The race kicked off at a very high pace, and we saw attack after attack brought back by a Sky train at the front. One group of 5 managed to get around 1'30 advantage, but when 10more riders bridged across, this attack was once again brought back.
Most of the way up the Paso Del Turchino, a breakaway of just 2 riders managed to get clear. They seemed unsure about going initially, and the gap stayed steady at just under a minute, but in the end they came to an agreement, and Bert De Waele and Mathieu Perget broke away with 225km to ride.
We let the duo get a large lead, but not wanting to waste to many riders in a huge chase, we sent Zajicek to the front to control the pace and keep the gap steady at just under 10minutes, a concept Sky clearly liked, they were happy to help out.
When disaster struck for Exxon-Walmart! Right at the base of the descent from the Paso, Farrar has his wheel clipped by Moser of Androni, leaving Tyler on the deck after a high speed fall...
We sent Zirbel, Zabriskie and Phinney (The best in US TT'ing) back to help bring him back up, and the trio managed to get him back into the peloton, though it was clear he was in serious discomfort...
And sure enough, on the ascent of Le Manie, as the pace rose to bring back the break, so Farrar went straight out the back. Zabriskie rode with him, but it was clear we'd have to see what Chris (Horner) could do in terms of a high placing. Dave tried to convince Farrar to drop out due to the obvious pain, but he wouldn't give in, determined to at least finish the race he won last year.
Back out in front the real race saw its first attacks. With 76km still to ride, Van Avermaet and Pozzato attempted a breakaway, which caused a reaction from Leopard and Sky, quickly shutting down the move.
Quickstep upped the pace further, and on the very first of the Capi climbs, Pozzato was caught, he'd been solo for about 10km. Surprisingly, Cunego was also getting involved in the chase, Lampre seem to feel they have a better chance with Petacchi today...
Onto the Cipressa, and the next volley of attacks come. Chris tries to follow what looks like a decisive move started by the god of thunder, Thor Hushovd. He's followed by 4 men - Boom, Cancellara, Ballan and Flecha. Horner hasn't got enough in the legs to go with them, he'll just have to hope the group can be brought back.
Hushovd never let the 4 chasers get his wheel, and in a massive display of power, opened a bigger gap on the Poggio! This will surely go down as one of the best MSR wins in recent history...
Behind, the 4 are trying to hold out in front of the peloton, lead by Omega-Pharma Lotto, they hold under 30" on the summit of the Poggio, can the hold on to fight out the podium?
Yes, Hushovd wins Milan - San Remo, by a massive 1'38! After a solo attack on La Cipressa. He looks in incredible form, watch out in the cobbled classics!
Beind the break just hold on, with Ballan outsprinting Boom for the final podium places. Cavendish almost gets across the gap after a massive sprint, and takes 5th, whilst our best placed rider is Chris Horner with 20th place.
And finally, over 20minutes after Thor comes home, Zabriskie and Farrar roll over the finish line, with Tom Slagter of Rabobank. Tyler is taken straight to a doctor, then to hospital... He's ridden over 180km with Broken Coccyx!
Race Results
1
Thor Hushovd
Team Garmin - Barracuda
7h04'43
2
Alessandro Ballan
BMC Racing Team
+ 1'38
3
Lars Boom
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
4
Fabian Cancellara
Leopard Trek
s.t.
5
Juan Antonio Flecha
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
6
Mark Cavendish
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
7
Heinrich Haussler
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
8
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
9
Greg Van Avermaet
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
10
Alessandro Petacchi
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Johan Van Summeren
Team Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
12
Leif Hoste
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
13
Manuel Quinziato
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
14
Riccardo Riccò
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
15
Koldo Fernández
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
16
Philippe Gilbert
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
17
Kim Kirchen
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
18
Allan Davis
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
19
Tom Boonen
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
20
Chris Horner
Exxon Walmart
s.t.
Player
21
Thomas Dekker
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
22
Vladimir Karpets
Katusha Team
s.t.
23
Rinaldo Nocentini
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
24
Martijn Maaskant
Team Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
25
Sergueï Ivanov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
26
José Joaquín Rojas
Movistar Team
s.t.
27
Johnny Hoogerland
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
28
Roman Kreuziger
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
29
Sebastian Langeveld
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
30
Peter Sagan
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
31
Jérôme Pineau
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
32
Matthew Goss
Leopard Trek
s.t.
