180 km: Vanderaerden (Buckler) wins the intermediate sprint befor Haex (Lotto). Weltz (ONCE), Mariuzzo (Ariostea) and Calcaterra (Gatorade) follow at 20”. The pack follows at 4’24”.
160 km: Mariuzzo (Ariostea) attacks on the slope of the Puerto de la Carrasqueta. Vanderaerden (Buckler) and Weltz (ONCE) try to follow. Haex (Lotto) and Calcaterra (Gatorade) cannot follow. The pack is at 5’50”.
139 km: Mariuzzo (Ariostea) is the first one to reach the top of the Peurto de la Carrasqueta. Weltz (ONCE) at 1’17, Vanderaerden (Buckler) at 1’38”, Haey (Lotto) at 3’40” and Calcaterra (Gatorade) at 4’57” arrive much later. The pack follows at 11’50”.
77 km: Mariuzzo (Ariostea) wins the intermediate sprint before Weltz (ONCE) at 17” and Vanderaerden (Buckler) at 39”. Haex (Lotto) follows at 3’16”. A group with Lezaun (Banesto), Quevedo (Amaya) and Mosquera (Ryalcao) at 5’28” passed Calcaterra (Gatorade) who is 6’00” behind. The pack follows at 6’41” from the leaders.
44 km: Mariuzzo (Ariostea) is the first one to reach the top of the Puerto del Maigmo. Weltz (ONCE) at 29”, Vanderaerden (Buckler) at 1’06” and a group with Mosquera (Ryalcao), Quevedo (Amaya) and Lezaun (Banesto) at 3’26” are chased by the pack which is closing in fast with Gaston (CLAS) determining the pace.
33 km: A group with Chozas (ONCE), De las Cuevas (Banesto), Jaramillo (Ryalcao), Rue (Helvetia), Golz (Ariostea) and Ruiz Cabestany (CLAS) attacks on the Puerto de Tibi.
32 km: Hodge (ONCE), Claveyrolat (RMO), Nevens (Lotto), Giovanetti (Gatorade) and Chioccioli (Del Tongo) get away from the pack. Mariuzzo (Ariostea) is the first to arrive at the top of the Puerto de Tibi, followed by Weltz (ONCE) and Ruiz Cabestany (CLAS).
20 km: Ruiz Cabestany (CLAS) and Chioccioli (Del Tongo) attack on the Puerto de la Carrasqueta. Claveyrolat (RMO), Chozas (ONCE), Jaramillo (Ryalcao) and De las Cuevas (Banesto) follow at 26”. Rue (Helvetia) and Golz (Ariostea) follow at 52”. Giovanetti (Gatorade) and Zarrabeitia (Amaya) are 1’25” behind. Millar (Z) followes at 1’47”. A group with Muller (TVM), Recio (Seur) and Nevens (Lotto) at 1’56”. The pack follows at 2’05”.
14 km: Jaramillo (Ryalcao) wins the sprint at the top of the Puerta de la Carrasqueta, followed by Muller (TVM), Recio (Seur), Zarrabeitia (Amaya), De las Cuevas (Banesto), Claveyrolat (RMO), Ruiz Cabestany (CLAS), Chozas (ONCE), Rue (Helvetia), Chioccioli (Del Tongo) and Nevens (Lotto). Giovanetti fell back into the pack.
5 km: The attackers have all been caught by the pack. It is going to be a sprint of 56 riders.
