January 2013:

2.1 Etoille de Besseges

Lazslo Brodrogi wins the final stage. A 10 km TT.

Overall younsgter Vincent Castaing ends up 4th overall. A very good showing in the guys first race.

Conclusion:

Not so many races this month. Besides Etoille de besseges only one other race which was preparation to the upcoming spnsor goals.

Sponsor Goal ***

2.1 Tour de Mediterranen - Stage win

The team:

Remy Di Grigorio - Leader
Vincent Castaing - Free
Marco Barthes - Free
Aurelien Passeron - Sprinter
Emilien-Benoit Berges - Helper
Mickael Metz - Helper
Christoph Castelain - Helper
Tarcisio Ambrosino - Helper

Stage 1: Flat

146 km of flat terrain opens up the Tour Mediterraneen. Two categorized climb however, they're a long way from home. It will probably be a bunch sprint. Passeron our sprinter is in horrible form. We'll try to get Berges or Castelain in todays break.
After 10 km a break is formed. It's 6 riders. One of them is Castelain. He's clearly the best climber in the group. Let's hope he has the legs. A mountain jersey would be a nice bonus.
Castelain wins both the climbs and will be wearing the climbers jersey tomorrow.
It doesn't look like the break is gonna make it. Halfway through the race the deficit is down to 4'20 after having been at 7 minutes.
With the break down to 2'17 and 35 to go Castelain takes off. He quickly gets catched.
With 25 km to go Le Montagner(BSE) attacks. Castelain is following him. They get catched with 15 km to go, and with 10 km to go the two riders get dropped. The peloton is only 50 seconds behind. It's probably gonna be a bunch sprint.
Daniele Bennati wins the sprint. Passeron didn't have the legs today and ends up 23rd.

Stage 2: TT

A 24 time trial with a small hill at the end. We hope for a top-10 finish for either Berges or Castaing.
Alright. There's simply too many great riders here. Berges end up 27th as the best Credit Agricole rider.
Rohan Dennis wins the TT one second ahead of Westra and Boom.
The positive is that our profiles for the stage win all loose at least 1'30 minutes. That should give us some leeway.

Stage 3: Hilly

Todays stage goes over five category 2 climbs. We'll try to get Barthes into the breakaway. We can't win if we compete with all the stars. We need to get away with the break.
Three riders are in this mornings breakaway. Sørensen(TST), Kern(EUC) and Barthes(C.A).
Barthes wins the first mountain sprint.
The breakaway peaks at 7 minutes.
Nicki Sørensen and Marco Barthes battles it out for the polkadot jersey and looses Kern in the process. They have 3'31 minute advantage on the peloton and 1 minute on Kern. 35 km to go.
With 20 km to go the peloton catches up and it's going to be a gung-ho finish.
Barthes will wear the polkadot jersey tomorrow.
In the end 8 riders attacks and Remy Di Gregorio is in it.
With 4 km to go Betancur and Pinot has a small hole. Di Gregorio takes the wheel of Westra and they're close to catching them.
They don't. Di Grigorio ends up 4th. A pretty good result. We have 4 riders in the top-20.

Stage 4: Hilly

Todays stage features a steep climb at the end of the stage. If Barthes or Castaing are fresh we'll send one of them into the breakaway. On the final climb, we'll send Di Grigorio off at the bottom.
The morning breakaway contains seven riders. Including Kruijswijk(BEL), Astarloza(EUS), Nuyens(GRS) and Castaing(C.A)
With 60 km to go the breakaway has 4 minutes. Todays real obstacles starts about 20 km from goal. Di Grigorio is feeling good today.
The breakaway is catched at the start of the final climb. With 9 km to go 27 riders have a chance to win.
6,3 km to go and the climb starts. Di Gregorio heads off at the bottom. He gets away but is catched by the favourites with 3 km to go.
The last km he can't follow the leaders and Pinot end up winning in front of Fuglsang. Di Gregorio end up 5th.
Overall he climbs up to 6th overall. But that wasn't really the plan. Barthes still holds on the the climbers jersey.

