Very good race by Chavanel and Larsson as well. GC looks quite decent for the team and with 3 hilly stages yet to come the team has lots of opportunities to turn the tide in their favor.
Mohoric is amazing btw.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
After the time-trial yesterday, stage 3 is the first of a trio of tough stages which will help to further shape the GC. Chavanel's advantageous overall position could be under threat, but it could also be improved with the correct tactics so we'll try our best today to stick with riders like Gerrans and Contador and see what happens to weaker climbers like GC-leader Phinney.
We skip straight to the final five kilometres, where Pinot and Gerrans are trying to break away from the leading group of about 20 riders, which is catching them thanks to a Belkin chase. The duo attacked three kilomeres ago, in the pouring rain, but seem to be running out of steam.
Chavanel is safely in that group along with Haussler, but Phinney isn't! That means we have a chance to move up into second overall tonight, with the American over a minute down.
As the sprint begins the two attackers have almost been pulled back, with Voeckler launching a move to try and cross the gap! Meanwhile, both of our riders are tired and don't look like being able to grab a top ten. At least they've made it into what looks like the front group.
It's a three-way battle for the win between Gallopin, Gerrans and Kristoff in the sprint. Kristoff is carrying the most speed, but is a bit behind going into the final hundred metres.
Gallopin raises his arms, he takes stage 3 and the bonus seconds on offer at the finish. Kristoff has to settle for second ahead of Gerrans.
It is good and bad news for us at the finish. Chavanel finishes on the same time as the winner in nineteenth, 59 seconds ahead of Phinney, meaning he moves ahead of him, and Kelderman moves into the GC lead.
Gallopin's 20 second bonus though moves him up into second overall, ahead of Sylvain. That means we remain as we were in third overall overnight, ahead of the queen stage tomorrow up to Mont Faron, where we'll have a summit finish.
Here we are, probably the most important stage of the race in terms of the overall. Mont Faron promises to create gaps, with a steep summit finish that should leave the stronger climbers with the opportunity to drop the weaker ones. Should be interesting to see who comes out on top, with climbers like Contador and Pinot on the startlist, and whether Chavanel can keep his third in the GC.
It's thankfully a lot sunnier today, after yesterday's horrible weather. Soone enough a seven-man breakaway goes up the road, and it's a strong one too with decent climbers like Arroyo and Smyzd in there. Luckily though all are very far back on the GC.
Moving into the final 20 kilometres the peloton is still all together and the break is still up the road, with a 2 minute lead. It looks like they will contest the stage unless the pace can really pick up behind.
Belkin, FDJ and Katusha set the pace while Chavanel sits protected behind Denifl in the wheels. No signs of any attacks yet, so things could be coming down to the showdown on Mont Faron for today.
That looks to be the case, with Belkin setting the pace as we hit the final climb. At the moment, Hivert is setting a high pace with Kelderman and Ten Dam both in the wheels, pressuring the rest of the contenders. Chavanel is in about tenth position.
Then we see Contador going on the offensive, distancing the Belkin train and the rest of the front group!
Meanwhile, up at the front, Smyzd has attacked away from his tired fellow breakaway members and has a 45 second gap to the favourites, so should take the stage solo if he doesn't crack on the steep slopes.
Back in the GC battle, Ten Dam has managed to pull back Contador and has taken nine others with him, including Chavanel who is just about clinging on with 2 kilometres left! Gallopin isn't there, so there is a possibility for improvement in the GC if he can hold on.
Smyzd raises his arms at the front, taking the stage from the break for Movistar comfortably in the end.
Entering the final 500 metres, Chavanel is doing very well by sticking in this front group with the big climbers. When Kelderman kicks though, he can't respond and neither can anyone else so it looks like the young Dutchman will grow his GC-lead!
Meanwhile a group of 11 riders including Gallopin is closing behind, lead by Riblon. It's going to be close if they can catch this group before the finish.
Kelderman finishes second, and gains ten seconds on this group with that late attack. Chavanel holds on for sixth, a good ride which keeps him ahead of Contador and Pinot in the overall, among others. It's just a question of whether the Gallopin group will be given a gap, which would move him up into second.