0 km: Ruiz Cabestany (CLAS) wins the sprint before Giovanetti (Gatorade) and Chozas (ONCE). Today the best man won
1. Peio Ruiz Cabestany - CLAS - 5h19'38" 2. Marco Giovanetti - Gatorade - + 0"
3. Eduardo Chozas - ONCE - + 0"
4. Thierry Claveyrolat - RMO - + 0"
5. Laurent Desbiens - Tonton Tapis - + 0"
6. Jorg Muller - TVM - + 0"
7. Gerard Rue - Helvetia - + 0"
8. Alberto Camargo - Ryalcao - + 0"
9. Jan Siemons - TVM - + 0"
10. Franco Chioccioli - Del Tongo - + 0"
11. Inaki Gaston - CLAS - + 0"
12. Jan Nevens - Lotto - + 0"
13. Carlos Jaramillo - Ryalcao - + 0"
14. Jose Luis Rodriguez - Seur - + 0"
15. Johan Capiot - TVM - + 0"
16. Francisco Antequera - Amaya - + 0"
17. Armand De las Cuevas - Banesto - + 0"
18. Jesus Rodriguez Magro - Banesto - + 0"
19. Juan Martinez Oliver - Banesto - + 0"
20. Denis Roux - Toshiba - + 0"
21. Jokin Mujika - Banesto - + 0"
22. Mikel Zarrabeitia - Amaya - + 0"
23. Eric Caritoux - RMO - + 0"
24. Laurent Jalabert - Toshiba - + 0"
25. Roque De la Cruz - Seur - + 0"
I have to admit that the 2nd place with Giovanetti was dumb luck. On the top of the Puerta de la Carrasqueta Giovanetti had fallen back to the last position of the pack and was about to drop off. He would never have been able to come back. But in the downhill he could recover a bit and the pack caught the attackers. Then AI was being stupid and it was easy to get to the podium. A mountain stage with a 1 km sprint with 56 riders is not something AI handles well.
160 Km: Leysen (Lotto) wins the sprint at the top of the Puerto de Albaida before Chanteur (Toshiba) and Urea (Seur). They are part of a group which also includes Diaz Zabala (ONCE), Walton (Motorola), Biondi (Tonton Tapis), Rogiers (Tulip), Calcaterra (Gatorade) and Krieger (Helvetia). Solleveld (Buckler), Lietti (Ariostea) and Earley (PDM) follow at 32”. Bennington (Z) is alone at 46”. The pack follows at 2’04”
140 km: The attackers all come together and increased their lead over the pack to 3’30”. Solleveld (Buckler) wins the sprint on the Puerto de Olleria before Earley (PDM) and Urea (Seur).
95 km: Leysen (Lotto) wins the intermediate sprint before Diaz Zabala (ONCE) and Biondi (Tonton Tapis). The 13 attackers have a 7’30” lead over the pack.
30 km: Lietti (Ariostea) wins the intermediate sprint before Solleveld (Buckler) and Rogiers (Tulip). The group of 13 still has a 4’16” lead over the pack. Are they going to stay away?
20 km: The lead of the attackers over the pack is 3’31”.
15 km: Solleveld (Buckler), Walton (Motorola), Earley (PDM), Krieger (Helvetia), Calcaterra (Gatorade), Bennington (Z) and Chanteur (Toshiba) get away from the others. They have a 24” lead over the group with Rogiers (Tulip), Leysen (Lotto), Urea (Seur), Biondi (Tonton Tapis) and Diaz Zabala (ONCE). The pack follows at 3’08” and does not seem to make it.
14 km: another attack. Solleveld (Buckler), Bennington (Z), Earley (PDM) and Calcaterra (Gatorade) are getting away.
10 km: Earley (PDM) is away. Calcaterra (Gatorade), Bennington (Z) and Solleveld (Buckler) are in persuit at 24”. Walton (Motorola), Chanteur (Toshiba) and Krieger (Helvetia) follow at 58”. Biondi (Tonton Tapis), Diaz Zabala (ONCE), Rogiers (Tulip), Leysen (Lotto) and Urea (Seur) are following at 1’16”. Lietti is 14” behind them. The pack follows at 3’16” from Early (PDM).
0 km: Earley (PDM) gets his nice solo finish. Behind him Solleveld (Buckler), Bennington (Z) and Calcaterra (Gatorade) sprint for 2nd place
But there is no pro-tour race in January (in fact I did not race in January at all) and I'm doing only 2 races in February. For Gatorade the real 'World Cup' season starts with Omloop het Volk in early March. I expect that my sponsors will be (somewhat) happy again by the end of April.
165 km: A group with Yates (Motorola), Ahedo (ONCE), Brun (RMO), Conti (Ariostea), Chanteur (Toshiba), Biondi (Tonton Tapis), Liboton (Tulip) and Moreels (Lotto) get 1’30 on the pack. Lots of attacks are taking place behind them.
