Your story really wants me to have some other cyclocross guys on the road. I keep thinking Kevin Pauwels would be awesome if he focused on the road, but since he just resigned for 3 years to his cyclocross team, he'l be too old then
Hehe, thanks Ollfardh. I'd love to see some more CX guys on successfully on the road too, but I suppose the balance is hard to make. Also, thankfully there's quite some money in CX and at least that's a good thing I guess.
Thanks admir. I like it too
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
Coppa Agostoni, Copa Bernocchi & Tre Valli Varinese
Three days, three races, three times hopefully something good to report? I decide to combine all three of them.
The first one was the Coppa Agostoni on Thursday, 21st August. The race leads from Lissone over a few very steep climbs. In the last 20 kilometers though, the finale to Lissone is flat.
After my wins at Eneco Tour, I tried to talk a bit with Contador. He had actually no idea who I was. Nevermind. That just showed me that it was still a long way to the top. My teammate Cameron Wurf meanwhile was busy making a name for himself as well, since he was in the break. However, the steep climbs hurt Wurf quite a lot, since there are some more than decent climbers in the break. Rafael Valls ends up winning the race out of the break of the day.
I myself managed to keep up with the best riders over the several steep climbs towards Lissone. Contador was oftentimes next to me. After the last climb, the peloton only consisted of 45 riders and I worked for Gatto to reel in the peloton. It was sort of a thank you for the massive service he did a few days prior at Eneco Tour. All my efforts weren’t enough though, although Omega Pharma, Belkin and AG2R were chasing too. Well, better luck next time? I came in 20th, Gatto merely 14th. Disappointing.
Coppa Agostoni, Results
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Rafael Valls
Lampre - Merida
4h44'22
2
Kevin Seeldraeyers
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
3
Franco Pellizotti
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
4
Giampaolo Caruso
Team Katusha
s.t.
5
Rubén Fernández
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
6
Fabio Aru
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
7
Fabio Duarte
Colombia
s.t.
8
Angelo Pagani
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
9
Bruno Pires
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
10
Matteo Trentin
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 39
Spoiler
11
Michel Kreder
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
12
Francesco Gavazzi
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
13
Gianni Meersman
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
14
Oscar Gatto
Cannondale
s.t.
15
Nick Van der Lijke
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
16
Alberto Contador
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
17
Joaquím Rodríguez
Team Katusha
s.t.
18
Manuele Mori
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
19
Jens Voigt
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
20
Raphael Visconti
Cannondale
s.t.
21
Stijn Devolder
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
22
Pieter Serry
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
23
Robert Gesink
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
24
Salvatore Puccio
Team Sky
s.t.
25
Alexey Lutsenko
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
26
Fabio Felline
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
27
Martin Elmiger
IAM Cycling
s.t.
28
Sérgio Paulinho
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
29
Chris Anker Sørensen
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
30
Peter Kennaugh
Team Sky
s.t.
31
Christophe Riblon
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
32
Vasil Kiryienka
Team Sky
s.t.
33
Wout Poels
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
34
Haimar Zubeldia
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
35
Gianluca Brambilla
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
36
Serge Pauwels
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
37
Cameron Wurf
Cannondale
s.t.
38
Mirko Selvaggi
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
+ 2'46
39
Marco Haller
Team Katusha
s.t.
40
Francesco Lasca
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
41
Antonino Parrinello
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
42
Luke Rowe
Team Sky
s.t.
43
Robert Wagner
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
44
Raymond Kreder
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
45
Francesco Chicchi
YellowFluo
s.t.
46
Jacopo Guarnieri
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
47
Dylan van Baarle
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
48
Sonny Colbrelli
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
49
Nico Sijmens
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
50
Omar Bertazzo
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
51
Maksim Razumov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
52
Ruslan Tleubayev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
53
Dario Cataldo
Team Sky
s.t.
54
Ángel Vicioso
Team Katusha
s.t.
55
Alexis Gougeard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
56
Vitaliy Popkov
ISD Continental Team
s.t.
57
Rory Sutherland
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
58
Hayden Roulston
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
59
David Tanner
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
60
Daniele Ratto
Cannondale
s.t.
61
Danny Pate
Team Sky
s.t.
62
Lachlan Morton
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
63
Kanstantsin Siutsou
Team Sky
s.t.
64
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
65
Javier Francisco Aramendia
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
66
Christian Knees
Team Sky
s.t.
67
Grégory Rast
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
68
Eduard Vorganov
Team Katusha
s.t.
69
Simone Ponzi
YellowFluo
s.t.
70
Boy Van Poppel
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
71
Andrea Fedi
YellowFluo
s.t.
72
Anton Vorobyev
Team Katusha
s.t.
73
Davide Viganò
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
74
Enrico Barbin
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
75
Alberto Losada
Team Katusha
s.t.
76
Manuele Boaro
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
77
Rinaldo Nocentini
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
78
Juan Manuel Gárate
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
79
Matteo Rabottini
YellowFluo
s.t.
80
Steven Kruijswijk
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
81
Nathan Brown
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
82
Giorgio Cecchinel
YellowFluo
s.t.
83
Marcos García
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
84
Mirko Tedeschi
YellowFluo
s.t.
85
Roberto De Patre
YellowFluo
s.t.
86
Stef Clement
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
87
Jan Polanc
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
88
Nelson Oliveira
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
89
Phillip Gaimon
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
90
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
91
David Per
Adria Mobil
s.t.
