Dammit, report ended up as last post on the previous page
And yeah Ian. Usually I kind of enjoy TTT's but this time around I just didn't feel like doing all the micro-management needed to get as good a result as the team deserved
Great to see Hushovd in pink, I doubt the medium mountain cobbled stage will break up the peloton as much as a pan flat cobble stage would (as the cobblers present may tear up the race) but you never know.
Also could you remind me of how Erik McDermott get his name, which is a strange name for a Dane! I'm pretty sure you explained it before.
I personally loved this Giro route. It's demanding, offers great variance in the stages and I'm sure Fuglsang has a shot at the GC. I think the route ends in Brescia, and there's also a 50 km time trial along the way before the last 4-5 decivise mountain stages, if I'm not mistaken?
I mostly look forward to the cobbled stage though. Playing it with Lampre back then (in PCM2012), this was just really too good to play. Back then, I had several cobble experts with my riders and we managed to break away and snatch veeery important time to the other riders (+2 minutes I think) and in the end, my rider won by 29 seconds, so this can be really a important step to securing victory again, or lose the Grand Tour. Anyway, just sharing some thoughts.
Good luck for the Giro!
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
The Rider: We'll see. Rasmussen, Kristoff and Hushovd are all here with that stage in mind and Fuglsang is on paper the best cobbler among the GC guys. We will try something on that stage at least...
As for McDermott I don't actually think I have told his background story. Since I feel like it that will be a Giro restday feature coming tonight
Shonak: Correct! Good to know that my plan for the cobbles might actually have a chance to succeed
sutty: It's definitely nice to be off to a good start.
Stage 2: Cefalù – Messina
Most people expect this to be a bunch sprint, but the question is how the hill will affect things so close to the finish.
Fortunately for us several teams wasn’t a bunch sprint, so we don’t have to work for the jersey from the start of the day.
With 100 km to go a break including Cancellara has over 6 minutes so we decide to do some damage control.
25 km to go and the sprinter teams have taken over the chase again. The break has just under two minutes.
It looks like four riders might make it with 2 km to go, but Alex and Thor are doing their best to launch Kristoff. Alexander does his best finishing 4th among the sprinters, but the break takes the stage.
Stage Results
1
Enrico Montanari
Vespa
4h12'47
2
Carlo Scognamiglio
Colombia - Coldeportes
s.t.
3
Mark Cavendish
Team ISD - Ferrari
s.t.
4
Davide Appollonio
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
s.t.
5
Enrique Sanz
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
Spoiler
6
Anthony Geslin
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
7
Tyler Farrar
Nissan
s.t.
8
Alexander Kristoff
Novo Nordisk - SAS
s.t.
9
Jens Keukeleire
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
10
Giacomo Nizzolo
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
11
Andrew Fenn
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
12
Denis Galimzyanov
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
13
Rüdiger Selig
Volkswagen
s.t.
14
Dario Cataldo
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
15
Tomasz Smolen
Vacansoleil - DCM
s.t.
16
Rasmus Guldhammer
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
17
Javier Moreno
Movistar Team
s.t.
18
Jackson Rodríguez
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
19
Andrea Guardini
Team Selle Italia
s.t.
20
Enrico Battaglin
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
21
Daniele Bennati
Team ISD - Ferrari
s.t.
22
Mauro Finetto
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
23
Cesare Benedetti
Team ISD - Ferrari
s.t.
24
Damiano Cunego
Team ISD - Ferrari
s.t.
25
Thor Hushovd
Novo Nordisk - SAS
s.t.
26
Bernardo Riccio
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
27
Alex Rasmussen
Novo Nordisk - SAS
s.t.
28
Lasse Bøchman
Novo Nordisk - SAS
s.t.
29
Jérôme Baugnies
Belisol
s.t.
30
Jakob Fuglsang
Novo Nordisk - SAS
s.t.
31
Jetse Bol
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
32
Javier Iriarte
Movistar Team
s.t.
33
Igor Antón
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
34
Riccardo Chiarini
Vespa
s.t.
35
Jonathan Castroviejo
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
36
Alexander Porsev
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
37
Fabio Duarte
Vacansoleil - DCM
s.t.
38
Fabio Aru
Vespa
s.t.
39
Stefan Denifl
Vacansoleil - DCM
s.t.
40
Johan Mombaerts
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
41
Sacha Modolo
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
42
Luca Ascani
Team Selle Italia
s.t.
43
Mattia Gavazzi
Vespa
s.t.
44
John Darwin Atapuma
Colombia - Coldeportes
s.t.
45
Francesco Chicchi
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
46
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
Volkswagen
s.t.
47
Tiziano Dall'Antonia
Team Selle Italia
s.t.
48
Marc Goos
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
49
Francesco Gavazzi
Team Selle Italia
s.t.
50
Matteo Montaguti
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
51
Arkaitz Durán
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
52
Daniele Colli
Team ISD - Ferrari
s.t.
53
Esteban Chavez
Colombia - Coldeportes
s.t.
54
Francesco Failli
Team ISD - Ferrari
s.t.
55
Domenico Pozzovivo
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
56
Lucas Sebastián Haedo
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
s.t.
57
Alessandro Petacchi
Team ISD - Ferrari
s.t.
58
Christopher Juul-Jensen
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
59
Fabio Sabatini
Team Selle Italia
s.t.
60
Juan Villegas
Colombia - Coldeportes
s.t.
