Back to the Giro with a monstruous ITT. 40 kilometres all the way to the summit of the Colle delle Nivolet. An average gradient of 4.7% to an altitude of 2520 metres. This one will separate the men from the boys!
The fastest time so far has been set by Euskaltels Mikel Astarloza. But his time of 1h24'05 is crushed by Saxo's Richie Porte. The Aussie needs 1h23'10 for the 40.5 kilometres and takes place in the hot seat.
But the time set by Porte won't last long as the 2008 RR Olympic champion Samuel Sánchez is '34 faster: 1h22'36.
Ivan Basso shows a sign of the double Giro winner he was in the past, and sets the 3rd time so far in 1h23'48.
Meanwhile, all riders have completed the first sector
1. Rujano 40'06; 2. Antón + '4; 3. Gesink + '6; 4. Brajkovic + '15; 5. Sánchez + '20; 7. Evans + '27; 19. Kelderman + 1'30.
Next rider to cross the finish line is GC's 6 Janez Brajkovic. The Radio Shack-leader rides a good MTT, and finishes in 1h22'47, only '11 slower than Sánchez.
Tom Danielson starts the MTT as the GC's number 5. The American Garmin-rider disappoints with th 16th time today, 4'29 behind the winner.
Cadel Evans is using this Giro to get in shape for the Tour de France, just as last year (and finished 2nd in Le Tour behind Nibali). He finishes 7th today in a time of 1h22'58.
2nd split times after 34 kilometres at the Lago Serru:
1. Antón 1h05'16; 2. Rujano + '3; 3. Gesink + '37; 4. Sánchez + '47; 5. Brajkovic + '48; 6. Evans + 1'01; 18. Kelderman + 2'43.
GC's number 3 Wilco Kelderman has chosen to start slowly and to give it all in the 3rd sector. He even rides a faster time than Sánchez in 1h22'32.
José Rujano quickly passes Keldeman, but gets passed by him in the last 5 kilometres. At the finish, he's '47 faster than his biggest opponent for the 2nd place in the GC.
Igor Antón is cruising to his 2nd consecutive Giro-win. He rides even 10 seconds slower than Rujano and finishes in 1h21'35. But he won't win today!
Guess who's back???
After crashing in the 11th stage and loosing the maglia rosa, Robert Gesink seems to have recovered fully from his injuries. He has a strong finish and wins the MTT in a time of 1h19'58, even climbing to the 4th place in the GC!
Results
1
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Subway
1h19'58
2
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1'37
3
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
+ 1'47
4
Wilco Kelderman
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 2'34
5
Samuel Sánchez
Lampre - Generali
+ 2'38
6
Janez Brajkovic
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 2'49
7
Cadel Evans
Katusha Team
+ 3'00
8
Richie Porte
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 3'12
9
Ivan Basso
Sky ProCycling
+ 3'50
10
Rubén Plaza
Movistar Team
+ 3'59
GC
1
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
66h46'28
2
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
+ 5'47
3
Wilco Kelderman
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 7'20
4
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 7'34
5
Cadel Evans
Katusha Team
+ 8'08
6
Janez Brajkovic
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 8'35
7
Tom Danielson
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 9'58
8
Mikel Nieve
Pro Team Astana
+ 10'00
9
Michele Scarponi
Nespresso - Algarve
+ 10'03
10
Christophe Le Mével
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 10'04
...
14
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 12'25
Today's winner
Word from the DS
This does taste as sweet revenge for Gesink!! Kelderman also rode a great MTT, but too bad that his 2 main opponents (Antón and Rujano) did the same.
I still think that you can even reach the Maglia Rosa. If you recover 2 min in the ITT and do some real hard attacks in the next mountain stages Anton might crack maybe
Schleck96 wrote:
I still think that you can even reach the Maglia Rosa. If you recover 2 min in the ITT and do some real hard attacks in the next mountain stages Anton might crack maybe
Did you notice that we are more than 7 minutes behind Antón, the 2nd best climber in the Giro???? Oh well, who knows....
