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Petronas - Monster Energy; The end of an era
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| dienblad |
Posted on 29-12-2012 10:47
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Classics Specialist
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Stage 4
The first of 3 decisive stages is a 23km ITT with start and finish in Moudon. It features a climb with a height difference of 300 metres in the first kilometres, what probably will be the decisive part of the route.
Movistar's Belarusian Kanstantsin Siutsou is the first to set a time that van bring him in the top 5. He's '28 faster than the best time so far set by Andreas Klöden: 33'43.
Janez Brajkovic was aiming for a Top 3 in the GC, but a crash yesterday made him forget these plans. Still, he rides a very good ITT, being '4 faster than Siutsou. New best time: 33'39.
All the GC-contenders have passed the first split time:
1. Kelderman 16'14; 2. Contador +25; 3. EB Hagen +30; 4. Bochman +45; 5. Knees +45.
Alberto Contador has saved some energy in the first part of the race, and accelerates when the road gets flat. He arrives at the finish with a new best time of 32'58!
Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen was 5 seconds slower than Contador in the first part of the race. In the second part, he looses another 10, thus setting the 2nd time so far at '15.
Sony Ericsson's leader Thomas Löfkvist rides a pretty decent ITT, 6th time so far at '54.
The 3rd Scandinavian rider in a row, this time a Dane. Lasse Bochman (Saxo Bank) rides a good ITT, 3rd time so far at '36.
Wilco Kelderman did set the fastest split time at the first sector. We decided that he'd start pretty fast, seeing how long he could keep the pace high. Unfortunately, he falls back in the 2nd part of the race, having a bad day (daily form -2). He sets the 3rd time of the day, '16 slower than Contador, meaning he has lost '41 in the 2nd part.
GC-leader Mauro Facci sets the 62nd time of the day, 1'59 slower than Contador. He manages to stay in the GC-lead.
Results
| 1 |  Alberto Contador | Movistar Team | 32'58 | | 2 |  Edvald Boasson Hagen | Dexia | + 15 | | 3 |  Wilco Kelderman | Petronas - Monster Energy | + 16 | | 4 |  Lasse Bøchman | Saxo Bank SunGard | + 36 | | 5 |  Janez Brajkovic | Sky ProCycling | + 41 | | 6 |  Kanstantsin Siutsou | Movistar Team | + 45 | | 7 |  Christian Knees | Sky ProCycling | s.t. | | 8 |  Thomas Löfkvist | Sony Ericsson | + 54 | | 9 | Beñat Intxausti | Euskaltel - Euskadi | + 56 | | 10 |  Vladimir Gusev | Katusha Team | + 1'02 |
GC
| 1 |  Mauro Facci | Acqua & Sapone | 9h29'16 | | 2 |  Luis Felipe Laverde | Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia | + 58 | | 3 |  Kim Kirchen | Sony Ericsson | + 59 | | 4 | Luca Pierfelici | Androni Giocattoli | + 1'08 | | 5 | Alberto Contador | Movistar Team | + 1'14 | | 6 |  Sébastien Turgot | Team Europcar | + 1'16 | | 7 | Wilco Kelderman | Petronas - Monster Energy | + 1'28 | | 8 | Edvald Boasson Hagen | Dexia | + 1'29 | | 9 | Lasse Bøchman | Saxo Bank SunGard | + 1'49 | | 10 | Thomas Löfkvist | Sony Ericsson | + 2'07 |
Today's Winner
Word from the DS
In these races, it is good to try different strategies. And now we know that, unless Kelderman is having a great daily form, we can better start the ITT a bit on reserve....
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 29-12-2012 11:24
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World Champion
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Wow, Kelderman didn't recover. Oh well, top 10 in the GC currently and with two mountain stages left, he can still do it. |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 29-12-2012 12:12
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Tour de France Champion
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Only problem might be Contador standing above him in the GC...
But still, he's doing good  |
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| Daggen |
Posted on 29-12-2012 12:39
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Sprinter
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Could you please post Löfkvist's stats? |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 29-12-2012 13:55
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A Good TT from Kelderman to keep him in touch on the GC |
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| dienblad |
Posted on 29-12-2012 15:46
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Classics Specialist
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Daggen wrote:
Could you please post Löfkvist's stats?
Fl 77, Mo 76, Hi 75, TT 75, PRL 76, Cob 66, Sp 65, Acc 63, DH 69, FTR 71, Sta 74, Res 76, Rec 73.
