Rasmussen: We are here in Saint-Maixent-l'École, for the Tour du Poitou-Charentes. Poitou-Charentes is a region in south-western France. Saint-Maixent-l'École is a town of about 7000 people, many of the building in the town is very old, dating back to the 15-19 century.
Postcard early 1900’s:
Saint-Maixent-l'École originated from a monastery founded in 459, During the 6th and 7th centuries, the town prospered before an earthquake and several fires, in the 11th and 12th centuries, destroyed much of the town. The Abbey Church of Saint-Maixent-l'École was originally from 940, but was stroke by an earthquake in 1059, and later pillaged, burned, and sacked several times, the current building was built between 1670 and 1682.
Pre-race strategy: Tour du Poitou-Charentes is a mix of flat/hilly stages and an ITT, so our best shot at the GC is Stefan S, our goal is to support him. In this first stage we expect a sprint finish, so we hope for Pacheo, without losing time for Stefan.
Profile:
Roster:
Daniele Aldegheri
Francisco José Pacheco
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay
Philip Nielsen
Sebastian Balck
Sondre Holst Enger
Stefan Schumacher
Yves Lampaert
The morning break-away is Thomas Vaubourzeix (La Pomme Marseille) and Florian Senechal (Etixx – iHNed)
Andrew Fenn (Sojasun) attacks from the peloton, on every intermediate sprint, to secure the remaining points.
With about 35 km to go, Sondre Holst Enger attacks trying to gain time on the final hill, but with about 15 km left, everyone is back in the peloton, and it is time for the final mass sprint.
The last 1000 m:
Andrew Fenn starts the print in front, with Yannick Martinez on the wheel and Nikias Arndt is third. Pacheco at the wheel of Stefan is a bit behind in 7-8 position.
Nikias Arndt is the strongest overtaking the two in front, crossing the line first. Pacheco moves up to 5th.
Rasmussen: We did ok, with Pacheco in top 5, and Stefan not losing time besides the bonus sec.
The caravan has travaled about 80 km north from Angoulême to Charroux, for a short stage of only 106 km. Charroux is a small town with just around 1200 inhabitants. Originally there was two towns, it was from the 15.th century that the town grew together and was called Charroux.
Charroux was a Benedictine abbey, founded in 785, the towns grew up around the abbey. The abbey and thereby the hole area was prosperous for hundreds of years, attracting many pilgrims. Between 1300’s and 1500’s the abbey was declining due to war and unrest, and finally in 1760 the abbey was abandoned.
Remains of the abbey:
Pre-race Strategy: The main goal is to keep Stefan in the GC, and try to get a good sprint from Pacheco.
After some turmoil in the morning, a break of seven riders get established.
But the peloton is not taking any risk and they a hunted down quickly, which gives other the opportunity. Sonder H.Enger gets in a break with Fabio Taborre (Vini Fantini), Grégory Rast (IAM Cycling) and Geoffroy Lequatre (Bretagne).
The peloton again sets a high pace, and over the two cat.4 climbs, it suddenly breaks over, Francisco José Pacheco is caught off guard, sitting too far back.
Group Enger is reeled back in, and with a little less than 20 km left, Stefan Schumacher attacks just before the last hill.
The peloton gets close, and Schumacher is overtakes by Andrew Fenn and Nikias Arndt, but he is able to get in 3rd. Andrew Fenn (Sojasun) wins the stage.
Rasmussen: Great stage for Schumacher, moving into the GC. Francisco José Pacheco come in with a group after the peloton, he lose more than 5 min. today, his GC possibilities is now over.
Rasmussen: Today’s stage is again from Charroux to Civray, but on a shorter route for the ITT.
Civray is a town of about 3000 inhabitants. Since ancient time there has been a natural crossing point over the Charente River. Around year 1000 AD a castle was built and in 1169 a bridge crossing the river.
Market day:
Church of St. Nicolas in Civray, first mentioned in 1118, is a national “Monuments historiques”. The Church has been restored, but no major changes have been made to its original construction.
Profile:
Rasmussen: The ITT as expected became crucial turning the CG upside down.
Riders from the existing GC top 5:
1. Andrew Fenn (73) loses 2'06 falling to 18.
2. Nikias Arndt (13) loses 56 sec. securing a GC 4th.
3. Danilo Napolitano (98) loses 2'20 falling to 41.
4. Florian Senechal (68) loses 2’04 falling to 33.
5. Stefan Schumacher (16) loses 1'01 falling to 11.
Stefan Schumacher:
9 of ten riders in the stage top 10 became also the new GC top ten.
Schumacher did fine coming in at 16th, there was just too many good TT riders to secure a top ten position.
