@Tuco the Ugly
Thanks. Astana had really bad luck, if they were positioned better, they never had lost contact.
You are right. I did not have looked much at the wildcard-teams. But it is worse to see that only 4 Cervélo and 1 Vacansoleil rider were in the Contador-group. And ISD thanks ASO the wildcard with sending only 5 rider for the race I wonder why BMC did not get a wildcard...
RadioShack: Our second race in the United States! We have no pressure here, but a Top5 would be nice. It is quite flat, and after he helped a lot Steegmans in the past, we want to give Tomas Vaitkus the chance to show himself as captain. Lance and Levi are free and maybe able to set a good attack in the end of the race. Sergio Paulinho is here to build up his shape for the Giro. Markel Irizar, Fumiyuki Beppu and Jason McCartney will help today.
The opposition: Unexpected good startlist here, and we have a few opponents which are either able to win here, Murilo Fischer and Julian Dean for Garmin, Iván Domínguez for Jamis and Marcel Sieberg for Colombia.
Athens - Athens, 83,2 km Todays criterium around downtown Athens have a few easy hills, but quite flat and we will probably see a bunch sprint.
Team goals:
- Top 5
Favourites: Julian Dean, Tomas Vaitkus, Iván Domínguez, Marcel Sieberg, Bert Grabsch. My tip: Julian Dean.
Markel Irizar in front, Peter Williams (Motorpoint), Alex Bowden (Team Type 1), Leigh Howard (Colombia), Tim Johnson (United Healthcare) and Bruno Radotic (Meridiana) are in the second group.
Irizar; 50" Group Howard; +3'17" P.
28,5 km left, Group Irizar is one minute in front. Does not look good.
I really have to talk with Axel Merckx (director of U23 Trek Livestrong)! Our U23 squad did most of the work to caught the breakaway!
The race situation, 16,7 km to go. The peloton with 138 rider in front, including all the favourites and our whole squad.
And with loud applause, Lance Armstrong tried to to the impossible, an acceleration in the final 10 km! Of course with no chance. But the probably bext american cyclist ever could show himself.
One last lap to go!
A little overview over the positioning of the sprinters. Vaitkus at a good position, he took the backwheel of Malcolm Elliott (Motorpoint). The other favourites at Vaitkus backwheel.
The last turn (1,0 km to go). Very close today.
400m to the line! Hayles and Domínguez at the right in front, while Vaitkus left makes his final move and accelerated! Who win today?
And Vaitkus steals Hayles the victory on the line! He shows that he is not only a good supporter for Steegmans, but also a great main sprinter! Also nice to see that Justin Williams is healed after his injury and could finish 8th for Trek-Livestrong U23
Thank you all! Probably luck, because Julian Dean was the only real opponent, but was bad positioned at the sprint finish.
25. April
Good news: Daryl Impey will compete as sprinter at the Giro 2010, and timely before the Giro d'Italia, he improved himself:
+2 Cobbles
+1 Sprint
+1 Acceleration
+1 Stamina
+1 Resistance
Liège – Bastogne – Liège
Liège–Bastogne–Liège, often called La Doyenne ("the oldest", is one of the five 'Monuments' of the European professional road cycling calendar, and one of 24 races in which points can be gained towards the UCI World Ranking. The first edition was run in 1892 for amateurs, the first race for professionals taking place in 1894 when Leon Houa (who won the 1892 race as an amateur) triumphed. It is run in the Ardennes region of Belgium, from Liège to Bastogne and back. It is organized by the ASO. Most wins: Eddy Merckx (BEL) 5 Winner 2009: Andy Schleck (LUX)
Joaquím Rodriguez
Only 17th in the netherlands, but after his win in Huy, he showed that his shape is right and is the top favourite today.
Philippe Gilbert
It is getting a worse April for him. After a good 3rd in Vlaanderen, he finished only 5th at Amstel, 13th in Huy, not enough for the permanent favourite. Also a problem today: Gilbert is known as a puncheur, not as a climber, but today, we also need climbing skills...
Fränk Schleck
A weak start in the april from him, but after his second at the Flèche Wallone, we have to count him to the top favourites!
Samuel Sánchez
A good 5th in Huy. And as a well-known climber, he has good chances to be better here.
Alexandre Vinokourov
Poor performance at the Flèche Wallone, but as real life winner here, he deserves 3 stars.
