The team management wondered why they gave Bos a favorites roll today. If you look at the course you'll see that today it will be a day for the more hilly sprinters like Bole, Bennati, Goss and maybe Breschel. Will see if Côte de Bécoup will cause a lot of damage.
It was the young Aussie Bewley (TSH) who got the award for first attacker of the day! Closely followed by Gérard, De Haes (OLO), Barry (SKY) and again Van Avermaet (BMC).
Soon they were together building up a nice lead and the pack let them ride.
But not everybody liked the idea of a easy breakaway, like yesterday it was Martijn Keizer (VAC) who tried to close the gap towards the break.
Keizer got followed by 4 other riders, Graziato and Bertolini (FAR), Beppu (TSH), Coyot (SAU) and Jorgenssen (SAX). So The Shack and Farnese were with two riders in front now, normally that's very good because the teammates help getting more speed in the break. But Bertolini doesn't help today.
It's Lampre who, probably for Bole, is taking the peloton towards the Loire at a easy pace.
Then there was a crash of Kwiatkowski (TSH) and Vaitkus (AST) but they bought got pack to the pack easily.
Here you see the BOTD, wit 130k to go they got a lead of 4'45".
Both sprints "won" by the young Dutch talent Keizer, at the second sprint the gap is at a maximum of 6'50" with 80k to go for the leaders.
So the pack starts to chase and soon the gap got smaller and smaller, with 50k to go the gap is around 3'00".
With just 30k to go the peloton came at the foot of the first difficulty of this years Paris-Nice, it's Côte de Bécoup. Not a mayor "Côte" but some riders will have a hard time here. It is Martens who brings Breschel to the front of the pack to get out of the risky zone.
Only 4k up the hill and the first riders have to let the peloton go, dispite of a very nice daily form (+5) also Theo Bos is one of them. He's not made for hills and mountains.
Van Avermaet and Jorgensen are giving the pack a hard time while the others got reeled in. It is Jorgensen who took the 7 points for the KoM and is now leader in the mountain classification.
Once the road start to be more flat it was Voigt who attack, but the Cofidis riders don't let him get away this time.
Nobody out in front and the peloton still has 89 riders in it, here you see Martens keeping Breschel ready for the sprint.
In the second big group there are a lot of crashes in the last downhill part at just 10k before the finish.
Biggest name is Christian Knees (SKY), but because he was already in the second group he probably had no GC ambitions this week.
One of these four riders will win the stage, at this points it's very close but Breschel and Dumoulin (COF) had more speed then Mondory (AG2R) and Goss (HTC).
Dumoulin was a bit a head but Breschel is starting to catch up again, but will it be possible with only 500 meters to go...
Unfortunatly not, it is Dumoulin who takes the stage for Cofidis. In front of Breschel and Mondory.
A shame that Breschel couldn't win, it should give him a real moral boost but hopefully he's happy with the leaders jersey of the GC. If it's possible in the next few stages he's going to try to win the PC. One think we were concerned about it Mollema, at the top of the hill his "attackbar" was totally empty so we are hoping for the best. Maybe Paris-Nice is a bit to early for the GC talent.
The results;
Stage
1 Samuel Dumoulin Cofidis, le crédit en ligne 4h48'46 2 Matti Breschel Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
3 Lloyd Mondory AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
4 Matthew Goss HTC - Highroad s.t.
5 Damiano Cunego Lampre - ISD s.t.
6 Fabio Sabatini Liquigas - Cannondale s.t.
7 Nick Nuyens Saxo Bank SunGard s.t.
8 Jérôme Pineau Quick•Step Cycling Team s.t.
9 Alessandro Ballan BMC Racing Team s.t.
10 Andriy Grivko Pro Team Astana s.t.
General 1 Matti Breschel Rabobank Cycling Team 12h45'48
2 Samuel Dumoulin Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
3 Grega Bole Lampre - ISD s.t.
4 Mirco Lorenzetto Pro Team Astana s.t.
5 Matthew Goss HTC - Highroad + 2
6 Arnaud Coyot Saur - Sojasun s.t.
7 Thomas Bertolini Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli + 3
8 Martijn Keizer Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
9 Fabio Sabatini Liquigas - Cannondale + 4
10 Lloyd Mondory AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
Points
1 Matthew Goss HTC - Highroad 56 2 Matti Breschel Rabobank Cycling Team 54
3 Samuel Dumoulin Cofidis, le crédit en ligne 53
4 Fabio Sabatini Liquigas - Cannondale 51
5 Lloyd Mondory AG2R La Mondiale 49
6 Grega Bole Lampre - ISD 38
7 Mirco Lorenzetto Pro Team Astana 37
8 Roger Hammond Team Garmin - Cervélo 33
9 Assan Bazayev Pro Team Astana 26
10 Hayden Roulston HTC - Highroad 24
Mountain
1 Jonas Aaen Jørgensen Saxo Bank SunGard 7
2 Greg Van Avermaet BMC Racing Team 5
3 Rubén Pérez Euskaltel - Euskadi 4
4 Michael Barry Sky ProCycling 3
5 Roberto De Patre Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli 2
6 Martijn Keizer Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team 2
7 Arnaud Coyot Saur - Sojasun 1
8 Thomas Bertolini Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli 1
Young
1 Matthew Goss HTC - Highroad 12h45'50 (1)
2 Thomas Bertolini Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli + 1 (2)
3 Martijn Keizer Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team + 1 (3)
4 Maciej Paterski Liquigas - Cannondale + 3 (4)
5 Geraint Thomas Sky ProCycling + 4 (5)
6 Guillaume Bonnafond AG2R La Mondiale + 4 (6) 7 Bauke Mollema Rabobank Cycling Team + 4 (7)
8 Massimo Graziato Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli + 4 (8)
9 Francesco Masciarelli Pro Team Astana + 4 (9)
10 Arnold Jeanneson FDJ + 4 (10)
Edited by Tombola on 15-06-2011 14:10
Paris - Nice
Stage 4 - Crêches-sur-Saône - Belleville
*** Cunego, Sanchez, Di Luca
As you look at the favorites then you already know it's getting more "serious". Today could be a day where the GC falls in it's place and for some riders it's going to be very hard with 9 "mountains". With Col du Joncin and the Col du Fût d'Avenas as hardest climbs of the day. It's also a day for the riders who want to win the Mountain Jersey this Paris-Nice.
