First classic hilly race of season, one of my favourites. Here are some stars presented, Pfannberger and Guttierez are most shining ones. But Fedrigo is in very good shape in early season and I want to succeed here. And of course, this race is also important for sponsors.
First season´s stage race in Europe with four flat and one hilly stage is here. Many great riders are presented here, sponsor´s first goal (TOP3) seems to be almost impossible to complete....Fedrigo is my only real hope.
Edited by beagle on 24-03-2009 10:36
First stage of race is totally flat. I don´t expect successful breakaway, betting on mass sprint and hope in miracle. Any podium place would be great, here are many outstanding sprinters.
Huge breakaway group, they have no chances to succeed, peloton is going closer and closer.
Lemair and Fedrigo aren´t in perfect daily condition (0/-1), but are perfectly placed. All depends if they joined right train. Did they?
Yes, they did! But Roman Feillu is too strong today. However, 2nd and 3rd places are just perfect, Fedrigo gained some bonus seconds, great start for my team!!!
Results
1 Romain Feillu Agritubel 3h04'44 2 Alexandre Lemair Roubaix Lille Métropole s.t.
3 Pierrick Fédrigo Roubaix Lille Métropole s.t.
4 Anuar Manan Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
5 Roy Hegreberg Team Sparebanken Vest s.t.
6 William Bonnet Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
7 Alexandre Usov Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
8 Cândido Barbosa Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
9 Pablo Urtasun Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
10 Tilo Schüler AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
11 Jean-Patrick Nazon Française des Jeux s.t.
12 Janek Tombak Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
13 Steven Caethoven Agritubel s.t.
14 Sébastien Portal Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
15 Emanuele Vona Team Katusha s.t.
16 Christophe Kern Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
17 Havard Nybö Team Sparebanken Vest s.t.
18 Marcel Sieberg Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
19 Robert Hunter Team Katusha s.t.
20 Morgan Fox Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
GC
1 Romain Feillu Agritubel 3h04'24 2 Alexandre Lemair Roubaix Lille Métropole + 8
3 Pierrick Fédrigo Roubaix Lille Métropole + 12
4 Anuar Manan Euskaltel - Euskadi + 20
5 Roy Hegreberg Team Sparebanken Vest s.t.
6 William Bonnet Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
7 Alexandre Usov Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
8 Cândido Barbosa Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
9 Pablo Urtasun Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
10 Tilo Schüler AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
11 Jean-Patrick Nazon Française des Jeux s.t.
12 Janek Tombak Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
13 Steven Caethoven Agritubel s.t.
14 Sébastien Portal Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
15 Emanuele Vona Team Katusha s.t.
16 Christophe Kern Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
17 Havard Nybö Team Sparebanken Vest s.t.
18 Marcel Sieberg Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
19 Robert Hunter Team Katusha s.t.
20 Morgan Fox Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
Points
1 Romain Feillu Agritubel 25 2 Alexandre Lemair Roubaix Lille Métropole 20
3 Pierrick Fédrigo Roubaix Lille Métropole 16
4 Anuar Manan Euskaltel - Euskadi 14
5 Roy Hegreberg Team Sparebanken Vest 12
I was concentrated on sprint and haven´t noticed till now that peloton splitted on two parts, most of main contenders lost +1´20" !!!! That´s really great!!!
Edited by beagle on 24-03-2009 15:03
Another stage flat with two mountain sprints. I´ll try to take KOM jersey.
Larpe joined early breakaway group, peloton let them go away.
Unfortunately Mangel was the strongest in mountain sprints and will wear KOM jersey tomorrow.
20km to go, escapees has just been caught and Hunter attacks, Moerenhaut follows!
Tempo is really high and many riders have difficulties. Pfannberger can´t keep in pack anymore. Is he hurt? I don´t know.
Two escapees are about catch.
Due high speed during chasing, there were no space for preparing positions for sprint. Only few real sprinters are ready to fight for stage victory.
Surprisingly Fedrigo moves to front very easily!
