The race kicked off with an explosive attempt by a trio of riders to breakaway, Tondo, Kwiatkowski and Chérel got a gap of around a minute after just 11km of racing.
However, 19more riders tried to bridge across the gap, and unsurprisingly the peloton brought the 22 back. No more breaks got clear until the first climb of the day, the Porlavezza, when 8 men lead by David Zabriskie opened a gap to the peloton.
The gap touched 10minutes around the 150km mark, and the italian teams along with Quickstep came forwards and started to up the pace, not happy with such a large breakaway.
On the Colle De Balissio, the pace of the peloton caused some major fractures, a group of 32favourites remained, including Horner and Danielson, as well as most other favourites.
Zabriskie was still feeling good despite his time in the break, and on the final climb, the Col de Sormino, he dropped the last members or the break, trying to go solo for victory in the Clasica be Foglia Morte.
With the descent from the days main climb completed, Katusha took up the pace setting, 10km to go, and David still has almost a minute, (56"
4km and they have him in sight, he's still not giving up the fight against the 30man peloton, just needing to get over the last rise in the lead.
He's caught right at the top of the final climb, Van Den Broeck, Rodriguez and Rujano come past him, but he still has enough to hold there wheel. Horner got blocked on the climb, and finds himself several groups behind, it's down to Dave now to give the team the high placing it really wants.
2km to go, and Van Den Broeck is distancing the rest, Zabriskie is in 2nd place, but his legs are feeling the break, can he hold on for just a little longer?
Zabriskie is in the second group, along with Basso, Contador and Rujano. several of the favourites got caught out on the final rise, in poor positions, and were unable to contest the fight, but with 300m to go, Van Den Broeck can enjoy his victory, he has won the Giro Il Lombardia!
Zabriskie takes 5th place, he couldn't outsprint the rest of the group, and the podium is rounded out by Basso and Contador. None the less, to hold on for 5th place after 210km in the breakaway is incredible, and he was rightfully pleased with such a high with which to end the season.
Helloand welcome to the Vélo D'Or the prestigious award voted for by the press, managers and key members of the UCi Following. We've had a fantastic season with many days to remember, now it's time to present unto you, this years shortlist for the Vélo D'Or!
The Shortlist
Andy Schleck. He had a solid season built around the Tour De France. With Contador not there, the competition may not have been the most challenging of recent times, but a solid performance by Andy saw him finally take the yellow jersey, along with the King of the Mountains and 3 Stage Victories.
Andy doesn't add greatly to his Palmarés outside of the Tour, with 3rd in Liége-Bastogne-Liége, and 4th in Tirreno Adriatico being his best results.
Exxon leader Chris Horner. What a season the old man has had! 2nd in the Giro, and 1st in La Vuelta, he also collected the KOM competition from the Tirreno Adriatico.
Horner showed his all round ability however, he also collected the win at La Fléche Wallone, and beat out Sammy Sanchéz in the Basque for first place here as well!
New world champion, Damiano Cunego. he had a season which must in many ways have been disappointing, really struggling to make it to the top step of the podium.
His only victory in the top tier of racing this year, was the World Championship, which he then backed up with 2nd at Amstel and Ouest-France Plouey. To go with these, he had other classics success such as 8th in LBL and 4th at La Fléche Wallonne.
Skys classics veteran, Juan Antonio Flecha was able to take the victory in the hell of the north, to complete what was a very successful early season for him. To go with his success in Roubaix, the Spaniard also managed 2nd in Ronde Van Vlandaaren, and 3rd at Milan San-Remo.
Flecha wasn't content to finish his season there however, also working for team Sky at the Tour De France, collecting a couple of top 10 placings, before taking 8th at the World Championships.
A second Lampre rider now, Michele Scarponi. The Italian absolutely controlled Il Giro D'Italia, winning not only the General Classification, but also the King of the Mountains and the Points Classifications!
Scarponi then returned for the end of the season, collecting 2nd in the Tour de Pologne, and 6th in La Vuelta collecting 11 top 10's in the Tour of Spain.
To Belgium now, for the first of 2 riders; Philippe Gilbert. He won the races that both start and finish the Ardennaises week. 1st in one Ardennes classic is a great achievement, but to win both Amstel Gold, and Liége-Bastogne-Liége shows real class.
Indeed Philippe didn't stop there, he also managed 4th in Milan San Remo, and in the later season, he also won the Ouest-France Plouey, and the Belgian National Championship.
Samu Sanchéz of Spain. He's had a fantastic season, winning the UCi World Tour, and the Points Classifications in both La Vuelta, and Le Tour! The Spaniard was unfortunate to miss out on the overall GC. On both occasions, he finished 2nd.
To go with his great GT performance, Sanchéz takes second in the Basque and 3rd in La Fléche Wallone. The most impressive fact about this mans season is a reflection back to the Grand Tours, 36top 10 or better finishes over the course of 2 Grand Tours is a record that will most likely never be equalled.
Tyler Farrar is the second man from UCi Team Victors, Exxon-Duke. Farrar won the overall at Milan San-Remo, 2nd in the Points Classification at the Tour de France and 2nd in the Vattenfall Classics.
