The peloton kept the breakaway under control as we headed for the obvious sprint.
In that sprint, I managed to get on the podium. Considering the field, that's amazing!
Result - Stage 4
1
André Greipel
Lotto Belisol
4h40'00
2
Marcel Kittel
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
3
Matthias Vleminckx
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
4
John Degenkolb
Team Sky
s.t.
5
Matthew Goss
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
6
Jürgen Roelandts
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
7
Peter Sagan
Cannondale
s.t.
8
Daryl Impey
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
9
Daniele Bennati
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
10
Danilo Napolitano
Team Sky
s.t.
Tirreno - Adriatico :: Stage 5
Profile
Today is a big stage if I want to fight for the Points Classification. I'll need to grab points today. That means, finish top 10...
I survived the hills quite well. At least well enough to ride the finale. Now I was hoping for an easy-going finale, so I could sprint for any place in the top 10.
When too many attacked, I knew I needed to go, too. I followed Sagan, which wasn't easy at all.
De Weert took the stage victory after a successful breakaway.
I managed an 9th place, giving me 2 points and putting me on equal foot with Kittel for the points.
Result - Stage 5
1
Kevin De Weert
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
4h48'49
2
Vincenzo Nibali
Astana Pro Team
+ 7
3
Sep Vanmarcke
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 30
4
Sebastian Langeveld
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
5
Cayetano Sarmiento
Cannondale
+ 39
6
Wilco Kelderman
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 56
7
Peter Sagan
Cannondale
+ 1'12
8
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
9
Matthias Vleminckx
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
10
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
Tirreno - Adriatico :: Stage 6
If I wanted to win this points jersey, I knew what I had to do in the last non-TT stage. Attack...
Profile
I was ready to slip into the breakaway of the day to take that intermediate sprint.
I went for it. After all, this is a great moment for a final good, lengthy training before Milan - Sanremo.
I took the full 5 points at the intermediate sprint!
Unfortunately we didn't stay at the front, so we wouldn't fight for the victory of the day. That battle was between Kelderman and Kwiatkowski, with the Polish one winning the battle, but the Dutch man winning the jersey!
Result - Stage 6
1
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
6h08'54
2
Wilco Kelderman
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
3
Peter Sagan
Cannondale
s.t.
4
Francesco Bongiorno
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
5
Daniel Moreno
Team Katusha
s.t.
6
Michele Scarponi
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
7
Rigoberto Urán
Movistar Team
+ 1'07
8
Nicolas Roche
Tinkoff - Saxo
+ 2'30
9
Philippe Gilbert
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
10
Vincenzo Nibali
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
Tirreno - Adriatico :: Stage 7
I was in the lead for the points now. It was all or nothing!
Result - Stage 7
1
Chris Froome
Team Sky
18'36
2
Geraint Thomas
Team Sky
+ 4
3
Sylvain Chavanel
IAM Cycling
s.t.
4
Ramunas Navardauskas
Garmin Sharp
+ 6
5
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
+ 8
6
Peter Sagan
Cannondale
+ 9
7
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 12
8
Niki Terpstra
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 14
9
Jonathan Castroviejo
Movistar Team
+ 16
10
Wilco Kelderman
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 19
Oh no, Sagan in fifth, taking 5 points, that means...
Points Classification
1
Peter Sagan
Cannondale
28
2
Matthias Vleminckx
Orica GreenEdge
27
3
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
24
4
Wilco Kelderman
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
24
5
André Greipel
Lotto Belisol
22
Damn it, damn it, damn it! I go home completely empty handed. No stage win, no jersey, no nothing.
General Classification
1
Wilco Kelderman
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
29h33'26
2
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 9
3
Peter Sagan
Cannondale
+ 12
4
Michele Scarponi
Astana Pro Team
+ 1'21
5
Vincenzo Nibali
Astana Pro Team
+ 1'41
6
Daniel Moreno
Team Katusha
+ 1'45
7
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Merida
+ 1'57
8
Francesco Bongiorno
Bardiani CSF
+ 2'28
9
Rigoberto Urán
Movistar Team
+ 2'52
10
Nicolas Roche
Tinkoff - Saxo
+ 3'10
I was really bummed out. But I'm not the type of guy to let my head hang low for a long time. This drives me even more to perform well in the classics later on. I'm hungry and I need to eat!
