Rasmussen reports: I am in Saint-Évarzec, France for the Tour du Finistère. Finistère derives Latin “Finis Terræ”, meaning end of the earth, Finistère is the west most department of France, in pre-revolutionary Brittany.
Saint-Évarzec is small town with a population of about 3000 people. A Roman villa has been excavated just 300 meter from the town.
Église de Saint-Evarzec
Pre-race strategy: The race is rather hilly, we expect it to be won by a Puncheur with a good sprint.
Last year we ended in top 15 with Yves Lampaert, attending the race with a relative weak squad. This year we got a better squad, and we expect that we can make a much better result. Outside top 5 would be disappointing.
Profile:
Roster:
Anton Grøn
Francisco José Pacheco
Frederik Wilmann
Lasse Bøchman
Mads Würtz Schmidt
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay
Patrick Clausen
Yves Lampaert
A morning break of just 3 riders takes off, the strongest rider seems to be Steven Tronet (BigMat), they get about 6 min.
It seems that the peloton cant’ seem to find a pace and agree to work together, getting close to the 20 km mark the pace is still not very hard, and the distance is reduced too slowly, we decides to get the team in front pursuing the breakaway.
Up front at the 5 km mark, Steven Tronet attacks and leaves the others in the break behind.
Steven Tronet wins the stage over Arnaud Gérard (FDJ.fr) both from the Breakaway.
Lasse Bøchman wins the sprint between the poursuivant, taking the last podium; we get 3 riders in top 10.
Rasmussen: Good race, but sort of bitter sweet, could seem as if we would have won, if we had taken part of the hunt earlier.
12/4-14/4 Vuelta Ciclista a Castilla y León (cat. 2.1)
13/4 Stage 2/3: Urueña - Palencia : 168.9 km
From Valladolid we have travelled about 50 km to Urueña, a very small village of just 200-300 hundred residents, the history of the village dates back to a settlement of the “Vacceos” a Spanish pre-roman tribe. The village was a strategic stronghold and was fortified in the late 1100’s. Remains of the 12th century castle and a 11th century church, still stands.
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Anunciada 11th century:
Pre-race strategy: We expect that most of the peloton will make it to the line together, but it is more likely a Puncheur type winner than a pure sprinter win. We expect the same as yesterday, Enger or Schumacher.
Profile:
The morning break is Pedersen and Jérôme Pineau (Bretagne), the weather is very bad, foggy and rainy.
The peloton won’t let them get away, others try but the peloton is not letting anyone go. With 130 km left, Sebastian Balck falls down on the tarmac of the slippery road. He is not hurt much and hangs on to the peloton.
Finally a break get going, again it is Pineau and Pedersen with 4 other insignificant riders. This break never get more than 4 minutes.
The break does not survive, and it is all decided in a mass sprint, the winner is Ramon Sinkeldam (IAM) over Dennis Vanendert (Lotto), we never get a good train up and Enger doesn’t make it to the front. Our best is Stefan Schumacher (6)
Rasmussen: Not the best stage but no disaster either, we in still in it for a podium, and Petersen is holding on to the KoM, at least for now.
Stage
1
Ramon Sinkeldam
IAM Cycling
3h42'52
2
Dennis Vanendert
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
3
Danilo Wyss
IAM Cycling
s.t.
4
Fabio Sabatini
Katusha Team
s.t.
5
Mark Renshaw
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
6
Stefan Schumacher
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
7
Shawn Milne
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
8
Jens Debusschere
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
9
Guillaume Boivin
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
10
Egoitz García
Liberty Seguros - Würth
s.t.
GC:
1
Ramon Sinkeldam
IAM Cycling
7h54'53
2
José Joaquín Rojas
Banco Santander
s.t.
3
Dennis Vanendert
Lotto Belisol
+ 8
4
Sondre Holst Enger
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
5
Bernhard Eisel
Vodafone
+ 12
6
Danilo Wyss
IAM Cycling
s.t.
