Well, sorry for not updating the story for about 3 days now, but my computer has suddenly started to have an annoying problem. I have to try a lot to start it so it starts properly and not reboots in the middle of starting process.
Anyway I have been trying to save the career in my pen drive like I have done the last time I had to 'format' (not sure if it's the right word) but haven't been sucessful. Anyway my dad has been travelling the last couple days, and he has contact with the support guy, so when he get back in a few more couple days (I think less than 2) he can take it to the support and so fix this.
Hopefully by that time I will have been able to back up PCM folder on my docs, but if not (it's not being easy so far) I believe they will still be able to do the whole back up. Thanks for the attention and sorry for this.
tsmoha wrote:
Bad news. I hope and pray for you to get the backup! This is one of my favourite stories. I cross the fingers (not sure if it's the right word, too ).
+1 C'mon this can not be true Hopefully you get the backup!
Very well, I couldn't save the career on the pen drive but the back up was possible and so the dream continues. In a few minutes (or seconds) we're getting back with reports. We had stopped in Giro di Toscana, so here we go!!
May 2nd: Giro di Toscana
Arezzo - Terranuova, 197.4 kms
The riders begin today on Arezzo, and with about 100 kilometers of race they will enter Terranuova surroundings, where they will have 4 laps in a 24 km circuit before the finish. The first part isn't marked by many climbs. The only considerable climb, which is also today's biggest ascent, will be Valico della Scheggia, and on the descent of it the riders enters the final circuit, where they will climb the Anghiari ascent 4 times before the finish. With the flat finish and the lack of difficult climbs, a sprint finish is expected, where we hope Tanel Kangert can go well in order to achieve our Top 10 Goal.
We had intentions to put someone in the break to help Kangert later today. Our man for this was Jorge Giacinti, and he succesfully made it into the 11 rider breakaway. Most notable name was Pasquale Muto.
5 more riders joined the breakaway already on Terranuova surroundings: Michele Gaia, Matteo Carrara, Santo Anza, Fabio Negri and Branislau Samoilau. The peloton was about four minutes behind with 65 km left.
Already on the first Anghiari ascent they did with the other escapees, the late-joining riders proved to be stronger and left the others.
On the penultimate ascent, the bigger escapee group was caught. The peloton, down to 57 riders, was trailing the leaders by 2 minutes with 26 kilometers left. We still had four riders in the peloton, but them all suffered, including Kangert, even on the flat sections. Several teams shared the work now: Lampre, Androni, AG2R, CarmioOro and Acqua & Sapone.
On the last time up the Anghiari, Vladimir Efimkin tried his move. He quickly reached the leaders, but the peloton was following them close.
And, although Efimking tried everything to keep the break in the lead, the peloton caught them with 3 kilometers to the line. Sprint-time!! Kangert was on the back of the 40 rider group, and exhausted, so no goal today.
Michele Gaia dominated the sprint from the beggining and had a quite easy time today! He proved he still had good legs after being far away from the peloton for 90 kilometers! Kangert crossed the line 37th, with the same time as the winner.
Today winner is Results
1
Michele Gaia
Colnago - CSF Inox
4h57'09
2
Matteo Carrara
Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
3
Santo Anza
Ceramica Flaminia
s.t.
4
Vladimir Efimkin
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
5
Francesco Failli
Acqua & Sapone - D'Angelo & Antenucci
s.t.
6
Branislau Samoilau
Quick·Step
s.t.
7
Fabio Negri
De Rosa - Stac Plastic
s.t.
8
Andrea Tonti
CarmioOro NGC
s.t.
9
Mikhail Ignatiev
Team Katusha
s.t.
10
Francesco Masciarelli
Acqua & Sapone - D'Angelo & Antenucci
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Francesco Bellotti
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
12
Massimo Codol
Acqua & Sapone - D'Angelo & Antenucci
s.t.
13
Giuseppe Palumbo
Acqua & Sapone - D'Angelo & Antenucci
s.t.
