Pre-Tactics
We have brought a really professional team for this Italian classic. I'm probably the one in worst shape, but the stage profile fits me quite well. We'll be trying to keep it all together for a sprint in a smaller group, which would provide perfect conditions for Boasson Hagen, our undisputed leader for this race.

	G. Van Avermaet
	E. Boasson Hagen, T. Hushovd
	C. Evans, S. Modolo, T. Gallopin

A 3-man break got away pretty fast without any further attacks and problems. At once Kennaugh, Dowsett and me, were ordered to the front to steady the pace.


As we were nearing the final, the breakaway was driven in again, and a chaotic swarm of attacks started. Both Nibali, Van Avermaet, Nocentini and Evans were amongst the attackers, and we had to use all energy-reserves to keep it steady.


With 20 km left the pace were so high that we coursed the pack to split. Prominent names such as Nibali were stucked behind.


With 10 km to go, i had done everything i could, and started to drop back. A group of 30 riders were now in front, and Rogers made an outstanding leadout for Edvald.


Edvald was placed perfect for the final uphill-sprint and tried to get past Radioshack's Popovych.


And what a terrific sprint from the Norwegian. He couldn't get rid of Popovych, but only just managed to keep him behind himself, to take an astonishing victory.


A little further down, in the first group behind the one in front, I came sprinting with my last reserves, taking 31th place.

Thank you so much everybody! Thanks for the comments on the great win

@fcancellara: Yeah, hopefully, this race really fits Puccio, so 2 years?
A podium could be realistic

Once again, Thank you guys

Pre-Race
Our team for this great Italian race is mainly build around our two sprinters Edvald and Cav. Bernie, Matthew, Jeremy and myself, are going to do all the hard work in the sprint stages, while Nordhaug and Kennaugh have been giving free roles for the hilly stages.

Maybe i'll also have my chance for a breakaway if the opportunity arrives, but let's see, i'm here to do the hard work.

	T. Martin
	F. Cancellara, P. Gilbert
	P. Sagan, R. Hesjedal, M. Scarponi

The race were kicked of with a 17 km extremely fast team time trial. Without many time-trialist experts in our lineup, it was a game of hanging in the wheel of the phenomenous fast Edvald Boasson Hagen.

Radioshack took the victory with Fuglsang in the lead, while we landed at 12th, which was pretty much what we expected.

1	Jakob Fuglsang	RadioShack - Nissan	19'47
2	Jan Bakelants	RadioShack - Nissan	s.t.
3	Daniele Bennati	RadioShack - Nissan	s.t.
4	Fabian Cancellara	RadioShack - Nissan	s.t.
5	Matthew Busche	RadioShack - Nissan	s.t.
6	Nelson Oliveira	RadioShack - Nissan	s.t.
7	Jesse Sergent	RadioShack - Nissan	s.t.
8	Maxime Monfort	RadioShack - Nissan	s.t.
9	Ryder Hesjedal	Garmin - Sharp	+ 15
10	Christian Vande Velde	Garmin - Sharp	s.t.
...
95	Salvatore Puccio	Sky Procycling	+1'12

Early morning a 4-man break got away, without being any real threat on this long and difficult course. We quickly realized that this stage was going to end in a mass sprint and therefore we all worked hard to take care of Edvald and Cav.

In the sprint, Edvald did an amazing leadout for Cavendish, but Peter Sagan only just got in between and took a comfortable victory in front of Cavendish. What a shame...

1	Peter Sagan	Liquigas - Cannondale	6h04'28
2	Mark Cavendish	Sky Procycling	s.t.
3	T. Boonen	Omega Pharma - Quick·Step	s.t.
4	Edvald Boasson Hagen	Sky Procycling	s.t.
5	Heinrich Haussler	Garmin - Sharp	s.t.
6	André Greipel	Lotto Belisol Team	s.t.
7	Óscar Freire	Katusha Team	s.t.
8	Thor Hushovd	BMC Racing Team	s.t.
9	Daniele Bennati	RadioShack - Nissan	s.t.
10	Jacopo Guarnieri	Astana Pro Team	s.t.
...
32	Salvatore Puccio	Sky Procycling	s.t.

A quite threatening breakaway containing 6 riders got away early morning. Amongst the escapees were Italian Gasparotto and Swiss Albasini, who presumeably was seen as threats to the GC.

As yesterday we rode for Cavendish and needed to keep him out of trouble all day long. We drog him over the tough hills and started to reel in the breakaway which didn't seem too strong.

When the breakaway was caught, we settled up the train for Cavendish, perfectly as yesterday. Just until the unthinkable happened.


10 km from the finish line, the pace were too high to bring him back, so we agreed on continueing, and make the sprint for Edvald.

