Stage 5 – TT
None of our riders are particularly good timetrialists, so there are no expectations for the riders except that they should do their best.
When passing the second intermediate time Willy Ipsen clocks in the provisional best, and 2nd best in goal. A great performance by the young Dane. Geir Berg does equally good getting provisional 6th in goal 1 minute slower than Alex Rasmussen.
Right before Jeppe Nielsen crosses the line Fabian Cancellara destroys all competition with a time 1’17’’ better than the 2nd best at the time. Jesper Hansen is last Falcon on the course and he gets the best time just over 2 minutes slower than Cancellara.
Stage Results:
1. Fabian Cancellara, RadioShack - Nissan
2. Jesús Herrada, Movistar
3. Sylvain Chavanel, Orica - GreenEdge 64. Jesper Hansen, Falcon – STARK
Mountains: Christopher Juul-Jensen, Falcon – STARK
Stage 6
Climbingwise the toughest stage of the race, and the day Jesper Hansen has been waiting for. Jesper will target the Youth classification and both him Christopher and Jeppe will keep an eye open for the chance of getting the Mountain jersey.
BOTD consisted of mediocre climbers Jeppe Lykke Hartvig Nielsen and Guillaume Bonnafond being the best.
Hitting the first climb result in a lot of attacks in the peloton, but having Hartvig Nielsen in the break allows Hansen and Juul-Jensen to sit comfortably in the back of the Sky-train.
First part of the plan goes perfect as Jeppe lead the breakaway over the summit. With 3 km to go four riders are in front of everyone else. Bonnafond, Andy Schleck, David López and Jeppe.
Meanwhile in the peloton Jesper Hansen does his best to shake the other young riders. López sprints to get the win and the GC lead. Nielsen get the Mountain jersey and is now only three seconds short in the Youth classification.
Stage Results:
1. David López, Movistar
2. Andy Schelck, RadioShack - Nissan
3. Jeppe Lykke Hartvig Nielsen, Falson - STARK Mountains: Jeppe Lykke Hartvig Nielsen, Falcon – STARK
I really couldn’t believe it in the finish looking to the side in the sprint and seeing Andy Schleck. It was just so unreal. I think perhaps it cost me the 2nd place. But here’s a warning to Andy: Next time I won’t be so starstruck!
- Jeppe Lykke Hartvig Nielsen after the stage
Stage 7
The final stage is one for the sprinters, but it appears Falcon - STARK isn’t done racing just yet: Jeppe Nielsen is three seconds short of the youth classification and there is two bonussprints with 3/2/1 seconds each near the finish. At the same time we can rest assured that the team will follow the battle for the mountain jersey all the way through. This could be a day of good racing in spite of the flat finish. Marco Marcato tries a couple of times to steal the mountains jersey, but he is closely watched by the three Falcons in the competition and in the end Jesper Hansen wins both the single KOM-sprint and the jersey.
In the first points sprint Nielsen attacks early hoping to get two bonus seconds but is beaten right on the line by Petacchi and Boonen. No young riders jersey for him.
The rest of the stage was pretty straight forward. Lampre, Movistar and Sky leading the chase of lonely breaker Oscar Gatto. They catch him and Petacchi takes the win.
Final standing:
1. David López, Movistar Team
2. Andy Schleck, RadioShack - Nissan
3. Alberto Contador, Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank 21. Jesper Hansen, Falcon - STARK
Points: Alessandro Petacchi, Lampre - ISD Mountains:Jesper Hansen, Falcon - STARK Young rider: Jesús Herrada, Movistar Team Team: Movistar
I'm very proud of the young lads. I had never expected them to do so well here. Winning the mountain jersey comfortably, and being the best young riders in the mountains. If we get them to be a bit more comfortable in the TT-bike they could some to achieve great things in the future!
- Allan Grønborg
We have met Thor Hushovd for a chat over a cup of coffee at the team’s training camp in Belgium.
What made you choose this team over more prestigious ones?
I wanted to return to being a captain after a rather disappointing season at BMC last year. The management here offered me captaincy in my favourite races and an exciting project helping to bring young Nordic cyclists to the top of the sport. I have come to a time in my career, when I feel like I should be giving something back to the new generation
You have almost every season mentioned winning Paris – Roubaix as a goal, but it still eludes you…
Yes, Roubaix is a race I really like, and I don’t want to retire without that race on my palmares. I’m feeling great at the moment, so hopefully I well get it already this season.
Many would say you already at this point have ensured a successful season no matter how the rest of the season goes. What is your take on that?
The season is a success if Falcon – STARK keep their position on the World Tour. SP far I have done my best, but I’m not done winning yet. There’s a lot of classics I would like to win and a stage in Tour de France would be nice as well. I think my victory in Paris – Nice proves I’m still hungry for new things – and that is what this team is all about.
You’re not getting any younger. Is this your final contract?
I hope not. I still have a lot of things I want to achieve, but I do think this is probably the last team I will ride for. I hope to be able to help the greatness Nordic Cycling deserves. The time is over when the best Nordic cyclists only got be super-domestiques. And I wouldn’t mind ending my career helping today’s talents to achieve the great things I think they are capable of.
Speaking of talents. Which of the youngsters on the team do you expect can achieve the most?
