I'm back from Poland again and I think I can say that it was another satisfying race for me as for the team. It was my first Top 15 overall in a World Tour race and Sylvester Szmyd achieved a Top 10 in his home race. While he accompanies Vincenzo Nibali in the Eneco Tour now, I'll lead a squad in France at the Tour de l'Ain starting tomorrow.
But first, I'd like to present you the team's next two transfers:
Riders Out:
Spoiler
Paolo Longo Borghini had two very successful years in our team. He especially had a good run at the Tour de Slovenie, where he won a stage both this and last year. Plus, he won Le Samyn and Strade Bianche last year. But the DS obviously thought that he is past his best and decided not to extend his contract. He already found a new team in Quick·Step, where he signed a two years contract.
Spoiler
Maciej Paterski is a very fast young rider with still quite some potential left and we are convinced that he will have a nice development in the future. He has just the bad luck that our sprinting squad is extremely dense at that our management decided to lower the amount of sprinters in the team. Paterski will return to his home country Poland, where he'll join the Bank BGZ équipe.
Rider In:
You may remember our first new signing, Markus Eibegger. The next two riders I'd like to present you are from the German speaking area as well, one German and one Austrian. Both are neo pros who will tackle their first season at a professional cycling team.
Spoiler
The first neo pro is no one less than the leader of the U23 ranking: Bastian Grünwald. He started the season with a stage win and the third overall at the GP de Portugal and continued with another stage win and the second place overall at the Giro della Regioni. After a decent 12th spot at LBL des espoirs, he took his first overall win: The Ronde de l'Isard, along with two stage wins at the most demanding stages. We didn't hesitate long to sign him.
Spoiler
Our second signing from the U23s is the Austrian Marco Morgenthaler, seventh of the ranking. He won the Grand Prix de Portugal and Liège-Bastogne-Liège des espoirs which makes him one of the most promising talents for hilly races.
With those two young guns, our team not only strengthens its German and Austrian amount, it also made fantastic signings for the future. Both look very promising and I look forward to riding with them a lot!
So far from the transfer front, I'll write again from France!
I have now arrived at the team hotel here in France. We just got briefed about the race and boy, that is one tough start list. I'll try to get a preview done by tonight.
But first I have to tell you: My performance in Poland really gave me a boost! I feel stronger than ever! On every terrain! I can't wait for the Vuelta that starts in almost two weeks!
The race through the French département Ain is one of the many short continental stage races in France. It's a relatively young race, firstly held in 1989, and since 2005, it's part of the UCI Europe Tour. French riders did dominate the race in the past but recent winners also included the likes of Linus Gerdemann or Rein Taaramäe.
The course is very varied. A short prologue is followed by a flat stage. The more serious business begins on stage three, which offers some small hills towards the end. Stage four is much more challenging with more and tougher hills but GC eventually should be decided on the last stage, which ends with a mountain top finish on the Grand Colombier.
Spoiler
Result in 2011
1
Arnold Jeanneson
FDJ
2
Jérôme Coppel
Saur - Sojasun
3
Richie Porte
Saxo Bank - Sungard
4
Christophe Kern
Europcar
5
Stefano Garzelli
Acqua & Sapone
Favorites
Nicolas Roche (Ag2r) , John Gadret (Saur)
Jelle Vanendert (Omega Pharma)
David Moncoutié (Cofidis) , Sandy Casar (FDJ)
Matthias Frank (BMC)
Simon Spilak (Lampre) , Dominik Nerz (Liquigas)
Danilo Di Luca (Lampre)
Complete Startlist
Spoiler
AG2R La Mondiale
1. N.Roche
2. Y.Arnaud
3. M.Bouet
4. M.Elmiger
5. M.Langlais
6. R.Nocentini
7. M.Perget
8. C.Riblon
Although it lacks of a real top star, the start list is packed with some of the strongest continental riders as well as some super domestiques from the World Tour teams. Top favorite for the overall is Nicolas Roche, who has to be considered the strongest climber. Gadret and Vanendert should be his main contenders while Lampre could deal some damage with their strong team around the duo lead Spilak and Di Luca. Main contender for the young riders jersey is Dominik Nerz, but he has to pay attention on the hilly stages, which aren't his strong points. The same applies for Matthias Frank.