Stage 5: Hilly

An almost 200 km stage with three real steep climbs. We'll try to slip someone in the morning breakaway but keep our favourites for the final climb. The stage end with a descent on which we'll try to send off Di Gregorio.
It's the final stage of the tour.
Passeron is in the morning breakaway along with 6 others. None of the riders are challenging for the polkadot jersey. The best placed rider is 5'34 away. This break might make it.
Halfway through the stage the break has 8'30.
Entering the last cilmb the breakaway has 5'08 with 39 km to go. Passeron should have a good chance if he can hold on to the others. In the peloton Barthes is having great legs and will respond to every attack.
With 5 km to the top, Passeron is still holding on but is starting to struggle.
2 km from the top Passeron lets go. He'll need to give it all to comeback on the descent.
He can't catch them and ends up 7th.
Marc de Maar wins the stage.
Di Gregorio sits at the wrong place on the last climb and struggles to come back to the leaders and drops a couple of minutes to the other favourites.

Conclusion:

Two top-5 finishes for the team but unfortunately no stage wins. Also a slight disappointment with the fall in the GC of Di Gregorio on the last stage. Overall I'm pretty happy with winning the climbers jersey. I hope the sponsors are too ;-)

Sponsor Goal ***

2.HC Tour of Oman - Stage win

The team:

Rosario Salvatori - Leader
David De la Fuente - Free
Guillaumeo Blot - Free
Mathieu Perget - Helper
Miriano Ferraro - Helper
Mickael Metz - Helper
Tarcisio Ambrosino - Helper

Stage 1: Flat

A long mostly flat stage with only one categorized climb. We'll try getting Ferraro or Blot in the breakaway. Cavendish, Kristoff and Guardini in the peloton so it would be nearly impossible to win a bunch sprint. but in a small group both Blot and Ferraro has the speed needed to win.
Blot slips into the morning brekaway. 4 riders are in it. Blot should be the quickest of the bunch.
Blot wins the mountain sprint.
With 90 km to go the break has 6'04.
It looks like a bunch sprint. With 10 km to go the break has under a minute.
5 km to go Ferrero takes off.
He cant get really away but ends up being a nice leadout for Blot who has been catched.
In the end cavendish wins and Blot end up 8th.

Stage 2: Flat

A generally flat stage with a small bump around 10 km from the finish line.
It takes 30 km but finally the morning breakaway is off. Containing 3 guys. Including De La Fuente.
With 30 km to go they've got 2 minutes.
After attacks from De la Fuentes' companion the break enters the small bump with 8 km to go together with a 40 second advantage. De la Fuente takes off as soon as they hit the bump.
He's alone over the top. Kristoff is chasing him with his lead-out guy. Can he last?
Yes he can!
DE LA FUENTE RAISES HIS ARMS IN TRIUMPH!
Kristoff comes second.
Rasario Salvatori comes in fourth and takes valuable seconds to the other GC contenders.

Stage 3: Flat

200 km of flat. De la Fuente is second overall and in the polkadot jersey.
After winning the needed stage we rest our legs before tomorrows king stage.
It ends up in a bunch sprint.
Cavendish wins it.

Stage 4: Mountain

A 137 stage ending with the climb up to Jabal Al Akhdhar. This stage will decide the outcome of the GC.
Salvatori is really in good form, but the peloton has some strong riders in it. We decide that he's gonna play it cool until the climb.
Then all of a sudden he attacks after 5 km.
It comes to nothing as the peloton won't let him go. I'm furious. Why did he want to burn out his energy now?
He says his legs aren't great and felt he needed a headstart on the climb. Too bad. After this stunt they're even worse.
5 riders finally break away. None of them from our team.
The break never really pulls away. surely the favourites wants this stage.
As we get near the mountain the breakaway is wheeled in. De La fuente has great legs he say.
With 7 km to the top Rui Costa(MOV) attacks. De la Fuente follows him. At least for one km.
De la Fuente let's go but finds his own pace. Costa is gone and leads the race by two minutes with 2,5 km to go.
Contador(TST) are closing in on De la Fuente who is really showing off his incredible form.
Contador passes de la Fuente with 1,5 to go. He cant hold his wheel. It's probably too late to catch Costa.
Rui Costa passes the line after a great effort.
De la Fuente end up 3rd. What an amazing ride. He distanced Brajkovic, Evans, Kangert and van garderen.

