Cycling News were today doing a feature on the Giro De Sardegna. Included in there report were the names of supposedly confirmed riders for the race.
The List included: Cunego, Schleck, Pelizotti and Albasini.
Of course, one can never be sure that they were completely right, because they also included, Tejay Van Garderen in the list, who the team can confirm now, will not be present in Sardinia!
It seems this season if very much following in the footsteps of that which went before, we repeat Oman and Sardinia, though here, Horner hopes to go one better than he managed last time.
The race will be using the same route, and will most likely be decided on day 2's summit finish. 1,3 and 4 all have potential for providing a shake up due to the bumpy nature, which makes for an ideal location to get Chris back into shape ahead of the Ardennes, his first target of the year.
Our Team
Chris Horner will be leading for the first time this season, and we are hoping for a strong performance in the GC. Fred Rodriguez is our sprinter, he's started the season well, and is looking for a stage win, it seems likely that his best chances are those days with hills to tire the more pure sprinters, or perhaps a breakaway attempt.
Zirbel and Serpa both return to action for the side here, Serpa is in preparation for the Giro where he will support Tejay, where as Tom is still in the process of finding his legs after 2 years away from the sport.
Of the pre-suggested names, neither of the Schlecks, or in fact there teams are anywhere to be seen, though the others are correct it would seem.
Lampre have brought a seeming dual-lead with there new signing Pozzovivo and World Champion Cunego. In fact there team is a real show of intent!
Liquigas have built there side around new signing Albasini who should like the terrain on which the race will take place, whilst we see the Ex-Astana man.
Robert Kiserlovski leading a Growing Miche team which has added some serious power including him, and Finetto from Liquigas!
Hope your all looking forward to the race, I'll let you know how the first day went soon...
That starts tomorrow
Just figured I'd do a little updating between holidays
Done 250km in the last 2 days and the legs are feeling pretty good, here's hoping N.Wales will give me some good weather!
baggieboys32 wrote:
That starts tomorrow
Just figured I'd do a little updating between holidays
Done 250km in the last 2 days and the legs are feeling pretty good, here's hoping N.Wales will give me some good weather!
The next 4 or 5 days are down as being lovely and sunny, but after that i dont know
Anyway Wales is well known for its warm rain he he
Today has a sharp climb with gradients touching 20%! The climb finishes 33km from the finish line, but most of those are downhill, so we may see a victory for a climber if they choose to make an attack.
The day started with a 7man breakaway, a few protected riders such as Agnoli and Grivko, but mostly men who are starting there first season as professionals.
With 60km to go, 4 men tried to bridge across the gap, including everyones favourite - Marc De Maar, Amore & Vita tried to get a second team mate across, and we joined this move in the shape of youngster Greg Brenes.
The second group caught the early break on the summit of the climb, Brenes managing to go straight past and collect the KOM points, and the jersey for tomorrow.
King of the Mountains
Spoiler
1
Gregory Brenes
Exxon Walmart
16
2
Valerio Agnoli
Liquigas - Cannondale
14
3
Paolo Bailetti
Colnago - CSF Inox
12
4
Andriy Grivko
Amore & Vita
10
5
Jacobus Venter
Veranda's Willems - Accent
6
6
Pasquale Muto
Miche - Guerciotti
4
7
Marc De Maar
Quick·Step Cycling Team
4
8
Carlo Scognamiglio
Acqua & Sapone
4
Behind, no team had really took up the chase, and with with 30km to go, the break was looking favourite.
With 7km to go, Grivko of Amore attacked from within the break, it followed a series of cat&mouse style moves, before he went the whole hog, trying to go solo for the finish.
Brenes didn't have it in the tank to follow this move, and Grivko got a big gap, behind the pack was closing, could they pass any members of the break in that final climbing 2km to the finish line?
The pack were miles behind Grivko, but so were the break, and in a desparate attempt to gain some ground, several favourites including Rolland attacked...
