@ Avin: Yeah, it's the early season If the results continue to be that good in March / April, I might switch to extreme. But infact, I like to win, so I don't know yet
After a tough first half with lots of more or less hard climbs, the last part is almost completely either downhilling or flat. The stage looks like a good one for another breakaway win.
Dominik's Pre-Race Comment
Looking at the profile, we want to get a rider into today's break, preferably a quick one like Maciej Paterski or Tiziano Dall'Antonia. For the GC, we don't expect bigger changes.
Live Ticker
Km 1:
The first riders start from the very beginning of the race.
.
Km 2:
Among the men who try their luck is Tiziano Dall'Antonia.
.
Km 11:
Over the first climb, Tiziano Dall'Antonia and Gianluca Brambilla (Colnago) lead with two and a half minutes to the pack. Andrey Klyuev (Amore&Vita) and Edoardo Girardi (Pisanellastoria) follow half a minute behind.
.
Km 25:
Dall'Antonia wins the first mountain sprint. The leading duo is already 5'40 in front, the chasers fell back and are two minutes behind.
.
Km 42:
Brambilla takes the second mountain sprint. The advance grew to 10 minutes.
.
Km 56:
With 110 kms to go, the peloton is 14 minutes behind the two Italians. Looks good for them.
.
Km 75:
Quick·Step and Lampre started chasing but it will be a tough challenge for them too reel the escapees back in.
.
Km 113:
Dall'Antonia and Brambilla reached the last intermediate sprint and face the last ~50 flat kilometers. Their advance is at eleven minutes. They will fight for the win and the favorite is clearly the Liquigas rider.
.
Km 146:
The leaders enter the last 20 kilometers. With their eleven minutes of advance, Dall'Antonia would even enter the Top 10.
.
Km 161:
Six kilometers in front of the finish line, Klyuev and Girardi are caught by the pack.
.
Km 164:
Cheered by the large crowds, Brambilla starts the sprint. Dall'Antonia has the better position on his wheel...
.
Km 167:
… and has lots of time to celebrate Liquigas' third stage win.
.
Km 164:
In the sprint for place three, Roman Kreuziger and Maciej Paterski lead out Elia Viviani and Damiano Cunego.
.
Km 167:
Cunego can hold off Borut Bozic who came from way behind with a high end speed. Viviani finishes fifth.
.
Km 167:
Dominik Nerz finishes comfortably in the pack but loses his tenth overall to Dall'Antonia.
1
Tiziano Dall'Antonia
Liquigas - Cannondale
4h37'37
2
Gianluca Brambilla
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 23
3
Damiano Cunego
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 11'07
4
Borut Božic
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Elia Viviani
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
6
Alessandro Petacchi
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
7
Alessandro Proni
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
8
Marcin Sapa
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
9
Davide Malacarne
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
10
Giuseppe Palumbo
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
...
43
Dominik Nerz
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Danilo Hondo
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
12
Maciej Paterski
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
13
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
s.t.
14
Franco Pellizotti
Katusha Team
s.t.
15
Jérôme Pineau
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
16
Vitali Kondrut
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
17
Daniele Callegarin
Team Type 1
s.t.
18
Constantino Zaballa
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
19
Uros Murn
Adria Mobil
s.t.
20
Eduard Prades
TV3 - Caixa Catalunya
s.t.
21
Giuseppe Muraglia
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
22
Diego Ulissi
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
23
Roger Hammond
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
24
Maurizio Biondo
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
25
Dario Cataldo
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
26
William Aranzazu
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
27
Michele Scarponi
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
28
Alberto Ongarato
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
29
Jaume Rovira
TV3 - Caixa Catalunya
s.t.
30
Joost Van Leijen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
31
Vladimir Efimkin
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
32
Marco Marzano
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
33
Gorik Gardeyn
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
34
Kristof Vandewalle
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
35
Julien Vermote
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
36
Francesco Ginanni
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
37
Roman Kreuziger
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
38
Enrico Magazzini
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
39
Mikhail Antonov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
40
Emanuele Sella
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
41
Mattia Cattaneo
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
42
Luca Paolini
Katusha Team
s.t.
43
Dominik Nerz
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
44
Alexander Khatuntsev
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
s.t.
45
Martijn Keizer
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
46
Lieuwe Westra
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
47
Johnny Hoogerland
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
48
Egor Silin
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
s.t.
49
Santo Anza
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
50
Sergio Hernandez
Team Type 1
s.t.
51
Domenico Pozzovivo
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
52
Massimiliano Gentili
Amore & Vita
s.t.
53
Héctor Guerra
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
54
Paolo Bailetti
Team Pisanellastoria
s.t.
55
Martin Lind
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
56
Danilo Napolitano
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
57
Andrea Grendene
Team Type 1
s.t.
58
Jure Kocjan
Team Type 1
s.t.
59
Rafaâ Chtioui
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
60
Ruggero Marzoli
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
61
Davide Rebellin
Katusha Team
s.t.
62
Luca Barla
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
63
Simone Masciarelli
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
64
Alessandro Donati
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
65
Luca Ascani
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
66
Paolo Ciavatta
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
67
Luca Mazzanti
Katusha Team
s.t.
68
Alexander Porsev
Katusha Team
s.t.
69
Danilo Andrenacci
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
70
Alexander Mironov
Katusha Team
s.t.
71
Aleksandr Kuschynski
Katusha Team
s.t.
72
Patrik Moren
Amore & Vita
s.t.
73
Alberto Contoli
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
74
Sergi Escobar
TV3 - Caixa Catalunya
s.t.
75
Alexey Tsatevitch
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
76
Vyacheslav Kuznetsov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
77
Dimitry Ignatiev
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
78
Alessandro Vanotti
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
79
Luca Pierfelici
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
80
Damiano Caruso
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
81
Sacha Modolo
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
82
Andrey Klyuev
Amore & Vita
+ 13'35
83
Cristiano Fumagalli
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
84
Simone Cadamuro
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
85
Volodymyr Zagorodny
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
86
Crescenzo D'Amore
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
87
Angelo Furlan
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
88
Michele Merlo
Team Pisanellastoria
s.t.
89
Paride Grillo
Team Pisanellastoria
s.t.
90
Javier Megías
Team Type 1
s.t.
91
Jens Erik Madsen
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
92
Edoardo Girardi
Team Pisanellastoria
s.t.
93
Tomasz Lisowicz
Bank BGZ
s.t.
94
Mahdi Sohrabi
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
s.t.
95
Josep Jufré
TV3 - Caixa Catalunya
s.t.