Santambrogio (BMC) is the first rider with a attack when some riders didn't even passed the starting line yet... Behind him it are Reda (QST) and Ricci Bitti (FAR) who are trying to get in his wheel.
Also some interesting riders are trying to get away, Rogers (SKY) attacked in the downhill but couldn't get far. Now it's Katuscha's Karpets and Anza (VAC).
Breschel with the leaders jersey looking really pro ;-)
When arriving at the first flat part of the day it are several riders who try to close the gap to Santambrogio and companions.
After the flat tire of yesterday the gods didn't have any merci for Hesjedal (GAR), this time he fell on the tarmac because of the slippery roads.
The first mountain points are for Ricci Bitti, just when the group came together to form the break of the day.
Here they are, Santambrogio, Reda, Ricci Bitti, Lloyd and Klier (GAR), Ista (COF), Muravyev (TSH), Anza, Karpets and Chainel (FDJ).
The second KoM is for Santambrogio, he came twice as first at a KoM today, looked like he was going for the Mountain jersey!
Then in the descent it was Gesink who fell in one of the dangerous corners. The rain made the several downhills really hard, but luckily he stood up without any problems.
Chainel regrets his attempt to be in the break of the day, the French cobble rider was the first who lost contact just before the road became flat for 30k. It was going to be a long they for him.
Dangerous descent because of the weather today...
Euskaltel setting the pace, dispite they weren´t chasing there were several riders who had mayor difficulties already. The gap is 6"13 with 100k to go.
Here you see Theo Bos struggling at the back of the peloton, he justed asked Kenny De Haes (OLO) "Why they called Paris-Nice route too the sun?"
Also Lloyd grabed some points at a KoM, as you might have seen it is Reda who is the "smartest" rider. Always second or third at a KoM and so he became leader of the Mountain classification after this stage. But with two hard stages to go he will have a hard time defending it, because he didn't grab a lot of points more then the others, 17 is doable for riders who didn't score any points at all yet.
The hardest climb of the day, Col du Joncin with maximums of 10.9% and an average of 5,7% for 6,4k. At the foot of the climb the riders had 50k to go and the gap was still 6'39".
Now the peloton is starting to split with 30k to go, the last mayor hill and one smaller hill. Could Breschel hold on for a small bunch sprint? The gap is still 4'10".
At the top of the last climb it's Muravyev who took the 7 points, with 25k to go the breakaway has a lead of 2'50" to the pack of 74 riders.
Still 20k to go and it's Anza with the first attack, really stupid if you ask me because they really need each other to make it to the finish line today. It's possible I think!
The gap is still 2'27" with 20k to go, they could make it right trough the finish line so we decided to help chasing the break. This could be a chance for Breschel to win a stage or get more points for the Points classification. Niermann rides the pack to 1'14" with 10k to go!
Only 5k to go and the pack is still 38" behind, now it's Lars Boom who does the lead out for Breschel, dispite Boom isn't really a sprinter but is able to set a very, very quick pace.
Santambrogio had enough an attacked at the right moment, he has 16" seconds to the other and 32" to the pack with only 1k left.
Close one this, you can see Santambrogio, the others of the break and the peloton captured in one shot.
Breschel his sprint was worse then awfull, might be because of the non-sprinting abbilities of Boom but Matti couldn't catch up with anyone either. He ends up 23rd, not really what we expected tough.
A great win for BMC and Santambrogio, the hill specialist might have a break through because of this wonderfull win.
Finally a breakaway made it altought the pack was so close that the times were the same. Also the others kept in front of the pack and Anza really regret of attacking at 20k before the finish. For us it's not what we hoped for but it was good to see that Mollema didn't had any problems today unless the wors conditions of yesterday. But are the Sanchez's and Cunego's of this world able to create gaps at this years Paris-Nice?
The results;
Stage
1 Mauro Santambrogio BMC Racing Team 5h05'52
2 Santo Anza Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
3 Francesco Reda Quick•Step Cycling Team s.t.
4 Andreas Klier Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
5 Dimitriy Muravyev Team RadioShack s.t.
6 Daniel Lloyd Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
7 Kevyn Ista Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t.
8 Davide Ricci Bitti Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli s.t.
9 Vladimir Karpets Katusha Team s.t.
10 Samuel Dumoulin Cofidis, le crédit en ligne s.t. 23 Matti Breschel Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
General
1 Samuel Dumoulin Cofidis, le crédit en ligne 17h51'40 2 Matti Breschel Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
