Stage 4: 173km from La Guardia de Jaé to Córdoba. One KOTM-sprint, one IS, a little bit up and down, but flat enough for a mass sprint without exhausted sprinters.
A 11-man big BOTD rides away. They pass the summit of the Puerta de Anjona, with Borges (Onda) in the lead, in front of Sousa (Barbot) and Wallys (Topsport).
The only intermediate sprint is won by Suárez (Colombia), 2nd Borges and 3rd Eichler (NSP).
With 80km to go, the maximum lead was 9 minutes, so we decided to put Terpstra and Zingle at the front of the peloton. The gap started to decrease, and with 4km to go, we were all together again. Meanwhile, our sprinttrain was formed, with De Gendt leading out Sagan and Kittel. But because of these stupid escapees, who didn't choose the side of the road when they got reeled in, but hampered the peloton instead, the train was broken and suddenly De Gendt was up front alone.
So he decided to give it a go with 2.5km to go. He came a long, long way, but 500 metres before the finish line he got overtaken by Euskaltel's Rubén Pérez. Peréz took the win, in front of Polish Jacek Morajko (CCC) and René Obst (NSP). Kittel and Sagan got closed in with 1km to go (damn escapees), so had to settle with 4th and 5th.
Results:
Spoiler
1 Rubén Pérez Euskaltel - Euskadi 4h10'12
2 Jacek Morajko CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
3 René Obst Team NSP s.t. 4 Marcel Kittel MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
5 Peter Sagan MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
6 Laurent Didier MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
7 Thomas De Gendt MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
8 Koldo Fernández Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
9 Pablo Urtasun Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
10 Stijn Joseph Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
11 Romain Matheou Saur - Sojasun s.t.
12 Camilo Suárez Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia s.t.
13 Jelle Wallays Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
14 Rony Martias Saur - Sojasun s.t.
15 Luis Silva Tavira - Prio s.t.
16 Francisco Manuel Antón Burgos 2016 - Castilla y León s.t.
17 Tomasz Kiendyś CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
18 Markus Eichler Team NSP s.t.
19 Joeri Stallaert Landbouwkrediet s.t.
20 Bruno Manuel Sepulveda Borges Onda s.t.
21 Víctor Cabedo Orbea Continental s.t.
22 Jarl Salomein Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
23 Carlos Martínez Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia s.t.
24 Jérôme Baugnies Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
25 Albert Timmer Skil - Shimano s.t.
26 Blazej Janiaczyk CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
27 Ronan Van Zandbeek Skil - Shimano s.t.
28 Matti Helminen Landbouwkrediet s.t.
29 Luis Felipe Laverde Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia s.t.
30 Joaquín Sobrino Caja Rural s.t.
31 Leopold König Team NetApp s.t.
32 Aritz Bagües Orbea Continental s.t.
33 Marek Rutkiewicz CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
34 Mateusz Taciak CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
35 Raúl Alarcón Barbot - Efapel s.t.
36 Laurent Mangel Saur - Sojasun s.t.
37 Kris Boeckmans Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
38 Jon Aberasturi Orbea Continental s.t.
39 Hugo Salazar Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia s.t.
40 Cheng Ji Skil - Shimano s.t.
41 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
42 Łukasz Bodnar CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
43 Alejandro Marque Onda s.t.
44 Aitor Galdos Caja Rural s.t.
45 Alberto Morrás Onda s.t.
46 Mitchell Docker Skil - Shimano s.t.
47 Bruno Lima Onda s.t.
48 Mikel Nieve Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
49 Robinson Chalapud Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia s.t.
50 Carlos Verona Burgos 2016 - Castilla y León s.t.
51 Bartlomiej Matysiak CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
52 Rui Sousa Barbot - Efapel s.t.
53 Yukihiro Doi Skil - Shimano s.t.
54 Yannick Talabardon Saur - Sojasun s.t.
55 Ignatas Konovalovas Movistar Team s.t.
56 Ruben Jimenez Burgos 2016 - Castilla y León s.t.
57 Hector Paez Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia s.t.
58 Stijn Neirynck Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t. 59 Jack Bobridge MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
60 Daniel Silva Onda s.t.
61 Tomas Swift Metcalfe Tavira - Prio s.t.
62 Javier Francisco Aramendia Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
63 Hans Dekkers Landbouwkrediet s.t. 64 Wout Poels MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
65 Pello Bilbao Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t. 66 Romain Zingle MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
67 Arnaud Coyot Saur - Sojasun s.t.
68 Tino Thömel Team NSP s.t.
69 Marzio Bruseghin Movistar Team s.t.
70 Ricardo Mestre Tavira - Prio s.t.
71 Noel Martín Orbea Continental s.t.
72 Higinio Fernández Caja Rural s.t.
73 Yannick Mayer Team NSP s.t. 74 Niki Terpstra MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
75 Fabricio Ferrari Caja Rural s.t.
76 Markus Fothen Team NSP s.t.
77 José Vicente García Acosta Movistar Team s.t.
78 Pieter Serry Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
79 Julián Sánchez Pimienta Caja Rural s.t.
80 Rubén Plaza Movistar Team s.t.
81 Jonathan Breyne Landbouwkrediet s.t.
82 Íñigo Cuesta Caja Rural s.t.
83 Santiago Pérez Barbot - Efapel s.t.
84 Pablo Lastras Movistar Team s.t.
85 Jean-Marc Marino Saur - Sojasun s.t.
86 Víctor De la Parte Caja Rural s.t.
87 Igor Romero Caja Rural s.t.
88 Luis Pasamontes Movistar Team s.t.
89 Daniel Sesma Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
90 Aritz Etxebarria Orbea Continental + 1'24
91 Juan Villegas Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia s.t.
92 Adrian Honkisz CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
93 Michael Schwarzmann Team NetApp s.t.
94 Andrey Amador Movistar Team s.t.
95 Enrique Sanz Movistar Team s.t.
96 Matthias Mortka Team NSP s.t.
97 Carlos Baltazar Barbot - Efapel s.t.
98 Jean-Lou Paiani Saur - Sojasun s.t.
99 Beñat Urain Orbea Continental s.t.
100 Lucas Schädlich Team NSP s.t.
101 Esteban Chaves Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia s.t.
102 Pascual Orengo Burgos 2016 - Castilla y León s.t.
103 Diogo Nunes Tavira - Prio + 4'21
104 Antonio Filipe Oliveira Amorim Barbot - Efapel + 5'02
105 Jonas Schmeiser Team NSP + 6'24
106 Laurens De Vreese Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
GC: No changes.
Spoiler
1 Víctor Cabedo Orbea Continental 13h16'58
2 Higinio Fernández Caja Rural + 31 3 Laurent Didier MONSTER ENERGY - FORD + 1'10
4 Marzio Bruseghin Movistar Team + 1'16
5 Marek Rutkiewicz CCC Polsat Polkowice + 1'24 6 Peter Sagan MONSTER ENERGY - FORD + 1'27
7 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi + 1'32
8 Rubén Pérez Euskaltel - Euskadi + 1'34 9 Thomas De Gendt MONSTER ENERGY - FORD + 1'41
10 Jérôme Baugnies Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 1'43
11 Jacek Morajko CCC Polsat Polkowice + 1'56
12 Rubén Plaza Movistar Team + 1'58
13 Íñigo Cuesta Caja Rural + 2'09
14 Mikel Nieve Euskaltel - Euskadi + 2'11 15 Jack Bobridge MONSTER ENERGY - FORD + 2'12
16 Julián Sánchez Pimienta Caja Rural + 2'15
17 Leopold König Team NetApp + 2'25
18 Pello Bilbao Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
19 Laurent Mangel Saur - Sojasun + 2'29
20 José Vicente García Acosta Movistar Team + 2'35
21 Raúl Alarcón Barbot - Efapel s.t.
22 Pablo Lastras Movistar Team + 2'39
23 Ricardo Mestre Tavira - Prio + 2'40
24 Robinson Chalapud Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia + 2'42
25 Bartlomiej Matysiak CCC Polsat Polkowice + 2'44
26 Yukihiro Doi Skil - Shimano + 2'45
27 Albert Timmer Skil - Shimano + 2'59
28 Santiago Pérez Barbot - Efapel + 3'02 29 Wout Poels MONSTER ENERGY - FORD + 3'19
30 Jean-Marc Marino Saur - Sojasun + 3'28
31 Alberto Morrás Onda + 3'30
32 Hugo Salazar Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia + 3'32
33 Luis Felipe Laverde Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia + 4'48
34 Markus Fothen Team NSP + 4'52
35 Blazej Janiaczyk CCC Polsat Polkowice + 5'09
36 Luis Pasamontes Movistar Team s.t.
37 Alejandro Marque Onda + 5'10
38 Daniel Silva Onda + 5'19
39 Yannick Talabardon Saur - Sojasun + 5'31
40 Yannick Mayer Team NSP + 5'33
41 Carlos Verona Burgos 2016 - Castilla y León + 6'07
42 Ignatas Konovalovas Movistar Team + 6'36
43 Jelle Wallays Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 7'14
44 Rui Sousa Barbot - Efapel + 9'38
45 Tomasz Kiendyś CCC Polsat Polkowice + 10'16
46 Aitor Galdos Caja Rural + 10'31
47 Hector Paez Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia + 11'20
48 Pablo Urtasun Euskaltel - Euskadi + 11'21
49 Javier Francisco Aramendia Euskaltel - Euskadi + 12'26
50 Andrey Amador Movistar Team + 14'58
51 Mitchell Docker Skil - Shimano + 15'08
52 Víctor De la Parte Caja Rural + 15'16 53 Niki Terpstra MONSTER ENERGY - FORD + 15'27
54 Romain Zingle MONSTER ENERGY - FORD + 15'35
55 Marcel Kittel MONSTER ENERGY - FORD + 15'42
56 Aritz Bagües Orbea Continental + 15'44
57 Jarl Salomein Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 15'56
58 Jon Aberasturi Orbea Continental + 16'20
59 Mateusz Taciak CCC Polsat Polkowice + 16'25
60 Stijn Joseph Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 16'27
61 Daniel Sesma Euskaltel - Euskadi + 16'34
62 Pieter Serry Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 16'40
63 Tomas Swift Metcalfe Tavira - Prio + 16'46
64 Igor Romero Caja Rural + 16'50
65 Koldo Fernández Euskaltel - Euskadi + 17'13
66 Beñat Urain Orbea Continental + 18'06
67 Pascual Orengo Burgos 2016 - Castilla y León + 18'16
68 Łukasz Bodnar CCC Polsat Polkowice + 19'18
69 Ronan Van Zandbeek Skil - Shimano + 19'29
70 Kris Boeckmans Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 19'30
71 René Obst Team NSP + 19'54
72 Fabricio Ferrari Caja Rural s.t.
73 Ruben Jimenez Burgos 2016 - Castilla y León + 19'57
74 Joeri Stallaert Landbouwkrediet + 20'25
75 Noel Martín Orbea Continental + 20'50
76 Matti Helminen Landbouwkrediet + 21'20
77 Carlos Martínez Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia + 21'45
78 Joaquín Sobrino Caja Rural + 21'49
79 Bruno Manuel Sepulveda Borges Onda + 22'15
80 Rony Martias Saur - Sojasun + 22'22
81 Arnaud Coyot Saur - Sojasun + 22'40
82 Juan Villegas Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia + 23'06
83 Adrian Honkisz CCC Polsat Polkowice + 23'16
84 Camilo Suárez Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia + 23'26
85 Stijn Neirynck Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 23'32
86 Lucas Schädlich Team NSP + 24'13
87 Tino Thömel Team NSP + 25'21
88 Luis Silva Tavira - Prio + 25'45
89 Matthias Mortka Team NSP + 25'51
90 Romain Matheou Saur - Sojasun + 25'55
91 Esteban Chaves Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia + 26'49
92 Carlos Baltazar Barbot - Efapel + 26'50
93 Enrique Sanz Movistar Team + 27'06
94 Diogo Nunes Tavira - Prio + 28'59
95 Markus Eichler Team NSP + 30'08
96 Jonathan Breyne Landbouwkrediet + 30'15
97 Bruno Lima Onda + 30'16
98 Cheng Ji Skil - Shimano + 30'18
99 Francisco Manuel Antón Burgos 2016 - Castilla y León + 30'21
100 Michael Schwarzmann Team NetApp + 30'42
101 Aritz Etxebarria Orbea Continental + 31'31
102 Hans Dekkers Landbouwkrediet + 32'15
103 Jean-Lou Paiani Saur - Sojasun + 33'39
104 Laurens De Vreese Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 34'50
105 Antonio Filipe Oliveira Amorim Barbot - Efapel + 35'08
106 Jonas Schmeiser Team NSP + 38'39
Points:
Spoiler
1 Peter Sagan MONSTER ENERGY - FORD 12 58
2 Rubén Pérez Euskaltel - Euskadi 25 47 3 Laurent Didier MONSTER ENERGY - FORD 10 44
4 Thomas De Gendt MONSTER ENERGY - FORD 9 34
5 Víctor Cabedo Orbea Continental 0 29
KOTM:
Spoiler
1 Higinio Fernández Caja Rural 0 36
2 Alberto Morrás Onda 0 32
3 Hugo Salazar Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia 0 24
4 Ricardo Mestre Tavira - Prio 0 20
5 Albert Timmer Skil - Shimano 0 14
Unfortunately, a wildcard for the Tirreno Adriatico was refused. Our punishment for not having Italians in the team? We're still hoping to get a wildcard for Milan - San Remo, but my 6th sense says it will be refused.....