96
Alberto Loddo
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
97
Bernardo Riccio
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
98
Filippo Baggio
Team Pisanellastoria
s.t.
99
Krzysztof Jeżowski
Bank BGZ
s.t.
100
Elia Rigotto
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
101
Alexei Markov
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
s.t.
102
Hossein Nateghi
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
s.t.
103
Tobias Erler
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
s.t.
104
Shawn Milne
Team Type 1
s.t.
105
Wouter Mol
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
106
Krzysztof Szczawinski
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
107
Jesper Odgaard
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
108
Salvatore Commesso
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
109
Pelle Clapp
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
110
Boris Shpilevski
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
s.t.
111
Alex Candelario
Team Type 1
s.t.
112
Ariel Maximiliano Richeze
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
113
Philip Nielsen
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
114
Andrea Pasqualon
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
115
Masaaki Kikuchi
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
116
Jarosław Rębiewski
Bank BGZ
s.t.
117
Sergio Laganà
Team Pisanellastoria
s.t.
118
Omar Bertazzo
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
119
Volodymyr Kogut
Amore & Vita
s.t.
120
Blaz Furdi
Adria Mobil
s.t.
121
Giorgio Brambilla
Team Pisanellastoria
s.t.
122
Federico Rocchetti
Team Pisanellastoria
s.t.
123
Andrea Piechele
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
124
Alberto Losada
TV3 - Caixa Catalunya
s.t.
125
Marc Hester
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
126
Konrad Czajkowski
Bank BGZ
s.t.
127
Kristian Forbord
Amore & Vita
s.t.
128
Leopoldo Rocchetti
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
129
Pawel Sztobryn
Bank BGZ
s.t.
130
Vahid Ghafari
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
s.t.
131
Piotr Sztobryn
Bank BGZ
s.t.
132
Aljaz Hocevar
Adria Mobil
s.t.
133
Eric Pedrosa
TV3 - Caixa Catalunya
s.t.
134
Viktor Shmalko
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
135
Robert Vrecer
Adria Mobil
s.t.
136
Cristian Laurenti
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
137
Ryohei Komori
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
+ 15'27
138
Scott Stewart
Team Type 1
+ 21'36
139
Vincenzo Garofalo
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
140
Mario Alfieri
Adria Mobil
s.t.
141
Kirill Baranov
Itera - Katusha
+ 28'05
142
Sergiy Gretchyn
Amore & Vita
s.t.
Classifications
Overall
1
Damiano Cunego
Liquigas - Cannondale
17h36'26
2
Franco Pellizotti
Katusha Team
+ 46
3
Vladimir Efimkin
Itera - Katusha
+ 55
4
Roman Kreuziger
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 2'13
5
Michele Scarponi
Lampre - ISD
+ 3'19
6
Diego Ulissi
Lampre - ISD
+ 4'07
7
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
+ 4'19
8
Dario Cataldo
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 5'19
9
Alessandro Vanotti
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 5'49
10
Tiziano Dall'Antonia
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 6'09
11
Dominik Nerz
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 6'51
Spoiler
12
Jérôme Pineau
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 7'28
13
Massimiliano Gentili
Amore & Vita
s.t.
14
Héctor Guerra
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 8'04
15
Emanuele Sella
Androni Giocattoli
+ 8'50
16
Daniele Callegarin
Team Type 1
+ 8'56
17
Marco Marzano
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
18
Alessandro Proni
Acqua & Sapone
+ 9'40
19
Mattia Cattaneo
Lampre - ISD
+ 10'30
20
Johnny Hoogerland
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 11'19
21
Damiano Caruso
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 11'22
22
Gianluca Brambilla
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 12'43
23
Giuseppe Muraglia
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
+ 13'23
24
Egor Silin
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
+ 13'43
25
Luca Mazzanti
Katusha Team
+ 14'05
26
Maciej Paterski
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 16'40
27
Jaume Rovira
TV3 - Caixa Catalunya
s.t.
28
Davide Malacarne
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 16'58
29
Francesco Ginanni
Androni Giocattoli
+ 17'08
30
Constantino Zaballa
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 17'22
31
Domenico Pozzovivo
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 17'27
32
Giuseppe Palumbo
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 17'52
33
Simone Masciarelli
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
34
Paolo Bailetti
Team Pisanellastoria
+ 18'02
35
Josep Jufré
TV3 - Caixa Catalunya
+ 18'39
36
Joost Van Leijen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 18'52
37
Luca Barla
Androni Giocattoli
+ 20'24
38
Boris Shpilevski
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
+ 21'04
39
Danilo Andrenacci
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
+ 21'06
40
Dimitry Ignatiev
Itera - Katusha
+ 21'59
41
Eduard Prades
TV3 - Caixa Catalunya
+ 22'03
42
Danilo Hondo
Lampre - ISD
+ 22'07
43
Santo Anza
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 22'39
44
Uros Murn
Adria Mobil
+ 23'35
45
Luca Paolini
Katusha Team
s.t.
46
Kristof Vandewalle
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 23'52
47
Patrik Moren
Amore & Vita
+ 23'57
48
Davide Rebellin
Katusha Team
+ 24'34
49
Andrey Klyuev
Amore & Vita
+ 25'03
50
Marcin Sapa
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 25'29
51
Alberto Losada
TV3 - Caixa Catalunya
+ 25'48
52
Maurizio Biondo
Acqua & Sapone
+ 26'01
53
Salvatore Commesso
Androni Giocattoli
+ 26'21
54
Jure Kocjan
Team Type 1
+ 26'25
55
Elia Viviani
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 26'38
56
Ruggero Marzoli
Acqua & Sapone
+ 26'46
57
Mikhail Antonov
Itera - Katusha
+ 27'07
58
Luca Pierfelici
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 27'19
59
Enrico Magazzini
Lampre - ISD
+ 27'25
60
Borut Božic
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 27'44
61
Rafaâ Chtioui
Acqua & Sapone
+ 27'57
62
Lieuwe Westra
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 28'20
63
Alexander Mironov
Katusha Team
+ 28'31
64
Alexander Porsev
Katusha Team
+ 28'41
65
Sergio Hernandez
Team Type 1
+ 28'50
66
Luca Ascani
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
+ 29'37
67
Aleksandr Kuschynski
Katusha Team
+ 29'43
68
Alessandro Petacchi
Lampre - ISD
+ 29'47
69
Cristiano Fumagalli
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 29'53
70
Tomasz Lisowicz
Bank BGZ
+ 31'15
71
Vitali Kondrut
Lampre - ISD
+ 31'20
72
Julien Vermote
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 31'57
73
Robert Vrecer
Adria Mobil
+ 31'58
74
Martijn Keizer
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 32'18
75
Gorik Gardeyn
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 32'36
76
Crescenzo D'Amore
Androni Giocattoli
+ 32'51
77
Alberto Contoli
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 33'31
78
Konrad Czajkowski
Bank BGZ
+ 34'04
79
Danilo Napolitano
Acqua & Sapone
+ 34'08
80
Simone Cadamuro
Androni Giocattoli
+ 34'22
81
Sergi Escobar
TV3 - Caixa Catalunya
+ 34'32
82
Edoardo Girardi
Team Pisanellastoria
+ 34'39
83
Elia Rigotto
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 34'53
84
William Aranzazu
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 34'58
85
Roger Hammond
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 35'26
86
Andrea Grendene
Team Type 1
+ 35'28
87
Alessandro Donati
Acqua & Sapone
+ 36'14
88
Sacha Modolo
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 36'34
89
Paolo Ciavatta
Acqua & Sapone
+ 37'02
90
Pelle Clapp
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 37'11
91
Vyacheslav Kuznetsov
Itera - Katusha
+ 38'09
92
Alexander Khatuntsev
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
+ 38'19
93
Omar Bertazzo
Androni Giocattoli
+ 38'35
94
Alberto Ongarato
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 38'57
95
Mahdi Sohrabi
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
+ 39'01
96
Masaaki Kikuchi
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
97
Bernardo Riccio
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
+ 39'08
98
Martin Lind
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 39'48
99
Federico Rocchetti
Team Pisanellastoria
s.t.
