This story is based on the console game Tour de France 2013.
I took Peter Sagan, because in TDF 11, he looks like an upcoming star with 74 in sprint and 77 in hills as example. So I would like to see, how he develops during the story.
This story is my first on this site, and I hope it will be a story on 4 parts (2011, '12, '13, '14 and '15) Sometimes it will be a bit difficult for me to take pictures, so pictures when I am playing, can be rare.
Information
Game: Tour de France 2013 (PS3)
Difficulty: Can't choose
DLC: 2013 stat-update
Hello again! It is June 2013 and it is soon time for the Tour! It had been a while since last. But if you haven't read this last time, I will tell you quickly: I am Peter Sagan. I am a Slovakian rider, and I ride for a team called Cannondale Pro Cycling Team. I am 23 years old and I have also won the points classification two years in a row! Can I win it once again?
I come to this year's Tour in my life's shape - 13 wins this year including Gent - Wevelgem and stages in Tour de Suisse, Amgen Tour of California and so on. So I have a goal to myself: Win one stage of Tour de France and the overall points classification. The second one is my overall goal.
Let the Tour begin!Edited by DiCyc on 23-03-2016 12:01
Name: Peter Sagan
Country: Slovakia ()
Born: 26/01-1990
Age: 23
Team: Cannondale Pro Cycling
Pro Wins: 52 (including the game wins)
Game Wins: 10
TdF Stage Wins: 8
Jerseys Won: 2
Goals
Win a stage in any race Wear the green jersey in any race Win the point classification in any race Wear the green jersey in Tour de France Win a Tour stage Win the point classification in Tour de France Win the point classification 5 times in any race Win 5 stages of Tour de France Win 10 stages of Tour de France Win 20 stages of Tour de France Win 25 stages in any race
Edited by DiCyc on 25-07-2016 14:06
Rider name marked in italic means that he will not ride the Tour
*Blanco will ride as Blanco even though that the name was Belkin during Tour de France in real life
TOUR DE FRANCE STARTLIST
Spoiler
STARTLIST FOR TOUR DE FRANCE 2013
Sky Procycling
1 FROOME Christopher
2 BOASSON HAGEN Edvald
3 KENNAUGH Peter
4 KIRYIENKA Vasil
5 LOPEZ David
6 PORTE Richie
7 SIUTSOU Kanstantsin
8 STANNARD Ian
9 THOMAS Geraint
Cannondale Pro Cycling Team
11 SAGAN Peter
12 BODNAR Maciej
13 DE MARCHI Alessandro
14 KING Edward
15 KOREN Kristijan
16 MARANGONI Alan
17 MOSER Moreno
18 SABATINI Fabio
19 VANDBORG Brian
Lotto Belisol Team
21 VAN DEN BROECK Jurgen
22 BAK Lars Ytting
23 DE CLERCQ Bart
24 GREIPEL André
25 HANSEN Adam
26 HENDERSON Gregory
27 ROELANDTS Jurgen
28 SIEBERG Marcel
29 WILLEMS Frederik
BMC Racing Team
31 EVANS Cadel
32 BOOKWALTER Brent
33 BURGHARDT Marcus
34 GILBERT Philippe
35 MOINARD Amaël
36 MORABITO Steve
37 QUINZIATO Manuel
38 SCHAR Michael
39 VAN GARDEREN Tejay
RadioShack - Leopard
41 SCHLECK Andy
42 BAKELANTS Jan
43 DIDIER Laurent
44 GALLOPIN Tony
45 IRIZAR Markel
46 KLöDEN Andréas
47 MONFORT Maxime
48 VOIGT Jens
49 ZUBELDIA Haimar
Team Europcar
51 ROLLAND Pierre
52 ARASHIRO Yukiya
53 COUSIN Jérôme
54 GAUTIER Cyril
55 GENE Yohann
56 MALACARNE Davide
57 RéZA Kévin
58 VEILLEUX David
59 VOECKLER Thomas
Astana Pro Team
61 BRAJKOVIC Janez
62 BAZAYEV Assan
63 FUGLSANG Jakob
64 GASPAROTTO Enrico
65 GAVAZZI Francesco
66 KASHECHKIN Andrey
67 KESSIAKOFF Fredrik
68 LUTSENKO Alexey