Schleck96 wrote:
I still think that you can even reach the Maglia Rosa. If you recover 2 min in the ITT and do some real hard attacks in the next mountain stages Anton might crack maybe
Did you notice that we are more than 7 minutes behind Antón, the 2nd best climber in the Giro???? Oh well, who knows....
Yes I did and I still have my opinion. In the first week you dominated so why not?
Schleck96 wrote:
I still think that you can even reach the Maglia Rosa. If you recover 2 min in the ITT and do some real hard attacks in the next mountain stages Anton might crack maybe
Did you notice that we are more than 7 minutes behind Antón, the 2nd best climber in the Giro???? Oh well, who knows....
Yes I did and I still have my opinion. In the first week you dominated so why not?
I dominated, but was never near gaining 7 minutes.... 3, maybe 4 would be possible, but 7??. Our main goal is to get on the podium, but will do that with attacking.
Stage 17-Finish on the Alpe d'Huez.Gesink attack with 10km to go and win the stage with 1'30 advantage from Igor Anton.
Stage 18-Gesink win the stage with 1 advantage from Igor Anton.
Stage 19-Gesink beat Igor Anton with 3'30 minutes.
Stage 20-Gesink beat Igor Anton with 2'30 minutes and win the 96th editon of the Giro d'Italia.
Edited by ventoux on 04-07-2012 12:31
It's time for the queen's stage in the Giro D'Italia! Stage 17 is 209 kilometres long, and brings the riders over the Colle dell'Agnello to France. In the French part of the Alps, the riders have to climb the Izoard, the Lautaret and the final climb to Alpe d'Huez. That makes a total of 5732 height metres! The summit of the Colle dell'Agnello is also the Cima Coppi of this Giro, with a height of 2753 metres.
141km to go
A large breakaway is formed early in the stage, but as soon as the road starts to ascend with more than 5 %, it bursts apart. So a group of 5 riders, for sure the 5 strongest climbers of the breakaway, reach the summit of the Colle dell'Agnello with a 10-minute margin to the peloton. Pierre Rolland, with the mission of regaining the KOTM-jersey takes the price of the Cima Coppi, followed by Giovanni Visconti, Diego Ulissi, Rein Taaramäe and Massimo Codol.
108km to go
4 riders attack out of the peloton in the early kilometres of the ascend of the Col d'Izoard (14.1km at 7.5%) and try to bridge the 10-minute gap to the 5 leaders. Alessandro Bisolti, Thiago Machado, Ryder Hesjedal and Yuri Trofimov will face a tough challenge for sure.
100km to go
The 4 leaders arrive at the summit of the Col d'Izoard, and Ulissi beats Rolland in the sprint for the KOTM-points. Visconti and Taaramäe follow them, whereas Codol has been dropped. The group Hesjedal follows at 7'16 and the peloton at 12'50.
53km to go
With no cameras nearby, Robert Gesink crashes again in the descend of the Izoard. In a hairpin, he hits a stone with the front wheel, that results in a puncture and a crash. Luckily it is at a very low speed, and he's able to join the peloton again.
Ulissi, Rolland and Taaramäe have dropped Visconti in the ascend of the Col du Lautaret. Ulissi again collects the most points at the summit. The group Hesjedal is closing the gap and follows at 4'15, and the peloton at 11'48.
13km to go
Pierre Rolland has gone solo in the descend towards Bourg d'Oisans. Ulissi has been joined by Hesjedal, Machado, Trofimov and Bisolti and the 5 folow at 2'18. The peloton is closing the ga quickly and is 8'58 behind.
9km to go
Our tactic was to set a high pace with De Gendt & Kelderman and maybe let one of them attack, so Antón has to do the dirty work. But as both of them are having bad days (Kelderman -5 again), we have to switch to plan B.
But even before we can launch that plan, Antón attacks! Robert Gesink is the only one that can react. Meanwhile, the gap to Rolland has been decreased to 6'46.
8km to go
One more kilometre, and Antón attacks again. Just as the previous time, he can't shake off the 2012 Giro-winner. The 2 have cut the gap to Rolland with another minute.
7km to go
Now it's time for Robert Gesink to attack, despite not having a great day (daily form -1). Antón is struggling a bit, but can close the gap again. Only 4'56 behind Rolland.
