Well, I am an outsider to win today. And it is more tomorrow who is more interesting for me.
I spoke with many riders today. Nothing else to report -it was actually a boring day...
In the last few kilometers, there was a few crashes, most notably Marcus Burghardt (BMC)and Tony Gallopin (RadioShack). However when Gallopin crashed, he held mostly of the peloton, including Gustav Larsson (2nd in GC - 0" behind Evans) and whole my team (except me) including our captain Vincenzo Nibali! The group lost 1 minute.
During the sprint I was blocked by a BMC rider, who isn't even a sprinter! Unbelievable.
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It was a disappointment for me and my team, when Vincenzo lost much time. But we know Vincenzo, he will never give up! Tomorrow I will go in the break. I will try to get at least 4 points, so I can wear the green jersey tomorrow.
Following its three-day opening salvo in Belgium, the Tour moved back to France, starting in Orchies – where the fifth stage team time trial of the 1982 race was abandoned in progress due to industrial action – before heading west towards Boulogne-sur-Mer. There were six climbs within the closing 65 km (40.4 mi) of the parcours – all 1.7 km (1.1 mi) long or shorter – including the final 700 m (2,300 ft) long climb up to the finish, with an average gradient of 7.4%. Like the first stage, the course was ideally favoured towards the puncheurs
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Today I want to attack. I want the green jersey. But Langeveld also wants it. So we attacked together with 15 other riders, but we were caught later.
Some kilometers before the intermediate Sylvian Chavanel and Fredrik Kessiakoff attacked. I followed them. It was actually good. The peloton didn't want to catch us! Maybe I will get 20 points today!
No, Sylvian was faster than me. But at least 18 points is (hopefully) enough to get the malliot vert! And maybe we three will fight for the stage victory!
I forgot Nick Nuyens, who also attacked, but he couldn't come up to us, so he was riding alone.
When the first hill began, Chavanel attacked. I followed and Kessiakoff was dead.
I will try to let him win the climbs, but if he attacks, I would follow and maybe counter-attack him.
I tried to ask my DS about the distance between us and Kessiakoff, but instead he thought it was an alliance, that he could win. So I'm in deep shit!
Ironic enough that he rode away from me during the last descend.
But I'm not done yet! I rode up to him again. And I attacked during the last climb. Sorry Chava!
Nice, but not fair win. He asked me later why I did it. "We had a deal!" I said to him, that I was sorry, and if we rode in a break again, he will get the stage. Fair enough.
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Well, it was kinda bad that I took the win, even if it was an accidentally alliance. But anyway my second stage win in this year's Tour! And I have now the yellow jersey! Great! Tomorrow will be a good day!
According to the DS, nobody will trust me, if they are in break with me. Damn!
Anyway I used the day to speak with other riders. But else nothing special: A break was formed, my team was in front. It looks good.
In the last few kilometers, there is a small hill. Guess what I did?
I managed to held the peloton behind me and later I caught the breakaway. Can I win?
No.
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It was a nice day. Altough I didn't win the stage, I was thrilled - I almost celebrated on the line! Tomorrow is almost the same, but we see what happens!
Old legends and promisIng stars - They are all in break!
Today was also pretty boring. Usually when the road is flat, it is a bit more boring than steep roads, who is a challenge. But still, I like the flat roads better than very steep, long roads.
I tried again like yesterday, but this time I was caught.
It looked to be a sprint finish! I sprinted well, I was ahead of Cavendish, Griepel and Freire, but I finished 5th.
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Another good day. It was actually my first competitive sprint finish in this Tour. (Stage 2 was more a mess) One flat stage left. Maybe I will get a great stage!
This was the last flat stage before the race entered the mountains; during the 207.5 km (128.9 mi) parcours, there was one fourth-category climb of the Côte de Buxières, around 10 km (6.2 mi) after the intermediate sprint point, coming at 135.5 km (84.2 mi) in the commune of Saint-Mihiel. The race finished near the Centre Pompidou where another bunch sprint was expected.