Eisel rode Edvald to the front. Lotto ran out of men quickly, and Greipel had to make his sprint early. Edvald got in his wheel...
From failure to sucess on few minutes - Edvald easily outsprinted Greipel and took the victory. What a strange and unthinkable feeling!

1	Edvald Boasson Hagen	Sky Procycling	4h13'22
2	Peter Sagan	Liquigas - Cannondale	s.t.
3	André Greipel	Lotto Belisol Team	s.t.
4	Thor Hushovd	BMC Racing Team	s.t.
5	Tom Boonen	Omega Pharma - Quick·Step	s.t.
6	Óscar Freire	Katusha Team	s.t.
7	Heinrich Haussler	Garmin - Sharp	s.t.
8	José Joaquín Rojas	Movistar Team	s.t.
9	Tomas Vaitkus	Orica - GreenEdge	s.t.
10	Alexey Tsatevitch	Katusha Team	s.t.
...
45	Salvatore Puccio	Sky Procycling	s.t.

5 men got away at the start and the race had begun. With no outlook for a sprint, half of our team rode the stage at the back of the pack. In front with half-free roles, Kennaugh, Nordhaug, Boasson and Me, spend our day with lots of rain.

The terrain suited me much more than the previous stages, so finally i could feel myself at home. When the race reached its final act, Boasson was the strongest on the team and drove his own race against the very top, while i tried the best i could to follow the pace in the atomized groups.

At the end, Sagan was too great for the rest of the pack and took the victory. Edvald came in at 4th, which was a great result for the team.

1	Peter Sagan	Liquigas - Cannondale	6h54'15
2	Óscar Freire	Katusha Team	+ 29
3	Philippe Gilbert	BMC Racing Team	s.t.
4	Edvald Boasson Hagen	Sky Procycling	+ 2'02
5	Enrico Gasparotto	Astana Pro Team	+ 2'43
6	Danilo Di Luca	Acqua & Sapone	+ 3'03
7	Christian Vande Velde	Garmin - Sharp	+ 3'25
8	Marco Pinotti	BMC Racing Team	+ 3'38
9	Matteo Carrara	Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling	+ 3'46
10	Damiano Cunego	Lampre - ISD	s.t.
...
46	Salvatore Puccio	Sky Procycling	+8'52

As we planned this morning, Nordhaug got in the morning-breakaway with 6 other riders. He was riding very well, and his daily form was in top. In the pack, Kennaugh and i took care of Edvald, while Cavendish and co. just followed through in the back of the pack.

Nordhaug amazingly oversprinted Movistar's Bruseghin in both mountain sprints, making his points in the KOM-competion equal to Saxo Bank's Baoro. Hopefully he will be able to take the jersey tomorrow.

In the final, Boasson had trouble following the high pace and accelerations of the climbers. A little trio got away, where the victory was to be decided. Italy's Carrara eventually had everything under control, taking Vacansoleil's first WT-Victory of the season.

Boasson came in at 16th, in same time as Sagan, who remains in lead.

1	Matteo Carrara	Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling	5h57'57
2	Marco Pinotti	BMC Racing Team	+ 12
3	David Arroyo	Movistar Team	+ 21
4	John Gadret	AG2R La Mondiale	s.t.
5	Bart De Clercq	Lotto Belisol Team	+ 40
6	Maxime Monfort	RadioShack - Nissan	s.t.
7	Damiano Cunego	Lampre - ISD	+ 1'12
8	Danilo Di Luca	Acqua & Sapone	s.t.
9	Christian Vande Velde	Garmin - Sharp	s.t.
10	Amets Txurruka	Euskaltel - Euskadi	+ 1'53
...
68	Salvatore Puccio	Sky Procycling	+ 14'46

Our main objective for this last RR-stage of Tirreno-Adriatico was to take the KOM-Jersey with Nordhaug, who had equal points to Baoro. As we planned, Nordhaug got free from the very start, and drove solo towards the first mountain sprint. Without any reactions from the pack, Nordhaug practically won the KOM-Jersey already at this point.

Nordhaug had already build up a great gap, so he decided to carry on soloing, after securing the KOM-Jersey. Unfortunately this was mission impossible, and he got back into the pack with 20 km to the finish.

Boasson felt great and attacked on the final climb, followed by Cancellara and Freire. The trio builded a great gap, and on the last km, Edvald simply gapped the two riders, taking the stage victory on his own. What a stage! Taking both KOM and the stage-victory!