It’s hard to say, but for one I have never seen a 20-year old look so comfortable on the cobbles as Erik McDermott. And then of course we have a handful of young climbers, that are already far too strong for me. I don’t know where their limit is – because I have never been around to see it Ha ha ha…
With Hushovd looking sharp the team has big hopes for this race, but it’s going to be tough with all the top sprinters and the hilly specialists like Gilbert present.
For the first 200 km Falcon – STARK kept a low profile, but with 90 km to go the team went to the front and started pulling the peloton apart catching among others Peter Sagan by surprise, but on one of the last hills a large group manage to get away and despite trying hard Thor can’t get back up to them and the victory goes to another Norwegian.
Results:
1. Edvald Boasson-Hagen, Sky
2. Tom Boonen, Rabobank
3. Alessandro Ballan, BMC 26. Thor Hushovd, Falcon – STARK
Of course we had hoped for more, but you can't win them all. Still I'm happy the win went to a Norwegian anyway. Now we just have to get him to sign for us at some point in the future...
- Allan Grønborg
In many ways similar to Tirreno – except in this race there’s no TT to ruin the Youth Classifications hopes of Jesper Hansen and Jeppe Lykke Hartvig Nielsen.
Stage 1
A hilly day with the hills getting smaller and smaller the closer we get to goal. Jeppe and Jesper would have preferred it the other way around.
10 riders cross the summit of the first and biggest climb of the day together, and though the young Riis tries his best in the KOM-sprint he still has a lot of training to do before he can step out of his fathers shadow, this becomes even more obvious in the second sprint, where seven riders use the sprint to get away but Riis can't keep up with them. Meanwhile in the peloton Movistar and Radioshack – Nissan have intensified the chase resulting in a much diminished peloton, with only Jesper Hansen and Thomas Riis from Falcon – STARK with 15 km to go.
With 5 km to go Jesper Hansen tries his luck on the steep part of the hill, but the attack gets neutralized by Valverde and Horner.
Results:
1. Olivier Kaisen, Lotto Belisol
2. Roman Kreuziger, Astana
3. Stef Clement, Rabobank 16. Jesper Hansen, Falcon – STARK
Young rider: Jesper Hansen
This was actually one of the most exiting days of my career. For the whole stage I kept close to the front next to top class riders like Fuglsang, Antón and Kreuziger. And did you see when I attacked? Who was right there in my wheel? VALVERDE! Seriously! Until a month ago I was just a 22-year old no-name – now a great rider like Valverde counters my attacks himself!
- Jesper Hansen after the stage
Stage 2
This is one of the few stages of the race, where the sprinters have a chance to win, but there are a few bumps on the way, that could be the offset for a break. Falcon – STARK will follow the development of the race. Jesper should stay calm today, Kasper Jebjerg should be ready for a sprint and the rest should try to get in that break. Juul-Jensen was in the first break and got awarded with the first KOM-sprint. On the biggest climb of the day a new break formed.
Hartvig Nielsen tried his best to get in there, but he just can’t seem to find the form in this race, and for a long time he was riding between the break and the peloton using a lot of energy on nothing until he was finally caught. Nilsson did a great job delivering Jebjerg for the sprint, but it’s hard to match a dedicated sprint team as the one Allan Davis had working for him.
Results:
1. Allan Davis, Orica - GreenEdge
2. Victor Cabedo, Euskaltel - Euskadi
3. Borut Bozic, Astana 8. Kasper Jebjerg, Falcon – STARK
Young rider: Jesper Hansen
Stage 3
Time for some real mountains – and time for Jesper Hansen to show what he’s made of.
Once again Juul-Jensen jump in the break and once again he wins the first mountain sprint for the day bringing him only two points short of the jersey. On the second climb Riblon steps up the challenge, but Juul-Jensen gets second, which is enough to put him in the jersey for now. In the third sprint of the day Christopher proves to be the strongest climber in the break, but with a gap of less than a minute to the peloton the break seems to have outplayed it’s role today.
Up the final climb Jesper remains in the pack when the favourites start to attack. He is riding for white, and he has to keep an eye on his competition – and they are right by his side waiting for him to make a mistake, so he waits until 1.5 km from the finish before he attacks. A good choice as he once again gains a little time on his rivals.
Results:
1. Alejandro Valverde, Movistar
2. Igor Antón, Euskaltel - Euskadi
3. Roman Kreuziger, Astana 9. Jesper Hansen, Falcon – STARK
Mountains: Christopher Juul-Jensen
Young rider: Jesper Hansen
Stage 4
This should be a very fast stage as most of the course is downhill. That bodes well for the sprinters. Riis gets in the mandatory break but as expected everything is to be decided in a bunch sprint. Again today HÃ¥kan Nilsson does a good job keeping Jebjerg in position at the back of the FDJ-train, but Kasper is not able to make any use of his position in the end.
Tirreno - Adriatico 
Alex Rasmussen.
Fabian Cancellara, RadioShack - Nissan 
Jesús Herrada, Movistar
Sylvain Chavanel, Orica - GreenEdge
Andy Schelck, RadioShack - Nissan
Mark Cavendish, Sky
Edvald Boasson-Hagen, Sky
Håkan Nilsson, Falcon – STARK
Tom Boonen, Rabobank
Roman Kreuziger, Astana
Stef Clement, Rabobank
Allan Davis, Orica - GreenEdge
Borut Bozic, Astana
