20/3 Stage 3/7 : Changhua County - Changhua County 144.2 km
Rasmussen reports:
The caravan have moved 134 km north to Changhua, the route starts in Changhua city, doing a round trip in the county over just one cat.2 climb, and then back for an uphill cobblestone finish in the city. Changhua City is a smaller city of about 235.000 people, south of Dadu River, only 20 km from the much larger Taichung City north of the river.
Big Buddha in Changhua city
Pre-race strategy: Last year Martin Pedersen won this stage from a breakaway, but with a reduced squad of only 5 riders left, we can’t attempt that this year, we will sit in the peloton, and take it from there. Pretty hot and sunshine again today.
Profile:
A very strong breakaway today, Kristian Sobota (Concordia) Peter Latham (Rádio Popular) Laurent Didier (Leopard - Trek Continental) Lucas Euser (UnitedHealthcare) Raymond Künzli (Atlas Personal) and Tyler Wren (Jamis), the peloton has to be careful, they could win the stage.
Ten km left, and the peloton is close, it looks like the break is over.
The break is not over, the peloton sort of gives up; they never close the last gap. It is Kristian Sobota who has the power to create a gap over the cobblestone section and take the stage. Our best was Sondre (7)
Rasmussen: Perfect day, we have to be careful not to waste energy, and we got in top 10.
Settimana Coppi e Bartali 19/3-24/3 2015 (cat.2.1)
21/3 Stage 3/6 Gatteo – Sogliano al Rubicone : 153.4
Christian Andersen: The stage starts in Gatteo and finish in Sogliano al Rubicone, where we passed through on stage one. We will ride over Montetiffi 4 times today, 2 of them as cat.3 KoM sprints. Montetiffi village hold the remains of “Abbey of San Leonardo” donated to the Benedictine order by the locals. (1100 century)
Pre-race strategy: We will try to get Davide Malacarne up the GC on this stage, protecting him is the main goal. Martin Pedersen is free to defend his KoM jersey.
Profile:
Martin Petersen get in a break of 5, with Freddy Montaña (Avianca), Alexey Lutsenko (Astana), Kristjan Fajt (Adria Mobil) and Evgeni Sokolov (Katusha), Petersen takes the first KoM sprint, securing the jersey. At this point the break has 5’39.
On the descend, after the 2nd climb, Lasse Christiansen crashes, he never gets back to the peloton.
Freddy Montaña (Avianca) takes the 2nd KoM sprint, at this point the break has 3’05 to the poleton, between is Junya Sano (Vini Fantini) at 1’56, and Stefano Locatelli (Nippo) at 2’18. There is another tough 35 km to go.
On the way up the last climb Alexey Lutsenko leaves the other beakaway riders behind with a hard attack; no one is able to counter.
Over the top Damiano Cunego (Cannondale) attacks, and gets away from the peloton, he soon passes Martin Petersen, Cunego is now 2nd.
But Cunego can’t catch Lutsenko, he wins the race over Cunego, Martin takes the last spot on the podium.
Christian Andersen: Very fine stage for us, with 3 riders in top 10, but was a surprise that the stage was easier for Schumacher than is was for Davide Malacarne.
21/3 stage 4/7 Taichung City Hall - Metropolitan Park 110.9 km
Rasmussen reports:
The Caravan has moved just 20 km north to Taichung City. The stage starts near Tunghai Universety, over a cat. 1 climb near Bailengzhen Memorial Park. Then back to the city, for the final climb up to Taichung Metropolitan Park.
Taichung is a large city with over 2.7 mil. inhabitants, in the 17 century the aboriginal Kingdom of Dadu was located approx. where Taichung’s Dadu District is today, next to Dadu River.
Pre-race strategy: This is a stage for Ellisonde, we will just help him as long as possible.
Profile:
An unimportant morning beak of 3 takes off, they get a little more than 4 minutes, clearly not enough of a stage like this. As soon as the peloton gets to the mountain, the pace gets very hot and huge groups of riders a forced to fall back.
Over the top and on the descend, many attacks are attempted, first it is Philip Deignan (An Post)
But all attacks are in vain, the favourite group picks them up one by one, at the bottom of the final climb, there is no one in front of the favourites. Then with 5 km to the top it is Fabio Duarte (Avianca) attacking.
He gets the gab and hold it to the top, Duarte wins the stage with 8 sec. to Amets Txurruka (Caja Rural), Kenny Elissonde gets in 5th losing 24 sec., but takes the overall lead of the tour.
Rasmussen: Perfect stage, Elissonde taking the leader jersey. He is in the perfect spot for great result.
Christian Andersen: The stage starts in Zola Predosa just 10 km west of Bologna, from there moving southwest into the Northern Apennines, the climbing starts in Castelvetro di Modena after 51 km, from there it is mountain terrain for the rest of the stage, culminating in two climbs first to Centro Crodi and then finally to the finish at Piane di Mocogno ski resort.