100
Volodymyr Zagorodny
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 40'09
101
Alberto Loddo
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 40'47
102
Shawn Milne
Team Type 1
+ 42'01
103
Andrea Pasqualon
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
104
Krzysztof Jeżowski
Bank BGZ
s.t.
105
Aljaz Hocevar
Adria Mobil
s.t.
106
Volodymyr Kogut
Amore & Vita
+ 42'16
107
Vincenzo Garofalo
Androni Giocattoli
+ 42'23
108
Paride Grillo
Team Pisanellastoria
+ 42'32
109
Alexey Tsatevitch
Itera - Katusha
+ 42'34
110
Krzysztof Szczawinski
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 42'49
111
Michele Merlo
Team Pisanellastoria
+ 42'50
112
Javier Megías
Team Type 1
+ 43'01
113
Filippo Baggio
Team Pisanellastoria
+ 43'33
114
Jesper Odgaard
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 44'11
115
Angelo Furlan
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
116
Giorgio Brambilla
Team Pisanellastoria
s.t.
117
Ariel Maximiliano Richeze
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
+ 44'18
118
Jens Erik Madsen
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 44'33
119
Wouter Mol
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
120
Viktor Shmalko
Itera - Katusha
+ 44'52
121
Vahid Ghafari
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
+ 45'02
122
Ryohei Komori
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
+ 45'22
123
Alex Candelario
Team Type 1
+ 45'24
124
Andrea Piechele
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 45'35
125
Blaz Furdi
Adria Mobil
+ 48'16
126
Jarosław Rębiewski
Bank BGZ
+ 51'42
127
Hossein Nateghi
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
+ 52'19
128
Eric Pedrosa
TV3 - Caixa Catalunya
+ 53'22
129
Leopoldo Rocchetti
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 53'59
130
Kristian Forbord
Amore & Vita
+ 54'00
131
Cristian Laurenti
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
+ 59'09
132
Alexei Markov
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
+ 1h03'32
133
Mario Alfieri
Adria Mobil
+ 1h06'33
134
Tobias Erler
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
+ 1h06'43
135
Kirill Baranov
Itera - Katusha
+ 1h09'06
136
Marc Hester
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 1h09'11
137
Pawel Sztobryn
Bank BGZ
+ 1h10'27
138
Sergio Laganà
Team Pisanellastoria
+ 1h10'52
139
Piotr Sztobryn
Bank BGZ
+ 1h11'21
140
Scott Stewart
Team Type 1
+ 1h11'58
141
Sergiy Gretchyn
Amore & Vita
+ 1h15'14
142
Philip Nielsen
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 1h16'06
Points
1
Damiano Cunego
Liquigas - Cannondale
85
2
Franco Pellizotti
Katusha Team
63
3
Vladimir Efimkin
Itera - Katusha
52
4
Tiziano Dall'Antonia
Liquigas - Cannondale
41
5
Roman Kreuziger
Liquigas - Cannondale
40
Mountain
1
Damiano Caruso
Liquigas - Cannondale
26
2
Gianluca Brambilla
Colnago - CSF Inox
24
3
Tiziano Dall'Antonia
Liquigas - Cannondale
22
4
Damiano Cunego
Liquigas - Cannondale
20
5
Vladimir Efimkin
Itera - Katusha
20
Young Riders
1
Diego Ulissi
Lampre - ISD
17h40'33
2
Dominik Nerz
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 2'44
3
Mattia Cattaneo
Lampre - ISD
+ 6'23
4
Damiano Caruso
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 7'15
5
Gianluca Brambilla
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 8'36
Teams
1
Liquigas - Cannondale
52h44'03
2
Lampre - ISD
+ 20'09
3
Katusha Team
+ 23'27
Dominik's Comment
Gee. Fourth stage, third win for us. We are really dominating - just look at the team rankings! As we expected, we saw another breakaway win today and again, we were able to place a good rider in there and take the victory. Everything's perfect so far.
Except, of course, that Tiziano pushed me out of the Top 10, but I think I can cope with that. Also, tomorrow should suit me better, so who knows...
Anyway, tomorrow is my last race day for quite a long time, so stay tuned! Edited by cunego59 on 13-10-2011 19:26
JuanMotr wrote:
what about change dificulty to extreme??
+1. Really great results but a little bit to dominating maybe? Still, it's early into the season and the rest of the top-riders are probably out of shape. However, if it continues like this it will take the thrill away from this story. Also, it's your story so I leave the decision to you!
@ Avin: Yeah, it's the early season If the results continue to be that good in March / April, I might switch to extreme. But infact, I like to win, so I don't know yet
Congrats on the win! Nice to see Dominik within reach of Top-10. Liquigas should have chased Dall'Antonia for those 40 seconds, that made him overtake Dominik in GC
The last stage isn't too hard. Except for the small intermediate mountain sprint, it's pretty flat – until the last few kilometers. The finish is uphill and may cause time gaps, but they shouldn't be too large.
