thanks. sadly it had to be simulated. i tried 3 times to play the stage and it would always crash on the finish line, and it would crash when it was on detailed simulation as well
For those classics: try to play them with lowered graphic settings! That should work and prevent these crashes at the end of a long stage... Good luck for Kuurne!
thanks. sadly it had to be simulated. i tried 3 times to play the stage and it would always crash on the finish line, and it would crash when it was on detailed simulation as well
For those classics: try to play them with lowered graphic settings! That should work and prevent these crashes at the end of a long stage... Good luck for Kuurne!
28th February 2010 - Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne (Kuurne-Kuurne)
Boonen wins the Kuurne Classic yet again
Tom Boonen won the Kuurne-Bruxelles-Kuurne for the 3rd time, ahead of Team Sky's Edvald Boasson Hagen and Garmin's Robbie Hunter.
Boonen, who also gave Quick-Step their 5th victory in 5 years in Kuurne, attacked with 6km to go, and held on despite a late lunge by Boasson Hagen on the line.
With clear skies and sunshine on the day, a stark contrast to the mist and rain in Ghent yesterday, it seemed a more jovial peleton of riders, with an attack coming at the 12km mark from 4 riders. Garmin Transition's Fredrik Kessiakoff, Dominik Roels of Milram and AG2R's Guillaume Bonnafond were all part of the break, and 6km later, they were joined by 6 others, including Francesco Bellotti of Liquigas and and Fumiyuki Beppu of Radioshack.
Over the stage, they built up a good lead of around 5'12", whihc then began to fall as Quick-Step and Team Katusha hit the front. Over the undulating terrain, the time gap fluctuated, going as low as 2'38", but as the riders entered the more cobbled areas, it rose back up to 4'51".
However, with still more than 50km remaining, it was going to be tough to keep the breakaway clear of the pack. As the peleton closed in, Tom Veelers (Skil-Shimano) separated himself from his fellow escappes, and opened up a 1'35" gap on them. At the 22km mark, the remaining 9 riders of the break were caught by the peleton, and it left Veelers out there on his own. He had a 1'13" time gap over the chasing group, but it was dropping quickly. With 9km to go, he was caught and the teams began to organise themselves for the sprint finish. Team Sky took control, hitting the front with Garmin-Transitions just behind them. And then Boonen made his move.
Having been sat on the back wheel of the Boasson Hagen for a few kilometres, he attacked the group at the 6km mark, with Leif Hoste going with him in his wheel. Hoste couldn't however stay with Boonen, and was back in the bunch. The sprinter's team stayed calm in the situation, and kept their organisation. As the sprint opened up, Boonen had a small gap still on the pack, but with it closing quickly, he had to kick one more time, and he did, just in time.
He crossed the line, with no time to celebrate, as Edvald Boasson Hagen's late lunge meant only half a wheel separated him from victory. The win also showed that Boone is coming into some good form ahead of the Spring Classics, and might be the rider to beat in the Paris-Roubaix and Ronde van Vlaanderen.
It was tight on the line for Boonen
The Day's Race in Photos
Spoiler
The day's breakaway
Tom Veelers made a brave attempt to win
The pack get themselves organised for the sprint finish
It was only after the race finish, I realised I had been pressing the wrong button for the screenshots, so there is only 3 available.
Results
Final Standings:
1
Tom Boonen
Quick·Step
4h43'22
2
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
3
Robert Hunter
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
4
Wouter Weylandt
Quick·Step
s.t.
5
Thor Hushovd
Cervélo Test Team
s.t.
...
12
Christopher Sutton
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
30
Juan Antonio Flecha
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
39
Matthew Hayman
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
40
Russell Downing
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
41
Ian Stannard
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
48
Michael Barry
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
55
Davide Viganò
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
Team Classification Standings:
1
Cervélo Test Team
14h10'06
2
Quick·Step
s.t.
3
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
4
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Landbouwkrediet
s.t.
Team Reaction to the Race:
This was another good test on the cobbles for the Team. They worked well together, and it was only Boonen's good run of form which stopped us getting the victory. Edvald looked strong in the sprint as well as over the cobbles, and the lead-out train looked very solid. Juan Antonio sacrificed his own chance of a win by leading out CJ Sutton and Edvald perfectly at the end. Looking promising for the Spring Classics in a few weeks time.
The GP Lugano is a single day event based in and around the Swiss town of Lugano. Prior to 1981, the event was held as an Individual Time Trial against the clock, but now it is now organised as a 1.1 event on the UCI Tour.
Team Sky head to the event with a competitive team for the undulating finish. Thomas Lövkvist and Simon Gerrans will lead the team, and Peter Kennaugh will be given a free will to roam.