3 Mirco Lorenzetto Pro Team Astana s.t.
4 Rubén Pérez Euskaltel - Euskadi + 4
5 Maciej Paterski Liquigas - Cannondale + 5
6 Assan Bazayev Pro Team Astana + 6
7 Daniele Bennati Leopard Trek s.t.
8 Geraint Thomas Sky ProCycling s.t.
9 Anthony Geslin FDJ s.t.
10 Lars Ytting Bak HTC - Highroad s.t.
Points
1 Samuel Dumoulin Cofidis, le crédit en ligne 64
2 Matthew Goss HTC - Highroad 56 3 Matti Breschel Rabobank Cycling Team 54
4 Fabio Sabatini Liquigas - Cannondale 51
5 Lloyd Mondory AG2R La Mondiale 49
6 Mirco Lorenzetto Pro Team Astana 46
7 Grega Bole Lampre - ISD 38
8 Roger Hammond Team Garmin - Cervélo 33
9 Mauro Santambrogio BMC Racing Team 28
10 Andreas Klier Team Garmin - Cervélo 28
Mountain
1 Francesco Reda Quick•Step Cycling Team 17
2 Vladimir Karpets Katusha Team 16
3 Mauro Santambrogio BMC Racing Team 15
4 Davide Ricci Bitti Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli 14
5 Dimitriy Muravyev Team RadioShack 12
6 Jonas Aaen Jørgensen Saxo Bank SunGard 7
7 Daniel Lloyd Team Garmin - Cervélo 7
8 Greg Van Avermaet BMC Racing Team 5
9 Santo Anza Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team 5
10 Rubén Pérez Euskaltel - Euskadi 4
Young
1 Maciej Paterski Liquigas - Cannondale 17h51'45 (1)
2 Geraint Thomas Sky ProCycling + 1 (2) 3 Bauke Mollema Rabobank Cycling Team + 1 (3)
4 Francesco Masciarelli Pro Team Astana + 1 (4)
5 Romain Sicard Euskaltel - Euskadi + 1 (5)
6 Jonas Aaen Jørgensen Saxo Bank SunGard + 1'12 (6)
7 Beñat Intxausti Movistar Team + 1'14 (7)
8 Marcello Pavarin Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team + 2'18 (8)
9 Matthew Goss HTC - Highroad + 4'48 (9)
10 Guillaume Bonnafond AG2R La Mondiale + 6'56 (10)
Edited by Tombola on 15-06-2011 15:07
A tough 7-day stage race in Italy, I think that this year it will be a more hilly rider who has a chance of winning but will see. It's going to be a though course without a time trial. For Rabobank the following riders will participate;
Carlos Barredo; after a good Vuelta á Andalucia he didn't train much so he is here to gain some strength for the Ardenne season. Óscar Freire; is going for the points jersey but his condition isn't really good with (74). We hope he get's well for our first goal of the season, Milan-San Remo. Juan Manuel Gárate; will be our GC rider because of his climbing and hill abbilitiy, along with the form he's in. Because there is no time trial in this years Tirreno we go for a top 10 in the GC. Tom Leezer; didn't ride a lot of races this year but is preparing for the Giro. He is a bad climber so he will have a good week of training here. Bram Tankink; is a great helper but might also go for the Mountain jersey of a breakaway which could make it right to the end. Depending his form. Laurens ten Dam; isn't in a good condition either but is a great help for Gárate here in Italy. Maarten Tjallingii; I could put the same line here which I did at Tankink, also a great helper. Pieter Weening; also a nice climber with abbilities for a breakaway or a chance for the Mountain jersey. Will see what happens a long the route!
After 118k there will be a lap which the riders have to ride two times to complete the 140k. The lap includes a hill which is not the most easy one, so for some sprinters it might be difficult today. We are aiming on Freire, but he's in not such a good condition (74).
It's Japanese champion Miyazaki (FAR) who attacks straight after the start, in his wheel it is time trialist Konovalovas (MOV), Pedersen (LEO) and Corioni (AQS).
But never really got away because there were a lot of other riders who wanted to join the break of the day on this stage.
Again some riders attack, here we see Ferrari (AND) as one of the eight riders.
Also Mirenda is closing the gap for Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli, nice bikes!
All the attackers are together now, Marzoli (AQS), Longho Borghini (LIQ), Mirenda, Ferrari, Paolini (KAT), Ongarato (VAC), Cooke (SAX) and Sieberg (OLO). They have an advantage of 2'20" after 15k of breakaway.
Astana is leading the pack for Davis but also for Vinokourov probably!
Always nice to see the rainbow jersey back in the peloton, Hushovd is preparing for the mayor cobble classics. Maybe he can win the stage today, it should suite him.
With 85k to go they had build up a lead of 4'47" to the pack.
It is Gasparotto (AST) who sets a very hard pace on one of the last small hills, some riders are in difficulty now. With 40k to go the gap is only 1'08".
Marzoli is the first virtual Mountain leader.
Then Flecha (SKY) testing himself for Milan-San Remo, he would make it to the breakaway but then sticks with them so he got realed in easily.
Only Ongarato and Cooke are trying to stay in front of the peloton. But at the top of the last hill everything is back together for a mass sprint.
Favorites Boonen (QST) and Cavendish (HTC) already had some difficulties along the last hill, so Quick Step sets of a train for Steegmans. While Freire took the wheel of Greipel (OLO), since he has no real lead out here.
But he soon switch to Marcato's (VAC) wheel, it looks like Davis is going to win today! Freire choose the wrong wheel unfortunatly.
Davis is riding a great season so far! A shame that Freire isn't in the right conditions yet, otherwise he should have one here. He now had some minor difficulties the last 10k but a Freire in good conditions would ride here for the win.