Dominik's Pre-Race Comment
We neither expect nor want a breakaway to win today so we won't send any rider to attack. We focus on the last kilometers as the finish suits Damiano perfectly and we aim for his second stage win. Apart from that, we just want to keep our nice overall places.
Live Ticker
Km 2:
Danilo Hondo (Lampre) is the first escapee of the day.
.
Km 12:
Four riders around the German are two minutes in front. Several men try to bridge the gap.
.
Km 34:
Twelve riders are in the lead but the attacks keep coming.
.
Km 49:
The group got too big and Katusha and Liquigas reeled them back in.
.
Km 61:
As no one else sprints, Cunego takes the first intermediate sprint.
.
Km 76:
Another couple of riders break free.
.
Km 85:
Three Poles and two Spaniards are 2'30 in front of the pack.
.
Km 126:
The advance had a maximum of four minutes but is now decreasing.
.
Km 149:
20 kilometers to go. After the small climb close to the finish, only 55 riders are in the first chasing group while the escapees still lead with 2'20.
.
Km 154:
Franco Pellizotti sets an early attack for the overall!
.
Km 159:
But Liquigas shows its strength and gets him back.
.
Km 160:
Within the last 10 kms, one man is still 1'30 in the lead: Tomasz Lisowicz (Bank BGZ) broke free from the other escapees. Can he take the stage win?
.
Km 164:
With 5 kms to go, youngster Dominik Nerz attacks! He aims for the Top 10 now!
.
Km 165:
He's followed by Cunego, Kreuziger, Pellizotti and a couple of others. They catch up with the original break. Lisowicz is still a bit in front.
.
Km 167:
But Lisowicz is soon overtaken by his chasers. Cunego, Kreuziger and Pellizotti are in the lead.
.
Km 169:
Cunego takes the expected stage win in front of Pellizotti and Kreuziger.
.
Km 169:
Dominik Nerz finishes at the back of the first bigger chasing group. His attack prevented the escapee's stage win and he's rewarded with the Top 10: He overtakes his team mate Dall'Antonia.
1
Damiano Cunego
Liquigas - Cannondale
4h15'20
2
Franco Pellizotti
Katusha Team
+ 26
3
Roman Kreuziger
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 45
4
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
+ 1'01
5
Vladimir Efimkin
Itera - Katusha
+ 1'16
6
Daniele Callegarin
Team Type 1
+ 1'25
7
Michele Scarponi
Lampre - ISD
+ 1'30
8
Alessandro Proni
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
9
Diego Ulissi
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
10
Massimiliano Gentili
Amore & Vita
s.t.
...
18
Dominik Nerz
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 1'49
Spoiler
11
Jérôme Pineau
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
12
Dario Cataldo
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
13
Johnny Hoogerland
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
14
Marco Marzano
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
15
Giuseppe Muraglia
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
+ 1'49
16
Davide Rebellin
Katusha Team
s.t.
17
Emanuele Sella
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
18
Dominik Nerz
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
19
Héctor Guerra
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
20
Uros Murn
Adria Mobil
+ 2'10
21
Eduard Prades
TV3 - Caixa Catalunya
+ 2'20
22
Constantino Zaballa
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
23
Egor Silin
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
+ 2'28
24
Tomasz Lisowicz
Bank BGZ
s.t.
25
Aleksandr Kuschynski
Katusha Team
s.t.
26
Tiziano Dall'Antonia
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 2'41
27
Domenico Pozzovivo
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
28
Alessandro Vanotti
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
29
Giuseppe Palumbo
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
30
Jure Kocjan
Team Type 1
s.t.
31
Alessandro Petacchi
Lampre - ISD
+ 2'57
32
Luca Paolini
Katusha Team
s.t.
33
Marcin Sapa
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
34
Maciej Paterski
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
35
Damiano Caruso
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
36
Simone Masciarelli
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
37
Francesco Ginanni
Androni Giocattoli
+ 3'11
38
Jaume Rovira
TV3 - Caixa Catalunya
s.t.
39
Luca Ascani
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
40
Luca Mazzanti
Katusha Team
s.t.
41
Boris Shpilevski
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
s.t.
42
Lieuwe Westra
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
43
Ruggero Marzoli
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
44
Konrad Czajkowski
Bank BGZ
s.t.
45
Mikhail Antonov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
46
Joost Van Leijen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 3'38
47
Davide Malacarne
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 3'46
48
Dimitry Ignatiev
Itera - Katusha
+ 3'54
49
Maurizio Biondo
Acqua & Sapone
+ 4'11
50
Elia Rigotto
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 4'20
51
Borut Božic
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
52
Andrey Klyuev
Amore & Vita
+ 4'28
53
Danilo Napolitano
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
54
Santo Anza
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
55
Paolo Bailetti
Team Pisanellastoria
+ 4'43
56
Alberto Losada
TV3 - Caixa Catalunya
+ 4'51
57
Josep Jufré
TV3 - Caixa Catalunya
s.t.
58
Vitali Kondrut
Lampre - ISD
+ 4'59
59
Edoardo Girardi
Team Pisanellastoria
s.t.
60
Cristiano Fumagalli
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
61
Sergi Escobar
TV3 - Caixa Catalunya
s.t.
62
Martin Lind
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 5'15
63
Elia Viviani
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 5'20
64
Alexander Mironov
Katusha Team
s.t.
65
Alexander Porsev
Katusha Team
s.t.
66
Paolo Ciavatta
Acqua & Sapone
+ 5'57
67
William Aranzazu
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
68
Luca Pierfelici
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
69
Vyacheslav Kuznetsov
Itera - Katusha
+ 6'05
70
Alexey Tsatevitch
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
71
Roger Hammond
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 6'33
72
Krzysztof Szczawinski
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 6'47
73
Krzysztof Jeżowski
Bank BGZ
s.t.
74
Gianluca Brambilla
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 7'58
75
Luca Barla
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
76
Kristof Vandewalle
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
77
Sergio Hernandez
Team Type 1
s.t.
78
Rafaâ Chtioui
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
79
Danilo Hondo
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
80
Robert Vrecer
Adria Mobil
s.t.
81
Ryohei Komori
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
82
Danilo Andrenacci
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
83
Enrico Magazzini
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
84
Salvatore Commesso
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
85
Julien Vermote
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
86
Masaaki Kikuchi
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
87
Sacha Modolo
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
88
Alberto Contoli
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
89
Alexander Khatuntsev
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
s.t.
90
Mattia Cattaneo
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
91
Patrik Moren
Amore & Vita
s.t.
92
Shawn Milne
Team Type 1
s.t.
