Results
This was one of our most succesful months. Joost Posthuma won the GP Jef Scherens after an early breakaway, Robert Gesink won the World Tour race GP cycliste de Québec and Tom Dumoulin, was the only member of the succesful breakaway in stage 1 that could hang on to the peloton every following stage and won the GC.
Of course, the most important result came out of Spain, where Andy Schleck finally won his first GT, together with the points- and KOTM-ranking and 3 stages.
Media-awards
No awards. Probably PCM couldn't decide .
Rankings
World Tour riders
Gilbert stays in the lead. Antón has passed Nibali again and Schleck and Gesink follow in 4th and 5th.
World Tour teams
Radio Shack stays in the lead, but the margin has cut into half by Monster Energy. Lotto stays in 3rd.
Continental Tour riders
The top 3 is unchanged: William Bonnet leading Jérome Coppel and Jimmy Casper. Michael Matthews has jumped to 4th.
Continental Tour teams
Suar - Sojasun remains in the lead, but La Française des Jeux is closing in quickly. It will be hard for Landbouwkrediet to get a promotion-place.
CQ riders Andy Schleck has enlarged his lead. Igor Antón is the new number 2, followed by Philippe Gilbert.
CQ teams Monster Energy is the first team to reach the 10.000 points. Radio Shack stays in 2nd, Lotto in 3rd.
Wins riders
Matthew Goss is the only rider with 14 wins. Gilbert has got 13 wins and Igor Antón, Alberto Contador and Andy Schleck 12 wins.
Wins teams
5 more wins make it 50. Qantas follows with 37 and Radio Shack with 28.
After this succesfull month, and to celebrate Andy's Vuelta win, I'll give you Miss AMA Supercross Dianna Dahlgren, to celebrate with us!
The last 2 weeks of the 2012 cycling season are stacked with some interesting hilly classics and one World Tour stage race. Last year, we could skip the Tour of Beijing, but this year has a World Tour team, we have to participate. The most important race this month is of course Il Lombardia, where we want to defend our win.
Our goals
- Win the KOTM-rankings in the Tour of Beijing
- Top 3 in Lombardia
- Win 2 more classics
Thelast days of september (and first of october), we take part in the Circuit Franco Belge, a 4-day stage race. All stages are pretty flat, so this should be a nice warm up for Paris - Tours.
Last year, Aidis Kruopis form Landbouwkrediet won the race.
Startlist
Spoiler
Monster Energy - Ford
1. R.Gesink
2. M.Kittel
3. P.Ligthart
4. M.Maaskant
5. J.Posthuma
6. S.Rosseler
7. P.Sagan
8. C.Vermeltfoort
The favourites ***Marcel Kittel, Chris Sutton (Sky), Kenny van Hummel (M&M's) ** Yauheni Hutarovich (FDJ), Bobbie Traksel (Landbouwkrediet), Sebastian Siedler (Differdange) * Jetse Bol (Rabo CT), Danilo Wyss (BMC), Robert Wagner (Radio Shack)
Stage 1
The first stage from Templeuve to Mouscron is the longest with 205.5 kilometres. A breakaway consisiting of 14 riders creates a gap of 11 minutes, and none of the sprinter teams, want to chase them! Bye bye, GC-win....
Pieter Ghyllebert from the An Post-team wins the sprint, beating John Murphy (BMC) and Jérome Baugnies (Topsport Vlaanderen). Marcel Kittel gets beaten in the peloton sprint by countryman Robert Wagner, 4'52 behind Ghyllebert.
1
Pieter Ghyllebert
An Post - Sean Kelly
4h42'17
2
John Murphy
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
3
Jérôme Baugnies
Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator
s.t.
4
Kalle Kriit
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
5
Matthew Brammeier
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
6
Aurélien Passeron
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
7
Guillaume Boivin
Rabobank Continental Team
s.t.
8
Bjorn Selander
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
9
Cyrille Heymans
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
s.t.
10
Fabio Polazzi
Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole
s.t.
...
16
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 4'52
Stage 2
The 2nd stage from Lessines to Poperinge brings us anothe rbreakaway win. This time, 6 riders create a maximum margin of 10 minutes and again, the peloton miscalculates the chase.
Danilo Wyss (BMC) wins the sprint of the leading group, being to fast for Jonas Ljungblad (Differdange) and Mikaël Delage (FDJ). The peloton finishes 2'52 behind.
