Again a tough stage, 226 kilometers, with a mountain pass with 90 k left, and several short climbs at the end. Hopefully Visconti can stay with the favorites over the mountain pass.
Over the mountain pass the peloton were big, and Visconti had no problems in the long ascent.
A group of 7 riders were 8 minutes ahead over the top.
With 15 k left, Visconti could not keep up with the first group anymore due to the frantic pace, and he was in group two with Cancellara and a few other riders.
Vinokourov had time to celebrate, after an amazing last ascent, he was all by himself when he crossed the finish line.
Our guys had no chance today. And the GC quest is over.
Only 134 kilometers today, with shorter climbs. This should suit Visconti better than yesterdays monster stage.
Into the last hill with 7 k to go we caught the morning escapees, and Vinokourov attacked ,was that the last we saw of the Kazakh? Visconti was feeling okay, but Vinokourovs attack just seemed to strong.
Vinokourov was in his own league today, and finished over a minute ahead of the others. Cunego followed in second place. Visconti finished as number 11 on the stage
I would say 99% chance for a mass sprint, with all the sprinters present in this race, it seems very unlikely that a breakaway group can succeed.
HTC Columbia controlled the race as expected and the escapees had no chance.
Marcato again did a superb job, and delivered Visconti in a perfect position, now Visconti needed a good wheel to hang on to.
Respectable sprint by Visconti and he is number 7 today. Davis took the victory in the last stage.
Stage GC
... 20) Visconti Points Mountain Young Riders
A disappointing week for our team, it started okay in the first stages, but we over estimated Viscontis climbing abilities, he was not good enough to follow the best riders on the 5th stage, and therefore the dream of a podium finish in the GC is still just a dream.
The good things were Viscontis top 10 finishes in several stages, and the good lead out job by Marcato, which will be of good use in later races.
Milan San Remo
Cavendish got Haussler by an inch last year, what will happen this year?
The first big classic this season, and we are going to be on the start together with all the big names.
Its one of Viscontis greatest dreams to one day be on the top of the podium in San Remo, but after his experiences in Tirreno-Adriatico he knows it will be very difficult.
The profile of the race is well known to most people who follow cycling. A long race, with the two important climbs at the end of the race; Cipressa and Poggio.
Visconti is the only guy in our team who has a realistic chance in this race, so he will receive all the support. Hopefully he can revenge the defeats earlier this week with a good result.
Todays breakaway was caught on the Cipressa, but none of the favorites attacked.
Chavanel and Flecha launched the first serious attack right before the Poggio.
They both got caught at Poggio, and Cunego was leading the peloton towards the top. He went really fast up that last hill, and no one was able to lauch an attack.
Visconti tried to get a good position into the sprint, he followed Petacchi, but he must have had a bad day, and so Visconti was not able to fight for a good result.
Top 10
1) Oscar Freire – Rabobank
2) Danielle Bennati – Liquigas
3) Mark Cavendish – HTC Columbia
4) Sergei Ivanov – Katusha
5) Edvald Boasson Hagen – Sky
6) Fabian Cancellara – Saxo Bank
7) Luis León Sánchez – Caisse D´Epargne
8) Tom Boonen – Quick Step
9) Juan Antonio Flecha – Sky
10) Matti Breschel – Saxo Bank
…
22) Giovanni Visconti – Saeco
A new disappointment I must say. All the top sprinters and classic riders was there at the end. Visconti did not have any one to help him the last kilometers of the race, and so it was difficult to get the good position that he needed in order to achieve a good result.
Visconti will now take a hiatus from racing, get some rest, and hopefully start his preparation towards the Giro.
Next race will be the; Settimana internazionale di Coppi e Bartali in the Emilia-Romagana region of Italy next week.
Settimana internazionale di Coppi e Bartali
A stage race in the Emilia-Romagna region.
5 stages; 2 flat ones, 2 stages in more hilly terraing and a 31 k Team-TT. Masciarelli will lead the team together with Marcato
Young sprinter Modolo and Lorenzetto will do their season debut in this race. Its a strong squad we are sending to this race, the big question will be the important 3rd stage; a 31 k Team-TT. Our team has not tried out their Time-Trial abilities together so far this season, so it will be an interesting one.