92
Matteo Montaguti
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
93
Romain Bardet
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
94
Amets Txurruka
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
95
Ángel Madrazo
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
96
Evgeni Petrov
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
97
Patrick Gretsch
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
98
Diego Rosa
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
99
Johann Tschopp
IAM Cycling
s.t.
100
Juan Pablo Valencia
Colombia
s.t.
101
Francesco Bongiorno
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
102
Paolo Tiralongo
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
103
Alessandro Vanotti
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
104
Stefan Denifl
IAM Cycling
s.t.
105
Jarlinson Pantano
Colombia
s.t.
106
Andrey Zeits
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
107
Patrick Facchini
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
108
Marcel Aregger
IAM Cycling
s.t.
109
Guillaume Bonnafond
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
110
Jesús Hernández
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
111
Sergey Nikolaev
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
112
Calvin Watson
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
113
Kevin De Weert
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
114
Alex Howes
Garmin Sharp
+ 5'39
115
Jérôme Baugnies
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
116
Koldo Fernández
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
117
Marcel Wyss
IAM Cycling
s.t.
118
James Vanlandschoot
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
119
Pavel Kochetkov
Team Katusha
s.t.
120
Axel Domont
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
121
Jerôme Gilbert
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
+ 7'09
122
Alessandro Mazzi
Utensilnord
s.t.
123
Carlos Verona
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
124
Mikhail Akimov
Itera - Katusha
+ 21'52
125
Valerio Conti
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
126
Mattia Pozzo
YellowFluo
s.t.
127
Edoardo Zardini
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
128
Bruno Maltar
Adria Mobil
s.t.
129
Emanuele Sella
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
130
Alfredo Balloni
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
131
Juan Esteban Arango
Colombia
s.t.
132
Antonio Viola
Vini Fantini Nippo
s.t.
133
Matteo Di Serafino
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
134
Pierpaolo De Negri
Vini Fantini Nippo
s.t.
135
Filippo Baggio
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
136
Yuriy Agarkov
ISD Continental Team
s.t.
137
Paolo Colonna
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
138
Loris Paoli
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
139
Artem Topchanyuk
Amore & Vita - Selle SMP
s.t.
140
Matteo Gozzi
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
141
Nicola Boem
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
142
Antonio Di Battista
Amore & Vita - Selle SMP
s.t.
143
Kristjan Fajt
Adria Mobil
s.t.
144
Logan Loader
Amore & Vita - Selle SMP
s.t.
145
Alessandro Bisolti
Vini Fantini Nippo
s.t.
146
Gang Xu
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
147
Heiner Parra
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
148
Konstantin Klimiankou
Amore & Vita - Selle SMP
s.t.
149
Robinson Chalapud
Colombia
s.t.
150
Kim Magnusson
Vini Fantini Nippo
s.t.
151
Francis De Greef
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
152
Gianfranco Visconti
Utensilnord
s.t.
153
Anatoliy Pakhtusov
ISD Continental Team
s.t.
154
Riccardo Stacchiotti
Vini Fantini Nippo
s.t.
155
Matteo Bono
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
156
Luca Taschin
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
157
Radoslav Rogina
Adria Mobil
s.t.
158
Stefano Locatelli
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
159
Carlos José Ochoa
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
160
Botond Hollo
Utensilnord
s.t.
161
Yuma Koishi
Vini Fantini Nippo
s.t.
162
Aydar Zakarin
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
163
Lorenzo Trabucco
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
164
Dimitry Ignatiev
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
165
Kirill Yatsevich
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
166
Patrick Schelling
IAM Cycling
s.t.
167
Michael Woods
Amore & Vita - Selle SMP
s.t.
168
Domen Novak
Adria Mobil
s.t.
169
Antonia Merolese
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
170
Tomasz Nose
Adria Mobil
s.t.
171
Maksym Vasilyev
ISD Continental Team
s.t.
172
Manabu Ishibashi
Vini Fantini Nippo
s.t.
173
Roman Katyrin
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
174
Bruno Carvalho Sá
ISD Continental Team
s.t.
175
Alexander Foliforov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
176
Edward Diaz
Colombia
s.t.
177
Gregely Varro
Utensilnord
s.t.
178
Alexander Cataford
Amore & Vita - Selle SMP
s.t.
179
Genki Yamamoto
Vini Fantini Nippo
s.t.
180
Darwin Pantoja
Colombia
s.t.
181
Anatoliy Sosnitskiy
Amore & Vita - Selle SMP
s.t.
182
Gennaro Maddaluno
Utensilnord
s.t.
183
Tom Danielson
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
184
Fernando Bianconi
Utensilnord
s.t.
185
Abel Kenyeres
Utensilnord
s.t.
186
Raffaele Polli
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
187
Cristián Cubillas
Colombia
s.t.
188
Paolo Mucci
Utensilnord
s.t.
189
Rustam Kulaga
ISD Continental Team
s.t.
190
Giuseppe Pierini
Amore & Vita - Selle SMP
s.t.
191
Michel Koch
Cannondale
s.t.
192
Alberto Bettiol
Cannondale
s.t.
193
Davide Villella
Cannondale
s.t.
194
Davide Formolo
Cannondale
s.t.
