Today stage starts in Zaragoza heading northwest for Logroño we are about 150 km from the French border. Logroño is the capital city of La Rioja Province (officially: autonomous community of La Rioja), famous for the Rioja wines. Logroño dates back to Roman times, in 1095 granted city rights by Alfonso VI of León and Castile.
Iglesia de San Bartolomé (Logroño), construction started in the 12th century. Detail:
Pre-race strategy: We plan to sit in the peloton saving energy, waiting for an expected mass sprint.
Profile:
It is 22°C perfect weather for a race day, but with winds above 45 km/h it could become tricky.
4 riders break away resulting in a wild chase, after just 30 km a large group of 67 riders including Bøchman have lost contact and are 1’50 behind the peloton.
Things calm down, and eventually the dropped riders get back again, but the pace is high, not much rest for the boys today. Helicopter shot of the stretched out peloton:
The break does not make it, we try to get a train up with Yves Lampaert and Patrick Clausen leading for Sondre Holst Enger, but neither Lampaert nor Clausen have enough power left. Enger is left alone much too early.
Under the 1 km mark, it is Degenkolb slightly in front of Goss, with 4-5 meters to Greipel and Cavendish, Bouhanni and Viviani another 2-3 meters behind.
From behind Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma) outsprints everyone, taking the first “real” stage of the 2015 Vuelta and with it the “maillot rojo” leader jersey, 2nd André Greipel (Lotto), John Degenkolb (Argos) takes the last podium. Our best is Sondre Holst Enger (14).
Christina: Not a bad stage, Sonder did quite well, but a bit worrying that our train was wasted, we must try to work on that.
26/8 Stage 3/21 San Asensio - Santander : 223,5 km
The tour caravan has driven about 32 km west, from Logroño to San Asensio, still in La Rioja. The first written evidence of a village appears in 1052, today a town of about 1200 inhabitants.
The monastery Santuario de Santa María de la Estrella was originally constructed from 1419 onwards. Allegedly Archdeacon Diego Fernandez de Entrena, was lost in a storm, after seeking refuge in the monastery he decides to invest in the erection of an entirely new monastery. The works began in 1423 and lasted until 1430.
Santuario de Santa María de la Estrella, San Asensio:
Profile:
Nice weather again today 22°C and not as much wind as yesterday. Stijn Devolder (RadioShack) is full of energy, again today he is in the early breakaway. They get about 8’30.
Over the only climb, they have got a little less than 7 min, Morgan Lamoisson (Europcar) wins the KoM sprint, securing the Polka Dot’s over-night.
The break is over in time for the teams to organize the trains, this time we got a fine train up, holding Enger near the front.
In front at 500 meters, is again Degenkolb with 3-4 meter to Viviani, Greipel, Meersman and Bouhanni, Sagan a few meter further back. race leader Mark Cavendish was blocked, not his day today.
The fastest today is André Greipel (Lotto) in front of Elia Viviani (Cannondale), coming very fast from behind Peter Sagan (Astana) takes the last podium.
Our best was Sondre Holst Enger (13), our best in the GC is Stefan Schumacher at +29 sec.
Christina: Not a much better result than yesterday, but we are very satisfied that we got the train working, now we just need a perfect timing and some luck, to get a top 10 sprint.
Sutty:Yes, all the best sprinters seems to be in Spain.
AbhishekLFC: Look like it will be a little easier later, let's see.
Edited by Tamijo on 15-04-2016 06:12
27/8 Stage 4/21 Santander – Alto del Naranco : 206.1
Christina Reports:The stage starts in port city Santander. The origin of the settlement is unknown, but roman sources mentions a port in the 1st century. Archaeological remains in the area include Roman buildings, baths and silver coins.
Santander Cathedral was built in connection to a church and abbey from the 8 century, the cathedral construction was started in the 12 century.
Pre-race strategy: We will stay in the peloton, trying to be ready for the final climb.
Profile:
It is a beautiful late August day, temperatures at 25°C and just a moderate breeze. The morning break is 3 riders, but on a day like this with a hard finish, it is most likely all they can do is just showing the sponsor logos to the cameras.
The break is over just as the peloton hits the final climb, immediately Philippe Gilbert attacks, countered by Peter Sagan, a few minutes later it is first Moreno Moser then Luis León Sánchez accelerating to catch the duo in front, 5 km to the top.
Davide Malacarne was caught in traffic in the fight for position before the climb, but Kenny Elissonde in the French national colors is well placed, sitting in the front of the peloton. Daniel Moreno attacks now just about 1,5 km to the top.
500 meters left, Sagan is leading in front of Gilbert, with Moser hanging a little after. Sánchez have lost wheel and Moreno have caught up with him. Elissonde is in 6th position looking good for at least a top 10.
Philippe Gilbert (BMC) was the fastest in the final, taking 10 sec on Peter Sagan (Astana), Moreno Moser (Vodafone) took the last podium in the same time is Sagan.
Kenny Elissonde came in 6th. 44 sec. after Gilbert. Our best in the GC is still Stefan Schumacher 1’11 after new “Maillot Rojo” holder Philippe Gilbert. Elissonde is 1’21 after, Malacarne 1’23.
