Rasmussen: We are here in Pfaffenhofen an der Ilm, for the first stage of Bayern Rundfahrt (Tour of Bavaria). In 2007 Stefan Schumacher won this race riding for Gerolsteiner, now he is here again, trying to do the same for us.
Pfaffenhofen:
Bayern (Bavaria) is the largest German federal state, covering the southeast part of Germany. The name originates from roman ref. to a Celtic tribe called “Boli” living north of Donau (Danube) and later Frank ref. (520) to a Bavarian people.
William IV, Duke of Bavaria from 1508 – 1550:
The first evidence of settlements in the Pfaffenhofen area is from the Bronze Age. It seems that monks from a nearby monastery in Ilmmünster settled the area in the 8th century, their estate’s was called “Pfaffenhöfe” ** (translates into something like Priesthouse), the town itself was first mentioned in 1140.
(** Might be someone able to translate that better?)
Engraving of Pfaffenhofen (1687)
Pre-race startegy: With no top sprinter, we would like to get in a break-away; otherwise we hope for a top ten, from one of the sprinters we have got (Furlan/ Hester/Høberg).
Profile:
Roster:
Angelo Furlan
Anton Grøn
Daniele Aldegheri
Marc Hester
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay
Morten Høberg
Sebastian Balck
Stefan Schumacher
The peloton is very aggressive, many attempts to break do not succeed, but finally after 50 km of hard fighting, a break is allowed to go. There is no especially strong rider in the break.
The Peloton is now slow, most likely marked by the fast pace in the morning; Mitchell Lovelock-Fay use the opportunity to try and get away.
With about 70 km left, Mitchell gets in contact with the front group.
But in the meantime the Peloton have accelerated again, and the break gets caught just within 20 km, Høberg takes the wheel Schumacher. Again we are cursed by a crash, Schumacher fall to the ground. Ohh no no that must hurt.
The race is won by Peter Sagan (Cannondale Pro Cycling) over Juan José Lobato (Movistar Team), our best was Angelo Furlan (13).
Rasmussen: Schumacher lost 2'59, any chance of a GC position is probably gone. Now I will go talk to him, hopefully he is ok.
Hard luck there. Will be tough getting back the time lost. Makes it easier for Schumacher to get into a breakaway though. That could be worth a shot...
Rasmussen: Schumacher is not looking forward to a long day in the saddle, but he is ok. The stage starts where it ended yesterday, in Mühldorf some 80 km east of München (Munich), by the river Inn. Mühldorf is a town with a population of about 18.500.
Scenic houses in Mühldorf:
The town was first mentioned in 935, at that time belonging to the Archbishop of Salzburg. Between 1200 and 1300 AD Mühldorf grew into an important trade center, with fortifications and wall’s.
Remains of the city walls:
Pre-race strategy: This is the hardest stage, with some tough climbs; we will try to attack with anyone who feels ready.
After some fighting in the morning, eventually Sebastian Balck got away; he was later joined by Yannick Talabardon (Sojasun), Carson Miller (Jamis) and Jiri Hudecek (Bauknecht).
We get shorts but heavy showers, coming and going most of the day. The roads are treacherous, and we get some crashes during the stage. Anton Grøn was the first victim, but he gets back to the peloton.
After the top of the 2nd climb, Stefan Schumacher attacks, and over the next couple of hills, he catches up to the front group. Now he can use Sebastian Balck as protection for a while, while he gets his breath back.
After a while Schumacher needs to speed up to keep the peloton away, one by one the others in the group can’t follow, the last one to give up is Yannick Talabardon.
Back in the peloton Peter Sagan attacks, speeding downhill to close the gap to Schumacher. With about 5 km left, Sagan has Schumacher in sight.
Schumacher is strong enough to hold out and wins a solo victory with 22 sec. down to Sagan. A tough stage, more than 50 riders loses over 10 minutes.
Rasmussen: A brilliant comeback from Stefan, after an ugly day yesterday. 32 years old Stefan Schumacher with this, his first win of the season, shows that he is still one of our stars when it comes to a tough hilly stage.
Stage:
1
Stefan Schumacher
Christina Watches - Onfone
4h54'15
2
Peter Sagan
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 22
3
Rui Costa
Movistar Team
+ 56
4
Daniel Martin
Lampre - Merida
+ 1'32
5
Yannick Talabardon
Sojasun
s.t.