5km to go
Machado, Trofimov and Hesjedal have continued decreasing the gap to Rolland and 5km before the finish, they join him. But further down the road, Gesink and Antón are approaching, only 3 minutes left of the gap!
2km to go Gesink increases the pace again, and in only 3 kilometres time, he and Antón close the gap to the 4 leaders. Antón seems to crack now, but so does Gesink, who is fighting like hell!
Finish
It's not enough to win back time to Igor Antón, but man, what a climb after that early crash in the stage! Robert Gesink is back in the Giro and wins his 4th stage! Antón finishes in 2nd in the same time. At '29 follows a group with Machado, Hesjedal, Trofimov and .... José Rujano. The number 2 in the GC was climbing invisibly, but in his own pace, and stays in the 2nd place of the GC.
Basso, Brajkovic, Evans, Sánchez and Le Mével finish at 2 minutes. Kelderman & De Gendt both loose almost 4 minutes, what means the young DUtch rider gets kicked off the podium.
Results
1
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Subway
6h25'20
2
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
3
Tiago Machado
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 29
4
Ryder Hesjedal
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
5
Yury Trofimov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
6
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
7
Mikel Nieve
Pro Team Astana
+ 1'01
8
Ivan Basso
Sky ProCycling
+ 2'00
9
Janez Brajkovic
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
10
Samuel Sánchez
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Cadel Evans
Katusha Team
s.t.
12
Christophe Le Mével
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
13
Michele Scarponi
Nespresso - Algarve
+ 2'23
14
Richie Porte
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 2'56
15
Tom Danielson
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 3'25
16
Eros Capecchi
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 3'36
17
Rubén Plaza
Movistar Team
s.t.
18
Pierre Rolland
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
19
Wilco Kelderman
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 3'55
20
Simon Spilak
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
21
Mikel Astarloza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
22
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Subway
s.t.
23
Chris Anker Sørensen
BMC Racing Team
+ 5'28
24
Kanstantsin Siutsou
Sky ProCycling
+ 8'13
25
Francesco Masciarelli
Pro Team Astana
+ 8'35
26
Emanuele Sella
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
27
Damiano Caruso
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 8'46
28
Giampaolo Caruso
Katusha Team
+ 8'54
29
Alessandro Bisolti
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
30
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
s.t.
31
Iván Velasco
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 9'37
32
Christian Vande Velde
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 10'16
33
André Steensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
34
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 10'33
35
Omar Fraile
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 11'18
36
Diego Ulissi
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
37
Egoi Martínez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 12'48
38
Rein Taaramäe
Sony Ericsson
+ 14'09
39
Jérémy Roy
FDJ
+ 14'18
40
Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy
Pro Team Astana
+ 15'24
41
Thomas Rohregger
Sony Ericsson
+ 15'31
42
Dalivier Ospina
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 15'46
43
David Arroyo
Movistar Team
s.t.
44
Mauricio Alberto Ardila
Nespresso - Algarve
s.t.
45
Daniel Teklehaimanot
FDJ
+ 16'02
46
Gorka Izagirre
Movistar Team
+ 16'52
47
Gustav Erik Larsson
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 17'55
48
Giovanni Visconti
BMC Racing Team
+ 18'10
49
Trent Lowe
Sony Ericsson
+ 18'27
50
Jens Voigt
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 19'13
51
Christian Knees
Sky ProCycling
+ 19'46
52
Arkaitz Durán
Nespresso - Algarve
s.t.
53
Marc De Maar
Monster Energy - Subway
s.t.
54
Luke Rowe
Qantas Airways
+ 20'01
55
Ivan Rovny
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 20'52
56
Enrico Zen
Androni Giocattoli
+ 22'14
57
Morris Possoni
Sky ProCycling
+ 23'12
58
Andrey Amador
Movistar Team
s.t.
