1 Januari. While in the great Russian capital, Moscow, Team Kathusa is presented for the journalists. Is in a small village outside Moscow the presentation of the 2010 Itera - Kathusa team. With much proud present Kozbarev his leaders for this years season:
* Sergey Rudaskov
** 25 years old
** Climber (65/71)
Main Goal: Win some hilly stages.
* Evgeni Popov
** 25 years old
** Sprinter (69)
Main Goal: Win some mass sprints
* Alexander Mironov
** 25 years old
** Allround (Best: Sprint/69)
Main Goal: Drive a good season
Intervieuw with Kozbarev Q: Is it a dissapointing that the team can't be present at the same place as the great pro-tour team?
A: Well if i look around me, and see just 5 journalists, then i would say yes.. These guys deserve more.
Q: You've not a great leader in your team, so wath are the expectations for you?
A: Well, With Popov, Mironov, and hard rider Ignatiev, we can set up a great train for the sprints. And with Solomennikov and Rudaskov we have some riders that can climb.. So i think at the end of the season we have 10 stage wins and hopefully the youngster in this team learned many things.
Q: Last question. In what races will we see your team?
A: We ride especially french courses and sometimes you will see us in Belgium, Netherlands and Switzerland.
Spoiler
Goals:
Top 10: Gp Lugano
Top 10: Profronde van Drenthe
Top 10: Bayern Rundfahrt
Stage victory: Route du Sud
Top 10: Circuito de Getxo
Top 10: Giro della Romagna
The Team:
Dmitry Kosyakov
Vyacheslav Kuznetsov
Roman Maikin
Arkimedes Arguelyes
Nikita Novikov
Alexander Porsev
Stanislav Volkov
We haven't a real captain in the race. So we haven't real expectations. but the Mountain Classification should be a nice one. I think Kosyakov and Porsev should do that. With that in my mind in order them to get away with the breakaway.
The Stage
After a couple of Attacks came there a breakaway of 5 man.. with there also our Dmitry Kosyakov.
Kosyakov is good on his way to take the polka dots jersey he taks the first Mountain Sprint
But at the second one he went second.. and at the last two he takes no points.. we hope for him thats enough
but he takes one sprint but at the second one he takes no points... this was not planned..
When they got back in the pack there should be a mass sprint and he was there and we have Novikov for that sprint because all other were .. uh.. i should say "dead"
But he was to far and the victory goes to Giovanni Visconti.. He was so fast i even had no time for a good Screen
There was one strange thing.. look where Visconti was in the same screen as i post before:
And then there was that rare incident.. Well look for your self..
And there was no Mountain jersey, he went second buttttttt
we have an other jersey, the best young rider:
So after all i was a happy man, Novikov shows his teammates he's the best so tomorrow he will be protected and Kosyakov did a great job for the Mountain Jersey and should be able to hold the Youngest jersey..
Yesterday was great day, before the race i spook with the leader in the Young Classification: Kosyakov
Me: You did a great job yesterday, do you think you can hold the jersey?
He: Thanks, I don't care about this jersey, I want that Mountain jersey.. Antonov and Rudaskov did it before and now it's my turn
Me: Well, don't get me wrong, if you can hold this jersey, we will be very proud, but if you want it, go for it! It would be a very good prestation if you can get it!
He: The only way is in a breakaway, isn't it? But i don't think they let me go because i'm the number five of the overall..
Me: If you want it so much, You should try it, We've nothing to lose, But i said it also to Porsev and Novikov, one of us have to be in that breakaway! And because you are already second in the MC, it would be great if you are that one.
He: Yea, I will try it....
Me: Well good luck! i speak you after the race, hopefully with an other jersey than the itera-katusha jersey
He:"Thanks, see ya
When you are in the break away and take on the first three climbs the points you have the same points as the current leader, so thats our main goal..
..And at the beginning it looks like it happens. Porsev was in the breakaway. They get 2 minutes so this is the early breakaway.
But Porsev isn't good, So maybe we are lucky that there are in the pack other attacks. So all cames together before the first moantain sprint. Right before the top there was a breakaway of 12 guys, whit there also Kosyakov, could he get the mountain jersey?
at the first Sprint we have to say no:
1. Cannone - Ceramica 10 pts
2. Nys - Landbouwkrediet - 8 pts
3. Delpech - Bretagne - 6 pts
4. Sella - Camiooro - 4 pts
5. Dion - Roubaix - 2 pts
At the Second sprint kosyakov tried but he came to late:
Before the last sprint everyone was together, and we get a attack from Joly and Fredrigo, nobody of us was able to react, so Joly takes the points before Fredrigo, nothing changed in the standings.
