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A Tale of Two
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 31-08-2012 15:57
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I agree, De Clerq raced an excellent Giro  |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 31-08-2012 17:34
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The Dauphinée - Stage 3
A hilly stage, where Van Den Broeck hopes to test his competitors for the TDF. Many aren't present, unfortunately, but Nibali is here, one of his greatest competitors.
Only 30km after the start of the race, the peloton gets ripped in pieces on a small ascending road. I'm in the wrong part of the peloton.
Our chances of returning to the pack diminish as Movistar lays a quick pace.
On the final hill of the day, Van Den Broeck carefully tests the competition. With a sly, slow attack he kills many riders' moral.
He doesn't get far, what wasn't his intention in the first place, and the (somewhat ripped) peloton goes to a sprint.
And what a beautiful victory for Jurgen Van Den Broeck! Unfortunately there are no boni seconds, but he doesn't care. He showed his strength and killed all the competition. He has sent a message that they better watch out in the Tour!
...while I cross the line 18'40" afterwards. My hopes for a good GC are over.
Result
| 1 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | 4h17'04 | IanButler | | 2 | Rui Costa | Movistar Team | s.t. | | | 3 | Ben Hermans | Radioshack Nissan Trek | s.t. | | | 4 | Michele Scarponi | Lampre-ISD | s.t. | | | 5 | Christophe Riblon | Ag2r La Mondiale | s.t. | | | 6 | Robert Kiserlovski | Team Argos-Shimano | s.t. | | | 7 | Sergio Luis Henao | Sky Pro Cycling | s.t. | | | 8 | Pierre Rolland | Team Europcar | s.t. | | | 9 | Samuel Sánchez | Euskaltel Euskadi | s.t. | | | 10 | Alexandre Geniez | Team Argos-Shimano | s.t. | |
The Dauphinée - Stage 3
The breakaway made it to the finish!
Result
| 1 | Mikhail Ignatiev | Katusha Team | 3h22'31 | | 2 | Giampaolo Cheula | Acqua & Sapone | s.t. | | 3 | Svein Tuft | Orica-GreenEDGE | s.t. | | 4 | Tom Veelers | Team Argos-Shimano | + 7'07 | | 5 | Davide Appollonio | Sky Pro Cycling | s.t. | | 6 | Edvald Boasson Hagen | Sky Pro Cycling | s.t. | | 7 | Gert Steegmans | Team Saxo Bank | s.t. | | 8 | Jimmy Casper | Ag2r La Mondiale | s.t. | | 9 | Manuel Belletti | Lampre-ISD | s.t. | | 10 | Elia Favilli | BMC Racing Team | s.t. |
GC
| 1 | Ignatas Konovalovas | Movistar Team | 11h59'24 | | | 2 | Levi Leipheimer | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 3 | Edvald Boasson Hagen | Sky Pro Cycling | + 4 | | | 4 | Vincenzo Nibali | Liquigas-Cannondale | s.t. | | | 5 | Philippe Gilbert | BMC Racing Team | + 6 | | | 6 | Lars Boom | Rabobank Cycling Team | + 7 | | | 7 | Juan Jose Oroz | Euskaltel Euskadi | s.t. | | | 8 | Paul Martens | Rabobank Cycling Team | + 8 | | | 9 | Carlos Barredo | Rabobank Cycling Team | + 9 | | | 10 | Beñat Intxausti | Katusha Team | s.t. | | | 11 | David Le Lay | Saur - Sojasun | + 10 | | | 12 | Jesus Herrada | Movistar Team | s.t. | | | 13 | Jérôme Coppel | Saur - Sojasun | s.t. | | | 14 | Fredrik Kessiakoff | Astana Pro Team | + 11 | | | 15 | Ben Hermans | Radioshack Nissan Trek | + 12 | | | 16 | Dries Devenyns | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 17 | Christophe Riblon | Ag2r La Mondiale | + 13 | | | 18 | Chris Froome | Sky Pro Cycling | + 14 | | | 19 | Robert Gesink | Rabobank Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 20 | Samuel Sánchez | Euskaltel Euskadi | + 16 | | | 21 | Jetse Bol | Rabobank Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 22 | Alexandre Vinokourov | Astana Pro Team | s.t. | | | 23 | Rui Costa | Movistar Team | + 17 | | | 24 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | s.t. | IanButler | | 25 | José Herrada | Movistar Team | + 18 | | | 132 | Eric Lombaerts | Lotto-Belisol | + 18'29 | IanButler |
See you tomorrow for a +50km time trial. Of course, my GC is shattered and gone, but I still want to perform well. Then I'll help Jurgen in the mountains and I may have an idea about the one-but-last stage, an idea involving a possible stage win...
See you tomorrow!
