Individual Time trial Melbourne - Melbourne: 50.0km
Tactics meeting
It's a 50 km long test over some lumpy terrain. The weather is slightly cloudy but warm, which means perfect time trial conditions. May the strongest man win.
Manuel Quinziato of Italy set himself up nicely on his early ride. The best time so far, and a quite good one it seemed.
Belgian Stijn Devolder was matching Quinziato out on the course, but by the time the finish line arrived, the Saxobank rider arrived 1 second too late.
Young Taylor Phinney rode his first Worlds time trial (he rode only the road race last year), and marked his arrival on the scene by taking the provisional lead! Phinney travelled the 50km 21 seconds faster than Quinziato.
Fabian Cancellara was on a good day. Spartacus cut through the wind like a knife, and Phinney had to leave the 'hot seat' rather quickly. Cancellara beat him by 1'18! Was he heading for his 3rd Worlds title?
Home favourite and defending champion Cadel Evans is obviously lacking form. He finished in a provisional 9th, almost two minutes behind the leading Swiss clockwork.
Levi Leipheimer was probably the best candidate to overtake Cancellara. The American TT champion couldn't deliver the goods though, grabbing 2nd place 39 seconds off the leader.
Another Discovery rider, Vladimir Gusev of Russia, was also one of the favourites. He showed why by taking 3rd, 55 seconds down on Cancellara.
Last one on the course was Vuelta TT winner Lövkvist. He missed out on the podium by 13 seconds, and had to settle for 4th.
Today's winner
Results
1 Fabian Cancellara Switzerland 1h01'27 2 Levi Leipheimer United States of America + 40
3 Vladimir Gusev Russia + 56
4 Thomas Lövkvist Sweden + 1'09 5 Danny Pate United States of America + 1'16
6 Taylor Phinney United States of America + 1'19
7 Manuel Quinziato Italy + 1'40
8 Stijn Devolder Belgium + 1'41
9 Andreas Dietziker Switzerland + 1'41
10 Enrico Gasparotto Italy + 1'45
Congratulations to Fabian Cancellara, who'll be time trialing in the rainbow jersey next year! He was the big favourite going into this race, and didn't disappoint one bit. It's his 3rd World ITT crown, but probably not the last.
With Leipheimer and Gusev, we had two Discovery riders on the podium. The other Americans, Pate and Phinney, did extremely well too, considering their lack of experience at this level. My selection of in-form riders paid off. Switzerland was highly successful, with Dietziker surprisingly taking 9th place to complement Cancellara's win.
Defending champion Cadel Evans ended up 12th in the end. In a few days, another defending champion will do his best, namely Lance Armstrong. The road race is coming up, and the competition is super-stiff! Stay tuned!
Tactics meeting
So we've reached one of the most important one-day races of the year. This course is interesting, as it's impossible to tell if there will be a bunch sprint or if the stronger riders will prevail. We are hoping for a big group for Farrar, as our Armstrongs and Leipheimers will probably not find the circuit tough enough.
The early parts of the World Championship saw a huge 20-man breakaway form. We managed to put Phinney there. He was accompanied by the likes of R.Feillu, Uran, Lövkvist and Peter Velits.
The Italians kept things under control though, so the breakaway's lead never spiralled out of control.
Interesting things started to happen with 70km to go, when the riders had already ridden 200km. A group of O'Grady, Chavanel and Rast tried to bridge the gap up to the break.
They eventually got there, but this triggered a strong Belgian chase. Therefore, the entire breakaway was reeled in with 60km to go.
There was bound to be more attacks. As soon as the big break was over, Sylvain Chavanel established a new, much smaller one. The only rider for company was Germany's Dominik Klemme.
With 44km to go, Chavanel was on the small climb for the second to last time. Klemme had been dropped and gone back to the peloton, but they were now chasing the French attacker just 40 seconds behind.
And with 30km left to race, everything was back together and under control by the Italians. The climb was still to come one more time.
Some serious moves happened with 28km left! Not content to wait for the hill, Boasson Hagen, Cancellara, Flecha and our own Danny Pate attacked on the flat. This was real business!
Pate faded fast, but Cancellara, Hagen and Flecha opened up a 1 minute gap going into the climb. Was this the winning breakaway?