Stage 5: Hilly

The last chance to gain real time in the GC. Three hills within the last 40 km. Nothing too steep though.
De la Fuente is second. 58 seconds behind Costa, 28 seconds in front of Contador. He's also 3 minutes ahead of Kristoff. He really wants this podium finish.
We're gonna play it safe. The whole team in the peloton. Working for de la Fuente.
4 guy breakaway. none of them are threatening De la Fuente, and with 50 km to go they have 12 minutes. The best placed is still 5 minutes away from de la Fuente.
We've decided to ride defensively to protect his podium place, but now he says he yet again has great legs. Perhaps he should try gaining minute he's behind?
The favourites attack earlier than expected. de le Fuente orders his guys to drive up the pace. Costa is breaking away and he's wasting precious energy.
Salvatori is really crushing the peloton and there's only 47 left in the peloton.
On the second to last climb Contador attacks. De la Fuente keeps calm.
There's now only 6 people left in the peloton. Contador and Costa are 1'30 minute ahead as we enter tha last hill. De la Fuente Attacks.
Too late. Costa and Contador takes one minute each and De la Fuente drops to third. 4 minutes ahead of Visconti.
van Rensburg won the stage

Stage 6: Flat

138.8 concludes this year's Tour of Oman.
A quiet stage end in a mass sprint with Cavendish as the winner.
David De La Fuente takes 3rd overall. A really great result!
Besides the podium place he took a stage and the Mountain jersey as well.

Conclusion:

David De La Fuente takes 3rd overall. A really great result!
Besides the podium place he took a stage and the Mountain jersey as well.
All in all a very nice Tour of Oman for the team. These points will prove massive in our hunt to become a pro continental team. Also. We're 1 of 2 sponsor goals.

Sponsor Goal ***

2.1 Tour du Haut Var - Top-5

The team:

Remy Di Gregorio - Leader
Vincent Castaing - Free
Marco Barthes - Free
Aurelien Passeron - Helper
Laszlo Bodrogi - Helper
Emilien-Benoit Berges - Helper
Christoph Castelain - Helper
Sylvain Magne - Helper

Stage 1: Hilly

One of two stages so it'll be important to sit right on this stage. It's a 157 stage with a bunch of hills at the end.
Remy Di Gregorio is in excellent form. Let's hope he's got the legs today.
60 km into the race the peloton is still together.
Passeron attacks halfway through the race. He's getting help from 5 others. All decent hill riders.
Sella wins the mountain sprints and will wear the mountain jersey tomorrow. Passeron is conserving energy. The break has 2 minutes with 50 km to go.
17 km to go the breakaway is over. Di gregorio and Barthes, our hopes in the GC, both have a bad day.
Sandy Casar attacks with 10 to go. Barthes can't hold his wheel.
With 2 km to go Casar has 40 seconds. Di Gregorio is placed well in the peloton.
Casar wins the stage solo and Di Gregorio ends 5th in the bunch sprint up the final hill.
Not bad considering his legs weren't great.

Stage 2: Hilly

A 200 km hilly stage are probably gonna get decided on the climb 20 km from the finish.
We're gonna send a man into the breakaway and hope Di Gregorio or Barthes has the legs to make a difference today.
The morning breakaway is off we manage to slip two people in there. Barthes and Passeron.
The peloton seem reluctant to let go for 10 km, but then gives in. The 7 guys are off.
Barthes takes 16 points on the category 1 climb and is tied for the lead in the mountain competition.
Halfway through the race the break has 5 minutes.
Passeron has been working hard for the group and with 50 km to go he gets dropped. It's up to Barthes. The time is down to 1'20.
The peloton catches the break. It's gonna get decided on the hill 20 km to go. If Mørkøv(TST), the only survivor from the break, doesn't make it
They take a right turn into the hill and Di Gregorio attacks immediately.
He gets company by Nocentini(AG2), Westra(VCD) and Fedrigo(FDJ) and they quickly catches Mørkøv.
The five guys have a 20 second advantage on Duarte(COL) and 1'04 on the pack. There's 10 km to go.
Di Gregorio has energy for yet another stab at the others. He gets away.
The chasers close in fast but Di Gregorio seems to have what it takes.
DI GREGORIO HAS DONE IT! A GREAT SOLO STAGE WIN!
But is it enough for the overall win? Di Gregorio is 44 seconds behind the leader.
It is!
Di Gregorio wins it 4 seconds in front of Casar.

