To answer the question: Yes, they're neo-pro's, but I wanted to make a story about two cycling heroes, two extraordinary talents, so like Sagan, their talents show up early in their career. (+ their stats evolve faster than I thought they would at 0.5) However, his opponents weren't the world's greatest sprinters. He's definitely not faster than Greipel or Cavendish... yet
The task of the day was easy: survive (the hills) and finish (possibly first). The finish isn't really flat, but it should come down to a mass sprint, if we put enough speed into it.
Stijn Van Gent
From the start I got surrounded by the entire team, it's great to see how much support and respect I get from the team!
Nearing the end and having survived the hills perfectly, all but one rider of the breakaway had been reeled in. Setting up a small sprint train with Bille, Eric and myself, we were sure we'd get him before the finish. After all, he'd been in the attack all day long.
But Efimkin of Team Type 1 never slowed down for a meter. We didn't even came close. He'll ride in the leader's jersey tomorrow, well done of him.
My main target (especially after realizing I just lost the GC jersey) being the points jersey, I still throw myself in the sprint. Kreder finishes second and I finish third, which is pretty good, because that makes 3 podium places in 3 races!
Result
1
Alexander Efimkin
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
5h01'29
2
Michel Kreder
Team Garmin-Barracuda
+ 24
3
Stijn Van Gent
Lotto-Belisol
s.t.
IanButler
4
Jens Keukeleire
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
5
Kristof Goddaert
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
6
Danilo Wyss
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
7
Davide Appollonio
Sky Pro Cycling
s.t.
8
Tomas Vaitkus
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
9
Steven Caethoven
Accent.Jobs - Willems Veranda’s
s.t.
10
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar Team
s.t.
Points Jersey
1
Stijn Van Gent
Lotto-Belisol
57
IanButler
2
Tomas Vaitkus
Orica-GreenEDGE
47
3
Maxime Vantomme
Katusha Team
36
4
Michel Kreder
Team Garmin-Barracuda
36
5
Ben Swift
Sky Pro Cycling
32
6
Jens Keukeleire
Orica-GreenEDGE
31
7
Danilo Wyss
BMC Racing Team
26
8
Mathieu Ladagnous
FDJ-BigMat
25
9
Kristof Goddaert
Ag2r La Mondiale
24
10
Mark Renshaw
Rabobank Cycling Team
22
Well, this isn't won yet. But I'm still in the lead and I don't plan on giving up. There are two more flat stages and I intend to do well there!
Eric Lombaerts
Today was just a matter of working for Stijn for me. So I've nothing special to report.
However, today was the race of Albertville - La Toussuire, so an important meeting for Jurgen Van Den Broeck. Let me give you the best news of the day:
He's doing excellent! We're all curious what he can do. Who knows, maybe he can win this thing, how great would that be?
In even other news, it turns out that rumors are mostly true in the cycling milieu: Ian Stannard has just signed a one year contract with Lotto-Belisol! He'll be a great addition to our team, can't wait to meet him!
Hey Ian, I'm really enjoying following the struggles of Eric and Stijn. Two Flemisch souls who started conquering their own backyard. At the moment I'm working for a company in Oudenaarde and I also make the trip back to Ghent by bike. I look a bit silly riding my old grandfathers bike, but the other bikers don't seem to mind. They invit me to join them and together we form our own Scheldepeleton. They also give me signs when another group of bikers is coming or when a blind myxomatose-rabbit is crossing the road.
I know the feeling. When I go riding (I ride next to the Schelde a lot as well), I always pick up some other riders so we can help each other. In Belgium there are enough cyclist on the road, so that's great! I used to ride my grandfather's bike myself, but recently my dad gave me his bike, which is a bit newer (a Peugeot)
This is quite flat, so it should be another mass sprint. However, the sprint won't be easy, as our reconnaissance showed us the final streets are very narrow and with a lot of turns, and it's easy to get boxed in.
Stijn Van Gent
Bille was in the breakaway of the day, so we didn't have to worry about chasing them down. Rabobank did that.
The sprint came, and thanks to the recon we did during our long break, I was able to go at the right moment, and cross that finish line first!
