Team's plan

Team's plan for today is simple. Do the best we can with Rajsp , without exhausting Polanc , or trying anything in breakaway.

Squad

Startlist

Althougt , 3rd stage of TdA has that big mountain in first 20km's , we're almost 100% sure that this stage is going to finish in mass sprint. But, everything's possible in these type of races , so , let's check!

Brave guys decided to attack from early start , since it's easier to make gap on big hill. These guys were: Ayabe , Witecki , Driscoll , Cuppit and Hucker. No one is important for GC or any other leading-maillot , so peloton let them go.



Nothing important on pan flat terrain in next 80 kilometers , so we're going to skip just on that finishing mass sprint.

2 big trains, Rajsp is on perfect place, but seems like these 2 trains are getting too close to each other. Andrej is getting blocked and his position is decreasing. No space for him to go back, this seems like unsucessful sprint for Radenska, once again.

CWO is entering Setif town as first , and Schumacher/Furlan duo is having best position currently!
Today , Furlan worked for Schumacher , who took the win! That was pretty dominant.



He finished in front of Earle and Dabowski. Total disaster for Rajsp , who was still stucked between 15th and 20th position.

1	Stefan Schumacher	Christina Watches - Onfone	2h41'25
2	Nathan Earle	Huon Salmon - Genesys Wealth Advisers	s.t.
3	Konrad Dabkowski	BDC - Marcpol Team	s.t.
4	Yannick Martinez	La Pomme Marseille	s.t.
5	David Jai Crawford	Huon Salmon - Genesys Wealth Advisers	s.t.
6	Benjamin Giraud	La Pomme Marseille	s.t.
7	Robert Radosz	BDC - Marcpol Team	s.t.
8	Steve Schets	Doltcini - Flanders	s.t.
9	Petr Vako�	Etixx - IHNed CT	s.t.
10	Michael Torckler	Bissell Cycling	s.t.

Post-race comment

This was bad. It was just not as we expected and we can't be satisfied and happy with this result. Hopefully , we're going to catch up with good results in next few stages. Polanc is in form , and we believe he can bring us good result here. See ya!

Stage 4

Team's plan

Try to do everything to exhaust and maybe even attack Schumacher, Earle and any of TOP5 guy.

4th day was , on our and everyone's surprise , rainy day. Pretty strange for Algeria in this part of year, you'll have to admit , but we had to deal with it.

Otonicar was our hope for breakaway , since he has best handling skills in our team , and we hoped he will use them on rainy terrain today.



Nothign important happened until main hill. Otonicar tried something on bottom of it , but that was not successful , now , it's Polanc's time. Hudecek , Earle , Schumacher and Shalunov in same group as our leader. These guys are current TOP5 and seems like all of them will stay at TOP5 , but who'll manage to get podium?


On top of the hill, Schumacher was clearly strongest, but Hudecek managed to stay with him somehow. Polanc could only watch them going. One of them are going to get win definitely.

And of course, Schumacher , as better sprinter , takes this stage and yellow jersey!



Polanc and Shalunov are passing above finish line about minute after, with huge painful grimace on their faces. This was thought day , but we can be happy , Polanc is now on podium.

Rank	Name	Team	Time
1	Stefan Schumacher	Christina Watches - Onfone	5h15'01
2	Jiří Hude�ek	Bauknecht - Author	s.t.
3	Evgeniy Shalunov	Lokosphinx	+ 55
4	Jan Polanc	Radenska	s.t.
5	Philip Gaimon	Bissell Cycling	+ 3'35
6	Amir Kolahdouz Hagh	Tabriz Petrochemical Team	s.t.
7	Abdelmalek Madani	Groupement Sportif Pétrolier Algérie	+ 4'51
8	Nathan Earle	Huon Salmon - Genesys Wealth Advisers	+ 5'24
9	Bernard Sulzberger	Drapac Cycling	s.t.
10	Takeaki Ayabe	Aisan Racing Team	s.t.