14
Andrea Masciarelli
Acqua & Sapone - D'Angelo & Antenucci
s.t.
15
Marco Marzano
Lampre - Farnese Vini
s.t.
16
Christophe Riblon
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
17
Luca Mazzanti
Team Katusha
s.t.
18
Luca Solari
Androni Giocattoli - Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni
s.t.
19
Maxime Bouet
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
20
Grega Bole
Lampre - Farnese Vini
s.t.
21
Alessandro Bertolini
Androni Giocattoli - Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni
s.t.
22
José Luis Arrieta
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
23
Robert Kiserlovski
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
24
Lorenzo Bernucci
Lampre - Farnese Vini
s.t.
25
Davide Malacarne
Quick·Step
s.t.
26
Gilberto Simoni
Lampre - Farnese Vini
s.t.
27
Dario Cataldo
Quick·Step
s.t.
28
Daniel Oss
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
29
Raffaele Ferrara
CarmioOro NGC
s.t.
30
Leonardo Bertagnolli
Androni Giocattoli - Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni
s.t.
31
Massimiliano Gentili
Ceramica Flaminia
s.t.
32
Andrea Noè
Ceramica Flaminia
s.t.
33
Michele Scarponi
Androni Giocattoli - Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni
s.t.
34
Alexander Efimkin
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
35
Domenico Pozzovivo
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
36
Pavel Brutt
Team Katusha
s.t.
37
Tanel Kangert
Rio es Carnival/Seara/Vivo
s.t.
38
Sergio Pardilla
CarmioOro NGC
s.t.
39
José Serpa
Androni Giocattoli - Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni
s.t.
40
Alessandro Spezialetti
Lampre - Farnese Vini
s.t.
41
Alessandro Bisolti
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 1'24
42
Luis Ángel Maté
Androni Giocattoli - Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni
+ 1'51
43
Fabio Terrenzio
CarmioOro NGC
s.t.
44
René Mandri
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
45
Timofey Kritskiy
Team Katusha
s.t.
46
Julien Loubet
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
47
Diego Ulissi
Lampre - Farnese Vini
s.t.
48
Danilo Hondo
Lampre - Farnese Vini
s.t.
49
Dídac Ortega
Acqua & Sapone - D'Angelo & Antenucci
+ 3'04
50
Fabio Taborre
Androni Giocattoli - Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni
s.t.
51
Pasquale Muto
Miche
s.t.
52
Alfredo Balloni
Lampre - Farnese Vini
s.t.
53
Diego Genovesi
CarmioOro NGC
s.t.
54
Thomas Bertolini
Androni Giocattoli - Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni
s.t.
55
Zoltan Tisza
Tecnofilm - Betonexpressz 2000
s.t.
56
Mauricio Morandi
Rio es Carnival/Seara/Vivo
s.t.
57
Magno Prado Nazaret
Rio es Carnival/Seara/Vivo
s.t.
58
Jorge Giacinti
Rio es Carnival/Seara/Vivo
s.t.
59
Matteo Montaguti
De Rosa - Stac Plastic
+ 4'13
60
Ermanno Capelli
Footon - Servetto
s.t.
61
Ivan Santaromita
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
62
Luca Zanasca
CDC - Cavaliere
s.t.
63
Konstantin Volik
Amore & Vita - Conad
s.t.
64
Alessandro Maserati
Ceramica Flaminia
s.t.
65
Mikhaylo Khalilov
Team Katusha
s.t.
66
Eduard Vorganov
Team Katusha
s.t.
67
Alexandre Usov
ISD Continental Team
s.t.
68
Giuseppe Muraglia
CDC - Cavaliere
s.t.
69
Valerio Agnoli
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
70
Igor Abakoumov
ISD Continental Team
s.t.
71
Giampaolo Caruso
Team Katusha
s.t.
72
Vladislav Borisov
Amore & Vita - Conad
s.t.
73
Enrico Peruffo
CarmioOro NGC
s.t.
