|
Petronas - Monster Energy; The end of an era
|
| dienblad |
Posted on 15-03-2013 21:56
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 3709
Joined: 10-09-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
SSJ2Luigi wrote:
[quote]Dienblad wrote
Basso is still leading the stage, but only '25 behind him follows a group with Contador (1), Gesink (2), Basso (6), Kiserlovski (11), Van den Broeck (17), Kern (20) and Porte (22).
how can Basso follow himself?
That's easy: he and Cobo (that's the guy who was GC 6th) have merged into 1 rider, at least in my saved game.
|
| |
|
|
| Ian Butler |
Posted on 15-03-2013 23:06
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21381
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
|
Very thorough and nice report. Will probably read it better tomorrow though. Missed some action because of tiredness 
Anyway, Gesink did a brilliant job  |
| |
|
|
| FroomeDog99 |
Posted on 15-03-2013 23:20
|
Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4461
Joined: 07-10-2012
PCM$: 200.00
|
Really enjoyed that report Dienblad 
A great tour for the team, hopefully Kittel can do well tomorrow. |
| |
|
|
| PCM rulezz |
Posted on 16-03-2013 12:07
|
Protected Rider
Posts: 1446
Joined: 21-05-2011
PCM$: 200.00
|
YES, he did it 
Winners never quit, quitters never win.
It's difficult not to be happy when you're surrounded by Belgians. - Mark Cavendish
|
| |
|
|
| Miguel98 |
Posted on 16-03-2013 12:15
|
World Champion
Posts: 10231
Joined: 23-06-2011
PCM$: 200.00
|
dienblad wrote:
SSJ2Luigi wrote:
[quote]Dienblad wrote
Basso is still leading the stage, but only '25 behind him follows a group with Contador (1), Gesink (2), Basso (6), Kiserlovski (11), Van den Broeck (17), Kern (20) and Porte (22).
how can Basso follow himself?
That's easy: he and Cobo (that's the guy who was GC 6th) have merged into 1 rider, at least in my saved game.
I want to see that. Btw, congrats on winning the Tour. Shame that doesn't happen irl.  |
| |
|
|
| dienblad |
Posted on 16-03-2013 15:40
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 3709
Joined: 10-09-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
Stage 21
The last stage of the 101st Tour de France finishes at the Champs d'Elysées in the French capitol of Paris. 2 questions: does Gesink stay at his bike and will the stage end in a mass sprint?
55km to go
With the green jersey still at stake, we really don't mind that a breakaway of 19 riders doesn't get caught before the sprint, so there are no points left for Marcel Kittel's only contender José Joaquín Rojas.
52km to go
A compact peloton of 112 riders starts to ride the Champs d'Elysées for the first time. Unfortunately, the weather is that bad, that there are no spectators, really nobody!! The Cyanide-stand is completely empty 
18km to go
The first rider to attack at the final circuit is Saurs Lars Ytting Bak. The Dane creats a maximum margin of 1'45, but the peloton doesn't want to let him get too far gone.
8km to go
Bak gets caught with 8km to go, and then it's time for another attack by Lars Boom. This must be the 15th time this Tour that he attacks, and so far it has brought him 1 stage win and 1 day in the maillot jaune.
But today, the peloton really wants the stage to end in a mass sprint, with our sprint train in the lead of it.
3km to go
Today is not for Boom. With 3km to go, he gets caught by our sprint train, with Thomas Dekker leading out Coen Vermeltfoort and finally Marcel Kittel. The last corner is done, so the sprint for the stage win and the maillot verde can begin!
1500m to go
Vermeltfoort gives it all to bring the maillot verde in the perfect position. When Kittel sees Heinrich Haussler at his right and José Joaquín Rojas at his left both starting their sprint, he knows it's time to start his. Also Robert Gesink is among the first riders, trying to stay out of trouble. He's inside the last 3km, so he knows it's safe!