1
Danilo Wyss
BMC Racing Team
3h44'52
2
Jonas Ljungblad
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
s.t.
3
Mickaël Delage
FDJ
s.t.
4
Floris Goesinnen
Rabobank Continental Team
s.t.
5
Wilfried Cretskens
Donckers Koffie - Livestrong
s.t.
6
Bert De Backer
M&M's
s.t.
7
Tom Leezer
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 2'54
8
Davide Appollonio
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
9
Kris Boeckmans
Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator
s.t.
10
Martin Reimer
M&M's
s.t.
...
13
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
Stage 3
To make something of this Circuit Franco Belge for the team, Joost Posthuma is in an early attack in stage 3 between Hazelbrouck and Ichtegem. He wins both KOTM-sprints and secures himself of that jersey.
After that breakaway gets caught, a group of 4 attacks, and they make it untill the finish. Under wet weather circumstances, Anthony Roux (FDJ) beats Bet Scheirlinckx (Landbouwkrediet) for the stage win, and, more important, makes FDJ to create a bigger margin in the CT-teams ranking. The peloton finishes at 1'06, with Kittel taking place 8.
1
Anthony Roux
FDJ
4h14'05
2
Bert Scheirlinckx
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
3
Jesse Sergent
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
4
Kim Borry
Accent.Jobs - Veranda's Willems
s.t.
5
Anthony Geslin
FDJ
+ 1'06
6
Gianni Meersman
FDJ
s.t.
7
Mateusz Komar
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
8
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
9
Davide Appollonio
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
10
Jimmy Engoulvent
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
Stage 4
Stage 4 is from Mons to Tournai, and again, a breakaway wins. SO this sprinters race ends in no mass sprint at all....
Jos van Emden (Rabobank) celebrates the stage win, beating Thomas Löfkvist (Sky) and Jimmy Engoulvent (Garmin). Kittel gets blocked in for the sprint, and has to settle with the 17th place.
1 Jos Van Emden Rabobank Cycling Team 2h59'46
2 Thomas Löfkvist Sky ProCycling s.t.
3 Jimmy Engoulvent Garmin - Barracuda s.t.
4 Bert De Backer M&M's + 52
5 Geoffroy Lequatre Radio Shack - Nissan s.t.
6 James Vanlandschoot Accent.Jobs - Veranda's Willems + 1'58
7 Gert Steegmans Omega Pharma - Quick·Step + 2'32
8 Andreas Stauff Omega Pharma - Quick·Step s.t.
9 Mateusz Komar CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
10 Graeme Brown Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
...
17 Marcel KittelMonster Energy - Ford s.t.
GC
1
Pieter Ghyllebert
An Post - Sean Kelly
15h47'10
2
Kalle Kriit
Sony Ericsson
+ 10
3
John Murphy
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
4
Jérôme Baugnies
Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator
+ 14
5
Aurélien Passeron
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 16
6
Kurt Hovelynck
Donckers Koffie - Livestrong
+ 20
7
Matthew Brammeier
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 22
8
Jonas Vangenechten
Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole
s.t.
9
Jonas Ljungblad
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
+ 1'58
10
Danilo Wyss
BMC Racing Team
+ 2'00
...
18
Joost Posthuma
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 5'12
Points
1
Jonas Ljungblad
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
30
2
Anthony Roux
FDJ
29
3
Danilo Wyss
BMC Racing Team
28
4
Pieter Ghyllebert
An Post - Sean Kelly
27
5
Kalle Kriit
Sony Ericsson
26
KOTM
1
Joost Posthuma
Monster Energy - Ford
10
2
Aurélien Passeron
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
6
3
Michel Kreder
Garmin - Barracuda
6
4
Yannick Eijssen
BMC Racing Team
6
5
Blazej Janiaczyk
CCC Polsat Polkowice
4
Overall winner
Word from the DS
Strange, stupid race. No teams are willing to chase the breakaway, and when we race at full speed, it's impossible to reel them in. Luckily Posthuma won the KOTM-rankings. Oh well, now we can focus at the hilly classics.
The first of the hilly classics we race in Italy is the Memorial Marco Pantani, near Cesenatico. Last year's race was won by Federico Canuti from the Colnago-team.