74
Oleg Opryshko
Amore & Vita - Conad
s.t.
75
Travis Meyer
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
76
Vitaliy Popkov
ISD Continental Team
s.t.
77
Edoardo Girardi
Ceramica Flaminia
+ 5'23
78
Damjan Stankovic
CDC - Cavaliere
s.t.
79
Antonio Quadranti
CarmioOro NGC
s.t.
80
Oleksandr Martynenko
ISD Continental Team
s.t.
81
Davide Torosantucci
CDC - Cavaliere
s.t.
82
Christian Meier
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
83
Matías Médici
Rio es Carnival/Seara/Vivo
s.t.
84
Luca Pierfelici
Acqua & Sapone - D'Angelo & Antenucci
s.t.
85
Cristiano Benenati
De Rosa - Stac Plastic
s.t.
86
Eros Capecchi
Footon - Servetto
s.t.
87
José Alberto Benítez
Footon - Servetto
s.t.
88
Przemyslaw Niemiec
Miche
s.t.
89
Romain Feillu
Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
90
Federico Canuti
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
91
Matteo Tosatto
Quick·Step
s.t.
92
Marco Marcato
Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
93
Marco Velo
Quick·Step
s.t.
94
Francesco Reda
Quick·Step
s.t.
95
René Weissinger
Vorarlberg - Corratec
s.t.
96
Bobbie Traksel
Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
97
Kristjan Koren
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
98
Julien Bérard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
99
Marco Corti
Footon - Servetto
s.t.
100
Fortunato Baliani
Miche
s.t.
101
Simone Stortoni
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
102
Marcello Pavarin
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
103
Daniele Ratto
CarmioOro NGC
s.t.
104
Enrique Mata
Footon - Servetto
s.t.
105
Cristiano Fumagalli
Ceramica Flaminia
s.t.
106
Daniele Callegarin
CDC - Cavaliere
s.t.
107
Silvère Ackermann
Vorarlberg - Corratec
s.t.
108
Mauro Facci
Quick·Step
s.t.
109
Rostislav Mykhaylov
ISD Continental Team
s.t.
110
Brian Vandborg
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
111
Andrei Kunitski
Quick·Step
s.t.
112
Jure Golcer
De Rosa - Stac Plastic
s.t.
113
Zoltan Madaras
Tecnofilm - Betonexpressz 2000
s.t.
114
Bernardo Colex
Amore & Vita - Conad
s.t.
115
Volodymyr Bileka
Amore & Vita - Conad
s.t.
116
Fabrizio Lucciola
Ceramica Flaminia
s.t.
117
Filippo Savini
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
118
Ruslan Ivanov
Tecnofilm - Betonexpressz 2000
s.t.
119
Matthew Wilson
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
120
Timothy Duggan
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
121
Fausto Fognini
Amore & Vita - Conad
s.t.
122
Joost Van Leijen
Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
123
Adriano Angeloni
Tecnofilm - Betonexpressz 2000
s.t.
124
Cristiano Salerno
De Rosa - Stac Plastic
s.t.
125
Salvatore Mancuso
ISD - Neri
s.t.
126
Maciej Paterski
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
127
Matic Strgar
Vorarlberg - Corratec
s.t.
128
Marco Cattaneo
De Rosa - Stac Plastic
s.t.
129
Vidal Celis
Footon - Servetto
s.t.
130
Riccardo Chiarini
De Rosa - Stac Plastic
+ 7'15
131
Marco Bandiera
Team Katusha
+ 7'47
132
Marko Dimic
CDC - Cavaliere
+ 8'35
133
Yuriy Agarkov
ISD Continental Team
s.t.
134
Alessandro Fantini
Acqua & Sapone - D'Angelo & Antenucci
s.t.
135
Stefano Pirazzi
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 10'03
136
Simone Campagnaro
Miche
s.t.
137
Danilo Andrenacci
CDC - Cavaliere
s.t.
138
Gianluca Coletta
Tecnofilm - Betonexpressz 2000
s.t.
