You can imagine how thrilled I was to be selected for Tirreno - Adriatico. But I kept my feet on the ground. I'm racing here fully in support of the team. Still, starting in Tirreno - Adriatico is somewhat a big deal for a me. It's one of the greatest races on the calendar and I'm happy to be part of it.
Tirreno - Adriatico :: Stages 1 - 4
Pre-race
A prologue, I wonder how well I can do here. Stage 2 with a flat finish should be great for Fontana (who's like superfast on the flat) and stage 3 is tailor-made for Colbrelli, with the finish on a slope.
The fourth stage is hilly. After my Strade Bianche, I'm somewhat optimistic about my performance in the hills. Can I repeat my feat? Cunego and De Marchi are both capable of riding a decent GC or take a stage win.
The Race
I did pretty well in the prologue. I finished just outside the top 10 but given the field, my 12th place is more than satisfying!
Barta and Malori are both specialists. We aimed for the podium but had to be happy with a sixth place by the Italian Champion in this discipline. A decent start for us at Tirreno, but it could be better.
The first road stage was decided in a millimetersprint between Greipel and Kittel, with the former taking the victory in the end.
Then things took a nasty turn for us. In the third stage, we had everything under control, although I had been dropped out of the peloton after mechanical problems. Colbrelli was perfectly placed coming up to the final kilometer. He beat Slagter in the sprint and gave Cattelan Italia its first World Tour victory.
But it only lasted 10 minutes. The jury disqualified him, saying his sprint was irregular. Watching the footage, I can't say I agree. It's very mild and you can imagine the disappointment in the hotel that evening. More bad luck struck as Colbrelli fell early in the fourth stage, abandoning the race.
And as they say: bad things come in threes. Cunego, one of our top men for this parcours, took a bad fall and wouldn't get back to the front of the race.
I had obviously underestimated this parcours. I thought it would be like Strade Bianche but the hills here were much more brutal. I tried my best to hang on to lend De Marchi support in the finale.
But I had to lower my pace, I couldn't follow the head of the race. I did my best but those guys pulling the peloton were just Hors Category today.
In the end, Nibali made his intentions clear. He's here to win Tirreno.
All in all, a rollercoaster Tirreno - Adriatico for our team. A decent start, a moment of glory, only to have it taken away shortly after. And since then, some bad luck.
Tomorrow there's a mountain stage, then another chance for the sprinters and Tirreno - Adriatico finishes with a 10 km time trial. Let's hope we can still make something of this race. Malori seems to be in good shape and my prologue was very promising. So I'm looking forward to the time trial mostly.
Wow, tough going for Cattelan here Nice to see Antonio doing well in the prologue and being selected for T-A at all, hope he can recover on the flat day and be ready for the final TT
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [PT] Xero Racing
Just two more days until the end of my first WT event. Tirreno - Adriatico has been a very educational experience for me. Sure I haven't made as big an impact as I did in Strade Bianche, but the field is very different and you really can't compare these two races. Moreover, I'm still at the very start of my career. I shouldn't pin down on that Strade performance too much because it might be a while before I can do match that.
Tirreno - Adriatico :: Stage 5
Pre-race
My first real mountain stage, and a frighting profile it is. That final climb up the Terminillo is brutal and I'll be happy once I reach the finish line. Let's hope for a good performance by Cunego or De Marchi, though they'll have to attack early to stay ahead of the likes of Quintana and Nibali.
The Race
So far this has been a very strange Tirreno for us and once again we found ourselves at a disadvantage before the actual racing began. De Marchi was part of a fall and had to use quite some energy to get back to the peloton.
Of course, not everything was bad. Malori put himself in the breakaway of the day and got us some good TV time.
And it's going to take a bit more than just a fall to bring down De Marchi! At the foot of the Terminillo, he accelerated. Maybe the favorites would think it's too early and he could ride to an amazing stage win?!
But unfortunately, he never got more than 10 seconds. I played no part in the race but I wanted to see how well I'd hold up on a mountain like this. The first kilometer I thought my legs were burning. Pretty soon I had to let the (thinning out) peloton go. I settled for my own pace.
The final few kilometers I really got in a decent rhythm and actually overtook some minor groups. I was feeling better and better. Meanwhile, Mollema took an awesome victory over Quintana and Nibali. I'm happy for him, he really deserves this.
