Btw. I've been having trouble with my internet today so tomorrow I'll report the third and maybe thr fourth stage of TDU.
Edited by Silence on 04-03-2008 19:46
Le'Sheep: If life's a bitch use a knife to get over it.
Profile/tactics:
Same profile as the previous. Freire is still the favorite.
After yersterdays glorious 'victoire' we have increased our expectations for Duque a little. That means that we will put all our energy into winning as much stages as possible and everyone, with no exceptions, will be used as slaves for him.
Our tactic to beat Freire will be very typical. To stay just behind him and sprint away in the end. If this plan is somehow disabled we will try to confuse him by setting Domoulin up, and then get him to slow down just before the sprint starts. This could give Duque the avantage he needs to a comfortable win but we have no guarantee that it will be succesful.
Stage:
Right from the stage set off D'Hollander (SIL) rushes off to create a break. Tosatto (QSI), Kern (C.A.), Pineau (AG2R), Terpstra (MIL) and Bileka (FDJ) all followed. They all get away and soon afterwards also Isasi (EUS), Kemps (AST), Corioni (LIQ) and Bandiera (LAM) leaves the peloton. This, however, doesn't last long as they get caught just a few minutes later.
Fothen (GER), Schaer (AST), Bodnar (LIQ), Johansen (CSC), Righi (LAM) and Isasi (EU's) from earlier gets tired of the dull situation in the pack, demonstrating it by catching the other break. Astana's Schaer can't keep up and is forced to let go despite the early phase of the breakaway. It stays like this for a long time except for some useless attacks made in the front group
The favorites for todays race doesn't seem to have unlimited power-resources to this day, as most of them are looking rather frightened to see what awaits them at the finishing massprint at the end of the day.
In the brakaway Righi takes the middlesprint without any oppositioning threat. Still at this point Schaer remains to be caught in the middle of the two groups with 4½ minutes down to the chasing peloton, and 2 min. the other way.
- Lonely one!
Close to the second middlesprint Terpstra attacks but again it just turns about to be another absolutely meaningless try for a solo-run to the touch-line. Fothen wins this won. After sprinting Pineau also falls of looking rather exhausted. And with Schaer already being catched the chances of the breakaway to last all the way to home, looks hilariously small. They'd have to put up an enourmous amount of work to pull of a realization of such thinking. A little while after the lead is melted away. 17 kilometres to home and no doubt how its going to be solved in the end. It will definitely be those of speciality in the sprint that'll get to show off their skills.
Seems like the favorites have started moving around among eachother. To start with it seems very unpredictable but instantly the main 'chain' is formed. Breschel in front, Freire and Hushovd behind him, and then Duque and Reynés. Obviously its going to be one of these deciding the final outcome of todays stage.
O'Grady breaking out on the left side, trying to make space for Matti Breschel using all his energy to position himself well. Just as the dane sees this he responds by making a quick jump over to the back of the strong aussie.
- Duque viewing his possibilities.
No one's able to match the pace they produce, and so the peloton must let them pile up ahead to dictate the tempo. They all start sprinting. Some riders are advancing and Reynés is blasting forward accelerating immensly. He goes past Duque, Freire and Hushovd in a few seconds, but Breschel is still in the lead thanks to the brilliant lead-out by Stuey.
Now Duque also advances, going back onto Reynéss wheel. He's right behind him. It isn't looking very bright for Freire. Because though he isn't falling totally behind, he still can't keep up with the others. Breschel still in the lead, closing the road for a possible pass by Reynés whom is right behind him performing a ferocious hunt for the lead. Breschel seems like a sure winner. No one can take it away from him now. Duque accelerating once again going for the unlikely, yet slightly realistic second. Unfortunately it's just not enough, and he's once again forced to settle for a third. Matti Breschel with a suprising victory!
Great result for Duque. Just what we expected him to. We can only hope that he'll continue his current fabulous form, so that he might be able to take it all at the Willung stage.
