@ welker: He is, hope he can get something from it!
After an HC race for Stetina, Poels is back in saddle for the Ardennaises!
Objective Stetina has prepared this race the best he could, so we target:
- overall win,
- 1 stage,
- KoM
Key stages
Stage 1- Prologue
Ovechkin is setting a great best time.
Until the favourite crashes it. But the best news is Stetina’s 3rd place!
Stage 3 – Mountain
At the bottom of the last climb, Stetina attacks.
No one can follow and he wins the stage with 1’ gap over the duo of Rodriguez Ortiz and Donato Cannone
Classifications
Stage 1
Adriano Malori
Isd - KazMunayGas
Stage 2
Manuele Mori
Acqua & Sapone
Stage 3
Peter Stetina
AT&T
Stage 4
Donato Cannone
Liquigas - Cannondale
Final GC
1
Peter Stetina
AT&T
14h28'26
2
Donato Cannone
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 1'01
3
Jackson Jesus Rodriguez Ortiz
Androni Giocattoli - Cipi
+ 1'06
4
Francesco Masciarelli
Acqua & Sapone
+ 2'31
5
Mikel Landa Meana
Movistar Team
+ 2'53
6
Richie Porte
Sky ProCycling
+ 3'08
7
Peter Kusztor
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 3'47
8
Andrey Amador Bikkazakova
Movistar Team
+ 4'19
9
Nicolas Schnyder
Price Your Bike
+ 5'12
10
Dominique Nerz
AT&T
+ 5'39
Points
1
Peter Stetina
AT&T
32
2
Jackson Jesus Rodriguez Ortiz
Androni Giocattoli - Cipi
24
3
Donato Cannone
Liquigas - Cannondale
21
Mountain
1
Christopher Butler
AT&T
40
2
Donato Cannone
Liquigas - Cannondale
28
3
Jackson Jesus Rodriguez Ortiz
Androni Giocattoli - Cipi
28
Wrap up
3/3
Stetina has been fantastic grabing Points on top of 1 stage and the GC. Nerz has done a great job too and is rewarded with a Top 10. Butler has plaid his role and get the KoM.
Objective
Top 10, Poels has been increadible in the Amstel but might not be able to repeat such a perf against such a field, so let’s keep our expectations reasonable.
Our team
Poels, Roelandts, Smukulis, Fairly, Loutit, Mazich
The Main Riders
Gilbert, Anton, Scarponi, Moreno, Visconti, Uran, Evans, Martens, Vanendert, Chavanel, F. Schleck, Rodriguez
The field is almost the same as for the Gold race. There is a lot of movement and Poels is getting tired just to stay among the best. Finally all the favourites are together with 5 kilometres to go, when Chavanel decides to attack and Scarponi counters.
But Chavanel keeps his lead until in the last climb Gilbert is producing his effort. And Chavanel resits everyone else but Gilbert who is too strong again.
Poels makes no miracle in the last climb and get a reasonable 12th place. Indeed Top 10 was the right target.
1
Philippe Gilbert
Bmc Racing Team
5h00'26
2
Sylvain Chavanel
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
+ 15
3
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
s.t.
4
Ben Hermans
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
+ 30
5
Luis Leon Sanchez Gil
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
6
Jelle Vanendert
Katusha Team
s.t.
7
Cadel Evans
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
8
Damiano Cunego
Saxo Bank Sungard
s.t.
9
Michele Scarponi
Isd - KazMunayGas
s.t.
10
Tony Martin
Omega Pharma QuickStep
s.t.
11
Giovanni Visconti
Movistar Team
s.t.
12
Wout Poels
AT&T
+ 44
13
Igor Anton Hernandez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
14
Jakob Fuglsang
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
s.t.
15
Enrico Gasparotto
ProTeam Astana
s.t.
Objective
Last race for Poels before the preparation for the Vuelta but despite a good form the competition is too strong to target better than a Top 10.
Our team
Poels, Nerz, Roelandts, Smukulis, Fairly, Hagman
The Main Riders
Gilbert, Anton, Scarponi, Moreno, Visconti, Uran, Evans, Martens, Vanendert, Chavanel, F. Schleck, Rodriguez
Roche is the first to attack in the final with less than 30 kilometres to go.
But BMC is just doing the job as no one seems able to beat Gilbert but by surprise.
Anton is the second to go with less than 10 kilometres.
And Poels is getting out of a group with F. Schleck, Martens or Fuglsang.
That is because learning from La Fleche, he stays with favorites but saving his forces and when a split occurs, he was on the wrong side. No one was riding and when he decides to go by himself, the 16 leaders have already 1’ lead.
At the front, Anton is back and Gilbert attacks to claim his 3rd win in the Ardennaise.
