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Discovery Channel - TdF 2011
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| lluuiiggii |
Posted on 05-02-2011 02:03
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16th for Eisel was very good considering he was out of support quite early.
And poor Ballan, crashing on the worst moment. And he still got 5th. Wow.
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-11-2024 03:11
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| Squire |
Posted on 05-02-2011 18:57
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@baia: I agree, I would also have liked to see Ballan win. Anyway, he has been sensational so far this season.
@luigi: I had hoped that Gusev and Hincapie could hang on for a bit longer, but as it turned out, 16th is decent.
Thanks to all the good lucks etc. earlier. I've been a bit lazy responding to comments lately. 
Amstel Gold Race coming up soon (at least the preview  ) |
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| Squire |
Posted on 05-02-2011 19:47
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 19.04.2011: Amstel Gold Race
Past winners
2009: Karsten Kroon (Saxo Bank)
2010: Philippe Gilbert (Silence - Lotto)
The first of the three big hilly classics of the spring takes place in the province of Limburg, Netherlands. The Amstel Gold Race is a fairly young race, but it's the most important Dutch race on the calendar. 31 hills are on the profile, the last of which is the finish up the Cauberg in Valkenburg.
The last three winners are lining up for this year's edition as well, but Cunego, Kroon and Gilbert should bear in mind that no-one has won this race twice since Jan Raas in the late seventies. Italians have liked this race in recent years, so look out for Cunego and Scarponi, who seems to be in good shape. Of course we shouldn't forget Valverde, S.Sanchez and the Schlecks either. Gilbert could also well be the first double winner in 30 years.
Roman Kreuziger has gotten some racing in his legs, and his form is improving, but he's still not 100% race fit. Nevertheless, we expect him to be up there and fight for a good result. Maybe a podium if we're lucky?
Discovery Channel
 Roman Kreuziger
 Janez Brajkovic
 Sergio Paulinho
 Egoi Martinez
Benjamin Noval
 Jurgen Van Goolen
 Trent Lowe
 Ivan Rovny |
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| lluuiiggii |
Posted on 05-02-2011 19:55
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GL for Amstel Gold, Kreuziger will go well 
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| Squire |
Posted on 06-02-2011 15:55
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19.04.2011: Amstel Gold Race
Amstel Gold Race
Maastricht - Valkenburg: 250.5km
Tactics meeting
It's still raining in Northern Europe. The slippery roads will add to the danger from the many road obstacles in the Netherlands. Despite not being in top shape, Roman Kreuziger aims to be part of some moves in the final of today's race. Let's hope he's got the strength to achieve a podium.
LL Sanchez and J.Rodriguez, working for Caisse d'Epargne and Alejandro Valverde, reeled in the last escapee from the morning break, Jakob Fuglsang, with 40km left to race. It was all set for a big showdown in the rain!
Almost immediately after the catch, the next move followed. 2009 winner Karsten Kroon stretched his legs on one of the climbs.
Kroon was followed by fellow Dutchman Lars Boom. The two of them worked up a small advantage with 25km remaining, leading the pack by 40 seconds.
However, on the Keutenberg, which was the penultimate climb, it all came back together. Almost 40 riders were in the front group, including Roman Kreuziger. Several attackers tried to open up a gap on this climb.
The only one who succeeded in getting away was of course Alejandro Valverde! Could he do 12km solo?
Down from the Keutenberg, Samuel Sanchez chased like a man possessed! The first two riders on the road was now the two principal players of the Vuelta al Pais Vasco.
Two more riders tried to get across, Lars Boom and Roman Kreuziger! 10km from the line, Kreuziger was 1 minute behind Valverde. Our captain had the benefit of being paired with a strong time trialist in Boom.
As he entered Valkenburg, Valverde was 40 seconds ahead of Samuel Sanchez. The Spanish champion could smell victory as he headed under the 5km banner!
Further behind, Kreuziger and Boom were caught and passed by last year's winner Philippe Gilbert. As Sanchez was also still ahead, a podium finish looked unlikely for Roman.
Kreuziger and Boom approached the Cauberg together. Ahead, Gilbert had caught Sanchez, so those two would distribute the two remaining podium places between themselves.
The top step of the podium belonged to Alejandro Valverde though! What a season he's having!
Sanchez managed to hold off Gilbert to make it a Spanish 1-2 in the Netherlands.
Unfortunately, Boom and Kreuziger were swallowed by a larger group coming from behind. Cunego went up the Cauberg fastest among these riders, and grabbed 4th. Roman got 7th in the end.
