Technically, the race is in Slovenia though. Most of it at least.
1.2: Zagreb - Ljubljana
No chance for the early attackers today, as MTN and, for some reason, Chipotle, start pushing the pace already a long way out from the finish. Strange move from the latter, having no victory candidate in the squad!
Koretzky meanwhile stays focused, occupying a position just behind the working domestiques. Skujins, Paillot and Evaldas all stay nearby.
MTN and Chipotle laying the hammer down.
Protected by Paillot, Koretzky moves up to the head of the field over a very short little nudge, in what was meant as an attempt to put some pain in a few legs.
The acceleration cracks most of the domestiques though, and opens up a gap between Paillot / Koretzky and the rest of the pack!
Paillot and Koretzky slip away.
We decide to grab the free opportunity. Paillot gives it everything for a kilometer or so, and then pulls aside - leaving Koretzky all alone as the final climb begins. The peloton follows at around half a minute.
Young Russian Sergey Chernetskiy is the first to take up chase. He eventually starts to look back after a surging up the first kilometer of the difficult climb. Pre-race favourite Van Rensburg sees that as the moment to go for it - setting off in a pursuit of his own.
Van Rensburg takes off after Koretzky.
The attack establishes a gap between Van Rensburg and the other favourites, but he just can't close down Koretzky! Inside of the final kilometer, he is still over 20 seconds behind, with the peloton another few down.
Evaldas meanwhile realizes that more or less the whole field blew up under Chernetskiy's killer pace. Therefore he gives it a little dig himself 800m from the line, with a surprisingly strong Skujins also in good position.
Koretzky leading Van Rensburg inside the final k.
Anyway, no one bridge across to Koretzky!
Completely dominant, and well deserved victory. No one else even comes close to his capacity in the end, as he extends the gap again in the finale.
Koretzky leaves the rest far behind!
Van Rensburg stays in second place all the way over the line, once again narrowly missing out on victory number 17.
A beaten Van Rensburg rolls home in second.
But hey, look at that...
That's two of our riders following just behind! After saving the energy everyone else seems to have spent earlier on the climb, Evaldas and Skujins both bounce clear of the field in the end, taking third and fourth place!
Moldovan champ Alexandre Pliuschin leads the big group over the line, a few meters behind. Talented youngsters like Bob Jungels and Ian Boswell impresses towards the end, while Chernetskiy can't do better than 11th, after looking so strong. Clearly waiting was important today.
I really hope that you're enjoying the story, regardless of the recent dominance. I'm heavily considering extreme for 2013.
Monthly news - August
Notable results:
06/06 - 12/12
Eneco Tour
Fabian Cancellara
14/06
Clasica San Sebastian
Michael Albasini
19/06
Vattenfall Cyclassics
Tom Boonen
26/06
GP Ouest-France
Marcel Kittel
Just a few of the less popular PT races have been ridden recently. Eneco Tour was decided in a tough battle between Cancellara and OPQS on the penultimate stage into Geraardsbergen. Spartacus came out victorious, taking revenge from the classics by winning both stage and GC.
Spartacus tops Boonen, Chavanel and Terpstra in the low countries.
Boonen was back on top again a week later though - taking Vattenfall Cyclassics from a mass sprint. Kittel then took the other flattish classic, GP Plouay. Finally, LBL winner Albasini dropped the Katusha duo Rodriguez and Moreno over the climbs in San Sebastian for a solo victory.
Another major classic for Albasini.
WorldTour rankings:
1
Fabian Cancellara
Radioshack - Nissan
674
2
Tom Boonen
OmegaPharma - Quickstep
621
3
Jelle Vanendert
Lotto-Belisol Team
465
4
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Procycling
434
5
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar Team
432
6
Chris Froome
Sky Procycling
370
7
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
354
8
Vincenzo Nibali
Liquigas - Cannondale
341
9
Simon Gerrans
Orica - GreenEDGE
303
10
Andr� Greipel
Lotto-Belisol Team
300
Cancellara and Boonen goes clear even further thanks to the points from Eneco Tour. I doubt anyone else will catch them now, unless Wiggins wins the currently ongoing Vuelta, along with Beijing and / or Lombardia. No doubt that the classics have been important this year.
