@ Ian & Marcovdw: yep, domination, but don't forget the opposition was pretty weak (hey, Kevyn Ista in 2nd place...).
@ FreitasPCM: thanks about the Tirreno. And Breschel will be in great form in the other cobbled classic, but first he's our leader in Milano - San Remo.
The first of the 5 cycling monuments, La Primavera. Milano - San Remo is the longest race of the season, 299 kilometres long. It's the 105th edition, with Eddy Merckx being the record winner with 7 wins. Last year, Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen took the win.
The Route
The length is the most difficult part of Milano - San Remo. Okay, La Turbie, the Cipressa and the Poggio will cause a shift, but riders with not enough stamina can never win here.
The first glimpse we see of the riders, is when the BOTD leaves the tunnel at the Passo del Turchino, with still 149 kilometres to go. The first half of the race was very restless, with many, many attacks. And every time, Sky, Radio Shack, or Petronas - Monster Energy brought the breakaway, that was too big all the times, back. But when 2 riders broke free, the peloton did let them get away. So Marco Marcato (Vacansoleil) and Antonio D'Aniello (Androni) lead the peloton to the Liguric coast, with a margin of 5'40.
95km to go
The peloton takes it easy towards the foot of La Turbie (5.9km at 5.3%). Then the pace finally increases a bit, but at the summit, Marcato and D'Aniello still lead them by 7'46.
83km to go
A few crashes occur in the peloton in the treacherous descend of La Turbie. Most important victim is Fabian Cancellara, causing Team Sky to wait for him and having to chase the peloton. Luckily, Spartacus seems to be without injuries.
72km to go
With Team Sky still chasing the peloton (1'25 behind) and the 2 leaders still having a fairly big lead (5'40), Juan Antonio Flecha decides that it is time to awake the peloton and make it a real race.
30km to go
The peloton take sit easy for a bit more, not wanting to profit from the crashes in the descend of La Turbie. So a 2nd peloton, including Cancellara, rejoins them. Then the pace increases and Flecha gets caught. But with 30km to go, Flecha attacks again, this time joined by Wesley Sulzberger (Qantas), Sylvain Chavanel (Garmin) and Thomas De Gendt (Radio Shack). D'Aniello and Marcato have a lead of 1'50 and will soon be caught.
23km to go
The riders have started to ascend the Cipressa (4.6km at 4.5%), and Thomas De Gendt is the first to crest the summit. The current Paris - Nice winner leads Chavanel and Flecha by 14 seconds. But the peloton is close, thanks to some great work by the Dexia-riders. Philippe Gilbert lead the first peloton, only '26 behind De Gendt. From our team, only Matti Breschel is present in this group of 24 riders.
9km to go
The last obstacle of the day, the Poggio (2.9km at 5.1%). The leading group of 24 starts the climb, with Breschel in 3rd position behind Chavanel and Vansummeren. Our Dane wants to start the Poggio among the first riders, as he's having a mediocre day (daily form 0).
6km to go
No attacks in the ascend of the Poggio, thanks to the high pace set by Katusha (probably for Tom Boonen) and BMC (for Filippo Pozzato). When the descend starts, Breschel chooses the wheel of Pozzato, as we see him as the biggest favourite to win the race.
3km to go
A safe descend for the 24, so the entire group reaches San Remo, without crashes. Breschel has fallen back a few places, as Pozzato didn't want to take too much risks in the descend.
1km to go
The pace of the group of 24 drops, as none of the teams (Dexia, BMC, or Katusa) wants to form a sprint train, so the others can profit from it. This carries on untill 1200 metres before the finish, when Breschel thinks it's enough and starts the sprint, trying to surprise the better sprinters in this group. He's leading Alessandro Ballan and Thomas De Gendt, already arrived at the Via Roma.
200m to go
Matti Breschel stays in the lead untill 200 metres to go. Then his former team mate Thomas De Gendt is about to take over. On the left side of the road, Tom Boonen and Filippo Pozzato come rushing by with much higher speed!
Finish
And it's Tom Boonen who takes the win in the 105th edition of Milano - San Remo with a fantastic jump. De Gendt makes it a Belgian 1-2, with Filippo Pozzato edging out Breschel for the 3rd place. So a 4th place for our Dane.
