Rasmussen reports: The are traces if humans in the Cologne district, from the early stone age. The earliest found permanent settlement is from 4500 - 3800 bc, a very early farming village in Lindenthal, the village contains only 5 houses at the same time.
Pottery and stone tools from the Lindenthal village.
Pre-Race Strategy.
Last year Sondre Holst Enger won this race, today he is not in the squad, this year we got Patrick Clausen, with support from Philip Nielsen and Mads Wûrtz Schmidt, can’t expect Clausen to duplicate Enger, but we would like to see a top 5 or better. We will stay in the peloton hoping for a good mass sprint.
Profile:
Roster:
Daniele Aldegheri
Frederik Wilmann
Lasse Bøchman
Mads Würtz Schmidt
Morten Høberg
Patrick Clausen
Philip Nielsen
Yves Lampert
A morning break of 6 riders, with the strong climber Merhawi Kudus, who has shown great form by winning the Tour of Turkey just a few weeks ago.
On the hard climbs with very high pace, the peloton breaks over, a group of 9 rider gets away, including two of our riders Lasse Bøchman and Morten Høberg. The get contact with the front group with about 100 km left.
There are now 15 riders in front of a peloton of 82 riders, more than 80 riders are left behind by the high pace. The front group entering the first cobble section:
We don’t like the fact that our best sprinters are left behind, we set riders up front to try reeling the break back in, Bøchman and Høberg refuse to help in the breakaway. About 25 km left and the breakaway is now visible.
With about 8 km left it becomes clear that the peloton is not able to catch the huge break, for some time Bøchman has been protecting Høberg in the event of a breakaway win, Høberg is still in good shape. The stage is won by Michael Kreder, Høberg becomes 2nd, just millimeters in front of Haedo.
Rasmussen: Amazing, did not expect Høberg to do that, with many good sprinters in the break. Probably his best career result.
Rasmussen Reports: Sondre Holst Enger finished 4th in the GC last year, Stefan Schumacher 5th in 2013. With a strong roster this year we expect a podium, with Schumacher as race leader, and Ellisonde as “co-leader”, if Schumacher for some reason lose time.
In 1837 doctor Heinrich A. Thaulow established a health resort in Sandefjord. He discovered a sulfur-containing water spring, this and other treatments with mud, seaweed ect. made his “medical institution” very successful, about 50.000 people visited the resort from 1837 to 1939.
The health resort is today renovated and used for cultural activities:
Pre-race strategy:
Last year the stage ended in a mass sprint won by Matthew Goss, Sondre Holst Enger got in 10th, we will attempt to get in a breakaway to gain KoM points with Lovelock-Fay, Bøchman or Elissonde. We hope for Patrick Clausen if it comes to a mass sprint.
Profile:
Roster
Daniele Aldegheri
Kenny Elissonde
Lasse Bøchman
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay
Morten Høberg
Patrick Clausen
Stefan Schumacher
From the start and up to the first intermediate sprint, there are a hard fight with many different riders attacking, including Lovelock-Fay, Bøchman and Elissonde, but the Peloton won’t let anyone go.
Bøchman counters:
Patrick Clausen get third on the sprint, gaining some bonus sec., the other two are Kenneth Hansen (Cult Energy) & Filip Eidsheim (Øster Hus), starting a breakaway just 1 km before the sprint, this time they get away. The weather has changed from bad to worse, it is really raining a lot now.
There are some crashes in the peloton when it is raining, but eventually the weather gets better. We set a lot of riders up front, putting a lot of pressure on the hill’s, hoping for the peloton to break, leaving the better sprinters behind.
But the plan does not work, most of the peloton is still together passing over the last hill’s, Jonas Ahlstrand (Avianca) attacks with the last few km, and wins the stage over Elia Favilli (Lampre).
Our best is Patrick Clausen (10), Stefan Schumacher get the same time as Ahlstrand. Ellisonde loses more than 8 minutes, he was working much too hard on the stage today.
Rasmussen debriefing at the Hotel : Today plan ended in chaos, sorry about that. Our attempt to break over the peloton was a waste of energy. Ellisonde lost lots time, from now on we have to focus on Stefan, he is now our only GC hope.
Stage:
1
Jonas Ahlstrand
Avianca
4h11'21
2
Elia Favilli
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
3
Francesco Lasca
Team Nippo - De Rosa
s.t.
4
Andrew Fenn
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
5
Michael Mørkøv
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
6
Marko Kump
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
7
Jacopo Guarnieri
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
8
Kasper Klostergaard
Concordia Forsikring - Riwal
s.t.
9
Filippo Pozzato
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
10
Patrick Clausen
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
CG:
1
Jonas Ahlstrand
Avianca
4h11'01
2
Elia Favilli
Lampre - Merida
+ 8
3
Francesco Lasca
Team Nippo - De Rosa
+ 12
4
Patrick Clausen
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 18
5
Marco Haller
BigMat - Auber 93
s.t.