7
Mark Renshaw
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 20
8
Jens Debusschere
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
9
Guillaume Boivin
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
10
Stefan Schumacher
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
Points:
1
Ramon Sinkeldam
IAM Cycling
35
2
José Joaquín Rojas
Banco Santander
28
3
Dennis Vanendert
Lotto Belisol
21
Mountain:
1
Martin Pedersen
Christina Watches - Onfone
10
2
Evgeni Sokolov
Itera - Katusha
10
3
Jérôme Pineau
Bretagne - Séché Environnement
6
Team: Team Nippo - De Rosa
Young: Sondre Holst Enger (Christina Watches - Onfone)
Three in the first six at Finistère is a great result, pity the break wasn't brought back sooner though and Enger looking good for the final stage in Spain too
12/4-14/4 Vuelta Ciclista a Castilla y León (cat. 2.1)
14/4 Final Stage 3/3: Aguilar de Campoó - Cervera de Pisuerga: 187.3 km
Rasmussen reports: From Palencia the caravan has travelled about 100 km north to Aguilar de Campoó, a town of about 7000 residents. In 822 St. Benedict monks established a monastery in Aguilar. In the 1200’s the town received certain royal privileges.
Aguilar de Campoó
Pre-race strategy: Today’s stage is clearly the hardest with hills all along the route; it is unlikely that the peloton will finish the stage together. With good hill ability’s Enger could still do a difference, but we expect Schumacher to be our best possibility.
Profile:
After the usual morning turmoil a rather strong break get away, Andreas Klöden (RadioShack), José Luis Roldán (Caja Rural), Rory Sutherland (Saxo) and Matej Mugerli (Adria), the got about 3 min, over the first climb. Matej Mugerli is struggling, looks like he will not be able to hang on at the harder climbs.
We do our best bring back the breakaway, but it seems the KoM will be lost today.
The break is caught on the undulating part leading up to the final KoM sprint about 35 km before the finish.
With just 3,5 km to the top Stefan Schumacher attacks, 24 km to the finish.
Schumacher attack is not successful he is caught the favourite group just before the sprint.
The stage was won by Paul Voss (REWE) over Alexandr Kolobnev (Katusha), Stefan get in 5th.
Rasmussen: A good attempt by Schumacher today, was almost successful. Overall we got 4th. just like last year. That is a fine result.
Stage:
1
Paul Voss
REWE
4h26'16
2
Alexandr Kolobnev
Katusha Team
+ 14
3
Fabio Duarte
Avianca
s.t.
4
Bob Jungels
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
5
Stefan Schumacher
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
6
José Joaquín Rojas
Banco Santander
s.t.
7
Gianluca Brambilla
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
8
Jonathan Fumeaux
IAM Cycling
s.t.
9
Eros Capecchi
Vodafone
s.t.
10
Simon Geschke
Garmin - Sharp
s.t.
GC:
1
Paul Voss
REWE
12h21'09
2
José Joaquín Rojas
Banco Santander
+ 14
3
Ramon Sinkeldam
IAM Cycling
s.t.
4
Sondre Holst Enger
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 22
5
Alexandr Kolobnev
Katusha Team
s.t.
6
Fabio Duarte
Avianca
+ 26
7
Stefan Schumacher
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 34
8
Esteban Chaves
Avianca
s.t.
9
Bob Jungels
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
10
Gianluca Brambilla
Cannondale Pro Cycling
s.t.
Points:
1
José Joaquín Rojas
Banco Santander
38
2
Ramon Sinkeldam
IAM Cycling
35
3
Paul Voss
REWE
25
Mountain:
1
José Luis Roldán
Caja Rural - Seguros RGA
20
2
Matej Mugerli
Adria Mobil
14
3
Andreas Klöden
RadioShack - Leopard
12
Team: Avianca
Young: Sondre Holst Enger (Christina Watches - Onfone)
Edited by Tamijo on 20-02-2016 17:49
Christina reports: We are there in Lienz, for the Giro del Trentino. Last year we got Ellisonde at GC 5th. Ellisonde has improved since then and we have a better overall squad this year, so we expect to improve a position or two. But the TTT is an obstacle, we lost over a minute last year, and we will lose again. The management expect a stage win, realistically we aim for a stage top 3. This is a very high profile race for us.
