The last of the four races in Denmark brings us another chance to get a good result. Everyone who helped us to a good result at yesterday's Himmerland Rundt is here, although they may be a bit fatigued after so much intense classic racing. Once again there is a good field, with some of the best Continental sprinters like Furlan (Christina Watches) and Thomel (Team NSP).
The race gets off to a slow start as an eight-man breakaway is formed. The peloton looks to be having a bit of a rest after most have just ridden two consecutive classics. The group off the front can't believe their luck as their gap grows to seven minutes.
There is eventually a late attempt to bring back the men off the front, but it is apparent it is too late as the attackers reach five kilometers to go with a minutes lead. Bogdanovics (Alpha Baltic) wins the sprint and is another surprise victor.
The sprint for ninth is taken by Vasilyev (ISD) ahead of Bertillson (People4You) who rounds off the top 10. Enger takes a respectable twelfth, on a day where the sprinters were denied by a strong breakaway.
Miguel98 wrote:
He could have got 3rd if it wasn't for the break.
Well, 4th would have been good but our results in Himmerland (May have been missed, last post previous page) were great, so it balances out Edited by FroomeDog99 on 03-09-2013 12:30
With the classics season over and done with, the rankings look interesting at WorldTour level. Joaquim Rodriguez leads the rankings for Katusha after Stage Race wins in Catalunya and Pais Vasco. Tom Boonen sits in second after a supreme classic season, where rival Cancellara was Injured and in third is Dan Martin, who won his first race at WT level as he soloed to Fleche Wallone victory.
In the Team rankings, Omega Pharma - Quickstep lead the way after Boonen and Chavanel's great classic peformances in the absence of Cancellara. Katusha lie in second place thanks to Rodriguez's big contribution while BMC sit in a distant third, after taking good victories at Paris - Nice and Gent - Wevelgem.
Individual
1
Joaquim Rodriguez
Katusha Team
412
2
Tom Boonen
Omega Pharma - Quickstep Cycling Team
344
3
Dan Martin
Garmin - Sharp
233
4
Vincenzo Nibali
Astana Pro Team
227
5
Michal Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma - Quickstep Cycling Team
197
Team
1
Omega Pharma - Quickstep Cycling Team
863
2
Katusha Team
700
3
BMC Racing Team
472
4
Garmin - Sharp
449
5
Movistar Team
431
Continental Rankings
The Continental rankings are now starting to take shape as the season reaches it's midway point. Denis Flahaut leads the rankings for Colba - Superano Ham after taking multiple classic wins, including the GP Sencur and the Int. Ronde Van Noord Holland. Stefan Schumacher drops down a place since February to second after not getting a win since that point and Cofidis' Egoitz Garcia is third, after some consistent riding which saw him get results such as sixth at the Dwars door Vlaanderen. Our best rider is Enger, who lies in 85th on 86 points.
Team-wise, French team Cofidis lead the way after a promising start to the season lead by Garcia. German squad Netapp - Endura are sitting in an accomplished second, thanks partly to the great riding from Leopald Konig. Europcar are close behind in third, but will surely climb up the rankings come the end of the season. Plussbank currently occupy 52nd place, which is a decent placing seeing that we have most race days still to come.
Individual
1
Denis Flahaut
Colba - Superano Ham
300
2
Stefan Schumacher
Christina Watches - Onfone
298
3
Egoitz Garcia Etxegibel
Cofidis Solutions Crédits
298
4
Leopald Konig
Team Netapp - Endura
288
5
Roy Sentjens
Cyclingteam De Rijke - Shanks
260
Team
1
Cofidis Solutions Crédits
1113
2
Team Netapp - Endura
984
3
Team Europcar
959
4
Sojasun
780
5
Cyclingteam De Rijke - Shanks
769
CQ Ranking
The crucial CQ ranking is also shaped by the classics season at this stage, with the Grand Tour contenders still to push through. Joaquim Rodriguez leads the way in the Individual rankings, like the WorldTour. Tom Boonen also is in second after his three WT classic wins, including two monuments. Maybe a surprise third is Vincenzo Nibali, who despite taking no wins showed his strength by taking second overall at Tirreno and Pais Vasco. Our best rider is once again Enger, who is in an obscure 352nd place, on 60 points.
