After the big mountain stage yesterday, there are some tired legs amongst the guys in the squad. Adam has slipped to 6th on GC, but the hilly final third of the stage today could still give him a chance of climbing back into the Top 5.

A day in the break for a rider could also be a possibility, with the thought of that rider helping towards the end.

A group of 4 made up the day's break. Frapporti was present for Bianchi, and he was joined by Gianluca Brambilla (OmegaPharma), Adriano Malori (Cannondale) and José Mendes (NetApp). The quartet worked well together, and as the lead grew to over 8 minutes at the halfway point, the break would look like contesting the win.



All the riders lay over 10 minutes down on GC, so Garmin saw them as no threat to the Leader Jersey. The American team took early control of the race, and keep a steady tempo all day.



Approaching the final climbs of the day, the quartet was down to a trio, as Frapporti punctured and lost contact with the lead group. Behind, the peleton had closed to gap to less than 4 minutes, and the favourites were beginning to attack.



Knowing that it was going to be tough end to the stage, Adam attacked to stay with the favourites. It was clear though that yesterday's efforts had taken it out of him, but he was not the only one suffering.



At the front, a late attack from Bramilla was enough for him to come away with the victory. Frapporti rode hard, but his efforts for a podium left him with nothing left, and finish 4th. Adam crossed the line 10th, taking time on De Gendt, but losing time to Henao (Sky). Long story short, he stays 6th on GC.

1	Gianluca Brambilla	Omega Pharma - Quick·Step	3h46'43
2	Adriano Malori	Cannondale Pro Cycling	+ 1'14
3	José Mendes	Team NetApp - Endura	s.t.
4	Marco Frapporti	Bianchi Factory Team	s.t.
5	Peter Sagan	Cannondale Pro Cycling	+ 2'29

1	Daniel Martin	Garmin - Sharp	18h02'26
2	Peter Sagan	Cannondale Pro Cycling	+ 56
3	Vincenzo Nibali	Vodafone	+ 1'28
4	Sergio Henao	Sky Procycling	+ 2'37
5	Nicolas Roche	Team Saxo - Tinkoff	+ 2'50

The final stage in the desert, and on paper this looks like it could end in a mass sprint. The day is flat all day, but the 3 short sharp climbs on the finishing circuit could easily split the peleton.

Luke has really struggled in the sprints during the race, but we will aim for another high finish today. Adam will be well looked after all stage, and should the situation arise, try and make back the 18" needed to take 5th on GC.

A break of 3 initially attacked at the begining of the stage, with Simon Yates looking to test his legs after working for brother Adam so far.



Further attacks meant that the lead group swelled to 8 riders. Working well, the gap back to the peleton grew to over 7 minutes at its peak.



The usual teams set the tempo of the peleton, with Lotto, OmeagaPharma and Cannondale all active at the front of the race. Slowly the gap began to fall, and it was clear that the break wouldn't last until the finish.



Arriving on the finishing circuits, the break was caught, but suddenly Dan Martin (Garmin) attacked. The Race Leader was wanting to cement his GC victory, and do it in style.



Knowing that just 18" could be the difference between a Top 5 on GC and 6th, Adam made his move himself. Sagan (Cannondale) and Nabili (Vodafone) had already attacked after Martin, so Yates tried to chase them down.



At the finish, Martin managed to outsprint Sagan for the win, with Rabottini (Androni) taking a surprising 3rd place. Adam finished in 8th, after being swamped by the sprinters. It was a brave effort, but in the end it didn't work.

1	Daniel Martin	Garmin - Sharp	3h04'18
2	Peter Sagan	Cannondale Pro Cycling	s.t.
3	Matteo Rabottini	Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela	+ 31
4	Vincenzo Nibali	Vodafone	+ 56
5	Matthew Goss	Orica - GreenEdge	s.t.

1	Daniel Martin	Garmin - Sharp	21h06'20
2	Peter Sagan	Cannondale Pro Cycling	+ 1'06
3	Vincenzo Nibali	Vodafone	+ 2'48
4	Sergio Henao	Sky Procycling	+ 3'57
5	Nicolas Roche	Team Saxo - Tinkoff	+ 4'10

The first Italian race for the team is the Trofeo Laigueglia. A hilly one-day race, we arrive with a team that should be able to challenge for a high finish.