69 MURAVYEV Dmitriy
FDJ.fr
71 PINOT Thibaut
72 BONNET William
73 BOUHANNI Nacer
74 FEDRIGO Pierrick
75 FISCHER Murilo Antonio
76 GENIEZ Alexandre
77 JEANNESSON Arnold
78 ROY Jérémy
79 VICHOT Arthur
AG2R La Mondiale
81 PERAUD Jean-Christophe
82 BARDET Romain
83 BOUET Maxime
84 DUMOULIN Samuel
85 DUPONT Hubert
86 GADRET John
87 KADRI Blel
88 MINARD Sébastien
89 RIBLON Christophe
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
91 CONTADOR Alberto
92 BENNATI Daniele
93 HERNáNDEZ Jesús
94 KREUZIGER Roman
95 NOVAL Benjamin
96 PAULINHO Sérgio
97 ROCHE Nicolas
98 ROGERS Michael
99 TOSATTO Matteo
Team Katusha
101 RODRíGUEZ Joaquim
102 BRUTT Pavel
103 KRISTOFF Alexander
104 KUCHYNSKI Aliaksandr
105 LOSADA Alberto
106 MORENO Daniel
107 SMUKULIS Gatis
108 TROFIMOV Yuri
109 VORGANOV Eduard
Euskaltel - Euskadi
111 ANTON Igor
112 ASTARLOZA Mikel
113 IZAGIRRE Gorka
114 IZAGIRRE Ion
115 LOBATO Juan José
116 NIEVE Mikel
117 OROZ Juan José
118 PEREZ Ruben
119 SICARD Romain
Movistar Team
121 VALVERDE Alejandro
122 AMADOR Andrey
123 CASTROVIEJO Jonathan
124 COSTA Rui
125 ERVITI Imanol
126 GUTIéRREZ Iván
127 PLAZA Rubén
128 QUINTANA Nairo
129 ROJAS José Joaquín
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
131 TAARAMäE Rein
132 BAGOT Yoann
133 COPPEL Jérome
134 GARCíA Egoitz
135 LE MéVEL Christophe
136 LEVARLET Guillaume
137 MATé Luis Ángel
138 MOLARD Rudy
139 NAVARRO Daniel
Lampre - Merida
141 CUNEGO Damiano
142 BONO Matteo
143 CIMOLAI Davide
144 FAVILLI Elia
145 FERRARI Roberto
146 MALORI Adriano
147 MORI Manuele
148 NIEMIEC Przemyslaw
149 SERPA Jose Rodolfo
Omega Pharma - Quick-Step
151 CAVENDISH Mark
152 CHAVANEL Sylvain
153 KWIATKOWSKI Michal
154 MARTIN Tony
155 PINEAU Jérome
156 STEEGMANS Gert
157 TERPSTRA Niki
158 TRENTIN Matteo
159 VELITS Peter
Belkin-Pro Cycling Team (in-game known as Blanco)
161 BOOM Lars
162 GESINK Robert
163 LEEZER Tom
164 MOLLEMA Bauke
165 NORDHAUG Lars Petter
166 TANKINK Bram
167 TEN DAM Laurens
168 VANMARCKE Sep
169 WYNANTS Maarten
Garmin Sharp
171 HESJEDAL Ryder
172 BAUER Jack
173 DANIELSON Thomas
174 DENNIS Rohan
175 MARTIN Daniel
176 MILLAR David
177 NAVARDAUSKAS Ramunas
178 TALANSKY Andrew
179 VANDE VELDE Christian
Orica GreenEDGE
181 GERRANS Simon
182 ALBASINI Michael
183 CLARKE Simon
184 GOSS Matthew
185 IMPEY Daryl
186 LANCASTER Brett
187 MEYER Cameron
188 O\'GRADY Stuart
189 TUFT Svein
Team Argos - Shimano
191 DEGENKOLB John
192 CURVERS Roy
193 DE KORT Koen
194 DUMOULIN Tom
195 FRöHLINGER Johannes
196 GESCHKE Simon
197 KITTEL Marcel
198 TIMMER Albert
199 VEELERS Tom
Vacansoleil - DCM
201 POELS Wout
202 BOECKMANS Kris
203 DE GENDT Thomas
204 FLECHA Juan Antonio
205 HOOGERLAND Johnny
206 LAGUTIN Sergey
207 VAN POPPEL Boy
208 VAN POPPEL Danny
209 WESTRA Lieuwe
Sojasun
211 FEILLU Brice
212 DELAPLACE Anthony
213 EL FARES Julien
214 HIVERT Jonathan
215 LEMOINE Cyril
216 MARINO Jean-Marc
217 MEDEREL Maxime
218 SIMON Julien
219 VUILLERMOZ Alexis
Hello and welcome to the Team Presentation here in Porto-Vecchio, Corsica! It is an honour to present the team. Firstly I will present the domestiques and afterwards we will present the captains;
19. Brian VANDBORG
Brian Vandborg is a great time trialist. And this year is no exception: He won the Danish national time trial championship and has therefore the rights to ride with the jersey. He will be an amazing help for the captains.