The favourites ***Andy Schleck, Fabio Felline (Nespresso), Domenico Pozzovivo (Colnago) ** Jure Kocjan (Team Type 1), Danielle Pietropolli (Omega Pharma), Francesco Gavazzi (Lampre) * Cayetano Sarmiento (Acqua et Sapone), Mauro Finetto (Lampre), Federico Canuti (Colnago)
Our goal
Top 3
The race
2 riders are in today's BOTD, escaped after 100 kilometres. Cyril Bessy (Saur) and Luca Pierfelici (De Rosa) can hold off the peloton surprisingly long. With 2 laps to go, 24km, they have a margin of 3'27 to the peloton.
The 2 enter the last kilometre, including a short but very steep climb, with a margin of over 30 seconds. Although riders start sprinting out of the peloton, they will battle for the win. Cyril Bessy wins the sprint, his first win of the season. Jure Kocjan finishes only 6 seconds behind as the number three. Andy Schleck gets blocked in the sprint, due to being badly placed, and has to settle with the 14th place.
Results
1
Cyril Bessy
Saur - Sojasun
4h56'43
2
Luca Pierfelici
De Rosa - Ceramica Flaminia
s.t.
3
Jure Kocjan
Team Type 1
+ 6
4
Daniele Pietropolli
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 21
5
Federico Canuti
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
6
Alessandro Proni
Acqua & Sapone
+ 32
7
Cayetano Sarmiento
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
8
Fabio Felline
Nespresso
s.t.
9
Francesco Gavazzi
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
10
Domenico Pozzovivo
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
...
14
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
The winner
Word from the DS
It for sure was a surprise that the breakaway could stay out of reach for the win. Andy got boxed in, hopefully he learns from it.
Edited by dienblad on 02-04-2012 19:59
sam1196 wrote:
No bad results, and a nice pic of Cannuti
(Damn that blonde is hot )
Yeah, Canuti's pick is really funny.
Lots of Monster-girls are a bit fake (lots of make-up, bimbo-style), but this one is "more natural". Hot girl indeed
The day after the Circuit Franco Belge is the Sparkassen Giro Münsterland. A classic in the German Münsterland, containing some steep hills in the middle part and then back to the beautiful historical town of Münster.
Last year, the race got a surprising winner, namely Laurent Beuret from the Atlas-team.
Startlist
Spoiler
Monster Energy - Ford
1. M.Kittel
2. G.Bernard
3. J.Bobridge
4. J.Keukeleire
5. M.Maaskant
6. J.Posthuma
7. N.Terpstra
8. C.Vermeltfoort
Game crashed 2 times while loading, so decided to simulate it. And when you do that, Marcel Kittel wins. Not a win to be happy about, because I had to simulate it.
1
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Ford
3h51'36
2
Daryl Impey
Team Qantas
s.t.
3
Jonathan Bellis
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
4
Dominic Klemme
Thüringer Energie Team
s.t.
5
Enrico Rossi
Pisanellastoria - Guerciotti
s.t.
6
Baden Cooke
Team Qantas
s.t.
7
Tomasz Smolen
PSK Whirlpool - Author
s.t.
8
David Kopp
Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland
s.t.
9
Mauro Abel Richeze
Team NSP
s.t.
10
Robert Radosz
Bank BGZ
s.t.
The winner
Word from the DS
Simulation proofs Kittel barely wins because of me Edited by dienblad on 02-04-2012 20:36
The favourites *** Damiano Cunego (Lampre), Robert Gesink, Giovanni Visconti (Farnese Vini) ** Fabio Felline (Nespresso), Federico Canuti (Colnago), Roman Kreuziger (Astana) *Peter Sagan, Stefano Garzelli (Acqua et Sapone), Cayetano Sarmiento (Acqua et Sapone)
Our goal
Considering a fitness of 82 and all these Italian puncheurs with the home advantage, we'll aim for a top 5.
The race
The entire race exists of breakaways. Sometimes 1 or 2 riders, sometimes up to 20 riders in it. But every time, the breakaway gets caught. Entering the last lap, Mikhail Ignatiev (Itera) and Bernardo Riccio (D'Angelo) have a little margin of about 30 seconds.
BUt just as more often this race, Lampre and especially Farnese Vini bring it all together. Then we decide to set up a train, with Kittel leading Sagan and last man Robert Gesink-. But possibly due to the low fitness levels, they get easily outsprinted by all these Italian puncheurs.
