Real hill stage today, long difficult with climb to end it.
We send Loutit to collect Mountain points but he fails, then Cunego contests KoM and we know it is almost a lost cause. Cunego then goes in the break
and we sacrifice both Fairly and Castroviejo to catch him back. Job done, until he attacks again… Thankfully this time the Katusha dream team (Rodriguez, Moreno, Kolobnev and Vanendert) does the chase.
In the last climb after a few attacks, Anton’s one seems decisive
especially after Vanendert counters and Katusha stops riding. Poels does very good to stay with the best and limit the gap to grab the 4th place of the stage in a small group of 9… more than 1’ after Anton.
Stage Ranking
1
Igor Anton Hernandez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
5h14'07
2
Jelle Vanendert
Katusha Team
+ 14
3
Carlos Barredo Llamazles
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1'01
4
Wout Poels
AT&T
s.t.
5
Michele Scarponi
Isd - KazMunayGas
s.t.
6
Rigoberto Uran
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
Stage 6 – ITT
Castroviejo starts early but still after some strong TT men including Zabriskie who has established the best time. At the intermediate, he is 26’’ down but with the up hill to come he was hoping to close part of this gap.
He does even better establishing the best time for 5’’! Until Offredo beats him for 1’’. No regret as this guy simply crushes the intermediate by more than 40’’!
Only Machado Pinto comes close but still beaten by 16’’. But the good news is yet to come as Poels is finally starting.
Having started prudently, he is down 1’26 at the intermediate. Then comes the up hills where Poels is obviously more on his terrain. And he manages to reduce the gap on Martin on the 2nd part to finish 4th of the stage. He now ranks 5th overall, 1’ behind Machado Pinto.
Stage Ranking
1
Tony Martin
Omega Pharma QuickStep
36'43
2
Tiago Jose Machado Pinto
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
+ 16
3
Carlos Barredo Llamazales
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1'07
4
Wout Poels
AT&T
+ 1'22
5
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1'25
Stage 7 – Hills
Katusha team has been again impressive today, easily controlling any tentative in the final despite a very hard profile.
In the last up hill sprint, Barredo was the strongest.
Unfortunately, Poels was too tired and too poor a sprinter to keep the wheels and a small gap has created in the last kilometre resulting Poels to loose 26’’ and his fifth GC place to Mollema.
Stage Ranking
1
Carlos Barredo Llamazales
Rabobank Cycling Team
5h38'34
2
Damiano Cunego
Saxo Bank Sungard
s.t.
3
Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver
Katusha Team
s.t.
4
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Igor Anton Hernandez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
6
Jelle Vanendert
Katusha Team
s.t.
7
Tony Martin
Omega Pharma QuickStep
+ 26
16
Wout Poels
AT&T
s.t.
Stage 8 – Hills
A strong break but with no dangerous men for GC has been allowed to fight for the stage. And French men Gautier takes a great win.
Behind the stage was becoming really difficult in the final and Poels was happy enough to stay with the best, certainly not having the energy to try anything.
Stage Ranking
1
Cyril Gautier
Bmc Racing Team
3h31'10
2
Matthieu Ladagnous
Française des Jeux - Bonjour
s.t.
3
Rafael Valls Ferri
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
4
Anthony Charteau
Team Europcar
s.t.
5
Christopher Juul Jensen
Saxo Bank Sungard
s.t.
7
Alejandro Valverde Belmonte
Movistar Team
+ 2'31
25
Wout Poels
AT&T
s.t.
Final GC
1
Igor Anton Hernandez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
33h54'54
2
Tiago Jose Machado Pinto
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
s.t.
3
Carlos Barredo Llamazales
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 15
4
Jelle Vanendert
Katusha Team
+ 35
5
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 43
6
Wout Poels
AT&T
+ 1'06
Spoiler
7
Tony Martin
Omega Pharma QuickStep
+ 1'09
8
Yury Trofimov
Acqua & Sapone
+ 1'27
9
Kanstantsin Sivtsov
Sky ProCycling
+ 1'28
10
Rigoberto Uran
Sky ProCycling
+ 1'31
Points
1
Peter Sagan
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
74
2
Carlos Barredo Llamazales
Rabobank Cycling Team
67
3
Tony Martin
Omega Pharma QuickStep
67
4
Wout Poels
AT&T
57
Mountain
1
Cyril Gautier
Bmc Racing Team
50
2
Ivan Velasco Murillo
Movistar Team
30
3
Michel Kreder
ProTeam Astana
27
5
Alastair Loutit
AT&T
24
Wrap up
0/2
6th place is disappointing but given the race scenario and Poels’ fitness, it is the best we could have done here. We have to be more realistic in our objectives in the future!
