Main Goal: To kickstart Sylvain Chavanel with a top10.
Winner: Xavier Florencio. Cofidiss General best: (7) Tristan Valentin +35”
Team:Mathieu Heijboer, Julien El Fares, Tristan Valentin, Jérôme Baugnies, Sebastian Portal, Jean-Eudes Demaret, Alexandre Blain. Captain:Sylvain Chavanel.
Profile/tactics:
This one-day hilly classic is a very short one of its kind, with only 140 km of driving. In addition to this, this years route is very friendly to those who seek for a sprintfinish. Only a very few long, soft percentages divides them from the last 30 km. of all-out flat terrain.
We wont be going for any particular results, so we'll mainly focus on giving Chavanel a kick that can get him going until Tour Meditarenéen in mid-february, where he'll be warming up for Paris-Nice which is his biggest goal this year.
Race:
The first 40 kilometres were heavily marked by many attacks, where only one four-man break escaped the pelotons iron-grasp. They were out all day and the pack stuck together until there was 10 k left. El Fares got into a little group of Halgand, Florencio and Tjallingii, but had to let go as the time of attacking had drained him from power. He remains in front of the peloton but gets reeled back by the frontiers in the sprint.
Florencio wins in front if Halgand, and our Valentin gets a respectable 7th behind Delage and Feillu.
Sylvain Chavanel looked tired througout the whole stage, but as we didn't went for anything to start with, it doesn't matter. We must just hope to see him in better shape at the Etòile de Bessèges and Tour de Méditarenéen, where he'll also ride as captain for us.
Results:
1. Xavier Florencio 3h30'10” - Bouygues Telecom
2. Patrice Halgan s.t. - Crédit Agricole
3. Maarten Pieter Tjallingii s.t. - Silence-Lotto
4. Mikel Gaztanaga Echevarria +35” - Agritubel
5. Romain Feillu s.t. - Agritubel
6. Mickael Delage s.t. - Francaise Des Jeux
7. Tristan Valentin s.t. - Cofidis
8. Julien Dean s.t. - Slipstream powered by Chipotle
9. John Gadret s.t. - Ag2r la Mondiale
10. Lillian Jégou s.t. - Francaise Des Jeux
Main Goal: To get Chavanel in shape for Méditarenéen with a top5.
Winner: Cyril Gautier. Cofidiss General best: (2) Sylvain Chavanel +4"
Team:ik Verbrugghe, David Moncoutié, Romain Villa, Sébastian Portal, Samuel Dumoulin, Stéphane Augé, Florent Brard. Captain:Sylvain Chavanel.
Favorites: Sylvain Chavanel – Good all-rounder. Definitely the strongest in the peloton, aside Voeckler. Thomas Voeckler – Competent 'hiller' with a great sense of determination. Succes in this race depends on, whetever he wants it or not. Steffen Wesemann: – Normally a cobbler, and he'll probably just be warming up. Great on the hillside, though. Sandy Casar: – Fine skills when the road rises.
Profile/tactics:
A middle-class french race. Its got four flat stage and and only one hilly, where the race itself is gonna be settled. However, this is not entirely sure as this stage ends up with a flat distance, and then a little climb in the end, followed by a long downhill. So if there isn't plenty attacks on the climb it will just end up in a massprint.
In this race we will only be looking to improve Chavanels form and get him inside a top5. Apart from that he'll be going for a stage-victory. Dumoulin and Verbrugghe will be there to help him through all sorts of terrain so he should be covered.
Race:
1st Stage: Le Grau du Roi – Le Grau du Roi, 154 km.
As usual an unavoidable storm of useless attacks is launched, and none of them retrieves any succssion before an 8-manbreak gets to travel their one ways. After that a few more riders tries to get clear, but only one manages to stay and he joins the eight others.
They get to fight for the middle-sprints, but with 20 kilometres home its over. In the sprint Dumoulin almost carries Chavanel, but when the other sprinters comes forward he can't hold on to his fellow mates wheel.
Keisse and Haddou immediately gets forward and Keisse wins this duel. Dumoulin catches up an ends in a third.
- Belgian for yellow!