@ welker: Dispointing end of Ardenaises. Let's hope he'll do better for his main objective
Here are the last two races before the Giro:
Objectives
- Top 10
- KoM
Our team
Nerz, Van Garderen, Smukulis, Fairly, Alberio, Loutit
The Main Riders
Anton, Uran, Fuglsang, Scarponi, Moreno, Vanendert, Visconti, Evans, Martens, Martin
Stage 1 – Prologue
Big surprise today as Fuglsang wins the stage, in the same time as Martin. Nerz benefits from his fantastic form to loose only 2’’ to Van Garderen who is starting his season.
1
Jakob Fuglsang
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
4'41
2
Tony Martin
Omega Pharma QuickStep
s.t.
3
Luis Leon Sanchez Gil
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 4
45
Tejay Van Garderen
AT&T
+ 15
Stage 2 – Hills
The peloton is grouped in the penultimate climb until Van Garderen attacks in the descent. He creates a nice gap, unfortunately Anton attacks from the bottom of the last climb and this will prove fatal for our American who will loose more than 1’30 today. Nerz tries to keep contact but only Evans succeed to catch back Anton. The sprint is an epic one.
Nerz is paying is efforts in the final and a small gap will cost him precious seconds lost to the chasing group.
1
Cadel Evans
Bmc Racing Team
4h09'47
2
Igor Anton Hernandez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
3
Michele Scarponi
Isd - KazMunayGas
+ 22
4
Rigoberto Uran
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
5
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
s.t.
6
Damiano Cunego
Saxo Bank Sungard
s.t.
7
Ben Hermans
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
s.t.
8
Jelle Vanendert
Katusha Team
s.t.
9
Giovanni Visconti
Movistar Team
s.t.
10
Paul Martens
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
s.t.
18
Dominique Nerz
AT&T
+ 54
Stage 3 – Hills
Very classic stage with a grouped bunch at the bottom of the last hills. Strong men are fighting and Anton takes the win.
1
Igor Anton Hernandez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
4h23'41
2
Damiano Cunego
Saxo Bank Sungard
s.t.
3
Fabian Wegmann
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
4
Kristof Vandewalle
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
5
Cadel Evans
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
6
Giovanni Visconti
Movistar Team
s.t.
7
Jakob Fuglsang
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
s.t.
8
Rigoberto Uran
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
9
Nicolas Roche
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
10
Tony Martin
Omega Pharma QuickStep
s.t.
11
Simon Spilak
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
12
Michele Scarponi
Isd - KazMunayGas
s.t.
13
Dominique Nerz
AT&T
s.t.
Stage 4 – Hills
While the break away is about to get caught, everyone is tired. With 8 kilometres to go, Kennaugh attacks and only Nerz takes his wheel.
A small gap appears and while the pack is coming back full speed, led by Farrar, Nerz crosses the line!
1
Dominique Nerz
AT&T
3h54'37
2
Peter Kennaugh
ProTeam Astana
s.t.
3
Tyler Farrar
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
4
Kristof Vandewalle
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
5
Igor Anton Hernandez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
6
Fabian Wegmann
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
7
Daniel Oss
Isd - KazMunayGas
s.t.
8
Enrico Gasparotto
ProTeam Astana
s.t.
9
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
10
Jan Bakelants
Omega Pharma QuickStep
s.t.
Stage 5 – ITT
Van Garderen is improving his form and gets the best intermediate. However he fails on the line for 1’’ against Monfort.
Not a big deal as Martin takes the lead, until Evans justifies his status. Nerz is loosing 41’’ and his now ranked 7th.
1
Cadel Evans
Bmc Racing Team
31'56
2
Tony Martin
Omega Pharma QuickStep
+ 16
3
Jakob Fuglsang
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
+ 19
4
Maxime Monfort
Isd - KazMunayGas
+ 20
5
Tejay Van Garderen
AT&T
+ 21
6
Michele Scarponi
Isd - KazMunayGas
s.t.
7
Ben Hermans
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
+ 22
8
Giovanni Visconti
Movistar Team
+ 23
9
Rigoberto Uran
Sky ProCycling
+ 28
10
Luis Leon Sanchez Gil
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
Stage 6 – Hills
We manage to put both Smukulis and Alberio in the 10 men break. The stage might be hilly but the last climb is far away from the line. The pack is not chasing with no one dangerous a he front, and it is soon clear that the break will fight for the win. The problem is that Viviani and Vichot are part of it.
With les than 20 kilometres to go Froome attacks with Knees, Vichot and Meyer. We let the other work and the gap is stable between 45’’ and 1’. With 10 kilometres to go, Alberio attacks with Smukulis taking his wheel and sacrifices himself. While they are almost closing the gap, Froome has attacked. Time for Smukulis to counter.
Too late.
Vichot will even come from behind for the 2nd place.
1
Christopher Froome
Ag2r La Mondiale
4h09'36
2
Arthur Vichot
Française des Jeux - Bonjour
+ 11
3
Gatis Smukulis
AT&T
s.t.