Christina: Great stage, Kenny put himself in a good position, and got a fine top 10.
28/8 Stage 5/21 Tapia de Casariego – La Coruña: 166.5 km
Christina Reports : The caravan has traveled about 125 km further west from Alto del Naranco along the cost to Tapia de Casariego, a small town of about 2000 residents beautifully located on the coast. The area has been settled since prehistoric time about 100.000 year ago or more, later by the Hispano-Celtic Astures, then the romans.
Beach near Tapia de Casariego:
Pre-race strategy: For the first time in the Vuelta, we will try to get in a break-away, we expect that a break might take the stage today. Otherwise protecting Sonder for a mass sprint finish.
The weather has changed, temperatures has fall to 20°C, and it is cloudy today with a fresh to strong breeze. Martin Pedersen attempts to get in a series of breakaway they are all reeled back in. The morning break includes legendary veteran Jens Voigt (RadioShack).
On the climb Stefan Schumacher attacks, and makes it up to Gaël Malacarne who has been dropped at the climb, they work together go get up the front and eventually Schumacher makes it, Gaël Malacarne is to tired he fall back. The adventure was also too much for Schumacher, after the last sprint he also have to let go. Group Voight has 1’31 Schumacher 0’56 with 25 km left.
The break is over at 15 km, most of our riders are empty due to the combination of high pace and winds at 49 km/h on the last costal part of the race. But our race favorites decides to help Sonder, we got a train of Kenny Elissonde - Davide Malacarne, in front of Sonder.
Team Argos with Howard in front of Degenkolb has got a good 8-10 meters under the 1 km mark. Sonder is looking good at 3rd position, a wheel length in front of Cavendish, Greipel and Goss, Sagan 2-3 meters behind.
John Degenkolb wins the stage in front of teammate Leigh Howard, André Greipel takes the last podium. Sondre Holst Enger takes 6th position, he is now our best in GC at 1'13.
Christina: Good top ten by Sondre Holst Enger, but we can’t waist our leaders in the way.
Stage:
1
John Degenkolb
Team Argos - Shimano
3h27'31
2
Leigh Howard
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
3
André Greipel
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
4
Mark Cavendish
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Matthew Goss
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
6
Sondre Holst Enger
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
7
Peter Sagan
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
8
Alexander Kristoff
Katusha Team
s.t.
9
Nacer Bouhanni
FDJ.fr
s.t.
10
Elia Viviani
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
GC:
1
Philippe Gilbert
BMC Racing Team
16h49'13
2
Peter Sagan
Astana Pro Team
+ 8
3
Moreno Moser
Vodafone
+ 26
4
Luis León Sánchez
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 33
5
Mark Cavendish
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 42
6
André Greipel
Lotto Belisol
+ 44
7
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Vodafone
+ 45
8
Geraint Thomas
Vodafone
+ 47
9
Rohan Dennis
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
10
Tejay Van Garderen
BMC Racing Team
+ 51
Points:
1
Peter Sagan
Astana Pro Team
64
2
André Greipel
Lotto Belisol
61
3
John Degenkolb
Team Argos - Shimano
55
Mountain:
1
Philippe Gilbert
BMC Racing Team
3
2
Peter Sagan
Astana Pro Team
2
3
Jens Voigt
RadioShack - Leopard
2
Team: Vodafone
Young: Peter Sagan (Astana Pro Team)
Edited by Tamijo on 17-04-2016 08:32
Christina reports: We are in La Coruña, in the west most part of Spain, about 180 km north of Portugal, capital city of the Galicia province, with a population of about 245.000
The Castro de Elviña just outside La Coruña was a protohistoric fortified village inhabited from the third century BC and the fourth century AD, with a population of about 2,000 people.
Profile:
Pre-race strategy: Again today we would like to get in a break, while protecting the leaders for a relative hard finish.
The weather is great today 25°C clear blue sky and basically no wind. After some failed attempts by both Schumacher and Pedersen, Schumacher finally get in a break with about 120 km left to race.
Some attempts from good riders like Gianni Meersman (Quick·Step) and Enrico Battaglin (Bardiani Valvole) over the remaining 80 km of flat terrain, but the peloton is not willing to let that kind of riders go. The next serious attempt is race leader Philippe Gilbert countered by Moreno Moser from the foot of the first climb. At this point the breakaway is at 1’35.
The break do not hold, over the next top it is Kreuziger Moreno Moser, 23 sec in front of a group of 7 with Sagan, Gilbert and Ellisonde. Davide Malacarne sits alone 36 sec behind this group.
Group Kreuziger at the start of the descent:
The front 10 riders melt together and in a group like this Sagan is clearly the stronger sprinter. He wins in front of Luis León Sánchez. It looks like a solo Victory but no time gabs was registered between the first 71 riders. Sagan takes the “Maillot Rojo” from the bonus sec.
Our best was Kenny Elissonde (10), Sondre Holst Enger is still our best in the GC.
Christina: Another fine top 10 result, looks more and more like Ellisonde has got a little more power that Davide Malacarne. But we will look more at the leader pick, after the ITT coming is a few days.