33
Fränk Schleck
Leopard Trek
s.t.
34
Santo Anza
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
35
Gerald Ciolek
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
36
Marcus Burghardt
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
37
Borut Božic
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
38
Manuele Mori
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
39
Sandy Casar
FDJ
s.t.
40
Alexandre Vinokourov
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
41
Nick Nuyens
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
42
Carlos Barredo
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
43
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar Team
s.t.
44
Sep Vanmarcke
Team Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
45
Matteo Carrara
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
46
Filippo Pozzato
Katusha Team
s.t.
47
Ryder Hesjedal
Team Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
48
Robbie McEwen
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
49
Franco Pellizotti
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
50
Mauro Santambrogio
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
51
Gert Steegmans
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
52
Danilo Hondo
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
53
Danilo Napolitano
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
54
Óscar Freire
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
55
André Greipel
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 4'19
56
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
s.t.
57
Jens Voigt
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
58
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
59
Bernhard Eisel
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
60
Thomas Löfkvist
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
61
Romain Feillu
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
62
Chad Beyer
Exxon Walmart
s.t.
Player
63
Richie Porte
Team Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
64
Enrico Franzoï
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 5'51
65
Theo Bos
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
66
Ben Swift
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
67
Imanol Erviti
Movistar Team
s.t.
68
Jakob Fuglsang
Leopard Trek
s.t.
69
Romain Sicard
FDJ
s.t.
70
Marco Marzano
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
71
Simon Clarke
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
72
Alessandro Bisolti
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
73
Francesco Reda
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
74
Gianni Meersman
FDJ
s.t.
75
Rigoberto Urán
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
76
Alexsandr Dyachenko
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
77
Carlos Oyarzun
Movistar Team
s.t.
78
Michael Albasini
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
79
Roger Hammond
Team Garmin - Barracuda
+ 8'00
80
Mark Renshaw
Sky ProCycling
s.t.
81
Nikolas Maes
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
82
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ
s.t.
83
Frédéric Guesdon
FDJ
s.t.
84
Francesco Ginanni
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
85
Luca Mazzanti
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
86
René Mandri
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
87
Paolo Tiralongo
Pro Team Astana
s.t.
88
Bert De Waele
Landbouwkrediet
s.t.
89
Phil Zajicek
Exxon Walmart
s.t.
Player
90
George Hincapie
Exxon Walmart
s.t.
Player
91
Leonardo Bertagnolli
Leopard Trek
+ 8'48
92
Linus Gerdemann
Leopard Trek
s.t.
93
Sylvain Chavanel
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
94
Xavier Florencio
Movistar Team
s.t.
95
Daniele Bennati
Leopard Trek
s.t.
96
Yaroslav Popovych
Team RadioShack
s.t.
97
Jean-Christophe Peraud
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
98
Danilo Di Luca
Katusha Team
s.t.
99
Yury Trofimov
Katusha Team
s.t.
100
Jonathan Castroviejo
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
101
Björn Leukemans
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
102
Ruggero Marzoli
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
103
Martin Elmiger
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
104
Paolo Longo Borghini
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
105
Roberto De Patre
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
106
Sylwester Szmyd
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
107
Marzio Bruseghin
Movistar Team
s.t.
108
Rubén Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
109
Grégory Rast
Team RadioShack
s.t.
110
Sébastien Rosseler
Landbouwkrediet
s.t.
111
Michele Scarponi
Katusha Team
s.t.
112
Giampaolo Caruso
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
113
Stijn Devolder
Landbouwkrediet
s.t.
114
David Millar
Landbouwkrediet
s.t.
115
Massimo Graziato
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
116
Andrea Masciarelli
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
117
Francesco Bellotti
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
118
Andrea Tonti
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
119
Tiago Machado
Team RadioShack
s.t.
120
José Alberto Benítez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 9'54
121
Taylor Phinney
Exxon Walmart
s.t.
Player
122
Francisco Pérez
Movistar Team
+ 10'37
123
Ángel Vicioso
Androni Giocattoli
+ 12'03
124
Thomas Bertolini
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
125
Juan José Haedo
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
126
Jens Debusschere
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
127
Carlo Scognamiglio
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
128
Frédéric Amorison
Landbouwkrediet
s.t.