2nd Stage: Nîmes – Saint Ambroix, 149 km.
The concept from the previous stage were followed by the book; a break got out and were reeled in a couple of hours later. In the final sprint, Tyler Farrar drew the longest straw and won ahead of Haddou.
3rd Stage: Le Grand Combe – Les Salles Du Gardon, 138 km.
As the start to the hilly stage in the Étoile, a massive sidewind cut into the landscape and maked the stage even more difficult for the riders. Some riders doesn't seem to be affected by this and already at the second hill, Cote de la Jasse, 8 men drive off. Two of them doesn't make it and is re-united with the peloton only minutes after. It stays like this until the final climb; Col de la Baraque. Everyone's been brought back, but Franck Renier remains in a lead of 1 minute.
Halfway up the hill Chavanel makes a punching acceleration and dances up the hillside. Halgand, Casar, Moreau, and Gautier tries to follow him and barely succedes. At the downhill Chavanel again tries but he's move was made to late and they started sprinting. Casar takes the lead as a start but gets overran by Cyril Gautier and a little afterwards, Sylvain Chavanel.
- French power in french surroundings.
4th Stage: GP Casino Allègre les Fumades, 152 km.
Nothing of further importance for the race got to happen here. Everybody followed the routine and in the end, Haddou came out as the winner after two times of getting second.
1. Saïd Haddou 3h08'57”
2. Romain Feillu s.t. - Agritubel
3. David Kopp s.t. - Gerolsteiner
11. Sylvain Chavanel s.t. - Cofidis
5th Stage: Gagnières – Bessèges, 145 km.
As always, a little group of naive riders gets away in their flight from everything we call sensible behaviour. This time it contains 9 man. Some of them drops off while others tries to go solo and they all fail.
After 70 km of driving the break has gotten 6 minutes down, and the peloton starts to chase. The result of this came out with 20 kilometres left ehere they were all gathered.
At the last distance up to the goal, which slightly went upwards in a small percentage Gadret shown himself to be fastest and won the stage.
1. John Gadret 3h12'53” - Ag2r la Mondiale
2. Tyler Farrar s.t. - Slipstream powered by Chipotle
3. David Kopp s.t. - gerolsteiner
6. Sylvain Chavanel s.t. - Cofidis
General Classification:
1. Cyril Gautier 14h41'38” - Bretagne
2. Sylvain Chavanel +4” - Cofidis
3. Patrice Halgand +6” - Crédit Agricole
4. Sandy Casar +10” - Francaise Des Jeux
5. John Gadret +22” - Ag2r la Mondiale
Teams-OVR:
1. Crédit Agricole 43h45'52”
2. CofidisEdited by Silence on 11-03-2008 18:30
Le'Sheep: If life's a bitch use a knife to get over it.
Honestly I don't pay much attention to the text report for the races... I read the tactics, etc. but not the report... Or at least not the whole report...
Maybe you could put some more pictures of the stages and relate parts of the report to them... It would make an even more exciting read if you did that...
But this is only my opinion and I think your story is very much interesting as it is...
I got the wrong savegame with me from my mother
Don't count on any updates before sunday, if I don't find a solution..
Btw. This DOES NOT mean that the story is dead, and I'll be back with further results of the remainder February results, before we'll move on to the first cobble-classics!
Le'Sheep: If life's a bitch use a knife to get over it.
Stage 5: Magaluf – Palmanova, 147 km.
1. Stefan Schumacher 3h30’32” – Gerolsteiner
2. José Iván Gutierrez Palacios s.t. – Caisse d’Epargne
3. Carlos Barredo s.t. – Quick-Step 4.Nick Nuyens s.t. – Cofidis
General Classification:
1. Thomas Dekker 17h06’44” – Rabobank
2. Juan José Cobo Acebo +44” – Saunier Duval – Scott
3. Stefan Schumacher +1’00” – Gerolsteiner
4. Sébastian Joly +2’15” – Francaise Des Jeux
5. José Iván Gutierrez Palacios +2’18” – Caisse d’Epargne
6. Rodrigo García Rena +2’44” – Extremadura
7. Carlos Barredo +2’46” – Quick-Step
8. Ronny Scholz +2’55” - Gerolsteiner
9. Dmytro Grabovskyy +3’00” – Quick-Step
10. Rubén Lobato Elvira +3’10” – Saunier Duval – Scott 12.Nick Nuyens +3’38” – Cofidis
_____________________
I found some papers I apparently had brought with me but sadly it was only the results of this race.