However great this victory is, I have to make a note that Francesco Gavazzi & Jacopo Guarnieri (both Astana) were faster than me today. Hadn't it been for the recon, I wouldn't have won. But I did, so that's great! (On this here photo you see them flying me right by after the finish line)
Well, I'm in an excellent shape. This has been a great 4 days so far, with two wins and two times third. A year ago I wouldn't even dream of this!
Result
1
Stijn Van Gent
Lotto-Belisol
3h00'01
IanButler
2
Francesco Gavazzi
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
3
Jacopo Guarnieri
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
4
Adam Blythe
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
5
Juan Pablo Forero
Colombia Coldeportes
s.t.
6
Mark Renshaw
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
7
Jens Keukeleire
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
8
Mathieu Ladagnous
FDJ-BigMat
s.t.
9
Daniele Colli
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
10
Julien Simon
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
GC
1
Alexander Efimkin
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
18h45'08
2
Stijn Van Gent
Lotto-Belisol
+ 4
IanButler
3
Maxime Vantomme
Katusha Team
+ 21
4
Francesco Gavazzi
Astana Pro Team
+ 28
5
Michel Kreder
Team Garmin-Barracuda
s.t.
6
Mathieu Ladagnous
FDJ-BigMat
+ 30
7
Tomas Vaitkus
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
8
Jacopo Guarnieri
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
9
Rinaldo Nocentini
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
10
Julien Vermote
Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team
s.t.
Points
1
Stijn Van Gent
Lotto-Belisol
77
IanButler
2
Tomas Vaitkus
Orica-GreenEDGE
47
3
Jens Keukeleire
Orica-GreenEDGE
45
4
Mathieu Ladagnous
FDJ-BigMat
38
5
Mark Renshaw
Rabobank Cycling Team
37
6
Maxime Vantomme
Katusha Team
36
7
Michel Kreder
Team Garmin-Barracuda
36
8
Jacopo Guarnieri
Astana Pro Team
34
9
Ben Swift
Sky Pro Cycling
32
10
Adam Blythe
BMC Racing Team
29
This is looking great! I'm ready to go full speed ahead in the last day, where the final sprint will be raced. The following two days will be for the uphill riders (Eric isn't at top shape yet, but I reckon he can get a good result).
In other news,Gregory Henderson surprised everyone by signing a contract with continental team CCC Polkowice. At first we were a bit confused, but the 35 year old sprinter wants to end his career, taking it easy, and passing on his experience to younger talent (there are some promising, young sprinters there), and the paycheck isn't bad. So we're sad to see him leave, but we wish him the best of luck in the limelight of his career!
PCM rulezz wrote:
great wins for Stijn.
I don't know the route this race but is there a chance that he can win the GC?
Unfortunately, no. His main goal is green, as the next two stages are too hilly for him to survive, I believe. (Two more hilly stages and one more flat)
Points jersey would be great, though!
Eric could win the GC, but he'd have to be in a better shape, so he's going for any place below 20 (which should be possible, considering the top riders are in France)
The objective of today is easy.
Stijn: Try to minimize time losses in this hilly stage.
Eric: Try to gain as much time in this hilly stage.
How on earth would we do that?
Eric Lombaerts
The peloton was nervous at the start of the race, and the first one to know it is old-timer McEwen, who takes a fall.
Here is the breakaway of the day, tackling the Droga Do Olczy, a short but steep hill that had to be climbed 3 times today.
Then it was up to the mountains (from far to closer: mountains, me, Stijn)
Another unlucky cat today was Gasparotto, who punctured as soon as he'd gotten back into the peloton after a fall.
And then, at 15km left to go, I felt that the peloton was moving too slowly, so I went. I may not be in the best shape, but I think nobody is here in Pologne.
I get company from Ladagnous, and we head together into the final turn, 2km left to go.
But he's too damn fast for me. I'm not explosive enough to finish it off and I finish second, barely...
Stijn Van Gent
By some miracle I survived the entire race. I even had enough power left for the final sprint, for which I had positioned myself perfectly. Without any other good sprinter left in the peloton except Vaitkus(I was protected brilliantly today) I felt I could even win this stage!