Results
1
Tom Boonen
Katusha Team
7h07'19
2
Thomas De Gendt
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
3
Filippo Pozzato
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
4
Matti Breschel
Petronas - Monster Energy
s.t.
5
Bobbie Traksel
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
6
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Dexia
s.t.
7
Enrico Gasparotto
Katusha Team
s.t.
8
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
s.t.
9
Fabian Cancellara
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
10
Alessandro Ballan
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Carlos Barredo
Movistar Team
s.t.
12
Johan Vansummeren
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
13
Sylvain Chavanel
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
14
Sebastian Langeveld
Qantas Airways
s.t.
15
Philippe Gilbert
Dexia
s.t.
16
Matthew Goss
Dexia
s.t.
17
Alberto Contador
Movistar Team
s.t.
18
Thomas Voeckler
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
19
Nick Nuyens
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
20
Juan Antonio Flecha
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
21
Wesley Sulzberger
Qantas Airways
s.t.
22
Simon Gerrans
Dexia
s.t.
23
Rigoberto Urán
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
24
Jan Bakelants
Dexia
s.t.
25
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
+ 34
26
Luis León Sánchez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
27
Jetse Bol
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
28
Romain Feillu
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
29
Daniele Pietropolli
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
30
Stijn Devolder
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
31
Anthony Geslin
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
32
Maxime Monfort
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
33
Andy Schleck
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
34
Theo Bos
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 1'07
35
José Joaquín Rojas
Movistar Team
+ 1'32
36
Thor Hushovd
Dexia
s.t.
37
Lars Boom
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
38
Francesco Gavazzi
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
39
Grega Bole
Lampre - Alitalia
s.t.
40
John Degenkolb
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
41
Tyler Farrar
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
42
Romain Zingle
Dexia
s.t.
43
Roman Kreuziger
Movistar Team
s.t.
44
Alejandro Valverde
Dexia
s.t.
45
Federico Canuti
Liquigas - Microsoft
s.t.
46
Giovanni Visconti
Katusha Team
s.t.
47
Marcello Pavarin
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
48
Michel Kreder
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
49
Danny Pate
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
50
Jakob Fuglsang
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
51
Johnny Hoogerland
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
52
George Hincapie
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
53
Christophe Le Mével
Team Europcar
s.t.
54
Coen Vermeltfoort
Petronas - Monster Energy
s.t.
55
Wilco Kelderman
Petronas - Monster Energy
s.t.
56
Rubén Plaza
Movistar Team
s.t.
57
Rasmus Guldhammer
Saxo Bank SunGard
+ 2'42
58
Fabio Felline
Katusha Team
s.t.
59
André Greipel
Qantas Airways
s.t.
60
Heinrich Haussler
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
61
Damiano Cunego
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
62
Marco Marcato
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
63
Ben Hermans
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
64
Lasse Bøchman
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
65
Michele Scarponi
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
66
Nicolas Roche
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
67
Chris Froome
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
68
Andrea Guardini
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
69
Jurgen Van den Broeck
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
70
Marko Kump
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
71
Zdenek Stybar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
72
Sébastien Turgot
Team Europcar
s.t.
73
Geraint Thomas
Qantas Airways
s.t.
74
Marco Corti
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
75
Sergey Lagutin
Qantas Airways
s.t.
76
Giacomo Nizzolo
Lampre - Alitalia
s.t.
77
Brent Bookwalter
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
78
Andrew Talansky
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
79
Marcos García
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
80
Jean-Eudes Demaret
Team Europcar
s.t.
81
David López
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
82
Gregory Bernard
Petronas - Monster Energy
s.t.
83
Tejay Van Garderen
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
84
Iban Mayoz
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
85
Rinaldo Nocentini
Liquigas - Microsoft
+ 5'26
86
Manuel Quinziato
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
87
Alejandro Marque
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
88
Francisco José Pacheco
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
89
José Serpa
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
90
Davide Appollonio
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
91
Alessandro Petacchi
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
92
Murilo Fischer
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
93
Juan José Haedo
Qantas Airways
s.t.