This will be the first race of the season for most of our riders. There will be no big expectation here. Still with some rather strong TT riders I wasn’t expecting the last place today… Stage classification is as expected with Sky putting up a strong perf in Italy!
Stage Classification
1
Sky ProCycling
20'41
2
RadioShack – Nissan - Trek
+ 1
3
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 4
22
AT&T
+ 1’22
Stage 2 – Hills
We planned to get Stetina in the break but he started too late and couldn’t catch up the strong men.
A pitty as Gatto holds up for the win.
Despite crazy attacks at the end, 58 riders finish in the same time as the winner including Stetina and Gerdemann for our team.
Stage Classification
1
Oscar Gatto
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
4h52'55
2
Manuele Mori
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
3
Xavier Florencio Cabre
Katusha Team
s.t.
4
Philippe Gilbert
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
5
Matti Breschel
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
37
Linus Gerdemann
AT&T
s.t.
Stage 3 – Flat
Ovechkin has been in the break today. For nothing as the strong men have not let them win.
In the difficult up hills sprint, Boassen Hagen has been the strongest
Stage Classification
1
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky ProCycling
4h39'46
2
Sacha Modolo
Colnago - Domina Vacanze
s.t.
3
Thor Hushovd
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
4
Gorka Izagirre Insausti
Movistar Team
s.t.
5
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
19
Linus Gerdemann
AT&T
s.t.
Stage 4 – Hills
A very long and difficult hilly stage. Loutit goes in the break but was not strong enough to get many Mountain points. And then the break get cought.
A period of movements and attacks begin. Gerdemann does his best to keep strength, but it proves to be too difficult and he will finish very far, giving up any hope we might have for a Top 10.
At the front the strongest finally attack. Belgium beating French national champion.
Stage Classification
1
Philippe Gilbert
Bmc Racing Team
5h58'32
2
Sylvain Chavanel
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
+ 1'27
3
Marco Marcato
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
+ 1'56
4
Manuele Mori
Acqua & Sapone
+ 3'37
5
Simone Ponzi
ProTeam Astana
+ 3'51
32
Linus Gerdemann
AT&T
+ 6'42
Stage 5 – Mountain
“With no more hope in GC we must attack today! Peter you have to be in the break and be the best climber here! Artem, you take your chance in case Peter cannot otherwise you are here to help Linus. Linus, you can attack at mid road or so if you have the chance.”
After a long fight, Stetina makes the break and is the best climber.
Unfortunately and despite a large gap of 5’ or so, some strong men decide to counter. Here is an example with Nieve and Rujano.
In the climb, 6 men including Stetina stay in front. But our man is already tired out by all his efforts and has to let it go.
In the back Gilbert and Chavanel attack in the valley so we ask Ovechin to close the gap. It is going crazy and everyone is exhausted. Gerdemann has wisely saved his forces and finishes less than 2’ behind today’s winner:
Rujano has been very smart keeping his strength to the final and is rewared with the stage. Coppel was with him for the sprint but too tired as he was riding for GC. He is now 2nd only 30’’ behind Gilbert who manages to save his leader jersey. Thomas has attacked in the final and ranks third overall at 1’ then comes Chavanel. Those 4 men will probably compete for the overall win.
Stage Classification
1
José Humberto Rujano Guillen
Androni Giocattoli - Cipi
6h14'38
2
Jérôme Coppel
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
3
Geraint Thomas
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 32
4
Christophe Riblon
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 1'20
5
Emanuele Sella
Isd - KazMunayGas
s.t.
15
Linus Gerdemann
AT&T
+ 1'54
Stage 6 – Hills
“Peter you go in the break. Linus you try to stick to Gilbert and Chavanel there will be a big fight today for the GC.”
Stetina once again is in the break. This time he’ll save his place till the end i.e. when Chavanel joins them and BMC brings the pack back.
Gilbert who has saved his forces is able to break free and gain some precious seconds before tomorrow final ITT.
Gerdemann once again finish in good place. The regularity starts paying off as he is back to 12th place in GC.
Stage Classification
1
Philippe Gilbert
Bmc Racing Team
4h35'24
2
Sylvain Chavanel
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
+ 20
3
Marco Marcato
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
4
Manuele Mori
Acqua & Sapone
+ 36
5
Jürgen Van Den Broeck
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
17
Linus Gerdemann
AT&T
s.t.
Stage 7- ITT – 9km
Early on Cancellara simply crushes the best time. Gerdemann manages a correct chrono loosing 36’’ to the Swiss.
But Thomas, fighting for the GC beats the intermediate by 2’’.