61
Diego Ulissi
Nissan
s.t.
62
Sergio Henao
Volkswagen
s.t.
63
Fredrik Kessiakoff
Novo Nordisk - SAS
s.t.
64
Aitor Galdos
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
65
Yauheni Hutarovich
Nissan
s.t.
66
Federico Canuti
Team Selle Italia
s.t.
67
Fausto Fognini
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
s.t.
68
Fabian Cancellara
Team Santander
s.t.
69
Bruno Pires
Team Santander
s.t.
70
Giorgio Brambilla
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
71
Santo Anza
Team ISD - Ferrari
s.t.
72
Fabian Wegmann
Volkswagen
s.t.
73
Ekaitz Pericás
Vacansoleil - DCM
s.t.
74
Oscar Riesebeek
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
75
Grega Bole
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
s.t.
76
Jesús Herrada
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
77
Tiago Machado
Nissan
s.t.
78
Dominic Klemme
Volkswagen
s.t.
79
Nicolas Sanderson
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
s.t.
80
Maurizio Biondo
Team Selle Italia
s.t.
81
Matteo Trentin
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
82
Edwin Parra
Colombia - Coldeportes
s.t.
83
Maxime Vantomme
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
84
Alan Marangoni
Vespa
s.t.
85
Raymond Kreder
Vacansoleil - DCM
s.t.
86
Morten Høberg
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
87
Pieter Jacobs
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
88
Andrea Palini
Team Selle Italia
s.t.
89
Filippo Fortin
Team Selle Italia
s.t.
90
Fabio Piscopiello
Team ISD - Ferrari
s.t.
91
Danilo Di Luca
Vacansoleil - DCM
s.t.
92
Vitor Rodrigues
Volkswagen
s.t.
93
Joshua Edmonson
Team Santander
s.t.
94
Wesley Sulzberger
Nissan
s.t.
95
Adrien Petit
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
96
Karol Domagalski
Team Santander
s.t.
97
Gabriele Bosisio
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
98
Michael Fitzgerald
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
s.t.
99
Rasmus Quaade
Novo Nordisk - SAS
s.t.
100
Rémy Di Gregorio
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
101
Richard England
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
s.t.
102
Wouter Mol
Vacansoleil - DCM
s.t.
103
Tom Boonen
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
s.t.
104
Steve Schets
Vacansoleil - DCM
s.t.
105
Claudio Cucinotta
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
s.t.
106
Mario Ickx
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
107
Robert Wagner
Nissan
s.t.
108
Dalivier Ospina
Colombia - Coldeportes
s.t.
109
Cristiano Monguzzi
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
s.t.
110
Manuele Boaro
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
111
Yann Huguet
Vacansoleil - DCM
s.t.
112
Michael Albasini
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
113
Vladimir Efimkin
Team Santander
s.t.
114
Tim Declercq
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
115
Dídac Ortega
Movistar Team
s.t.
116
Ryder Hesjedal
Colombia - Coldeportes
s.t.
117
Roman Klimov
Volkswagen
s.t.
118
Edoardo Muoio
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
119
Juan Pablo Suarez
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
120
Igor Merino
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
121
Rick Flens
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
122
Alessandro De Marchi
Vespa
s.t.
123
Stephen Adams
Team Santander
s.t.
124
Cristiano Salerno
Vespa
s.t.
125
Joeri Stallaert
Belisol
s.t.
126
Trent Lowe
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
s.t.
127
Unai Iparragirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
128
José Alberto Benítez
Movistar Team
s.t.
129
Enrico Gasparotto
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
130
Ion Izagirre
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
131
Luca Mazzanti
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
132
José Herrada
Movistar Team
s.t.
133
Kevin De Weert
Belisol
s.t.
134
Mikel Nieve
Movistar Team
s.t.
135
Levi Leipheimer
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
136
Miguel Mínguez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
137
Mikhail Antonov
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
138
Grischa Niermann
Volkswagen
s.t.
139
Daniel Moreno
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
140
Graham Briggs
Team Santander
s.t.
141
Brian Bulgac
Belisol
s.t.
142
Johim Ariesen
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
143
Sergio Mantecón
Movistar Team
s.t.
144
Kevin Seeldraeyers
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
145
Tonio Secondini
Volkswagen
s.t.
146
Joel Zangerle
Nissan
s.t.
147
Rafael Infantino
Colombia - Coldeportes
s.t.
148
Alberto Contoli
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
149
Beñat Txoperena
Movistar Team
s.t.
150
Daniel Navarro
Movistar Team
s.t.
151
Kristof Vandewalle
Belisol
s.t.
152
Jonathan Monsalve
Vespa
s.t.
153
Davide Cimolai
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
154
Thibaut Pinot
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
155
David De la Fuente
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
s.t.
156
Markus Fothen
Team Santander
s.t.
157
Guillaume Bonnafond
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
158
Domenico Dujardino
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
s.t.
159
Damien Branaa
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
160
Gianluca Brambilla
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
161
Luca Pierfelici
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
162
Steve Bekaert
Belisol
s.t.
163
Gorka Izagirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
164
Igor Abakoumov
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
165
Dmitriy Gruzdev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
166
Baden Cooke
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
s.t.
167
Pasqualino Saviano
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
168
Andrey Kashechkin
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
169
Peter Femal
Nissan
s.t.
