HESJEDAL - PETERSON - MILLAR - MEIER - DANIELSON - KESSIAKOFF - MARTIN - WILSON
Stage 1: Today a semi hilly stage was planned with a complete flat final. Thus a mass sprint it was. Wilson, the best sprinter in the squad tried to breakaway earlier today to score a couple of intermediate sprint seconds but failed to get away. He also was not able to manouvre himself to the front in the final sprint. No problem, Garmin will strike in the hilly final of stage 3 and the ITT stage 4.
Stage 2: Hills in the beginning and a flat ending. Pretty much as yesterday and no suprise, another mass sprint. Wilson was too exhausted to compete for the win, but Millar managed to get the wheel of Paolini and got a very nice 7th place.
Stage 3: With a difficult last part of the race there was a lot of action. Kessiakoff and Hesjedal had tried to get away with a breakaway but did not get any room from the pack. Then a group with Wegelius, Jufre, Hagen, Noe, Hesjedal, Flecha, Pozzato, Millar, Gilbert and Van Avermaet managed to get away but were caught by the pack only a few kilometeres before the line. Arvesen, Joly, Failli, Zaballa and Millar attacked on a relative flat area. In the last kilometers that were uphill Millar and Arvesen attacked and got some room but regrouped in the last kilometer with Joly, Failli, Zabala and Boasson Hagen who closed the gap. In the last kilometer Millar was the strongest and won the stage. With a long ITT tomorrow things look very good.
Stage 4: As expected the ITT became an easy prey for Millar, who is most likely going to won the Voltade Algarve unless crazy things are going to happen in the last stage. Also Hesjedal and Danielson did well and entered the top 10 in the overal standings.
Stage 5: With a difficult climb halfway the stage this was not going to be an easy race. Peterson and Martin set the pace, which was hard enough that none of the favorites managed to get away. In fact it was fast enough to loose Boason Hagen, nr3 in the general standings. He lost 5 minutes today. The mass sprint was for Allan Davis.
1. Allan Davis - Astana - 4h08'25"
2. Luca Paolini - Acqua & Sapone - + 0"
3. Kurt-Asle Arvesen - Sky - + 0"
4. Gerald Ciolek - Team Milram - + 0"
5. Greg Van Avermaet - Omega Pharma Lotto - + 0"
6. Anthony Geslin - Francaise des Jeux - + 0"
7. Edgar Pinto - LA Rota dos Moveis - + 0"
8. Roy Sentjens - Team Milram - + 0"
9. Enrico Rossi - Ceramica Flaminia - + 0"
10. Jose Herrada - Caja Rural - + 0"
GENERAL STANDINGS:
1. David Millar - Garmin Transitions - 18h11'14"
2. Sebastien Joly - Saur Sojasun - + 1'03"
3. Kurt-Asle Arvesen - Sky - + 1'53" 4. Ryder Hesjedal - Garmin Transitions - + 3'12"
5. Thomas de Gendt - Topsport Vlaanderen Mercator - + 3'14"
6. Constantino Zaballa - Centro Ciclismo de Loule - + 3'23"
7. Filippo Pozzato - Team Katusha - + 3'23"
8. Francesco Failli - Acqua & Sapone - + 3'29" 9. Tom Danielson - Garmin Transitions - + 3'29"
10. Pieter Jacobs - Topsport Vlaanderen Mercator - + 3'30" 13. Fredrik Kessiakoff - Garmin Transitions - + 3'39"
35. Daniel Martin - Garmin Transitions - + 5'33"
94. Thomas Peterson - Garmin Transitions - + 13'07"
115. Matthew Wilson - Garmin Transitions - + 17'59"
131. Christian Meier - Garmin Transitions - + 31'26"Edited by harry on 18-03-2010 19:47
VAN SUMMEREN - MAASKANT - FISCHER - WILSON - VAN DER VELDE - KREDER -T. MEYE R - MEIER
The first cobblestone race of the season and Van Summeren and Maaskant were there. Direct from the start Rodriguez, Roberts, Guttierez and Pineau got away and got a maximum lead over the pack by 4 minutes. Both Kreder and Van Summeren fell on the cobblestones. Kreder got back the the pack, but could no longer follow its pace. He gave up. Van Summeren got back to the front of the pack, which was falling into pieces. Besides Van Summeren, also Maaskant, Wilson and Fischer were up front just like all favorites for the victory, like Gilbert, Breschel and Kroon. Pineau, Guttierez and Roberts were caught and a new breakaway with De Waele, Barbe, Leukemans, Gilbert, Rodriguez, Freire, Van Summeren and Maaskant was formed. It was caught back later, but only after De Waele, Maaskant and Gilbert got away. At 12 kilometres before the finish line, Gilbert attacked. De Waele and Maaskant couldn't follow. Maaskant won the sprint for 2nd place. Behind him and De Waele, Benatti and Leukemans got away from the big group, which was led by Freire, who finished 6th.