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Maybe it will be today, I will be completely invisible. Or maybe is it me, who will win! It rained for the first time in the middle of the stage, but it didn't look like a wet finish.
The most dangerous man in the break was Simon Gerrans. He was actually the rider, who prevented me winning the stage where Federigo won. He was behind me, refused to take any relays.
But they were caught with 1km remaining. Let's start the sprint!
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Again a good sprint from my side. Maybe I should start the sprint a bit later and behind Marcel Kittel, but still, a 6th place is nice enough! Now I will lose my yellow jersey: A hilly stage with a 8 km long mountain is coming up.
The race entered the high mountains with a first-time finish at 1,035 m (3,396 ft) at the ski resort of La Planche des Belles Filles in the Vosges. After two third-category climbs, the final climb was 5.9 km (3.7 mi) long and averaged 8.5% with places of the climbs reaching 14–20% in the closing stages
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Last day?
Well, it looks like I will relax and chill together with the other sprinters. Nibali is over 3 minutes down, so he must attack!
However one of the biggest shock was that Bradley Wiggins was gone! He was in the group with the sprinters. Now Team Sky only have Chris Froome, I don't think, he can win Tour de France with that season, he had this year.
I attacked, because I tried to come to Westra. Frank Schleck responded but he was caught, I wasn't.
Westra was caught and I was caught a bit later.
When I was caught, I sat up. I heard later my DS shouting, but he shouted on Italian and I did not understand very much Italian.
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It was a great stage for Liquigas! Our 3rd stage win! However Vincenzo has to fight in the next stages for coming into top 10. Sylvian Chavanel had shown me, why he's known as one of the best fighters - finishing 29th in the stage - 7" better than Cadel Evans. Anyway 2 stages to go before the first rest day, let's see how it goes.
The race entered Switzerland after 65 km (40.4 mi) of the parcours, going through the Jura Mountains with a total of seven rated climbs including the first-category Col de la Croix – the summit of which was at 789 m (2,589 ft) after a 3.7 km (2.3 mi), 9.2% average gradient climb – 16 km (9.9 mi) before the finish in Porrentruy.
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Today was mostly another relaxing day. Okay, maybe I would challenge for the victory!
Nothing special happened, except the steep roads were enjoyable to ride on.
I looked good to win the stage, but a puncture before the last hill destroyed the dream. So I sat up.
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A pretty neutral day for the team. There haven't been a big highlight, except Vincenzo is now in top 10 in the GC. Tomorrow is the time trial, and afterwards a rest day. I can't wait on the rest day!
The first of two lengthy individual time trial stages was fairly flat with rolling hills in the early kilometres before the parcours entered the valley of the River Doubs at Boussières. It was expected that the main contenders for the general classification were to emerge after this stage. The first rider will be the rider who is last (Jonathan Cantwell) and the wearer of the yellow jersey will be last (Cadel Evans)
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Ready on the starting line
When I started, the best time was set by Bradley Wiggins :
First time check: 16:50 (+1'44" - Bradley Wiggins)
Second time check: 33:47 (+2'38" - Bradley Wiggins)
Finish line:
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A fine time trial from my side. Vincenzo did a great time trial and is 6th. We will try our best to cracking the others, but right now is there a well-deserving rest day!
After 9 terrific stages, the riders will enjoy a rest day. Meanwhile we had writed 3 articles, you probably can enjoy;
Spoiler
Summary
The Tour started with a prologue in the town Liege. And it was probably one of the most exciting prologue ever. At the end of the day, there was three riders with the same time, Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky), Gustav Larsson (Vacansoleil-DCM) and Cadel Evans (BMC RacIng Team). After searching after the milliseconds Cadel Evans was fastest - he was 0.002 seconds faster than Larsson.
Cadel Evans wins the prologue
The Tour's first stage was like last year's Tour or in 2008; A hilly finish. Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) attacked on the climb and won ahead of Langeveld and the peloton leaded by Thomas Voeckler (Team Europcar).
