Our squad here is basically the same as it was in the AGR. The only change is a swap of De la Fuente for Sutton. Gary is out of form currently, but he'll try his best.
Very similar to AGR, just switch the Cauberg to the Muur de Huy.
The Race
The daily BotD consisting of 6 riders was a pretty weak one, as former doper Kashechkin was the biggest name in it. That must be the reason for their big lead, which peaked at 10 minutes. After this peak BMC hit the front, and used all their teammates to work in the chase. They reeled in the break quickly, but didn't stop pacemaking, and forced the peloton into splits. The biggest name caught behind the split was Sky's Christopher Froome.
In the last 15km it was down to 22, with all notable riders making the cut. (except Froome). The riders from our team were Moore and Solodovnikov. After a bit of thinking, Solodovnikov took Gilbert's wheel, and waited for the sprint.
As we hit the last thousand meters, Uran was in the lead, before of Nocentini, Gilbert and Vitalij. Gerrans came from the outside, but one man was simply unbeatable today.
It was Philippe Gilbert winning the race, after just missing out on the AGR! Great revenge by the belgian superstar! Alejandro Valverde sprints to 2nd improving a place to his AGR result, and Rigoberto Urán takes the 3rd, with our very own Solodovnikov (with 75HI and 68RES! ) taking 4th.
Results
Spiders of the day
Solodovnikov - 2 - Amazing!
Moore - 1 - Incredible!Edited by fernando97 on 29-10-2012 00:45
@welwyn - Steve's experience is vital in these situations.
@colinas - Thanks, and Dennis's tiime is there.
Giro del Trentino Stage 2
The first mountain stage in the race, and it's a tough one. Our tactic will most likely be a descent attack with Wiles and try to get a lead before the last climb. It's a bit risky for sure with Wiles's form, but he wouldn't be Wiles if he wouldn't try it.
And here he is attacking from the RadioShack led peloton! His attack was a powerful one, but couldn't get away with more than 30 seconds. The norwegian tried to increase it, and he probably tried too hard, because he got caught by the peloton in the first part of the climb.
After the catch of Wiles, the peloton splitted into many pieces, and the favorites started the attacks. It was Thomas De Gendt who was the strongest, he even created a little gap to the others. Nibali and Wiles were in trouble and couldn't follow De Gendt, or even the maglia rosa group.
De Gendt wins stage 2! He was the strongest, and his attacks were rightly placed. Great tactical racing by him. The russian "silent killer", Menchov finishes 2nd, and another oldie, Pinotti finishes 3rd. Wiles comes in at the 17th in the Nibali group.
@IanButler - Sorry Ian, but looking at the profiles of Trentino and Romandie, it'll be the Giro, when he'll get some coverage.
Giro del Trentino Stage 3
Another tough mountain stage is on the menu today, finishing on a little descent after the incredibly steep Valeno climb. This time Wiles won't attack, he'll try to survive the climb, and then do something on the descent.
The stage went pretty fast off the start with Vacansoleil controlling the peloton the whole day. Even the white jersey-wearer Wout Poels was working. As the dutch team put the hammer down on the midday climb, the peloton was down to 52 riders.
The peloton hit the steep parts of the final mountain, and slowed right a bit down, because the mountain was just monster steep. The first attacks weren't too succesful, but after them Fanese - Vini's Francesco Failli came, who created a minute gap to the pack. Nobody was really able to follow him, but Atapuma created a half mnute gap while trying to do so. Wiles was sitting in the pack comfortably.
The italian Failli wins this tough mountains stage! Great solo ride by him! Little columbian Atapuma takes the 2nd, and surprisingly norwegian Wiles gets the 3rd.
With this result, Failli goes up to 2nd in the GC.
@TMM - Thanks, it really means a lot to me, that you like the style.
Giro del Trentino Stage 4
The 3rd mountain-top finish in a row, that must be hard for the riders, although this one is going to be the "easiest". Our tactic is the same as yesterday, waiting, unless Wiles feels extremely well.
