The longest day of the race so far, takes on a 214km journey from Abbéville, into Rouen, about 50km North West of Paris. The first 140km of the day see the peloton ride along the Northern French coast, where they will be battered by winds, making an innocuous looking profile, potentially deadly for GC hopes, if a rider is unlucky enough to get the wrong side of a break in the peloton.
During that first 140km the riders take in 3 Cat 4 climbs, 38km in they reach the Côte du Mont Huon, 2.1km at 4%, the riders are then faced with 2 climbs in quick succession, first; The Côte de Dieppe 1.8km at 3.9% and secondly the Côte de Pourville-sur-Mer, 1.9km at 4.4%.
The sprint marks the change of direction in land, where the riders will face one final KotM sprint, coming 70km before the line. This is the Côte de Toussaint which averages 4.5% over a distance of 1.9km. The final sprint is just 4km after a short ascent (Ungraded) so we may see a late attack from the Punchers in the dying moments...
The Race
214km clearly sounded like a long way to the peloton! No attacks came until over 20km in! Eventually Itera-Katusha tried to make something, through Boev.
The Russian didn't get far, but at least he gave the race something of a kick start. After he was caught a further duo decided it might be a good day to attack, and Oram (Bontrager) and De Maria (Team Idea) were the next guys to go up the road.
Not that it lasted long! The pace was upped instantly, and they found themself back in the peloton. After the pace dropped an attack came yet again. Another rider from Team Idea Started it, this time it was Ratti. He was followed by Slik of RaboCT and Le Montagner of Verandas, eventually it seemed, we had a break which would be allowed away.
No sooner had they gone clear, than the first of the KotM sprints was upon them. The Team Idea man went for the points, managing a long sprint up the climb to take a point in the competition and a cash prize.
As the peloton crested the climb 2 further men decided to jump away. Van Werberghe (Jong-Vlaandaren) and Lampier (IG - Sigma Sport) saw no real resistance from the pack, and were able to relay across to the main breakaway, bringing the numbers up to 5.
Despite no sprinter in the team, Huub Duyn is clearly backing his chances for a while in the Maillot Jaune. He had his team working on the front for him from early on, stopping the breaks lead from climbing much over 5minutes at any point.
The coastal town of Dieppe played host to the days second KotM sprint. This time it was the Rabo man Slik who managed to take the victory on the summit, just holding off the Belgian Van Werberghe.
Just 5km later come the summit of the days 3rd climb. It was taken by yet another new rider, this time Lampier times the sprint best for the point on the summit. It says things about how shared the KotM points have been so far, the leader Duyn is sat on just 3points!
Only Slik seemed interested in contesting the sprint today, the rest left him to it, leaving him the points and prize on the line...
Whilst in the peloton it was René Weissinger who timed it best, holding off Points Jersey Ljungblad and Flahaut with relative ease.
After turning south the breakaway saw their lead rapidly begin to melt. At the final KotM Ratti beat his companions after an all out high speed uphill sprint, clearly everyone had resigned to the breaks end, and wanted something to show!
At around 35km out, the De Rijke team handed over control of the peloton to the sprinters teams. Who didn't take up the chase instantly and let the gap grow out once more. However, it was not to last for the break, and at the 20km mark, they were back in sight of the peloton's leaders.
With 12km to go, and a catch almost completed, Van Werberghe and Slik decide to give it one last go. They make an attack on the small hills base, but can't maintain it and are quickly swallowed by the sprint-team lead peloton.
Differdange and RLM lead the peloton onto the final climb with almost perfect control. They fanned out across the road and kept the pace under perfect control, leaving no line for the punchers to use in an attack. Today would come down to a mass sprint once again.
With 5km to ride, the trains are trying to form. Vorarlberg have their fully constructed line on the left, whilst Differdange and Roubaix are taking longer to get sorted. A few riders dropping back from the relay has created havoc on the descent, and riders are really struggling to get to where they're needed.
3km out and things look much tidier. The Differdange train is flying on the inside line, whilst Roubaix are trying to come back up to pace through the centre. Vorarlberg appear to be slowing after quickly burning several leadouts, the question remains, what do they have left?
1900m... The Differdange train comes round to the middle as the penultimate leadout drops away, they have a solid lead into the last 2 corners, though RLM have launched a sprinter early. However, it's not the expected Flahaut whose going for it, but rather his leadout man Lalouette, bait to tire the other sprinters perhaps?
1000m... Still no jumps from the key men, Zabel is coming around the outside without a leadout and Stauff is not far behind after spending the previous 2km in no mans land. Weissinger is semi-sprinting, but seems more keen on latching on the Green Jersey wearer Ljungblads wheel...
600m... Finally we have the sprint! Ljungblad is just sliding backwards, and around the outside come... Flahaut and Stauff! Frapporti is giving it a go through the middle as well, but he'll be more tired, he did all the positioning work himself...
200m... Flahaut has the lead but is he starting to slow? Stauff on the other side of the road looks to be coming quicker than his French opponent, but will he have enough to hang on to the line?..
It's Stauff! Somehow he manages to come back in the final 80m and sneak around Flahaut for the stage win! No one celebrates however, no one had the time to! Behind them the competition for 3rd place is won by Weissinger, and Ljungblad has enough in the tank to take 4th place, meaning he will JUST be able to hang onto Green ahead of tomorrow!
The CyclingNews team were waiting for the current points jersey leader after he stepped off the podium, and were treated to a spectacular interview with the Swedish sprinter, as he gave his views on life in the Underdog Tour...
Today looked difficult for you, you seemed to struggle in the sprint?
JL: Well you can't always be on top. Today was one of those days. I'm glad that it came today and not in the mountains or on the Champs Élysées.
You're ability in the hills is better than most of the Maillot Vert Contenders, can you win it?
JL: It's still a very open battle. Look at the German Stauff. He could have taken the jersey today, but yes of course the hills give me an advantage, and yes I think I can win it. But no more bad days for me
then.
You're last major result was in the GP Tartu, are you feeling the nerves of the bigger stakes we have here?
JL: This is a great race, stakes are much higher than in any other race. It feels great to be a part of it and to win a few stages doesn't make matters worse.