129
Ben Hermans
Team RadioShack
s.t.
130
Leonardo Moser
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
131
Eduard Vorganov
Katusha Team
s.t.
132
Rino Belardi
Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
133
Erwin Meunier
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
134
Luca Solari
Androni Giocattoli
+ 13'23
135
Christophe Riblon
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
136
Crescenzo D'Amore
Androni Giocattoli
+ 14'31
137
Giairo Ermeti
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
138
Carlos José Ochoa
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
139
Ivan Santaromita
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
140
Alan Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
141
Leonardo Giordani
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
s.t.
142
Maarten Neyens
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
143
Arnaud Gérard
FDJ
s.t.
144
Jérémy Roy
FDJ
s.t.
145
Mathieu Perget
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
146
Alessandro Vanotti
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
147
Wouter Weylandt
Leopard Trek
+ 16'02
148
Michał Kwiatkowski
Team RadioShack
+ 16'48
149
Kevin Peeters
Landbouwkrediet
s.t.
150
Bernardo Riccio
Team RadioShack
s.t.
151
Igor Abakoumov
Landbouwkrediet
s.t.
152
Bert Scheirlinckx
Landbouwkrediet
s.t.
153
Sergio Marinangeli
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
154
Juan José Oroz
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
155
Ramunas Navardauskas
Team Garmin - Barracuda
s.t.
156
Massimo Codol
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
157
Jason McCartney
Team RadioShack
s.t.
158
Elia Viviani
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
159
Simon Gerrans
Sky ProCycling
+ 19'12
160
Steve Chainel
FDJ
+ 20'53
161
David Zabriskie
Exxon Walmart
+ 21'29
Player
162
Tom Slagter
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
163
Tyler Farrar
Exxon Walmart
s.t.
Player
164
Mirko Selvaggi
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 22'18
165
Ivan Rovny
Team RadioShack
+ 23'14
166
Simone Cadamuro
Acqua & Sapone
s.t.
167
Iñaki Isasi
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
168
Alexander Mironov
Katusha Team
s.t.
169
Sébastien Minard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
170
Omar Bertazzo
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
171
Marcello Pavarin
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 24'18
172
Nicola D'Andrea
Farnese Vini - Neri Sottoli
+ 25'06
173
Florentino Pérez Escamilla
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 31'46
174
Luca Paolini
Katusha Team
+ 36'34
DS Review
Not the race we had planned at all... Just to make it worse, Tyler will be out until mid-april in recovery. We can only hope he is fully fit for Le Tour, we certainly wish him all the best (The mad fool!) Honestly... Who rides 2/3 of MSR with a broken bum...
Credit to Horner and the boys, they all worked hard today, it's just a shame that a less experienced rider so abruptly ended the teams race.
And in answer to you @Baseballlover No, not a new layout, but I had a combination of a spinal infection, meningitis and Gastroentiritus making me not feel up to very much by way of writing
Also, I'd already played the T-A stages separately, but a couple of the reports didn't save, at which point i knew that a)the results were crap and b) i had to re-do them. Meaning they ended up pretty awful, hopefully back to old ways now
During the first week of the main cobbles-season, we also we the spanish hosted WT event, The Volta Catalunya. Last year we used this race as a restart for Lance after coming back from retirement, though Tom Danielson was our best placed rider in 9th.
The Route
This years route is new, and looks to start off with some challenging GC stages, in a race which lacks a summit finish, but contains much by way of challenging Par Cours...
The key to a high GC finish will be the short 2km prologue on stage 1, there are no days which looks set for GC men to get away, just for a steady flow of riders to lose contact with the pack.
Horner and Danielson, we return with another leadership duo. Horner carries the better form, but we will not make a final decision on who is the outright leader until after the first day or two.
Whichever misses out will gain a freer role, looking for stages along with our strong climbing team here. Landis, Serpa and Colex will make some very strong climbing domestiques, and Rodriguez will be eyeing up the finishes on some of the more difficult days, making use of his decent ability over climbs.
Sky and Liquigas are the most dangerous looking teams here, both with very strong lead-duos. Nibali and Wiggins are on paper the best riders here, but the prologue will be there first racing day this season, so we may see them fall back upon Basso and Froome.