4
Christian Knees
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
5
Travis Meyer
GreenEdge
s.t.
6
Tomas Alberio
AT&T
s.t.
7
Matteo Pelucchi
Team Europcar
s.t.
8
Elia Viviani
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
9
David Loosli
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
10
Tomasz Marczynski
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
11
Kristof Vandewalle
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 8'42
Final GC
1
Igor Anton Hernandez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
17h23'27
2
Michele Scarponi
Isd - KazMunayGas
+ 25
3
Damiano Cunego
Saxo Bank Sungard
+ 32
4
Fabian Wegmann
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 58
5
Nicolas Roche
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 1'01
6
Cadel Evans
Bmc Racing Team
+ 1'09
7
Dominique Nerz
AT&T
+ 1'15
8
Kristof Vandewalle
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1'32
9
Jakob Fuglsang
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
+ 1'48
10
Enrico Gasparotto
ProTeam Astana
+ 1'54
Points
1
Igor Anton Hernandez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
53
2
Cadel Evans
Bmc Racing Team
41
3
Jakob Fuglsang
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
34
5
Dominique Nerz
AT&T
32
Mountain
1
Tomas Alberio
AT&T
30
2
Caleb Fairly
AT&T
28
3
Cadel Evans
Bmc Racing Team
26
Wrap up
2/2
- Top 10,
- KoM
Competition was not as strong as in Paris Nice or Catalunya, sill Nerz has remarkably assumed his role of leader and demonstrated all his talent. A 7th place and a stage win is over expectation. Alberio in protecting Fairly’s lead has in fact taken the KoM for himself.
Objective Smukulis and Roelands are participating here.
- overall win,
- Top 10,
- 1 stage
Key stages Stage 1- Flat
Having achieved good progress, Roelandts is the big favorite for a sprint today. The team ensures the sprint and Roelandts does not dispoint.
Stage 2 – Flat
Same favorites, same scenario, same result
Stage 4 – Hills & Cobblestones
Today is the key day. Smukulis and Offredo seem much stronger than the competition with strong teams. However a dangerous break including Ista or Amorison is getting 5’ lead. AT&T is the only team riding and with the strong wind our riders are tiring quickly. Everyone but Smukulis and Roelandts are spent and he gap is about 3’ and starting to increase again.
So with more than 50 kilometres to go, Smukulis attacks just before the cobble section. After the cobble he has more than 1’ lead on the pack and is closing on the break.
Surprisingly the pack is not chasing and the next loop, Smukulis is alone in the lead. With 30 kilometres to go, it seems clear that Smukuis will win with a strong margin so Roelandts attacks to close the gap to the rest of the break. Few kilometres later, Offredo comes back and finally breaks free in the following cobble section. Roelandts manages to stay in the next chasing group.
Stage 5 – Flat
Nice sprint victory for Roelandts with Smukulis staying in his wheel t get the double for the team!
Classifications
Stage 1
Jürgen Roelandts
AT&T
Stage 2
Jürgen Roelandts
AT&T
Stage 3
Boris Zimine
Roubaix Lille Metropole
Stage 4
Gatis Smukulis
AT&T
Stage 5
Jürgen Roelandts
AT&T
Final GC
1
Gatis Smukulis
AT&T
21h20'20
2
Yoann Offredo
Française des Jeux - Bonjour
+ 4'21
3
Jürgen Roelandts
AT&T
+ 7'18
4
Tomas Vaitkus
Bretagne - Schuller
+ 7'48
5
Joost Posthuma
Project 1t4i
s.t.
6
Allan Davis
Team Net App
+ 8'10
7
Thomas Degand
Landbouwkrediet
+ 8'14
8
Dominique Cornu
Accent.jobs - Willems Veranda's
s.t.
9
Sébastien Minard
Française des Jeux - Bonjour
+ 9'10
10
Leif Hoste
Accent.jobs - Willems Veranda's
+ 9'32
Points - Jürgen Roelandts Mountain - Gatis Smukulis
Wrap up 3/3
- overall win,
- Top 10,
- 1 stage
Only Offredo was a little threat. But a very easy race for the team in France.
Before moving to our first Grand Tour, here is a summary of our 4 first months in WT:
We are just a bit short fr our main objectives, some 6th and 7th places in 1 week WT, Top 5 and Top 10 in classics, etc.
On HC races though we will probably do better.
All in all this season success will really depends on Grand Tours and th Vuelta in particular.
We are currently 3rd in WT ranking behind dominating BMC and Radioshack. Poels has no win but is still 6th in WT ranking given his numerous places.
But has been great is the progression of the team. Given our budget, we have hired the best possible coaches and it is paying off:
All our leaders have achieved precious progresses, including Roelandts who has won 2 pts in sprint.
Behind Alberio is on his way to catch up with Nerz despite the latter good progresses. Both of them are becoming really strong!
