Alakagom
Very good results Breschel and Mollema at P-N and Garate at Tirreno. Just keep it going
Garate is in a great shape and I because there is no TT I think he should be able to ride top 10 in Tirreno. Mollema still has chances to improve his GC.
Pellizotti2
Just read through the latest reports. Really like your reporting and especially all the great screenshots. Great work so far.
Thanks, did you guys like the report of the TT? Don't know how I could make a TT fun to read though Edited by Tombola on 19-06-2011 14:15
Paris - Nice
Stage 7 - Brignoles-Biot - Sophia Antipolis
*** Breschel, Cunego, Geslin
A difficult stage were it will be hard to gain some time but easy to lose. A great stage for a breakaway nearing the end of Paris-Nice. Experts say that Breschel has a chance of winning but the team isn't going to do any work. We might try to win the Mountain jersey, depending on how Robert feels today.
The first attacker of the day is Burghardt (BMC), but because of the many reactions he doesn't get far.
Then it's Keizer (VAC) again, he gets some nice riders along him like Le Quattre (TSH), Bonnafond (AG2R) and Morkov while others got reeled in.
A lot of riders tried to attack but only a few could stay in front, but the first climb of the day was coming up.
Then it were Gesink and De Weert (QST) who attacked, Gesink set a hard pace but De Weer could easily follow.
They soon overtook the other breakaway riders while Gesink was going for the points here.
The first points were in the pocket. On top of the climb the two had 43" to the group with Le Quatrre, Bonnafond and Morkov.
Behind the three it were Ista (COF), Graziato (FAR) and Keizer who were already close as you can see.
Some nice shots in the descent while Robert and Kevin were heading to the second climb within 15k.
The other riders all came together and starting chasing the two Dutch speaking riders.
Gesink also took the second climb of the day, but as you could see the pack was still close. Because of Leopard doing the chase.
Zabriskie (GAR) smacked on the ground, but the peloton waited for him and so he could easily get back. This was "lucky" for the breakaway.
After the second KoM I told Gesink to wait at the other group because the pack stopped chasing. So he told De Weert they could better wait so it will become more easy to stay in front.
With 140k to go the group came together and had a gap of 3'19" on top of the last climb before the important mountain Coll de Ferrier.
Every kilometer the gap still got wider and wider.
The pack was doing a easy pace so it would be for sure that Gesink had the possibility to take all the KoM points of today.
So Gesink was also first on top of the 10 point climb Coll du Ferrier, while De Weert also took a lot of points during the stage. But he never thread Robert dispite that his teammate Reda was going to lose the jersey.
Still the same riders in front of the peloton, while Moinard (BMC) took the peloton up to the Coll du Ferrier. With 110k to go the gap was still growing to 6'24".
After the climb there was not much excitement left, while Anton (EUS) took a nosedive and lost contact with the first peloton. With 60k to go the gap was still 9'22". Could they make it!?
Only 20k to go and the gap was still 8'50, now the poker starts in the first group because one of them was going to win the stage. Keizer was the first one to try, but like most of the time, it isn't smart to be the first attacker.
It was Kevin de Weert who easily reeled Keizer back in and left hem just as hard. Keizer was back in the group but De Weert definatly took off there.
With 15k left he already had a advantage of 32" so at the first uphill section it was Gesink who tried to close the gap. But was he able to join De Weert?
While back in the peloton it was Martens who did a lead out for Breschel, the time Gesink gained didn't matter so they could ride as hard as they wanted to.
The other riders didn't came close to Gesink and De Weert anymore, so it was Le Quattre who took the last podium spot. But was Gesink able to get back at the wheel of the Belgium climber?
No he didn't, it was Kevin de Weert who took a fair victory today. Definatly the strongest in the group. Congrats!
Gesink was a proud second, Kevin was really good today and even when Robert attacked he still got futher away. But we were glad that he took over the Mountain jersey from Reda.
