Squad: Phinney, Kuphaldt, East, King, Bewley and Komori
The Tour of California starts with a prologue, in this race we dont really have a goal, we'll just try to attack and see what will come from that. In this prologue our riders do well, Phinney ends 14th, Bewley 15th and East 16th. In front of riders such as Contador, Ignatiev and Backstedt. Todays winner however is no surprise, it's Fabian Cancellara who wins in front of Popovych and Hoste.
Result:
01. Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank 3'22
02. Yaroslav Popovych Astana Cycling Team + 6
03. Leif Hoste Silence - Lotto s.t.
04. Michael Rogers Team Columbia - High Road + 7
05. Gustav Larsson Team Saxo Bank + 8
06. Jens Voigt Team Saxo Bank s.t.
07. Bradley Wiggins Garmin - Slipstream + 9
08. Joost Posthuma Rabobank s.t.
09. David Zabriskie Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
10. Sébastien Minard Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 10
11 Levi Leipheimer Astana Cycling Team + 11
12 George Hincapie Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
13 Michael Schär Astana Cycling Team s.t. 14 Taylor Phinney Trek Livestrong + 12
15 Sam Bewley Trek Livestrong s.t.
16 Guy East Trek Livestrong s.t.
17 Alexandre Moos BMC Racing Team + 13
18 Mark Cavendish Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
19 David O'Loughlin An Post - Sean Kelly Team s.t.
20 Dan Craven Rapha Condor + 14
21 Alberto Contador Astana Cycling Team s.t.
22 Simon Richardson Rapha Condor s.t.
23 Magnus Bäckstedt Garmin - Slipstream + 15
24 Dries Devenyns Quick·Step s.t.
25 Nick Nuyens Rabobank s.t.
26 Koos Moerenhout Rabobank s.t. 27 Taylor Kuphaldt Trek Livestrong s.t.
28 Frantisek Rabon Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
29 Ben Jacques-Maynes Bissell Pro Cycling s.t.
30 Tom Zirbel Bissell Pro Cycling + 16
31 Tristan Valentin Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
32 Anthony Colby Colavita / Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light s.t.
33 Mikhail Ignatiev Team Katusha s.t.
34 Philippe Gilbert Silence - Lotto + 17
35 Gert Steegmans Team Katusha s.t. 36 Ben King Trek Livestrong s.t.
37 Svein Erik Vold Joker Bianchi s.t.
38 Michael Albasini Team Columbia - High Road + 18
39 Jürgen Van de Walle Quick·Step s.t.
40 Alexander Kristoff Joker Bianchi s.t.
41 Russel Downing Candi TV - Pinarello RT s.t.
42 Evgeni Petrov Team Katusha s.t.
43 Chad Beyer BMC Racing Team s.t.
44 Greg Van Avermaet Silence - Lotto + 19
45 Dominique Cornu Quick·Step s.t.
46 Ken Hanson Team Type 1 s.t.
47 Burke Swindlehurst Bissell Pro Cycling s.t.
48 Sebastian Langeveld Rabobank s.t.
49 Ben Swift Team Katusha s.t.
50 Alexandre Blain Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
Stage 2/7:
The 2nd stage looks easy but it isn't at all, the hills would certainly make this a difficult one, thats why only 2 riders got away, these 2 riders were Jacques Maynes and Stalder
Jacques Maynes and Stalder climbing up front
Meanwhile in the back we have our first crash, Rabo's leader Garaté is one of the victims
Garaté's hope of doing well in Cali seems gone
Up front Stalder and Jacques Maynes stood no chance and so it was going to come down to a sprint with Kuphaldt and Phinney being the only Livestrong riders left in the pack. But then Saxo Bank looks to pull of yet another trick
Arvesen speeds away with Stuart O'Grady in his wheel, who is going to chase?
At first everyone looks at eachother and so their lead quickly increases to 30 seconds and with 2 kms to go this may seem enough to make it. In the back there is yet another crash, this time it's a real race favourite who's down!
Also Levi Leipheimer goes down in the opening stage!
When Arvesen and O'Grady get to the final part Arvesen lets O'Grady finish it off
O'Grady up front with the pack in the back
And so Saxo Bank pulls it off, Cancellara loses his lead but it's O'Grady who wins and takes it from his teammate.
Great victory for Stuart O'Grady
In the back Kuphaldt profits from a chaotic sprint and ends 8th, which is a great result considering he isn't a sprinter
Result:
01. Stuart O'Grady Team Saxo Bank 3h54'24
02. Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team Saxo Bank s.t.
03. Gert Steegmans Team Katusha + 41
04. Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank s.t.