Previous winners of the GP Lugano includes Luca Mazzanti, Rinaldo Nocentini, Paolo Bettini and in 2009, Rémi Pauriol of Cofidis.
The 2010 Gran Premio di Lugano takes the riders on 2 circuits centred around the Swiss town of Lugano. The first is a 5-lap circuit to the north of Lugano, over small undulating hills. The second is the most testing part of the stage, with a further 5-laps to the south of Lugano, over more difficult hills.
Due to the finish of the race, this will be the stage for a climber. If a breakaway gets too far ahead, it could be very difficult to bring them back, so the peleton will have to be very aware of all the situations on the course.
Riders to Watch: S. Gerrans, D. Martin, R. Nocentini, C. Horner My Tip for the Stage: D. Martin. After his victory at the GP dell'insubria-Lugano over similar terrain, the Irish Garmin rider will be looking for the same result today.
Lövkvist takes his first win for Team Sky with solo victory
Thomas Lövkvist won his first ever stage for Team Sky with a magnificent solo victory in Lugano.
Attacking at the start of the second circuit, with 80km to go, Lövkvist looked comfortable on climbs, and looked unstoppable on the day.
The day began with numerous attacks, but it was only at the 45km mark in which one was allowed to get a small gap. This group of 9 riders, included Kevin de Waert (Quick-Step), Tom Peterson (Garmin-Transitions) and Bauke Mollema (Rabobank). They were only allowed a maximum 58" on the peleton, and soon they were back in the pack. Kevin de Waert tried another attack moments later, but he did not have too much of a kick.
The group stayed together until the end of the 5-laps of the first circuit. This was the time for Lövkvist to attack. He kicked on the lower slopes of the climb, and he was joined by Chris Horner (RadioShack), Richie Porte (SaxoBank), Luca Celli (Ceramica Flaminia) and Vladimir Miholjevic (Acqua&Sapone). Oliver Zaugg of Liquigas tried to join the escapees, as they continued to climb and descend, the small group began to fracture. Soon, it was just Lövkvist and Miholjevic out on their own, with the others in small groups around 40" behind them. Over the next 2 ascents and descents of the circuits, the front pair pulled out 4'20" over the main peleton, and then it was time for Lövkvist, to leave his companion behind. He upped his pace on the next ascent, and he broke the Acqua&Sapone rider.
On the final climb on the circuit, Lövkvist held a massive 2'32" gap to Miholjevic behind, and a further 4'08" to the peleton, who had caught the remaining riders from the original break. As they descended, David Zabriskie of Garmin tried to make a break for a third place finish, and his expert downhill skills allowed him to gain a small gap. Up ahead though, Lövkvist looked nice and comfortable, as he came into the finish straight, having enough time to take in all of the plaudits from the crowd and celebrate.
Miholjevic crossed the line 2'40" behind him, and then it was the time for the peleton. Zabriskie had been caught in the final kilometre, but held on to take 3rd place, ahead of Colnago-CSF's Domenico Pozzovivo and Australian National Champion Simon Gerrans of Team Sky.
The Day's Race in Photos
Spoiler
Due to technical problems, there are no photos available for the stage. Hopefully, the problem can be resolved soon ahead of the Clasica de Almeira
Results
Final Standings:
1
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky Professional Cycling Team
5h31'32
2
Vladimir Miholjevic
Acqua & Sapone - D'Angelo & Antenucci
+ 2'40
3
David Zabriskie
Garmin - Transitions
+ 3'52
4
Domenico Pozzovivo
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
5
Simon Gerrans
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
...
22
Morris Possoni
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
39
Dario Cioni
[b]Sky Professional Cycling Team
+ 7'24
43
Sylvain Calzati
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
53
Peter Kennaugh
Sky Professional Cycling Team
+ 9'28
62
Chris Froome
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
69
John-Lee Augustyn
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
Team Classification Standings:
1
Sky Professional Cycling Team
16h42'20
2
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 3'52
3
Caisse d'Epargne
s.t.
4
Garmin - Transitions
+ 7'24
5
Acqua & Sapone - D'Angelo & Antenucci
+ 8'16
Team Reaction to the Race:
What an excellent result for Thomas. He showed good strength getting away from the pack with such a long way to go, and it was a big gamble for the Team which paid off. The original plan was to send Peter Kennaugh up the road, but he was not showing the fitness he had shown in previous races, so Thomas was the man chosen instead. Simon Gerrans was too much of a marked man by the other teams to risk, but he still came away with a good 5th position at the finish.
First run in 1986, the Clásica de Almería is a single day event, held in the last week of February or the first week of March. Until 1992, it was run as an amateur race, and since 2005 it has been organised as a 1.1 UCI Tour event.