Conclusion:

A performance above all expectations. How Di Gregorio had energy for another attack is beyond me. He's really paying back on the faith the team has put in him.
A stage win, an overall GC win and a sponsor goal reached.
Succes!

February Update:

2.1 Tour de mediterraneen ***

Not really the best start to the season. The sponsors wanted a stage win, but we only got a top-5, or two actually. Both results was Di Gregorio. We did however win the mountain Jersey.

2.HC Tour of Oman ***

David de La Fuente managed to win a stage and ended up 3rd overall. he also won the Mountain jersey. A great race for the team.

2.1 Tour du Haut Var ***

We needed a Top-5 in the GC. Di Gregorio delivered. He won the second and last stage and took the overall win by 4 seconds.

Conclusion:

Besides the three sponsor goals above we entered some other races but did not really bring in any significant results.

Transfer news:

David de La Fuente announces that he will retire at the end of this season.
We have renewed the contract of Mombaerts, Passeron and Bodrogi.

Sponsor Goal **

1.1 Strade Bianchi - Top-5

The team:

Rosario Salvatori - Leader
David De la Fuente - Free
Miriano Ferrero - Free
Christophe Castelain - Helper
Guillaume Blot - Helper
Vincent Castaing - Helper
Michael Metz - Helper
Tarcisio Ambrosino - Helper

The race: Hilly

Its a hilly stage and our leader today is Salvatori.
Castelain joins the breakaway a long with 9 other riders.



Halfway through the race the break has 5'15.
With 50 km to go the break still has 3'17. De la Fuente and Salvatori are placed well in front of the peloton. Unfortunately Salvatori isn't feeling too well.



Castelain puts even more pressure on his fellow escapees.
20 km to go the break has 1'31. Castelain attacks.



He gets away but soon the favourites attack. Salvatori can't follow Nibali(AST), Hagen(SKY) and Belletti(AG2).
With 4 km to go Castelain is still 4th. Pellizotti(AND), trofimov(KAT) and Trofimov(KAT) are chasing him from behind. De la Fuente sits in the pack.
There's a strong headwind in the final. It'll be difficult for Castelain.
They can't reach Castelain! He gets 4th. Another objective reached!



Boasson Hagen wins the stage in front of Nibali.
De la Fuente comes 9th.


Results:

1	Edvald Boasson Hagen	Sky Procycling	4h22'43
2	Vincenzo Nibali	Astana Pro Team	+ 37
3	Manuel Belletti	AG2R La Mondiale	+ 48
4	Christophe Castelain	Credit Agricole	+ 1'19
5	Diego Ulissi	Lampre - Merida	+ 1'29
6	Yury Trofimov	Katusha Team	s.t.
7	Franco Pellizotti	Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela	s.t.
8	Carlos Betancur	AG2R La Mondiale	+ 1'53
9	David De la Fuente	Credit Agricole	+ 2'19
10	Simon Spilak	Katusha Team	+ 2'30

Sponsor Goal *

1.1 Roma Maxima - Top-10



The team:

Rosario Salvatori - Leader
David De la Fuente - Free
Miriano Ferrero - Free
Christophe Castelain - Helper
Guillaume Blot - Helper
Vincent Castaing - Helper
Michael Metz - Helper
Tarcisio Ambrosino - Helper

The race

180 km of hilly terrain. We're sending the same team as we send to Strade Bianchi.
Yet again we're counting on Salvatori or De la Fuente for a result.
Today Ferrero joins the morning breakaway. Cieslik(BGZ) are the most notable rider of the 6 joining him.



The break come collectively over the top of the first real climb of the day. They have 5 minutes with 80 km to go.
With 70 km to go Blot crashes. Luckily Salvatori just barely avoids joining him.
On the second climb of the day Ferrero turns up the pace in the breakaway. He's feeling good.



