Thanks guys for all the comments, they are all really appreciated. As for the next stage, I'm shooting for today, but it's possible, that I'll delay it a bit to tomorrow. Hopefully better results will come. Edited by fernando97 on 07-06-2013 17:04
Hilly finish in Sterling, all of our punchers are excited to see the end, as it seems like a nice possibility for us to get some results.
My bet: Moreno Moser
Daily Recap
As it is almost always, today's stage started with a breakaway getting away from the peloton. This time we tried to get into it with Mitch Thompson, but he couldn't join the 5-men group in the end. The biggest names in the group were Euskaltel's Astarloza and the upcoming dutch youngster Tom Dumoulin.
The tempo was fairly slow in the peloton today, there weren't many teams willing to set the pace. Despite all the signs for a breakaway win, their lead decreased as the pack rolled through the next couple of kilometers. As the gap rapidly tightened, Team Sky smell blood and put their train to the front to help Dario Cataldo. The peloton slowly reached the break, so it's all together before the final hill. Let's see what happens.
Live coverage
The peloton is getting loose as the pace rises, there are several attacks too. Currently Simon Geschke leads the way and Nocentini is right behind him, hanging onto his wheel. There is Katusha's Simon Spilak attacking, the slovenian is followed by Geschke! The two break through, the peloton can't really follow them, the chase is really unorganized.
The pair is still infront nearing the sprint, but the peloton is coming fast led by SpiderTech! The sprints starts now, all the punchy sprinters are coming fast and don't forget about the Spiders! Pye, Kim and Van der Valde are there in the lead too!
Under the Flamme Rouge we are, it's still Spilak in the lead leaving Geschke behind, the pack is closing in fast with Nocentini in the lead. Can he hold off all the sprinters?
Yes, he can, Spilak is the winner of stage 3! Nice attack and the victory, he must be really content with his performance! Geschke crosses the line second, while Ponzi wins the bunch sprint, beating Cataldo and the North Korean Kim Yoo-Suk.
Kim Yoo-Suk - 1 - for the huge finish
That was our best stage of the race so far, maybe these hills are our terrain! It'd be nice to keep this up, finally things are going in our way...Edited by fernando97 on 08-06-2013 19:54
Too bad there isn't a time trial, but Yoo-suk is definitely showing he's capable of following on a hilly stage! (misspelled his first name in spider of the day btw )
@Selwink - Thanks, I don't have great graphics, but I try to get some nice ones.
@sutty,welker,Daggen,Ian Butler - Thanks guys, your support is really-really appreciated!
@Ollfardh - Indeed, a TT would be sick. Also it wasn't just one mispell.
Santos Tour Down Under
Stage 4
Stage Profile
A really easy flat stage, probably the easiest so far. Mass sprint.
Daily Recap
Today started with something, that didn't ever happen before. Spider in the break! We tried our luck in it, maybe it'll be successful. It was the canadian Nick Van der Valde for us, with companions, such as Ion Izagirre or Lloyd Mondory.
The bunch was quite calm today, it was only Astana willing to work. However, their chase was unfortunately enough to hunt the break down. Nick gave it another try, he went solo, but in the end it all came back together. Let's join the live coverage now!
Live coverage
The teams are preparing for the sprint, it's Orica and Blanco leading out most powerfully, while our train is quite far back, thanks to a bad switch between Fischer and Pye. As the kilometers flew by, it turned out to be a quite straightforward sprint.
The two teams are completely dominating the field right now, it seems like they're in good form! Ponzi is still on Cooke's wheel though, so it won't be an easy one. It seems like Boeckmans is there too.
It seems like the belgian is still leading, but Baden Cooke is coming strong! Ponzi and Dumoulin are also lurking around out there, but can Boeckmans hold on?!
No, it's Baden Cooke with the photofinish-worthy finish! The australian barely overtakes Boeckmans, who takes the 2nd, while little frenchman Dumoulin comes in 3rd! The race leader faded at the end and came 8th, while the spider was Kim, who took the 19th position.
Stage Results
1
Baden Cooke
Orica - GreenEdge
2h59'05
2
Kris Boeckmans
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
3
Samuel Dumoulin
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
4
Francesco Gavazzi
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
5
Mark Renshaw
Blanco Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
6
Koldo Fernández
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
7
Daryl Impey
Orica - GreenEdge
s.t.