Andy Schleck
33th Amstel Gold, 8th Flèche Wallone. And finally, he is the title defender, so he know how to win here.
Kim Kirchen
After his 4th in Huy, he deserves to be called as a favourite.
Aleksandr Kolobnev
8th Amstel Gold, but after only finishing 22th in Huy, he will not be leader of his squad today.
Serguei Ivanov
10th Amstel Gold, 15th Flèche Wallone. Average results, but he should be ablo to get a similar result here.
Ryder Hesjedal
Only 34th in Valkenburg, but with his 7th in Huy, he showed that his shape is gettimg better and he is also a good climber, so a good chance for him to get another Top10.
Alberto Contador
Poor performance at the Flèche Wallone. But as probably best climber in the world, he has a chance here.
Chris Horner
With a good shape and a good 6th in Huy, he is a good bet for a Top10.
Simon Gerrans
9th Amstel Gold, 18th Flèche Wallone.
Enrico Gasparotto
As winner of the Amstel Gold Race, we have to call him a favourite.
Jens Voigt
Just wanted to call another german rider expect Klödi a favourite, but Jens finished 14th at the Flèche Wallone and deserve that.
Andreas Klöden/Yaroslav Popovych
Depending who is feeling better today, we can expect a Top20 from one of them.
RadioShack:
Just like in the last two hilly classics, Horner leads our squad, Popovych and Klödi are Co-Leader. Paulinho will build up his shape today, Busche, Hermans and Lequatre are helper today.
Liège - Liège, 258,1 km La doyenne! The probably hardest hilly classic of the world, with well-known climbings like the Côte de la Redoute (2,1 km, 8,4%) or the Côte de Saint-Nicolas (1km, 11,1%).
Team goals:
- Top 10 (Horner)
- Top 20 (Klöden, Popovych)
Favourites: see above My tip: Sámuel Sánchez wins the mountain stage at the Vuelta Ciclista al pais Vasco and is a favourite today.
good luck in Liège – Bastogne – Liège
i think from your team Popo can be the best if he have good day ^^
and who win ?
my tip for win - Purito or Sanchez or Cunego
Thank you all for the comments! Wuith his development, I am confident that Impey could get a Top5 in the Giro because there are not much good sprinter.
Depart in Liège.
Strong BOTD: Maxime Bouet (Agritubel), Rubens Bertogliati (Androni), Daniel Moreno (Omega Pharma), Bobbie Traksel (Vacansoleil), Ricardo Van der Velde (Garmin), David Arroyo (Caisse d'Epargne), Marco Pinotti (Colombia), Jonas Aaen Jørgensen (Saxo Bank), Markus Fothen (Milram), Aitor Hérnandez (Euskaltel), Jonathan Hivert (Saur-Sojasun) and Matteo Bono (Lampre).
Here with their maximum advantage, almost seven minutes.
Garmin, Lampre and Katusha did today most of the work.
FALL IN THE PACK! And after the crash, the ************ from the Mavic car drived over his bike. He losed contact with the front group. Really bad day for Popo.
30km to go. Only moreno in front.
Moreno; +30" Hérnandez, Hivert, Bono; +1'02" P.
At the Côte de la Roche aux Facons, the peloton with 51 rider is in front, and we see the first attackers: Kim Kirchen and Philippe Gilbert.
12km left. 27 rider in front, including the favourites and Horner and Klöden from RadioShack.
The Côte de Saint Nicolas, and Ryder Hesjedal with a strong acceleration! Only Cunego and Soler decided to launch the attack. While Cunego and Hesjedal opened a gap, Soler was not able to go away.
5km to go.
Hesjedal; +10" Cunego; +23" Group Gilbert.
Flame rouge, and the sprint for L-B-L begin! Maybe we were wrong, not trying to set an attack because Horner and Klöden are not that good sprinters... Hesjedal and Cunego still in front.
The last turn, Cunego get passed, but it seems that the attack at the Saint Nicolas decided todays race...
Ryder Hesjedal could hold himself in front and can celebrate his greatest victory of his career so far. Horner finished 8th, finally a good week for him (11th Amstel Gold, 6th Flèche Wallone, 8th L-B-L).
Frustrating picture. After his crash, Yaroslav had a bad race, finally a 119th place with a residue of 13'18" to Hesjedal.