170
Hadjimurat Meleshko
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
171
Evgeni Sladkov
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
172
Cyril Bessy
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
173
David Moncoutié
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
174
Marc Heinz
Nissan
s.t.
175
Libero Calabrò
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
+ 4'09
176
Julian Arredondo
Colombia - Coldeportes
+ 4'38
177
Mark Christian
Team Santander
s.t.
178
Jean-Christophe Peraud
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
179
Davy Tuytens
Belisol
s.t.
180
Marcel Santos
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
181
Pieter Vermeulen
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
182
Tobias Tonning
Novo Nordisk - SAS
s.t.
183
Tyron Giorgieri
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
+ 5'52
184
Alesandro Mambelli
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
s.t.
185
Raphaël Gillard
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
186
Gaspare Cervone
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
s.t.
187
Aymeric Lebourg
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
188
Brice Lhuillier
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
189
Michel Vullings
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 7'31
190
Ronald Bonnaud
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
191
Elia Sciubba
Vespa
s.t.
192
Denis Maminov
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
193
Sonny Bak
Novo Nordisk - SAS
s.t.
194
Oliver Van Stappen
Belisol
+ 8'40
195
Florent Barle
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 11'57
196
Arnaud Gérard
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
197
Niels Van Campenhout
Belisol
s.t.
198
Aram Tsepin
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
The good sprint means that Kristoff will be the one in pink on tomorrows mountain stage.
Stage 3: Reggio Calabria – Cosenza
The first mountain stage of the race will bring a lot of answers.
A lot of riders want to get away early, but we’re not taking any chances today.
The peloton was still in one piece when we approached the intermediate sprint, so Fuglsang went to the front and picked up a few free seconds remembering that it was moment like this that won him the Giro last year. Moreno and Failli went away on the third climb soon picking up a good bit of time as my guys was waiting for Quaade struggling to get the bottles to the front.
At the start of the penultimate climb with 53 km to go the front duo has 4 minutes to the peloton. Bøchman and Kessiakoff does a good job making the race hard over the climb reeling in the in-between breakers and reducing the peloton to 50 riders. Fuglsang does his best to hang on to the Colombians on the final climb.
He gets away with Antón, Cunego, Chavez, Ulissi and Duarte but Pozzovivo remains half a minute ahead with 2 km to the top. Antón attacks right before the top and is first into the decent. Fuglsang puts on the pressure towards the finish line and catches the two out front.
He did too much work to battle for the stage win though. At least he gets to wear pink on the rest day.
On the bad side Quaade broke on the climbs and missed the time limit.
Stage Results
1
Igor Antón
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
5h41'07
2
Diego Ulissi
Nissan
s.t.
3
Esteban Chavez
Colombia - Coldeportes
s.t.
4
Fabio Duarte
Vacansoleil - DCM
s.t.
5
Damiano Cunego
Team ISD - Ferrari
s.t.
Spoiler
6
Domenico Pozzovivo
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
7
Jakob Fuglsang
Novo Nordisk - SAS
s.t.
8
Kevin De Weert
Belisol
+ 31
9
John Darwin Atapuma
Colombia - Coldeportes
+ 57
10
Javier Moreno
Movistar Team
s.t.
11
Vladimir Efimkin
Team Santander
s.t.
12
Marc Goos
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
13
Fabio Aru
Vespa
s.t.
14
Ryder Hesjedal
Colombia - Coldeportes
s.t.
15
Luca Ascani
Team Selle Italia
s.t.
16
Rémy Di Gregorio
FDJ - BigMat
+ 1'37
17
Mikel Nieve
Movistar Team
+ 2'00
18
Karol Domagalski
Team Santander
s.t.
19
Jackson Rodríguez
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
20
Juan Pablo Suarez
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
21
Cristiano Monguzzi
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
s.t.
22
Daniel Moreno
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
23
Stefan Denifl
Vacansoleil - DCM
s.t.
24
Francesco Failli
Team ISD - Ferrari
s.t.
25
Dario Cataldo
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
26
José Herrada
Movistar Team
s.t.
27
Enrico Gasparotto
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 3'03
28
Ion Izagirre
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
29
Arkaitz Durán
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
30
Cristiano Salerno
Vespa
s.t.
31
Gianluca Brambilla
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
32
Jesús Herrada
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
33
Guillaume Bonnafond
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
34
Kevin Seeldraeyers
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
35
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
Volkswagen
s.t.
36
Riccardo Chiarini
Vespa
s.t.
37
Sergio Henao
Volkswagen
s.t.
38
Enrico Battaglin
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
39
Michael Albasini
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
40
Matteo Montaguti
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 4'00
41
Jonathan Castroviejo
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
42
Lasse Bøchman
Novo Nordisk - SAS
s.t.
43
Thibaut Pinot
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
44
Levi Leipheimer
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
45
Vitor Rodrigues
Volkswagen
+ 4'50
46
Markus Fothen
Team Santander
s.t.
47
Bruno Pires
Team Santander
s.t.
48
Rasmus Guldhammer
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 5'15
49
Fredrik Kessiakoff
Novo Nordisk - SAS
s.t.
50
Joshua Edmonson
Team Santander
+ 6'02
51
Dmitriy Gruzdev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
52
Danilo Di Luca
Vacansoleil - DCM
s.t.
53
Luca Mazzanti
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 7'13
54
Johan Mombaerts
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
55
Steve Bekaert
Belisol
s.t.