Team Liquigas
I am our clear leader for the overall here and I have high hopes! I most probably won't be able to compete for the overall win but I'm in great shape so a Top 5 and the young riders jersey should be possible. A Top 10 finish overall is the minimum I want to achieve. In Damiano Caruso, I have a top domestique, especially for the last stage.
Tiziano Dall'Antonia will try his luck in the sprints (if there are more than one) while the rest of the team will get their chances in breakaways, especially on the two hilly stages. But we have to consider that except for me and Damiano Caruso, all our riders lack of decent shape.
Nice blog dom is really becoming a good stage racer especially his weaknesses like the flat stat really improved thats great and his rec is impressing for his age!
I like the preview and hope you get a really good overall although it will be difficult - good luck!!!
And i like the signings of the young riders great choice hopefully they have a good potential and nice for dom to have someone speaking his languageEdited by johannes-w on 07-02-2012 20:44
As always, some nice updates/blogs! Those two signings look indeed promising, and Dominik's also developing well Hope you won't lose too much time on Tour l'Ain's hilly stages. You will be a strong GC-contender if you hit the final mountain-stage within reach of the race-leader! Good luck!
@ sutty68: Well, he is in great shape, so yeah, I think he fells up to the challenge
@ Alakagom: Honestly, I don't target a win here. Don't think that's possible. But as you said, a great form helps, so maybe a Top 5...
@ johannes-w: Thank you! Dominik indeed continues to improve on every terrain, although, as you mentioned, especially his rec and of course his mountain stat are very nice. And yep, the signings look very promising although I didn't look up their potentials.
@ tsmoha: Thanks I hope so, too. The performances in Poland give me hope for the hilly stages there.
The prologue is very short but also a bit hilly. Big time gaps aren't expected but it should be a good indication for the rider's shapes.
Dominik's Pre-Race Comment
I am among the better prologue riders here so I hope for a nice stage result. But on such a short course, with small time gaps, it's all about luck and daily shape.
Live Ticker
13:15:
Jurgen Van de Walle (Omega Pharma) sets a frist decent time.
5'12
.
13:28:
Christophe Riblon (Ag2r) could have ambitions himself here, but he'll probably has to work for his leader, Nicolas Roche. For now, he sets the best time.
5'09
.
13:44:
French TT Champion Damier Monier puts things into perspective! He crushes all former times.
5'01
.
13:56:
Daniel Oss is Liquigas' first rider today. He rides decently good, + 22.
5'23
.
14:02:
Adriano Malori is the big favorite for today. But the young Italian can't deliver. He's slower than Monier.
5'06
.
14:21:
His best times are behind him, yet Andrey Kashechkin (Lampre) sets a nice time here.
5'09
.
14:50:
Tiziano Dall'Antonia is a good prologue rider but lacks a bit of shape. Still, he finishes provisional 11th.
5'15
.
14:59:
Mathieu Ladagnous (FDJ) surprises everyone. He's the only one coming close to Monier so far, 3 seconds down.
5'04
.
15:38:
The overall contenders are on the road now. David Moncoutié is the first one who has real chances for the overall win. He sets a decent time for his means.
5'15
.
15:40:
Matthias Frank (BMC) had a great development recently, today he finishes one second faster than the Frenchman before him.
5'14
.
15:42:
Young gun Dominik Nerz convinced with a 14th spot in Poland. He has to be considered in the overall fight here as well, as he obviously is in fantastic shape: Fourth spot for now!
5'06
.
15:44:
Saur's captain John Gadret is not known for his time trialing skills. He can't prove us wrong today.
5'22
.
15:46:
Jelle Vanendert has a similar problem. The time gaps aren't fatal though.
5'22
.
15:48:
Sandy Casar is a better time trialist. He can't touch Nerz, though. Provisional 11th, 10 seconds down.
5'11
.
15:50:
Simon Spilak, Lampre's leader, comes closer to Nerz. He's the second best among the overall favorites so far, two seconds slower.
5'08
.