152 km: Van Poppel (PDM) wins the intermediate sprint before Moreels (Lotto). Yates (Motorola), Liboton (Tulip), Chanteur (Toshiba), Biondi (Tonton Tapis), Ahedo (ONCE), Brun (RMO) and Conti (Ariostea) pass the line at the same time. Van Hooydonck (Buckler), Bouillon (Tonton Tapis), Jeker (Helvetia) and Leysen (Lotto) follow at 41”. The pack is 3’29” behind.
128 km: Leysen (Lotto) is the first one to reach the top of the Desierto de las Palmas. Jeker (Helvetia), Chanteur (Toshiba), Ahedo (ONCE), Bouillon (Tonton Tapis), Liboton (Tulip), Yates (Motorola), Conti (Ariostea), Van Hooydonck (Buckler), Brun (RMO), Biondi (Tonton Tapis) and Moreels (Lotto). Van Poppel (PDM) was not able to follow the pace. He is 1’03” behind. The pack follows at 5’19”.
90 km: Capiot (TVM), Oliarte (Ryalcao) and Mujika (Banesto) are riding away from the pack. They are 6’00” behind the first group of 12.
76 km: Chanteur (Toshiba) is the first one to reach the top of the Puerto de Eslida. The riders are going to take this mountain twice. Ahedo (ONCE), Brun (RMO), Leysen (Lotto), Bouillon (Tonton Tapis), Conti (Ariostea), Yates (Motorola), Jeker (Helvetia), Liboton (Tulip), Biondi (Tonton Tapis), Moreels (Lotto) and Van Hooydonck (Buckler) follow at 17”. Van Poppel (PDM) is 1’56” behind. Oliart (Ryalcao), Capiot (TVM) and Mujika (Banesto) follow at 3’25”. The pack is 4’44” behind.
48 km: Jeker (Helvetia) wins the intermediate sprint before Chanteur (Toshiba) and Liboton (Tulip). The group of 12 is leading 3’15” over a group with Mujika (Banesto), Van Poppel (PDM) and Olarte (Ryalcao) and 3’31” on Capiot (TVM). The pack is just 23” behind him and with Amaya and CLAS riders working hard they are catching up fast.
40 km: Rue (Helvetia), Millar (Z), Zimmermann (Motorola) and Muller (TVM) attack. Talen (PDM), Nijdam (Buckler), Ruiz Cabestany (CLAS) and Giovanetti (Gatorade) are jumping behind them.
Chioccioli (Del Tongo) closes the gap to Rue, Millar, Zimmermann, Muller, Talen, Nijdam and Giovanetti and is chasing Ruiz Cabestany.
32 km. The group of 12 is being chased by Chioccioli (Del Tongo) and Ruiz Cabestany (CLAS) at 1’13. Rodriguez (Seur), NEvens (Lotto), Giovanetti (Gatorade), Gaston (CLAS), Jalabert (Toshiba) and Zimmermann (Motorola) are at 1’37. The pack is at 1’58”.
27 km: Chioccioli (Del Tongo) is the first one to reach the top of the Puerto de Eslida for the second time. He is directly followed by Ruiz Cabestany (CLAS), Chanteur (Toshiba), Jeker (Helvetia), Chozas (ONCE), Conti (Ariostea), Zarrabeitia (Amaya), Ahedo (ONCE) and Claveyrolat (RMO). Recio (Seur) is 28” behind. A group with Jaramillo (Ryalcao), De las Cuevas (Banesto), Rue (Helvetia), Gaston (CLAS) and Nevens (Lotto) follows at 46”. The pack is only 1’23” away.
15 km. Ruiz Cabestany (CLAS), Chioccioli (Del Tongo), Zarrabeitia (Amaya), Claveyrolat (RMO), Ahedo (ONCE), Chozas (ONCE), Jeker (Helvetia) and Conti (Ariostea) have a 57” lead over De las Cuevas (Banesto), Jaramillo (Ryalcao), Rue (Helvetia) and Gaston (CLAS), a 1’33” lead over Muller (TVM) and a 1’48” lead over the pack.