56
Miguel Mínguez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
57
Christopher Juul-Jensen
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
58
Sergio Mantecón
Movistar Team
+ 8'13
59
Beñat Txoperena
Movistar Team
s.t.
60
Dídac Ortega
Movistar Team
s.t.
61
Yann Huguet
Vacansoleil - DCM
s.t.
62
Daniel Navarro
Movistar Team
s.t.
63
Fabian Wegmann
Volkswagen
s.t.
64
Dalivier Ospina
Colombia - Coldeportes
s.t.
65
Jonathan Monsalve
Vespa
s.t.
66
Brian Bulgac
Belisol
+ 8'57
67
Luca Pierfelici
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
68
Roman Klimov
Volkswagen
s.t.
69
José Alberto Benítez
Movistar Team
s.t.
70
Damien Branaa
FDJ - BigMat
+ 9'35
71
Andrey Kashechkin
Astana Pro Team
+ 10'18
72
Oscar Riesebeek
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
73
Jean-Christophe Peraud
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
74
Thor Hushovd
Novo Nordisk - SAS
s.t.
75
Maurizio Biondo
Team Selle Italia
+ 10'41
76
Carlo Scognamiglio
Colombia - Coldeportes
+ 11'48
77
Jérôme Baugnies
Belisol
s.t.
78
Andrew Fenn
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
79
Filippo Fortin
Team Selle Italia
s.t.
80
Daniele Bennati
Team ISD - Ferrari
s.t.
81
Raymond Kreder
Vacansoleil - DCM
s.t.
82
Igor Merino
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
83
Juan Villegas
Colombia - Coldeportes
s.t.
84
Tomasz Smolen
Vacansoleil - DCM
+ 13'29
85
Javier Iriarte
Movistar Team
s.t.
86
Rafael Infantino
Colombia - Coldeportes
+ 14'09
87
Alberto Contoli
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 15'19
88
Fabio Sabatini
Team Selle Italia
s.t.
89
Francesco Gavazzi
Team Selle Italia
s.t.
90
Enrique Sanz
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
91
Federico Canuti
Team Selle Italia
s.t.
92
Edwin Parra
Colombia - Coldeportes
s.t.
93
Sacha Modolo
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 16'11
94
Maxime Vantomme
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
95
Alessandro De Marchi
Vespa
s.t.
96
Evgeni Sladkov
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
97
Santo Anza
Team ISD - Ferrari
s.t.
98
Enrico Montanari
Vespa
+ 16'44
99
Joel Zangerle
Nissan
+ 18'03
100
Edoardo Muoio
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
101
Aitor Galdos
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
102
Florent Barle
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
103
Tobias Tonning
Novo Nordisk - SAS
+ 20'46
104
Alex Rasmussen
Novo Nordisk - SAS
+ 23'02
105
Dominic Klemme
Volkswagen
+ 31'39
106
Yauheni Hutarovich
Nissan
s.t.
107
Aymeric Lebourg
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
108
Alexander Kristoff
Novo Nordisk - SAS
s.t.
109
Andrea Guardini
Team Selle Italia
+ 33'46
110
Tyler Farrar
Nissan
s.t.
111
Denis Galimzyanov
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
112
Mark Cavendish
Team ISD - Ferrari
s.t.
113
Alessandro Petacchi
Team ISD - Ferrari
s.t.
114
Lucas Sebastián Haedo
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
s.t.
115
Davide Appollonio
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
s.t.
116
Jens Keukeleire
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
117
Rüdiger Selig
Volkswagen
s.t.
118
Giacomo Nizzolo
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
119
Tiziano Dall'Antonia
Team Selle Italia
s.t.
120
Bernardo Riccio
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
121
Pieter Jacobs
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
122
Cesare Benedetti
Team ISD - Ferrari
s.t.
123
David De la Fuente
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
s.t.
124
Joeri Stallaert
Belisol
s.t.
125
Matteo Trentin
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
126
Mauro Finetto
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
127
Tiago Machado
Nissan
s.t.
128
Mario Ickx
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
129
Fabian Cancellara
Team Santander
s.t.
130
Jetse Bol
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
131
Tim Declercq
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
132
Grega Bole
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
s.t.
133
Graham Briggs
Team Santander
s.t.
134
Manuele Boaro
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
135
Gorka Izagirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
136
Wesley Sulzberger
Nissan
s.t.
137
Gabriele Bosisio
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
138
Kristof Vandewalle
Belisol
s.t.
139
Adrien Petit
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
140
Steve Schets
Vacansoleil - DCM
s.t.
141
Alexander Porsev
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
142
Sonny Bak
Novo Nordisk - SAS
s.t.
143
Stephen Adams
Team Santander
s.t.
144
Michael Fitzgerald
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
s.t.
145
Mark Christian
Team Santander
s.t.
146
Trent Lowe
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
s.t.
147
Wouter Mol
Vacansoleil - DCM
s.t.
148
Giorgio Brambilla
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
149
Igor Abakoumov
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
150
Alan Marangoni
Vespa
s.t.
151
Cyril Bessy
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
152
Grischa Niermann
Volkswagen
s.t.
153
Rick Flens
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
154
David Moncoutié
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
155
Tom Boonen
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
+ 35'39
156
Anthony Geslin
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
157
Mattia Gavazzi
Vespa
s.t.
158
Nicolas Sanderson
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
s.t.
159
Robert Wagner
Nissan
s.t.
160
Domenico Dujardino
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
s.t.