59
Matthew Lloyd
Pro Team Astana
+ 23'26
60
Rubén Pérez
Movistar Team
+ 25'19
61
Andriy Grivko
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
62
Riccardo Chiarini
Androni Giocattoli
+ 26'20
63
Jan Bakelants
Lotto - Belisol
+ 27'10
64
Peter Kennaugh
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
65
Sébastien Joly
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 27'32
66
Enrique Salgueiro
Movistar Team
+ 27'51
67
Alessandro Petacchi
BMC Racing Team
+ 28'14
68
Cristiano Salerno
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
69
Timothy Duggan
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
70
Massimo Codol
Acqua & Sapone
+ 28'54
71
Maciej Paterski
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 29'18
72
Christophe Riblon
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 31'57
73
Koldo Fernández
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 32'18
74
Pietro Caucchioli
Lampre - Generali
+ 32'25
75
Danny Pate
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
76
Leonardo Moser
Androni Giocattoli
+ 34'15
77
Leonardo Duque
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 40'44
78
Simon Clarke
Qantas Airways
+ 40'51
79
Francesco Ginanni
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
80
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ
+ 41'30
81
Luca Solari
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
82
Simone Ponzi
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 41'57
83
Paolo Bailetti
Nespresso - Algarve
s.t.
84
José Ángel Gómez Marchante
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 43'00
85
Laurens Ten Dam
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 43'19
86
Grischa Niermann
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 43'28
87
Stef Clement
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
88
Daniele Pietropolli
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 43'40
89
Carlos Betancourt
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
90
Markel Irizar
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 43'50
91
Nuno Ribeiro
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
92
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
93
Daniele Bennati
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
94
Anthony Geslin
FDJ
+ 44'05
95
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
96
Emanuele Vona
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
97
Fabian Wegmann
FDJ
s.t.
98
Brent Bookwalter
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
99
Fabio Taborre
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
100
Mads Christensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
101
Marco Corti
Nespresso - Algarve
+ 46'00
102
Ben Jacques-Maynes
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 47'00
103
Romain Zingle
Monster Energy - Subway
s.t.
104
Theo Bos
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 48'10
105
Zdenek Stybar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 56'30
106
Jack Bobridge
Monster Energy - Subway
s.t.
107
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 1h03'14
108
Grega Bole
Lampre - Generali
+ 1h03'38
109
Martin Reimer
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
110
Mirco Lorenzetto
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
111
Antonio D'Aniello
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
112
Anthony Roux
FDJ
s.t.
113
Matteo Montaguti
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
114
Matthew Goss
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
115
Jonas Aaen Jørgensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
116
Maarten Wynants
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
117
Gianluca Mirenda
Lampre - Generali
s.t.
118
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
119
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
s.t.
120
Ben Swift
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
121
Gavin Mannion
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
122
Matteo Pelucchi
Nespresso - Algarve
s.t.
123
Mikhail Ignatiev
Katusha Team
s.t.
124
Andrea Guardini
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
125
Dennis Van Winden
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
126
Bjorn Selander
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
127
Ian Bibby
Qantas Airways
s.t.
128
René Jørgensen
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
129
Fabio Sabatini
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
130
Juraj Sagan
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
131
Lucas Sebastián Haedo
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
132
Wesley Sulzberger
Qantas Airways
s.t.
133
Martin Kragh
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
134
Denis Galimzyanov
Katusha Team
s.t.
135
Anthony Ravard
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
136
Claudio Corioni
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
137
Xavier Florencio
Nespresso - Algarve
s.t.
138
Baden Cooke
Qantas Airways
s.t.
139
Dominique Cornu
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
140
Óscar Freire
Movistar Team
s.t.
141
Christian Murro
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
142
John Murphy
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
143
Davide Appollonio
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
144
Enrique Sanz
Movistar Team
s.t.
145
Juan Manuel Gárate
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
146
Luca Celli
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
147
Takashi Miyazawa
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
148
Phil Zajicek
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
149
Chad Beyer
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
150
Danilo Napolitano
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
151
Alexei Markov
Katusha Team
s.t.
GC
1
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
73h11'36
2
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
+ 6'28
3
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 7'26
4
Cadel Evans
Katusha Team
+ 10'20
5
Janez Brajkovic
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 10'47
6
Mikel Nieve
Pro Team Astana
+ 11'13
7
Wilco Kelderman
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 11'27
8
Christophe Le Mével
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 12'16
9
Michele Scarponi
Nespresso - Algarve
+ 12'38
10
Ivan Basso
Sky ProCycling
+ 13'15
...