139
Raivis Belohvosciks
Ceramica Flaminia
s.t.
140
Domenico Agosta
CDC - Cavaliere
s.t.
141
Vitali Kondrut
ISD - Neri
+ 11'47
142
Jaroslaw Dabrowski
Amore & Vita - Conad
s.t.
143
Michal Golas
Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
144
Tino Meier
LKT Team Brandenburg
s.t.
145
Marco Carletti
Tecnofilm - Betonexpressz 2000
s.t.
146
Artem Topchanyuk
ISD Continental Team
s.t.
147
Patrick Nagler
LKT Team Brandenburg
s.t.
148
Nikias Arndt
LKT Team Brandenburg
s.t.
149
Stefan Schäfer
LKT Team Brandenburg
s.t.
150
Renato Ruiz
Rio es Carnival/Seara/Vivo
s.t.
151
Hugo Vítor
Rio es Carnival/Seara/Vivo
s.t.
152
Eric Pidun
LKT Team Brandenburg
+ 13'07
153
Denys Karnulin
ISD Continental Team
s.t.
154
Michael Weicht
LKT Team Brandenburg
s.t.
155
Danilo Mello
Rio es Carnival/Seara/Vivo
s.t.
156
Sebastien Baldauf
Vorarlberg - Corratec
+ 15'39
157
Dominik Hrinkow
Vorarlberg - Corratec
s.t.
158
Alexander Gufler
Vorarlberg - Corratec
s.t.
159
Edwin Carvajal
Miche
s.t.
160
Noe Gianetti
Footon - Servetto
s.t.
161
Rida Cador
Tecnofilm - Betonexpressz 2000
s.t.
162
Oleg Berdos
De Rosa - Stac Plastic
s.t.
163
Clemens Fankhauser
Vorarlberg - Corratec
s.t.
164
Felix Dehmel
LKT Team Brandenburg
+ 16'51
165
Lars Telschow
LKT Team Brandenburg
s.t.
166
Josef Benetseder
Vorarlberg - Corratec
s.t.
167
Arnoud Van Groen
Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
+ 17'31
168
Gianfranco Visconti
Tecnofilm - Betonexpressz 2000
s.t.
169
Jakub Novak
Amore & Vita - Conad
s.t.
170
Luigi Gitto
Miche
+ 18'35
171
Matthias Brändle
Footon - Servetto
s.t.
172
Julian Dean
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
173
Riccardo Riccò
Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
174
Francesco Tomei
ISD - Neri
+ 19'15
Kangert struggled and couldn't complete our goal. We now have 1 out of 3 completed goals. I really didn't think he would struggle on such a small hill, but it was the flat parts were he most lost energy, so I simply don't know how could the result be different.
The late-joining breakaway riders surprisingly owned the race: the 3 podium riders are among those 5, while the other 2 got 6th and 7th. Efimkin also had a great performance, pushing the break very hard for the last kilometers trying not to be caught and still had energy to sprint for 4th.
Our next race will be 5 Jours de Dunkerque, as a final preparation for Amgen Tour of California, where we not only hope to get out with some results but also build up some more form for late month goals. Maybe Kangert even get a shot on a nice overall on Dunkerque, so let's hope for the best and stay tuned!
We're in France right now for 5 Jours de Dunkerque, or Five Days of Dunkirk, as a preparation race for further in the month. The race features 5 stages on the region of Pas de Calais, in northern France, a quite known region as part of World War II history.
The race was created in 1955 and has had 54 editions so far - so, quick math - it has happened all years so far. It's surely one of the very few smaller races - and even among the big Pro Tour races - that has never stopped. And, although located in France, we have more Belgian winners than French ones. And you also see big names on the race winners: Johan Museeuw, Stephen Roche, Freddy Maertens (who is also record holder with 4 wins) and others. Current winner is Portuguese Rui Costa.