The most notable riders taking part in this race;
XACOBEO
1. E.Mosquera
QUICKSTEP
21. D.Devenyns
LIQUIGAS
31. R.Kiserlovski
FOOTON
41. E.Capecchi
FLAMINIA
51. S.Anza
CARMIOORO-NGC
61. E.Sella
LAMPRE
71. S.Spilak
SKIL
81. D.Cornu
The lineup is not to impressing. Mosquera is a good climber and a man to watch, Capecchi is in good shape we know from previous races, but Masciarelli should definitely have a chance for a good GC result.
Our team will attack a stage win with Marcato, Modolo and Lorenzetto. While Masciarelli will go for a good GC result in the end.
Stage 1
Got mass sprint written all over it, we will help control the race, as we trust our sprint lineup for this race.
Malori chasing the breakaway riders across the Italian fields. The peloton seems to have good control on the race.
We caught the last riders with 13 k left, no its all about positions
It was a fast downhill sprint, Marcato was inches away from securing his first win this season, Angelo Furlan showed some old class today, and took the stage.
Stage
1) Anglo Furlan – Lampre
2) Uros Murn – Adria Mobil
3) Martin Pedersen – Footon Serveto
… 5) Marco Marcato – Saeco
Tomorrow awaits the team Time-Trial, and our team is very focused on giving Masciarelli a good position in the GC after the stage.
After a decent result yesterday. We are very excited, and a little worried about todays Team Time-Trial. We don´t really have a strong squad when it comes to Time-Trial abilities, but luckily none of the really fast squads are here in this race, so we might actually have a chance to pull of a good result.
Flat and gentle uphill for 31 k. Facci is our strongest guy today, and is prepared to dig deep.
Xacobeo Galicia was a team to watch today, as they had Mosquera on their team, one of the top favorites for the GC. But only a 13th for them today, 1.03 behind.
Liquigas did a nice time, and had the lead for a while, but only ended 10th, 48 sec behind
The red train across the fields.
Started up slow, as Masciarelli didn´t feel that good, and he was the most important rider to keep with us until the end. 40 seconds behind on the first intermediate.
On the second check-point we were still 40 seconds behind, but a quite few of the guys felt good!
When we crossed the line at the end, we were 23 seconds ahead of Lampre, who had the lead. What a finish!?
Skil-Shimano was the last team to cross the line, We still had the lead with 4 seconds to ISD, Skil-Shimano was not even close, 28 seconds down in 6th.
It´s official, it´s a win!
The team is extremely relieved and happy. Our last victory came in Algarve over a moth ago, and March has not really been a good month for us so far.
Masciarelli now has a great position before the last three stages and Marcato will wear the jersey tomorrow.
Edited by diasdagoberto on 07-03-2011 11:52
Hilly stage, on narrow roads can we keep the GC lead in our team?
After his strong effort yesterday, Facci again showed himself as a valuable rider, pulling the pack for big parts of the race, keeping any escape attempt under control.
Marcato in the leaders jersey, had to do some turns in the front of the pack in the last 20 k, to keep the pace high into the last hill.
Masciarelli was the strongest in the ascents today, White jersey because of the lead in the young rider classification. Capecchi and Kiserlovski could barely hold on to his wheel.
Masciarelli couldnt get rid of the two riders, so it ended up in a sprint; Masciarelli got second, disappointing, but he got the GC lead, which is more important.