Result:
1
Ryder Hesjedal
Garmin - Transitions
7h01'56
2
Fränk Schleck
Team Saxo Bank
+ 9
3
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Farnese Vini
s.t.
4
Joaquím Rodríguez
Team Katusha
s.t.
5
Simon Gerrans
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
6
Andy Schleck
Team Saxo Bank
s.t.
7
Rinaldo Nocentini
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
8
Chris Horner
Team RadioShack
s.t.
9
Philippe Gilbert
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
10
Kim Kirchen
Team Katusha
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Kevin Seeldraeyers
Quick·Step
s.t.
12
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
13
Samuel Sánchez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
14
Alberto Contador
Astana
s.t.
15
Andreas Klöden
Team RadioShack
s.t.
16
Alexandr Kolobnev
Team Katusha
s.t.
17
Juan Mauricio Soler
Caisse d'Epargne
s.t.
18
Roman Kreuziger
Liquigas - Doimo
+ 39
19
Nicolas Roche
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
20
Sergueï Ivanov
Team Katusha
s.t.
21
Sébastien Joly
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
22
Denis Menchov
Rabobank
+ 55
23
Daniel Martin
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
24
Kevin De Weert
Quick·Step
+ 1'29
25
Daniele Pietropolli
Lampre - Farnese Vini
s.t.
26
Simon Spilak
Lampre - Farnese Vini
s.t.
27
Christian Vande Velde
Garmin - Transitions
+ 1'43
28
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank
+ 3'29
29
Sérgio Paulinho
Team RadioShack
s.t.
30
Vasil Kiryienka
Caisse d'Epargne
s.t.
31
Fredrik Kessiakoff
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
32
Alexandre Vinokourov
Astana
s.t.
33
Alexandre Botcharov
Team Katusha
s.t.
34
Maxime Monfort
Team HTC - Columbia
s.t.
35
Vladimir Karpets
Team Katusha
s.t.
36
Yury Trofimov
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
s.t.
37
Romain Sicard
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
38
Serge Pauwels
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
39
Francesco Bellotti
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
40
Jan Bakelandts
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 4'32
41
Luis León Sánchez
Caisse d'Epargne
s.t.
42
Jens Voigt
Team Saxo Bank
s.t.
43
Nicki Sørensen
Team Saxo Bank
s.t.
44
Daniel Moreno
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 5'19
45
Bram Tankink
Rabobank
+ 5'26
46
Laurens Ten Dam
Rabobank
s.t.
47
Jérôme Pineau
Quick·Step
s.t.
48
Carlos Barredo
Quick·Step
s.t.
49
Stefan Denifl
Cervélo Test Team
+ 5'45
50
Hubert Dupont
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
51
David Millar
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
52
Matthew Busche
Team RadioShack
s.t.
53
Tom Danielson
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
54
Matteo Bono
Lampre - Farnese Vini
+ 6'02
55
Aitor Hernández
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 6'09
56
Marco Pinotti
Team HTC - Columbia
s.t.
57
Jonathan Hivert
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
58
Ben Hermans
Team RadioShack
+ 8'05
59
Enrico Gasparotto
Astana
s.t.
60
Jonas Aaen Jørgensen
Team Saxo Bank
+ 8'17
61
Pierrick Fédrigo
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
s.t.
62
Peter Velits
Team HTC - Columbia
s.t.
63
Xavier Tondo
Cervélo Test Team
s.t.
64
Dmitriy Fofonov
Astana
s.t.
65
Mathieu Sprick
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
s.t.
66
Thomas Rohregger
Team Milram
s.t.
67
Íñigo Cuesta
Cervélo Test Team
s.t.
68
Vincenzo Nibali
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
69
Andriy Grivko
Astana
s.t.
70
Johannes Fröhlinger
Team Milram
s.t.
71
Pierre Rolland
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
s.t.
72
Paolo Tiralongo
Astana
s.t.
73
Sylwester Szmyd
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
74
Alexsandr Dyachenko
Astana
s.t.
75
Markus Fothen
Team Milram
s.t.
76
Rubens Bertogliati
Androni Giocattoli - Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni
s.t.
77
Jean-Christophe Peraud
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
78
Mario Aerts
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
79
Robert Gesink
Rabobank
s.t.
80
Branislau Samoilau
Quick·Step
s.t.