Therefore the story probably won't be updated until sunday.
Le'Sheep: If life's a bitch use a knife to get over it.
Main Goal: To improve Chavanel’s form so that he can hopefully have a major impact on this years Paris-Nice. If possible Chavanel will be looking for the overall-win but we’ll mainly focus on a stage-win to prove his form.
Team: Mickael Buffaz, Julien El Fares, Samuel Dumoulin, Alexandre Blain, Florent Brard, Sébastian Minard. Captain:Sylvain Chavanel.
Favourites: Leonardo Bertagnolli – His driving in hills and decent finishing are the abilities that compensates for his favourable position as head-favourite for winning here in the French. Tom Danielson – He possesses great skills and he’s a good all-rounder in the hilly. However, his lacking chances of finishing first in a sprint might be causing the difference of him winning, or not. Sylvain Chavanel – Might be the biggest contestant for beating Bertagnolli as he’s the only one seemingly capable of overrunning the Italian on the steep hillsides.
Profile/tactics:
Tour Méditerranéen has never been known for ferociously beautiful driving or big power-performances but nonetheless this French continental-race is one of the greatest races, while it still being late winter. It can be successfully compared to Tour de Bessèges in many ways because of the endless flat kilometres interrupted by a few hills to make the entertainment of the race a little more “spicy”.
As expected Chavanel will be our absolute leader but if he fails to deliver El Fares can step forward to set forward proceedings of his own career, in the youthful state it appears to be in now.
Dumoulin is also with us and since he’s one of the best sprinters intervening in this race he might drag home a victory in the flat. Bennati will be a tough one for him, though.
Race:
Stage 1: La Crau – Hyères; 124 km.
As the riders set off there were clear signs of the season finally getting properly started. Both the weather and the riders signalled energy and freshness. Clear skies and fresh legs therefore got to be the most dominant sight surrounding the peaceful peloton.
The stage itself firstly began when Gianni Meersman (FDJ) alongside Poilvet (BRE), Mandri (Ag2r), Slipstreams Tony Martin and Verheyen (MKG) left the peloton to go for the KOM-points. Meersman got his points but they were all taken back shortly after sprinting for the points.
Some of the attackers weren’t satisfied with the situation and decided to go a second time; Mandri (Ag2r), Champion (BOU), Roche (C.A.) and Sinner (AGR).
At the birth of the attack something a little more negative happens in the other end of the events. Sylvain Chavanel, Cofidiss’ captain, crashes and falls behind.
- Chavanel sitting on the ground looking after the peloton.
Although, the strong Frenchman didn’t seem to bother for the extra challenge, in form of a 2-minute gap and accelerates all the way back.
When the break reaches a lead of 5 minutes the sly peloton starts to reel them back in, in a smooth rhythm and with a little less than 30 kilometres to go the breakaway-riders joins the pack again now having to work for quite different purposes than before.
In the sprint everything’s almost settled before they began. No doubt came to cross your mind as Bennati rushed forward with no one able to follow, quite intelligibly.
- Bennati winning at uttermost ease.
1. Daniele Bennati 2h59’55” – Liquigas
2. Alberto Loddo s.t. – Tinkoff Credit Systems
3. Martin Elmiger s.t. – Ag2r la Mondiale
4. José Joaquin Rojas Gil s.t. – Caisse d’Epargne
5. Xavier Florencio s.t. – Bouygues Telecom 11.Samuel Dumoulin s.t. – Cofidis
Stage 2: La Londe – La Garde; 134 km.