6
Andrew Fenn
Astana Pro Team
+ 20
7
Michael Mørkøv
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
8
Marko Kump
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
9
Jacopo Guarnieri
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
10
Kasper Klostergaard
Concordia Forsikring - Riwal
s.t.
Points:
1
Jonas Ahlstrand
Avianca
25
2
Elia Favilli
Lampre - Merida
20
3
Francesco Lasca
Team Nippo - De Rosa
16
Mountain:
1
Kenneth Hansen
Team Cult Energy
5
2
Vegard Stake Laengen
Team Øster Hus - Ridley
5
3
Filip Eidsheim
Team Øster Hus - Ridley
3
Team: Team Saxo - Tinkoff
Young: Jonas Ahlstrand - Avianca
Edited by Tamijo on 09-03-2016 17:01
Hallvard's Cathedral, Oslo's first cathedral was built on the hill by the Old Town market place during the early 1100s, and was in use as a church to about 1655, at its prime one of Scandinavia's most visited pilgrimage. Today the cathedral is just a ruin.
Illustration of Hallvard's Cathedral from a seal.
Pre-race strategy, last year Francisco José Pacheco came 4th on this stage, this year we hope Patrick Clausen can compete, if it comes to the expected mass sprint.
Profile:
With an early KoM sprint, Ellisonde attacks with a group of 4 riders, he takes the sprint with ease. After the sprint he falls back to the peloton, to help the team from there.
The other 4 riders forms today’s breakaway, they get a max. of about 4’30.
But the peloton is not in the mood for a breakaway win, the break is over and the sprint trains get up. The pace is very fast, we struggle hanging on the front, and even worse Patrick gets cut off from Høberg’s wheel, by the Saxo train.
The stage was won by Andrew Fenn (Astana) over Michael Mørkøv (Saxo), our best was surprisingly Stefan Schumacher (11) outsprinting teammate Patrick Clausen (12) from behind.
Rasmussen on the Phone to Christina : Hard competition in the sprint every day, with an unbelievable high pace, but hopefully Stefan’s good form today continues when we come to the hill’s.
Lillestrøm was born in the 1860’s due to the industrial revolution, but just 5 km to the north is the older settlement “Skedsmo” or Skedsmokorset, the village dates back to at least 0-400 AD, a stone church was raised here in 1180, to replace an older wooden church. The church still stands, the tower and some other parts are later additions.
Pre race strategy: Sondre Holst Enger was 10th last year on this stage, again we expect a mass sprint, and hope Patrick Clausen can deliver a top 10 result.
Profile:
The morning break is 4 riders, with 70 km left they have got almost 14 min.
The peloton seems to be okay with a breakaway win today, looks like all the strong teams is saving power for the two much harder stages left.
Ellisonde, Schumacher and Lovelock-Fay relaxing in the peloton:
In the front group, it is Sergiy Gretchyn (Blue Water) attacking first, with some 12 km to the line.
Christer Jensen (Joker Merida) counter, while the others haven’t got power to react. But Sergiy Gretchyn is gone, he takes a solo win with 32 sec. to Jensen. Most of the peloton comes in at +5'49. Our best is Morten Høberg (16)
Rasmussen in the tour bus: This was a breather, tomorrow is the day.
Stage:
1
Sergiy Gretchyn
Blue Water Cycling
3h58'14
2
Christer Jensen
Joker Merida
+ 32
3
Daniel Kreutzfeldt
Team Cult Energy
+ 1'02
4
Wouter Mol
Team Øster Hus - Ridley
s.t.
5
Andrew Fenn
Astana Pro Team
+ 5'49
6
Michael Mørkøv
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
7
Davide Viganò
Team Nippo - De Rosa
s.t.
8
Jacopo Guarnieri
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
9
Jonas Ahlstrand
Avianca
s.t.
10
Anthony Ravard
Jules
s.t.
GC:
1
Andrew Fenn
Astana Pro Team
11h32'43
2
Jonas Ahlstrand
Avianca
s.t.
3
Michael Mørkøv
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 8
4
Elia Favilli
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
5
Marko Kump
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
+ 12
6
Francesco Lasca
Team Nippo - De Rosa
s.t.
7
Patrick Clausen
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 18
8
Marco Haller
BigMat - Auber 93
s.t.
