European Championships coming on weekend.
Edited by jandal7 on 20-05-2015 21:56
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
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Very sorry for the jerseys. And the green circles. And forgetting to export.
European Championships ITT
Today you join us in Melbourne, Australia for the 2nd European Championships ITT. A quick overview if you missed our preview show, expect to see these men in contention today:
The Race
Alexander Wetterhall (BAR) is first off, and he sets the best check one time of 25'12". This is, though, quickly bettered by just one second courtesy of countryman Thomas Löfkvist (IAM).
First of the big boys is Wilco Kelderman (BEL) in his Dutch National Champion's jersey. He fails to set the best time at check one, 12 seconds behind Slovak Champ Velits' (GRS) 24'42". Geraint Thomas (SKY) is a second behind. The Dutchman is, however, just a second off Ion Izagirre at check two.
And having a stormer ride is Velits, who takes the second time-check as well for now, 14 seconds in front of provisional second Ilja Kusnesov (KAT) and 24 ahead of Kelderman.
Jordan Birtles (GRS) and Norge champ Edvald Boasson Hagen (SKY) are next favorites off.
Polish Champion Bodnar (CAN) takes out a new best check one time, as Thomas comes in 26 seconds down on Velits at the second checkpoint and Kelderman pushes Izagirre out of the hot seat by a second, 1h10'34" the time.
First Kusnesov (by 15s) and now Velits by 34 seconds beat Kelderman though as Edvald Boasson Hagen sets a new best Check One time, 11 seconds ahead of Bodnar and seven ahead of Birtles. Thomas takes fifth, 36 down on Velits.
Amazing scenes in the countryside as Jordan Birtles is about to catch Ignatenko (CSS), who in turn has just caught Del Pino (MOV)!
Back at the starthouse Lipawsky (AND) has set out just before Pennarossa (CAN). Now at Check Two Bodnar has overtaken Velits as pace-setter by 10 seconds. Also having a good day is Le Bon (FDJ), who at that check was a second off Velits.
Now news is Birtles is leader at check two by 12s down to Maciej Bodnar! As well we see now finally, the all star line-up of favorites leaving in the last ten minutes: Dowsett (COL), Malori (BEL), Portuguese Champion Costa (MOV), Grawunder (CSS), last year's victor, British Champion Sir Bradley Wiggins (GRS), Tour-Vuelta doubler Chris Froome (SKY) and World TT Champion Tony Martin (OQS) to start next! Wow, that will be an intense fourteen minutes as their time comes in!
Tour of Qatar winner Edvald Boasson Hagen now leading Birtles by eleven seconds at checkpoint two and Bodnar leading now by 12 over Velits and Johan Le Bon slips into third there at the finish as teammate Jeremy Roy (FDJ) sets the provisional best at check one, eleven seconds over EBH. Lipawsky already a minute down there. Now, the final man on the road, Tony Martin leaves the starthouse!
The next fourteen minutes will see us get a look at our most of our main favorites against each other at check one.
Dowsett: New best, 24'12", one second over Roy
Malori: 4th, 12 seconds back on Dowsett, st as EBH
Costa: 6th, 17 seconds off Dowsett, 5 off Malori, two ahead of Birtles (who just took to the hot seat) to put it in perspective.
Grawunder: New Best, 24'06", 5s on Dowsett, 18 on Hagen/Malori, 23 on Costa and 25 on Birtles
Wiggins: 4th, 14 seconds off Grawunder, 9 off Dowsett, 4 on EBH (Now in hot seat)/Malori, 9 on Costa and 11 on Birtles.
Froome: New Best, 24'04", a second on Grawunder, 7 on Dowsett, 16 on Wiggins, 20 on Hagen/Malori and 25 on Costa.
Martin: 3rd, 6 seconds down on Froome, 5 off Grawunder, 1 on Dowsett, 2 on Roy (NB Check 2, 26 up on EBH), 16 on Wiggins, 20 on Hagen/Malori, 24 on Quaade and 25 on Costa.
Round 1 Froome.
Check two, from Castroviejo to the end.
Casteoviejo (EUS): 6th, 57 seconds off Roy's phenomenal pace.
Spilak (KAT): 19th, 1'24" off Roy.
Lipawsky: 29th, 1'40" down on Roy.
Pennarossa: 13th, 1'11" off Roy.
Dowsett: New Best, 46'27", a second on Roy.
Malori: 3rd, 26 off the provisional lead.
Costa: 7th, 38 down.
Grawunder: New Best, 46'16, 10 seconds ahead of Dowsett.
Wiggins: 4th, 30 seconds back from Grawunder
Froome: New Best, 46'14, a mere second in front of Grawunder.
Martin: 3rd again, 11 seconds off Froome.