8
Simone Ponzi
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
9
Elia Favilli
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
10
Christopher Sutton
Sky Procycling
s.t.
General Classifiation
1
Simone Ponzi
Astana Pro Team
12h41'35
2
Baden Cooke
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 8
3
Simon Spilak
Katusha Team
+ 14
4
Andrea Palini
Lampre - Merida
+ 15
5
Samuel Dumoulin
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 16
6
Luca Paolini
Katusha Team
+ 18
7
Kris Boeckmans
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
8
Simon Geschke
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
9
Mikel Astarloza
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 19
10
Daryl Impey
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 20
Points Rankings
1
Simone Ponzi
Astana Pro Team
20
2
Andrea Palini
Lampre - Merida
18
3
Baden Cooke
Orica - GreenEdge
14
KOM Classification
1
Andrea Palini
Lampre - Merida
16
2
Maarten Wynants
Blanco Pro Cycling Team
16
3
Egor Silin
Astana Pro Team
16
Spider of the Day/DS Reaction
Nick Van der Valde - 1 for showing great effort in the breakaway.
It was a disappointing one again for us. Maybe we are just not in good enough form out here. Well, we can still go for the GC though, tomorrow's stage finishes on the Willunga Hill, so expect something from us!
@Ian Butler - I wonder how will we do on the GTs then.
@mvhoogdalem - Peace between teammates please. Or not.
@Ollfardh - Admit guilt here.
@Miguel98 -
@Jakstar22 - MUST.
Santos Tour Down Under
Stage 5
Stage Profile
It's THE DAY for us. If we want to achieve something good GC-wise in this race, we must do it now. Looking at the forms, it seems like Mike and Kim are going to be our captains. Let's see.
Daily Recap
The youngster breakaway today, many-many talented young riders. Amongst others, it was Joe Dombrowski, Tom Dumoulin and Lachlan Morton trying their luck in today's break.
As the peloton was nearing the first climb of the peloton the pace got really fast really quickly. Saxo - Tinkoff and Sky were really pushing it, the break only had 1 minute at the foot of the climb. Let's go live, see what's happening at the moment.
Live coverage
On the top of the Willunga the break still has a lead of 30 seconds, the peloton is also coming strong lead by the strong Sky team.
We're at the foot of the last climb now, it's coming together now, as the tempo of the pack rises to the sky. Nobody can get away, it's going to come down in a mass sprint! The SpiderTech guys are in good position, it's looking promising for us!
The sprint is going right now, Dario Cataldo and Gavazzi are at the front, the race leader is still there too. Kim and Pye are unfortunately a bit behind, as Morton blocked them!
Cataldo wins the stage! The italian takes the queen stage with ease, beating Gavazzi and Spilak! Ponzi and Geschke round out the top 5, while the best Spider is Kim, coming 24th....
JESLEYH TIME! 3-4-5 in the stage results...
Stage Results
1
Dario Cataldo
Sky Procycling
3h34'05
2
Francesco Gavazzi
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
3
Simon Spilak
Katusha Team
s.t.
4
Simone Ponzi
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
5
Simon Geschke
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
6
Samuel Dumoulin
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 27
7
Moreno Moser
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
8
Luca Paolini
Katusha Team
s.t.
9
Rory Sutherland
Team Saxo - Tinkoff
s.t.
10
Rinaldo Nocentini
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
General Classifiation
1
Simone Ponzi
Astana Pro Team
16h15'40
2
Simon Spilak
Katusha Team
+ 10
3
Dario Cataldo
Sky Procycling
+ 14
4
Francesco Gavazzi
Astana Pro Team
+ 18
5
Simon Geschke
Team Argos - Shimano
s.t.
6
Baden Cooke
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 35
7
Andrea Palini
Lampre - Merida
+ 42
8
Samuel Dumoulin
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 43
9
Luca Paolini
Katusha Team
+ 45
10
Kris Boeckmans
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
Points Rankings
1
Simone Ponzi
Astana Pro Team
20
2
Andrea Palini
Lampre - Merida
18
3
Baden Cooke
Orica - GreenEdge
14
KOM Classification
1
Maarten Wynants
Blanco Pro Cycling Team
24
2
Andrea Palini
Lampre - Merida
16
3
Dario Cataldo
Sky Procycling
16
Spider of the Day/DS Reaction
No points today.
The team is angry. We'll talk with Morton and Vaughters, that was inexcuseable. STDU is not our race so far...