On the next day, we had the Coppa Bernocchi. From Legnano to Legnano, there was multiple times the same, small hill featured. That climb wasn’t too demanding though and the peloton didn’t have much problems getting over it. With about 90 kilometers left, Ratto, Wurf and I started to pace over the hill and each time we climbed it, we went a bit faster. We tried to decimate the peloton for a possible sprint win of Gatto. It didn’t work out though. Gatto finishsed 5, Gavazzi from Astana won the race.
Coppa Bernocchi, Results
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Francesco Gavazzi
Astana Pro Team
4h30'42
2
Danny Van Poppel
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
3
Michal Golas
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
4
Gianni Meersman
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Oscar Gatto
Cannondale
s.t.
Spoiler
6
Vitaliy Popkov
ISD Continental Team
s.t.
7
David Millar
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
8
Ángel Vicioso
Team Katusha
s.t.
9
Marco Canola
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
10
Filippo Fortin
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
11
Koldo Fernández
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
12
Robert Gesink
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
13
Daniele Ratto
Cannondale
s.t.
14
Francesco Lasca
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
15
Matej Mugerli
Adria Mobil
s.t.
16
Fumiyuki Beppu
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
17
Martin Elmiger
IAM Cycling
s.t.
18
Oleksandr Sheydyk
ISD Continental Team
s.t.
19
Marco Coledan
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
20
David Tanner
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
21
Joaquím Rodríguez
Team Katusha
s.t.
22
Davide Villella
Cannondale
s.t.
23
Esteban Chaves
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
24
Grégory Rast
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
25
Gianluca Brambilla
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
26
Nathan Earle
Team Sky
s.t.
27
Francesco Chicchi
YellowFluo
s.t.
28
Julian Kern
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
29
Wout Poels
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
30
Cameron Meyer
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
31
Vasil Kiryienka
Team Sky
s.t.
32
Christian Knees
Team Sky
s.t.
33
Christophe Riblon
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
34
Alexander Rybakov
Team Katusha
s.t.
35
Wilco Kelderman
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
36
David López
Team Sky
s.t.
37
Matteo Tosatto
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
38
Ivan Santaromita
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
39
Dario Cataldo
Team Sky
s.t.
40
Marcel Aregger
IAM Cycling
s.t.
41
Stef Clement
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
42
Sergey Chernetskiy
Team Katusha
s.t.
43
Pavel Brutt
Team Katusha
s.t.
44
Johann Tschopp
IAM Cycling
s.t.
45
Christian Meier
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
46
Peter Kennaugh
Team Sky
s.t.
47
Cameron Wurf
Cannondale
s.t.
48
Chris Anker Sørensen
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
49
Javier Francisco Aramendia
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
50
Vladimir Gusev
Team Katusha
s.t.
51
Sérgio Paulinho
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
52
Evgeni Petrov
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
53
Marc Goos
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
54
Damien Howson
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
55
Raphael Visconti
Cannondale
s.t.
56
Matteo Montaguti
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
57
Dylan van Baarle
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
58
Rory Sutherland
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
59
Kevin De Weert
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
60
Martin Velits
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
61
Xabier Zandio
Team Sky
s.t.
62
Serge Pauwels
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
63
Maksim Razumov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
64
Emanuele Sella
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
65
Matthew Busche
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
66
Yury Trofimov
Team Katusha
s.t.
67
Matteo Bono
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
68
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
69
Rafael Valls
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
70
Bob Jungels
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
71
Luca Wackermann
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
72
Ivan Rovny
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
73
Rinaldo Nocentini
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
74
Nathan Brown
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
75
Stefan Denifl
IAM Cycling
s.t.
76
Philip Deignan
Team Sky
s.t.
77
Andrea Fedi
YellowFluo
s.t.
78
Fabio Felline
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
79
Lachlan Morton
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
80
Mikhail Akimov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
81
André Cardoso
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
82
Mauro Finetto
YellowFluo
s.t.
83
Jack Bauer
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
84
Francesco Bongiorno
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
85
Alessandro Mazzi
Utensilnord
s.t.
86
Phillip Gaimon
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
87
Jack Bobridge
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
88
Jonathan Monsalve
YellowFluo
s.t.
89
Manuele Boaro
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
90
Giorgio Cecchinel
YellowFluo
s.t.
91
Eduard Vorganov
Team Katusha
s.t.
92
Alfredo Balloni
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
93
Paolo Tiralongo
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
94
Miguel Rubiano
Colombia
s.t.
95
Jarlinson Pantano
Colombia
s.t.
96
Markel Irizar
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
97
Laurens Ten Dam
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
98
Duber Quintero
Colombia
s.t.
99
Fredrik Kessiakoff
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
100
Valerio Agnoli
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
101
Kristijan Durasek
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
102
Edoardo Zardini
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
103
Franco Pellizotti
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
104
Jackson Rodríguez
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
105
Julien Bérard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
106
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
107
Nelson Oliveira
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
108
Andrea Manfredi
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
109
Gianfranco Zilioli
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
110
Radoslav Rogina
Adria Mobil
s.t.
111
Marcel Wyss
IAM Cycling
s.t.
112
Lluis Guillermo Mas
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
+ 3'50
113
Evan Huffman
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
114
Nicola Boem
Bardiani CSF
+ 4'46
115
Carlos Verona
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
116
Mirko Tedeschi
YellowFluo
s.t.
117
Sam Bewley
Orica GreenEdge
+ 6'08
118
Simon Clarke
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
119
Adam Yates
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
120
Alessandro Vanotti
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
121
Stijn Devolder
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
122
Andriy Grivko
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
123
Gianni Bellini
YellowFluo
s.t.