And how about the extra race length? obviously you've never been in a 3 week race before, how're you feeling?
JL: The race is a bit too long for a lot of riders but you have to bite together and just fight.
If I feel tired already then I can only imagine how I'm going to feel towards the end. I hope for a slow race in the mountains.
You're support squad are mostly very young, and you're team is the most multi-national here, would you say that's a benefit or a problem in a lower league team?
JL: It's always a benefit with multinational teams because then you can advertise for cycling all over the world. Even though they're young they're doing there job. It was my fault that we didn't win today/yesterday
What's the feeling here at the nicknamed "underdog" tour, do you think it's a good initiative? and would you like to see it repeated?
JL: It's a great initiative. I think there should be more like an underdog Paris - Roubaix. It should definitely be repeated next year.
And of course, just before you leave us Jonas, you've been labelled as the Swedish Sagan here at the underdog tour, how do you feel about it?
JL: Haha. I'm honoured by that. But I think he's a bit faster than me
Thanks Jonas, Good luck tomorrow!
JL: Haha, cheers guys
For more interviews, head over to CyclingNews.com where we'll be keeping you fully up to date with everything that's going on in the underdog tour!
Thanks To Daggen for putting this interview together!
After the length and hills of yesterday, we have one of the candidates for "Dullest Stage of a GT" The riders are staring at a 197km heading East from yesterdays finish town, towards St Quentin. There are no hills and no obvious difficulties on todays stage, so if ever there was a day for the pure sprinters, today is that day...
The Race
For the first time in the Tour, It was attempt number one to breakaway which was allowed clear! Driscoll of Jamis-Sutter and De Poortere were the two guys in question, and going after 15km they were never countered at all!
Seeing how easily they were allowed free was clearly enough for several other members of the peloton. 5 more riders were able to bridge across, to create our 7 man break of the day. The final 5 were: Sybrandy (IG Sigma-Sport); Boev (Itera-Katusha); Stevenson (UK Youth); Goesinnen (Drapac Cycling) and Schweizer (Nutrixxion Abus)
The breakaway were kept on a 5minute leash for most of the stage, every sprinters team was happy to pitch in a bit, as were Maillot Jaune squad De Rijke. At the intermediate sprint the breakaway fully contested it, and saw the points on the line go to Wouter Sybrandy.
In the peloton the riders were sprinting for the 8th place. Nevertheless, it was a highly contested affair which even made use of leadout riders! It was Weissinger of Vorarlberg who won the sprint, edging out Flahaut and Ljungblad on the line.
After the sprint, Cycling Team De Rijke really took control of the peloton. They held the Maillot Jaune, and are clearly keen to keep it, as they as a team did most of the work in the time between 90 and 20km from the line! Effectively killing all hope for the break.
With 20km to the line, the break are all but back, it's a day for the sprinters, as it had always looked like, now it's just a case of the final catch, and waiting for the trains to form!
The final catch is made at 13km from the line, despite a last ditch attempt from Stevenson of UK Youth to stay away, it was not to be, RLM made sure of that!
8km... An innocuos crash at 8km from the line has a disastrous effect for the peloton! The few riders who went down are positioned just before the road tightens, and the bottleneck effect is enough to split the peloton! Fortunately for the race, no GC men are brought down or caught out, but several helpers and the entire Eddy Merckx Indeland barring their sprinter, are positioned completely out of reach of there leader!
6km... Just two main trains are formed today, It's Differdange vs Roubaix Lille Metropole, whilst the other key sprinters tack onto the back wheel of a favourite, most notably, Stauff who's found the rear wheel of Denis Flahaut.
4500m... The trains are pulling their weight now, and several of the guys who tried to match them separately have fallen away. Differdange once again have opted for a slightly higher pace than their french opposition, the question remains, can Ljungblad make good on that initial advantage?
1500m... Kaupas is still towing Ljungblad forward once again, and has only recently been handed over the lead spot! RLM leadout man Lalouette is cranking up the pace for his Big man now, whilst Beckstedt is coming around on the inside...
1000m... As the other sprinters begin to draw level, Ljungblad opens up the tank! He's clearly been marked down as Flahauts main danger man however, as the Swedish-Sagan takes off, so he is copied by Flahaut, and even Stauff!
400m... Ljungblad is looking good though the frenchmen is coming like a train from further back! It's clear that these two will decide it, the question of course, is which...
Competition 2!
Well folks, you know it's down to 2 riders, now you decide who wins! We're sat about 370m from the line, with everyone else out of contention, so if you think you know which one will win the stage, simply send me a PM with your choice of name! Any correct guess will reward 3 points towards the final standings, and the deadline for todays contest is 4pm tomorrow GMT, when i will finish the report, and we will of course, then have the stage afterwards!
we're 2hours away from the competitions "reveal all" moment, and so far we've got 3 votes! Anyone who hasn't yet, be sure to get those PM's in and join the fun in our very own Points Standings!
Read some of this every now and then. This is really good, long and nicely written reports, a nice race all around. Only thing that bothers me a little is that I'm not so familiar with the riders participating. But that's just me, most people here know every rider in existence, I'm only following cycling a year now
Ian Butler wrote:
Read some of this every now and then. This is really good, long and nicely written reports, a nice race all around. Only thing that bothers me a little is that I'm not so familiar with the riders participating. But that's just me, most people here know every rider in existence, I'm only following cycling a year now
Same here, but I know quite a few of them since I had several CT PCM Careers..
@Ian Butler, thanks for the feedback mate, glad you're enjoying it and nice to see you back here again!
Regarding the riders, that's sort of how i got the idea in the first place! The thoughts that went into the opening post of the story are in my eyes genuine, and I think the CT deserve much more recognition! This story was my opportunity to do some thing myself to increase how much people know about some of the riders in the CT!
The Race Part 2!
As we left it, the riders were 370m from the line, we've had a total 7 votes, split 4-3 with Flahaut just pipping Ljungblad in your predictions, now it's time to see who takes the stage win!
120m... This is getting close, Flahaut is closing the gap, but can he sneak past? Ljungblad is giving it everything, and the line is just ahead...
