200km on the nose for this horrendously sounding Continental Tour race. The trio of Gasparotto, Soler and Pfannberger will also use this race for training.
Our final test before the Giro d'Italia and should put Gasparotto and Soler spot on for the big race. Pfannberger joins them again.
That man Rebellin again but a highly promising performance from Gasparotto before his home Grand Tour. Soler is a bit of an enigma at the moment as he looks far from the potential GC contender some were talking him up to be. Pfannberger is consistently boring in these races.
Its the 91st Giro d'Italia with a fearsome three weeks in store. We start with a Team Time Trial (TTT) in the Sicilian capital of Palermo before making our way across the island and heading north up the mainland. The first few stages should suit the sprinting teams before heading across the Apennine mountains. We transfer across to the east coast for the Urbino time trial, before eventually entering the Dolomites and the Italian Alps. The profile this year is all about climbing and the race include an uphill ITT to the Plan de Corones, with gradients reaching 24%. We finish in Milan with an ITT that may see the maglia rosa change on the very last day.
The following is the startlist for the Giro. Notable names missing are former winners Di Luca and Salvodelli, the Astana trio of Contador, Kloden and Leipheimer (who have all decided to target France and Spain this year for their GT goals), and dual victor Simoni, whose Serramenti team did not get an invite. However, there is plenty of talent still present and the list of GC favourites include Cunego, Kirchen, Sastre, Ricco and Dekker. Our team has identified what we believe to be the captains (or co-captains) or each of the contenders.
We pretty much have zero GT ambitions this year and are unashamedly stage-hunting, although a top 20 finish for Soler would be welcomed. We hope to target KOM points with Soler and/or Bellotti, while Gasparotto and Cooke will challenge for stage wins on the flatter stages.
The 2008 Giro d'Italia starts with a 30km TTT around Palermo. To say time trialing isn't one of our strong points would be putting it mildly, with only Gasparotto claiming any sort of proficiency at the technique. Frankly, our goal is not to finish last and lose minutes to the other teams.
Caisse d'Espagne are the first team out and have 2 National TT champions on their team in Gutierrez (Spain) and Rujano (Venezuela).
A lot of pressure has been put on the Dutch youngster Thomas Dekker for Giro 08 as he captains a team in a Grand Tour for the very first time.
Cofidis have the early lead as one of the strongest teams of the Giro, Team Columbia, show their TTing style. The have 3 National TT champions present: Grabsch (Germany), Pinotti (Italy) and Boasson Hagen (Norway).
CSC have brought Sastre to Italy this year to try to get him to finally win a GT.
Team High Road/Columbia have set the best time as we try to keep a smooth pace. We were a little disorganised earlier but as the stage went on we got more comfortable with the event. We've lost a little time to the team in front of us but we're close enough to keep it from being embarrassing.
Euskatel are trying to keep their team together...
...while LPR-Ballan start to lose a rider.
Gerolsteiner is the final team today and includes current ProTour leader Rebellin.
The new sponsors must be delighted as Team Columbia powers to win the stage clear of Silence-Lotto. Kirchen must have been impressed with Boasson Hagen as he lets the young Norweigen pass the line first and take the leader's pink jersey. We're pretty content with our efforts as we finish 20th, just over a minute behind. We haven't lost too much time for Soler.
Stage 2, 208km, and quite a hilly course for an early GT stage. The uphill finish will negate the pure sprinters' speed so we may try and get Gasparotto towards the front near the end.
Former U-23 TT world champion Ignatiev launched a early attack and is clear when taking this year's first KOM points.
After fighting off the pack for a long time, he finally is reeled in at the 22km mark.
12km out and approaching the finishing hill, Gasparotto, on the inside, pushes towards the front.
4km to go and he's right up there...
...he puts the head down and attacks with 2km to go!
Inside the final kilometre, Dekker has closed up. Can Gasparotto hold on?
But Dekker is too strong...
...and takes the stage win. A great start to the Giro for the Dutchman.
Gasparotto just misses out on a top 3 finish, but Bellotti put up a great sprint at the end to arrive in 11th. Kirchen's 3rd place means he now leads from Dekker overall.
I assume you mean the big one-day races? Mostly because they aren't our key races or sponsor goal races and our riders have proven many times that they aren't up to being competitive in them, so for the sake of moving this story this story along at a decent pace I simulate them. Riding a full race and then writing the race report takes quite a bit of time and I mostly want to show with the story the strategy the team has planned and if it is working out.