At the end the pack started to split and it looked like Vandevelde (GAR), Rodriguez (KAT) and Garzelli (AQS) were going to loose some time. But in the end it all came together again, luckiy for them. The points jersey will be very hard to win this Tirreno, with Davis and Gilbert Freire has some though competition!
The results;
Stage
1 Allan Davis Pro Team Astana 3h17'08
2 Gert Steegmans Quick•Step Cycling Team s.t.
3 Marco Marcato Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
4 Philippe Gilbert Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
5 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Sky ProCycling s.t. 6 Óscar Freire Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
7 André Greipel Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
8 Daniele Pietropolli Lampre - ISD s.t.
9 Alexandre Vinokourov Pro Team Astana s.t.
10 Pablo Lastras Movistar Team s.t.
General
1 Allan Davis Pro Team Astana 3h16'58
2 Gert Steegmans Quick•Step Cycling Team + 4
3 Marco Marcato Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team + 6
4 Luca Paolini Katusha Team + 7
5 Marcel Sieberg Omega Pharma - Lotto + 8
6 Baden Cooke Saxo Bank SunGard + 9
7 Philippe Gilbert Omega Pharma - Lotto + 10
8 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Sky ProCycling s.t. 9 Óscar Freire Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
10 André Greipel Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
Points
1 Allan Davis Pro Team Astana 12
2 Gert Steegmans Quick•Step Cycling Team 10
3 Marco Marcato Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team 8
4 Philippe Gilbert Omega Pharma - Lotto 7
5 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Sky ProCycling 6
6 Luca Paolini Katusha Team 5 7 Óscar Freire Rabobank Cycling Team 5
8 André Greipel Omega Pharma - Lotto 4
9 Marcel Sieberg Omega Pharma - Lotto 3
10 Daniele Pietropolli Lampre - ISD 3
Mountain
1 Alberto Ongarato Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team 6
2 Ruggero Marzoli Acqua & Sapone 5
3 Michel Kreder Team Garmin - Cervélo 5
4 Gianluca Mirenda Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli 3
5 Luca Paolini Katusha Team 3
6 Daniele Pietropolli Lampre - ISD 3
7 Paolo Longo Borghini Liquigas - Cannondale 1
8 Juan Antonio Flecha Sky ProCycling 1
Paris - Nice
Stage 5 - Saint-Symphorien-sur-Coise - Vernoux-en-Vivarais
*** Sanchez, A. Schleck, F. Schleck
Today will be d-day for the GC riders, with a more climbing terrain it will be the Cunego's, Schleck's and Sanchez's of this world who will ride for the overall win. It's also a day to win the mountain jersey with several hills and a few climbs along the route.
Col de la Mûre is the mayor climb of today, with a average of 8,4% and maximums untill 11,6%. The climb is 7,8k long and once the riders are on top, there is a short downhill part which leads to the finish.
Two Belgium riders are trying to leave the pack behind, it's Van Impe (QST) and Neyens (OLO) who's very active and still doesn't look tired yet.
They also make it as first to the first KoM of the day, but the gap is not more then 30".
French talent Moinard (BMC) is closing the gap...
But there are a lot of other riders who have the same thoughts, some mayor names are Zabriskie (GAR), Rogers (SKY) and Knees (SKY).
The attackers got together but never got far, Astana and Cofidis are closing the gap so some fresh riders have the oppurtunity to attack again.
The second climb caused the next attack, it were Zabriskie, Hansen (OLO), De Patre (FAR), Kostyuk (LAMP) and again Van Impe.
At a more steeper part it was Gesink who tried to close the gap, he was going for the mountain jersey put dispite the 30'41" he's behind on the GC leader the pack don't let him ride easily.
It's El Fares (COF) who is chasing him the whole 6,4k climb.
The pack can still see the breakaway but Gesink is pushing to create a even bigger gap.
So Kostyuk couldn't keep up and they were with just 4 riders in front.
While Geesink put all his effort in getting away it was Zabriskie who attacked for the KoM points. At the top of the hill it was Zabriskie who had 18"to Gesink, Van Impe and De Patre while they had 57" to the pack.
Half way the climb it was Gatto (FAR) who already lost 10'30", while there was still 123k to go!
In the descent the pack let the group of Gesink go, when the first flat part started there would come a serious attack out of the peloton. It were Pineau (QST), Gadret (AG2R), Gusev (KAT) and Hoogerland (VAC). The gap was already 2'50".
The first 3k it was Fränk Schleck (LEO) who started chasing but soon he tought about just letting them go and don't spill to much energy. Leopard has a strong team here so I don't understand why Fränk started to ride himself.
Gesink took a fast drink before the group of Hoogerland closed the gap, within 8k they arrived.
Then it was Masciarelli who also attacked, a bit weird because he also was chasing on front of the peloton. He could better attack with Hoogerland and the others because now he kept between the breakaway and the pack.
The 8 riders were together and had build up a nice lead of 6'30" with just 50k to go. There are some good climbers in the group so they might make it to the finish if some of them has a good day.
It were Movistar and Cofidis who are chasing the break, don't know why Cofidis is riding because the last climb is way to steep for Dumoulin.
Gusev and Hoogerland are riding at a very hard pace, Gesink, De Patre and Van Impe already had to let go. Also Zabriskie starts to struggle now.
Now it are Andy Schleck (LEO) and Anton (EUS) who are chasing, some luxury helpers there!