@ The Rider: Butler is indeed progressing, but he was better than Alberio at the time we recruited him
Time to move to...
Our Team
Van Garderen, Stetina, Fairly, Alberio, Ovechkin, Loutit, Oronte, Hamilton, Mazich
Main Riders
Contador is the big favourite given Nibali is not participating. The threat might well come from Italy though in the person of Scarponi. Cobo Acebo and Evans will try to add another Grand Tour to their palmares, and many young guns wants to demonstrate they are ready for glory: Lagutin, Kadri, Rujano, Porte and Ruygh might be the most dangerous here.
Sprinters
Cavendish, Farrar, Greipel, Swift, Galimzyanov, Sagan. It looks like all best sprinters have gathered on this Giro.
Stage 1 – TTT 20 km
Favourite: Rabobank
“Guys our first TTT was our worst race ever. Today is important, we haven’t practice, but we have Tejay and Artem to lead the team. We should do better!”
Better we did but not by much: we finished penultimate and lost 1’07.
1
Ag2r La Mondiale
24'41
2
Bmc Racing Team
+ 1
3
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
+ 3
4
Saur - Sojasun
+ 4
5
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 6
21
AT&T
+ 1'07
Stage 2 – Flat
Favourite: Farrar
“250 km is long for a team to control. With hills with 30 kilometres to go the plan is as follow: Tomas, you attack in the first climb, Tejay in the last. We don’t care of any breakaway. Actually a break would be better as sprinters’ team won’t chase us.”
The break was still 4’ ahead when Alberio attacks. Then Van Garderen. But Scarponi and Contador counter!
So the bunch comes back and the remaining of the break was about 1’ ahead. So I ask my fresher rider to attack: Fairly quickly joins the break but Langeveld and Vaugrenard counters. With few kilometres to go, Fairly attacks again.
But Langeveld counters and Vaugrenard is a much stronger sprinter.
1
Sebastian Langeveld
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
5h41'52
2
Benoît Vaugrenard
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
3
Caleb Fairly
AT&T
s.t.
4
Tyler Farrar
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 43
5
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
Stage 3 – Flat
Favourite: Cavendish
“Same strategy today with the last hills starting 10k from the line: Tejay you attack at the bottom!”
The plan went very well and Van Garderen attacked and passed the last break member in the last climb. Except Vaugrenard managed to countered and get back in his wheels.
Hoping to maintain a gap, Van Garderen went full speed and was beaten for the stage by Vaugrenard who would use the bonus to claim the pink.
1
Benoît Vaugrenard
Saur - Sojasun
4h32'09
2
Tejay Van Garderen
AT&T
s.t.
3
Filippo Pozzato
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
4
Grega Bole
Isd - KazMunayGas
s.t.
5
Maxim Iglinskiy
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
Stage 4 – Flat
Favourite: Farrar
“Same profile for same tactic today.”
Except with huge wind the peleton is very long and our water guy fails to bring water to the front. So with 25 kilometres to go, no one in the team got any water left. Ovechkin has anticipated but even him is struggling to catch up. Van Garderen has to leave the front to get the water. We struggle all the end of the stage to come back to the front with split happening everywhere. Only 50 riders finishes in the front group. Including Van Garderen. And all the favourites. Except one. The one: Contador lost more than 3’ today.
At the front, the favorite finally justifies his status.
1
Tyler Farrar
Garmin - Barracuda
5h02'00
2
Enrico Gasparotto
ProTeam Astana
s.t.
3
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
4
Peter Sagan
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Daniele Bennati
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
s.t.
Stage 5 – Hills
Favourite: Gilbert
“Caleb you make the break to climb the KoM lead. Tejay you anticipate the last climb. You have to get some time back time in each hilly stage. Starting today!”
Fairly makes the break and his the strongest puncher. Unfortunately Iglinskiy and Vandewalle decide to counter. And soon enough only the 3 men are left together. But the gap is not so big and Fairly is out of power.
As planned Van Garderen attacks with 5 kilometres to go. He joins the break. But as Iglinskiy and Vandewalle are struggeling, Visconti and Scarponi are coming from behind.
Still a good stage for Van Garderen who gets back 30’’ and is now 10th in GC.
1
Giovanni Visconti
Movistar Team
4h45'38
2
Michele Scarponi
Isd - KazMunayGas
s.t.
3
Tejay Van Garderen
AT&T
s.t.
4
Maxim Iglinskiy
Lotto - Belisol
+ 16
5
Kristof Vandewalle
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
6
Cadel Evans
Bmc Racing Team
+ 33
7
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank Sungard
s.t.
8
Sergey Lagutin
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
9
Blel Kadri
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
10
Jérôme Coppel
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
Stage 6 – Hills
Favourite: Gilbert
“The arrival at the summit is another opportunity to clime time. Caleb, try for the break again to keep your KoM a little longer.”