The race started off quite slowly, with a 17-men breakaway having a 6min gap, but Vacansoleil and Fanese - Vini took care of them. They were really quick in the chase, the BotD stood no chance.
After the catch the pace slowed down, and the final climb started. GC number 3, Pinotti attacked, and nobody could follow him, except for Machado. After the leading 2, the pack came together, and Katusha and Vacansoleil iniciated a high pace. However, this wasn't enough to catch Pinotti, and they started to tire, so more and more attacks came.
First Nibali, then Failli and Zubeldia got away, and Wiles was also trying to. Turning into the last km, Pinotti had his lead still, and it was around a minute, Then came Nibali and Machado, Zubeldia and Menchov.
And the oldie Pinotti takes the GC and the GC with it! Great ride, and a very good sign before the Giro. This goes to the 2nd, Nibali too, who was looking good throughout the stage. Portugiese Machado takes the 3rd, and our very own Wiles sprints to the 7th.
Results
1
Marco Pinotti
BMC Racing Team
4h47'56
2
Vincenzo Nibali
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 47
3
Tiago Machado
RadioShack - Nissan
+ 1'13
4
Francesco Failli
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
+ 1'27
5
Haimar Zubeldia
RadioShack - Nissan
+ 1'36
6
Denis Menchov
Katusha Team
+ 1'46
7
Jack Wiles
SpiderTech - Cervélo
+ 1'58
8
Amaël Moinard
BMC Racing Team
+ 2'18
9
Wout Poels
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
10
Jan Bakelants
RadioShack - Nissan
+ 2'31
General Classification
1
Marco Pinotti
BMC Racing Team
13h36'16
2
Francesco Failli
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
+ 1'28
3
Vincenzo Nibali
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 1'49
4
Haimar Zubeldia
RadioShack - Nissan
+ 2'01
5
Denis Menchov
Katusha Team
+ 2'10
6
Thomas De Gendt
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 2'29
7
Amaël Moinard
BMC Racing Team
+ 3'08
8
Wout Poels
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 3'11
9
Yaroslav Popovych
RadioShack - Nissan
+ 3'25
10
Fredrik Kessiakoff
Astana Pro Team
+ 3'33
Spoiler
11
Yury Trofimov
Katusha Team
+ 3'34
12
Luca Ascani
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
+ 3'35
13
Sergio Henao
Sky Procycling
+ 3'40
14
Francesco Reda
Acqua & Sapone
+ 3'42
15
Matteo Rabottini
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
+ 3'57
16
Peter Kennaugh
Sky Procycling
+ 4'06
17
Jack Wiles
SpiderTech - Cervélo
+ 4'19
18
Jan Bakelants
RadioShack - Nissan
+ 4'43
19
Thomas Rohregger
RadioShack - Nissan
+ 5'12
20
Gustav Erik Larsson
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 5'18
21
Roman Kreuziger
Astana Pro Team
+ 5'25
22
José Serpa
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
s.t.