Stage-result:
1. Matti Breschel 3h18'44” - Team CSC
2. Vicente Reynés s.t. - Team High Road
3. Leonardo Duque s.t. - Cofidis
4. Martin Elmiger s.t. - Ag2r la Mondiale
5. Oscar Freire s.t. - Rabobank
6. Thor Hushovd s.t. - Crédit Agricole
7. Edvald Boasson Hagen s.t. - Team High Road
8. Alberto Ongarato s.t. - Milram
9. Robert Förster s.t. - Gerolsteiner
10. Marcel Sieberg s.t. - Team High Road
Edited by Silence on 05-03-2008 19:57
Le'Sheep: If life's a bitch use a knife to get over it.
I think the story will be much better if you're writing down all the results here. I mean top ten in stage, sprint, climbing, young competition and team.
Profile/tactics:
The profile and the tactics are almost identical to the previous stage, so it will probably get to come out a lot like the one yesterday. Breschel winning two in a row isn't very likely, though.
Stage:
To start with the peloton look rather tired. After all the first (ProTour)-race of the season should be a little harsh. This doesn't keep certain riders from attacking, though, and again it's D'Hollander (SIL), starting it. As he uses to he pinches up ahead into the horizon, with a bunch of followers right behind him. This time there's 12 riders trying to keep up with his attacking pace.
The peloton doesn't seem to worry about it, letting them slip away long out of sight. Naturally the 13 riders of luck tries to put good use of this by extending their lead massively. Still 80 kilometres to go and the breakaway now contains 11 riders as the founder of the group, D'Hollander (SIL), lost his grasp on them. Schaer (AST) also ends up unsuccesful in his attempt of keeping up with the merciless tempo created by them. So he's also eliminated as a possible candidate for a stagevictory with the hypothetic reaching of the goalline with the break still being intact.
Bodrogi (C.A.), Pineau (Ag2r), Rast (AST), Bandiera (LAM), Corioni (LIQ), Curtolo (LIQ), García Acosta (CGE), Pliuschin (Ag2r), Galdós Alonso (EUS), Grabsch (MIL) and Johansen (CSC) are all implicated.
- Working breakaway.
They form a strong figure so although is very unrealistic, it could end up in a sprint where one of these would be the victor.
Meanwhile the sprinters are checking eachother out. They are now commanding their teammates up front to work for the wish of a massprint. Preparing to let down the hopeful riders in the leading group. Unsurprisingly they succed at bringing them home. This works like a start-signal for the sprinters to get ready for the final dash. And this time was of no difference. Immediately Freire gets up front making himself the ideal target. This is exploided by a quick-reacting Breschel looking for another stage-victory. Hushovd gets on as well, and so does Duque. Reynés sees no matter to get on that train as it would let him too far behind to go for the stage, but still no visible alternative, yet.
Others are moving around creating gaps in the wide road.
Ongarato opens the sprint very early. His surprise-attack gave him a huge advantage now being way in front. Breschel strolls past Freire without any problems and Duque follows. Elmiger also starts to move. Passing Florencio and Förster he's right behind Freire who's again having big trouble in following the ones going for the victory. Florencio doesn't let himself overwhelm that easy, though, and he goes straight on the back of Elmiger. Ongarato still leads but Breschel isn't that far away. It will be decided on the last 100 meters. Duque just manages to stay with Breschel.
Freire it passed again. The earlier winner of TDU, Martin Elmiger, doesn't hesitate and sprints by also throwing Florencio off.
Breschel wins. On the final few meters he got the lead. It's two in a row.
Again, again for Duque. It seems like he can't do anything else. But nontheless he is still the leader of the race, and if he can just stay with the leaders on tomorrows stage he'll be allright. Breschel just must not come in before him.