161
Andrea Palini
Team Selle Italia
s.t.
162
Davide Cimolai
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
163
Richard England
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
s.t.
164
Daniele Colli
Team ISD - Ferrari
s.t.
165
Morten Høberg
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
166
Claudio Cucinotta
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
s.t.
167
Fausto Fognini
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
s.t.
168
Johim Ariesen
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
169
Francesco Chicchi
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
170
Davy Tuytens
Belisol
s.t.
171
Tyron Giorgieri
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
s.t.
172
Unai Iparragirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
173
Fabio Piscopiello
Team ISD - Ferrari
s.t.
174
Ekaitz Pericás
Vacansoleil - DCM
s.t.
175
Julian Arredondo
Colombia - Coldeportes
s.t.
176
Gaspare Cervone
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
s.t.
177
Tonio Secondini
Volkswagen
s.t.
178
Arnaud Gérard
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
179
Libero Calabrò
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
+ 37'00
180
Mikhail Antonov
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
181
Pasqualino Saviano
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
182
Alesandro Mambelli
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
s.t.
183
Marc Heinz
Nissan
s.t.
184
Pieter Vermeulen
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 37'39
185
Peter Femal
Nissan
s.t.
186
Ronald Bonnaud
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
187
Niels Van Campenhout
Belisol
+ 38'09
188
Denis Maminov
Astana Pro Team
+ 38'45
189
Raphaël Gillard
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 42'58
190
Marcel Santos
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
191
Brice Lhuillier
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
192
Baden Cooke
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
s.t.
193
Hadjimurat Meleshko
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
194
Aram Tsepin
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
195
Michel Vullings
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
196
Elia Sciubba
Vespa
s.t.
197
Oliver Van Stappen
Belisol
s.t.
Provisional Standings
1
Jakob Fuglsang
Novo Nordisk - SAS
10h16'49
2
Igor Antón
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 38
3
Domenico Pozzovivo
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 50
4
Fabio Duarte
Vacansoleil - DCM
+ 1'07
5
Diego Ulissi
Nissan
+ 1'10
6
Esteban Chavez
Colombia - Coldeportes
+ 1'24
7
Vladimir Efimkin
Team Santander
+ 1'28
8
Damiano Cunego
Team ISD - Ferrari
+ 1'33
9
Luca Ascani
Team Selle Italia
+ 1'39
10
Juan Pablo Suarez
Astana Pro Team
+ 2'17
Spoiler
11
Javier Moreno
Movistar Team
+ 2'18
12
John Darwin Atapuma
Colombia - Coldeportes
+ 2'29
13
Ryder Hesjedal
Colombia - Coldeportes
s.t.
14
Karol Domagalski
Team Santander
+ 2'31
15
Kevin De Weert
Belisol
+ 2'36
16
Fabio Aru
Vespa
+ 2'54
17
Daniel Moreno
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 2'58
18
Stefan Denifl
Vacansoleil - DCM
+ 3'07
19
Dario Cataldo
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 3'12
20
Marc Goos
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
21
Michael Albasini
Astana Pro Team
+ 3'20
22
Ion Izagirre
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
23
Kevin Seeldraeyers
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
24
Mikel Nieve
Movistar Team
+ 3'21
25
José Herrada
Movistar Team
s.t.
26
Francesco Failli
Team ISD - Ferrari
+ 3'33
27
Jackson Rodríguez
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 3'47
28
Enrico Gasparotto
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 3'53
29
Arkaitz Durán
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 4'01
30
Jesús Herrada
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
31
Guillaume Bonnafond
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
32
Lasse Bøchman
Novo Nordisk - SAS
+ 4'04
33
Rémy Di Gregorio
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
34
Jonathan Castroviejo
Astana Pro Team
+ 4'17
35
Cristiano Monguzzi
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
s.t.
36
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
Volkswagen
+ 4'42
37
Sergio Henao
Volkswagen
s.t.
38
Levi Leipheimer
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 4'50
39
Thibaut Pinot
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 4'58
40
Riccardo Chiarini
Vespa
+ 5'00
41
Cristiano Salerno
Vespa
s.t.
42
Enrico Battaglin
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 5'04
43
Gianluca Brambilla
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
44
Fredrik Kessiakoff
Novo Nordisk - SAS
+ 5'19
45
Bruno Pires
Team Santander
+ 5'21
46
Markus Fothen
Team Santander
s.t.
47
Matteo Montaguti
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 6'01
48
Dmitriy Gruzdev
Astana Pro Team
+ 6'19
49
Vitor Rodrigues
Volkswagen
+ 6'27
50
Joshua Edmonson
Team Santander
+ 6'33
51
Rasmus Guldhammer
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 7'02
52
Danilo Di Luca
Vacansoleil - DCM
+ 7'09
53
Luca Mazzanti
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 8'03
54
Johan Mombaerts
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 8'11
55
Miguel Mínguez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
56
Christopher Juul-Jensen
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 9'00
57
Steve Bekaert
Belisol
+ 9'18
58
Yann Huguet
Vacansoleil - DCM
+ 9'20
59
Dídac Ortega
Movistar Team
+ 9'34
60
Sergio Mantecón
Movistar Team
s.t.
61
Beñat Txoperena
Movistar Team
s.t.
62
Daniel Navarro
Movistar Team
s.t.