94
Assan Bazayev
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
95
Sergio Marinangeli
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
96
Jesús Herrada
Movistar Team
s.t.
97
Guillaume Bonnafond
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
98
Maxim Lefèvre
Petronas - Monster Energy
s.t.
99
Sébastien Rosseler
Petronas - Monster Energy
s.t.
100
Mirko Selvaggi
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
101
Dale Appleby
Sky ProCycling
+ 6'26
102
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
+ 7'07
103
Antonio D'Aniello
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
104
Arnoud Van Groen
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
105
Maciej Paterski
Liquigas - Microsoft
s.t.
106
Stefano Borchi
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
107
José Luis Roldán
Movistar Team
s.t.
108
Matthew Busche
Radio Shack - Nissan
s.t.
109
Cândido Barbosa
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
110
Sergey Firsanov
Katusha Team
s.t.
111
Pieter Serry
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 7'49
112
Alexander Kvachuk
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
113
Jack Bobridge
Petronas - Monster Energy
s.t.
114
Joost Posthuma
Petronas - Monster Energy
s.t.
115
Maxim Belkov
Katusha Team
+ 8'12
116
Kasper Klostergaard
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
117
Jonathan Monsalve
Androni Giocattoli
+ 9'01
118
Alfredo Balloni
Lampre - Alitalia
s.t.
119
Eros Capecchi
Lampre - Alitalia
s.t.
120
Andrea Pasqualon
Lampre - Alitalia
s.t.
121
Russell Downing
Qantas Airways
s.t.
122
Dimitri Krivtsov
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
123
Johann Tschopp
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
124
Bjorn Selander
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
125
Marco Pinotti
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
126
Alessandro Bisolti
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
127
Alexandre Castro
Garmin - Barracuda
+ 9'49
128
Matteo Montaguti
Acqua & Sapone
+ 10'42
129
Kris Boeckmans
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
130
Fabio Sabatini
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
131
Bernardo Riccio
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
132
Egoitz García
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
133
Alexandre Pichot
Team Europcar
s.t.
134
Filippo Savini
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
135
Mauro Da Dalto
Liquigas - Microsoft
s.t.
136
Aurélien Duval
Team Europcar
s.t.
137
Martin Reimer
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
138
Ruggero Marzoli
Liquigas - Microsoft
s.t.
139
Fabio Taborre
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
140
David Williams
Liquigas - Microsoft
s.t.
141
Arturo Martinelli
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
142
Andrea Moletta
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
143
Yauheni Hutarovich
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
144
Alessandro Bertolini
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
145
Gianluca Mirenda
Lampre - Alitalia
s.t.
146
Mickaël Delage
Team Europcar
+ 11'30
147
Jesse Anthony
Liquigas - Microsoft
s.t.
148
Michele Gaia
Lampre - Alitalia
s.t.
149
Claudio Cucinotta
Acqua & Sapone
+ 12'31
150
Mirco Lorenzetto
Acqua & Sapone
+ 12'51
151
Rubén Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
152
Enrique Sanz
Movistar Team
s.t.
153
Michael Matthews
Qantas Airways
s.t.
154
Andrey Zeits
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
155
Fabio Duarte
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
156
Hubert Schwab
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
157
Ioannis Tamouridis
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
158
Leonardo Moser
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
159
Julien Vermote
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
160
Trent Lowe
Sony Ericsson
+ 16'52
161
Rony Martias
Team Europcar
s.t.
162
Diego Ulissi
Liquigas - Microsoft
s.t.
163
Luc Hagenaars
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
164
Otavio Didier Bulgarelli
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
165
Sylwester Szmyd
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
166
Loïc Desriac
Team Europcar
s.t.
167
Tyler Wren
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
168
Jeff Vermeulen
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 18'11
169
Yoeri Havik
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
170
Anthony Colby
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
171
Nuno Ribeiro
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
172
Leonardo Piepoli
Acqua & Sapone
+ 19'20
173
Roberto Ferrari
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
174
Dino di Girolamo
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 25'23
175
Matteo Tosatto
Lampre - Alitalia
+ 25'38
176
Paolo Melandri
Katusha Team
+ 30'57
Todays winner
Word From the DS
So how does this feel? A win slipping through our hands, our just a very brave effort, resulting in a good 4th place? Breschel said that he simply couldn't perform the high sprinting speed as Boonen did, so he wouldn't have won the race when he had waited. So he decided to launch the sprint. And I must say, that I'm happier with that, then just waiting and also getting a 4th. Still, our best MSR-result in 4 years.