Fairly makes the break and get some points.
But the bunch comes back and only few can follow Gilbert’s attack. Van Garderen is one of them.
Surprisingly Gilbert slows down just a bit, so all the strong men come from the back and Vaugrenard dares winning with the pink jersey. Van Garderen is just a little short and finishes 3rd.
1
Benoît Vaugrenard
Saur - Sojasun
4h55'14
2
Daniele Bennati
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
s.t.
3
Tejay Van Garderen
AT&T
s.t.
4
Tyler Farrar
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
5
Cadel Evans
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
6
Tomas Alberio
AT&T
s.t.
7
Luis Leon Sanchez Gil
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
8
Ruben Plaza Molina
Movistar Team
s.t.
9
Enrico Gasparotto
ProTeam Astana
s.t.
10
Blel Kadri
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
Stage 7 – Mountain
Favourite: Contador
“Today is one of many Mountain stage. Tejay you are not yet at your best and not the best climbers. Your goal is to stick to the best as long as you can in the final climb.”
Saxo Bank is controlling the race all day so the break never gets a real chance. In the final climb, Scarponi attacks far from the line. Contador himself is chasing with Van Garderen keeping his wheel.
A small group forms with only Evans relaying Contador, Van Garderen manages to hang on quite easily. Until Contador attacks in the final and no one can follow. At the end of the day, Van Garderen gets a great 7th place. Unfortunately 25 riders are credited with the same time. At the front Scarponi takes both the stage and the pink.
“Pure flat except for the hilly last kilometre. Tomas, you go in the break to give the stage a try. Tejay, you attack in the final to try to get more time back.”
Alberio makes the break. 13 men including the dangerous Langeveld. But the pack is finally closing the gap and with 10 kilometres to go everyone is once again together. As planned and with 7 kilometres to go Van Garderen attacks.
The final is hard and Sagan and Scarponi are coming back.
Scarponi takes another win. But Van Garderen finishes 2nd and a gap creates after Lagutin causing most of the favourites to loose 23’’. Van Garderen is now 2nd in GC, down 57’’ to Scarponi.
1
Michele Scarponi
Isd - KazMunayGas
5h03'41
2
Tejay Van Garderen
AT&T
s.t.
3
Peter Sagan
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
4
Tyler Farrar
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
5
Daniele Bennati
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
s.t.
6
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
7
Stephen Cummings
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
8
Ruben Plaza Molina
Movistar Team
s.t.
9
Michael Matthews
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
10
Grega Bole
Isd - KazMunayGas
s.t.
Stage 9 – Mountain
Favourite: Contador
“Second mountain stage, rather short but with a summit finish. Objective is to keep 2nd place.”
It all happens in the last climb. Some attacks and counters but Van Garderen stays calm and saves his forces. With 3 kilometres to go he uses a calm moment to take the lead.
It might have been a little bit presumptuous. Contador finally takes the win he deserves. Scarponi consolidates his pink.
Still a good day for Van Garderen who stays 2nd and built a reasonable lead over the 10th place (more than 2’). The gap are still limited however.
1
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank Sungard
4h35'48
2
Michele Scarponi
Isd - KazMunayGas
s.t.
3
Juan José Cobo Acebo
Movistar Team
+ 10
4
Sergey Lagutin
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Christian Knees
Saur - Sojasun
+ 25
6
Cadel Evans
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
7
Tejay Van Garderen
AT&T
+ 36
8
Ruben Plaza Molina
Movistar Team
s.t.
9
Vasil Kiryienka
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
10
Kévin Seeldrayers
ProTeam Astana
s.t.
Stage 10 – Flat
Favourite: Cavendish
“Nothing to hope for today. Tejay, you stay in the front to avoid split in the final.”
Van Garderen was very well placed when he falls… with 7 kilometres to go. Fortunately he could come back on the saddle and ride like mad man to try to close the gap. At the front, Greipel takes a nice win. There are riders everywhere, the fall was massive.
Van Garderen crosses the line 58th and was so relieve to be credited with the same time as the winner. That was not the case of Cobo Acebo who lost more than 3’ today.
1
André Greipel
Bmc Racing Team
3h36'39
2
Ben Swift
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
3
Michael Matthews
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
4
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
5
Peter Sagan
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
13
Tomas Alberio
AT&T
s.t.
Stage 11 – Hills
Favourite: Gilbert
“Today is a difficult stage and we should hope for securing our 2nd place a little more”.
Van Garderen tries in the final but he fails short and he had to let Evans, Gilbert and Scarponi go for the win. Evans gets it.
And takes the 2nd place in GC. Van Garderen is now 3rd.
1
Cadel Evans
Bmc Racing Team
4h30'39
2
Philippe Gilbert
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
3
Michele Scarponi
Isd - KazMunayGas
s.t.
4
Giovanni Visconti
Movistar Team
s.t.