Only Hincapie stays ahead!
Pierrick Fedrigo wins stage 2, this is huge surprise for me! I´m only wondering, why he has blank jersey, where is team logo??!
Results 1 Pierrick Fédrigo Roubaix Lille Métropole 2h31'31
2 George Hincapie Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
3 Richie Porte Team Sparebanken Vest s.t.
4 William Bonnet Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
5 Roy Hegreberg Team Sparebanken Vest s.t.
6 Pierre Rolland Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
7 Jesús Tendero Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
8 Jean-Patrick Nazon Française des Jeux s.t.
9 Emanuele Vona Team Katusha s.t.
10 Tilo Schüler AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
11 Anthony Roux Française des Jeux s.t.
12 Benoit Vaugrenard Française des Jeux s.t.
13 Cândido Barbosa Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
14 Romain Feillu Agritubel s.t.
15 Carlos Torrent Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
16 Valeri Dimitriev Astana Cycling Team s.t.
17 Janek Tombak Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
18 Alan Pérez Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
19 Arnold Jeanneson Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
20 Anuar Manan Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
GC 1 Pierrick Fédrigo Roubaix Lille Métropole 5h35'47
2 Romain Feillu Agritubel + 8 3 Alexandre Lemair Roubaix Lille Métropole + 16
4 William Bonnet Bbox Bouygues Télécom + 28
5 Roy Hegreberg Team Sparebanken Vest s.t.
6 Jean-Patrick Nazon Française des Jeux s.t.
7 Tilo Schüler AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
8 Cândido Barbosa Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
9 Emanuele Vona Team Katusha s.t.
10 Anuar Manan Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
11 Janek Tombak Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
12 Pablo Urtasun Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
13 Alexandre Usov Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
14 Valeri Dimitriev Astana Cycling Team s.t.
15 Alan Pérez Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
16 Robert Hunter Team Katusha s.t.
17 Havard Nybö Team Sparebanken Vest s.t.
18 Sébastien Portal Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
19 Marcel Sieberg Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
20 Jimmy Casper Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
Points 1 Pierrick Fédrigo Roubaix Lille Métropole 41
2 Romain Feillu Agritubel 27
3 William Bonnet Bbox Bouygues Télécom 24
4 Roy Hegreberg Team Sparebanken Vest 24
5 George Hincapie Bbox Bouygues Télécom 20 6 Alexandre Lemair Roubaix Lille Métropole 20
Queen stage of Tour with some nice hills will probably decide about success or failure of my team here.
Things went quite peacefully until last mountain sprint. Devolder moves in front of pack...
...and attacks in descent!
Mangel fell down and sink into asphalt.
Barbosa, winner of Tour down Under attacks! He´s dangerous, Fedrigo must act and follow together with Feillu, Vona and Nazon.
6km to go, Cote du Porte. Last hill before final descent. I´m surprised by minimal activity of main pack, only 2 riders (Smukulis and Murgoitio) try to chase escapees. Fedrigo sets high speed, Vona is the first victim...
...Nazon drops out later on...
...and finally Feillu is out of game. Only Barbosa was able to hold.
Devolder celebrates victory, he moves at 4th place overall!
Fedrigo is 2nd, Barbosa 3rd. Great, Pierrick improves his leading in GC!