The peloton are closing in. Ferrero need to go away now if he wants to win.
He takes off but cant really make a difference in this terrain.



A 31 man group is all that is left of the peloton. Cataing, De la Fuente and Salvatori is still left from us. They're all pretty tired though.
With 30 km to go Scarponi(LAM), Ratto(CAN), Sella(AND), Pellizotti(AG2) & Rodriguez(KAT) attacks but can't get away.
Salvatori and De la Fuente plays it cool in the front of the peloton. They know they've still got a man in front. IAM Cycling is setting the tempo for Löfkvist.



Rodriguez and Scarponi attacks again and this time they get away.
Salvatori waits for the decent and then he attacks. He's hunting the three in front.
With 20 km to go Ferrero seems to get company in the front of the race.



Rodriguez, Scarponi catches Ferrero and Rodriguez attacks immediately. Despite feeling fresh, Ferrero can't follow him.
A group of four has gathered behind Rodriguez. Salvatori sits in the group behind the 4.
Rodriguez wins the race in front of Fuglsang(AST)
It looks like Scarponi, Weening(OGE) and Ferrero will battle it out for 3rd place. Ferrero is a pretty good sprinter but he's very tired.
But on the last kilometer the group behind comes up. Unfortunately Salvatori was dropped a couple of minutes ago. It's up to Ferrero to sprint home a top-10 finish.



Ferrero has the front as he's been battling to keep the group behind. Without luck. Let's see what he has left in the tank.
He's all out but luckily so are the others. He comes in 5th in the sprint and on a very nice 7th place. They're so close to Rodriguez and Fuglsang that everyone gets the same time.

Insert the picture I forgot to take at the finish line ;-)

Yet another objective completed.

Results:

1	Joaquím Rodríguez	Katusha Team	4h33'37
2	Jakob Fuglsang	Astana Pro Team	s.t.
3	Elia Favilli	Lampre - Merida	s.t.
4	Eduard Vorganov	Katusha Team	s.t.
5	Michele Scarponi	Lampre - Merida	s.t.
6	Pieter Weening	Orica - GreenEdge	s.t.
7	Miriano Ferrero	Credit Agricole	s.t.
8	Daniele Ratto	Cannondale Pro Cycling	s.t.
9	Emanuele Sella	Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela	s.t.
10	Vincenzo Nibali	Astana Pro Team	s.t.

Sponsor Goal *****

2.HC Cirterium International - Win Climbers Jersey

Stage 3:



The team:

Rosario Salvatori - Leader
David De la Fuente - Free
Marco Barthes - Free
Emilien-Benoit Berges - Helper
Guillaume Blot - Helper
Christophe Castelain - Helper
Aurelien Passeron - Helper
Tarcisio Ambrosino - Helper

The race

The king stage of the race. Only one category 3 climb previously in the race it's this stage that matters. It's today we can win the climbers jersey.
With Di Gregorio out with an injury our best bet is Marco Barthes who's gonna join todays break. Hopefully.
In the GC we're hoping for Salvatori. But he's out of form and any decent result will be a surprise.
Todays break is off. Barthes is in. Unfortunately also Landa(EUS) is in it. We're gonna have a fight for the jersey.




Landa spends his energy sprinting for the intermediate sprint. With the first mountain sprint coming up he's hopefully used to many ressources.
He has. Barthes takes the first mountain sprint. Landa comes in second.



He also wins the second sprint as Landa begins too early.
They're nearly five minutes ahead with 80 km to go.
Landa wins the third sprint. Barthes only comes 3rd. They're tied with 12 pooints each.
Behind them a group has attacked. It contains as prominent riders as Rolland(EUC) and Cobo(MOV). De la Fuente is hunting them down but is still 40 seconds away.
At the top the group is only 1 minute behind.