1. Philippe Gilbert - Omega Pharma Lotto - 5h45'34" 2. Martijn Maaskant - Garmin Transitions - + 1'38"
3. Bert De Waele - Landbouwkrediet - + 1'38"
4. Daniele Bennati - Liquigas Doimo - + 2'54"
5. Bjorn Leukemans - Vacansoleil - + 2'54"
6. Oscar Freire - Rabobank - + 3'08"
7. Robbie McEwen - Team Katusha - + 3'08"
8. Baden Cooke - Team Saxo Bank - + 3'08"
9. Gert Steegmans - Team Radioshack - + 3'08"
10. Matti Breschel - Team Saxo Bank - + 3'08" 15. Johan Van Summeren - Garmin Transitions - + 3'08"
23. Murilo Fischer - Garmin Transitions - + 6'04"
38. Matthew Wilson - Garmin Transitions - + 10'28"
91. Riccardo Van der Velde - Garmin Transitions - + 12'36"
104. Travis Meyer - Garmin Transitions - + 12'52"
DNF Christian Meier - Garmin Transitions
DNF Michel Kreder - Garmin Transitions
So far the results have been extremely well indeed. But I'm very curious what is going to happen in the Protour races when there is much and much more competition. So far I have mainly scored through TTTs and to be in the front of the pack during strong winds.
VAN SUMMEREN - MAASKANT - FISCHER - HUNTER - VAN DER VELDE - CARLSEN - COZZA - KREDER
The action starts right from the start. Many riders including Fischer try to breakaway, but fail. Consequently, the peleton breaks in two and it takes 60 kilometers before the guys that fell behind closed the gap. A large group of riders with Hunter, Fischer, Arashiro, De Vocht and Eichler fell and also had to struggle to get back to the pack.
Roughly 60 kilometers before the finish line a large group with De Waele, Nys, Barbe, Keisse, Barredo, Hovelinck, Weylandt and Hunter shoke off the rest of the pack. A large group with Maaskant, Fischer and Van Summeren desperately tried to get back. Maaskant was in the best shape and Fischer and Van Summeren put in a lot of work for him. In the front Hunter fell back and only Barredo, De Waele, Ista and Barbe remained. Maaskant fell at the worst time ever and Van Summeren immediately decided to counterattack without waiting for Maaskant and manage to get to the leaders only just after Barredo got away. He was unstoppable and won the stage. Van Summeren and Maaskant scored decent top 10 finishes.
ZABRISKIE - MILLAR - C. MEYER - T. MEYER - LOWE - TUFT - DUGGAN - STETINA
Stage 1: Garmin did not bring any sprinters to Murcia, which means that they did not play a role in this flat stage. Stetina was along in a breakaway but did not have stamina enough to make it till the end. He finished 5 minutes behind the pack.
Stage 2: Only a few decent sprinters are participating in the Vuelta a la Region de Murcia, so Millar gave it a shot in the mass sprint. He managed to get a 4th place. Not bad......
Stage 3: The Vuelta a la Region de Murcia is a warming up for the Tirrenico Adriatico, where an ITT is the key to the victory. Hence, Garmin brought a lot of ITT specialists. Nevertheless it was Luis Leon Sanchez who took the victory.