1	Edvald Boasson Hagen	Sky Procycling	5h21'34
2	Peter Sagan	Liquigas - Cannondale	+ 29
3	Fabian Cancellara	RadioShack - Nissan	s.t.
4	Óscar Freire	Katusha Team	s.t.
5	Thor Hushovd	BMC Racing Team	s.t.
6	Tom Boonen	Omega Pharma - Quick·Step	s.t.
7	Christian Vande Velde	Garmin - Sharp	s.t.
8	John Gadret	AG2R La Mondiale	s.t.
9	Bart De Clercq	Lotto Belisol Team	s.t.
10	Enrico Gasparotto	Astana Pro Team	s.t.
...
47	Salvatore Puccio	Sky Procycling	+ 3'19

Tirreno-Adriatico ends with an 9,4 km time trial. Hopefully Boasson can end this fantastic race with a hattrick. One of the first on the route from our team was Lars Petter Nordhaug. Proudfully he was wearing the green KOM-Jersey, which he secured yesterday.

I could feel that my legs were tired when i got on the route, i couldn't do anything on this route, i just had to finish as fast as i could.

As fifth last, Boasson got on the route, with Cancellara leading over World Champion Martin in the provisional rankings. But only 8 seconds seperated Boasson from doing the hattrick, what a shame, but still a fantastic result!

1	Fabian Cancellara	RadioShack - Nissan	12'10
2	Edvald Boasson Hagen	Sky Procycling	+ 8
3	Tony Martin	Omega Pharma - Quick·Step	+ 12
4	Marco Pinotti	BMC Racing Team	+ 20
5	Ramunas Navardauskas	Garmin - Sharp	+ 30
6	Jonathan Castroviejo	Movistar Team	+ 31
7	Thor Hushovd	BMC Racing Team	+ 32
8	Peter Sagan	Liquigas - Cannondale	s.t.
9	Jesse Sergent	RadioShack - Nissan	+ 33
10	Manuele Boaro	Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank	s.t.
...
113	Salvatore Puccio	Sky Procycling	+ 1'09

1	Peter Sagan	Liquigas - Cannondale	29h07'57
2	Marco Pinotti	BMC Racing Team	+ 34
3	Matteo Carrara	Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling	+ 1'20
4	Christian Vande Velde	Garmin - Sharp	+ 1'32
5	Edvald Boasson Hagen	Sky Procycling	+ 1'35
6	Maxime Monfort	RadioShack - Nissan	+ 2'43
7	Philippe Gilbert	BMC Racing Team	+ 2'44
8	Bart De Clercq	Lotto Belisol Team	s.t.
9	Danilo Di Luca	Acqua & Sapone	+ 3'02
10	Damiano Cunego	Lampre - ISD	+ 3'17
...
43	Salvatore Puccio	Sky Procycling	+ 24'54

1	Peter Sagan	Liquigas - Cannondale	48
2	Edvald Boasson Hagen	Sky Procycling	48
3	Óscar Freire	Katusha Team	31
4	Thor Hushovd	BMC Racing Team	23
5	Marco Pinotti	BMC Racing Team	20
6	Fabian Cancellara	RadioShack - Nissan	20
7	Tom Boonen	Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling	19
8	Enrico Gasparotto	Astana Pro Team	15
9	Matteo Carrara	Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling	14
10	André Greipel	Lotto Belisol Team	13

1	Lars Petter Nordhaug	Sky Procycling	20
2	Manuele Boaro	Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank	10
3	Daniel Teklehaimanot	Orica - GreenEdge	6
4	Matteo Carrara	Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling	5
5	Marzio Bruseghin	Movistar Team	5
6	Enrico Gasparotto	Astana Pro Team	5
7	Matteo Tosatto	Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank	5
8	Xavier Florencio	Katusha Team	5
9	Martin Mortensen	Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling	5
10	Cristiano Benenati	Farnese Vini - Selle Italia	4

1	Peter Sagan	Liquigas - Cannondale	29h07'57
2	Edvald Boasson Hagen	Sky Procycling	+ 1'35
3	Steven Kruijswijk	Rabobank Cycling Team	+ 7'09
4	Ramunas Navardauskas	Garmin - Sharp	+ 10'54
5	Gorka Izagirre	Euskaltel - Euskadi	+ 16'45
6	Sep Vanmarcke	Garmin - Sharp	+ 21'32
7	Jonathan Castroviejo	Movistar Team	+ 24'37
8	Salvatore Puccio	Sky Procycling	+ 24'54
9	Egor Silin	Astana Pro Team	+ 26'02
10	Damiano Caruso	Liquigas - Cannondale	+ 26'12

This has been a great race for the team. Our first thought was to drive Cavendish into two stage victories the first 2 stages. But yeah, that didn't happen. Edvald Boasson has been great everyday and have really learned to handle the leaderrole. He brings home a top 5 finish in the GC and equals points with Sagan in the Points-Classification along with second in the youth-raknings.

Also Nordhaug rode great, being in the breakaway two days in a row, and taking the mountain-jersey with a convincing lead.

For me this has been a great experience. It was my first WT-Stagerace, and knowing that i wasn't totally lost gives me confidence. My next race will be the Milano-SanRemo - It just keeps getting better and better!