Well, having finally had time to sort it all out!!! The first race of the 2008 season is here. We hit out straight into Italy for the Coppa Costa degli Etruschi. A race that suits the sprinters, but with the early climb, a breakaway could certainly cause some problems. Considering that CSC, Lampre and Silence - Lotto are tipped as the favourites we should see quite a battle at all those teams for leadership. Again, we can't rule out riders from other teams however, and the battle for the win certainly will be a close call.
With 177km to go, it's anyones guess who will win!
Race Profile: Edited by rjc_43 on 06-11-2008 11:40
The second race shortly follows the Costa degli Estruschi, as we move onto the more hilly terrain, which pretty much makes up 60% (if not more) of this years calender. The Trofeo Laiguelia is well known for some lovely hills, and we should see action in the pack well before the final hill. Breakaways, aggressive riding and enough time to bring it all back for a sprint at the end, it's still a weak enough field to see absolutely anything happening here!
Race Profile:
And once the riders have gotten over the torture that are Italian hills, they have to face the ordeal once more at the Tour du Haut Var. Similar to the Trofeo Laigueglia, we could see anything happening. Keep tuned!
Welcome to the First race of the Development game season. We start in beautiful Italy at he short classic Coppa Costa degli Etruschi, here is the route.
It's and unchallenging and all the neo pros should have no problem commanding the course. Its a flat route so it should favour sprinters but with the teams not being as strong as some big teams breakaways may be hard to control. The weather for the race is beautiful a warm temperature and there is barely any wind this should make for and interesting race and no riders should find it too difficult.
The riders set off and all of them very happy about being there, from the out set we had a break and it was American Tyler Hamilton. He stayed away most of the day alone. The images show what the riders had today. Beautiful views and fantastic weather.
Hamilton managed to get 7 minutes alone but after a while the peleton started to pull him back.
At around 33 Kms to go the pack had Hamilton in site and the pace started to rise. It was Garmin pulling it along for John Huff who where on the charge.
When Hamilton was caught Garmin really shifted the pace up a gear and tried to stop and more attacks going within the last 25 Km
With 6 Km to go things really heated up and Michael Brown went for home.
He wasnt going to be alone and three more riders went with him. Christer Terjesen, Euan Innes and Christian Jensen
Christian Jensen really had the legs today and he was trying to prove himself for CSC, he tried to get a gap but Brown quickly shut him down.
Back in the pack not much really was happening. The big names up the front were Matt Booth and Mike Ø.K.Jensen, but most riders were further back.
The sprint really kicked off with a Km to go and it was Brown who hit the break down the right hand side. Innes was going hard on the left who would lead coming into the final corner?
Back in the pack all the leaders push forward. Marc Nonsense mad a big push to the front.
Michael Brown and Euan Innes were neck and neck coming into the final corner and it was going an interesting final sprint between the two.
Innes gave it all! He looked like he was coming round Brown.
But on the line it was Brown that just Managed to hang on, he didn't celebrate either he was shocked about his win or he was just being careful. In the end it was a brilliant win.
At exactly the same time in the pack the sprint was in full flow and all the big names had hit the front. Amazingly this was only the sprint for 5th!
Coming over the line it was Hughes who took 5th.
So that concludes our first race of the season. It was a very exciting one and one that crowned a champion. How good can these riders become. Who's name will go down as a legend.
Brown enjoys his first podium and he receives the Seasons leader jersey. He was delighted.
Welcome to the Second race this year. Again the early season weather is being very merciful and the sun is out and the temperature is pleasant.
All the riders on the start line today were ready and some very big climbs ahead some riders were very excited to be getting on with the day. Some of the sprinters in the bunch had other ideas but the punchers were all lined towards the front making sure that there would be no issue throughout the race.
One rider who was enjoying the day was Michael Brown he was wearing the leaders jerseys after he won the last Development Game race. He would have some pressure mounted but it would be unlikely that he would win today as he is more of a sprinter.
Attacks came all morning. Thick and fast but nothing survived, no big riders were going in the breaks and most of the attacks gave up very quickly.
One break managed to get a max of 2 mins on the pack but with them in sight there was no fear of one of these riders winning.
Crazily the favourite for todays race Even Emberland attacked on the flat coming up to the final climb. John Huff soon joined him and they rode together for a sort while.