1. Luis Leon Sanchez - Caisse d'Epargne - 19'36" 2. David Millar - Garmin Transitions - + 8"
3. David Zabriskie - Garmin Transitions - + 11"
4. Cameron Meyer - Garmin Transitions - + 26"
5. Christophe Moreau - Caisse d'Epargne - + 28"
6. Jason McCartney - Team Radioshack - + 43"
7. Grischa Niermann - Rabobank - + 46"
8. Samuel Sanchez - Euskatel Euskadi - + 47"
9. Lance Armstrong - Team Radioshack - + 47"
10. Haimar Zubeldia - Team Radioshack - + 49"
Stage 4: At the Alto de Collado Bermejo, a mountaint at 20 kilometers from the finishline, Luis Leon Sanchez attacked. Innitially only Moncoutie was able to follow. A second group with Noe, Zabriskie and Anton followed at several seconds. Millar, Samuel Sanchez, Bernabeu, Efimkin and Zubeldia followed after that were just behind them and a 4th group with Armstrong, Gomez Marchante, Niermann, Zaballa and Harrada were just a little befor the pack. After the climb the first three groups combined and despite a lot of work of Gomez Marchante the 4th group lost a lot of time and Armstrong. He fell back in the pack. In the sprint Sanchez won just before Zabriskie and Millar. Unfortunately, no screenshots since my PC chrashed during the replay...
1. Luis Leon Sanchez - Caisse d'Epargne - 3h47'36" 2. David Zabriskie - Garmin Transitions - + 0"
3. David Millar - Garmin Transitions - + 0"
4. Haimar Zubeldia - Team Radioshack - + 0"
5. Vladimir Efimkin - AG2R La Mondiale - + 0"
6. Samuel Sanchez - Euskadel Euskadi - + 0"
7. David Moncoutie - Cofidis - + 0"
8. Andrea Noe - Ceramica Flaminia - + 0"
9. Igor Anton - Euskatel Euskadi - + 0"
10. David Bernabeu - Barbot Siper - + 0"
Stage 5: The plan for this stage was relatively simple: To consolidate the 2nd and 3rd places of Millar and Zabriskie. For a little moment there was panic for the team of Caisse d'Epargne when the pack broke and Sanchez was in the 2nd group. Nevertheless the pack finished as one and Sanchez won the Vuelta de la Region de Murcia.
1: Jose Herrada - Caja Rural - 3h16'25"
2. Dennis Van Winden - Rabobank - + 0"
3. Leonardo Duque - Cofidis - + 0"
4. Giampaolo Caruso - Ceramico Flaminia - + 0"
5. johannes Frohlinger - Team Milram - + 0"
6. Paul Voss - Team Milram - + 0"
7. Miguel Angel Candil - LA Rota dos Moveis - + 0"
8. Vasil Kiryienka - Caisse d'Epargne - + 0"
9. Marco Velo - Quick Step - + 0" 10. David Millar - Garmin Transitions - + 0"
GENERAL STANDINGS:
1. Luis Leon Sanchez - Caisse d'Epargne - 15h52'52" 2. David Millar - Garmin Transitions - + 8"
3. David Zabriskie - Garmin Transitions - + 11"
4. Samuel Sanchez - Euskatel Euskadi - + 47"
5. Haimar Zubeldia - Team Radioshack - + 49"
6. David Bernabeu - Barbot Siper - + 56"
7. David Moncoutie - Cofidis - + 1'12"
8. Igor Anton - Euskatel Euskadi - + 1'12"
9. Vladimir Efimkin - AG2R La Mondiale - + 1'15"
10. Andrea Noe - Ceramica Flaminia - + 1'19" 50. Trent Lowe - Garmin Transitions - + 5'01"
56. Travis Meyer - Garmin Transitions - + 5'07"
78. Cameron Meyer - Garmin Transitions - + 5'52"
126. Svein Tuft - Garmin Transitions - + 11'51"
130. Peter Stetina - Garmin Transitions - + 15'47"
131. Timothy Duggan - Garmin Transitions - + 16'46"
FISCHER - VAN DER VELDE - KREDER - CARLSEN - WILSON - DEAN - MEIER - COZZA
Early in the race a group with Carlsen, Knit, Brutt, Fouchard, Mata, Capelli got away. At the difficult cobble parts Carlsen, Brutt and Fouchard rode away from the others. Also the peleton behind them lost a lot of riders. But there were too little cobbles to ready break up the pack. Hence a mass sprint was the result. Van der Velde, Dean and Wilson were the leadouts for Fischer in the sprint, but the Quick Step riders were too fast. Barredo won for Hovelynck.