05. Markus Zberg BMC Racing Team s.t.
06. Nico Eeckhout An Post - Sean Kelly Team s.t.
07. Sergei Ivanov Team Katusha s.t. 08. Taylor Kuphaldt Trek Livestrong s.t.
09. Nico Sijmens Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
10. Allan Davis Quick·Step s.t.
11 Russel Downing Candi TV - Pinarello RT s.t.
12 Alejandro Borrajo Colavita / Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light s.t.
13 Michael Albasini Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
14 George Hincapie Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
15 Samuel Dumoulin Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
16 Dean Downing Rapha Condor s.t.
17 Tim Farnham Bissell Pro Cycling s.t.
18 Stijn Devolder Quick·Step s.t.
19 Magnus Bäckstedt Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
20 Jens Voigt Team Saxo Bank s.t.
21 Fränk Schleck Team Saxo Bank s.t.
22 Philippe Gilbert Silence - Lotto s.t.
23 Stephen Gallagher An Post - Sean Kelly Team s.t.
24 Gustav Larsson Team Saxo Bank s.t.
25 Karsten Kroon Team Saxo Bank s.t.
26 Chris Newton Rapha Condor s.t.
27 Johan Van Summeren Silence - Lotto s.t.
28 Kirk O'Bee Bissell Pro Cycling s.t.
29 Mark Cavendish Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
30 Michael Rogers Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
31 Davide Frattini Colavita / Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light s.t.
32 Steven Van Vooren An Post - Sean Kelly Team s.t.
33 Maarten Wynants Quick·Step s.t.
34 Leif Hoste Silence - Lotto s.t.
35 Koos Moerenhout Rabobank s.t.
36 Rémi Pauriol Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
37 David Zabriskie Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
38 André Greipel Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
39 Luca Damiani Colavita / Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light s.t.
40 Glenn D'Hollander Silence - Lotto s.t.
41 Mikhail Ignatiev Team Katusha s.t.
42 Andy Guptill Colavita / Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light s.t.
43 Bram Tankink Rabobank s.t.
44 Danilo Napolitano Team Katusha s.t.
45 Lucas Haedo Colavita / Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light s.t.
46 Mark Cassidy An Post - Sean Kelly Team s.t.
47 Christian Pfannberger Team Katusha s.t.
48 Roy Sentjens Silence - Lotto s.t.
49 Ben Swift Team Katusha s.t.
50 Joost Posthuma Rabobank s.t.
01. Stuart O'Grady Team Saxo Bank 3h57'48
02. Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team Saxo Bank + 7
03. Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank + 39
04. Leif Hoste Silence - Lotto + 45
05. Yaroslav Popovych Astana Cycling Team s.t.
15. Taylor Phinney Trek Livestrong + 51
Dwight K. Schrute: 'I'm not a hero. Im just a mere defender of the office. You know who is a hero? Hiro from Heroes. That's a hero. And Bono'.
Squad: Phinney, Kuphaldt, East, King, Bewley and Komori
Again we have flat stage with some nasty hills in it, but since we dont have anyone capable of winning a mass sprint we attack and today we send out our strongest rider, Taylor Kuphaldt, since we want to take over the KOM jersey from Stalder to please the sponsors and Kuphaldt seems to be the only one together with Phinney who should be able to do that. Kuphaldt eventually gets company from 3 others
Kuphaldt in front of Nuyens, Valentin and Zirbel
Kuphaldt ends 1st on both KOM points and now has the KOM jersey, but in the end he and the others didn't stand a chance against the pack led by Saxo Bank. O'Grady won in a impressive way yesterday thanks to Arvesen, today he doesnt break away but he is positioned perfectly when the sprint begins, behind on of the strongest riders in the pack
Stuart O'Grady led out by none other than Fabian Cancellara
And so O'Grady starts the sprint with a nice advantage over the rest, and he succeeds in keeping this advantage and thus winning the stage.
O'Grady wins yet again!
Result:
01. Stuart O'Grady Team Saxo Bank 4h31'48
02. Allan Davis Quick·Step s.t.
03. Mark Cavendish Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
04. Nico Sijmens Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
05. Alejandro Borrajo Colavita / Sutter Home s.t.
06. Kirk O'Bee Bissell Pro Cycling s.t.
07. Greg Van Avermaet Silence - Lotto s.t.
08. Gert Steegmans Team Katusha s.t.
09. Staf Scheirlinckx Silence - Lotto s.t.
10. Leonardo Duque Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
11 Russel Downing Candi TV - Pinarello RT s.t.
12 Dean Downing Rapha Condor s.t.
13 Alexandre Usov Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
14 Vladimir Gusev Team Katusha s.t.
15 Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank s.t.
16 Chris Newton Rapha Condor s.t.
17 Samuel Dumoulin Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
18 Nico Eeckhout An Post - Sean Kelly Team s.t.
19 George Hincapie Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
20 Magnus Bäckstedt Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
21 Danilo Napolitano Team Katusha s.t.
22 Roy Sentjens Silence - Lotto s.t.
23 Mikhail Ignatiev Team Katusha s.t.
24 Jef Peeters An Post - Sean Kelly Team s.t.
25 Andy Guptill Colavita / Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light s.t.
26 Juan Antonio Flecha Rabobank s.t.
27 Jens Voigt Team Saxo Bank s.t.
28 Joost Posthuma Rabobank s.t.
29 Michael Friedman Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
30 Philippe Gilbert Silence - Lotto s.t.
31 Sebastian Langeveld Rabobank s.t.
32 David O'Loughlin An Post - Sean Kelly Team s.t.
33 Koos Moerenhout Rabobank s.t.
34 Michael Albasini Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
35 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team Saxo Bank s.t. 36 Taylor Phinney Trek Livestrong s.t.
37 Dominique Cornu Quick·Step s.t.
38 Lucas Haedo Colavita / Sutter Home s.t.
39 Mark Cassidy An Post - Sean Kelly Team s.t.
40 Stephen Gallagher An Post - Sean Kelly Team s.t.
41 Matthew Brammeier An Post - Sean Kelly Team s.t.
42 André Greipel Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
43 Alexandre Blain Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
44 Grischa Niermann Rabobank s.t.
45 Gustav Larsson Team Saxo Bank s.t.
46 Fränk Schleck Team Saxo Bank s.t.
47 Alexander Kristoff Joker Bianchi s.t.
48 Markus Zberg BMC Racing Team s.t.
49 Stijn Devolder Quick·Step s.t.
50 Levi Leipheimer Astana Cycling Team s.t.
01. Stuart O'Grady Team Saxo Bank 8h29'16
02. Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team Saxo Bank + 27
03. Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank + 59
04. Mark Cavendish Team Columbia - High Road + 1'04
05. Yaroslav Popovych Astana Cycling Team + 1'05
01. Stuart O'Grady Team Saxo Bank 50
01. Taylor Kuphaldt Trek Livestrong 15
Dwight K. Schrute: 'I'm not a hero. Im just a mere defender of the office. You know who is a hero? Hiro from Heroes. That's a hero. And Bono'.