Round 2 Froome, perhaps his very Un-Froomelike position is helping rather than hindering?
And now the finish line in Geelong:
Roy: New Best, 1h08'40", a whopping 39 seconds ahead of Hagen, what a ride!
Castroviejo: 7th, 1'11" off the Frenchman.
Spilak: 24th, 1'59" down.
Lipawsky: 32st, 2'21" behind.
Pennarossa: 14th, 1'40" off Roy.
Dowsett (Who almost got the San Marinese rider on the line): New Best, 1h08'38", just 2 seconds ahead of Roy.
Malori: 3rd, 37 off Dowsett's time.
Costa: 6th, 55 seconds behind the Brit.
Grawunder: New Best, 1h07'22", beating Dowsett by 15 seconds
Wiggins: 4th, 42 second back on the young German.
Froome: My, my, that is close! Oh and how disappointing for the EPIC youngster, I can confirm only a second and a half between the GT winner and the youngster. 1h08'20" the new time to beat for the World Champ, Tony Martin.
After his victory last year, Kim is the top favourite again this year. His challengers are 4 Australians and a Tunisian.
Porte is the first of the favourites off the ramp. At the first time check at 18 km he sets a time of 24'50. At the second time check he has already passed one of the two riders that started before him. His time at the 35 km mark is 47'41. Porte passed the first starter of the day and comes to the finish in 1h10'24. It will be a while before we see anyone beat this time.
Right after Porte, it is Meyer to start his Time Trial. He is not expected to win here, but he could be able to get on the podium. At the first time check he is 9 seconds behind Porte. Meyer comes through the second time check, 15 seconds behind Porte. Meyer does not do bad, at the finish he is only 21 seconds behind Porte.
Another favourite for Omega Pharma is off for his Time Trial. Dennis finished second last year, and he will be hoping for the win today. After many riders falling short of Porte's time, Dennis is faster at the first time check, albeit only with 3 seconds. Dennis is also faster at the second time check, but his lead has shrunk to 2 seconds. Dennis has a very weak third part of the race and he finishes 16 seconds behind Porte. It won't even be the podium for him this year.
The only African rider to challenge for the win, Marouane Shaqif, is on the road now. At the first time check Shaqif goes 4 seconds faster than Dennis. At the second time check Shaqif is 12 seconds faster than Dennis. Porte rode a very fast last part, but Shaqif beats him at the finish line with 3 seconds. With only 2 riders still to finish the Tunisian champion will at least be on the podium.
Another Australian favourite, Luke Durbridge, is off now too. We are only waiting for Kim now. At the first time check Durbo goes 11 seconds faster than Shaqif. Durbridge keeps going strong. He is 20 seconds faster than Shaqif at the second time check. Turbo Durbo adds another 9 seconds to his lead and finishes 29 seconds ahead of Shaqif.
Last year's winner, Po-ding Kim is now on the road. It will be interesting to see if he blows the others away again this year. Kim is likely to repeat last year's performance as he is 11 seconds faster than Durbridge at the first time check. At the second time check Kim steams through and he is 21 seconds faster than Durbridge. Unless he crashes or has a flat tire, he will win here. There is no doubt about who is the best Time Trialist of the Aufrasian continent. Kim finishes 30 seconds faster than Durbridge and is the Aufrasian ITT champion again.
On paper this should be one for the sprinters, but the repeated hill could make things more complicated than as such.
Especially since there is no top-sprinters at the line.
Only three riders go for the break and with 200 km to go they have a gap of 5'52
They are: Juárez (TNE), Louder (UHC) and Eldridge (TNN)
175 km and 7'41
150 km and 8'21
125 km and 7'49
Garmin and BMC are doing all the work in the peloton.
100 km and 6'06
90 km and 5'31
For some reason people crash one at a time in the peloton. Janier Acevedo and L.S. Haedo are tho biggest names to hit the tarmac so far.
80 km and 4'38
70 km and 4'14
60 km and 3'45
50 km and 2'51
40 km to go.
Louder has gone solo and has a minute to Juáerz and 2'46 to the peloton.
30 km to go. Louder has 2'07 to the peloton containing both Juárez and Eldridge.
20 km and 1'56
15 km and 1'06
Tuft is making a massive difference.
When the riders hit the hills for the last time Amador decides to go on the attack while Elridge is almost reeled in.
Bonilla is the only one from the peloton to take up the chase.
Not what Amador had in mind so he attacks again with 7 km and one hill to go and crosses the summit with a 10 second gap to Bonilla, who has 17 seconds to Eldridge and 47 seconds to the peloton where the chase have lost its pace a bit.
Amador found his moment and made the most of it to take a great win.
Bonilla gets a good 2nd place. A huge day for Costa Rican cycling.
Plenty of riders are happy to sprint for 3rd
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