1
Sky Procycling
1206
2
Lotto-Belisol Team
998
3
Orica - GreenEDGE
975
4
Radioshack - Nissan
961
5
OmegaPharma - Quickstep
954
Sky are just too strong for the other teams at the moment. Lotto and Orica are still going surprisingly well. Only difference is that OPQS knocks Rabobank off the list. Again, the classics teams are notably strong.
Continental Tour rankings:
1
Evaldas Siskevicius
La Pomme Marseille
773
2
Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg
MTN - Qhubeka
769
3
Tom Veelers
Team Argos - Shimano
759
4
Alexander Serebryakov
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
682
5
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
Endura Racing
561
6
Boy Van Poppel
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling
558
7
Carlos Betancur
Acqua & Sapone
434
8
Cl�ment Koretzky
La Pomme Marseille
394
9
Steven Tronet
Auber 93 - BigMat
386
10
Vyacheslav Kuznetsov
Itera - Katusha
378
Well, well, well - would you look at that! He's back on top after a strong return to racing. Now accompanied by Koretzky inside the best ten. Van Rensburg looks very good for the final title, as I doubt Evaldas will be able to keep this up, knowing that he'll only ride a couple of more races.
1
Itera - Katusha
1892
2
Team Argos - Shimano
1822
3
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
1808
4
La Pomme Marseille
1637
5
An Post - Sean Kelly Team
1227
We also make a return to the top end of the team ranking. Itera-Katusha continues to impress at the very top, with Argos and TT1 following closely behind. Also: note the gap between us, in fourth, and An Post, in fifth!
CQ rankings:
1
Fabian Cancellara
Radioshack - Nissan
2604
2
Tom Boonen
OmegaPharma - Quickstep
2047
3
Andr� Greipel
Lotto-Belisol Team
1948
4
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar Team
1765
5
Matthew Goss
Orica - GreenEDGE
1763
6
Jelle Vanendert
Lotto-Belisol Team
1580
7
Vincenzo Nibali
Liquigas - Cannondale
1557
8
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Procycling
1533
9
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
1286
10
Joaqu�m Rodriguez
Katusha Team
1245
More proof that Cancellara has been amazing this year. And again, it's Boonen in second. Greipel is further up here though, thanks to his many victories throughout the season.
1
OmegaPharma - Quickstep
6928
2
Lotto-Belisol Team
6737
3
Sky Procycling
6680
4
Radioshack - Nissan
6219
5
Orica - GreenEDGE
6118
A slight advantage for the top three. Lotto for sure a big surprise this year; performing very well everywhere. Orica-GreenEDGE with a really strong season as well, still just about hanging onto a spot among the five best.
Victories:
1
Andr� Greipel
Lotto-Belisol Team
20
2
Tom Boonen
OmegaPharma - Quickstep
19
3
Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg
MTN - Qhubeka
16
4
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar Team
13
5
Fabian Cancellara
Radioshack - Nissan
13
As mentioned earlier, it's still Greipel in control. Definitely the most successful so far, only seriously challenged by Boonen and Van Rensburg.
1
OmegaPharma - Quickstep
44
2
Sky Procycling
43
3
Lotto-Belisol Team
42
4
Orica - GreenEDGE
36
5
Radioshack - Nissan
34
A really close battle between OPQS, Sky and Lotto. As you can see, it's the same teams you've seen in the tables above as well. Simply the best ones this year.
Edited by Pellizotti2 on 12-12-2012 14:38
I'll stay on hard at least to the end of the season. After that, we'll see.
Review from the recently finished Vuelta now. Please forgive me if the language is a bit repetitive, as I was really tired while writing this.
UWT: Vuelta a España
Stage 1: Pamplona (TTT)
1
Orica-GreenEDGE
17'38
2
Astana Pro Team
+ 3
3
BMC Racing Team
+ 11
4
OmegaPharma - Quickstep
+ 17
5
Garmin - Sharp
+ 22
Australian victory inside the bullring in Pamplona. A returning Alberto Contador meanwhile gets a weak start, losing almost a minute and a half, together with his ST Banks team mates.
A three-man escape stays clear all the way to the line. Cavendish and Greipel the quickest in the mass sprint, as expected. Terpstra takes the red jersey.