63
Dalivier Ospina
Colombia - Coldeportes
+ 9'45
64
Fabian Wegmann
Volkswagen
+ 9'52
65
Jonathan Monsalve
Vespa
+ 10'10
66
José Alberto Benítez
Movistar Team
+ 10'18
67
Thor Hushovd
Novo Nordisk - SAS
+ 10'22
68
Andrey Kashechkin
Astana Pro Team
+ 10'35
69
Roman Klimov
Volkswagen
+ 10'36
70
Luca Pierfelici
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 10'58
71
Brian Bulgac
Belisol
+ 11'02
72
Maurizio Biondo
Team Selle Italia
+ 11'23
73
Damien Branaa
FDJ - BigMat
+ 12'02
74
Filippo Fortin
Team Selle Italia
+ 12'30
75
Oscar Riesebeek
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 12'33
76
Igor Merino
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 12'46
77
Raymond Kreder
Vacansoleil - DCM
+ 12'55
78
Andrew Fenn
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 13'00
79
Carlo Scognamiglio
Colombia - Coldeportes
+ 13'02
80
Juan Villegas
Colombia - Coldeportes
+ 13'20
81
Daniele Bennati
Team ISD - Ferrari
+ 13'21
82
Jérôme Baugnies
Belisol
+ 13'53
83
Tomasz Smolen
Vacansoleil - DCM
+ 14'36
84
Javier Iriarte
Movistar Team
+ 14'50
85
Rafael Infantino
Colombia - Coldeportes
+ 15'41
86
Jean-Christophe Peraud
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 15'54
87
Francesco Gavazzi
Team Selle Italia
+ 16'01
88
Fabio Sabatini
Team Selle Italia
s.t.
89
Federico Canuti
Team Selle Italia
s.t.
90
Enrique Sanz
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 16'17
91
Evgeni Sladkov
Astana Pro Team
+ 16'28
92
Edwin Parra
Colombia - Coldeportes
+ 16'51
93
Sacha Modolo
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 17'01
94
Alberto Contoli
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 17'20
95
Maxime Vantomme
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 17'23
96
Santo Anza
Team ISD - Ferrari
+ 17'44
97
Alessandro De Marchi
Vespa
+ 18'08
98
Enrico Montanari
Vespa
+ 18'21
99
Edoardo Muoio
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 18'53
100
Aitor Galdos
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 19'01
101
Joel Zangerle
Nissan
+ 19'25
102
Alex Rasmussen
Novo Nordisk - SAS
+ 23'06
103
Tobias Tonning
Novo Nordisk - SAS
+ 25'28
104
Florent Barle
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 30'58
105
Alexander Kristoff
Novo Nordisk - SAS
+ 31'43
106
Yauheni Hutarovich
Nissan
+ 33'01
107
Dominic Klemme
Volkswagen
+ 33'18
108
Fabian Cancellara
Team Santander
+ 34'13
109
Stephen Adams
Team Santander
+ 34'17
110
Graham Briggs
Team Santander
s.t.
111
Andrea Guardini
Team Selle Italia
+ 34'28
112
Tiziano Dall'Antonia
Team Selle Italia
s.t.
113
Giacomo Nizzolo
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 34'36
114
Gabriele Bosisio
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
115
Jens Keukeleire
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 34'44
116
Gorka Izagirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
117
David Moncoutié
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
118
Wouter Mol
Vacansoleil - DCM
+ 34'51
119
Steve Schets
Vacansoleil - DCM
+ 34'53
120
Matteo Trentin
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 34'58
121
Pieter Jacobs
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
122
Mario Ickx
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
123
Tim Declercq
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
124
Igor Abakoumov
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
125
Tyler Farrar
Nissan
+ 35'02
126
Tiago Machado
Nissan
+ 35'08
127
Wesley Sulzberger
Nissan
s.t.
128
Mark Cavendish
Team ISD - Ferrari
+ 35'11
129
Cesare Benedetti
Team ISD - Ferrari
+ 35'19
130
Alessandro Petacchi
Team ISD - Ferrari
s.t.
131
Rüdiger Selig
Volkswagen
+ 35'25
132
Grischa Niermann
Volkswagen
s.t.
133
Alexander Porsev
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 35'33
134
Manuele Boaro
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
135
Alan Marangoni
Vespa
+ 35'43
136
Bernardo Riccio
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 35'47
137
Mauro Finetto
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
138
Giorgio Brambilla
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
139
Joeri Stallaert
Belisol
+ 35'51
140
Kristof Vandewalle
Belisol
s.t.
141
Davide Appollonio
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
+ 35'55
142
Lucas Sebastián Haedo
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
s.t.
143
Grega Bole
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
s.t.
144
Michael Fitzgerald
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
s.t.
145
Trent Lowe
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
s.t.
146
Denis Galimzyanov
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 36'01
147
Jetse Bol
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
148
Rick Flens
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
149
David De la Fuente
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
+ 36'03
150
Adrien Petit
FDJ - BigMat
+ 36'13
151
Cyril Bessy
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
152
Andrea Palini
Team Selle Italia
+ 36'21
153
Unai Iparragirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 36'37
154
Ekaitz Pericás
Vacansoleil - DCM
+ 36'46
155
Francesco Chicchi
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 36'51
156
Robert Wagner
Nissan
+ 37'01
157
Daniele Colli
Team ISD - Ferrari
+ 37'12
158
Fabio Piscopiello
Team ISD - Ferrari
s.t.
