Stage 11
BOTD Madrazo(Mov) Palomares(And) B-H(Sky) Pimienta(Caja) De Weert(QST)
Kennaugh slips to 5th in KoM
1st Madrazo 2nd A.Schleck 3rd Rodriguez
Cummings Injured, falls on a decent, no-one else involved
Stage 21
no BOTD
1st Boasson-Hagen 2nd Haussler 3rd Greipel
GC A.Schleck 2nd L.L.Sanchez@3'08 3rd Rodriguez@5'26
9th Kennaugh@30'57 11th Boasson-Hagen@33'07
KoM Palomares 181pts
Pts Schleck 200pts
Young Kennaugh, 2nd Hagen
Team Geox-TMC, 3rdSky
Wow, i take back what i said in May, those were the hardest 3 weeks i have had on a bike. I'm dissapointed not to get the KoM, but i just didnt have the strength. But a top10! and the Young Rider win! This caps an amzing year for me, and signals the end. I dont have any more races planned, so i'm off the Copenhagen to watch the Worlds, before heading off to Italy to relax and wind down. I'll give you a full blog with the season finish.
Edited by Wiley on 16-02-2012 23:28
Time Trial
Wiggins and Thomas were representing GBR, and were the only 2 Sky riders. Brad was 2nd favorite for the day, but we all knew both he and G had the form to win.
Thomas went first of the 2, and set the fastest sprints all the way, and set a time of 1h00'55, placing him first with an average speed of around 45km/h!!!
Brad went 4th last. He looked amazingly quick. He set the fastest time ate IS1, and by IS2 had a 56" lead over Malori and 58" over Cancellara. He passed Larsson with 2km to go, and crossed the line at 50km/h, having averaged over 45km/h!!! He won!!!!!
Wiggins 59'09
Thomas @ 1'46
Malori @ 2'12
Cancellara @ 2'12
Van Garderen @ 2'43
Road Race
Team; Hunt, Hammond, Millar, Thomas, Swift, Cavendish
Loads of attacks to begin the day, but the main one formed after 80km around Impey and Costa. GBR pulled it back with 25km to go. At 20km to go Hushovd attacked, and the chase blew up Millar, Hunt and Hammond. Hushovd was caught at 3km as Thomas started his sprint. Swift kicked at 2km to go. Boasson-Hagen jumed Cavendish in the final turn, but the Missile was launched... Cavendish pulled it back and raised his arms in celebration, World Champion!!!
Boasson-Hagen was second, and Haussler in third.
I was in the stands watching both races and couldn't believe it. Daves plan worked to perfection and is amazing to be part of. Cavendish announced his team for next year in the post race press conference, and confirmed the worst kept secret in cycling, as he has signed for Sky!! Both World Champions in one team, cant beleive its Sky!
My end of year blog will be going up at the end of October, after the Tour of Beijing and Lombardia.
Edited by Wiley on 17-02-2012 20:40
Wiggins looked amazing in the World Champions jersey on stage 1, the held on well on stage 3. Hagen got some good top10's and set up a good end to the year.
A Great end to a great season with the World's and Beijing. A Tour de France victory and Jerseys in each of the GT's. I'd suggest doing a summary of the season from a Sky perspective and then doing a summary of the high flyers and under achievers of the season.
Neillster wrote:
A Great end to a great season with the World's and Beijing. A Tour de France victory and Jerseys in each of the GT's. I'd suggest doing a summary of the season from a Sky perspective and then doing a summary of the high flyers and under achievers of the season.
January
The year began with McEwen surprising to win the Australian Nationals, and Cadel wining the TT. Rogers and Gerrans performed well. The TDU was won by Pozzato, as Sky struggled to get going.
February
Sky continued in Qatar with Edvald on the Podium. The early cobbles, normally good for Sky, proved tough with solid but underwhelming performances.
March
The real start to the UWT with Paris-Nice and Tirreno-Adriatico. Edvald got 2 stage wins in france. I began in Italy, but Sky struggled, never really showing. Milan-San Remo is the years first Monument, and Sky hit it hard. Edvald winning solo against the odds in tough conditions. Catalunya was a solid fitness builder for the younger riders. The Criterium International was my second race. I won the KoM, with Thomas netting 2 wins, and sky dominating the podium. The E3 was poor by our standards. Again we struggled at Gent-Wevelgem.
