Last stage for this Tour of Mallorca, and the Team Abus DS gives his young squad two orders: try to get back the polkadot shirt and to do the sprint with Marcel Meisen. In order for that, we’ll first have to survive another ascension of the Puig Major, this time from the other side. An interesting front group of eight forms early in the race, with Navarro, Pozzovivo, Txurruka, Nieve, Kruijswijk, Taborre, Grivko and Team ABUS’ David Bartl. Howson misses out and has to forget his KOM-dreams.
Nobody in the break is a danger for Alberto Contador, so Saxo - Tinkoff has an easy day. At the foot of the third climb of the day, with 70 k to go, it’s clear that the front group will battle out for the stage victory, with an advantage over seven minutes. At that moment, Bartl already sees all colors of the rainbow in an attempt to follow the climbers uphill. The third mountain of the day kills our guy: he’s dropped again and doesn’t manage to come back in the downhill. It will be a hard battle to try and hold of the chasing bunch.
The battle ends with eight kilometer to go, when Bartl is reeled in by a select bunch of 86 riders. For Team ABUS, two guys survived: Marcel Meisen en David Hesselbarth. They try to do something in the sprint for eighth place, but that doesn’t work out. Marcel and David lost too many forces going through the mountains of Mallorca. In the front group, Steven Kruijswijk delivers another win for Belkin, while Alberto Contador after an easy day takes the gc-win home.
Spoiler
Result
1 Steven Kruijswijk (Belkin Pro Cycling Team) 4h17'45
2 Fabio Taborre (Vini Fantini - Selle Italia)
3 Andriy Grivko (Astana Pro Team)
4 Amets Txurruka (Caja Rural - Seguros RGA)
5 Mikel Nieve (Euskaltel - Euskadi)
6 Daniel Navarro (Cofidis, Solutions Crédits)
7 Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R La Mondiale)
8 Alexander Kristoff (Katusha Team) + 5'46
9 Daniel Oss (BMC Racing Team)
10 Enrico Gasparotto (Astana Pro Team)
11 Francesco Lasca (Caja Rural - Seguros RGA)
12 Sacha Modolo (Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox)
13 Davide Viganò (Lampre - Merida)
14 Fabio Felline (Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela)
15 Luis León Sánchez (Belkin Pro Cycling Team)
16 Rigoberto Urán (Sky Procycling)
17 Alberto Contador (Team Saxo - Tinkoff)
18 Ian Stannard (Sky Procycling)
19 Jonas Aaen Jørgensen (Team Saxo - Tinkoff) 63 Marcel Meisen (Team ABUS)
64 David Hesselbarth (Team ABUS)
94 David Bartl (Team ABUS)
137 Kajetan Fricke (Team ABUS) + 9'06
173 Jakob Steigmiller (Team ABUS) + 12'50
174 Damien Howson (Team ABUS)
175 Frank Wagner (Team ABUS)
190 Jan Keller (Team ABUS) + 17'35
GC
1 Alberto Contador (Team Saxo - Tinkoff) 14h03'29
2 Daniel Moreno (Katusha Team) + 1'48
3 Bradley Wiggins (Sky Procycling) + 1'52
4 Rui Costa (Movistar Team) + 3'41
5 Sergio Henao (Sky Procycling)
6 Luis León Sánchez (Belkin Pro Cycling Team) + 4'27
7 Giovanni Visconti (Movistar Team) + 4'29
8 Diego Ulissi (Lampre - Merida)
9 Tejay Van Garderen (BMC Racing Team)
10 Jean-Christophe Peraud (AG2R La Mondiale)
11 Steven Kruijswijk (Belkin Pro Cycling Team) + 4'36
12 Daniel Navarro (Cofidis, Solutions Crédits) + 4'56
13 Domenico Pozzovivo (AG2R La Mondiale) + 5'00
14 Amets Txurruka (Caja Rural - Seguros RGA) + 5'02
15 Miguel Rubiano (Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela) + 5'26
16 Andrey Zeits (Astana Pro Team) + 6'34
17 Tanel Kangert (Astana Pro Team)
18 Mattia Cattaneo (Lampre - Merida)
19 Juan José Cobo (Movistar Team)
20 Jesús Hernández (Team Saxo - Tinkoff) 68 David Hesselbarth (Team ABUS) + 13'41
86 Kajetan Fricke (Team ABUS) + 17'01
112 David Bartl (Team ABUS) + 21'40
121 Marcel Meisen (Team ABUS) + 23'25
129 Jakob Steigmiller (Team ABUS) + 25'21
168 Damien Howson (Team ABUS) + 31'58
169 Frank Wagner (Team ABUS) + 32'25
178 Jan Keller (Team ABUS) + 35'38
Points
1 Alexander Kristoff (Katusha Team) 53
2 Mark Renshaw (Belkin Pro Cycling Team) 43
3 Sacha Modolo (Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox) 38
They even failed bigger yesterday But I can't expect my guys to do well everyday in a field like the one of Mallorca
sisse wrote:Hmmm, will be hard to do better than 'my' guys are doing irl for the moment. Result Tour Alsace stage 2 of today: 1. Ewan, 3. Meisen Switch to hard mode guys
So that was wednesday. The guys have been putting the standard for me even higher this weekend in the reallife Tour Alsace:
Stage saturday: 1. Silvio Herklotz.