Hoogerland, Pineau and Gusev are still in front. Then Zabriskie, De Patre and Van Impe, while Gesink takes it easy and rides on his own speed to the finish. (The difference between conditions are more realistic then in PCM6, because Gesink is a great climber and had +5, still he couldn't keep up!)
The last climb, Col de la Mûre, which will seperate the boys from the men today! Just Gusev and Hoogerland in front, while Pineau is only 15" behind.
With 5k to the top of the climb Dumoulin is struggling to keep up with the peloton. Soon the pack will split in several peaces!
Peter Velits (HTC) with the first attack, soon followed by Cunego (LAM). Now it's starting to get serious!
Leopard is doing the pace of the favorite group with Voigt and both Schlecks.
The attack of Cunego, still a nice group together altough Di Luca (KAT) and Beñat Intxausti (EUS) are struggling to keep up! That last rider is the only under 25 rider next to Mollema in the group of the favorites.
Cunego and Velits didn't got more then 15" and Mollema pulls the group to the others riders in one strong move.
The gap between the two groups isn't big yet...
Di Luca is still trying to make up some time. But on the top of the hill the gap is already 45".
Kiryenka (MOV) and Schleck lost the group in the descent. While Hoogerland and Gusev are still 2"18 ahead with just 3k to go...
The others stayed together and it was Velits who won the sprint of the group of favorites just before Voigt. Mollema came in at a great 11th in the middle of the group. But who won!?
It was Dutch Vacansoleil rider Johnny "Testostoronny" Hoogerland who won ahead of Gusev, the last 2k he attacked and got away just enough. Also Pineau ends up before the group, great effort of him.
We are really delighted with the result of Mollema, stayed in the group of favorites and was also able to do some heavy work! Lets see what the time trial will bring, because there are a lot of TT specialist in this group. Mollema is one of the weakest probably, but he already did great on his age.
The results;
Stage
1 Johnny Hoogerland Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team 5h25'53
2 Vladimir Gusev Katusha Team + 8
3 Jérôme Pineau Quick•Step Cycling Team + 41
4 Peter Velits HTC - Highroad + 2'08
5 Jens Voigt Leopard Trek s.t.
6 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
7 Damiano Cunego Lampre - ISD s.t.
8 Andy Schleck Leopard Trek s.t.
9 Jean-Christophe Peraud AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
10 Igor Antón Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t. 11 Bauke Mollema Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
Fränk Schleck (LEO) and Vasil Kiryienka (MOV) lost 50 seconds in the last descent and in the group of Mollema it was Bertagnolli (LAM) who finished 12th and Hesjedal (GAR) 13rd.
General
1 Johnny Hoogerland Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team 23h18'50
2 Vladimir Gusev Katusha Team + 9
3 Jérôme Pineau Quick•Step Cycling Team + 43
4 Leonardo Bertagnolli Lampre - ISD + 57
5 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t. 6 Bauke Mollema Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
7 Jens Voigt Leopard Trek s.t.
8 Peter Velits HTC - Highroad s.t.
9 Jean-Christophe Peraud AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
10 Ryder Hesjedal Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
Kiryienka is 11th at already 1’47”, after the time trial there is a big chance that Gusev takes over the yellow yersey. For Mollema it’s going to be hard to gain some places because most of the riders out there have the same time trial skills or much better.
Points
1 Samuel Dumoulin Cofidis, le crédit en ligne 64
2 Matthew Goss HTC - Highroad 56 3 Matti Breschel Rabobank Cycling Team 54
4 Fabio Sabatini Liquigas - Cannondale 51
5 Lloyd Mondory AG2R La Mondiale 49
6 Mirco Lorenzetto Pro Team Astana 46
7 Grega Bole Lampre - ISD 38
8 Mauro Santambrogio BMC Racing Team 28
9 Santo Anza Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team 28
10 Andreas Klier Team Garmin - Cervélo 28
Mountain
1 Francesco Reda Quick•Step Cycling Team 17
2 Vladimir Karpets Katusha Team 16
3 Mauro Santambrogio BMC Racing Team 15
4 Vladimir Gusev Katusha Team 15
5 Davide Ricci Bitti Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli 14
6 Dimitriy Muravyev Team RadioShack 12
7 David Zabriskie Team Garmin - Cervélo 12 8 Robert Gesink Rabobank Cycling Team 12
9 Johnny Hoogerland Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team 11
10 Jérôme Pineau Quick•Step Cycling Team 10
Unless the high amount of hills and mountains, it’s still Reda who takes the lead here. It’s a very close call here.
Young 1 Bauke Mollema Rabobank Cycling Team 23h19'47 (1)
2 Beñat Intxausti Movistar Team + 2'40 (2)
3 Geraint Thomas Sky ProCycling + 3'15 (3)
4 Francesco Masciarelli Pro Team Astana + 3'15 (4)
5 Romain Sicard Euskaltel - Euskadi + 3'15 (5)
6 Jonas Aaen Jørgensen Saxo Bank SunGard + 7'34 (6)
7 Artem Ovechkin Katusha Team + 10'55 (7)
8 Maciej Paterski Liquigas - Cannondale + 11'02 (8)
9 Rigoberto Urán Sky ProCycling + 12'35 (9)
10 Guillaume Bonnafond AG2R La Mondiale + 13'42 (10)
Bauke can’t give this away anymore, when he was in the group of favorites he already saw that Intxausti couldn’t keep up and Masciarelli gave to much energy while trying to break away.