Squad: Phinney, Kuphaldt, East, King, Bewley and Komori
The stages in Cali are getting tougher and tougher and today certainly will be a day of surviving for my boys. However we want to defend the KOM jersey, Kuphaldt can't get away and so Phinney has to defend it as a group of 11 including him gets away
The break with Phinney in the back
But it's all coming down to the final climb, O'Grady manages to hang on for quite a while but eventually he has to let go.
O'Grady has to let go together with Phinney who failed to defend the KOM jersey...
Up front we see a big Belgian who is causing the pack to shatter in all kinds of little groups
Johan Vansummeren upping the pace and going solo
The Belgian is the first to reach the top but in the downhill section it's Levi Leipheimer who flies past him! The American who fell in stage 2 is eager to take revenge!
Levi Leipheimer flying like the wind!
In the back a group consisting of Vansummeren, F. Schleck and Rogers try to get closer but Levi keeps them behind him and so he wins the stage, O'Grady miracelously holds on to the lead as he managed to get back into the pack during the downhill.
Levi Leipheimer wins in San Jose!
Result:
01. Levi Leipheimer Astana Cycling Team 4h16'22
02. Michael Rogers Team Columbia - High Road + 35
03. Fränk Schleck Team Saxo Bank s.t.
04. Johan Van Summeren Silence - Lotto s.t.
05. Alexandre Moos BMC Racing Team + 1'23
06. Yaroslav Popovych Astana Cycling Team s.t.
07. Stijn Devolder Quick·Step s.t.
08. Christian Pfannberger Team Katusha s.t.
09. Moisés Aldape Team Type 1 s.t.
10. Jens Voigt Team Saxo Bank s.t.
11 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team Saxo Bank s.t.
12 David Zabriskie Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
13 George Hincapie Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
14 Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank s.t.
15 Bram Tankink Rabobank s.t.
16 Grischa Niermann Rabobank s.t.
17 Gustav Larsson Team Saxo Bank s.t.
18 Alberto Contador Astana Cycling Team s.t.
19 Vladimir Gusev Team Katusha s.t.
20 Magnus Espeland Joker Bianchi s.t.
21 Sergei Ivanov Team Katusha s.t.
22 Evgeni Petrov Team Katusha s.t.
23 Frederik Wilmann Joker Bianchi s.t.
24 Stuart O'Grady Team Saxo Bank s.t.
25 Chris Anker Sörensen Team Saxo Bank s.t.
26 Florian Stalder BMC Racing Team s.t.
27 Joost Posthuma Rabobank s.t.
28 Ben Jacques-Maynes Bissell Pro Cycling s.t.
29 Koos Moerenhout Rabobank s.t.
30 Jesús Hernández Astana Cycling Team s.t.
31 Staf Scheirlinckx Silence - Lotto s.t.
32 Jürgen Van de Walle Quick·Step s.t.
33 Michael Albasini Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
34 Burke Swindlehurst Bissell Pro Cycling s.t.
35 Philippe Gilbert Silence - Lotto s.t.
36 Ken Hanson Team Type 1 s.t.
37 Scott Nydam BMC Racing Team s.t.
38 Rémi Pauriol Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
39 Tim Farnham Bissell Pro Cycling s.t.
40 Trent Lowe Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
41 Andy Guptill Colavita / Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light s.t.
42 Craig Lewis Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
43 Morris Possoni Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
44 Markus Zberg BMC Racing Team + 3'44
45 Nico Sijmens Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
46 Nick Nuyens Rabobank s.t.
47 Juan Antonio Flecha Rabobank s.t.
48 Chris Newton Rapha Condor s.t.
49 Leonardo Duque Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
50 Maxim Iglinskiy Astana Cycling Team s.t.
01. Stuart O'Grady Team Saxo Bank 12h47'01
02. Michael Rogers Team Columbia - High Road + 6
03. Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team Saxo Bank + 27
04. Johan Van Summeren Silence - Lotto + 31
05. Fränk Schleck Team Saxo Bank + 49
01. Stuart O'Grady Team Saxo Bank 50
01. Maxim Iglinskiy Astana Cycling Team 21
Dwight K. Schrute: 'I'm not a hero. Im just a mere defender of the office. You know who is a hero? Hiro from Heroes. That's a hero. And Bono'.
Squad: Phinney, Kuphaldt, East, King, Bewley and Komori
The 5th stage is not an easy one, it features alot of short but steep hills, both Phinney and Kuphaldt dont manage to break away. After 1 hour of attacking a break is finally formed, it consists of Laengen, Duque, Niermann, Borrajo and Scheirlinckx
The break of the day with the Norwegian Laengen up front
Thet build up a nice lead and with 20 kms to go they still hold more than a minute, but the pace is too slow according to Duque and so he decides to attack and leave the other 4 behind
Duque trying to get it done on his own
But his attempt fails as all of the favourites are starting to attack in the back, the one with the most powerful attack today is Ivanov.
Ivanov up front on the final hill!
But during the downhill section he gets company, Vansummeren and Frank Schleck join him.
Ivanov up front with Vansummeren and Schleck
And since everyone in the back is tired aswell the 3 up front will battle it out for the win and, in the case of Vansummeren and Schleck, also battle for the leaders jersey
Ivanov gives up and so its down to Vansummeren and Schleck!