In the Team rankings it is the same story as in the WorldTour rankings, as Omega Pharma - Quickstep leading the way ahead of Katusha and BMC. Cofidis and Europcar lie in the WT promotion spots in 11th and 14th respectively, while on course to be relegated from cycling's top tier are Euskatel and AG2R who sit in a poor 30th and 31st places. Plussbank are in 86th on 84 points.
Thanks Sutty, but it doesn't compare to Aasvold's ride at Himmerland
Hadeland GP [1.2]
4th May, 2013
Our squad here is very similar to that of the Danish classics, but with the addition of Johansson, who is a decent hilly domestique. We have more options here however, with Hoem, Aasvold, Lunke and Enger all capable of a result here. There is a full startlist here which is strong, and should make life tough for us with plenty of attacking riding. Watch out for Joker rider Breen, who could throw up a surprise.
There is a breakaway of ten riders established straight away, which could prove to be strong come the end of the day. Still, the peloton looks quietly confident as the gap grows.
At the halfway stage, the gap is up to six minutes as an attack is launched by Skerpjing (Joker). Aasvold sees the move and follows him with five other riders up the road.
Those six riders eventually join the breakaway, which stays away until the finish! Jacques-Maynes and Romero Amaran both lead home a 1-2 for Jamis in the final sprint, while Aasvold does his best to grab a good seventh.
1
Ben Jacques-Maynes
Jamis - Hagens Berman
4h38'38
2
Luis Alberto Romero Amaran
Jamis - Hagens Berman
s.t.
3
Marc Hester Hansen
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
4
Matija Kvasina
Team Gourmetfein Simplon
s.t.
5
Aske Louring Vorre
Blue Water Cycling
s.t.
6
Adrien Chenaux
Atlas Personal - Jakroo
s.t.
7
Lorents Ola Aasvold
Team Plussbank
s.t.
8
Kristoffer Skjerping
Joker - Merida
s.t.
9
José Nicolas Castro Laverde
EPM - Une
s.t.
10
Jochem Hoekstra
Cyclingteam Jo Piels
s.t.
Ringerike GP [1.2]
5th April, 2013
The same team travels here as to Hadeland, which will try to get another top 10. This race should suit Enger more than the last, on a circuit which isn't as hard as the previous one. Therefore we will ride for him, with the odd attack from the others. Most of the riders from the last race travel here, so those who did well should replicate their form.
As part of our plan we send Hoem into the six-man breakaway, in case it stays away like in our previous race. It is pulled back however with ten kilometers to go, which leaves some room for some attacks.
That is exactly what Breen (Joker) does as the race progresses into the final few kilometers. He gets a decent gap, so is followed by opportunists Holler (Thuringer) and Ortiz Caro (EPM - Une). We move onto the front of the peloton to try and pull them back, and set up an uphill sprint for Enger.
We can't get them back though, and as the bunch moves into the final 1500m Breen, Holler and Ortiz Caro are still off the front. There are further attacks from behind but are too late to catch the two leaders.
Breen crosses the line with a lapped rider, as he takes the victory. Holler soon follows him in, sixteen seconds behind the young Norwegian, having dropped his Colombian counterpart.
After a big final effort, Ortiz Caro just hangs on to finish in front of the peloton in third. The sprint is won by Cruz, while Enger finishes in eighth. Another top ten from the team here in Norway, which is good consistency.
The flat classic squad travels to Sweden for our last preparation race for the upcoming Glava Tour. Enger leads us again, backed up by Schmidt and Hoem who shall help him in the final sprint if need be. The competition here is tough, with strong continental riders like Groenwengen (De Rijke) and Wippert (3M), but a good result should be achievable.
As part of our pre-race plan we send Roinas and Erland into the break, to try and take a surprise victory. Unfortunately however, they are pulled back in the closing stages of the race by an eager De Rijke squad.
The attacks don't finish there though, as Hačecký (ASC Dukla Praha) jumps out of the peloton as the sprint trains are being formed. Entering the final few kilometers, the Czech rider still holds a healthy 40" advantage.
As the sprint begins behind, he is still off the front! De Rijke have set up a train for Groenwengen, while Enger sits firmly in the Dutchman's wheel. They could be sprinting for second, however.
That is proved to be the case, as Hačecký claims victory! The Czech rider and his team will benefit from a great points boost, after a tough start to the season.