124
Carlos José Ochoa
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
125
Nicola Testi
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
126
Fabio Aru
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
127
Patrick Facchini
Androni Giocattoli
+ 21'48
128
Guillaume Bonnafond
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
129
Andrea Dal Col
YellowFluo
s.t.
130
Jan Polanc
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
131
Paolo Colonna
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
132
Antonio Viola
Vini Fantini Nippo
s.t.
133
Konstantin Klimiankou
Amore & Vita - Selle SMP
s.t.
134
Maxim Pokidov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
135
Matteo Di Serafino
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
136
Edwin Ávila
Colombia
s.t.
137
Antonio Di Battista
Amore & Vita - Selle SMP
s.t.
138
Matteo Belli
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
139
Valerio Conti
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
140
Pierpaolo De Negri
Vini Fantini Nippo
s.t.
141
Ramón Domene
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
142
Loris Paoli
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
143
Marcos García
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
144
Juan Esteban Arango
Colombia
s.t.
145
Alessandro Bisolti
Vini Fantini Nippo
s.t.
146
Axel Domont
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
147
Pello Bilbao
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
148
Robinson Chalapud
Colombia
s.t.
149
Riccardo Stacchiotti
Vini Fantini Nippo
s.t.
150
Kim Magnusson
Vini Fantini Nippo
s.t.
151
Primož Roglič
Adria Mobil
s.t.
152
David Per
Adria Mobil
s.t.
153
Dmitry Kosyakov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
154
Gianfranco Visconti
Utensilnord
s.t.
155
Logan Loader
Amore & Vita - Selle SMP
s.t.
156
Tomasz Nose
Adria Mobil
s.t.
157
Nicola Dal Santo
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
158
Bruno Pires
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
159
Antonia Merolese
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
160
Patrick Schelling
IAM Cycling
s.t.
161
Alexis Vuillermoz
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
162
Anatoliy Pakhtusov
ISD Continental Team
s.t.
163
Artem Topchanyuk
Amore & Vita - Selle SMP
s.t.
164
Kirill Yatsevich
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
165
Manabu Ishibashi
Vini Fantini Nippo
s.t.
166
Zoltan Lengyel
Utensilnord
s.t.
167
Domen Novak
Adria Mobil
s.t.
168
Daniele Scampamorte
Utensilnord
s.t.
169
Luca Taschin
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
170
David Arroyo
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
171
Alexander Cataford
Amore & Vita - Selle SMP
s.t.
172
Alexander Foliforov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
173
Yuma Koishi
Vini Fantini Nippo
s.t.
174
Dimitry Ignatiev
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
175
Genki Yamamoto
Vini Fantini Nippo
s.t.
176
Pavel Ptashkin
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
177
Iván Velasco
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
178
Bruno Carvalho Sá
ISD Continental Team
s.t.
179
Raffaele Polli
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
180
Michael Woods
Amore & Vita - Selle SMP
s.t.
181
Abel Kenyeres
Utensilnord
s.t.
182
Denys Karnulin
ISD Continental Team
s.t.
183
Giacomo Forconi
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
184
Bernard Bendeguz
Utensilnord
s.t.
185
Anatoliy Sosnitskiy
Amore & Vita - Selle SMP
s.t.
186
Gennaro Maddaluno
Utensilnord
s.t.
187
Fernando Bianconi
Utensilnord
s.t.
188
Rustam Kulaga
ISD Continental Team
s.t.
189
Luis Largo
Colombia
s.t.
190
Alberto Bettiol
Cannondale
s.t.
191
Giuseppe Pierini
Amore & Vita - Selle SMP
s.t.
192
Cristián Cubillas
Colombia
s.t.
193
Cristiano Salerno
Cannondale
s.t.
194
Moreno Moser
Cannondale
s.t.
Last day of my first Italian home-turf challenges: Tre Valli Varinese. Quite a demanding route since it’s up and down right from the start of the 196 km route. Typical Lombardia if you ask me (and thus I love it). From Varese to the Enclave of Campione d’Italia in Switzerland, the race was toughened by Omega Pharma, Belkin and Tinkoff who worked hard for their captains. Unlike the others day, Cannondale kept themselves incognito in the bunch. However, on the last 10 kilometers, we were coming upfront and some guys like Bodnar and Villela were pacing for us. The original plan for me was to launch Moser, however Purito got the jump on us when the climb up to Campione d’Italia started. It’s one steep, short hell of a climb, and I just pushed through. I lost ground quickly but to my surprise, I gained ground too on other riders… And yes, in the end Campione d’Italia may saw a Spanish rider win, but an Italian youngster once more showed his name and face to the public. Purito's acceleration was admirable, and looking back I have to admit that the little time gained with his help, put me on the podium.
I crossed the line as 2nd and confirmed my good overall form recently. And one thing is for sure: They may be surrounded here from swiss people, but the tivosi here are as fantastic and lovely as in Italy.
Tre Valli Varinese, Results
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Joaquím Rodríguez
Team Katusha
5h00'32
2
Raphael Visconti
Cannondale
+ 30
3
Ivan Santaromita
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
4
Alberto Contador
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
5
Gianni Meersman
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
6
Ion Izagirre
Movistar Team
s.t.
7
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
8
Robert Gesink
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
9
Chris Anker Sørensen
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
10
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Yury Trofimov
Team Katusha
s.t.
