Smowz wrote:
Quick question: Is EPIC season always like this with stage races firing off all over the place?
I mean we have TdU, ToQ, TdSL and now potential VaA all going on at the same time, why not throw in Oman whilst your at it! I mean great races being raced, but seriously hard to build a narrative with riders riding in two or three places at once
no worries, I have made the startlist and that's literally everything I've done so far
There's no reason i can see why Ollfardh couldn't hyperlink the calendar in the first posts to the stages, would make things sooooo much easier to keep track of
because then he would need to do something which could (if he doesn't turn down every offer he gets) have been done by other people.
Just realised, Trek's jerseys don't exist in the file Atlantius posted, I didn't realise for the first stage, anyway, I'm going to race the second race now, I assume nobody want to race, so I'll give them all the 2013 Radio-Shack Nissan jerseys, they don't have any favourites for the stage anyway, so unless they join the break, we won't see them. Hopefully we can get this fixed later.
Also, starting the stage now, really hoping I can get the report done tonight, but sometime on the weekend may be more realistic.
Stage 2 is similar to stage 1, although it's a tad slightly more hilly, so the stage should suit Sagan even more so then last week, so him dominating wouldn't be surprising. Aside from that, Bardiani look like they'll sit in front of the bunch again, Ciolek might be up there if he follows Sagan's wheel rather than his lead-out men, while riders such as Harrini, Schnaidt, Veelers, Hutarovich, Belletti, Swift and Davis are looking to be in the top ten again, all of them pretty hard to separate for their order in the top 10, but one could snatch a podium. Theo Bos also could be a favourite for Belkin if he is a bit more interested in he race today.
The other factor today is that everyone will want to get away from the peloton today for the first climb, which takes place early in the stage, the winner of the will where the polka-dot jersey.
The peloton is ready to begin the second stage.
In the first 50km, the peloton were unwilling to let any breaks stay away for an extended period of time, still, a group of 4 riders get away 2km before the summit, to top the climb just ahead of the bunch. John Murphy (UHC) will where the Polka-Dot Jersey tomorrow, Félix Cárdenas (Lampre), Stephen Cummings (Sky) and Evgeny Kovalev (Rusvelo) follow him up, while Wilson Marentes (Colombia) has a small gap on the bunch, can they stay away?
Alto Paso Grande (Cat. 3) Results:
Name
Team
Points
Total Points
Joh Murphy
UHC
6
6
Félix Cárdenas
Lampre
4
4
Stephen Cummings
Sky
2
2
Mironov's stare says it all, he doesn't like this breakaway.
The previous break was brought back and after 69km of racing and with only 105km left, Marc De Maar (UHC), Alexander Mironov (Rusvelo), Daniel Teklehaimanot (Lampre) and Thomas Raeymaekers (Novo Nordisk) are ahead of the peloton. Cannondale, Bardiani and MTN - Qhuebeka set the pace at the front of the peloton.
Alexander Mironov is the first of an uninterested breakaway at the sprint. 100km left. The next sprint isn't for 70km, so we may see a different group there.
Club Deportivo Intermediate Sprint Results:
Name
Team
Points
Total Points
Alexander Mironov
Rusvelo
6
6
Marc De Maar
UHC
4
4
Daniel Teklehaimanot
Lampre
2
2
Marc de Maar takes a much more exciting sprint between him and Daniel Teklehaimanot. Mironov is 10 seconds back and Raeymaekers is 20 seconds back,ut they will probably come back to the group. The peloton is led by most of the Bardiani team and a couple Cannondale riders. They are 1 minute 30 seconds back.
17km to go in the stage.
Club Deportivo Intermediate Sprint Results:
Name
Team
Points
Total Points
Marc De Maar
UHC
6
10
Daniel Teklehaimanot
Lampre
4
6
Alexander Mironov
Rusvelo
2
8
A large group of 43 riders split off the back of the bunch, some of the important riders include: Luke Durbridge, tomorrows polka-dot wearer John Murphy, Jesse Sergent, Jasha Sütterlin, Gorka Nieve, there are also a large number of domestiques for certain teams behind, although they may be saving energy, still, Hutarovich (Ag2r) and Harrini (Colombia) will be at a disadvantage, due to having a large number of their domestiques in this group.