15
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 16'32
Points
1
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
169
2
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Subway
132
3
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Subway
99
4
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
84
5
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
78
KOTM
1
Pierre Rolland
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
50
2
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Subway
45
3
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
43
4
Diego Ulissi
Liquigas - Cannondale
28
5
Simon Clarke
Qantas Airways
19
U25
1
Wilco Kelderman
Monster Energy - Subway
73h23'03
2
Diego Ulissi
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
+ 16'54
3
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 45'34
Teams
1
Monster Energy - Subway
218h03'04
2
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 7'13
3
Pro Team Astana
+ 21'56
Today's winner
Word from the DS
Again a stage with 2 faces. Gesink was absolutely amazing and can focus on the 2nd place in the GC. But Kelderman is starting to drop in the GC. But that was about to happen in his 1st GT where he can ride for the GC.
Edited by dienblad on 04-07-2012 13:09
Another tough day in the Alps. The 192 kilometres between Guillestre and Dronero features 4 tough climbs, 2 in France and the last 2 in Italy. Back on Italian soil, 2 Alps giants await, first the Colle della Fauniera, where at the summit a monument is build for Marco Pantani, and then the Colle di Sampeyre. After the summit awaits a 34km technical descend towards Dronero.
140km to go
We have made a tactical masterplan for today's stage, with the goal of bringing Robert Gesink close to the GC-lead. The plan is to get someone in the early breakaway (first 2 climbs), and anotehr one in a midstage attack (Colle della Fauniera), before Gesink will attack at the slopes of the Sampeyre. Marc De Maar attacks with a small group (Codol, Ospina, Ten Dam & Pérez) after the Col de Vars and is the first at the summit of the Col de Larche. The peloton is only 2 minutes behind. Apparantly, Eukaltel didn't want a Monster-rider create a gap of several minutes.
74km to go
A lot happens in the ascend of the 3rd climb of the day, the Colle della Fauniera (24.7km at 6.9%, alt. 2487m). Several riders attack out of the peloton and bridge the gap to the leading group. With some good climbers now in this group, the pace increases and it causes many victims. One of them is De Maar, who can't follow the pace especially set by Rubén Plaza (Movistar, GC's 13th) and Eros Capecchi (Liquigas). These 2 pass the Marco Pantani monument at the summit with a margin of already a few minutes to Richie Porte (GC's 14th), Kanstantsin Siutsou (24th), Joaquím Rodríguez, Pierre Rolland (19th) and Rein Taaramäe. The peloton follows at 11 minutes!
73km to go
The peloton starts the technical ascend, and again it is a Monster Energy-rider who has hit the tarmac. It's GC's number 7 Wilco Kelderman who lost control of his bike. We don't eactly know what happened, but it seems like he hit another rider who made a strange move....
50km to go
Capecchi and Plaza have started the final climb of the Colle di Sampeyre (16.5km at 8.2%) with a margin of 4'49 to the group Porte-Rolland-Taaramäe. The peloton follows at 11 minutes and Kelderman at 12'00.
39km to go Kelderman has closed the gap to the group of favourites, but gets dropped again a few times in the climb. Everytime, he fights back into the group. But our tactical masterplan can be thrown away, as he was the one to launch the mid stage attack.
But we have a plan B, and need Thomas De Gendt for it. The Belgian attacks 5km before the summit, and he finds Robert Gesink in his wheel. Nobody in the peloton counters. Igor Antón apparantly doesn't see Gesink as a threat for the maglia rosa and doesn't react. He looks at José Rujano, and seems to be telling him that when he wants to defend his 2nd place, he should react. But Rujano can't do it!
34km to go
Capecchi and Plaza arrive at the summit of the Colle di Sampeyre and a long and technical descend awaits. Rolland and Porte follow at 6'04.
Gesink has passed the other attackers and crosses the summit as the 4th rider at 7'56. He must give it all in the descend, to bridge the gap to Roland and Porte. The group of favourites follows at 9'29, 1 minute and 33 seconds behind Gesink!! Kelderman follows at 10'19.