Giovanni Visconti, this is just his 31st race day of the season, pays off the work by his team and easily wins the uphill sprint. To everybody's surprise, Leonardo Pinizzotto (Pisanellastoria) finishes in 2nd, followed by 3 Acqua et Sapone-riders, with Garzelli in 3rd. Robert Gesink finishes in 6th position.
1
Giovanni Visconti
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
4h56'26
2
Leonardo Pinizzotto
Pisanellastoria - Guerciotti
+ 11
3
Stefano Garzelli
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
4
Alessandro Proni
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
5
Cayetano Sarmiento
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
6
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
7
Luca Ascani
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
8
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
9
Pavel Zitta
PSK Whirlpool - Author
s.t.
10
Enrico Gasparotto
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
The winner
Word from the DS
Considering our fitness, we can be pleased with this result.
Edited by dienblad on 03-04-2012 21:08
The last World Tour stage race of the year is the Tour of Beijing. It's the 2nd edition, and last year, the race was surprisingly won by Saxo Banks Mads Christensen.
The route
The race kicks off with a 11.3km ITT to the Water Cube, one of the probably 2 decisive stages.
The 2nd stage brings the riders to Men Tou Gou, and although there is a short climb 11km before the finish, a mass sprint is most likely to occur.
Stage 3 will probably decide the GC. 2 climbs in the last 20 kilometres, with a downhill to follow towards Yong Ning Town, will make sure that a rider with some hilly skills will win this one.
The longest stage (189km) in this Tour of Beijing is the 4th one to Shunyi Olympic Rowing. There are some climbs in the middle of it, but a mass sprint is more likely to occur.
The last stage finishes outside the Bird's Nest, the 2008 Olympic stadium. It's flat, so another mass sprint?
Startlist
Spoiler
Sony Ericsson
1. E.Boasson Hagen
2. A.Greipel
3. S.Hernandez
4. K.Kriit
5. T.Lowe
6. A.Saramotins
7. A.Timmer
8. O.Zaugg
Monster Energy - Ford
11. A.Schleck
12. G.Bernard
13. J.Bobridge
14. P.Ligthart
15. M.Maaskant
16. J.Posthuma
17. N.Terpstra
18. C.Vermeltfoort
The favourites *** Edvald Boasson Hagen (Sony Ericsson), Philippe Gilbert (Lotto), Richie Porte (Saxo) **Andy Schleck, Juan José Cobo (Nespresso), Janez Brajkovic (Radio Shack) * Fredrik Kessiakoff (Astana), Thomas Löfkvist (Sky), Jure Kocjan (Team Type 1)
The Tour of Beijing kicks off with a 11.3 kilometre ITT. The start is outside the Olympic Stadion (the Bird's Nest) and the finish is near the Olympic Swimming Pool, the Water Cube.
Niki Terpstra has to start early and sets the best provisional time in 15'07. He won't win today, but can be satisfied with the 11th time of the day, the best of our team.
FDJ's Anthony Roux is the first rider to be faster than 15 minutes and sets the new limit at 14'55.
But the best time of the day is set by the number 3 of the TT world championship. Edvald Boasson Hagen is one second faster than Roux and wins the opening stage of the Tour of Beijing.
Results & GC
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
14'54
2
Anthony Roux
FDJ
+ 1
3
David Zabriskie
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 4
4
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky ProCycling
+ 7
5
Richie Porte
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
6
Philippe Gilbert
Lotto - Belisol
+ 8
7
Frantisek Rabon
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 11
8
Jure Kocjan
Team Type 1
s.t.
9
Jonathan Castroviejo
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 12
10
Janez Brajkovic
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Niki Terpstra
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 13
12
Andrew Talansky
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 14
13
Luis León Sánchez
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
14
Geoffroy Lequatre
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
15
Matthias Brändle
Nespresso
s.t.
16
Rui Costa
Movistar Team
+ 15
17
Jimmy Engoulvent
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
18
Jens Mouris
Team Qantas
+ 16
19
Alex Rasmussen
Nespresso
s.t.
