Time to defend what we have as we continue towards the last two mountains stages with the Mortirolo and the Gavia to come. Stage 16's fairly shallow ascent into Peia Terme is not steep enough to create gaps, Stage 17 has transition marked all over it... it is stage 18 with the Mortirolo that we are interested in, Andy would probably like to take that to make an exclamation point of the Giro.
Stage 16 Brunico - Peio Terme
So stage 16, as I said Saxobank will be nice and defensive, but that does not mean Breschel will not go up the road for some sprint points.
We leave someone else to pace and realise they are going quite slowly up the middle climb. The overconfident Saxobank decide to send Fuglsang out on a break.
It is all going swimmingly until with 45 to go Cunego, Scarponi and Garzelli try a move.
Liquigas don't do much but Garmin and their loudmouth boss do some work now.
20km to go the break still have a mammoth 15.30 lead, Fuglsang only has 2.30 and the trio of dangermen have been caught. So attention is first on out break, Breschel is not good enough to go for it, it is between four riders Gustov (Cervelo), Carlstrom (Sky), Van de Walle (QS) and Hermans (Radioshack).
Cervelo's Gustov wins.
It is no surprise behind when Schleck and Basso lead the rest in, the officials are generous with bonuses as well
The big news is that Breschel moves to the front of the sprinters jersey, did I say sprinters I mean consistency points jersey.
Points:
Rank
Name
Team
General
1
Matti Breschel
Team Saxo Bank
184
2
Francesco Ginanni
Androni Giocattoli - Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni
161
3
Alessandro Petacchi
Lampre - Farnese Vini
155
4
Andy Schleck
Team Saxo Bank
110
5
Vincenzo Nibali
Liquigas - Doimo
96
Stage 17 Levica Terme - Brescia
It is a flat one, the sprinters teams are motivated to chase and poor Guiterrez missed the breakaway chance yesterday. He is the last man standing of the 12 riders today - we didn't send a knackered Breschel out there today.
The sprint was much closer today and it was some joy for Liquigas as Chicchi took it from Ginanni, which was good for Breschel who trailled over in 6th.
Lovely jubbly Matti still in Magenta
Rank
Name
Team
General
1
Matti Breschel
Team Saxo Bank
194
2
Francesco Ginanni
Androni Giocattoli - Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni
181
3
Alessandro Petacchi
Lampre - Farnese Vini
169
4
Andy Schleck
Team Saxo Bank
110
5
Vincenzo Nibali
Liquigas - Doimo
96
Stage 18 Brescia to Aprica
Schleck wants this to add to his collection, Liquigas I guess are determined to stop him. They have some stage wins with Nibali and Chicchi now and are beginning to look quite good.
First things first, Breschel knows his role now.
A break did go away, but it was evident that Liquigas meant business as Nibili ramped up the pressure on the climb before the Mortirolo
By the Mortirolo is was Saxo's turn only really about 50 riders left at this point.
It is tit for tat on this nasty climb as now Basso accelerates with water boy Szmyd on his wheel, Andy and Fuglsang not too far away.
Basso is on a really strong one today and attacks
Andy wants this one but must save some strength for a counter he claws his way back.
It is a great show as Andy pulls himself level with Basso, the GC battle is over but this is one for this stage.
Schleck now decides with 3km of climbing left here to ditch Basso, he goes on a steep section.
As the forest clears he has the gap...
Behind Basso it is Scarponi and Pozzovivo who are next.
Schleck crests and does not really descend that well but as soon as the climbing begins Basso fades and it is his teammate Nibali who begins to move through the field. But Andy takes the win, he is happy now he has his set of four very nice wins thank you.
Stage:
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Andy Schleck
Team Saxo Bank
5h36'11
2
Ivan Basso
Liquigas - Doimo
+ 1'18
3
Vincenzo Nibali
Liquigas - Doimo
+ 2'04
4
Michele Scarponi
Androni Giocattoli - Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni
+ 2'30
5
Domenico Pozzovivo
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 3'25
6
Stefano Garzelli
Acqua & Sapone - D'Angelo & Antenucci
+ 4'07
7
Marzio Bruseghin
Caisse d'Epargne
s.t.