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| dienblad |
Posted on 29-12-2012 17:35
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Classics Specialist
Posts: 3772
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Stage 5
The 5th stage from Vevey to Chatel is the first of the 2 mountainous stages. After a long flat first part, the riders have to ascend the Pas de Morgins (summit 64km before the finish) and finally the Col du Corbier (summit 18km before the finish). Also the last 10km towards in Chatel are slightly uphill.
64km to go
Early in the ascend of the Pas de Morgins, Steven Kruijswijk (Qantas) attacks. He gets countered by Dexia's José Herrada and the 2 arrive at the summit of the Pas de Morgins with a margin of 2'16 to Lasse Norman Hansen (Saxo Bank) and Christian Knees (Sky). The peloton follows at 5'25.
24km to go
At the foot of the last climb of the day, the Col du Corbier, the margin from the 2 leaders to the peloton is still 4'03. Then Alberto Contador decides to launch his attack and no one can counter him. Also Kelderman can't, as he is getting blocked for a few kilometres, and is having trouble in making his way to the front of the peloton.
18km to go
Kruijswijk attacks shortly before the summit of the Col du Corbier and passes the line of the KOTM-sprint with a '15 gap to Herrada. Contador has joined Hansen and Knees and they follow at 2'08. Kelderman is still trying to find his way through the peloton, but really gets no space (stupid bug, as it started by being blocked by 2 team mates.....). The peloton follows at 3'35. GC-leader Facci has been dropped, so he'll loose his yellow jersey.
Finish
Kruijswijk dives into the descend towards Chatel and takes the stage win. Contador even manages to close the gap to Herrada and leaves his countryman behind in the sprint for the 2nd place at 1'09. The peloton finishes at 1'44, with Kelderman in 10th place, thus loosing '35 to Contador.
Results
| 1 | Steven Kruijswijk | Qantas Airways | 4h07'24 | | 2 | Alberto Contador | Movistar Team | + 1'09 | | 3 | José Herrada | Dexia | + 1'27 | | 4 | Lasse Norman Hansen | Saxo Bank SunGard | + 1'44 | | 5 | Christian Knees | Sky ProCycling | s.t. | | 6 | Janez Brajkovic | Sky ProCycling | s.t. | | 7 | Beñat Intxausti | Euskaltel - Euskadi | s.t. | | 8 | Wout Poels | Rabobank Cycling Team | s.t. | | 9 | Mikel Nieve | Pro Team Astana | s.t. | | 10 | Wilco Kelderman | Petronas - Monster Energy | s.t. |
GC
| 1 | Alberto Contador | Movistar Team | 13h38'57 | | 2 | Luis Felipe Laverde | Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia | + 25 | | 3 | Kim Kirchen | Sony Ericsson | + 26 | | 4 | Luca Pierfelici | Androni Giocattoli | + 35 | | 5 | Steven Kruijswijk | Qantas Airways | + 54 | | 6 | Wilco Kelderman | Petronas - Monster Energy | + 55 | | 7 | Lasse Bøchman | Saxo Bank SunGard | + 1'16 | | 8 | Thomas Löfkvist | Sony Ericsson | + 1'34 | | 9 | Vladimir Gusev | Katusha Team | + 1'51 | | 10 | Gorka Izagirre | Movistar Team | + 2'15 |
Today's Winner
Word from the DS
Okay, this was not a good stage.... Even though Kelderman started the final climb in about 10th place, he simply couldn't pass the slower climbers in front of him and lost more than 20 places.....
So Contador will win the GC here, think we're gonna try something tomorrow to finish at least in 2nd place.
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 29-12-2012 17:41
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A decent ride from Kelderman today, the GC win is still within touching distance  |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 29-12-2012 19:02
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It wasn't too bad, I thought. Contador will probably win but Kelderman is looking good for the podium |
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 29-12-2012 19:04
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World Champion
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Kelderman did good, but screw PCM logics. |
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| FreitasPCM |
Posted on 30-12-2012 11:28
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Grand Tour Champion
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Good luck for tomorrow's stage! Hopefuly no bugs will happen. |
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| Daggen |
Posted on 30-12-2012 11:33
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I'm surprised that Löfkvist is going so strong |
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| dienblad |
Posted on 30-12-2012 12:36
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Classics Specialist
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Stage 6
The 6th and last stage of the Tour de Romandie is the most difficult one. It features 3 first category climbs, the Anzère (10km before the finish, with 1544 the highest point of this Tour), Crans Montana (88km to go) and finally the Ovronnaz (20km to go), with a total of 2766 height metres.
