The strongest squad of the year for the biggest race of the world. Our goal is a top 3, and some stage-wins. " GC contenders, Jakab and Puskaric, they're going to be our co-leaders, they're going to get the same treatment. As mountain helpers we have Sutton, A.Piasecki and Gömböcz. This should be enough, the climbing squad is just fantastic, I think. As our sprinter, we have Bartosz Piasecki, who can compete against Cav and Greipel, but the hills are going to tire him out quickly. We brought a great train for him with Pal, Noble and Pye. It'll be interesting to see what they can do.
Startlist
Contenders
Maillot Jaune
*****
The biggest favourite. One of the best in the mountains, and unquestionably the best TT-er out of the contenders. He has great support in Porte and Rogers. On the downside he already raced the Giro, but we don't think that he was peaking there, but the question remains: Wasn't that a bit too much?
Great at climbing and TT-ing, not as great as Froome though. The italian's squad isn't that strong too, he lacks some key domestiques. It's going to be a hard run for him, but still, he is one of the biggest contenders.
****
He is superior in the hills and in the mountains, but his TT skill lacks, and that may cost him the title after all. It'll be interesting to see that how can he handle the TT losses.
Almost a clone of Nibali, although with a better team. The only negative is that he has to share the leadership with Puskaric, although this tactic turned out great at the Giro.
***
The other leader of SpiderTech, the winner of the Giro d'Italia. A big contender overall.
The best climber of all, however he is going to suffer from the TT kilometers. He has to attack a lot, but knowing his climbing ability, he can succeed.
**
An outsider, he has to be at his best to win it, although a top 3/top 5 is more realistic.
Same as VDB, although his team is a lot better with Kruijswijk and Mollema.
*
A real outsider, he is not strong enough to contend for the win, maybe a top 5.
The 2nd at the Giro, however I don't believe that he is good enough of a TT-er to contend.
Maillot Vert
*****
The fastest sprinter of the world, The Manx Missile, the best sprinter ever, the biggest contender for the Green.
****
The biggest rival of Cavendish, He is up there at pure speed, the key will be on his leadout, because he can't position himself as good as Cav.
The wonderkid. When it turns a bit hillier, he is still going to pick up some points, because of the big amount of hills, he is going to be a serious contender.
***
Mattew Goss with a squad centered around him, he will get the needed support from his team.
The polish rocket, almost at Cav's level at top speed, but the hills are going to hurt him.
**
An incredibly all-round guy, however he might have to help Cav. It won't be easy...
*
Really similar to Piasecki, although a bit slower.
The Polka Dot
The GC contenders most likely.
White jersey
*****
No standout contender.
****
It'd be a surprise, but I feel like that this can be his breakthrough.
***
Garmin's co-leader, he will surely get some support from his team. And his TT is also great.
**
A decent climber, but he is going to be a domestique for his leaders.
*
An outsider, but he is a leader of Vacansoleil, they'll be riding for him in the mountains.
hopefully i'll be able to give my all for the team whenever they need me, I'd love to make it to Paris, but first concern is getting a guy high in the GC, I know I can't climb!
With a bit of luck i might be able tog et some breakaway action though, could possibly grab a stage win if the team were okay with me trying
A 6.1 kilometer long prologue to start things off. Let's see those gaps!
The first out of the GC favourites was Andy Schleck, who is below the average at TT-ing, he completes the course in 8'14. Not a bad time, he did well limiting his losses.
The Giro winner Puskaric was also out shortly, showing his brand new NC jersey. He didn't do bad, the croatian finished at 8'00. Decent start.
The WCITT, Martin was also out early, as the big favourite he got a big time, 7'30, blowing the best times 15 seconds out of the water. A really strong start.
The biggest GC favourite was also out fairly early, and he made sure to silent the critical voices, as he came just 23 seconds short of Martin. Promising start for him, considering that prologues are not his favourites.
The shark. He was out in the last 10, and did just great. Even beated his biggest rival, Froome, although it was just one second between them. It's looking promising for the italian early in the Tour.
Another contender, it was all about getting close to Froome today. Jakab managed to do it, coming in at 7'57, only 4 seconds short of Froome's time.
The last man to challenge Martin. Can he? No, the swiss machine could only come close, finishing 6 seconds down on the german.
The aim was to limit the losses. Well, J-Rod succeeded, losing only 43 seconds on the winner. Good start by him!
Results
1
Tony Martin
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
7'30
2
Fabian Cancellara
RadioShack - Nissan
+ 6
3
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky Procycling
+ 13
4
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
+ 15
5
David Millar
Garmin - Sharp
+ 21
6
Geraint Thomas
Sky Procycling
+ 22
7
Levi Leipheimer
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
8
Vincenzo Nibali
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
9
Marco Pinotti
BMC Racing Team
+ 23
10
Chris Froome
Sky Procycling
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Mark Noble
SpiderTech - Cervélo
s.t.