Unluckily though, the 11-strong group Gallopin is given the same time, despite appearing to finish a few seconds back. Chavanel remains in third overall overnight, still just a second behind the Lotto rider. Despite this, today was a pretty good today. Tomorrow could end up being a big final battleground among the favourites after all with a rather anticlimatic day today.
In other news, Haussler and Pelucchi bid farewell to the team today to jet off to Oman ahead of the Tour of Oman. They weren't needed anymore here with just hilly stages to go, so we hope they can do well on the flat over in Asia.
Thanks for the support! Sorry I keep changing the layout btw, just experimenting with different ones. I'll start sticking to one now, I think.
_______________________________________________________________________
Tour Méditerranéen - Stage 5 14th February, 2014 / 2.1
The final stage is also the longest stage, which also brings the last chance to do something in the overall standings. Chavanel has done well to hold onto his overall podium in previous days, and needs just one more good day to hold off the better climbers. It could be tough though with riders as big as Contador hunting him down.
It's a five-man breakaway today, which contains King of the Mountains leader Garcia, Rebellin and Paulinho, who should all be strong on today's hills.
Skipping to the final climb for the favourites, a 12 strong group has together. It contains all of the big overall contenders, including Chavanel. (Gorka) Izagirre pushes a high tempo on the front for Movistar.
The breakaway still has a 2 minute advantage, and will contest the stage, like yesterday.
It is Paulinho who has the legs to win the stage from the break, out-kicking Rebellin to take the final stage of the race.
The favourites group behind is torn up by Contador as the race nears the finish, seeing race leader Kelderman already going out the back. Entering the final kilometre, Chavanel is next to crack!
Contador is just beaten by Garcia in the fight for the final podium spot today, but he's surely helped himself move up the overall by tearing up the race on the final climb. Only Voeckler and Gallopin could stay with him.
Chavanel sprints home, trying to keep his losses to a minimum. He loses 27 seconds today on the already finished favourites but manages to finish on the same time as Visconti and Gerrans. We'll see where that leaves him.
A minute later, Kelderman leads home a group that loses 2'49" on the winner today. That means, unfortunately for him, that he loses his yellow jersey on the final day.
At the finish it's confirmed that Gallopin takes the overall, after sticking with Contador today. The experienced Spaniard moves up to second overall for his troubles, to get his season off to a good start.
Chavanel's ninth place today was enough to keep on the overall podium, holding off Voeckler quite comfortably in the end. A great result considering it's our first race of the year, long may these kind of results continue!
Thanks again Batista It was a strange last stage, I thought most of the action would come on Mont Faron. I was still happy with the outcome though.
_______________________________________________________________________
Tour of Oman Preview 11th - 16th February, 2014 / 2.HC
Next up for us is the Tour of Oman, a step up from our last race. Six stages make up the race, which see stages ranging from flat ones to the tough mountainous stage four finishing atop the Green Mountain, where the main GC battle should take place.
The .HC status means the startlist is full of quality riders preparing for bigger races ahead, with the spring classics beginning soon. With the warm climate here in Oman attracting some top European riders, there should be plenty of competition here to keep things interesting!
Our eight-man squad brings leaders on two fronts; Haussler left France early in order to contest the sprints here, to lead us along with Frank, who makes his first appearance of the season here and will be targeting the GC despite not having the best fitness coming into the race.
As for competition, for the GC a big favourite in Froome should provide a stiff challenge on the Green Mountain. Evans and Wiggins could also do something if they have the right form. In the flatter/hillier stages, Viviani and Gilbert will both be tough to stop.
Edited by FroomeDog99 on 24-02-2014 20:04
Good reports. Chavanel did great to hold on his 3rd, well done. Haussler had already the chance to warm up his legs, this might be an advantage for Oman. Good luck.
Tour Méditerranéen - Stage 3
Alexander Kristoff
Simon Gerrans
Emanuele Sella
Wilco Kelderman
Gorka Izagirre
Maxime Monfort
Sylwester Szmyd
Oliver Zaugg
Tour of Oman Preview