Aside from these two, American veteran Levi Leipheimer is present, along with Thomas Dekker, Daniel Martin, JJ Cobo and even recent winner of the Paris-Nice, Matteo Carrara. The final name wirth mentioning as a favourite is Roman Kreuziger of Astana. He's looking to repeat last years performance to take the victory for a second time.
Last Year
Last year, as I just mentioned, was one of Kreuzigers many early season victories. He took 3 last year including this, Paris-Nice and the Tour of Romandie.
Barredo and Pineau were the two riders who joined him on the podium last season, though of the three, only the Astana rider is back for a second attempt.
The Prologue
The short 4.5km route had a slightly uphill final third, we were hopeful of a decent performance by at least one of our leaders, today they might be deciding who got the official leaders role.
The surprise winner of stage 1, was Ruben Plaza of Movistar, a rider with a lot of success this season, after just one top10 overall placing and no stages last season!
Chris Horner performed even better than the team could've hoped on the day, to beat some great Prologue riders into second place, 4seconds back arriving in the same time as Radioshacks Markel Irizar.
Of the other favourites, Kreuziger was best placed at 4" down. Surprisingly both the Sky leaders and the Liquigas men lost big time today, form was not on there side!
After a successful opening stage, we hope to continue the good form on today's stage with a quiet day keeping both Horner and Danielson out of trouble.
After several attempted breakaways were brought back, José Serpa saw an opportunity to get away to try for the KOM points, he lead an attack where he was joined by Radioshacks rider Kloden, Ginanni of Androni and Stef Clement of Rabobank.
The KOM sprint was hard fought, unfortunately for us Serpa just missed out on the line to Androni rider Ginanni who will tomorrow don the KOM jersey.
With 25km to go the break was all but caught, Gert Dockx, Dom Klemme and Ginanni tried a desperate final attempt to get away but were caught with over 15 still to ride.
With the peloton back together the sprinters teams tried to reshuffle there positions and get there men forwards, but a lack of organisation lead to a huge crash which left over 60men on the floor!
Almost all of the key sprinters hit the floor, and the small group that was left was mostly made of GC men and there protectors. Chris Froome won the group sprint whilst Horner and Rodriguez came in 12th and 13th.
Danielson also rolled in inside the front group so we suffer no losses, though several GC favourites did lose 4+ minutes today, Wiggins, Basso, Leipheimer, Kloden and Brajkovic are the biggest names to also lose out...
Well to be fair the pack was smashed up massively by the crash, he was just at the front with a few kilometres to the end, lots of riders have low fitness still, and he has about 20 race days
We escaped yesterday but fell to fourth in the GC. Today is a big chance for the GC men with a difficult par cours, the job is to stay at the front at all times and finish as high as possible.
Eros Capecchi led the days first attack, as the riders passed over the summit of the very first climb of the day joined by, David Millar, Kanstantin Sioutsou and Hubert Dupont.
Millar set about collecting KOM points for Landbouwrekrediet. There team is not strong for this year, so its not unsurprising to see the aggressive riding by the Belgian side.
King of the Mountains
Spoiler
1
David Millar
Landbouwkrediet
60
2
Eros Capecchi
Liquigas - Cannondale
40
3
Kanstantsin Siutsou
FDJ
32
4
Hubert Dupont
AG2R La Mondiale
30
5
Paul Martens
Rabobank Cycling Team
22
6
Francesco Ginanni
Androni Giocattoli
16
7
Sandy Casar
FDJ
13
8
José Serpa
Exxon Walmart
12
Player
9
Andreas Klöden
Team RadioShack
10
10
Tiago Machado
Team RadioShack
8
11
Stef Clement
Rabobank Cycling Team
8
12
Alan Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
6
13
Dries Devenyns
Quick·Step Cycling Team
6
14
Sven Van Dousselaere
Omega Pharma - Lotto
4
15
Peter Velits
Leopard Trek
4
16
Vladimir Efimkin
Katusha Team
3
17
Fabio Felline
Geox - TMC
3
18
David García Dapena
Caja Rural
2
19
Dominic Klemme
Leopard Trek
2
20
Massimo Giunti
Leopard Trek
1
21
Vladimir Isaychev
Katusha Team
1
With 100km to ride the gap was 10'47 with Sky and Astana sharing the pace setting job. Sky appear to be all behind Froome after Wiggo's crash, and Brad was setting a huge pace at the front of the peloton.