23
Pierre Rolland
Team Europcar
+ 5'29
24
Christian Knees
Sky Procycling
+ 5'31
25
Ángel Vicioso
Katusha Team
+ 5'56
26
Tiago Machado
RadioShack - Nissan
+ 6'55
27
Sylwester Szmyd
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 7'19
28
Daniele Pietropolli
Lampre - ISD
+ 7'27
29
Jakob Fuglsang
RadioShack - Nissan
+ 7'28
30
John Darwin Atapuma
Colombia - Coldeportes
+ 8'12
31
Serge Pauwels
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 9'06
32
Fabio Duarte
Colombia - Coldeportes
+ 9'07
33
Alexandre Vinokourov
Astana Pro Team
+ 9'16
34
Eduard Vorganov
Katusha Team
+ 9'19
35
Domenico Pozzovivo
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 9'35
36
Esteban Chavez
Colombia - Coldeportes
+ 10'42
37
Stefano Pirazzi
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 10'54
38
Morris Possoni
Lampre - ISD
+ 11'30
39
Egoi De la Fuente
SpiderTech - Cervélo
+ 11'44
40
Luca Mazzanti
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
+ 12'33
41
Alexandre Geniez
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 13'01
42
Bart De Clercq
Lotto Belisol Team
+ 13'25
43
Evgeni Petrov
Astana Pro Team
+ 14'50
44
Simone Stortoni
Lampre - ISD
+ 17'19
45
Danilo Di Luca
Acqua & Sapone
+ 18'05
46
Michael Barry
Sky Procycling
+ 18'52
47
Marc De Maar
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
+ 19'13
48
Robinson Chalapud
Colombia - Coldeportes
+ 20'09
49
Ivan Santaromita
BMC Racing Team
+ 21'57
50
Massimo Codol
Acqua & Sapone
+ 21'59
51
Brent Bookwalter
BMC Racing Team
+ 23'47
52
Alberto Losada
Katusha Team
+ 24'01
53
Philip Deignan
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
+ 26'18
54
Alfredo Balloni
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
+ 27'58
55
Manuel Quinziato
BMC Racing Team
+ 28'42
56
Joost Posthuma
RadioShack - Nissan
+ 29'02
57
Riccardo Chiarini
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
+ 29'45
58
Moreno Moser
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 30'21
59
Rory Sutherland
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
+ 30'30
60
Alessandro Vanotti
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 30'49
61
Michael Kern Jr.
SpiderTech - Cervélo
+ 31'06
62
Vincent Jérôme
Team Europcar
+ 32'35
63
Peter Velits
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 33'11
64
Davide Frattini
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
+ 33'24
65
Andrea Masciarelli
Acqua & Sapone
+ 33'59
66
Fabio Aru
Astana Pro Team
+ 34'03
67
Marcus Burghardt
BMC Racing Team
+ 34'29
68
Dmitriy Fofonov
Astana Pro Team
+ 34'58
69
Sergey Lagutin
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 35'14
70
Jelle Vanendert
Lotto Belisol Team
+ 37'05
71
Dalivier Ospina
Colombia - Coldeportes
+ 37'37
72
Matteo Bono
Lampre - ISD
+ 38'05
73
Michael Rodriguez
Colombia - Coldeportes
+ 38'30
74
Erik van den Meer
SpiderTech - Cervélo
+ 39'17
75
Alexey Tsatevitch
Katusha Team
+ 41'27
76
Marco Coledan
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 41'59
77
Sergey Renev
Astana Pro Team
+ 42'32
78
Gabriele Pizzaballa
Team WIT
+ 42'46
79
Salvatore Puccio
Sky Procycling
+ 43'17
80
Johannes Fröhlinger
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 43'42
81
Alex DeLarge
SpiderTech - Cervélo
+ 43'46
82
Francesco Ginanni
Acqua & Sapone
+ 43'55
83
Frank Osorio
Colombia - Coldeportes
s.t.
84
Timofey Kritskiy
Katusha Team
+ 44'06
85
Frantisek Rabon
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 44'45
86
Filippo Savini
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 44'53
87
Mirko Selvaggi
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 45'00
88
Pierpaolo De Negri
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
s.t.
