Christina: I am in Rome, for the Roma Maxima, one of the most important races for us in the early season, we would like to make a top result here, but just as last year there are many top riders in the field, Contador, Froome, Urán and more. Francisco José Pacheco got an 8th last year, we hope to do better than that.
Rome is the first of the huge European city’s with a city population of about 1.000.000 around 200 AD, not until the 19th century, any European city would have a population like than again
Ancient Rome:
Profile:
Pre-race strategy: The plan is to attack with Kenny Elissonde on the first climb, while protecting Davide Malacarne. Hoping for one of them to get a top result.
Roster:
Davide Malacarne
Stefan Schumacher
Kenny Elissonde
Martin Pedersen
Philip Nielsen
Lasse Bøchman
Sonder Holst Enger
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay
The morning break is a group of 9 riders, with a fine mix of skills, some of them pretty good hill specialists.
The break is not likely to make it, but just to make sure, we send to rider up front to help set a reasonable pace.
As we planned Ellisonde attacks from the bottom of the first climb.
Ellisonde gets caught at the start of the next climb, by a now very reduced peloton, near the 2nd top it is now Davide Malacarne who attacks.
But just as Ellisonde, Davide Malacarne never gets the good gap and is caught at the 3rd and steepest climb, so is the morning breakaway. A few km before the top it is now Enrico Battaglin (Bardiani) to attacks, he gets countered by a group of strong riders, Iglinskiy, Contador, Urán and others.
It is those 4 riders, Battaglin, Iglinskiy, Contador and Urán who manages to get away from the bunce, they win the stage with 40 sec. to the peloton. The winner today is Rigoberto Urán (Astana). Our best is Stefan Schumacher (18).
Christina: Not what we came here for, obviously our strategy for this race was wrong from the very beginning. It looks like we have some planning and thinking to do.
1/3-3/3 Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen
3/3 Stage 3/3 Nieuwpoort - Ichtegem: 186.5 Km
Sports director Christian Andersen reports:
The caravan has moved about 65 km to Nieuwpoort by the coast just 10 km from where the race began in Middelkerke, the town dates from the early Middle Age. Today it is a tourist destination.
Pre-race strategy: We will stay in the peloton, trying to stay close to the favorites.
Profile:
The morning break is 5 relative weak riders, seems to be no threat.
The weather is again very bad, only 6°C and a very hard rain, the peloton takes it very easy, until they get to the hilly part mid stage.
In the hills the peloton starts the race, a very fast pace now, and riders drop out. But even though the pace is very fast, most of the riders are together with just 30 km left. But most of our riders are almost done. Yves, Mads Würth, and Patrick Clausen are the only ones still in ok shape.
The pace get even tougher, and the breakaway is over, then the sprint starts Mads Würth is done, but Patrick sits on the wheel of Yves.
It seems that the other favorites are worn out Yves overtake rider by rider with Clausen right behind. We gets a double, Patrick Clausen takes our first win of the season.
Christian Andersen on the phone to Christina: I knew it, I knew we could.
Gran Premio Nobili Rubinetterie 14/3 2015 Cat. 1.1
Suno – Stresa: 187.4
Rasmussen: Here in Suno a small municipality, in the Province of Novara northern Italy, the town holds one of the main office of the sponsors “Nobili Rubinetterie” (kitchen/bathroom taps ect.).
We are here for Gran Premio Nobili Rubinetterie single day race, the race passes through Arona several time, the more important town in the region, beautifully placed right up to Lake Maggiore.
Pre-race strategy: We will try to get someone on a breakaway, our hope is that Schumacher can create a gap in the last hills, or Clausen can do well if it comes to a mass sprint. It is very cloudy, could well be rain, and even though we are in Italy it is only 8°C.
Profile:
Roster:
Anders Bjerregård
Daniele Aldegheri
Davide Malacarne
Frederik Wilmann
Martin Pedersen
Patrick Clausen
Sebastian Balck
Stefan Schumacher
We get Martin Pedersen in the morning breakaway of 7, it is all riders of similar skills, will be a tough finish if they make it.
David Boily (Amore) has a puncture from the breakaway, but even worse attempting to get back he has a rather bad crash, could look like something is wrong with his right lower leg or angel, but miraculously he gets back to the front group.
The breakaway gets a max of about 6 minutes, and over the top of the last climb they still got more than a minute, it is going to be close. In the peloton we set Clausen on the wheel of Schumacher, but with just 10 km to go, Schumacher punctures and our train falls apart.
But it does not matter, the peloton can’t catch the break, and when the sprint starts up front, Martin is just too drained, may have forgotten to eat properly, he has got no energy left to sprint.
The race is won by Patrick Facchini (Androni Giocattoli) over Sebastian Henao (Avianca), Martin is our best (11)
Rasmussen: To bad, very disappointing to watch this, after such a good day in Belgium.