12
Bob Jungels
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
13
Jens Voigt
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
14
Jan Polanc
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
15
Ivan Rovny
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
16
Moreno Hofland
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
17
Esteban Chaves
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
18
Pavel Brutt
Team Katusha
s.t.
19
Jan Barta
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
20
Giovanni Visconti
Movistar Team
s.t.
21
Wout Poels
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
22
Laurens Ten Dam
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
23
Stefano Locatelli
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
24
Luca Wackermann
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
25
Davide Appollonio
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
26
Francesco Gavazzi
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
27
Pierrick Fédrigo
FDJ.fr
s.t.
28
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
29
Davide Malacarne
Team Europcar
s.t.
30
Cameron Wurf
Cannondale
s.t.
31
Sergey Chernetskiy
Team Katusha
s.t.
32
Giampaolo Caruso
Team Katusha
s.t.
33
Jay McCarthy
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
34
Hubert Dupont
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
35
Kristian Sbaragli
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
36
Moreno Moser
Cannondale
s.t.
37
Yohan Offredo
FDJ.fr
s.t.
38
Manuele Mori
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
39
Ángel Vicioso
Team Katusha
s.t.
40
Andrea Palini
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
41
Lieuwe Westra
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
42
Marco Canola
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
43
Matteo Montaguti
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
44
Davide Villella
Cannondale
s.t.
45
Fabio Duarte
Colombia
s.t.
46
Michel Koch
Cannondale
s.t.
47
Maciej Bodnar
Cannondale
s.t.
48
Vladimir Gusev
Team Katusha
s.t.
49
Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
50
Jonathan Hivert
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
51
Alexander Rybakov
Team Katusha
s.t.
52
Andriy Grivko
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
53
Michael Hepburn
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
54
Anthony Roux
FDJ.fr
s.t.
55
Mikel Landa
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
56
Christopher Juul-Jensen
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
57
Valerio Agnoli
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
58
Haimar Zubeldia
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
59
Steven Kruijswijk
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
60
Patrick Facchini
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
61
Pieter Serry
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
62
Matthew Busche
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
63
Serge Pauwels
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
64
Rubén Plaza
Movistar Team
s.t.
65
Robert Wagner
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
66
Matteo Trentin
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
67
Branislau Samoilau
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
68
Michal Golas
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
69
Perrig Quemeneur
Team Europcar
s.t.
70
Oliver Zaugg
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
71
Christian Meier
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
72
Stijn Devolder
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
73
Gianluca Brambilla
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
74
Sergey Lagutin
RusVelo
s.t.
75
Bruno Pires
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
76
Johann Tschopp
IAM Cycling
s.t.
77
Jarlinson Pantano
Colombia
s.t.
78
Andrea Zordan
Androni Giocattoli
+ 2'14
79
Jesús Hernández
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
80
Marcos García
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
81
Enrico Barbin
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
82
Eros Capecchi
Movistar Team
s.t.
83
Rafael Valls
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
84
Paul Voss
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
85
Antonio Piedra
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
86
Andrea Fedi
YellowFluo
s.t.
87
Fabio Felline
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
88
Johnny Hoogerland
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
89
Marc Goos
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
90
Scott Thwaites
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
91
Emanuele Sella
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
92
Martin Elmiger
IAM Cycling
s.t.
93
Marcel Aregger
IAM Cycling
s.t.
94
Arnold Jeannesson
FDJ.fr
s.t.
95
Donato De Ieso
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
96
Fabricio Ferrari
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
97
Julian Kern
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
98
Alessandro Vanotti
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
99
Bert De Backer
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
100
Natnael Berhane
Team Europcar
s.t.
101
Antonino Parrinello
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
102
Andrea Manfredi
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
103
Martin Velits
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
104
Daan Olivier
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
105
Marek Rutkiewicz
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
106
Carlos Quintero
Colombia
s.t.
107
Cristiano Salerno
Cannondale
s.t.
108
Marcel Wyss
IAM Cycling
s.t.
109
Anthony Geslin
FDJ.fr
s.t.
110
Rafael Andriato
YellowFluo
s.t.
111
Tom Veelers
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
112
Tiago Machado
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
113
Sylwester Szmyd
Movistar Team
s.t.
114
Nikolay Mihaylov
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
115
Ariel Maximiliano Richeze
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
116
John-Lee Augustyn
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
117
Jeffry Romero
Colombia
s.t.
118
Tsgabu Grmay
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
119
Cyril Gautier
Team Europcar
s.t.
120
Robinson Chalapud
Colombia
s.t.
121
Frantisek Padour
Team NetApp - Endura
+ 3'19
122
Nicola Dal Santo
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
123
Davide Formolo
Cannondale
s.t.
124
Nicola Boem
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
125
Stefano Pirazzi
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
126
Paolo Colonna
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
127
Merhawi Kudus
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
128
Damien Howson
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
129
Daniel Teklehaimanot
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
130
Jonathan Monsalve
YellowFluo
s.t.
131
Cesare Benedetti
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
132
Simon Clarke
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
133
Filippo Baggio
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
134
Daniele Colli
YellowFluo
s.t.
135
Svein Tuft
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
136
Linus Gerdemann
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
137
Calvin Watson
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
138
Romain Sicard
Team Europcar
s.t.
139
Julien Bérard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
140
Jussi Veikkanen
FDJ.fr
s.t.
141
Andrey Solomennikov
RusVelo
s.t.
