The last day of Tirreno - Adriatico is usually a day for the sprinters. Today the sprinters have to get over Forca Canapine before they can say they have left the big climbing behind them.
The GC guys seemed happy enough to shake on the race in Chieti. It does mean Bewley or Boonen could snatch the points title, meanwhile Bennati will be desperate to take a stage here.
The glory went to the break yesterday with Jovanovic taking the win and moving into the GC top 25. Veloso took the KoM lead but will need to be on guard for this immediate uphill 18 or so kilometres.
Sinkeldam and Haas have slipped away. Both have KoM points in the bag and so are a threat to Veloso. But the Spaniard will be aware he can nab points too from the pack so he just needs to keep himself up there for that.
The sprinters teams are helping Vesuvio in controlling the pack today keeping it nice and steady.
Haas takes the 20 points at the top, Sinkeldam just the 14.
It means Haas moves to 28 points and Sinkeldam just the 30 now no longer able to wrest the KoM jersey from Veloso.
Albasini and Vanendert attempt to top up their tally’s.
But they struggle to move past the pacers gaining just ten and six points respectively only living up through some minor placings.
After the long descent of this tough climb the lead duo have a lead approaching six minutes with 100km to go.
They’ll roll through the sprint as Boonen out kicks Bewley behind in the battle for third place. It narrows the gap between the two to just two points on the points competition, both in with a fair chance of winning that.
The second sprint is on a long straight away that is also being used for the finish.
Boonen and Bewley drag race for it again, with Boonen again the victor drawing them level on points. Worth pointing out that they are still 12 points behind Bakelants.
Up front the lead duo can battle for KoM points at the last climb a 3rd category one. Haas is currently four points down on Sinkeldam so he cannot really beat him.
They both go for it, but Sinkeldam seals second place in the KoM behind Veloso overall by taking second here with Haas taking third overall by coming second.
The pack cross three minutes later, Pokerstars, Puma and Milka in full chase mode.
The late climbs are harder than expected and the lead duo still have 1.30 lead with 16km left.
Puma and Pokerstars still have numbers forward in what is now a 85 man pack.
The biggest names dropped are Guldhammer, Rabon and sprinter Corioni.
.... CRASH ....
A mass crash near the front of the pack, some big names involved. Bakelants, Schleck, Ginanni, Caruso, TvG...
It’s a horrible moment as Vesuvio, Wikipedia, Vespa and Pearl Adidas drop back.
We are so close to the finish and Puma are pressing on with a pack for just over 50 riders.
We move into the last 4kms and it’s confusion here as a sprint train forms behind Puma Delage, Gasparotto leading out Bennati with Pozzato, Bewley, Boonen, Ullisi, Facci, Ponzi, Sagan and Hagen following.
Langeveld is attacking though.
Behind the Schleck, Bakelants group is some 2.40 behind the lead group. It looks set for a very fortunate GC win for Cunego.
Meanwhile for the stage Delage peels off as Gasparotto keeps Langeveld in his sights.
Bennati launches under the kite with Pozzato, Bewley and Boonen on his wheel.
Ulissi strips off not really fancying it with Ponzi ahead of Facci, Sagan and Hagen.
Boonen launches from behind Bewley.
The surprise name he is Pozzato who looks to come around with 600m to go.
Bennati is fading again as Pozzato moves ahead, will Italy get their win after all?
Yes they can!
Bewley just nabs Boonen snatching the points jersey
Bennati is fourth with some of the GC men behind.
All the GC men of course making massive moves forward as a result of the top two on GC amongst others crashing.
Cunego will take the GC win here.
Bakelants leads the crash victims group home. A desperate way to end this race for them and in fact the race.
Lotto big winners here, also a good race for Venchi as Di Maggio wins young jersey prize following that stage win for Sagan.
Stage results
Pozzato stuns the big three sprinters proving he could be a dangerman for the upcoming Milan San Remo. Bennati disappoints yet again in the sprint. The crash victims lost a whopping 3.24 which combined with same tame racing means they tumble down GC.
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Filippo Pozzato
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
4h09'13
2
Sam Bewley
Milka - AVG
s.t.
3
Tom Boonen
Pokerstars.com
s.t.
4
Daniele Bennati
Team Puma - SAP
s.t.
5
Simone Ponzi
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
6
Diego Ulissi
Festina-Canal+
s.t.
7
Peter Sagan
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
s.t.
8
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Aker - MOT
s.t.
9
Philippe Gilbert
Pendleton's
s.t.
10
Damiano Cunego
Lotto - Cervelo
s.t.