Rasmussen: I am here in Kaohsiung City, for the Tour of Taiwan stage race. Today’s stage is on circuit around the beautiful Dapeng Bay, formerly a military area, now transformed into a tourist resort.
Kaohsiung city is large city with a total urban population of approx. 2.8 mil., in the area of Kaohsiung many remains from Taiwan aborigines can be dated far back in time, up to about 7000 year ago. Up to about 16-1700 it was a relative small village, but under the control of different nations, Dutch, Qing, Japan and finally Republic of China, it grew rapidly.
It is 25°C and almost a clear sky, perfect for a bike race.
Lotus Pond, Kaohsiung
Pre-race start: Last year we got a stage win, but besides that we had no chance. This year we bring a stronger and a fit squad, expecting to compete for a podium. At this stage we don’t believe a break will hold so we stay in the peloton, and hope for a good mass sprint.
Profile
Roster:
Anders Bjerregård
Anton Grøn
Kenny Elissonde
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay
Morten Høberg
Sondre Holst Enger
A relative weak morning break of 4 takes off, we don’t expect it to last.
The Break gets a little more than 4 min, with about 70 km left the peloton speed up, and the gap begins to melt. It is Team Nippo - De Rosa pulling.
The break is over, and the sprint trains are set and ready to fight it out, 10 km to the line.
The strongest is the race favourite Davide Cimolai (Vini Fantini) over Francesco Lasca (Nippo - De Rosa)
Rasmussen: Sondre Holst Enger was also amongst the favourites, he gets in as 5th. A fine result but we hoped for a podium today.
Stage:
1
Davide Cimolai
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
3h02'11
2
Francesco Lasca
Team Nippo - De Rosa
s.t.
3
Gediminas Bagdonas
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
4
Sam Bennett
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
5
Sondre Holst Enger
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
6
Rafael Andriato
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
7
Jasper Stuyven
Competitive Cyclist
s.t.
8
Jonas Ahlstrand
Avianca
s.t.
9
Davide Viganò
Team Nippo - De Rosa
s.t.
10
Kenny Elissonde
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
CG:
1
Davide Cimolai
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
3h01'51
2
Luis Enrique Davila
Jelly Belly p/b Kenda
+ 4
3
Francesco Lasca
Team Nippo - De Rosa
+ 8
4
Alexander Kamp
Team Cult Energy
s.t.
5
Gediminas Bagdonas
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
+ 12
6
Luke Grivell-Mellor
Rapha Condor - JLT
s.t.
7
Sam Bennett
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 20
8
Sondre Holst Enger
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
9
Rafael Andriato
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
10
Jasper Stuyven
Competitive Cyclist
s.t.
Points:
1
Davide Cimolai
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
25
2
Francesco Lasca
Team Nippo - De Rosa
20
3
Luis Enrique Davila
Jelly Belly p/b Kenda
16
Team: Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
Young: Luis Enrique Davila (Jelly Belly p/b Kenda)
Edited by Tamijo on 04-02-2016 17:53
Settimana Coppi e Bartali 19/3-24/3 2015 (cat.2.1)
19/3 Stage 1/6 Gatteo – Gatteo : 100.3 km
Sports director Christian Andersen reports:
Here in Northern Italy for the Settimana Coppi e Bartali in Emilia-Romagna region, to most better known as the Bologna area. Today’s stage starts and finish in Gatto, with a route over two medium climbs, the hardest 'Torre di Massamanente' near Sogliano Al Rubicone, known for its wonderful cheese “Formaggio di Fossa”
It is 17°C, and a clear blue sky.
Pre-race strategy:
It is hard to say if the climb will be too much for the sprinters, but we have no sprinter for this terrain. We decide to try a breakaway.
Profile:
Roster:
Davide Malacarne
Lasse Bøchman
Lasse Christiansen
Martin Pedersen
Philip Nielsen
Simon Bigum
Stefan Schumacher
Martin Pedersen gets in a break with Denys Karnulin (ISD Continental Team), later they are joined by two more riders, Martin is clearly the strongest of the 4.
Martin takes the first KoM sprint with ease.
After the KoM sprint Martin sets the other breakaway riders off, he is now alone in front. Over the top of the last climb he has got 2’07 to Denys Karnulin, and 2’31 to the peloton.
The decent is very hard, Martin has to find the right pace, between getting caught and running dry of energy, the peloton is getting closer and closer. Martin gets caught right there on the finish line, by Daryl Impey (Vodafone)
Christian Andersen: So close, fantastic race by Martin.
19/3 Stage 2/7 Tainan City – Guanziling : 127.1 km
Rasmussen: The Caravan have travelled 50 km north from Kaohsiung City to Tainan, for a stage towards the Guanziling Scenic Area, in the hill north of the city, with a short but hard uphill finish. Tainan is the oldest known city of Taiwan, it was the “local” capital under the Qing Dynasty from 1684-1885. People have lived here for more than 20.000 years.