Last stage of the Vuelta de Andalucia: 165km from Córdoba to Antequera. Prediction: mass sprint.
Our team works hard to keep everything together for the 2 intermediate sprints. Both sprints are won by Peter Sagan, in front of Marcel Kittel and Orbea's Jon Aberasturi. This means, that Sagan secures himself of the points jersey!
After the 2 sprints, the pace drops, so 4 cyclists choose to attack: Ignatas Konovalovas (Movistar), Markus Eichler (NSP), Lukasz Bodnar (CCC) and Carlos Verona (Burgos).
Their maximum advantage grows to over 5 minutes at the summit of the Alto de de Corcoya, the only KOTM-sprint of today. Konovalovas gets the maximum points, before Bodnar and Eichler.
Monster and Euskaltel work hard to close the gap, but with 10 km to go, the Euskaltel-riders stop the chase. Why? Yesterday's winner Rubén Pérez suffered a puncture and they slowed down to get him back up front before the sprint started (and didn't succeed in it).
Then with 6km to go, Lukasz Bodnar surprises his fellow-breakers and goes for his glory.
Although the Monster-riders give everything they have, it's not enough. The same for Bodnar, he is passed in the last metres by Ignatas Konovalovas. The bunch finishes in the same time, with Kittel being the best placed one finishing in 6th.
Results:
Spoiler
1 Ignatas Konovalovas Movistar Team 3h57'47
2 Markus Eichler Team NSP s.t.
3 Łukasz Bodnar CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
4 Aitor Galdos Caja Rural s.t.
5 Jacek Morajko CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t. 6 Marcel Kittel MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
7 José Vicente García Acosta Movistar Team s.t.
8 René Obst Team NSP s.t.
9 Jérôme Baugnies Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t. 10 Peter Sagan MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
11 Bruno Lima Onda s.t.
12 Kris Boeckmans Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
13 Mitchell Docker Skil - Shimano s.t.
14 Mateusz Taciak CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
15 Jarl Salomein Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
16 Hans Dekkers Landbouwkrediet s.t.
17 Tomasz Kiendyś CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
18 Bartlomiej Matysiak CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
19 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
20 Laurent Mangel Saur - Sojasun s.t.
21 Stijn Joseph Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
22 Marek Rutkiewicz CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
23 Jon Aberasturi Orbea Continental s.t.
24 Blazej Janiaczyk CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
25 Rubén Plaza Movistar Team s.t.
26 Ruben Jimenez Burgos 2016 - Castilla y León s.t.
27 Noel Martín Orbea Continental s.t.
28 Pablo Lastras Movistar Team s.t.
29 Carlos Verona Burgos 2016 - Castilla y León s.t.
30 Aritz Bagües Orbea Continental s.t.
31 Víctor Cabedo Orbea Continental s.t.
32 Alejandro Marque Onda s.t.
33 Leopold König Team NetApp s.t.
34 Arnaud Coyot Saur - Sojasun s.t.
35 Luis Felipe Laverde Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia s.t.
36 Ronan Van Zandbeek Skil - Shimano s.t.
37 Pascual Orengo Burgos 2016 - Castilla y León s.t.
38 Joaquín Sobrino Caja Rural s.t.
39 Markus Fothen Team NSP s.t.
40 Hugo Salazar Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia s.t.
41 Raúl Alarcón Barbot - Efapel s.t.
42 Andrey Amador Movistar Team s.t.
43 Tino Thömel Team NSP s.t.
44 Stijn Neirynck Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
45 Enrique Sanz Movistar Team s.t.
46 Higinio Fernández Caja Rural s.t.
47 Yannick Mayer Team NSP s.t. 48 Thomas De Gendt MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
49 Yukihiro Doi Skil - Shimano s.t.
50 Marzio Bruseghin Movistar Team s.t.
51 Michael Schwarzmann Team NetApp s.t.
52 Hector Paez Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia s.t.
53 Francisco Manuel Antón Burgos 2016 - Castilla y León s.t. 54 Wout Poels MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
55 Rony Martias Saur - Sojasun s.t.
56 Rui Sousa Barbot - Efapel s.t.
57 Esteban Chaves Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia s.t.
58 Carlos Martínez Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia s.t.
59 Alberto Morrás Onda s.t.
60 Pieter Serry Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t. 61 Laurent Didier MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
62 Juan Villegas Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia s.t.
63 Bruno Manuel Sepulveda Borges Onda s.t.
64 Aritz Etxebarria Orbea Continental s.t.
65 Fabricio Ferrari Caja Rural s.t.
66 Igor Romero Caja Rural s.t. 67 Romain Zingle MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
68 Jelle Wallays Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
69 Lucas Schädlich Team NSP s.t.
70 Adrian Honkisz CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
71 Cheng Ji Skil - Shimano s.t.
72 Víctor De la Parte Caja Rural s.t.
73 Tomas Swift Metcalfe Tavira - Prio s.t.
74 Luis Pasamontes Movistar Team s.t.
75 Ricardo Mestre Tavira - Prio s.t.
76 Albert Timmer Skil - Shimano s.t.
77 Camilo Suárez Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia s.t.
78 Daniel Silva Onda s.t.
79 Jean-Marc Marino Saur - Sojasun s.t.
80 Julián Sánchez Pimienta Caja Rural s.t.
81 Romain Matheou Saur - Sojasun s.t.
82 Íñigo Cuesta Caja Rural s.t.
83 Yannick Talabardon Saur - Sojasun s.t.
84 Robinson Chalapud Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia s.t. 85 Jack Bobridge MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
86 Matthias Mortka Team NSP s.t.
87 Carlos Baltazar Barbot - Efapel s.t.
88 Santiago Pérez Barbot - Efapel s.t.
89 Joeri Stallaert Landbouwkrediet s.t.
90 Laurens De Vreese Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
91 Jonathan Breyne Landbouwkrediet s.t. 92 Niki Terpstra MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
93 Diogo Nunes Tavira - Prio s.t.
94 Jean-Lou Paiani Saur - Sojasun s.t.
95 Matti Helminen Landbouwkrediet s.t.
96 Luis Silva Tavira - Prio + 1'46
97 Beñat Urain Orbea Continental s.t.
98 Antonio Filipe Oliveira Amorim Barbot - Efapel + 2'09
99 Pello Bilbao Euskaltel - Euskadi + 2'58
100 Pablo Urtasun Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
101 Daniel Sesma Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
102 Javier Francisco Aramendia Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
103 Mikel Nieve Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
104 Koldo Fernández Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
105 Rubén Pérez Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
106 Jonas Schmeiser Team NSP + 13'43
GC:
Víctor Cabedo from Orbea Continental had the best cycling week in his young career. He won the queen's stage and also the GC. An excellent performance. Higinio Fernández (Caja Rural) got 2nd and won the mountain jersey. Laurent Didier finished in 3th, just in front of Peter Sagan.
Spoiler
1 Víctor Cabedo Orbea Continental 17h14'45
2 Higinio Fernández Caja Rural + 31 3 Laurent Didier MONSTER ENERGY - FORD + 1'10
4 Peter Sagan MONSTER ENERGY - FORD + 1'15
5 Marzio Bruseghin Movistar Team + 1'16
6 Marek Rutkiewicz CCC Polsat Polkowice + 1'24
7 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi + 1'32 8 Thomas De Gendt MONSTER ENERGY - FORD + 1'41
9 Jérôme Baugnies Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 1'43
10 Jacek Morajko CCC Polsat Polkowice + 1'56
11 Rubén Plaza Movistar Team + 1'58
12 Íñigo Cuesta Caja Rural + 2'09 13 Jack Bobridge MONSTER ENERGY - FORD + 2'12
14 Julián Sánchez Pimienta Caja Rural + 2'15
15 Leopold König Team NetApp + 2'25
16 Laurent Mangel Saur - Sojasun + 2'29
17 José Vicente García Acosta Movistar Team + 2'35
18 Raúl Alarcón Barbot - Efapel s.t.
19 Pablo Lastras Movistar Team + 2'39
20 Ricardo Mestre Tavira - Prio + 2'40
21 Robinson Chalapud Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia + 2'42
22 Bartlomiej Matysiak CCC Polsat Polkowice + 2'44
23 Yukihiro Doi Skil - Shimano + 2'45
24 Albert Timmer Skil - Shimano + 2'59
25 Santiago Pérez Barbot - Efapel + 3'02 26 Wout Poels MONSTER ENERGY - FORD + 3'19
27 Jean-Marc Marino Saur - Sojasun + 3'28
28 Alberto Morrás Onda + 3'30
29 Hugo Salazar Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia + 3'32
30 Rubén Pérez Euskaltel - Euskadi + 4'32
31 Luis Felipe Laverde Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia + 4'48
32 Markus Fothen Team NSP + 4'52
33 Blazej Janiaczyk CCC Polsat Polkowice + 5'09
34 Mikel Nieve Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
35 Luis Pasamontes Movistar Team s.t.
36 Alejandro Marque Onda + 5'10
37 Daniel Silva Onda + 5'19
38 Pello Bilbao Euskaltel - Euskadi + 5'23
39 Yannick Talabardon Saur - Sojasun + 5'31
40 Yannick Mayer Team NSP + 5'33
41 Carlos Verona Burgos 2016 - Castilla y León + 6'07
42 Ignatas Konovalovas Movistar Team + 6'16
43 Jelle Wallays Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 7'14
44 Rui Sousa Barbot - Efapel + 9'38
45 Tomasz Kiendyś CCC Polsat Polkowice + 10'16
46 Aitor Galdos Caja Rural + 10'31
47 Hector Paez Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia + 11'20
48 Pablo Urtasun Euskaltel - Euskadi + 14'19
49 Andrey Amador Movistar Team + 14'58
50 Mitchell Docker Skil - Shimano + 15'08
51 Víctor De la Parte Caja Rural + 15'16
52 Javier Francisco Aramendia Euskaltel - Euskadi + 15'24 53 Niki Terpstra MONSTER ENERGY - FORD + 15'27
54 Marcel Kittel MONSTER ENERGY - FORD + 15'34
55 Romain Zingle MONSTER ENERGY - FORD + 15'35
56 Aritz Bagües Orbea Continental + 15'44
57 Jarl Salomein Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 15'56
58 Jon Aberasturi Orbea Continental + 16'16
59 Mateusz Taciak CCC Polsat Polkowice + 16'25
60 Stijn Joseph Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 16'27
61 Pieter Serry Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 16'40
62 Tomas Swift Metcalfe Tavira - Prio + 16'46
63 Igor Romero Caja Rural + 16'50
64 Pascual Orengo Burgos 2016 - Castilla y León + 18'16
65 Łukasz Bodnar CCC Polsat Polkowice + 19'10
66 Ronan Van Zandbeek Skil - Shimano + 19'29
67 Kris Boeckmans Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 19'30
68 Daniel Sesma Euskaltel - Euskadi + 19'32
69 Beñat Urain Orbea Continental + 19'52
70 René Obst Team NSP + 19'54
71 Fabricio Ferrari Caja Rural s.t.
72 Ruben Jimenez Burgos 2016 - Castilla y León + 19'57
73 Koldo Fernández Euskaltel - Euskadi + 20'11
74 Joeri Stallaert Landbouwkrediet + 20'25
75 Noel Martín Orbea Continental + 20'50
76 Matti Helminen Landbouwkrediet + 21'20
77 Carlos Martínez Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia + 21'45
78 Joaquín Sobrino Caja Rural + 21'49
79 Bruno Manuel Sepulveda Borges Onda + 22'15
80 Rony Martias Saur - Sojasun + 22'22
81 Arnaud Coyot Saur - Sojasun + 22'40
82 Juan Villegas Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia + 23'06
83 Adrian Honkisz CCC Polsat Polkowice + 23'16
84 Camilo Suárez Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia + 23'26
85 Stijn Neirynck Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 23'32
86 Lucas Schädlich Team NSP + 24'13
87 Tino Thömel Team NSP + 25'21
88 Matthias Mortka Team NSP + 25'51
89 Romain Matheou Saur - Sojasun + 25'55
90 Esteban Chaves Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia + 26'49
91 Carlos Baltazar Barbot - Efapel + 26'50
92 Enrique Sanz Movistar Team + 27'06
93 Luis Silva Tavira - Prio + 27'31
94 Diogo Nunes Tavira - Prio + 28'59
95 Markus Eichler Team NSP + 29'56
96 Jonathan Breyne Landbouwkrediet + 30'15
97 Bruno Lima Onda + 30'16
98 Cheng Ji Skil - Shimano + 30'18
99 Francisco Manuel Antón Burgos 2016 - Castilla y León + 30'21
100 Michael Schwarzmann Team NetApp + 30'42
101 Aritz Etxebarria Orbea Continental + 31'31
102 Hans Dekkers Landbouwkrediet + 32'15
103 Jean-Lou Paiani Saur - Sojasun + 33'39
104 Laurens De Vreese Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 34'50
105 Antonio Filipe Oliveira Amorim Barbot - Efapel + 37'17
106 Jonas Schmeiser Team NSP + 52'22
Points:
Victory for Sagan!