Stage-result:
1. Matti Breschel 3h16'49” - Team CSC
2. Alnerto Ongarato s.t. - Team Milram
3. Leonardo Duque s.t. - Cofidis
4. Martin Elmiger s.t. - Ag2r la Mondiale
5. Oscar Freire s.t. - Rabobank
6. Xavier Florencio s.t. - Bouygues Telecom
7. Robert Förster s.t. - Gerolsteiner
8. Vicente Reynés s.t. - Team High Road
9. Thor Hushovd s.t. - Crédit Agricole
10. Sven Krauss s.t. - Gerolsteiner
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Sorry about the lousy update, but I've had problems with the replay of the stage. That's also why there's only one screen.
And Halvor, I promise you I'll do it from now on.
Le'Sheep: If life's a bitch use a knife to get over it.
Profile/tactics:
Todayss stage will definitely become the decisive one. No doubt the final classification will be settled here today at Willunga. The hill that startes with round 30 kilometres to go, will be the absolute turning-point and its here you have to attack if you're hoping for a good placement in the general.
The stage is ran in a large circuit road. They take two and a half lap with a lesser version of the Willunga-hill, before they take it all the way over. Therefore its mainly flat before it reaches the final full-sized hill where there will be plenty of attacks.
Our own chances in the stage is, as a matter of fact, quite big. If Duque is feeling well and gives it all he's got, it's very likely that he'll be able of taking it home in same time as the winner (if this isn't himself) and before Breschel, whom is really the biggest threat to our further lead in the race.
And despite Monfort is actually a better climber we'll use him to help Duque, since he wouldn't be able to keep up with for example Freire, in a sprint, if he turned out to be in the final group.
Stage:
Compared to the other stages the peloton are looking much more 'up for the challenge'. This means that the starting pace are growing to see new hights in the race. The peloton are proudly warning everyone seizing an optimistic break.
They succed in keeping everybody within range and first after 35 kilometres they slow a little down. This is immediately used by some riders that has obviously been waiting for the slowing speed-decrease.
- Trying to escape!p
The first ones trying to get a brief touch of freedom was Gates (SIL), Bodnar (LIQ), Bileka (FDJ), Muravyev (AST), Cappechi (SDV), Lang (GER), and the launching rider, Davis (THR). At first they are divided into three groups, but a few minutes after they're all set, together, ready to realise their dreams.
It doesn't take long, though, before another group starts out on the impossible journey. This time its Kern (C.A.), Terpstra (MIL), Bru Pascal (EUS), Gavazzi (LAM), Mondory (Ag2r) and Proni (QSI).
Only Gavazzi (LAM) gets to join the already excisting 7-man breakaway. The others splits into two groups. Terpstra (MIL) and Kern (C.A.) as the closest followers. The rest behind them. However, shortly afterwards Kern (C.A.) and Terpstra (MIL) also makes contact, and stays.
Muravyev takes the first sprint without any opposing contest. The sprinting from the leading group extended the gap to the remaining followers a little.
Luckily for them it doesn't affect the result of their hard work to become a part of the break.
- 60 km to go and Duque has ordered his men up front.
With an 8-minute advantage and a little less than 50 kilometres to the foot of the mountains, the team-leaders are ordering some of their teammates to work for the purpose of bringing the riders home, so that it can be a clean fiht between the favorites.
As an opposition ti this the breakaway remains steady and sustains and incredibly high tempo, making it hard for the peloton to even reduce the lead. Naturally the pace also has consequences and so Terpstra (MIL) is lost way behind.
Lefèvre (BOU) and Charteau (CGE) chooses to leave the peloton on the half-way part of the Willunga-hill. Seems pretty much like a meaningless attack but who knows what they've got in mind. Unsurprisingly they get caught again only minutes afterwards the reckless attack.
The pack now has a better grip on the situation with the break being in range before the start of the hill.
Again we see attacks from the peloton; Nicolas Portal (CGE) and Pierrick Fédrigo (BOU) are this times hopeful heroes, and as expected the story repeats itself. But as Portal (CGE) gets caught Fédrigo sets out on another pathetic attempt of a solo-break. Again, it doesn't get to evolve.
Terpstra is now back in the stall but the others has got no less than 2 minutes on the clock, and the hill starts out now. The atmosphere among the riders are now very tight. Everyone's looking suspiciously around.