8
Leonardo Bertagnolli
Androni Giocattoli - Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni
+ 5'14
9
David Arroyo
Caisse d'Epargne
s.t.
10
Beñat Intxausti
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
12
Tom Danielson
Garmin - Transitions
s.t.
14
Janez Brajkovič
Team RadioShack
s.t.
15
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Farnese Vini
s.t.
16
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
20
Óscar Pereiro
Astana
s.t.
24
Jakob Fuglsang
Team Saxo Bank
+ 6'06
32
Jens Voigt
Team Saxo Bank
+ 9'35
33
Nicki Sørensen
Team Saxo Bank
s.t.
65
Gustav Erik Larsson
Team Saxo Bank
+ 17'55
91
Alessandro Petacchi
Lampre - Farnese Vini
+ 29'32
101
Matti Breschel
Team Saxo Bank
+ 36'12
117
Jonathan Bellis
Team Saxo Bank
+ 51'58
118
Baden Cooke
Team Saxo Bank
s.t.
167
Wim Stroetinga
Team Milram
s.t.
GC:
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Andy Schleck
Team Saxo Bank
80h33'09
2
Ivan Basso
Liquigas - Doimo
+ 6'50
3
Vincenzo Nibali
Liquigas - Doimo
+ 10'14
4
Michele Scarponi
Androni Giocattoli - Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni
+ 11'31
5
Stefano Garzelli
Acqua & Sapone - D'Angelo & Antenucci
+ 15'18
6
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Farnese Vini
+ 15'25
7
Marzio Bruseghin
Caisse d'Epargne
+ 16'04
8
Tom Danielson
Garmin - Transitions
+ 18'10
9
David Arroyo
Caisse d'Epargne
+ 18'12
10
Domenico Pozzovivo
Colnago - CSF Inox
+ 18'27
11
Marco Pinotti
Team HTC - Columbia
+ 19'57
13
Óscar Pereiro
Astana
+ 21'06
15
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 22'16
17
Jakob Fuglsang
Team Saxo Bank
+ 23'21
18
Janez Brajkovič
Team RadioShack
+ 23'37
19
Beñat Intxausti
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 24'07
21
Jens Voigt
Team Saxo Bank
+ 29'29
31
Nicki Sørensen
Team Saxo Bank
+ 39'46
49
Gilberto Simoni
Lampre - Farnese Vini
+ 1h03'28
50
Francesco Ginanni
Androni Giocattoli - Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni
+ 1h03'59
51
Gustav Erik Larsson
Team Saxo Bank
+ 1h06'24
56
Matti Breschel
Team Saxo Bank
+ 1h11'29
84
Alessandro Petacchi
Lampre - Farnese Vini
+ 2h01'30
124
Baden Cooke
Team Saxo Bank
+ 3h54'07
129
Jonathan Bellis
Team Saxo Bank
+ 3h59'51
167
Wim Stroetinga
Team Milram
+ 6h28'05
Looking at the young jersey it is clear that will be a priorty on the next day to keep Fuglsang in second.
Name
Team
General Time
Andy Schleck
Team Saxo Bank
80h33'09 (1)
Jakob Fuglsang
Team Saxo Bank
+ 23'21 (2)
Beñat Intxausti
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 24'07 (3)
Francesco Masciarelli
Acqua & Sapone - D'Angelo & Antenucci
+ 33'20 (4)
Cayetano Sarmiento
Acqua & Sapone - D'Angelo & Antenucci
+ 41'07 (5)
The points jersey looks sewn up (as is the mountains):
Alarkgon: Thanks for the comments mate, any plans to start a story soon?
Janne: Been following Radioshack's story, will be interesting what you achieve overall in the season.
Pellizotti2:Indeed, Nibali has been on domestique duty here, Schleck does outclass him at the moment but next year in Italy he could be tougher to beat by anyone.
Smowz wrote:
Alarkgon: Thanks for the comments mate, any plans to start a story soon?