Stage sunday: 1. Marcel Meisen, 3. Silvio Herklotz
GC: 1. Silvio Herklotz
Curious if I can do as well as them But seems I was correct when building a team around these guys and when giving Marcel Meisen better stats Edited by sisse on 28-07-2013 22:14
Looking back at the Vuelta a Mallorca, Team ABUS can be quite satisfied. All our guys finished the four days without serious problems, a good step for the future races. The long tv break of Damien Howson, one day in the polkadot shirt and two top ten results delivered a little extra, while our climbers obviously still have some work to do.
Right after Mallorca, we moved to Portugal for another 2.1 stagerace on our menu: the Volta ao Algarve. With some relaxed days of riding along the Portuguese coastline, we fill the batteries again for another fierce fight, featuring Tony Martin, Joaquim Rodriguez, Philippe Gilbert and Peter ‘The Hulk’ Sagan.
Next episode: 13/2/2013 Volta ao Algarve, stage 1/4Edited by sisse on 31-07-2013 21:15
Selection Team ABUS: David Bartl, Kajetan Fricke, David Hesselbarth, Damien Howson, Jan Keller, Marcel Meisen, Jakob Steigmiller, Frank Wagner.
The longest day in the saddle for our guys so far this season, but that doesn’t scare our leader Marcel Meisen. In contrary, we assured him that going up and down all day long will tire down many other sprinters. A motivated Marcel is the first to start the stage.
Our riders are very active in the first hour of the race. Kajetan Fricke is the first to go, in vain. The next one to test his legs is David Hesselbarth. World champion Philippe Gilbert is a witness of the attack, wondering who the brave guy could be.
David is away for a long, long solo brake. After building up an advantage of three minutes, he knows he’s safe and slows down. The bunch will adapt his speed at the one of our leader anyway. Still, the gap grows to a maximum of ten minutes. Not enough to make Hesselbarth dream. Once Caja Rural (for home rider Cardoso), Liquigas (Sagan) and Katusha (Kristoff) start the chase, the advantage melts as snow in the sun.
In the back of the bunch many of the local riders are in troubles, in front David rises his speed. Not high enough though, under the 20 kilometer mark he’s brought back by a furious peloton. Time for Marcel Meisen to take over. Thanks to the work of the teammates, he feels fresh in the end of the 200 kilometers. The rest of the team is too tired to build up a sprint train, but thanks to the dexterity cyclocross racing gave him, Marcel manages to sneak in the train built by Katusha.
The Red Train even manages to sneak away from the rest of the bunch. Again, Philippe Gilbert sees one of the Team ABUS-riders speeding away... Despite of the high speeds produced on this almost WorldTour level, Marcel manages to retain some juice in his legs and do the sprint. Kristoff is once again a deserved winner, Marcel sprints to a great, unexpected fourth place. The Hulk bites his handlebars in two after losing a first sprint opportunity.
Oh, btw: if you’re wondering why we did so much trouble to get in the BOTD: with one categorized hill on the road, the green climbers jersey was for sale rather cheap today. David Hesselbarth seems happy with the kisses of the podium ladies!