Edited by dienblad on 25-11-2012 09:40
While the cobbles-masochists heading to Belgium for their 2 most important weeks of the season, the riders that love the sun, nice temperatures and hilly racing appear in Spain for the 96th edition of the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya.
Last year, we saw the breakthrough of Wilco Kelderman, winning his first World Tour stage race.
The Route
The Volta Ciclista a Catalunya starts in bath place Lloret de Mar, with a hilly race that finish in Lloret as well. After a flat 2nd stage (172km from Salt to Banyoles), the GC will probably decide in the 3rd stage, with the finish after a climb in La Seu d'Urgell.
Stage 4 to Ascó is downhill almost the entire stage, what the sprinters will enjoy. The 5th stage to Cabacés features some midstage climbs, but probably not enough to shake up the GC. So does the 6th stage to Barcelona, but the GC-contenders have to pay attention for not missing an attack. The last stage to Montmélo is flat, so the sprinters will battle for the win at the Formula 1 circuit of Catalunya.
***Wilco Kelderman, Vincenzo Nibali (Radio Shack), Fränk Schleck (Omega Pharma). ** Juan José Cobo (Dexia), Vasil Kiryienka (Astana), Simon Spilak (Lampre). * Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel), Rein Taaramäe (Sony Ericsson), Rigoberto Urán (Sky).
Our Goal
Last year, Kelderman won the GC, but then the Volta a Catalunya was won of his season goals. This year, he uses the race to get in shape for the Giro d'Italia, so his form isn't as good as last year. Nevertheless, a top 5 should be possible.
The first stage with start and finish in Lloret de Mar near the Costa Brava features 2 categorized climbs, the Alt de Sant Hilari (9.1km at 5.9%, 113km before the finish) and the Alt de San Grau (5.2km at 6.6%, 37km before the finish). But before the finish in Lloret de Mar, the road goes uphill again.
104km to go
A 12-men BOTD crests the summit of the Alt de Sant Hilari with a margin of 6'24 to the peloton. Czech national champion Zdenek Stybar (Omega Pharma) crosses the line of the KOTM-sprint as the first one, followed by Darren Lapthorne (Qantas) and Jonathan Tiernan - Locke (Sky).
35km to go
The peloton has problems in decreasing the margin, also because of the high pace set by the BOTD during the 2nd categorized climb of the day. Shortly before the summit of the Alt de San Grau, the BOTD splits up, with only Manuel Cardoso (Caja Rural), Jean-Marc Bideau (Saur), Tiernan - Locke, Paul Voss (Red Bull), Lapthorne, Stybar, Maxim Belkov (Katusha) and Shawn Milne (Garmin) being able to stay in the first group. The peloton follows at 3'34.
8km to go
The margin of the leading group starts to decrease a bit, with only the last small hill to go, it is still 2'15, meaning these 9 will battle for the stage win. Jonathan Tiernan - Locke can't control his nerves, and attacks.
6km to go
Having superb legs, Wilco Kelderman attacks out of the peloton shortly before the summit of the last hill, inan attempt to gain some time to the other GC-favourites. Only Omega Pharma's Daniele Pietropolli tries to counter.
Meanwhile, Tiernan - Locke has been caught, and together with Cardoso, Stybar and Voss, he starts the descend towards Lloret de Mar.
Finish
And the sprint for the win proofs that you don't need to have the best theoretical sprint to win it. Paul Voss surely has the most energy left and easily takes the stage win, and the GC-lead, for his Red Bull team. Stybar finishes in 2nd, Cardoso in 3rd and Tiernan - Locke in 4th.
Kelderman and Pietropolli find each other, and cooperate very well to create a gap to the chasing peloton. They even catch some of the BOTD-member. Kelderman finishes in 6th place at '53, and as the peloton finishes '36 behind him, he has set a very important step towards another GC-win in Catalunya!
