Ian Butler wrote:
Well, Salvatore did a brilliant job here. But I can't help wondering, if he didn't had to help EBH, he could've sprinted for a win? But anyway, that's what's great about this, he's a team player, a good guy above all
Well, we'll never know, even though i think that Eddy would have outsprinted Puccio anyway As you say, Puccio is a team player (at least now), and therefore it is crucial for him to pick the right team for the next season, and after the meeting in June with Brailsford, he doesn't seem be willing to continue at Sky.
But he got the chance to have some leader roles at Pro-Continental teams, if he's willing to sacrifice his place in the World Tour... We'll see what he'll do soon (very soon)
The stage is very flat, without any kind of difficulties. If nothing serious happens, the stage will most likely end up in a mass sprint, and here Eddy will do his best to take yet another win. I'll not compete in the sprint today, instead i'll try to rest before tomorrows time trial.
E. Boasson Hagen
J.J. Haedo, M. Pedersen
S. Modolo, S. Ponzi, F. Vachon
The Race
We'll start right in the final of the race. A breakaway containing seven riders has been fighting all day long, but seems to come to an end with 10 km to the finish line. In the pack the various teams are preparing for the sprint, with especially Saxo - Tinkoff, Colnago and Sky being very active at the front.
With four km to the line, Sky finally seems to draw the same picture as in the last couple of stages. With a long leadout-train with Edvald as the sprinter, not even Saxo - Tinkoff's leadout looks very terrifying.
Saxo Tinkoff's train broke into pieces, and on the last kilometer, Thomas fired away with Edvald right behind. The main sprinters such as Pedersen, Modolo and Haedo, seemed to have been blocked, since none of them was able to threaten Edvald at the front.
Without even looking tired, Edvald Boasson Hagen makes the hattrick! The leadout worked so well that Thomas actually managed to hold his second place all the way to the finish, securing another great result.
What a day! We nail yet another fantastic win today, and Eddy seems to be unstoppable. I kept myself clear of any trouble today, preparing for the time trial tomorrow. The time trial will most likely be the stage which decides the general classification, and with me being in a provisional second overall, everything looks very good.
My ability to ride time trials isn't the the best. So i'm actually a little nervous, even though i have everything to win, since i had no personal ambitions at the start of this race.
Brilliant sprint victory! Now 3 riders in the top 5, Sky is unstoppable at the moment!
Let's hope Salvatore doesn't lose too much time on the time trial!
We're at the most important stage for the general classification. Todays stage will settle the finishing result, and i have to ride a very strong time trial to stay in the top of the table. As well as the other days, Eddy seems to be favorite, alongside our very own time trial expert Thomas.
E. Boasson Hagen
G. Thomas, V. Gusev
R. Quaade, J. Van Emden, D. Gruzdev
The Race
When the actual favorites got on route, Saxo - Tinkoff's Mads Christensen was the first to settle the best time. The Dane rode the course in 19'38, placing him in provisional first for quite some time.
The man to beat Christensen's time was Gusev. Gusev settled an extremely fast time, 33 seconds better than Christensen in 19'05. No doubt, this was the todays time to beat.
Danish youngster Rasmus Quaade was looking to do well in the time trial, but riding against the World Tour riders, seemed to be a little to much for him. Eventually he finish 8th, with the time 19'37.
Kazakhstani time trial champion Dmitriy Grusdev, happened to be todays surprise, finishing in 4th, with the time 19'20.
As the 4th last rider, Geraint Thomas settled off the start ramp. As todays favorite alongside Eddy, and a great shape at the moment, much was to expect from him.
I got to the starting ramp. Now the spotlight was on me. Third in the general classification, Martin Pedersen, had just gone off, and i was to begin the most important time trial of my life.
I had a fine start, it took some time for me to get into the rhythm, but when i first got things going, i had a great speed in my bike.
Martin Pedersen who was to defends his 3rd place, is not known for his time trialing abilites, and this time was no exception. He finished in 59th with the time 20'21, which made him fall to 20th in the GC.
Edvald Boasson came out as the last rider. The great Norwegian had me in his sight all the way, and the worst thing that i could do, was to look back, as he slowly but steady began closing our gap.
Thomas was able to settle the best intermediate time, 2 seconds ahead of Gusev. But when i got through, i got the message that i was 30 seconds behind him. What a punch in the face, after only 6 km.
Edvald had also gone fast in the first section. At the intermediate check he was only 4 seconds behind Geraint Thomas.
I began to feel the pain in my legs, as i got onto one of the most difficult parts of the time trial - An open, windy and long straight road.
On the finishing lane, Thomas rode really fast. He even managed to overtake the rider in front of him, in the second last corner.
With an incredible effort, Geraint Thomas flies into provisional 1st in the time 18'35, punching down Gusev's time with 30 seconds!