Spoiler
Result
1 Alexander Kristoff (Katusha Team) 4h47'15
2 Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing Team)
3 Daniele Bennati (Team Saxo - Tinkoff) 4 Marcel Meisen (Team ABUS)
5 Maxim Belkov (Katusha Team)
6 Peter Sagan (Cannondale Pro Cycling)
7 Elia Favilli (Lampre - Merida)
8 Alexander Porsev (Katusha Team)
9 Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing Team)
10 Tanel Kangert (Astana Pro Team)
11 Geraint Thomas (Sky Procycling)
12 Nicolas Roche (Team Saxo - Tinkoff)
13 Arman Kamyshev (Astana Pro Team)
14 Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel - Euskadi)
15 Dennis Van Winden (Belkin Pro Cycling Team)
16 Jelle Vanendert (Lotto Belisol)
17 Robert Gesink (Belkin Pro Cycling Team)
18 Janez Brajkovič (Astana Pro Team)
19 Vladimir Gusev (Katusha Team)
20 Tejay Van Garderen (BMC Racing Team) 110 David Bartl (Team ABUS)
117 Jan Keller (Team ABUS)
122 Kajetan Fricke (Team ABUS) + 4'00
124 Damien Howson (Team ABUS)
125 Frank Wagner (Team ABUS)
158 Jakob Steigmiller (Team ABUS) + 7'18
168 David Hesselbarth (Team ABUS) + 8'09
GC
1 Alexander Kristoff (Katusha Team) 4h46'55
2 Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing Team) + 8
3 Daniele Bennati (Team Saxo - Tinkoff) + 12
4 Elia Favilli (Lampre - Merida) + 16
5 Sergey Chernetskiy (Katusha Team)
6 Dimitry Kozontchuk (Katusha Team) + 18
7 Luka Mezgec (Team Argos - Shimano) 8 Marcel Meisen (Team ABUS) + 20
9 Maxim Belkov (Katusha Team)
10 Peter Sagan (Cannondale Pro Cycling)
11 Alexander Porsev (Katusha Team)
12 Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing Team)
13 Tanel Kangert (Astana Pro Team)
14 Geraint Thomas (Sky Procycling)
15 Nicolas Roche (Team Saxo - Tinkoff)
16 Arman Kamyshev (Astana Pro Team)
17 Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel - Euskadi)
18 Dennis Van Winden (Belkin Pro Cycling Team)
19 Jelle Vanendert (Lotto Belisol)
20 Robert Gesink (Belkin Pro Cycling Team) 110 David Bartl (Team ABUS)
117 Jan Keller (Team ABUS)
122 Kajetan Fricke (Team ABUS) + 4'20
124 Damien Howson (Team ABUS)
125 Frank Wagner (Team ABUS)
158 Jakob Steigmiller (Team ABUS) + 7'38
168 David Hesselbarth (Team ABUS) + 8'17
Points
1 Alexander Kristoff (Katusha Team) 25
2 Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing Team) 20
3 Daniele Bennati (Team Saxo - Tinkoff) 16 4 Marcel Meisen (Team ABUS) 14
Our tactic worked out well yesterday, so today we’ll try it again: David Hesselbarth can try to defend his climbers jersey, the rest of the team works for sprinter Marcel Meisen. David is the first attacker of the day, but only after five tries he manages to get the green light to go. His compatriots are WorldTour riders Peter Kennaugh and Andrea Palini. Not the guys we dreamt off, but the collaboration is perfect.
Sky and Lampre seem interested in the KOM-points too. At the foot of the first categorized climb, Kennaugh and Palini attack. Hesselbarth decides to hold his own speed, eventually gets back with the two and accelerates close to the KOM line. A tactic that pays off, David gets the full pocket of points.
The tactic will pay off another time. Kennaugh and Palini again go way too early on the second climb, David waits till the decisive time and pips his two mates on the line. He’s a firm KOM-leader now!
Luckily, the two other guys keep cooperating well after their double loss. Our attacker doesn’t interfere in the battle for the bonus sprints, he got what he wanted already. With 25 kilometer to go, the efforts of two consecutive days in the front start to weigh too much for Hesselbarth. He decides to let go the two and save some energy; the chances of staying in front are slim anyway.
At the same time, Marcel Meisen wakes up after sitting in the wheels of his teamies all day long. He’ll try to do even better than last day’s fourth place. While Hesselbarth and Kennaugh are reeled in and Palini tries a desperate effort to get to the finish line alone, handy Meisen manages to get in a sprint train again all on his own. Passing the narrow finish line several times during the local laps, we realize that positioning will be vital in today’s sprint.
But then, havoc again… Suddenly it starts pouring rain and after a dry period the Portuguese roads get slippery as hell. The inevitable crash happens just in front of Meisen, but as a pure cyclocross guy he manages to jump over the first rider that hit the ground. The guys behind Marcel are less lucky. A huge crash will take out two starters and creates a two minutes gap behind the 68 riders that managed to sneak through.
But that’s not our goal getters problem. While all road guys struggle with the wet roads, Marcels feels at home. He even manages to get through a small opening to find himself in the wheel of leader Alexander Kristoff. Brave Andrea Palini gets the group on his neck with less than two kilometers to go, at the same time Greg Van Avermaet tries to surprise the sprinters.
