It's been exactly one week after the finish of the Tour de France. I must admit I'm not 100% recovered from the effort yet. A Grand Tour really takes it out of you. But I was at the start of my first San Sébastian with a good feeling, I was really happy to race today.
Profile
Not the easiest race on the calendar. We have some guys in top form from the Tour and we have some fresh guys. Who will make it today?
We had our man in the breakaway, Charlie Pearce. He's been riding a fantastic season and he'll be one of our main men for next season. Experts tip him as a future Tour de France winner, even!
Sagan is always in front of me! Today was no exception. We had to watch out for him today, he was fresh since he skipped the Tour.
Simon Yates, our British champion, opened up the race today! When he went, I was too far back and so I missed the decisive cut.
Things got together at the front. Yates was able to count on Pearce for some support, after being in the break all day! What a guy.
Kwiatkowski, the Tour de France winner, decided to avoid a sprint and attacked! Everyone looked at each other and so nobody reacted.
Another win for his palmares. It's never-ending!
In the background, I felt sort of frustrated that I had missed my chance. In order to try and save what was left of my race, I attacked out of the bunch, they were riding too slow to my liking!
But it was for a very, very distant place. I finished 29th. Too bad I missed the break, since I definitely had good legs today.
Result
1
Michał Kwiatkowski
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
5h46'06
2
Chris Froome
Team Sky
s.t.
3
Simon Yates
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
4
Wilco Kelderman
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Philippe Gilbert
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
6
Peter Sagan
Cannondale
s.t.
7
Rigoberto Urán
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
8
Thibaut Pinot
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
9
Tim Wellens
Team Europcar
s.t.
10
Nairo Quintana
Movistar Team
s.t.
(...)
29
Matthias Vleminckx
Orica GreenEdge
+ 9'46
Spoiler
11
Diego Ulissi
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
12
Carlos Betancur
Movistar Team
s.t.
13
Joaquím Rodríguez
Team Katusha
s.t.
14
Ion Izagirre
Movistar Team
s.t.
15
Alexis Vuillermoz
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
16
Laurent Evrard
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
17
Jelle Vanendert
ASUS
s.t.
18
Charlie Pearce
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
19
Romain Feillu
Team Sky
+ 2'43
20
Arman Kamyshev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
21
Mikel Nieve
Team Sky
s.t.
22
Brian Bulgac
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
23
Marcos García
Movistar Team
s.t.
24
Jordi Simón
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
25
Petr Ignatenko
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
26
Simon Gerrans
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
27
Arnaud Courteille
FDJ.fr
s.t.
28
Tsgabu Grmay
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
29
Matthias Vleminckx
Orica GreenEdge
+ 9'46
30
Gerald Ciolek
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
31
Sergio Henao
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
32
Beñat Intxausti
Movistar Team
s.t.
33
Marco Marcato
Cannondale
s.t.
34
Ángel Madrazo
Movistar Team
s.t.
35
Jan Bakelants
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
36
Dominik Nerz
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
37
Rohan Dennis
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
38
Andrew Talansky
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
39
Robert Gesink
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
40
Tanel Kangert
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
41
Javier Moreno
Movistar Team
s.t.
42
Alberto Contador
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
43
Nicolas Roche
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
44
Rui Costa
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
45
Pieter Serry
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
46
Roman Kreuziger
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
47
Mattia Cattaneo
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
48
Natnael Berhane
Team Europcar
s.t.
49
Tejay Van Garderen
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
50
Moreno Moser
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
51
Tom Slagter
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
52
Daniel Martin
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
53
Daniel Moreno
Movistar Team
s.t.
54
Bauke Mollema
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
55
Lars Petter Nordhaug
RusVelo
s.t.
56
Tony Martin
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
57
Larry Warbasse
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
58
Salvatore Puccio
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
59
Stefano Pirazzi
Team Katusha
s.t.
60
Dylan van Baarle
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
61
David López
Team Sky
s.t.
62
Ian Boswell
Team Sky
s.t.
63
Leopold König
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
64
Luca Wackermann
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
65
Alessandro De Marchi
Cannondale
s.t.
66
Rafael Valls
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
67
Yury Trofimov
Team Katusha
s.t.
68
George Preidler
ASUS
s.t.
69
Cameron Meyer
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
70
Kanstantsin Siutsou
Team Sky
s.t.
71
Andy Schleck
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
72
Ivan Rovny
RusVelo
s.t.