81
Amets Txurruka
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
82
Dries Devenyns
Quick·Step
s.t.
83
Dario Cataldo
Quick·Step
s.t.
84
Alessandro Spezialetti
Lampre - Farnese Vini
s.t.
85
René Mandri
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
86
Jelle Vanendert
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
87
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
88
Christophe Moreau
Caisse d'Epargne
s.t.
89
Alexander Efimkin
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
90
Manuele Mori
Lampre - Farnese Vini
s.t.
91
Marzio Bruseghin
Caisse d'Epargne
s.t.
92
David Arroyo
Caisse d'Epargne
s.t.
93
Geraint Thomas
Sky Professional Cycling Team
+ 9'58
94
Johann Tschopp
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
s.t.
95
Tony Martin
Team HTC - Columbia
s.t.
96
Juan José Oroz
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
97
Ivan Basso
Liquigas - Doimo
+ 10'14
98
Fabian Wegmann
Team Milram
s.t.
99
Linus Gerdemann
Team Milram
s.t.
100
Anders Lund
Team Saxo Bank
s.t.
101
José Luis Arrieta
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
102
Rasmus Guldhammer
Team HTC - Columbia
s.t.
103
Dario Cioni
Sky Professional Cycling Team
+ 10'34
104
Marco Marzano
Lampre - Farnese Vini
+ 10'42
105
Ricardo Van der Velde
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
106
Arnold Jeanneson
Caisse d'Epargne
+ 12'09
107
Gorazd Stangelj
Astana
s.t.
108
Chris Anker Sørensen
Team Saxo Bank
s.t.
109
Johnny Hoogerland
Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
110
Daniel Lloyd
Cervélo Test Team
s.t.
111
Julien Loubet
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
112
Peter Kennaugh
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
113
Francesco Ginanni
Androni Giocattoli - Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni
s.t.
114
Mauro Santambrogio
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
115
Joaquín Novoa
Cervélo Test Team
s.t.
116
Xabier Zandio
Caisse d'Epargne
s.t.
117
Rubén Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
118
Bobbie Traksel
Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
+ 13'18
119
Yaroslav Popovych
Team RadioShack
s.t.
120
Maxime Bouet
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
121
Tom Stubbe
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 14'14
122
Jürgen Van de Walle
Quick·Step
s.t.
123
Valerio Agnoli
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
124
Mauricio Ardila
Rabobank
s.t.
125
Stijn Vandenbergh
Team Katusha
s.t.
126
Nicolas Vogondy
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
s.t.
127
Philip Deignan
Cervélo Test Team
s.t.
128
Kai Reus
Rabobank
+ 16'46
129
Svein Tuft
Garmin - Transitions
+ 16'54
130
Cyril Lemoine
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
131
Laurent Lefèvre
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
+ 17'14
132
Kanstantsin Siutsou
Team HTC - Columbia
+ 18'10
133
Dominique Rollin
Cervélo Test Team
+ 18'58
134
Volodymir Gustov
Cervélo Test Team
s.t.
135
Vitaliy Buts
Lampre - Farnese Vini
+ 19'18
136
Matthias Frank
BMC Racing Team
+ 19'58
137
Alan Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 20'54
138
Steve Morabito
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
139
Sylvain Calzati
Sky Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
140
Aitor Galdos
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
141
John-Lee Augustyn
Sky Professional Cycling Team
+ 21'10
142
Brian Vandborg
Liquigas - Doimo
+ 22'38
143
Thomas Bertolini
Androni Giocattoli - Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni
s.t.
144
Maxime Vantomme
Team Katusha
s.t.
145
Dimitry Kozontchuk
Rabobank
s.t.
146
Ivan Santaromita
Liquigas - Doimo
s.t.
147
Roger Kluge
Team Milram
+ 24'58
148
Cyril Bessy
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
149
Florian Stalder
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
150
Scott Nydam
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
151
Jean-Marc Marino
Saur - Sojasun
+ 25'58
152
Alexandre Moos
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
153
Brent Bookwalter
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
154
Wim De Vocht
Team Milram
+ 26'34
155
Julien Simon
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
156
Cameron Wurf
Androni Giocattoli - Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni
+ 27'10
157
Carlos José Ochoa
Androni Giocattoli - Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni
s.t.
158
Fabrice Piemontesi
Androni Giocattoli - Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni
+ 28'14
159
Simon Zahner
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
160
Laurent Didier
Team Saxo Bank
s.t.