Stage 3: Faustino V - Eibar (Arrate)
1
JoaquÃm RodrÃguez
Katusha Team
3h38'32
2
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
+ 8
3
Beñat Intxausti
Movistar Team
s.t.
4
Daniel Martin
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
5
Igor Anton
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 25
Spoiler
7
Alberto Contador
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
s.t.
10
Roman Kreuziger
Astana Pro Team
+ 54
12
Tejay Van Garderen
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
28
Samuel Sánchez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1'27
29
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Procycling
s.t.
43
Haimar Zubeldia
Radioshack - Nissan
+ 1'52
Katusha show on the final climb, with RodrÃguez slipping away with the stage win and a few gained seconds and Moreno netting second place in the sprint from a chasing trio. Intxausti and Martin both prove strength, while Contador, Sánchez and Wiggins all lose a bit of time.
Stage 4: Barakaldo - Estacion de Valdezcaray
1
JoaquÃm RodrÃguez
Katusha Team
4h36'00
2
Alberto Contador
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
s.t.
3
Daniel Martin
Garmin - Sharp
+ 27
4
Beñat Intxausti
Movistar Team
s.t.
5
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
s.t.
Spoiler
8
Igor Anton
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 51
9
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Procycling
s.t.
12
Samuel Sánchez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
13
Roman Kreuziger
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
14
Tejay Van Garderen
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
20
Haimar Zubeldia
Radioshack - Nissan
+ 1'03
Another stage win for RodrÃguez, while also overtaking the race lead. Contador meanwhile continues to improve, gaining time on everyone but Purito. Martin, Intxausti and Moreno all establish themselves as solid contenders, while Wiggins, Sánchez and Van Garderen fall even further back.
Cavendish gets topped by both Greipel and Degenkolb in the sprint. The green jersey battle thus tightens, with Greipel striking back at Cav.
Stage 6: Tarazona - Jaca
1
JoaquÃm RodrÃguez
Katusha Team
4h23'33
2
Igor Anton
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 21
3
Daniel Martin
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
4
Roman Kreuziger
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
5
Beñat Intxausti
Movistar Team
+ 29
Spoiler
9
Alberto Contador
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
+ 42
17
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
+ 1'09
20
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Procycling
s.t.
42
Haimar Zubeldia
Radioshack - Nissan
+ 2'00
RodrÃguez extends his GC lead even more, thanks to another stage win. Contador loses a little bit, but not as much as Sánchez or Van Garderen, who both completely drop out of the overall fight.
Cavendish nabs his first GT stage win of the year - much later than anyone would've expected. Good result for Nizzolo and Boeckmans.
Stage 8: Lleida - Andorra (Collada de la Gallina)
1
Alberto Contador
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
4h57'32
2
Daniel Martin
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
3
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
s.t.
4
Beñat Intxausti
Movistar Team
s.t.
5
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Procycling
s.t.
Spoiler
6
JoaquÃm RodrÃguez
Katusha Team
s.t.
7
Roman Kreuziger
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
10
Igor Anton
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 32
18
Haimar Zubeldia
Radioshack - Nissan
+ 49
After half a year away, El Pistolero makes his comeback for real. RodrÃguez just about saves himself from a time loss, while Martin, Moreno and Intxausti strengthen their good GC positions even more.
Sieberg grabs another stage win in a freakishly similar way to how he did on the first road stage. Cavendish is once again the fastest among the sprinters.
Stage 11: Cambados - Pontevedra (ITT)
1
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Procycling
53'22
2
Tony Martin
OmegaPharma - Quickstep
+ 13
3
Alberto Contador
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
+ 15
4
Jean-Christophe Peraud
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 17
5
Beñat Intxausti
Movistar Team
+ 19
Spoiler
8
JoaquÃm RodrÃguez
Katusha Team
+ 26
9
Haimar Zubeldia
Radioshack - Nissan
+ 29
23
Igor Anton
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 1'06
26
Roman Kreuziger
Astana Pro Team
+ 1'13
51
Daniel Martin
Garmin - Sharp
+ 2'10
65
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
+ 2'41
No surprise that Wiggins dominates the course. Contador again with a strong ride, cementing his position among the first three in the overall. RodrÃguez manages to keep the race lead though - after an amazing TT.
