Luxembourg welcomes the Pro Tour for its premier race, race designers have created a cracking route:
The final climb upto Herrenburg lasts 3.6km and averages at 6.5% - the finish is certainly a punchaers one. Though it is the double climbs between 40km and 20km to go of the Cate deWahlhausen (4.2km at 6.7%) and Groestain (3.9km at 7.4%) where decisive moves will no doubt be made. These come after a number of bergs that will slowly sap away at the riders only leaving the strongest you would imagine to contest the finale.
Attacks start early at about the 220km mark and seven riders decide to try their luck.
Seven guys have a fair bit of flat to build a lead
The names of these riders then, Fouquet (Sony), Carduso (Energie Diesal), Martin (Domina Vacanze), Tennent (Cafe du Columbia), Coyot (Starbucks), Einsle (Vesuvio) and Osella (Gazzeta). The seven work well together and build a nice 6.30 lead before we begin our first set of climbs the Berdorf and the Beaufort.
Vesuvio's Einsle is the only rider declining to do turns, behind the Vesuvio fans are out cheering their team based around home nation favourite Frank Schleck. As they and Festina lead the pacing in the peleton up the first berg of the day.
Strange Luxembourgers are out cheering the riders on
Festina have two good cards to play here, they often like the dual leaders role and today with Giro stage winner Ulissi and the Basque star Sammy Sanchez they have high hopes. In the break the better hilly riders in it push the advantage to over eight minutes following the Beaufort climb. Carduso of Energie Diesal gives himself a well earned stretch on the descent.
Crack those back bones Carduso!
Energie Diesal's main man here is Luis Leon Sanchez, the promoted side would see this season as a success if they do not relegate. They could do with a result somewhere and today is an oppurtunity for sure. The riders come close to the finishing section here and some teams decide to up the pace...
B and O and Pearl power
Edvald Boessen Hagen is another big punchier here, though perhaps the finish is a bit too longer hill climb for the super Norwegian star. Pearl will be hoping for a great performance from Jan Bakelandts, an even bigger race is a around the corner for them though with Marcus Fothen's Tour de France defence.
They drag the break back to about 5.30 with 120 to go, but they are not going that fast as four riders burst out of the peleton on the Lehrhof climb.
Four men look to bridge on the middle climbs
Ruben Plaza (Jack Wolfskin), Gautier (Lafarge), Casar (Carmuese) and Fedrigo (Nespresso) make the move and all four led first by Plaza make it across to the break. The break though now have just over two minutes on the peleton. But these new riders give it fresh impetus, Plaza part of the Team Time Trial winning Jack Wolfskin team is particularly useful.
Plaza is having a career purple patch
It is almost Einhoven take two here as runners up on that day Auber 93 have two strong roulers powering the peleton in response in Lars Boom and Mehr-Wenige.
Boom keeps gap nailed at two minutes
But as soon as soon as Auber 93 come off the front of the peleton, two more riders make a move away from the peleton to the break.
De La Fuente and Gomez Marchante bridge
The latter rider is one of the few Tour de France favourites riding here and he is showing some form on this hilly race. The race now crosses the 5th to last berg of Cote de Mulhaussen, which is a real undulating climb and the peleton are allowing the break to hang a bit as they cross the fairly steady Cate de Bockholtz too. The lead is holding at about 45 seconds, but as we come into the Walhausen we are reaching breaking point. Five in the break give it one last dig...
Fouquet, Martin, Coyot, Einsle and Tennent have one last go
It is the dying embers though, as in the peleton the favourites are amassing at the front. This dual Wahlhaussen and Groestain climbs are the perfect launch pads and wildcards LEGO are keen to show off. Their leader Maxime Monfort launches...
Monfort goes
As we continue up this steep and fairly long berg, more favourites join the party. The break are now gone completely as Monfort is joined by Trofimov, Van Gaarderen and Sanchez Gonzalez.