Already at the first intermediate mountain-sprint, there weren’t any sign of hesitation and some of the riders grasped the first possible chance of attacking with more than two kilometres to the top. Le Mével (C.A.) took the points, but him and his fellow break-mates didn’t last long in their attempt of creating an independent breakaway. Therefore further 20 kilometres were driven before the first well-founded ambitious attack got off, despite it only containing 2 men; Duret (SLP), and Coutouly (AGR). At the second climb Coutouly (AGR) attacks to make a little gap ensuring the points in his favour. Duret (SLP) caught up with him just a few minutes later. The sprint gets to be a completely different scenario though as Coutouly (AGR) can’t do anything to hold off Duret (SLP) who has a clear advantage when sprinting on flat ground. Shortly afterwards they’re again approaching a hill-sprint. Again Coutouly (AGR) claims the 10 points. At his point they’ve got 50 kilometres left and only 3 minutes to work with. This determines the breaks destiny and they don’t use any unnecessary energy to try and fight the peloton for another 5 km.
At the next flat sprint and the last intermediate of the day Coutouly (AGR) could surprisingly take just another pair of points as Duret (AGR) was to exhaust to try and follow. Ultimately they were caught up with and Rojas Gil even got to pass Duret before the line.
No one tried to go after that and slowly the favourites gathered into a small pack in the front-peloton.
Dumoulin was perfectly positioned behind Rojas Gil and when they began sprinting it was impossible to who would win. Drujon got out to a little lead to help Rojas blasting forward and Bennati just sprinted forward in a straight line. Dumoulin however was tactically smartest and pulled a quick move from Rojas Gil’s wheel over in front of Bennati, closing the road from anyone trying to pass.
- Dumoulin performing absolutely dominant driving after yesterdays disappointment.
1. Samuel Dumoulin 3h15’12” – Cofidis
2. José Joaquin Rojas Gil s.t. – Caisse d’Epargne
3. Daniele Bennati s.t. – Liquigas
4. Martin Elmiger s.t. – Ag2r la Mondiale
5. Alberto Loddo s.t. – Tinkoff Credit Systems
Stage 3: Rousset – Toulon, Mont Faron; 100 km.
The first of the two real hilly stages in the race but also the shortest got started by a peloton full of interests. Most of these in directions of getting team co-captains up running.
It didn’t take long before Sokolov (BOU) started a chain-reaction of attacks. None very threatening riders got away except from Liquigass’ super-talent Roman Kreuziger. Sokolov’s front position in the attacking group also gave him the points of the first intermediate Mountain-sprint.
After the little hectic period they finally get to calm things down and try to work out some kind of cooperation between the 8 of them: Kreuziger (LIQ), Poivois (BRE), Sokolov (BOU), Méderel (C.A.), Bouet (AGR), Gottfried (TCS), Nevens (MKG), Totschnig (ELK). They stick together but at the down hills where those of slightly bigger competence in the discipline gets the edge and seemingly unconsciously makes a little gap, before they re-unite when the road once again turns flat.
With 50 kilometres to go the peloton starts to reel them in. They’ve got 4 minutes. Portal (CGE) decides to leave the peloton. Also Pate (SLP) and Monnerais (FDJ) can’t stand the temptation of an attack and goes into the horizon. Desperately they try to get away but of course, in vain. Cofidis and Liquigas have set themselves up as pacemakers for the pack. This opportunity can’t be wasted for teams with such captains. Especially not when they’re both looking exceptionally fit and motivated.
Kreuziger attacks in the front group. Both Sokolov and Bouet go on leaving the others to be caught by the peloton. They’ve got over a minute. Sokolov now also lets go, and Kreuziger goes solo. He’s got a little over a minute on the pack. Bouet is riding on middle-hand trying to keep up with the ravaging talent.
Only 10 to go and Florencio attack the other favourites. Chavanel reacts immediately and comes up his side. Together they pass Sokolov but then Florencio seems to let go. Chavanel doesn’t care and continues the attack undaunted. A few seconds later, Bouet (AGR) is in sight, and left behind. Chavanel now goes into a pursuit to catch Kreuziger before he reaches the touchline.
- Right: Chavanel catching up? Left: Bertagnolli attacking hoping it isn’t too late.
From behind Bertagnolli goes and gets past Bouet in a matter of seconds. Danielson follows.
