The race starts with a short prologue. Especially the last kilometer is pretty uphill, so it will be interesting to see how weak time trialists perform today. Ginanni, Ben Nasser or Di Maggio are examples for this category while Ignatiev, Boom or LL Sanchez seem to be the stage favourites.
We start with 3 decent time trialists. With Veloso there is also one decent puncheur and so we might get a first impression of the hill factor.
Velits
Roulston
Veloso
As expected Martin Velits sets a new best time when finishing as first time trialist. Neither Kiwi champ Roulston nor Jayco`s Veloso can beat his time. All 3 of them finish within the same time with 7'40 in this direction.
Obviously the hill factor isn`t that important. But maybe Veloso just had a bad day here.
Coming to 4 more time trialists, who just focus on todays prologue probably.
Perry
Mazur
Elijzen
Ovechkin
Perry is not able to beat the time and finishes 2s behind the trio. Different the other three. Mazur is 4s faster but his time doesn`t last long as Elijzen soon is another 2s better while Ovechkin is equal to Mazur. Strong ride by the Bpost rider today, who surely counts to the stage favourites.
1
Michiel Elijzen
Team Bpost
7'34
2
Piotr Mazur
Team Bianchi
+ 2
3
Artem Ovechkin
T.CS Bank - OJSC
s.t.
4
Martin Velits
Team Rothaus - Aegon
+ 6
5
Hayden Roulston
Team WWE
s.t.
6
Gustavo Veloso
Jayco - Red Bull
s.t.
7
Luca Ascani
Vespa - Aprilia - De Rosa
+ 7
8
James Lewis Perry
Cyclevox
+ 8
Coming to an early race favourite:
Claeys Kovalev
Flens
Clement
Kovalev was expected to perform well today as he will surely lose time on the harder stages. He indeed beats Elijzen by a tiny bit and sets a new best time. Also Dutch man Flens can`t go faster and goes directly in between these two having the same time.
Clement is a bit weaker in time trialing but surely willing to hold contact in the hills, so losing just 2s to them is a good result.
And still 3 more time trialists to come before the real race contenders start.
Aramendia
Van Zandbeck
Van Goolen
Tour of Japan prologue winner Aramendia can`t repeat his success. He surely not having his best day losing 5s to the best. Van Zandbeck is doing better by losing just 1s to the trio bringing Koppert in a good position so far. Van Goolen has similar plans than his team mate Clement and shows his ambitions by setting a new best time. This came a bit surprising but a combination of good puncheur qualities and a good day might have given him this advantage.
1
Jurgen Van Goolen
Pokerstars.com
7'33
2
Ivan Kovalev
Team CSC-Orbea
+ 1
3
Rick Flens
Koppert Cycling Team
s.t.
4
Michiel Elijzen
Team Bpost
s.t.
5
Ronan Van Zandbeek
Koppert Cycling Team
+ 2
6
Piotr Mazur
Team Bianchi
+ 3
7
Artem Ovechkin
T.CS Bank - OJSC
s.t.
8
Stef Clement
Pokerstars.com
s.t.
Finally coming to the last starters. Several big names participate here. Who will take the stage and who will get a good position before the hills?
Di Maggio
The Italian is surely not known as good time trialist but he is one of the best puncheurs in this division and showed some great results so far this season. He loses 14s to Van Goolen.
Kirchen
Two time runner-up in this race and the biggest hope for the home fans to get a win for Luxembourg. Kim Kirchen is not as strong as last season and the competition is harder. Still you must watch him as the home crowd boost might push him forwards.
Not enough at least today. 2s slower than the best.
Ben Nasser
Another example of great puncheur with weak time trial skills. Ben Nasser had a nice ride in Japan without getting a stage win. This race here should also suit him well. 10s to gain on Van Goolen but more important gaining 4s on Di Maggio.
Konovalovas
He is a great combination of decent puncheur and time trialist and could finish high in the GC. He starts promising finishing equal to Van Goolen but being counted as 2nd.
Vanendert
A good puncheur and solid time trialist. The goal is a top 10 here and today is a great start for him finishing 1s ahead of Kirchen for example being in the top 10 so far.
Boom
With time trial wins in Algarve and De Panne he surely counts to the top favourites today. The Dutch sets a new best time being 6s faster than Van Goolen. Was this already the decision?
1
Lars Boom
Team Rothaus - Aegon
7'27
2
Jurgen Van Goolen
Pokerstars.com
+ 6
3
Ignas Konovalovas
Cyclevox
s.t.
4
Ivan Kovalev
Team CSC-Orbea
+ 7
5
Rick Flens
Koppert Cycling Team
s.t.
6
Jelle Vanendert
Team Bpost
s.t.
7
Michiel Elijzen
Team Bpost
s.t.
8
Ronan Van Zandbeek
Koppert Cycling Team
+ 8
Coming to the last 5 today. Maybe the biggest favourites for the overall win.
Monfort
The Belgium surely hoped for something more today. He finishes outside the top10 being equal to riders like Clement 9s back.
Roche
Far better by Roche. The Irish is not really known as top time trialist but obviously he had a brilliant day finishing 2nd just 3s back gaining time on most of his opponents.
Ignatiev
The Russian has no single stage win since his team change this season. Bad luck and failing dominated his season so far.
Today it looks better as he sets a new best time by 3s over Boom. Will this be the turning point for him?
Ginanni
Maybe the best puncheur here and so clearly one of the top favourites. Therefore a weak time trialist. Therefore he is riding good today beating Di Maggio, Claeys and Ben Nasser. 17s behind Ignatiev though.
Sanchez
Last but not least Algarve winner LL Sanchez, who needs to perform well here as his team struggled in the past being one of the bottom spots in the division. No big surprise that he is not able to beat Ignatiev or Boom. But a small surprise that he can`t beat Roche, who really rode fantastic today. So the Spaniard must be happy with the 4th 7s back but gaining time on most of the other favourites.
Ignatiev finally takes a time trial win in 2012. Biggest surprise for sure Roche while Monfort might be the biggest disappointment.
![i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Roturn1988/Man%20Game/Luxembourg/mg_lux_1_10.jpg [/img]<br />
The Belgium starts very early as Monfort will get the late start for Bianchi. Nevertheless he belongs to the big race contenders. He loses 12s to Elijzen. Nothing he couldn`t gain again on the hilly stages.<br />
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Continuing with 3 more time trialists:<br />
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[img]https://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc512/ANFreeman/Jersey%20Sprites/csc.png](https://i1101.photobucket.com/albums/g434/Roturn1988/Man%20Game/Luxembourg/mg_lux_1_10.jpg [/img]<br />
The Belgium starts very early as Monfort will get the late start for Bianchi. Nevertheless he belongs to the big race contenders. He loses 12s to Elijzen. Nothing he couldn`t gain again on the hilly stages.<br />
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Continuing with 3 more time trialists:<br />
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[img]https://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc512/ANFreeman/Jersey%20Sprites/csc.png)