Stage Results
1 Eros Capecchi FOOTON-SERVETTO-FUJI 5h33'58
2 Francesco Masciarelli SAECO CANNONDALE s.t.
3 Robert Kiserlovski LIQUIGAS – DOIMO s.t.
4 Dries Devenyns QUICKSTEP + 47
5 Simon Spilak LAMPRE – FARNESE VINI s.t.
6 Mitja Mahoric ADRIA MOBIL s.t.
7 Santo Anza CERAMICA FLAMINIA + 1'23
8 Paolo Longo Borghini ISD - NERI - GIAMBENINI + 2'45
9 Marco Marcato SAECO CANNONDALE s.t.
10 Giairo Ermoti DRE
GC
1 Francesco Masciarelli SAECO CANNONDALE 10h14'05
2 Eros Capecchi FOOTON-SERVETTO-FUJI + 21
3 Robert Kiserlovski LIQUIGAS – DOIMO + 53
4 Simon Spilak LAMPRE – FARNESE VINI + 1'22
5 Dries Devenyns QUICKSTEP + 1'31
6 Santo Anza CERAMICA FLAMINIA + 1'51
7 Mitja Mahoric ADRIA MOBIL + 1'58
8 Marco Marcato SAECO CANNONDALE + 2'57
9 Paolo Longo Borghini ISD - NERI - GIAMBENINI + 3'01
10 Mauro Facci SAECO CANNONDALE + 4'47
Points
1 Angelo Furlan LAMPRE – FARNESE VINI 25
2 Eros Capecchi FOOTON-SERVETTO-FUJI 25
3 Francesco Masciarelli SAECO CANNONDALE 20
4 Uros Murn ADRIA MOBIL 20
5 Marco Marcato SAECO CANNONDALE 19
6 Martin Pedersen FOOTON-SERVETTO-FUJI 16
7 Robert Kiserlovski LIQUIGAS – DOIMO 16
8 Dries Devenyns QUICKSTEP 14
9 Fabio Sabatini LIQUIGAS – DOIMO 14
10 Matteo Tosatto QUICKSTEP 13
After the stage we now have the lead with Masciarelli, Marcato and Facci are also top 10, good job!Edited by diasdagoberto on 07-03-2011 17:31
A stage for the sprinters. Most important for us today is to make sure Capecchi don´t get any bonus seconds, as he sits only 1 second behind Masciarelly overall.
A break got away and took care of the intermediate sprints, good news for us.
Marcato tried to lead out Lorenzetto and Modolo, but they could not follow, so he sprinted for the victory himself.
Murn came fast on the last meters, and took the victory, a big disappointment for Marcato, and he is still hunting his first win.
Cappechi was far away from getting any bonus seconds, so Masciarelli got a nice vicory overall.
Stage
1 Uros Murn ADRIA MOBIL 5h24'21
2 Marco Marcato SAECO CANNONDALE s.t.
3 Fabio Sabatini LIQUIGAS – DOIMO s.t.
4 Steven Caethoven LANDBOUWKREDIET s.t.
5 Klaas Ladewyck TOP-SPORT FLANDRES - MERCADOS s.t.
6 Oscar Gatto ISD - NERI - GIAMBENINI s.t.
7 Sacha Modolo SAECO CANNONDALE s.t.
8 Tom Veelers SKIL - SHIMANO s.t.
9 Francesco Fuilli ACQUA & SAPONE s.t.
10 Sebastian Siedler VORARLBERG - CORRATEC s.t.
GC
1 Francesco Masciarelli SAECO CANNONDALE 19h58'14
2 Eros Capecchi FOOTON-SERVETTO-FUJI + 1
3 Robert Kiserlovski LIQUIGAS – DOIMO + 53
4 Dries Devenyns QUICKSTEP + 1'19
5 Simon Spilak LAMPRE – FARNESE VINI + 1'22
6 Santo Anza CERAMICA FLAMINIA + 1'43
7 Mitja Mahoric ADRIA MOBIL + 1'58
8 Marco Marcato SAECO CANNONDALE + 2'45
9 Paolo Longo Borghini ISD - NERI - GIAMBENINI + 3'01
Overall Points
1 Eros Capecchi FOOTON-SERVETTO-FUJI 50
2 Uros Murn ADRIA MOBIL 45
3 Marco Marcato SAECO CANNONDALE 39
4 Dries Devenyns QUICKSTEP 34
5 Robert Kiserlovski LIQUIGAS – DOIMO 30
Overall mountain
1 Mitja Mahoric ADRIA MOBIL 20
2 Lorenzo Bernucci LAMPRE – FARNESE VINI 20
3 Gustavo DomÃnguez Lemos XACOBEO GALICIA 18
4 Philipp Mamos TEAM NUTRIXXION SPARKASSE 16
5 Oleg Birdos DRE PROSA - STOCK PLASTIC 12
A good week for us! Our team first GC victory. Next up Settimana Lombarda on the 1st of April.
