Holy cow
That was one bloody brilliant race!
I think this is a big turning point in the story, Puccio the great helper kind of dies, and Puccio the talent, the future Flèche Wallonne winner arises!
Brilliantly done, and another extremely nice report!
@Dienblad: Definitely! 5th is amazing for a rider like Puccio
@Pellizotti2: Thanks, i'm glad you're still liking it
@sutty68: Yeah, it was a great day for the team to take two spots in the top 5 - Especially in this kind of race
@Ian Butler: Hehe Definitely a turning point for Puccio! But still, Puccio is young and unexperienced - So the great helper doesn't die at all. He'll have to learn a lot to become a winner, but this result has really taken him a step further to that goal
On the basis of this, i've thought about increasing the difficulty to extreme. But on the other hand, i think most of his results has been okay realistic... What are your opinions on this?
And lastly, i just want to apologize for not being very active lately. I've been really busy, and haven't got much time to write on the story. Until christmas it will probably remain the same, but i hope to keep on my motivation
Wow...I really don't get how you can get 5th in F-W and 15th in AGR with 71 hill When I played those races yesterday with my 74 hill leader at 96 fitness I was dropped by the peloton long before the finish!
But as I said before, I think you should increase the difficulty since you are playing with Sky
Thanks for the responses on my little issue.
I've desided whether i'll continue on hard, or go to extreme.
So, i've got two races left before my first (of two) session is over.
I've already ridden the LBL and i attend to keep the difficulty on hard until my last race of the session, namely the Giro di Toscana.
When Puccio starts racing again (i think it's in August), i'll again judge whether i'll keep the difficulty.
The main favorites are definitely Gilbert and Rodriguez, but the many of those who stand in second line will definitely try their all to make a surprise. Within this group, riders such as M. Iglinskiy, R. Urán, A. Schleck, D. Cunego and M. Albasini have been the most significant outsiders in the previous Ardennes-classics, who eventually could turn out winning the classic if the main favorites will ride too strategically and awaiting. We're therefore on to a very exciting edition of La Doyenne anno 2012.
Favorites
P. Gilbert
J. Rodriguez, D. Cunego
R. Urán, A. Schleck, M. Albasini
Pre-Tactics
We started out being a squad of inconceivable outsiders. We weren't any real threat and was doomed to suicide escapes. But with the two previous races, our little group of riders at the Ardennes-classics, have taken on a very important and dominant role, ending up with a total of three top 5 results in two races.
Urán will be our leader again, while Nordhaug and me will remain in our free roles. Therefore there won't be any major changes in our tactics or way of driving, since we've been doing excellent so far. La Doyenne is a very unpredictable race, so we'll have no detailed plan to follow, and instead we'll ride as the race develops.
The Race
It was a real release for the pack, when the break of the day finally got established, since the struggle of the fortune hunters seemed to go on for ages. Eight very prominent riders formed the escape, with top names such as J.J. Cobo, A. Talansky and A. Dyachenko.
Morning breakaway of 8 riders
After a tough start, the pack slowed down significantly, keeping the energy reserves for later. No wonder with such a beautiful scenery.
The pack enjoying the view of Belgium
The pack suddenly increased the pace due to an increasing time gap between them and the escape. The impact of the all of sudden increasement caused a lot of hesitant riders at the back to lose touch with the pack. Especially J. Rodriguez and Katusha together with
T. Voeckler and F. Schleck were affected.
Main favorite Rodriguez loses touch with the pack
Thankfully for a lot of riders, the pack didn't wanted to play with such a high amount of riders with still 60 km to go. The whole Katusha team therefore reacted by going straight to the front together with Vacansoleil, beginning to up the pace even further.
Katusha and Vacansoleil in an extreme pace
On the legendary Redoute climb, only 22 riders managed to get over the climb in front, due to the high pace, set by Katusha. Actually a lot of favorites were missing in the group and e.g. Gilbert was completely lost, due to bad positioning. Luckily both Urán, Nordhuag and Puccio were a part of the front, and especially Urán felt great.
A crucial split with 28 km to go
With only about 15 km to go, Rodriguez thought it was the time to set off. At first, only F. Schleck and R. Urán were able to follow the Spanish. But eventually Urán ended up catching Rodriguez alone.
Rodriguez, Schleck and Urán on the go
With Rodriguez and Urán in front, the front group now only contained 10 riders. Nordhaug and Puccio were free of duty with Urán in front, letting Leukemans and Nibali do the hard work at front.
Head of the race with about 12 km to go
Under one minute after, the pack came in high speed. All the secondary favorites such as Sánchez, Gerrans and Voeckler were here, and still eyed a possible reunion with the group in front.
Gilbert wasn't even a part of this group, but in group a step further behind. What a disastrous race for him.
52' between the front and the pack
Rodriguez and Urán got reeled in by Leukemans who gave his all for De Gendt. With three riders in front, Puccio and Nordhaug therefore were the ones to settle a fast pace to prevent reunion with the pack.
Puccio and Nordhaug pacing the front group
A. Schleck and Cunego made their way up to the front group, forming a group of 14 riders. The pack was still about a minute away, when Rodriguez got in front with Urán in his wheel, riding into the second last corner of the race. There was no doubt. The win was to be decided by these 14 riders, which Puccio amazingly once again was a part of.
14 riders to decide the outcome of the race
Rodriguez started the sprint with an extreme acceleration. Urán tried to follow his wheel, but didn't seem to have the last piece of punch to do so. De Gendt, Albasini and the Schlecks came right after, and also had a good speed. Unfortunately it looked like Puccio wasn't able to follow the best, and started fighting for the secondary placings.
La flamme Rouge, as the riders starts their sprint
When going into the last corner, Rodriguez had built a fine gap to Urán. Cunego, De Gendt and Albasini all three got near to Urán, but it was a question whether they'd catch him. Puccio did his all, and seemed to be fighting for 11th, alongside his idol Freire and Frenchman Pinot.
... 12th with Puccio! Pinot only just overtook Puccio on the last metres with a great sprint, but thankfully Puccio was able to keep his biggest idol behind himself, as Freire, which wheel's tip can be seen in the lower left corner, finished in 13th.
On the last kilometres i'm working very hard for Urán, and it turns out being a great choice since he's taking an amazing silver medal. I'm so proud of the whole team. We've done things we'd never imagined were possible through the last week, and this has to be the climax of an incredible journey.
Trough the Ardennes-classics week i've promoted myself greatly through some magnificent results. I've talked to several stars and got myself some new friends. But most importantly, i've talked a lot with my absolute favorite idol, O. Freire, getting to know the great person behind the great star. It has really ment a lot to me, and it all culminates today, by beaten the man himself in the sprint for 12th :-P
I'll see you soon at Giro di Toscana, my final race of this session.
A race with me in the lead. I'm looking so much forward to show what i'm capable of doing on home track. See you soon.
Wow, this was one of the most exciting race reports I've read, ever! This was a brilliant Ardennes season for Puccio, really developing himself as a strong hilly rider. He doesn't seem bothered by the length and keeps up with the big guns, he's in the shape of his life and cashes in his form with brilliant results.
Excellent!