Tirreno - Adriatico
Stage 2 - Montecatini Terme - Montecatini Terme
*** Cavendish, Petacchi, Farrar
Again a day for the sprinters, the riders have mayor climb today and after 100k it's just 4 big laps to go. Because of the hilly lap it might be small group who will get away in the last part of the stage. If the peloton sets a hard pace, it also might be that there are not much riders left for the sprint.
In his home country it's Frapporti (COL) who attackes right after the start.
Not much later it's a small group with Konovalovas (MOV) and Leukemans (VAC) who are trying to reach Frapporti.
Dispitse several other who attack they don't get away, because it's Boonen (QST) who is chasing everybody down.
Some riders in front and it seems like the pack is letting them ride, it's Tjallingii who asked Elmiger (AG2R) to attack with him, Pedersen (LEO) is a bit too late.
But Garmin and Astana won't let the group get away, also these 8 man got chased down.
Some riders attacked again, Leukemans and Konovalovas. They got Belleti (COL), Ermeti (AND), Schär (BMC), Caccia (FAR), Viviani (LIQ) and Montagutti (AG2) with them.
Because Rabobank has a lot of "attackers" in Tirreno we decided to let Tjallingii join the group. It was 40" but in one jump he closed the gap.
One of the first difficulties of the day, Leukemans, Ermeti and Tjallingii doing most of the work.
Montagutti and Caccia are already struggling, why do you join the breakaway when you can only keep up for 30k?
Tjallingii took the 5 points for the KoM, Mountain points leader Ongarato (VAC) has only 6 points so we try to make it to the second KoM.
Lampre (Petacchi) and Garmin (Haussler/Farrar) are doing the pace at the front of the peloton.
Freire already lost contact with the peloton, next to several others. It is Tankink who decides to join him today.
Still four laps to go and the gap is still 5'47"
A bad day for Sky Pro Cycling riders Possoni, what could be a great week in his home country is now just a dream. He lost 4'35" in the end because of a fall.
Just 30k to go end the gap is still 2'48", Tjallingii is trying to make it to the second KoM to grab some extra points there.
While again Boonen is chasing the breakaway for his teammates Steegmans. Boonen is obviously training for the classics.
They made it to the second KoM but Tjallingii was having a hard time, he got 1 point. That ment that Ongarato, Ermeti and Tjallingii had 6 points now.
With 10k to go the breakaway got realed in and now it was going to be a "mass sprint", a bit more then 100 riders left in the pack and here you see Garate taking the wheel of Cardoso (TSH).
But Cardoso hadn't enough speed to stay in front, so Garate moved to the wheel of Arvesen (SKY) who was going the fastest of the sprinting riders. Now there were 10 riders going for victory it seems...
Garate was now 6 or 7 but still had something left, so with 500 meter he tried to get out of the wheel of Arvesen. The Spaniard was going faster now!
But it was too late, it was obvious that Arvesen had won the stage but who were the other riders on the podium?
Haussler was second on the right side of the screen while Garate came in third!
It was not only greay that Garate was on the podium, it also ment that he took a few seconds for the GC. He was clearly in a good shape so we couldn't wait for what he was up to on the more difficult stages!
The results;
Stage
1 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Sky ProCycling 4h20'51
2 Heinrich Haussler Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t. 3 Juan Manuel Gárate Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
4 Emanuele Vona Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli s.t.
5 Alexandr Kolobnev Katusha Team s.t.
6 Manuel Cardoso Team RadioShack s.t.
7 Peter Sagan Liquigas - Cannondale s.t.
8 Marco Marcato Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
9 Alexandre Vinokourov Pro Team Astana s.t.
10 Pablo Lastras Movistar Team s.t.
General
1 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Sky ProCycling 7h37'49
2 Allan Davis Pro Team Astana s.t.
3 Gert Steegmans Quick•Step Cycling Team + 4
4 Heinrich Haussler Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t.
5 Marco Marcato Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team + 6 6 Juan Manuel Gárate Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
7 Maarten Tjallingii Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
8 Ignatas Konovalovas Movistar Team s.t.
9 Michael Schär BMC Racing Team s.t.
10 Luca Paolini Katusha Team + 7
Points
1 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Sky ProCycling 18
2 Allan Davis Pro Team Astana 12
3 Marco Marcato Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team 11
4 Gert Steegmans Quick•Step Cycling Team 10
5 Heinrich Haussler Team Garmin - Cervélo 10 6 Juan Manuel Gárate Rabobank Cycling Team 8
7 Philippe Gilbert Omega Pharma - Lotto 7 8 Maarten Tjallingii Rabobank Cycling Team 7
9 Emanuele Vona Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli 7
10 Ignatas Konovalovas Movistar Team 7
Mountain 1 Maarten Tjallingii Rabobank Cycling Team 6
2 Giairo Ermeti Androni Giocattoli 6
3 Alberto Ongarato Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team 6
4 Michel Kreder Team Garmin - Cervélo 5
5 Björn Leukemans Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team 5
6 Ruggero Marzoli Acqua & Sapone 5
7 Luca Paolini Katusha Team 3
8 Daniele Pietropolli Lampre - ISD 3
9 Gianluca Mirenda Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli 3
10 Juan Antonio Flecha Sky ProCycling 1
Young
1 Michael Schär BMC Racing Team 7h37'55 (1)
2 Elia Viviani Liquigas - Cannondale + 2 (2)
3 Peter Sagan Liquigas - Cannondale + 4 (3)
4 Edvald Boasson Hagen Sky ProCycling + 4 (4)
5 Ben Swift Sky ProCycling + 4 (5)
6 Davide Malacarne Quick•Step Cycling Team + 4 (6)
7 Sacha Modolo Colnago - CSF Inox + 4 (7)
8 Simon Spilak Lampre - ISD + 4 (8)
9 Gerald Ciolek Quick•Step Cycling Team + 4 (9)
10 Vitaliy Buts Lampre - ISD + 4 (10)
Paris - Nice
Stage 6 - Rognes - Aix-en-Provence (ITT)
*** Larsson, Sanchez, Voigt
Today was going to be hard very hard day for Mollema, it's not that he doesn't like time trials but from the riders in the top 10 he's the worst time trialist. So today has to give the 100% to lose the minimum time as possible. But against riders as Sanchez and Voigt this is going to be very hard. We also look forward to the result of Lars Boom in one of his first test.