Again everyone was to gether, who will get the stage win? the GC? the MC? and can Kosyakov hold a jersey?
Fredrigo attacked.. Roche React.. Where is the yellow jersey?
They get away... and fredrigo wins, Roche second,, and then a gap to Visconti and the others..
May I present you the winner of the Mountain Classification.... Pierrickkkkkkk FEDRIGO in the teamcar: Shout... it's not true... Second?!
May I present you the best young rider this year... Dmitryyyyyyyy Kosyakov
in the teamcar: yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeees
So at the end, we went second in the MC, it's a nice prestation, but it's a mess that we have it till the finish... but we have the Youngster jersey, and thats good so without a captain, have Novikov and Kosyakov proved that they can lead the team, hopefully is this a sign for the rest of the year..
Next: Gp Insturbia - Lugano, Preview and the 8 riders will I post in an hour, the race later maybe tonight
Edit: I was to busy with work so, the race will i post this night (30 july) i think at 9 of half past 9
The last race before our First Sponsor Goal. If we look at the profile, you can say its like tomorrows race. So the most of the riders will ride both races.
The team:
Sergey Rudaskov
Evegni Popov
Dmirty Ignatiev
Vyacheslav Kuznetsov
Roman Maikin
Andrey Solomennikov
Nikita Novikov
Petr Ignatenko
Rudeskov is our captain, with Popov and Ignatiev as Co-captains, Ignatenko and Maikin will do the work in the begin of the race and the others in the last 50 km. They can look if they can go with the best man, but the plan is only that tree man. I'll be happy if Popov there is in the final, because of his speed.
An Intervieuw with Maikin:
Q: You rode the Tour de Haut Var, how did it go?
A: No Comment! I rode a terrible race. I'm not happy with my shape.
Q: But your leader told me you will ride in Lugano, why is that?
A: I think our leader has much confindence in me.. i hope i can ride a better race than the race in France.
Q: Can you Confirm that you will ride the second race in Suisse too?
A: No, we are here with 13 guys and decide after the race who will ride the other day.
Q: What can we expect of you?
A: You won't see me in the live programm. My task is the Captains help in the first kilometers
Q: Can Rudaskov win?
A: I don't know, i haven't rode any race with him. But he makes a strong impress on my
Q: Okay Good luck
A: Thanks
With guys like Cunego, Hoogerland, Cappechi and Karpats at the start you can guess it wil be a hard race.. I asked Popov what he think of his changes this race:
Well, I think there is a breakaway till 10 km before the finish, then comes the last 2 climbes and will the best mans go, so i think i get around place 30 bit we will see
Popov was right about the breakaway, after 10 kilometers there was a 10 man big breakaway with 2 minutes.. and there was also one of us (Novikov) and there was one of our big brother (Horrach).
But When it was 2 minutes, Thougt some guy from CCC polsat, hee nobody of us is in there, so he attacked and some people react... and as we see often this season, All came to gether with still more than 100 kilomters to go. That was a good reason for Wyss (BMC) to attack, there was only one who react, and yes it was one of us... Solomennikov
They get more than 5 minutes but in the pack team begun to ride and yes it was our great brother, who lead the chasing pack..
So with when the Final begins with only the two final climbs to go all was together again..
On the first Climb nobody attacked, untill just before the top, It was our captain Rudaskov, who gets 20 seconds
But before the last climb all was together and we were with 5 man in the front of the pack Rudaskov, Popov, Solomennikov, Ignatiev and Novikov
but there all great names were there, except Kunitski, Simoulav and Zaugg, who felt in the descent of the climb
At the Final climb, Cunego was the only one who was able to attack, nobody respont, this could be the final disicion
it was..
In the pack they gonna sprint and Rudaskov was there.. could he do, what we expect tomorrow from him?.. yessssssssss he does, he get place 8
And Popov who guessed he was around place 30?? he gets place 12!