With the GC so close together, it'll be an exciting time trial on the final day. And let's hope Fontana, who's my age (22), can prove his talent in the sprint stage tomorrow. I've seen him in action on training and don't underestimate him. He's already finished top 10 in the second stage and I think he's a match for the top sprinters on a good day.
Wish I could say we had our share of bad luck in Tirreno, but I'd be lying. During the stage to Porto Sant'Elpidio, Fontana was caught in a peloton crash and is in the hospital, he'll be out for a few weeks at the least.
Tirreno - Adriatico :: Stages 6 - 7
Pre-race
Obviously Fontana is our man for stage 6. I will try to save as much energy as I can for the time trial. If I can make 12th place in the prologue, maybe I can crack the top 10 in this longer time trial.
The Race Barta had a good day and attacked early, getting in the breakaway.
With 10 km to go, he dropped everyone but Boem. The peloton was more than a minute behind. They might make it!
With the peloton breathing down their neck, Boem decided to bluff and no longer relay. Barta was strong and confident and sprinted from far out. It looked very good and the Italian looked beaten. But Barta made a crucial mistake of not taking it to the finish line and Boem, on pure will power, still overtook him on the line. How can we come so close to victory twice in this Tirreno and yet not win.
Only the time trial was left. Malori held the best time for a long while.
And then it was my turn! I was ready.
I felt I had great legs fairly quickly. That time trial bike feels really good, I really have a knack for it!
I pushed as hard as I could. I crossed the finish line a provisional second, behind team mate Malori.
Unfortunately he couldn't keep the lead. The true specialists were a cut above the rest today. Malori had to be satisfied with a 5th place, while I'm more than happy to finish 7th! Add Barta on place 9 and this was definitely a successful ride for Cattelan!
So what about this Tirreno - Adriatico? How much bad luck can a team have, I wonder. A stage win - disqualified. A near stage win - Zabel'd on the line. Colbrelli out injured. Fontana out injured. Cunego and De Marchi both going down. The only upside were the time trials.
For me, this Tirreno was interesting and rather good, for the team it was a rollercoaster of emotions.
First Monument?
And with both Colbrelli and Fontana injured, my season goal might as well be within reach quicker than I thought. Obviously we had a team built around these two sprinters for the upcoming monument Milano - San Remo. But now we have to re-think our tactic with our sprinters out of competition.
The DS already asked me to be ready to start in Milano - San Remo. Still, it sucks for Colbrelli and Fontana. Both great guys and big talents. Let's hope we can fill their shoes with a back-up plan.
Pretty cool 7th place in the TT Annoying for Barta to be Zabel'd Shame for the sprinters but this will be a nice test of endurance (the biggest ) for Antonio and I'm sure he'll be useful on the flats and if he can last long enough maybe the hills after Strade, though San Remo is a different beast obviously
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [PT] Xero Racing
jandal7 - San Remo can bring anything. A lot will also depend on how the race goes, of course!
Kiserlovski01 - Thanks very much, also for noticing the NC jersey. Fixed it now (renamed it correctly) Hope the story can live up to your expectations.
It just occured to me that I haven't raced outside of Italy yet. But with Strade Bianche, Tirreno - Adriatico and Milano - San Remo, I don't think I can complain. Those three races will define me for a long time to come, I think. Today, I stood at the start of a Monument. Milano - San Remo. A dream come true for any Italian cyclist.
Milano - San Remo
Pre-race
Despite the absence of Fontana and Colbrelli, we have assembled a decent team. Our tactic will be one of attacking since our main riders are De Marchi and Cunego. Given my performance at Strade Bianche, the DS gave me a lieutenant role for the Poggio, if I survive the distance. That means I can save my legs as long as possible and then see what I can do for the team.
The Race
It's his main specialty and I guess he'll be remembered for this mostly after his career. Bono was once again active at the race start and found himself in the breakaway of the day in Milano - San Remo. It's a tradition, really.
The race was on lock for a whole while. On the Cipressa, it was De Marchi who opened the race. A brave attempt and nice to see our team, "just" a PCT team, making the race!
The attempt was nipped in the bud between the Cipressa and the Poggio. At the foot of the Poggio, I was placed excellent, on the front row.