86km to go
Although the stage is designed for attackers, only 2 riders do so. Sébastien Turgot (Europcar) and Matteo Busato (Acqua et Sapone) are the ones. Turgot wins both KOTM-sprints, meaning he'll win the polka dot jersey. But the margin to the peloton is small, only 2'30.
30km to go
The 2 get caught in the long flat part between the 2 climbs. A few others (Jens Voigt, Dominique Cornu) try to attack, but the pace we set is too high. Shortly before the foot of the final climb of the day, Rob Ruijgh attacks, and of course, we drop the pace.
27km to go
That was part A of our plan, and when Ruijgh has created a gap of about 1 minute, we start part B. That is Wilco Kelderman to attack, and when he closes the gap to his countryman, he'll help him for as long as he can. But guess who is countering without any problems???
20km to go
When the 2 close the gap to Ruijgh, and Kelderman has to recover for a bit, Contador shows that he is the best climber in Romandie, leaving the 2 Dutchies behind. Kelderman gives it all to keep the margin as small as possible and crests the summit '29 behind Contador.
Irish Daniel Martin follows at 1'08, a group with Basso, Intxausti, Rolland, Kruijswijk and Brajkovic at 1'32.
Finish
Kelderman descends like a mad man, and manages to close the gap to Contador. The 2 have a margin of 1 minute to Martin and almost 2 to a 30-rider peloton. But Contador turns to Kelderman and says "I'm gonna win the GC anyhow, but if you want to finish in 2nd in the GC, it's up to you to do the work. And I'm not giving any presents today at the finish for the stage win".
Well, that's clear. Unfortunately, Kelderman has spend a lot of energy to close the gap to Contador, so Martin can join them, and also the peloton is closing rapidly. He stil sprints for the stage win, but Contador easily wins it. But as the peloton finishes at '38, Kelderman will finish in 2nd place in the GC. For Contador, it's the 3rd GC-win this year in a World Tour stage race, besides the Tirreno - Adriatico and Vuelta al PaÃs Vasco!
Results
| 1 | Alberto Contador | Movistar Team | 3h33'08 | | 2 | Wilco Kelderman | Petronas - Monster Energy | s.t. | | 3 |  Daniel Martin | Garmin - Barracuda | s.t. | | 4 | Beñat Intxausti | Euskaltel - Euskadi | + 38 | | 5 | Walter Pedraza | Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia | s.t. | | 6 | Lasse Bøchman | Saxo Bank SunGard | s.t. | | 7 | Ivan Basso | Pro Team Astana | s.t. | | 8 | José Herrada | Dexia | s.t. | | 9 | Steven Kruijswijk | Qantas Airways | s.t. | | 10 | Leonardo Duque | Radio Shack - Nissan | s.t. |
GC
| 1 | Alberto Contador | Movistar Team | 17h11'49 | | 2 | Wilco Kelderman | Petronas - Monster Energy | + 1'01 | | 3 | Luis Felipe Laverde | Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia | + 1'19 | | 4 | Luca Pierfelici | Androni Giocattoli | + 1'29 | | 5 | Steven Kruijswijk | Qantas Airways | + 1'48 | | 6 | Lasse Bøchman | Saxo Bank SunGard | + 2'10 | | 7 | Daniel Martin | Garmin - Barracuda | + 2'27 | | 8 | Thomas Löfkvist | Sony Ericsson | + 2'28 | | 9 | Vladimir Gusev | Katusha Team | + 2'45 | | 10 | Gorka Izagirre | Movistar Team | + 3'09 |
Points
| 1 | Alberto Contador | Movistar Team | 79 | | 2 | Wilco Kelderman | Petronas - Monster Energy | 55 | | 3 | Steven Kruijswijk | Qantas Airways | 32 | | 4 |  Zdenek Stybar | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step | 31 | | 5 | Lasse Bøchman | Saxo Bank SunGard | 31 |
KOTM
| 1 | Sébastien Turgot | Team Europcar | 26 | | 2 | Steven Kruijswijk | Qantas Airways | 24 | | 3 |  David Loosli | Lampre - Alitalia | 24 | | 4 |  Jérôme Baugnies | Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team | 22 | | 5 |  Dale Appleby | Sky ProCycling | 20 |
U25
| 1 | Wilco Kelderman | Petronas - Monster Energy | 17h12'50 | | 2 | Lasse Norman Hansen | Saxo Bank SunGard | + 2'47 | | 3 | Jesús Herrada | Movistar Team | + 6'11 | | 4 | Rasmus Guldhammer | Saxo Bank SunGard | + 10'39 | | 5 |  Peter Sagan | Petronas - Monster Energy | + 12'16 |
Teams
| 1 | Movistar Team | 51h41'05 | | 2 | Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia | + 38 | | 3 | Petronas - Monster Energy | + 5'15 | | 4 |  Pro Team Astana | + 6'22 | | 5 | Saxo Bank SunGard | + 8'41 |
Today's and GC winner
Word from the DS
So Contador gave a demonstration of who was the strongest rider in Romandie. We don't know if he's gonna ride the Giro, but if so, then he'll be the number 1 favourite. And I must say that I liked his honest words. Kelderman showed that he'll start the Giro with a great fitness, so he'll definitely aim for a top 5 there.