93
Martijn Keizer
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
94
Crescenzo D'Amore
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
95
Andrea Grendene
Team Type 1
+ 8'32
96
Gorik Gardeyn
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
97
Mahdi Sohrabi
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
s.t.
98
Alessandro Donati
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
99
Omar Bertazzo
Androni Giocattoli
+ 8'43
100
Pelle Clapp
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
101
Bernardo Riccio
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
102
Vincenzo Garofalo
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
103
Jens Erik Madsen
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
104
Jarosław Rębiewski
Bank BGZ
s.t.
105
Volodymyr Zagorodny
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
106
Alberto Ongarato
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
107
Volodymyr Kogut
Amore & Vita
s.t.
108
Javier Megías
Team Type 1
s.t.
109
Hossein Nateghi
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
s.t.
110
Jesper Odgaard
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
111
Alex Candelario
Team Type 1
+ 9'03
112
Simone Cadamuro
Androni Giocattoli
+ 9'10
113
Alberto Loddo
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
114
Angelo Furlan
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
115
Leopoldo Rocchetti
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
116
Filippo Baggio
Team Pisanellastoria
+ 9'23
117
Paride Grillo
Team Pisanellastoria
s.t.
118
Pawel Sztobryn
Bank BGZ
+ 9'32
119
Wouter Mol
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
120
Eric Pedrosa
TV3 - Caixa Catalunya
s.t.
121
Piotr Sztobryn
Bank BGZ
+ 9'47
122
Marc Hester
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 10'46
123
Kristian Forbord
Amore & Vita
s.t.
124
Viktor Shmalko
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
125
Kirill Baranov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
126
Andrea Pasqualon
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 12'02
127
Vahid Ghafari
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
s.t.
128
Andrea Piechele
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
129
Ariel Maximiliano Richeze
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
s.t.
130
Tobias Erler
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
s.t.
131
Blaz Furdi
Adria Mobil
s.t.
132
Giorgio Brambilla
Team Pisanellastoria
s.t.
133
Federico Rocchetti
Team Pisanellastoria
s.t.
134
Aljaz Hocevar
Adria Mobil
s.t.
135
Sergio Laganà
Team Pisanellastoria
s.t.
136
Michele Merlo
Team Pisanellastoria
s.t.
137
Alexei Markov
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
s.t.
138
Sergiy Gretchyn
Amore & Vita
+ 12'35
139
Philip Nielsen
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 12'54
140
Cristian Laurenti
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
+ 14'10
141
Mario Alfieri
Adria Mobil
s.t.
142
Scott Stewart
Team Type 1
+ 15'13
Classifications
Overall
1
Damiano Cunego
Liquigas - Cannondale
21h51'20
2
Franco Pellizotti
Katusha Team
+ 1'26
3
Vladimir Efimkin
Itera - Katusha
+ 2'37
4
Roman Kreuziger
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 3'16
5
Michele Scarponi
Lampre - ISD
+ 5'15
6
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
+ 5'46
7
Diego Ulissi
Lampre - ISD
+ 6'03
8
Dario Cataldo
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 7'15
9
Alessandro Vanotti
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 8'56
10
Dominik Nerz
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 9'06
Spoiler
11
Tiziano Dall'Antonia
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 9'16
12
Jérôme Pineau
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 9'24
13
Massimiliano Gentili
Amore & Vita
s.t.
14
Héctor Guerra
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 10'19
15
Daniele Callegarin
Team Type 1
+ 10'47
16
Marco Marzano
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 10'52
17
Emanuele Sella
Androni Giocattoli
+ 11'05
18
Alessandro Proni
Acqua & Sapone
+ 11'36
19
Johnny Hoogerland
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 13'15
20
Damiano Caruso
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 14'45
21
Giuseppe Muraglia
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
+ 15'38
22
Egor Silin
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
+ 16'37
23
Luca Mazzanti
Katusha Team
+ 17'42
24
Mattia Cattaneo
Lampre - ISD
+ 18'54
25
Constantino Zaballa
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 20'02
26
Maciej Paterski
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 20'03
27
Jaume Rovira
TV3 - Caixa Catalunya
+ 20'17
28
Domenico Pozzovivo
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 20'34
29
Francesco Ginanni
Androni Giocattoli
+ 20'45
30
Giuseppe Palumbo
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 20'59
31
Gianluca Brambilla
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 21'07
32
Davide Malacarne
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 21'10
33
Simone Masciarelli
Acqua & Sapone
+ 21'15
34
Joost Van Leijen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 22'56
35
Paolo Bailetti
Team Pisanellastoria
+ 23'11
36
Josep Jufré
TV3 - Caixa Catalunya
+ 23'56
37
Boris Shpilevski
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
+ 24'41
38
Eduard Prades
TV3 - Caixa Catalunya
+ 24'43
39
Uros Murn
Adria Mobil
+ 26'11
40
Dimitry Ignatiev
Itera - Katusha
+ 26'19
41
Davide Rebellin
Katusha Team
+ 26'49
42
Luca Paolini
Katusha Team
+ 26'58
43
Santo Anza
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 27'33
44
Marcin Sapa
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 28'46
45
Luca Barla
Androni Giocattoli
+ 28'48
46
Danilo Andrenacci
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
+ 29'30
47
Jure Kocjan
Team Type 1
+ 29'32
48
Andrey Klyuev
Amore & Vita
+ 29'57
49
Ruggero Marzoli
Acqua & Sapone
+ 30'23
50
Danilo Hondo
Lampre - ISD
+ 30'31
51
Maurizio Biondo
Acqua & Sapone
+ 30'38
52
Mikhail Antonov
Itera - Katusha
+ 30'44
53
Alberto Losada
TV3 - Caixa Catalunya
+ 31'05
54
Lieuwe Westra
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 31'57
55
Kristof Vandewalle
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 32'16
56
Patrik Moren
Amore & Vita
+ 32'21
57
Elia Viviani
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 32'24
58
Borut Božic
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 32'30
59
Aleksandr Kuschynski
Katusha Team
+ 32'37
60
Alessandro Petacchi
Lampre - ISD
+ 33'10
61
Luca Ascani
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
+ 33'14
62
Luca Pierfelici
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 33'42
63
Tomasz Lisowicz
Bank BGZ
+ 34'09
64
Alexander Mironov
Katusha Team