73
Chris Anker Sørensen
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
74
Jasper Stuyven
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
75
Simon Clarke
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
76
Richie Porte
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
77
Marc Goos
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
78
José Luis Roldán
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
79
Jérôme Cousin
Team Europcar
s.t.
80
Caleb Fairly
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
81
Fabian Wegmann
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
82
Bram Tankink
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
83
Alexsandr Dyachenko
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
84
Steven Kruijswijk
ASUS
s.t.
85
Bakhtiyar Kozhatayev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
86
Enrico Gasparotto
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
87
Esteban Chaves
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
88
Sea Keong Loh
ASUS
s.t.
89
Thomas Damuseau
ASUS
s.t.
90
Joseph Dombrowski
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
91
Yannick Eijssen
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
92
Alex Howes
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
93
Thor Hushovd
Cannondale
s.t.
94
Ryder Hesjedal
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
95
Valerio Agnoli
Team Katusha
s.t.
96
Sergey Chernetskiy
RusVelo
s.t.
97
Sander Armee
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
98
Kristof Vandewalle
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
99
Matteo Montaguti
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
100
Przemyslaw Niemiec
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
101
Vladimir Gusev
Team Katusha
s.t.
102
Riccardo Zoidl
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
103
John Darwin Atapuma
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
104
Jérémy Roy
FDJ.fr
s.t.
105
Yoann Bagot
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
106
Cayetano Sarmiento
Cannondale
s.t.
107
Tom Dumoulin
ASUS
s.t.
108
Alberto Losada
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
109
Maxime Bouet
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
110
Laurens Ten Dam
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
111
Noa de Jager
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
112
Kenny Elissonde
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
113
Cyril Gautier
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
114
Vasil Kiryienka
Team Sky
s.t.
115
Gavin Mannion
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
116
Wout Poels
ASUS
s.t.
117
Pierrick Fédrigo
FDJ.fr
s.t.
118
Alexander Rybakov
Team Katusha
s.t.
119
Rémy Di Gregorio
Team Europcar
s.t.
120
Gianluca Brambilla
Cannondale
s.t.
121
Eduard Vorganov
RusVelo
s.t.
122
Alexandre Geniez
FDJ.fr
s.t.
123
Gerry Druyts
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
124
Andrey Zeits
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
125
Kristjan Koren
Cannondale
s.t.
126
Vladislav Gorbunov
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
127
Dylan Teuns
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
128
Steve Morabito
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
129
Christopher Juul-Jensen
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
130
Dieter Bouvry
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
131
Davy Commeyne
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
132
Bruno Pires
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
133
Yves Lampaert
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
134
Giampaolo Caruso
Team Katusha
s.t.
135
Paul Brousse
FDJ.fr
s.t.
136
Fabrice Jeandesboz
FDJ.fr
s.t.
137
Thomas Bonnin
FDJ.fr
s.t.
138
Egor Silin
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
139
Paolo Tiralongo
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
140
Antoine Duchesne
Team Europcar
s.t.
141
Timofey Kritskiy
RusVelo
s.t.
142
Edward King
Cannondale
s.t.
143
Óscar Pujol
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
144
Hubert Dupont
Team Europcar
s.t.
145
Ghader Mizbani
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
146
Lars van der Linden
ASUS
s.t.
147
Óscar Sevilla
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
s.t.
148
Xabier Zandio
Team Sky
+ 13'46
149
Aleksandr Kuschynski
Team Katusha
+ 14'17
150
Kevin De Weert
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
151
Haimar Zubeldia
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
+ 15'42
152
Francis Mourey
Team Europcar
s.t.
153
Artem Ovechkin
RusVelo
s.t.
154
Perrig Quemeneur
FDJ.fr
s.t.
155
Serge Pauwels
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
156
Roman Maikin
RusVelo
s.t.
157
Dmitri Korzhakov
RusVelo
+ 21'58
158
Markel Irizar
Trek Factory Racing
+ 22'22
And here ends the seconds part of my season.
Part I was a big success, winning de Ronde van Vlaanderen.
Part II was a success, too, with a Tour de France stage win and the 2nd National Jersey in 2 years.
Part III will start in America and has only 1 big goal: The World Championships!
Great Tour for Orica-Greenedge, GC podium and stage victory! Years enough rest to win on the Champs-Élysee and I guess a 4th place doesn't ruin the taste of a well deserved glass of champaign! I'm curious if Matt is willing to skip one of his favorite stage-races: Poland
EDIT: ahum, my reflexes aren't that quick,obviously you skipped Poland, which is problably for the best Next years San Sebastian should be a possibility for Matt as I won it with Gianni Meersman and I'm not that good with the hilly stuff Obviously Matt is better than Meersman btw, looking forward to your 'Murican races!