18. Fabio SABATINI
Fabio Sabatini is a great sprinter and he is also a great domestique. During 2010 Giro d'Italia he sprinted to a 3rd place behind stars like Tyler Farrar and Matt Goss, but ahead of bigger names as Andre Greipel.
17. Moreno MOSER
Moreno Moser is a great rider with a big future. He won this year Strade Bianche ahead of his teammate Peter Sagan. He is also young - only 23, and he will surely win more races in the future. He will be a free element.
16. Alan MARANGONI
Alan Marangoni is also a good rider, who knows where to be in the right time. After being 3rd in the National Time Trial Championship he has also been a great time trialist. He will be a great help for Peter Sagan.
15. Kristijan KOREN
Kristijan Koren is an all-rounder and a fighter. He is strong and knows when to attack. His stage win in Tour de Slovenie last year is a proff. He will be as usual a luxury teammate. Help the captain in some stages and go for his own in other.
14. Edward KING
Ted King, as he also is called, is a great helper and himself a great time trialist. Like Marangoni he finished 3rd in the National Time Trial Championship. So he is a great motor. He will help Sagan in the flat.
13. Alessandro DE MARCHI
The wearer of the unlucky number is Alessandro de Marchi. Let's hope that that he not is very unlucky. Alessandro has the ability to go to a breakaway and try to finish the work. It was almost succeed in Giro d'Italia last year where he finished 3rd on stage 14. He will be a free element.
12. Maciej BODNAR
As he is the Polish champion in time trial, can he be fantastic helper for Peter Sagan. But who knows? Maybe he can get his own chance? He will like the others be a great help in the team time trial.
11. Peter SAGAN
Well, I don't need to introduce him. 38 victories in almost three years and winner of the points classification 2 times. And as he is only aged 23, I will never doubt that he could win more in his future. As the captain, he will be the sprinter on the flat and on hilly stages.
The Manx Missle's season had been amazing for him - 13 victories so far. But in his career he got never the yellow jersey. This stage is ideal for him, because that there are no prologue and it is a flat stage.
ANDRÉ GREIPEL
The Gorilla has a great season with 10 victories so far. Like Cav did he win the National Road Race Championship and it will therefore be exciting to see how this battle is going.
JOHN DEGENKOLB
John Degenkolb has not got that season he wished, but a stage win in the Giro and many top 5 finishes does him to a favorite.
Outsiders: Marcel Kittel, Peter Sagan, Nacer Bouhanni, Edvald Boasson Hagen...
RACE REVIEW
23 days, 3388 kilometers and 198 riders...
And the Tour had begun!
The stage started easily and after some attempt from many riders, including my teammate Moreno Moser, only Pierrick Fedrigo (FDJ) succeeded. However he was kept in short leash as he maximum got 4 minutes and was usually about 2-3 minutes.
Time gap
167 KM: Pierrick Fedrigo won the category 4 climb Cote de Sotta. As he is alone in the front, it isn't a surprise.
63 KM: And we are reaching the intermediate sprint! As Fedrigo is alone in the front, there are still 17 points available for 2nd place, so here I go!
Starting the sprint
As there also are others who is interested in the green jersey, I hope not that they pass me...
Too far away! I will do it! Nice with my first points!
Yes, I "won" the sprint! Even though it was for 2nd place. But now I have got a good head start!
10 KM: Fedrigo is still hanging on! He has been in a solo breakaway in almost 200 kilometers! How does he do that? The gap is about 1 minute.
5 KM: Well, if he not cracks, he will surely win; the gap is now around 40 seconds, so the lead-out men should make a massive sprint for catching him.
2 KM: I love to jump from train to train! Which one should I choose, the Argos or the Lotto? It looks like we will sprint for second place. It would be great, if I could win the sprint in the peloton against some of the world's fastest sprinters!
1 KM: Here I go!
0 KM: Benatti on my side, but I think Degenkolb (or is it Kittel?), who almost flys and pass me very quickly, because I started my sprint a bit earlier than him. Cavendish pass me with a speed that feels like that his speed is almost the double of mine!
Benatti has no more energy, and it looks like I will finish 4th in the group! I can see Fedrigo celebrating, it can be that he cracked, but I think that he celebrated his victory. Oh, I shouldn't probably not look at that, Greipel passed me...
FINISH: Well, 5th place is a pretty good start for the Tour. I think that I will wear the white jersey tomorrow as the Argos rider must be either Degenkolb or Kittel, and he finished second.
RESULTS
Stage Results
1.
Pierrick Fedrigo
FDJ
5h05'55"
2.
Marcel Kittel
Argos-Shimano
+20"
3.
Mark Cavendish
Omega Pharma-Quickstep
+20"
4.