But Daniele Bennati reacts in time and wins in front of Kristoff. Marcel lacks the legs to do a strong sprint like yesterday, but still manages another very nice fifth place. Ganz toll! And The Hulk? Nowhere to be seen, once again…
Spoiler
Result
1 Daniele Bennati (Team Saxo - Tinkoff) 4h40'46
2 Alexander Kristoff (Katusha Team)
3 Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing Team)
4 Rory Sutherland (Team Saxo - Tinkoff) 5 Marcel Meisen (Team ABUS)
6 Maxime Vantomme (Crelan - Euphony)
7 Matteo Pelucchi (IAM Cycling)
8 Sacha Modolo (Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox)
9 Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing Team)
10 Luke Rowe (Sky Procycling)
11 Tejay Van Garderen (BMC Racing Team)
12 Tanel Kangert (Astana Pro Team)
13 Davy Commeyne (Accent Jobs - Wanty)
14 Alexander Porsev (Katusha Team)
15 Manuel Cardoso (Caja Rural - Seguros RGA)
16 Luka Mezgec (Team Argos - Shimano)
17 David López (Sky Procycling)
18 Geraint Thomas (Sky Procycling)
19 Moreno Hofland (Belkin Pro Cycling Team)
20 Edgar Pinto (LA Alumínios - Antarte) 101 Kajetan Fricke (Team ABUS) + 2'20
104 Jan Keller (Team ABUS)
105 David Bartl (Team ABUS)
109 Frank Wagner (Team ABUS)
111 Damien Howson (Team ABUS)
138 Peter Sagan (Cannondale Pro Cycling) 180 Jakob Steigmiller (Team ABUS) + 7'29
181 David Hesselbarth (Team ABUS)
GC
1 Alexander Kristoff (Katusha Team) 9h27'29
2 Daniele Bennati (Team Saxo - Tinkoff) + 4
3 Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing Team) + 12
4 Luka Mezgec (Team Argos - Shimano) + 30
5 Dimitry Kozontchuk (Katusha Team) 6 Marcel Meisen (Team ABUS) + 32
7 Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing Team)
8 Alexander Porsev (Katusha Team)
9 Tanel Kangert (Astana Pro Team)
10 Rory Sutherland (Team Saxo - Tinkoff)
11 Geraint Thomas (Sky Procycling)
12 Tejay Van Garderen (BMC Racing Team)
13 Arman Kamyshev (Astana Pro Team)
14 Nicolas Roche (Team Saxo - Tinkoff)
15 David López (Sky Procycling)
16 Maxime Vantomme (Crelan - Euphony)
17 Maxim Belkov (Katusha Team)
18 Jelle Vanendert (Lotto Belisol)
19 Davy Commeyne (Accent Jobs - Wanty)
20 Luke Rowe (Sky Procycling)
75 Peter Sagan (Cannondale Pro Cycling) + 2'52 107 David Bartl (Team ABUS)
111 Jan Keller (Team ABUS)
121 Kajetan Fricke (Team ABUS) + 6'52
122 Frank Wagner (Team ABUS)
123 Damien Howson (Team ABUS)
177 Jakob Steigmiller (Team ABUS) + 15'19
178 David Hesselbarth (Team ABUS) + 15'54
Points
1 Alexander Kristoff (Katusha Team) 45
2 Daniele Bennati (Team Saxo - Tinkoff) 41
3 Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing Team) 36 4 Marcel Meisen (Team ABUS) 26
5 David Hesselbarth (Team ABUS) 16
Mountains 1 David Hesselbarth Team ABUS 22
2 Andrea Palini Lampre - Merida 12
3 François Parisien Team Argos - Shimano 8
Teams
1 Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox s.t. 28h24'03
2 Team NetApp - Endura s.t. + 0
3 Lotto Belisol s.t. + 0 16 Team ABUS s.t. + 4'40
Young guys
1 Luka Mezgec (Team Argos - Shimano) 9h27'59 2 Marcel Meisen (Team ABUS) + 2
3 Tejay Van Garderen (BMC Racing Team) + 2
Next episode: 15/2/2013 Volta ao Algarve, stage 3/4Edited by sisse on 31-07-2013 21:17
Not the terrain for Team ABUS today. We already have nightmares thinking back about the queen stage in Mallorca… While David Hesselbarth gets the team’s support to secure his mountain jersey, Marcel Meisen can give it a try to survive till the finish line and Damien Howson can economize his efforts in view of tomorrow’s time trial.
Kajetan Fricke is our guy in the break today. He gets Maciej Paterski, Simone Stortoni and Joe Dombrowski with him. Nobody can endanger Hesselbarth’s mountain shirt, so we allow Kajetan to work with the others and go get his chance today.