15m... With the line almost within reach, Flahaut sneaks around the outside wheel of the Swede, and has the line at his mercy, the Frenchman will take the day!
With a glance to the side as they roll over the line, Flahaut looks to his side at Ljungblad, Their is clearly great respect between these two, as shown by the way they're marking each other above everyone else. It seems we have our two main contestants for the Maillot Vert, which will reside on the shoulders of the swede for at least another day, despite losing out on the line.
Results - Stage
1
Denis Flahaut
Roubaix Lille Métropole
4h37'37
2
Jonas Ljungblad
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
s.t.
3
Andreas Stauff
Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland
s.t.
4
Kevin Denis
Veranda Rideau - Super U
s.t.
5
Morten Øllegaard
Team Concordia Forsikring – Himmerland
s.t.
6
Rick Zabel
Rabobank Continental Team
s.t.
7
Marco Frapporti
Team Idea
s.t.
8
René Weissinger
Team Vorarlberg
s.t.
9
Pavel Kochetkov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
10
Romain Matheou
Veranda Rideau - Super U
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Tommy Nankervis
Competitive Cyclist Racing Team
s.t.
12
Philip Nielsen
Team Concordia Forsikring – Himmerland
s.t.
13
Alexander Gottfried
Nutrixxion Abus
s.t.
14
Marc Hester
Team Concordia Forsikring – Himmerland
s.t.
15
Michele Merlo
Team WIT
s.t.
16
Simon Gaywood
Team IG - Sigma Sport
s.t.
17
Christian Poos
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
s.t.
18
Magnus Bäckstedt
UK Youth Cycling
s.t.
19
Huub Duyn
Cyclingteam De Rijke
s.t.
20
Kevin Lalouette
Roubaix Lille Métropole
s.t.
21
Vytautas Kaupas
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
s.t.
22
Kyle Wamsley
Jamis - Sutter Home
s.t.
23
Thomas Rabou
Competitive Cyclist Racing Team
s.t.
24
Nikola Aistrup
Team Concordia Forsikring – Himmerland
s.t.
25
Dan Craven
Team IG - Sigma Sport
s.t.
26
Robert Retschke
Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland
s.t.
27
Daan Olivier
Rabobank Continental Team
s.t.
28
Dion Beukeboom
Cyclingteam De Rijke
s.t.
29
Phil Grenfell
Competitive Cyclist Racing Team
s.t.
30
Guillaume Malle
Veranda Rideau - Super U
s.t.
31
Enrico Montanari
Team WIT
s.t.
32
Luca Zanasca
Team WIT
s.t.
33
Luis Alberto Romero
Jamis - Sutter Home
s.t.
34
Cesar Grajales
Competitive Cyclist Racing Team
s.t.
35
Alejandro Borrajo
Jamis - Sutter Home
s.t.
36
Morgan Kneisky
Roubaix Lille Métropole
s.t.
37
Marc Goos
Rabobank Continental Team
s.t.
38
Adam Phelan
Drapac Professional Cycling
s.t.
39
Chad Beyer
Competitive Cyclist Racing Team
s.t.
40
Darren Lapthorne
Drapac Professional Cycling
s.t.
41
Lars Andersson
Team Concordia Forsikring – Himmerland
s.t.
42
Michael Stevenson
Team Concordia Forsikring – Himmerland
s.t.
43
Christofer Stevenson
UK Youth Cycling
s.t.
44
Jasper Stuyven
Bontrager - Livestrong Team
s.t.
45
Sergey Rudaskov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
46
Joseph Dombrowski
Bontrager - Livestrong Team
s.t.
47
Ivar Slik
Rabobank Continental Team
s.t.
48
Sebastian Balck
Team Concordia Forsikring – Himmerland
s.t.
49
Pierre Drancourt
Roubaix Lille Métropole
s.t.
50
Joshua Atkins
Bontrager - Livestrong Team
s.t.
51
Moreno Hofland
Rabobank Continental Team
s.t.
52
Lawson Craddock
Bontrager - Livestrong Team
s.t.
53
Jeroen Boelen
Cyclingteam De Rijke
s.t.
54
Sergey Chernetskiy
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
55
Charles Avis
Bontrager - Livestrong Team
s.t.
56
Igor Boev
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
57
Sascha Weber
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
s.t.
58
Fabien Schmidt
Roubaix Lille Métropole
s.t.
59
James Driscoll
Jamis - Sutter Home
s.t.
60
Enrico Franzoï
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
61
James Oram
Bontrager - Livestrong Team
s.t.
62
Johan Coenen
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
s.t.
63
David Williams
Competitive Cyclist Racing Team
s.t.
64
Gianluca Randazzo
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
65
Yoeri Havik
Cyclingteam De Rijke
s.t.
66
Robert Vrecer
Team Vorarlberg
s.t.
67
Frank Dressler
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
s.t.
68
Patrik Moren
Amore & Vita
+ 1'35
69
Rick Ottema
Cyclingteam De Rijke
s.t.
70
Andrea Palini
Team Idea
s.t.
71
Dylan Groenewegen
Cyclingteam De Rijke
s.t.
72
Juan Tamayo
Team WIT
s.t.
73
Matthias Bertling
Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland
s.t.
74
Christoph Schweizer
Nutrixxion Abus
s.t.
75
Dirk Müller
Nutrixxion Abus
s.t.
76
Jaroslaw Dabrowski
Amore & Vita
s.t.
77
Josef Benetseder
Team Vorarlberg
s.t.
78
Gabriele Pizzaballa
Team WIT
s.t.
79
Diego Tamayo
Team WIT
s.t.
80
Tom Last
Team IG - Sigma Sport
s.t.
81
Nick Van der Lijke
Rabobank Continental Team
s.t.
82
Simon Richardson
Team IG - Sigma Sport
s.t.
83
Gavin Mannion
Bontrager - Livestrong Team
s.t.
84
Wouter Sybrandy
Team IG - Sigma Sport
s.t.
85
Cristian Cominelli
Team Idea
s.t.
86
Tyler Wren
Jamis - Sutter Home
s.t.
87
Aristide Ratti
Team Idea
s.t.