André Greipel
Lotto-Belisol
+20"
5.
Peter Sagan
Cannondale Pro Cycling Team
+20"
6.
Alexander Kristoff
Team Katusha
+20"
7.
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky Pro Cycling
+20"
8.
José Joaquin Rojas
Movistar Team
+20"
9.
Daniele Benatti
Team Saxo-Tinkoff
+20"
10.
John Degenkolb
Argos-Shimano
+20"
GC
1.
Pierrick Fedrigo
FDJ
5h05'55"
2.
Marcel Kittel
Argos-Shimano
+20"
3.
Mark Cavendish
Omega Pharma-Quickstep
+20"
4.
André Greipel
Lotto-Belisol
+20"
5.
Peter Sagan
Cannondale Pro Cycling Team
+20"
6.
Alexander Kristoff
Team Katusha
+20"
7.
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky Pro Cycling
+20"
8.
José Joaquin Rojas
Movistar Team
+20"
9.
Daniele Benatti
Team Saxo-Tinkoff
+20"
10.
John Degenkolb
Argos-Shimano
+20"
Mountain Classification
1.
Pierrick Fedrigo
FDJ
1 pt
Points Classification
1.
Pierrick Fedrigo
FDJ
65 pts
2.
Marcel Kittel
Argos-Shimano
50 pts
3.
André Greipel
Lotto-Belisol
39 pts
4.
Peter Sagan
Cannondale Pro Cycling
39 pts
5.
Mark Cavendish
Omega Pharma-Quickstep
30 pts
..........
U25
1.
Marcel Kittel
Argos-Shimano
5h06'04"
2.
Peter Sagan
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+0"
3.
John Degenkolb
Argos-Shimano
+0"
4.
Danny Van Poppel
Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling
+0"
5.
Nacer Bouhanni
FDJ
+0"
...........
Team Classification
1.
FDJ
15h17'52"
2.
Omega Pharma-Quickstep
+20"
3.
Lotto-Belisol
+20"
4.
Team Argos-Shimano
+20
5.
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+20"
...........
Combativity Award
1.
Pierrick Fedrigo
FDJ
192 km
PETER'S COMMENT
Also known as my review of the day! Today had been a great day, I think that if my form continues, I will have a chance for winning once or twice? Maybe I am too optimistic, but hey, the Tour did just start today! What will happen tomorrow? Until next time! Bye!
After the attempt to get the yellow jersey failed yesterday, he will now try to win as many stages as possible.
ANDRÉ GREIPEL
After a breakaway win yesterday, Greipel is probably more motivated to win today.
MARCEL KITTEL
Marcel Kittel is a young talented rider, who also had an amazing season so far. He was the fastest in the peloton yesterday - what can he do today?
Outsiders: Edvald Boasson Hagen, John Degenkolb, Peter Sagan, José Joaquin Rojas
Never underestimate: Alejandro Valverde, Alexander Kristoff, Daniele Bennati
RACE REPORT
The stage started immediately with attacks, however only Blel Kadri (AG2R) succeded. As he only had a maximum lead on 1 minute, it didn't look good for the French...
The start of the stage
120 KM: Blel Kadri is caught by the peloton. We are preparing for the intermediate sprint!
115 KM: If I win, I can get the maximum 20 points! Let's go for it!
But Cav started his sprint a bit earlier than mine and he will take the maximum points. 2nd is good!
110 KM: A new breakaway is formed by Enrico Gasparotto (Astana), Blel Kadri (AG2R), Murilo Fischer (FDJ), Brice Felliu (Sojasun) and Sep Vanmarcke (Blanco).
56 KM: Enrico Gasparotto wins the category 2 climb, Col de Vizzavona, he had actually won on every climb today. Marcel Kittel is dropped! And I was almost dropped!
8 KM: Enrico Gasparotto won the last category 3 climb. The gap is now 1 minute. And during the descend in the peloton, there was a big crash including all my teammates except Fabio! I hope that they are okay.
6 KM: Brice Felliu and Murilo Fischer is caught by the peloton.
5 KM: The gap has grown to 1'30"! They will win today!
3 KM: I am happy for I have Fabio! He will start the lead-out sprint for me!
2 KM: He is doing a great lead-out! Look! Only me, Goss, Rojas and Bennati can follow him!
Now it is up to me...
1 KM: Kadri won the stage ahead of Gasparotto and Vanmarcke. Well done!
But now I am sprinting for 4th! And if I am mathematically correct, I think that if I become 4th, it will be enough to take the green jersey...
700 M: Goss and Bennati have started their sprints, Rojas is on my wheel.
500 M: And here I come! I am taking the outside line! Maybe it was a bit too early? Nevermind, if you sprint, you need to go full out!