A month has passed, and its time to look at the season rankings;
Individual continental Tour; Visconti held on to his lead throughout March month. Even though it was not a very good month for him.
Team continental Tour; We climbed to a second place in the rankings, after a nice GC win by Masciarelli last week.
To keep a good position will be very important for the Giro Wild card we are hoping for. There are 4 wild cards, and as an Italian team our chances seems quite good right now.
Best Riders:
Vinokourov has been the big rider so far this season, as week experienced at the Tirreno-Adriatico. And have 11 wins so far. Astana is the most winning team with 14 victories. Our team has 4 wins so far.
Winners of big races this month;
Paris – Nice; Thomas Voecler
Tirreno – Adriatico; Alexander Vinokorov
Milan - San Remo; Oscar Freire
Vuelta Ciclista a Catalunia; Alejandro Valverde
Gent – Wevelgem; Fabian Cancellara
In April our calendar looks like this;
01.04 – 06.04 Sentimana Lombardia
14.04 – 18.04 Semana a Castilla y Leon
20.04 – 24.04 Circuito del Trentino
25.04 Coppa di Appenino
27.04 – 02.05 GP de Romandie/28.04 – 02.05Vuelta a Asturias.
Setimana Ciclistica Lombarda
Stage Race around the city of Bergamo in the Lombardia in the north of Italy.
We were invited to the Giro, and this is an important preparation. Pozzovivo has been training well the last months, and will use this in his build up for the Giro, and as his season debut.
Masciarelli won his first victory last week, and is in top shape. He is our strongest card in this race, and will again target a top GC finish, and a stage win.
The sprint guys Modolo, Lorenzetto and Marcato didn´t have the best luck in the last race, and hope to score a first sprint win for the team in this race.
A hill in the last kilometers, but its to short I think, so the sprinters wont get dropped here. We will probably go for Marcato in this sprint, as he is in best shape
We caught the last riders with 10 k left. We will have the chance to get our sprint victory today.
Lorenzetto will lead out Marcato, Modolo didn´t have the legs today.
Yes, Marcato got his long deserved win!!! Fantastic job by Lorenzetto.
A new chance for our sprint lineup, can we do a double?
Controlling the pack, as it was expected, its going to be a mass sprint today again.
Ahh, that´s a poor performance. Marcato had a bad day, Paolini took the stage.
Paolini took over the race lead, and the lead in the Points competition. Marcato got 7th on the stage, and Lorenzetto 10th. (Proper results tomorrow, forgot to export.)
Last chance for the sprinters, as the 3 next stages probably will be to hard.
Several teams wanted a sprint today, and with 1 k left we caught the last rider from the breakaway.Marcato go Rossi´s wheel, perfect position, will he bring home number 2?
No! He just could not pass Rossi, and it´s a 3rd place.
Saeco is doing really great...Marcato looks in good form...pity for Visconti in Milano San Remo...but 22 is not that bad,when he must survive alone..great win by Masciarelli..congrats.
baia wrote:
Saeco is doing really great...Marcato looks in good form...pity for Visconti in Milano San Remo...but 22 is not that bad,when he must survive alone..great win by Masciarelli..congrats.
Thanks, appreciate it!
I think we are improving, and hopefully we can win a big race soon.
A little difficult to attack in Milan San - Remo, that was the problem..
After 3 flat stages, we now move into more mountainous terrain, which will decide the GC.
Looks to tough for the sprinters. Masciarelli will be the man to trust today. Aqua & Sapone controlled the race for Paolini. We decided to wait until the last hill before we tried to attack for the jersey.
Into the last hill, 25 riders were going to fight for the victory. Masciarelli felt good, and was paying attention to Paolini, as he looked like the most dangerous one.
Masciarelli could not open up a gap in the short hill, and in the sprint Paolini was to fast.[/i]
I guess the competition was to to much...
