We certainly don't have our A-Team on the A race, so we can't hope for much. The objective is to get something out of it: a Top 10, a KoM or a stage win, anything really as the circumstances offer.
Main Riders
Contador is once again the big favorite. He will have to face Gesink, Van Den Broeck, F. Schleck, Anton, Taaramae, Kreuziger, Ruygh, Fuglsang. Brankovic, Mollema, Cavendish, Farrar, Greipel, Uran, etc
Stage 1 – Flat
Favourite: Oss
The arrival at Mont de Alouettes let some suspense for this first stage, both sprinters and climbers could take a shot. In the Final, RadioShack was leading the pack. Gerdemann was ideally placed in the wheels of Ventoso.
But coming from behind, the stage favorite Oss is taking the win.
AT&T was the first to ride. Gerdemann was in a great day and in good form so he did most of the job with some help from Castroviejo. We hardly get 5 riders to keep the wheels. A 21 out of 22 finish but the feeling we managed the stage the best we could.
At the front RadioShack is imposing his power ahead of the 2nd favourites: Sky.
1
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
29'29
2
Sky ProCycling
+ 7
3
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 12
21
AT&T
+ 1'40
Stage 3 – Flat
Favourite: Cavendish
Flat stage and massive sprint. Cavendish is ideally placed at the 1.5 km mark.
For the expected result
1
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
4h15'39
2
Daniel Oss
Isd - KazMunayGas
s.t.
3
Ben Swift
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
4
Romain Feillu
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Andrea Guardini
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
s.t.
14
Linus Gerdemann
AT&T
s.t.
Stage 4 – Flat
Favourite: Uran
Can you believe it? 4th stage and 4th victory of the favourite! Hopefully we will have our chance one day. Today the peleton was grouped at the bottom of the climb and the strongest man wins.
A stage win with this team would make it an excellent TDF here.
--Nice to see 3 American's coming into the team, not forgetting that young rider you signed a while back.
@ The Rider: Stage win would be the best indeed. And you are right there is the trainee, a puncher, my scout (6 in puncher) told me he will be number 1 babla, I'll post the stats when he joins (well it makes it 4 American, but still less than the ones I am not renewing.)
@ Shonak: Castroviejo is fantastic in the "Red Project" but this is another story (competition is a bit different too ) I still hope he can get a chance.
@ sutty: Thanks, I definitely hope so!
@ welker: the boys may not but Gerdemann or Castroviejo might. But it will be hard: Castroviejo is soo poor in sprint and not good enough in TT, Gerdemann is leader and might not ben allowed some free space...
So let's move to the next stages of
Stage 5 – Flat
Favourite: Cavendish
With an uphill arrival, RadioShack has repeated the same tactic that failed on day 1.
But this time Guardini creates the first surprise of the Tour.
The Tour starts today. Loutit is suffering at the front as Albasini is leading the break.
But the favorites are finally in action: Schleck, Contador, Gesink, Brankovic, Mollema, Kreuziger to lead the rest of the pack
After many attacks and regroupement, Van den Broeck’s move is catching back the last man of the break.
Good enough to win the stage in front of 2 legends!
As for Gerdemann, he fnishes in Wiggins’ wheel. But the English man let a small gap so they are loosing 38’’.
1
Jürgen Van Den Broeck
Euskaltel - Euskadi
4h36'41
2
Fränk Schleck
Isd - KazMunayGas
s.t.
3
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank Sungard
s.t.
4
Robert Gesink
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Roman Kreuziger
ProTeam Astana
s.t.
6
Igor Anton Hernandez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
7
Rigoberto Uran
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
8
Janez Brajkovic
ProTeam Astana
s.t.
9
Ryder Hesjedal
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
10
Michael Albasini
GreenEdge
s.t.
17
Linus Gerdemann
AT&T
+ 38
Stage 9 – Hills
Favorite: Anton
The stage looks classic, hilly but not that difficult. A break of 13 riders was chased from the start and hills after hills weak riders got tired. First of our riders have been dropped at mid stage.
At the end of the day the pack regroup and Hesjedal was the strongest in the last 2 kilometers.
30 riders didn’t make the cut today. Including 5 of our team. That means we only got Gerdemann, Castroviejo and Loutit (who hardly made the cut) still alive… A good thing we are renewing the team for next year…
1
Ryder Hesjedal
Garmin - Barracuda
5h37'06
2
Igor Anton Hernandez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 8
3
Rigoberto Uran
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
4
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank Sungard
s.t.
5
Robert Gesink
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
6
Jürgen Van Den Broeck
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
7
Thomas Lövkvist
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
8
Linus Gerdemann
AT&T
s.t.
9
Roman Kreuziger
ProTeam Astana
s.t.
10
Ben Hermans
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
s.t.
Of course there is not yet any big difference in GC. The next stages in the Pyrenees will change it for sure!
Gerdemann looking very good so far. I guess we can blame at least 39 seconds on Wiggins though. U
ran still leading... hm. But I don't think he will stay in it. Not sure if Fränk Schleck can be described as a legend either.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Because of the strong wind the sprinter who staid in the wheels the longest won. Second win for Oss.
1
Daniel Oss
Isd - KazMunayGas
3h52'32
2
Heinrich Haussler
Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
3
Marcel Kittel
Lotto - Belisol
s.t.
4
Andrea Guardini
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
s.t.
5
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
11
Linus Gerdemann
AT&T
s.t.
Stage 12 – Mountain
Favorite: Contador
Finally the Mountain. And what a stage, 3 climbs with Tourmalet and Luz Ardiden! Time for Gerdemann to decide what he want to chase.
Let’s try for KoM. In the 1st climb, he is 2nd to Gadret.