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 30-12-2012 12:38
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That was a nice stage. Contador was right and proved who's who, but Kelderman also showed what he's made of, and 2nd next to Contador is an amazing achievement |
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 30-12-2012 13:08
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Weird how Kelderman with a high Sp stat lost for Contador. Oh well, he was too tired to win the stage. Still, 2nd in the GC and leader in White is good. |
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| dienblad |
Posted on 30-12-2012 14:15
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@ IanButler: Totally agree with you.
@ Miguel98: I know, Contador has 63 in sprint and Kelderman 74, and Kelderman has some energy left, but he had no chance....
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| dienblad |
Posted on 30-12-2012 14:40
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April review
Summary
After a month filled with cobbles, hills and stage races, we can conclude that team Petronas - Monster Energy is still 1 of the best there is. Breschel did great in De Ronde (4th) and Paris - Roubaix (3rd), Sagan won the Brabantse Pijl, Bernard surprised the cycling world with 3 times a 5th place in the Ardennes classics, and finally Kelderman won a stage and got 2nd in the GC in the Tour de Romandie.
Media awards
Rider of the month is Andy Schleck after winning La Flèche Wallonne and Liège - Bastogne - Liège. Totally deserved it, although Contador could have won it too, with winning stages and GC of PaÃs Vasco and Romandie.
Rankings
World Tour riders
Filippo Pozzato has been kicked off the 1st place by Vlaanderen & Roubaix-winner Tom Boonen. Andy Schleck has jumped to 2nd, and Matti Breschel remains in 3rd.
World Tour teams
Petronas - Monster Energy remains in first place, followed by Katusha and Movistar.
Continental Tour riders
FDJ's Lloyd Mondory has a great month, resulting in the 1st place (coming from 9th). Daniele Callegarin improves 1 place to 2nd, and Stefan Schumacher looses 2 places and is now in 3rd.
Continental Tour teams
Thanks to Mondory, FDJ has taken the lead, with a small margin of 28 points to Team Type 1. Saur - Sojasun is back in the top 3.
CQ riders
Tom Boonen has taken over the lead from Matti Breschel. Filippo Pozzato is still in 3rd.
CQ teams
Petronas - Monster Energy is in the lead, with Movistar in 2nd and Sky in 3rd.
Wins riders
Tom Boonen is the most succesful rider so far in 2014 with 10 wins. Alberto Contador finishes off a great month with 8 wins, and Breschel is in 3rd with 6.
Wins teams
8 wins in April for Movistar makes them the team with the most wins so far this season with 17 victories. Petronas - Monster Energy has won 16 times and Katusha 15.
Only the performances of Bernard in the Ardennes classics was good enough for this:
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| dienblad |
Posted on 30-12-2012 14:44
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Classics Specialist
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May Preview
All eyes in May are focussed at Italy for the 97th Giro d'Italia. We'll also race 3 German races (Frankfurt, Berlin and Bayern Rundfahrt) and the Tour of California.
Monthly goals
- Stage win in the Giro.
- Top 5 in the GC in the Giro.
- At least 2 wins in the German races.
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| Miguel98 |
Posted on 30-12-2012 15:02
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Let's win that Giro Kelderman. |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 30-12-2012 15:05
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Tour de France Champion
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Let's thank Bernard for earning the Monster women |
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