Actually yes
Just waiting as I have polish version, but to make story better for my readers to read, ordererd week ago English one, so just waiting for it to come Thanks for asking Edited by Alakagom on 11-01-2011 22:14
With seven minutes on Basso and ten minutes on everyone else, it is time for Schleck and the Saxo boys to be magnaminous. We make it a bit of a training ride and display Breschel's hard earned Magenta jersey at the front in an early climb.
We like to show another of the willing workshorses behinds Andy Schleck's Giro Youth, Mountains and Overall win. Gustav Larsson
We move into the really high mountains and at this time of the year it means Snow.
As we ease up it is Miche who have been saving themselves and they make a double move.
Eventually Muto (Miche) goes on his own and makes it over the Gavia to take this years Cima Coppi. Nice stuff from the wildcard outsiders.
The peleton do reel him in, Schleck is taking it easy today and with 8.5 to go it is Scarponi and Pozzovivo who make a move.
Schleck decides just maybe he can put in a final dig to show he could have won this stage if he wanted.
But Scarponi has his day, well done Savio have a bottle or ten of wine tonight.
Slightly disappointing was that Fuglsang dropped to third on the youth and Saxo drop to second on the teams.
Final stage show, the time trial in Verona. Saxo power in evidence again they want a team jersey to add to all the others that they will win. Breschel the points and Schleck everything else!
No mucking about then as Jens Voigt powers the first time under 23 minute.
Fuglsang also managed this, alas it was not enough to wrest the 'borrowed from Andy' white jersey second place away from the imposter Intxausti.
Nice prospect out of the Euskatel team, lets hope he is a veggie. Radioshack discovered again that Brajkovic is not really grand tour material - no twits here but he does at least drop inside Jens time 22.43.
Italy comes to its feet to welcome in a solid stage win hope for today Bruseghin. 22.33 - yeah nothing for Radioshack.
But then in came Nibali - 22.22 his time was new leader and also good enough to move the Liquigas man up to 3rd. Well done Nibbles - but give that green jersey back please it is Andy's.
Andy woke up this morning thinking about showing everyone how complete a GT rider he is and nearly caught Basso again.
Potty Training part one - Tour of California and Bayern Rundfaht
Okay you can stop your sniggering, yes we have all heard the one about California rivalling the Giro for excitement and prestige.
Oh you were laughing at the German race name, yes very good the Bayern passing of the wind race, why is that there up with the lights of Califiornia well they are similar races in many ways some trumped up hills only to be dominated by a Time Trial.
Saxo used them as one would expect sending a developmental (read rubbish) squad out to US. 18 year old Richie Porte was there, but was up against some big hitters and it was his first real race of the year.
Tour of California
Not too many highlights to show you, sky fanboys here is one of Wiggo winning the time trial.
Actually he is on the podium, nice pic for their website. Oh Sammy Sanchez won at the roadbump thingee called Big Bear. Saxo management were most displeased when Richie Porte got dumped on this not really difficult climb.
Plenty of Radioshack bozo's in that image, they were bang on form and managed to get Machado to win the GC, by virtue of a break on the first or second stage.
Bayern Rundtrump
Yes the race that British people think of rude noises coming out of their rear ends. Well it was mainly continental German opposition in this one, which was great as JJ Haedo managed to take a sprint.
This seemed a bit too easy so his younger brother took one too.
More exciting to us was that Richie Porte managed to take the hardest stage - not quite big bear but big enough to make us believers.
The HTC man in the background is Tony Martin, he smoked us in the TT perhaps giving Sparticus something to awaken himself from his lordy slumber (or maybe his pretty girlfriend will)
But Bayern Rundfaht was a good little training race for Saxobank really establishing the brand in Germany.
roturn wrote:
Congrats to a very successful Giro. Will he also lead your team in the Tour? Or is Frank doing his best there?
Frank will be doing his level best at the Vuelta - he is in hibernation now following that hectic early season where he won the Paris Nice and Fleche Wallonne. Schleck the elder will probably look to have a crack at the Giro de Lombardia as well.