0 km: Claveyrolat (RMO) wins the sprint before Ruiz Cabestany (CLAS), Chozas (ONCE), Chioccioli (Del Tongo and Zarrabeitia (Amaya). Giovanetti finishes in the pack and looses a lot of time. He is 14th in the general standings now.
1. Thierry Claveyrolat - RMO - 4h44'42"
2. Peio Ruiz Cabestany - CLAS - + 0"
3. Eduardo Chozas - ONCE - + 0"
4. Franco Chioccioli - Del Tongo - + 0"
5. Mikel Zarrabeitia - Amaya - + 0"
6. Roberto Conti - Ariostea - + 21"
7. Jose Maria Ahedo - ONCE - + 21"
8. Fabian Jeker - Helvetia - + 21"
9. Carlos Jaramillo - Ryalcao - + 39"
10. Armand De las Cuevas - Banesto - + 39"
11. Inaki Gaston - CLAS - + 39"
12. Gerard Rue - Helvetia - + 39"
13. Bruno Cornillet - Z - + 1'39"
14. Vassili Jdanov - TVM - + 1'39"
15. Jose Salvador Sanchis - Seur - + 1'39"
16. Roque De la Cruz - Seur - + 1'39"
17. Eric Boyer - Z - + 1'39"
18. Thierry Bourguignon - Toshiba - + 1'39"
19. Reynel Montoya - Ryalcao - + 1'39"
20. Jon Unzaga - Seur - + 1'39"
21. Robert Millar - Z - + 1'39"
22. Laurent Jalabert - Toshiba - + 1'39"
23. John Talen - PDM - + 1'39"
24. Jose Luis Rodriguez - + 1'39"
25. Alberto Camargo - Ryalcao - + 1'39"
GENERAL STANDINGS:
1. Mikel Zarrabeitia - Amaya - 18h41'53"
2. Franco Chioccioli - Del Tongo - + 0"
3. Peio Ruiz Cabestany - CLAS - + 21"
4. Thierry Claveyrolat - RMO - + 27"
5. Johan Lammerts - Z - + 47"
6. John Talen - PDM - + 52"
7. Jose Luis Rodriguez - Seur - + 56"
8. Carlos Jaramillo - Ryalcao - + 1'16"
9. Gerard Rue - Helvetia - + 1'16"
10. Eduardo Chozas - ONCE - + 1'21"
MOUNTAIN STANDINGS:
89km: Schuler (Motorola), is the first one to reach the top of the Puerto del Marianet, directly followed by Leclercq (Helvetia), Van Slycke (Lotto) and Van de Meulenhof (TVM). Pedersen (Tonton Tapis), Lemarchand (Z), Diaz Zabala (ONCE) and Calcaterra follow at 24”. The pack follows at 1’04”.
68 km: Schuller (Motorola) attacked from the leading group, resulting in a series of attacks and counterattacks. Eventually, Leclercq (Helvetia) is out alone, followed by Schuler (Motorola), Van de Meulenhof (TVM), Pedersen (Tonton Tapis), Diaz Zabala (ONCE) and Calcaterra (Gatorade) at 21”. Van Slycke (Lotto) and Lemarchand (Z) follow at 1’13”. The pack follows at 4’20”
60 km: Schuler (Motorola) attacks again and joins Leclercq (Helvetia).
55 km: Schuler (Motorola) is the first one to reach the Pico del Aguila, followed by Leclercq (Helvetia), Van de Meulenhof (TVM) at 33” and Diaz Zabala (ONCE) at 49”. Pedersen (Tonton Tapis) follows at 1’14” and Lemarchand (Z), Calcaterra (Gatorade) and Van Slycke (Lotto) at 1’39”. The pack comes at 4’57”.
29 km: Leclercq (Helvetia) takes the intermediate sprint before Schuler (Motorola). Diaz Zabala (ONCE), Van de Meulenhof (TVM) and Pederson (Tonton Tapis) follow at 42”. Lemarchand (Z) at 1’14”, Van Slycke (Lotto) at 1’28” and Calcaterra at 1’47” are between the leaders and the pack at 2’42”. They are approaching fast.