Rank	Name	Team	Time
1	Stefan Schumacher	Christina Watches - Onfone	16h15'05
2	Jiří Hude�ek	Bauknecht - Author	+ 20
3	Jan Polanc	Radenska	+ 1'16
4	Evgeniy Shalunov	Lokosphinx	+ 1'17
5	Amir Kolahdouz Hagh	Tabriz Petrochemical Team	+ 4'01
6	Philip Gaimon	Bissell Cycling	s.t.
7	Abdelmalek Madani	Groupement Sportif Pétrolier Algérie	+ 5'17
8	Campbell Flakemore	Huon Salmon - Genesys Wealth Advisers	+ 5'24
9	Nathan Earle	Huon Salmon - Genesys Wealth Advisers	+ 5'44
10	Takeaki Ayabe	Aisan Racing Team	+ 5'45

Post-race comment

Nice that we got podium, but we're aiming for more. At least 2nd place tommorow, and we'll go home with a big smile on face. C'mon Jan , you can do it!

Stage 5

Team's plan

Try to move at least for 1 position up in General Classification. Stage win would be cool , but that's not so important now , as GC is.

After cold and rainy day yesterday, TdA is going to finish in great conditions for cycling. 25 degrees of Celsius and sunny weather are just awesome.

Once again , our guys tried something from breakaway. This time , our playing card was Tadej Hiti , who was clearly the best climber in BOTD.



And once again , breakaway couldn't go faster and more , so they got caught on main and last hill of stage. This time , 2 leader jerseys , Jan Polanc and Stefan Schumacher , 2 leaders of this race, was 2 fastest guys. It was clearly that one of these are going to win TdA edition for 2013 year.



Jan gave his all to leave Stefan behind him , but that was just not possible. Seems like Schumacher is unbeatable , and that he was aiming for this race , as his season goal. Multiple attacks caused big damage to Polanc , so he had to stop, Schumacher got just enough power to get 1,5 meter and that was very end for our leader. Stefan Schumacher is going to win stage/GC.

And , just as i said, he even gained some time on downhill, but CWO rider, Stefan Schumacher got 2nd win in a row and saved his yellow jersey.



With disappointment on face, Jan Polanc is passing throught finish. This was hard race, but at least he got 2nd place. He still does not know that, i guess.

1	Stefan Schumacher	Christina Watches - Onfone	3h19'07
2	Jan Polanc	Radenska	+ 1'12
3	Evgeniy Shalunov	Lokosphinx	+ 2'25
4	Nathan Earle	Huon Salmon - Genesys Wealth Advisers	s.t.
5	David Jai Crawford	Huon Salmon - Genesys Wealth Advisers	s.t.
6	Rahim Ememi	RTS Cycling Team	s.t.
7	Hichem Chaabane	Vélo Club Sovac	s.t.
8	Jiří Hude�ek	Bauknecht - Author	s.t.
9	Tadej Hiti	Radenska	+ 4'19
10	Philip Gaimon	Bissell Cycling	s.t.

Rank	Name	Team	Time
1	Stefan Schumacher	Christina Watches - Onfone	19h34'02
2	Jan Polanc	Radenska	+ 2'32
3	Jiří Hude�ek	Bauknecht - Author	+ 2'55
4	Evgeniy Shalunov	Lokosphinx	+ 3'48
5	Nathan Earle	Huon Salmon - Genesys Wealth Advisers	+ 8'19
6	Hichem Chaabane	Vélo Club Sovac	+ 8'25
7	Rahim Ememi	RTS Cycling Team	s.t.
8	Philip Gaimon	Bissell Cycling	+ 8'30
9	David Jai Crawford	Huon Salmon - Genesys Wealth Advisers	+ 9'21
10	Frederik Wilmann	Christina Watches - Onfone	+ 10'19

Post-race comment

Podium! We finally got what we deserve. Congratulations to team , congratulations to Jan. See ya in next report!