Paris - Nice 2015
1
Tom Dumoulin
Team Giant - Shimano
28h23'01
2
Zdenek Stybar
Team Giant - Shimano
+ 1'15
3
Romain Bardet
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 2'06
4
Ryder Hesjedal
Garmin Sharp
+ 2'08
5
Carlos Betancur
Movistar Team
+ 2'17
6
Robert Gesink
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 3'24
7
Rui Costa
Lampre - Merida
+ 4'15
8
Daniel Martin
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 4'25
9
Cameron Meyer
Orica GreenEdge
+ 5'05
10
Tony Gallopin
Lotto Belisol
+ 6'21
Our Paris - Nice was a good one, with Simon Yates winning stage 4 being our absolute top moment!
Now we look forward to Milan - Sanremo. I hope I can survive the 300 kilometers well. I guess we'll find out soon.
Matthias
Jesleyh wrote:
That, is...
AMAZING!
Kelderman winning against all those big names
Really, a shame for Matthias though. So close to the points jersey
A real bummer. I always liked Sagan, but now not so much
Kelderman surprised friend and foe there. And check the GC for Paris - Nice, too. Dutchies rule at the moment
My first Milan - Sanremo. I was really excited at the start, and why shouldn't I? It's the Primavera, the first classic on the calendar. After missing the points jersey in Tirreno - Adriatico, I really wanted to make something of this race!
Profile
We all know this profile. Its main difficulty? The length. With amost 300 kilometers, this is a monster ride.
Our tactic for the day was to see who was alive at the top of the Poggio, and then work with who we got. Gerrans was free to attack, but he's been feeling ill for about a week so he didn't look in top shape.
Impey relieved our team of having to work by going in the breakaway. At the famous tunnel, they had a 7 minute lead.
After that, the scenery changed. I recognized it from tv, I've seen this race so many times before. It's amazing I'm part of this peloton now.
I was surprised at the lack of attacks. As we descended the Cipressa, the peloton was split up, but still large enough for a mass sprint. Would no one attack?
I stayed at the front on the Poggio. I was in about 12th position. Still no one went. And then, finally, Vanmarcke! But this is too late, we were already near the top!
He picked up Impey, who was the final man of the breakaway. The peloton was too close, it would be a mass sprint!
I looked around. Gerrans was here, I was here, Matthews was here. Okay, team hierarchy, I would be the lead-out man for Michael.
With Gerrans as the lead-out motor, we easily overtook the Sky "train".
And then I started my sprint. For a while, I was at the front of the race. This is Milan - Sanremo, 250 meters before the finish and I'm in first position. But I was leading out Matthews here, so at 200 meters before the finish, he placed his final sprint.
It must've been the adrenaline or some shit but I just kept sprinting myself. I wasn't going to pass up riding a top 5 here! I hardly even saw who won, but I managed, it was Michael, Michael Matthews!!!
Oh man, what a feeling! Michael did it! He let out a scream that chilled me to the very bone. But I understand why he did that. After 300 kilometers, we had conquered! He pulled alongside the road and I stopped. He thanked me and told me I did so great. Gerrans pulled up, too and joined in the hug!
Result
1
Michael Matthews
Orica GreenEdge
7h03'32
2
Mark Cavendish
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
3
John Degenkolb
Team Sky
s.t.
4
Tom Boonen
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Matthias Vleminckx
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
6
Marcel Kittel
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
7
Peter Sagan
Cannondale
s.t.
8
Heinrich Haussler
IAM Cycling
s.t.
9
Giacomo Nizzolo
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
10
Alexander Kristoff
Team Katusha
s.t.
Spoiler
11
André Greipel
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
12
Simon Gerrans
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
13
Philippe Gilbert
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
14
Greg Van Avermaet
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
15
Zdenek Stybar
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
16
Tony Gallopin
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
17
Daryl Impey
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
18
Sep Vanmarcke
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
19
Lars Boom
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
20
Daniele Bennati
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
21
Moreno Hofland
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
22
Jan Bakelants
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
23
Daniele Ratto
Cannondale
s.t.
24
Bernhard Eisel
Team Sky
s.t.
25
Moreno Moser
Cannondale
s.t.
26
Rui Costa
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
27
Roberto Ferrari
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
28
Diego Ulissi
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
29
Sylvain Chavanel
IAM Cycling
s.t.
30
Aidis Kruopis
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
31
Geraint Thomas
Team Sky
s.t.
32
Caleb Ewan
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
33
Kevin De Weert
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
34
Elia Favilli
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
35
Peter Kennaugh
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
36
Marcus Burghardt
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
37
Sébastien Turgot
Movistar Team
s.t.
38
Vincenzo Nibali
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
39
Manuel Quinziato
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
40
Francesco Bongiorno
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
41
Jasper Stuyven
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
42
Yukiya Arashiro
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
43
Sebastian Langeveld
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
44
Andrea Guardini
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
45
Danny Van Poppel
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
46
Danilo Napolitano
Team Sky
s.t.
