Ballan (BMC), El Fares (SOJ) and Gérard (BSE), Taborre (VIN)
This was the first group but it was way too weak for our likings as there is not enough power in that group to hold off the pack so it would have been a difficult job to time our effort in the peleton that they would take the win but with a lead that is not big enough to take the GC for now.
This was way better as we could be sure that they can stay at the front but they are not really a danger for Amador: Chavanel is a good TTer and can survive hills and mountains decently but he is still 2'28'' behind and that should be possible to defend. Danielson, Moser and Cattaneo are not too much ahead of Amador either and Gesink would prefer crashing over taking the GC so this was the easiest way to defend the GC lead.
And we were right, Froome and Kwiat would have taken some bonus seconds and therefore we got what we wanted.
And just imagine how many riders would have attacked in the decent if it they would have fighted for the win but they didnt as the fight for 6. wasnt worth it.
All in all, great (and easy) tactic and not "not understandable"
See your point, but as I'm writing live ticker style and don't know what will happen later on, you could not know that it would have worked out like that. I mean, who do you think would have chased down the first brekaway if not Movistar? Don't you think they would have survived as well? And the moment, the second attack happened, Movistar was in real danger because it was unpredictable that you would get so close to the break again with no real mountain domestiques. However, yes, in the end it was great tactics, but you couldn't know that with 100km to go
Thanks for that, I wasn't taking this as offence, but I just wanted to explain myself. And because of PCM AI it is more probable that they just do something super-dumb instead of playing wise tactics
Silvio Herklotz wrote:
Thanks for that, I wasn't taking this as offence, but I just wanted to explain myself. And because of PCM AI it is more probable that they just do something super-dumb instead of playing wise tactics
The AI is never super-dumb. Everything has a well thought reason and you should never just watch the team tactics without thinking about the hidden plan
I apologise for the fact that I haven't done anything with the Suisse startlist yet.
It's just that I've been really busy with school stuff, probably the two busiest weeks of the school year or so.
Will probably get rolling in the weekend.
Edited by Jesleyh on 15-05-2014 15:46
![imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg](https://imgur.com/KlJUqDx.jpg[/img[img]]https://imgur.com/yUygrQ.jpg)