Further ahead on the road it's worth noting that Harrini and Belletti are struggling near the back of the bunch, while De Maar and Teklehaimanot have pushed on and their previous companions, Mironov and Raeymaekers are stuck, 1 minute in front of the peloton, 30 seconds behind the leaders. 15km left to race.
10km left, Bardiani are desperate to close the gap MTN - Qhuebeka and Cannondale are waiting at the front, they need to work!
5km left and now only two riders are up the road. But they have a minute gap!
The break begins to play games as De Maar has a go, although he doesn't look like escaping. 3.5km left, we've hit a small ride though, which takes us to the finish line. Interestingly, Van Garderen and Kelderman are very highly placed, do they fancy themselves for some GC time? Also, Bos looks like he might sprint today.
We've also just received clarification, both of the riders from the break lost 3 minutes yesterday, so Sagan's lead isn't in danger.
Teklehaimanot has cracked! So it's just De Maar vs. The Peloton!
Belkin lead the sprint with 2km left, they are really throwing everything at it with Kelderman leading, ahead of Hofland and Bos. Swift follows, with Schnaidt who want to actually own his green jersey behind. Davis follows, then Tom Veelers and Hutarovich. Ciolek is sitting way too far back, he has two leadout men to pull him forward, although that may hurt him more then help. Sacha Modolo is no where to be seen, despite Bardiani's work, so Plan B has been engaged and Fortin is being led-out. While Yellow jersey Peter Sagan, is way too far back and relying on Giraud, an Ag2r rider, to pull him forward because he is out of teammates.
1km left! De Maar has such a small gap though, it'll come down to the line. Amazingly, Teklehaimanot is putting in an effort to catch De Maar, while Kelderman has ran out if energy and Hofland leads the bunch. There is a small split in the peloton which Sagan and Harrini are on the wrong side of, while Ciolek has pulled himself back into contention. If Sagan can't get back, the winner or Schnaidt will take yellow.
Marc De Maar wins Stage 2!!!
Second place looks like it belongs to Swift, although Hutarovich may have it. Veelers takes 4th, Teklehaimanot just misses out on the win and finishes 5th, Modolo has amazingly pulled himself back out of nowhere for 6th, the same with Sagan in 7th, meaning that he gets to keep his yellow jersey, although probably not the Green, Moreno Hofland finishes ahead of Bos, because he dropped Bos in his attempts to catch De Maar. Fortin, who Bardiani actually led out, finishes 9th, while Bos round out the top ten.
It also seems apparent that a small gap opened up in the peloton, somewhere around Kelderman, Tekeste and Giraud and Bentancur, if this is so, Kelderman may have been awarded a small gap on his GC rivals, although it's not certain the gap exists.
Marc de Maar takes the points jersey and the stage win!
Peter Sagan keeps his yellow jersey.
Remember him? John Murphy will wear the KOM jersey tomorrow.
After searching up the rules, a strange countback rule puts CCC Polsat 1st in the teams classification!
Thanks for that second stage there trek - loads of nice detail in that report.
Richard Plant's mentor actually got in the break I don't believe it! Naff stage for Sagan that, though it was Sky (who are just all over everything it seems) who had a decent stage instead! UHC are not managed are they?
Vali wrote:
I just wanted to apologise for being absent the past 10 days or so and beacause of that not being able to comment on any races.
I unfortunately had some personal issues, but it should hopefully be fixed now.
Because of this I also haven't been able to hand in any startlists for the first season part. I mean none of my races have started so far so I was just wondering if it would change anything if I still send them in? If not then my chances to promote are basically gone.
Concerning the races that I have missed:
Gabon: Nothing really important still happened in the last few stages from our point, but anymway I'm happy with Gastauer's stage win.
TDU: Two rather quiet stages so far and Markus doing absolutely nothing in the sprints.
San Luis: Good 5th place from Hutarovich in the first stage and hopefully Betancur can put in a good performance in the next stage and eventually pull off a podium in the GC.