Stage 1: Hesjedal is our leader for this Paris Nice and he took his responsibility serious with a nice 10th place in the prologue. Contador won the stage just before Larsson and Barredo. Also Devolder and Kirchen are in good position to win Paris Nice.
1. Alberto Contador - Astana - 10'52"
2. Gustav Erik Larsson - Team Saxo Bank - + 1"
3. Carlos Barredo - Quick Step - + 1"
4. Stijn Devolder - Quick Step - + 3"
5. Jerome Coppel - Saur Sojasun - + 4"
6. Jean Christophe Peraud - Omega Pharma Lotto - + 4"
7. Alexandre Vinokourov - Astana - + 6"
8. Kim Kirchen - Team Katusha - + 6"
9. Benoit Vaugrenard - Francaise des Jeux - + 8" 10. Ryder Hesjedal - Garmin Transitions - + 10"
Stage 2: Maaskant participated in the daily breakaway toghether with Roux, Spezialetti, Haddou, Costa, Clement, Stamsnijder, Karpets, Pardilla, Horner and Bouet. They got a maximum lead of 7.5 minutes. Nevertheless, the peleton got back. Maaskant and Clement did a last attack a few kilometers before the line, but eventually were caught 4 km before the finish. Ciolek was fastest in the sprint. Farrar became second and is still waiting for his first win this season.
1. Gerald Ciolek - Team Milram - 4h27'35" 2. Tyler Farrar - Garmin Transitions - + 0"
3. Andre Greipel - Team HTC Columbia - + 0"
4. Romain Feillu - Vacansoleil - + 0"
5. Graeme Brown - Rabobank - + 0"
6. Danilo Napolitano - Team Katusha - + 0"
7. Manuel Cardoso - Footon Servetto - + 0"
8. Tom Boonen - Quick Step - + 0"
9. Jimmy Casper - Saur Sojasun - + 0"
10. Daniele Bennati - Liquigas Doimo - + 0"
Another long breakaway with with Brandle, Isasi, Fourniet, Pate, Clement, Carlstrom and Peraud got a few minutes but were eventually caught by the pack. Brandle had to give up earlier due to a flat tire. Pate accidently took over the climbers jersey. The sprint was a short story. Farrar didn't succeed in moving up to the first ranks and had to start the sprint from far.
1. Gerald Ciolek - Team Milram - 4h15'26"
2. Daniele Bennati - Liquigas Doimo - + 0"
3. Andre Greipel - Team HTC Columbia - + 0"
4. Thor Hushovd - Cervelo Test Team - + 0"
5. Mirco Lorenzetto - Lampre Farnese Vini - + 0" 6. Tyler Farrar - Garmin Transitions - + 0"
7. Kurt-Asle Arvesen - Sky - + 0"
8. Enrico Gasparotto - Astana - + 0"
9. Bram Tankink - Rabobank - + 0"
10. Gert Steegmans - Team Radioshack - + 0"
Stage 4: A group with Beuret, Moerenhout, Brandt, Marino and Rabon got away early in the race. Machado, Levarlet, Perez, Loosli and Mata were in persuit and caught up the the first group. Also Txurruka and Kessiakoff were in persuit at some point but eventually all groups were caught back by the Astana's who were setting the pace in the peleton. Contador was the first to attack on the last hill before the finishline. Popovich, Kessiakoff, Hesjedal, Le Mevel, Moreno, Perez and Cobo followed. At the top Cobo attacked again and got to the finish alone, followed by Le Mevel, Contador and Popovych. Behind them the pack caught up and Schleck finished 4th before Hesjedal and Kessiakoff.