Edited by Ian Butler on 31-08-2012 17:38
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| fcancellara |
Posted on 31-08-2012 17:37
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A stage with somewhat mixed feelings...
But a very nice win! 
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| Ad Bot |
Posted on 24-10-2026 02:46
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| Abelbaba |
Posted on 31-08-2012 17:38
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Ian Butler wrote:
I may have an idea about the one-but-last stage, an idea involving a possible stage win...
sounds dramatic...
nice ride by vdB |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 31-08-2012 17:39
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Great win for Van Den Broeck and Lotto  |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 31-08-2012 17:40
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@fcancellara: Thanks, Jurgen is top priority here so the time loss isn't that bad. But the young jersey would've been a nice goal.
@Abelbaba: Thank you
@sutty68: Thanks, that's the main thing. He's looking excellent for the Tour!
Edited by Ian Butler on 31-08-2012 17:40
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| PCM rulezz |
Posted on 31-08-2012 17:42
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A well deserved win for VDB. Too bad but that Lombaerts lost contact  . Good luck in the TT for him and VDB.
Winners never quit, quitters never win.
It's difficult not to be happy when you're surrounded by Belgians. - Mark Cavendish
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 31-08-2012 17:44
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Tour de France Champion
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Yeah, you can't hang back in the peloton too much, I think he learned that now
Thanks, this time trial should suit him! |
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| Marcellus51 |
Posted on 31-08-2012 18:28
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Congratz to VDB !
Now that GC pressure is gone for Eric, hope he 'll take some risk to get a win !
Good Luck |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 31-08-2012 18:38
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Tour de France Champion
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Thanks, a stage win would be incredible awesome! |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 31-08-2012 18:44
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Tour de France Champion
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The Dauphinée - Stage 5
This is what I'm talking about. This day is about two things for me:
1. Try to get a stage win, possibly.
2. See if I'm ready for the Belgian NC TT.
I was off pretty early, because of my bad GC place.
My legs felt excellent and I recorded the best intermediate time at checkpoint 2 and 3. I was heading straight for the finish and the win!
I finished, coincidentally, with the two riders that had started before me. Holding the best provisional time, I knew it was a hard time for others to beat!
But one man did it...
Boasson Hagen takes the win and the leader's jersey, what a performance!
Result
| 1 | Edvald Boasson Hagen | Sky Pro Cycling | 1h13'59 | | | 2 | Eric Lombaerts | Lotto-Belisol | + 11 | IanButler | | 3 | Chris Froome | Sky Pro Cycling | + 34 | | | 4 | Ignatas Konovalovas | Movistar Team | s.t. | | | 5 | Vincenzo Nibali | Liquigas-Cannondale | + 47 | | | 6 | Mikhail Ignatiev | Katusha Team | + 49 | | | 7 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | + 54 | IanButler | | 8 | Jérôme Coppel | Saur - Sojasun | + 1'05 | | | 9 | Christophe Riblon | Ag2r La Mondiale | + 1'10 | | | 10 | Levi Leipheimer | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | + 1'15 |
GC
| 1 | Edvald Boasson Hagen | Sky Pro Cycling | 13h13'27 | | | 2 | Ignatas Konovalovas | Movistar Team | + 30 | | | 3 | Chris Froome | Sky Pro Cycling | + 44 | | | 4 | Vincenzo Nibali | Liquigas-Cannondale | + 47 | | | 5 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | + 1'07 | IanButler | | 6 | Levi Leipheimer | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | + 1'11 | | | 7 | Jérôme Coppel | Saur - Sojasun | s.t. | | | 8 | Christophe Riblon | Ag2r La Mondiale | + 1'19 | | | 9 | Rui Costa | Movistar Team | + 1'40 | | | 10 | Carlos Barredo | Rabobank Cycling Team | + 1'48 | |
Let's see if my goals of today are accomplished:
1. No, I did not win the stage. But there'll be other days, I did my best.
2. Yes, I believe I'm ready for the Nationals, beating Froome in a time trial gives me a lot of confidence, I'm ready!
In other news: Cavendish stays with Sky until at least 2015.
See you tomorrow for the first mountain stage! |
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| Marcellus51 |
Posted on 31-08-2012 18:49
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Great time trial Eric,
beating Froome and almost Boassen Hagen that's awesome.
You sure are gonna win Belgian CN ITT as there will not be too strong opposition in there !
Gl for the rest of Dauphinée ! |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 31-08-2012 18:56
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Thanks
Well, there's one man that can stop him in the NC: De Gendt. It'll depend on his form and on who has a good day, I think.
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| PCM rulezz |
Posted on 31-08-2012 19:43
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haha it's funny to see 3 riders at the finish of a ITT. The NC TT wouldn't be a problem imo.
Winners never quit, quitters never win.