April
Flecha T10'd at the Ronde with a strong ride. Again a young team to Pais Vasco for experience. Flecha found his form too late with 6th at Paris-Roubaix. A solid start to the Ardennes in Amstel as Sky were the best team, but missed out on the T10. Edvald and Lofkvist made the T10 in Fleche, with 2 good rides. Uran T10'd in L-B-L as Gilbert made history. I returned for Romandie as we prepared for the Giro
May
May was amzaing. I raced the Giro, and won 3 stages and the KoM and got a T10 yet was still not the main story. Thomas won 5 stages, and lost to Cadel by 18"! Sky dominated the Giro wining 9stages between us. California is a UWT race in all but technicality, and the field showed this. Brad was 6th overall.
June
Wiggins was 3rd overall and won the TT in a great Dauphine. Michael was 3rd overall and won the final TT in an equally great Suisse. Geraint and Edvald became National TT champions. Then both Geraint and Edvald did the double becoming National RR champions. Sky got a 1-2 in UK, and a 1-2-3 in Norway.
July
The Tour is the race of the year. Bradley won 4 stages, the KoM and the overall in a dominant show of force. Uran won the Young Rider jersey and was 6th overall. Gerans won a stage. Flecha won 2 stages. Sky took the team award as well. Brad took 4th in San Sebastian to round out our best month.
August
Slightly dissapointing in Eneco and Pologne but solid performances. 2nd and 3rd at Vatenfall continued the great season. The Vuelta began in searing heat and high winds. I held the KoM for 10 stages, and Edvald took a win.
September
The Vuelta continued. Edvald took the final 2 stages and 12th overall. I was 9th overall and the best young rider. Canada was interesting as Sky took some good results. The Tour of Britain was dissapointing, but solid, as we built towards the Worlds. Bradley destroyed the ITT, with Geraint shocking in 2nd. Swifty lead-out Cavs to the win the RR, as Edvald was 2nd, and future Sky rider Haussler was 3rd.
October
Bradley won the inaugural Tour of Beijing in style. Then Edvald was T10 in Lombardia to complete an amzaing season. Bradley then won the Velo d'Or.
Hi, its December and time to start running through the transfers and anticipation of the new year. Here i will go through each UWT teams main transfers, show you there squads, and give you my opinion on them. This will take some time so will done in parts. Then you will get a run down of the new race routes, followed by my new year blog.
Free Riders
Valverde, Menchov, Kreuziger, Kern, C.Meyer
Valverde had a contract with Movistar, but there relegation means he remains without a team. Menchov and Kreuziger should have teams, but are pricing themselves out.
AG2R la Mondiale
Out - Ravard, Kadri, Bonnafond, Dupont, Roche, Minard
In - Vande Velde, Lequarte, Guesdon, Charteau
Comment - The transfers almost balance out. Surprised by surviving and will be aiming to do so again.
Rating - 2
ProTeam Astana
Out - Zeits, Kreuziger, Renev, Iglinsky
In - Galimzyanov, Astarloza
Comment - The transfers weaken the team, but not heavily. Galimzyanov gives them a new option. There strength in depth will always make them a threat.
Rating - 4
BMC
Out - Frank, Quinziato
In - Finetto, Dekker, Bosisio
Comment - Strong team that will be in contention over all terrains. The transfers strengthen the team well.
Rating - 4
Cofidis
Out - El Fares, Duque, Mate, Edet, Taaramae
In - Le Mevel, Calzati, Ladagounas, Casper, Galland, Rojas
Comment - Perhaps the best team for transfers, Cofidis could be a real force. Promotion was great and survival should be possible.
Euskatel - Euskadi
Out - Fernandez, Nieve, Urtasun, Perez
In - Freire, Galdos, Velasco
Comment - The Basque team can contend GC and now sprints. Should be strong, especially in Spain.
Rating - 4
Exept that it is Sky who actually wants him.