The main obstacle on today’s route is the climb to Iselberg mountain shortly before the finish, this could be decisive, but the long descent could also mean that a larger peloton will sprint for victory.
Alpenrose, Iselberg:
Pre-race strategy: Last year this stage was won by Aleksejs Saramotins (IAM Cycling) from the morning breakaway, we might try to do the same with Bøchman, or Lovelock-Fay. Maby even Malacarne if he is allowed to go. Otherwise we will protect Ellisonde.
Profile:
Roster:
Anders Bjerregård
Daniele Aldegheri
Davide Malacarne
Frederik Wilmann
Kenny Elissonde
Lasse Bøchman
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay
Yves Lampaert
After a little morning turmoil where no one was allowd to get away, Malacarne takes of alone. After a while he is joined by Sander Helven (GUNK), Daniel Teklehaimanot (Orica) and Enrico Barbin (Utensilnord). Malacarne is clearly the strongest in the break. They get a max of about 4 minutes.
With about 60 km to the finish, on the long uphill section before the climb, the peloton starts the pursuit, the gap slowly melts away.
The breakaway is over halfway up the mountain, some attempts to attack are made but none succeeds. Then over the top Kenny Elissonde accelerates and gets a small gap.
On the way down, Janier Acevedo (Jamis) and Fabio Taborre (Vini Fantini) joins Ellisonde from behind.
The peloton closes in on group Ellisonde at the last flat 4 km, and it all ends in a sprint between the group and the front of the peloton. Today’s winner is Francesco Gavazzi (Astana Pro Team) over Bryan Coquard (Orica). Ellisonde was 7th.
Bøchman and Lovelock-Fay finish in top 20, but the breakaway was hard on a not very fit Malacarne, he lost 3’12.
Christina: We did what we could to make things happen, we just did not get much from it. But we are still in this; just hope the TTT won’t be a disaster.
Christina Reports: We are still here in Lienz for today’s 14 km team time trial, last year we ended last, losing 1,18 on this stage, I definitely expect that we can do better than that !
The area had been inhabited since the Bronze Age about 2000 BC. Celtic people lived here from about 300 BC, came under Roman control in 15 BC.
Ruin of the Roman city Aguntum just 4 km from Lienz:
Pre-race strategy: Simple, just hope to lose as little as possible.
Profile:
(No screenshot – not a sim. just forgot about it)
Stage: Team Results List
Spoiler
Competitive Cyclist
18'37
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 2
BMC Racing Team
+ 5
Lotto Belisol
+ 6
Jules
+ 6
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 6
Astana Pro Team
+ 6
Liberty Seguros - Würth
+ 6
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 14
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
+ 18
IAM Cycling
+ 18
Katusha Team
+ 18
MTN - Qhubeka
+ 18
Vini Fantini - Selle Italia
+ 18
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 18
Lampre - Merida
+ 25
Ceramica Flaminia - Fondriest
+ 25
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
+ 30
GUNK
+ 30
Avianca
+ 33
Jamis - Hagens Berman
+ 35
Team Nippo - De Rosa
+ 35
Utensilnord - Ora24.eu
+ 40
Accent Jobs - Wanty
+ 47
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 51
CG
1
Francesco Gavazzi
Astana Pro Team
3h13'08
2
Johnny Hoogerland
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 14
3
José Rujano
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
4
Stef Clement
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Bryan Coquard
Orica - GreenEdge
+ 15
6
Michael Albasini
BMC Racing Team
+ 17
7
Tejay Van Garderen
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
8
Nolan Hoffman
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
9
Manuel Quinziato
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
10
Tomasz Marczynski
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
Christina Reports: I have got mixed feelings, we were last again nothing to be proud about, but we have improved 27 sec. compared to last year, and that is very positive.
