Byrgesen(N&K), Hinkisz(CCC), King(END), Stangelj(AST), Curvers(SKL), Docker(DRP), Ano(GML), Rovny(RSH), Ghyllobert, and Comargo made up todays break.
With 60 kilometers to go Bollan(BMC) attacked and bridged up to the breakaway and joined them. This caused Team USa to increase the pase and they were caught with 28 K to go.
Firrar started the sprint late and shot past the tired others who started their sprints earlier to get the win.
Several riderws crash at 9 K to go. Amoung those is Satton(SKY). He would lose time at the end of the day with everyone else who crashed.
With 12 K to go the breakaway has a 1:20 lead. Hagyvari(USH) and Vallejo Dominguez attack. They work together, but they are overtaken by the pack with 3.5 K to go.
Carlos Sustre(CTT) has decieded to retire. I was suprised at this as his mountain stat is 81.
Tour of Oman: Stage 5
Favorites Firrar-USG
Davis-AST
Beasson Hagen-SKY
Honter-GAM
Swoft-SKY
Van Hummel-SKL
Todays breakaway is made up of Huguet(SKL), Bencik(PSK), Vunther(GML), Murczynski(CCC), Pedersen(CCC), Jesto(GML), Bauer(EDR), Offredo(DRP), Stauff(TRL), Riiz(GML), Longo Borghini(ISD), and Rubiera(RSH).
They would be caught with 12 K to go.
Firrar launches his powerful sprint and only Davis can hold his wheel, and he doesn't have the strength to pass him as Firrar wins all the group start stages in the Tour of Omen. He is now 1:40 ahead of Cancellara.
Team USA 2011
We didn't race this in 2010, so it will be a new experience. Our leader will be Vondevelde with Armstrong to help him and possibly take over leadership if he falters.
Major GC Competitors
Contador-AST
Brajkovic-AST
Valverde-GCE
L. L. Sanchez-GCE
Menchov-RAB
Friere-RAB
Gesink-RAB
Vuelta ciclista a Andalucia: Stage 1
Favorites
Valverde-GCE
Contador-AST
L. L. Sanchez-GCE
Freire-RAB
Gesink-RAB
Today's break consists of Martens(RAB), Berthou, and Mertinez. They were never allowed much time and were pulled back quite a ways from the finish.
On the climb from 13 K to go to 10 K to go several riders lost contact. Amoung those were Rogers(AND), Kloden(RSH), Brajkovic(AST), Menchov(RAB), Scarponi(AND), Tundo(CTT), Gesink(RAB), and Armstrong(USG).
Going into the final climb the lead group consited of L. L. Sanchez(GCE), Cobo Acebo(GCE), Serpa(AND), Guttierrez(GCE), Perez(FOT), Contador(AST), Valevrde(GCE), Vondevelde(USG), Lastras(GCE), Hernandez(RSH), Freire(RAB), Perez Sanchez(GCE), and Grivko(AST).
With 4.5 K to Valverde(GCE) attacked and broke away from the others.
Only Contador(AST), Cobo Acebo(GCE), Serpa(AND), Hernandez(RSH), and Sanchez(GCE) could keep up with the pase in the group chasing Valverde.
With 4 K to go Contador, Hernandez, and Sanchez attacked, but only Contador was able to get away.
With 3 K to go Cobo Acebo attacked to join Contador. Meanwhile Valverde is still in front with a minute and a half lead over Contador and Cobo Acebo.
A great victory for Valverde as he blows away his competitors by a margin of over 2 minutes.
Vondevelde comes in seventh, 3:20 behind Valverde.
Todays break was made up of Cannone(FLM), Tomei(CFX), Merque, Kireyev(AST), Qaintana, Dominguez-Lemos(GLC), Gutirrez(FOT), Vanheule, Aberasturi(ORB), Bertolini.
They would be caught with 12 K to go.
Ventoso(CMO) starts the sprint late, shooting past the others for the win. Surprisingly Armstrong and Vondevelde started the sprint near the front and manage top tens.