Stage 12: Vilagarcia de Arousa - DumbrÃa (Mirador de Ézaro)
Vaitkus takes a superior solo win from the early breakaway. Quite a few minutes further back, RodrÃguez strengthens his grip around the race lead. Contador surely on a really bad day, just like Wiggins and Kreuziger. The last two really badly - losing several minutes and all GC ambitions.
Another successful breakaway. Cavendish sweeps up the remaining points by leading home the peloton in eighth place.
Stage 14: Palas de Rei - Puerto de Ancares
1
Luis León Sánchez
Rabobank Cycling Team
4h06'40
2
Pieter Weening
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
3
Chris Anker Sörensen
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
+ 3'05
4
Rob Ruijgh
Vacansoleil - DCM
+ 6'13
5
Cameron Meyer
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
Spoiler
8
Alberto Contador
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
+ 10'35
9
JoaquÃm RodrÃguez
Katusha Team
+ 11'21
10
Haimar Zubeldia
Radioshack - Nissan
+ 11'45
11
Igor Anton
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
12
Beñat Intxausti
Movistar Team
s.t.
14
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
+ 12'03
15
Daniel Martin
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
LL Sánchez wins the stage in a man-against-man battle with Weening. RodrÃguez meanwhile cracks for the first time, losing almost a minute on a rampaging Contador. Moreno and Martin both lose a bit of time.
Stage 15: La Robla - Lagos de Covadonga
1
Alberto Contador
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
5h40'43
2
JoaquÃm RodrÃguez
Katusha Team
+ 21
3
Igor Anton
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 56
4
Beñat Intxausti
Movistar Team
+ 1'15
5
Haimar Zubeldia
Radioshack - Nissan
s.t.
Spoiler
8
Daniel Martin
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
11
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
+ 1'52
Contador creeps closer and closer to RodrÃguez by going solo on the final climb once again. This time also seizing the stage - his first win of the season! Moreno continues to fade, probably because of his many racedays.
The breakaway wins by a huge margin, and Pauriol makes a leap up the GC - entering the top 10! RodrÃguez lead is at the same time reduced to less than a minute, as Contador sets in another assault. Anton suffers from a bad day, losing a few minutes.
Tired of gradually losing his lead, RodrÃguez strikes back at Contador - gaining just over half a minute on the very climb he lost the real life Vuelta to the same man! Zubeldia has in the meantime really built up form he didn't have at the start; resulting in another move up the GC for him.
Stage 18: Aguilar de Campo - Valladolid
1
Fumiyuki Beppu
Orica-GreenEDGE
3h55'51
2
Mickael Delage
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
3
Giovanni Bernaudeau
Team Europcar
s.t.
4
Tom Stamsnijder
Team Argos-Shimano
s.t.
5
Vasil Kiryienka
Movistar Team
s.t.
The breakaway succeeds, and Beppu takes what I think is Japan's first stage win in the Vuelta ever. A frustrated Cavendish has to settle for another 8th place - once again being the fastest.
At last, an anticipated win for the Manx Missile, who more or less wraps up the points jersey. Also, a very nice result from the young, promising Fenn!
Contador is unable to drop RodrÃguez, and eventually ends up distanced by another few seconds. Therefore, Purito more or less secures the GT victory he has been trying to land for so long!
Stage 21: Cercedilla - Madrid
1
Perrig Quemeneur
Team Europcar
2h07'43
2
Manuel Cardoso
Caja Rural
s.t.
3
Blel Kadri
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
4
David Boucher
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
5
Michael Schär
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
As traditionally in this race - another successful breakaway. Quemeneur spoils the party for Cavendish, by being the 10th escapee to win a stage!
Purito finally gets his Grand Tour! Contador's is unable to create enough space in the mountains to make up for his losses in the first week. Still a good result for him, considering it's only his second race after the suspension.
Another very happy man is Beñat Intxausti, who joins his two compatriots on the final podium. A real breakthrough for the youngish man from Movistar. Martin and Anton complete the top 5, while Devenyns and Pauriol both finish inside the best 10 thanks to time gained through breakaways.
Edited by Pellizotti2 on 23-11-2012 22:56
1.2: Zagreb - Ljubljana
Great result for the entire team too. 
UWT: Vuelta a España