And the big guy from Belgium just holds on for the win
Victory for Vansummeren, he also takes over the lead from O'Grady
In the back Kuphaldt managed to stay in the pack...until a big mass crash occured
Kuphaldt fell and hurt himself but was able to finish the stage
Result:
01. Johan Van Summeren Silence - Lotto 4h48'37
02. Fränk Schleck Team Saxo Bank s.t.
03. Sergei Ivanov Team Katusha s.t.
04. Stijn Devolder Quick·Step + 37
05. Yaroslav Popovych Astana Cycling Team s.t.
06. Michael Rogers Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
07. Levi Leipheimer Astana Cycling Team + 1'03
08. David Zabriskie Garmin - Slipstream + 1'43
09. Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team Saxo Bank s.t.
10. Juan Antonio Flecha Rabobank s.t.
11 Philippe Gilbert Silence - Lotto s.t.
12 Rémi Pauriol Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
13 Allan Davis Quick·Step s.t.
14 Gert Steegmans Team Katusha s.t.
15 Gustav Larsson Team Saxo Bank s.t.
16 Sébastien Minard Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
17 Vladimir Gusev Team Katusha s.t.
18 Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank s.t.
19 Alberto Contador Astana Cycling Team s.t.
20 Karsten Kroon Team Saxo Bank s.t.
21 Michael Albasini Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
22 Jürgen Van de Walle Quick·Step s.t.
23 Nico Eeckhout An Post - Sean Kelly Team s.t.
24 Ben Jacques-Maynes Bissell Pro Cycling s.t.
25 Nico Sijmens Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
26 Greg Van Avermaet Silence - Lotto s.t.
27 Joost Posthuma Rabobank s.t.
28 Evgeni Petrov Team Katusha s.t.
29 Alexandre Blain Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
30 Peter Latham Bissell Pro Cycling s.t.
31 Moisés Aldape Team Type 1 s.t.
32 Morris Possoni Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
33 Tim Farnham Bissell Pro Cycling s.t.
34 Jesse Anthony Team Type 1 s.t.
35 Steven Van Vooren An Post - Sean Kelly Team s.t.
36 Michael Schär Astana Cycling Team s.t.
37 Chris Jones Team Type 1 s.t.
38 Burke Swindlehurst Bissell Pro Cycling s.t.
39 Mark Cavendish Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
40 Samuel Dumoulin Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
41 Chris Anker Sörensen Team Saxo Bank s.t.
42 Stian Remme Joker Bianchi s.t.
43 Alejandro Borrajo Colavita / Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light s.t.
44 Kevin Seeldraeyers Quick·Step s.t.
45 Leonardo Duque Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
46 Maarten Wynants Quick·Step s.t.
47 Staf Scheirlinckx Silence - Lotto s.t.
48 Jef Peeters An Post - Sean Kelly Team s.t.
49 David O'Loughlin An Post - Sean Kelly Team s.t.
50 Liam Holoham Rapha Condor s.t.
01. Johan Van Summeren Silence - Lotto 17h35'49
02. Fränk Schleck Team Saxo Bank + 26
03. Michael Rogers Team Columbia - High Road + 32
04. Sergei Ivanov Team Katusha + 1'02
05. Yaroslav Popovych Astana Cycling Team + 1'31
01. Stuart O'Grady Team Saxo Bank 50
01. Maxim Iglinskiy Astana Cycling Team 21
Dwight K. Schrute: 'I'm not a hero. Im just a mere defender of the office. You know who is a hero? Hiro from Heroes. That's a hero. And Bono'.
I read about this Arvesen and O'Grady solo sprint story..damn they trying to this every time..First time I figured this out..second time they fooled me.
Squad: Phinney, Kuphaldt, East, King, Bewley and Komori
A TT won by none other than Fabian Cancelarra, Rogers takes over the lead from Vansummeren.
Result:
01. Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank 31'37
02. George Hincapie Team Columbia - High Road + 7
03. Levi Leipheimer Astana Cycling Team + 10
04. Michael Rogers Team Columbia - High Road + 21
05. Yaroslav Popovych Astana Cycling Team + 29
06. Stijn Devolder Quick·Step + 35
07. Gustav Larsson Team Saxo Bank + 39
08. Vladimir Gusev Team Katusha + 46
09. Magnus Bäckstedt Garmin - Slipstream + 50
10. David Zabriskie Garmin - Slipstream + 53
11 Leif Hoste Silence - Lotto + 57
12 Joost Posthuma Rabobank + 1'00
13 Bradley Wiggins Garmin - Slipstream + 1'06
14 Dominique Cornu Quick·Step + 1'07
15 Fränk Schleck Team Saxo Bank + 1'09
16 Alberto Contador Astana Cycling Team + 1'14
17 Jürgen Van de Walle Quick·Step + 1'19 18 Guy East Trek Livestrong + 1'22
19 Mark Cavendish Team Columbia - High Road + 1'26
20 Michiel Elijzen Silence - Lotto + 1'31
21 Michael Schär Astana Cycling Team + 1'36
22 Koos Moerenhout Rabobank + 1'38
23 Alexandre Moos BMC Racing Team + 1'42
24 Sébastien Minard Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 1'44
25 Chris Newton Rapha Condor + 1'49
26 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team Saxo Bank + 1'53 27 Taylor Phinney Trek Livestrong + 1'58
28 Evgeni Petrov Team Katusha + 2'01
29 Sebastian Langeveld Rabobank + 2'07
30 Johan Van Summeren Silence - Lotto + 2'09
31 Grischa Niermann Rabobank + 2'10
32 Stuart O'Grady Team Saxo Bank + 2'13
33 Mikhail Ignatiev Team Katusha + 2'15
34 Juan Antonio Flecha Rabobank + 2'23
35 Ben Greenwood Rapha Condor + 2'25
36 Michael Friedman Garmin - Slipstream + 2'31
37 James Sampson Candi TV - Pinarello RT + 2'33
38 Martin Kohler BMC Racing Team + 2'37
39 Ben Jacques-Maynes Bissell Pro Cycling + 2'42
40 Sergei Ivanov Team Katusha + 2'43
41 Jens Voigt Team Saxo Bank + 2'47
42 Karsten Kroon Team Saxo Bank + 2'53
43 David O'Loughlin An Post - Sean Kelly Team + 2'56
44 Juanma Gárate Rabobank + 2'57
45 Trent Lowe Garmin - Slipstream + 2'58
46 Burke Swindlehurst Bissell Pro Cycling + 3'03
47 Dries Devenyns Quick·Step + 3'08
48 Philippe Gilbert Silence - Lotto + 3'12
49 Tom Southam Rapha Condor + 3'14
50 Peter Latham Bissell Pro Cycling + 3'16
Stage 7/8:
Time to show ourselves again, when the pack gets the ok signal to take off its Phinney who attacks immediatly while others are still chatting with eachother
Phinney attacking after 1 km already!