142
Omar Bertazzo
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
143
Gianfranco Zilioli
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
144
Maciej Paterski
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
145
Alexis Vuillermoz
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
146
Sergei Pomoshnikov
RusVelo
s.t.
147
Rubén Fernández
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
148
Jonathon McEvoy
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
149
Patrick Schelling
IAM Cycling
s.t.
150
Sergey Firsanov
RusVelo
s.t.
151
Patrick Gretsch
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
152
Jasha Sütterlin
Movistar Team
s.t.
153
Chad Haga
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
154
Thomas Damuseau
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
155
Tobias Ludvigsson
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
156
Davide Viganò
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
157
Arman Kamyshev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
158
Edwin Ávila
Colombia
s.t.
159
Giorgio Cecchinel
YellowFluo
s.t.
160
Tomasz Kiendyś
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
161
Iván Velasco
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
162
Emilien Viennet
FDJ.fr
s.t.
163
Carlos José Ochoa
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
164
Arnaud Courteille
FDJ.fr
s.t.
165
Mikaël Chérel
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
166
Albert Timmer
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
167
Alfonso Fiorenza
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
168
Yohann Gène
Team Europcar
s.t.
169
Matteo Bono
Lampre - Merida
+ 5'55
170
Javier Francisco Aramendia
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
171
Markel Irizar
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
172
Alexander Serov
RusVelo
s.t.
173
Freqalsi Debesay
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
174
Gennadiy Tatarinov
RusVelo
s.t.
175
Łukasz Owsian
CCC Polsat Polkowice
+ 7'02
176
Luca Taschin
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
177
Davide Gabburo
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
178
Morgan Lamoisson
Team Europcar
s.t.
179
Jani Tewelde
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
180
Antonia Merolese
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
181
Daniil Fominykh
Astana Pro Team
+ 7'50
182
Romain Guillemois
Team Europcar
s.t.
183
Sam Bewley
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
184
Andrea Dal Col
YellowFluo
s.t.
185
Lorenzo Trabucco
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
+ 8'40
186
Ralf Matzka
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
187
Francesco Chicchi
YellowFluo
s.t.
188
Mateusz Taciak
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
189
Fernando Grijalba
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
190
Raffaele Polli
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
191
Samuele Conti
YellowFluo
+ 10'11
192
Grzegorz Stepniak
CCC Polsat Polkowice
+ 12'38
193
Ivan Balykin
RusVelo
+ 13'32
194
Sergei Ryzhkov
RusVelo
+ 16'46
195
Cristián Cubillas
Colombia
+ 16'55
196
Santiago Roberto del Rosario
Colombia
+ 19'43
More Impressions From The 3 Races
Spoiler
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
You may remember that I owned (or basically stole) my first stage win at Eneco Tour from Fabio Sabatini. Some of my previous races have been under the flag of returning the favour. Today it was my chance to pay Fabio back a little bit at Giro del Veneto. The race from Teolo to Imola has a finish that suits him very much but there were also some hills one had to take on.
I spent long time protecting Fabio first off, and the race presented itself calm. There was a break and it got caught rather fast. Things got intense when Dyachenko and Knees attacked with about 20 kilometers left and they were really getting away there. I threw myself to the front and paced like hell down the road. As usual in one-day races it’s hard to get upfront, but it’s more challenging to stay there. It went a little ways downhill, not much, but a little bit. That played into my cards though. And I kept striking those pedals and I was so damn fast, you wouldn’t believe the numbers. Fabio knew he had to keep just on my wheel there.
When we went into the finale kilometer I still had lots to give and I gave it all for Fabio there. I think I did a great job pacing him to the finish line, but Fabio’s sprint was truly flawless. No one stood a chance. We could celebrate a true team victory, like last time in Belgium there. I first thought that my conscience would be clear by now but truth was, I had the feeling that I could pace and lead him to another hundred victories and still, it would never be enough to thank him for the favor at stage 2 of Eneco Tour.
GP Ouest Plouay France France speaks sagan-ish again
Peter Sagan won the GP Ouest Plouay France for the team on a cloudy day, where the riders were lucky that it didn’t start to rain. Cannondale paced early on and held a firm grip over the peloton. Kittel came in 2nd.
I myself spent a day in the wind. And after that, I could do even more work. Because Sabatini’s legs felt a bit heavy, I was ordered to do the lead-out after my performance on the previous day in Imola. I am certainly not the fastest, I lack experience for positioning and tactics, and I’m not even decently tall and big enough to protect Sagan effectively from the wind at such high-speeds, but I was chosen nonetheless as the man for the job. I was told I did a fantastic job on the last 20 kilometers to catch the breakaway riders. I rushed up the hill ahead of Ouest, and Sagan kept my wheel. He finished the sprint in a perfect manner. I came in 23rd.
So, yes. I lack many attributes to be a rider against the wind, for relay-work and for lead-out duties, but one thing is for sure: I can take a beating. And that just may be my winning feature by now for such races.
GP Ouest Plouay, Results
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Peter Sagan
Cannondale
5h37'53
2
Marcel Kittel
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
3
Nacer Bouhanni
FDJ.fr
s.t.
4
Tyler Farrar
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
5
Heinrich Haussler
IAM Cycling
s.t.
6
Ramunas Navardauskas
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
7
Francesco Gavazzi
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
8
Tony Gallopin
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
9
Daniel Martin
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
10
Fabian Cancellara
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Luis León Sánchez
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
12
Philippe Gilbert
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
13
Matti Breschel
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
14
Arthur Vichot
FDJ.fr
s.t.