10 km: Schuler (Motorola) and Leclercq (Helvetia) have a lead of 40” over the pack. The others have been caught. The sprinters are lining up for a mass sprint.
0 km: Jalabert (Toshiba) wins the sprint before Fidanza (Gatorade) and Muller (TVM).
1. Laurent Jalabert - Toshiba - 2h23'27" 2. Giovanni Fidanza - Gatorade - + 0"
3. Jorg Muller - TVM - + 0"
4. Mario Cipollini - Del Tongo - + 0"
5. Jean Paul Van Poppel - PDM - + 0"
6. Jelle Nijdam - Buckler - + 0"
7. Johan Capiot - TVM - + 0"
8. Adrie Van der Poel - Tulip - + 0"
9. Adriano Baffi - Ariostea - + 0"
10. Kenneth Weltz - ONCE - + 0"
11. Michel Zanoli - Tulip - + 0"
12. Marcel Wust - RMO - + 0"
13. Ronny Van Holen - Tulip - + 0"
14. John Talen - PDM - + 0"
15. Casimiro Moreda - CLAS - + 0"
16. Eric Vanderaerden - Buckler - + 0"
17. Juan Martinez Oliver - Banesto - + 0"
18. Uwe Raab - PDM - + 0"
19. Edwig Van Hooydonck - Buckler - + 0"
20. Nico Verhoeven - PDM - + 0"
21. Alain Van der Bossche - TVM - + 0"
22. Michel Vermote - RMO - + 0"
23. Philippe Chevallier - RMO - + 0"
24. Fabio Baldato - Del Tongo - + 0"
25. Denis Roux - Toshiba - + 0"
GENERAL STANDINGS:
1. Mikel Zarrabeitia - Amaya - 18h41'53"
2. Franco Chioccioli - Del Tongo - + 0"
3. Peio Ruiz Cabestany - CLAS - + 21"
4. Thierry Claveyrolat - RMO - + 27"
5. Johan Lammerts - Z - + 47"
6. John Talen - PDM - + 52"
7. Jose Luis Rodriguez - Seur - + 56"
8. Carlos Jaramillo - Ryalcao - + 1'16"
9. Gerard Rue - Helvetia - + 1'16"
10. Eduardo Chozas - ONCE - + 1'21"
Solleveld (Buckler) is the first to set a fast time with 19’53”. Eric Vanderaerden (Buckler) was the first one to get close and set the exact same time on the clock. The first one to beat Solleveld (Buckler) was Hodge (ONCE). He set 19’49” on the clock. The time was beat by Martinez Oliver (Banesto), which passed Camargo (Ryalcao) just before the finish.
This proved to be the winning time with only his teammate De las Cuevas (Baneseto) and Nijdam (Buckler) getting close.
Chioccioli (Del Tongo) was a little faster then Zarrabeitia (Amaya) and took over the yellow yersey.