88
Simone Boifava
Team Idea
s.t.
89
Christoph Pfingsten
Cyclingteam De Rijke
s.t.
90
Uri Martins
Amore & Vita
s.t.
91
Kirill Baranov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
92
Chris Opie
UK Youth Cycling
s.t.
93
Steve Schets
Jong Vlaanderen Cycling Team
s.t.
94
Remco Te Brake
Cyclingteam De Rijke
s.t.
95
Ruslan Karimov
Team Idea
s.t.
96
Benoit Jarrier
Veranda Rideau - Super U
s.t.
97
Jasper De Buyst
Bontrager - Livestrong Team
s.t.
98
Anton Vorobyev
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
99
Vladislav Borisov
Amore & Vita
s.t.
100
Glenn O'Shea
Team Jayco - AIS
s.t.
101
Steven Burke
Team IG - Sigma Sport
s.t.
102
Andreas Hofer
Team Vorarlberg
s.t.
103
Cole House
Competitive Cyclist Racing Team
s.t.
104
Ingmar De Poortere
Jong Vlaanderen Cycling Team
s.t.
105
Loïc Desriac
Roubaix Lille Métropole
s.t.
106
Bradley Gehrig
Jamis - Sutter Home
s.t.
107
Anthony Colin
Roubaix Lille Métropole
s.t.
108
Adam Semple
Drapac Professional Cycling
s.t.
109
Bernardo Colex
Amore & Vita
s.t.
110
Ryan Eastman
Bontrager - Livestrong Team
s.t.
111
Arnaud Molmy
Veranda Rideau - Super U
s.t.
112
Timothy Dupont
Jong Vlaanderen Cycling Team
s.t.
113
Marc Reynès
Nutrixxion Abus
s.t.
114
Michael Olheiser
Competitive Cyclist Racing Team
s.t.
115
Tom Thill
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
s.t.
116
Malcom Rudolph
Drapac Professional Cycling
s.t.
117
Yovcho Yovchev
Amore & Vita
s.t.
118
Michael Freiberg
Team Jayco - AIS
s.t.
119
Maksym Averin
Amore & Vita
s.t.
120
Florian Gaugl
Team Vorarlberg
s.t.
121
Cristiano Fumagalli
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
122
Remo Schuler
Team Vorarlberg
s.t.
123
Michael Schweizer
Nutrixxion Abus
s.t.
124
Wesley Kreder
Rabobank Continental Team
s.t.
125
Joop De Gans
Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland
s.t.
126
Joaquim Durant
Jong Vlaanderen Cycling Team
s.t.
127
Rhys Pollock
Drapac Professional Cycling
s.t.
128
Andrey Solomennikov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
129
Walt De Winter
Jong Vlaanderen Cycling Team
s.t.
130
Patrick Bercz
Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland
s.t.
131
Maxim Pokidov
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
132
Floris Goesinnen
Drapac Professional Cycling
s.t.
133
Giuseppe De Maria
Team Idea
s.t.
134
José Fernando Antogna
Jamis - Sutter Home
s.t.
135
Max Stahr
Nutrixxion Abus
s.t.
136
Max Jenkins
Competitive Cyclist Racing Team
s.t.
137
Steven Lampier
Team IG - Sigma Sport
s.t.
138
Aníbal Borrajo
Jamis - Sutter Home
s.t.
139
Dylan Teuns
Jong Vlaanderen Cycling Team
s.t.
140
Jackie Simes
Jamis - Sutter Home
s.t.
141
Maxime Le Montagner
Veranda Rideau - Super U
s.t.
142
James Stewart
UK Youth Cycling
s.t.
143
Thomas Murray
Team IG - Sigma Sport
s.t.
144
Sebastian Körber
Nutrixxion Abus
s.t.
145
Guillaume Bourgeois
Team Vorarlberg
s.t.
146
Nick Aitken
Team Jayco - AIS
s.t.
147
Morten Høberg
Team Concordia Forsikring – Himmerland
s.t.
148
Justin Jules
Veranda Rideau - Super U
s.t.
149
Michael Kurth
Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland
s.t.
150
Florian Monreal
Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland
s.t.
151
Luca Dodi
Team Idea
s.t.
152
Calvin Watson
Team Jayco - AIS
s.t.
153
Yanto Barker
UK Youth Cycling
s.t.
154
Jay McCarthy
Team Jayco - AIS
s.t.
155
Julian Hellmann
Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland
s.t.
156
Leopoldo Rocchetti
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
157
Oscar Riesebeek
Rabobank Continental Team
s.t.
158
Bert Van Lerberghe
Jong Vlaanderen Cycling Team
s.t.
159
Florian Bissinger
Team Vorarlberg
s.t.
160
Damien Howson
Team Jayco - AIS
s.t.
161
David McGowan
UK Youth Cycling
s.t.
162
Kaspar Larsen
Team Concordia Forsikring – Himmerland
s.t.
163
Julien Guay
Roubaix Lille Métropole
s.t.
164
Daniel Lloyd
Team IG - Sigma Sport
s.t.
165
Michal Olejnik
Veranda Rideau - Super U
s.t.
166
Fausto Fognini
Team WIT
s.t.
167
Patrick Konrad
Team Vorarlberg
s.t.
168
Stefan Ganser
Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland
s.t.
169
Patrick Lane
Team Jayco - AIS
s.t.
170
Brecht Ruyters
Jong Vlaanderen Cycling Team
s.t.
171
Lachlan Norris
Drapac Professional Cycling
s.t.
172
Tom Vermeer
Nutrixxion Abus
s.t.
173
Amir Rusli
Drapac Professional Cycling
s.t.
174
Gruff Lewis
UK Youth Cycling
s.t.
175
Florian Le Corre
Roubaix Lille Métropole
s.t.
176
Giuseppe Di Salvo
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
177
Greg Mansell
UK Youth Cycling
s.t.
178
James Lowsley-Williams
UK Youth Cycling
s.t.
179
Alessandro Malaguti
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
180
Benjamin Sydlik
Nutrixxion Abus
+ 3'46
181
Viesturs Luksevics
Amore & Vita
s.t.