Edited by jona500 on 07-05-2014 19:54
jona500 - Hmm yes skipping Poland wasn't easy but after the Tour it would've been too much. But I have a feeling Matt isn't ready with Poland yet. He'll definitely want to go there again. Too bad Poland (stage 1) and Sebastian fall on the same day, he'll always have to choose.
The Tour was quite good for Orica indeed. We hoped for more than 1 stage win, with one of the strongest punchers in the world (Yates) on board, but he worked his ass off for Porte. Matt will definitely hope to win on the Champs one day. Thanks!
VoetsT - Arguably. But with the WC, I'd say so
the_hoyle - Yeah, he's developing into a world puncher. He just needs to develop some more secondary stats.
sutty68 - That would be great
Martial1 - Me, too
Thanks guys! Today I'll see how much I can do. I'm away during the afternoon, but I should be home with not that much to do before and after that.
I'll see
This race is important for our team to pick up some more WT points. It's an old French classic and it's a vital race in the build up towards the World Championships for me.
Oh, just so you know, For the rest of the season, you won't see me post another update without mentioning the World Championships. Just a little warning.
Profile
I totally love this profile. It can come down to a mass sprint as well as an escape. I'm ready for both scenarios!
The race only really started when the breakaway of the day was caught. I moved to the front as I suspected attacks.
Simon and Nibali attacked out of the bunch! Me and Hayman answered to their attack and immediately relayed. We were here now, no way back!
Neither Simon nor Nibali wanted to take me to the finish. I can understand that, but that doesn't make it less frustrating. Hayman was a goner pretty soon and with 20 km left to go, I was the only one riding in the group.
I decided to just ride my own race. If they didn't want to ride with me, let them try and follow me! I went into some crazy-monk mode and went full gas.
I knew they were having trouble hanging on. The wind was blowing from the side relentlessly.
And then, finally, four kilometers from the finish line, I managed to crack them. I took a turn quite smoothly, Nibali had to go wide and lost my wheel. No way I would wait for him!
And so I kept my gap to the line! What a day! It's always amazing to win in such a manner.
Result
1
Matthias Vleminckx
Orica GreenEdge
5h35'27
2
Vincenzo Nibali
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
3
Julien Simon
FDJ.fr
s.t.
4
Andrew Fenn
Garmin Sharp
+ 2'11
5
Bryan Coquard
Team Europcar
s.t.
6
Nacer Bouhanni
Movistar Team
s.t.
7
Jempy Drucker
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
8
Alberto Contador
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
9
Ramunas Navardauskas
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
10
Leigh Howard
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Theo Bos
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
12
Florian Vachon
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
13
Tom Boonen
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
14
Ion Izagirre
Movistar Team
s.t.
15
Taylor Phinney
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
16
Matteo Pelucchi
Cannondale
s.t.
17
Jan Bakelants
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
18
Chris Froome
Team Sky
s.t.
19
Jérémy Roy
FDJ.fr
s.t.
20
Andrea Guardini
Team Katusha
s.t.
21
Sébastien Turgot
Movistar Team
s.t.
22
Ariel Maximiliano Richeze
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
23
Ramon Sinkeldam
Exergy Development Group
s.t.
24
Davide Appollonio
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
25
Rafal Majka
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
26
Caleb Ewan
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
27
Thomas De Gendt
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
28
Anthony Roux
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
29
Dario Cataldo
Team Sky
s.t.
30
Egoitz García
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
31
Luca Paolini
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
32
Preben Van Hecke
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
33
Roman Kreuziger
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
34
Beñat Intxausti
Movistar Team
s.t.
35
Oliver Zaugg
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
36
Bob Jungels
ASUS
s.t.
37
Filippo Pozzato
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
38
Gert Dockx
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
39
Rüdiger Selig
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
40
Jonathan Bertrand
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
41
Robert Gesink
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
42
Jesús Herrada
Movistar Team
s.t.
43
Julian Alaphilippe
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
44
Kevin Reza
Team Europcar
s.t.
45
Kenny Van Hummel
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
46
Jonas Vangenechten
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
47
Thor Hushovd
Cannondale
s.t.
48
Albert Timmer
ASUS
s.t.
49
Arnaud Courteille
FDJ.fr
s.t.