I've actually started turning down wildcard applications to the big ProTour races as we aren't getting anywhere with them and we are letting our Continental Tour ranking slip. I think you only have to look at Mads' Euskatel story to see that mostly people want to see 2 things: the Grand Tours, and races that Mads can win. Hope you can understand and keep enjoying the races.
I do like to hear everyone's opinion on whether things in this story should change, whether they like it or not, suggestions etc.
Edited by robinhowlett on 03-07-2008 22:16
Its day 3 of the 2008 Giro d'Italia and its our last day in Sicily, taking us 208km to Milazzo. A sprint finish is anticipated.
A small group of 8 riders, including Nick Nuyens, lead by 4' 34" at the first intermediate sprint.
60km out Ballan and Flecha attempt an audacious breakaway. Can these Classics specialists stay away from the peleton?
Flecha and Ballan blast straight past the original 8 escapees.
9km and disaster as a large crash on a dangerous bend takas out many riders including some big names! Schleck, Rebellin, Cunego and Gadret are among those on the ground.
With the crash disrupting the peleton, Gasparotto is quite far back when he launches his sprint at the 2km marker. Up front Paolini is edging ahead of Schumacher.
Paolini is the only true sprinter left up front and shows it as he wins very easily.
Schleck, Cunego and others cross the line over 4 minutes down - a disaster for their GC ambitions.
Points:
1 Kim Kirchen Team Columbia 16 32
2 Thomas Dekker Rabobank 0 25
3 Luca Paolini Acqua e Sapone - Caffè Mokambo 25 25 4 Enrico Gasparotto Barloworld 6 20
5 Tadej Valjavec AG2R La Mondiale 0 20
6 Koldo Fernández de Larrea Euskaltel - Euskadi 20 20
7 Leonardo Bertagnolli Liquigas 14 14
8 Damiano Cunego Lampre 0 12
9 Robert Förster Gerolsteiner 12 12
10 Stefan Schumacher Gerolsteiner 0 10
Mountain:
1 Mikhail Ignatiev Tinkoff Credit Systems 0 5
2 Dimitri Muravyev Astana Cycling Team 0 3
3 Martin Elmiger AG2R La Mondiale 0 1
Edited by robinhowlett on 03-07-2008 23:07
Stage 4 and we're back on the mainland for a stage of "two halves". The first 55km are all about climbing before a long descent to the coast and a flat finish. The sprinters may find it difficult to raise their game at the end of this stage after such difficult start.
Rebellin must be trying to make up for yesterday as he breaks away as soon as we leave the neutral zone.
On the descent, Sylvain Chavanel suffers a puncture and tries to latch back on to the peleton. Its going to be hard though, as we are flying down at speed!
60km left and Rebellin is still over 6 minutes clear. The peleton is in top gear now and is scooping up the stragglers of this morning's breakaway.
Murro is caught, and only Rebellin is the only one left. He's 3' 10" up with 37km to the line...
..but he blows up on the final hill 15km later and the pack is set for a group finish.
Stefan Schumacher has gone for home very far out but is clear. We've no choice but to start our sprint, and Kirchen does also.
Schumacher went too early and loses pace around the dangerous final bend. Gasparotto is in front with 200m left to go, but Ballan and Fernandez are right behind!
But he does it, he holds on! We've won a stage in the Giro d'Italia!!! What a fantastic finish by Gasparotto and this race is already a success!
But look, Sastre falls at the last corner. He's within the crash zone though and will get the same time, but a sore one for sure. More riders succumb to the tricky finishing layout.
Chavanel wasn't able to make it back to the pack and arrives 11 minutes behind the peleton. Another GC candidate takes a big time hit.
A terrific day for our small team and our sponsors are over the moon. Gasparotto is 2nd on points behind Kirchen and so will wear the maglia ciclamino tomorrow. Kirchen's consistently high finishes are earning time bonuses and he's extending his overall lead every day.
Unfortunately, both Froome and Calcagni finished outside the time limit today and our squad is down to 7 riders.
The 5th stage and its 170km with another uphill finish. Traditional sprinters like Hushovd, Bennati and Cavendish haven't really got a look in yet; will their luck be in today?
At the 2nd mountain top and a group of 7 leads the peleton by about 6' 30".
30km to go and the pack is closing in, but the escapees are doing everything they can to stay away.
12km to go and all back together as Rebellin leads out the bunch.
Unbelievable! Cunego crashes yet again, he's having a Giro to forget so far. Astana's Brajkovic goes down also.