We start with an easy but long stage in in Dunkerque. The stage is pretty much flat, but the uphill sprint could put some sprinters in trouble. This year's route then feature a tough cobble stage: 8 cobble sections are on the way, and coupled with some steep hills, this stage could turn crucial in the final GC. Another flat stage, this time quite short, before the queen stage of the race, which will probably decide the winner. In stage 4, the riders will pass through 6 climbs, and with the GC very probably decided, the sprinters will get some spotlights in Boulogne sur Mer with the easy last stage.
The GC Contenders
Well, it's hard to see who are the real contenders on this one. We don't know what could happen in the cobbles stage. Anyway, the game classifies the climbers the most favorites. And some of them can cobble too. Example of this: Bert de Waele and Paolo Longo Borghini. They are by far the best cobblestoners among the puncheurs, and their teams will surely be looking for a fast pace in stage 2.
If the pack arrives together, though, the decision will be on the hills: Yuri Trofimov, Christophe Kern and Anthony Geslin hope for this. Also keep an eye on the Spanish riders Constantino Zaballa and Juan Mauricio Soler. The last one though shouldn't be in a nice form, given he would probably line up for the Giro if so.
The Sprinters
There are three stages for the sprinters, and a nice battle is awaited: William Bonnet is one of the big names, and will probably face the hardest competition on Kenny Van Hummel. Another names are Coen Vermeltfoort, Lloyd Mondory and Tom Veelers. We should also watch Anthony Geslin, as he is a GC favorite and will surely be looking for some bonus points.
Rio es Carnival/Seara/Vivo
Team Goals:
- 1 out of 3 Top 10 (Walker);
- Mountain jersey (Kangert).
Well, about our "GC Intentions", might be gone after you receive the last numbers on the registration. We still have Walker in almost perfect form, though, so we expect something on the flat stages. Mainly on the two last ones. And, with Kangert, we'll probably go for the mountain jersey, as he can't cobble neither climb in the same level as the contenders. Anyway we're also using the race as a final preparation for AToC, where we will probably get almost nothing, so also use AToC as a another preparation for the upcoming goals.
May 5th: 5 Jours de Dunkerque
Dunkerque – Gravelines, 228.4 kms
Today, the riders wake up in Dunkerque and intend to reach Gravelines by the end of the day. The course is very easy, flat for the most part, but is quite long. Almost 230 kilometers into the riders legs, and with some small hills near the end and the uphill finish, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the already mentioned GC contenders doing well today. Although it’s very unlikely for a break to do it, we aim to put a man on it. Other than that, Kangert and Walker will be protected through the stage looking for today’s finish and tomorrow’s stage (Kangert).
Five was the number of brave riders that applied for today’s breakaway. Not only they would face plenty of kilometers, but also the wind also very strong today. We had Francisco Chamorro among them.
The gap maxed at about 11 minutes, but the peloton had it all under control. Within 100 kilometers to the finish, the gap was already decreasing. FDJ, Skil – Shimano and Bbox were sharing the work. Geslin is good on hills and a decent sprinter, he could very well get some bonuses for GC today.
The breakaway riders put a lot of effort into it, but the catch was inevitable. In fact, it occurred quite early, with still 21 kilometers left. Walker wasn’t feeling good today (-2), but Kangert had golden legs (+5)!
Our riders were pretty tired thanks to the strong wind and the fast pace of the peloton, but our most fit riders still had something: Walker pulling for Nazaret, Kangert on his wheel. The Seara train tried something in the last kilometers, but was overshadowed by Bbox, FDJ and Skil – Shimano trains.
Still, Walker did a great job, and when the sprint started, Nazaret and Kangert had gotten themselves the slipstream of Lloyd Mondory. The AG2R rider was in Lemoine’s wheel, who had Bonnet’s slipstream. The Bbox train quickly got the exclusive lead as the sprint started, so it looked like we were in the right path.
Bonnet made his move with about 1500 meters left. The others followed, and so tried Kangert, but he had a small catch up to do as he just left Nazaret’s wheel.