Spoiler
1 Peter Sagan MONSTER ENERGY - FORD 18 76
2 Rubén Pérez Euskaltel - Euskadi 0 47 3 Laurent Didier MONSTER ENERGY - FORD 0 44
4 Jacek Morajko CCC Polsat Polkowice 12 40 5 Marcel Kittel MONSTER ENERGY - FORD 18 38
6 Thomas De Gendt MONSTER ENERGY - FORD 0 34
7 Víctor Cabedo Orbea Continental 0 29
8 Jérôme Baugnies Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator 7 29
9 Marzio Bruseghin Movistar Team 0 28
10 Ignatas Konovalovas Movistar Team 25 28
11 Alberto Morrás Onda 0 26 12 Jack Bobridge MONSTER ENERGY - FORD 0 25
13 Marek Rutkiewicz CCC Polsat Polkowice 0 24
14 René Obst Team NSP 8 24
15 Higinio Fernández Caja Rural 0 22
16 Rubén Plaza Movistar Team 0 22
17 Markus Eichler Team NSP 20 22
18 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi 0 19
19 Łukasz Bodnar CCC Polsat Polkowice 16 18
20 Aitor Galdos Caja Rural 14 17
21 Hugo Salazar Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia 0 16
22 José Vicente García Acosta Movistar Team 9 14 23 Niki Terpstra MONSTER ENERGY - FORD 0 14
24 Pablo Urtasun Euskaltel - Euskadi 0 11
25 Pablo Lastras Movistar Team 0 10 26 Romain Zingle MONSTER ENERGY - FORD 0 10
27 Camilo Suárez Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia 0 10
28 Alejandro Marque Onda 0 8
29 Koldo Fernández Euskaltel - Euskadi 0 8
30 Mikel Nieve Euskaltel - Euskadi 0 7
31 Luis Felipe Laverde Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia 0 7
32 Raúl Alarcón Barbot - Efapel 0 6
33 Stijn Joseph Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator 0 6
34 Romain Matheou Saur - Sojasun 0 5
35 Bruno Lima Onda 5 5
36 Julián Sánchez Pimienta Caja Rural 0 4
37 Pello Bilbao Euskaltel - Euskadi 0 4
38 Markus Fothen Team NSP 0 4
39 Jon Aberasturi Orbea Continental 4 4
40 Kris Boeckmans Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator 4 4
41 Bruno Manuel Sepulveda Borges Onda 0 4
42 Jelle Wallays Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator 0 3
43 Tomasz Kiendyś CCC Polsat Polkowice 0 3
44 Mitchell Docker Skil - Shimano 3 3
45 Íñigo Cuesta Caja Rural 0 2
46 Luis Pasamontes Movistar Team 0 2
47 Mateusz Taciak CCC Polsat Polkowice 2 2
48 Rony Martias Saur - Sojasun 0 2
49 Yannick Talabardon Saur - Sojasun 0 1
50 Víctor De la Parte Caja Rural 0 1
51 Jarl Salomein Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator 1 1
52 Luis Silva Tavira - Prio 0 1
Mountain:
Spoiler
1 Higinio Fernández Caja Rural 0 36
2 Alberto Morrás Onda 0 32
3 Hugo Salazar Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia 0 24
4 Ricardo Mestre Tavira - Prio 0 20
5 Albert Timmer Skil - Shimano 0 14
6 Matti Helminen Landbouwkrediet 0 14 7 Laurent Didier MONSTER ENERGY - FORD 0 12
8 Víctor Cabedo Orbea Continental 0 10 9 Thomas De Gendt MONSTER ENERGY - FORD 0 10
10 Pello Bilbao Euskaltel - Euskadi 0 8
11 Carlos Verona Burgos 2016 - Castilla y León 0 7
12 Pablo Lastras Movistar Team 0 6
13 Yannick Mayer Team NSP 0 6
14 Ignatas Konovalovas Movistar Team 6 6
15 Rui Sousa Barbot - Efapel 0 6
16 Bruno Manuel Sepulveda Borges Onda 0 6
17 Jean-Marc Marino Saur - Sojasun 0 5
18 Raúl Alarcón Barbot - Efapel 0 4
19 Luis Pasamontes Movistar Team 0 4
20 Stijn Joseph Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator 0 4
21 Łukasz Bodnar CCC Polsat Polkowice 4 4
22 Jelle Wallays Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator 0 2
23 Aritz Bagües Orbea Continental 0 2
24 Markus Eichler Team NSP 2 2
25 Yannick Talabardon Saur - Sojasun 0 1
We also took the win in the team classification!
Looking back: 2 stage wins, winning the points jersey, and a 3rd in the GC. Great results, but still a little bit disappointed, because we got surprised in stage 2.
The 66th edition of Omloop Het Nieuwsblad is the traditional opener of the Northern Europe cycling season. Last year's winner of the cobbled classic is Sky's Juan Antonio Flecha:
As you can see, no Rabo's, only their CT-team. Strange...
Our team:
Niki Terpstra has the best shape of our riders, so he'll be our leader.
Race favorites:
+++: Fabian Cancellara, Tom Boonen, Juan Antonio Flecha.
++: Thor Hushovd, Greg van Avermaet, Sylvain Chavanel.
+: Niki Terpstra, Alessandro Ballan, Geraint Thomas, Gert Steegmans, Johan van Summeren
Edited by dienblad on 13-08-2011 16:06
We get an early breakaway with Michel Kreder (Garmin), Rein Taaramäe (Cofidis) and Thomas Rohregger (Leopard) being the most famous names.
Already after 70 kilometres on the Belgian roads, a big group with famous names in it has to let the peloton go: Andre Greipel, Matthew Hayman and Gianni Meersman!
When the first break is caught, a dangerous trio goes upon an adventure, with Sky's Geraint Thomas, Garmin's Roger Hammond and Topsport's James van Landschoot.
Again, some famous riders have to let go: world champion Thor Hushovd (Garmin), Yoan Offredo (FDJ) and David Millar (Garmin).
Meanwhile, we heard that Tom Boonen had abandoned the race, after a crash that wasn't filmed.It turned out that he had a fractured thigh, so he has to put a cross through his beloved classics season.
When Thomas, Hammond and Vanlandschot wgot caught, the pace drops, so more riders can come back (eg Hushovd). With 50 km to go, a 48-riders big group face the storng winds (>60!) together.
Again, the windy circumstances causes some victims: Gert Steegmans and Taylor Phinney lose contact with the first group.
After the last cobbled section, with only 5 kilometres left, a 11-man group is in front. Cancellara is leading it and our only rider in it, Niki Terpstra, has picked the wheel of the est sprinter in the group, Greg van Avermaet.
There are 5 BMC-riders in it, but for an unkown reason, they don't cooperate and some riders come back, and immediately start to sprint. Van Avermaet doesn't, so Terpstra has made the wrong choice.
To the surprise of all followers and participants, it is the young Dutch rider Tom Veelers who wins the Omloop in the sprint. For sure his biggest win in his career (maybe we should try to sign him for next season if he's available).
Terpstra manage to jump to the 8th place. A good result, but we're not satisfied. A top 5 should be possible.
Results:
Spoiler
1 Tom Veelers Skil - Shimano 5h09'41
2 Thor Hushovd Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
3 George Hincapie BMC Racing Team s.t.
4 Staf Scheirlinckx Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
5 Davy Commeyne Landbouwkrediet s.t.
6 Fabian Cancellara Leopard Trek s.t.
7 Alessandro Ballan BMC Racing Team s.t. 8 Niki Terpstra MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
9 Marcus Burghardt BMC Racing Team s.t.
10 Greg Van Avermaet BMC Racing Team s.t.
11 Kevyn Ista Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
12 Sylvain Chavanel Quick·Step Cycling Team s.t.
13 Grégory Rast Team RadioShack s.t.
14 Frédéric Amorison Landbouwkrediet s.t.
15 Johan Vansummeren Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
16 Bert Scheirlinckx Landbouwkrediet s.t.
17 Manuel Quinziato BMC Racing Team s.t.
18 Juan Antonio Flecha Sky ProCycling s.t.
19 Geert Verheyen Landbouwkrediet s.t.
20 Pieter Vanspeybroeck Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
21 Tyler Farrar Team Garmin - Cervélo + 1'48 22 Martijn Maaskant MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
23 Koen Barbé Landbouwkrediet s.t.
24 Geraint Thomas Sky ProCycling s.t.
25 Roy Curvers Skil - Shimano + 2'27
26 Vytautas Kaupas Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
27 Dominique Rollin FDJ s.t.
28 Bert De Backer Skil - Shimano + 4'59
29 Roger Hammond Team Garmin - Cervélo + 5'17 30 Coen Vermeltfoort MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
31 Stuart O'Grady Leopard Trek + 6'44
32 Yohan Offredo FDJ s.t.
33 James Vanlandschoot Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
34 David Millar Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
35 Jeremy Hunt Sky ProCycling s.t.
36 Frédéric Guesdon FDJ s.t.
37 Steven Caethoven Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
38 Nico Eeckhout An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
39 Taylor Phinney BMC Racing Team s.t.
40 Gert Steegmans Quick·Step Cycling Team s.t. 41 Joost Posthuma MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
42 Sep Vanmarcke MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
43 Jens Keukeleire MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
44 Sébastien Rosseler MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
45 Reinier Honig Landbouwkrediet + 8'34
46 Sébastien Delfosse Landbouwkrediet s.t.
47 Kevin Van Impe Quick·Step Cycling Team s.t. 48 Lieuwe Westra MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
49 Kristof Vandewalle Quick·Step Cycling Team + 9'58
50 Sven Nys Landbouwkrediet s.t.
51 Julien Vermote Quick·Step Cycling Team + 10'29
52 Kenny De Ketele Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 11'53
53 Gianni Meersman FDJ s.t.
54 Nico Sijmens Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
55 Tomasz Smolen CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
56 Matthew Hayman Sky ProCycling s.t.
57 André Greipel Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
58 Kenny Van Hummel Skil - Shimano s.t.
59 Aleksejs Saramotins Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
60 David Kopp Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland s.t.
61 Pieter Jacobs Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
62 Andreas Stauff Quick·Step Cycling Team s.t.
63 Marcel Sieberg Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
64 Jurgen Van Goolen Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
65 Kevin Hulsmans Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
66 Geert Steurs Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
67 Jonas Vangenechten Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
68 Andreas Klier Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
69 Arnaud Gérard FDJ s.t.
70 Frederik Willems Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
71 Gaetan Bille Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
72 Leonardo Duque Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
73 Jetse Bol Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
74 Mauro Santambrogio BMC Racing Team s.t.
75 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Sky ProCycling s.t.
76 Marco Bandiera Quick·Step Cycling Team s.t.
77 Barry Markus Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
78 Johan Coenen Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 13'09
79 Steve Schets Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly + 13'26
80 Jürgen Van de Walle Omega Pharma - Lotto + 14'23
81 Jens Debusschere Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
82 Fabio Polazzi Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole + 14'50
83 Wilfried Cretskens Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
84 Jan Bakelants Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
85 Mario Aerts Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
86 Matthieu Ladagnous FDJ s.t.
87 Grégory Joseph Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
88 Kamil Zielinski CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
89 Wesley Sulzberger FDJ s.t.
90 Sjef De Wilde Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
91 Yauheni Hutarovich FDJ s.t.
92 Sander Armee Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 15'44
93 Rémy Cusin Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
94 Sylwester Janiszewski CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
95 Dylan Teuns Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht + 16'30
96 Roel Paulissen Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
97 Sven Vandousselaere Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
98 Rafal Ratajczyk CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
99 Ramon Sinkeldam Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
100 André Schulze CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
101 Sibrecht Pieters Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
102 Jose Mendes CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
103 Pawel Charucki CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
104 Philippe Legrand Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
105 Philip Deignan Team RadioShack s.t.
106 Thomas Bonnin Skil - Shimano s.t.
107 Michael Vanderaerden Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
108 Michel Kreder Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
109 Joop De Gans Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland s.t.
110 Alex Meenhorst Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
111 Simon Gerrans Sky ProCycling s.t.
112 Jerome Giaux Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
113 Stijn Steels Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
114 Thomas Rohregger Leopard Trek s.t.
115 Philip Lavery An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
116 Kess Heytens An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
117 Kevin Claeys An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
118 Kenneth Vanbilsen Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
119 Simon Zahner BMC Racing Team s.t.
120 Christian Patron Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland s.t.
121 Tiago Machado Team RadioShack s.t.
122 Jochen Deweer Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
123 Robin Chaigneau Skil - Shimano s.t.
124 Joeri Calleeuw Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
125 Bjorn Brems An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
126 Jonas Ljungblad Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
127 Oscar Riesebeek Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
128 Andrew Fenn An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
129 Tim Mertens Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
130 Pieter Ghyllebert An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
131 Ian Stannard Sky ProCycling s.t.
132 Grégory Habeaux Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
133 Arnaud Labbe Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
134 Christophe Le Mével Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
135 Michael Tronborg Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
136 Kenny Terweduwe An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
137 Thomas Löfkvist Sky ProCycling s.t.
138 Bjorn De Decker Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht + 18'32
139 Ben Hermans Team RadioShack + 19'04
140 Yaroslav Popovych Team RadioShack s.t.
141 Mathieu Sprick Skil - Shimano s.t.
142 Alexandre Geniez Skil - Shimano s.t.
143 Jasper Bovenhuis Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
144 Ludovic Mottet Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
145 Oliver Zaugg Leopard Trek + 20'00
146 Dariusz Batek CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
147 Bjorn Selander Team RadioShack s.t.
148 Brice Feillu Leopard Trek s.t.
149 Anders Lund Leopard Trek s.t.
150 Dieter Cappelle Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
151 Remco Broers Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
152 Jesse Sergent Team RadioShack s.t.
153 Tom Thill Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
154 Ben King Team RadioShack s.t.
155 Gert-Jan Van Immerseel Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
156 Nicolas Edet Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
157 Evert Verbist Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
158 Dirk Finders Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland s.t.
159 Frank Dressler Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
160 Rudy Rouet Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole + 21'53
161 Frederik Geerts Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
162 Stefan Denifl Leopard Trek s.t.
163 William Clarke Leopard Trek s.t.
164 Rein Taaramäe Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
165 Melvin Boskamp Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
166 Daniel Westmattelmann Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland + 22'53
167 Hendrik Van den Bossche Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
168 Marc Goos Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
169 Niels Van Dyck Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
170 Rohan Dennis Rabobank Continental Team + 23'24
171 Morten Knudsen Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
One day later, as a tradition Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne is held.