Everyone seems to be content with the young American going on his own and taking all the points and so the gap grows and grows...
Phinney takes more KOM points and takes over the KOM jersey!
But this effort cost so much energy that Phinney was eventually caught quite easily, in the sprint there was one man who was, yet again, way stronger than the rest!
O'Grady looks back and is wondering where the competition is at!
Result:
01. Stuart O'Grady Team Saxo Bank 4h25'34
02. Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank s.t.
03. Philippe Gilbert Silence - Lotto s.t.
04. Leonardo Duque Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
05. Markus Zberg BMC Racing Team s.t.
06. Samuel Dumoulin Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
07. Levi Leipheimer Astana Cycling Team s.t.
08. Yaroslav Popovych Astana Cycling Team s.t.
09. Gert Steegmans Team Katusha s.t.
10. Juan Antonio Flecha Rabobank s.t.
11 Allan Davis Quick·Step s.t.
12 Stijn Devolder Quick·Step s.t.
13 Nico Eeckhout An Post - Sean Kelly Team s.t.
14 Johan Van Summeren Silence - Lotto s.t.
15 Joost Posthuma Rabobank s.t.
16 Alberto Contador Astana Cycling Team s.t.
17 Sebastian Langeveld Rabobank s.t.
18 Sergei Ivanov Team Katusha s.t.
19 Russel Downing Candi TV - Pinarello RT s.t.
20 George Hincapie Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
21 Michael Rogers Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
22 Mark Cavendish Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
23 Jens Voigt Team Saxo Bank s.t.
24 Chris Newton Rapha Condor s.t.
25 Greg Van Avermaet Silence - Lotto s.t.
26 Maxim Iglinskiy Astana Cycling Team s.t.
27 Alexandre Moos BMC Racing Team s.t.
28 Nico Sijmens Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
29 Ben Greenwood Rapha Condor s.t.
30 Alejandro Borrajo Colavita / Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light s.t.
31 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team Saxo Bank s.t.
32 Vladimir Gusev Team Katusha s.t.
33 Koos Moerenhout Rabobank s.t.
34 Moisés Aldape Team Type 1 s.t.
35 Jürgen Van de Walle Quick·Step s.t.
36 Alexandre Usov Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
37 Michael Albasini Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
38 Michael Schär Astana Cycling Team s.t.
39 Mikhail Ignatiev Team Katusha s.t.
40 Aníbal Borrajo Colavita / Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light s.t.
41 Dean Downing Rapha Condor s.t.
42 Lucas Haedo Colavita / Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light s.t.
43 Davide Frattini Colavita / Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light s.t.
44 Steven Van Vooren An Post - Sean Kelly Team s.t.
45 Fränk Schleck Team Saxo Bank s.t.
46 Andy Guptill Colavita / Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light s.t.
47 Ben Swift Team Katusha s.t.
48 Danilo Napolitano Team Katusha s.t.
49 Liam Holoham Rapha Condor s.t.
50 Glenn D'Hollander Silence - Lotto s.t.
01. Michael Rogers Team Columbia - High Road 22h33'53
02. Fränk Schleck Team Saxo Bank + 42
03. Yaroslav Popovych Astana Cycling Team + 1'07
04. Johan Van Summeren Silence - Lotto + 1'16
05. Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank + 1'26
01. Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank 87
01. Taylor Phinney Trek Livestrong 30
Dwight K. Schrute: 'I'm not a hero. Im just a mere defender of the office. You know who is a hero? Hiro from Heroes. That's a hero. And Bono'.
Perhaps in the future, but now we just have to survive and learn in these big races
Stage 8/8:
Squad: Phinney, Kuphaldt, East, King, Bewley and Komori
The final stage, our goal was to secure the KOM jersey. But this would be a tough task, the one who would be the first to reach the top would earn 16 points. Taylor has 30 points which means that only Guptill, Vansummeren (Both 16), Seeldraeyers (15) and Iglinski (21) can take his jersey. Phinney tries to get away but after that it's pure madness. Everyone tries to get away but eventually noone gets away and you can guess what happened then, Seeldraeyers attacked and went for the points and just took the 16 points which means that he has 1 point more than Phinney...
Up front we had a weird bunchsprint because of the hilly final, but that didnt matter for Saxo Bank who won yet another stage. However it's Rogers who wins the Tour of California.
Jens Voigt wins the final stage in front of Hincapie and Gusev!