1. Juan Jose Cobo - Caise d'Epargne - 4h13'53"
2. Yaroslav Popovych - Team Radioshack - + 20"
3. Alberto Contador - Astana - + 20"
4. Christophe Le Mevel - Francaise des Jeux - + 20"
5. Andy Schleck - Team Saxo Bank - + 44" 6. Ryder Hesjedal - Garmin Transitions - + 44"
7. Fredrik Kessiakoff - Garmin Transitions - + 44"
8. Jens Voigt - Team Saxo Bank - + 44"
9. Sylvain Chavanel - Quick Step - + 44"
10. Stijn Devolder - Quick Step - + 44"
Stage 5: Clement did an attack on the climbers jersey today. The stage was well suited for this, whith a hilly first part and a flat second part. The breakaway got quite some time. Pate managed to jump along and counter. The breakaway with Pate, Spezialetti, Machado, Kuschysnki, Calzati and Clement got some time from the pack to over teh first hills alone. Then Pate attacked and solo crossed the other hills. He now leads the clibmers standings with 41 vs 27 for Clement. Farrar got another podium finish, but was not able to beat Hushovd in the sprint.
1. Thor Hushovd - Cervelo Test Team - 4h57'50"
2. Daniele Bennati - Liquigas Doimo - + 0" 3. Tyler Farrar - Garmin Transitions - + 0"
4. Tom Boonen - Quick Step - + 0"
5. Mirco Lorenzetto - Lampre Farnese Vini - + 0"
6. Stuart O'Grady - Team Saxo Bank - + 0"
7. Romain Feillu - Vacansoleil - + 0"
8. Kurt-Asle Arvesen - Sky - + 0"
9. Gert Steegmans - Team Radioshack - + 0"
10. Gerald Ciolek - Team Milram - + 0"
Stage 6: With the finish at the top of the Montagne de Lure, this was going to be an interesting stage. The real action started at the foot of the last climb. Contador countered followed by several other riders including Kirchen, Sastre, Hesjedal, Schleck, Barredo, Popovych and Basso. Contador proved to be the strongest. Tyler Farrar gave up. For him there is nothing more to win this Paris - Nice.
1. Alberto Contador - Astana - 5h00'05"
2. Juan Jose Cobo - Caisse d'Epargne - + 6"
3. Andy Schleck - Team Saxo Bank - + 23"
4. Carlos Barredo - Quick Step - + 54"
5. Jonathan Hivert - Saur Sojasun - + 1'02"
6. Carlos Sastre - Cervelo Test Team - + 1'02"
7. Yaroslav Popovych - Team Radioshack - + 1'02"
8. Sebastien Joly - Saur Sojasun - + 1'02"
9. Ivan Basso - Liquigas Doimo - + 1'10" 10. Ryder Hesjedal - Garmin Transitions - + 1'15"
Stage 7: A breakway with Lavarlet, Aerts, Machado, Moerenhout, Bono and Carlstrom got 9.30 minutes on the pack, but was eventually caught back, when the action started. Hoogerland, Kessiakoff and Popovych were the first to attack, but Contador, Feillu, Casar and later Hesjedal countered. Close to the finish also Cobo, Schleck, Carrara and Barredo managed to get up front. Schleck attacked and initially only Hesjedal could follow. Schleck won, with Hesjedal and Contador finishing a couple of seconds behind. Contador takes over the yellow jersey from Cobo, who lost some time. Hesjedal is in 6th place. Kessiakoff finished 32nd and is in 20th position in the general standings.
1. Andy Schleck - Team Saxo Bank - 4h49'32" 2. Ryder Hesjedal - Garmin Transitions - + 15"
3. Alberto Contador - Astana - + 15"
4. Carlos Barredo - Quick Step - + 23"
5. Johnny Hoogerland - Vacansoleil - + 23"
6. Yaroslav Popovych - Team Radioshack - + 23"
7. Juan Jose Cobo - Caisse d'Epargne - + 23"
8. Sandy Casar - Francaise des Jeux - + 43"
9. Matteo Carrara - Vacansoleil - + 1'10"
10. Brice Feillu - Vacansoleil - + 1'10"
Stage 8: The race started quietly without a lot of action. Except for the fall of Barredo in the descent of Col de la Port. He managed to get back, but was not able to compete in the final part of the race and dropped back in the rankings to the 8th place. Hoogerland, Lefevre, Joly, Popovych, Hesjedal and Basso were the first ones to attack. At the top of the .... a large group with Schleck, Contador, Joly, Cobo, Popovych, Hesjedal, Arvesen, Basso, Sastre, Kirchen, Casar, Lefevre and Hoogerland. Despite some attempts the groupe remained together till the finish where Popovych won the stage before Hesjedal. Pate managed to secure enough points to win the climbers jersey.