89
Lars Ytting Bak
Lotto Belisol Team
+ 45'18
90
Béla Vízhordó
SpiderTech - Cervélo
+ 45'24
91
Brian Bulgac
Lotto Belisol Team
+ 45'54
92
Davide Ricci Bitti
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
+ 46'03
93
Frederik Veuchelen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 46'06
94
Rafaâ Chtioui
Team Europcar
+ 46'21
95
Marco Marzano
Lampre - ISD
+ 46'27
96
Winner Anacona
Lampre - ISD
+ 46'33
97
Bert-Jan Lindeman
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 46'37
98
Maciej Paterski
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 46'54
99
Gabriele Bosisio
Utensilnord Named
+ 47'52
100
Jure Kocjan
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
+ 48'24
101
Ian Stannard
Sky Procycling
+ 48'30
102
Alexander Kvachuk
Lampre - ISD
+ 48'33
103
Dirk Bellemakers
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 48'38
104
Giairo Ermeti
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
+ 48'40
105
Martijn Keizer
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 49'21
106
Diego Tamayo
Team WIT
+ 49'42
107
George Preidler
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
+ 49'50
108
Oscar Gatto
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
+ 50'43
109
Tiziano Dall'Antonia
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 50'55
110
Francesco Gavazzi
Astana Pro Team
+ 51'07
111
Daniele Righi
Lampre - ISD
+ 51'09
112
Tom Dumoulin
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 51'24
113
Keith Moore
SpiderTech - Cervélo
+ 51'28
114
Jérôme Pineau
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 51'29
115
Roberto Ferrari
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
+ 51'36
116
Nicola Boem
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 51'53
117
Mathieu Sprick
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 52'01
118
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 52'38
119
Tomasz Kowalski
SpiderTech - Cervélo
+ 52'39
120
Alessandro Bazzana
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
+ 53'01
121
Luca Zanasca
Team WIT
+ 53'26
122
Vicente Reynès
Lotto Belisol Team
+ 54'00
123
Edward King
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 54'34
124
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 54'45
125
Klaas Lodewyck
BMC Racing Team
+ 54'58
126
Salvatore Mancuso
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
+ 54'59
127
Thierry Hupond
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 55'09
128
Johann Tschopp
BMC Racing Team
+ 55'19
129
Alan Marangoni
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 55'22
130
Yann Huguet
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 55'25
131
Mahdi Sohrabi
Lotto Belisol Team
s.t.
132
Yukihiro Doi
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
133
Fabio Felline
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
+ 55'37
134
Kevin Claeys
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
135
Christopher Jones
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
+ 55'38
136
Boy Van Poppel
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
137
Damien Gaudin
Team Europcar
+ 55'41
138
Karl Menzies
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
+ 55'42
139
Matteo Pelucchi
Team Europcar
+ 55'43
140
Mathieu Claude
Team Europcar
+ 55'45
141
Wilson Marentes
Colombia - Coldeportes
s.t.
142
Francisco Javier Moreno
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
s.t.
143
Kevin Reza
Team Europcar
+ 55'46
144
Daniele Colli
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
+ 55'48
145
Daniele Callegarin
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
146
Kiel Reijnen
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
+ 55'50
147
Marco Canola
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 55'54
148
Cristian Delle Stelle
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 55'59
149
Paolo Bailetti
Utensilnord Named
+ 56'11
150
Matteo Fedi
Utensilnord Named
s.t.
151
Cristian Cominelli
Team Idea
+ 56'13
152
Rüdiger Selig
Katusha Team
+ 56'58
153
Cheng Ji
Team Argos - Shimano
+ 57'08
154
Francesco Chicchi
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 57'10
155
Baptiste Planckaert
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 57'13
156
Danilo Napolitano
Acqua & Sapone
+ 57'19
157
Claudio Corioni
Acqua & Sapone
+ 57'28
158
Bobbie Traksel
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 57'38
159
Paolo Locatelli
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
160
Cristiano Fumagalli
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 57'39
161
Nicola Dal Santo
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
162
Gianluca Randazzo
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
163
Fabio Piscopiello
Utensilnord Named
+ 57'49
164
Andrea Palini
Team Idea
+ 57'50
165
Luca Dodi
Team Idea
s.t.