Tiago Machado and Sandy Cesar tried an attack with about 70km to go. They clearly felt going from slightly further out would give them a better show, and the duo quickly got a gap to the peloton.
With 51km to ride, the duo are 1'47" behind the break, and 2'52 ahead of the Sky-lead peloton. We decide to give a hand as Horner is feeling good, and send Colex and Serpa to help control the pace...
But seeing limited help from the others Horner atttacked with Danielson about 2/3 of the way down the descent, opening a gap and forcing several favourites to react including Chris Froome.
The group however, grew too large for Liquigas, and Szymd and Basso were able to haul the group back in, the break was still out in front with an ever reducing lead, it looked likely that the real fight had only just begun!
And sure enough on the final climb if the day, Chris Froome put in a huge attack! No one could stay with him and he quickly flew past the breakaway and began the descent alone...
Danielson however, was not happy with this move, and he moved to the front along with Serpa. The duo really forced the pelotons pace on the descent, and with just 5km to go, it came back together once more!
We kept the pace up, and with 2km to go, Horner was set really well just behind Serpa at the front, could Exxon win the queen stage?
Yes! Chris Horner wins the queen stage ahead of Xaber Zandio and Rubén Plaza. The victory sees Chris back into second in the GC and points, his form is clearly coming back to original levels!
@baseball hopefully you'll be right again, you do seem to know how he'll perform better than I do!
The second time Exxon-Walmart make an excursion to the cobbles this season, taking place just 4 days before the main season begins, this is a good show of form for the big names on the cobbles.
Our team is lead by George Hincapie, with Shy Vogel as his key lieutenant should something go wrong. We send strong support, in the faces of Taylor Phinney and Dom Rollin on the cobbles.
The big names are mostly here, Boonen, Breschel, Flecha, Haussler Devolder and Leukemans are the other main team leaders. Of last years stars, both the biggest winners are missing, Cancellara is not riding today, whilst Mr win everything Pozzato is elsewhere, presumably intending to turn up later and show us how to play properly...
Tommeke Boonen would find the impetus on his side to do the chasing, after he delivered the victory last season for his Quickstep side.
The Race
13 men in the break! It was hard fought for anyone to get clear, and then suddenly the elastic just snapped and a huge group found a rapidly growing gap to the peloton, including Tom Zirbel. He was there to save our workload, more men around Hincapie that way!
Just as the race hit the harder section, 3 men made a daring attempt to get across. Gianni Meersman, Tom Veelers and Willem De Vocht bridged the reducing gap, a seriously long range attack with over 90km to ride!
Meersman was in no mood for sticking around however, and rode straight through on the second cobbles section! The other two stayed in the break for a breather, surely he couldn't hold on from so far out?!?
With 25km to ride, the break were caught, De Vocht and Veelers held 47" and Meersman had 2'37, he could do this! Boonen, Flecha and Devolder clearly agreed with us, they gave up on the teams and attacked to get across. Hincapie couldn't follow this move, and followed with a second group containing Wynants, De Waele, Eisel and several other second-level cobble riders...
Flecha moved away from the duo with him, desparate to get to Meersman. Boonen and Devolder both dropped back into our group, giving Landbouwrekrediet 3 men!
10km to ride, Meersman still leads, Flecha has Eisel with him now, just 38" behind and the FDJ man seems all but dead, will Sky get him? or will he hang on to the line?
Just 2km later the duo from Team Sky make the catch, Meersman has nothing left, and Flecha and Eisel are looking set for a team 1-2, Hincapie's group shatters into 3 and George is in the third, Boonen and Haussler lead the main charge behind...
Flecha wins in Flanders! Eisel follows in behind for second place whilst Haussler wins the sprint in the second group to take 3rd. Meersman finishes in that group to take 6th place after an incredible ride!
The group picking up spots 7-9 is entirely Landbouwrekrediet meaning that as Hincapies group enter the final straight its a dash for 10th place. Which... Hincapie wins!
George showed good form here, and his team are looking to be also coming into better form, so we should the teams results on the cobbles improve as the year goes on!
Today however, belongs to a triumphant Sky duo, It'll be interesting to see what happens with the full roster of Cobblers in the same field, but we're happy with 10th today, see you at the E3 in 4 days!
hope you are feeling a lot better now and on the way to recovery 