Christina Reports: The Caravan has moved some 30 km vest to Sillian, we are still in Austria, now just 4 km from the Italian border. Today is a hard mountain stage, hopefully we can gain to time here. The two climbs today are a cat 1 to Passo Lavazé, and the final climb to “Vetriolo Terme”
Sillian is a small town of about 2000 people, located at an altitude of 1100 meters. Sillian was first mentioned as a village in 1313, in 1469 Sillian was awarded market rights from Count Leonhard of Gorizia.
Sillian:
Pre-race strategy: We will stay in the peloton, helping Kenny as long as we can, we need him to gain time on most riders today, hopefully get a GC top 10 or better. Kenny got a stage 5th last year, GC 9th after this stage.
Profile:
The morning break is Jan Barta (IAM Cycling) Ángel Madrazo (Ceramica Flaminia) Petr Ignatenko (Katusha), it is not very likely that they can win a stage like this, but you never know. They got a nice gap of over 9 min. at the foot of the climb to “Passo Lavazé” (cat 1)
Half way up the climb to “Passo Lavazé” a group with Merhawi Kudus (MTN – Qhubeka) attacks, there are now 7 rider in front of the peloton, 5,6 km to the top, 96,5 km to the finish.
Now the peloton increase the pace, the front groups melts together but the distance disappears it is down to under a minute before the final climb. Just before the climb Davide Malacarne gets a puncture, he can’t help Ellisonde anymore today.
The breakway’s are over at the beginning of the climb, next it is Tomasz Marczynski (Vacansoleil) who attacks, a little later Nicolas Roche with Fabio Aru and Laurens Ten Dam trying to follow.
Roche attacks, 5 km to the line:
Roche is flying, he climbs up to Marczynski and out sprint him; Roche takes the stage to Vetriolo Terme.
Fabio Aru takes 3th, Ellisonde gets up to Laurens Ten Dam but can’t beat him to the line, they get 4th and 5th
Christina: Pretty good stage, ending at 7 in GC. We are satisfied, hoping to advance more in the coming stages, not much time from 4-7.
Stage:
1
Nicolas Roche
Liberty Seguros - Würth
5h43'13
2
Tomasz Marczynski
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
3
Fabio Aru
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 1'03
4
Laurens Ten Dam
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
+ 1'34
5
Kenny Elissonde
Christina Watches - Onfone
s.t.
6
Sébastien Reichenbach
IAM Cycling
+ 2'07
7
Tejay Van Garderen
BMC Racing Team
s.t.
8
Janier Acevedo
Jamis - Hagens Berman
+ 2'26
9
Maxime Monfort
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
10
Tanel Kangert
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
GC:
1
Nicolas Roche
Liberty Seguros - Würth
8h56'23
2
Tomasz Marczynski
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 3
3
Fabio Aru
Cannondale Pro Cycling
+ 1'31
4
Laurens Ten Dam
Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela
+ 2'02
5
Tejay Van Garderen
BMC Racing Team
+ 2'22
6
Sébastien Reichenbach
IAM Cycling
+ 2'36
7
Kenny Elissonde
Christina Watches - Onfone
+ 2'38
8
Maxime Monfort
Lotto Belisol
+ 2'43
9
Tanel Kangert
Astana Pro Team
+ 2'44
10
Fränk Schleck
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
Points:
1
Francesco Gavazzi
Astana Pro Team
25
2
Nicolas Roche
Liberty Seguros - Würth
25
3
Kenny Elissonde
Christina Watches - Onfone
21
Mountain:
1
Nicolas Roche
Liberty Seguros - Würth
16
2
Merhawi Kudus
MTN - Qhubeka
16
3
Kenny Elissonde
Christina Watches - Onfone
14
Team: Liberty Seguros - Würth
Young: Fabio Aru (Cannondale Pro Cycling)
Edited by Tamijo on 23-02-2016 19:30
and Enger looking good for the final stage in Spain too 