100 M: Goss and Bennati is now rapidly closing in! Can I still hang on?
FINISH: YES, I could! I became 4th and that means that I am now the leader of the points classification!
RESULTS
Stage Results
1.
Blel Kadri
AG2R La Mondiale
3h45'31"
2.
Enrico Gasparotto
Astana Pro Team
+0"
3.
Sep Vanmarcke
Blanco Pro Cycling
+0"
4.
Peter Sagan
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+55"
5.
Matthew Goss
Orica-GreenEDGE
+55"
.........
GC
1.
Sep Vanmarcke
Blanco Pro Cycling
6h51'35"
2.
Enrico Gasparotto
Astana Pro Team
+0"
3.
Blel Kadri
AG2R La Mondiale
+0"
4.
Pierrick Fedrigo
FDJ
+35"
5.
Peter Sagan
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+55"
.......
Mountains Classification
1.
Enrico Gasparotto
Astana Pro Cycling
12 pts
2.
Sep Vanmarcke
Blanco Pro Cycling
7 pts
3.
Blel Kadri
AG2R La Mondiale
7 pts
4.
Pierrick Fedrigo
FDJ
1 pt
5.
Murilo Fischer
FDJ
1 pt
Points Classification
1.
Peter Sagan
Cannondale Pro Cycling
75 pts
2.
Pierrick Fedrigo
FDJ
73 pts
3.
Marcel Kittel
Team Argos-Shimano
65 pts
4.
Mark Cavendish
Omega Pharma-Quickstep
50 pts
5.
Andre Greipel
Lotto-Belisol
48 pts
...........
U25
1. Sep Vanmarcke (Blanco)
2. Peter Sagan (Cannondale)
3. John Degenkolb(Argos-Shimano)
4. Danny Van Poppel (Vacansoleil)
5. Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ)
Well, it was a great day. Finishing 4th and now the leader of the points classification! That is great! So now I must defend the jersey. Tomorrow is a day who can drop the sprinters, and I can probably battle for the top positions. Who knows? Until next time, bye!
@murao22 Yes, hopefully he will keep it!
@AbhishekLFC "Defend, defend, defend" - official motto
Tour de France 2013: Stage 3
FAVORITES
*** : Peter Sagan, Simon Gerrans, Philippe Gilbert
** : Alejandro Valverde, Dan Martin, Edvald Boasson Hagen
* : José Joaquin Rojas, Igor Anton
RACE REVIEW
The stage started without any attacks. It was actually one of the more quiet start in Tour de France.
Nice to start with my green jersey!
120 KM: Lopez and Coppel attacks! And with only 4 km from the intermediate sprint, I would not make it happen!
Let's counter-attack!
115 KM: And now I will start my sprint!
Yes! 20 points to the account!
18 KM: Daniel Martin (Garmin) attacks. It could be for the stage win!
14 KM: Many sprinters have dropped including Marcel Kittel, Mark Cavendish, Andre Greipel and more. I am not dropped (yet), but there are also only 500 meters left to the top.
5 KM: The gap between Martin and the favorite group (including me) is 40 seconds. It looks like that it will be the third time that a breakaway wins.
1 KM: Daniel Martin celebrates his stage win. But I will sprint for second!
700 M: Chavanel starts the sprint, but I am closing in!
500 M: And here I come flying past him!
300 M: And it looks like I will finish 2nd!
FINISH: Yep, I finished 2nd. And my lead in the points classification will be bigger, I am happy for that!
It has been a good day for me! Maybe I should be better placed before the last climb, so I could counter-attack. But a second place is pretty good indeed! Tomorrow will we leave Corsica and come to the mainland. Nice is the place for the team time trial. I hope that we can get a good result, probably top 15? Anyway until next time, bye!
@The Schleck Fan + AbhishekLFC Well, what can I say?
Tour de France 2013: Stage 4
FAVORITES
*** : Omega Pharma-Quickstep, Sky Pro Cycling, Orica-GreenEDGE
** : Team Saxo-Tinkoff Bank, Radioshack, Movistar Team
* : Cannondale Pro Cycling, Team Argos-Shimano, FDJ
RACE REPORT
This is the team time trial. We must be connected as a team! I hope that we can get a good time at the finish, so we can't sadly enjoy the beautiful beaches...
As Team Argos-Shimano is the last team in the team classification, they will start first.
And now it is our turn. Stay calm, lads!
12 KM: And here we come to the first and only time check:
First time check:
12'27 (-10" - Team Argos-Shimano)
We are leading! But as we only are the second team to start, I don't think it could hold until the end. But let's try to beat the Argos team!
We didn't have any time to see the beach...and notice that we can see the Argos team!