1. Yaroslav Popovych - Team Radioshack - 3h33'28" 2. Ryder Hesjedal - Garmin Transitions - + 0"
3. Ivan Basso - Liquigas Doimo - + 0"
4. Alberto Contador - Astana - + 0"
5. Sandy Casar - Francaise des Jeux - + 0"
6. Sebastien Joly - Saur Sojasun - + 0"
7. Kim Kirchen - Team Katusha - + 0"
8. Kurt-Asle Arvesen - Sky - + 0"
9. Andy Schleck - Team Saxo Bank - + 0"
10. Laurent Levefre - Bbox Bouygues Telecom - + 0"
GENERAL STANDINGS:
1. Alberto Contador - Astana - 31h28'56"
2. Juan Jose Cobo - Caisse d'Epargne - + 8"
3. Andy Schleck - Team Saxo Bank - + 56"
4. Yaroslav Popovych - Team Radioshack - + 1'29" 5. Ryder Hesjedal - Garmin Transitions - + 1'57"
6. Carlos Sastre - Cervelo Test Team - + 2'54"
7. Sebastien Joly - Saur Sojasun - + 3'01"
8. Carlos Barredo - Quick Step - + 3'03"
9. Ivan Basso - Liquigas Doimo - + 3'14"
10. Sandy Casar - Francaise des Jeux - + 3'23" 21. Fredrik Kessiakoff - Garmin Transitions - + 7'12"
32. Thomas Peterson - Garmin Transitions - + 9'20"
61. Daniel Martin - Garmin Transitions - + 12'57"
67. Tom Danielson - Garmin Transitions - + 14'15"
115. Danny Pate - Garmin Transitions - + 27'40"
121. Martijn Maaskant - Garmin Transitions - + 30'23"
VAN SUMMEREN - ZABRISKIE - MILLAR - LOWE - HUNTER - BOBRIDGE - C. MEYER - TUFT
Stage 1: With a small hill just before the finish line a lot of the sprinters were not up front for the final sprint. A great opportunity for Millar to score a couple of secondes and a nice third place. Pozzato won before Petacchi.
1. Filippo Pozzato - Team Katusha - 3h18'41"
2. Alessandro Petacchi - Lampre Farnese Vini - + 0" 3. David Millar - Garmin Transitions - + 0"
4. Luis Leon Sanchez - Caisse d'Epargne - + 0"
5. Michael Albasini - Team HTC Columbia - + 0"
6. Yury Trofimov - Bbox Bouygues Telecom - + 0"
7. Francisco Jose Ventoso - CarmioOro NGC - + 0"
8. Luis Pasamontes - Caisse d'Epargne - + 0"
9. Anthony Geslin - Francaise des Jeux - + 0"
10. Franco Pellizotti - Liquigas Doimo - + 0"
Stage 2: Meyer took part in the daily breakaway together with Bichot, De Patre, Guesdon, Corti, Azanza and Ravard. In the hilly stage Corti, Azanza and Ravard were not able to follow the pace and fell back. The others were caught later. In the hilly part just before the finishe line (about 15 km), Cancellara and Van Summeren attacked. Cancelarra gave up early, Van Summeren was caught only a few meters before the finish.
1. Baden Cooke - Team Saxo Bank - 4h21'09"
2. David De la Fuente - Astana - + 0"
3. Andrea Tonti - CarmioOro NGC - + 0"
4. Juan Antonio Flecha - Sky - + 0" 5. Johan Van Summeren - Garmin Transitions - + 0"
6. Nick Nuyens - Rabobank - + 0"
7. Luca Paolini - Acqua & Sapone - + 0" 8. David Zabriskie - Garmin Transitions - + 0"
9. Sebastian Langeveld - Rabobank - + 0"
10. Matti Breschel - Team Saxo Bank - + 0"
Stage 3: A group with Velo, Renshaw, Urtasun, Ciavatta, Guttierez and De Haes got away and got a maximum lead over the pack of 6 minutes. As always they were caught and a mass sprint was initiated. Cavendish won, Hunter got a reasonable 5th place.