11
Marcello Pavarin
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
12
Mauro Facci
Simply Red Bull
s.t.
13
Jocelyn Bar
Team Puma - SAP
s.t.
14
Enrico Gasparotto
Team Puma - SAP
s.t.
15
Robin van der Hugenhaben
Koenigsegg
s.t.
16
Jack Bobridge
Simply Red Bull
s.t.
17
Pieter Mertens
Pendleton's
s.t.
18
Matteo Rabottini
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
19
Cesare Di Maggio
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
s.t.
20
Sergio Marinangeli
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
s.t.
21
Kevin Van Impe
Pokerstars.com
s.t.
22
Nathan Haas
Aker - MOT
s.t.
23
Dimitri Claeys
Lotto - Cervelo
s.t.
24
Juan Van Heerden
Simply Red Bull
s.t.
25
Alexandre Shushemoin
Aker - MOT
s.t.
26
Vicente Reynès
Santander
s.t.
27
Zdenek Stybar
Milka - AVG
s.t.
28
Jelle Wallays
Pokerstars.com
s.t.
29
Vincenzo Nibali
UBS - BMC
s.t.
30
Michael Albasini
UBS - BMC
s.t.
31
Sebastian Langeveld
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
Final GC
No doubt about it, this is going to be one Cunego's luckiest victories in his career. Lotto will not be complaining with Claeys promoted up to 4th. Ponzi struggled to infiltrate the bonuses but did grab some on stage 3 to register his best Tirreno finish after 5th in 2011 and 4th in 2012. Hagen did nothing spectacular at all but nets a podium. Schleck,Bakelants, TvG and Ginanni finish behind Jovanovic and Bobridge in 18th through to 21st - horrible luck for the big leaders.
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Damiano Cunego
Lotto - Cervelo
35h30'52
2
Simone Ponzi
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
+ 18
3
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Aker - MOT
+ 30
4
Dimitri Claeys
Lotto - Cervelo
s.t.
5
Cesare Di Maggio
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
s.t.
6
Filippo Pozzato
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
+ 33
7
Philippe Gilbert
Pendleton's
+ 1'01
8
Robin van der Hugenhaben
Koenigsegg
s.t.
9
Diego Ulissi
Festina-Canal+
s.t.
10
Peter Sagan
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
+ 1'15
11
Jelle Vanendert
Project 1t4i
+ 1'24
12
Matteo Rabottini
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
+ 1'45
13
Vincenzo Nibali
UBS - BMC
+ 1'50
14
Michael Albasini
UBS - BMC
+ 1'59
15
Marcello Pavarin
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
+ 2'01
16
Nebojsa Jovanovic
Pendleton's
+ 2'03
17
Jack Bobridge
Simply Red Bull
+ 2'12
18
Frank Schleck
Vesuvio - Accumalux
+ 2'47
19
Jan Bakelants
Pearl Adidas
+ 3'08
20
Tejay Van Garderen
Wikipedia
+ 3'54
21
Francesco Ginanni
Vespa-Aprilia Racing
s.t.
22
Tanel Kangert
Pearl Adidas
+ 4'25
23
Damiano Caruso
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
+ 5'29
24
Maciej Paterski
Vesuvio - Accumalux
+ 5'33
25
Rasmus Guldhammer
Team B&O
+ 6'33
26
Domenico Pozzovivo
Vespa-Aprilia Racing
+ 8'16
27
Christophe Riblon
UBS - BMC
+ 8'48
28
Alexandre Shushemoin
Aker - MOT
+ 9'09
29
Gabriele Bosisio
Vespa-Aprilia Racing
+ 9'24
30
Gustavo Veloso
Santander
+ 9'36
31
Frantisek Rabon
Milka - AVG
+ 10'52
32
Sam Bewley
Milka - AVG
+ 11'03
33
Marcus Burghardt
Team Bacardi
+ 11'05
34
Dario Cataldo
Vespa-Aprilia Racing
+ 11'13
35
Jelle Wallays
Pokerstars.com
+ 11'15
36
Toms Skujins
Vesuvio - Accumalux
+ 11'29
37
Nathan Haas
Aker - MOT
+ 11'39
38
Daniel Oss
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
+ 11'56
39
Jay McCarthy
Wikipedia
+ 15'07
40
Branislav Samoilev
Pearl Adidas
+ 15'17
41
Matthias Krizek
Vespa-Aprilia Racing
s.t.
42
Vegard Robinson Bugge
Aker - MOT
+ 16'25
43
Ioannis Tamouridis
Festina-Canal+
s.t.