I managed to get to the finishing lane in superior pain. As i got through the second last corner, i was able to see the 1 km banner. I had to give myself a 110 % for the last part, if i had to have a good time.
Riding under the 1 km banner, i saw a fearful look. Edvald came closer and closer from behind, while my speed began to decrease. I almost lost my concentration completely, and had to take a deep breath before being able to get into the rhytm again.
I could now see the finish line to my right. I just had to get through the last corner, and then give my everything for the line.
Riding up towards the finishing line, i almost toppled because of sheer exhaustion. Only just a few metres and it'll be over!
Done! What a wonderful feeling to be done. 19 minutes and 40 seconds in pure pain was what i had gone through. My DS told me, that i had done a great job, and actually was in provisional 11th, before Edvald would be crushing over the line in a few seconds.
Only 8 seconds after, Edvald came over the line. He had ridden in the time 18'48. That was enough to take 2nd place, 13 seconds behind Thomas. Hereby 1st and 2nd from yesterday, switches places at todays time trial. What a show!
This was one of the most thrilling and breathtaking things i've ever been through. Today i ride the best time trial i have ever done, on the most important time trial i have ever done. I manages to hold 4th in the general classification, with a comfortable lead over the nearest riders. If i can hold this place at tomorrow's last stage, i'd by over the moon!
I can't go before congratulating Thomas and Eddy on this. They're smashing everyone of their competitors, and makes it a fight between themselves. I hope that i'll have those kinds of abilities one day.
See you at tomorrow's last stage.
We're at the final stage of this years Tour of Denmark. For me, it's going to be a fight to not lose time, while Eddy wants to take his fourth win. I'm going to be the fourth man in the leadouttrain, but otherwise, i'll just have to keep myself in front without using any energy.
E. Boasson Hagen
J.J. Haedo, S. Modolo
M. Pedersen, R. Selig, S. Ponzi
The Race
Focused, but enjoying the moment, i went for the startline with Edvald. I had been told to stick with him all day long, so that nothing could go wrong, and i wouldn't lose any precious time.
Six riders were lucky enough to slip away in the morning. In between those six, Astana's F. Masciarelli and former Tour de France hero M. Rasmussen, seemed to be the most dangerous riders.
But in the pack, the day wasn't filled with any particular stress over the breakaway. Enjoying the view with Sky in front, the pack got on relaxed in a moderate but consistent pace.
Nearing the finishing city, Frederiksberg, the breakaway was reeled in with help from Colnago. The pace had upped significantly, so it seemed as though the stage was going to end in another mass sprint.
With five kilometres to go, Sky settled themselves at front with most of the team being in the leadout train for Edvald Boasson Hagen.
At the final corner, Puccio came crushing out in a great speed with Eisel, Thomas and Eddy in his back, giving his all to keep the pace at its very top and to prevent other sprinters in nearing Eddy.
With three kilometres left, Eisel took over and accelerated dramatically. Puccio fell back, and now his task was only to hang on.
It seems like we've seen this picture before... Thomas made a huge effort in bringing Eddy to the one kilometre banner. Now it was Eddy's own time to fire off the tricker, and to go for the finish line again.
Rather unsurprising, Edvald Boasson Hagen was able to drive home his fourth victory in this years Tour of Denmark, while Thomas once again managed to finish inside of the top 10.
Fourth in the general classification, second in the points ranking, second in the youth ranking, third at stage 3 and a win at stage 2! This simplifies the results i've achieved here in Denmark the last six days!
Everything has gone right after the plan, and even better. I'm very proud of my achievements, and especially my first professional win was something i value extremely high.
Team Sky has been all over this race with six wins at six stages... No one can argue with that! I know that we've come here with a very strong lineup against a rather weak startlist, but the results we've achieved are something which a lineup with several world stars even would have had difficult achieving.
1st Professional win
Top 10 in one of the Canadian Classics
Be part of at least 5 team victories
Stage top 5 in Volta Ciclista a Catalunya
Top 10 Gp di Toscana
As you see on my personal objectives screen, i only need to check out one single goal, now that i have had my first professional win. Before going to the Canadian World Tour races, i have a small race in Belgium, before travelling over to the other side. My shape is beginning to have reached its very top, so i'm looking forward to see have i'll do in such important and prestigious races.
Wow, these last races where just brilliant for Salvatore. It's an excellent time to be showing off his talent, with all the teams on the look-out for good riders!
@fcancellara: Yeah, his win wasn't as convincing as in the last couple of stages, and i suddenly also began to fear a little, that they would come and overtake him. But hey, they didn't, and he got his win
@Ian: I definitely agree! He has been doing amazing here in Denmark, and it should be the right time to do so with his current contract situation. As mentioned earlier, an update on this will come very soon