500m to go
Haussler and Dutch champion Jetse Bol aren't fast enough to win this prestigous sprint, so it'll be a 2-rider drag race between Kittel and Rojas. With only 500m to go, the German is starting to pull away, having reached maximum speed of 70 km/h!!
Finish
And he takes it! Marcel Kittel wins the sprint at the Champs d'Elysées in the maillot verde, and a dream has come true for the 26-year-old. And not only does he win the stage, he also secures himself of the green jersey, fulfilling the goal of our sponsor.
Robert Gesink finishes safely outside the top 10, and still doesn't realize that he has won the Tour de France, the first Dutch cyclist since Joop Zoetemelk in 1980. Vermeltfoort is celebrating this behind him, probably thinking about the great diner tonight and the bottle(s) of champagne that are waiting for the team!!
Results
| 1 |  Marcel Kittel | Petronas - Monster Energy | 1h57'49 | | 2 |  José Joaquín Rojas | Movistar Team | s.t. | | 3 |  Heinrich Haussler | Radio Shack - Nissan | s.t. | | 4 |  Jetse Bol | Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | 5 | Matthew Goss | Dexia | s.t. | | 6 |  Giovanni Visconti | Katusha Team | s.t. | | 7 |  Ben Hermans | Pro Team Astana | s.t. | | 8 |  Simon Spilak | Lampre - Alitalia | s.t. | | 9 |  Cyril Lemoine | AG2R La Mondiale | s.t. | | 10 | Mickaël Delage | Team Europcar | s.t. |
Today's Winner
Full rankings to follow
|
| |
|
|
| sutty68 |
Posted on 16-03-2013 19:26
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 33999
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
A Brilliant victory from Kittel on the Champs d'Elysées |
| |
|
|
| PCM rulezz |
Posted on 16-03-2013 21:50
|
Protected Rider
Posts: 1446
Joined: 21-05-2011
PCM$: 200.00
|
Yellow and Green :banana;
What a race for the team
Winners never quit, quitters never win.
It's difficult not to be happy when you're surrounded by Belgians. - Mark Cavendish
|
| |
|
|
| Neillster |
Posted on 16-03-2013 22:16
|
Domestique
Posts: 692
Joined: 13-10-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
Absolutely fantastic race for the team  And again a Tour full of awesome reports |
| |
|
|
| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-10-2026 02:06
|
Bot Agent
Posts: Countless
Joined: 23.11.09
|
|
| IP: None |
|
|
| Maddrengen |
Posted on 16-03-2013 22:20
|
Protected Rider
Posts: 1234
Joined: 10-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
MONSTER GIRLS!!!
|
| |
|
|
| Daggen |
Posted on 16-03-2013 22:21
|
Sprinter
Posts: 1662
Joined: 08-07-2012
PCM$: 200.00
|
AGREED!! |
| |
|
|
| FreitasPCM |
Posted on 16-03-2013 22:48
|
Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 7784
Joined: 08-09-2009
PCM$: 200.00
|
Brilliant win with Kittel and Gesink! |
| |
|
|
| Marcovdw |
Posted on 16-03-2013 23:04
|
Grand Tour Champion
Posts: 8008
Joined: 04-07-2012
PCM$: 25545.00
|
And he wins.....finally
|
| |
|
|
| TheManxMissile |
Posted on 16-03-2013 23:08
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 18088
Joined: 12-05-2012
PCM$: 0.00
|
Soooooo creeeeeeeeeepy with no spectators
|
| |
|
|
| Ian Butler |
Posted on 16-03-2013 23:43
|
Tour de France Champion
Posts: 21381
Joined: 01-05-2012
PCM$: 400.00
|
The first mass sprint of the Tour? |
| |
|
|
| dienblad |
Posted on 17-03-2013 07:29
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 3709
Joined: 10-09-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
@ Sutty and Freitas: thanks
@ PCM rulezz: totally agree
@ Neillster: thanks a lot!