Today's winner
Results
| 1. | Alejandro Valverde | Caisse d'Epargne | 6h07'41 | | 2. | Samuel Sánchez | Euskaltel - Euskadi | + 51 | | 3. | Philippe Gilbert | Silence - Lotto | s.t. | | 4. | Damiano Cunego | Katusha | + 1'36 | | 5. | Karsten Kroon | Saxo Bank | s.t. | | 6. | Lars Boom | Rabobank | s.t. | | 7. | Roman Kreuziger | Discovery Channel | s.t. | | 8. | Andy Schleck | Saxo Bank | s.t. | | 9. | Michele Scarponi | Quick-Step | + 2'09 | | 10. | Benoit Vaugrenard | Française des Jeux | s.t. | | 11. | Peter Velits | T-Mobile | s.t. | | 12. | Sandy Casar | Cofidis | s.t. | | 13. | Fränk Schleck | Saxo Bank | s.t. | | 14. | Jussi Veikkanen | Française des Jeux | s.t. | | 15. | Alexander Efimkin | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. |
He truly is unstoppable. Alejandro Valverde proves that he can perform not only in sunny Southern Europe, but also in the cold and rainy North. It's his 3rd ProTour win of the season (after Paris-Nice and Pais Vasco), and I wonder who can stop him taking the two remaining Ardennes classics.
Roman Kreuziger was on the move during the last kilometers, but couldn't quite keep it up until the finish. Still, 7th is a good result for us, and he's definitely on course to a form peak during the Giro. The most aggressive rider of the day was Lars Boom, who crowned his efforts with a solid 6th place.
Kreuziger & co will line up in Belgium next, for the midweek race La Fleche Wallonne. If Valverde can keep his form over the next few days, I see nobody stopping him on the Muur de Huy. Stay tuned! |
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| baia |
Posted on 06-02-2011 16:39
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Amazing win from Valverde...and Kreuziger did good,its a good result...and it was a nice try. |
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| Alakagom |
Posted on 06-02-2011 16:46
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Valverde unstopable but Kreuziger 7th is still very good, hopefully you will have more luck in fleche-wallonne 
Edited by Alakagom on 06-02-2011 16:47
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| lluuiiggii |
Posted on 06-02-2011 16:56
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I believe in a year or two Valverde will also start winning cobble races. I mean, he's unstoppable! Nice 7th with Kreuziger and good luck for Fleche Wallone
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 06-02-2011 17:00
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He's on strong stuff...
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| Squire |
Posted on 06-02-2011 17:29
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Thanks all! 7th is decent considering Kreuziger's form.
@luigi: He's good, but not that good I think
@valverde321: He's been like that since the Vuelta last year, so if he's on something, the doctor must be doing a good job |
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| Squire |
Posted on 07-02-2011 02:01
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22.04.2011: La Flèche Wallonne
Past winners
2009: Philippe Gilbert (Silence - Lotto)
2010: Philippe Gilbert (Silence - Lotto)
The Walloon arrow is the second of the the Ardennes classics (although technically the first one, Amstel Gold Race, does not take place in the Ardennes region). The Muur de Huy that leads up to the finish line in Huy is usually where the race is decided, and it takes some serious climbing power to get up there and win with 200km already in the legs.
Valverde already has one hilly classic in the bag this season. He must be regarded as the big favourite to make it two. Winner of the last two Fleche Wallonne editions, Philippe Gilbert, put on a strong display in the AGR, and is looking to join Kint, Merckx and Argentin as a three-time winner. Others to look out for are basically all the riders who did well in the Amstel Gold Race.
One of them is Roman Kreuziger. Our Czech supertalent is building for the Giro, and is in with a chance of winning the Fleche Wallonne. Andreas Klöden joins the team for this one, but his form is still lacking. He will provide good support though.
Discovery Channel
Roman Kreuziger
Janez Brajkovic
 Andreas Klöden
Sergio Paulinho
Egoi Martinez
Benjamin Noval
Trent Lowe
Ivan Rovny |
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| Squire |
Posted on 07-02-2011 02:40
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22.04.2011: La Flèche Wallonne
La Flèche Wallonne
Charleroi - Huy: 201.7km
Tactics meeting
La Fleche Wallonne hasn't got as many hills as the Amstel Gold Race, but the climbs in this race are longer, and the Muur de Huy is a real killer. Kreuziger should be strong enough to hang onto the leaders when they hit the last climb.
Game crashed, so I only have these three 'backup'-pictures I took during the race. Anyway, the peloton was more or less together as the race approached the Muur de Huy.
Surprisingly, AG2R's Alexander Efimkin went really well on the climb. Schleck the elder and Samuel Sanchez tried to get up to him, while Valverde was a few meters further down. This was looking good for the more unknown of the Efimkin twins!