The 2010 edition was one to remember. The circumstances were horrible with lots of heavy showers, freezing cold temperatures and a lot of riders abandoning. In the end, it was won by Dutch Bobbie Traksel.
Favorites:
*** Thor Hushovd, André Greipel, Tyler Farrar,
**: Theo Bos, Gert Steegmans, Gert van Avermaet, Tom Veelers (well, after the Omloop, he's one guy to look after!)
We started the KBK with the tactic of getting Theo Bos or Jens Keukeleire to the finish, because we expected a mass sprint. Well, we were right.
The first part of the race, nothing has happened, possibly because of the cold, rainy weather. So a group of 62 riders starts the last local lap, lead by the Garmin-guys. Except Westra, all our guys are in it and they look pretty fresh.
The trains are formed, with 3 big ones: Garmin-Cervélo, BMC and Monster Energy.
Alessandro Ballan gets nervous and attacks with 4km to go.
He gets a maximum advantage of 20 seconds but gets caught under the flamme rouge. In the middle comes the one guy without a sprint train: André Greipel. And his acceleration is huge. Can he win it?
Theo Bos (a superb lead out by Maaskant, Vermeltfoort and Keukeleire) and Thor Hushovd come close, but it's the German gorilla who takes home the victory. Bos is happy with his 2nd place, and so are we!
I forgot to export the results, so here's only the top 10:
this is starting to become my most followed story!!
well it is my most followed story!
i swear to god whenever i reload it something new is up there! i love that! just one thing. when putting the people who won the KOM and sprints put it in a spoiler.
thats all ive got to say coz the rest pf the story is brilliant!
haha! yea i understand. im not saying i expect u to post rapidly bad im just saying i like it and yea thats ok! i know what u mean i guess i would rather friends and family too before this
Our schedule in March:
- First Le Samyn, a cobbled race in Belgium (1.1)
- Giro del Friulli (Italy, 1.1)
- Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen (2.1)
- Paris-Nice (UWT)
- Nokere Koerse (1.1)
- Hopefully Milan - San Remo (UWT)
- Dwars door Vlaanderen (1.1)
- E3-prijs Harelbeke (1.HC)
- Criterium International (2.HC) --> season debut of Andy Schleck!
- Hopefully Gent-Wevelgem (UWT)
We expect a difficult race, the weather is bad (under 10 degrees and rainy) so we think there won't be a masssprint.
When we enter the 4 local laps in Dour, a 5-man group is in the lead, with 4 Dutchies in it: K. Kroon (BMC), A. Engels (Quick Step), D. Westmattelmann (Indeland), R. te Stroet (Jo Piels) and M. Kreder (Garmin). Their maximum lead is 4 minutes.
Then the peloton start to chase them, with Monster and Landbouwkrediet in the lead. With one lap to go, that's 19km, the lead is cut down to 1'30.
They get caught with 7km to go and immediately Monster's Sep Vanmarcke attacks.
He gets a lead of 20 seconds, and then Canadian Dominique Rollin (FDJ) goes in the counterattack.
When he passes Vanmarcke, we realize that our prediction was wrong, and it will turn out in a mass sprint. Especially when Skil-Shimano take the lead. Martijn Maaskant does everything he can to get Theo Bos up front, but he start the sprint in 20th position. Man, that's bad, we should be a lucky with a top 5 now...
It's a very close finish between Skil's Roy Curvers and Landbouwkrediet's Frédéric Amerison. After looking at the video-finish, it's Roy Curvers taking the 2nd classic victory for Skil! And what happens with Bos? Well, he did an amazing job. Thanks to his track-experience he passed riders although there was no space for it and ended up in a great 3rd place!
Results:
Spoiler
1 Roy Curvers Skil - Shimano 4h37'36
2 Frédéric Amorison Landbouwkrediet s.t. 3 Theo Bos MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
4 Dominique Rollin FDJ s.t.
5 Bert De Waele Landbouwkrediet s.t.
6 Koen De Kort Skil - Shimano s.t.
7 Nico Eeckhout An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
8 Pieter Vanspeybroeck Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
9 Kevyn Ista Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
10 James Vanlandschoot Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
11 Jeremy Hunt Sky ProCycling s.t.
12 Arnoud Van Groen Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
13 Jetse Bol Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
14 Aleksejs Saramotins Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
15 Koen Barbé Landbouwkrediet s.t.
16 Kevin Hulsmans Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
17 Staf Scheirlinckx Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
18 Preben Van Hecke Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
19 David Millar Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
20 Karsten Kroon BMC Racing Team s.t.
21 Bram Schmitz Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t. 22 Sep Vanmarcke MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
23 Bert Scheirlinckx Landbouwkrediet s.t.
24 Sven Nys Landbouwkrediet s.t.
25 Reinier Honig Landbouwkrediet s.t.
26 Johan Coenen Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
27 Jonas Ljungblad Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
28 Samuel Dumoulin Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
29 Jarl Salomein Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
30 Pieter Jacobs Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
31 Kenny Van Hummel Skil - Shimano s.t. 32 Martijn Maaskant MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
33 Jurgen Van Goolen Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
34 Kevin Peeters Landbouwkrediet s.t. 35 Sébastien Rosseler MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
36 Niki Terpstra MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
37 Pierrick Fédrigo FDJ s.t.
38 Kevin Van Melsen Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
39 Andrew Fenn An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
40 Coen Vermeltfoort MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
41 Pieter Ghyllebert An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
42 Bjorn Brems An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
43 Michel Kreder Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
44 Philip Lavery An Post - Sean Kelly s.t. 45 Joost Posthuma MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
46 Addy Engels Quick·Step Cycling Team s.t.
47 Kenny Terweduwe An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
48 Daniel Westmattelmann Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland s.t.
49 Sander Armee Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
50 Dieter Cappelle Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
51 Baptiste Planckaert Landbouwkrediet s.t.
52 Rens Te Stroet Cyclingteam Jo Piels s.t.
53 Mark McNally An Post - Sean Kelly + 3'28
54 Darijus Dzervus An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
55 Peter Schulting Cyclingteam Jo Piels s.t. 56 Tom Dumoulin MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
57 Wim De Vocht Veranda's Willems - Accent + 4'15
58 Jonathan Dufrasne Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole + 5'25
59 Melvin Boskamp Rabobank Continental Team + 6'06
60 Jonas Vangenechten Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole + 7'31
61 Marcel Sieberg Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
62 Nico Sijmens Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
63 Gaetan Bille Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
64 Nikolas Maes Quick·Step Cycling Team s.t.
65 Damien Monier Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
66 Taylor Phinney BMC Racing Team s.t.
67 Matthew Busche Team RadioShack s.t.
68 Francesco Van Coppernolle Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
69 Roel Paulissen Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
70 Dariusz Batek CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
71 Ricardo Van der Velde Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
72 Sylwester Janiszewski CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
73 Nelson Oliveira Team RadioShack s.t.
74 Gert-Jan Van Immerseel Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
75 Kevin Verwaest Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
76 Stijn Neirynck Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
77 Rudy Rouet Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
78 Jose Mendes CCC Polsat Polkowice + 8'09
79 Olivier Pardini Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
80 Tiago Machado Team RadioShack s.t.
81 Philippe Legrand Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole + 8'33
82 Gianni Meersman FDJ + 8'48
83 Steve Schets Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
84 Huub Duyn Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
85 Geert Steurs Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
86 Robin Chaigneau Skil - Shimano s.t.
87 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Sky ProCycling s.t.
88 Julien Vermote Quick·Step Cycling Team s.t.
89 David Kopp Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland s.t.
90 Stefan Cohnen Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
91 Thomas Löfkvist Sky ProCycling s.t.
92 Kristof Vandewalle Quick·Step Cycling Team s.t.
93 Sandy Casar FDJ s.t.
94 Michael Vanderaerden Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
95 Frédéric Guesdon FDJ s.t.
96 Gabriel Rasch Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
97 Christian Knees Sky ProCycling s.t.
98 Nick Van der Lijke Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
99 Tomasz Smolen CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
100 Jasper Ockeloen Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
101 Nacer Bouhanni FDJ s.t.
102 Gert Dockx Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
103 Tristan Valentin Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
104 Jochen Deweer Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
105 Kamil Zielinski CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
106 Joel Zangerle Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
107 Ramon Sinkeldam Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
108 David Zabriskie Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
109 Barry Markus Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
110 Sander Helven Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
111 Ben Hermans Team RadioShack s.t.
112 Sven Vandousselaere Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
113 Blazej Janiaczyk CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
114 Pim De Beer Cyclingteam Jo Piels s.t.
115 Ivan Santaromita BMC Racing Team s.t.
116 Jasper Bovenhuis Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
117 Cyrille Heymans Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
118 Christian Patron Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland s.t.
119 Michał Kwiatkowski Team RadioShack s.t.
120 Rudy Lesschaeve Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
121 Tony Gallopin Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
122 Jan Bos Cyclingteam Jo Piels s.t.
123 Julian Dean Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
124 Simon Geschke Skil - Shimano s.t.
125 Jan Bakelants Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
126 Lars Petter Nordhaug Sky ProCycling s.t.
127 Jens Debusschere Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
128 Kevin Van Impe Quick·Step Cycling Team s.t.
129 Thomas Bonnin Skil - Shimano s.t.
130 Jarno Gmelich Cyclingteam Jo Piels s.t.
131 Francesco Reda Quick·Step Cycling Team s.t.
132 Rein Taaramäe Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
133 Steven De Neef Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
134 Bert-Jan Lindeman Cyclingteam Jo Piels s.t.
135 Dries Devenyns Quick·Step Cycling Team s.t.
136 Jonathan Bertrand Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
137 Vicente Reynès Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
138 Morris Possoni Sky ProCycling s.t.
139 Thibaut Pinot FDJ s.t.
140 Maarten Neyens Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
141 Andreas Stauff Quick·Step Cycling Team s.t.
142 Sibrecht Pieters Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
143 Bartlomiej Matysiak CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
144 Christian Poos Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
145 Markel Irizar Team RadioShack s.t.
146 Chad Beyer BMC Racing Team s.t.
147 Fang Han Skil - Shimano s.t.
148 Jürgen Van de Walle Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
149 Joeri Calleeuw Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
150 Daniel Lloyd Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
151 Chris Froome Sky ProCycling s.t.
152 Gediminas Kaupas Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
153 Andrew Talansky Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
154 Peter Kennaugh Sky ProCycling s.t.
155 Jérémy Roy FDJ s.t.
156 Yannick Eijssen BMC Racing Team s.t.
157 Morten Knudsen Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
158 Mauro Santambrogio BMC Racing Team s.t.
159 Daan Olivier Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
160 Ben King Team RadioShack s.t.
161 Danilo Wyss BMC Racing Team s.t.
162 Marco Bos Cyclingteam Jo Piels s.t.
163 Cameron Meyer Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
164 Joaquim Durant Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
165 André Schulze CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
166 Olivier Chevalier Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
167 Dylan Van Baarle Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
168 Cornelius Van Ooijen Cyclingteam Jo Piels s.t.
169 Marcel Meisen Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland s.t.
170 Dirk Finders Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland s.t.
171 Jason McCartney Team RadioShack s.t.
172 Alexander Schmitt Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland s.t.
Conclusion, happy with the podium finish, but disappointed with the tactics. We had the best sprinter in our team, but had no confidence in a mass sprint. We'll start in the Dreidaagse van West-Vlaanderen with the same team, and won't make the same mistake: one good prologue and then work our asses off for Bos.
Tactic: 3 good puncheurs, Sagan, De Gendt and Poels. When De Gendt or Poels feels good inthe last lap / climb, they can take their chance for the win. Sagan should be able to follow the best riders up the steep climb (gradient up to 15%!), and give it all in the final sprint.
Well, as normal a big group is in the attack with a maximum advantage of 6 minutes. In it are riders such as D. Oss (Liquigas), D. Callegarin(Team Type 1), A. Guardini (Farnese), I. Stannard (Sky) and S. Vandenbergh (Kathusha).
At the summit of the penultimate climb, with about 20km to go, they get caught, thanks to the riders from Miche (for Stefan Schumacher).
The high paces has caused some famous victims: Michael Rasmussen (Christina), Davide Rebellin en C. Zaballa (Miche), Vladimir Karpets (Kathusha) and the Colnago-duo Domenico Pozzovivo and Sacha Modolo.
Ath the foot of the last climb, with 10km to go, Grega Bole (Lampre) is the first to attack.