@ Maddrengen and Daggen: I've promised already, so you'll get them.... with the July review!!
@ Marcovdw & Ian: at last..... First mass sprint, so a 100% score
@ The ManxMissile: after a zombie apocalypse, only 113 cyclists and a few guys at a motorcycle are alive at the earth
|
| |
|
|
| dienblad |
Posted on 17-03-2013 07:58
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 3709
Joined: 10-09-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
GC
So Robert Gesink wins the 101st Tour de France, mostly because of his extremely strong ride at the MOnt Ventoux. Vincenzo NIbali was in the run for the yellow all Tour long, but simply could never threaten it. Contador was strong all Tour long, except for 1 stage and has to settle with the 3rd place again. The big time time gap is t 4th place, with Igor Antón leading a group with Fränk Scheck and JJ Cobo.
| 1 | Robert Gesink | Petronas - Monster Energy | 81h23'07 | | 2 | Vincenzo Nibali | Radio Shack - Nissan | + 1'14 | | 3 | Alberto Contador | Movistar Team | + 1'41 | | 4 | Igor Antón | Euskaltel - Euskadi | + 7'04 | | 5 |  Fränk Schleck | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step | + 7'13 | | 6 | Juan José Cobo | Dexia | + 7'42 | | 7 |  Ryder Hesjedal | Saxo Bank SunGard | + 9'43 | | 8 | Simon Spilak | Lampre - Alitalia | + 10'08 | | 9 |  Bradley Wiggins | Dexia | + 10'22 | | 10 | Pierre Rolland | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step | + 10'49 |
Spoiler | 11 | Romain Sicard | Euskaltel - Euskadi | + 12'10 | | 12 | Robert Kiserlovski | Pro Team Astana | + 12'16 | | 13 | Vasil Kiryienka | Pro Team Astana | + 12'20 | | 14 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | BMC Racing Team | + 12'45 | | 15 | Christophe Kern | Saur - Sojasun | + 13'47 | | 16 | Thibaut Pinot | AG2R La Mondiale | + 14'12 | | 17 | Steven Kruijswijk | Qantas Airways | + 15'20 | | 18 | Peter Velits | Pro Team Astana | + 15'39 | | 19 | Damiano Cunego | Radio Shack - Nissan | + 17'46 | | 20 | Tony Martin | Red Bull - Cervélo | + 18'17 | | 21 | Richie Porte | Saxo Bank SunGard | + 21'24 | | 22 | Jérôme Coppel | Acqua & Sapone | + 24'30 | | 23 | Eros Capecchi | Lampre - Alitalia | + 26'08 | | 24 | Thomas De Gendt | Radio Shack - Nissan | + 26'51 | | 25 | Chris Anker Sørensen | BMC Racing Team | + 29'25 | | 26 | Roman Kreuziger | Movistar Team | + 30'27 | | 27 | Blel Kadri | AG2R La Mondiale | + 32'04 | | 28 | Daniel Moreno | Euskaltel - Euskadi | + 32'12 | | 29 | Jelle Vanendert | Petronas - Monster Energy | + 33'19 | | 30 | Janez Brajkovic | Sky ProCycling | + 35'31 | | 31 | Nicolas Roche | Radio Shack - Nissan | + 39'01 | | 32 | Kevin Seeldraeyers | Sony Ericsson | + 39'12 | | 33 | Giovanni Visconti | Katusha Team | + 39'21 | | 34 | Maxime Bouet | AG2R La Mondiale | + 41'41 | | 35 | Jonathan Hivert | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step | + 43'37 | | 36 | John Gadret | AG2R La Mondiale | + 44'12 | | 37 | Cadel Evans | Katusha Team | + 44'35 | | 38 | Thomas Dekker | Petronas - Monster Energy | + 44'53 | | 39 | Ivan Basso | Pro Team Astana | + 47'06 | | 40 | Thomas Voeckler | Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team | + 50'55 | | 41 | José Joaquín Rojas | Movistar Team | + 51'34 | | 42 | Linus Gerdemann | Red Bull - Cervélo | + 52'03 | | 43 | Pieter Weening | Qantas Airways | + 54'49 | | 44 | Chris Froome | Radio Shack - Nissan | + 57'24 | | 45 | Philippe Gilbert | Dexia | + 57'26 | | 46 | Joaquím Rodríguez | Katusha Team | + 57'49 | | 47 | Alejandro Valverde | Dexia | + 58'26 | | 48 | Ben Hermans | Pro Team Astana | + 59'10 | | 49 | Amaël Moinard | BMC Racing Team | + 1h00'05 | | 50 | Vladimir Gusev | Katusha Team | + 1h00'50 | | 51 | Jesús Herrada | Movistar Team | + 1h00'58 | | 52 | Guillaume Bonnafond | Garmin - Barracuda | + 1h04'02 | | 53 | Sylvain Chavanel | Garmin - Barracuda | + 1h04'44 | | 54 | Fabian Cancellara | Sky ProCycling | + 1h06'53 | | 55 | Simon Gerrans | Dexia | + 1h08'26 | | 56 | Pierre Cazaux | Euskaltel - Euskadi | + 1h08'36 | | 57 | Maxime Monfort | Sony Ericsson | + 1h09'31 | | 58 | Michel Kreder | Sky ProCycling | + 1h10'40 | | 59 | Rob Ruijgh | Petronas - Monster Energy | + 1h12'59 | | 60 | Marcel Wyss | Red Bull - Cervélo | + 1h13'58 | | 61 | Jakob Fuglsang | Radio Shack - Nissan | + 1h17'04 | | 62 | Francis De Greef | Petronas - Monster Energy | + 1h19'18 | | 63 | Andrew Talansky | Garmin - Barracuda | + 1h24'15 | | 64 | Peter Stetina | Qantas Airways | + 1h28'49 | | 65 | Pavel Brutt | Katusha Team | + 1h30'19 | | 66 | Cyril Lemoine | AG2R La Mondiale | + 1h31'39 | | 67 | Mauro Santambrogio | Radio Shack - Nissan | + 1h33'49 | | 68 | Rigoberto Urán | Sky ProCycling | + 1h35'25 | | 69 | José Ángel Gómez Marchante | Euskaltel - Euskadi | + 1h35'37 | | 70 | Rafael Valls | Movistar Team | + 1h40'16 | | 71 | Heinrich Haussler | Radio Shack - Nissan | + 1h40'31 | | 72 | Lars Ytting Bak | Saur - Sojasun | + 1h41'00 | | 73 | Dmitriy Gruzdev | Pro Team Astana | + 1h42'16 | | 74 | David Loosli | Lampre - Alitalia | + 1h44'56 | | 75 | Yoann Barbas | AG2R La Mondiale | + 1h45'36 | | 76 | Andrey Amador | Movistar Team | + 1h50'49 | | 77 | Martijn Keizer | Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team | + 1h52'44 | | 78 | Johann Tschopp | BMC Racing Team | + 1h54'19 | | 79 | Julien El Fares | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step | + 1h54'37 | | 80 | Stefano Pirazzi | Lampre - Alitalia | + 1h54'58 | | 81 | Johnny Hoogerland | Sony Ericsson | + 1h57'36 | | 82 | Romain Zingle | Dexia | + 1h59'04 | | 83 | Tosh Van der Sande | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step | + 2h00'51 | | 84 | Marcos García | Euskaltel - Euskadi | + 2h03'03 | | 85 | Stijn Devolder | Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team | + 2h04'51 | | 86 | Jimmi Sørensen | Saxo Bank SunGard | + 2h05'02 | | 87 | Lars Boom | Saxo Bank SunGard | + 2h12'09 | | 88 | Jetse Bol | Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team | + 2h13'55 | | 89 | Danilo Di Luca | Acqua & Sapone | + 2h19'39 | | 90 | Ben Gastauer | Sony Ericsson | + 2h19'56 | | 91 | Tomasz Smolen | Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team | + 2h21'48 | | 92 | Óscar Pujol | Movistar Team | + 2h24'59 | | 93 | Jonathan Castroviejo | Saur - Sojasun | + 2h28'18 | | 94 | Steve Houanard | AG2R La Mondiale | + 2h28'53 | | 95 | Nick Nuyens | Saxo Bank SunGard | + 2h33'04 | | 96 | Matthew Goss | Dexia | + 2h34'55 | | 97 | Thor Hushovd | Dexia | + 2h42'15 | | 98 | Marcus Burghardt | Red Bull - Cervélo | + 2h47'24 | | 99 | Yohann Gène | Team Europcar | + 2h47'35 | | 100 | Mickaël Delage | Team Europcar | + 2h47'48 | | 101 | Joost Posthuma | Petronas - Monster Energy | + 2h49'43 | | 102 | Martin Reimer | Sony Ericsson | + 2h50'06 | | 103 | Egoi Martínez | Euskaltel - Euskadi | + 2h51'46 | | 104 | Marcel Kittel | Petronas - Monster Energy | + 2h57'49 | | 105 | Matthias Brändle | Red Bull - Cervélo | + 3h07'12 | | 106 | Massimo Giunti | Acqua & Sapone | + 3h15'37 | | 107 | Matteo Busato | Acqua & Sapone | + 3h19'18 | | 108 | Coen Vermeltfoort | Petronas - Monster Energy | + 3h19'56 | | 109 | Diego Milán | Movistar Team | + 3h28'13 | | 110 | Martin Kragh | Saxo Bank SunGard | + 3h31'18 | | 111 | Niki Terpstra | Petronas - Monster Energy | + 4h16'07 | | 112 | Laurent Mangel | AG2R La Mondiale | + 4h26'23 |
Points
It looked like Marcel Kittel was going to in the points jersey without a stage win. But he won th eonly mass sprint this Tour, the most prestiguous stage for sprinters at the Champs d'Elysées. JJ Rojas was in green for the most days, but failed in the end.
| 1 | Marcel Kittel | Petronas - Monster Energy | 312 | | 2 | José Joaquín Rojas | Movistar Team | 275 | | 3 | Heinrich Haussler | Radio Shack - Nissan | 234 | | 4 | Matthew Goss | Dexia | 214 | | 5 | Thomas Voeckler | Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team | 171 |
KOTM
The 2 best climbers in this Tour are Alberto Contador and Robert Gesink. Contador won at Superbagnères and the Col de Portet, and Gesink won at the Tourmalet and Mont Ventoux. But the Dutch rider collected more points at the smaller climbs, so he takes his 2nd jersey.
| 1 | Robert Gesink | Petronas - Monster Energy | 145 | | 2 | Alberto Contador | Movistar Team | 116 | | 3 | Vincenzo Nibali | Radio Shack - Nissan | 92 | | 4 | Pierre Rolland | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step | 56 | | 5 | Fränk Schleck | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step | 52 |
U25
Thibaut Pinot was the big favourite to win the white jersey, and he did it. But with the 2nd rider 46 minutes behind, this was a dull ranking.
| 1 | Thibaut Pinot | AG2R La Mondiale | 81h37'19 | | 2 | Jesús Herrada | Movistar Team | + 46'46 | | 3 | Tosh Van der Sande | Omega Pharma - Quick·Step | + 1h46'39 | | 4 |  Jimmi Sørensen | Saxo Bank SunGard | + 1h50'50 | | 5 | Jetse Bol | Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team | + 1h59'43 |
Teams
The Euskaltel-riders were [resent in many breakaways, and as a result, the team wins the Teams-ranking, to all surprise!
| 1 | Euskaltel - Euskadi | 244h43'37 | | 2 | Radio Shack - Nissan | + 1'21 | | 3 |  Pro Team Astana | + 2'05 | | 4 | Dexia | + 19'25 | | 5 | Petronas - Monster Energy | + 20'13 |
Overall Winner
Word from the DS
So this turned out to be a great Tour for the team. 4 stages wins, 2 for Gesink, 1 for Rob Ruijgh and 1 for Marcel Kittel, the KOTM-jersey for Gesink, the points jersey for Kittel and most important, the maillot jaune for Robert Gesink. Mission accomplished!