Inside the last kilometer, Bonnet was leading, Mondory second, then Lemoine, while Kangert was trying to reach Mondory’s wheel!
William Bonnet celebrates the win! Lloyd Mondory gets second, and look at the third! Tanel Kangert just got our second podium of the year, as he passes Lemoine in the last half kilometer to get 3rd!
Today winner is Stage Results
1
William Bonnet
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
5h08'59
2
Lloyd Mondory
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
3
Tanel Kangert
Rio es Carnival/Seara/Vivo
s.t.
4
Cyril Lemoine
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
5
Coen Vermeltfoort
Rabobank CT
s.t.
6
Jean-Eudes Demaret
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
7
Christian Poos
Continental Team Differdange
s.t.
8
Maxime Bouet
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
9
Blel Kadri
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
10
Piet Rooijakkers
Skil - Shimano
s.t.
YES! I'm very happy, a brilliant way to start the race! As you can see on the last post, I indeed expected one Top 10 in a sprint stage: but it wasn't this stage, it was with Walker and I expected only a Top 10, not a podium! So many reasons for me to be very happy right now, and I am =D Nazaret also got 13th, near a Top 10! It's our second podium of the year, and I hope more good results can come. It was a brilliant work by Walker and Nazaret setting Kangert in a great position in the final kms, this added to Kangert's daily form resulted in this great result for us. Congrats to them all and hopefully we can get more good results still in France!
Thanks for the comments, stage 2 should be up soon if I have enough time.
@baia
Well... I have to admit I checked the difficult level after the stage. I mean it was the first 'played' stage in the new PC (Giro di Toscana I already played in the other computer and saved the replay, PC started to have problems before I wrote it), so I did check it, but it was indeed Hard
May 6th: 5 Jours de Dunkerque
Arques - Le Chateau Cambrésis, 199.0 kms
Today's stage is the second most difficult one of the race. By the time the riders arrive Le Chateau Cambrésis, not only they will have ridden almost 200 kilometers, but also passed through 8 cobble sections and several steep climbs. Actually, 5 cobble sections will be cobble climbs, so it gets even harder. Our plan today is to protect Walker as much as possible for the next stages and send Kangert to the breakaway for collecting some points (30 max points to get). We don't know if the peloton will let him go, as he is 5th on GC, but we will try.
During the first kilometers, a big break of 16 riders was formed. Kangert did not attack as he thought the peloton wouldn't let a big break like this establish.
We were wrong. Surprisingly, the peloton did let them go, so we had to take the matter into our hands. Fortunately, after about 20 kilometers of pace making, we caught the escapees.
More attacks happened: this time, Kangert went with them.
And so, a breakaway of 7 riders was established, with Kangert among them. Before the first KOM sprint, they already faced the first cobble section.
Kangert suffered a lot on it, but was fresh enough to outsprint attacker Dimitri Kryvtsov on the KOM sprint. It appeared though as the ISD rider attacked just to attack, not for the KOM points, as he did it 4 kilometers before the sprint.
I feared that random attack could be the 'breakaway bug', that already happened with us twice, but it fortunately wasn't. The escapees then reached the sprint check, where Kangert used the opportunity to collect a few more seconds on GC.
José García Acosta, who attacked out of the peloton when gap was in about 2'30, reached the escapees just before our second KOM climb. This time, it was a 1-km cobbled climb: Kangert would suffer if he wanted the points.
And indeed, he struggled. At least he still got 2 points. The other points were given to Van Zandbeek and García Acosta.
We now reach our 3rd KOM ascent of the day. With the pace up the climb set by Acosta, Kangert tries a last moment move. Unfortunately, he waited too much, and couldn't pass the Caisse rider. Virtual classification still had Kangert in the lead, with 12 points, but Acosta now had 10.
As the riders entered the last 70 kilometers today, we had our 4th KOM sprint. It was another cobble climb, so again Kangert struggled. Our Estonian could only get 2 points as he saw Acosta get full points and virtual 16, against 14 for Kangert with only one King of the Mountains sprint left. Peloton was checking in 5 minutes later.