12
Linus Gerdemann
RadioShack - Nissan
s.t.
13
Philippe Gilbert
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
14
Mark Cavendish
Sky Procycling
s.t.
15
Michael Rogers
Sky Procycling
+ 25
16
Peter Sagan
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
17
Wilco Kelderman
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 27
18
Chris Horner
RadioShack - Nissan
s.t.
19
Zoltán Jakab
SpiderTech - Cervélo
s.t.
20
Tom Boonen
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
21
Roman Kreuziger
Astana Pro Team
+ 28
22
Rui Costa
Movistar Team
s.t.
23
Cadel Evans
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
24
David Zabriskie
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
25
Jean-Christophe Peraud
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 29
26
Yaroslav Popovych
RadioShack - Nissan
s.t.
27
Thor Hushovd
BMC Racing Team
+ 30
28
Stijn Devolder
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
29
Máté Gömböcz
SpiderTech - Cervélo
s.t.
30
Tom Danielson
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
31
Robert Gesink
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
32
Kristjan Puskaric
SpiderTech - Cervélo
s.t.
33
Niki Terpstra
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 31
34
Bartosz Piasecki
SpiderTech - Cervélo
s.t.
35
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
36
Lieuwe Westra
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
37
Samuel Sánchez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 32
38
Peter Velits
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 33
39
Blel Kadri
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
40
Sebastian Langeveld
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
41
Sylvain Chavanel
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
42
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar Team
s.t.
43
Enrico Gasparotto
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
44
Gary Sutton
SpiderTech - Cervélo
+ 34
45
Ángel Vicioso
Katusha Team
s.t.
46
Christophe Kern
Team Europcar
s.t.
47
Alexander Kristoff
Katusha Team
s.t.
48
Gorka Izagirre
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
49
Lars Boom
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
50
Maxime Monfort
RadioShack - Nissan
+ 35
51
Denis Menchov
Katusha Team
s.t.
52
Thomas Dekker
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
53
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Lotto Belisol Team
s.t.
54
Manuel Quinziato
BMC Racing Team
+ 36
55
Michael Mørkøv
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
s.t.
56
Juan Antonio Flecha
Sky Procycling
s.t.
57
Jimmy Engoulvent
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
58
Marzio Bruseghin
Movistar Team
s.t.
59
Janez Brajkovič
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
60
Jérôme Coppel
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
61
Jürgen Van de Walle
Lotto Belisol Team
+ 37
62
Andrew Talansky
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
63
Daniele Bennati
RadioShack - Nissan
s.t.
64
Christophe Riblon
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
65
Giovanni Visconti
Movistar Team
s.t.
66
Luis León Sánchez
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 38
67
Greg Van Avermaet
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
68
Bruno Pires
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
s.t.
69
Javier Moreno
Movistar Team
s.t.
70
Paul Martens
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
71
Pierrick Fédrigo
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
72
Tiziano Dall'Antonia
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
73
Jan Ghyselinck
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
74
Dario Cataldo
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
75
Zdenek Stybar
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 39
76
Juan José Oroz
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
77
Rein Taaramäe
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
78
Sébastien Turgot
Team Europcar
+ 40
79
Simon Spilak
Katusha Team
s.t.
80
Adrien Petit
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
81
Dries Devenyns
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
82
Mads Christensen
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
s.t.
83
Wout Poels
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
84
Francisco José Ventoso
Movistar Team
+ 41
85
Romain Feillu
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
86
Óscar Freire
Katusha Team
s.t.
87
Thomas Voeckler
Team Europcar
s.t.
88
Romain Zingle
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
89
Stuart O'Grady
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 42
90
Sérgio Paulinho
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
s.t.
91
Cameron Meyer
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
92
Sep Vanmarcke
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
93
George Hincapie
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
94
Francis De Greef
Lotto Belisol Team
s.t.
95
Michele Scarponi
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
96
Eros Capecchi
Liquigas - Cannondale
+ 43
97
Víctor Cabedo
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
98
Bart De Clercq
Lotto Belisol Team
s.t.
99
Arnold Jeannesson
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
100
Joaquím Rodríguez
Katusha Team
s.t.
101
Denys Kostyuk
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
102
Andy Schleck
RadioShack - Nissan
+ 44
103
Johan Vansummeren
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
104
Richie Porte
Sky Procycling
s.t.