When the climb was negotiated for the last time, Lance Armstrong jumped out of the pack! The defending world champion took his defence job seriously. Armstrong was the only somewhat fresh American left, so Farrar wouldn't make it if it came together for a sprint.
Meanwhile out front, Fabian Cancellara run Hagen and Flecha into the ground. The incredible engine of the Swiss propelled him along the Australian roads still one minute ahead of the pack. He had 15 km left to the line.
10 km out, Armstrong was just 10 seconds behind Flecha and Hagen (2nd group on the road), but Lance was starting to feel the pressure. The peloton had never let him go very far either. Anyway, this was a good defence by Armstrong!
Spartacus continued to time trial on his own, and 500m from the line he realised he was World Champion! He had all the time in the world to celebrate!
Armstrong, Hagen and Flecha was swept up during the last kilometers, and Ballan won the contest for the silver medal. Tom Boonen got bronze. Armstrong finished as best American way down in 55th place.
Today's winner
Results
1 Fabian Cancellara Switzerland 6h24'07
2 Alessandro Ballan Italy + 46
3 Tom Boonen Belgium + 46
4 Bernhard Eisel Austria + 46
5 Thor Hushovd Norway + 46
6 Matthew Goss Australia + 46
7 Heinrich Haussler Germany + 46
8 Tomas Vaitkus Lithuania + 46
9 Mark Cavendish United Kingdom + 46
10 Anthony Geslin France + 46
Cancellara takes the double! He should be crowned the King of Melbourne. His time trial capabilities took him to a brilliant solo win today, fooling all the sprinters and fast finishers. In every race next year, Spartacus can wear the colours of the rainbow. Congratulations to Ballan and Boonen as well, 2nd and 3rd respectively.
The American result was very weak, with 55th as our best, but I think Armstrong can be proud of how he tried to defend his title on a course that didn't suit him. Farrar's no-show at the finish was disappointing. As a Discovery man, I must be pleased though. Bernhard Eisel narrowly missed out on the podium in 4th, while Tomas Vaiktus takes a brilliant 8th for Lithuania. Also, Peter Velits finished 14th.
A team usually strong in the Worlds is Spain, but today they only had one man in the top 20, which was Valverde in 19th. For the host nation, Matthew Goss did well to take 6th.
An exciting World Championship with a worthy winner marks the end of the season for many. We have one major race left though, the Giro di Lombardia! Stay tuned!
I was going to say something similar to the guys above me, but more about your team rather than all riders.
I must say I do enjoy your reporting style, and the fact you focus just on races you want to makes the story more exciting to read - your enthusiasm comes across.
Looking forward to seeing your transfers, and how your team will look for the coming season (if the story is continuing - which we all hope it will, I'm sure!)
Pity you couldn't defend the WC title, but there's always next season!
Some feedback:
@valverde321: No chance! 75MO, 65 REC? Although he is moving teams, so maybe he'll get a shot at a GT?
@beagle: I'm posting the team stats in front of every season. In this season break I will do a comprehensive review/preview, so you should have something to look forward to. Regarding other riders, I don't want to do that yet. I want you to discover talents through performances (like in RL) and not through numbers. Maybe later next season, or after it (if I get that far ).
@rjc_43: Not planning to call it quits just yet Edited by Squire on 17-11-2010 15:56
The Race of the Falling Leaves marks the end of the European cycling calendar, and is one of cycling's five monuments. The beautiful scenery around Lake Como is host to the latter part of the race, which features tough climbs like the Ghisallo and the San Fermo della Battaglia.
Last year's edition, won by Lance Armstrong, sensationally featured no Italians among the top 17. This year's field isn't quite that international, although Gilbert and F. Schleck are foreign riders to watch out for. The biggest favourites are probably found among the local riders. Triple-winner Cunego is the most dangerous, but look out for Scarponi, Visconti and Continental leader Pietropolli.
Lance Armstrong is gunning for his second consecutive Lombardia win, and is aided by teammates Velits and Popovych. Armstrong put on a good display during the Worlds, and should be in decent form.