There was no team mate in sight and the DS told me to not look back. I decided to just try and match the pace of the head of the race. Right before the top of the Poggio, Vanmarcke was the first to attack. On the picture, you can see the situation clearly. No one really answered. For two seconds I was in serious doubt what to do. One the one hand, if I tried to answer I could blow my chances for a potential good sprint. On the other hand, if I followed and we made it.
If you don't take chances, you cannot win.
And so I went. I overtook Vanmarcke and threw myself downhill. My track experience tought me to handle a bike, so I was going pretty fast. When I looked back I was surprised to see Vanmarcke caught. Whether he waited for the peloton or lost my wheel, I have no idea.
Going downhill, I had a limited lead. My attempt seemed futile but I now that I was in this position, there was no going back. Worst case scenario I gave our team important advertising and I ride myself in the picture in the finale of Milano - San Remo!
At the bottom of the downhill, I still held a lead. It was then I decided I wouldn't look back, no matter what. Just ride as hard as I could to the finish line and see what happens.
I had no idea that my lead was shrinking, but with only 200 meters left I still had nothing but an empty road ahead of me. I got out of the saddle and tried to keep riding as hard as possible. My legs were screaming in disagreement, but the cheering of the crowd urged me on.
The gap to the finish line was decreasing. And then, it was there.
I was in disbelief. I honestly expected 100% to get passed any moment before I crossed that line. But there it was. Did I make a mistake? Undoubtedly I had taken a wrong turn somewhere and the peloton had already finished.
It was unreal. It was a dream, I was certain.
But it wasn't. The sprinters flew past me just meters after I crossed the finish line. I raised my arms. It was real after all!
I can't remember everything that happened between crossing the finish line and getting to the hotel, it was all so hectic and unreal. I had doping controle and was called on the podium for a bewildered audience. I can assure you I was even more shocked than they were.
What I remember vividly, though, was holding the trophy in the air. A victory, a Monument, a dream.
I don't know what to say. Everything that's happened since I left the track seems like a long dream. I certainly hope I won't wake up tomorrow, realizing this all wasn't real. What I did today trumps all expectations, all hopes, all dreams.
It was one of those moments you can hold on to for the rest of your life, and know you did something, know you mattered.
@ALL: Well, that was something. Playing the race, I saw Antonio with a high daily form and thought: if I get a chance, I'll attack. My hope was to get to the finish line with maybe a group of 20 - 30 riders and sprint, hope for a top 10 place.
When Vanmarcke went, I followed.
I was so certain the sprinters would overtake Antonio but to my surprise, he took it to the line.
I paused the game and sat for 5 minutes hesitating to restart the race. But then I decided to let it be. He earned the victory, certainly didn't steal it. I also think it doesn't make the story less interesting, as now he'll have that big victory to live up to.
I wanted to "explain" this to you, though. Rest assured Antonio is no monster ready to win 50 races this season. I won't share stats since that's not my policy but I'll say that his average now is 73 so his San Remo win came as much to my surprise as yours. Though it's now pretty obvious Antonio is no ordinary boy and this flirts within the lines of (un)reality, I think it's not that much out there
jandal7 wrote:
if he can last long enough maybe the hills
Well I wasn't expecting that Amazing win for Antonio! Has anyone ever had their first pro win be a monument? If he top 10s a cobbled classic (is Cattelan going to any? They might have to now ) my Cancellara prediction will be right Seems like a real star of the future now, must be getting a lot of hype
Also, they can't deny Antonio the Giro now, he won fricking San Remo
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [PT] Xero Racing
Wow, impressive career he had, but he died young and was an omnium champion...
DON'T DO IT IAN! YOU KNEW THAT SUSPICIOUSLY QUICKLY!
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [PT] Xero Racing
Wow, impressive career he had, but he died young and was an omnium champion...
DON'T DO IT IAN! YOU KNEW THAT SUSPICIOUSLY QUICKLY!
He was the reigning Road World Champion when he died
Yep, so much potential
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [PT] Xero Racing
Tirreno - Adriatico :: Stages 1 - 4 
Nice to see Antonio doing well in the prologue and being selected for T-A at all, hope he can recover on the flat day and be ready for the final TT 
Amazing win for Antonio! Has anyone ever had their first pro win be a monument? If he top 10s a cobbled classic (is Cattelan going to any? They might have to now 