After a rather boring first part, the race opens up going up the Alto do Malhao for the first time. Eighty kilometers later, we will finish on top of this steep ridge. It gets clear Kajetan Fricke won’t be the one cheering here, since already now he shows troubles to stay with the three WorldTour dudes that accompany him. In the bunch, the race radio learns us that the big names can’t wait any longer to race anymore. Bauke Mollema, Roman Kreuziger and a strong Paul Voss accelerate. In 1-2-3, they close the gap with the front group, where Fricke is imitating an accordion.
Tv viewers see a great final part. Fricke is the first of the breakaway to be reeled in, his former companions don’t last much longer. After a couple of new attacks, a select bunch of 111 riders – with Meisen and an exhausted Fricke – attacks the final climb of the Malhao. Off course, the group won’t sprint for the flowers. World champion Philippe Gilbert breaks away with a huge acceleration, Joaquim Rodriguez and some other prerace favorites try to counter but will never see the rainbow stripes back. ‘Phil’ conquers the stagewin and overall lead.
In the shadow of this interesting battle, Meisen lacks luck this time. He starts the climb in the very front of the group, but gets closed in by riders that finished their job or are out of energy. Marcel loses too much terrain to have any hope for a place of honor. But, honestly: after this hard stage he would probably have lacked the energy to do so anyway. Positive point of the day: David Hesselbarth steps on the podium again to collect a new mountain shirt. David only has to finish tomorrow’s time trial within the time cut to conquer Team ABUS’ first prize of the year!
Spoiler
Result
1 Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing Team) 5h01'08
2 Joaquím Rodríguez (Katusha Team) + 57
3 Janez Brajkovič (Astana Pro Team) + 1'08
4 Nicolas Roche (Team Saxo - Tinkoff)
5 Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing Team)
6 Jelle Vanendert (Lotto Belisol)
7 Tanel Kangert (Astana Pro Team)
8 Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin - Sharp)
9 Paul Voss (Team NetApp - Endura)
10 Geraint Thomas (Sky Procycling) + 1'45
11 Robert Gesink (Belkin Pro Cycling Team)
12 Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel - Euskadi) + 2'03
13 Tejay Van Garderen (BMC Racing Team)
14 Alexander Kristoff (Katusha Team) + 2'14
15 David López (Sky Procycling) + 2'29
16 Daniele Bennati (Team Saxo - Tinkoff)
17 Mikel Astarloza (Euskaltel - Euskadi) + 2'45
18 Gustavo César Veloso (OFM - Quinta da Lixa) + 2'55
19 Roman Kreuziger (Team Saxo - Tinkoff) + 3'12
20 Leopold König (Team NetApp - Endura)
25 Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team) 48 Marcel Meisen (Team ABUS)
93 Peter Sagan (Cannondale Pro Cycling) + 4'28 95 Kajetan Fricke (Team ABUS)
130 David Hesselbarth (Team ABUS) + 7'10
131 Jakob Steigmiller (Team ABUS)
144 Frank Wagner (Team ABUS) + 10'24
145 David Bartl (Team ABUS)
175 Jan Keller (Team ABUS) + 14'23
176 Damien Howson (Team ABUS)
GC
1 Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing Team) 14h28'49
2 Joaquím Rodríguez (Katusha Team) + 1'05
3 Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing Team) + 1'08
4 Janez Brajkovič (Astana Pro Team) + 1'20
5 Tanel Kangert (Astana Pro Team) + 1'28
6 Nicolas Roche (Team Saxo - Tinkoff)
7 Jelle Vanendert (Lotto Belisol)
8 Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin - Sharp)
9 Paul Voss (Team NetApp - Endura)
