The stage is probably going to end in a sprint. The main favourites are Haussler and Freire, so thats great news for us, as we would love to get a stage win in the first PT race of the year! The hill at the end of the race could really favour Oscar, but it would also suit a breakaway, should they get a large enough gap.
Race Report
The first noteworthy event in the stage was a small breakaway getting clear. FDJ, Astana and Radioshack the three teams represented.
Later in the stage the 3 rider break was brought back, and now Urtasun and Plaza are the two out in front. Obviously a good move, with only about 10 kms left in the stage.
But as we go into the final km, Oscar Freire is leading the peloton, however Pietropolli caught the sprinters off guard, making a strong move just before the sprint began. It was somewhat missed by the camera's but it became a very exciting race, as Freire was starting to catch him in the final hundred metres.
But Pietropolli takes the win ahead of Freire, the stage favourite. Obviously the small mistake of letting Pietropolli left us without a stage win, on probably our best chance of the whole race, but a 2nd is still a fine result for the team.
sutty68 wrote:
It was unlucky for Freire that Pietropolli managed to get clear of the sprinters, but it was still a good result for you
Thanks Sutty. Indeed. I thought the break had all been brought back, so when Freire started to sprint it became obvious he would get a high finish in the peloton. Next thing you know, I hear the "he's all alone, and I think he'll stay clear" commentary in the game, and I was really wondering what he meant. Found out, he was clear of the peloton.
How unlucky! A real shame that Pietropolli survived until the finish, if he hadn't, Freire would've taking a great victory.
But hey, it's still a very great result, and Freire still remains in the top of the GC. Good luck with the next stages
I always make the mistake of not checking the timegaps, and it can cost me, like today.
But thanks everyone! Hopefully I can have a lot of stages up now, over the weekend. I want to play other races. And I've remember I can do short race summaries like Pelli has been doing, so I can get to the big races quicker. Will start doing that as well.
Its the ITT, and two Katusha riders, Vicioso and Spilak are up there with the favourites for the stage, Casrtoviejo. Stamsnijder and Kittel. The weather is expected to be optimal for the stage. The small hill near the end of the stage could really shake things up, and give a hilly rider a bit of an advantage.
Race Report
The first rider to go out for Katusha, was Stauff the newest on the team. He is no favourite for the stage, by any stretch, but it will be useful for him to get the best info possible on the course for the rest of his teammates who will come out later.
Russell Downing goes out, as a possible outsider, but his result was dreadful, and he finished well out of the Top 50 on the stage. Was this a sign of things to come? That TT specialists were going to find it difficult, and that the hill was going to shake up the result, more than we thought?
Tom Stamanijder was one of the big favourites for the stage, and the first of them too! He came out with a good time, and took the provisional lead, but by the end of the race, he was sitting in 8th place.
The Movistar rider, Jesus Herrada was having a strong ride, judging by the time checks, and was on pace to beat Stamsnijder's leading time, but the hill ruined things for him, and he ended 2 seconds adrift of Stamsnijder, which is still a very respectable result.
Spilak was Katusha's first big favourite out, for the TT. He went out at what was thought to be a slow speed, so that he could kick it up a lot on the hill and hopefully make up his lost time there, and then some, but the plan failed badly, and Spilak ended the time trial in 25th place about 45 seconds back of the eventual stage winner.
Our next favourite, Vicioso had unfortunately gone out with the same strategy as Spilak, and therefore his result was just as bad as Spilak's. Still an alright ride, and strong enough to keep Katusha in the lead for the Team GC.
Now the biggest favourite on the stage, Castroviejo is going with real speed and gaining on the rider who started ahead of him. His times are looking good but he has a while to go still.
Trofimov, is the last out of the start ramp, and is not expected to have a good ride, or keep the overall lead, unfortunately for us. Still we can be happy with his strong ride before to get the jersey.
Castroviejo finishes his ride, but ends just 8 seconds back of the stage winner, Artem Ovechkin, the former Katusha rider. He's someone we would have loved to still have on the team, but sometimes things happen for a reason, and we needed room for Menchov obviously.
Trofimov finishes the stage, and if you have a weak stomach, look away. Over a minute back on the stage winner and loses his overall lead by 16 seconds to Gasparotto. It sucks for us, but we had a feeling it would happen.
The stage profile suggests a sprint, as most flat stages would, but there is a hill with 110km into the stage, which could be a good place for a small group to get clear. However, I expect that it will end in a sprint.
Race Report
The main breakaway of the day, consisting of 11 riders. A few guys fought for the KoM but most were actually in there to try and please the sponsors, and the off chance that they can get a good result for the team.
But the breakaway was brought back, about 20km from the line. Then with 5km left, Nico Sijmens made an attack on the small hill and used to get away. It worked, and he gained almost 30 seconds on the peloton, catching all the sprint trains off guard.
All the sprinters begin their sprint, but Sijmens is still out front, as they go around the final bend. He could get the win, but it will be very close. This would be an amazing win for him and Cofidis if he does.
And so Sijmens just holds on for the win. He couldn't have timed his attack any better! Cavendish takes 2nd place, and Freire is nowhere to be seen, because he was boxed in during the sprint. He still gets a Top 10, but we want him to get Top 5s.
Freire did all he can, and your team in San Luis is doing reat so it's all looking great Freire will show his real strengths on stage 5 ! And Trofimov can win San Luis ! Good luck Edited by Alakagom on 11-02-2012 20:09
@ olabj - Thanks a lot. I'm slowly getting used to PCM 11/
@ Alakagom - Yeah, thanks! I hope so. I wasn't expecting him to do so well on the hill, because normally in PCM 10 no matter what, you're riders just lose lots of energy on hills, but in PCM 11 it seems improved.
@ Pelli - Indeed. I think I will try it next year, or with David if he rides TDU
I hope so too! I'm getting more confidence in him. Just hope he doesn't get boxed in.
This will be one of the most important stages of the whole race, because of the final climb at the end of the stage. I wouldn't expect it to end in anything less than the GC favourites battling it out on the climb, although we dont know where everyone else is so early in the season. For us, we have Brutt and Trofimov who we will want to do well on the climb, so will be working for them.
Race Report
We have the big breakaway on the day, the most notable is probably Chaves of Colombia who could win, if the breakaway gets to the climb ahead of the peloton.
So, Astana who have the GC leader, decide not to do much chasing of the breakaway, so just before the climb at the end of the stage, the breakaway group is fully intact.
So we decide to do some chasing down, just to try and bring the gap down a bit, in case Brutt gets some clearance, he might be able to go for the stage win.
And now we initiate our plan for the stage. With Brutt staying protected in the peloton, Trofimov the KoM leader goes on the attack. Its unlikely he will catch the break before the sprint, so the points aren't what he wants, he's going for another solo win.
But he's brought back to the main group, and now its Brutt's turn to make an attack, but he is brought back too!
Then with about 1.5km left, the main group makes contact with the breakaway, and Lastras starts to make his move for the line for a win.
They start the sprint and Lastras is in the lead. Gasparotto is looking a second place, unless he can catch Lastras late.
And Lastras takes the win. Brutt is nowhere to be seen, and it has to be seen as a disappointment by him, as he finishes behind the top few groups.