Chavanels plan is working and he passes the tired Kreuziger at ease, however, Bertagnolli keeps decreasing his lead. 3 kilometres left. The two Liquigas riders’ tries to cooperate but Kreuzigers lacking powers makes it difficult for Bertagnolli.
A group of six others catches the two and Chavanel remains in front with a relatively comfortable lead. Now going into the last kilometre he seems like the victor. Bertagnolli attacks once again but only gains a little gap to sprint home the second. Chavanel’s arms raised and symbolises the second victory for them in this race.
- Left:Second victory in a row for Cofidis! Right: Florencio passing the line with Bertagnolli and Nocentini in sight.
Stage 4: St. Cannat – Marignane; 152 km.
Even though it were supposed to be an exciting hilly stage nothing was in surprise for the peloton today, just driving the normal routine for a flat stage.
The breakaway consisted of six strong riders, some of them also have been in the break at the previous stage: Khatuntsev (TCS), Rasch (C.A.), Sokolov (BOU), Nevens (MKG), Miholjevic (LIQ) and Totschnig (ELK). Rasch conquered all the 26 KOM-points possible to achieve at this stage, and in the last 50 km their lead was constantly varying between 2 and 3 minutes as no team in the pack wanted to take responsibility of bringing them home. But as the break started to fall apart the task got a little easier to overcome. Miholjevic (LIQ) didn’t let go as easy as the others and fought on until the peloton had chased him down, with 10 km to go, after a brave solo run over 20 kilometres.
Liquigas convincingly dominated the contra-sprint as with the actual one. Bennati and Fischer overwhelmed the others in a fabulous cooperation. However, Fischer didn’t last the whole distance and had to let down the tempo lacking towards the end.
- Left: The sprint getting pretty hectic. Right: Bennati winning comfortably in front of the trying Spaniard.
Stage 5: Sauvian – Gruissan; 117 km.
The last stage of Tour Méditerranéen is a flat one, but with 3 hill-sprints. The first break trying got away without problems, as the peloton didn’t seem to care for a possible breakaway-win. At least not when it was between these two; Coutouly (AGR) and Schorn (ELK). Both of them being over 25 minutes behind the orange leader-jersey, they’re no threat to the GC. But as they get to distribute all the intermediate sprints lain out on this stage, no doubt one of them might advance a bit in the fight for polka dotted jersey. The maximum of point that can be attained wouldn’t even be enough for Coutouly (AGR), though; as he would still have two points up to Sokolov (BOU). Also Champion (BOU), Duret (BRE), Striska (MKG), and Rasch (C.A.) got onto the attack before it became too late. As expected Coutouly (AGR) was the only one to show his enthusiasm, winning the sprints.
As the break reaches a lead of 9 minutes, one man in the break begins to be dangerous; Champion, who was only 7 minutes behind, and at that point, he virtually, wore the leaders jersey. Cofidiss’ understood the danger of this processing and sent the whole team up working, just to limit the break enough, not in the hope of bringing them hope. Up front Schorn looses ground and he gets caught about 20 kilometres before the finale. The other escapee’s remains in front with a 3-minute lead. From here Liquigas saw new purposes and they sat themselves up to lead the peloton. With edging efficiency they, in an alliance with Caisse d’Epargne, brought them back just in time for the sprint to break out. The main fight unfolded between Alexandre Usov and José Joaquin Rojas Gil. At first Usov got past Rojas, but a few moments later the Spaniard had left his track again and he didn’t had to make such a big effort to keep the Russian behind him.
- Déjà vu for Rojas, winning the last stage of a race after two 2nd’s.
1. José Joaquin Rojas Gil 2h58’13” – Caisse d’Epargne
2. Alexandre Usov s.t. – Ag2r la Mondiale
3. Daniele Bennati s.t. – Liquigas
4. Alberto Loddo s.t. – Tinkoff Credit Systems
5. Xavier Florencio s.t. – Bouygues Telecom
12. Sylvain Chavanel s.t. – Cofidis
Points winner: José Joaquin Rojas Gil 85 p – Caisse d’Epargne
KOM winner: Evgeny Sokolov 40 p – Bouygues Telecom
Youth winner: (6) Roman Kreuziger +53”/15h33’10” – Liquigas
Isnt it like 6km long?