Also, Gesink has cycled himself among the greatest off all times:
Review to come
|
| |
|
|
| Miguel98 |
Posted on 17-03-2013 08:15
|
World Champion
Posts: 10231
Joined: 23-06-2011
PCM$: 200.00
|
That Pinot gap. How much weaker is Herrada comparing to him? |
| |
|
|
| dienblad |
Posted on 17-03-2013 09:03
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 3709
Joined: 10-09-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
Miguel98 wrote:
That Pinot gap. How much weaker is Herrada comparing to him?
I believe Pinot has Mo 80 and Herrada 77, and Pinot has Hi 75 and Herrada also. But Herrada had to work as a domestique for Contador, whereas Pinot was a team leader and was protected untill the last mountain.
|
| |
|
|
| dienblad |
Posted on 17-03-2013 09:32
|
Classics Specialist
Posts: 3709
Joined: 10-09-2010
PCM$: 200.00
|
Tour de France review
What a Tour de France this was! One with only 1 mass sprint, so a playground for the attackers and puncheurs. 18 different stage winners, with only Cancellara, Contador and Gesink with 2 stage wins (when the final verdict about the Schleck-case comes, Contador will be awarded with the stage win and gets 3 wins) and a great 3-men battle for the GC-win.
Sadly, it wasn't only positive, because of 2 things: 85 riders finishing outside the timelimit in stage 9 and thus having to leave the Tour, and of course the blood doping use by Andy Schleck.
Summary
| Stage | Win | GC | Points | KOTM | U25 | Teams | | 1 | F. Cancellara | F. Cancellara | F. Cancellara | | T. Phinney | Saxo Bank | | 2 | G. Van Avermaet | F. Cancellara | G. Van Avermaet | | T. Phinney | Red Bull | | 3 | T. Van der Sande | F. Cancellara | T. Hushovd | J. Le Bon | T. Phinney | Red Bull | | 4 | T. Voeckler | L. Boom | S. Langeveld | J. Le Bon | T. Phinney | Red Bull | | 5 | F. Cancellara | F. Cancellara | S. Langeveld | F. Cancellara | T. Phinney | Red Bull | | 6 | J. Le Bon | P. Voss | S. Langeveld | J. Le Bon | J. Le Bon | Red Bull | | 7 | A. Geslin | P. Voss | S. Langeveld | J. Le Bon | J. Le Bon | Red Bull | | 8 | A. Contador | A. Contador | S. Langeveld | A. Contador | T. Pinot | Radio Shack | | 9 | A. Contador | A. Contador | T. Voeckler | A. Contador | T. Pinot | Radio Shack | | 10 | R. Gesink | A. Contador | T. Voeckler | A. Contador | T. Pinot | Radio Shack | | 11 | R. Ruijgh | A. Contador | T. Voeckler | A. Contador | T. Pinot | Radio Shack | | 12 | S. Devolder | A. Contador | J. Rojas | A. Contador | T. Pinot | Euskaltel | | 13 | S. Chavanel | A. Contador | J. Rojas | A. Contador | T. Pinot | Euskaltel | | 14 | P. Gilbert | A. Contador | J. Rojas | A. Contador | T. Pinot | Euskaltel | | 15 | P. Rolland | A. Contador | M. Kittel | A. Contador | T. Pinot | Euskaltel | | 16 | V. Kiryienka | A. Contador | M. Kittel | A. Contador | T. Pinot | Euskaltel | | 17 | A. Schleck | A. Contador | M. Kittel | A. Contador | T. Pinot | Euskaltel | | 18 | L. Boom | A. Contador | M. Kittel | A. Contador | T. Pinot | Euskaltel | | 19 | R. Gesink | R. Gesink | M. Kittel | R. Gesink | T. Pinot | Euskaltel | | 20 | T.Martin | R. Gesink | M. Kittel | R. Gesink | T. Pinot | Euskaltel | | 21 | M. Kittel | R. Gesink | M. Kittel | R. Gesink | T. Pinot | Euskaltel |
Top 5
1. Robert Gesink
Dutch Robert Gesink won the Giro and Vuelta in 2011, and was close to winning the Tour in 2012 (but lost the GC-lead in the final ITT). This year, at the age of 28, he has managed to become the successor of Joop Zoetemelk, 24 years after his Tour win and the last one for a Dutch cyclist. Gesink was strong all Tour long, and took 2 stage wins: at the Tourmalet and at the Mont Ventoux. In that last one, he took over the maillot jaune and kept it untill Paris.