9
Jacopo Guarnieri
Astana Pro Team
+ 20
10
Filippo Pozzato
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
Points:
1
Andrew Fenn
Astana Pro Team
51
2
Jonas Ahlstrand
Avianca
44
3
Michael Mørkøv
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
42
Mountain:
1
Kenny Elissonde
Christina Watches - Onfone
6
2
Vegard Stake Laengen
Team Øster Hus - Ridley
5
3
Kenneth Hansen
Team Cult Energy
5
Team: Joker Merida
Young: Andrew Fenn (Astana Pro Team)
Edited by Tamijo on 12-03-2016 06:46
Hamar and the rest of the “Hedmarken” area, was some of the latest part of Norway to be Christened, so it not surprising the city would get a cathedral, to keep the heathen believes under pressure. The original was constructed from 1152 to about 1200. The cathedral was destroyed during war in 1567 by the Swedes. A new cathedral was built in 1866. The existing cathedral:
Pre-race strategy: Last year Sondre Holst Enger came 2nd. on this stage, and 4th in GC. We hope to do something similar with Stefan. We will stay in the peloton, and help neutralize any serious break.
Profile:
The morning breakaway is 6 riders, Ellisonde has good legs today, so we set riders in front to control the break, aiming for Ellisonde to attacks and try to grab the KoM sprint.
As planned Ellisonde attacks at the first mountain, and wins the first KoM sprint, later he becomes second on the last KoM.
On the way up to the last top the peloton is together again, Bakhtiyar Kozhatayev (Astana) attacks, Michael Valgren (Saxo) and Stefan Schumacher follows. A little later also Francis Mourey (Jules) gets away from the peloton.
On the way down Stefan loose contact and Mourey get up from behind, at the bottom of the descent it is now tree group in front of a peloton of 14 riders. 7,5 km to the line.
It is Valgren beating Kozhatayev in front, with 26 sec. to Mourey, Stefan 4th in the same time.
Rasmussen: Fine result Elissonde got some important KoM points, and more important Stefan is looking good in the GC, just 8 sec. from a podium.
Rasmussen report: We are here in Gjøvik for the last stage of Tour of Norway, a town with a population of about 30.000. Before the industrial revolution hit Gjøvikt in 1761, the area was mainly a farming community; Hunn Gård (estate) was the largest farm in Oppland district. Today it houses Gjøvikt art and culture school.
Pre-race strategy: Ellisonde will try to counter attacks, if they can threaten the KoM, otherwise we will stay in the peloton, hoping to get a few sec. in the end and get Stefan on the podium.
Profile:
Ellisonde gets away in the morning break, with 6 other riders. Ellisonde wins the first KoM sprint, the jersey is safe. The group has 8’45 at the first KoM.
In the peloton it is mainly Astana chasing the breakaway, with 30 km left, the distance is down to 2’16.
10 km left, on the last hill Schumacher attacks, he has still got Ellisonde about 50 sec. in front, ready to help if he gets that far.
Schumacher gets up to Ellisonde; the peloton never gets dangerously close, the duo wins the stage. Schumacher gets the CG podium, he was aiming for.
Rasmussen: In an interview with TV2 sport:
RA: This was Schumacher 3rd win of the season; he is definitely one of our top riders. TV2: As we understand it, he’s contract will run out this year. RA: Yes, we will do our best to keep him, but you never know what will happen.
Congratulations to Valgren, a young dane, I would very much like to talk with in the near future.
Thanks: Schumacher have done very well this season. We was a little lucky that the peloton let Ellisonde get away, dosent often happen with a good rider like him.
Christina Reports: We are here in Pfaffenhofen, for the Tour of Bavaria. Last year Stefan Schumacher got 3rd. in the race, with a stage win on stage 2. This is an important race for the management, and we hope for a similar result again this year. After the old church was lost in a big fire, construction of Gothic style Stadtpfarrkirche St. Johannes Baptist was started in 1393, the 77m tower was finished in 1531
Pre-race strategy: We have got some fine sprinters in the squad, Clausen, Pacheco, Høberg. We will just sit in the peloton, hoping for one of them to shine on the last KM.
Profile:
Roster:
Francisco José Pacheco
Frederik Wilmann
Lasse Bøchman
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay
Morten Høberg
Patrick Clausen
Sebastian Balck
Stefan Schumacher
The morning break is Phil Bauhaus (Thüringer) and Preben Van Hecke (Topsport Vlaanderen), they get a maximum of 7’45 with about 120 km left.
With about 85 km left, Bauhaus leaves Van Hecke behind. Henke resigns and gets caught relative fast. It is mainly MTN-Qhubeka putting pressure on the sole rider in front, with 24 km left he has got 1’42.
The pace is too high for Bauhaus to hold, just as he is caught and the trains are about to form, a terrible crash sends a lot of riders down. One of our riders are down, at this point we don't know who.
We get a fine train up, but struggle to hold it close to the front, the pace is very high. Our sprinters lose power.
The stage is won by Luka Mezgec (Argos) over Marcel Meisen (REWE), our best is Stefan Schumacher (9), our sprinter’s was to hurt by the bumps in the final kilometers.
Due to the crash 72 riders, or about half of the peloton lost 3 min. or more, our only rider to lose time is Frederik Wilmann, he lose 5’38. Right now we don't know how bad he was injured.
Christina: Not bad, two riders in top 10, but a little frustrating that Pacheco (19) was that empty when the
sprint started.