Results
1
Paul Voss
Red Bull - Cervélo
3h56'06
2
Zdenek Stybar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
3
Manuel Cardoso
Caja Rural
s.t.
4
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
5
Jean-Marc Bideau
Saur - Sojasun
+ 53
6
Wilco Kelderman
Petronas - Monster Energy
s.t.
7
Darren Lapthorne
Qantas Airways
s.t.
8
Daniele Pietropolli
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
9
Shawn Milne
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
10
Tomasz Smolen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
GC
1
Paul Voss
Red Bull - Cervélo
3h55'55
2
Manuel Cardoso
Caja Rural
+ 4
3
Zdenek Stybar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
+ 5
4
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
Sky ProCycling
+ 11
5
Tomasz Smolen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 1'01
6
Jean-Marc Bideau
Saur - Sojasun
+ 1'02
7
Shawn Milne
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
8
Wilco Kelderman
Petronas - Monster Energy
+ 1'04
9
Darren Lapthorne
Qantas Airways
s.t.
10
Daniele Pietropolli
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
s.t.
Points
1
Paul Voss
Red Bull - Cervélo
26
2
Zdenek Stybar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
20
3
Manuel Cardoso
Caja Rural
19
4
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
Sky ProCycling
14
5
Jean-Marc Bideau
Saur - Sojasun
14
KOTM
1
Manuel Cardoso
Caja Rural
24
2
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
Sky ProCycling
20
3
Zdenek Stybar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
20
4
Darren Lapthorne
Qantas Airways
18
5
Jean-Marc Bideau
Saur - Sojasun
16
Today's winner
Word from the DS
I don't know if the other GC-contenders were unattentful, because the stage win was gone, but Kelderman did a great job, taking 36 important seconds!
Edited by dienblad on 25-11-2012 13:38
One of the 2 flat stages, 172 kilometres from Salt to Banyoles.
93km to go
A 11-man BOTD is climbing 1 of the 2 categorized climbs of the day. Reihs, Erviti, Clancy, Pasqualon, Vachon, Montaguti, Maes, Havik, Poulhiès, Beuret and Porsev lead the peloton by almost 10 minutes.
Finish
With none of the sprinter teams wanting to chase the BOTD, the 11 can sprint for the win. Europcars Florian Vachon takes the win, his first in over 4 years. Ed Clancy (Qantas) takes the 2nd place, and Alexander Porsev (Katusha) the 3rd. Francisco Ventoso wins the sprint of the peloton at 1'36. No GC-changes.
Results
1
Florian Vachon
Team Europcar
4h10'27
2
Ed Clancy
Qantas Airways
s.t.
3
Alexander Porsev
Katusha Team
s.t.
4
Michael Reihs
Saxo Bank SunGard
s.t.
5
Nikolas Maes
Dexia
s.t.
6
Yoeri Havik
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
7
Stéphane Poulhiès
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
8
Imanol Erviti
Caja Rural
s.t.
9
Matteo Montaguti
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
10
Andrea Pasqualon
Lampre - Alitalia
s.t.
GC
No changes.
Points
1
Florian Vachon
Team Europcar
30
2
Paul Voss
Red Bull - Cervélo
26
3
Zdenek Stybar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
20
4
Ed Clancy
Qantas Airways
20
5
Manuel Cardoso
Caja Rural
19
Points
1
Manuel Cardoso
Caja Rural
24
2
Imanol Erviti
Caja Rural
22
3
Zdenek Stybar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step
20
4
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
Sky ProCycling
20
5
Darren Lapthorne
Qantas Airways
18
Today's winner
Word from the DS
Nothing to be said about today. Hopefully, tomorrow the weather will be better, ending in the Pyrenées.
Tom Boonen
Filippo Pozzato
Bobbie Traksel
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Joaquím Rodríguez
Fabian Cancellara
Paul Voss
Zdenek Stybar
Manuel Cardoso
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
Jean-Marc Bideau
Darren Lapthorne
Shawn Milne
Tomasz Smolen
Alexander Porsev
