Bianchi's first big Stage Race of the season comes at Le Tour de Langkawi. Ten Stages in total, but the only real challenges are the Mountainous Stages 3 & 5.



We arrive in Malaysia with a team looking to compete on all accounts. Estaban Chaves leads the squad in the GC battle, with Caleb Ewan being our man in the Sprints.

Both supported well, Adam Yates and Linus Gerdemann will be Estaban's domestiques, with Tobias Ludvigsson and Philip Lavery making up Caleb's lead-out train.


Sponsor Goal: N/A
Team Goal: Top 3 GC / Stage Win
Best Result: 2013 - Remy Di Gregorio (4th)

Le Tour de Langkawi begins with two stages for the Sprinter's. Stage 1 went to Ben Swift (Sky), whilst Stage 2 went the way of Tony Gallopin (RadioShack). Caleb and his lead-out was riding well, and he managed to pick up 5th and 2nd respectively in the sprints.



The Mountainous Stage 3 was going to be first test for the peleton, and it would also give a general idea on who was targeting the Overall GC. On the climb to Cameron Heights, it was a three-way battle between Estaban, Joe Dombrowski (Sky) and Giovanni Visconti (Movistar). On the descent to the line, Chaves made his winning move, just holding on to take the win and the Leaders Jersey.

With a short Stage 4, we were happy to let a break go and take the win. A group of 11 riders went clear, before Ryoto Nishizono (Champion Systems) soloed to victory. With no riders in the causing a threat to Estaban's lead, the peleton rolled in 5'35" later, as Ewan won the Bunch Sprint for 12th.



The second and final test for the peleton would come on Stage 5. Gentings Highlands would be the battleground on his GC deciding stage, and the fans were not left disappointed. As the attacks began, Estaban was well placed to watch and react. With Adam Yates for company, he was in safe hands as well.



As the pace ramped up, Adam's work was done, and Chaves continued on his own. Confident in his legs, he set the pace, and with 6km to the Summit Finish, the elastic snapped, and he was all alone.



From that point on, the gap grew bigger and bigger. Pacing himself perfectly Estaban comfortably soloed to the victory, extending his lead in the process. His nearest rival, Dombrowski, come home in 3rd, 1'24" down on our little Colombian, and Visconti another 50" behind him. It was a fantastic stage, and with 5 flat stages remaining, the Overall victory looks in the bag.

With the performing well in Malaysia, there was pressure on the team to show what it can do in Europe. First up is the Vuelta a la Región de Murcia, where Adam Yates shined last year to take the win.



With Adam riding in Malaysia and unable to defend his title, Moreno Moser will be the man to go for the victory. He will be supported by Nathan Earle, Simon Yates and Davide Villella, with Marco Canola, Marco Frapporti and Nelson Oliveira working as Domestiques.

Fredrik Ludvigsson completes the line-up and will ride in a free role, aiming for the breakaway.


Sponsor Goal: Top 5
Team Goal: Top 3
Best Result: 2013 - Adam Yates (1st)

Ludvigsson, as expected, was part of a large 9 rider breakaway which attacked early in the stage. No real threats in the break, so the Garmin, BBVA and Katusha led peleton seemed happy to let it go.



It would be Ludvigsson who would put up a great battle, and be the last to be caught on the stage. With 11km to go, the peleton was all back together, and just before they hit the tunnel before the final kilometres, Moreno kicked.



He opened a small gap on the main favourites for the victory, but Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin) was hot on his tail. Under the flamme rouge, the gap was closing quickly, and Moser was fading past.

Inside the last 100 metres, the Canadian rider came past our Italian man, snatching victory at the death. It was hard for Moreno to take, especially after his close 2nd place at Trofeo Laigueglia, but it was still a great finish. He shouldn't be too dishearted.

1	Ryder Hesjedal	Garmin - Sharp	4h35'06
2	Moreno Moser	Bianchi Factory Team	s.t.
3	Jurgen Van den Broeck	Lotto Belisol	+ 29
4	Giampaolo Caruso	Katusha Team	+ 43
5	Samuel Sánchez	BBVA Cycling Team	+ 55
6	Rubén Plaza	Movistar Team	s.t.
7	Steven Kruijswijk	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	s.t.
8	Jean-Christophe Peraud	AG2R La Mondiale	+ 1'17
9	Steve Morabito	BMC Racing Team	+ 1'44
10	Sylwester Szmyd	Movistar Team	s.t.

Just one day after the Vuelta a la Region de Murcia, the Classic Sud Ardèche is a hilly French one-day classic that should again give Bianchi another chance for glory.



Wanting to put the disappointment of Murcia behind him Moreno Moser will again lead the team in France, with support coming in the form of Davide Villella, Nathan Earle and Frederik Ludvigsson.

Damien Howson and Simon Richardson will work as a domestques, whilst Matej Mohoric and Owain Doull will continue their development riding in a free role.

A three man break formed early in the race, with Owain giving Bianchi a presence out off the front of the peleton. The young Welshman has been riding well since the end of last year, and has continued his form into this year.



As the weather worsened, FDJ took up the control of the peleton, and the gap to the three escapees began to fall rapidly. It was clear that FDJ wanted some glory from the French race.



On the final lap of the finishing circuit, Moreno made his move. With too many Puncheur Sprinters in the lead group, he needs to force pressure on the others, and going to the line in a smaller group would be better for him.



It is deja-vu for Moser! The Italian was joined on the run-in to the finsh by Diego Ulissi (Cannondale), and in the sprint to the line, the Cannondale man was too strong for our Bianchi rider. For the 3rd time this season, Moser would have to settle for 2nd place!

1	Diego Ulissi	Cannondale Pro Cycling	5h10'54
2	Moreno Moser	Bianchi Factory Team	s.t.
3	Julien Simon	Super U	s.t.
4	Rinaldo Nocentini	AG2R La Mondiale	s.t.
5	Rein Taaramäe	Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	s.t.
6	Igor Antón	BBVA Cycling Team	s.t.
7	Simon Geschke	Team Argos - Shimano	s.t.
8	Arthur Vichot	Crelan - Euphony	s.t.
9	Yannick Martinez	La Pomme Marseille	s.t.
10	Peter Kennaugh	Sky Procycling	s.t.