The rode to the base of the final climb together and were faced with this Giant monster.
They didnt have much of a gap but they go across to the first attack who only had about 30 seconds when the first attacks came.
The attacks got serious. Hughes and Booth has plans for the stage after Hughes went Booth immediately went after and took Coppi with him. They began to form a rather large group coming towards the top of the climb.
The last rider to come across was Marc Nonsense of Barloworld. He didn't seem to have 100% and to make matter worse there was further development at the front of the bunch.
Olivera hits the group hard at the summit of the climb.
Booth chased very hard possibly for the leader Hughes?
When the pack reached the flat run into town there were a lot of attacks and they soon turned into a group that would ride to the finish.
So here is the sprint line out. Starting from the front :
Tafi,Hughes, Corleone,Coppi,Oliveira,Ceky,Gordeya,Booth and Nonsense. The next group was 1 min back.
The sprint happened very fast and Tafi was quickly swamped by Hughes, Corleone has enough in the tank to surge past him but Booth came from the back to snatch 3rd!
The bunch was lead home by Pedro Filipe but they missed the vital move of the day.
Welcome to the last race of February. Its been a great month so far with some great results for the up and coming riders. But nothing compares to today's.
The weather on the race today was again beautiful, by far the hardest race the peleton has faced this month. The Tour du Haut Var gives the riders a long list of big climbs to get over. Who will prevail? There can only be one.
The favouritse for todays race include. Barloworlds Marc Nonsense. Team GLS' Â Even Emberland and Team CSC's Matt Booth.
Now onto the race.
The early pace setting was took up by Barloworld and in fact they were on the front for a lot of todays race. Obviously Nonsense was feeling strong and he showed it by sitting near the front. However it seemed that we was slightly under pressure as he regularly rode along side of the train in the wind.
The break of the day was nothing special but they stayed away for a lot of today's race.
There wasn't really much action in the early part of the race but on the largest climb of the day (The Col de Mons) the peleton's speed began to heat up. But to main spectators surprise no one attacked and the Break still have over a minutes lead.
However on the downhill it was a different story and underdog Josh Crommy gave it a dig.
He managed to get a small gap but it wasn't anything significant non the less he went again on the following climb but this time he dragged a few others with him.
Dekker, Brown, Smith, Filipe and Gordeyev all go after crommy who looks back and give another little dig.
Brown and Dekker slightly drop off but at the top of the Col de St Arnoux they manage to make contact.
So now the race comes to the penultimate climb of the race and the peleton are pushing hard to catch the Crommy group.
On the penultimate nothing happened no attacks from the peleton and the Crommy group caught the break of the day.
Coming to the final climb Barloworld look spent and a lot of riders have dropped back in the peleton. CSC took over the pace making and the gap really began to come down. Most surprisingly it was Mike Ø.K.Jensen who really put the hammer down for CSC and he did a lot of work to catch the break.
On the final climb the break rode hard and the peleton trailed by about a minute.
Over the top the situation looked like this
The peleton are behind by 1,42 the break of the day 1,05, Barloworld regroup some riders and that started pulling with CSC and Acqua e Sapone.
The flat to the finish is where things really started heating up. Cornejo and Tafi give it a go with the break in sight.
More riders jumped across the gap but there was no sign of Emberland, Nonsense or Booth.
CSC really but the hammer down! The gaps really came down and Booth was ready to pounce.
It was so spread out and then all of a sudden Nonsense launched a massive attack and Booth quickly follow. Emberland noticed and jump swiftly onto Booth's wheel. Nonsens have nothing left with 3 to go and booth kept going. By this time only Dekker was up the road and he was soon caught. Booth swung of and took a quick glance at Emberland. Cat and mouse began and the sprint unfolded with 500 meters to go.
Emberland edged ahead. But Booth strongly kicked back! It was going to be so close!
Booth slumped his head over the bars and Emberland looked shocked. Neither of them knew who had won it.
The Helicopter shots showed how close it was.
It was some time before the photo finish picture was put up on Tv screens and Look how close it was!!
But it was announced! The winner was Booth for CSC!
Booth stood proud on the Podium and he looks over joyed with his win!
That's it for February folks. Stay tuned for another Excited month to come in the development game!