For AG2R and Lampre, let me know if you have time to work on the big PM and I'll give you the startlist I had to make for you until that point, so you can include them.
And I still need racedays from Astana, that fine is ever-increasing as well..
Well, that was an interesting stage. Proud of the boys for being up front all the time, but it would be nice if they could keep track of things for the sprint. If Fortin can get a top 10 on his own it shows you how much better Sacha could have done with a lead out.
I also just found out Firmansyah Sinaga is riding here, as I didn't see him in the preview. Unfortunately, I only found out because he lost 5 minutes...
Looking ahead to the Algarve, it will be interesting for me with my team and all 3 custom riders competing. However, you know your chances for my GC goal are hopeless when the race reporter does not even think you are sending a GC rider
Sorry all for the massive delay
Stage 4 should come tomorrow unless something terrible happens.
Stage 3 of the Tour Down Under provides another serious challenge. This time the main difficulty is again near the end, with the short but steep Mount Corkscrew as a decider.
Just a few meters after the start we already have our first attackers. Offredo (FDJ) and Lagutin (Katusha) set off.
However, at the first intermediate sprint (won by Villella) no definitive break has been settled yet.
Eventually a break of 5 is allowed to go though. Villella (Cannondale), Offredo (FDJ), Morton (Drapac), Sorensen (Saxo) and Chérel (AG2R) make for today's break. All of them lost time yesterday.
The second sprint goes to Offredo, with ease. Morton 2nd, Villella 3rd.
In a rather boring stage again the break has had a max lead of 4m30, but that has shrunk to '2m43 with 50km to go. Meanwhile the wind has started getting stronger, so that might play a role later on today.
The pack seems to have taken it too easy. With 20kms to go the lead is about the same as 30kms earlier. Could the break take this or will Mount Corkscrew ruin their day?
The GC teams now decide to intervene. Orica, Astana and Tinkoff set the pace in the pack.
It hasn't helped very much though. At the foot of Mount Corkscrew, 11km from the line, the lead is still about 2m30. Chérel spots a chance and accelerates immediately.
His attempt seems successful, as he and Morton hang on to the lead with 2.5km from the summit.
The chasers now accelerate as well. Sorensen visibly suffers from the acceleration of Offredo and Villella, but he manages to hang on.
2m20 later the pack starts the ascent as well.
With 2km left to climb Villella starts to lead the chase. He closes parts of the gap, Offredo and Sorensen clearly suffer from this.
This chase is successful, as the two groups merge. Morton therefore decides it is time to accelerate again.
In the pack hell breaks loose now. Moreno, Gerrans, Kakhi, Vichot and Kristoff accelerate.
Gesink also tries to get away from the pack.
Up front Morton's move seems decisive, as his lead has grown significantly. He has 30 seconds now.
In the pack Izagirre sets off, attempting to catch the other attackers.
Villella spots weakness in the chasing group and decides to head after Morton alone now.
Bernard, Gasparotto, Bakelants and Schröder are the next to attack from the pack, where nobody seems to be bothered to chase.
Up front Morton leads at the summit of Mount Corkscrew, but Villella has caught up now. They still have 7.5km to ride, most of it downhill.
40 seconds after them the chasers reach the summit.
Just over 2m behind the leaders the first GC-favourites reach the summit. The pack is already 2m behind them. The other chasers are somewhere in between.
The battle for the stage win continues up front. Villella accelerates with 5km left, Morton has trouble following.
And there's a gap! Villella is now definitely off.
He gets a stable gap and with 2km to go he has 13s.
And with 1km to go it seems in the pocket.
Davide Villella wins stage 3 of the Tour Down Under! The question is: will it be good enough to take the leader jersey.
21 seconds later Morton becomes the first loser, although Drapac will be very happy with this result.
Offredo wins the battle for 3rd.
1m56 behind Villella Kakhi wins the sprint for 6th. This means the Italian will take over the orange leader jersey.
Already 2m40 behind Izagirre beats Gesink for 11th.
Gasparotto, Bernard and Bakelants complete the top-15 of today. Schröder and Hanzen come 16th and 17th.
174km Tilisarao - Terrazas del Portezeuelo