The Slovenian doesn't create a gap, and reaches the summit in first place, in front of Danilo de Luca. De Gendt doesn't have the legs, while Poels works hard to bring Sagan up front.
Bole tries it again in the ascent and gets a gap of 15 seconds. Di Luca and Sagan are on the right side of the bridge and start to sprint with 1.5km to go.
What a jump from Peter Sagan! In the last 100 metres, he passes poor, poor Bole and takes the win in the Giro del Friuli, his first for Monster Energy!
He and we are very lucky, what a great team-achievement! I think we are ready to surprise everyone in Paris - Nice! And to be honest,a great race to ride / play!
Full results:
Spoiler
1 Peter Sagan MONSTER ENERGY - FORD 4h43'38
2 Grega Bole Lampre - ISD s.t.
3 Stefan Schumacher Miche - Guerciotti s.t.
4 Manuel Belletti Colnago - CSF Inox s.t.
5 Oscar Gatto Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli s.t.
6 Francesco Ginanni Androni Giocattoli s.t.
7 Mikhail Ignatiev Katusha Team s.t.
8 Francesco Gavazzi Lampre - ISD s.t.
9 Daniel Moreno Katusha Team s.t.
10 Marco Frapporti Colnago - CSF Inox s.t.
11 Federico Canuti Colnago - CSF Inox s.t.
12 Sergey Firsanov Itera - Katusha s.t.
13 Danilo Di Luca Katusha Team s.t.
14 Luca Ascani D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo s.t.
15 Thomas Löfkvist Sky ProCycling s.t. 16 Wout Poels MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
17 Luca Mazzanti Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli + 49 18 Thomas De Gendt MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
19 Michael Reihs Christina Watches - Onfone s.t.
20 Daniele Callegarin Team Type 1 s.t.
21 Diego Ulissi Lampre - ISD s.t.
22 Petr Benčík PSK Whirlpool - Author + 1'24
23 Daniel Oss Liquigas - Cannondale + 1'48
24 Michele Gaia Miche - Guerciotti s.t. 25 Marc De Maar MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
26 José Serpa Androni Giocattoli + 2'56 27 Marcel Kittel MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
28 Jack Bobridge MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
29 Petr Ignatenko Katusha Team + 3'32
30 Andrey Kashechkin Lampre - ISD s.t.
31 Vladislav Borisov Amore & Vita s.t.
32 Angelo Pagani Colnago - CSF Inox s.t.
33 Stijn Vandenbergh Katusha Team s.t.
34 Tomasz Nose Adria Mobil s.t.
35 Yuriy Agarkov ISD - Lampre Continental s.t.
36 Junya Sano D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo s.t.
37 Ian Stannard Sky ProCycling s.t.
38 Jarosław Rębiewski Bank BGZ + 4'49
39 Sacha Modolo Colnago - CSF Inox + 6'55
40 Constantino Zaballa Miche - Guerciotti s.t.
41 Henry Frusto D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo s.t.
42 Remmert Wielinga Itera - Katusha s.t.
43 Domenico Pozzovivo Colnago - CSF Inox s.t.
44 Vladimir Karpets Katusha Team s.t.
45 Davide Rebellin Miche - Guerciotti s.t.
46 Michael Rasmussen Christina Watches - Onfone s.t.
47 Dario Cioni Sky ProCycling s.t.
48 Matteo Bono Lampre - ISD s.t.
49 Matteo Rabottini Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli + 8'00
50 Simone Stortoni Colnago - CSF Inox s.t.
51 Marius Bernatonis Atlas Personal + 8'36
52 Andrea Guardini Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli s.t.
53 Volodymyr Zagorodny Miche - Guerciotti s.t.
54 Marco Corti Geox - TMC + 9'36
55 Paolo Longo Borghini Liquigas - Cannondale s.t.
56 Sylwester Szmyd Liquigas - Cannondale s.t.
57 Kristjan Fajt Adria Mobil s.t.
58 Cristiano Benenati De Rosa - Ceramica Flaminia s.t.
59 Eros Capecchi Liquigas - Cannondale s.t.
60 Marcel Wyss Geox - TMC s.t.
61 Cayetano Sarmiento Acqua & Sapone s.t.
62 Xavier Florencio Geox - TMC s.t. 63 Jens Keukeleire MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
64 Paolo Bailetti De Rosa - Ceramica Flaminia s.t.
65 Ángel Vicioso Androni Giocattoli s.t.
66 Daniele Righi Lampre - ISD s.t.
67 Alessandro Bertolini Androni Giocattoli s.t.
68 Sergey Kolesnikov Amore & Vita s.t.
69 Ruggero Marzoli Acqua & Sapone s.t.
70 Simone Ponzi Liquigas - Cannondale s.t.
71 Alexander Efimkin Team Type 1 s.t.
72 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Sky ProCycling s.t.
73 Laszló Bodrogi Team Type 1 s.t.
74 Frantisek Padour PSK Whirlpool - Author s.t.
75 Matej Gnezda Adria Mobil s.t.
76 Fortunato Baliani D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo s.t.
77 Claudio Corioni Acqua & Sapone s.t.
78 Fabio Felline Geox - TMC s.t.
79 Mauricio Alberto Ardila Geox - TMC s.t.
80 Javier Megías Team Type 1 s.t.
81 Pawel Cieslik Bank BGZ s.t.
82 Stanislav Kozúbek PSK Whirlpool - Author s.t.
83 Alessandro Donati Acqua & Sapone s.t.
84 Blaz Jarc Adria Mobil s.t.
85 Gianluca Randazzo Miche - Guerciotti s.t.
86 Sławomir Kohut Miche - Guerciotti s.t.
87 Rafaâ Chtioui Acqua & Sapone + 11'54
88 Danilo Napolitano Acqua & Sapone s.t.
89 Fabio Sabatini Liquigas - Cannondale s.t.
90 Mikhail Antonov Itera - Katusha s.t.
91 Chris Froome Sky ProCycling s.t.
92 Alessandro Bazzana Team Type 1 s.t.
93 Fabio Taborre Acqua & Sapone s.t.
94 Giuseppe De Maria De Rosa - Ceramica Flaminia s.t.
95 Gianluca Maggiore De Rosa - Ceramica Flaminia s.t.
96 Diego Caccia Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli s.t.
97 Enrico Magazzini Lampre - ISD s.t.
98 Alexander Kvachuk Lampre - ISD s.t.
99 Dmitry Mokrov Itera - Katusha + 14'01
100 Daniel Vestergaard Christina Watches - Onfone s.t.
101 Federico Rocchetti De Rosa - Ceramica Flaminia s.t.
102 Guytan Lilholt Christina Watches - Onfone s.t.
103 Pavel Kochetkov Itera - Katusha s.t.
104 Roberto Ferrari Androni Giocattoli s.t.
105 Simone Masciarelli Acqua & Sapone s.t.
106 Christian Knees Sky ProCycling s.t.
107 Anton Vorobyev Itera - Katusha s.t.
108 Riccardo Chiarini Androni Giocattoli s.t.
109 Morris Possoni Sky ProCycling + 14'36
110 Luca Barla Androni Giocattoli + 16'42
111 Roberto Cesaro Miche - Guerciotti s.t.
112 Omar Bertazzo Androni Giocattoli s.t.
113 Damiano Margutti De Rosa - Ceramica Flaminia + 17'25
114 Angelo Furlan Christina Watches - Onfone s.t.
115 Tomasz Lisowicz Bank BGZ s.t.
116 Ariel Maximiliano Richeze D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo s.t.
117 Maxime Vantomme Katusha Team s.t.
118 Pierpaolo De Negri Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli s.t.
119 Stefano Borchi De Rosa - Ceramica Flaminia s.t.
120 Daniele Ratto Geox - TMC s.t.
121 Laurent Beuret Atlas Personal s.t.
122 Valery Kobzarenko Team Type 1 s.t.
123 Matthias Brändle Geox - TMC s.t.
124 Alexey Tsatevitch Itera - Katusha s.t.
125 Mitja Mahoric Adria Mobil s.t.
126 Danilo Andrenacci D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo s.t.
127 Vitaliy Popkov ISD - Lampre Continental s.t.
128 Dmytro Grabovskyy ISD - Lampre Continental s.t.
129 David De la Fuente Geox - TMC s.t.
130 Leonardo Giordani Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli s.t.
131 Piotr Sztobryn Bank BGZ + 18'05
132 Elia Viviani Liquigas - Cannondale s.t.
133 Krzysztof Jeżowski Bank BGZ s.t.
134 Edward King Liquigas - Cannondale s.t.
135 Marc Hester Christina Watches - Onfone s.t.
136 Bernardo Riccio D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo s.t.
137 Oleksandr Martynenko ISD - Lampre Continental s.t.
138 Kirill Baranov Itera - Katusha s.t.
139 Jiri Hudecek PSK Whirlpool - Author s.t.
140 Pirmin Lang Atlas Personal s.t.
141 Pelle Clapp Christina Watches - Onfone s.t.
142 Alessandro Bisolti Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli s.t.
143 Tomáš Bucháček PSK Whirlpool - Author s.t. 144 Lieuwe Westra MONSTER ENERGY - FORD + 18'37
145 Alexander Mironov Katusha Team s.t.
146 Kiel Reijnen Team Type 1 s.t.
147 Anatoliy Pakthusov ISD - Lampre Continental + 22'16
148 Guillaume Dessibourg Atlas Personal s.t.
149 Philipp Mamos Amore & Vita s.t.
150 Bersvenn Støen Amore & Vita s.t.
151 Andrea Piechele Colnago - CSF Inox s.t.
152 Michele Merlo De Rosa - Ceramica Flaminia + 22'58
153 Nicolas Sanderson Amore & Vita s.t.
154 Martijn Verschoor Team Type 1 s.t.
155 Mads Moltke Steen Christina Watches - Onfone s.t.
156 Felix Rinker Atlas Personal s.t.
157 Nicolas Baldo Atlas Personal s.t.
158 Davide Appollonio Sky ProCycling s.t.
159 Pawel Sztobryn Bank BGZ s.t.
160 Tomas Danacik PSK Whirlpool - Author s.t.
161 Artem Topchanyuk ISD - Lampre Continental s.t.
162 Sergiy Gretchyn Amore & Vita s.t.
163 Raphael Addy Atlas Personal s.t.
164 Peter Kusztor Atlas Personal s.t.
165 Jure Zagar Adria Mobil s.t.
166 Giuseppe Muraglia D'Angelo & Antenucci - Nippo + 26'14
Monster's Lieuwe Westra is the one with the fastest time, after starting as one of the first: 10'18. Then Niki Terpstra shows his good shape, setting a new best at 10'16.
Sebastien Rosseler is the next to set the best time. He drives like hell, and beats the time of Terpstra with 11 seconds: 10'05!
Strong prologue-riders as Taylor Phinney, Brett Lancaster and David Zabriskie can't go faster, so Rosseler takes his first win of the season (and not to forget, 2 out of 2 for prologues for our team!). Brett Lancaster (Garmin) finished 2nd, 10 seconds slower than Rosseler. Jos van Emden (Rabobank) was one second faster than Terpstra and took 3rd place.
Full results:
Spoiler
1 Sébastien Rosseler MONSTER ENERGY - FORD 10'05
2 Brett Lancaster Team Garmin - Cervélo + 10
3 Jos Van Emden Rabobank Cycling Team s.t. 4 Niki Terpstra MONSTER ENERGY - FORD + 11
5 Michał Kwiatkowski Team RadioShack s.t.
6 Taylor Phinney BMC Racing Team s.t. 7 Lieuwe Westra MONSTER ENERGY - FORD + 13
8 Martin Reimer Skil - Shimano s.t.
9 Dominique Rollin FDJ s.t.
10 David Zabriskie Team Garmin - Cervélo + 14 11 Joost Posthuma MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
12 Bauke Mollema Rabobank Cycling Team + 15
13 Jurgen Van Goolen Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
14 Ian Stannard Sky ProCycling s.t.
15 Nicolas Vogondy Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 16
16 Tiago Machado Team RadioShack s.t.
17 Aleksejs Saramotins Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
18 Sébastien Delfosse Landbouwkrediet s.t.
19 Bert De Waele Landbouwkrediet s.t.
20 Nelson Oliveira Team RadioShack + 17
21 Andrew Talansky Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
22 Gianni Meersman FDJ s.t.
23 Sérgio Paulinho Team RadioShack + 18
24 Tim Mertens Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
25 Dario Cioni Sky ProCycling s.t.
26 Jesse Sergent Team RadioShack + 19
27 Christian Knees Sky ProCycling s.t.
28 Jarl Salomein Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 20
29 Jetse Bol Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
30 Ben Hermans Team RadioShack + 21
31 Sven Van den Houte Veranda's Willems - Accent + 22
32 Martijn Keizer Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
33 Bert De Backer Skil - Shimano s.t.
34 Jonas Vangenechten Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole + 23
35 Pieter Vanspeybroeck Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
36 Olivier Pardini Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t. 37 Martijn Maaskant MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
38 Sep Vanmarcke MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
39 Maarten Wynants Rabobank Cycling Team + 24 40 Coen Vermeltfoort MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