Results
1 Stijn Devolder Quick·Step 3h24'44 2 Pierrick Fédrigo Roubaix Lille Métropole + 26
3 Cândido Barbosa Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
4 Romain Feillu Agritubel + 47
5 Gatis Smukulis AG2R La Mondiale + 1'06
6 Egoitz Murgoitio Astana Cycling Team s.t.
7 Jean-Patrick Nazon Française des Jeux s.t. 8 Alexandre Lemair Roubaix Lille Métropole + 1'36
9 Sven Schelling Team Katusha s.t.
10 Peter Stetina Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
11 Jesús Tendero Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
12 Maryan Hary Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
13 Jesús Hernández Astana Cycling Team s.t.
14 Taylor Kuphaldt Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
15 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
16 Dimitri Champion Bretagne - Schuller s.t.
17 Richie Porte Team Sparebanken Vest s.t.
18 Arnaud Lesvenan Astana Cycling Team s.t.
19 Arnold Jeanneson Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
20 Francis Mourey Française des Jeux s.t. 21 Florian Morizot Roubaix Lille Métropole s.t.
GC 1 Pierrick Fédrigo Roubaix Lille Métropole 9h00'45
2 Cândido Barbosa Team Columbia - High Road + 32
3 Romain Feillu Agritubel + 41
4 Stijn Devolder Quick·Step + 1'14
5 Jean-Patrick Nazon Française des Jeux + 1'20
6 Egoitz Murgoitio Astana Cycling Team s.t.
7 Gatis Smukulis AG2R La Mondiale s.t. 8 Alexandre Lemair Roubaix Lille Métropole + 1'38
9 Emanuele Vona Team Katusha + 1'50
10 Pablo Urtasun Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
11 Maryan Hary Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
12 Valeri Dimitriev Astana Cycling Team s.t.
13 Taylor Kuphaldt Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
14 Marcel Sieberg Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
15 Jan Hruska Astana Cycling Team s.t.
16 Arnaud Lesvenan Astana Cycling Team s.t.
17 Robert Hunter Team Katusha s.t.
18 Havard Nybö Team Sparebanken Vest s.t.
19 Christophe Kern Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
20 Sébastien Portal Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
Points 1 Pierrick Fédrigo Roubaix Lille Métropole 61
2 Romain Feillu Agritubel 41 3 Alexandre Lemair Roubaix Lille Métropole 28
4 Cândido Barbosa Team Columbia - High Road 27
5 Stijn Devolder Quick·Step 25
I will defeat defend orange (?) jersey at any costs.
My men work hard in front of peloton, there is group of very strong riders ahead.
All together.
Sprint and Fedrigo looks very good again...
...and he takes 2nd victory ahead of Vona! He´s unstoppable!