And Efimkin made it! This is a small sensation! Sanchez sprinted past Schleck to claim 2nd place and thereby relegate the Luxembourger to 3rd. Kreuziger came in with the next group, finishing 7th.
Today's winner
Results
| 1. | Alexander Efimkin | AG2R La Mondiale | 4h52'40 | | 2. | Samuel Sánchez | Euskaltel - Euskadi | s.t. | | 3. | Fränk Schleck | Saxo Bank | s.t. | | 4. | Alejandro Valverde | Caisse d'Epargne | s.t. | | 5. | Philippe Gilbert | Silence - Lotto | + 18 | | 6. | Damiano Cunego | Katusha | s.t. | | 7. | Roman Kreuziger | Discovery Channel | s.t. | | 8. | Rinaldo Nocentini | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. | | 9. | Julien El Fares | Auber 93 | s.t. | | 10. | Andy Schleck | Saxo Bank | s.t. | | 11. | José Iván Gutiérrez | Caisse d'Epargne | s.t. | | 12. | Peter Velits | T-Mobile | + 42 | | 13. | Kim Kirchen | T-Mobile | s.t. | | 14. | Rigoberto Urán | Saxo Bank | s.t. | | 15. | David De la Fuente | Saunier Duval | s.t. |
Congratulations to Alexander Efimkin for the biggest win of his career! The AG2R rider's main achievement before today was a stage in the 2009 Giro d'Italia. This is a refreshing change from the Valverdian domination we've seen lately. Samuel Sanchez finished 2nd again, just as he did in the Amstel Gold Race.
Roman Kreuziger went one better than his Fleche Wallonne placing from last year. We aren't delighted with a 7th place, but it's still a decent result. He's probably getting used to 7th places, as he got the same placing a few days ago.
We aren't collecting 7th places though, so we hope he can step it up a level for Liège - Bastogne - Liège. Our captain seems to get stronger every day, so we are really looking forward to what is one of the biggest races on the calendar. Stay tuned! |
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| valverde321 |
Posted on 07-02-2011 02:56
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Wow Efimkin has high stats, he must have improved quite significantly. And finally Valverde loses.
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| Squire |
Posted on 07-02-2011 11:28
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valverde321 wrote:
Wow Efimkin has high stats, he must have improved quite significantly.
Actuallly, he hasn't improved that much. You can see an early screenshot of him on page 5 of this story, when he won the Giro stage.
LBL coming up soon by the way
Edited by Squire on 07-02-2011 11:28
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| Squire |
Posted on 07-02-2011 12:01
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26.04.2011: Liège - Bastogne - Liège
Past winners
2009: Karsten Kroon (Saxo Bank)
2010: Philippe Gilbert (Silence - Lotto)
Liège-Bastogne-Liège is the fourth monument of the season, and one of the toughest non-cobbled races there is. 262km through Belgian forests take the riders from Liège to Bastogne and back again. Last year's edition was won by Philippe Gilbert after one of the more Merckx-like performances seen in recent years. Despite everybody knowing he was the strongest after his AGR and LFW wins, Gilbert managed to go on a 30km solo attack to take his first LBL victory.
He's not as dominant this year, but he's been right up there in both previous classics, and is a good bet for victory in this race. Two-time winner Valverde also looks dangerous, and maybe Cunego can find back to his brilliant classics performances of 2008, as he's had a good season so far. The Italian was 2nd in LBL last year.
Without Peter Velits, our results haven't been that great so far in the classics season, but Kreuziger finished 4th in LBL last year, just behind Velits, so he knows how to handle 'La Doyenne'. It would be incredible if he could get onto the podium this year.
Discovery Channel
Roman Kreuziger
Andreas Klöden
Sergio Paulinho
 Yaroslav Popovych
 George Hincapie
 Tomas Vaitkus
Egoi Martinez
Benjamin Noval |
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| Squire |
Posted on 07-02-2011 15:43
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26.04.2011: Liège - Bastogne - Liège
Liège - Bastogne - Liège
Liège - Liège: 262.1km
Tactics meeting
The climbs are longer and tougher than the Amstel Gold Race, something which should fit Kreuziger better. If he can stay with the favourites when they crank up the speed towards the end, anything can happen. Let's hope for a great day for Roman, who's coming more and more into form.
Alberto Contador was part of the early break, but he's obviously building for July, so he couldn't do anything significant in the breakaway. They were brought back with 50km left.
And then it happened. Kreuziger hit the asphalt, and when he got back on his bike, he realised he couldn't continue! His wrist was hurting, and we hurried away to the hospital for scans. What a disaster!