+ 34'17
65
Alexander Porsev
Katusha Team
+ 34'27
66
Salvatore Commesso
Androni Giocattoli
+ 34'45
67
Cristiano Fumagalli
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 35'18
68
Enrico Magazzini
Lampre - ISD
+ 35'49
69
Rafaâ Chtioui
Acqua & Sapone
+ 36'21
70
Vitali Kondrut
Lampre - ISD
+ 36'45
71
Sergio Hernandez
Team Type 1
+ 37'14
72
Konrad Czajkowski
Bank BGZ
+ 37'35
73
Danilo Napolitano
Acqua & Sapone
+ 39'02
74
Elia Rigotto
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 39'39
75
Sergi Escobar
TV3 - Caixa Catalunya
+ 39'57
76
Edoardo Girardi
Team Pisanellastoria
+ 40'04
77
Julien Vermote
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 40'21
78
Robert Vrecer
Adria Mobil
+ 40'22
79
Martijn Keizer
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 40'42
80
Crescenzo D'Amore
Androni Giocattoli
+ 41'15
81
William Aranzazu
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 41'21
82
Gorik Gardeyn
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 41'34
83
Alberto Contoli
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 41'55
84
Roger Hammond
Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 42'25
85
Paolo Ciavatta
Acqua & Sapone
+ 43'25
86
Simone Cadamuro
Androni Giocattoli
+ 43'58
87
Andrea Grendene
Team Type 1
+ 44'24
88
Vyacheslav Kuznetsov
Itera - Katusha
+ 44'40
89
Sacha Modolo
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 44'54
90
Alessandro Donati
Acqua & Sapone
+ 45'12
91
Martin Lind
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 45'29
92
Pelle Clapp
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 46'20
93
Alexander Khatuntsev
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
+ 46'43
94
Masaaki Kikuchi
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
+ 47'25
95
Omar Bertazzo
Androni Giocattoli
+ 47'44
96
Mahdi Sohrabi
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
+ 47'59
97
Alberto Ongarato
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 48'06
98
Bernardo Riccio
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
+ 48'17
99
Alexey Tsatevitch
Itera - Katusha
+ 49'05
100
Krzysztof Jeżowski
Bank BGZ
+ 49'14
101
Volodymyr Zagorodny
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 49'18
102
Krzysztof Szczawinski
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 50'02
103
Alberto Loddo
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 50'23
104
Shawn Milne
Team Type 1
+ 50'25
105
Volodymyr Kogut
Amore & Vita
+ 51'25
106
Vincenzo Garofalo
Androni Giocattoli
+ 51'32
107
Javier Megías
Team Type 1
+ 52'10
108
Federico Rocchetti
Team Pisanellastoria
+ 52'16
109
Paride Grillo
Team Pisanellastoria
+ 52'21
110
Jesper Odgaard
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 53'20
111
Filippo Baggio
Team Pisanellastoria
+ 53'22
112
Jens Erik Madsen
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 53'42
113
Ryohei Komori
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
+ 53'46
114
Angelo Furlan
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 53'47
115
Andrea Pasqualon
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 54'29
116
Aljaz Hocevar
Adria Mobil
s.t.
117
Wouter Mol
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 54'31
118
Alex Candelario
Team Type 1
+ 54'53
119
Michele Merlo
Team Pisanellastoria
+ 55'18
120
Viktor Shmalko
Itera - Katusha
+ 56'04
121
Giorgio Brambilla
Team Pisanellastoria
+ 56'39
122
Ariel Maximiliano Richeze
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
+ 56'46
123
Vahid Ghafari
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
+ 57'30
124
Andrea Piechele
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 58'03
125
Blaz Furdi
Adria Mobil
+ 1h00'44
126
Jarosław Rębiewski
Bank BGZ
+ 1h00'51
127
Hossein Nateghi
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
+ 1h01'28
128
Eric Pedrosa
TV3 - Caixa Catalunya
+ 1h03'20
129
Leopoldo Rocchetti
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 1h03'35
130
Kristian Forbord
Amore & Vita
+ 1h05'12
131
Cristian Laurenti
D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo
+ 1h13'45
132
Alexei Markov
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
+ 1h16'00
133
Tobias Erler
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
+ 1h19'11
134
Kirill Baranov
Itera - Katusha
+ 1h20'18
135
Marc Hester
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 1h20'23
136
Pawel Sztobryn
Bank BGZ
+ 1h20'25
137
Mario Alfieri
Adria Mobil
+ 1h21'09
138
Piotr Sztobryn
Bank BGZ
+ 1h21'34
139
Sergio Laganà
Team Pisanellastoria
+ 1h23'20
140
Scott Stewart
Team Type 1
+ 1h27'37
141
Sergiy Gretchyn
Amore & Vita
+ 1h28'15
142
Philip Nielsen
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 1h29'26
Points
1
Damiano Cunego
Liquigas - Cannondale
116
2
Franco Pellizotti
Katusha Team
83
3
Vladimir Efimkin
Itera - Katusha
64
4
Roman Kreuziger
Liquigas - Cannondale
56
5
Michele Scarponi
Lampre - ISD
43
Mountain
1
Damiano Cunego
Liquigas - Cannondale
40
2
Franco Pellizotti
Katusha Team
28
3
Damiano Caruso
Liquigas - Cannondale
26
4
Gianluca Brambilla
Colnago - CSF Inox
24
5
Vladimir Efimkin
Itera - Katusha
22
Young Riders
1
Diego Ulissi
Lampre - ISD
21h57'23
2
Dominik Nerz
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 3'03
3
Damiano Caruso
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 8'42
4
Egor Silin
Tabriz Petrochemical Team
+ 10'34
5
Mattia Cattaneo
Lampre - ISD
+ 12'51
Teams
1
Liquigas - Cannondale
65h32'37
2
Lampre - ISD
+ 23'32
3
Katusha Team
+ 24'09
Dominik's Comment
That was a worthy conclusion for a fantastic Giro di Sardegna! The whole team worked terrific and we achieved complete domination on home soil. Just look at the numbers:
Four stage wins and three further podium spots, overall win, fourth and three more riders in the Top 11. Mountain jersey, points jersey and second in the young riders classification – Ulissi was too strong for me. And last but not least, we won the team classification by 23 minutes!
A very pleasing end of my first racing period of the season. I could draw some attention to myself with that late attack and re-gained my Top 10 spot. The DS again told me how pleased they are with my performances.
Well, that's it with racing for me so far. I return to the road in June for the Tour de Slovenie, until then I'll keep you updated with my blog and the race reports.
nice end to the first part of your season - wow june this will be quite some time until your next race is up but looking forward to it only too bad you dont try to "defend" your great mountains jersey in catalunya from last year
great performance by the rest of the team as well - next big target should be tirreno right?
@ johannes-w: Well, I wanted Dominik to race both in the early season and the Vuelta, so there was no room for Catalunya Tirreno is our first 5* goal, yes.