1 KM: It was actually first now, it was my turn to lead. So let's sprint for the line!
Yes! We beat the Argos team! Can we hold it to the end of the day? No, already Lotto and Movistar had a better time than us. And at the end of the day we were 20th...
RESULTS
Stage Results
1.
Ruben Plaza
Movistar Team
27'12
2.
Jonathan Castroviejo
Movistar Team
+0"
3.
Nairo Quintana
Movistar Team
+0"
4.
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar Team
+0"
5.
Andrey Amador
Movistar Team
+0"
............
GC
1.
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar Team
12h58'00"
2.
Nairo Quintana
Movistar Team
+0"
3.
Andrey Amador
Movistar Team
+0"
4.
Ruben Plaza
Movistar Team
+0"
5.
Rui Costa
Movistar Team
+1"
...........
Mountain Classification
1.
Enrico Gasparotto
Astana
12 pts
2.
Sep Vanmarcke
Blanco Pro Cycling
7 pts
3.
Blel Kadri
AG2R La Mondiale
7 pts
4.
Dan Martin
Garmin-Sharp
5 pts
5.
Jonathan Hivert
Sojasun
5 pts
.........
Points Classification
1.
Peter Sagan
Cannondale Pro Cycling
120 pts
2.
Pierrick Fedrigo
FDJ
73 pts
3.
Marcel Kittel
Team Argos-Shimano
65 pts
4.
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Sky Pro Cycling
55 pts
5.
José Joaquin Rojas
Movistar Team
52 pts
.........
U25
1.
Nairo Quintana
Movistar Team
12h58'00"
2.
Cameron Meyer
Orica-GreenEDGE
+5"
3.
Sep Vanmarcke
Blanco Pro Cycling
+8"
4.
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma-Quickstep
+19"
5.
Andrew Talansky
Garmin-Sharp
+45"
............
8.
Peter Sagan
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+1'03
Team Classification
1. Movistar Team
2. Astana Pro Team
3. Orica-GreenEDGE
4. Blanco Pro Cycling Team
5. Sky Pro Cycling
..........
13. Cannondale Pro Cycling
Most Aggressive Rider Of The Day
No award
PETER'S COMMENT
Well, it was a good day. We didn't expect any top 10, and it is okay. We have no GC captain as Ivan Basso and Vincenzo Nibali, so we can actually take it easy. Tomorrow I will fight for the green jersey and who knows, maybe a stage win? Until next time, bye!
*** : Mark Cavendish, André Greipel, Marcel Kittel
** : Alexander Kristoff, José Joaquin Rojas, Peter Sagan, John Degenkolb
* : Edvald Boasson Hagen, Nacer Bouhanni, Danny Van Poppel, Matt Goss
RACE REPORT
The stage started nice and quiet, because we would already climb the Cote de Châteaueuf-Grasse, who is a category 3 climb.
My green jersey...
215 KM: Attack from Blel Kadri (AG2R) and Stuart O'Grady (Orica).
125 KM: The gap between the breakaway and the peloton is 1'30,
85 KM: It is time for the intermediate sprint! If I finish 2nd or higher in the intermediate sprint, it will be mathematically impossible to catch me for today. The gap is now 30 seconds, so maybe there is hope!
84,7 KM: I start my sprint after a 90 degree right turn, and I have immediately a gap!
84,4 KM: I have really closed in on the two riders!
84,0 KM: I come flying past Stuart O'Grady!
83,8 KM: And now I pass Kadri! It looks like I will get maximum 20 points!
83,5 KM: Yes, I will win it - with that gap you need to travel with the speed of sound if you will get any chances for passing me
10 KM: It goes downhill now. Omega Pharma-Quickstep leads, I think that Cavendish has good legs today!
8 KM: Big crash in the peloton! It has not taken any favorites down however.
5 KM: I am choosing a sprint train now. Should I go with Cav's or should I go for Kittel's? Nah, I will choose Cav's train.
2 KM: Oh my god, what a massive lead-out for Kittel! He has already 10 bike length and it is still his lead-out man, who is sprinting! I think that I choose the wrong train.
1,7 KM: Cav starts his sprint early for having a chance to catch and pass Kittel.,As almost every one was on Cav's wheel they also now start to sprint!
1,5 KM: Now I will start my sprint!
600 M: I am starting to catch Cav and Rojas (I believe), but Kittel is far, far away.
200 M: As Kittel celebrates his first ever Tour stage win, I have passed Cav and Rojas.
100 M: Well, it looks like I will finish second once again.
FINISH: Yep, an other second place. But if I followed Kittel's wheel, I believe that I still will finish second. But at least I beat the rest! And I defended my green jersey!
RESULTS
Stage Results
1.