Favorites
Valverde-GCE
Contador-AST
Gesink-RAB
Menchov-RAB
L. L. Sanchez-GCE
Scarponi-AND
Todays break is made up of Rogers(AND), Pejol Munez(CTT), Kloden(RSH), Benitez(FOT), Ciruso, Brunez, Ratto(CMO), Smukulis(FLM).
They were never allowed over a minute and a half lead and caught with 63 K to go.
Armstrong(USG) tries his chances and attacks with 47 K to go.
Valverde(GCE), Contador(AST), Anza(FLM), Freire(RAB), Serpa(AND), Hernandez(RSH), Vondevelde(USG), Perez(FOT), Chaarini, Garci Rena(XGL), Kenovalovas(CTT), and Oroz(EUS) attack out of the Pack.
Valverde passes Armstrong with 30 K to go.
Valverde passes over the top of the Puerto de Ojen climb with Armstrong coming over 34 seconds behind him.
Contador comes through 1:29 behind Valverde, and Freire comes in 1:44 behind Valverde.
Anza and Serpa come in 2 minutes behind Valverde, while Hernandez, Perez, and Vonevelde come in 2:20 behind.
A 48-man Pack comes through 3:10 behind the leader.
With 24 K to go Freire catches up to Contador.
Armstrong manages to catch up with Valverde with 16 K to go, while at the same time Vondevelde, Perez, and Hernandez catch Serpa and Anza.
Perez, Hernandez, Anza, Serpa, and Vondevelde are caught by the Pack with 9 K to go.
With 4 K to go Valverde's pase is to high for Armstrong as he loses contact with the leader.
Contador and Freire are caught with 2 K to go.
Once again Valverde wins the stage and gets more time on his overall lead.
A great ride by Armstrong coming in second and making up for the time he lost on Stage 1.
Yeah, it would have been great if he could have beat out Valverde, but at least he is still a decent time trialist and has the chance to stay in the top 10.
Edited by clindorff on 25-11-2010 01:00
Today's breakaway consisted of Stertoni(CFX), Gulcer, Antana, Merque, Irizar Arumbaru(RSH), Sicard(EUS), Gorcia Etxegibel, Birry(CMO), and Ibonez.
They would be caught with 34 K to go.
Valverde(GCE), Contador(AST), Serpa(AND), Cobo Acebo(GCE), Freire(RAB), and Hernandez(RSH) attack with 16 K to go, but only Valverde is able to get a gap.
With 6 K to go Valverde is caught.
Vondevelde attacks with 4 K to go and is able to get a gap.
While Vondevelde attacked on the short hill Perez(FOT), Grivko(AST), Hernandez(RSH), Serpa(AND), and Contador(AST) fell of the pase, but would manage to catch up in the final meters and not lose time.
Vondevelde manages to stay in front and get the win. Everyone but Armstrong started their sprints at 500 meters to go, and by that time it was to late to catch up with Armstrong, and Team USA gets the double.
Team USA 2011 Firrar didn't race this last year so we will see if he can make it over the cobbles. Hencapie will try for a top 10, after finishing 12th last year.
Today's break consisted of Fothen(MLR), Zandio(GCE), Rucker, Garcia Fernandez(XGL), Facci(QST), and Garcia(USG).
They would be caught with28 K to go.
With 15 K to go Hostre(OLO), O'Grady(SAX), Devolder(QST), and Firrar(USG) attacked, but only Hostre, O'Grady, and Devolder were able to break free and form a three man leading group.
The break had a 30 seconds lead when Veelers(SKL), Amorison, Langveld(RAB), and Barrado(QST) attacked. Only Veelers was able to get awaay and join Hostre, O'Grady, and Devolder.
The lead group still has a 30 second lead when they start sprinting agaist each other for the win.
No one as the energy to challenge Hostre as the Belgium national road race champion gets the win.
Today's break is made up of Ignutiev(CAT), Champion(ALM), Pauriol(COF), Kiserlovski(LIQ), Bono(LAM), Engels(QST), Pinot(FDJ), Hansen(GAMO), Losada(GCE), and Collaers.
Thay would be caught with 17 K to go.
Firrar has all of his energy and got a good leadout, but Beasson Hagen proved stronger and Firrar will have to settle for second.
Its really unfair that Lance did not win, after such a strong performance...
Bad luck here