50
Valerio Conti
Lampre - Merida
+ 3'23
51
Florian Guillou
Team Europcar
s.t.
52
Michael Albasini
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
53
Adrien Petit
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 15'15
54
Ben Swift
Team Sky
s.t.
55
Romain Feillu
Team Sky
s.t.
56
Guillaume Boivin
Exergy Development Group
s.t.
57
Paul Voss
ASUS
s.t.
58
Sergio Henao
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
59
Silvan Dillier
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
60
Fabio Felline
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
61
Tom Leezer
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
62
Davy Commeyne
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
63
Jakob Fuglsang
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
64
Steve Chainel
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
65
Marco Haller
Team Katusha
s.t.
66
Peter Velits
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
67
Robert Kiserlovski
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
68
Calvin Watson
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
69
Axel Domont
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
70
Kevin Denis
FDJ.fr
s.t.
71
Rinaldo Nocentini
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
72
David Tanner
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
73
Joey Rosskopf
Exergy Development Group
s.t.
74
Bakhtiyar Kozhatayev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
75
Francesco Bongiorno
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
76
Alexander Rybakov
Team Katusha
s.t.
77
Valentin Iglinskiy
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
78
Andy Schleck
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
79
Manuel Quinziato
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
80
Cristiano Salerno
Cannondale
s.t.
81
Johan Vansummeren
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
82
Pierrick Fédrigo
FDJ.fr
s.t.
83
Gianluca Brambilla
Cannondale
+ 17'27
84
Alexander Serov
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
85
Marco Coledan
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
86
Cyril Gautier
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
87
Michael Kolar
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
88
Nikolas Maes
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
89
Vincent Jérôme
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
90
Elia Favilli
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
91
Nicola Ruffoni
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
92
Mirko Selvaggi
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
93
Peter Stetina
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
94
Zsolt Der
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
95
Matthew Hayman
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
96
Chad Haga
Exergy Development Group
s.t.
97
Andrey Zeits
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
98
Jean-Marc Marino
Cannondale
s.t.
99
Imanol Erviti
Movistar Team
s.t.
100
Antonino Parrinello
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
101
Simon Spilak
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
102
Christopher Sutton
Team Sky
s.t.
103
Yoann Paillot
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
104
Jay McCarthy
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
105
Armindo Fonseca
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
106
Damien Howson
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
107
Evgeniy Kovalev
Team Katusha
s.t.
108
Sergio Hernandez
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
109
Bradley Carroll
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
110
Tyler Farrar
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
111
Dennis Wagner
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
112
Romain Bardet
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
113
Niels Albert
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
114
Nicolas Rousseau
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
115
Davide Bruno
Cannondale
s.t.
116
Jimmy Engoulvent
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
117
Damien Monier
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
118
Anthony Geslin
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
119
Frederique Robert
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
120
Paolo Colonna
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
121
Joseph Dombrowski
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
122
Yuriy Krivtsov
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
123
Dieter Cappelle
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
124
Michel Koch
Cannondale
s.t.
125
Dimitry Kozontchuk
Team Katusha
s.t.
126
Cristiano Fumagalli
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
127
Thomas Peterson
Exergy Development Group
s.t.
128
Stéphane Poulhiès
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
129
Kristjan Koren
Cannondale
s.t.
130
Sebastian Henao
Team Sky
s.t.
131
Jacob Martinez
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
132
Erick Rowsell
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
133
Luke Rowe
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
134
René Weissinger
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
135
Sven Nys
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
136
Stef Clement
ASUS
s.t.
137
Alexandre Lemair
FDJ.fr
s.t.
138
Aleksandr Kuschynski
Team Katusha
s.t.
139
Henri Biard
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
140
Francesco Gavazzi
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
141
Johan Mombaerts
Team Europcar
s.t.
142
Bauke Mollema
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
143
Matteo Bono
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
144
Michele Merlo
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
145
Alexander Mironov
Team Katusha
s.t.
146
Cesare Benedetti
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
147
Gang Xu
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
148
Lucas Marteau
Team Europcar
s.t.
149
Blaz Jarc
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
150
Alex Dowsett
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
151
Vincent Jackson
Exergy Development Group
s.t.
152
Sergey Ospanov
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
153
Tony Hurel
Team Europcar
s.t.
154
Bram Santon
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
155
Nick Van der Lijke
ASUS
s.t.
156
Thomas Voeckler
Team Europcar
s.t.
157
Brett Lancaster
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
158
Ivan Kovalev
Team Katusha
s.t.