But the real points are in the Tourmalet and Gerdemann is too weak to compete. He can still barely stay with the front group.
There are 25 riders. Too many to target a Top 10. Let it go and loose time. That is the best strategy to then look for a stage At the front Ruygh still have strength to launch an attack in the final.
But not enough to hold on. Van Den Broeck wins the monster stage.
Rabobank is rewarded for his job all day long as Gesink is getting the lead for 13’’ on Hesjedal. Top 11 is within 2’ though.
With the Aubisque in the middle of the stage Gerdemann should try a break and pick the KoM points. But Mollema is leading the pack chasing behind any climber. At the top of the climb, Gerdemann is too exhausted to sprint. Too exhausted as well to stick with the best in the final.
Contador is anticipating the sprint for a nice win.
Tomorrow we will be the end of the Pyrenees. But before that we have that:
And as planned Gerdemann is on the attack from the start to pick KoM points and more if favorites let him. In the second climb there are only 2 left from the break: Gerdemann and Moinard.
But Gadret is closing the gap to form a strong trio.
While the battle for KoM points is ferrous at the front, Rabobank let it go. Yes! Gerdemann is now allowed in a break!
At the bottom of the Plateau de Beille climb, the counter seems too far away. No one in the trio seems to have much left but Gadret still attacks. Moinard answers while Gerdemann is taking his rhythm and stabilize the gap at 40’’. Then Moinard gets dropped and passed by Gerdemann. Our man is back 25’’ but there is only 3 kilometres left and the gap seems to stabilize again.
But the miracle happens as Gadret runs out of power while Gerdemann has just a little bit left. He joins him with 1.5km to go and pass him in the last 800 meters for a glorious win!
Cherry on the cake, the summit points makes a big difference for the KoM and Gerdemann is now leading it with 18 points on Gadret. GC men are 40 points behind but might well be a real threat too with the Alpes to come.
For the GC, Van Den Broeck, Gesink, Contador, Ruygh and Schleck finish in the same time. Hesjedal loose less than 1’ and remains a serious pretender. But with a Top 9 under 2’ a lot can still happen. Oh and Loutit didn’t make the cut. Only 2 AT&T riders left in Le Tour.
@ The Rider: yeah difficult start and only 2 riders left Victory is even sweeter
@ sutty: you are right, how could I have hesitated to renew him!
@ sammyt: Probably the win I am the most proud of since the beginning of the story
@ weleker: Great indeed!
@ Shonak: well Gesink is 80/80 in MO/HIL
And now the end of this year
Stage 15 – Flat
Favorite: Cavendish
A mass sprint in Montpellier for a change. Bennati is leading Guardini ideally with 1.5km to go, Cavendish behind well behind.
The sprint was particularly close though.
1
Andrea Guardini
RadioShack - Nissan - Trek
4h31'32
2
Daniel Oss
Isd - KazMunayGas
s.t.
3
Gerald Ciolek
Omega Pharma QuickStep
s.t.
4
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
5
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
13
Linus Gerdemann
AT&T
s.t.
Stage 16 – Hills
Favorite: Anton
Only 20 riders makes the last climb together, with all the favorites. The sprint was launched with 2 kilometres to go by Schleck, Van Den Broeck and Contador.
But it was too soon and Ryugh comes from behind ahead of the yellow jersey.
Time for the Alpes with the Galibier to start after 2 huge climbs. For sure a decisive stage for the GC. And for the KoM. And it all starts badly with Gadret having decided to attack.
Castroviejo once again does the job and when the 1st climb arrives, Gadret is dropped from the pack! But Gerdemann coud not pick point either. He manages to get 4 points behind the break for the 2nd climb and of course he could only surrender in the Galibier.
The most serious attack comes from Ruygh.
And Van Den Broeck counters.
Time for Gesink to give it all.
Not enough: Van Den Broeck takes the win and the yellow for 50’’. He also pick 40 KoM points and is back at the second place only 21 points behind Gerdemann. Gesink is now 3rd 12 points behind Van Den Broeck. Gadret is 4th but should be beaten if we stay vigilant.
With 3 climbs including 40 KoM points at the arrival of the mythical Alpes d’Huez, Gerdemann’s lead is in great danger if one of the favorite wins the stage. No choice. Castroviejo controls the beginning and before the first climb Gerdemann attacks. He can get some points before Gadret joins the break. In the second climb Sicard, Kiserlovski, Gadret and Gerdemann are together.
At the bottom of the 13 km of the Alpes, they got more than 3’ lead. Gadret attacks and Gerdemann cannot follow. But before he can realize it
He is the strongest in Mountain and needs more than 50’’ before the final ITT. Gesink finishes 2nd of the stage again and is 1’15 behind and still has some hope.
The great news of the day is Gerdemann is going to win the KoM!
1
Jürgen Van Den Broeck
Euskaltel - Euskadi
3h25'39
2
Robert Gesink
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 25
3
John Gadret
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
4
Robert Kiserlovski
ProTeam Astana
s.t.
5
Linus Gerdemann
AT&T
s.t.
6
Beñat Intxausti Elorriaga
Movistar Team
s.t.
7
Alberto Contador
Saxo Bank Sungard
+ 52
8
Fränk Schleck
Isd - KazMunayGas
s.t.
9
Rob Ruygh
Vacansoleil - Dcm Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
10
Romain Sicard
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
Stage 20 – ITT – 40 km
Favorite: Martin
Gerdemann crosses the line with the best time but no hope. Gesink has the best time at the 2nd intermediate and if Van Den Broeck is 3rd he has lost more than 30’’.
Best time is beaten by Brankovic, Kreuziger and finally Gesink. But Van Den Broeck is using the yellow jersey to resist to keep the lead for only 28’’.
) I still hope he can get a chance.