Results 1 Pierrick Fédrigo Roubaix Lille Métropole 2h51'05
2 Emanuele Vona Team Katusha s.t.
3 Freddy Bichot Agritubel s.t.
4 Janek Tombak Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
5 Pierre Rolland Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
6 Cândido Barbosa Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
7 Carlos Torrent Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
8 Michael Albasini Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
9 Guillaume Bonnafond AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
10 José Iván Gutiérrez Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
11 Arnaud Coyot Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
12 Benoit Vaugrenard Française des Jeux s.t.
13 George Hincapie Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
14 Alexis Rodríguez Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
15 Arnold Jeanneson Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
16 Arne Hassink Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
17 Nicolas Vogondy Agritubel s.t.
18 Daan Rijntjes Agritubel s.t.
19 Sébastien Hinault AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
20 Taylor Kuphaldt Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
GC 1 Pierrick Fédrigo Roubaix Lille Métropole 11h51'30
2 Cândido Barbosa Team Columbia - High Road + 52
3 Romain Feillu Agritubel + 1'01
4 Stijn Devolder Quick·Step + 1'34
5 Jean-Patrick Nazon Française des Jeux + 1'40
6 Gatis Smukulis AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
7 Egoitz Murgoitio Astana Cycling Team s.t.
8 Emanuele Vona Team Katusha + 1'58 9 Alexandre Lemair Roubaix Lille Métropole s.t.
10 Freddy Bichot Agritubel + 2'02
11 Janek Tombak Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 2'10
12 Michael Albasini Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
13 Taylor Kuphaldt Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
14 Arnaud Coyot Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
15 Pablo Urtasun Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
16 Morgan Fox Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
17 Maryan Hary Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
18 Marcel Sieberg Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
19 Alexandre Usov Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
20 Rein Taaramäe Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
Points 1 Pierrick Fédrigo Roubaix Lille Métropole 86
2 Romain Feillu Agritubel 41
3 Cândido Barbosa Team Columbia - High Road 37
4 Emanuele Vona Team Katusha 28 5 Alexandre Lemair Roubaix Lille Métropole 28
KOM
1 Pablo Lastras Caisse d'Epargne 30
2 Laurens Ten Dam Euskaltel - Euskadi 20
3 Sven Schelling Team Katusha 20
4 Laurent Mangel Besson Chaussures - Sojasun 20 5 Mickaël Larpe Roubaix Lille Métropole 16Edited by beagle on 25-03-2009 10:25
14km to go and I saw Kim Kirchen first time in Tour, when he has won last point sprint
Due to strong side wind peloton splits, Devolder, Feillu and even Barbosa are in second part! Only 10km to go...
...but both groups put together just before finish, Haddou takes the victory, Fedrigo is first time out of podium.
Results
1 Saïd Haddou Bbox Bouygues Télécom 2h05'09
2 Arnold Jeanneson Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
3 George Hincapie Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t. 4 Pierrick Fédrigo Roubaix Lille Métropole s.t.
5 Jean-Patrick Nazon Française des Jeux s.t. 6 Alexandre Lemair Roubaix Lille Métropole s.t.
7 Carlos Torrent Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
8 Tilo Schüler AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
9 Havard Nybö Team Sparebanken Vest s.t.
10 Rigoberto Urán Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
11 William Bonnet Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
12 Janek Tombak Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
13 Alexis Rodríguez Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
14 Benoit Vaugrenard Française des Jeux s.t.
15 Kim Kirchen Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
16 Mikaël Chérel Française des Jeux s.t.
17 Maryan Hary Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
18 Jean-Charles Sénac AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
19 Christophe Kern Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
20 Guillaume Bonnafond AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
GC 1 Pierrick Fédrigo Roubaix Lille Métropole 13h56'39
2 Cândido Barbosa Team Columbia - High Road + 52
3 Romain Feillu Agritubel + 1'01
4 Stijn Devolder Quick·Step + 1'34
5 Jean-Patrick Nazon Française des Jeux + 1'40
6 Gatis Smukulis AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
7 Egoitz Murgoitio Astana Cycling Team s.t. 8 Alexandre Lemair Roubaix Lille Métropole + 1'58
9 Emanuele Vona Team Katusha s.t.
10 Freddy Bichot Agritubel + 2'02
11 Alexandre Usov Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 2'08
12 Janek Tombak Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 2'10
13 Tilo Schüler AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
14 Maryan Hary Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
15 Arnaud Coyot Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
16 Havard Nybö Team Sparebanken Vest s.t.
17 Yoann Offredo Française des Jeux s.t.
18 Jean-Charles Sénac AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
19 Christophe Kern Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
20 Sébastien Portal Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
Points 1 Pierrick Fédrigo Roubaix Lille Métropole 100
2 Romain Feillu Agritubel 41
3 George Hincapie Bbox Bouygues Télécom 39 4 Alexandre Lemair Roubaix Lille Métropole 38
5 Cândido Barbosa Team Columbia - High Road 37
KOM
1 Laurens Ten Dam Euskaltel - Euskadi 32
2 Pablo Lastras Caisse d'Epargne 30
3 Sven Schelling Team Katusha 24
4 Nariyuki Masuda EQA - Meitan Hompo - Graphite Design 22
5 Laurent Mangel Besson Chaussures - Sojasun 20
Absolutely amazing race for my team. Fedrigo dominated, Lemair finished as 8th. I complete first goal of season
Ste117 wrote:
How do you know if there is side wind or head wind on the game, i find it hard to tell.
It´s a story and doesn´t matter, if wind was side or head or even windlessness. I like "due to strong side wind" phrase more then "due to strong wind", that´s all...
Wow, Cavendish, Bennati, Petacchi, Ciolek, Chicchi, Davis and other. First time I will experience to fight against true aces in sprint! Although Fedrigo and Lemair are almost at peak, I´m afraid my domination from last race is over
But his performance was awesome, I was really surprised he was able to finish so well placed 