Spoiler
Top 15
1 Damiano Cunego Lampre - Farnese Vini
2 Daniele Pietropolli Lampre - Farnese Vini
3 Martin Pedersen Footon - Servetto
4 Eros Capecchi Footon - Servetto
5 Francesco Reda Quick·Step
6 Sergey Lagutin Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
7 Vladimir Karpets Team Katusha
8 Sergey Rudaskov Itera - Katusha
9 Evgeni Petrov Team Katusha
10 Rob Ruijgh Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
11 Daniele Callegarin CDC - Cavaliere
12 Evgueni Popov Itera - Katusha
13 Arnoud Van Groen Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team
14 Eduard Vorganov Team Katusha
15 Igor Abakoumov ISD Continental Team
Intervieuw with Rudaskov, Popov and with a happy Kozbarov later... Also the last one will announce the 8 riders for the GP Lugano
Before the break we talked about the Omloop het Nieuwsblad, what was won by Juan Antonio Flecha. Now its time for a race in our own country. The Gp dell'Insubria Lugano. With us here in the studio are two man who rode that race from their team, Itera- Katusha. Welcome Sergey Rudaskov and Evgeni Popov.
Rudaskov, we saw that you attacked at 10 kilometers from the finish at the climb, you got 20 seconds, but can't hold it. If you didn't placed that attack, could you follow Cunego?
A: I don't think so, Cunego's attack had much of power, even Karpets and Hoogerland weren't able to follow, so i don't see why i could.
Q. Well, now you are 8th, npt far behind you was sprinter Popov, did you noticed that? maybe popov could sprint better?
A. I haven't noticed that. But i think if i've noticed it, i would help him off course.
Q. Popov, i heard some words of you before the race, around place 30 you said. When i look in yhe results i don't see you there, but on 12. Did you know during the race that you can do this?
A. You don't know how the big names will fight for the victory, so no. But i know i was strong and Ignatenko did a great job for me. Till the last hills he protected me very well. You know Maikin, Ignatenko and Kuznetsov for us, Sergey, Dmitry and me.
Q. Tomorrow is the first big race for your team. I guess you will both ride there?
A. We can't say after this, we have a meeting and then we will see, the other guys who didn't race today. Have done a training over more than 200 kilometers, so they are also really good. We will see.
Q. Last question, Popov, You're team has asked a wildcard for Gent-Wevelgem, And they will start in Dwars door Vlaanderen and the E3-prijs. You'll be there the captain, Will we see you there very much?
A. I hope so, i really hope for a good result in Dwars door Vlaanderen, but there will be great names there too. so its gonna be a hard one. But if it goes like today, maybe top 30.
Presentor: okay with this answer we stop this program and hope to see you all, next week. with much more cycling. Sergey, Evgeni, thanks for being here and hopefully we see one of you tomorrow in the top 10.
*turns Tv of*
Team meeting: Well, we rode a great race today. Cheers to Maikin, Ignatenko and Kuznetsov. But tomorrow strarts the real work, i can only need the strongest persons. so i will be right to the point. tomorrows team:
Sergey Rudaskov -Captain
Evgeni Popov -Free
Roman Maikin -Helper
Alexander Mironov -Free
Mikhail Antonov -Attack <- if not, helper
Andrey Solomennikov -Helper/ second Attack
Petr Ignatenko - helper
Dmitry Kosyakov -stays with Rudaskov till the final
Race TomorrowEdited by itsmichael on 31-07-2010 17:33
Gp Lugano - Disappointment after disappointment after disappointment
6 am, someone is noking on my door. the door is open!, i said. It was the team dokter ,Tihomirov, he told me that Maikin was sick... That was a really disappointment, So we had a choice, Start with 7 man or A last substitution.. we choosed the last one, with a long meeting, we came with Ignatiev. Normally he is a free rider. But he agreed that he will take the job of Maikin.
So with this in our mind we start in Lugano, on a hard parcours. With Evans, Cunego and Kreuziger in the pack, will our goal (top 10) a very hard one.
As normally their came a early break. And so as we order him Antonov was there
But as in the races before, when they had 2 minutes there came a react, this time Reynes. and so was all together and there came new attacks... and unfortunately Solomennikov couldn't folow
In the pack there were serveral riders who felt, with them Moos, Serpa and Duran and Mironov.
Meanwhile, in the front of the race the breakaway get bigger, Gadret, Lagutin and others were there now, and still nobody of us.. The lose of Mironov (he could ride any longer) and Maikin was to bad i think, anyways,
When we were in the last round.. some riders tried to attack, with them Rudaskov.
So their came a group of 28 man.. but fore them there were still other guys with in de leading Gadret and he will win
Rudaskov was at the end 32.. this is a stage to forget.. The sponsors aren't happy with this results so was i...