Marcel Kittel
Team Argos-Shimano
5h11'54"
2.
Peter Sagan
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+0"
3.
Mark Cavendish
Omega Pharma-Quickstep
+0"
4.
José Joaquin Rojas
Movistar Team
+0"
5.
André Greipel
Lotto-Belisol
+0"
..........
GC
1.
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar Team
18h09'54"
2.
Nairo Quintana
Movistar Team
+0"
3.
Andrej Amador
Movistar Team
+0"
4.
Ruben Plaza
Movistar Team
+0"
5.
Rui Costa
Movistar Team
+1"
..........
Mountain Classification
1.
Enrico Gasparotto
Astana
12 pts
2.
Sep Vanmarcke
Blanco Pro Cycling
7 pts
3.
Blel Kadri
AG2R La Mondiale
7 pts
4.
David Lopez
Sky Pro Cycling
5 pts
5.
Dan Martin
Garmin-Sharp
5 pts
..........
Points Classification
1.
Peter Sagan
Cannondale Pro Cycling
175 pts
2.
Marcel Kittel
Team Argos-Shimano
121 pts
3.
José Joaquin Rojas
Movistar Team
87 pts
4.
André Greipel
Lotto-Belisol
83 pts
5.
Mark Cavendish
Omega Pharma-Quickstep
80 pts
.........
U25
1.
Nairo Quintana
Movistar Team
18h09'54"
2.
Sep Vanmarcke
Blanco Pro Cycling
+8"
3.
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma-Quickstep
+19"
4.
Andrew Talansky
Garmin-Sharp
+45"
5.
Tejay Van Garderen
BMC Racing Team
54
............
7.
Peter Sagan
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+1'03
Team Classification
1. Movistar Team
2. Astana Pro Team
3. Orica-GreenEDGE
4. Blanco Pro Cycling Team
5. Sky Pro Cycling
..........
13. Cannondale Pro Cycling
Most Aggressive Rider Of The Day
Blel Kadri (AG2R)
PETER'S COMMENT
Well, another second place. But at least I didn't lose my green jersey. As long I have it, is it no problem that I become second. I was faster than Cav and Greipel surprisingly, but next time I will follow Kittel's wheel. So tomorrow? Sprint and try to win the intermediate sprint snd the see how I am in the last kilometer. Until next time, bye!
*** : Mark Cavendish, André Greipel, Marcel Kittel
** : Alexander Kristoff, José Joaquin Rojas, Peter Sagan, John Degenkolb
* : Edvald Boasson Hagen, Nacer Bouhanni, Danny Van Poppel, Matt Goss
RACE REPORT
The stage started immediately with attacks from Philippe Gilbert (BMC), Adriano Malori (Lampre), the polka-dot wearer Enrico Gasparotto and Blel Kadri (AG2R) once again. They formed quickly the breakaway. After when they were gone, the pace was slow and they got quickly a gap between 2 and 4 minutes after 10-20 km.
The start of the stage
92 KM: And now it is time for the intermediate sprint! As the breakaway is 4 minutes ahead of us, the best place I can get is 5th.
91,7 KM: So I start my sprint now!
90,6 KM: Yep, with that gap I got, it is almost impossible to catch me. 11 points to me!
10 KM: With a gap on 1'10, it looks like the breakaway will go all the way!
6,3 KM: I will try to attack now for having a chance to catch them. The peloton is going too slow!
4,1 KM: I got a gap!
2,0 KM: 30 seconds gap to the peloton. If they have 50 seconds to the breakaway, so I am very close!
1,4 KM: And now I will start my sprint!
0,7 KM: They are too far away! I can see them, but I think that I will finish 4th.
0,4 KM: Philippe Gilbert celebrates his stage win ahead of Enrico Gasparotto. But Gasparotto is also happy, because he will take the yellow jersey from Valverde. Kadri has given up and I am rapidly closing in
0,1 KM: But I am closing in on Kadri! Can I finish 3rd?
FINISH: Of course...not. I finished 4th and according to the organisers the same time as the winner. Marcel Kittel wins the sprint in the peloton - 38 seconds after.
RESULTS
Stage Results
1.
Philippe Gilbert
BMC Racing Team
3h50'19"
2.
Enrico Gasparotto
Astana Pro Team
+0"
3.
Blel Kadri
AG2R La Mondiale
+0"
4.
Peter Sagan
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+0"
5.
Marcel Kittel
Team Argos-Shimano
+38"
..........
GC
1.
Enrico Gasparotto
Astana Pro Team
22h00'14"
2.
Blel Kadri
AG2R La Mondiale
+27"
3.
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar Team
+37"
4.
Nairo Quintana
Movistar Team
+37"
5.