Schumacher once again goes early as Tinkoff's Brutt follow suit. Will this tactic pay off today?
Under the 1km banner and Rebellin, Kirchen and Gasparotto are among those poised for victory.
Koldo Fernandez proves the fastest and Euskatel have their first win of this year's Giro. Kirchen yet again is placed in 2nd.
Gasparotto said he didn't feel as good as yesterday but tried his best at the finish.
The longest stage of this year's Giro but apart from the Ardennes-like hilly finish and not too difficult one. Gasparotto feels that this profile will fit his style and targets a good result today.
A good of 8 including Astana's Vaitkus leads and are about 10 minutes clear.
The peleton slowly wound up the pace until all escapees were caught and with 15km to the finish, only 2 hills remain.
Kirchen has drove himself up this hill very fast and we follow his move, although his heart-rate monitor is showing he's at his very maximum already.
The final kilometre and Mazzanti is going for it. Kirchen, Cunego and Rebellin are all threatening.
Cunego takes it. That should make up somewhat for a miserable first week!
Gasparotto just didn't have the legs up the final hill and finishes back in the pack.
DAMN!!!! Those guys look like they are hurt. I mean that Milram rider looks like he's dead. The other ones just look like they ate to much spicey food and now got some indigestion.
The first mountain stage and its 178km with some tough climbing in store. Let's see how Soler can do, he's been training very hard for days like this.
Frank Schleck makes a very early move...
...and he soons joins up with the day's early breakaways.
Chavanel, Rebellin, Caucchioli and Bertagnolli all attack also.
52km out and race leader Kirchen attacks! We think its too early to counter and sit tight.
Schleck, Chavanel, Rebellin and Bertagnolli are leading now over the penultimate climb.
Kirchen, Ricco, Sastre and Joly attack. We're caught in two minds now, should we attack?
Soler attacks when we reach the small flat section.
Kirchen is back in the pack. There have been so many attacks that its hard to follow who is where.
Nibali, Cunego, Garzelli and Dekker are next to break. Soler is back in the peleton and has very little more to go with 20km still to go.
The leaders are all over the place now. Ricco still has strength to attack again.
Chavanel holds the lead on the run to the line...
...he salutes the crowd and takes the win.
Nibali's 3rd place today means the young Italian takes over the maglia rosa. 2000 Giro winner Garzelli is now 2nd overall, with Caisse d'Espagne's LL Sanchez in 3rd.
Soler disappointed us today. He never looked like being able to stay away and perhaps fatigue is catching up with him. The morale is beginning to plummet. This is terrible timing with next week all about climbing.
Stage 8 and after yesterday's day in the Appenines, we're back to less challenging terrain however the early climbing required may blunt the sprinters' kick near the finish line.
A group of 9 led by CSC-Saxo Bank's Sorensen lead over the final climb.
13km left to go and Sorensen is still out there but alone. He hold a decent gap but he's clearly exhausted and the sprinters' teams are getting ready for a full-speed leadout,
6km from the finish, Sorensen is pegged back. Gasparotto's having a good day and gets on Mazzanti's wheel and out of trouble.
Another crash and Soler just manages to avoid being brought down! This time is Gutierrez, Ballan, Hushovd and Anton who are among the unlucky ones.
Gasparotto has great legs today and picked the right wheel to follow. Mazzanti pulled away from the other teams who were too busy trying to get organised. Gasparotto pulls out and with 1km left to go has opened up some daylight to Liquigas' Daniel Bennati...
What a superstar! Gasparotto takes his, and the team's, 2nd stage win of the Giro! Bennati came fast and late but too late to catch him.
With the victory Gasparotto takes back the points jersey. Should we really start thinking about winning this jersey now overall!?!
194km and a pretty flat one today. We'll have to defend Gasparotto's maglia ciclamino if we are to hold onto the lead in the points competition.
McGee is part of a small break that lead over the hill before the finish. The peleton are close behind however.
17km to go and the peleton have the final 2 escapees in their sights.
Gasparotto's feeling the pressure of defending a Grand Tour jersey. He loses wheel after wheel after being continuously muscled out by the top sprinters. 2km left and he's really far back.
At the line it's Bennati who goes one better than yesterday. Koldo Fernandez is close up there too but Gasparotto was just too far back - did we waste a big opportunity today?
Fernandez takes enough points today to take over the points lead. We'll have to try and get it back before we hit the mountains.