However he still finishes 2nd of the stage. And the French ITT champion does good as well. So no change in the GC and great win for Gilbert!
We came here with a rather weak team and we did nothing. Gilbert and Chavanel have been very impressive and will be hard to beat in the coming Ardennaises!
After success after success after last season the Tirreno has been a wake up call for the team. Hope there isn't a danger the team get relegated? .... Well there won't be if Poels fulfils his targets.
@ The Rider I don't feel the danger... TDU have brought us many points and hope I'll get some more soon enough
@ sutty may be, the point is he is just not strong enough. I am fearful for the TdF... (btw, I also have no more clue about what the sun is since I came back to France).
@ welker: yes, hope there won't be too many races like this...
But the Classic season is already starting. A small cobble race to get the team up to speed:
Category 1 cobble race for preparation. Hoste is our most serious adversary but he couldn’t answer when Stetina attacks in the final. Only Smukulis benefiting from the pack job to close the gap out sprint him.
The 1-2 at Nokere was fantastic followed by a huge result at the big classic and to finish it off with another win is huge. Also, the strip is growing on me.
@ The Rider: You always find the best animation. Yeah it was a good time for the team for sure!
@ welker: 4th in Milan San Remo certainly was an unexpected great result. Let's see if Wout can confirm in this classic season...
Objectives
Poels is building a good form so Top 3. Stetina should fight for KoM.
Our Team
Poels, Stetina, Castroviejo, Ovechkin, Fairly, Loutit
The Main Riders
Contador, Rodriguez, Scarponi, Valverde, F. Schleck, Uran, Antón, Cunego, Farrar
Stage 1 – Hills
“A difficult stage to start with, the objectives are simple: Peter you should get the KoM jersey going in the break; Wout you should not loose 1’’ to the other favorites.”
Stetina tries to go in the break but was not allow by the pack. He still manages to pass the 1st climb first.
The final was really difficult with attack and counter going on for the last 20 kilometres. But at the end of the day a group of 30 riders arrives together and Marcato wins the sprint.
STAGE CLASSIFICATION
1
Marco Marcato
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
3h53'52
2
Enrico Gasparotto
ProTeam Astana
s.t.
3
Paul Martens
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
s.t.
4
Fabian Wegmann
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
5
Simone Ponzi
ProTeam Astana
s.t.
6
Jelle Vanendert
Katusha Team
s.t.
7
Rigoberto Uran
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
8
Jakob Fuglsang
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
s.t.
9
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
s.t.
10
Luis Leon Sanchez Gil
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
24
Wout Poels
AT&T
s.t.
Stage 2 – Flat
“Peter you try the break again.”
Stetina does and pick all the Mountain points.
And creates a gap of more than 6’ with 60km to go. But he is not strong enough on the flat and the stage ends in a sprint. Very close but Farrar gets the win.
STAGE CLASSIFICATION
1
Tyler Farrar
Garmin - Barracuda
4h06'50
2
Denis Galimzyanov
Katusha Team
s.t.
3
Tony Gallopin
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
4
Enrico Gasparotto
ProTeam Astana
s.t.
5
Marcel Kittel
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
13
Wout Poels
AT&T
s.t.
Stage 3 – Mountain
“Double objective: Peter time to secure your KoM. Wout you are among the favorite so you should stay with the best and move up in GC.”
The good news is that Stetina did join the break and has built a huge lead for KoM classification.
Then the break was cought and leaders started attacking in the final. Poels managed to join Valverde’s attack together with Roche and Uran. Unfortunately Katusha has a very strong team and they get the other favorites back. So when Rodriguez and Contador attacked, Poels was too short.
He ended up at a very disappointing 10th place loosing 1’ to the main favorites. At the front, Rodriguez managed to win the stage.
STAGE CLASSIFICATION
1
Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver
Katusha Team
4h40'35
2
Michele Scarponi
Isd - KazMunayGas
+ 8
3
Igor Anton Hernandez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
4
Jelle Vanendert
Katusha Team
s.t.
5
Rigoberto Uran
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
6
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank Sungard
s.t.
7
Alejandro Valverde Belmonte
Movistar Team
s.t.
8
Damiano Cunego
Saxo Bank Sungard
s.t.
9
Jakob Fuglsang
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
+ 40
10
Wout Poels
AT&T
+ 1'00
Stage 4 – Flat
“Time for Jonathan, Artem and Caleb to try for the break.”
Catroviejo made it but Garmin ensured a massive sprint and Farrar did not disappoint perfectly launched by Haussler.
STAGE CLASSIFICATION
1
Tyler Farrar
Garmin - Barracuda
4h53'42
2
Denis Galimzyanov
Katusha Team
s.t.