182
Remco Broers
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
s.t.
183
Nicola Dal Santo
Miche - Guerciotti
s.t.
184
Garrit Broeders
Jong Vlaanderen Cycling Team
+ 4'33
185
Aaron Donnelly
Team Jayco - AIS
s.t.
186
Tyron Giorgieri
Team WIT
s.t.
187
Marino Palandri
Amore & Vita
s.t.
188
Stuart Shaw
Drapac Professional Cycling
s.t.
189
Alexander Prishpetniy
Itera - Katusha
s.t.
190
Freddy Bichot
Veranda Rideau - Super U
s.t.
191
Dylan Van Baarle
Rabobank Continental Team
+ 5'36
192
Luca Barla
Team Idea
s.t.
193
Rohan Dennis
Team Jayco - AIS
s.t.
194
Alex Meenhorst
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
s.t.
195
Mats Boeve
Cyclingteam De Rijke
s.t.
Results - General Classification
1
Huub Duyn
Cyclingteam De Rijke
25h00'16
2
Christian Poos
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
+ 7
3
Lawson Craddock
Bontrager - Livestrong Team
+ 20
4
Chad Beyer
Competitive Cyclist Racing Team
+ 23
5
Joseph Dombrowski
Bontrager - Livestrong Team
+ 24
6
Guillaume Malle
Veranda Rideau - Super U
+ 26
7
Ivar Slik
Rabobank Continental Team
s.t.
8
Cesar Grajales
Competitive Cyclist Racing Team
+ 29
9
Sebastian Balck
Team Concordia Forsikring – Himmerland
+ 30
10
Nikola Aistrup
Team Concordia Forsikring – Himmerland
+ 31
Spoiler
11
Alexander Gottfried
Nutrixxion Abus
s.t.
12
Tommy Nankervis
Competitive Cyclist Racing Team
s.t.
13
Thomas Rabou
Competitive Cyclist Racing Team
s.t.
14
David Williams
Competitive Cyclist Racing Team
+ 32
15
Dan Craven
Team IG - Sigma Sport
+ 33
16
Michael Stevenson
Team Concordia Forsikring – Himmerland
+ 34
17
Marc Goos
Rabobank Continental Team
s.t.
18
Luis Alberto Romero
Jamis - Sutter Home
s.t.
19
Robert Vrecer
Team Vorarlberg
s.t.
20
Enrico Montanari
Team WIT
+ 35
21
Lars Andersson
Team Concordia Forsikring – Himmerland
+ 36
22
James Driscoll
Jamis - Sutter Home
s.t.
23
Luca Zanasca
Team WIT
+ 38
24
Robert Retschke
Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland
+ 42
25
Sergey Rudaskov
Itera - Katusha
+ 44
26
Kevin Denis
Veranda Rideau - Super U
+ 1'40
27
Morten Øllegaard
Team Concordia Forsikring – Himmerland
+ 1'48
28
Dirk Müller
Nutrixxion Abus
+ 1'52
29
Darren Lapthorne
Drapac Professional Cycling
+ 1'55
30
Moreno Hofland
Rabobank Continental Team
+ 1'56
31
Daan Olivier
Rabobank Continental Team
+ 1'58
32
Adam Phelan
Drapac Professional Cycling
s.t.
33
Joshua Atkins
Bontrager - Livestrong Team
s.t.
34
Enrico Franzoï
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 1'59
35
Marc Hester
Team Concordia Forsikring – Himmerland
+ 2'02
36
Jaroslaw Dabrowski
Amore & Vita
+ 2'06
37
Morten Høberg
Team Concordia Forsikring – Himmerland
s.t.
38
Oscar Riesebeek
Rabobank Continental Team
+ 2'07
39
Yanto Barker
UK Youth Cycling
s.t.
40
Simon Richardson
Team IG - Sigma Sport
+ 2'08
41
Nick Van der Lijke
Rabobank Continental Team
s.t.
42
Thomas Murray
Team IG - Sigma Sport
+ 2'09
43
Matthias Bertling
Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland
+ 2'10
44
Diego Tamayo
Team WIT
+ 2'11
45
Gavin Mannion
Bontrager - Livestrong Team
+ 2'12
46
Kaspar Larsen
Team Concordia Forsikring – Himmerland
+ 2'13
47
Josef Benetseder
Team Vorarlberg
+ 2'14
48
Jasper Stuyven
Bontrager - Livestrong Team
+ 2'15
49
Juan Tamayo
Team WIT
+ 2'16
50
Gabriele Pizzaballa
Team WIT
s.t.
51
Jeroen Boelen
Cyclingteam De Rijke
+ 2'18
52
Marc Reynès
Nutrixxion Abus
+ 3'18
53
Charles Avis
Bontrager - Livestrong Team
+ 3'25
54
Wouter Sybrandy
Team IG - Sigma Sport
s.t.
55
Kevin Lalouette
Roubaix Lille Métropole
+ 3'34
56
Ryan Eastman
Bontrager - Livestrong Team
+ 3'36
57
Vladislav Borisov
Amore & Vita
+ 3'40
58
Floris Goesinnen
Drapac Professional Cycling
s.t.
59
Gianluca Randazzo
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 3'41
60
Maksym Averin
Amore & Vita
s.t.
61
Sergey Chernetskiy
Itera - Katusha
+ 3'48
62
Jay McCarthy
Team Jayco - AIS
+ 3'51
63
Cristian Cominelli
Team Idea
+ 3'52
64
Dylan Groenewegen
Cyclingteam De Rijke
+ 3'54
65
Michal Olejnik
Veranda Rideau - Super U
s.t.