47
Martin Elmiger
IAM Cycling
s.t.
48
Daniel Schorn
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
49
Theo Bos
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
50
Dries Devenyns
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
51
Gustav Erik Larsson
IAM Cycling
s.t.
52
Julien Simon
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
53
Steve Morabito
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
54
Thor Hushovd
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
55
Stefano Pirazzi
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
56
Matteo Pelucchi
IAM Cycling
s.t.
57
Francisco José Ventoso
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
58
Nicola Ruffoni
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
59
Peter Velits
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
60
Aleksejs Saramotins
IAM Cycling
s.t.
61
Matteo Tosatto
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
62
Tiziano Dall'Antonia
YellowFluo
s.t.
63
Manuel Belletti
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
64
Arnaud Demare
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
65
Francesco Gavazzi
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
66
Geoffrey Soupe
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
67
Adrien Petit
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
68
Damiano Cunego
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
69
Davide Rebellin
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
70
Andy Schleck
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
71
Maciej Paterski
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
72
Rein Taaramäe
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
73
Kris Boeckmans
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
74
Nacer Bouhanni
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
75
Bob Jungels
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
76
Adriano Malori
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
77
Maarten Wynants
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
78
Alessandro De Marchi
Cannondale
s.t.
79
Christian Knees
Team Sky
+ 3'54
80
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Team Sky
s.t.
81
Luka Mezgec
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
82
Kristjan Koren
Cannondale
s.t.
83
Tom Dumoulin
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
84
Gianni Meersman
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
85
Niccolo Bonifazio
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
86
Filippo Pozzato
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
87
Jonathan Castroviejo
Movistar Team
s.t.
88
Kevin Pauwels
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
89
Giovanni Visconti
Movistar Team
s.t.
90
Elia Viviani
Cannondale
s.t.
91
Dario Cataldo
Team Sky
s.t.
92
Andrea Fedi
YellowFluo
s.t.
93
Davide Malacarne
Cannondale
s.t.
94
Yoann Bagot
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
95
Javier Moreno
Movistar Team
s.t.
96
Mauro Finetto
YellowFluo
s.t.
97
Greg Henderson
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
98
Stijn Vandenbergh
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
99
Niki Terpstra
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
100
Haimar Zubeldia
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
101
Michele Scarponi
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
102
Luis Ángel Maté
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
103
Domenico Pozzovivo
Team Katusha
s.t.
104
Koen De Kort
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
105
Jack Bauer
IAM Cycling
s.t.
106
Leigh Howard
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
107
Nikias Arndt
Team Giant - Shimano
s.t.
108
Maarten Tjallingii
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
109
Marco Bandiera
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
110
Nico Sijmens
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
111
Mikhail Ignatiev
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
112
Ruslan Tleubayev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
113
Diego Rosa
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
114
Vladimir Gusev
Team Katusha
s.t.
115
Scott Thwaites
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
116
Damien Gaudin
Team Katusha
s.t.
117
Andrea Palini
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
118
Enrico Battaglin
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
119
Dayer Quintana
Movistar Team
s.t.
120
Samuel Sánchez
Movistar Team
s.t.
121
Patrick Facchini
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
122
Grégory Rast
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
123
Janier Acevedo
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
124
Paolo Longo Borghini
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
125
Ralf Matzka
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
126
Francesco Chicchi
YellowFluo
s.t.
127
Thomas Löfkvist
IAM Cycling
s.t.
128
Rinaldo Nocentini
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
129
Eugenio Alafaci
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
130
Egoitz García
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
131
Klaas Lodewyck
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
132
Bartlomiej Matysiak
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
133
Simone Ponzi
YellowFluo
s.t.
134
Davide Appollonio
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
135
Matteo Montaguti
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
136
Julian Kern
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
137
Thibaut Pinot
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
138
Yohann Gène
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
139
Daniel Martin
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
140
Ramunas Navardauskas
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
141
Fabio Felline
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
142
Björn Leukemans
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
143
Paul Martens
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
144
Marco Canola
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
145
Luca Paolini
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
146
Tyler Farrar
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
147
Javier Francisco Aramendia
Movistar Team
s.t.
148
Steele Von Hoff
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
149
Francesco Lasca
Team Katusha
s.t.
150
Michel Kreder
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
151
Jacopo Guarnieri
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
152
Tosh Van der Sande
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
153
Marco Frapporti
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
154
Andrea Manfredi
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
155
Jonas Vangenechten
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
156
Brett Lancaster
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
157
Jos Van Emden
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
158
Marco Haller
Team Katusha
s.t.