3
Heinrich Haussler
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
4
Enrico Gasparotto
ProTeam Astana
s.t.
5
Daniel Oss
Isd - KazMunayGas
s.t.
24
Wout Poels
AT&T
s.t.
Stage 5 – Hills
“Peter you try again for the break and end any KoM hypothetical suspense, Wout stay focus in the final, and if there is an opportunity…”
Stetina does just that and passes the two Mountain sprint 1st of his group of 14. Then Garmin takes the pack lead and the gap is reducing. 2’45 with 28 km to go when Charteau, Hernandez Blazquez, Saramotins attack. Stetina has a hard time to close the gap but finally does it.
So with 15 kilometres to go, we get a group of 4 at the front with Stetina resting in the wheels with a 40’’ lead on the 10 remaining riders and 2’30 on the pack… who has stopped chasing as Garmin riders are tired and receiving no help.
More good news as there is no sprinter with Stetina: only Saramotins is a little bit better but after 190km of an hilly stage, who knows?
Stetina stays in Saramotins’ wheel, last of the group when Hernandez Blazquez launches the sprint with more than 2 kilometres to go. No one wants to expose himself and with 1.5 kilometres we can see Renshaw and Swift closing the gap… Time for everyone to sprint. And…
Here is an unexpected 1st season win in a WT race for AT&T. Congratulations to Stetina who is simply amazing in Catalunya!
STAGE CLASSIFICATION
1
Peter Stetina
AT&T
5h01'33
2
Aleksejs Saramotins
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
3
Mark Renshaw
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
4
Anthony Charteau
Team Europcar
s.t.
5
Ben Swift
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
Stage 6 – Hills
“Similar profile as yesterday so we replicate the same tactic!”
And we do: Stetina is the stronger puncher I a break of… 14 riders. The difference is that Lövkvist and Vaugrenard counter and close a gap of more than 5’ to reinforce the break who is soon reduced to 4 men.
Meanwhile the bunch is riding and somehow closing the gap.
Until with 2’ and 30 kilometers to go with no more climb the peloton let it go again. May be because most of the riders are now tired? So Poels decides to follow Castroviejo to try a counter.
And this time the pack reacts quick enough. Still we let Castroviejo ride full speed and maintain a gap about 1’. When he is finally caught back, the break is only 30’’ ahead. So I ask Fairly to attack: he is relatively fresh, very far in GC, very strong on the flat and not as bad as Ovechkin in a sprint. He overtakes the break and only Lövkvist and Vaugrenard follow. When Vaugrenard counters, Lövkvist is short and only Fairly takes his wheel.
Behind the pack is relaxing again and the gap is rising quickly. Lövkvist is struggling to close the gap as Vaugrenard is doing all the job by himself. With less than 10 kilometres and more than 2’ it is clear that Vaugrenard and Fairly will sprint for the stage. Fairly waits for the last kilometer and launches his sprint.
Yeah, it is not a dream, we hve just won two stages in a row!
STAGE CLASSIFICATION
1
Caleb Fairly
AT&T
4h59'41
2
Benoît Vaugrenard
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
3
Heinrich Haussler
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 1'23
4
Denis Galimzyanov
Katusha Team
s.t.
5
José Joaquin Rojas Gil
Movistar Team
s.t.
Stage 7 – Flat
We try again despite the profile but Garmin does a great job to close the gap and ideally launch Farrar who picks a well deserved last win Catalunya.
STAGE CLASSIFICATION
1
Tyler Farrar
Garmin - Barracuda
4h02'00
2
Marcel Kittel
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
3
Heinrich Haussler
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
4
Denis Galimzyanov
Katusha Team
s.t.
5
José Joaquin Rojas Gil
Movistar Team
s.t.
23
Wout Poels
AT&T
s.t.
Final GC
1
Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver
Katusha Team
31h42'40
2
Michele Scarponi
Isd - KazMunayGas
+ 12
3
Igor Anton Hernandez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 14
4
Rigoberto Uran
Sky ProCycling
+ 18
5
Damiano Cunego
Saxo Bank Sungard
s.t.
6
Jelle Vanendert
Katusha Team
s.t.
7
Alejandro Valverde Belmonte
Movistar Team
s.t.
8
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank Sungard
s.t.
9
Jakob Fuglsang
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
+ 50
10
Wout Poels
AT&T
+ 1'08
Points
1
Tyler Farrar
Garmin - Barracuda
85
2
Denis Galimzyanov
Katusha Team
68
3
Heinrich Haussler
Garmin - Barracuda
61
9
Peter Stetina
AT&T
34
Mountain
1
Peter Stetina
AT&T
98
2
Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver
Katusha Team
36
3
Anthony Charteau
Team Europcar
26
Wrap-up 1/2
Poels is so far from Top 3, of course the Top 10 names are impressive but this is no excuse as he will have to be able to beat most of them if he wants to win the Vuelta.