6
Sergey Lagutin
Sojasun
+ 1'45
7
Jakob Fuglsang
Astana Pro Team
+ 1'58
8
Paul Voss
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
9
Fabio Aru
Astana Pro Team
+ 3'21
10
Joseph Dombrowski
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
GC:
1
Peter Sagan
Cannondale Pro Cycling
9h35'47
2
Rui Costa
Movistar Team
+ 48
3
Yannick Talabardon
Sojasun
+ 1'32
4
Daniel Martin
Lampre - Merida
+ 1'42
5
Sergey Lagutin
Sojasun
+ 1'55
6
Paul Voss
Team NetApp - Endura
+ 2'08
7
Jakob Fuglsang
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
8
Stefan Schumacher
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 2'43
9
Joris Boillat
IAM Cycling
+ 3'25
10
Joseph Dombrowski
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 3'31
Points:
1
Peter Sagan
Cannondale Pro Cycling
45
2
Rui Costa
Movistar Team
34
3
Stefan Schumacher
Christina Watches - Onfone
31
Mountain:
1
Yannick Talabardon
Sojasun
26
2
Jiri Hudecek
Bauknecht - Author
20
3
Carson Miller
Jamis - Hagens Berman
16
Team: Sojasun
Young: Peter Sagan (Cannondale Pro Cycling)
Edited by Tamijo on 21-11-2015 09:45
Rasmussen: Again the stage starts where it ended yesterday, in the small town of Viechtach, about 185 km northeast of München, some 30 km from the Czech border. A town of about 8000 inhabitants.
Neunussberg castle ruin:
Viechtach was first mentioned in 1104, when a Count transfers farmland to Oberalteich monastery. In 1350 a hospital and poorhouse, was build in the town, by a local lord of the nearby Neunussberg castle. The Catholic church St. Augustinus originated from about 1415, but have burned several times, the present church was built in the 1700’s.
Pre-race startegy: With a better GC position, we have decided to stay in the peloton, to focus on Stefan Schumacher’s GC.
A strong break is formed today, riders with good hill and fighting ability’s, Alexandre Pliuschin (IAM Cycling), Pieter Serry (Topsport Vlaanderen), Sven Krauss (Brandenburg), Dirk Müller (Nutrixxion) and Sven Forberger (NSP – Ghost).
The peloton is very fast all day and again we have very bad weather and wet roads. The result is that right from the start riders can’t keep up and lose contact with the peloton.
The break-away still has got a good lead on the peloton, getting close to the last hill. Stefan Schumacher attacks.
Stefan Schumacher can’t get away and the break is too strong for the peloton, the race is won by Pieter Serry over Alexandre Pliuschin both from the break. Stefan Schumacher gets in with group Sagan, 1’34 after.
Rasmussen: With awful weather and a lot of crashes it was a very hard stage for many riders, Yesterday’s Top 10 GC riders, who was not coming in with the peloton:
Fuglesang (Astana), abandon the race with fractures of the thigh. Daniel Martin (Lampre – Merida) lost 7'23, Rui Costa (Movistar) lost 3’51 , Joris Boillat (IAM Cycling) lost 3’51.
25/5 Stage 4/5. ITT Schierling – Schierling 31.2 km
Schierling, with Church of St. Peter and Paul (1723), Tower from about 1420.
Rasmussen: The Caravan have moved 25 km south east from Kelheim to Schierling, for an individual time trial. Schierling is a small town of about 7500 inhabitants, 23 km south of Regensburg. The town was first mentioned is 953 as “Markt Schirling”.
Rectory (1729):
Pre-race startegy: We hope Schumacher can maintain his GC, he is within the top 10 favorites on the stage.
Profile:
The stage winner was Rein Taaramäe (Cofidis, Solutions Crédits) 5 sec. better than Rui Costa (Movistar Team), Stefan Schumacher took the last spot on the podium ’47 after Taaramäe, a surprisingly great result for us.
Stefan Schumacher on the route:
Peter Sagan came in as 6th. maybe I little disappointing for Cannondale, but enough to maintain his overall lead. Today’s big loser was Yannick Talabardon (Sojasun), he lost 3'16, falling from 2nd to 9th in the GC.
Peter Sagan overtaking Yannick Talabardon on the route:
After Yesterday’s ITT in Schierling, we are back in Kelheim, for the last stage of Bayern Rundfahrt.
Kelheim:
Kelheim is a town of about 16.000 people, beautifully situated where the rivers Altmühl and Donau (Danube) connects. The peninsula between the rivers, has been inhabited since 13,000 BCE, and was the site of the Celt city Alcimoennis founded around 500 BCE.
Weltenburg Abbey, founded approx. 620, Weltenburg Abbey brewery is one of the oldest monastery brewerys, operation since 1050:
Pre-race startegy: We plan to stay in the peloton, as long as no GC contenders attack.
A break-away of 7 riders gets away, the peloton takes it easy, and they get 7’10 when they pass over the last clims, with 110 km to go.
When the peloton gets to the climb they speed up, the climb is very steep, and the peloton breaks over. Now a group of 21 riders are between the peloton and the front. Most of the favorites including Peter Sagan, Rui Costa and Stefan Schumacher are in the 2nd group.
But no one wants to waste too much energy in the favorite group, and they melts together with the peloton again, now the pace is high and the gap to the front group is getting smaller and smaller.
In front Jelle Wallays (Topsport Vlaanderen) attacks from the break-away, with about 10 km left, he gets a gap to the others in the break.
Jelle Wallays wins the race in the same time as the peloton, 5 of the riders from the break, finish the stage in top 10.
Rasmussen: Very good GC result from Schumacher, management is very pleased.