Almost 5 minutes later it was Sanchez (EUS) who took the 9nd place just in front of Breschel. A shame that there were no points to win today, otherwise he came a little bit closer to Dumoulin.
One of the stage in the race of two seas who could make a difference. Like I already said there are now real mountain stages in this years Tirreno so it could be that riders like todays favorites could secure there GC here. Anything is possible but for most of the riders it will be a though day. We just try to stay between the favorites with Garate. Vinokourov didn't start today and Pozzatto stopped after 10k today.
First break and it looks like they got away easy! While we just heard over the radio that Vinokourov didn't start today and Pozzatto stopped after 10k.
It looks like the pack has no interest in chasing the break today.
But some other think different about it, Fränk (BMC), De Maar (QST), Napolitano (ASA), Van Dousselare (OLO), Andrea Masciarelli (ASA), Pedersen (SAX), Tondo (MOV), Pinotti (HTC), Mirenda (FAR) and Possoni (SKY) are taking there chance. Possini has to straighten someting here because he already lost a lot of time in the GC.
Here are the others who are slipping away of the pack...
Again the pack doesn't seem interested and the break soon has a big gap back to the pack.
The other Dutch Pro Tour team Vacansoleil is doing a steady pace so the breakaway doesn't get out of reach, because with 160k to go they already have a lead of 7'50".
The was at a maximum of 8'48 while the riders still had 100k to do. At this point there is stil 50k left and Garate is trying to force a group of favorites to break away. But no other riders would like to attacked too, but the pace went up a notch and a lot of riders had to let go of the pack.
With 40k to go the gap was 2'30 to the first pack which just cointed 28 riders and it looked like the breakaway wasn't going to make it today.
The first group reeled in the breakaway and with 18k to go it was Gilbert (OLO) who atacked, but when he heard that Kolobnev (KAT) was coming he waited.
Kolobnev was closing the gap but at the top the gap to the pack wasn't that big while Gilbert was already 34" in front!
What a suprise, the group was really small but Hushovd (GAR) survived! Looks like he is going to be one of the favorites for upcoming Milan-San Remo! But on te flat part he couldn't get away because Sky was riding for Arversen.
Easy victory for Gilbert, the did the last 10k at a massive speed which gave him a lead of 1'49" in the end, you can't say that PCM isn't realistic!
Almost two minutes later it was Nocentini (AG2R) who took second, very strong of the Italian rider who has the advantage of riding at home.
Then the group of other favorites arived with Garate, while Cancellara (LEO) took third just before Arvesen. They sprinted so hard that they even made a gap back to the group. Looks like San Remo is going to be a though one to win this year! Hushovd and Cancellara are in really good shape.
We were glad that Garate could hold on to the second group, he even climbed some place in the GC. With a 5th place overall we hope he is able to hold on to that! We think he is able too...
The results;
Stage
1 Philippe Gilbert Omega Pharma - Lotto 6h20'44
2 Rinaldo Nocentini AG2R La Mondiale + 1'49
3 Fabian Cancellara Leopard Trek + 2'27
4 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Sky ProCycling s.t.
5 Paolo Tiralongo Pro Team Astana + 2'40
6 Linus Gerdemann Leopard Trek s.t.
7 Mikel Nieve Euskaltel - Euskadi s.t.
8 Alexandr Kolobnev Katusha Team s.t.
9 Edvald Boasson Hagen Sky ProCycling s.t.
10 Alessandro Bertolini Androni Giocattoli s.t.
General
1 Philippe Gilbert Omega Pharma - Lotto 17h40'44
2 Rinaldo Nocentini AG2R La Mondiale + 1'55
3 Kurt-Asle Arvesen Sky ProCycling + 2'29
4 Fabian Cancellara Leopard Trek + 2'35 5 Juan Manuel Gárate Rabobank Cycling Team + 2'48
6 Alexandr Kolobnev Katusha Team + 2'51
7 Pablo Lastras Movistar Team + 2'52
8 Alessandro Bertolini Androni Giocattoli s.t.
9 Paolo Tiralongo Pro Team Astana s.t.
10 Edvald Boasson Hagen Sky ProCycling s.t.
For those who are interested I made a Historical part in the preview on the first page! There is not much in it but still Edited by Tombola on 21-06-2011 11:38
The last stage and also one which can decide the general classification, we just hope to take the two jersey of Mollema and Gesink home.