On the hand Stetina has been amazing, KoM won with such a margin, plus a stage!
Hats down as well for Fairly and his stage win. This 2 are making this Vuelta a success despite their leader’s failure.
Well the animations can only be as good as the results.
That was a great race for the team with a top 10 and 2 Americans taking stage wins, I'm really confident the team will get some huge results down the line.... Edited by The Rider on 26-12-2013 16:14
@ The Rider: 2 wins highlighted by a banana on a Monster's back, can't wait till I can close 3
Today is time for the 1st part of the Flandriennes Smukulis and Roelandts should represent AT&T well!
When some lucky men are enjoying Spain weather, some other are preparing for the Flandriennes in cat 1 race under the rain. Bad race as Smukulis has not been able to follow the bests in the final. Hope he’ll do better in the important races!
1
Geraint Thomas
Garmin - Barracuda
4h56'59
2
Bernhard Eisel
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
3
Johan Van Summeren
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
4
Matti Breschel
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Dennis Van Winden
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 52
14
Jürgen Roelandts
AT&T
s.t.
18
Gatis Smukulis
AT&T
s.t.
Last preparation race before Gent Wevelgem, Smukulis’ main objective… With Cancellara, Gilbert or Nuyens taking part among other, that is going to be a tough race.
BMC is demonstrating the strength of their team.
But with Cancellara in a good day, there was nothing to do.
Putting both Smukulis and Roelandts in the small group arriving right after sounds promising though!
1
Fabian Cancellara
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
5h15'55
2
Philippe Gilbert
Bmc Racing Team
+ 29
3
Nick Nuyens
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
4
Jürgen Roelandts
AT&T
s.t.
5
Gatis Smukulis
AT&T
s.t.
6
Alessandro Ballan
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
7
Filippo Pozzato
Bmc Racing Team
+ 1'42
8
Sylvain Chavanel
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
s.t.
9
Stijn Vandenbergh
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
10
Marcus Burghardt
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
Objective
Top 3
Our team
Smukulis, Roelandts, Hamilton, Hagman, Cogburn, Mazich
The Main Riders
Cancellara, Nuyens, Gilbert, Tepstra, Langeveld, Rast, Pozzato, Breschel, Chavanel, Ballan
The early break has no one serious in. Nonetheless BMC and Radioshack makes the tempo. Both team are really impressive and big favourites. With more than 60 kilometres to go the main outsiders counter: Terpstra together with his team mate Devolder and Hoogerland. Surprisingly The pack tempo remains the same and the trio close the gap and breaks free in a cobble section.
At the time the gap is about 3’ I ask the team to take over and lead the pack. We maintain the gap for a while but our riders are not able to do it as the cobble sections become harder and more frequent. So BMC and Radioshack do the job again and a first group of 20 riders remain in the chase. They are making big impression.
All favourites are here but Breschel.
Luxury team mates such as Chavanel and Pozzato are now riding but not yet full spead and the gap is still round 3’ with 20 kilometres to go. Roelandts is now riding hard too. When Cancellara decides to accelerate only Nuyens and Smukulis can follow! But it is too late and
Smukulis does a great job to beat Cancellara and take the 4th place. He was very well prepared and beats the strongest men. So it is a real deception to not make the Top 3…
1
Niki Terpstra
Omega Pharma QuickStep
5h29'56
2
Johnny Hoogerland
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
3
Stijn Devolder
Omega Pharma QuickStep
s.t.
4
Gatis Smukulis
AT&T
+ 34
5
Nick Nuyens
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
6
Fabian Cancellara
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
s.t.
7
Tom Boonen
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
+ 2'46
8
Martijn Maaskant
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
9
Jürgen Roelandts
AT&T
s.t.
10
Sebastian Langeveld
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
s.t.
Objectives
- Smukulis is our leader and should target Top 3
- Roelandts should get a Top 10 (or Ovechkin if he can resist the cobbles).
Key Stages
Stage 1 – Cobble
Cancellara, Gilbert, Chavanel, Pozzato, Thomas, Nuyens, Ballan, Cavendish… Top 3 might have been a little bit ambitious here…
Burghardt is countering the break and we have to take the lead of the pack, even Roelandts has to make big effort. Of course BMC is not riding but finally Chavanel is making some efforts. Too late and Burghardt wins the stage with a 30’’ lead on a group of 14 including all favourites, Smukulis and Roelandts.