10 Alexander Kristoff (Katusha Team) + 2'02
11 Geraint Thomas (Sky Procycling) + 2'05
12 Robert Gesink (Belkin Pro Cycling Team)
13 Daniele Bennati (Team Saxo - Tinkoff) + 2'21
14 Tejay Van Garderen (BMC Racing Team) + 2'23
15 Samuel Sánchez (Euskaltel - Euskadi)
16 David López (Sky Procycling) + 2'49
17 Mikel Astarloza (Euskaltel - Euskadi) + 3'05
18 Gustavo César Veloso (OFM - Quinta da Lixa) + 3'15
19 Joseph Dombrowski (Sky Procycling) + 3'28
20 Luka Mezgec (Team Argos - Shimano) + 3'30 21 Marcel Meisen (Team ABUS) + 3'32
24 Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team)
85 Peter Sagan (Cannondale Pro Cycling) + 7'08 110 Kajetan Fricke (Team ABUS) + 11'08
115 David Bartl (Team ABUS) + 13'04
130 Jan Keller (Team ABUS) + 17'03
131 Frank Wagner (Team ABUS) + 17'04
150 Damien Howson (Team ABUS) + 21'03
157 Jakob Steigmiller (Team ABUS) + 22'17
161 David Hesselbarth (Team ABUS) + 22'52
Points
1 Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing Team) 48
2 Alexander Kristoff (Katusha Team) 47
3 Daniele Bennati (Team Saxo - Tinkoff) 41 5 Marcel Meisen (Team ABUS) 26
10 David Hesselbarth (Team ABUS) 16
Mountains
1 David Hesselbarth (Team ABUS) 22
2 Maciej Paterski (Cannondale Pro Cycling) 14
3 Andrea Palini (Lampre - Merida) 12 4 Kajetan Fricke (Team ABUS) 10
Teams
1 BMC Racing Team 43h30'38
2 Astana Pro Team + 2'17
3 Katusha Team + 3'12 18 Team ABUS + 16'19
Young guys
1 Tejay Van Garderen (BMC Racing Team) 14h31'12
2 Joseph Dombrowski (Sky Procycling) + 1'05
3 Luka Mezgec (Team Argos - Shimano) + 1'07 4 Marcel Meisen (Team ABUS) + 1'09
Next episode: 16/2/2013 Volta ao Algarve, stage 4/4Edited by sisse on 31-07-2013 21:18
The Volta ao Algarve traditionally ends with an individual timetrial. Damien Howson is our joker today. He spared his energy yesterday, finishing in one of the last grupettos, supported by Jan Keller. Can he reach top-30 today? Let’s hope so. Marcel Meisen will also try to do a reasonable result in an effort to retain a gc result.
Too bad, our team get’s butchered today. Like expected, Damien is our fastest guy. We didn’t except he would do no better than a far 66th place though. Meisen even loses more than six and a half minutes and sinks away deep deep down in the final general classification. A stage to forget, with one fact to remember: David Hesselbarth takes the climbers jersey back to Germany.
Spoiler
Simulated, like I will do with most TT’s.
Spoiler
Result
1 Tejay Van Garderen (BMC Racing Team) 38'04
2 Janez Brajkovič (Astana Pro Team) + 11
3 Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing Team) + 17
4 Ian Stannard (Sky Procycling) + 18
5 Thomas Löfkvist (IAM Cycling) + 22
6 Geraint Thomas (Sky Procycling) + 23
7 Alexander Kristoff (Katusha Team) + 24
8 Tanel Kangert (Astana Pro Team) + 25
9 Gustavo César Veloso (OFM - Quinta da Lixa) + 32
10 Thomas Dekker (Garmin - Sharp) + 34
11 Nicolas Roche (Team Saxo - Tinkoff) + 39
12 Robert Gesink (Belkin Pro Cycling Team) + 40
13 Cadel Evans (BMC Racing Team) + 42
14 Steven Kruijswijk (Belkin Pro Cycling Team) + 44
15 Mikel Astarloza (Euskaltel - Euskadi) + 45
16 Stephen Cummings (BMC Racing Team) + 47
17 Rohan Dennis (Garmin - Sharp) + 49
18 Sérgio Paulinho (Team Saxo - Tinkoff) s.t.
19 Leopold König (Team NetApp - Endura) + 53
20 Maxim Belkov (Katusha Team) + 55
21 Peter Sagan (Cannondale Pro Cycling) + 56
22 Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin - Sharp) s.t. 66 Damien Howson (Team ABUS) + 2'38