Result:
01. Jens Voigt Team Saxo Bank 3h45'48
02. George Hincapie Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
03. Vladimir Gusev Team Katusha s.t.
04. Stuart O'Grady Team Saxo Bank s.t.
05. Gustav Larsson Team Saxo Bank s.t.
06. Chris Newton Rapha Condor s.t.
07. Ben Greenwood Rapha Condor s.t.
08. Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank s.t.
09. Mark Cavendish Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
10. Gert Steegmans Team Katusha s.t.
11 Alexandre Moos BMC Racing Team s.t.
12 Nico Eeckhout An Post - Sean Kelly Team s.t.
13 Russel Downing Candi TV - Pinarello RT s.t.
14 Sergei Ivanov Team Katusha s.t.
15 Mikhail Ignatiev Team Katusha s.t.
16 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Team Saxo Bank s.t.
17 David Zabriskie Garmin - Slipstream s.t.
18 Rémi Pauriol Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
19 Maarten Wynants Quick·Step s.t.
20 Alexandre Usov Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
21 Dean Downing Rapha Condor s.t.
22 Allan Davis Quick·Step s.t.
23 Danilo Napolitano Team Katusha s.t.
24 Markus Zberg BMC Racing Team s.t.
25 Ben Jacques-Maynes Bissell Pro Cycling s.t.
26 Michael Albasini Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
27 Joost Posthuma Rabobank s.t.
28 Yaroslav Popovych Astana Cycling Team s.t.
29 Leonardo Duque Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
30 André Greipel Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
31 Bolat Raimbekov Astana Cycling Team s.t.
32 Morris Possoni Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
33 Grischa Niermann Rabobank s.t.
34 Florian Stalder BMC Racing Team s.t.
35 Jürgen Van de Walle Quick·Step s.t.
36 Moisés Aldape Team Type 1 s.t.
37 Jesse Anthony Team Type 1 s.t.
38 Simon Richardson Rapha Condor s.t.
39 Martin Kohler BMC Racing Team s.t.
40 Johan Van Summeren Silence - Lotto s.t.
41 Juan Antonio Flecha Rabobank s.t.
42 Alberto Contador Astana Cycling Team s.t.
43 Fränk Schleck Team Saxo Bank s.t.
44 Michael Rogers Team Columbia - High Road s.t.
45 Nico Sijmens Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
46 Evgeni Petrov Team Katusha s.t.
47 Jackson Stewart BMC Racing Team s.t.
48 Sebastian Langeveld Rabobank s.t.
49 Stijn Devolder Quick·Step s.t.
50 Juanma Gárate Rabobank s.t.
01. Michael Rogers Team Columbia - High Road 26h19'41
02. Fränk Schleck Team Saxo Bank + 42
03. Yaroslav Popovych Astana Cycling Team + 1'07
04. Johan Van Summeren Silence - Lotto + 1'16
05. Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank + 1'26
06. Stijn Devolder Quick·Step + 1'30
07. Levi Leipheimer Astana Cycling Team + 2'17
08. Gustav Larsson Team Saxo Bank + 2'25
09. David Zabriskie Garmin - Slipstream + 2'40
10. Joost Posthuma Rabobank + 2'47
01. Fabian Cancellara Team Saxo Bank 95
02. Stuart O'Grady Team Saxo Bank 89
03. Levi Leipheimer Astana Cycling Team 64
01. Kevin Seeldraeyers Quick·Step 31 02. Taylor Phinney Trek Livestrong 30
03. Maxim Iglinskiy Astana Cycling Team 21
Dwight K. Schrute: 'I'm not a hero. Im just a mere defender of the office. You know who is a hero? Hiro from Heroes. That's a hero. And Bono'.
Squad: Phinney, Kuphaldt, Komori, Bewley, Selander, King and East
In the first stage we tried to get control of the KOM jersey but we failed, Phinney only got 4 points and so he has to try and take it from Ed Clancy (6 points) tommorow. In the stage from and to Wellington there weren't any serious breakaways and so its coming down to a sprint in the streets of Wellington
Two Aussies (Sulzberger, FDJ and Dempster, BOU) up front but there comes Roman Feillu!
The Aussies fall to the back while Feillu increases his lead but it aint over yet
Feillu still up front but there comes CT tour leader Jimmy Casper!
And in the end it's a photofinish between the two Frenchies!
Casper just edges out Romain Feillu!
Result:
01. Jimmy Casper Besson Chaussures - Sojasun 2h27'12
02. Romain Feillu Agritubel s.t.
03. Anthony Geslin Française des Jeux s.t.
04. Roy Hegreberg Team Sparebanken Vest s.t.
05. Robert Hayles Team Halfords s.t.
06. Wesley Sulzberger Française des Jeux s.t.
07. Rony Martias Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
08. René Mandri AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
09. Adam Wadecki Team Corratec s.t.
10. Zak Dempster Cycling Club Bourgas s.t.
Dwight K. Schrute: 'I'm not a hero. Im just a mere defender of the office. You know who is a hero? Hiro from Heroes. That's a hero. And Bono'.
Squad: Phinney, Kuphaldt, Komori, Bewley, Selander, King and East
Yesterday's stage wasn't that difficult, but today its time for the climbers to show themselves. We just have to survive while Kuphaldt and/or Phinney attack for the KOM jersey. In the end it was Taylor Kuphaldt who broke away, and he would grab alot of points today together with his breakaway companian, Frenchman Jean-Marc Marino.
Kuphaldt and Marino up front starting the 3rd climb
With only one lap to go the two are caught and so it's time for the favs to come out of their shells. It's the small guy from Venezuela, José Rujano who seems to have the strongest legs today!
José Rujano attacks on the climb and leaves everyone else behind!
But then there are still 12 kilometres to go, and behind a group of 14 riders is formed and just like that he has 14 riders going after him. The finishline is uphill tho and there Rujano should have an advantage but when he's almost at the finish the chasers are right behind him!