Parish Church of Zola Predosa
Pre-race strategy: We belive that this is a stage only for Davide Malacarne, we will help him as long as possible. We won’t send Martin out to defend the KoM, with only 1 climb close to the finish.
Profile:
A relative large morning break of 8 riders, David McCann (Astana), Alessandro Proni (Vini Fantini), Eduard Beltran (Avianca), Ruslan Pidgornyy (Amore & Vita), and others, all rider that have lost over 7 minutes, posing no threat to the GC. At the foot of the mountains they got 4’42
It is mainly Cannondale setting the pace in the peloton, it not very hard yet, at the valley before the climb to Centro Crodi the breakaway has got 3’38 to the peloton, only 7 riders are left behind at this point.
Over the top of Centro Crodi and things have changed. The pace have been very high for some time now, the favourite group is down 15 riders, and the break has under a minute, it will be over soon.
The situation over Centro Crodi, we have still got 3 riders in the favourite group.
At the start of the last climb, 10 km to go, Davide Malacarne feels good and we are now pulling the train.
Malacarne is flying up the mountain and out sprints the other favourites, taking his first win for Christina Watches on Piane di Mocogno.
Christian Andersen in the tour bus: Fantastic, Davide nailing his first win on his home turf, the mountains of Italy. This was a great team effort, especially Lasse and Stefan was right there, able to make it happen.
Stage:
1
Davide Malacarne
Christina Watches - Onfone
4h02'24
2
Johann Tschopp
IAM Cycling
s.t.
3
Ivan Rovny
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
s.t.
4
Thomas Löfkvist
IAM Cycling
s.t.
5
Sébastien Reichenbach
IAM Cycling
s.t.
6
Jacques Janse Van Rensburg
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
7
Chris Anker Sørensen
Lampre - Merida
+ 59
8
David De la Cruz
Team Differdange - Losch
s.t.
9
Alfredo Balloni
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
s.t.
10
Damiano Cunego
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
GC:
1
Sébastien Reichenbach
IAM Cycling
11h00'21
2
Davide Malacarne
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 14
3
Jacques Janse Van Rensburg
MTN - Qhubeka
+ 37
4
Damiano Cunego
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 59
5
Alfredo Balloni
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
+ 1'17
6
Chris Anker Sørensen
Lampre - Merida
+ 1'21
7
David De la Cruz
Team Differdange - Losch
+ 1'23
8
Stefan Schumacher
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 1'33
9
Fabio Taborre
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
+ 1'39
10
Johann Tschopp
IAM Cycling
+ 2'08
Points:
1
Damiano Cunego
Cannondale Pro Cycling
38
2
Martin Pedersen
Christina Watches - Onfone
38
3
Davide Malacarne
Christina Watches - Onfone
31
Mountain:
1
Martin Pedersen
Christina Watches - Onfone
28
2
Denys Karnulin
ISD Continental Team
14
3
Davide Malacarne
Christina Watches - Onfone
10
Team: Christina Watches - Onfone
Young: Enrico Barbin (Utensilnord - Ora24.eu)
Edited by Tamijo on 06-02-2016 18:15
22/3 Stage 5/7 Taoyuan County Hall – Kanpanzan 127.9 km
Rasmussen reports: Rasmussen: The Caravan has moved 140 km north from Taichung to Taoyuan. The Stage start in the city center near the Performing Arts Center, over a Cat.1 climb in Longtan District, before the hard uphill finish to Kanpanzan south east of the city.
The Taoyuan area was originally home is the Ketagalan people, under Qing rule (1683-1895) Chinese immigrants started to cultivate the land, and under Japanese rule, Taoyuan to develop into a city. Today a city of more than 2 mil. People.
Taoyuan nightlife:
Pre-race strategy: The last of the hard stages, this stage will make or break the GC. We will protect Ellisonde as long as possible.
Profile:
The morning break is Fabian Wegmann (Orica), Daniel Silva (Rádio Popular), Pierpaolo De Negri (Node 4), Matthias Bertling (Quantec), Patrick Schelling (Atlas) and Francisco Mancebo (Caja Rural) a relative strong break, but no issue regarding the GC, the best placed is Wegmann +6’02. The have 3’55 when the hit the first hill’s, 85 km to go.
Near the top of the cat.1 within the last km, there are dangerous attacks between the favorites.
When Ellisonde passes over the situation is: In front 4 breakaway riders with Wegmann, 3 breakaway riders at 49” with Mancebo, a group of 5 with GC 3th and 4th Riccardo Chiarini and Cayetano Sarmiento at 1’53, the bunce with Ellisonde and GC 2nd Duarte at 2’50.