@ roturn: Yeah, for a short moment I thought he would get away, but one after another, almost every Top 20 rider countered - well except for Dall'Antonia
Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, until 2008 Omloop Het Volk, is one of the most traditional Belgian one day classics and the kick off for the cobblestone season. It is held since 1945 with three exceptions due to heavy snow fall. Many strong cobble riders use the race to build their form for the highlights in early April.
With 201 kilometers, Omloop Het Nieuwsblad has an average length for the northern classics. While the first and the last kilometers are rather flat, the mid part provides lots of ups and downs, spiced with cobblestone passages.
The entire cobblestone elite is present here in Belgium. Last year's winner and new Leopard signing Sylvain Chavanel is here to support Spartacus Cancellara at his season start. They are challenged by Tom Boonen, who won Paris – Roubaix last year, a strong Garmin team around Thor Hushovd, Martijn Maaskant and Johan Vansummeren and last but not least Sky's strong duo Haussler and Flecha. The likes of De Ronde winner Stijn Devolder, Matti Breschel, Nick Nuyens or Björn Leukemans might have outside chances.
Team Liquigas
Paolo Longo Borghini finished second in last year's very weak field, a result we won't be able to repeat today. A Top 20 for him or Daniel Oss would be nice.
Report
The riders are affected by strong winds and the peloton is very nervous which results in no break really getting away in the first 50 kilometers. Afterwards, a couple of riders around the likes of Brice Feillu, Carlos Sastre and Riccardo Ricco gets away but none of them is a decent cobbler.
The first pavé passage already destroys the pack. Only 50 riders are able to follow the pace of Garmin and Omega Pharma. Although most riders can catch up afterwards, we get an impression of what awaits us later on.
About halfway through the course, Matti Breschel tries an insane move and attacks. He catches up with the escapees but doesn't keep up a high pace and gets caught with the whole group a couple of minutes later.
Breschel repeats his move with 80 kms to go, this time accompanied by Jurgen Roelandts (Cofidis). And strange enough, they are given an advance of almost five minutes! In addition, Thor Hushovd suffers a puncture which sabotages the chase. And although Skil and Sky, later even Chavanel and Cancellara for Leopard, take over the lead in the pack, they don't reach Breschel and Roelandts anymore.
And Breschel, not surprisingly, has more reserves and takes the win. Roelandts scores a great second place. Thor Hushovd recovered well from his puncture and outsprints Boonen and Haussler for the third place. Daniel Oss was in the first chasing group for a long time but eventually couldn't keep up and finishes 23rd, still decent.
A muddy but happy Danish Champion: Matti Breschel.
Result
1
Matti Breschel
Rabobank Cycling Team
5h16'41
2
Jurgen Roelandts
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
3
Thor Hushovd
Team Garmin – Cervélo
+ 1'07
4
Tom Boonen
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Heinrich Haussler
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
6
Fabian Cancellara
Leopard – Trek
s.t.
7
Sylvain Chavanel
Leopard – Trek
s.t.
8
Björn Leukemans
Vacansoleil – DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
9
Nico Eeckhout
FDJ
s.t.
10
Juan Antonio Flecha
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
The Winner
Although his most important helper Lars Boom left the team, Matti Breschel has high hopes for the new season. Last year, he was a bit disappointed as he couldn't achieve a Top 5 in the important classics De Ronde and Paris – Roubaix – something the Dane want's to correct this year. With this win, he underlined his ambitions.
Liquigas Resumé
We aimed for a Top 20, but in such a strong field, we can settle for Oss' 23rd very well. He finished along the likes of Geraint Thomas or Martijn Maaskant and showed his future potential. Longo Borghini on 31 is fine as well. Edited by cunego59 on 15-10-2011 11:37
One day after Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne is the second bigger cobblestone classic in the early season. It has a long tradition since 1945 but no one was ever able to win it more than twice.
The profile is way easier than yesterday, with only 5 cobblestone passages and the last one being a long way in front of the finish. We might see a sprint from a larger group today although last year, Sylvain Chavanel could win solo.
Except for Tom Boonen (Quick·Step) and Nick Nuyens (Omega Pharma), all strong riders from yesterday compete here as well. The sprinters might be in better position today.
Team Liquigas
Longo Borghini did well here last year but the starting field is way stronger this year. We hope for a Top 20, maybe Top 15 if Daniel Oss can keep up with the front group for the final sprint.
Report
Juraj Sagan is Liquigas' representant in today's break and its last remaining rider as he gets caught with 12 kilometers to go by the 45 riders of the main pack. Nothing happened until that very moment when Fabian Cancellara (Leopard) and Björn Leukemans (Vacansoleil) attack!
Sylvain Chavanel joins them but although the attack doesn't succeed, it again splits the pack. It seems like a sprint from the leading group of 20, in which Daniel Oss is Liquigas' only remaining rider, would decide the race when Cancellara, Leukemans and Stijn Devolder (Skil) attack again with 5 kms to go.
They can create a small gap but eventually, the sprinters overtake them. Jurgen Roelandts (Cofidis) and Tom Veelers (Skil) are the dominating persons in that sprint and the latter takes his first win this year. Daniel Oss achieves a decent 14th.
After a fantastic last year, Veelers seems to continue his good performances.
Result
1
Tom Veelers
Skil - Shimano
4h31'30
2
Jürgen Roelandts
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
3
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
4
Heinrich Haussler
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
5
Bobbie Traksel
Landbouwkrediet
s.t.
6
Geraint Thomas
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
7
Björn Leukemans
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
8
Juan Antonio Flecha
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
9
Johan Vansummeren
Team Garmin - Cervélo
s.t.
10
Staf Scheirlinckx
Skil - Shimano
s.t.
...
14
Daniel Oss
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
The Winner
With his ten wins last year, Tom Veelers contributed a lot to Skil's promotion to World Tour. His efforts will be needed to keep the team in the first division and he aims to live up with the expectations. After three stage wins in San Luis, he scores already his fourth win today!
Liquigas Resumé
Daniel Oss' 14th was the maximum we could expect and we're pleased with that. In such a strong field, more isn't possible yet.
@ FreitasPCM: Thanks. Oss has some potential left, but at the moment, that's the maximum.
I hope that the story keeps being interesting although Dominik isn't racing. As always, I appreciate your comments, even if I might not react to every single one
. February 27, 2012 – Classica Sarda Sassari - Cagliari
The Race
The one day classic on the Italian island Sardinia was held between 1948 and 1983 with famous winners like Rudi Altig or Eddy Merckx. It is back since 2010 as a race of the UCI Europe Tour and frequented by a couple of very decent riders.