Team Sky come to this event with fairly strong squad, working for sprinter Greg Henderson. He is the defending champion after this win in 2009, and he will be looking to defend his crown. In the sprint he will be lead-out by Steve Cummings and Geraint Thomas.
Other previous winners of the Clásica de Almería include J.J. Haedo, Jérôme Pineau and Iván Gutiérrez.
28th February 2010 - Clásica de Almería (Puebla de Vicar - Almeria)
Travelling in a large circuit, beginning and ending on the shores of the Almería Bay, the Clásica de Almería will give a challenge to every rider in the peleton today.
With an undulating terrain and a flat final 35km, this will be a very difficult race to call. If the sprinters and their lead-out teams can make it over the first two-thirds of the stage, then it could be their day. However, with a slight incline for the final kilometre, the more and more sprinters might have some problem putting down their speed and final kick for the line.
Riders to Watch: S. Joly, G. Thomas, D. Blanco, Y.Trofimov. My Tip for the Stage: S. Joly. The French Saur-Sojasun rider has a good kick at the finish line, and should not have any problems getting over the hills on the stage, so should be strong at the finish.
-- Clásica de Almería Report and Result to Follow --
28th February 2010 - Clásica de Almería (Puebla de Vicar - Almeria)
Cardoso takes home the win on home soil
Felipe Cardoso won the battle of the breakaway, to take a priceless victory for his team in front of the Spanish crowd in Almería.
The Spanish rider, who rides for the Continental Team LA Rota dos Móveis, took the victory ahead of his 3 fellow escapees in a long day under the February sunshine.
The quartet broke away after only 6.7km into the stage, and slowly built up a strong lead as the race progressed. The peleton did not look too interested in the chase, as they rode out of Almería into the Mountains.
The lead slowly extended as they climbed up the slopes, and with the 4 riders working well together, it rose at a nice steady rate. Over the top of the first climb of the day, the break had 4'56" over the Astana led peleton, and as they peaked over the top of the second climb, it was up to 7'06".
But with still 100km to go, the peleton was still yet to up the pace. That was until with 80km to go, the break gained its maximum advantage of 7'43", and the pace was upped. Firstly by the Bbox-Bouygues Télécom Team and then by Saur-Sojasun. On the descent back to Almería, the break had a 4'37" gap, but it was not dropping at a high rate.
At the bottom of the descent, the gap was still 2'53" and with 30km to go, it was going to be a close finish. Astana and Team Sky had joined in with the workload, yet the gap stayed at a steady 2'30" for the next 20 kilometres. At the 10km mark, there was still over 2'00" gap, and the peleton looked destined not to catch the break.
As the four riders entered back into Almería with 2.3km to go, and with a 1'48" gap, they stopped working together and began the battle for the victory. And it was Cardoso who came out on top, ahead of Cesar Fonte of Barbot-Siper and Andalucía - Cajasur's Juan Javier Estrada.
First across the line for the mass sprint in the peleton was Sébastien Joly of Saur-Sojasun, 1'17" back from the 4 escapees, and behind him was Andriy Grivko of Astana.
Cardoso won the battle of the break
The Day's Race in Photos
Spoiler
The break on the early climbs of the day
The peleton leisurely climbs up the Mountain
The break on the descent back to Almería
Astana and Saur-Sojasun chasing back the break on the descent
The sprint battle begins
Results
Final Standings:
1
Filipe Cardoso
LA Rota dos Móveis
4h45'22
2
Cesar Fonte
Barbot - Siper
s.t.
3
Juan Javier Estrada
Andalucía - Cajasur
s.t.
4
José Carlos Lara
Burgos 2016 - Castilla y Leon
s.t.
5
Sébastien Joly
Saur - Sojasun
+ 1'17
...
19
Geraint Thomas
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
24
Greg Henderson
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
32
Stephen Cummings
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
41
Kjell Carlström
Sky Professional Cycling Team
+ 2'00
45
Nicolas Portal
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
46
Serge Pauwels
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
47
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
Team Classification Standings:
1
LA Rota dos Móveis
14h18'40
2
Astana
+ 1'17
3
Palmeiras Resort - Prio
s.t.
4
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
5
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
s.t.
...
7
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
Team Reaction to the Race:
It is safe to say we got it wrong today. Firstly we missed the breakaway with Lars, and also with Nicolas. We wanted to play an active part in the race, as we were unsure if Greg could get himself over the Mountains, especially after struggled in the Vuelta a Andalucía.
Secondly, we completely underestimated the finish to the race. It was far too difficult for Greg to make his final kick, and Geriant, who would have been more suited to the finish, had already worked for Greg in the lead-out and had nothing left. Geraint ended up being the best finisher for us in 19th place, and that is after the lead-out.
Overall, a disappointing race, but we are still learning at this level and we will certainly take something away from today.
i'll try it out
it was a close finish. good race 