1. Juan Martinez Oliver - Banesto - 19'37"
2. Armand De las Cuevas - Banesto - + 5"
3. Jelle Nijdam - Buckler - + 6"
4. Stephen Hodge - ONCE - + 12"
5. Eduardo Chozas - ONCE - + 13"
6. Gerrit Solleveld - Buckler - + 16"
7. Jose Recio - Seur - + 16"
8. Eric Vanderaerden - Buckler - + 17"
9. Adrie Van der Poel - Tulip - + 19"
10. Melchor Mauri - ONCE - + 21"
11. Robert Millar - Z - + 24"
12. Laurent Jalabert - Toshiba - + 26"
13. Gerard Rue - Helvetia - + 29"
14. Marco Van der Hulst - Buckler - + 32"
15. Peio Ruiz Cabestany - CLAS - + 32"
16. Franco Chioccioli - Del Tongo - + 32"
17. Jorg Muller - TVM - + 35"
18. Nico Edmonds - CLAS - + 38"
19. Martin Earley - PDM - + 43"
20. Bart Leysen - Lotto - + 43"
21. Sean Yates - Motorola - + 44"
22. Falk Boden - PDM - + 46"
23. Mikel Zarrabeitia - Amaya - + 49" 24. Marco Giovanetti - Gatorade - + 50"
25. Jesus Rodriguez Magro - Banesto - + 51"
GENERAL STANDINGS:
1. Franco Chioccioli - Del Tongo - 21h25'29"
2. Mikel Zarrabeitia - Amaya - + 17"
3. Peio Ruiz Cabestany - CLAS - + 21"
4. Eduardo Chozas - ONCE - + 1'02"
5. Gerard Rue - Helvetia - + 1'13"
6. John Talen - PDM - + 1'29"
7. Thierry Claveyrolat - RMO - + 1'34"
8. Carlos Jaramillo - Ryalcao - + 1'39"
9. Armand De las Cuevas - Banesto - + 1'41"
10. Johan Lammerts - Z - + 1'50"
54 km: A group with Haex (Lotto), Andreu (Motorola), Jonrond (RMO), Lemarchand (Z), Lietti (Ariostea), Leclercq (Helvetia) and Van de Meulenhof (TVM) have 20” on Desbiens (Tonton Tapis), 27” on Diaz Zabala (ONCE) and 42” on the pack.
52 km: Rue (Helvetia), Boyer (Z) and Van den Akker (PDM) fell and are behind the pack.
40 km: Haex (Lotto), Jonmond (RMO), Van de Meulenhof (TVM), Leclercq (Helvetia), Lemarchand (Z), Lietti (Ariostea) and Andreu (Motorola) have 41” on Diaz Zabala (ONCE) and Desbiens (Tonton Tapis), 1’07” on Chanteur (Toshiba) and Mariuzzo (Ariostea) and 3’39” on the pack. Rue (Helvetia) was brought back into the pack by his teammates. Boyer (Z) and Van de Akker (PDM) are still behind.
20 km: Desbiens (Tonton Tapis), Leclercq (Helvetia), Lemarchand (Z), Andreu (Motorola), Haex (Lotto), Diaz Zabala (ONCE), Lietti (Ariostea), Mariuzzo (Ariostea), Chanteur (Toshiba), Jonrond (RMO), Van de Meulenhof (TVM) have a 1’11” on the pack, which is approaching fast.
11 km: The attackers have been caught. It is going to be a mass sprint or can somebody get away?
0 km: Capiot (TVM) wins the sprint followed by Van der Poel (Tulip) and Van Poppel (PDM). The pack broke and several riders lost valuable seconds including Chozas (ONCE), Lammerts (Z), Recio (Seur), Ruiz Cabestany (CLAS) and yellow jersey holder Chiocciolli (Del Tongo).
1. Johan Capiot - TVM - 1h19'17"
2. Adrie Van der Poel - Tulip - + 0"
3. Jean Paul Van Poppel - PDM - + 0"
4. Mario Cipollini - Del Tongo - + 0"
5. Laurent Jalabert - Toshiba - + 0"
6. Thierry Bourguignon - Toshiba - + 0"
7. Philippe Chevallier - RMO - + 0"
8. Johnny Dauwe - Tulip - + 0" 9. Mario Scirea - Gatorade - + 0"
10. Martin Earley - PDM - + 0"
11. Adriano Baffi - Ariostea - + 0" 12. Giovanni Fidanza - Gatorade - + 0"
13. Nico Verhoeven - PDM - + 0"
14. Falk Boden - PDM - + 0"
15. Olaf Lurvik - Toshiba - + 0"
16. Gerrit De Vries - Buckler - + 0"
17. Philippe Louviot - Toshiba - + 0"
18. Michael Wilson - Ariostea - + 0"
19. Casimiro Moreda - CLAS - + 0"
20. Fabio Baldato - Del Tongo - + 0"
21. Jelle Nijdam - Buckler - + 0"