9km to go
Who says that Gesink can't descend? Well, you're wrong! He closes the gap of 1'52 to Porte and Rolland and even increases the gap to the group of favourites (+ 2'24 behind)!
Finish
With the action in the ascend and descend of the Sampeyre, we would almost forget the battle for the stage win. Capecchi and Plaza are pretty equal in the sprint, so it depends on who has the best legs left after 5126 height metres and 192 kilometres.
The sprint for sure isn't exciting as Eros Capecchi is by far the strongest. He vrings the Liquigas a well deserved win and many points to bring the team back to the World Tour.
Both Porte and Rolland didn't do any work in the last 9 flat kilometres, so the group Antón could decrease the gap a bit. And of course, they wanted to sprint for the 3rd place. Porte wins this, even taking 8 bonus seconds away from Gesink, who finishes in 4th (6'15 behind Capecchi).
The group Antón (including De Gendt) finishes at 7'43, so Gesink regains 1'28 and also the 2nd place in the GC. Kelderman finishes at 8'54, so loosing another minute and drops to 9th in the GC.
Results
1
Eros Capecchi
Liquigas - Cannondale
5h55'27
2
Rubén Plaza
Movistar Team
s.t.
3
Richie Porte
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 6'15
4
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Subway
s.t.
5
Pierre Rolland
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
6
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
+ 7'43
7
Mikel Nieve
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
8
Cadel Evans
Katusha Team
s.t.
9
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
10
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Subway
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Christophe Le Mével
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
12
Janez Brajkovic
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
13
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
s.t.
14
Rein Taaramäe
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
15
Kanstantsin Siutsou
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
16
Samuel Sánchez
Lampre - Generali
+ 8'54
17
Michele Scarponi
Nespresso - Algarve
s.t.
18
Mikel Astarloza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
19
Ryder Hesjedal
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
20
Yury Trofimov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
21
Ivan Basso
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
22
Wilco Kelderman
Monster Energy - Subway
s.t.
23
Iván Velasco
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
24
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
25
Simon Spilak
Lampre - Generali
+ 12'38
GC
1
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
79h14'46
2
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 5'58
3
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
+ 6'28
4
Rubén Plaza
Movistar Team
+ 8'15
5
Cadel Evans
Katusha Team
+ 10'20
6
Janez Brajkovic
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 10'47
7
Mikel Nieve
Pro Team Astana
+ 11'13
8
Christophe Le Mével
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 12'16
9
Wilco Kelderman
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 12'38
10
Michele Scarponi
Nespresso - Algarve
+ 13'49
...
14
Thomas De Gendt
Monster Energy - Subway
+ 16'32
Points
1
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
176
2
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Subway
146
3
Marcel Kittel
Monster Energy - Subway
99
4
José Rujano
Androni Giocattoli
88
5
Tyler Farrar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
84
KOTM
1
Pierre Rolland
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
55
2
Robert Gesink
Monster Energy - Subway
46
3
Igor Antón
Euskaltel - Euskadi
43
4
Diego Ulissi
Liquigas - Cannondale
28
5
Simon Clarke
Qantas Airways
19
U25
1
Wilco Kelderman
Monster Energy - Subway
79h27'24
2
Diego Ulissi
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 24'23
3
Mikel Landa
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 45'34
4
Omar Fraile
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1h19'25
4
Peter Kennaugh
Sky ProCycling
+ 1h50'02
Teams
1
Monster Energy - Subway
236h12'17
2
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 17'21
3
Pro Team Astana
+ 32'04
4
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 34'23
5
Radio Shack - Nissan
+ 49'16
Today's winner
Word from the DS
Another stage with mixed feelings. Robert Gesink did a great job, although we had hoped he would gain one more minute. But Kelderman crashed pretty silly, but lost a full minute. Top 10 will be his goal now, and helping Gesink in the last mountain stage in the day after tomorrow. But first the last ITT tomorrow.
Edited by dienblad on 05-07-2012 19:48
But Antón doesn't seem to show signs of weakness though, so I think Gesink won't be able to get to first. Second maybe.