But it was to no avail as Grivko has plenty of time to take a bow on the line, and the leaders jersey ahead of tomorrows vital stage!
Agnoli and De Maar closed out the podium, whilst Brenes finished 11th. He had been one of the main workers when the late break got across, and couldn't keep up on the climb, being passed on the line by Rolland.
Horner finished in the group along with the rest of the favourites, It will be an interesting battle tomorrow as Grivko who will surely feel the effects of the all day break, tries to cling onto the jersey he obtained today!
The only summit finish of the route, today should be key to deciding the GC. Horner will want to be active here today, and will be looking to take time out of current leader, Andriy Grivko.
The day began with an unthreatening 11man break, they were controlled by several teams, mostly though, Amore & Vita. Clearly they back Grivko to hold his lead today.
One of the favourites for today, was WC Damiano Cunego. He was unlucky to fall badly after about 25km, but he was okay to continue, and his team were able to bring him back to the peloton.
The peloton were steadily bringing back the break, and as the final slopes began they were all but back together. this forced some attacks from within the break, desparate to hold out for the last few kilometres and the stage win.
Seeing his team couldn't effectively shed riders on the terrain, Chris Horner made an attack with 5km to ride. Liquigas took over the pace, but he managed to open a gap to the pack.
The Lampre feeder team were the only squad who reacted to Horners attack, sending there climber Samoilau on the attack, he was able to bridge across the gap with 1.6km to go.
Having attacked later, Samoilau had more in the tank for the sprint finish, and came around Horner in the last few metres, to take the stage. However, Grivko showed he is in great form, and finished just 41" behind in 7th place, meaning Horner moves up to 6th, but Grivko maintains top spot.
Yeah it's nice to be back, my cycling holiday was ruined after I contracted meningitis on the first evening, spent a week in Bangor hospital, next stage should be up shortly, it's good to be back.
Today has an awkward profile for the first 165km, but due to the steam-rollered final section, we should see a sprint finish, with the predicted favourites being Marcel Kittel, or Alessandro Petacchi.
Well, all went to plan as far as the sprinters teams were concerned, with the break being pulled back in time for a bunch sprint for the line. We had no really fast men, so we put Fred Rodriguez in the break, but he was caught with 20km to go, before Skil-Shimano engineered a perfect finish for there sprinter... An easy stage win for Marcel Kittel.
[quote]baggieboys32 wrote:
Yeah it's nice to be back, my cycling holiday was ruined after I contracted meningitis on the first evening, spent a week in Bangor hospital, next stage should be up shortly, it's good to be back.
The final stage for the GC contenders, but the hills might prove too far from the finish line to create many gaps. Our big goal for today is to take the KOM jersey for definite, so Greg will be looking to get into the breakaway.
The breakaway consisted of 10 men, including Greg Brenes. The surprise big name in the break was Domenico Pozzovivo of Lampre, though is suppose considering the strength of the squad they've brought - Pozzo, Pietropolli, Pelizzotti and Cunego, it's not a shock to see some big names out in front!
The KOM sprint was uncontested by the break, meaning Brenes could take the points, and confirm that he would be taking the jersey at the end of tomorrow, not a bad first race for the young Costa Rican.
The breaks gap peaked at 12minutes, and with 15km left, they still held a small advantage. Pozzovivo was clearly not wanting to be held back by his break group, and with 14k left, he attacked, taking just one man with him.
Horner was keen to try and get a stage win after missing out on stage 2. He attacked, followed by Pietropolli, Marting and Samoilau (The races revelation discovery.)
Horner hasn't yet got the legs, and couldn't make his attack last, but Pietropolli and Samoilau managed to get across to Pozzovivo with 2km to go. Martin was just behind and the first to open up his sprint.
In the end, the Lampre man, Pietropolli showed he was the quickest sprinter in the group, easily coming round Samoilau, whilst Pozzo faded to 4th behind Martin. The break was all but caught on the line, Horner holding on for 9th.