- Andrea Noè in front
Andrea Noè (LIQ) breaks the ball quickly followed by Leonardo Duque. Freire, Breschel, Florencio and Reynés decides to follow. They want a piece of the cake as well. Several others go along on the hillside: Gerrans (C.A.), Martinez (EU's) and Cobo Acebo (SDV). They all agree in taking this to the end. In a few minutes they've passed the other breakaway and one of them are now sure to be the victor.
But Bileka's still in front.
They're changing lanes all the time. It's a mess of chaos. Constantly switching wheel. Duque goes onto Florencio because of Brechel being right in front of him. Reynés are leading it all.
Florencio gets off Breschel and now Duque replaces him. Breschel moves lsightly ahead of Reynés but then lets himself fall back into the group. Freire also keeping himself in a good position. And since he's got nothing to loose he's a dangerous opponent.
- Sprinting for the race!
Bileka has maintained his lead. They must try to catch him in the sprint. Duque overtaking the lead in the group sliding past Breschel. He's making a small gap.
There he goes sprinting, chasing Bileka as it was about life or dead. Reynés has reduced the distance up to Duque greatly and they're now passing Bileka side by side.
Breschel now moves too. He gets past Florencio but seems paralyzed for further advancing. Florencio exploits the finish-percentage and conquers his fourth.
Duque making distance to Reynés again. The road rises too much for him to keep up with Duque.
The strong Venezuelan are now making the last acceleration to secure the impressing victory. Victoire!
We got more than we dared hoping of today. The maximum possible achievement we dreamed of was a placement before Breschel. But then he brings up such a phenomenal result for us. Really shows how unpredictable this rider is, and furthermore, how much he means to the team.
A fabulous victory which should make us clear winners of the race. The only possible scenarios that could stop Duque from winning tomorrow, would be if he crashed and lost time on it or if he ended up four places after Breschel which also would have to win the stage.
A fantastic start to the season.
Stage-result:
1. Leonardo Duque 3h37'01” - Cofidis
2. Vicente Reynés s.t. - Team High Road
3. Volodymyr Bileka s.t. - Francaise Des Jeux
4. Xavier Florencio s.t. - Bouygues Telecom
5. Matti Breschel s.t. - Team CSC
6. Oscar Freire s.t. - Rabobank
7. Simon Gerrans s.t. - Crédit Agricole
8. Pablo Lastras +46” - Caisse d'Epargne
9. Martin Elmiger s.t. - Ag2r la Mondiale
10. Alberto Ongarato s.t. - Milram
General Classification:
1. Leonardo Duque 20h28'06” – Cofidis
2. Matti Breschel +18” – Team CSC
3. Oscar Freire +22” – Rabobank
4. Vicente Reynés +24” – Team High Road
5. Xavier Florencio +36” – Bouygues Telecom
6. Simon Gerrans +42” – Crédit Agricole
7. Alberto Ongarato +1'22” - Milram
8. Sebastian Lang +1'26” - Gerolsteiner
9. Alessandro Vanotti +1'26” - Liquigas
10. Martin Elmiger +1'28” - Ag2r la Mondiale
Edited by Silence on 08-03-2008 14:52
Le'Sheep: If life's a bitch use a knife to get over it.
Very nice!!! Just one thing: When you're taking screenshots, remember that [tab] removes the names, and [Æ] is the ring under the rider! But it's very nice!
Profile/tactics:
The stage is, again, ran in a curcuit. But this time it's of course the traditional Adelaide (East End) Circuit. Every year a stage or two are being phased out, mostly to begin the race and to end it.
This means that it will be uncompromisingly flat today, with no excepting hill piling up in the horizon.
This isn't in the favour of Duque, but if we can keep him close enough to the others (especially Breschel) no big harm can be done.
Although Freire hasn't been able of making his presence in the race felt, in the scale his team hoped for, he's still the favorite to this stage. However his bad shape has drawn some others into perspective; Matti Breschel, Vicente Reynés, and maybe Leonardo Duque, if he's very, very lucky.