2. Marcel Kittel
Not many sprinters can say that they have won all mass sprints in a Tour in 1 year. But German Marcel Kittel can! Okay, because of a complete failure of the teams to let stages end in a mass sprint, only the final stage at the Champs d'Elysées ended in a mass sprint. But already in green because of finishing consequently as one of the best sprinters, Kittel won that prestiguous sprint.
3. Alberto Contador
One bad day costed Alberto Contador the Tour-win. He was in control after winning the 8th stage to Superbagnères, where he became the GC-leader. After a 2nd stage win at the Col de Portet, he eventually extended his lead after the MTT at the Alpe d'Huez (and possibly another stage win). But the hunger knock in the 2nd half of the ascend of the Mont Ventoux made him drop to 3rd. Still, he deserves to be in the top 5!
4. Fabian Cancellara
Fabian Cancellara could not loose the first stage, the cobbled ITT in Roubaix, and he won it. He lost the maillot jaune after a few days, but a great punchy win in the 5th stage to Limoges brought hi back in yellow for 1 day.
5. Lars Boom
One of the most attacking riders this Tour must be Lars Boom. It brought him 1 day in the maillot jaune and the stage win in stage 19 to Montélimar. For sure some good 21 days!
Flop 5
1. Andy Schleck
The biggest flop of this Tour was of course Andy Schleck. He suffered a stomach flu the week before the Tour, so lost some valuable time in the first stage. After having recovered, he improved in the Pyrénées and crushed the opposition in the MTT to Alpe d'Huez, already improving to the 4th place in the GC. But the next day got discovered why he managed to do that: blood doping. He got kicked out of the Tour, admitted to be guilty, and will probably be gone out of the cycing world for ever.
2. The sprinters
8 chances for the sprinters, and only the final stage became a mass sprint... What went wrong? Well, almost none of the teams wanted to chase the BOTD, they were all looking at each other. And many sprinters (Cavendish, Ciolek, Farrar, Guardini, Nizzolo, Greipel and Degenkolb) finished outside the time limit in stage 9. Still, a big flop!
3. Bradley Wiggins
If it wasn't for the final ITT, Bradley Wiggins wouldn't even be in the Top 10 of the GC. He simply couldn't follow the best climbers in the mountains.
4. Jurgen Van den Broeck
Jurgen Van den Broeck starts every GT with the goal of getting a top 5. But the Belgian seems to have an eye for loosing time in the first week. Result: 14th place in the GC and no stage win. It looks like Belgium has to wait even longer before somebody becomes the successor of Lucien Van Impe (winner in 1976).
5. The spectators
Where have they all gone? No spectators this Tour? Or they have all been killed before the Tour due to a virus or huge disaster, or the tv-broadcast was that great, that it was better to watch the Tour at home....
That's all for the 2014-Tour.
Edited by dienblad on 17-03-2013 09:35
|
| |
|