It's difficult not to be happy when you're surrounded by Belgians. - Mark Cavendish
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| ste_18 |
Posted on 31-08-2012 20:27
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Great stage! 2nd after Boasson Haggen but before Froome and Nibali! |
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| JuanMotr |
Posted on 31-08-2012 21:37
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Nice win by Jurgen and great job to be 2nd in TT |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 31-08-2012 22:49
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Great ride from Eric in the time trial
there is no shame in losing to Boasson Hagen |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 31-08-2012 22:56
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Tour de France Champion
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@PCM rulezz: Let's hope so, De Gendt is very strong too!
@ste_18: Finishing before Nibali and Froome in a 52km TT isn't something easily done thanks!
@JuanMotr: Thanks, for the many posts! Let's try to make this Dauphinée even better.
@sutty68: I agree, Boasson Hagen was just unstoppable today. Though it's a shame to just miss out on that stage win! |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 01-09-2012 09:45
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The Dauphinée - Stage 6
My job today was making the pace on the Grand Colombier and delivering Jurgen Van Den Broeck at the foot of Col de Richemond.
So that's what I did, at the foot of the Grand Colombier I started to pull.
No more than 30 riders were left in the front group after the climb of the Colombier, I just had to lead him in the descend and then it was up to him.
Col de Richemond started, my job was done. I dropped out of the front group and rode my own pace.
John Gadret won by a late attack. Froome won the sprint for the second place, Jurgen was third.
I finished 3'34" later, having done a great job!
Judging by the climb, I have to say that Jurgen is one of the strongest climbers in the peloton this year. I think he has a real shot at the win in TDF. Contador will be weaker because of the Giro, Evans is getting older, Andy Schleck didn't really impress so far... But we'll see, you never know!
Result
| 1 | John Gadret | Ag2r La Mondiale | 4h49'05 | | | 2 | Chris Froome | Sky Pro Cycling | + 1'13 | | | 3 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | s.t. | IanButler | | 4 | Rui Costa | Movistar Team | s.t. | | | 5 | Christophe Riblon | Ag2r La Mondiale | s.t. | | | 6 | Samuel Sánchez | Euskaltel Euskadi | s.t. | | | 7 | Michele Scarponi | Lampre-ISD | s.t. | | | 8 | Pierre Rolland | Team Europcar | s.t. | | | 9 | Vincenzo Nibali | Liquigas-Cannondale | s.t. | | | 10 | Alexandre Geniez | Team Argos-Shimano | s.t. | | | 11 | Juan Jose Oroz | Euskaltel Euskadi | s.t. | | | 12 | Robert Gesink | Rabobank Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 13 | Rob Ruijgh | Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team | s.t. | | | 14 | Robert Kiserlovski | Team Argos-Shimano | s.t. | | | 15 | Francis De Greef | Lotto-Belisol | s.t. | IanButler | | 26 | Eric Lombaerts | Lotto-Belisol | + 3'34 | IanButler |
GC
| 1 | Chris Froome | Sky Pro Cycling | 18h04'23 | | | 2 | Vincenzo Nibali | Liquigas-Cannondale | + 9 | | | 3 | Jurgen Van den Broeck | Lotto-Belisol | + 25 | IanButler | | 4 | Levi Leipheimer | Omega Pharma-Quick-Step Cycling Team | + 33 | | | 5 | Jérôme Coppel | Saur - Sojasun | s.t. | | | 6 | Christophe Riblon | Ag2r La Mondiale | + 41 | | | 7 | Rui Costa | Movistar Team | + 1'02 | | | 8 | Juan Jose Oroz | Euskaltel Euskadi | + 1'31 | | | 9 | Robert Gesink | Rabobank Cycling Team | + 2'00 | | | 10 | Alexandre Geniez | Team Argos-Shimano | + 2'15 | | | 11 | José Herrada | Movistar Team | + 2'29 | | | 12 | Francis De Greef | Lotto-Belisol | + 2'36 | IanButler | | 13 | Samuel Sánchez | Euskaltel Euskadi | + 2'44 | | | 14 | Michele Scarponi | Lampre-ISD | s.t. | | | 15 | Sergio Pardilla | Euskaltel Euskadi | + 2'48 | | | 16 | Sylvain Georges | Ag2r La Mondiale | + 2'58 | | | 17 | Edvald Boasson Hagen | Sky Pro Cycling | + 3'08 | |
In other news: After Cavendish, Sky prolongs the contract of Wiggins.
One more mountain stage left, and then a hilly one. See you tomorrow for the race to Morzine! |
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| PCM rulezz |
Posted on 01-09-2012 09:48
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Andy Schleck never impress before the Tour 
VDB has to win this year's tour, with such a strong team.
Winners never quit, quitters never win.
It's difficult not to be happy when you're surrounded by Belgians. - Mark Cavendish
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