5
Sergey Lagutin
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
+ 24
6
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank Sungard
s.t.
7
Kristof Vandewalle
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
8
Vasil Kiryienka
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
9
Michael Rogers
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
10
Maxime Monfort
Isd - KazMunayGas
s.t.
11
Fredrik Kessiakoff
ProTeam Astana
s.t.
12
Tejay Van Garderen
AT&T
s.t.
Stage 12 – Flat
Favourite: Cavendish
“Nothing to hope for today, hope it will be smoother than last flat stage.”
A massive sprint again, and a massive fall in the final again. Except this time Van Garderen does not fall. However Kadri, Contador and… Evans lost more than 3’. Van Garderen is back in 2nd place in GC.
The sprint was terrible though and Cavendish had a hard time to win.
1
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
4h27'50
2
Michael Matthews
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
3
André Greipel
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
4
Peter Sagan
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Denis Galimzyanov
Katusha Team
s.t.
13
Tejay Van Garderen
AT&T
s.t.
Stage 13 – Mountain
Favourite: Contador
“Today the Giro is starting and Tejay, you are second. You are in the form of your life, so hang on to the best!”
Van Garderen is very well protected by Ovechkin and has wonderful feeling. While Cobo Acebo is taking the win.
Contador is finally attacking in the last 3 kilometres. Only 1 man can follow.
An incredible result for our rider. Lagutin and Contador will be real threats though with all the Moutain stages to come. In fact, all of today Top 10 riders are better climbers than Van Garderen on the paper, so there is still a long way to go.
1
Juan José Cobo Acebo
Movistar Team
4h54'30
2
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank Sungard
+ 44
3
Tejay Van Garderen
AT&T
+ 58
4
Sergey Lagutin
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
+ 1'07
5
Michele Scarponi
Isd - KazMunayGas
+ 1'17
6
Kévin Seeldrayers
ProTeam Astana
s.t.
7
Vasil Kiryienka
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1'31
8
Blel Kadri
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 1'42
9
Rein Taaramae
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
10
Stephen Cummings
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
Stage 14 – Mountain
Favourite: Contador
“Yesterday was fantastic, today might well be the most difficult stage. A huge climb to finish and another huge climb just before. Teja, you have to start the last climb with the bests.”
In the middle of the penultimate climb Van Garderen was stuck in a second group with Evans. Stetina does a great job to come back
but as Contador accelerates with Scarponi at the front, Van Garderen is lost again.
He finally manages to come back in the descent in the lead group of 9 riders. But he soon is the 1st one to loose ground.
He has to fight very hard and to give up some places. He is now 4th in GC as Lagutin and Contador passes him. Plaza Molina, Evans and Kadri are immediate threat for his Top 5 position.
At the front Ruygh sacrifices himself for Lagutin. The young gun is back under 2’ in GC. But Contador might well be the biggest threat for Scarponi: 3rd in GC, 5’ down but best climber and recovering some time every day.
@ welker: the last stage was a diffiult one, but TVG is doing great indeed
@ sutty: waoo beating Contador, that would be a challenge
So let's ear the end of the story:
Stage 15 – Mountain
Favourite: Contador
“I told you yesterday was the most difficult one? I was lying. Today got 5 climbs and 220 kilometres. You make today, with a hilly stage, 2 ITT to come, you get the Top 5. So hang on. Artem and Peter, you are here to help. The others I want you to finish the stage in time.”
Van Garderen was well placed all day. There were attacks all day. But Ruygh did again a fantastic job.
One by one the attackers weakened and got back in the bunch. Until with 5 kilometres to go, Lagutin attacked. Contador countered easily. Evans with difficulty but was able to keep the wheel till the end. Van Garderen did not bother to try follow and staid with Scarponi. No one has anything left at the end.
Contador won another stage and is back under 3’ in GC. Lagutin ceased the pink for 30’’ and Evans stole our 4th place for about 1’. Still a great day for Van Garderen who increased his lead on everyone else.
1
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank Sungard
7h16'30
2
Cadel Evans
Bmc Racing Team
+ 1'16
3
Sergey Lagutin
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
4
Tejay Van Garderen
AT&T
+ 3'32
5
Kévin Seeldrayers
ProTeam Astana
s.t.
6
Michele Scarponi
Isd - KazMunayGas
s.t.
7
Juan José Cobo Acebo
Movistar Team
s.t.
8
Blel Kadri
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 3'55
9
Ruben Plaza Molina
Movistar Team
s.t.
10
Rob Ruygh
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
Stage 16 – ITT - Mountain
Favourite: Contador
“Tejay, you are not with the big favourites but you should get a Top 5 today trying to secure a little bit your 5th place.”