159
Tonio Secondini
Volkswagen
+ 37'18
160
Morten Høberg
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 37'26
161
Mattia Gavazzi
Vespa
+ 37'36
162
Davide Cimolai
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 37'40
163
Nicolas Sanderson
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
+ 37'48
164
Tom Boonen
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
s.t.
165
Richard England
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
s.t.
166
Pasqualino Saviano
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 37'50
167
Johim Ariesen
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 37'54
168
Fausto Fognini
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
+ 37'56
169
Claudio Cucinotta
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
s.t.
170
Domenico Dujardino
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
s.t.
171
Anthony Geslin
FDJ - BigMat
+ 38'06
172
Marc Heinz
Nissan
+ 38'22
173
Mikhail Antonov
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 38'47
174
Mark Christian
Team Santander
+ 38'55
175
Peter Femal
Nissan
+ 39'01
176
Aymeric Lebourg
FDJ - BigMat
+ 39'58
177
Sonny Bak
Novo Nordisk - SAS
+ 41'21
178
Julian Arredondo
Colombia - Coldeportes
+ 41'49
179
Davy Tuytens
Belisol
+ 42'22
180
Libero Calabrò
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
+ 43'26
181
Tyron Giorgieri
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
+ 43'48
182
Gaspare Cervone
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
s.t.
183
Pieter Vermeulen
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 44'32
184
Hadjimurat Meleshko
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 44'45
185
Baden Cooke
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
+ 45'07
186
Alesandro Mambelli
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
+ 45'09
187
Denis Maminov
Astana Pro Team
+ 46'33
188
Ronald Bonnaud
FDJ - BigMat
+ 47'37
189
Brice Lhuillier
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 49'48
190
Marcel Santos
FDJ - BigMat
+ 50'03
191
Arnaud Gérard
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
192
Raphaël Gillard
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 51'05
193
Niels Van Campenhout
Belisol
+ 52'11
194
Elia Sciubba
Vespa
+ 52'26
195
Michel Vullings
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 52'44
196
Oliver Van Stappen
Belisol
+ 53'43
197
Aram Tsepin
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 56'42
Points Jersey: Enrico Montanari, Vespa
Spoiler
1
Enrico Montanari
Vespa
28
2
Carlo Scognamiglio
Colombia - Coldeportes
28
3
Igor Antón
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
25
4
Diego Ulissi
Nissan
20
5
Tyler Farrar
Nissan
17
6
Mark Cavendish
Team ISD - Ferrari
16
7
Esteban Chavez
Colombia - Coldeportes
16
8
Jakob Fuglsang
Novo Nordisk - SAS
15
9
Fabio Duarte
Vacansoleil - DCM
14
10
Davide Appollonio
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
14
11
Enrique Sanz
Euskaltel - Euskadi
12
12
Damiano Cunego
Team ISD - Ferrari
12
13
Domenico Pozzovivo
Liquigas - Cannondale
10
14
Anthony Geslin
FDJ - BigMat
10
15
Alexander Kristoff
Novo Nordisk - SAS
8
Mountain Jersey: Francesco Failli, Team ISD - Ferrari
Spoiler
1
Francesco Failli
Team ISD - Ferrari
20
2
Daniel Moreno
Euskaltel - Euskadi
18
3
Domenico Pozzovivo
Liquigas - Cannondale
15
4
Igor Antón
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
9
5
Yauheni Hutarovich
Nissan
9
6
Enrico Montanari
Vespa
8
7
Jackson Rodríguez
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
8
8
Cristiano Salerno
Vespa
8
9
Sergio Henao
Volkswagen
6
10
Carlo Scognamiglio
Colombia - Coldeportes
5
11
Esteban Chavez
Colombia - Coldeportes
5
12
Gianluca Brambilla
Colnago - CSF Inox
4
13
Jakob Fuglsang
Novo Nordisk - SAS
3
14
Diego Ulissi
Nissan
3
15
Mauro Finetto
Colnago - CSF Inox
3
16
Rick Flens
Rabobank Cycling Team
3
17
Federico Canuti
Team Selle Italia
2
18
Alex Rasmussen
Novo Nordisk - SAS
1
19
Damiano Cunego
Team ISD - Ferrari
1
20
Morten Høberg
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
1
21
Anthony Geslin
FDJ - BigMat
1
Young Rider: Joshua Edmonson, Team Santander
Spoiler
1
Joshua Edmonson
Team Santander
10h23'22 (1)
2
Beñat Txoperena
Movistar Team
+ 3'01 (2)
3
Oscar Riesebeek
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 6'00 (3)
4
Edoardo Muoio
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 12'20 (4)
5
Tobias Tonning
Novo Nordisk - SAS
+ 18'55 (5)
6
Joeri Stallaert
Belisol
+ 29'18 (6)
7
Ekaitz Pericás
Vacansoleil - DCM
+ 30'13 (7)
8
Tonio Secondini
Volkswagen
+ 30'45 (8)
9
Pasqualino Saviano
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 31'17 (9)
10
Domenico Dujardino
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
+ 31'23 (10)
Team Classification: Colombia - Coldeportes
Spoiler
1
Colombia - Coldeportes
30h08'03 (1)
2
Movistar Team
+ 2'52 (2)
3
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 4'27 (3)
4
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 4'35 (4)
5
Team Santander
+ 4'53 (5)
6
Astana Pro Team
+ 4'57 (6)
7
Vespa
+ 5'34 (7)
8
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 5'38 (8)
9
Vacansoleil - DCM
+ 5'43 (9)
10
Novo Nordisk - SAS
+ 5'53 (10)
11
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 8'41 (11)
12
Volkswagen
+ 9'09 (12)
13
Team ISD - Ferrari
+ 11'55 (13)
14
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 12'49 (14)
15
Belisol
+ 15'21 (15)
16
Team Selle Italia
+ 20'42 (16)
17
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 27'45 (17)
18
FDJ - BigMat
+ 41'52 (18)
19
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 43'50 (19)
20
Nissan
+ 47'38 (20)
21
Pisanellastoria - Imbogames
+ 1h10'16 (21)
22
Commonwealth Bank - GreenEdge
+ 1h40'01 (22)
We won't be having the traditional press day rest conference as we haven't really got any more to say than what we said before the race and we need to focus on the task at hand.