Four riders now make dangerman group
Trofimov keeps pushing as more and more favourites are making their presence known attacking the reducing peleton. Rodriguez, Vanendert, LL Sanchez, Anza and Sinkewitz attack, the latter rider impressively bridging to Trofimov as they crest the Wahlhausen.
Trofimov crests with Sinkewitz on his wheel
On the descent these two are joined by the Energie Diesals Luis Leon Sanchez.
Three man front group
With 30 to go these have:
28 seconds on Van Gaarderen, Sanchz Gonzalez, Monfort
47 seconds on Rodriguez and Vanendert
1.07 on Anza
1.17 on the peleton.
The chasers between the lead three and the 60 man peleton form a six man group.
V Gaard, Sanchez G, Monfort, J Rod, Vanendert and Anza together
AS they ride onto the Groestain it is Pearl Adidas Bakelants who attacks the peleton and quickly bridges to the six man chase group.
Bakelants attacks at the bottom of the Groestain
Time is running out, Di Luca and Ghiselberti now look to bridge as the seven man chaser begin to break up Vanendert falling back.
Two Italians go past Vanendert
This climb is nasty and is catching a few favourites out, LL Sanchez is falling off the front three, whilst Joaquin Rodriguez and Sammy Sanchez seem to be making ground.
Two Spaniards definitely on the up
But the home fans are desperately waiting for news on their champion and finally Schleck makes his big move.
A huge roar goes up as Frank attacks
He is away, but you sense it is his first salvo, it would seem like a number of contenders have flown the nest but the last climb is still to come. Our two leaders though have worked together well on the last climv and are still well clear.
Trofimov and Sinkewitz descend smoothly
16km to go and Trofimov/Sinkewitz have the following gaps:
LL Sanchez, Sanchez G and J Rodriguez at 48 seconds
Van Gaarderen at 1.20
Bakelants, Schleck, Ulissi, Boessen Hagen, Anza, Monfort at 1.32
Gil, Di Luca, Ghiselberti, Boom, Vanendert, Rabon, Gerdemann, Iglinski, Claeys, Weening, Van de Hugenhaben, Mehr-Wenige, Grivko and Du Maggio at 2.19
Behind our two leaders we have a regrouping as Bakelants, Schleck, Hagen, Ulissi catch first Van Gaarderen and then the Sanchez's and Rodriguez.
Eight man chase group now have their sights on lead two
But this group is not working together that well and Trofimov keeps ploughing on with Sinkewitz the gap with 8.5 to go is a whooping 1.20. A hush is descending on the finish as it appears as if Schlecks hopes are dashed.
Winner from these two you feel
As we approach the final slopes four names attack from the eight man chase group.
Four man look for final podium spot
Hagen, LL Sanchez, Ulissi and Schleck push clear of the other four. Schleck though is just keeping going and going as they start the early ascent, it is clear he knows this climb.
Schleck is a monster here - utterly destroying the other three
Wild scenes as it appears he is catching the lead two riders, Sinkewitz keeps checking to see the red blob approaching. Behind Hagen and Ulissi, who have been waiting like Schleck for this last move are proving the next strongest behind the Luxembourger.
Lead two have about 10 bike lengths over Schleck and then Hagen/Ulissi
But the metres are running out for Schleck and Trofimov has one last charge - Sinkewitz is responding but seems to lack the punch to match the Sony man. Schleck is spent to the disappoint of the home fans, who watch on.
Schleck is not going to make it
Trofimov holds his form to take a well judged victory over Sinkewitz. Credit to both men as they went with over 30km to go and made their attack stick. Meanwhile Schleck is left to rue attacking too late he was awesome on this last climb.
Trofimov takes a win for the unstoppable Sony squad
Ulissi takes a very credible 4th place ahead of Boesson Hagen in 5th.
Ulissi - > Bo Hagen
Energie Diesal will perhaps not quite be happy enough with 6th, LL Sanchez was in the right move but he didn't have the legs.
Luis Leon is the best of the Sanchez's
Behind this Jan Bekelants barely registers with 7th place ahead of Iglinski and Sanchez G whose top ten places make it a good race overall for both Vesuvio and Festina.