1. Martk Cavendish - Team HTC Columbia - 3h53'37"
2. Alessandro Petacchi - Lampre Farnese Vini - + 0"
3. Baden Cooke - Team Saxo Bank - + 0"
4. Oscar Freire - Rabobank - + 0" 5. Robert Hunter - Garmin Transitions - + 0"
6. Francisco Jose Ventoso - CarmioOro NGC - + 0"
7. Anthony Geslin - Francaise des Jeux - + 0"
8. Filippo Pozzato - Team Katusha - + 0"
9. Bernhard Eisel - Team HTC Columbia - + 0"
10. Luca Paolini - Acqua & Sapone - + 0"
Stage 4: With a hill with a slope of more then 10% in the last 3 kilometres Gilbert, Zabriskie and Pozzatto attacked at the very early stage of the climb and tore the pack into pieces. Gilbert won, followed by Zabriskie and Pozzato.
1. Philippe Gilbert - Omega Pharma Lotto - 4h08'47" 2. David Zabriskie - Garmin Transitions - + 8"
3. Filippo Pozzato - Team Katusha - + 13"
4. Luis Leon Sanchez - Caisse d'Epargne - + 47"
5. Edvald Boasson Hagen - Sky - + 54"
6. Michele Scarponi - Androni Giocattoli - + 54"
7. Andrea Noe - Ceramica Flaminia - + 54"
8. Igor Anton - Euskatel Euskadi - + 1'02"
9. Haimar Zubeldia - Team Radioshack - + 1'02"
10. Joaquim Rodriguez - Team Katusha - + 1'11"
Stage 5: The ITT was a prey for Zabriskie (2nd) and Millar (1st). Both also lead the general standings now. A perfect scenario for winning the Tirrenico with Zabriskie. The mountain stage of tomorrow is probably a little to difficult for Millar to be up front.
1. David Millar - Garmin Transitions - 48'40"
2. David Zabriskie - Garmin Transitions - + 17"
3. Fabian Cancellara - Team Saxo Bank - + 25"
4. Luis Leon Sanchez - Caisse d'Epargne - + 1'07"
5. Edval Boasson Hagen - Sky - + 1'12"
6. Roman Kreuziger - Liquigas Doimo - + 1'38"
7. Thomas Lovkvist - Sky - + 1'48"
8. Tony Martin - Team HTC Columbia - + 1'48"
9. Filippo Pozzato - Team Katusha - + 1'50" 10. Cameron Meyer - Garmin Transitiosn - + 1'52"
Stage 6: This was going to be a very interesting race with the Sasso Tetto just about 30 km before the finish. A large group with Schleck, Rolland, Duran, Gerrans, Bertolini, Valjavec, Martin, Pietropolli, Agnoli, Tonti, Frohlinger, Mori, Benitez, Paolini, Scheirlincks, Cannone, Mouray, Kireyev, Chainel and Klemme got away. On the Sasso Tetto one by one the attackers got passed by the group of Zabriskie, which was protected by Millar and Van Summeren. On the top of the Gran Sasso, Schleck, Valjavec and Duran arrived first, followed by Rolland and the group with Zabriskie consisting of 27 riders. In the downhill Schleck, Rolland, Duran and Valjavec were caught. The squad of Androni Giocattoli has done a lot of work and Scarponi nicely finished it of by winning the stage before Sanchez and Anton. Zabriskie finished at 16 seconds and secures the first place in the general standings. Millar dropped to P20.
1. Michele Scarponi - Androni Giocattoli - 6h23'31"
2. Luis Leon Sanchez - Caisse d'Epargne - + 0"
3. Igor Anton - Euskatel Euskadi - + 0"
4. Andrea Noe - Ceramica Flaminia - + 0"
5. Edvald Boasson Hagen - Sky - + 0" 6. David Zabriskie - Garmin Transitions - + 16"
7. Roman Kreuziger - Liquigas Doimo - + 16"
8. Michael Albasini - Team HTC Columbia - + 16"
9. Joaquim Rodriguez - Team Katusha - + 16"
10. Haimar Zubeldia - Team Radioshack - + 16"
Stage 7: It was pretty clear that this was going to be a sprint at the finish. Pozzato won. Hunter did an OK job with 6th place. Zabriskie wins the Tirreno Adriatico!!!!!!!!