15
Daryl Impey
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
16
Marcel Sieberg
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
17
Moreno Hofland
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
18
Kenny Dehaes
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
19
Theo Bos
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
20
Damien Gaudin
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
21
Daniel Oss
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
22
Danny Van Poppel
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
23
Raphael Visconti
Cannondale
s.t.
24
Jasper Stuyven
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
25
Jérémy Roy
FDJ.fr
s.t.
26
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
27
Andrea Palini
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
28
Jimmy Engoulvent
Team Europcar
s.t.
29
Ian Stannard
Team Sky
s.t.
30
Maxim Iglinskiy
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
31
Joaquím Rodríguez
Team Katusha
s.t.
32
Christophe Riblon
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
33
Sébastien Turgot
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
34
Jérôme Pineau
IAM Cycling
s.t.
35
Francesco Bongiorno
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
36
Sebastian Lander
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
37
Francis Mourey
FDJ.fr
s.t.
38
Sacha Modolo
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
39
Eugenio Alafaci
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
40
Esteban Chaves
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
41
Alexey Tsatevitch
Team Katusha
s.t.
42
Silvan Dillier
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
43
Alex Dowsett
Movistar Team
s.t.
44
Matthias Frank
IAM Cycling
s.t.
45
Adrien Petit
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
46
Brent Bookwalter
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
47
Blel Kadri
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
48
Francesco Lasca
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
49
Christophe Kern
Team Europcar
s.t.
50
Gatis Smukulis
Team Katusha
s.t.
51
Jay McCarthy
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
52
Bradley Wiggins
Team Sky
s.t.
53
Vincent Jérôme
Team Europcar
s.t.
54
Maxime Daniel
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
55
Sean De Bie
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
56
Christopher Juul-Jensen
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
57
Stephen Cummings
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
58
Ryder Hesjedal
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
59
Cristiano Salerno
Cannondale
s.t.
60
Luke Rowe
Team Sky
+ 1'51
61
Gabriel Rasch
Team Sky
s.t.
62
Albert Timmer
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
63
Samuel Dumoulin
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 2'35
64
Cameron Meyer
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
65
Boy Van Poppel
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
66
Romain Zingle
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
67
Pieter Serry
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
68
Barry Markus
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
69
Vicente Reynès
IAM Cycling
s.t.
70
Aleksejs Saramotins
IAM Cycling
s.t.
71
Florian Senechal
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
72
Marco Bandiera
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
73
Vladimir Isaychev
Team Katusha
s.t.
74
Marco Canola
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
75
Fumiyuki Beppu
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
76
Matteo Tosatto
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
77
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
78
Paolo Longo Borghini
Cannondale
s.t.
79
Juraj Sagan
Cannondale
s.t.
80
Leigh Howard
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
81
Davide Formolo
Cannondale
s.t.
82
Guillaume Boivin
Cannondale
s.t.
83
Kevyn Ista
IAM Cycling
s.t.
84
Gorka Izagirre
Movistar Team
s.t.
85
Nicola Ruffoni
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
86
Laurent Pichon
FDJ.fr
s.t.
87
Sébastien Minard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
88
Daniel Navarro
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
89
Pavel Brutt
Team Katusha
s.t.
90
Aleksandr Kuschynski
Team Katusha
s.t.
91
Fabio Sabatini
Cannondale
s.t.
92
Lars Petter Nordhaug
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
93
Andrea Zordan
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
94
Sonny Colbrelli
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
95
Tobias Ludvigsson
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
96
Steele Von Hoff
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
97
Alessandro Petacchi
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
98
Nathan Earle
Team Sky
s.t.
99
Florian Guillou
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
100
Christophe Laborie
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
101
Marco Coledan
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
102
Emanuele Sella
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
103
Pierre Rolland
Team Europcar
s.t.
104
Enrico Barbin
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
105
William Bonnet
FDJ.fr
s.t.
106
Michal Golas
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
107
Giovanni Bernaudeau
Team Europcar
s.t.
108
Jussi Veikkanen
FDJ.fr
s.t.
109
Antonino Parrinello
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
110
Oliver Zaugg
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
111
Ian Boswell
Team Sky
s.t.
112
Janez Brajkovič
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
113
Matthew Busche
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
114
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
Team Sky
s.t.
115
Rafal Majka
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
116
Dmitriy Gruzdev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
117
Vegard Breen
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
118
Arnaud Courteille
FDJ.fr
s.t.
119
Dennis Vanendert
Lotto Belisol
+ 10'32
120
Bert De Backer
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
121
Julian Alaphilippe
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
122
Simon Yates
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
123
David Tanner
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
124
Gert Dockx
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
125
Pawel Poljanski
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
126
Marcos García
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
127
Thierry Hupond
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
128
Omar Bertazzo
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
129
Stéphane Poulhiès
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
130
Martin Velits
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
131
Rubén Fernández
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
132
Ruslan Tleubayev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
133
Jack Bobridge
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
134
Amaël Moinard
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
135
Fabricio Ferrari
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
136
Edoardo Zardini
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
137
Adam Yates
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
138
Winner Anacona
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
139
Johannes Fröhlinger
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
140
Cyril Gautier
Team Europcar
s.t.