The sprint for second is won by Groenwengen, who benefited from a great leadout from his team. Enger once again gets a solid top ten as he finishes in sixth, which confirms his good form ahead of a big race for the team, the Glava Tour.
No luck with the breaks but I'm impressed by the consistent Top-10's for the team.
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Yes, they are succeeding alot at the moment. Hopefully the problem is fixed in the next patch
I've noticed two things. Small peloton = almost sure win for the breakaway. We're talking 60-70 riders or less.
If its more than that, they pretty much for sure get caught, but its very close, around 2km to go on average, because the breakaway has way too much strength at the end of the stage.
Good results like the others have said. Enger is sort of like Hunal for me. Clearly the teams strongest rider, but the others aren't afraid to make some "guest appearances" to the Top 10 too (usually being Aasvold) Edited by valverde321 on 05-09-2013 02:23
@ valverde - I guess it should be more frequent in smaller fields, but the last few races where it has succeeded for me has been a full startlist of 180-190 riders.
However when they do get caught it isn't that late, but around 10 kilometers to go. Then a bunch of attacks happen and they win, like with Hačecký.
@ Daggen & Sutty - Yes, it was a good result for the team
The first Glava reports should be up over the next couple of days.
Edited by FroomeDog99 on 05-09-2013 17:45
One of our big season targets arrives as the Glava Tour begins, where our sponsors will be wanting some good results and camera time. Out best squad travels, with Enger at the helm. There is also a strong squad backing him up, as Aasvold and Hoem should be capable of results.
However, the race is Cat. 2.1, meaning the some of the best Pro-Continental sprinters are here. Riders like Hivert (Sojasun), Cardoso (Caja Rural) and Napolitano (Accent Jobs) should all be very tough to beat in a quality field. A decent result shouldn't be out of the question however with some luck.
Stage 1
The flat stage 1 is a perfect chance for the sprinters to get off to a good start here in Norway. There is an early breakaway, but that is reeled in very easily by a strong peloton, intent for a bunch sprint.
That quickly leads us into the final few kilometers. As the trains are set up by Accent Jobs and RusVelo, Enger is piloted onto the back of the Accent train by his leadout Schmidt which leaves him well positioned going into the final sprint.
Despite not having his own train though, it is Hivert sprints through for the win for the French Sojasun squad. Enger got left behind by some of the faster men, but can be happy with a respectable 10th.
1
Jonathan Hivert
Sojasun
3h47'05
2
Jempy Drucker
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
3
Leonid Krasnov
RusVelo
s.t.
4
Arthur Ershov
RusVelo
s.t.
5
Danilo Napolitano
Accent.Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
Stage 2
Stage 2 brings a stage even flatter than yesterday, which should leave the purer sprinters in better shape for the finish. Once more we'll be working for Enger, who should be able to achieve another top ten.
We move straight to the bunch sprint, as the breakaway never threatened. Enger is perfectly placed on Napolitano's wheel after some good positioning work from Roinas.
Going under the kite Commeyne (Accent Jobs) leads, after leaving behind his leader Napolitano. Enger is sitting in fifth, with energy left to kick on.
He can't stop Hivert though, who takes his second consecutive win after a great final kilometer which saw him overtake over ten riders! Enger however just squeezes onto the final podium in third. A great result, which moves him up to fifth overall here going into the second half of the race.
Miguel98 wrote:
3rd isn't bad, but Hivert winning flat sprints...
It's not like there are WT riders here because of the bug, but he is winning pretty dominantly I guess. Maybe it's his high ACC stat of 75, as he only has 71 SP.
Destination Thy [1.2]
Maris Bogdanovics
Truls Engen Korsaeth
Hossein Alizadeh
Maxim Pokidov
Aaron Buggle
Maksym Vasilyev
Christian Bertilsson
Paris - Nice
Tejay Van Garderen
Tirreno - Adriatico
Michal Kwiatkowski
Volta Ciclista a Catalunya
E3 Harelbecke
Amstel Gold Race
Simon Gerrans
Dan Martin
Tour de Romandie
Stefan Schumacher
Leopald Konig
Luis Alberto Romero Amaran
Matija Kvasina
José Nicolas Castro Laverde
Tae Min Gong
Reijo Puhm
Jempy Drucker