1. Filippo Pozzato - Team Katusha - 4h06'05"
2. Baden Cooke - Team Saxo Bank - + 0"
3. Allan Davis - Astana - + 0"
4. Robbie McEwen - Team Katusha - + 0"
5. Greg Van Avermaet - Omega Pharma Lotto - + 0" 6. Robert Hunter - Garmin Transitions - + 0"
7. Philippe Gilbert - Omega Pharma Lotto - + 0"
8. Mark Cavendish - Team HTC Columbia - + 0"
9. Juan Antonio Flecha - Sky - + 0"
10. Fabian Cancellara - Team Saxo Bank - + 0"
GENERAL STANDINGS:
1. David Zabriskie - Garmin Transtisions - 27h01'05"
2. Luis Leon Sanchez - Caisse d'Epargne - + 1'13"
3. Edvald Boasson Hagen - Sky - + 1'31"
4. Haimar Zubeldia - Team Radioshack - + 2'48"
5. Michele Scarponi - Androni Giocattoli - + 2'48"
6. Roman Kreuziger - Liquigas Doimo - + 3'14"
7. Igor Anton - Euskatel Euskadi - + 3'18"
8. Stefano Garzelli - Acqua & Sapone - + 3'19"
9. Andrea Noe - Ceramica Flaminia - + 3'46"
10. Joaquim Rodriguez - Team Katusha - + 3'54" 20. David Millar - Garmin Transitions - + 6'05"
26. Johan Van Summeren - Garmin Transitions - + 8'43"
84. Trent Lowe - Garmin Transitions - + 24'27"
120. Jack Bobridge - Garmin Transitions - + 36'42"
124. Robert Hunter - Garmin Transitions - + 38'20"
139. Svein Tuft - Garmin Transitions - + 48'29"
145. Cameron Meyer - Garmin Transitions - + 50'05"Edited by harry on 24-03-2010 22:41
Milan San Remo is a very important race for our sponsors. They expect at least a top 10 finish and promised a bonus of 27000 EURO if this goal was reached. The strategy was simple. Farrar is the sprinter, who should win the sprint if a large group would make it to the finish together. Kessiakoff and Maaskant would attack and try to stay up front. Hesjedal and Zabriskie will try to stay with the first group and if small enough will make it in the top 10. If the group was going to be bigger, Millar or Fischer would be likely to be present and participate in the sprint and hopefully secure a top 10 finishe that way.
The plan was executed perfectly. Kessiakoff was out on a breakaway all day together with Frohlinger, Cheula, Brajkovic, Masciarelli, Bouet, Malacarne, Porte, Girardi and Selvagi and later Masciarelli, Sentjens, Arrieta, Van Impe, Rosseler, Brajkovic and Malcarne. Eventually all of them were caught by the pack. On top of the Cipressa Maaskant and Cancellara attacked and got away. The pack consisting of only 46 riders was not able to get back. The sprint was going to be between Cancellara and Maaskant. Maaskant took the lead and was overun in the sprint by Spartacus. He won the Primavera. But a 2nd place is still a very good result
FARRAR - HESJEDAL - ZABRISKIE - KESSIAKOFF - LOWE - STETINA - MARTIN - DEAN
Prologue: Wow, did the Garmin boys go fast this prologue. Stunned by his own performance Hesjedal won the Prologue followed by Rosseler, Zabriskie and Kessiakoff.
1. Ryder Hesjedal - Garmin Transitions - 6'10"
2. Sebastien Rosseler - Team Radioshack - + 1" 3. David Zabriskie - Garmin Transitions - + 2"
4. Fredrik Kessiakoff - Garmin Transitions - + 3"
5. Haimar Zubeldia - Team Radioshack - + 4"
6. Jose Rubiera - Team Radioshack - + 9" 7. Tyler Farrar - Garmin Transitions - + 9"
8. Stephen Cummings - Sky - + 9"
9. Bradley Wiggins - Sky - + 9"
10. Michael Rogers - Team HTC Columbia - + 9"