41 Nico Sijmens Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
42 Christian Poos Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
43 Jonas Ljungblad Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
44 Joost Van Leijen Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
45 Michael Tronborg Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de + 25
46 Albert Timmer Skil - Shimano s.t.
47 Huub Duyn Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
48 Gaetan Bille Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
49 Mateusz Taciak CCC Polsat Polkowice + 26
50 Jonathan Dufrasne Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
51 Sven Nys Landbouwkrediet s.t.
52 Stef Clement Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
53 Mitchell Docker Skil - Shimano s.t.
54 Joel Zangerle Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
55 Adrien Petit Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 27
56 Ivan Rovny Team RadioShack s.t.
57 Michael Schär BMC Racing Team + 28
58 Serge Pauwels Sky ProCycling s.t.
59 Thierry Hupond Skil - Shimano s.t.
60 Ramunas Navardauskas Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
61 Kenny Van Hummel Skil - Shimano + 29
62 Matthew Wilson Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
63 Tristan Valentin Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
64 Tom Thill Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
65 Russell Downing Sky ProCycling s.t. 66 Theo Bos MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
67 Pieter Weening Rabobank Cycling Team + 30
68 André Schulze CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
69 Sjef De Wilde Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
70 Grégory Joseph Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
71 Matthew Busche Team RadioShack s.t.
72 Vytautas Kaupas Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
73 Kevin Verwaest Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
74 Steven Van Vooren Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 31
75 Jempy Drucker Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
76 Wouter Mol Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
77 Thibaut Pinot FDJ + 32
78 Joaquim Durant Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
79 Olivier Chevalier Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
80 Koen Barbé Landbouwkrediet s.t.
81 Rafal Ratajczyk CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
82 Leonardo Duque Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
83 Mauro Santambrogio BMC Racing Team + 33
84 Moreno Hofland Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
85 Yannick Eijssen BMC Racing Team s.t.
86 Gediminas Kaupas Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
87 Kurt Hovelynck Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
88 Kamil Zielinski CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
89 Dries Hollanders An Post - Sean Kelly + 34
90 Niels Van Dyck Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
91 Jeff Louder BMC Racing Team s.t.
92 Tom Leezer Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
93 Kevin Peeters Landbouwkrediet + 35
94 Jelle Wallays Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
95 Xabier Zandio Sky ProCycling s.t.
96 Benjamin Verraes Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
97 Oscar Riesebeek Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
98 Preben Van Hecke Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
99 Anthony Geslin FDJ s.t.
100 James Vanlandschoot Veranda's Willems - Accent + 36
101 Thomas Peterson Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
102 Blazej Janiaczyk CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
103 Kess Heytens An Post - Sean Kelly + 37
104 Alberto Ongarato Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
105 Jerome Giaux Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
106 Maxim Belkov Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
107 Joeri Stallaert Landbouwkrediet + 38
108 Ramon Sinkeldam Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
109 Fabio Polazzi Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
110 Baptiste Planckaert Landbouwkrediet s.t.
111 Sylwester Janiszewski CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
112 Christopher Butler BMC Racing Team s.t.
113 Jérôme Baugnies Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
114 Frédéric Amorison Landbouwkrediet s.t.
115 Alain Van der Velde Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
116 Kevin Hulsmans Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly + 39
117 Chris Barton BMC Racing Team s.t.
118 Mirko Selvaggi Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team + 40
119 James Spragg Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
120 Frédéric Guesdon FDJ s.t.
121 Marc Goos Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
122 Michael Barry Sky ProCycling s.t.
123 Nico Eeckhout An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
124 Bram Tankink Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
125 Darijus Dzervus An Post - Sean Kelly + 41
126 Adrian Honkisz CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
127 Michal Golas Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
128 Kjell Carlström Sky ProCycling s.t.
129 Derk Abel Beckeringh Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
130 Frederik Veuchelen Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
131 Wesley Kreder Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
132 Kevin Claeys An Post - Sean Kelly + 42
133 Thomas Damuseau Skil - Shimano s.t.
134 Wilfried Cretskens Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly + 43
135 Tom Slagter Rabobank Cycling Team + 44
136 Wim De Vocht Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
137 Julian Dean Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
138 Francis Mourey FDJ + 46
139 Ivan Santaromita BMC Racing Team + 47
140 Steven De Neef Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
141 Jasper Bovenhuis Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
142 Dylan Teuns Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
143 Pieter Ghyllebert An Post - Sean Kelly + 48
144 Ingmar De Poortere Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
145 Fang Han Skil - Shimano s.t.
146 Murilo Fischer Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
147 Florent Barle Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 49
148 Gediminas Bagdonas An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
149 Mark McNally An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
150 Yoann Bagot Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 50
151 Evert Verbist Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
152 Timothy Dupont Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht + 51
153 Arnaud Courteille FDJ s.t.
154 Steven Caethoven Veranda's Willems - Accent + 52
155 Joris Cornet Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly + 53
156 Jonathan Bertrand Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole + 54
157 Remco Broers Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de + 55
158 Steve Chainel FDJ + 56
159 Pawel Charucki CCC Polsat Polkowice + 58
160 Bjorn De Decker Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht + 59
After a fantastic prologue, I was looking forward to the next 2 stages in the Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen. This report is pretty short, and when you look at the outcome, you'll understand....
Stage 2:
The BOTD takes almost 15 minutes, the circumstances are disastrous: heavy wind, ice cold showers and really none of the other teams that want to do any work. So we get them BOTD back, and suddenly, everyone starts attacking in the last 5km.. But fortunately, we have Theo Bos! A great sprint, a great 1st victory.
Results:
Spoiler
1 Theo Bos MONSTER ENERGY - FORD 4h45'29
2 Preben Van Hecke Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
3 Jonas Vangenechten Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
4 Bert De Waele Landbouwkrediet s.t.
5 Pieter Vanspeybroeck Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
6 Dominique Rollin FDJ s.t.
7 Frédéric Guesdon FDJ s.t.
8 Kevin Hulsmans Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
9 Aleksejs Saramotins Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
10 Jarl Salomein Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
11 Wim De Vocht Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
12 Nico Eeckhout An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
13 Gaetan Bille Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
14 Steven Van Vooren Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t. 15 Sébastien Rosseler MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
16 Wilfried Cretskens Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
17 Blazej Janiaczyk CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
18 Michael Barry Sky ProCycling s.t.
19 Vytautas Kaupas Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
20 Jelle Wallays Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
21 Alberto Ongarato Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
22 Kenny Van Hummel Skil - Shimano s.t.
23 Gianni Meersman FDJ s.t.
24 Jérôme Baugnies Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
25 Sébastien Delfosse Landbouwkrediet s.t. 26 Niki Terpstra MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
27 James Vanlandschoot Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
28 Taylor Phinney BMC Racing Team s.t.
29 Grégory Joseph Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
30 Michał Kwiatkowski Team RadioShack s.t.
31 Jetse Bol Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
32 Olivier Pardini Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t. 33 Sep Vanmarcke MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
34 Mateusz Taciak CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
35 Kurt Hovelynck Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t. 36 Martijn Maaskant MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
37 Kamil Zielinski CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t. 38 Coen Vermeltfoort MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
39 Lieuwe Westra MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
40 Huub Duyn Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t. 41 Joost Posthuma MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
42 Jurgen Van Goolen Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
43 Steve Chainel FDJ s.t.
44 Ramon Sinkeldam Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
45 Julian Dean Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
46 Tim Mertens Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
47 Joost Van Leijen Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
48 Fabio Polazzi Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
49 Jonathan Bertrand Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
50 Jerome Giaux Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
51 Dylan Teuns Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
52 Tristan Valentin Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 1'32
53 David Zabriskie Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
54 Sven Van den Houte Veranda's Willems - Accent + 1'59
55 Mauro Santambrogio BMC Racing Team s.t.
56 Olivier Chevalier Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole + 2'18
57 Michael Schär BMC Racing Team s.t.
58 Murilo Fischer Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
59 Martin Reimer Skil - Shimano + 3'00
60 Rafal Ratajczyk CCC Polsat Polkowice + 3'22
61 André Schulze CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
62 Steven De Neef Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
63 Mitchell Docker Skil - Shimano s.t.
64 Michal Golas Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
65 Baptiste Planckaert Landbouwkrediet s.t.
66 Thierry Hupond Skil - Shimano s.t.
67 Joaquim Durant Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
68 Bjorn De Decker Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
69 Nicolas Vogondy Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
70 Adrian Honkisz CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
71 Nelson Oliveira Team RadioShack + 4'40
72 Jos Van Emden Rabobank Cycling Team + 4'57
73 Tom Leezer Rabobank Cycling Team + 5'37
74 Bauke Mollema Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
75 Andrew Talansky Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
76 Ramunas Navardauskas Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
77 Maarten Wynants Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
78 Adrien Petit Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
79 Kjell Carlström Sky ProCycling s.t.
80 Ingmar De Poortere Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
81 Pieter Ghyllebert An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
82 Stef Clement Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
83 Bram Tankink Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
84 Xabier Zandio Sky ProCycling s.t.
85 Wouter Mol Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
86 Kevin Claeys An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
87 Thomas Peterson Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
88 Pieter Weening Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
89 Chris Barton BMC Racing Team s.t.
90 Martijn Keizer Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
91 Derk Abel Beckeringh Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
92 Serge Pauwels Sky ProCycling s.t.
93 Yannick Eijssen BMC Racing Team s.t.
94 Frederik Veuchelen Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
95 Frédéric Amorison Landbouwkrediet s.t.
96 Steven Caethoven Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
97 Jonas Ljungblad Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
98 Anthony Geslin FDJ s.t.
99 Leonardo Duque Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
100 Bert De Backer Skil - Shimano s.t.
101 Koen Barbé Landbouwkrediet s.t.
102 Kevin Peeters Landbouwkrediet s.t.
103 Nico Sijmens Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
104 Sven Nys Landbouwkrediet s.t.
105 Tom Slagter Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
106 Ben Hermans Team RadioShack s.t.
107 Ian Stannard Sky ProCycling s.t.
108 Brett Lancaster Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
109 Christian Poos Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
110 Matthew Wilson Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
111 Albert Timmer Skil - Shimano s.t.
112 Jempy Drucker Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
113 Sjef De Wilde Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
114 Maxim Belkov Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
115 Sylwester Janiszewski CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
116 Joeri Stallaert Landbouwkrediet s.t.
117 Matthew Busche Team RadioShack s.t.
118 Thibaut Pinot FDJ s.t.
119 Jesse Sergent Team RadioShack s.t.
120 Fang Han Skil - Shimano s.t.
121 Thomas Damuseau Skil - Shimano s.t.
122 Michael Tronborg Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
123 Gediminas Kaupas Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
124 James Spragg Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
125 Christian Knees Sky ProCycling s.t.
126 Ivan Rovny Team RadioShack s.t.
127 Benjamin Verraes Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
128 Sérgio Paulinho Team RadioShack s.t.
129 Niels Van Dyck Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
130 Jonathan Dufrasne Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
131 Jeff Louder BMC Racing Team s.t.
132 Tom Thill Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
133 Timothy Dupont Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht + 8'09
134 Alain Van der Velde Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
135 Joris Cornet Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
136 Gediminas Bagdonas An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
137 Francis Mourey FDJ s.t.
138 Arnaud Courteille FDJ s.t.
139 Evert Verbist Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
140 Kevin Verwaest Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
141 Russell Downing Sky ProCycling + 9'21
142 Mirko Selvaggi Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
143 Tiago Machado Team RadioShack s.t.
144 Dries Hollanders An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
145 Kess Heytens An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
146 Dario Cioni Sky ProCycling + 11'25
147 Joel Zangerle Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
148 Florent Barle Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 13'30
149 Oscar Riesebeek Rabobank Continental Team + 16'22
150 Moreno Hofland Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
151 Christopher Butler BMC Racing Team s.t.
152 Mark McNally An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
153 Jasper Bovenhuis Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
154 Marc Goos Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
155 Ivan Santaromita BMC Racing Team s.t.
156 Yoann Bagot Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
157 Remco Broers Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
158 Wesley Kreder Rabobank Continental Team + 21'05
159 Pawel Charucki CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
160 Darijus Dzervus An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
In the GC, everything looks great. Rosseler leading Bos by 9 seconds. Bos is the favorite to win it, a 2nd place should be enough.
Stage 3:
The same story, a breakaway takes 10 minutes. Nobody wants to work, we work hard to catch them and succeed 5km before the finish. All our man are pretty tired, so aren't able to put Bos up front with a good train. He has to work hard to get up front and finds Belgiam Jonas Vangenechten wheelsucking him.
And you can guess what happens: Vangenechten wins the sprint, Bos gets 2nd, and because of that Vangenechten wins the GC by 2 seconds.....