Stage:
As always on these final, flat stages the peloton starts out calm and clear taking the endless upcoming turns in a slow tempo.
After a few minutes of driving on the track, some of the riders decides to take off: Pagliarini (SDV), Bileka (FDJ), Vorckler (BOU), Sentjens (SIL), Bodrogi (C.A.), Dyudya (MIL), and Trenti (LIQ).
While attacking Pagliarini (SDV) gets passed by a Sentjens (SIL) with seemingly endless powers. Dyudya (MIL) also gets past and is now hunting down Sentjens (SIL).
Bileka now attacking from the other group with the remainder escapees, joining Dyudya (MIL).
Together they get him to cooperate and so after a few minutes they're also caught by the others behind them.
- Harmonic breakaway.
The peloton has sped up a little just to limit the extension as much as possible, before they starts to reel them in.
This shouldn't be of any consequence to everyone, but the young talent Alexandr Pliuschin apparently can't stand the pace and drops off.
In some odd way he fights his way back, even though it wasn't a crash causing him falling behind at first.
Apart from that the break has now reached over a 5-minute lead which is forcing the spint team-leaders to act. Duque responds be sending over half of his participating squad up working.
- Cofidis riders really fighting for their captain.
Slowly they're cathing up and now also Gerolsteiner begins to help taking their share of the work. It doesn't take long before more teams decides to intervene in the chase. Rabobank, High Road, CSC, etc.
The combined powers of the five teams tear the breakaway apart and with 15 km to go the massprint is sure to take place; the sprinters are now setting themselfes up. The different favorites looking around in search of a good wheel. Leezer proposes himself to Freire and they form the head of the sprinting-train.
Breschel is nowhere and apparently CSC are going for a victory with Sturat O'Grady. Quite weird, frankly, since Matti was the only one with chance of taking the lead from Duque.
Elmiger gets onto Freire and the chain goes on lke this; Ongarato, Reynés, Duque, and Hushovd.
O'Grady pushes Reynés over and takes his place. Fortunately the spain could just swap to his own teammate, Bernhard Eisel.
The sprint is off. Duque is thrown backwards because of O'Gradys suprise move. Freire accelerates quick, but Reynés goes into a furious pace reducing the gap by meters on few seconds.
Duque leaves Hushovd and goes for Elmiger. He gets past Freire but then looses ground to the others. Duque gets off going for Förster and Ongarato. The first one he takes on withoutany trouble, but unfortunately for him he doesn't get to reach Alberto Ongarato.
- Vicente Reynés finally getting the victory after many tries.
Sincerely a great result for us and even more for Duque himself. Not having any results outside of top3 are very impressive.
His victory also makes us the leaders of the ProTour, although it will surely be very short-termed.
Stage-result:
1. Vicente Reynés 2h12'30” - Team High Road
2. Alberto Ongarato s.t. - Milram
3. Leonardo Duque s.t. - Cofidis
4. Robert Förster s.t. - Gerolsteiner
5. Oscar Freire s.t. - Rabobank
6. Martin Elmiger s.t. - Ag2r la Mondiale
7. Gert Steegmans s.t. - Quick-Step
8. Thor Hushovd s.t. - Crédit Agricole
9. José Joaquin Rojas Gil s.t. - Caisse d'Epargne
10. Stuart O'Grady s.t. - Team CSC
13. Matti Breschel s.t. - Team CSC
Points:
1. Leonardo Duque 151p - Cofidis
2. Vicente Reynés 135p – Team High Road
3. Oscar Freire 127p – Rabobank
4. Matti Breschel 114p – Team CSC
5. Martin Elmiger 86p – Ag2r la Mondiale
6. Alberto Ongarato 82p – Milram
7. Thor Hushovd 50p – Crédit Agricole
8. Xavier Florencio 46p – Bouygues Telecom