141
Jan Polanc
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
142
Fernando Grijalba
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
143
Franco Pellizotti
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
144
Pello Bilbao
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
145
Arman Kamyshev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
146
Roy Curvers
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
147
Niccolo Bonifazio
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
148
Nicola Testi
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
149
Evan Huffman
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
150
Enrique Sanz
Movistar Team
s.t.
151
Alexis Gougeard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
152
Serge Pauwels
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
153
Jasha Sütterlin
Movistar Team
s.t.
154
Steven Kruijswijk
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
155
Sylwester Szmyd
Movistar Team
s.t.
156
Dylan van Baarle
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
157
Armindo Fonseca
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
158
Philip Deignan
Team Sky
s.t.
159
Alessandro Vanotti
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
160
Matteo Bono
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
161
Christian Meier
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
162
Kenny Van Hummel
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
163
Martin Kohler
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
164
Damien Howson
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
165
Nick Nuyens
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
166
Morgan Lamoisson
Team Europcar
s.t.
167
Nathan Haas
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
168
Eduardo Sepulveda
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
169
Calvin Watson
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
170
Filippo Fortin
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
171
Imanol Erviti
Movistar Team
s.t.
172
Sébastien Hinault
IAM Cycling
s.t.
173
Michael Kolar
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
174
Cheng Ji
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
175
Pavel Kochetkov
Team Katusha
s.t.
176
Julien Fouchard
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
177
Yoann Bagot
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
178
Pablo Lastras
Movistar Team
s.t.
179
Rudy Molard
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
180
Dayer Quintana
Movistar Team
s.t.
181
Vyacheslav Kuznetsov
Team Katusha
s.t.
182
Valerio Conti
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
183
Patrick Schelling
IAM Cycling
s.t.
184
Pierre-Luc Périchon
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
185
Romain Feillu
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
186
Dennis Van Winden
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
187
Maurizio Solari
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
188
Benjamin Le Montagner
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
189
Perrig Quemeneur
Team Europcar
s.t.
190
Rodolfo Cruz
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
+ 14'49
191
Mickaël Andrieu
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
+ 19'15
Late World Tour Races
A quick summary from all the WT races I didn’t attend around that time.
Vattenfall Cyclassics was won by local superstar Marcel Kittel. Looks like he is back in shape after a disappointing 2014 Tour de France campaign.
Philippe Gilbert won the first Canadian semi-classic, the GP Quebec. He outsprinted Kwiatkowski in a 1 vs. 1 duel. After Milano- San Remo, this is Gilbert’s second big win this year. He certainly seems to be back again after a true season to forget in the World Champion-Jersey last year.
Another great rider, Fabian Cancellara, claimed the win two days later in Montreal. He arrived with over a minute lead onto Peter Sagan and really dominated that race it seems. Alberto Contador surprisingly came in 3rd.
My next race will be the Tour of Britain and then I hope to get selected for the Italian Team for the World Championships in Ponteferrada. Cross your fingers for me there. First however, there’ll be a rather short summary of the Vuelta a Espana. Unfortunately the race wasn’t anything close to be as exciting and dramatic as in previous years.
(NOTE: I play Team USA at the WC. Choice was between Slovakia and USA there. And yes, this is one of the reasons why Sagan had to leave. )
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
There was one name we need to mention really: Alejandro Valverde.
This year’s Tour de France winner is in the form of his life. He was multiple times the Number One in the world but never did he impress so much in a season. His lead in the World Tour rankings is impressive (over 300 points), and numerous stage races, including 3 further World Tour events, are on his palmares this season.
Previously, people talked about Kreuziger, Scarponi, Pozzovivo, Henao, Van Garderen and Basso as his biggest rivals. And of course, last year’s winner Chris Horner was eager to defend his triumph and he looked in shape.
Cannodale’s line-up consisted of Ivan Basso and Moreno Moser as the flag-ships. Davide Villela, Cameron Wurf, Alessandro De Marchi and Cayetano Sarmiento switched between domestique services and breakaway chances. Michel Koch, Maciej B odnar and Kristjan Koren were mostly guys for the flat parts.
Some bad weather on most days for the riders
Early on, Valverde got his grip on the peloton. To be precisely, Movistar got the jersey on the first day and on the third, Valverde took it from his teammate Ventoso’s shoulders. From there on out until the last day in Madrid, Valverde did not lose it at any point. Basically three perfect weeks for the Spaniard. He collected a total of 5 stage wins, took the King of the Mountain jersey as well as the Points jersey. What’s would be more to tell there?
During the Vuelta it was announced that T.J. Van Garderen would join Cannondale next season! While some people laughed at first in those internet forums, they were quickly silenced when Van Garderen claimed 3rd place in the third week and hang onto it until the last stage. Surely a great sign for the team next year!
Most of the sprint stages were a tough fight between Cavendish and Greipel, both of them took numerous of them. Another surprise was Tom Dumoulin who took stage 12, 18 and 19 out of a breakaway. Truly a remarkable performance by him.
Basso among the very best, not making any difference
There was basically nothing to be seen though of Cannondale. The guys tried it here and there, but it was never good enough. Even Moser disappointed and couldn’t use one of the many hilly stages for a win. So while Cannondale could celebrate quite a few victories in one-day races lately, the team fairly disappointed here in Spain.
Oh, and one last thing: David Millar won the last stage in Madrid out of the breakaway and just narrowly finished ahead of the peloton.
Everybody struggles to hang onto Tour de France winner Valverde