Peter Sagan wins first stage
The second stage had a flat finish, where Mark Cavendish (Team Sky) won a close sprint against his rival Andre Greipel (Lotto-Belisol) and Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Barracuda). Even it should be "safe", crashes happened during the stage, most notable was Tyler Farrar, early in the stage and Tony Gallopin (Radioshack-Nissan), who blocked the mostly part of the peloton. Riders like last year's winner Vincenzo Nibali lost 1 minute.
The third stage was also a hilly one. Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) won the stage, but the second-placed Sylvian Chavanel (Omega-Pharma - Quickstep) claimed that Sagan made an alliance with him. However Sagan was also new leader of the Tour.
Peter Sagan wins a controversial stage
The fourth stage was flat once again, but this time a breakaway held. Pierrick Fedrigo (FDJ) won a sprint against Sebastian Langeveld (Orica-Greenedge). The surprise of the day was however that the wearer of the yellow jersey Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) attacked and finished third ahead of the last other surviving rider from the breakaway, Simon Gerrans (Orica-Greenedge).
Stage 7 was the first stage with a mountain. Even before the riders reach La Planche des Belles Filles, there was surprises. Bradley Wiggins (Team Sky) crashed during the descent from the category 2 climb Col de Grosse Pierre and rode to the finish line with the sprinters. His chances to win the Tour is almost zero. Meanwhile Vincenzo Nibali (Liquigas-Cannondale) attacked from the group and won the stage - 8 seconds down to Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team). As Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) sat up, Sylvian Chavanel (Omega-Pharma - Quickstep) managed to get the malliot jeune with 7 seconds down to Evans.
The Shark of Messina shows how it's done.
The next stage was very hilly. Even trough the breakaway looked to have a chance, the favorite group caught them and the sprint was won by Samuel Sanchez (Euskaltel-Euskadi). Sylvian Chavanel (Omega-Pharma - Quickstep) lost more than the 7 seconds, and the wearer of the yellow jersey was now Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team).
Samuel Sanchez during stage 8
And then the time trial! Bradley Wiggins set early a fast time. Even when there was many riders yet to start, his time held to the end. Cadel Evans succeed to held his yellow jersey.
Bradley Wiggins storms his way to his first Tour stage win.
Spoiler
TOP 5 - The GC
Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team)
Cadel Evans started his Tour with winning the prologue. He lost his yellow jersey to Peter Sagan on stage 3, and was unlucky, when Sylvian Chavanel took the jersey with 7 seconds to Evans. He fought back, won the malliot jeune on stage 8 and defended it brilliantly in the time trial.
Chris Froome
Chris Froome was actually Bradley Wiggins' helper, and it looked so, but when Wiggins lost his chance in stage 8, and Froome was 6th on the same stage, Team Sky changed their captain. He finished 4th next day and 5th in the time trial - and is now 2nd in GC.
Jurgen van den Broeck (Lotto-Belisol)
Is it finally Jurgen's breakthrough? He had this year not been held by injuries or crashes, and now he is 3rd in GC. The difference between his team, Lotto-Belisol, and the other teams with contenders are that Lotto only has one good climber, who can help him, Jelle Vanendert. But is it luck enough for VDB? Or is there more from him?
Andreas Klöden (Radioshack-Nissan)
Actually it is a surprise, that he had performed so well. He is the helper for Frank Schleck, but he had outperformed him and maybe the team bosses discuss that he should be the new captain, now where the team miss Andy Schleck?
Alejandro Valverde
Just came back from his ban, but he had immediately impressed. 5th overall is great, and his team will try to force bigger trouble for the others. Maybe a podium is waiting?
Spoiler
The Next Stages
11 July 2012 — Mâcon to Bellegarde-sur-Valserine, 194.5 km (120.9 mi)
14 July 2012 — Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux to Cap d'Agde, 217 km (134.8 mi)
This transitional stage will take the Tour to the Mediterranean Sea. The day's only categorised climb over Mont-Saint-Clair at Sète and the wind off the sea have two potential disruptions to the race in the final 28 km (17.4 mi) of the stage. For the celebration of Bastille Day, the breakaway will probably have extensive French representation.