Results:
Spoiler
1 Jonas Vangenechten Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole 4h58'30 2 Theo Bos MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
3 Kenny Van Hummel Skil - Shimano s.t.
4 Jérôme Baugnies Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
5 Frédéric Amorison Landbouwkrediet s.t.
6 Jonas Ljungblad Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
7 Michał Kwiatkowski Team RadioShack s.t.
8 Gianni Meersman FDJ s.t.
9 Dominique Rollin FDJ s.t.
10 Jetse Bol Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
11 Julian Dean Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
12 Koen Barbé Landbouwkrediet s.t.
13 Bert De Waele Landbouwkrediet s.t. 14 Sébastien Rosseler MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
15 Anthony Geslin FDJ s.t.
16 Vytautas Kaupas Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
17 Kevin Peeters Landbouwkrediet s.t.
18 Leonardo Duque Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
19 Michael Tronborg Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
20 Joeri Stallaert Landbouwkrediet s.t.
21 Steven Caethoven Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
22 Bauke Mollema Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
23 Blazej Janiaczyk CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
24 Mateusz Taciak CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t. 25 Niki Terpstra MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
26 Sébastien Delfosse Landbouwkrediet s.t.
27 Preben Van Hecke Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
28 Jarl Salomein Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
29 Taylor Phinney BMC Racing Team s.t.
30 Frederik Veuchelen Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
31 Aleksejs Saramotins Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
32 Nico Eeckhout An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
33 Kurt Hovelynck Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
34 Nico Sijmens Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t. 35 Martijn Maaskant MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
36 Sven Nys Landbouwkrediet s.t.
37 Ben Hermans Team RadioShack s.t.
38 Michael Barry Sky ProCycling s.t.
39 Kevin Hulsmans Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
40 Bert De Backer Skil - Shimano s.t. 41 Coen Vermeltfoort MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
42 Jesse Sergent Team RadioShack s.t.
43 Jurgen Van Goolen Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
44 Olivier Pardini Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
45 Michael Schär BMC Racing Team s.t.
46 Albert Timmer Skil - Shimano s.t.
47 Steven Van Vooren Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
48 Rafal Ratajczyk CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
49 Sylwester Janiszewski CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
50 Frédéric Guesdon FDJ s.t.
51 Adrien Petit Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
52 Kevin Claeys An Post - Sean Kelly s.t. 53 Lieuwe Westra MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
54 Mitchell Docker Skil - Shimano s.t.
55 Martin Reimer Skil - Shimano s.t.
56 Steven De Neef Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
57 Steve Chainel FDJ s.t.
58 Wilfried Cretskens Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
59 Derk Abel Beckeringh Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
60 Baptiste Planckaert Landbouwkrediet s.t.
61 Yannick Eijssen BMC Racing Team s.t.
62 Joost Van Leijen Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
63 Alberto Ongarato Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
64 Ian Stannard Sky ProCycling s.t. 65 Sep Vanmarcke MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
66 Joost Posthuma MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
67 Pieter Vanspeybroeck Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 2'07
68 Wim De Vocht Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
69 Kamil Zielinski CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
70 Gaetan Bille Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
71 Jelle Wallays Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
72 Brett Lancaster Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
73 Sven Van den Houte Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
74 Jos Van Emden Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
75 Tristan Valentin Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
76 Thibaut Pinot FDJ s.t.
77 Christian Knees Sky ProCycling s.t.
78 Huub Duyn Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
79 Pieter Weening Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
80 Fabio Polazzi Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
81 Oscar Riesebeek Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
82 Maxim Belkov Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team + 2'54
83 Jonathan Bertrand Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
84 Dario Cioni Sky ProCycling s.t.
85 Xabier Zandio Sky ProCycling s.t.
86 Kjell Carlström Sky ProCycling s.t.
87 Martijn Keizer Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
88 Francis Mourey FDJ s.t.
89 Wouter Mol Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
90 Russell Downing Sky ProCycling + 4'07
91 Grégory Joseph Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
92 James Vanlandschoot Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
93 David Zabriskie Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
94 Matthew Wilson Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
95 Mirko Selvaggi Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
96 Christopher Butler BMC Racing Team s.t.
97 Michal Golas Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
98 Nelson Oliveira Team RadioShack s.t.
99 Jerome Giaux Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
100 Thomas Damuseau Skil - Shimano s.t.
101 Joaquim Durant Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
102 Olivier Chevalier Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
103 Stef Clement Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
104 Pawel Charucki CCC Polsat Polkowice + 4'52
105 Murilo Fischer Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
106 Remco Broers Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
107 Serge Pauwels Sky ProCycling s.t.
108 Thierry Hupond Skil - Shimano s.t.
109 Dylan Teuns Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
110 Bjorn De Decker Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
111 Fang Han Skil - Shimano s.t.
112 Jonathan Dufrasne Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
113 Adrian Honkisz CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
114 Jeff Louder BMC Racing Team + 6'07
115 Maarten Wynants Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
116 Ramunas Navardauskas Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
117 Andrew Talansky Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
118 Tim Mertens Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t.
119 Arnaud Courteille FDJ s.t.
120 Kess Heytens An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
121 Benjamin Verraes Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
122 Alain Van der Velde Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
123 Kevin Verwaest Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
124 Pieter Ghyllebert An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
125 Wesley Kreder Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
126 Ingmar De Poortere Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
127 Timothy Dupont Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
128 Florent Barle Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
129 Niels Van Dyck Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
130 Christian Poos Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de + 9'19
131 Mauro Santambrogio BMC Racing Team s.t.
132 Joel Zangerle Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
133 Sjef De Wilde Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
134 Matthew Busche Team RadioShack s.t.
135 Bram Tankink Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
136 Ivan Rovny Team RadioShack s.t.
137 Evert Verbist Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
138 Gediminas Kaupas Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
139 Ramon Sinkeldam Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
140 Ivan Santaromita BMC Racing Team s.t.
141 Nicolas Vogondy Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
142 Tom Thill Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de s.t.
143 Gediminas Bagdonas An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
144 Yoann Bagot Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
145 Mark McNally An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
146 André Schulze CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
147 Joris Cornet Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
148 Darijus Dzervus An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
149 James Spragg Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
150 Jasper Bovenhuis Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
151 Marc Goos Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
152 Jempy Drucker Veranda's Willems - Accent s.t.
153 Tom Slagter Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
154 Moreno Hofland Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
155 Sérgio Paulinho Team RadioShack s.t.
156 Dries Hollanders An Post - Sean Kelly s.t.
157 Thomas Peterson Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
158 Chris Barton BMC Racing Team s.t.
159 Tiago Machado Team RadioShack s.t.
160 Tom Leezer Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
Stupid Belgian roads, stupid cobbles, stupid teams and tactics, and stupid me for not letting the break win by a small margin so Vangenechten couldn't take the bonus seconds Oh well, you're never to old to learn.
GC:
Spoiler
1 Jonas Vangenechten Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole 9h53'59 2 Theo Bos MONSTER ENERGY - FORD + 2 3 Sébastien Rosseler MONSTER ENERGY - FORD + 5
4 Michał Kwiatkowski Team RadioShack + 16 5 Niki Terpstra MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t
.
6 Taylor Phinney BMC Racing Team s.t.
7 Dominique Rollin FDJ + 18 8 Lieuwe Westra MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
9 Joost Posthuma MONSTER ENERGY - FORD + 19
10 Jurgen Van Goolen Veranda's Willems - Accent + 20
11 Bert De Waele Landbouwkrediet + 21
12 Aleksejs Saramotins Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
13 Sébastien Delfosse Landbouwkrediet s.t.
14 Gianni Meersman FDJ + 22
15 Jarl Salomein Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 25
16 Jetse Bol Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
17 Kenny Van Hummel Skil - Shimano + 26
18 Blazej Janiaczyk CCC Polsat Polkowice + 27 19 Martijn Maaskant MONSTER ENERGY - FORD + 28
20 Olivier Pardini Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
21 Preben Van Hecke Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator s.t. 22 Sep Vanmarcke MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
23 Coen Vermeltfoort MONSTER ENERGY - FORD + 29
24 Joost Van Leijen Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
25 Mateusz Taciak CCC Polsat Polkowice + 31
26 Vytautas Kaupas Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de + 35
27 Steven Van Vooren Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 36
28 Kurt Hovelynck Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly + 38
29 Alberto Ongarato Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team + 42
30 Jérôme Baugnies Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 43
31 Kevin Hulsmans Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly + 44
32 Nico Eeckhout An Post - Sean Kelly + 45
33 Frédéric Guesdon FDJ s.t.
34 Michael Barry Sky ProCycling s.t.
35 Wilfried Cretskens Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly + 48
36 Julian Dean Team Garmin - Cervélo + 49
37 Steve Chainel FDJ + 1'01
38 Huub Duyn Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly + 2'31
39 Pieter Vanspeybroeck Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 2'35
40 Gaetan Bille Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole + 2'37
41 Kamil Zielinski CCC Polsat Polkowice + 2'45
42 Jelle Wallays Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 2'47
43 Fabio Polazzi Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole + 2'50
44 Michael Schär BMC Racing Team + 2'51
45 Wim De Vocht Veranda's Willems - Accent + 2'56
46 Martin Reimer Skil - Shimano + 3'18
47 Mitchell Docker Skil - Shimano + 3'53
48 Jonathan Bertrand Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole s.t.
49 Rafal Ratajczyk CCC Polsat Polkowice + 3'59
50 Baptiste Planckaert Landbouwkrediet + 4'05
51 Steven De Neef Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht + 4'10
52 Tristan Valentin Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 4'13
53 Sven Van den Houte Veranda's Willems - Accent + 4'33
54 Grégory Joseph Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 4'42
55 James Vanlandschoot Veranda's Willems - Accent + 4'48
56 Jerome Giaux Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole + 4'49
57 Dylan Teuns Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht + 5'44
58 Bauke Mollema Rabobank Cycling Team + 5'51
59 Ian Stannard Sky ProCycling + 5'57
60 David Zabriskie Team Garmin - Cervélo + 5'58
61 Jesse Sergent Team RadioShack + 6'01
62 Ben Hermans Team RadioShack + 6'03
63 Bert De Backer Skil - Shimano + 6'04
64 Michael Tronborg Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de + 6'05
65 Jonas Ljungblad Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de + 6'06
66 Nico Sijmens Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
67 Albert Timmer Skil - Shimano + 6'07
68 Sven Nys Landbouwkrediet + 6'08
69 Adrien Petit Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 6'09
70 Koen Barbé Landbouwkrediet + 6'14
71 Leonardo Duque Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
72 Yannick Eijssen BMC Racing Team + 6'15
73 Anthony Geslin FDJ + 6'17
74 Kevin Peeters Landbouwkrediet s.t.
75 Derk Abel Beckeringh Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
76 Frédéric Amorison Landbouwkrediet + 6'20
77 Joeri Stallaert Landbouwkrediet s.t.
78 Sylwester Janiszewski CCC Polsat Polkowice s.t.
79 Frederik Veuchelen Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team + 6'23
80 Kevin Claeys An Post - Sean Kelly + 6'24
81 Tim Mertens Topsport Vlaanderen - Mercator + 6'30
82 Steven Caethoven Veranda's Willems - Accent + 6'34
83 Olivier Chevalier Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole + 7'02
84 Jos Van Emden Rabobank Cycling Team + 7'19
85 Murilo Fischer Team Garmin - Cervélo + 7'57
86 Brett Lancaster Team Garmin - Cervélo + 7'59
87 Joaquim Durant Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht + 8'06
88 Christian Knees Sky ProCycling + 8'08
89 Michal Golas Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team + 8'15
90 Pieter Weening Rabobank Cycling Team + 8'19
91 Thibaut Pinot FDJ + 8'21
92 Thierry Hupond Skil - Shimano + 8'47
93 Martijn Keizer Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team + 8'58
94 Adrian Honkisz CCC Polsat Polkowice + 9'00
95 Wouter Mol Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team + 9'07
96 Nelson Oliveira Team RadioShack + 9'09
97 Xabier Zandio Sky ProCycling + 9'11
98 Maxim Belkov Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team + 9'13
99 Kjell Carlström Sky ProCycling + 9'17
100 Bjorn De Decker Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht + 9'18
101 Ramon Sinkeldam Rabobank Continental Team + 9'52
102 Stef Clement Rabobank Cycling Team + 10'15
103 Matthew Wilson Team Garmin - Cervélo + 10'18
104 Thomas Damuseau Skil - Shimano + 10'31
105 Jonathan Dufrasne Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole + 11'00
106 Serge Pauwels Sky ProCycling + 11'02
107 Fang Han Skil - Shimano + 11'22
108 Francis Mourey FDJ + 11'54
109 Mauro Santambrogio BMC Racing Team + 11'56
110 Andrew Talansky Team Garmin - Cervélo + 12'06
111 Maarten Wynants Rabobank Cycling Team + 12'13
112 Ramunas Navardauskas Team Garmin - Cervélo + 12'17
113 Jeff Louder BMC Racing Team + 12'23
114 Niels Van Dyck Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
115 Benjamin Verraes Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht + 12'24
116 Ingmar De Poortere Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly + 12'33
117 Pieter Ghyllebert An Post - Sean Kelly + 12'37
118 Nicolas Vogondy Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 13'02
119 André Schulze CCC Polsat Polkowice + 13'16
120 Russell Downing Sky ProCycling + 14'00
121 Mirko Selvaggi Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team + 14'13
122 Dario Cioni Sky ProCycling + 14'42
123 Kevin Verwaest Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht + 14'51
124 Alain Van der Velde Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly + 14'59
125 Arnaud Courteille FDJ + 15'12
126 Timothy Dupont Jong Vlaanderen - Bauknecht s.t.
127 Sérgio Paulinho Team RadioShack + 15'19
128 Christian Poos Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de + 15'25
129 Ivan Rovny Team RadioShack + 15'28
130 Tom Thill Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de + 15'30
131 Sjef De Wilde Veranda's Willems - Accent + 15'31
132 Matthew Busche Team RadioShack s.t.
133 Jempy Drucker Veranda's Willems - Accent + 15'32
134 Gediminas Kaupas Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de + 15'34
135 Tom Leezer Rabobank Cycling Team + 15'35
136 Thomas Peterson Team Garmin - Cervélo + 15'37
137 Chris Barton BMC Racing Team + 15'40
138 Bram Tankink Rabobank Cycling Team + 15'41
139 James Spragg Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly s.t.
140 Tom Slagter Rabobank Cycling Team + 15'45
141 Kess Heytens An Post - Sean Kelly + 16'10
142 Gediminas Bagdonas An Post - Sean Kelly + 18'22
143 Evert Verbist Veranda's Willems - Accent + 18'23
144 Joris Cornet Donckers Koffie - Jelly Belly + 18'26
145 Tiago Machado Team RadioShack + 19'01
146 Oscar Riesebeek Rabobank Continental Team + 19'09
147 Dries Hollanders An Post - Sean Kelly + 19'19
148 Florent Barle Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 20'31
149 Christopher Butler BMC Racing Team + 21'12
150 Joel Zangerle Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de + 21'15
151 Remco Broers Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de + 22'14
152 Moreno Hofland Rabobank Continental Team + 26'19
153 Marc Goos Rabobank Continental Team + 26'26
154 Ivan Santaromita BMC Racing Team + 26'33
155 Jasper Bovenhuis Rabobank Continental Team s.t.
156 Mark McNally An Post - Sean Kelly + 26'35
157 Yoann Bagot Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 26'36
158 Pawel Charucki CCC Polsat Polkowice + 27'00
159 Wesley Kreder Rabobank Continental Team + 27'58
160 Darijus Dzervus An Post - Sean Kelly + 31'10
Of course, 5 man in the top 10 of the GC is great, 2 in the top 3 also. But letting the GC-win slip away (again....) is so painful.