22. Wilco Zuijderwijk - Buckler - + 0"
23. Denis Roux - Toshiba - + 0"
24. Ron Kiefel - Motorola - + 0"
25. Peter Winnen - Buckler - + 0"
GENERAL STANDINGS:
1. Mikel Zarrabeitia - Amaya - 22h45'03"
2. Gerard Rue - Helvetia - + 56"
3. John Talen - + 1'12"
4. Thierry Claveyrolat - RMO - + 1'17"
5. Jelle Nijdam - Buckler - + 1'50"
6. Robert Millar - Z - + 1'51"
7. Franco Chicccioli - Del Tongo - + 1'56"
8. Jorg Muller - TVM - + 1'58" 9. Marco Giovanetti - Gatorade - + 2'11"
10. Inaki Gaston - CLAS - + 2'30
11. Laurent Jalabert - Toshiba - + 2'35
12. Melchor Mauri - ONCE - + 2'40"
13. Eduardo Chozas - ONCE - + 2'58"
14. Philippe Louviot - Toshiba - + 3'11"
15. Jokin Mujika - Banesto - + 3'16"
16. Juan Carlos Martin - Amaya - + 3'34"
17. Thierry Bourguignon - Toshiba - + 3'45"
18. Johan Lammerts - Z - + 3'46"
19. Johan Capiot - TVM - + 3'52"
20. Jose Recio - Seur - 3'56"
21. Jan Siemons - TVM - + 3'58"
22. Denis Roux - Toshiba - + 4'00"
23. Peio Ruiz Cabestany - CLAS - + 4'09"
24. Sean Yates - Motorola - + 4'10"
25. Jean Claude Leclercq - Helvetia - + 4'15"
Next is Omloop het Volk (now Omloop het Nieuwsblad), the first world cup (now Protour) race. Then I will race the Trofeo Laigueglia. After that it is Paris-Nice, the Tirreno Adriatico and Milan-San Remo. It's going to be exicing now...
Van Hooydonck, Van der Poel and Planckaert are the favourites to win the Omloop het Volk, but also Argentin, Museeuw, Madiot, Colotti and Duclos Lassalle are tipped for the victory. It will be extremely difficult fot the Gatorade riders to be up front in the final part of the race, as none of them are cobblestone specialists. Omloop het Volk will therefore be considered as a training stage. But there is no reason not to try to get a couple of guys in the early breakaways...
Starting list:
Buckler
1. Van Hooydonck; 2. Daelman; 3. De Clercq; 4. De Keulenaer; 5. Eyk; 6. Maassen; 7. Poels; 8. Segers
180 km: The first cobbles. A group with Mazon (Paternina), Brasseur (La William), Calcaterra (Gatorade), Casado (Z) and Cesarini (Del Tongo) leads 24” over Vingerhoets (SEFB), 41” over Rossi (Carrera), 53” over Massi (Ariostea), Vichot (Castorama), Giannelli (Carrera), Raab (PDM), Guttierrez (Paternina), Ferrigato (Ariostea), Mattwew (Telekom), Oliveira (CLAS) and Bishop (Motorola) and 1’32” over the pack.
175 km: after the first sections of cobblestones only Calcaterra is up front leading 41” over the pack. A lot of riders are already in trouble.
170 km: A group with Bugno (Gatorade), Simon (Castorama) and Dominguez (CLAS) is attacking and is 20” behind Calcaterra (Gatorade). They are followed by Cesarini (Del Tongo) at 18” and the pack at 46”.
160 km: At a second section of cobbles a group with Calcaterra (Gatorade), Cesarini (Del Tongo), Matwew (Telekom), Bishop (Motorola), Oliveira (CLAS), Bugno (Gatorade), Bennington (Z) and Dominguez (CLAS) has a lead over Massi (Ariostea) and Simon (Castorama) of 29” and 1’13” over the pack
150 km: Massi (Ariostea), Simon (Castorama), Garcia Camacho (Kelme) and Bielli (Del Tongo) have joined the first group. Their lead over the pack is 1’44”
140 km: Vingerhoets (SEFB), Giannelli (Carrera) and Brasseur (La William) join the first group.
130 km: The pack came back and caught most of the riders. Bugno and Calcaterra (both Gatorade) are out alone and lead the pack by 56”.
100 km: Bugno and Calcaterra (both Gatorade) lead the pack by 1’29”.