66
Tyler Wren
Jamis - Sutter Home
+ 3'59
67
José Fernando Antogna
Jamis - Sutter Home
+ 4'53
68
Fausto Fognini
Team WIT
+ 5'04
69
Patrick Konrad
Team Vorarlberg
+ 5'09
70
Sebastian Körber
Nutrixxion Abus
+ 5'13
71
Andrey Solomennikov
Itera - Katusha
+ 5'24
72
Leopoldo Rocchetti
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 5'27
73
Max Jenkins
Competitive Cyclist Racing Team
+ 5'33
74
Simone Boifava
Team Idea
+ 5'36
75
Rohan Dennis
Team Jayco - AIS
+ 6'01
76
Nicola Dal Santo
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 6'08
77
Andreas Hofer
Team Vorarlberg
+ 6'30
78
Freddy Bichot
Veranda Rideau - Super U
+ 6'39
79
Bradley Gehrig
Jamis - Sutter Home
+ 6'46
80
Calvin Watson
Team Jayco - AIS
+ 6'49
81
Anton Vorobyev
Itera - Katusha
+ 7'56
82
Luca Barla
Team Idea
+ 9'12
83
Amir Rusli
Drapac Professional Cycling
+ 11'38
84
James Oram
Bontrager - Livestrong Team
+ 12'00
85
Pavel Kochetkov
Itera - Katusha
+ 13'01
86
Christofer Stevenson
UK Youth Cycling
+ 13'20
87
Vytautas Kaupas
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
+ 13'24
88
Jasper De Buyst
Bontrager - Livestrong Team
+ 13'28
89
Bernardo Colex
Amore & Vita
+ 13'35
90
Yovcho Yovchev
Amore & Vita
+ 13'37
91
Michael Schweizer
Nutrixxion Abus
+ 13'39
92
Wesley Kreder
Rabobank Continental Team
+ 13'46
93
Johan Coenen
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
+ 13'47
94
Florian Monreal
Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland
+ 14'28
95
Kyle Wamsley
Jamis - Sutter Home
+ 14'30
96
Florian Bissinger
Team Vorarlberg
+ 14'36
97
Giuseppe De Maria
Team Idea
+ 14'38
98
Nick Aitken
Team Jayco - AIS
+ 14'42
99
Tom Vermeer
Nutrixxion Abus
+ 14'43
100
Igor Boev
Itera - Katusha
+ 14'44
101
Patrick Lane
Team Jayco - AIS
s.t.
102
Florian Le Corre
Roubaix Lille Métropole
+ 14'47
103
Pierre Drancourt
Roubaix Lille Métropole
+ 15'03
104
Alessandro Malaguti
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 15'17
105
Viesturs Luksevics
Amore & Vita
+ 15'49
106
Ruslan Karimov
Team Idea
+ 15'57
107
Steven Lampier
Team IG - Sigma Sport
+ 16'01
108
Luca Dodi
Team Idea
s.t.
109
Christoph Schweizer
Nutrixxion Abus
+ 16'02
110
Aníbal Borrajo
Jamis - Sutter Home
+ 16'06
111
Adam Semple
Drapac Professional Cycling
+ 16'11
112
Tom Last
Team IG - Sigma Sport
+ 16'12
113
Patrick Bercz
Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland
+ 16'25
114
Fabien Schmidt
Roubaix Lille Métropole
+ 16'28
115
Michael Kurth
Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland
s.t.
116
Phil Grenfell
Competitive Cyclist Racing Team
+ 16'45
117
Frank Dressler
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
s.t.
118
Sascha Weber
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
s.t.
119
Dion Beukeboom
Cyclingteam De Rijke
+ 16'53
120
Philip Nielsen
Team Concordia Forsikring – Himmerland
+ 16'54
121
Stuart Shaw
Drapac Professional Cycling
+ 17'40
122
Alexander Prishpetniy
Itera - Katusha
+ 17'44
123
Giuseppe Di Salvo
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 18'00
124
Stefan Ganser
Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland
+ 18'01
125
Morgan Kneisky
Roubaix Lille Métropole
+ 18'02
126
Julien Guay
Roubaix Lille Métropole
s.t.
127
Aristide Ratti
Team Idea
+ 18'06
128
Michael Olheiser
Competitive Cyclist Racing Team
+ 18'16
129
Marino Palandri
Amore & Vita
+ 18'24
130
Cole House
Competitive Cyclist Racing Team
+ 18'28
131
Rick Ottema
Cyclingteam De Rijke
+ 20'10
132
Tyron Giorgieri
Team WIT
+ 21'14
133
Chris Opie
UK Youth Cycling
+ 21'40
134
James Stewart
UK Youth Cycling
+ 21'45
135
Dylan Van Baarle
Rabobank Continental Team
+ 22'15
136
Rick Zabel
Rabobank Continental Team
+ 23'03
137
Anthony Colin
Roubaix Lille Métropole
+ 23'54
138
Mats Boeve
Cyclingteam De Rijke
+ 24'18
139
Alex Meenhorst
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
+ 24'28
140
Damien Howson
Team Jayco - AIS
+ 24'29
141
Uri Martins
Amore & Vita
+ 24'36
142
Justin Jules
Veranda Rideau - Super U
+ 24'41
143
Max Stahr
Nutrixxion Abus
s.t.
144
Daniel Lloyd
Team IG - Sigma Sport
+ 24'43
145
Magnus Bäckstedt
UK Youth Cycling
+ 24'45
146
René Weissinger
Team Vorarlberg
+ 24'46
147
James Lowsley-Williams
UK Youth Cycling
s.t.
148
Andrea Palini
Team Idea
+ 24'48
149
Patrik Moren
Amore & Vita
+ 24'49
150
Jonas Ljungblad
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
+ 24'50
151
Marco Frapporti
Team Idea
+ 24'51
152
Jackie Simes
Jamis - Sutter Home
s.t.
153
Alejandro Borrajo
Jamis - Sutter Home
+ 24'55
154
Andreas Stauff
Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland
+ 24'57
155
Michele Merlo
Team WIT
+ 24'58
156
Cristiano Fumagalli
Miche - Guerciotti
+ 25'03
157
Denis Flahaut
Roubaix Lille Métropole
+ 25'04
158
Simon Gaywood
Team IG - Sigma Sport
+ 25'17
159
Lachlan Norris
Drapac Professional Cycling
+ 25'31
160
Benoit Jarrier
Veranda Rideau - Super U
+ 26'19
161
Arnaud Molmy
Veranda Rideau - Super U
+ 26'32
162
Brecht Ruyters
Jong Vlaanderen Cycling Team
+ 26'33
163
Florian Gaugl
Team Vorarlberg
+ 26'37
164
Walt De Winter
Jong Vlaanderen Cycling Team
s.t.