The main reason for Farrars Shortlisting however, was his impressive record in single stages however. He won 20stages over the course of the year, beating second placed Roman Kreuziger by 3.
The second of the Belgians, Tom Boonen. Boonen finished 3rd in the Points Classification at Le Tour, and won the Ronde Van Vlandaaren.
To go with his World Tour successes, Boonen had an unbelievable record in the Cobbled Classics, with 4 other victories in 1.1 and 1.HC races.
The last man on the shortlist, is the man whose spent the season in the Rainbow Jersey. Thor Hushovd, He manaded 5th in the Ronde Van Vlandaaren, and 2nd at Paris-Roubaix.
The Nord also finished 5th in the Milan San Remo, and overall victory in the Eneco tour. His stage victory in the Tour De France should of course also not go un noticed!
Right... You all know whose up for the victory, we'll be back after the advert break, to announce the winner, and also hand out prizes to our overall victors in the classifications.
In the meantime, any guesses who finished wear in the Vélo D'Or?
We're back after the break so here we are to announce the victors of this years, Vélo D'Or!
In 3rd place...
In 2nd place...
And your winner...
That's right folks, Samuel Sanchéz wins Le Vélo D'Or!
2 GT Podiums, 2 GT Points Jerseys, and Overall UCi World Tour Victory was enough to make Samuel Sanchéz the rightful winner of the trophy.
Commiserations to Horner and Gilbert who came second and third on the back off some sensational riding, and to our other members of the shortlist, better luck next year folks!
UCI World Tour
Team: Exxon Duke!
The trophy for UCi World Tour Team of the Year, goes to new american boys, Exxon-Duke. The team took the victory 347 points, thanks two hard work all across the squad, and globe, with there most notable performances coming in the GT's and Early Classics. They finished above Lampre and Leopard. who were separated by just 1 point at the end of the season.
The award was collected by the teams newest coach, Lance Armstrong, who today officially leaves the teams books as a rider!
Rider: Samuel Sanchéz
Samu makes the trip to the stage for a second time tonight, this time to collect the Best Rider award!
Hard earned after a superb middle and late season, he was unfortunate to miss out on the Vuelta GC, losing out to Exxon's Chris Horner in the last Mountain stage of the race!
Sanchéz was actually without a single overall GC this year, something he will surely look to remedy next season!
Continental Tour
Team: Francaise Des Jeux
Another 300 point margin in the Continental tour, Francaise Des Jeux thoroughly earned there promotion, comfortably winning the Continental Tour, along with several GC successes along the way, and as a team; 26 victories.
Rider: Bobbie Traksel
His team came 3rd, but Landbouwrekrediets Sprinter-come-Cobbler had a fantastic season en route to 1st place! 2 personal success, countless Top10 finishes, and an absolutely fantastic 5th place at the worlds, bring the curtains down on his brilliant season.
His team receive promotion to the World Tour along with FDJ, but he is actually leaving the side, having signed a contract with the Dutch Cycling Power, Rabobank.
Here is a review of who won what during the course of the season, I hope you enjoy having a flick through this, because for now the team is off on holiday, time to rest, relax before we come back to racing next season!
Date
Race
Winner
Jan19-24
Santos Tour Down Under
Kurt Asle Arvesen
Mar6-13
Paris - Nice
Roman Kreuziger
Mar9-15
Tirreno - Adriatico
Stefano Garzelli
Mar-19
Milano - San Remo
Tyler Farrar
Mar21-27
Volta Ciclista a Catalunya
Roman Kreuziger
Mar-27
Gent - Wevelgem
Stijn Devolder
Apr-03
Ronde van Vlaanderen
Tom Boonen
Apr4-9
Veulta Ciclista al Pais Vasco
Chris Horner
Apr-10
Paris - Roubaix
Juan Antonio Flecha
Apr-17
Amstel Gold Race
Philippe Gilbert
Apr-20
La Flèche Wallonne
Chris Horner
Apr-24
Liège - Bastogne - Liège
Philippe Gilbert
Apr26-May1
Tour de Romandie
Roman Kreuziger
May5-27
Giro d'Italia
Michele Scarponi
Jun5-12
Critérium du Dauphiné
Lance Armstrong
Jun11-19
Tour de Suisse
Cadel Evans
Jul2-24
Tour de France
Andy Schleck
Jul-30
Clásica San Sebastián
Edvald Boassen Hagen
Aug1-7
Tour de Pologne
Ryder Hesjedal
Aug8-14
Eneco Tour
Thor Hushovd
Aug20-Sep11
Vuelta a España
Chris Horner
Aug-21
Vattenfall Cyclassics
André Greipel
Aug-28
GP Ouest France - Plouay
Philippe Gilbert
Sep-10
GP Cycliste de Québec
Fredrik Kesiakoff
Sep-11
GP Cycliste de Montréal
Dario Cataldo
Oct-15
Il Lombardia
Jurgen Van Den Broeck
National Champions
Date
Race
Winner
Sep-25
World
Damiano Cunego
Sep-21
World (ITT)
Luis León Sánchez
Jan-09
Australia
Cadel Evans
Jan-11
Australia (ITT)
Adam Hansen
Jun-26
Belgium
Philippe Gilbert
Jun-24
Belgium (ITT)
Stijn Devolder
Jun-30
Britain
Bradley Wiggins