Well, up to Paris - Nice, at least one race where we aren't the favorites, but just a Wildcard team.
Oh yes, forget to tell: good news, we got a wildcard for Milan - San Remo. So Peter Sagan can shine at the Primavera! Well, unless the organsation decides to start giving bonus seconds there....
Edited by dienblad on 14-08-2011 22:12
Last year's edition was won by Alberto Contador, riding for Astana in 2010. He won't defend his title, because he doesn't participate this year.
The route:
8 stages, not that difficult. The decisive stage probably will be the 5th one, finishing in the Vernoux-en-Vivarais, with the climb of the Col de la Mure close to the finish. Good time trialists have to hang on there, one day later the race will probably decided in the ITT to Aix-en-Provence.
Favourites:
***: R. Kreuziger (Astana), C. Horner (Radioshack), B. Wiggins (Sky)
**: Maxime Monfort (Leopard), Tony Martin (HTC), Richie Porte (Saxo)
*: Peter Sagan (Monster), JC Peraud (AG2R), Christophe Kern (Europcar)
Our team:
Sagan is our leader. He will try to sneak some bonus seconds in the sprints (and help Kittel), is a good puncheur and has a decent time trial. Further, we'll try to get De Gendt or Poels in the KOTM-jersey. And of course, we aim for a stage win.And the GC: a top 10 would be great!
Stage 1: 154,5 from Houdan to Houdan, with 1 KOTM-sprint and 2 IS.
Our first goal is to get Wout Poels in the KOTM-jersey and he succeeds in it. He's the first on the summit of the Cote de Septeuil and takes the 4 points. Mauro da Dalto (Liquigas) gets 2nd, Dominique Klemme (Leopard) 3rd.
Poels slows down and takes place in the peloton. Then a 12-man group gets away and forms the BOTD: Laurent Didier, K. Kroon (BMC), J. Hunt (Sky), K, Ista (Cof), D. Veilleux & A. Pichot (Eur), N. Maes (QSt), D. Vigano (Leo), M. Bodnar (Liq), O. Bulgarelli (Far), G. Gardeyn (VCD) and D. van Winden (Rabo).
The BOTD gets a maximum advantage of 4'30. Davide Vigan wins the first IS, Gorik Gardeyn in 2nd and Didier in 3rd.
With about 50km to go, Nick Nuyens (SBS) counterattacks and tries to make the jump to the leading group.
The 2nd IS with still 23km to go is won by Jeremy Hunt. Ista gets 2nd in front of Nuyens. The advantage to the peloton is only 1'45 and it looks like it's gonna be a mass sprint.
The lead decreases to 1'05 with 10km to go. Can the BOTD stay up front? With 6km to go, Otavio Bulgarelli is the first to attack. Laurent Didier knows he can't beat guys like Hunt and Vigano un a sprint and counterattacks, with Veilleux in his wheel.
But Didier fails. WIth 1km to go, only Veilleux is still in front, but the other breakaways are on his tail already.
With 500 metres to go, they've passed him. Rabo's Dennis van Winden is in front, but Kevyn Ista comes with a lot of speed in the middle of the road.
And he takes the win. A superb start of Paris - Nice for Cofidis and Ista with his biggest win in his career! Van Winden gets 2nd, Nicolas Maes in 3rd place. Didier is too exhausted to sprint and finishes in 13th.
49 seconds later, Thor Hushovd leads the peloton over the finish, followed by Mark Cavendish, Marcel Kittel.
Results
Spoiler
1 Kevyn Ista Cofidis, le crédit en ligne 3h33'01
2 Dennis Van Winden Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
3 Nikolas Maes Quick·Step Cycling Team s.t.
4 Jeremy Hunt Sky ProCycling s.t.
5 Nick Nuyens Saxo Bank SunGard s.t.
6 Maciej Bodnar Liquigas - Cannondale s.t.
7 Davide Viganò Leopard Trek s.t.
8 Karsten Kroon BMC Racing Team s.t.
9 Alexandre Pichot Team Europcar s.t.
10 David Veilleux Team Europcar s.t.
11 Otavio Didier Bulgarelli Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli s.t.
12 Gorik Gardeyn Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t. 13 Laurent Didier MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
14 Thor Hushovd Team Garmin - Cervélo + 49
15 Mark Cavendish HTC - Highroad s.t. 16 Marcel Kittel MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
17 Romain Feillu Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
18 Samuel Dumoulin Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t. 19 Peter Sagan MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
20 Allan Davis Pro Team Astana s.t.
21 Denis Galimzyanov Katusha Team s.t.
22 Greg Henderson Sky ProCycling s.t.
23 Michael Matthews Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
24 Juan José Haedo Saxo Bank SunGard s.t.
25 Anthony Ravard AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
26 Lars Boom Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
27 André Greipel Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
28 Greg Van Avermaet BMC Racing Team s.t.
29 Gianluca Mirenda Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli s.t.
30 Cyril Gautier Team Europcar s.t. 31 Jens Keukeleire MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
32 Luca Mazzanti Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli s.t.
33 Rein Taaramäe Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
34 Enrico Gasparotto Pro Team Astana s.t.
35 Leonardo Giordani Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli s.t.
36 Matteo Carrara Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
37 Daniel Moreno Katusha Team s.t.
38 Yury Trofimov Katusha Team s.t.
39 Rick Flens Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
40 Leonardo Bertagnolli Lampre - ISD s.t.
41 Maciej Paterski Liquigas - Cannondale s.t. 42 Thomas De Gendt MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
43 Valentin Iglinskiy Pro Team Astana s.t.
44 Pavel Brutt Katusha Team s.t.
45 Dimitriy Muravyev Team RadioShack s.t.
46 Adriano Malori Lampre - ISD s.t.
47 Elia Favilli Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli s.t.
48 Francisco Pérez Movistar Team s.t.
49 Maxime Monfort Leopard Trek s.t.
50 Vasil Kiryienka Movistar Team s.t.
51 Paul Martens Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
52 Markel Irizar Team RadioShack s.t.
53 Ignatas Konovalovas Movistar Team s.t.
54 Jesús Herrada Movistar Team s.t.
55 Andreas Klöden Team RadioShack s.t.
56 Geoffroy Lequatre Team RadioShack s.t.
57 Dominic Klemme Leopard Trek s.t.
58 Guillaume Le Floch Team Europcar s.t.
59 Simon Clarke Pro Team Astana s.t.
60 Simon Gerrans Sky ProCycling s.t.
61 Jens Voigt Leopard Trek s.t.
62 Ben King Team RadioShack s.t.
63 Tony Gallopin Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
64 Thomas Löfkvist Sky ProCycling s.t.
65 Rui Costa Movistar Team s.t.
66 Cyril Dessel AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
67 Franck Bouyer Team Europcar s.t.
68 Rinaldo Nocentini AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
69 Nicki Sørensen Saxo Bank SunGard s.t.
70 Ryder Hesjedal Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
71 Christophe Kern Team Europcar s.t.
72 David Millar Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
73 Alan Marangoni Liquigas - Cannondale s.t.
74 Johnny Hoogerland Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
75 Roman Kreuziger Pro Team Astana s.t.
76 Marzio Bruseghin Movistar Team s.t.
77 Filippo Pozzato Katusha Team s.t.
78 Marcus Burghardt BMC Racing Team s.t.
79 Juan Manuel Gárate Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
80 Roger Hammond Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
81 Jakob Fuglsang Leopard Trek s.t.
82 Daniel Sesma Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
83 Steve Houanard AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
84 Sylwester Szmyd Liquigas - Cannondale s.t.
85 Cameron Meyer Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
86 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Sky ProCycling s.t.
87 Mikaël Chérel AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
88 Tony Martin HTC - Highroad s.t.
89 Dries Devenyns Quick·Step Cycling Team s.t.
90 Egoi Martínez Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
91 Jürgen Roelandts Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
92 Chris Horner Team RadioShack s.t.
93 Alexander Mironov Katusha Team s.t.
94 Marco Marcato Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
95 Robert Hunter Team RadioShack s.t.
96 Eduard Vorganov Katusha Team s.t.
97 Kevin Seeldraeyers Quick·Step Cycling Team s.t.
98 Ben Swift Sky ProCycling s.t.
99 Manuel Quinziato BMC Racing Team s.t.
100 Jürgen Van de Walle Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
101 Daniel Lloyd Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
102 Diego Caccia Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli s.t.
103 Hayden Roulston HTC - Highroad s.t.
104 Michael Albasini HTC - Highroad s.t.
105 Jan Bakelants Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
106 Danilo Hondo Lampre - ISD s.t.
107 Yevgeniy Nepomnyachshiy Pro Team Astana s.t.
108 Laurens Ten Dam Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
109 Grischa Niermann Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
110 Gabriel Rasch Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
111 Damien Monier Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
112 Manuel Cardoso Team RadioShack s.t.
113 Danilo Wyss BMC Racing Team s.t.
114 Matthias Frank BMC Racing Team s.t.
115 Maarten Neyens Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
116 Kasper Klostergaard Saxo Bank SunGard s.t.
117 Juan José Oroz Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
118 Julien Bérard AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
119 Alessandro Bisolti Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli s.t.
120 Danny Pate HTC - Highroad s.t.
121 Rubén Plaza Movistar Team s.t.
122 Luboš Pelánek Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli s.t.
123 Sven Vandousselaere Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
124 Simon Spilak Lampre - ISD s.t.
125 Jens Mouris Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
126 David Tanner Saxo Bank SunGard s.t. 127 Marc De Maar MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
128 Caleb Fairly HTC - Highroad s.t. 129 Wout Poels MONSTER ENERGY - FORD s.t.
130 Björn Leukemans Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
131 Artem Ovechkin Katusha Team s.t.
132 Martin Velits HTC - Highroad s.t.
133 Christophe Le Mével Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
134 Vicente Reynès Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
135 Alessandro Ballan BMC Racing Team s.t.
136 Julien El Fares Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
137 Iván Gutiérrez Movistar Team s.t.
138 Mikel Nieve Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
139 Richie Porte Saxo Bank SunGard s.t.
140 Bert Grabsch HTC - Highroad s.t.
141 Amaël Moinard BMC Racing Team s.t.
142 Fredrik Kessiakoff Pro Team Astana s.t.
143 Sebastian Lang Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
144 Lars Petter Nordhaug Sky ProCycling s.t.
145 Ruslan Pidgornyy Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
146 Vincent Jérôme Team Europcar s.t.
147 Jean-Christophe Peraud AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
148 Nicolas Edet Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
149 Michael Mørkøv Saxo Bank SunGard s.t.
150 Andrey Kashechkin Lampre - ISD s.t.
151 Mathieu Claude Team Europcar s.t.
152 Alexander Kvachuk Lampre - ISD s.t.
153 Arnaud Labbe Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
154 Robert Kiserlovski Pro Team Astana s.t.
155 Cristiano Salerno Liquigas - Cannondale s.t.
156 Zdenek Stybar Quick·Step Cycling Team s.t.
157 Jesús Hernández Saxo Bank SunGard s.t.
158 Anders Lund Leopard Trek s.t.
159 Bradley Wiggins Sky ProCycling s.t.
160 Kristof Vandewalle Quick·Step Cycling Team s.t.
161 Miguel Mínguez Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
162 Timothy Duggan Liquigas - Cannondale s.t.
163 Francesco Reda Quick·Step Cycling Team s.t.
164 Maxime Bouet AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
165 Mauro Da Dalto Liquigas - Cannondale s.t.
166 Francesco Chicchi Quick·Step Cycling Team s.t.
167 Alessandro Vanotti Liquigas - Cannondale s.t.
168 Brice Feillu Leopard Trek s.t.
169 Vitaliy Buts Lampre - ISD s.t.
170 Pierre Cazaux Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
171 Romain Sicard Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
172 Thomas Rohregger Leopard Trek s.t.
173 Enrico Magazzini Lampre - ISD s.t.
174 Addy Engels Quick·Step Cycling Team s.t.
175 Ion Izagirre Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t. 176 Jack Bobridge MONSTER ENERGY - FORD + 3'05
Forgot to mention: Wout Poels gets his polka-dot jersey, but didn't take a screenshot of it...