82 km: Bugno and Calcaterra (both Gatorade) are caught on the cobbles.
57 km: The Buckler team is setting the pace high. One by one riders drop off and eventually the pack starts to break.
48 km: The pack reunites. Buckler dropped the pace as one of their boys was left behind.
34 km: Van Hooydonck (Buckler) attacks on the cobbles. The Panasonic and Tulip teams are leading the chase.
31 km: Museeuw (Lotto), Madiot (RMO), Argentin (Ariostea) and Ballerini (Del Tongo) are attacking. They are 1’21” behind Van Hooydonck (Buckler).
27 km: Van Hooydonck (Buckler) is still out alone and is followed by Ballerini (Del Tongo) and Madiot (RMO) at 1’04” and a group of 60 at 1’52”.
20 km: It is every man for himself up front. VanHooydonck (Buckler) leads 1’16” on Madiot (RMO), 1’25” on Ballerini (Del Tongo). They are followed by Van de Poel (Tulip), Planckaert (Panasonic), Duclos Lassalle (Z), Museeuw (Lotto), Rogier (Tulip), Van Holen (Tulip), Colotti (Tonton Tapis), Wampers (Panasonic), Liboton (Tulip), Sorensen (Ariostea), Argentin (Ariostea) and Bomans (Weinmann).
15 km: Van der Poel (Tulip) and Planckaert (Panasonic) attack
10 km: Van Hooydonck (Buckler) leads 1’59” on Madiot (RMO), 2’20” on Van der Poel (Tulip), Planckaert (Panasonic) and Ballerini (Del Tongo), 2’55” on Colotti (Tonton Tapis), Duclos Lassalle (Z), Museeuw (Lotto) and Van Holen (Tulip), 3’18” on Sorensen (Ariostea) and Rogiers (Tulip) and 3’53” on Bomans (Weinmann) and Argentin (Ariostea).
0 km: Van Hooydonck (Buckler) wins the Omloop het Volk in a solo finish.
1. Edwig Van Hooydonck - Buckler- 5h25'20"
2. Adrie Van der Poel - Tulip - + 2'48"
3. Franco Ballerini - Del Tongo - + 2'48"
4. Eddy Planckaert - Panasonic - + 2'48"
5. Marc Madiot - RMO - + 2'48"
6. Johan Museeuw - Lotto - + 3'40"
7. Gilbert Duclos Lassalle - Z - + 3'40"
8. Jean Claude Colotti - Tonton Tapis - + 4'04"
9. Ronny Van Holen - Tulip - + 4'04"
10. Rolf Sorensen - Ariostea - + 5'07"
11. Rudy Rogiers - Tulip - + 5'07"
12. Moreno Argentin - Ariostea - + 5'07"
13. Carlo Bomans - Weinmann - + 5'34"
14. Roland Liboton - Tulip - + 5'55"
15. Jean Marie Wampers - Panasonic - + 5'55"
16. Olaf Ludwig - Panasonic - + 7'02"
17. Chris Peers - Tonton Tapis - + 7'02"
18. Dirk Demol - Lotto - + 7'02"
19. Adriano Baffi - Ariostea - + 7'02"
20. Erwin Nijboer - Telekom - + 7'02"
21. Johan Lammerts - Z - + 7'02"
22. Steve Bauer - Motorola - + 7'02"
23. Bart Leysen - Lotto - + 7'02"
24. Jan Mattheus - La William - + 7'02"
25. Jacky Durand - Castorama - + 7'02"
Edited by harry on 02-04-2010 13:04
Can somebody explain to me how the UCI pro tour point system works? Omloop het Volk was a 'blue' race, but no points were awarded.
After some googling I found that only the one-day-races Milan-San Remo, the Ronde van Vlaanderen, Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, the Amstel Gold Race, Wincanton Classic, Classica de San Sebestian, Championnat de Zurich, Grandprix de la Liberation, Grandprix des Ameriques, Paris-Tours, Giro di Lombardia and the WC final are part of the World Cup.
I guess only points are awarded for these races.
Edited by harry on 02-04-2010 13:27