First man to set a time is Ovechkin who keeps the lead for very long. But he had no real hope as the big guns are now riding. A surprising Seeldrayers beats Cobo Acebo for 3’’. Van Garderen is down 17’’ at the intermediate, but it is quite good as the plan is to accelerate in the climb. He does just that and take the best time for 1’’! Only Contador will do better. Contador is now less than 2’’ down in GC... After having lost about 6' in 2 early stages, that would be a come back!
1
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank Sungard
28'53
2
Tejay Van Garderen
AT&T
+ 24
3
Kévin Seeldrayers
ProTeam Astana
+ 25
4
Juan José Cobo Acebo
Movistar Team
+ 28
5
José Humberto Rujano Guillen
Androni Giocattoli - Cipi
+ 33
6
Michele Scarponi
Isd - KazMunayGas
+ 38
7
Sergey Lagutin
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
+ 40
8
Blel Kadri
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
9
Rob Ruygh
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
+ 46
10
Vasil Kiryienka
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 48
11
Cadel Evans
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
Stage 17 – Mountain
Favourite: Ruygh
“Tejay you have been fantastic yesterday, today there are 2 climbs far from the line, you should stay with the best at all cost.”
A breakaway builds a good lead and the Spanish champion takes the win. Behind despite many attacks, all favourites end the stage together.
1
Luis Leon Sanchez Gil
Rabobank Cycling Team
5h52'19
2
Christian Knees
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
3
Dario Cataldo
Omega Pharma QuickStep
+ 1'35
4
Sergey Lagutin
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
+ 2'31
5
Tejay Van Garderen
AT&T
s.t.
6
Ruben Plaza Molina
Movistar Team
s.t.
7
Stephen Cummings
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
8
Juan José Cobo Acebo
Movistar Team
s.t.
9
Michele Scarponi
Isd - KazMunayGas
s.t.
10
Rein Taaramae
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
Stage 18 - Hills
Favourite: Gilbert
“With 4 stages to go today is an opportunity to get some more time. The hill is 20 kilometres from the line so try to get one of the followers loose ground. Tomas, you try for the break either to try for the stage or to help Tejay.”
Alberio does make the break. But the bunch is almost back at the top of the hill. Van Garderen then accelerates and get Plaza Molina loosing some metres. Alberio waits for him and go full speed. Unfortunately Costa was also in the break and manages to help his leader back. A group of 17 with GC’s Top 8 sprints for victory.
1
Michele Scarponi
Isd - KazMunayGas
3h34'29
2
Tejay Van Garderen
AT&T
s.t.
3
Sergey Lagutin
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
4
Vasil Kiryienka
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Benoît Vaugrenard
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
6
Ruben Plaza Molina
Movistar Team
s.t.
7
Manuele Caddeo
Colnago - Domina Vacanze
s.t.
8
Eduard Vorganov
Katusha Team
s.t.
9
Cadel Evans
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
10
Carlos Barredo Llamazales
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
Stage 19 – Mountain
Favourite: Contador
“Tejay, you got 2 Mountain stage to go and a shot to the 4th place. Stick with Evans and Plaza Molina. Peter, you try to make the break.”
Stetina fails for the break that was caught anyway. In the final a group of favourites gather. They let Knees and Rujano some place. Then Contador attacks in the final and get some more time back. He has just over 1’ to make in the last 2 stages! Van Garderen couldn’t follow in the final sprint but only looses 14’’ to his main competitors.
1
Christian Knees
Saur - Sojasun
5h15'00
2
José Humberto Rujano Guillen
Androni Giocattoli - Cipi
+ 13
3
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank Sungard
+ 1'55
4
Rein Taaramae
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 2'30
5
Ruben Plaza Molina
Movistar Team
+ 2'45
6
Sergey Lagutin
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
7
Kévin Seeldrayers
ProTeam Astana
s.t.
8
Cadel Evans
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
9
Juan José Cobo Acebo
Movistar Team
s.t.
10
Steven Kruijswijk
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
11
Blel Kadri
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
12
Stephen Cummings
Bmc Racing Team
s.t.
13
Michele Scarponi
Isd - KazMunayGas
s.t.
14
Tejay Van Garderen
AT&T
+ 2'59
Stage 20 – Mountain
Favourite: Contador
“Same tactic as yesterday. Peter you have to get in the break!”
But Stetina fails again. Van Garderen was already struggling in the penultimate climb.
He could recover a bit in the descent but not enough to follow the best. He is ranked 5th, 1’ down Evans and 1’ up Plaza Molina in GC before the final stage.
Contador claims back more time and is very close from the win now.
1
Juan José Cobo Acebo
Movistar Team
6h54'38
2
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank Sungard
s.t.
3
Sergey Lagutin
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
+ 41
4
Michele Scarponi
Isd - KazMunayGas
+ 53
5
Cadel Evans
Bmc Racing Team
+ 1’03
6
Rein Taaramae
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
7
José Humberto Rujano Guillen
Androni Giocattoli - Cipi
s.t.