159
Caleb Fairly
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
160
Philip Vereecken
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
161
Sander van Leeuwen
ASUS
s.t.
162
Eros Capecchi
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
163
Jonathan Hivert
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
164
Franck Mayet
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
165
Daniel Navarro
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
166
James Vanlandschoot
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
167
Mitsuhiro Matsumura
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
168
David Le Lay
FDJ.fr
s.t.
169
Clément Koretzky
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
170
Christopher Juul-Jensen
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
171
Johannes Fröhlinger
ASUS
s.t.
172
Florenz Knauer
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
173
Bryan Dewitte
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
174
Graham Briggs
Team Sky
s.t.
175
Titouan Marc
FDJ.fr
s.t.
176
Laurent Beuret
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
177
Julien Loubet
Team Europcar
s.t.
178
Vegard Stake Laengen
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
s.t.
179
Daniil Fominykh
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
180
Nairo Quintana
Movistar Team
s.t.
181
Damiano Nobili
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
182
Frantisek Padour
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
183
Unai Madrazo
Movistar Team
s.t.
184
Rolando Ferrari
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
185
Gabriel Rasch
Team Sky
s.t.
186
Noa de Jager
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
187
Loïc Lamotte
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 20'52
188
Jared Nguyen
Exergy Development Group
s.t.
189
Nicolas Pinet
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
190
Sven M. Schuster
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
191
Nathan Perron
Exergy Development Group
s.t.
It felt real great to be on the road today, I felt super strong, like nobody could ever hurt me. How did I get to be in such a good shape? By going to the USA Pro Cycling Challenge earlier, here's what happened there:
USA Pro Cycling Challenge
1
Wilco Kelderman
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
20h19'59
2
Vincenzo Nibali
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 52
3
Nicolas Roche
Tinkoff - Saxo
+ 2'26
4
Andrew Talansky
Trek Factory Racing
+ 2'36
5
Jan Bakelants
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 2'52
6
Sergio Henao
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 3'12
7
Robert Kiserlovski
BMC Racing Team
+ 5'06
8
Giovanni Visconti
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 5'20
9
Yannick Eijssen
BMC Racing Team
+ 7'02
10
Nathan Haas
Garmin Sharp
+ 9'00
In the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, I came back into competition not as smoothly as I had hoped. the many mountain stages did toughen me up quickly. Only in the final stage, I managed to win a sprint stage in a relatively weak sprinting field.
Nik Bozic - A Fairy Story
Nik Bozic. Do you remember him? He was the winner of the Tour de l'Avenir and the World Championships at the U23. That's two years ago. Last year, he rode a solid debut season for our team.
This year, he's 23 and already world famous in the cycling milieu.
He started his amazing season with a stage victory in Paris - Nice. He went quiet for a while after that but now, after winning the NC TT, he is taking victory after victory. After the Tour of Poland, he's started in the Vuelta a España, where he is taking stage after stage after stage!
Everyone is totally amazed and shocked by his performances and talent. Some already call him the greatest climber of the last 20 years. Only 23, he's leading the Vuelta GC with minutes on the second one. With 11 stages left, will he keep it up to Madrid?
Tour of Poland
1
Nik Bozic
Orica GreenEdge
30h37'59
2
Sylvain Chavanel
AG2R La Mondiale
+ 4'54
3
Pierre Rolland
Astana Pro Team
+ 5'10
4
Sergey Firsanov
Team Katusha
+ 5'28
5
Tony Gallopin
Lotto Belisol
+ 7'16
6
Thomas Voeckler
Team Europcar
+ 7'52
7
Andrea Palini
Lampre - Merida
+ 8'20
8
Arnold Jeannesson
FDJ.fr
+ 10'12
9
Giovanni Visconti
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
+ 13'02
10
Alexandr Kolobnev
Tinkoff - Saxo
+ 13'05
I guess we'll find out soon. As for me, I have about three races and a couple of recon training rides left on my schedule, besides the usual training schedule, of course. I have done nothing else this year but train on strength and power. In Plouay, I proved I'm one of the toughest flat riders in the peloton if I get some help from the weather and the wind.
I'm almost 100% ready for the World Championships!
Matt
How many great talents are there at Orica? Vleminchx, Bozic, Carroll, Pearce and the already established talents like Yates or leaders like Porte.
Watch out world. Orica really starts to dominate now.
I'm also happy Kwiatek won, although I would've prefered Porte 
San Sébastian 2016 
GP Plouay 2016 
USA Pro Cycling Challenge 
Tour of Poland 