The course is pretty hilly, especially the last couple of kilometers are constantly uphill and provide a perfect terrain for strong puncheurs. With 194 kms, it has an average length
Type 1
151. K.Reijnen
152. A.Bowden
153. J.Eldridge
154. R.Sarti
In a very small field (77 riders), Damiano Cunego is the outstanding favorite. On the same island, he showed during the last days that he can triumph over much stronger riders at the moment. Nevertheless, Geox, Astana and Quick·Step provide strong teams who shouldn't be underestimated.
Team Liquigas
Our goal is very simple: The win. Cunego should be in the right shape to achieve that. With Mauro Finetto, he has a decent domestique who might achieve a good placement himself.
Report
Alessandro Vanotti is the Liquigas rider in the eight men break of the day. They're caught with 12 kms due to the efforts of Lampre and consequentually, it's Xavier Florecio who launches the first attack of the favorites. He's caught soon by Astana who prepared Enrico Gasparotto for his attack. This time, Damiano Cunego counters.
Cunego, Gasparotto and Florencio, who caught up with them, enter the last 5 kms together and it looks like they would fight for today's win. And with 2 kilometers to go, Damiano Cunego launches what seems to be the the decisive attack.
And he calculated his powers well. Although Gasparotto and Florencio came closer very quick on the last meters, the gap was large enough to maintain some seconds and take the win. Behind them, Angel Vicioso (Androni) leads the first chasers over the line. Finetto, Dall'Antonia and Vanotti also finish in the Top 10 making this another terrific race for the Italian team.
The favorite takes the win: Damiano Cunego experiences some great days on Sardinia!
Result
1
Damiano Cunego
Liquigas - Cannondale
4h57'00
2
Enrico Gasparotto
Pro Team Astana
+ 13
3
Xavier Florencio
Lampre - ISD
+ 18
4
Ángel Vicioso
Androni Giocattoli
+ 1'06
5
Andrea Masciarelli
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
6
Mirco Lorenzetto
Pro Team Astana
+ 1'12
7
Mauro Finetto
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 1'41
8
Tiziano Dall'Antonia
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 2'22
9
Francesco Failli
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
10
Alessandro Vanotti
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 2'29
Spoiler
11
Kevin Seeldraeyers
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
12
Stijn Vandenbergh
Katusha Team
s.t.
13
Dries Devenyns
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
14
Walter Proch
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
15
David Blanco
Geox - TMC
s.t.
16
Damiano Caruso
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
17
Pavel Brutt
Katusha Team
s.t.
18
Fabio Felline
Geox - TMC
s.t.
19
Christian Moreni
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
20
Thomas De Gendt
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
21
Juan José Cobo
Geox - TMC
s.t.
22
Paolo Tiralongo
Pro Team Astana
+ 2'50
23
Marko Kump
Geox - TMC
s.t.
24
Wojcieck Halejak
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
25
Maciej Paterski
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
26
Sébastien Rosseler
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
27
Francesco Masciarelli
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
28
Giairo Ermeti
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
29
Paolo Locatelli
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
30
Jonathan Monsalve
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
31
Tanel Kangert
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
32
Dimitry Kozontchuk
Geox - TMC
s.t.
33
Denys Kostyuk
Lampre - ISD
+ 3'06
34
Maxim Iglinskiy
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
35
Vladimir Gusev
Katusha Team
+ 3'27
36
Addy Engels
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
37
Francesco Reda
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
38
Giuseppe De Maria
Team Pisanellastoria
s.t.
39
Giampaolo Cheula
Geox - TMC
s.t.
40
Riccardo Chiarini
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
41
Pavel Kochetkov
Itera - Katusha
+ 3'38
42
Dariusz Rudnicki
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 3'47
43
Kevin Van Impe
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
44
Vitaliy Buts
Lampre - ISD
+ 4'07
45
Omar Lombardi
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 4'44
46
Assan Bazayev
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
47
Gianluca Maggiore
Team Pisanellastoria
+ 4'51
48
Cristiano Benenati
Team Pisanellastoria
s.t.
49
Andriy Grivko
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
50
David Gutiérrez Gutiérrez
Geox - TMC
+ 5'00
51
Claudio Veronese
Katusha Team
s.t.
52
Takashi Miyazawa
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
53
Marco Haller
Adria Mobil
+ 6'21
54
Otavio Didier Bulgarelli
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 8'03
55
Josef Hosek
PSK Whirlpool - Author
+ 8'10
56
Tomáš Bucháček
PSK Whirlpool - Author
+ 8'15
57
Joan Horrach
Katusha Team
s.t.
58
Massimo Codol
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
59
Matteo Pelucchi
Geox - TMC
s.t.
60
Igor Yerzov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
61
Marco Cioni
Amore & Vita
s.t.
62
Damiano Margutti
Team Pisanellastoria
+ 11'44
63
Dariusz Baranowski
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 11'48
64
Bernardo Zanchi
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
65
Arkimedes Arguelyes
Katusha Team
s.t.
66
Giuseppe Sartori
Katusha Team
s.t.
67
Igor Frolov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
68
Alex Bowden
Team Type 1
+ 12'00
69
Francesco Di Paolo
Acqua & Sapone
+ 12'06
70
Tomas Danacik
PSK Whirlpool - Author
+ 12'11
71
Vojtěch Dlouhý
PSK Whirlpool - Author
s.t.
72
Dino Frattini
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
73
Giovanni Marangoni
Lampre - ISD
+ 13'31
74
Nikolai Trussov
Katusha Team
+ 23'59
75
Kiel Reijnen
Team Type 1
s.t.
76
Raffaele Sarti
Team Type 1
+ 24'09
77
Joe Eldridge
Team Type 1
s.t.
The Winner
Damiano Cunego is just in terrific shape – maybe too good? His season highlight, the Ardennes classics, are still two months away. But as he also targets Tirreno – Adriatico, his plan might succeed. Anyway, at the moment, he probably just enjoys his winning streak.
Liquigas Resumé
Perfect race for us. We achieved the win and three more Top 10 positions – that was defenitely the maximum. Cunego is on a good way towards Tirreno – Adriatico.
Will be interesting to see how Cunego will continue.. so far, he has been great for Liquigas, Basso is already forgotten Hopefully, Cunego's success won't be forgotten after the Ardennes-classics (At least, I don't believe he won't)
Win, cobbles, win. Typical italian, wins everything except cobbled races and time-trails. However, in some years I am sure Oss will be good enough to win races like K-B-K.
If the results continue to be that good in March / April, I might switch to extreme. But infact, I like to win, so I don't know yet 