Before the Ascent of the second to last mountain they only have 18 seconds. If they catch up Barthes chances of the jersey are non-existant. He attacks.
Landa and two others join him. They now have 30 seconds with 6 km on the climb to go.
Just before the top a group has formed in front of the race. Containing 11 riders including De la Fuente and Barthes. Landa is also there.
Barthes attacks with 700 meters to the top. But he cant follow Landa who comes 2nd over the top after Rolland. Landa will win the climbers jersey.
As they enter the final climb. the front group is now consisting 7 riders and have an advantage of 1'23. We still have Barthes in the group.



As Cobo attacks in the front, Barthes gets dropped with 10 km to go.
When Salvatori hears about Barthes he attacks from the peloton.
He quickly catches Barthes who gives it one last effort to pace Salvatori up the mountain.
After 400m Barthes is done and Salvatori passes him.



With 3 km to the top. Salvatori catches Landa and Bouet(AG2) from the break.
But they can't keep his wheel.
He's too late. Rolland wins the stage in front of Clarke(OGE). Along with the stage he wins the GC.
Coppel passes Salvatori with a km to go and Salvatori ends up 6th on the stage and also in the GC.

Conclusion:

We didn't fulfill our sponsor goal but I'm pretty happy with ending 6th overall.

Results:

Stage 3:

1	Pierre Rolland	Team Europcar	4h45'27
2	Simon Clarke	Orica - GreenEdge	+ 1'27
3	Juan José Cobo	Movistar Team	s.t.
4	Philip Deignan	UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team	+ 1'38
5	Jérôme Coppel	Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	+ 2'34
6	Rosario Salvatori	Credit Agricole	+ 2'44
7	Maxime Bouet	AG2R La Mondiale	+ 2'52
8	Mikel Landa	Euskaltel - Euskadi	s.t.
9	Igor Antón	Euskaltel - Euskadi	+ 3'09
10	Matteo Montaguti	AG2R La Mondiale	+ 3'30

Overall GC

1	Pierre Rolland	Team Europcar	6h29'50
2	Simon Clarke	Orica - GreenEdge	+ 1'14
3	Juan José Cobo	Movistar Team	+ 1'23
4	Philip Deignan	UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team	+ 1'45
5	Jérôme Coppel	Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	+ 2'24
6	Rosario Salvatori	Credit Agricole	+ 2'54
7	Maxime Bouet	AG2R La Mondiale	+ 3'02
8	Mikel Landa	Euskaltel - Euskadi	+ 3'04
9	Igor Antón	Euskaltel - Euskadi	+ 3'15
10	Matteo Montaguti	AG2R La Mondiale	+ 3'31

Mountain:

1	Mikel Landa	Euskaltel - Euskadi	18
2	Marco Barthes	Credit Agricole	14
3	Pierre Rolland	Team Europcar	12

Sprint:

1	Pierre Rolland	Team Europcar	31
2	Geoffrey Soupe	FDJ.fr	29
3	Jérôme Coppel	Cofidis, Solutions Crédits	28

Young rider GC:

1	Rosario Salvatori	Credit Agricole	6h32'44 (1)
2	Mikel Landa	Euskaltel - Euskadi	+ 10 (2)
3	Marco Barthes	Credit Agricole	+ 2'20 (3)

March Update:

1.1 Nokere - Koerse

Miriano Ferrero end up in the top-10. A good performance by the young italian.

1.1 Handzame Classic

Young Miriano Ferrero shows off his great form and wins the race. This guy will become real asset to te team.

1.1 Classic Loire Atlantique

Monier surprises everyone and ends up 3rd in a race that doesn't really fit his strenghts.

2.2 Tour de Normandie

Monier ends up 3rd on the prologue. Overall Johan Mombaerts end up 11th overall. As a nice bonus Mombaerts wins the mountain jersey.

Conclusion

A great month for the team. We reached 2 of 3 sponsor objectives met. We had some really great results in the classics this month.

In the continental ranking we're at an impressive 3rd place with 427 points. Our best riders are Di Gregorio, 107 and Miriano Ferrrero 100.

Sponsor Goal ****

2.1 Circuit Darthe - Stage win

Stage 1 of 5:



The team:

Johan Mombaerts - Leader
Marco Barthes - Free
Miriano Ferrero - Free
Damien Monier - Helper
Alexandre Blain - Helper
Guillaume Blot - Helper
Emilien-Benoit Berges - Helper
Aurelien Passeron - Helper

Our planned captain (Di Gregorio) and vicecaptain (Bodrogi) are both out with injury. This is our plan B.