44
Arnold Jeannesson
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
Points
Bewley does indeed just manage to slip on the points jersey crucially beating Boonen once again in the final sprint. Ponzi splits the two rivals ahead of the luckless Bakelants. Bennati finishes a humbling 10th in the points competition with work to do to prepare himself for the Giro.
Rank
Name
Team
Points
General
1
Sam Bewley
Milka - AVG
20
71
2
Simone Ponzi
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
12
68
3
Tom Boonen
Pokerstars.com
20
67
4
Jan Bakelants
Pearl Adidas
0
63
5
Filippo Pozzato
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
25
61
6
Frank Schleck
Vesuvio - Accumalux
0
57
7
Damiano Cunego
Lotto - Cervelo
6
52
8
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Aker - MOT
8
47
9
Peter Sagan
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
9
39
10
Daniele Bennati
Team Puma - SAP
14
34
11
Artem Topchanyuk
Aker - MOT
0
32
12
Nebojsa Jovanovic
Pendleton's
0
31
13
Ramon Sinkeldam
Project 1t4i
12
28
14
Diego Ulissi
Festina-Canal+
10
27
15
Tejay Van Garderen
Wikipedia
0
26
16
Gustavo Veloso
Santander
0
26
17
Dimitri Claeys
Lotto - Cervelo
0
24
18
Mickaël Delage
Team Puma - SAP
0
23
19
Cesare Di Maggio
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
0
22
20
Pieter Ghyllebert
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
KoM
Contary to the report on closer inspection Sinkeldam and Haas were never a threat to Veloso's King of the Mountains jersey. Both manage to finish on the podium due to that monster climb at the beginning of this stage. Vanendert and Wallays managed to pick up some points today to score points for their teams.
Rank
Name
Team
Mountain
General
1
Gustavo Veloso
Santander
0
43
2
Ramon Sinkeldam
Project 1t4i
20
36
3
Nathan Haas
Aker - MOT
24
32
4
Pieter Ghyllebert
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
0
32
5
Mauro Facci
Simply Red Bull
0
31
6
Jelle Vanendert
Project 1t4i
10
29
7
Jelle Wallays
Pokerstars.com
10
29
8
Travis Meyer
Wikipedia
0
29
9
Michael Albasini
UBS - BMC
6
20
10
Mickaël Delage
Team Puma - SAP
0
19
11
Salvatore Mancuso
Team Bacardi
0
16
12
Peter Sagan
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
0
15
13
Matteo Rabottini
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
0
15
14
Jonathan McEvoy
Pendleton's
0
15
15
Jetse Bol
Team Puma - SAP
1
13
16
Moreno Hofland
Vesuvio - Accumalux
12
12
17
Geert Steurs
Festina-Canal+
0
11
18
Alberigo Passalacqua
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
0
10
19
Laurens Ten Dam
Project 1t4i
0
10
20
Evgeni Sokolov
Team Bacardi
0
10
Youth
Guldhammer was dropped and TvG crashed out of the top four. Happy days for Venchi who enjoyed a good Tirreno. 2012 Milan San Remo winner Ulissi showed very little but in an un-Festina like fashion avoided the last stage crash to take second.
Name
Team
General Time
Cesare Di Maggio
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
35h31'22 (1)
Diego Ulissi
Festina-Canal+
+ 31 (2)
Peter Sagan
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
+ 45 (3)
Jack Bobridge
Simply Red Bull
+ 1'42 (4)
Tejay Van Garderen
Wikipedia
+ 3'24 (5)
Rasmus Guldhammer
Team B&O
+ 6'03 (6)
Jelle Wallays
Pokerstars.com
+ 10'45 (7)
Toms Skujins
Vesuvio - Accumalux
+ 10'59 (8)
Nathan Haas
Aker - MOT
+ 11'09 (9)
Jay McCarthy
Wikipedia
+ 14'37 (10)
Teams
Wiggle had already secured the teams classification really but Vesuvio and Pearl Adidas who will likely curse this day lost their minor places to Aker and UBS who were both aided by yesterdays breakaway. These teams also leapfrog the surely utterly dejected Vespa team who had a really difficult race.
Team
General Time
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
106h36'04 (1)
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
+ 6'01 (2)
Aker - MOT
+ 8'40 (3)
UBS - BMC
+ 9'23 (4)
Vespa-Aprilia Racing
+ 11'50 (5)
Vesuvio - Accumalux
+ 16'49 (6)
Pearl Adidas
+ 19'50 (7)
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