The peloton is able to catch the breakaways before the final climb, and it is now only the favourites fighting it out on the climb to Kanpanzan With 1,5 km to the top, the group is down to 5. Amets Txurruka, Esteban Chaves, Fabio Duarte, Jarlinson Pantano and Kenny Elissonde. The next group is 19 sec behind.
Fabio Duarte starts the final sprint, but it seems he’s legs are done, Ellisonde passes him with ease, Ellisonde takes his first season win on Kanpanzan, the team’s second win on this wonderful spring day.
Rasmussen: (on the phone to Christina): Can you believe it, with a weak team Elissonde did it, It is now very likely he will win the Tour of Taiwan.
Settimana Coppi e Bartali 19/3-24/3 2015 (cat.2.1)
23/3 Stage 5/6: Crevalcore - Crevalcore TT: 14.5 km
Christian Andersen: The caravan has travelled some 85 km, from Piane di Mocogno to Crevalcore about 30 km north of Bologna. The origins of Crevalcore is unknown, but the name was first mentioned in 1130 as Castro Cravacuore (Cravacuore Castle). Today Crevalcore is a town of about 13.000.
Old city gate:
Pre-race strategy: This is every man on his own, we just hope not to lose too much time with Malacarne, on a good day Schumacher might even gain a little in the GC.
Profile:
The stage was won by Daryl Impey (Vodafone) over Thomas Löfkvist (IAM Cycling) both of them out of the GC. The best from the GC is Stefan Schumacher at 6th moving from 8 to 6 in the GC. Otherwise the GC top 10 is unchanged; Davide Malacarne lost 12 sec. to race leader Reichenbach.
Stefan Schumacher:
Christian Andersen: Fine stage for us, Malacarne lost very little, and Schumacher had a perfect day.
23/3 Stage 6/7: New Taipei City - Linshanbi Recreational Area
Rasmussen reports: The Caravan has moved 45 km north from Fuxing District, Taoyuan, to the City Hall of New Taipei City, from there the stage moves around the most northern coast line and then down for two climbs on route 28 in Wanli District mid stage, before going back to the north coast, for a finish near Linshanbi Recreational Area.
Route 28 towards the climbs:
Archaeological evidence has shown that New Taipei City was inhabited since the Neolithic period some 7000-10000 years ago. From 1945 the area has been called Taipei County, from 2011 New Taipei City.
Linshanbi Recreational Area:
Pre-stage Strategy: Everyone will fight for Ellisonde’s GC, should be a relative easy stage, with the climbs that far from the finish.
Profile:
After a lot of turmoil in the start of the race, a break of 7 gets away, the best placed in the GC is Steve Bekaert (Burgos BH) at 11’10.
Over the top of the first climb, the break has 3’31, they do not fights for KoM points.
Over the top of the last climb the pace is very high and the peloton breaks over, from here the peloton is reduced to 74 riders, with 20 km left, the break is visible from the peloton, they now got only 1’09.
The race is won by the breakaway; Clinton Avery (Champion System) over Tim Declercq (An Post), the peloton get the same time as the winner.
Rasmussen: Just a quiet day, as we wanted it to be.
Stage:
1
Clinton Avery
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
2h54'48
2
Tim Declercq
An Post - Chainreaction
s.t.
3
Pit Schlechter
Leopard - Trek Continental Team
s.t.
4
Gianluca Mirenda
Node 4 - Giordana Racing
s.t.
5
Carter Jones
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
6
Robert Retschke
Team Quantec - Indeland
s.t.
7
Steve Bekaert
Burgos BH - Castilla y León
s.t.
8
Rafael Andriato
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
9
Davide Cimolai
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
s.t.
10
Sam Bennett
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
GC:
1
Kenny Elissonde
Christina Watches - Onfone
18h22'13
2
Fabio Duarte
Avianca
+ 33
3
Esteban Chaves
Avianca
+ 1'07
4
Amets Txurruka
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
+ 1'22
5
Alexsandr Dyachenko
Burgos BH - Castilla y León
+ 1'54
6
Cayetano Sarmiento
Avianca
+ 2'26
7
Riccardo Chiarini
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
+ 2'56
8
Jarlinson Pantano
4-72 Colombia
+ 3'01
9
Giovanny Baez
Avianca
+ 3'18
10
Diego Ochoa
4-72 Colombia
+ 3'38
Points:
1
Kenny Elissonde
Christina Watches - Onfone
4
75
2
Fabio Duarte
Avianca
0
55
3
Esteban Chaves
Avianca
0
42
Mountain:
1
Kenny Elissonde
Christina Watches - Onfone
24
2
Fabio Duarte
Avianca
18
3
Esteban Chaves
Avianca
16
Team: Avianca
Young: Kenny Elissonde Christina Watches - Onfone
Edited by Tamijo on 08-02-2016 08:31