Vaitkus (AST) is the first with a good time, at the intermediate he rides 20'51" and at the finish line it will end up with 39'36.
Then Boucher (OLO) beats both the intermediate and the finish time of Vaitkus, the first one under 39 minutes with 38'59".
Young talent Poux (SAR) who amazes everybody, a time of 38'26" crushed all the riders in front of him and made a mayor gap.
Then it was up to the big favorite of the day, Larsson (SAX) set a intermediate of 20'00" and was 9 seconds faster then Poux. In the end he was 20 seconds faster with a time of 38'06".
Then it was up to Boom, a bit dissapointing intermediate were he already was 49" behind Larsson. But Boom did a great second part on the hill and ride a 38'01" in the end. First place at the moment...
Grivko (AST) set a great intermediate time but in the end he was 8" seconds behind the young Dutch time trial talent.
Thomas (SKY) did the same intermediate as Larsson, but his second part was even better. At the finish line he beated the time of Boom with just 1".
Now it was up to the top 10 of the GC...
Pineau (QST) was 2’31” behind and is out of the top 10 with a 12th place in GC at 2’17.
Mollema is now 10th in the GC because he lost 1'53" on today's winner.
Bertagnolli (LAM) was a bit faster than Mollema and is now 1’45” behind at a 9th place in the GC.
Velits (HTC) set a time of 38'33 and is now 1’23” behind in the GC on a 7th place.
Hoogerland (VAC) was 2’13 behind in the TT and is now 6th in GC at 1’16”.
Hesjedal (GAR) was 1’12” behind and takes 5th place in the GC, 1’16” behind.
Peraud (AG2R) the French men was 42” behind and is now 4th in the GC.
Gusev (KAT) was 1’10” behind and is now 22” behind the leader in the GC at place 3.
Sanchez (EUS) was 42” behind the first one and is now second with the same time gap.
Voigt (SAX) set a time of 37'10, he won the TT and will be the new GC leader too.
We were pleased that Mollema could manage his top 10 spot in the GC, it's what we aimed for before the start of Paris-Nice. Since he's a better climber then TT-er we hope he could still move up in the GC. Also the time of Boom was very nice to see, did a great second part of the TT which gave him the 6th spot in the stage results. Tomorrow could be a difficult stage but the last stage in this Paris-Nice will probably make the difference.
The results;
Stage
1 Jens Voigt Leopard Trek 37'10
2 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi + 42
3 Jean-Christophe Peraud AG2R La Mondiale + 43
4 Vasil Kiryienka Movistar Team + 46
5 Nicolas Vogondy Cofidis, le crédit en ligne + 49
6 Geraint Thomas Sky ProCycling + 50 7 Lars Boom Rabobank Cycling Team + 51
8 Andriy Grivko Pro Team Astana + 52
9 Gustav Erik Larsson Saxo Bank SunGard + 56
10 Beñat Intxausti Movistar Team + 1'04
General
1 Jens Voigt Leopard Trek 23h56'57
2 Vladimir Gusev Katusha Team + 22
3 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi + 42
4 Jean-Christophe Peraud AG2R La Mondiale + 43
5 Ryder Hesjedal Team Garmin - Cervélo + 1'12
6 Johnny Hoogerland Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team + 1'16
7 Peter Velits HTC - Highroad + 1'23
8 Vasil Kiryienka Movistar Team + 1'36
9 Leonardo Bertagnolli Lampre - ISD + 1'45 10 Bauke Mollema Rabobank Cycling Team + 1'53
Points
1 Samuel Dumoulin Cofidis, le crédit en ligne 64
2 Matthew Goss HTC - Highroad 56 3 Matti Breschel Rabobank Cycling Team 54
4 Fabio Sabatini Liquigas - Cannondale 51
5 Lloyd Mondory AG2R La Mondiale 49
6 Mirco Lorenzetto Pro Team Astana 46
7 Grega Bole Lampre - ISD 38
8 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi 30
9 Jens Voigt Leopard Trek 30
10 Mauro Santambrogio BMC Racing Team 28
Mountain
1 Francesco Reda Quick•Step Cycling Team 17
2 Vladimir Karpets Katusha Team 16
3 Vladimir Gusev Katusha Team 15
4 Mauro Santambrogio BMC Racing Team 15
5 Davide Ricci Bitti Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli 14
6 David Zabriskie Team Garmin - Cervélo 12
7 Dimitriy Muravyev Team RadioShack 12 8 Robert Gesink Rabobank Cycling Team 12
9 Johnny Hoogerland Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team 11
10 Jérôme Pineau Quick•Step Cycling Team 10
Young 1 Bauke Mollema Rabobank Cycling Team 23h58'50 (1)
2 Beñat Intxausti Movistar Team + 1'51 (2)
3 Geraint Thomas Sky ProCycling + 2'12 (3)
4 Romain Sicard Euskaltel - Euskadi + 3'15 (4)
5 Francesco Masciarelli Pro Team Astana + 4'22 (5)
6 Jonas Aaen Jørgensen Saxo Bank SunGard + 8'48 (6)
7 Artem Ovechkin Katusha Team + 10'29 (7)
8 Maciej Paterski Liquigas - Cannondale + 12'11 (8)
9 Rigoberto Urán Sky ProCycling + 12'56 (9)
10 Guillaume Bonnafond AG2R La Mondiale + 14'58 (10)
Tirreno - Adriatico
Stage 3 - San Miniato - Monsummano Terme
*** Cavendish, Farrar, Greipel
Typical Tirreno day, a slightly difficult terrain which will probably end up in a bunch sprint with a group of 100 riders. It's a shame that Freire's condition is so bad otherwise he could win several stages here. Maybe today he has more luck.