The riders now faced the most hard part of today's stage: 3 consecutive cobble climbs. Kangert would certainly have problems. 3 escapees already dropped on the first climb.
And right after the second climb, Acosta attacked! Kangert was very much tired to do anything, and if the Caisse rider went solo, we wouldn't be able to get the mountain jersey today!
Acosta increased his advantage over the cobbles, but as soon as we hit the road again, the 4 escapees started chasing him down. Having a max gap of 49 seconds, his attack lasted 17 kilometers. We also had good news on the peloton: Walker was feeling awesome today (+5), and had passed the cobble sections quite easily so far. There were still more cobbles and climbs to go, though.
Catching Acosta was useless in the end: seeing they were going to be caught by the peloton, Van Zandbeek and Nilsson attacked just before the penultimate cobble section. The peloton caught the others, but these 2 were still going strong. They crossed the top of the last KOM climb a minute before the pack. Soler got 3rd on the sprint for the 2 points.
Kangert being caught by the pack at least got Walker some more help. The Aussie had only one cobble section and one last climb to do, and he was feeling well. On the last cobble section, we tried an already used tactic: break out of the pack before the cobbles begin.
It didn't work, but our luck was that Walker was really feeling awesome today: he survived the cobbles and the climb! He still had some amount of energy left, probably enough to sprint for a, luckily, Top 10! The breakaway still had 50 seconds with only 5 km to go. Would they make it?
No. Poor escapees were caught with less than 4000 meters to the line, so mass sprint! In the preparations for the sprint, Walker got himself an almost perfect position: he had the wheel of Van Hummel, who was on the wheel of Bonnet! Arguably the best two sprinters in the race, and Walker had the chance to be in their slipstream!
The sprint starts. Bonnet quickly accelerates and is leading under the flamme rouge. Van Hummel in the slipstream, and so is Walker, who is holding a podium right now!
And that does it! William Bonnet reaches the line first for his second consecutive win, Van Hummel gets second and Nicholas Walker secures our second podium in a row!! What a race this has been being for us!!
Today winner is Stage Results
1
William Bonnet
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
5h00'38
2
Kenny Van Hummel
Skil - Shimano
s.t.
3
Nicholas Walker
Rio es Carnival/Seara/Vivo
s.t.
4
Yury Trofimov
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
s.t.
5
Anthony Geslin
Française des Jeux
s.t.
6
Lloyd Mondory
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
7
Coen Vermeltfoort
Rabobank CT
s.t.
8
Sébastien Chavanel
Française des Jeux
s.t.
9
Jean-Eudes Demaret
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
10
Sébastien Hinault
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
Woo-hoo!! We now have 3 podiums in the year, and two of them consecutive!! What a beginning of race, and the two flat stages were our most hopes are in haven't even been raced yet! Not only we have two podiums in a row, but also Tanel Kangert is second on GC, and although wasn't able to make it to the KOM jersey, he will wear the young rider jersey tomorrow! For the first time ever, today, we have a red name in every single individual classement!! Also a double in the young classification with Walker. Congrats to the team and let's hope the good results continue!
General Classification
1
William Bonnet
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
10h08'57
2
Tanel Kangert
Rio es Carnival/Seara/Vivo
+ 26
3
Lloyd Mondory
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 28
4
Kenny Van Hummel
Skil - Shimano
s.t.
5
Nicholas Walker
Rio es Carnival/Seara/Vivo
+ 32
6
Job Vissers
Skil - Shimano
+ 36
7
Jean-Marc Bideau
Bretagne - Schuller
s.t.