20
Jack Bobridge
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
21
Fredrik Kessiakoff
Pro Team Astana
+ 17
22
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
23
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
+ 19
24
Sandy Casar
FDJ
+ 21
25
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
+ 22
26
Gianni Meersman
FDJ
+ 23
27
Joost Posthuma
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 24
28
Sérgio Paulinho
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 25
29
Dennis Van Winden
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
30
Piet Rooijakkers
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 26
31
Gustavo César Veloso
Movistar Team
+ 27
32
Nikolai Trussov
Katusha Team
+ 28
33
Stephen Cummings
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
34
Jérémy Roy
FDJ
+ 29
35
Daniele Bennati
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
36
Leonardo Bertagnolli
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
37
Christophe Riblon
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 30
38
Danny Pate
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
39
Juan José Cobo
Nespresso
s.t.
40
Luca Barla
Androni Giocattoli
+ 31
41
Matthias Frank
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
42
Tanel Kangert
Pro Team Astana
+ 32
43
Martijn Maaskant
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
44
Greg Henderson
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
45
Aleksejs Saramotins
Sony Ericsson
+ 33
46
Jarosław Marycz
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
47
Martijn Keizer
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 35
48
Dario Cataldo
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
49
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
50
Coen Vermeltfoort
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 36
51
John Murphy
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
52
Michel Kreder
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
53
Amaël Moinard
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
54
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
55
Gorka Izagirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
56
Johann Tschopp
BMC Racing Team
+ 37
57
Diego Ulissi
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
58
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
59
Matthew Busche
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
60
Tom Leezer
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
61
Imanol Erviti
Movistar Team
+ 38
62
Jan Bakelants
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
63
Heinrich Haussler
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
64
Daryl Impey
Team Qantas
+ 39
65
Bjorn Selander
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
66
Alexsandr Dyachenko
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
67
Matthew Brammeier
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
68
Hayden Roulston
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 40
69
Jonathan Bellis
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
70
José Joaquín Rojas
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 41
71
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
72
Ivan Rovny
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
73
Albert Timmer
Sony Ericsson
+ 42
74
Maarten Neyens
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
75
Benjamin King
Team Type 1
+ 43
76
Mikel Astarloza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
77
Kenny Dehaes
Lotto - Belisol
+ 44
78
Anthony Geslin
FDJ
+ 45
79
Giacomo Nizzolo
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
80
Cyril Bessy
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
81
Óscar Freire
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 46
82
Kristof Goddaert
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
83
Giairo Ermeti
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
84
Bram Tankink
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
85
Yannick Eijssen
BMC Racing Team
+ 47
86
André Greipel
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
87
Javier Francisco Aramendia
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 48
88
Matteo Tosatto
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 49
89
Francisco Pérez
Movistar Team
s.t.
90
Tosh Van der Sande
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 50
91
Danail Petrov
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
92
Juan Mauricio Soler
Movistar Team
s.t.
93
Borut Božic
FDJ
s.t.
94
Mitchell Docker
Team Qantas
+ 51
95
Juan José Haedo
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
96
Andreas Stauff
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 52
97
Assan Bazayev
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
98
Daniele Callegarin
Team Type 1
s.t.
99
Charles Bradley Huff
Team Type 1
s.t.
100
Mauro Santambrogio
BMC Racing Team
+ 53
101
Alberto Losada
Katusha Team
s.t.
102
Gerald Ciolek
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
103
Christopher Butler
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
104
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
+ 54
105
Job Vissers
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
106
José Serpa
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
107
Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
108
Fumiyuki Beppu
Team Qantas
s.t.
109
Matthew Goss
Team Qantas
s.t.
110
Enrique Sanz
Movistar Team
s.t.
111
Ben Swift
Sky ProCycling
+ 55
112
Oliver Zaugg
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
113
Daniele Colli
Nespresso
s.t.
114
Pim Ligthart
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
115
Sergio Hernandez
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
116
Romain Feillu
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
117
Xavier Florencio
Nespresso
s.t.
118
Maxime Vantomme
Katusha Team
s.t.
119
Wesley Sulzberger
Team Qantas
+ 56
120
Mark Renshaw
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
121
Francesco Gavazzi
Lampre - Generali
+ 57
122
Kalle Kriit
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
123
Arkimedes Arguelyes
Katusha Team
s.t.
124
Evan Cosson
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
125
Yannick Talabardon
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
126
Johnny Hoogerland
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 58
127
Salvatore Commesso
Androni Giocattoli
+ 59
128
Marek Rutkiewicz
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 1'00
129
Rafael Valls
Nespresso
s.t.
130
Frederik Willems
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
131
Michael Albasini
Team Qantas
s.t.