9. Robert Förster 42p – Gerolsteiner
10. José Joaquin Rojas Gil 41p – Caisse d'Epargne
KOM:
1. Yon Bru Pascal 16p – Euskaltel
2. Glenn D'Hollander 10p – Silence-Lotto
3. Meciej Bodnar 8p – Liquigas
4. Cristopher Kern 6p – Crédit Agricole
5. Niki Terpstra 6p – Milram
6. Aitor Galdós Alonso 6p – Euskaltel
7. Volodymy Bileka 6p – Francaise Des Jeux
8. Volodymy Dyudya 4p – Milram
9. Laurent Mangel 4p – Ag2r la Mondiale
10. Alexandre Pliuschin 4p – Ag2r la Mondiale
Youth-Competition:
1. Matti Breschel 22h40'54” - Team CSC
2. José Joaquin Rojas Gil +1'10” - Caisse d'Epargne
3. Mark Renshaw s.t. - Crédit Agricole
4. Tom Leezer s.t. - Rabobank
5. William Walker s.t. - Rabobank
6. Dominik Roels s.t. - Milram
7. Artur Gajek s.t. - Milram
8. Tristan Valentin s.t. - Cofidis
9. Maxime Monfort s.t. - Cofidis
10. Jean-Charles Senac s.t. - Ag2r la Mondiale
General Classification:
1. Leonardo Duque 22h40'32” - Cofidis
2. Vicente Reynés +18 – Team High Road
3. Matti Breschel +22 – Team CSC
4. Oscar Freire +26 – Rabobank
5. Xavier Florencio +40 – Bouygues Telecom
6. Simon Gerrans +46 – Crédit Agricole
7. Alberto Ongarato +1'20 – Milram
8. Alessandro Vanotti +1'30 – Liquigas
9. Martin Elmiger +1'32 – Ag2r la Mondiale
10. Gert Steegmans s.t. - Quick-Step
25. Samuel Dumoulin s.t. - Cofidis
26. Tristan Valentin s.t. - Cofidis
31. Mickael Buffaz s.t. - Cofidis
39. Maxime Monfort s.t. - Cofidis
43. Sébastians Minard s.t. - Cofidis
74. Maryan Hary +4'16” - Cofidis
102. Kevin De Weert + 7'50” - CofidisEdited by Silence on 08-03-2008 14:53
Le'Sheep: If life's a bitch use a knife to get over it.
Profile/tactics:
The race is completely flat and with a TTT to start it all. It wont be the most competitive race, but anyway it'll sure contain some exciting finishes between the sprinters. Most of the participating stars are just getting up on the saddle warming up for the february, or march races.
Its of the exact same reason we chose to take Nuyens in. So our main goal will just be to give him a good start to the season, nothing more.
There wont really be any favorites since its impossble to predict whom wants to make something of the race, and whom doesn't.
Race:
The first stage (which was a TTT) had a really tiring pace and some teams lost more than 2 minutes to the best. Cofidis came on a parted hird along with Milram. Slipstream brought all their Time-trialists and won. The rest of the stages was hughly bothered by a gigantic sidewind which made it almost impossible attack. Anyway the peloton didn't get to fight for one single middle-sprint, because there was always a breakaway out ravaging, taking all the points.
Eventhough there were many breaks, none of them lasted all the way, and they always got captured around 30 kilometres back, being unable to hold off the hungry peloton. Although a few halfway attacks (provoked by the harsh sidewind) sometimes got the pack into trouble, it ended in a pure massprint at three of the four stages. At the first one Petacchi did as he was expected to and left the peloton in his fabulous acceleration. The other victory got assigned to Bäckstedt who one on a little smarter manner. With 30 to go Slipstream started setting an enormous pace which made many fall off and gave Bäckstedt the opportunity of silently slipping away. Pozzato didn't manage to catch him in the sprint of the peloton.
The next stage was one by Loddo, just before Petacchi, and at the last stage Petacchi blew past all opposition and won again. Blain got 8th on two stages. He was the best performing of the team.
Edited by Silence on 08-03-2008 14:53
Le'Sheep: If life's a bitch use a knife to get over it.
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