15:52:
Nicolas Roche is by far the top favorite for this race. And he obviously is in top shape as well: He is faster than almost everyone, finishing third today.
5'05
1
Damien Monier
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
5'01
2
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ
+ 3
3
Nicolas Roche
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 4
4
Adriano Malori
Lampre - ISD
+ 5
5
Dominik Nerz
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
6
Simon Spilak
Lampre - ISD
+ 7
7
Andrey Kashechkin
Lampre - ISD
+ 8
8
Steve Morabito
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
9
Rémy Cusin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
10
Christophe Riblon
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Jack Bauer
Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole
+ 9
12
Kiel Reijnen
Team Type 1
+ 10
13
Sandy Casar
FDJ
s.t.
14
Jürgen Van de Walle
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 11
15
Laurent Mangel
Saur - Sojasun
+ 12
16
Mattia Cattaneo
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
17
Jan Bakelants
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
18
Michael Schär
BMC Racing Team
+ 13
19
Sébastien Joly
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
20
Maxime Bouet
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
21
Matthias Frank
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
22
Gianni Meersman
FDJ
+ 14
23
Martin Elmiger
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
24
Tiziano Dall'Antonia
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
25
Johan Le Bon
Bretagne - Schuller
s.t.
26
David Moncoutié
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
27
Luis Ángel Maté
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 15
28
Danilo Di Luca
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
29
Wim Stroetinga
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 16
30
Kevin Reza
Team Europcar
s.t.
31
Marlón Pérez
Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia
s.t.
32
Leonardo Duque
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
33
Tristan Valentin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
34
Jonathan Breyne
Landbouwkrediet
+ 17
35
Carlos Martínez
Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia
s.t.
36
Bart De Clercq
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
37
Vitaliy Buts
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
38
Rinaldo Nocentini
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 18
39
Sylvain Georges
Big Mat - Auber 93
s.t.
40
Gert Dockx
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
41
Guillaume Blot
Bretagne - Schuller
s.t.
42
Daniel Ricardo Díaz
Velo-Club La Pomme Marseille
s.t.
43
Sergio Henao
Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia
s.t.
44
Mauro Santambrogio
BMC Racing Team
+ 19
45
Arnoud Van Groen
Dirk Grepdon Wanzele - Accent
s.t.
46
Francis De Greef
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
47
Jocelyn Bar
Roubaix Lille Métropole
s.t.
48
Laurent Lefèvre
Roubaix Lille Métropole
s.t.
49
Florian Stalder
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
50
Justin Jules
Big Mat - Auber 93
+ 20
51
Toms Skujins
Velo-Club La Pomme Marseille
s.t.
52
Yoann Le Boulanger
Team Europcar
s.t.
53
Frédéric Amorison
Dirk Grepdon Wanzele - Accent
s.t.
54
Anthony Charteau
Team Europcar
s.t.
55
Yohann Gène
Team Europcar
s.t.
56
Yannick Talabardon
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
57
Daniele Pietropolli
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
58
Rémi Pauriol
FDJ
+ 21
59
Peter McDonald
Velo-Club La Pomme Marseille
s.t.
60
Anthony Geslin
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
61
Jérémie Galland
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
62
Koen Barbé
Landbouwkrediet
s.t.
63
Christopher Butler
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
64
Damiano Caruso
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
65
Jacobus Venter
Dirk Grepdon Wanzele - Accent
s.t.
66
Alexander Efimkin
Team Type 1
s.t.
67
John Gadret
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
68
Jelle Vanendert
Omega Pharma - Lotto
s.t.
69
Dimitri Le Boulch
Big Mat - Auber 93
+ 22
70
Daniel Oss
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
71
Fabrice Jeandesboz
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
72
Timothy Duggan
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
73
John Martinez
Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia
s.t.
74
Laurent Pichon
Bretagne - Schuller
+ 23
75
Luc Verweij
Dirk Grepdon Wanzele - Accent
s.t.
76
Cyrille Martin
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
77
Francis Mourey
FDJ
s.t.
78
Hans Dekkers
Landbouwkrediet
s.t.
79
Franck Bouyer
Team Europcar
s.t.
80
Julien Mazet
Big Mat - Auber 93
s.t.