Rujano is almost there but has to give it his all cause there are the chasers!
Axelsson, Casar, Geslin, Henao, Cioni and Kangert, they are all closing in on Rujano! Will he make it?
Amazing! Henao takes the stage with a last burst of power in front of Casar, Geslin and Rujano!
Result:
01. Sergio Luis Henao Colombia es Pasion Coldeportes 2h59'11
02. Sandy Casar Française des Jeux s.t.
03. Anthony Geslin Française des Jeux s.t.
04. José Rujano Gobernación del Zulia s.t.
05. Niklas Axelsson Team Corratec s.t.
06. Evgeni Sokolov Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
07. Tanel Kangert AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
08. Dario Cioni ISD s.t.
09. Florian Morizot Besson Chaussures - Sojasun s.t.
10. Ruslan Pidgornyy ISD s.t.
18. Taylor Phinney Trek Livestrong + 59
01. Sergio Luis Henao Colombia es Pasion Coldeportes 5h26'03
02. Anthony Geslin Française des Jeux + 4
03. Sandy Casar Française des Jeux + 8
01. Anthony Geslin Française des Jeux 32
01. Taylor Kuphaldt Trek Livestrong 24
Dwight K. Schrute: 'I'm not a hero. Im just a mere defender of the office. You know who is a hero? Hiro from Heroes. That's a hero. And Bono'.
Squad: Phinney, Kuphaldt, Komori, Bewley, Selander, King and East
The 3rd stage to Paarl is seen as a mountain stage but overall the stage isnt as tough as yesterday's one. On the flat terrain nothing interesting happens, it all happens on the final climb where race leader Henao immediatly attacks.
Sometimes the best way to defend is to attack!
But even though Henao builds up a nice lead at first he is soon joined by others.
Henao is joined by Rujano, Casar and Moncoutie
In the end Henao is left behind and loses valuable seconds, the other 3 stay up front and have to fight it out for the win
Moncoutie wins in Paarl in front of Casar and Rujano!
Result:
01. David Moncoutié Cofidis, le crédit en ligne 3h08'18
02. José Rujano Gobernación del Zulia s.t.
03. Sandy Casar Française des Jeux s.t.
04. Sergio Luis Henao Colombia es Pasion Coldeportes + 14
05. Yoann Le Boulanger Agritubel s.t.
06. Álex Ardila Colombia es Pasion Coldeportes + 29
07. Tanel Kangert AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
08. Niklas Axelsson Team Corratec s.t.
09. Johann Tschopp Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
10. Dario Cioni ISD s.t.
13. Taylor Phinney Trek Livestrong s.t.
01. David Moncoutié Cofidis, le crédit en ligne 8h34'21
02. Sandy Casar Française des Jeux s.t.
03. Sergio Luis Henao Colombia es Pasion Coldeportes + 8
01. Sergio Luis Henao Colombia es Pasion Coldeportes 45
01. Taylor Kuphaldt Trek Livestrong 24
Dwight K. Schrute: 'I'm not a hero. Im just a mere defender of the office. You know who is a hero? Hiro from Heroes. That's a hero. And Bono'.
Squad: Phinney, Kuphaldt, Komori, Bewley, Selander, King and East
Another hilly stage in which Henao, Rujano, Casar and Moncoutie will have to fight it out who is going to win here in South Africa. However we wanted to defend the KOM jersey (even tho the sponsor won't credit us for doing so) and so we send Kuphaldt in todays break
Rizza and Kuphaldt leading the break of 8
The break gets a big lead and it seems as if the big guns don't seem to care today. Up front they start to realize that their chances of winning today are growing and so some start to get nervous
Rizza attacks while Haavardsholm tries to follow him!
Rizza gets some space while they all start the final climb, Haavardsholm immediatly has to let go because of his previous efforts and suddenly Rizza's lead is starting to slim down rapidly while the pack is getting closer aswell. With less than a kilometre to go it's down to these 7 to decide who's going to win today, the 7 remaining riders are Kuphaldt, Rizzi, Bonnaire, Simon, Lapthorne, Kadri and Proni.
Rizzi gave it a shot but is caught by the others
As you can see it's Proni who takes the lead and in the back Lapthorne and, unfortunately, Kuphaldt have to let go aswell together with Rizzi who is worn down. Proni takes the lead while Simon, Bonnaire and Kadri sit in his wheel, 3 Frenchies vs. the Italian guy, and with the finish getting closer it seems Proni have overestimated his powers as Kadri powers past him and Proni nor Simon and Bonnaire have an answer!
Blel Kadri takes his first win as a pro!
Result:
01. Blel Kadri AG2R La Mondiale 2h56'50
02. Alessandro Proni ISD + 12
03. Julien Simon Besson Chaussures - Sojasun s.t.
04. Olivier Bonnaire Bbox Bouygues Télécom s.t.
05. Bruno Rizzi Team Corratec + 25 06. Taylor Kuphaldt Trek Livestrong s.t.
07. Darren Lapthorne Rapha Condor s.t.
08. David Moncoutié Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
09. Sergio Luis Henao Colombia es Pasion Coldeportes s.t.
10. Sandy Casar Française des Jeux s.t.
Stage 5/5:
The final TT didn't change much, the time differences were very small, especially near the top since there was only 1 second between the number 1, Moreau, and the number 10, Taylor Phinney.