Moreno Moser leads the team, where he will be supported by Estaban Chaves, Matej Mohori� and Davide Villella.

Rémy Di Gregorio and Damien Howson will ride in a free role, with Owain Doull and Sonny Colbrelli give the team some depth should the race end in a Mass Sprint.


Sponsor Goal: N/A
Team Goal: Top 10
Best Result: N/A

A group of 7 riders formed the day's break, with Damien Howson giving the team a presence in our first Italian race as an Italian team. The group seemed very evenly matched, and comfortably opened up a 5'07" lead over the first climb of the day.



IAM, RadioShack and Katusha took control of the peleton over the first half of the race, and looked happy to let the break's lead to grow to over 8'34" at its peak.



In the valley, as the peleton made it's way towards the third climb of the day, the pace increased, and soon the gap was tumbling down again. Over the climb, the gap was down to less than 2'12" and it was clear that it was going to be caught.



The break was caught with 23km remaining, and as the rain began to fall, it was time to place your bets on who would triumph at the finish.



Throwing caution to the wind, Moser attacked, taking Visconti (Movistar) with him. It would be the battle of the Italians, as none of the other favourites followed the move.



It was clear that Visconti had the experience over Moser, waiting for our man to make the move first in the sprint. The Movistar rider was too strong for Moreno, who came around him in the last 50metres to take the win.

1	Giovanni Visconti	Movistar Team	4h58'31
2	Moreno Moser	Bianchi Factory Team	s.t.
3	Fabio Felline	Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela	s.t.
4	Luis León Sánchez	Katusha Team	s.t.
5	Joaquím Rodríguez	Katusha Team	s.t.
6	Sonny Colbrelli	Bianchi Factory Team	s.t.
7	Julian Arredondo	Team Nippo - De Rosa	s.t.
8	Ivan Santaromita	Lampre - Merida	s.t.
9	Tom Boonen	Sky Procycling	s.t.
10	Grega Bole	Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team	s.t.

The Tour du Haut Var should provide a good test for the team in France. A hilly course on both stages, mean that it will be a lot of attacking from the GC favourites.



Eros Capecchi will make his debut and lead the team in France. Fredrik Ludvigsson will offer support, along with Simon Richardson and Dan Fleeman.

Caleb Ewan will be the team's sprinters, should the stage end in a Mass Sprint, with a lead out train made up of Philip Lavery and Nelson Oliveira.

Nathan Earle completes the squad, riding a free role and targeting the KoM jersey.


Sponsor Goal: N/A
Team Goal: Top 10 GC / KoM Jersey
Best Result: N/A

Stage 1 began well for the team, as Nathan Earle attacked first, and formed the day's break, along with Romain Bacon (BigMat) and Nicolas Vogondy (Wanty). Nathan battled well on the climb, taking the jersey by two points. Ruban Plaza (Movistar) won the stage with a long attack, surprising all the favourites, and winning by over 2 minutes. Fredrik was the best placed finisher in 11th.



With a jersey to defend, Nathan attacked after the day's break on Stage 2. With several climb, including two Cat.1 climbs and a Cat.HC climb. Gregory Rast (BMC) was strong on the climbs, but Nathan made sure he kept collecting points, and claimed the jersey.



The stage win, and also the GC victory, would go to Robert Gesink (Vacansoleil) who looked the strongest throughout the stage. He attacked on the final Cat.1 climb on the stage and never looked back. Capecchi was part of a small 6 man group who gave chase, but there was no catching him. Gesink took the win by nearly 2 minutes to the chase group, over 3 minutes to the main peleton, and only Tommy Voeckler (Europcar) being able to attack away to get within a minute of the Dutchman.

1	Robert Gesink	Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team	9h04'02
2	Rubén Plaza	Movistar Team	+ 16
3	Thomas Voeckler	Team Europcar	+ 1'06
4	Arthur Vichot	TEAM GUNK	+ 1'33
5	Samuel Sánchez	TEAM BBVA	+ 1'39