1/9 Stage 5: Ruelle-sur-Touvre - Poitierd 192.3 KM
The caravan has travaled about 75 km south to Ruelle-sur-Touvre, a town of 7500 people. Originally composed of 4 small villages, in the middle ages Ruelle was a parish. The town grew up around a foundry established in the mid 1700’s.
Saint Médard (first mention 1080)
The stage ends in Poitiers the capital of the Poitou-Charentes region, a city of about 300.000 inhabitants. Originally founded by the Celtic tribe Pictones, under the name “Lemonum” in pre-roman times, the romans renames it Pictavium after the name of the Celt tribe.
Poitiers:
Pre-race Strategy: Last stage to try moving Stefan into the GC top 10. We will stay in the peloton, and hopefully try something near the end.
Profile:
A morning break of 4, including Fabio Taborre (Vini Fantini) and Mikel Nieve (Liberty Seguros)
We take part in the hunt, not to risk a break-away win.
The last rider from the break Nieve, is caught with 15 km to go.
Everything will be settled on the final hill. Fenn (Sojasun) wins the stage over Arndt (Argos). The sprint:
Rasmussen: Not all we had expected, I would have liked Stefan to get closer to the top in this race. he finished 12.
15/9 Stage 1: Peebles – Drumlanrig Castle: 199.8 KM
Christina: We are here in Peebles for the Tour of Britain, the last important race for us in this season, we hope for a top 5 GC, but as always any good result will be better than nothing.
Peebles Beltane Festival:
Peebles is a town in Scotland, about 36 km south of Edinburgh, with a population of about 8000. Bronze Age hill forts have been found in the area, and later a 7th century church, today’s town seems to have developed in the 11th century, The town was already a Royal Burgh (officially a town with special rights) by 1153.
Neidpath Castle: current castle about 1400. (originally castle approx. 1265)
Pre-race strategy: We got Pacheco and Schumacher, both able to do something on a stage like this, so we expect to stay in the peloton and keep the race under control.
Profile:
Roster :
Angelo Furlan
Francisco José Pacheco
Frederik Wilmann
Martin Pedersen
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay
Philip Nielsen
Stefan Schumacher
Yves Lampaert
The morning break was Benjamin Wolfe (Jelly Belly), Elliott Porter (Rapha Condor) and Maximilian Schachmann (Thüringer Energie), Schachmann won the only climb of the stage.
We set a few riders up front, to keep the break under control. They never got more than 5 min. and were reeled in about 15 km before the line.
It came to an uphill mass sprint. We had a fine train setup, but was a bit too far back when the sprint started. The stage was won by Andrew Fenn (Sojasun) over Daryl Impey (Vodafone), our best was Pacheco (7).
Christina: The caravan has travaled about 50 km southeast from Drumlanrig Castle to Carlisle.A city with a total urban population of about 105.000. Carlisle originates from the early Iron Age, before roman times. Romans build a fort here in about AD70. William II build Carlisle Castle (1087-1100) the exiting castle date form Henry I (build between 1122-1135)
Pre-race Strategy: The main goal is to keep Stefan in the GC, but we may try a break-away to put the pressure on other teams.
Profile:
We get Martin Pedersen in the morning break, they get a max. of 7 minutes. Pedersen wins the first climb.
It is now raining hard. After the climb the pace gets higher, the weaker riders struggle to hang on, and the peloton gets stretched out, have to be careful not to be caught off guard.
With 50 km left, a group of 4 riders attack, and get up to the front group. The distance to the peloton is now about 2 minutes. The front group is now 7 riders.
The Break-away get caught on the last short but very hard climb, Stefan Schumacher attacks, Janier Acevedo (Jamis - Hagens Berman) counters.
The other favorites can’t close the gap, it is between the two in front, Janier Acevedo beats Schumacher, in a close finish.
Christina: wow exciting can hardly get my breath back, but a fine 2nd from Stefan today.
Christina: The caravan has traveled about 75 km south from Kendal to Knowsley Village, just 8 km west of Liverpool, for a short individual time trial.
I small historical town of about 11.000 people, most likely founded back in the early Anglo-Saxon times, the town was first mentioned 1086 as Chenulveslei.
The Derby Arms pub, Knowsley Village:
Pre-race strategy: We expect Schumacher to do ok today, hopefully holding on to a CG podium position.
Profile:
Cameron Meyer (Orica) won the ITT with 5 sec. to Manuele Boaro (Saxo), Meyer moving up to 2nd in the GC, Boaro’s earlier losses gives no hope for a GC position.
Janier Acevedo (Jamis) was the big loser; he lost 1’02 moving from 1st to 3rd in the GC.
A tried Acevedo, crossing the line in 40th position:
Stefan Schumacher came in 5th losing only 18 sec., claiming the CG top spot.
Christina: Fantastic ITT, both Schumacher and Pacheco did very well today, Yves Lampaert came in 19th, also a very fine ITT from him.