Stage 2 – Cobble
Long stage with cobble sections far from the line. Still only 20 riders stays with Chavanel who is chasing the break after the last cobble section. But the difficulty of the stage in fact comes from the strong wind. With 3 intermediate sprints close to the finish line, Boonen, Burghardt and some other are loosing energy.
Roelandts and Eisel are on the other hand saving their energy. Langeveld launches the sprint far form the line. Boonen and Roelandts are in best position. Boonen is too tired to win but Eisel is coming from the back very fast.
Great win, plus a break occurs in the leading group during the sprint. Burghart and Chavanel are loosing more than 30’’. So Roelandts also get the yellow!
Stage 3 – ITT – 9 km
Cancellara has to be the big favorite for both the stage and GC. And he simply takes it by storm! Both Smukulis and Roelandts are disappointing finishing far away and getting out of the Top 5.
Classifications
Stage 1
Marcus Burghardt
Bmc Racing Team
Stage 2
Jürgen Roelandts
AT&T
Stage 3
John Degenkolb
Project 1t4i
Stage 4
Fabian Cancellara
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
Final GC
1
Fabian Cancellara
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
12h43'15
2
Geraint Thomas
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 26
3
Sebastian Langeveld
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
+ 34
4
Filippo Pozzato
Bmc Racing Team
+ 37
5
Tom Boonen
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
+ 39
6
Gatis Smukulis
AT&T
+ 50
7
Jürgen Roelandts
AT&T
s.t.
8
Marcus Burghardt
Bmc Racing Team
+ 51
9
Thor Hushovd
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
10
Sylvain Chavanel
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
+ 1'30
Points – Cancellara Mountain – Terweduwe
Wrap up
1/2
- Smukulis is our leader and should target Top 3
- Roelandts should get a Top 10 (or Ovechkin if he can resist the cobbles)
Given the cobble & ITT specialist Top 3 was too ambitious Top 5 should have been a more reasonable achievement.
Objective
Top 3
Our team
Smukulis, Roelandts, Hamilton, Hagman, Ovechkin, Mazich
The Main Riders
Cancellara, Nuyens, Gilbert, Van Summeren, Tepstra, Langeveld, Rast, Pozzato, Breschel, Chavanel, Ballan, Boonen
Smukulis is in top form again so we hope to succeed where we failed in Wevelgem. Once again a very dangerous break regrouped at the front after Tepstra, Roulston, Bak and Hoogerland counter the initial break.
We immediately ask our team to make the tempo despite 120km to go. But the break is strong and after Hagman, Mazich and Ovechkin run out of power, it still has a 3’30 lead with 80 kilometres to go. Hamilton was lost too during a water refill and a break in the pack. And the gap is now more than 4’ and less than 70 kilometres to go. We have very limited option and I ask Roelandts to lead the rest of the pack.
Smukulis was short of men and refills together with Cancellara. The time Rabobank decides to accelerate and break free. Cancellara refuses to help and Roelandts is out of force so the gap increases to this chasing group. Smukulis tries to relay a bit as with 20 kilometres to go and 30 men at the front it was looking very bad. But Cancellara stays in his wheel.
The help comes from Gilbert and Langeveld who are coming from the back to form a 4 men cobble dream group.
Unfortunately they are 3’ from the front… And it is Nuyens who has benefited from Rabobank’s work to beat Breschel in the sprint.
@ welker: good and disappointing, he could have get a Top 3
Time for Poels to prove what a leader he is
Stetina was the leader for this preparation race. With no luck.
1
Koen De Kort
Bretagne - Schuller
4h13'55
2
Jérôme Coppel
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
3
Walter Devillers
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
4
Juan José Oroz Ugalde
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
5
Diego Ulissi
Adria Mobil
s.t.
6
Julien Simon
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
7
Peter Stetina
AT&T
s.t.
8
Mikel Nieve Iturralde
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
9
Dominique Nerz
AT&T
s.t.
10
David Le Lay
Bretagne - Schuller
s.t.
Objectives
- Top 10,
- KoM
Our team
Poels, Stetina, Nerz, Fairly, Butler, Loutit
The Main Riders
Anton, Contador, Rodriguez, Moreno, Scarponi, Uran, Fuglsang, Vanendert, Cunego, Martin, Hesjedal
Stage 1 – Hills
Long and difficult stage but every thing happens in the final when Uran attacks.
Stetina does it best to limit the gap until, Contador, Scarponi and Anton decide to counter.
Poels will loose 10’’ at the top of the last climb, and will never recover. Simply beaten by stronger. Great win for Uran!
1
Rigoberto Uran
Sky ProCycling
4h30'02
2
Igor Anton Hernandez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
3
Jakob Fuglsang
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
+ 20
4
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank Sungard
s.t.