But Eric and Ladagnous were too far ahead. I nearly caught Eric, but I never came close to the winner of today's stage:
I'm third, and increasy my lead in the points jersey. Even better, I'm back in the yellow jersey, 0" ahead of the previous leader, Efimkin. I'm really on fire here, with the following results from stage 1 to stage 5, respectively: 3rd, 1st, 3rd, 1st, 3rd. So I guess I'll win tomorrow, huh? Well, that's very unlikely.
Result
1
Mathieu Ladagnous
FDJ-BigMat
4h52'47
2
Eric Lombaerts
Lotto-Belisol
s.t.
IanButler
3
Stijn Van Gent
Lotto-Belisol
s.t.
IanButler
4
Joaquin Rodriguez
Katusha Team
s.t.
5
Michele Scarponi
Lampre-ISD
s.t.
6
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar Team
s.t.
7
Dominique Rollin
FDJ-BigMat
s.t.
8
Tomas Vaitkus
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
9
Przemyslaw Niemiec
Lampre-ISD
s.t.
10
Maarten Wynants
Rabobank Cycling Team
s.t.
GC
1
Stijn Van Gent
Lotto-Belisol
23h37'55
IanButler
2
Alexander Efimkin
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
3
Mathieu Ladagnous
FDJ-BigMat
+ 20
4
Francesco Gavazzi
Astana Pro Team
+ 28
5
Eric Lombaerts
Lotto-Belisol
s.t.
IanButler
6
Tomas Vaitkus
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 30
7
Rinaldo Nocentini
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
8
Jonas Aaen Jörgensen
Team Saxo Bank
+ 32
9
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar Team
+ 34
10
Julien Simon
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
But the objective of the day is completed! I didn't lose time as I came in third, while Eric gained time, by getting boni seconds! How's that for a stage!
See you tomorrow, for an even hillier stage (Eric hopes so, I hope not)
Edited by Ian Butler on 21-08-2012 21:22
Well, when it comes to GC, this is the stage to be alert. Many, many hills and many possibilities to lose and gain a lot of time.
Most of the team will work for Stijn and try to keep him in front, while Debusschere and Eric have a free role.
Stijn Van Gent
I was excellently protected from the start, can't complain there. Don't forget this is a team consisting purely of -25 riders, but they did one hell of a job!
However, Movistar and Katousha didn't feel confident about it and took over after a while. It would've suited me fine if they hadn't increased the pace by 2 km/h!
This is the man of the race: Kwiatkowski
He'll take the mountain jersey home, as many points were to be earned today.
Meanwhile I was slipping, and at 20km from the finish, I was gone...
I crossed the finish line nearly 17 minutes too late. Game over for me. The only thing I've left is the points jersey
Eric Lombaerts
The race started for me when we captured the last of the breakaway, the strongest of the day: Kwiatkowski.
Then the attacks came. But no attack was even comparable to the explosion of Rodriguez!
As he shot away like a bullet from a gun, the only one able to react was Valverde.
But it was too little, too late. Rodriguez wins in front of Valverde. I come in 18th, which brings me on a 7th place in the GC.
Result
1
Joaquin Rodriguez
Katusha Team
5h23'08
2
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar Team
+ 30
3
Michele Scarponi
Lampre-ISD
+ 46
4
Przemyslaw Niemiec
Lampre-ISD
+ 59
5
Alexander Efimkin
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
6
Georg Preidler
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
s.t.
7
Jan Bakelants
Radioshack Nissan Trek
s.t.
8
Haimar Zubeldia
Radioshack Nissan Trek
s.t.
9
Evgueni Petrov
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
10
Damiano Cunego
Lampre-ISD
s.t.
11
Jens Voigt
Radioshack Nissan Trek
s.t.
12
Fabio Duarte
Colombia Coldeportes
s.t.
13
Julien Simon
Saur - Sojasun
s.t.
14
Christian Knees
Sky Pro Cycling
s.t.
15
Andrey Zeits
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
16
Mathieu Ladagnous
FDJ-BigMat
s.t.