166
Davide Mucelli
Utensilnord Named
+ 57'57
167
Alexander Efimkin
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
+ 57'58
168
Davide Appollonio
Sky Procycling
+ 58'39
169
Tony Hurel
Team Europcar
+ 59'06
170
Paolo Ciavatta
Acqua & Sapone
+ 59'11
171
Marco Frapporti
Team Idea
+ 59'37
172
Fausto Fognini
Team WIT
+ 59'38
173
Giacomo Nizzolo
RadioShack - Nissan
+ 1h01'59
174
Marcel Sieberg
Lotto Belisol Team
+ 1h03'33
175
Matthew Brammeier
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
176
Matti Helminen
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 1h03'43
177
Jonathan Breyne
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
178
Vincent Baestaens
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
+ 1h03'49
179
Robert Förster
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
180
Omar Bertazzo
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
+ 1h03'51
181
Joeri Bueken
Landbouwkrediet - Euphony
s.t.
182
Enrico Franzoï
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 1h04'09
183
Leopoldo Rocchetti
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
184
Edoardo Girardi
Utensilnord Named
+ 1h04'19
185
Luca Barla
Team Idea
+ 1h04'20
186
Aristide Ratti
Team Idea
s.t.
187
Tyron Giorgieri
Team WIT
+ 1h04'21
188
Federico Rocchetti
Utensilnord Named
+ 1h04'22
189
Marco Zanotti
Utensilnord Named
+ 1h04'25
190
Giuseppe Di Salvo
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 1h07'25
191
Enrico Montanari
Team WIT
+ 1h07'27
192
Sander Cordeel
Lotto Belisol Team
+ 1h07'29
193
Alex Dowsett
Sky Procycling
+ 1h11'14
Points Classification
1
Marco Pinotti
BMC Racing Team
49
2
Francesco Failli
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
42
3
Haimar Zubeldia
RadioShack - Nissan
36
4
Denis Menchov
Katusha Team
35
5
Luca Ascani
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
27
KOM Classification
1
Francesco Failli
Farnese Vini - Selle Italia
28
2
Marco Pinotti
BMC Racing Team
26
3
Bart De Clercq
Lotto Belisol Team
26
4
Robinson Chalapud
Colombia - Coldeportes
20
5
Thomas De Gendt
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
16
DS Summary:
Not a bad race, Jack looks great before the Giro, his preps are going in the right way.
@sutty - Indeed, but I hope he'll have some more in the Giro.
@TMM - Slowly, but surely.
Liege - Bastogne - Liege
Pre - Race Expectations
Our squad here is the same as it was in the F-W, just switching Sutton to a debutant, Puskaric, who will use this as the first preparation for the Giro. That doesn't change anything really, as Solodovnikov will be our leader.
The L-B-L's profile is a bit harder than the F-W's or the AGR's, but it doesn't contain a hard final hill like the Cauberg or the Huy. It still finishes on a hill, but that hill is not nearly as hard as the aforementioneds.
The Race
The usual daily BotD was a pretty average one, and clearly tactical with no real winning hopes. The biggest named rider in there was GreenEdge's Weening. In the peloton the pace was really slow and BMC was forced to do the pacemaking from the early parts of the race. However, their squad was so strong, that this didn't was a real problem for them. They caught the break with ease.
As we reached the first hils, the peloton immediately splitted, and a ca. 20-men elite group established themselves (Solodovnikov couldn't make it). There were various attacks, but the group always brought back the escapees mostly thank to BMC. After seeing the power of BMC, most riders waited for the sprint, to see what they can do against Gilbert.
It wasn't a good idea. As we reached the last hill Gilbert cut to the front, and simply powered away from the other competitors. Nobody could follow him, and the race went for the 2nd place from now on, between Albasini, Monfort, F. Schleck and Gerrans. Spaniard Valverde was a bit behind.
Philippe Gilbert wins La Doyenne! Great performance by him, winning 2 out of 3 Ardennes Classics! Swissman Albasini gets 2nd, after a fierce battle with Monfort. Our best rider is Solodovnikov at the 21th.
Results
Spiders of the day
-
Ardennes campaign above the expectations, great races! :D