Andy will look to take the Grand Tour Giro-Tour double, he will also race the Tour de Suisse in between. Andy's final serious race of the year before he rides like a puff in the wind will be at San Sebastion really.
Potty Training 2 - The Dauphine opening four stages: Time Trial and Trial again
With Andy in Switzerland, we decide to give Richie Porte his big season target of the Dauphine.
The parcours are really tough this year and this has put some of the big names off Andy and Alberto are off to Swiss. The startlist however does reveal some riders worth a mention.
Sammy Sanchez, Levi Leipheimer, Janez Brajkovic, Bradley Wiggins, Carlos Sastre, Kim Kirchen and Ryder Hesjedal certainly suggesting a very strong field.
The opening four stages were dominated by the Time Trials.
The opening prologue went to Sammy Sanchez, who really showed he was on form.
Potty Training - Part three Into the mountains at the Dauphine
So we got to the three difficult climbing days and we are having a fairly tight battle with 30 seconds seperating Sanchez, Wiggins and Brajkovic. Our man the young 'un Porte is a respectable at 1.37 behind, expect that to increase but hopefully his placing will improve.
Stage Five
Stage five takes us up to Risual and it is a horrible day weather wise:
On the early part of the last climb it was Euskatel who set the early pace, before Bradley Wiggins took over the pace about midway through. Interesting tactic this from the Briton not attacking just setting high tempo.
However his big rival here at the Dauphine Sammy Sanchez simply dances away with 5km to go, leaving everyone scrambling behind.
This proved the decisive moment of the stage as Sanchez managed to get a minute on Wiggins and 90 seconds on Brajkovic.
Richie Porte really struggled today to hold on and to be honest his support from our squad was not great, he ended up in the 4th group over two minutes back.
Dreading the Alpe D'Heuz climb we talked with young Porte at the beginning of todays stage and decided it was best to go for broke with an attack on the last climb.
Though he and his companions could not get across to the lead two, the move beared fruit as they would finish comfortable ahead of the yellow jersey group. JJ Cobo took the stage win, outsprinting Navarro.
Lots of riders seemed nervous today and we had a contender for the tamest ever climb of the Alpe D'Heuz. Sanchez feels he has no need to attack and no doubt Brailsford Sky lot and the Radioshack boys have no ambitions.
With 4 kilomtres to go there was nothing happening, bored no doubt Sammy Sanchez decided to go for a win with 2.5km to go.
That is pretty much game over for everyone else, but Wiggins puts on some power to pull the gap back. Richie Porte unfortunely could not quite follow the pace, but holds onto the best young riders position. It is Sammy Sanchez who takes his second stage win.
Certainly Sanchez is a name to follow at the Tour, however we hope this is the classic too good too soon situation (though no doubt one could level the same at Andy Schleck).
Porte remains ahead of Machado, the tour of California winner who perhaps has been a victim of confused Radioshack tactics, Tiago get yourself another team we say!
It was another tough day in the saddle, the one mission was to keep Porte in the top five. We have been sneaky breaking away on stage six but it has been an excellent gamble giving the youngster a decent result to justify our future GT star tag.
It was tough but not tough enough to split things, Sanchez did get away proving his strength. Some riders were already ahead and John Gadret took a consilation win for AG2R.
But behind Sanchez everyone finished together with Wiggins, who looks a top 10 Tour candidate.
On the GC we can declare that Porte can now successfully lead a team in a small tour, perhaps next year he can lead the team in a few more races perhaps a Grand Tour. He will have his first grand tour later in the year in support of Frank Schleck. He gets one more race in charge the year in Austria.
Roturn: Andy's full schedule for the season was Castille y Leon (3rd), Trentino (1st), Romandy (3rd), Giro (1st) then Suisse and Tour. It is waht 64 race days in all, the problem is that he will be beginning to struggle when the Tour hits the Pyrenees. Then again he has to really beat one rider Contador, perhaps I can do something on the cobbled stage to get an advantage.