159
Lluis Guillermo Mas
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
160
Eros Capecchi
Movistar Team
s.t.
161
Oliver Zaugg
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
162
Adam Wadecki
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
163
Francesco Failli
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
164
Fabio Taborre
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
165
Rick Zabel
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
166
Gian Matteo Nicolosi
Androni Giocattoli
+ 6'40
167
Steven Caethoven
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
168
Dylan van Baarle
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
169
Shawn Milne
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
170
Grégory Habeaux
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
171
Gustavo Domínguez
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
172
Alexander Porsev
Team Katusha
s.t.
173
Davide Viganò
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
174
Jarosław Marycz
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
175
Giampaolo Caruso
Team Katusha
s.t.
176
Blaz Jarc
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
177
Sérgio Paulinho
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
178
Gabriel Rasch
Team Sky
s.t.
179
Cesare Benedetti
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
180
Tomás Gil
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
181
Daniele Dall'Oste
YellowFluo
s.t.
182
Christopher Juul-Jensen
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
183
Fernando Grijalba
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
184
Jerôme Gilbert
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
185
Paolo Tiralongo
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
186
Jordi Simón
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
187
Marcos García
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
188
Ben King
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
189
Andrea Dal Col
YellowFluo
+ 8'20
190
Adrian Honkisz
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
191
Alessandro Vanotti
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
192
Clément Venturini
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 9'20
193
Bryan Dewitte
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
194
Marcos Goikoetxea
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
+ 13'00
195
Andrea Rossi
Cannondale
s.t.
196
Roberto De Patre
YellowFluo
+ 22'03
197
Alex Herrera
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
+ 26'39
This is just wild! I feel like I've won myself. The entire team was ecstatic, we couldn't believe it. Michael did it!
And I finished 5th, how would've thought?
Maybe one day some young rider is going to cheer hard because he lead me to the win here.
Maybe one day.
Matt
Mresuperstar - The lead-out was vital since Cavendish was way faster than Matthews, but he had to come from too far out! This is a great win for the team and Orica takes another Sanremo.
Jakstar22 - I agree! Big fish
the_hoyle - I do my best
knockout - Thanks! It was good of Matt to survive the distance!
As you've noticed, this story progresses quite quickly. I'm not sure what everyone thinks about that. It hasn't been done before like this and I thought I'd try it. Why do I do this? Well, because I hope to document his career from start to finish. So that's why I move pretty quickly. If you would document the career of Boonen, you wouldn't really include his participation in some small race, right?
But don't worry, it won't stay this fast. I wanted to progress through his first 2 years the fastest because he's no top contender. From the moment he can win real classics and participates in Grand Tours, then things will get real interestnig
With the cobbled season upon us, it's time to take a look at who's who this year.
Sep Vanmarcke is arguably the strongest cobbler out this at the moment. He took the double last year and still has room for improvement. He looks a safe bet for Vlaanderen or Roubaix.
Fabian Cancellara can still break a few records and he only has limited time to do it. He'll be extra motivated to make something of it.
Niki Terpstra seems to have taken leadership over the OPQS squad. Tom Boonen, although strong he still is, is clearly on the decline. But the team has weakened, with the departure of Zdenek Stybar.
John Degenkolb dreams of winning Paris - Roubaix. With a finish like him, anyone who takes him to the finish is beaten. Try to shake off a man like Degenkolb on the cobbles, it won't be easy!
Peter Sagan has been a household name for a long time. We forget that he's only still 25. He wants to win Vlaanderen more than anything, but can he do it?
Finally, there are many others who are capable of snatching away a classic on Flemish ground, like Kenneth Vanbilsen, Stijn Vandenbergh, Jurgen Roelandts, Greg Van Avermaet...
Orica - GreenEdge
With my victory in Kuurne and my recent training results, I have been able to claim absolute leadership in all four races. But what can I do? It's hard to see where I stand compared to the big favorites. Obviously I moved up the hierarchy in Kuurne, but winning a race like Wevelgem, E3 or even De Ronde is still something different. I'm not sure if I'm ready to do that.
Either way, I have a strong team to support me, with Hayman as lieutenant and guide. His experience will come in useful during the race. My goals for the cobbled season? Let's be ambitious but also realistic:
I want to finish all four races within the top 10.
I want to ride a podium in a monument (Ronde or Roubaix)
If I could do that, I would be very happy. I think I'm strong enough to do it, but will my legs agree?
he'll definitely try to make the most of it!
Tirreno - Adriatico :: Stage 4 
Paris - Nice 2015 