105
Tanel Kangert
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
106
Danilo Hondo
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
107
Leonardo Bertagnolli
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
108
Simon Gerrans
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
109
André Greipel
Lotto Belisol Team
s.t.
110
Johnny Hoogerland
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 45
111
Matteo Tosatto
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
s.t.
112
Yury Trofimov
Katusha Team
+ 46
113
Martin Elmiger
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
114
Peter Pal
SpiderTech - Cervélo
s.t.
115
Maxim Iglinskiy
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
116
Pablo Lastras
Movistar Team
+ 47
117
Fränk Schleck
RadioShack - Nissan
+ 48
118
Fabian Wegmann
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
119
Kenny Van Hummel
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
120
Daniel Moreno
Katusha Team
s.t.
121
Cyril Gautier
Team Europcar
s.t.
122
Michael Albasini
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
123
Pablo Urtasun
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
124
Alexandre Vinokourov
Astana Pro Team
+ 49
125
Elia Viviani
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
126
Nico Sijmens
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
127
David Moncoutié
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
128
Andreas Klöden
RadioShack - Nissan
s.t.
129
Alessandro Ballan
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
130
Pavel Brutt
Katusha Team
s.t.
131
Matthew Goss
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
132
Pieter Weening
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 50
133
Benoît Vaugrenard
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
134
Marco Marcato
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
135
Matteo Montaguti
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
136
Bert-Jan Lindeman
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
137
Steven Kruijswijk
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
138
Peter Stetina
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
139
Egoitz García
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
140
Romain Bardet
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
141
Iván Gutiérrez
Movistar Team
s.t.
142
Egoi Martínez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
143
Daniel Navarro
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
+ 51
144
Matti Breschel
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
145
Aleksejs Saramotins
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
+ 52
146
Jonathan Hivert
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
147
Joost Van Leijen
Lotto Belisol Team
s.t.
148
Gianni Meersman
Lotto Belisol Team
s.t.
149
Brice Feillu
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
150
Rémy Di Gregorio
Cofidis, le crédit en ligne
s.t.
151
Jelle Vanendert
Lotto Belisol Team
+ 53
152
Alan Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
153
Manuele Mori
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
154
Björn Leukemans
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
155
Arnaud Demare
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
156
Carlos Betancur
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
157
Bernhard Eisel
Sky Procycling
s.t.
158
Sandy Casar
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
159
Jonathan Cantwell
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
s.t.
160
Chris Anker Sørensen
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
s.t.
161
Julien Simon
Saur - Sojasun
+ 54
162
Salvatore Puccio
Sky Procycling
s.t.
163
Paolo Tiralongo
Astana Pro Team
+ 55
164
Mike Pye
SpiderTech - Cervélo
s.t.
165
Geoffrey Soupe
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
166
Allan Davis
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 56
167
Nicolas Roche
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
168
Rubén Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 57
169
Francesco Gavazzi
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
170
Federico Canuti
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
171
Pierre Rolland
Team Europcar
+ 58
172
Anthony Geslin
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
173
Fabrice Jeandesboz
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
174
Valerio Agnoli
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
175
Lucas Sebastián Haedo
Team Saxo Bank - Tinkoff Bank
+ 59
176
Arthur Vichot
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
177
Dimitriy Muravyev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
178
Daniele Pietropolli
Lampre - ISD
+ 1'00
179
Tosh Van der Sande
Lotto Belisol Team
s.t.
180
Daniel Oss
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
181
Sébastien Chavanel
Team Europcar
s.t.
182
Matteo Pelucchi
Team Europcar
+ 1'01
183
Steve Chainel
FDJ - BigMat
s.t.
184
Davide Viganò
Lampre - ISD
+ 1'03
185
Anthony Charteau
Team Europcar
s.t.
186
Sébastien Hinault
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 1'04
187
Matthew Lloyd
Lampre - ISD
s.t.
188
Tom Slagter
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 1'05
189
Cayetano Sarmiento
Liquigas - Cannondale
s.t.
190
Miguel Mínguez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
191
Aidis Kruopis
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 1'06
192
Guillaume Levarlet
Saur - Sojasun
+ 1'07
193
Jérémie Galland
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
194
Morris Possoni
Lampre - ISD
+ 1'08
195
Sergio Pardilla
Movistar Team
s.t.
196
Andrzej Piasecki
SpiderTech - Cervélo
s.t.
197
Vincent Jérôme
Team Europcar
+ 1'09
198
Yannick Talabardon
Saur - Sojasun
+ 1'19
General Classification
Tony Martin. Considering the amount of TT kilometers, he can maybe do a Top 10 if he won't lose time in the hills. It's wild, I know, but he was more than impressive!