Tuco: It was complicated to get Breschel to win the jersey considering he was struggling to podium in the sprints and couldn't beat Petacchi or Ginanni. But fortunately there were plenty of stages to steal points.
SN and Freitas: I am pretty happy, though Porte should have stayed in the lead group on the Alpe D'Heuz stage, then he would have made a podium I think which would have been awesome - espicially as it would have had him ahead of the Radioshacks .
The Saxobank dignitories are meeting up to discuss how the riders are shaping up and plans for the next season. Yes folks, it is that transfer time of the year and the eagle eyed team boss is looking at a few talents. Our team boss the ridiculously uninspired name of Erik Vikling will take you through things in the only style he knows how monologue!
Training update
Gentlefolk before we look at some possible transfers we need to look at our own talents. The Schleck boys who are our main assets continue to look absolutely awesome, you witnessed Andy Schleck firsthand at the Giro... whats that you didn't watch it! Well get some videotapes right now and get viewing because he will be in Switzerland and at the Tour real soon.
Anyway our coach is telling us now he is simply the best climber in the world, yes even better than Contajerky. I am thinking that he could do something really special next year and clean up. I will let you know what I mean by that later.
Our coaches also tell us and I know you will like this that the two Danish climbers Fuglsang and Chris Anker Sorenson have improved their all round abilities.
I know some of you are eager to hear of our Australian investment Richie Porte - he does need to improve his climbing a little but he has improved slightly. I am hoping the Vuelta will help him.
The other rider I am excited about in our camp is Dominic Klemme who is really stepping up for the cobbled classics.
Why do we need him to step up? Well I am sorrys sirs and madams but some of core cobbled men Frank Hoj and Stuart O'Grady are getting a bit long in the tooth.
New transfers
Vikling policy 1: Out with the old
OUT: Jens Voigt, Stuart O'Grady, Frank Hoj and Nikki Sorenson
Vikling policy 2: Out with the bratty brothers
OUT: LS Haedo, JJ Haedo
Vikling policy 3: Out with the also rans
OUT: Klostergaard, Rasmussen and Didier
I am sorry peoples but JJ Haedo just is not Grand Tour sprinting material and I really don't see the merit in keeping him and his brother around. Klostergaard is a regret, but he struggled a bit in the cobbles this year and I do not see him developing any further. I don't think the Schlecks will notice if Didier is gone and Rasmussen is looking for Chairlifts everytime he sees a hill. Neither are Protour riders in my opinion!
I present you with the first of my new flock:
Vikling policy 4: Replace Voigt
IN: Vasili Kirylenka
Yes, Caisse D'Epargne are foolishly letting this talented Russian go. A great engine to have in the locker.
Vikling policy 5: Bring in some youth
IN: Rafael Valls, Jens Keukeliere, Jetse Bol
Young climber Rafael Valls is someone we are eager to sign up from that naff Protour Footon outfit, this is one of their few real assets.
Jens Keukeliere should fill the Haedo void, I think this rider could well become a pretty good old round rider, who can get results on sprints and in cobbles.
Yes we are stealing one from Rabobank, alls fair in cycling transfers guys this young powerhouse could really be a star Jetse Bol.
Transfer policy 6: Appease the sponsers with some Danes!
In: Nikki Ostergaard, S Kanne, Kim Von Essen, S Widmar, M Viljoen
Nikki Ostergaard is a gem of a punchaer style of rider a bit like JA Jorgenson. I am hoping that he will help out in that area. I have also found a couple of young sprinters from Denmark via our scouts and two other youngsters that will give our squad some refreshment.
My thanks for your time - let us enjoy the rest of the season!
Kiriyenka and Keukeleire are good transfers. Don`T know that much about the others.
Andy really improved a lot and is almost a real stage racer and not jsut a climber with 74TT.
Edit: Klemme is also a good rider with good stats in plain, hill, cobbles and sprint. A bit similar to Felline in my career, who is winning a lot in smaller races.
Edited by roturn on 15-01-2011 18:59
At least one guy beats Nibali at a Giro.. Great to see you back!
Thanks for asking 
