Firstly, thanks for big support. The team did great in Malaysia with 3 guys in Top 10 (it could've been 3 guys in Top 5 if only Arredondo missed that fall on 8th stage, but well)! We're now in March, right in front of Paris - Nice / Tirreno - Adriatico. But firstly, Roma Maxima!
Our first race in March will be Roma Maxima classic. As you can see, it's 1.1 rated classic that takes place in Italy and finishes in it's capital city, Rome. It's one of the oldest classics, firstly raced back in 1933.
Roma Maxima [1.1]
3rd March, 2014
The profile is a bit tricky and the final result depends on the riders action. If some more serious climbers attacks on these 3 biggest climbs, than the race is open for everyone. If that doesn't happen, and few sprinters survive these climbs, the race is most probably going to finish in mass sprint. It's all cycling, so everything can happen.
The startlist is pretty good here, with few very good names from the world of cycling. Big amount of Italians are here, which is no problem. Some biggest names here are: Uran, Chavanel, Cunego, Kiserlovski, Riblon, Brajkovic, Caruso, Cataldo, Battaglin, Basso etc. There are no big sprinters here, which is reasonable, since the terrain isn't really flat here.
Trek brought some pretty good team here, with Kiserlovski on the top. Robert had a long day, since he had to travel from Malaysia to Italy and prepare everything to this morning. That might affect his result, but he's our leader only on paper. Felline, Voigt, Jungels and few more strong guys are here aswell.
We're not really aiming for some high result here. This is the perfect race for ones who wants to stretch the legs, skip Paris - Nice and focus on Tirreno or some other important races in this month. That was all for this preview, see ya soon!
Great results, Kiserlovski did what was expected and D.Poppel was unlucky about being 2nd but this just show that he is able to bring some wins to the team..
Kiserlovski isn't team leader here, as he's a bit tired from Langkawi so he's here just to stretch his legs a bit and prepare for Catalunya. We have Voigt, Felline, Jungels tho, so we surely expect good result. Let's check if we met your Top 5 expectations.
Very cold and rainy day in Italy today, especially in region of Lazio, where to Rome is. That can mean great fight on one side and some bad crashes on other side.
Roma Maxima [1.1]
3rd March, 2014
Do I have to say that breakaway was created? 6 guys decided to try their luck from attack and made an early move. No favourites or some guys that can take race win in this group, so peloton lets them go.
Although the peloton let them go, riders in front just couldn't get that advantage and they decided to give up just before beggining of first hill. This certainly doesn't look good for sprinters, since this surely means alot of action when road goes uphill.
First 2 hills passed without any action, which was a bit surprise for everyone. But ,on the top of last one, Cataldo decided to stretch legs a bit and made a move. He's followed by Marcato, Visconti and De Gendt there.
They're on descent now and still no big differences made. One huge group behind chasing. Kiserlovski and Voigt are there, for us.
Italian trio, Cataldo, Visconti and Marcato organised quickly and started co-operating. They now have 20-30 seconds advantage over E2 group, which is constantly raising.
De Gendt chasing in E2 group. Robert and Jens are still there, waiting for their chance. They're going on relay aswell. It's getting serious.
Italian trio already entered walls of Rome and are in last 10 kilometers of the race. Just when E2 group entered, which was 30 seconds after, Jens Voigt made an attack!
Jensie is showing some real skill there, as he's getting close to first 3 guys. He's followed by few guys. Kiserlovski gave up and dropped already. It's surely not race for him. Cataldo and Marcato of E1 are wheelsucking and making few tactics, while Visconti is chasing. Can that cost them a win here, as guys from behind are going as rockets?
Soon, Chavanel joined Voigt and they're now only few meters behind the lead group. This is getting interesting, since the sprint is about to start.
And it soon started! Marcato launched it and he's followed by Cataldo. Visconti paid price of strong relay and he can't follow that. But who can get the win?
Marco Marcato gets the win! What a form from this guy, as he got few stage-wins in Malaysia few days ago, aswell!
Cataldo finishes as 2nd, while Visconti gets only last podium place there. Chavanel and Voigt were exhausted, by French rider somehow managed to finish in front of Jensie and get 4th position.
Voigt finishes as 5th here, which is pretty good result for oldest guy in peloton. We're happy with result, although it could be much better, since Jensie almost caught up with first group before sprint... But well...