8
Ronan Van Zandbeek
Van Vliet EBH Elshof
+ 38
9
Coen Vermeltfoort
Rabobank CT
+ 40
10
Jean-Eudes Demaret
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
Spoiler
Points
1
William Bonnet
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
50
2
Lloyd Mondory
AG2R La Mondiale
30
3
Tanel Kangert
Rio es Carnival/Seara/Vivo
22
Mountain
1
José Vicente García Acosta
Caisse d'Epargne
16
2
Ronan Van Zandbeek
Van Vliet EBH Elshof
16
3
Tanel Kangert
Rio es Carnival/Seara/Vivo
14
Young
1
Tanel Kangert
Rio es Carnival/Seara/Vivo
10h09'23
2
Nicholas Walker
Rio es Carnival/Seara/Vivo
+ 6
3
Ronan Van Zandbeek
Van Vliet EBH Elshof
+ 12
Team
1
Landbouwkrediet
30h28'51
2
Centro Ciclismo de Loulé - Louletano
+ 0
3
Bretagne - Schuller
+ 0
Ps.: after this stage, double checked difficult level. It's hard Edited by lluuiiggii on 25-02-2011 21:51
May 7th: 5 Jours de Dunkerque
Fontaine au Pire - Henin Beaumont, 99.8 kms
Today, together with stage 5, is the flattest and shortest stage of the race. Of course, it's the easiest. And that's mainly why we have good hopes for a nice result with Walker here. In the last 2 stages, I had no expectations and got great results. Let's just hope that today, that I do expect a nice result, it doesn't happen the opposite and we finish outside of Top 50 =P
As usual, some riders tried it in a breakaway. But in such a small stage, of course the peloton never let them get a significant gap. Paced mainly by AG2R, Skil - Shimano and Rabobank CT, the peloton was back in the lead with 9 kilometers left.
And there is a crash on the peloton! 14 riders are down after Longo Borghini falls! Fortunately, he was in the back of the peloton, so no important riders fell.
On the front, the Seara train formed by Nazaret-Kangert-Walker was very well positioned with 5 km to go in the wheel of AG2R's Loubet. The non-sprinter was giving us a great push. You can also check Kangert's young rider jersey.
We lost a few positions when Nazaret got tired, but as soon as Kangert started pushing Walker himself we got to the top of the peloton! The sprint was about to begin, but where are Bonnet, Van Hummel and the other big sprinters?
Going for the last kilometer, Jean-Eudes Demaret is leading, on his wheel is Nicholas Walker. Vermeltfoort on the right side, but Jimmy Engoulvent hasn't made his move out of Lemoine's slipstream yet. These five have a gap to the others, will the winner be one of them today?
Apparently not, as Lloyd Mondory comes like a bullet to take the late lead! Engoulvent second, Walker 3rd trying to pass the Saur - Sojasun rider!
Lloyd Mondory takes today's stage, Nicholas Walker passes Engoulvent and gets second while Jimmy completes the podium!! What a fantastic race for us, surely it will enter the team history books! Pretty bad the car was there to mess the picture, too.
Today winner is Stage Results
1
Lloyd Mondory
AG2R La Mondiale
2h12'21
2
Nicholas Walker
Rio es Carnival/Seara/Vivo
s.t.
3
Jimmy Engoulvent
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
4
Jean-Eudes Demaret
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
5
Cyril Lemoine
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
6
Coen Vermeltfoort
Rabobank CT
s.t.
7
Sébastien Chavanel
Française des Jeux
s.t.
8
Mathieu Claude
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
s.t.
9
Piet Rooijakkers
Skil - Shimano
s.t.
10
Fabien Bacquet
Big Mat - Auber 93
s.t.
Wow, it's our third podium in a row! I can't believe this, what is happening? I've no idea, I just know it's amazing!! This time we also counted with a bit of luck: Bonnet, Van Hummel, and some other sprinters simply decided not to sprint. Mondory, on the other hand, didn't, so he passes us on GC and passes Bonnet on Points. Walker now gets to wear the young jersey after more bonus seconds and is 3rd on Points. Also Nazaret gets 12th, Kangert 17th. What an awesome race this has been for us, simply fantastic!
).
Hopefully you get the backup!
Good luck with Kangert on 5 Jours de Dunkerque !
brincadeirinha...