165
Ingmar De Poortere
Jong Vlaanderen Cycling Team
+ 26'40
166
Remo Schuler
Team Vorarlberg
+ 26'42
167
Christoph Pfingsten
Cyclingteam De Rijke
+ 26'43
168
Dylan Teuns
Jong Vlaanderen Cycling Team
+ 26'45
169
David McGowan
UK Youth Cycling
+ 26'46
170
Benjamin Sydlik
Nutrixxion Abus
+ 26'53
171
Rhys Pollock
Drapac Professional Cycling
+ 27'24
172
Glenn O'Shea
Team Jayco - AIS
+ 28'13
173
Remco Broers
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
+ 28'26
174
Yoeri Havik
Cyclingteam De Rijke
+ 30'35
175
Romain Matheou
Veranda Rideau - Super U
+ 30'49
176
Steven Burke
Team IG - Sigma Sport
+ 32'10
177
Maxim Pokidov
Itera - Katusha
+ 32'14
178
Michael Freiberg
Team Jayco - AIS
s.t.
179
Maxime Le Montagner
Veranda Rideau - Super U
+ 32'16
180
Steve Schets
Jong Vlaanderen Cycling Team
+ 32'20
181
Joaquim Durant
Jong Vlaanderen Cycling Team
s.t.
182
Tom Thill
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
+ 32'21
183
Greg Mansell
UK Youth Cycling
+ 32'22
184
Gruff Lewis
UK Youth Cycling
+ 32'23
185
Guillaume Bourgeois
Team Vorarlberg
+ 32'25
186
Malcom Rudolph
Drapac Professional Cycling
+ 32'26
187
Loïc Desriac
Roubaix Lille Métropole
s.t.
188
Bert Van Lerberghe
Jong Vlaanderen Cycling Team
+ 32'28
189
Joop De Gans
Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland
+ 32'31
190
Kirill Baranov
Itera - Katusha
+ 32'33
191
Remco Te Brake
Cyclingteam De Rijke
s.t.
192
Julian Hellmann
Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland
+ 34'44
193
Garrit Broeders
Jong Vlaanderen Cycling Team
+ 35'24
194
Timothy Dupont
Jong Vlaanderen Cycling Team
+ 35'32
195
Aaron Donnelly
Team Jayco - AIS
+ 37'29
Results - Points Classification
1
Jonas Ljungblad
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
139
2
Denis Flahaut
Roubaix Lille Métropole
132
3
Andreas Stauff
Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland
130
4
René Weissinger
Team Vorarlberg
111
5
Rick Zabel
Rabobank Continental Team
88
6
Christian Poos
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
64
7
Marco Frapporti
Team Idea
57
8
Huub Duyn
Cyclingteam De Rijke
54
9
Dirk Müller
Nutrixxion Abus
53
10
Michele Merlo
Team WIT
51
Spoiler
11
Alejandro Borrajo
Jamis - Sutter Home
40
12
Wouter Sybrandy
Team IG - Sigma Sport
37
13
Kevin Denis
Veranda Rideau - Super U
35
14
Alexander Gottfried
Nutrixxion Abus
34
15
Morten Øllegaard
Team Concordia Forsikring – Himmerland
34
16
Simon Gaywood
Team IG - Sigma Sport
33
17
Romain Matheou
Veranda Rideau - Super U
32
18
Nikola Aistrup
Team Concordia Forsikring – Himmerland
31
19
Floris Goesinnen
Drapac Professional Cycling
30
20
Pavel Kochetkov
Itera - Katusha
30
21
Dan Craven
Team IG - Sigma Sport
29
22
Andreas Hofer
Team Vorarlberg
28
23
Cesar Grajales
Competitive Cyclist Racing Team
25
24
Magnus Bäckstedt
UK Youth Cycling
25
25
Lawson Craddock
Bontrager - Livestrong Team
24
26
Philip Nielsen
Team Concordia Forsikring – Himmerland
24
27
Joseph Dombrowski
Bontrager - Livestrong Team
22
28
Yanto Barker
UK Youth Cycling
22
29
Kyle Wamsley
Jamis - Sutter Home
22
30
Ivar Slik
Rabobank Continental Team
20
31
Josef Benetseder
Team Vorarlberg
20
32
Luca Barla
Team Idea
20
33
Anton Vorobyev
Itera - Katusha
20
34
Christofer Stevenson
UK Youth Cycling
20
35
Tyler Wren
Jamis - Sutter Home
17
36
Andrey Solomennikov
Itera - Katusha
17
37
Aristide Ratti
Team Idea
17
38
Dylan Teuns
Jong Vlaanderen Cycling Team
17
39
Nick Van der Lijke
Rabobank Continental Team
15
40
James Driscoll
Jamis - Sutter Home
15
41
Jasper Stuyven
Bontrager - Livestrong Team
15
42
Kevin Lalouette
Roubaix Lille Métropole
15
43
Simone Boifava
Team Idea
15
44
Steven Lampier
Team IG - Sigma Sport
15
45
Steve Schets
Jong Vlaanderen Cycling Team
14
46
Marc Reynès
Nutrixxion Abus
13
47
Ingmar De Poortere
Jong Vlaanderen Cycling Team
13
48
Bert Van Lerberghe
Jong Vlaanderen Cycling Team
13
49
Tommy Nankervis
Competitive Cyclist Racing Team
12
50
Enrico Franzoï
Miche - Guerciotti
12
51
Michael Stevenson
Team Concordia Forsikring – Himmerland
11
52
Igor Boev
Itera - Katusha
11
53
Benoit Jarrier
Veranda Rideau - Super U
11
54
Maxime Le Montagner
Veranda Rideau - Super U
11
55
Thomas Rabou
Competitive Cyclist Racing Team
10
56
Patrick Lane
Team Jayco - AIS
10
57
Christoph Schweizer
Nutrixxion Abus
10
58
Rohan Dennis
Team Jayco - AIS
9
59
Jaroslaw Dabrowski
Amore & Vita
9
60
Jasper De Buyst
Bontrager - Livestrong Team
9
61
Patrick Bercz
Team Eddy Merckx - Indeland
9
62
José Fernando Antogna
Jamis - Sutter Home
8
63
Max Jenkins
Competitive Cyclist Racing Team
8
64
Guillaume Malle
Veranda Rideau - Super U
7
65
David Williams
Competitive Cyclist Racing Team
7
66
Diego Tamayo
Team WIT
6
67
Marc Hester
Team Concordia Forsikring – Himmerland
6
68
Damien Howson
Team Jayco - AIS
6
69
Vytautas Kaupas
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
5
70
Johan Coenen
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
5
71
Gavin Mannion
Bontrager - Livestrong Team
4
72
Luca Zanasca
Team WIT
4
73
Cristiano Fumagalli
Miche - Guerciotti
4
74
Darren Lapthorne
Drapac Professional Cycling
3
75
Pierre Drancourt
Roubaix Lille Métropole
3
76
Freddy Bichot
Veranda Rideau - Super U
2
77
Remco Broers