Andrej Amador
Movistar Team
+37"
.........
Mountain Classification
1.
Enrico Gasparotto
Astana
12 pts
2.
Sep Vanmarcke
Blanco Pro Cycling
7 pts
3.
Blel Kadri
AG2R La Mondiale
7 pts
4.
Dan Martin
Garmin-Sharp
5 pts
5.
Jonathan Hivert
Sojasun
5 pts
.........
Points Classification
1.
Peter Sagan
Cannondale Pro Cycling
212 pts
2.
Marcel Kittel
Team Argos-Shimano
143 pts
3.
Mark Cavendish
Omega Pharma-Quickstep
110 pts
4.
André Greipel
Lotto-Belisol
110 pts
5.
José Joaquin Rojas
Movistar Team
101 pts
.........
U25
1.
Nairo Quintana
Movistar Team
22h00'51"
2.
Sep Vanmarcke
Blanco Pro Cycling
+8"
3.
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma-Quickstep
+19"
4.
Peter Sagan
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+25"
5.
Andrew Talansky
Garmin-Sharp
+45"
.........
Team Classification
1. Astana Pro Team
2. AG2R La Mondiale
3. Movistar Team
4. Orica-GreenEDGE
5. Blanco Pro Cycling Team
.........
10. Cannondale Pro Cycling
Most Aggressive Rider Of The Day
Blel Kadri (AG2R)
PETER'S COMMENT
Well, it looks better and better for my chance. Maybe if I attacked some kilometers before, I could catch them. Anyway tomorrow is the last stage (before the mountains) for the sprinters. I believe that I can possible go all the way! Until next time, bye!
*** : Mark Cavendish, André Greipel, Marcel Kittel
** : Alexander Kristoff, José Joaquin Rojas, Peter Sagan, John Degenkolb
* : Edvald Boasson Hagen, Nacer Bouhanni, Danny Van Poppel, Matt Goss
RACE REPORT
The stage started - like yesterday - with some quick attacks by several riders. As the breakaway was "too" big - including 15 riders - and the sprinter teams were afraid of that it could hold all the way, the pace was high almost from the beginning.
And I have a good news! It is now mathematically impossible for the others to catch me in the points classification today! Yes! But that doesn't mean that I would not sprint for more points!
The start of the stage
180 KM: The breakaway has been caught!
175 KM: A new attack from Damiano Cunego (Lampre), Sep Vanmarcke (Blanco), Jan Bakelants (Radioshack) and Manuel Quinziato (BMC). The gap is now 20 seconds.
160 KM: The breakaway is formed by the four riders. The peloton is riding nice and slowly and the gap is rising - now it is 3'25".
120 KM: The gap has past 5 minutes, and the peloton lead by the Argos team is slowly closing in.
100 KM: It is time for the intermediate sprint! Even though I can't be caught today, I will try to make a big gap to number two, Marcel Kittel.
98,5 KM: And now I am starting my sprint!
I am happy for it is going downhill for I am not losing much energy.
97,4 KM: It looks like no one sprinted. I am actually the only one! And I am sprinting for 5th.
11 points more to the account!
20 KM: The gap is now less than 1 minute. We will catch them soon!
15 KM: The breakaway has been caught! It looks like we are heading for a mass sprint!
5 KM: Fabio is coming for helping me! He will make my lead-out!
3 KM: And now Fabio starts sprinting!
2 KM: It is a great lead-out! Maybe I will be a bit longer at his wheel!
1 KM: Come on, Fabio! One last kick!
700 M And now I start my own sprint! Thanks Fabio!
600 M Degenkolb, Kittel, Cavendish and more have passen me!
500 M: Well, it looks like I will fight for another top 5...
400 M: Maybe not...I am coming closer!
300 M: I am actually coming closer on a win! I am passing both Kittel and Cavendish!
200 M: I had passed them!!! I will actually win!!
100 M: YES!!! Almost a bike length!
FINISH: YES! I won! I am very happy!
RESULTS
Stage Results
1.
Peter Sagan
Cannondale Pro Cycling
2h36'44"
2.
Marcel Kittel
Team Argos-Shimano
+0"
3.
Mark Cavendish
Omega Pharma-Quickstep
+0"
4.
José Joaquin Rojas
Movistar Team
+0"
5.
John Degenkolb
Team Argos-Shimano
+0"
..........
Spoiler
Unfortunately I forgot to take pictures of the rest of classification
PETER'S COMMENT
What a day! It was so amazing! I got my victory and the gap to number two in points classification will increase. A thousand thanks to Fabio Sabatini, who is a reason for that I won! Thanks mate! The next few days will not be interesting for me. But I will go in break and try to get as many points as possible! Until next time, bye!
)