The race carried on without him. With 38km remaining, Fränk Schleck attacked on La Redoute.
Some of the less hotly tipped riders formed a chasegroup to hunt down the Saxobank rider. The riders on the move were Scarponi (Quickstep), Velits (T-Mobile), Fuglsang (LPR), Meersman (FdJ) and Kolobnev (Saxobank).
The five chasers made it up to Fränk Schleck, and this group was 1 minute ahead of the pack when they had 30km left to ride. Saxo had two guys in this frontgroup.
Valverde could see winning potensial in this breakaway, so he didn't want to miss it. With Sanchez on his wheel, he powered across the gap on the Roche aux Faucons climb.
20km from the line, nine men were in front. Valverde and Sanchez had joined, as had Kim Kirchen. Saxo and T-Mobile were in a good position, with two riders each.
A few kilometers later, Gilbert got across the 1 minute gap too, bringing with him Nocentini (AG2R). Katusha captain Cunego also joined the leaders shortly after.
The group stayed together until the penultimate climb, the Côte de Saint-Nicolas. There, Gilbert launched a powerful attack! He had obviously recovered well during the last few kms. This group was 7km away from the finish now.
The Belgian monster opened a serious gap! He was 1 minute ahead of the rest with only the last incline up to the finish line remaining!
Sanchez tried one last desperate attempt in the last kilometers, but it was too late!
Philippe Gilbert is the winner of Liège - Bastogne - Liège for the second year in a row! He must absolutely love this race.
Sanchez' accelration did at least gain him 2nd place, his third in a week. Valverde followed closely behind to complete the podium.
Today's winner
Results
| 1. | Philippe Gilbert | Silence - Lotto | 6h55'03 | | 2. | Samuel Sánchez | Euskaltel - Euskadi | + 54 | | 3. | Alejandro Valverde | Caisse d'Epargne | s.t. | | 4. | Damiano Cunego | Katusha | s.t. | | 5. | Fränk Schleck | Saxo Bank | s.t. | | 6. | Kim Kirchen | T-Mobile | s.t. | | 7. | Peter Velits | T-Mobile | s.t. | | 8. | Rinaldo Nocentini | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. | | 9. | Gianni Meersman | Française des Jeux | + 1'24 | | 10. | Jakob Fuglsang | LPR Brakes Farnese Vini | s.t. | | 11. | Rigoberto Urán | Saxo Bank | s.t. | | 12. | Michele Scarponi | Quick-Step | s.t. | | 13. | Alexander Efimkin | AG2R La Mondiale | + 3'59 | | 14. | Luis León Sánchez | Caisse d'Epargne | + 4'15 | | 15. | Karsten Kroon | Saxo Bank | + 4'30 | | 16. | Andy Schleck | Saxo Bank | s.t. | | 17. | Robert Gesink | Quick-Step | s.t. | | 18. | Benoit Vaugrenard | Française des Jeux | s.t. | | 19. | Markus Eibegger | Katusha | s.t. | | 20. | Fredrik Kessiakoff | Saunier Duval | s.t. |
He does it again! Not as spectacular as his 30km attack last year, but Philippe Gilbert knows exactly how to win this race! Samuel Sanchez has now been 2nd in AGR, LFW and LBL. He must be getting frustrated.
But the biggest news as far as Discovery is concerned is Kreuziger's crash. After recieving the results from the hospital, we can ascertain that he'll be out until June with a sprained wrist. It's a complete disaster! He will miss his big goal of the season, namely the defence of his Giro title. This is an enormous blow for us.
The next race for us is the Tour de Romandie, but it will not be the same without Kreuziger. I also have a couple of weeks to figure out how to do the Giro now that our leader is out injured. Improvisation coming up. Stay tuned!
Edited by Squire on 08-02-2011 11:47
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| roturn |
Posted on 07-02-2011 16:50
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Shame with Kreuziger. Will he be in form for the Tour or just for the Vuelta? |
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| Squire |
Posted on 07-02-2011 17:04
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roturn wrote:
Shame with Kreuziger. Will he be in form for the Tour or just for the Vuelta?
Originally he was scheduled to ride the Giro and then the Tour in support of Leipheimer, but I think I'll change his fitness programme to have him fit for both the Tour and the Vuelta. |
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| baia |
Posted on 07-02-2011 17:41
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Damn...i hate when that happens...really a shame that crash...Gilbert did it great.. |
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| rjc_43 |
Posted on 07-02-2011 18:28
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Certainly makes the story interesting to see how you cope in the Giro without Kreuziger. Will you still try to aim for the GC with another rider? Or the points? Or the mountains? Or just stage wins?!
Still, without a doubt in my mind, one of the best stories around. |
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