15 July 2012 — Limoux to Foix, 191 km (118.7 mi)
Today I should work for Vincenzo. We will also have some riders in the break for a stage win.
The riders in the break are Eros Capecchi, Ivan Basso and Tony Martin.
I rode the mostly part of the stage without headphones, because it broke, so I didn't know what happened.
I lost 32 minutes to the winner, Samuel Sanchez, but Capecchi, who was in breakaway looked to win until he was overtaken with 50 meters to go.
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It was a good day for the team. Ivan is now the new leader of the polka-dot, meanwhile Eros, who was caught by the favorite group, attacked on the decent and overtook Ivan and looked for a stage win, before getting overtaken. Close call.
However I was caught faster than expected: many riders came to me and it looked like Evans was scared of too many riders in breakaway. So I looked as a breakaway was formed.
During the Col de la Madeleine climb Chris Anker Sørensen and Sylvian Chavanel attacked.
I attacked with Johnny Hoogerland and Eros Capecchi came up to us, just for attack. Probably for the stage win?
But with over 18 minutes down to the peloton, it looked to only the 7 leaders could win.
A horrible headwind does it even harder!
I was later caught and dropped by the favorite group
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The highlight was the attack. Nothing special happened. Tomorrow will be a good day for me! See you next time!
It looked to be the day, where the breakaway got the chance to finish the stage in first. Tomorrow is the Bastille Day, so today will probably be a test day for the French riders
At least there was points to score! So I decided to set the pace and immediately notify the difference. Although Oscar Freire was faster, I managed to be 6th and got 10 points to the account.
Other interesting highlight was that Chris Froome crashed during the descent to the intermediate sprint. The peloton was split in few kilometers after the crash, but we rejoined a bit later.
The climb Côte d'Ardoix was marred by attacks from Thibaut Pinot, Ryder Hejsedal and Thomas Voeckler. They have also a chance for getting a good result.
Vincenzo Nibali attacked. And he got a good gap to the peloton! He actually caught the breakaway, who contains Vasil Kiryienka and Axmet Txurruka.
I attacked later, but Thomas Voeckler counter-attacked, overtook me and won the stage. Well...
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Maybe I attacked too early, I didn't have energy enough to follow Voeckler's winning attack. Maybe next time...
This transitional stage took the Tour to the Mediterranean Sea. The day's only categorised climb over Mont-Saint-Clair at Sète and the wind off the sea were two potential disruptions to the race in the final 28 km (17.4 mi) of the stage.
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Race Report
Vincenzo Nibali will hold low profile today, the upcoming days are more important.
I attacked from the depart. As the wind will be heavy today, it looked that I got a chance.
In the intermediate sprint I was 8th, so I got 8 points, hopefully I do not regret it!
And it looks so! With 18 km remaining we have over 3 minutes!
With 10 km remaining we have 4 minutes! Nicki Sørensen attacks.
I attack with 5 km remaining. They caught me. I am trying again. They look like they don't have energy enough!
1 km remain, I got 30 seconds to the group. I am going to win!
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What a day! I just won my third stage in this year's Tour! Tomorrow is almost the same as today; the breakaway will win! Can I survive the mountains? But right now I should celebrate this victory!
Well, I tried to attack, but without luck, so these three was the breakaway today:
It looked very much like two races: a race for the stage win (the breakaway) and for the GC (the favorite group). They had 11 minutes, when we reached the intermediate sprint. I became 5th in the intermediate sprint, the only one who was faster than me (in the peloton) was Jose Joaquin Rojas who was 4th.
During the second climb, I sat up. Vincenzo and Eros attacked. Eros was however caught, but Vincenzo fought on.
That climb...
Vincenzo was caught during the descent, probably he knew that it was suicide!
It was kind of boring afterwards.
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Well, today was not the day as we wanted. But altough tomorrow is a nice flat stage. What can I do there?