The Rear Wheel have accepted that without any hazzle and have announced that they will have a feature article on McDermott's background in stead.
Hehe, I wonder if Novo Nordisk likes it that the former sponsor, Volvo, is still on Fuglsang's jersey? Well, he'll be riding in the pink jersey for the next 3 weeks anyway hopefully.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
After his win in Paris – Roubaix this year people have become increasingly interested in the story of the 23-year old Dane, who broke Cancellara on the cobbles.
It all started on New Year’s Eve 1990/91. A young woman, Marie Meineche, had followed her ancestors across the North Sea (or Western Sea as it’s called in Denmark) to the wild and harsh Scotland. And believe me Scotland is very wild and harsh in January!
She had been over there for a 3-day seminar about sheep farming. See she grew up in mid-west Jutland where the land wasn’t really suitable for anything. Except sheep. At least so she thought one day, so she had gone to agriculture school with the ambition of starting her own sheep farm. Since Denmark have mainly focused on pigs and cows for the last few hundred years she had to go overseas to get some real expertise on the field.
And that brings us back to the story. Marie was supposed to go back to Denmark the morning of the 31st, but her plane couldn’t get a lift-off due to some mechanical problem and then when it became after noon the airport decided to close down for the year.
So there stood a 25-year old Danish woman outside Aberdeen Airport with nowhere to go. So she started walking towards the town, but soon a young man pulled up and offered her a ride.
He was going towards town where he were to celebrate the new year with his (much older) brother John, who incidentally had moved to Canada, in one of the local pubs.
Or that is his brother’s band had to play so in reality William (as his name was and still is) had to go there and clap and cheer on his brother alone. You can probably all guess how it went from there…
To make a long story short Marie somehow managed to convince William that the flat Western Jutland was even more beautiful than the mighty hills of Scotland. At least close enough to get him to come with her to see. Then it was no disadvantage that William himself wanted to be a sheep-farmer, but had just seen his father sell the family farm to the neighbour since the oldest son John had no interest in it.
Things go as they do when a young man and a young woman become fond of each other and the 14th of May 1992 young Erik was born.
Only a year later his grandfather died and his grandmom moved to Denmark to be closer to her son and grandchild, so Erik never got to spend enough time in Scotland to get familiar with the hills.
At that time his parents farm was well established and Erik soon became part of the work. And when he got his first bike he started riding with his dad out over the bad roads to check on the animals. He loved the animals but even more he loved the biking.
As he described himself earlier this month those roads became his home and after watching Paris – Roubaix on TV the first time there was never really any doubt as to what his future should be.
Fortunately the combination was great. He could go to school in the day hours, but each afternoon he took his bike and rode on the gravel roads checking on his parent’s sheep. And as Erik grew older the farm grew bigger and the route longer.
When he was 14 the daily route was close to 100 km in order to get to all the pastures. On top of that the trips to and from school.
With Grand Prix Herning going past these roads Erik started taking part in the annual amateur race on these parts and it quickly became obvious that he had some real talent. He joined the local club Herning Cykle Klub and went on from there to do very well in the hard flat races, but lacked every time he came to more hilly terrain than he was used to.
At 18 he started racing the U23 races and did well in Ronde van Vlaanderen Espoirs. Of course with the hills and his young age he was nowhere near winning the race, but he was one of the only rider almost looking revealed when the hills were cobbled and every one struggled to follow him on the flat cobbles sections.
That was spotted by the manager for Falcon – Norheim (now Novo Nordisk – SAS) and he was offered to join the team as stagiaire already in the fall 2012.
The manager was enthusiastic and so where the fans with comment like:
Ian Butler wrote:
Hope to see Erik in Paris - Roubaix one day
sutty68 wrote:
Sounds like McDermott is going to be a hell of a signing for the team if he can achieve his potential
On a side note John McDermott went on to be fairly successful with his music and even included a small reference to his brothers (Erik’s dad) new life in Denmark on his version of the traditional Scottish song “Scotland the Brave”.
Nice edition!
Parents at New Year's Eve, sheeps, bad roads and Paris-Roubaix... seems to me John McDermott could easily write a song about his nephew one day, all the ingredients for a sweet hymn.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Marie Meineche used to be a fine looking woman back in the early days and no doubt all Scotland was interested in her!
A Scottish folk music connection as well. If only you had a rider with American connections then there might be a link with Lead Belly. Edited by The Rider on 06-11-2013 19:45
Mark Cavendish
Enrique Sanz
Esteban Chavez
Jakob Fuglsang
Vladimir Efimkin