132
Marco Corti
Nespresso
+ 1'01
133
Fabrice Jeandesboz
Saur - Sojasun
+ 1'02
134
Sergey Lagutin
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
135
Jonas Aaen Jørgensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
136
Shawn Milne
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
137
Morris Possoni
Sky ProCycling
+ 1'03
138
Andrea Grendene
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
139
Nikolas Maes
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
140
Aldo Ino Ilesic
Team Type 1
s.t.
141
Allan Davis
Team Qantas
s.t.
142
Pablo Lastras
Movistar Team
s.t.
143
Gorik Gardeyn
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
144
Manuele Mori
Lampre - Generali
+ 1'04
145
Murilo Fischer
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 1'06
146
Aleksandr Kuschynski
Katusha Team
s.t.
147
Gabriele Bosisio
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
148
Pablo Urtasun
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1'07
149
Gorazd Stangelj
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
150
Sven Vandousselaere
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
151
Trent Lowe
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
152
Sergueï Ivanov
Katusha Team
s.t.
153
Javier Megías
Team Type 1
+ 1'08
154
Giampaolo Cheula
Nespresso
s.t.
155
Andrey Zeits
Pro Team Astana
+ 1'09
156
Alexander Porsev
Katusha Team
+ 1'10
157
Jérôme Pineau
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
158
Anthony Delaplace
Saur - Sojasun
+ 1'11
159
Francesco Chicchi
Katusha Team
s.t.
160
Jeremy Hunt
Sky ProCycling
+ 1'12
161
Emanuele Sella
Lampre - Generali
+ 1'13
162
Martin Kragh
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
163
Sacha Modolo
Team Type 1
+ 1'14
164
David Loosli
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
165
Rony Martias
Saur - Sojasun
+ 1'15
166
Jan Kuyckx
Lotto - Belisol
+ 1'16
167
Arnaud Gérard
FDJ
s.t.
168
Americo Novembrini
Androni Giocattoli
+ 1'19
169
Matteo Bono
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
170
Miguel Mínguez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1'20
171
Iván Melero
Team Type 1
+ 1'21
172
Nacer Bouhanni
FDJ
s.t.
173
Angelo Furlan
Androni Giocattoli
+ 1'27
174
Luca Solari
Androni Giocattoli
+ 1'28
175
Gregory Bernard
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 1'29
176
René Mandri
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 1'37
Today's winner
Word from the DS
We hoped to get a top 10, but this is okay.
The 2nd stage starts outside the Bird's Nest again and finishes in Men Tou Gou after 133 kilometres. The stage contains 2 categorized climbs, with the last summit 10.5 kilometres before the finish.
42km to go
A big breakaway of 17 riders arrives at the first summit of the day, 42km before the finish. Lampre's David Loosli collects the most points, followed by Wesley Sulzberger (Qantas). Other known riders in this leading group are Murilo Fischer (Garmin), Francisco Ventoso (Movistar), Hayden Roulston (Radio Shack) and Mateo Tosatto (Saxo). The peloton follows at 2'55.
10km to go
The BOTD gets caught early in the final climb. Only Ventoso remains in front of the peloton, but gets passed by Androni's José Serpa before the summit. The peloton is only '34 behind, with Team Sky and Sony Ericsson having it all under control.
Finish
It's a drag race to the finish line between Mark Cavendish and Edvald Boasson Hagen. And as more often this year, Cav gets beaten. EBH takes his 2nd stage win, after winning the ITT yesterday. Matthew Goss (Qantas) finishes in 3rd place, with Pim Ligthart doing a great job in 6th place!
Results
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
2h58'31
2
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
3
Matthew Goss
Team Qantas
s.t.
4
Daryl Impey
Team Qantas
s.t.
5
André Greipel
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
6
Pim Ligthart
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
7
Jimmy Engoulvent
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
8
Daniele Bennati
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
9
Jérôme Pineau
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
10
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
GC
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
3h13'15
2
Anthony Roux
FDJ
+ 11
3
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky ProCycling
+ 17
4
Richie Porte
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
5
Philippe Gilbert
Lotto - Belisol
+ 18
6
Jure Kocjan
Team Type 1
+ 21
7
Frantisek Rabon
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
8
Janez Brajkovič
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 22
9
Jonathan Castroviejo
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
10
Niki Terpstra
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 23
Points
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
20
40
2
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky ProCycling
6
23
3
Jure Kocjan
Team Type 1
9
22
4
Anthony Roux
FDJ
0
19
5
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
19
19
KOTM
1
José Serpa
Androni Giocattoli
3
3
2
David Loosli
Lampre - Generali
3
3
3
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
2
2
4
Wesley Sulzberger
Team Qantas
2
2
5
Danny Pate
Sky ProCycling
1
1
Today's winner
Word from the DS
A good sprint by Ligthart, taking the 6th place.