Result:
01. Christophe Moreau Agritubel 7'15
02. Amael Moinard Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
03. Mathieu Ladagnous Française des Jeux s.t.
04. Dario Cioni ISD + 1
05. Tanel Kangert AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
06. José Rujano Gobernación del Zulia s.t.
07. Sergio Luis Henao Colombia es Pasion Coldeportes s.t.
08. Sandy Casar Française des Jeux s.t.
09. David Moncoutié Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t. 10. Taylor Phinney Trek Livestrong s.t.
01. David Moncoutié Cofidis, le crédit en ligne 11h38'52
02. Sandy Casar Française des Jeux s.t.
03. Sergio Luis Henao Colombia es Pasion Coldeportes + 8
04. José Rujano Gobernación del Zulia s.t.
05. Anthony Geslin Française des Jeux + 41
06. Yoann Le Boulanger Agritubel + 42
07. Tanel Kangert AG2R La Mondiale + 49
08. Dario Cioni ISD s.t.
09. Niklas Axelsson Team Corratec + 53
10. Florian Morizot Besson Chaussures - Sojasun s.t.
01. Sergio Luis Henao Colombia es Pasion Coldeportes 61
02. Sandy Casar Française des Jeux 50
03. José Rujano Gobernación del Zulia 44
01. Taylor Kuphaldt Trek Livestrong 34
02. Darren Lapthorne Rapha Condor 30
03. Blel Kadri AG2R La Mondiale 26
Dwight K. Schrute: 'I'm not a hero. Im just a mere defender of the office. You know who is a hero? Hiro from Heroes. That's a hero. And Bono'.
It was raining cats and dogs during the first stage of the Circuit Sarthe, add the heavy winds and you can conclude that the stage was really a living hell for many riders. And for some it would get worse, 20 kms to the line the wind causes the pack to break!
A group of 53 riders is left up front, all the others are left behind!
But most of the sprinters are still there, meanwhile the Livestrong riders are hanging on for dear life, with the TT tommorow, not losing time unlike a lot of others today would mean that our chanes at a top 10 will increase considerably. Meanwhile the sprint up front is won by Frenchman Samuel Dumoulin. Guy East, our best timetrialer doesnt lose time unlike aprox. 100 other riders!
Samuel Dumoulin wins in the pouring rain!
Result:
01. Samuel Dumoulin Cofidis, le crédit en ligne 3h47'27
02. Brad Huff Jelly Belly Cycling Team s.t.
03. Benoit Sinner Besson Chaussures - Sojasun s.t.
04. Anthony Ravard Agritubel s.t.
05. Sébastien Portal Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
06. Russel Downing Candi TV - Pinarello RT s.t.
07. Geoffroy Lequatre Agritubel s.t.
08. Matthew Goss Team Saxo Bank s.t.
09. Jure Kocjan CarmioOro - A-Style s.t.
10. Robert Hayles Team Halfords s.t.
Stage 2/4:
A lot of timetrialers lost time yesterday, our best timetrialer, Guy East, only ended 27th today. But because many other guys lost time yesterday it does mean that he is now 4th in the GC! Sam Bewley ended 38th but also got into the top 10 (He is 9th) The winner of the TT was David Millar, teammate Svein Tuft who ended 2nd takes over the lead from Dumoulin.
Result:
01. David Millar Garmin - Slipstream 13'20
02. Svein Tuft Garmin - Slipstream + 6
03. Luis León Sánchez Caisse d'Epargne + 19
04. Lars Bak Team Saxo Bank + 20
05. Cameron Meyer Garmin - Slipstream + 24
06. Gregor Gazvoda EQA - Meitan Hompo - Graphite Design s.t.
07. Jérôme Coppel Française des Jeux + 30
08. Christian Meier Garmin - Slipstream + 35
09. Ed Clancy Team Halfords + 36
10. Sébastien Minard Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 38
01. Svein Tuft Garmin - Slipstream 4h00'53
02. Luis León Sánchez Caisse d'Epargne + 13
03. Christian Meier Garmin - Slipstream + 29 04. Guy East Trek Livestrong + 47
05. Emilien-Benoît Bergès Agritubel + 48
Dwight K. Schrute: 'I'm not a hero. Im just a mere defender of the office. You know who is a hero? Hiro from Heroes. That's a hero. And Bono'.
Our goal is just to keep Guy East on his bike and to hold on to that 4th spot in the GC. Early on there is a break but since we would like to try something in the mass sprint with Baumann and Bewley we decide not to go along this time.
AG2R rookie Bonnafond leads the break on the climb
The break doesn't make it and so we get a sprint, Baumann lacks the power to stay up front with the big guys. It seems to go down between the two Frenchies Lequatre and Benoit Sinner
Sinner and Lequatre have a small lead over the rest of the sprinters!
In the end it's Sinner who takes the stage! East is still 4th in the GC
Result:
01. Benoit Sinner Besson Chaussures - Sojasun 4h02'24
02. Geoffroy Lequatre Agritubel s.t.
03. Robert Hayles Team Halfords s.t.
04. Russel Downing Candi TV - Pinarello RT s.t.
05. Arnold Jeanneson Caisse d'Epargne s.t.
06. Mathieu Drujon Caisse d'Epargne s.t. 07. Ryan Baumann Trek Livestrong s.t.
08. Brad Huff Jelly Belly Cycling Team s.t.
09. Anthony Ravard Agritubel s.t.
10. Shinri Suzuki Shimano Racing Team s.t.
01. Svein Tuft Garmin - Slipstream 4h00'53
02. Luis León Sánchez Caisse d'Epargne + 13
03. Christian Meier Garmin - Slipstream + 29 04. Guy East Trek Livestrong + 47
05. Emilien-Benoît Bergès Agritubel + 48
Dwight K. Schrute: 'I'm not a hero. Im just a mere defender of the office. You know who is a hero? Hiro from Heroes. That's a hero. And Bono'.