81
Geoffrey Soupe
FDJ
s.t.
82
Joeri Stallaert
Landbouwkrediet
+ 24
83
Jean-Eudes Demaret
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
84
William Dugan
Team Type 1
s.t.
85
Cédric Pineau
FDJ
+ 25
86
Fabio Polazzi
Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole
s.t.
87
Aleksandrs Kurbatskis
Velo-Club La Pomme Marseille
s.t.
88
Toms Flaksis
Velo-Club La Pomme Marseille
s.t.
89
Marcus Gerber
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
90
Olivier Pardini
Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole
s.t.
91
Maxime Méderel
Big Mat - Auber 93
s.t.
92
Mathieu Claude
Big Mat - Auber 93
+ 26
93
Arnaud Courteille
FDJ
s.t.
94
Florian Le Corre
Roubaix Lille Métropole
+ 27
95
Mathieu Perget
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
96
Romain Hardy
Bretagne - Schuller
s.t.
97
Mateo Langlais
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
98
Sylvain Calzati
Bretagne - Schuller
s.t.
99
Wouter Goossens
Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole
s.t.
100
Loïc Desriac
Roubaix Lille Métropole
+ 28
101
Julien Guay
Roubaix Lille Métropole
+ 29
102
Ivan Santaromita
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
103
Bart Dockx
Landbouwkrediet
s.t.
104
Armindo Fonseca
Bretagne - Schuller
s.t.
105
Bryan Ducret
Team Europcar
s.t.
106
Manuele Caddeo
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
107
Walter Pedraza
Colombia es Pasión - Café de Colombia
+ 30
108
Flavien Dassonville
Big Mat - Auber 93
s.t.
109
Mathieu Delaroziere
Velo-Club La Pomme Marseille
s.t.
110
Clément Lhotellerie
Roubaix Lille Métropole
s.t.
111
Christophe Premont
Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole
+ 31
112
Giovanni Marangoni
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
113
Mathieu Drujon
Big Mat - Auber 93
s.t.
114
Matthieu Boulo
Roubaix Lille Métropole
s.t.
115
Steven Caethoven
Dirk Grepdon Wanzele - Accent
+ 32
116
Andrea Piechele
Colnago - CSF Inox
s.t.
117
Cyrille Cuvillier
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
118
Yvan Arnaud
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
119
Geert Verheyen
Landbouwkrediet
s.t.
120
Robin Steenuit
Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole
s.t.
121
Victór Ortiz
Omega Pharma - Lotto
+ 33
122
Jef Peeters
Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole
s.t.
123
Philippe Legrand
Wallonie Bruxelles - Crédit Agricole
s.t.
124
Renaud Bourg
Roubaix Lille Métropole
s.t.
125
Egidijus Juodvalkis
Landbouwkrediet
+ 34
126
Raffaele Sarti
Team Type 1
s.t.
127
Carlo Favini
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 36
Classifications
Overall
Identical with the result.
Points
1
Damien Monier
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
25
2
Matthieu Ladagnous
FDJ
20
3
Nicolas Roche
AG2R La Mondiale
16
4
Adriano Malori
Lampre - ISD
14
5
Dominik Nerz
Liquigas - Cannondale
12
Young Riders
1
Adriano Malori
Lampre - ISD
5'06
2
Dominik Nerz
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
3
Mattia Cattaneo
Lampre - ISD
+ 7
4
Johan Le Bon
Bretagne - Schuller
+ 9
5
Kevin Reza
Team Europcar
+ 11
Teams
1
Lampre - ISD
15'23
2
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 2
3
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 5
4
FDJ
+ 7
5
BMC Racing Team
+ 14
Dominik's Comment
A very pleasing result for us today. I rode to my full potential today and to finish within the same as Adriano Malori, who is easily among the 15 best time trialists in the world, is a great feeling. I think I created a good basis for the next stages.
The others did well, too. Tiziano's 24th is promising for the next stage. Regarding the others, well, they just aren't time trialists, so the result today didn't matter at all.
Tomorrow is the first road stage, almost completely flat. So stay tuned! Edited by cunego59 on 08-02-2012 10:25
)