The race

Ferrero is still in good form after his great performances i March. He's one of only two riders breaking away on todays stage. The other rider is Gerard(BSE)
They quickly get a big gap.



Ferrero is looking good and with 87 km to go they have a gap of 6'30.
Unfortunately he's getting almost no help from Gerard so he tries to go solo.



Ferrero is now alone in the hunt for a stage win. He's a long way from home.
Some teams are using the strong crosswind and the peloton is split in two. We weren't paying attention and have none in the best group.
We decide not to chase the pack. We have no intention of a GC result som loosing time might become an advantage the coming days.



With 52 km to go the deficit is 5'37. But the pack are really chasing now.
Being alone in front has some advantages. Ferrero takes the win on the 3rd climb of the day and will wear the climbers jersey tomorrow.



With 30 km to go the deficit is still over 5 minutes. If he doesn't run out of energy Ferrero will win the stage. He's relatively fresh at this moment.
15 km to go and 5'30 in front. With this gap he will gain a big edge in the GC as well.
And he does it! Ferrero wins the stage and fulfill our sponsor goal.

Insert picture I forgot to save :-(

Ferrero has really impressed in his first season. His second win in a month.
Oss(BMC) takes second and Degenkolb(ARG) comes third.
The peloton arrives 4 minutes later and the second peloton looses 12 minutes.

Results:

Stage 1

1	Miriano Ferrero	Credit Agricole	3h42'25
2	Daniel Oss	BMC Racing Team	+ 4'07
3	John Degenkolb	Team Argos - Shimano	s.t.
4	Gediminas Bagdonas	AG2R La Mondiale	s.t.
5	Giovanni Visconti	Movistar Team	s.t.

Overall GC

1	Miriano Ferrero	Credit Agricole	3h41'55
2	Daniel Oss	BMC Racing Team	+ 4'25
3	John Degenkolb	Team Argos - Shimano	+ 4'29
4	Arnaud Gérard	Bretagne - Séché Environnement	+ 4'31
5	Gaël Malacarne	Bretagne - Séché Environnement	+ 4'33

Points

1	Miriano Ferrero	Credit Agricole	35
2	Daniel Oss	BMC Racing Team	20
3	John Degenkolb	Team Argos - Shimano	16

Mountain

1	Miriano Ferrero	Credit Agricole	15
2	Arnaud Gérard	Bretagne - Séché Environnement	6
3	Gaël Malacarne	Bretagne - Séché Environnement	3

Sponsor Goal ****

2.1 Circuit Darthe - Stage win

Having won our stage I will quicksim the rest of the stages to get through the season a bit quicker.

Stage 2 of 5:

A 94 km flat stage end in a mass sprint. Degenkolb wins it. Nothing happens in the GC. Passeron is our best rider at 66th :-o

Stage 3 of 5:

A 7 km time trial. We have 3 guys in the top-30. Ferrero is 57 and still 4 minutes ahead of Degenkolb.

Stage 4 of 5:

A 186 hilly stage. It's time to see if Ferrero has what it takes.
He does. He looses a little over 1 minute and is still 2'40 in front of Oss(BMC)

Stage 5 of 5:

Yet another hilly stage. Ferrero is in good form and comes in 1'40 after Voeckler(EUC) who wins the stage. That means Ferrero has won the overall GC.

Results:

Overall GC

1	Miriano Ferrero	Credit Agricole	14h30'01
2	Thomas Voeckler	Team Europcar	+ 1'13
3	Daniel Oss	BMC Racing Team	+ 1'48
4	Giovanni Visconti	Movistar Team	+ 1'54
5	Andrey Amador	Movistar Team	+ 2'22
6	Ramunas Navardauskas	Garmin - Sharp	+ 2'48
7	John Degenkolb	Team Argos - Shimano	+ 2'51
8	Anthony Roux	FDJ.fr	+ 3'17
9	Matthias Frank	BMC Racing Team	+ 3'41
10	Jonathan Hivert	Sojasun	+ 4'31