Tainan Park:
Pre-race strategy:
We expect a sprint finish, with Sondre Holst Enger’s good hill and sprint, we hope for a podium finish, we will stay in the peloton, and help catch a break if necessary. It is a little too hot, clear blue sky and 27°C.
Profile:
The pace is frantic on the first 20 km, until a relative weak breakaway is allowed to go. We don’t expect them to have any chances on this stage.
Nothing much happens over the next 90 km, besides the fact that the break did not hold. On the final climb the favorites begin to attack.
It is Kenny Elissonde who makes the difference, with about 2,5 km to the top, he had got a nice gap.
But it does not hold, with a little more than 1 km left, the favourites are connected again.
Riccardo Chiarini (Vini Fantini - Selle Italia) takes the stage, with 9 sec. to Kenny Elissonde, and another 5 sec. to Esteban Chaves (Avianca), Sondre Holst Enger gets a respectable 7th, 16 sec. after the winner.
Rasmussen: A little surprising that the finish was hard enough for the hill specialists to take over. But we did great with Ellisonde putting himself in a good position for the rest of the race. Sadly Mitchell Lovelock-Fay did not finish today, making our squad a lot weaker. (due to stupidity )
Settimana Coppi e Bartali 19/3-24/3 2015 (cat.2.1)
20/3 Stage 2/6 Sant’Angelo – Gatteo Mare. TTT 11.3 km
The stage starts in Sant’Angelo and ends in Gatteo Mare, both small villages in Gatteo comune (municipality). Gatteo Mare is a tourist destination by the Adriatic Sea.
Gatteo Mare:
Pre-race strategy: We always have had bad experiences with TTT, so we just hope not to lose too much time here.
Profile:
It is the favourites of IAM Cycling who wins the stage with 11 sec. to ISD Continental Team. We came 13th out of 21 teams losing 34 sec.
IAM Cycling on the route:
Christian Andersen: Fine result we expected worse.
Christina : Im here in flanderes, not only is this an important race for us, but also the last test for the boys before our first Pro-Tour race coming up in just 4 days. We would so like a good result here.
Dwars door Vlaanderen is one of the true classics, first race was back in 1945. The race starts in Roeselare, a city with about 60.000 inhabitants. “Roslar” was first mentioned in 822, most of the old town was destroyed by war in the 15th century.
Rumbeke Castle (1538)
Pre-race strategy: This will most likely be a tough race for us, we won’t break, we will just keep our cobble stone specialist as close to the front of the peloton as possible, for as long as possible.
It is only 9°C, but under a clear sky.
Profile
Roster:
Angelo Furlan
Daniele Aldegheri
Francisco José Pacheco
Frederik Wilmann
Mads Würtz Schmidt
Patrick Clausen
Sebastian Balck
Yves Lampaert
Cannot talk about a morning break in the usual sense, it is more like constant attacks over the entire race, creating a constantly changing front group. But at first it was a group of 5, with no really strong riders.
The constant attacks but pressure on the peloton, and especially the weaker riders, it is in hard to even get the water bottles up front.
This is mid stage, another attack this time Yauheni Hutarovich (AG2R) countered by another 2 riders.
The first very serious attack comes with about 30 km, and 2 tough cobble sections left. It is Lars Boom (Belkin) and Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack) Yves Lampaert counters.
That was a bad idear, Lampaert lost a lot of energy and did not get away from the fast peloton, his race is basically over. Now it is up to Mads Würtz Schmidt. Over the last cobbles Mads is still hanging on to the front group of favorites.
Mads can feel the race in his legs, when it comes to the final he is out of energy, nothing left to sprint with. Astana takes an impressive double Jacopo Guarnieri over Borut Božic. Mads Würtz Schmidt get in as 15th.
Christina: We would have loved to do better, but 15th is not that bad in a very strong bunch of riders, like this one. But our strongest rider Yves Lampaert became no. 40, that is dissapointing.
Result:
1
Jacopo Guarnieri
Astana Pro Team
4h25'52
2
Borut Božic
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
3
John Degenkolb
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
4
Sven Vandousselaere
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
5
Ian Stannard
Vodafone
s.t.
6
Maarten Wynants
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
7
Fabian Cancellara
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
8
Lars Boom
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
9
Sébastien Turgot
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
10
Nikolas Maes
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
11
William Bonnet
FDJ.fr
s.t.
12
Mark Cavendish
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
13
Tom Veelers
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
14
Bobbie Traksel
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
15
Mads Würtz Schmidt
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
16
Preben Van Hecke
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
17
Frederique Robert
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
18
Salvatore Puccio
Vodafone
+ 1'21
19
Jürgen Roelandts
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
20
Kevyn Ista
GUNK
s.t.
Team: Team Argos - Shimano
Edited by Tamijo on 06-02-2016 06:12