17
Jakob Fuglsang
Radioshack Nissan Trek
s.t.
18
Eric Lombaerts
Lotto-Belisol
s.t.
IanButler
19
Ignatas Konovalovas
Movistar Team
s.t.
20
Darwin Atapuma
Colombia Coldeportes
s.t.
GC
1
Joaquin Rodriguez
Katusha Team
29h01'27
2
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar Team
+ 34
3
Alexander Efimkin
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
+ 35
4
Michele Scarponi
Lampre-ISD
+ 52
5
Mathieu Ladagnous
FDJ-BigMat
+ 55
6
Francesco Gavazzi
Astana Pro Team
+ 1'03
7
Eric Lombaerts
Lotto-Belisol
s.t.
IanButler
8
Tomas Vaitkus
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 1'05
9
Julien Simon
Saur - Sojasun
+ 1'09
10
Jan Bakelants
Radioshack Nissan Trek
s.t.
Who could've known 4 boni seconds would be so important. From place 9 to 31, everyone has the same time. So I'm doing good, with my 4 boni seconds. Tomorrow is a flat stage, so I'm pretty sure I'll finish 7th, which is an excellent result!
In other news: Heading into the final rest day, Jurgen Van Den Broeck is still in the lead in TDF, he's writing history!
GC TDF
1
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Lotto-Belisol
62h25'12
IanButler
2
Andy Schleck
Radioshack Nissan Trek
+ 6
3
Bradley Wiggins
Sky Pro Cycling
+ 1'25
4
Fränk Schleck
Radioshack Nissan Trek
+ 1'43
5
Chris Froome
Sky Pro Cycling
+ 1'56
6
Vincenzo Nibali
Liquigas-Cannondale
+ 4'08
7
Samuel Sánchez
Euskaltel Euskadi
+ 5'53
8
Igor Anton
Euskaltel Euskadi
+ 8'27
9
Cadel Evans
BMC Racing Team
+ 9'02
10
Bauke Mollema
Rabobank Cycling Team
+ 10'43
However, Schleck is making a comeback and with 2 more big mountain stages and a time trial, we'll have to see how he does.
Well, this was a pretty tiring day, see you tomorrow for the final stage in Pologne!
This Tour of Pologne has already been extremely well for us, since we'll both be taking a jersey home! Two neopros in the jerseys in a WT race, how about that?
The sprint was a fact! I was positioned well, right behind Vaitkus.
But Brown was the strongest today. I end up, again, on the podium. Securing that nice green jersey!
Vaitkus takes one more GC place from Eric as he takes boni seconds.
GC
1
Joaquin Rodriguez
Katusha Team
32h11'37
2
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar Team
+ 34
3
Alexander Efimkin
Team Type 1 - Sanofi
+ 35
4
Michele Scarponi
Lampre-ISD
+ 52
5
Mathieu Ladagnous
FDJ-BigMat
+ 55
6
Tomas Vaitkus
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 59
7
Francesco Gavazzi
Astana Pro Team
+ 1'03
8
Eric Lombaerts
Lotto-Belisol
s.t.
IanButler
9
Julien Simon
Saur - Sojasun
+ 1'09
10
Dominique Rollin
FDJ-BigMat
s.t.
Points
1
Stijn Van Gent
Lotto-Belisol
113
IanButler
2
Tomas Vaitkus
Orica-GreenEDGE
79
3
Mathieu Ladagnous
FDJ-BigMat
66
4
Joaquin Rodriguez
Katusha Team
59
5
Alejandro Valverde
Movistar Team
52
Well, this has been extremely great. Both the Giro and Tour of Pologne have established us as potentially great riders, and we're happy to have had the experience of both races!
More signing news Simon will be joining AG2R in October. Hushovd will be joining GreenEdge. Voeckler decided to go to Vacansoleil, as Team Europcar isn't looking good for promotion to ProTour.
Other news Jurgen lost his jersey to Andy Schleck in the race from Pau to Luchon. We're looking forward to the last mountain stage and especially the final time trial! He can still win this, as he's under 2 minutes from the leader, Andy Schleck!