The queen's stage in the Tour of Beijing is stage 3, from Men Tou Gou to Yong Ning Town. The race features 5 categorized climbs, with the last summit only 10km before the finish.
84km to go
We have Martijn Maaskant in the BOTD, but he struggles in the first section of climbs. He has to let 12 others go, but can come back in the descend. Other members of the BOTD are Sandy Casar (FDJ), Michal Albasini (Qantas), Luca Solari (Androni) and Marek Rutkiewicz (Vacansoleil).
17km to go
The riders arrive at the penultimate summit, 17km before the finish and only 3 riders from the BOTD are able to stay in front of the first riders from the peloton. Luca Solari arrives at the summit in first place, together with Giampaolo Cheula (Nespresso). Manuele Mori (Lampre) follows at '17, together with the new world champion Philippe Gilbert. Igor Antón follows at '37, Andy Schleck at '52 and the peloton with GC-leader Boasson Hagen at 1'56.
10km to go
Antón and Schleck can close the gap to Gilbert in the descend, and together with the 3 remaining members of the BOTD, they start the last climb of the day. Antón is the first to attack and gets countered by Gilbert. Schleck rides in his own pace, and closes the gap. Of course, Solari, Cheula and Mori get dropped because of the attack.
Shortly before the summit, Andy Schleck launches his attack and creates a small gap to Antón and Gilbert.
Finish
But being the weakest downhiller of the 3, Schleck gets caught again and the 3 prepare for the sprint. Antón easily wins it, taking his 13th win of the season. Gilbert finishes in 2nd, and becomes the new GC-leader, and Schleck in 3rd.
Results
1
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
4h07'11
2
Philippe Gilbert
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
3
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
s.t.
4
Jure Kocjan
Team Type 1
+ 1'17
5
Juan José Cobo
Nespresso
+ 1'32
6
Luca Solari
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
7
Giampaolo Cheula
Nespresso
+ 1'48
8
Gianni Meersman
FDJ
+ 2'29
9
Mauro Santambrogio
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
10
Morris Possoni
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
GC
1
Philippe Gilbert
Lotto - Belisol
7h20'44
2
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
+ 27
3
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 33
4
Jure Kocjan
Team Type 1
+ 1'20
5
Juan José Cobo
Nespresso
+ 1'54
6
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
+ 2'31
7
Gianni Meersman
FDJ
+ 2'44
8
Giampaolo Cheula
Nespresso
+ 2'46
9
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky ProCycling
+ 2'48
10
Luca Solari
Androni Giocattoli
+ 2'49
Points
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sony Ericsson
0
40
2
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky ProCycling
0
23
3
Jure Kocjan
Team Type 1
0
22
4
Anthony Roux
FDJ
0
19
5
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
0
19
KOTM
1
Luca Solari
Androni Giocattoli
24
24
2
Giampaolo Cheula
Nespresso
22
22
3
Manuele Mori
Lampre - Generali
20
20
4
Michael Albasini
Team Qantas
15
15
5
Andy Schleck
Monster Energy - Ford
12
12
Today's winner
Word from the DS
A surprisingly good stage for us. Okay, Schleck couldn't win today, but is the new number 2 in the GC. But nromally, the last 2 stages provide no opportunities to gain some time over Gilbert.
The penultimate stage between Yanquin Gui Chuan Square and Shunyi Olympic Rowing features some climbs in the begin part of the stage, but the last part is flat.
58km to go
Our plan is to keep the peloton together and let Andy Schleck get as the first at the summits, to secure himself of the KOTM-jersey. We do great in it, and he wins all 3 KOTM-sprints!
But than the game crashes..... Restart, same tactic, same result, and crash again....
So, I'm fed up (don't know if it is the game or my laptop), so I simulate it and of course, no KOTM-points and consequently no KOTM-jersey in the last World Tour stage race of the year......
Apparantly, Cavendish won the simulated sprint and our riders were nowhere to be seen.
.