The first breakaway already brings some problems with it because the riders who are trying to breakaway are Bozic (VAC), Bono (LAM), Rabon (HTC) and Kevin de Weert (QST)! So we watch what the peloton does...
Leopard started to ride but the breakaway got further away. So the first uphill section we decide to send Boom to the front.
Here you could see he's in a great shape for the classics, with one jump he is at the wheel of De Weert and Bozic, while Bertolini (FAR) also tries to get in front but he will never make it.
First points are for Boom although De Weert is trying to win, this one he was too late...
Lars isn't going to ride so De Weert is a bit annoyed, while Lars told him he is protecting Gesink his jersey.
Bertolini will have a lonely day, with 90k to go the first group is 2'24" in front of the pack while Bertonlini is still 50" behind but never got closer.
With 80k to go, Santambrogio (BMC) is trying his luck again after already winning a stage. The gap is now 3'10" so he has to ride hard, lucky him that Boom doesn't ride in front.
The pack doesn't react on the attack of the young Italian ardennes specialist.
Gesink with his polka dot jersey, put will he keep it while De Weert is in front and there are 35 points to win today!
Santambrogio got with the other Italian but Bertolini couldn't hold the wheel for long.
The Belgium climber is trying to get away on his own, but Bozic is closing the gap while Boom is still waiting for the sun to shine a little bit more. But De Weert now has a gap of 15" seconds and there is a climb coming up. Bozic isn't a good climber so Boom started to do the pace now.
With kilometer he was back in the wheel of De Weert, who had bigger problems now because Boom left Bozic behind at the climb. So now De Weert had no one who could help him. With 50k the gap was still 4'23" and Santambrogio was closing in.
Damn, this one was for De Weert. Santambrogio is close now let's see what he is going to do when he catches up with Boom and De Weert.
At the first climb he attacks right away, perfect! Less points for De Weert who could forget the mountain jersey at this moment.
The last though climb to the finish, only 20k to go and Andy Schleck is setting a very hard pace in the peloton. The gap is now 2'20".
Dispite the hard pace Hoogerland (VAC), Peraud (AG2R), Masciarelli (AST) and El Fares (COF) are trying to escape. But it was the French Peraud who was the only one to be able to stay in front.
Everybody in one shot, Boom attacked just before the top. Hoping that he could stay in front because he's a very good downhiller.
Mollema stayed in the first group of 20 riders, now Frank Schleck (LEO) and Cunego (LAM) attacked. Only Cunego got away.
The small Italian is the first one to reach the tall Dutchmen...
But with 8k to go they got caught and Sanchez (EUS) attacked right away. He's a great downhiller but also has a good sprint so he doesn't need to attack I think. In the background it's Hesjedal (GAR) who keeps a steady pace.
But it was enough! It was Sanchez just in front of Hesjedal while Cunego got 3rd. Boom became 12nd an Mollema 15nd, so we took the white and the polka dot jersey! We were very happy with this result!
We were also very delighted about the 10th place of Mollema, it's just a shame that his time trial abbilities are not that well. You also must not forget that riders as Cunego and the Schlecks have hill and climbing stats of 79 and higher while Mollema has 76 in climbing and 74 in hills! About two weeks the next Pro Tour stage race will start and Mollema might have a better condition then.
After the race my computer went stuck again, it's always when going from the race to the replay of the finish. I can't export when starting the game again do I?
Ey guys, i started a new story because my computer crashed and now I can't get it back. Also starting the Weekly save isn't possible. I installed everything once again and now I just hope for the best
But nice result with a podium and KoM-jersey!