88 David Hesselbarth (Team ABUS) + 3'44
95 Jakob Steigmiller (Team ABUS) + 3'59
158 Marcel Meisen (Team ABUS) + 6'42
169 David Bartl (Team ABUS) + 7'11
171 Frank Wagner (Team ABUS) + 7'18
176 Kajetan Fricke (Team ABUS) + 7'27
190 Jan Keller (Team ABUS) + 8'04
GC
1 Philippe Gilbert BMC Racing Team 15h07'10
2 Janez Brajkovič Astana Pro Team + 1'14
3 Tanel Kangert Astana Pro Team + 1'36
4 Nicolas Roche Team Saxo - Tinkoff + 1'50
5 Tejay Van Garderen BMC Racing Team + 2'06
6 Ryder Hesjedal Garmin - Sharp + 2'07
7 Alexander Kristoff Katusha Team + 2'09
8 Geraint Thomas Sky Procycling + 2'11
9 Paul Voss Team NetApp - Endura + 2'25
10 Robert Gesink Belkin Pro Cycling Team + 2'28
11 Greg Van Avermaet BMC Racing Team + 2'29
12 Joaquím Rodríguez Katusha Team + 2'30
13 Daniele Bennati Team Saxo - Tinkoff + 3'03
14 Gustavo César Veloso OFM - Quinta da Lixa + 3'30
15 Jelle Vanendert Lotto Belisol + 3'33
16 Mikel Astarloza Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
17 Ian Stannard Sky Procycling s.t.
18 Samuel Sánchez Euskaltel - Euskadi + 3'53
19 Cadel Evans BMC Racing Team + 3'57
20 Steven Kruijswijk Belkin Pro Cycling Team + 3'59
49 Peter Sagan Cannondale Pro Cycling + 7'47 81 Marcel Meisen Team ABUS + 9'57
122 Kajetan Fricke Team ABUS + 18'18
131 David Bartl Team ABUS + 19'58
138 Damien Howson Team ABUS + 23'24
142 Frank Wagner Team ABUS + 24'05
146 Jan Keller Team ABUS + 24'50
153 Jakob Steigmiller Team ABUS + 25'59
154 David Hesselbarth Team ABUS + 26'19
Points
1 Alexander Kristoff (Katusha Team) 56
2 Philippe Gilbert (BMC Racing Team) 55
3 Greg Van Avermaet (BMC Racing Team) 48 8 Marcel Meisen (Team ABUS) 26
Mountains
1 David Hesselbarth (Team ABUS) 22
2 Maciej Paterski (Cannondale Pro Cycling) 14
3 Andrea Palini (Lampre - Merida) 12 4 Kajetan Fricke (Team ABUS) 10
Teams
1 BMC Racing Team 45h25'49
2 Astana Pro Team + 3'04
3 Katusha Team + 4'37 19 Team ABUS + 25'41
Next episode: 18/2/2013 Home Sweet HomeEdited by sisse on 31-07-2013 21:18
After two weeks of hard work in the sunny south, our eight guys are back on cold and snowy German soil. Time for the management to make a small analysis of the two ‘training’ races of our development squad. We can be rather positive: in the Algarve it was already obvious we were a bit more competitive than on the roads of Mallorca.
We wanted to gain some first race rhythm in view of the first team objectives coming up, and that’s exactly what we did. What’s more, in an international top field several of our riders showed they’re ready for the races coming up. Our squad gets split in two next weekend: most of the ‘Spanish’ guys will be sent to Switzerland for the hilly GP di Lugano (1.1), while the youngest newbies in the team have an easy start in Belgian 1.2’s Beverbeek Classic.
Next episode: 23/2/2013 Beverbeek ClassicEdited by sisse on 07-08-2013 16:58
Selection Team ABUS: Bastian Bürgel, Caleb Ewan, Silvio Herklotz, Damien Howson, Fredrik Ludvigsson, Kevin Predatsch, Frank Wagner, Maximilian Werda.
Our three 18-year olds get thrown into business on the flat roads in eastern Belgium. An excellent occasion for the young guns to adapt after they stepped from junior level to elite. Damien Howson and Frank Wagner are the only representatives in Team ABUS’ selection with some race rhythm in the legs and get the task to move along with dangerous breakaways, while the others are ordered to wait and do the sprint for fast Caleb Ewan.
Howson and Wagner exactly do what we asked in the beginning of the race and go along with all big breaks. After a typical Belgian, very animated first hour, we and the favorite’s teams allow a low risk group of five to go away. As expected, pro continental outfits Accent Jobs and Crelan will make sure the attackers don’t get too far.
A quiet midrace part almost made our DS take a nap in the caravan behind the widespread bunch, but the sprint lead-up on the narrow local laps will guarantee some adrenalin for sure. Surprise with less than five kilometers to go, when local rider Roy Sentjens attacks like a madman with teammate Coen Vermelftfoort in his backwheel.
Young Silvio Herklotz, leadout man for Caleb Ewan, can’t refrain his enthusiasm and jumps to the attackers like a young foal, followed by his sprinter. And while Sentjens and Vermeltfoort totally explode, our duo does exactly the same. The bunch flows over the brake like a tsunami, our Australian sprinter wasted his chances. Luckily, we also have joker Fredrik Ludvigsson in front.