I understand you want to make us "in dark" with overall stats and I´m looking forward to some surprising names in 2012...but according to your own team, is it possible to publish your roster before transfer period (and again updated roster for next season)? I´d really like to compare, how much your riders poped/dropped...it would be nice, but of course I will respect if you don´t decide to do so
Most riders will be retained next year, and there won't be much difference between October 2010 and January 2011, so there isn't much use. And there is a small practical problem: I've reached the new season in the game, so I can't get pictures from October
Tactics meeting
The weather forecast today is horrible, with reports of heavy rainfall aroung Lake Como. This will make the conditions treacherous. Lance Armstrong has got nothing against a little rain, so it won't be a major problem for us. Our battle plan today is to arrive on the San Fermo della Battaglia (last climb) with the front group, and then send Armstrong on the attack if he feels good. Things does of course never turn out as we plan, but we hope for the best today.
On the highest point of the race, the Premana, Capecchi, Pozzovivo and Biondo broke out of the peloton to bridge up to the early break.
They made it up there, and halfway through the race, they had a lead of 2'30 over the peloton. This was quite a strong breakaway.
50km from the finish, most of the break had disintegrated. What was left, was a select group of six riders: Biondo, Pozzovivo, Capecchi, Tiralongo, Rolland & Pineau. They were 1 minute ahead of the peloton.
Our russian champion Gusev was absolutely murdering the field on the Ghisallo. Paulinho also chipped in with some help. Large groups of riders started going out the back door as the rain increased even more.
The last soaking wet escapees were caught with 34 km and two climbs remaining.
Gusev continued the pace-setting on Civiglio, the penultimate climb, but he couldn't prevent Francesco Failli from getting away from the pack in a solo attempt.
After some magnificent work Gusev was finally gone, but he had whittled the group down to a very select few chasers. Gilbert had an accident and had to abandon, and also another important figure was missing from this group: Cunego was a bit behind! For Discovery, Armstrong and Velits were flying the flag.
At the foot of the last climb, the eight-man chasegroup was still behind the leading Failli. Pietropolli and Bernucci tried to go on a solo chase.
They couldn't get away though, but Lance Armstrong could! He proved to be the strongest of the chasers on the San Fermo della Battaglia as he battled through the rain. Alexander Efimkin followed in 3rd position on the road.
At the top, Armstrong was breathing down Failli's neck!
On the descent, he hooked on to the Italian's backwheel. Looking really good for a second Lombardia win now!
Armstrong never left Failli's wheel until the final meters. Our leader got the jump on the Acqua&Sapone man!
And he made it! The final monument of the season goes to Armstrong, yet again! How thankful the riders must be to reach the line after 250km through the pouring rain around the Lake Como area.
A cold and wet Armstrong with the trophy that makes him two-times Lombardia winner!
An epic race in horrible conditions concludes in the best possible way for us, with Lance Armstrong bringing home the goods in Lombardia for the second year running. Francesco Failli was a strong opponent, but in the end he felt the pressure of two climbs and 30km on his own. The results are a bit more Italian dominated this year, notably interrupted by a Slovak in 9th. I want to mention Vladimir Gusev, who did an amazing job for us on several climbs today.
Not only Gilbert bowed before the treacherous conditions of this race, also our own Egoi Martinez had to abandon. He will be out with injury for a month, but it's the end of the season anyway, so it doesn't really matter.
This was a great end to the season, and our entire team looks forward to a well-deserved break. The team manager cannot go on vacation yet though. I have a season review and evaluation to do and the final details of the new signings must be dealt with. Stay tuned!
Edited by Squire on 17-11-2010 18:03
I think Cancellara's mountain stat is a bit high. I know he has won the Tour de Suisse but I haven't seen him doing preety good in the mountains, so I would give him around 71-72 MO stat.
Oh, and good win with The Boss. Edited by FreitasPCM on 17-11-2010 18:02
Regarding Cancellara, the 75MO is actually not a result of random potensial. The DB was edited amidst all the Cancellara-can-climb mania in June '09, and I see that 75 is a bit exaggerated. But luckily he hasn't done anything outrageous in the mountains in this carreer so far, and I think the REC stat will make sure it stays that way.
On the other hand, we can explain his improved climbing by weight-loss, as I'm sure he is able to merit a 75MO if he really tries to improve his climbing capabilities in real-life.