Sep-04
Britain (ITT)
David Millar
Jun-30
Canada
Dominique Rollin
Jun-24
Canada (ITT)
Ryder Hesjedal
Jun-26
Czech Republic
Martin Hebik
Jun-24
Czech Republic (ITT)
Roman Kreuziger
Jun-26
Denmark
Matti Breschel
Jun-24
Denmark (ITT)
Lars Bak
Jun-26
France
Pierrick Federigo
Jun-24
France (ITT)
Jérôme Coppel
Jun-26
Germany
Jens Voigt
Jun-24
Germany (ITT)
Tony Martin
Jun-26
Italy
Filippo Pzzato
Jun-24
Italy (ITT)
Manuel Quinziato
Jun-26
Netherlands
Tom Veelers
Jun-24
Netherlands (ITT)
Stef Clement
Jun-30
Norway
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Jun-24
Norway (ITT)
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Jun-26
Poland
Prezymslaw Niemic
Jun-24
Poland (ITT)
Kryzstof Jezowski
Jun-26
Portugal
Bruno Pires
Jun-24
Portugal (ITT)
Jose Mendes
Jun-26
Russia
Denis Galimzyanov
Jun-24
Russia (ITT)
Denis Menchov
Jun-26
Spain
José Vicente Garcia Acosta
Jun-24
Spain (ITT)
Carlos Sastre
Jun-26
Switzerland
Martin Kohler
Jun-24
Switzerland (ITT)
Fabian Cancellara
Jun-26
Ukraine
Vitaliy Buts
Jun-24
Ukraine (ITT)
Yaroslav Popovych
Jun-26
United States
Chad Beyer
Jun-24
United States (ITT)
Lance Armstrong
Sponsor Search
The Last Item of news before we head off for the winter, is to let you all know that we have officially signed a contract with...
Wal-Mart! The american superstore will be providing a large flow of funds in order to maintain and improve our high standard squad, the jersey for next season however, is a secret for now!
See you all in January,
Mike (DS of Exxon-Walmart)
Edited by baggieboys32 on 08-07-2012 09:43
Also, I must bid you all farewell for the next possibly 5 weeks!
I'm on Holiday for most of the next 5 weeks without access to PCM or the Internet, so I'm taking a break for a while (Hence I rushed to finish the season)
Hope you've all enjoyed following me this far, I'll See you all soon
Also, If anyone would like to see something done a bit differently next season, then leave me a comment explaining what, all suggestions will be gladly received
Just wanted to say that this might be the best story I've ever read. At the end of the day I always open my thread emails in the order of worstto best, and Exxon Duke is consistantly last. Thanks for a great read!
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
Right then, I'm not promising anything for the next few days, It'll be a bit unpredictable, but basically I have a question for my readers:
Should I -
A) Stay with PCM'10
B) Change to PCM'12 and play with the squads as they really are
C) Change to PCM'12 but update all WT sides
Basically, the lower the option, the longer it'll take me to get to a point where I can continue, but It might make for a better read if I make the change, so what'd you all prefer?
baggieboys32 wrote:
Right then, I'm not promising anything for the next few days, It'll be a bit unpredictable, but basically I have a question for my readers:
Should I -
A) Stay with PCM'10
B) Change to PCM'12 and play with the squads as they really are
C) Change to PCM'12 but update all WT sides
Basically, the lower the option, the longer it'll take me to get to a point where I can continue, but It might make for a better read if I make the change, so what'd you all prefer?
C, but if it's too much, just A. Please don't effect the story by doing B, it ruins some stories IMO. I mean, 12 is still a little in the works, if you have to mix up the story, it's not worth it. Of course, if you can do C, that would be the best.
P.S. Any Exxon free agency news?
Edited by baseballlover312 on 15-07-2012 01:28
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
I dont see any real point in B, not entirely sure why i included it
Thinking personally A or C.
If i go for C then we wont get any progress for a while, as i'll wait for the Daily.DB and then edit that, otherwise I'll start tomorrow, so you guys call it, A or C
A. I can tell you that by moving a story over, it loses a bit of its emotional attachment, atleast for me. I wouldn't do it, unless you know you will enjoy it much more.
I mean its not the same for everyone, but if you look at roturns Garmin, my David veilleux, tsmoha's Dark Dog and many others that were converted, their best days were back with PCM 10, rather than PCM 11 in my opinion.
Edited by valverde321 on 15-07-2012 02:02
I say A. But if you want to switch to C, I suggest making small little updates to keep the thread going. Such as free rider moves (especially on Exxon )
Edit: I agree with Valv's point as well. it was kinda the downfall of David Veileux Edited by baseballlover312 on 15-07-2012 02:02
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
PCM.Daily NFL Fantasy Football Champion: 2012 PCM.Daily NHL Prediction Game Champion: 2013 PCM.Daily NFL Prediction Game Champion: 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2021