5
Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver
Katusha Team
s.t.
6
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
s.t.
7
Michele Scarponi
Isd - KazMunayGas
s.t.
8
Jelle Vanendert
Katusha Team
s.t.
9
Cadel Evans
Bmc Racing Team
+ 58
10
Luis Leon Sanchez Gil
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
11
Nicolas Roche
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
12
Wout Poels
AT&T
s.t.
Stage 2 – Hills
Same scenario today as the break is cought before the uphill sprint. A group of 14 riders are fighting for the stage victory. Poels is ideally placed.
And will take a nice 3rd place. But for the second day in a row, Uran is the strongest!
1
Rigoberto Uran
Sky ProCycling
4h12'53
2
Jakob Fuglsang
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
s.t.
3
Wout Poels
AT&T
s.t.
4
Igor Anton Hernandez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
5
Jelle Vanendert
Katusha Team
s.t.
6
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank Sungard
s.t.
7
Nicolas Roche
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
8
Cadel Evans
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
9
Stephen Cummings
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
10
Luis Leon Sanchez Gil
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
Stage 3 – Hills
Do you allow me a copy paste? At last Uran attacks with Anton, Scarponi and Contader in counter!
But everyone regroup and for once, Anton is beating Uran.
1
Igor Anton Hernandez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
4h38'25
2
Wout Poels
AT&T
s.t.
3
Damiano Cunego
Saxo Bank Sungard
s.t.
4
Nicolas Roche
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
5
Rigoberto Uran
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
6
Michele Scarponi
Isd - KazMunayGas
s.t.
7
Tony Martin
Omega Pharma QuickStep
s.t.
8
Ben Hermans
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
s.t.
9
Simon Gerrans
GreenEdge
s.t.
10
Fabian Wegmann
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
Stage 4 – Hills
Well you know the drill, don’t you. So today the first to attack in the final was Rodriguez.
He let a small group catch him but had enough in the tank to beat Anton on the line!
Except today the last hill was harder so only 7 riders are in the same time. That will allow Poels to gain some places. Also Anton is taking the yellow despite being in the same time as Uran.
1
Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver
Katusha Team
4h40'11
2
Igor Anton Hernandez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
3
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank Sungard
s.t.
4
Jakob Fuglsang
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
s.t.
5
Wout Poels
AT&T
s.t.
6
Jelle Vanendert
Katusha Team
s.t.
7
Rigoberto Uran
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
8
Damiano Cunego
Saxo Bank Sungard
+ 1'03
9
Michele Scarponi
Isd - KazMunayGas
s.t.
10
Cadel Evans
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
Stage 5 – Hills
“Easier” stage today with no big climb at the end. And a break initiated by Nerz. Strong break with Daniel Martin and Blel Kadri.
10’ lead and 30 kilometres. Nerz is tired but so are the others. He could not challenge the mountain sprint. But could he for the stage win?
No Dean Martin was too strong. Behind the pack has accelerate like crazy and only 25 riders make it with the yellow jersey. Good enough for Poels before the last stage.
1
Daniel Martin
Garmin - Barracuda
4h51'47
2
Dominique Nerz
AT&T
s.t.
3
Blel Kadri
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
4
Paul Martens
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
+ 4'23
5
Luis Leon Sanchez Gil
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
6
Giovanni Visconti
Movistar Team
s.t.
7
Michele Scarponi
Isd - KazMunayGas
s.t.
8
Enrico Gasparotto
ProTeam Astana
s.t.
9
Jakob Fuglsang
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
s.t.
10
Damiano Cunego
Saxo Bank Sungard
s.t.
11
Wout Poels
AT&T
s.t.
Stage 6 – Hilly ITT – 25km
Long stage. We feel comfortable after Stetina has beaten the best time, the info for Poels was so valuable! But Tony makes the Martin name he family name to have for winning.
Poels takes the best time at the intermediary, knowing he will loose some time in the down hill. But he finishes 14’’ down Martin still ahead of Luis Leon Sanchez for more than 20’’. Only Fuglsang will beat him for 1’’. Contador, Evans and co are behind.