161
Geoffroy Lequatre
Team RadioShack
s.t.
162
Gert Dockx
Team HTC - Columbia
+ 29'58
163
William Bonnet
Bbox Bouygues Télécom
s.t.
164
Jan Ghyselinck
Team HTC - Columbia
s.t.
165
Stéphane Rossetto
Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
166
Damiano Margutti
Androni Giocattoli - Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni
+ 30'38
167
Alberto Ongarato
Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
168
Arnoud Van Groen
Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
169
Alberto Loddo
Androni Giocattoli - Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni
s.t.
170
Michal Golas
Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
171
Gorik Gardeyn
Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
172
Dominik Nerz
Team Milram
+ 31'30
173
Joost Van Leijen
Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
+ 36'09
174
Anthony Delaplace
Saur - Sojasun
+ 37'45
175
Romain Matheou
Saur - Sojasun
+ 38'24
Other race results:
Spoiler
Vuelta a la Riojo
1.) Giovanni Visconti (ISD) 5h04'24"
2.) Carlo Scognamiglio (ISD) +0"
3.) Gustavo César Veloso (Xacobeo) +0"
Thank you The next surprising winner at a monument (just like Mi-SR or RvV), but Ryder had deserved that, a fantastic move! And sorry for the mistake with Maxime Bouet, he rides for AG2R, not for Agritubel.
Spoiler
U23 - Giro delle Regioni Stage 1:
1.) Gustav Nennesson (SWE) 2h59'27"
2.) Eduard Kilikovich (UKR) +0"
3.) Randolf Dreßel (GER) +0"
26. March Race results:
Spoiler
U23 - Giro delle Regioni Stage 2:
1.) Gustav Nennesson (SWE) 3h44'27"
2.) Eduard Kilikovich (UKR) +0"
3.) Randolf Dreßel (GER) +0" If he get another stage win here, I will try to sign Nenneson as Stagiare for August. He really seems to be the next super sprint specialist.
The first injury 2010 for us - Janez Brajkovic is sick, he has a Nasopharyngitis. Our doctor Michele Amico care for him.
27. March Tour de Romandie
The Tour de Romandie is a stage race which is part of the UCI ProTour. It runs in the old Romandie region, in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. It began in 1947, to coincide with the 50-year celebration of the Swiss Cycling.
The race traditionally starts with an individual time trial prologue in Geneva and ends with another individual time-trial in the hilly terrains in Lausanne. The final time-trial traditionally starts in the stadium north of Lausanne, goes downhill southwards to the Lac Léman (Lake Geneva), and makes its way back uphill to the stadium again. Not surprisingly, the winner and several of the top-ten finishers are usually excellent time trialists.
The parcours of the race usually winds northwards towards the Jura mountains and Alpine mountain ranges of western Switzerland. Most wins: Stephen Roche (IRL) 3 Winner 2009: Roman Kreuziger (CZE)
RadioShack: Our last preparation race and expect Ivan Rovny, all the rider which started for us here, will compete at the Giro. Only Daryl Impey and Jason McCartney, which will compete in the Giro either, decided to compete at the Tour of Gila. Levi Leipheimer is our squad leader. Two strong Co-Leader, Tiago Machado and Sergio Paulinho. Veteran Chechu Rubiera and young puncheur Hermans as supporter for them. Irizar has to help, Lequatre is our sprinter in the one sprint stage. Rovny only starts here because we need 8 rider, he will also be a helper for the GC-contenders.
The opponents: Our main opponents (and I think in the Giro, it will be the same) are the Liquigas rider, Ivan Basso and Vincenzo Nibali. Vinokourov has, as we can see at the Flèche Wallone and L-B-L, a bad shape, and Wiggins will have problems on the longer climbs at stage 5&6. And the other good GC-rider (Rogers, Zabriskie, Casar, Peraud, Seeldraeyers) should not be able to beat one of the big favourites.
Stage 1: Porrentruy, 4,3 km Flat, short prologue. In that case, even sprinter should be able to win here, so we have many favourites for today.
Team goals:
- Top 10 (Leipheimer)
Favourites: Tony Martin, Bradley Wiggins, Tom Boonen, Marc Cavendish, Edvald Boasson Hagen My tip: Tony Martin.
I wonder why BMC did not get a wildcard...