Again the Japanese champion Miyazawa (FAR) is one of the first attackers with young time trial talent Jessy Sergent (TSH) in his wheel.
Some other riders like Leukemans (VAC) also trying to get in the break of the day. But it's Vansummeren (GAR) who is closing every gap.
When they pass the finish line the first time, with still 150k to go, it's Leukemans again who attacks. Could he make to be first again over 150k at the line? Elmiger (AG2R) and Frapporti (COL) are following the Belgium classic rider.
Tjallingii with the mountain jersey, next to Terpstra (QST) with the Dutch champion jersey. This year it will be for Rabobank again!
The group got away, Sergent, Miyazawa, Leukemans, Frapporti, Elmiger, Iriarte (MOV), Isasi (EUS) and Ferrari (AND).
At the first hill of the day it is Barredo who is trying to get rid of half the peloton but it's to early. With 100k the break had a 6'18" lead.
The first sprint is for Elmiger, he and Leukemans are still well placed in the GC.
With 60k to go the gap is 5'15", again Vansummeren is chasing, with a little help of his teammates and HTC.
At the foot of the last climb the gap is still 2'20 while there is 25k to ride.
Leukemans was going for the KoM, at the last climb he was a little too late as Elmiger just took it in front of his nose.
The final climb was a little bit too much for some riders, also Vinokourov lost contact with the pack.
Almost a straight line to the finish, only Elmiger, Leukemans and Frapporti in front. With 10k to go the gap is still 2'03" so it looks like it's going to be a sprint between these three riders. Frapport is by far the fastest sprinter.
The Italian played the game very well, starting the sprint in the last position. In the back you see Boonen who attacked, an the bunch coming up!
Frapporti jumped out of the wheel of Leukemans and 100 meter later Leukemans did the same out of Elmigers wheel. Frapporti is going fast tough!
But maybe to early, he got totally out of breath, in the last moments of the sprint he had to sit back on the saddle. But was it enough to beat Leukemans!?
By a few inch it was Bjorn Leukemans who took the victory! A great boost for Leukemans his moral if you look at the coming classics.
Freire couldn't do anything in the sprint while Garate was just keeping himself in front. In the upcoming days which are getting a little tougher he will need his energy to ride along with the favorites. Juan Manuel said he still felt very good and is aiming for a top 10 here.
The results;
Stage
1 Björn Leukemans Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team 3h42'13
2 Marco Frapporti Colnago - CSF Inox s.t.
3 Martin Elmiger AG2R La Mondiale s.t.
4 Gert Steegmans Quick•Step Cycling Team s.t.
5 Allan Davis Pro Team Astana s.t.
6 Romain Feillu Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t.
7 Gerald Ciolek Quick•Step Cycling Team s.t.
8 André Greipel Omega Pharma - Lotto s.t.
9 Tom Boonen Quick•Step Cycling Team s.t.
10 Sacha Modolo Colnago - CSF Inox s.t.
General
1 Björn Leukemans Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team 11h20'01
2 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Sky ProCycling + 1
3 Allan Davis Pro Team Astana s.t.
4 Martin Elmiger AG2R La Mondiale + 4
5 Gert Steegmans Quick•Step Cycling Team + 5
6 Heinrich Haussler Team Garmin - Cervélo s.t. 7 Juan Manuel Gárate Rabobank Cycling Team + 7
8 Marco Marcato Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team s.t. 9 Maarten Tjallingii Rabobank Cycling Team s.t.
10 Luca Paolini Katusha Team + 8
Points
1 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Sky ProCycling 18
2 Allan Davis Pro Team Astana 18
3 Gert Steegmans Quick•Step Cycling Team 17
4 Björn Leukemans Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team 14
5 Martin Elmiger AG2R La Mondiale 13
6 Marco Marcato Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team 11
7 Heinrich Haussler Team Garmin - Cervélo 10
8 Marco Frapporti Colnago - CSF Inox 10 9 Juan Manuel Gárate Rabobank Cycling Team 8
10 Maarten Tjallingii Rabobank Cycling Team 7
Mountain
1 Björn Leukemans Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team 13 2 Maarten Tjallingii Rabobank Cycling Team 6
3 Martin Elmiger AG2R La Mondiale 6
4 Giairo Ermeti Androni Giocattoli 6
5 Alberto Ongarato Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team 6
6 Ruggero Marzoli Acqua & Sapone 5
7 Michel Kreder Team Garmin - Cervélo 5
8 Marco Frapporti Colnago - CSF Inox 4
9 Luca Paolini Katusha Team 3
10 Daniele Pietropolli Lampre - ISD 3
good luck!