1
Tony Martin
Omega Pharma QuickStep
36'30
2
Jakob Fuglsang
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
+ 14
3
Wout Poels
AT&T
+ 15
4
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank Sungard
+ 22
5
Luis Leon Sanchez Gil
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 33
6
Ben Hermans
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
+ 40
7
Cadel Evans
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
8
Jérôme Coppel
Saur - Sojasun
+ 42
9
Maxime Monfort
Isd - KazMunayGas
+ 47
10
Damiano Cunego
Saxo Bank Sungard
+ 49
Final GC
1
Jakob Fuglsang
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
23h34'45
2
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank Sungard
+ 8
3
Igor Anton Hernandez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 33
4
Rigoberto Uran
Sky ProCycling
+ 34
5
Jelle Vanendert
Katusha Team
+ 37
6
Wout Poels
AT&T
+ 39
7
Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver
Katusha Team
+ 1'11
8
Michele Scarponi
Isd - KazMunayGas
+ 1'43
9
Cadel Evans
Bmc Racing Team
+ 2'07
10
Tony Martin
Omega Pharma QuickStep
+ 4'02
Points
1
Igor Anton Hernandez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
83
2
Jakob Fuglsang
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
74
3
Rigoberto Uran
Sky ProCycling
73
4
Wout Poels
AT&T
67
Mountain
1
Christopher Froome
Ag2r La Mondiale
28
2
Valerio Agnoli
Saxo Bank Sungard
26
3
Juan José Cobo Acebo
Movistar Team
25
4
Rigoberto Uran
Sky ProCycling
23
5
Dominique Nerz
AT&T
23
Wrap up
1/2
- Top 10,
- KoM
A solid race that proves we are still lacking the little something to make it happen:
- miss Top 5 for 2’’,
- miss stage win despite 2 2nd and 2 3rd places,
- miss KoM for 5 points.
With the end of the Flandriennes comes the start of the Ardennaises
Objective
Top 10 as Smukulis is beginning to loose a bit of his form and the 250+ km might be too much for him.
Our team
Smukulis, Roelandts, Hamilton, Hagman, Nerz, Mazich
The Main Riders
Cancellara, Nuyens, Gilbert, Van Summeren, Tepstra, Langeveld, Rast, Pozzato, Breschel, Chavanel, Ballan, Boonen
With 50 kilometres to go Radioshack is making the things serious: Rast and Langeveld are imposing a strong tempo to the pack.
But the real battle starts with 20 kilometres to go when Offredo attacks and Boonen counters.
BMC is maintaining the gap around 30’’ until
The rest of the group literally explodes behind and Smukulis is stuck in a 3rd one kissing the Top 10 goodbye. The strongest man wins today. And Radioshack completes an incredible podium domination ahead of the BMC guys.
1
Fabian Cancellara
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
6h38'57
2
Sylvain Chavanel
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
+ 41
3
Tom Boonen
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
s.t.
4
Philippe Gilbert
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
5
Filippo Pozzato
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
6
Matti Breschel
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
7
Lars Ytting Bak
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
8
Geraint Thomas
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
9
Nick Nuyens
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
10
Stijn Vandenbergh
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
11
Johan Van Summeren
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
12
Yoann Offredo
Française des Jeux - Bonjour
+ 2'21
13
Martijn Maaskant
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
14
Gatis Smukulis
AT&T
s.t.
Nerz is our leader for this cat 1 race but with all the Flandriennes leaders taking part at the top of their form, good result was out of reach.
Indeed we have to let go Gilbert in the final
as everyone else but Chavanel whose counter gets him the win.
1
Sylvain Chavanel
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
5h17'30
2
Philippe Gilbert
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
3
Dennis Vanendert
Lotto - Belisol
+ 13
4
Oliver Zaugg
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
s.t.
5
Filippo Pozzato
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
17
Dominique Nerz
AT&T
s.t.
18
Peter Stetina
AT&T
s.t.
A Cat1 race where Roelandts is favourite. We organise a train and let him first at the 1.1km mark but he fails against 2nd and 3rd French favourites.
1
Samuel Dumoulin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
4h51'15
2
Tony Gallopin
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
3
Jürgen Roelandts
AT&T
s.t.
4
Gatis Smukulis
AT&T
s.t.
5
Johan Coenen
Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator
s.t.
6
Wout Poels
AT&T
s.t.
Objective
Top 10, we learnt from our mistakes and Poels is still not at his best.
Our team
Poels, Roelandts, Nerz, Stetina, Fairly, Loutit
The Main Riders
Gilbert, Anton, Scarponi, Moreno, Visconti, Uran, Evans, Martens, Vanendert, Chavanel, F. Schleck, Rodriguez
The real race starts with 70 kilometres to go when F. Schleck and Lövkvist counters the break and were allowed 3’40 with 50 kilometres left.
AT&T is the first to really lead the bunch.
And just before the men are caught, Gilbert and Visconti counters.
But this time the strong teams are reacting fast. So it is a group of 18 riders that arrives at the bottom of the last climb. Poels is still here and choose Gilbert’s wheel.
He finally has to let him go but succeed taking Martens’ wheels for an unespected Top 3!