Our bitter young Swede manages to sprint to a steady eighth place, while Caleb and Silvio pound their handlebars after their newbie’s mistake…
Spoiler
Result
1 Sven Vandousselaere (Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise) 3h27'36
2 Baptiste Planckaert (Crelan - Euphony)
3 Ken Hanson (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies)
4 Tomasz Smolen (Bank BGZ)
5 Davy Commeyne (Accent Jobs - Wanty)
6 Steven Tronet (BigMat - Auber 93)
7 Jasper Stuyven (Bontrager Cycling Team) 8 Fredrik Ludvigsson (Team ABUS)
9 Sondre Holst Enger (Team Gourmetfein - Simplon)
10 Jempy Drucker (Accent Jobs - Wanty)
11 Dylan Groenewegen (Cyclingteam De Rijke - Shanks)
12 Michael Friedman (Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies)
13 Juan José Haedo (Jamis - Hagens Berman)
14 Marco Zanotti (Utensilnord - Ora24.eu)
15 Tom Van Asbroeck (Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise)
16 Ben Jacques-Maynes (Jamis - Hagens Berman) 17 Caleb Ewan (Team ABUS)
18 James Vanlandschoot (Accent Jobs - Wanty)
19 Joeri Stallaert (Crelan - Euphony) 20 Damien Howson (Team ABUS)
21 Coen Vermeltfoort (Cyclingteam De Rijke - Shanks)
31 Roy Sentjens (Cyclingteam De Rijke - Shanks) 34 Frank Wagner (Team ABUS)
37 Silvio Herklotz (Team ABUS)
60 Bastian Bürgel (Team ABUS)
107 Maximilian Werda (Team ABUS)
116 Kevin Predatsch (Team ABUS)
Teams
1 Accent Jobs - Wanty 10h22'48
2 Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies s.t.
3 Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise s.t. 5 Team ABUS s.t.
Selection Team ABUS: David Bartl, Robin Eckmann, Kajetan Fricke, David Hesselbarth, Jan Keller, Patrick Konrad, Marcel Meisen, Jakob Steigmiller.
Ice cold and wet weather in Lugano, but that doesn’t scare Jan Keller. Our Swiss guy wants to show the Team ABUS jersey in his home country. When Lampre’s David Vigano attacks, Keller tags along. The two get the company of Michel Koch and Hungarian champion Kristian Lovassy, the BOTD is a fact.
Keller and company will lead the race for more than three of the four laps around Lugano, but no chance they’ll win the thing. When the gaps reaches almost 6,5 minutes, the Italian teams take command of the peloton’s chase. While the advantage melts, the bunch melts down too. Many of the continental squads are decimated, but Team ABUS withstands strong.
Key for Team ABUS is surviving the last ascension of the highest climb in the local lap, and that works well: Keller is dropped out of the break, but the front of the fast approaching bunch is colored white-black-red with all Team ABUS-guys. Marcel Meisen seems to be in pole position for an excellent result.
However, the tiny hills in the final do more damage than we predicted. The remaining pack splinters in different parts, our German guys have a hard time. When the favorites accelerate under the ten kilometer mark, there’s no way to try and counter them.
Ten guys sneak away, Meisen prepares his gun for a shot aiming for a top 20. Thanks to the hard work of a diligent David Bartl, he hits close to the rose: Marcel gets boxed in in the sprint of the first bunch but finds a way to break out. He’s eighth in the dead men’s sprint, taking 18th place overall. Cannondale's Moreno Moser conquers the win.
Spoiler
Result
1 Moreno Moser (Cannondale Pro Cycling) 4h55'48
2 Diego Ulissi (Lampre - Merida)
3 Fabio Aru (Astana Pro Team)
4 John Gadret (AG2R La Mondiale)
5 Franco Pellizotti (Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela)
6 Oscar Gatto (Vini Fantini - Selle Italia)
7 Alexandr Kolobnev (Katusha Team) + 1'13
8 Rinaldo Nocentini (AG2R La Mondiale) + 2'27
9 Stephen Cummings (BMC Racing Team)
10 Francesco Reda (Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela)
11 Giampaolo Caruso (Katusha Team) + 2'56
12 Diego Rosa (Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela)
13 Alexsandr Dyachenko (Astana Pro Team)
14 Alessandro De Marchi (Cannondale Pro Cycling)
15 Pavel Brutt (Katusha Team)
16 Egor Silin (Astana Pro Team)
17 Mauro Finetto (Vini Fantini - Selle Italia) 18 Marcel Meisen (Team ABUS)
19 Rafael de Mattos Andriato (Vini Fantini - Selle Italia)
20 Daniele Pietropolli (Lampre - Merida) 43 David Hesselbarth (Team ABUS)
63 David Bartl (Team ABUS)
64 Kajetan Fricke (Team ABUS)
74 Jakob Steigmiller (Team ABUS) + 4'48
75 Patrick Konrad (Team ABUS)
76 Jan Keller (Team ABUS)
91 Robin Eckmann (Team ABUS) + 5'16
Teams
1 Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela 14h52'47
2 AG2R La Mondiale
3 Astana Pro Team + 29 10 Team ABUS +3'25
But I can't expect my guys to do well everyday in a field like the one of Mallorca 
Switch to hard mode guys 