8
Ruben Plaza Molina
Movistar Team
+ 1’16
9
Tejay Van Garderen
AT&T
+ 1’24
10
Christian Knees
Saur - Sojasun
+1’43
Stage 21 – ITT – 33km
Favourite: Machado Pinto
“Tejay you should target the stage today. Machado and Contador will probably be your most serious challengers. But I know you can do it!”
Ovechkin smashes the best time despite being late at the 2nd intermediary by 20’’. Then Goos and Gusev improve the best time. Until the favourite crosses the 1st intermediary with more than 30’’ lead! And beats the best time by more than 1’…
Van Garderen is down 17’’ at the 1st intermediary and 28’’ at the second. Contador is within 10’’ of Machado. But we manage the same as Ovechkin and he beats the best time by 20’’. Only Contador could contest, but he fails for the stage. Because despite Lagutin honourable performance, Contador wins this year Giro.
1
Tejay Van Garderen
AT&T
46'09
2
Tiago Jose Machado Pinto
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
+ 21
3
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank Sungard
+ 32
4
Richie Porte
Sky ProCycling
+ 39
5
Thomas De Gendt
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
+ 58
6
Vladimir Gusev
Katusha Team
+ 1'12
7
Jérôme Coppel
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
8
Ruben Plaza Molina
Movistar Team
+ 1'17
9
Marc Goos
Project 1t4i
+ 1'20
10
Artem Ovechkin
AT&T
+ 1'23
Final GC
1
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank Sungard
92h33'18
2
Sergey Lagutin
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
+ 57
3
Michele Scarponi
Isd - KazMunayGas
+ 2'14
4
Tejay Van Garderen
AT&T
+ 6'27
5
Cadel Evans
Bmc Racing Team
+ 6'52
6
Ruben Plaza Molina
Movistar Team
+ 8'45
7
Blel Kadri
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 13'03
8
Vasil Kiryienka
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 16'45
9
Kévin Seeldrayers
ProTeam Astana
+ 19'50
10
Juan José Cobo Acebo
Movistar Team
+ 22'42
Points
1
Tejay Van Garderen
AT&T
163
2
Michele Scarponi
Isd - KazMunayGas
159
3
Sergey Lagutin
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
140
Mountain
1
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank Sungard
87
2
Michele Scarponi
Isd - KazMunayGas
50
3
José Humberto Rujano Guillen
Androni Giocattoli - Cipi
49
7
Caleb Fairly
AT&T
25
Wrap up
The last stage has transformed a good Giro into a great one. 1 stage win and just enough points to claim the Points classification and a 4th place! The only downsize is that both Alberio and Stetina have failed for a stage.
Vacansoleil was the strongest team and I could not understand their tactic of sacrificing Ruygh for Lagutin. Still they get a great 2nd place. As for the 1st Contador was the strongest and managed an incredible come back, getting the pink only in the last stage! Scarponi completes the podium with some nice stage wins along the way.
@ The Rider: Thanks. And Poels will not be satified with a Top 3 in Spain
@ sutty: Thanks. Frankly a Top 3 was out of reach: TGV has only 75 in MO, simply not good enough
But July is approaching and time for big decisions again!
Here is a remainder of what the team looks like for next year
Spoiler
You need to add Hamilton and an american trainee I have recruted
So we currently only have 15 riders. I would say we need at least 23. So there is a lot of job to be done Minimum 8 riders! And 161k available to do so.
I see 2 strategies:
A. Best leader, strong teammates
We recruit a strong leader able to win le Tour and we complement with strong supportive riders to present strong teams in every stage race. We will rely on Roelandts for the sprints (77 in SP so far and still 1 star potential) and Smukulis for Flandriennes (79 in COB no potential left in COB). Next year we will get all the budget we need to hire both a sprinter AND a cobble specialist.
B. Best leader, strong sprinter, weaker teammates
Same strong leader but we send a lot of money on 1 of the good sprinter available. Of course we will then be short to recruit strong teammates, we will have to recruit weak ones, may be renew Miller, hire a couple of young guys that I am scouting...
Why do I suggest this? Because this year both Andy Schleck AND Nibali are without a team and available! That will certainly not occurs every year, specially as Contador just signed a 2 years contract...
So let's move to available riders.
1. Leaders & Climbers
Spoiler
Du is the lenght of the contract they are asking for, Salary the one they want to be offered
2. Other Leaders
Spoiler
3. Strong Complete Riders
Spoiler
4. Teammates
Spoiler
Here I just put the salary they currently have, not the one they ask for
So what do you say: What strategy? (An alternative could be considered for sure
And what riders as our Top priorities?
For each one, should we offer more or less of what they are expecting?
I wouldn't go for Nibbles, Poels is already there. From the climbers, better take a great domestique with some good individual qualities, like Kruiswijk. Then you have more money for a good sprinter, which is something the team might need a lot.
Oh, and Kelderman is a must