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
2
78
Yoeri Havik
Cyclingteam De Rijke
2
79
Chad Beyer
Competitive Cyclist Racing Team
1
80
Alex Meenhorst
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
1
81
James Stewart
UK Youth Cycling
1
Results - King of the Mountain
1
Huub Duyn
Cyclingteam De Rijke
3
2
Andrey Solomennikov
Itera - Katusha
2
3
Simone Boifava
Team Idea
2
4
Christofer Stevenson
UK Youth Cycling
2
5
Aristide Ratti
Team Idea
2
6
Christian Poos
Team Differdange - Magic-Sportfood.de
1
7
Ivar Slik
Rabobank Continental Team
1
8
Dan Craven
Team IG - Sigma Sport
1
9
Josef Benetseder
Team Vorarlberg
1
10
Luca Barla
Team Idea
1
11
Andreas Hofer
Team Vorarlberg
1
12
Anton Vorobyev
Itera - Katusha
1
13
Steven Lampier
Team IG - Sigma Sport
1
Competition Results and Standings!
Contest
Jesleyh
Daggen
SSJ2Luigi
Cunego59
Ste_18
FreitasPCM
Sutty68
Standings
4
5
3
0
3
0
3
1
1
5
0
0
0
0
0
2
3
0
3
0
3
0
3
Despite wrongly calling the winner in todays stage, Daggen still leads the way in our contest. A successful choice by JesleyH brings him right back into second, just 1 point behind Daggen, whilst, Sutty, Ste and SSJ2Luigi find themselves sitting on 3 points following todays stage!
It's remarkably tight, and the following few competitions will be crucial to deciding our standings, so make sure not to miss out!
Edited by baggieboys32 on 15-01-2013 16:15
@Jesleyh, fixed it
@Sutty68, indeed, you called it!
@Ian Butler, Yeah Flahaut is one of the more well known names here, hopefully by the end people will recognise a lot more!
The last day of week 1 is another contending for the most boring stage award. Today is at least slightly longer, and signals the start of the change in focus for this years Tour. The stage takes us from Épernay to Metz, in 205km, with the only point of interest enroute, being the intermediate sprint in Saint-Mihiel...
The Race
For the second day running the peloton doesn't fight the breakaway, 4 men go clear at the first attempt, they are Vorobyev(Itera-Katusha), Moren(Amore & Vita), Stuyven(Bontrager Livestrong) and Van Lerberghe(Jong-Vlaandaren)
20km later, Franzoi of Miche-Guerciotti decides to try and join the break before it gets completely out of reach. The peloton allow him clear as well, and after 15km solo, he's able to join up the the quartet out in front.
Having joined the breakaway late, The Italian clearly wanted to make good on his breakaway effort. He managed to win the days intermediate sprint, beating Belgian Bontrager rider, Stuyven by a clear margin.
Behind them, It was Flahaut who won the sprint for the remaining points, holding off the best efforts of Vorarlbergs Weissinger, and Ljungblad.
Once again, the peloton made sure to see off any threat of the breakaway. De Rijke may well lose the jersey tomorrow in our first mountain stage, but nevertheless they seem keen to hang on as long as possible, and did most of the work in shutting down the breakaway.
25km out the break were already back in sight and touching distance, Franzoi decided to see if he could hang on alone, going for a late attack inside the breakaway...
However with 8km to the line, the final catch was made by the sprinters teams who lead the peloton. Franzoi gave a fright but no more, and today would be resolved in another mass sprint!
4500m... Only the RLM train seem to be sorted, Differdange have finally begun to get it together, but the line is bearing down upon them, is it too late to set up Ljungblad effectively?
No, with 2900m the Differdange train is up to speed and even have the inside line! The 2 main names are being tracked by Merlo of Wit, Walmsley of Jamis, Beckstedt of UKYouth and RaboCT's Zabel. Stauff was one of todays biggest favourites, but he appears to lack both a train and a wheel, currently situated back in 30th position!
With 1500m to the line, the Big swede Beckstedt decides to jump through the middle, On either side are the two men who had a team train, both with there final leadouts, Kaupas for Ljungblad, and Lalouette for Flahaut...
900m... It looks as though the UKYouth sprinter has timed it wrong yet again, he seems to back his ability in a distance sprint, and fade early every time. None the less, he does have a small margin at this point, as the two main names simultaneously jump of the wheel of their leadout, they look like favourites, who will take it today!
500m Flahaut looks to have timed this to perfection, he holds an easy bike length over his competition, and is speeding up not slowing down!
200m... Ljungblad isn't able to challenge Flahaut in a pure flat sprint, today and yesterday are proving that, however the Italian Merlo is proving a surprise challenger, he's coming fast and may yet nick the stage is Flahaut slows a bit!
But he can't quite get ahead, Flahaut has time to raise his arms in celebration as he crosses the line, great sprint from him to take 2 from 2!
That's the key part of his race for points all but completed now, as the mountains begin in earnest tomorrow. The remaining flat stages will play host to the battle for Green, but at least tomorrow, the Maillot Vert will be on French shoulders, thanks to his 2 successful days!