It's always a bit tricky to reel in the guys attacking early on in the descent but Jens nearly succeed in that. Nice to seem him fulfilling the expectations. If the road were a bit longer, he might have made podium or even won.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
We needed a bit more luck for the win there, but it's all racing. I am sure Jens is happy with that result, as well as Trek's DS is.
2nd UWT Stage-race this season, The race to the Sun starts today. It's actually "start" of season for PT teams, as there are no big pauses between races from this point. Some "real racing" can finally start!
Paris - Nice [UWT]
3rd March - 10th March, 2014
The route is nowhere hard or surprising, which is quite normal for Paris - Nice , as it was and still is much easier race than Tirreno - Adriatico (which is coming in few days) past few years. 1 ITT , 4 flat stages and 3 hilly stages. Alot of things can happen and although there are no real, long climbs, the action from best stage-racers are surely expected today.
I think you'll just have to look on startlist to see how important this race is in calendar of all best guys. You have absolutely all best stage-racers here, all best sprinters, as well as all best guys in every other field. Froome, Quintana, Nibali, Martin, Cavendish, Cancellara, Kittel, Martin, Betancur, Vanmarcke, Kwiatkowski are just some of the names I will just say that we'll have to be patient, as this strong competition will surely bring us some great fun and hopefully few good results for Trek.
Speaking of our team, we also brought some great squad here. Schleck brothers, with Zoidl as their helper will lead the team in mountains, precisely hills, while Cancellara, Vandewalle and Sergent will try something on first stage - prologue. Van Poppel brothers are here for sprint.
Really strong squad for us here, hope it will bring us at least few good results. That was all for preview of Race to the Sun, see ya soon on the road and report of first stage, the prologue.
Indeed. Now, let's just hope it will bring us some good results. Will be hard in this competition, but we'll surely give try!
First PN stage this year is 8km long prologue, which is basically all flat. Of course, we expect some good result from Spartacus, but we can't say that we expect win. Martin is here, as well as Froome/Wiggins and Fabian is just not in perfect form. It's not impossible tho!
Paris - Nice [Stage 1]
3rd March - 10th March, 2014
Peter Veltis from BMC Racing was the first one to set some pretty good time. He was one of the first to starts even, so he had huge provisional lead. He finished as 11th at the end.
Westra was one of these early-starters aswell, as he was the first guy to start for Astana. After a calm and focused ride, he managed to finish 2 seconds in front of Velits, which put him in provisional lead.
20 riders after him and nothing really happened. It was time for 2nd round and Sky had a surprise there, as Wiggins was their 2nd rider. Wiggins has no chances for leader place with this team, so he has to start early. Great race for him as expected and he sets new best time. He's 7 seconds in front of Westra now!
Alot of guys after Wiggins finished their ride and nothing really interesting happened. Next "important" guy was TeeJay van Garderen. Although he had little problem on the starting ramp, he managed to get the same time as Westra there and share that provisional 2nd place.
Our first good results arrived when Vandewalle started, but that wasn't so impressive. However, at the next row of riders, Sergent started and got some really good time there. He finished only 6 seconds behind Wiggins and got 2nd place. The guy is in form!
And then, the moment everyone waited for, happened. Tony Martin gone off the ramp and now everyone's waiting for miracle. Of course, that doesn't happen as Martin set an absolutely unbeliavable time. This guy isn't from this planet. He finished 20 seconds in front of Wiggins in 8km ITT. I repeat, 20 seconds!!!
It's now really hard to believe someone's going to beat that, but the race had to continue. Kwiatkowski was next OPQS rider to start and he was next sensation. Little Polish guy finished with the same time as Wiggo, as 2nd provisional.
Now, there are only 2 guys that can change look of Top 3 (and hardly change Martin on that winner spot) and their names are Froome and Cancellara. Chris Froome is first to start. After pretty decent ITT ride from Britain, he finished as 3rd with 24 seconds behind Martin. Tony's ride looks more impressive now!
But not alot time to talk about that , as Fabian is the next one on the ramp. What can i say about the absolute leader of this team and the guy who won literally everything he could.
After great and agressive ride, Fabian finished 16 seconds behind Martin, as the only one being in these famous 20seconds. Great 2nd place for Herr Fabian and Trek!
, totally deserved.
