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Le Tour de Astana - Tour done, read up ;)
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| Cult11 |
Posted on 12-07-2012 12:00
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Under 23
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Hello all 
I thought i would try my first story with a Tour de France.
Ive decided not to take one of the favourites and go with the Astana team 
Be gentle, but constructive criticism is highly appreciated.
Astana are coming to the tour with clear goals and a good set up.
Vinokourov is planing on driving his last tour and this has to be spectacular thats why he is heading for the polka dot jersey and at the same time the team will work hard to get Brajkovic lined up in the overall classement, at least for a 5th place.
The team:
As we head to the Tour the roles on the team are clear. Vino is going to be the free rider who will go for the dots and maybe a stage win or 2??? Who knows..
Janez has 2 important helpers with him: Kessiakoff and Kiserlovski. They will do all they can to set him up in the right position and the team is definitely going for a top 5.
So to sum up the team goals:
Janez in Top 5
Vinokourov in polka dots
A stage win
Edited by Cult11 on 18-07-2012 22:14
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| Cult11 |
Posted on 12-07-2012 12:00
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Under 23
Posts: 61
Joined: 27-03-2007
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My name is Luigi Trantone and my job at this years Tour is to keep you readers up to date on the lastes news.
PreRace interview with Janez Brajkovic:
Spoiler So Janez how are you feeling here 1 day before the start?
I'm feeling great. We are coming to the tour with a great set up and a high confidence.
Do you feel that your team can put their mark on this years tour?
I definetly think we can, we are gonna ride it all out and take the chances we get 
A word on Vinokourovs last tour?
He is more motivated than ever and im sure he will get a lot of tv time if you know what i mean
PreRace interview with BMCs John Lelangue:
Spoiler How are your team coming to the tour?
We are more than ready to be back to back champions. Cadel is coming here in great form.
Who do you think is your biggest rival for the overall win?
This years tour is packed with great riders and it is hard to say, the time must show who has the power and luck to go all the way, but one thing is for sure we are gonna do our part and make this a hard battle for those who want the jersey.
Bradley Wiggins on the first stages:
Spoiler How has the first 2 days been for you?
I'm feeling great and it just love wearing this yellow jersey.
Your team did not have to work today, it must have been an easy day for you?
No day in the tour is easy but yeah this was not the hardest day.
Do you intend to keep the jersey all the way?
I would like that very much but if i have to give it away for a couple of days that wont be a disaster, the most important is to have it in Paris
Doping takes it first hit on the tour!
Spoiler "As usual" people might think.. But every time this hits the Tour i feel sad, it´s a mayor setback for the sport.. This time it is the rider Florent Barle from the Cofidis team. The Police went thtough his room this morning before the 6. Stage and a lot of equipment for blood doping were found. He was withdrawn from the Tour instant! The Cofidis team will continue without Florent.
PreMountain interview with the French hope Pierre Rolland
Spoiler How are you feeling heading in to the mountains?
I'm feeling very well, i've allready got a stage win and surely going for one more in the mountains!
Are you going for the polka dots this year or focusing on the white jersey maybe?
Def. going to ride with the favourites and hopefully end up in the top 10 and by that taking the white jersey as a bonus.
Interview with Alexandre Vinokourov
Spoiler You are in the polka dits as was your declared goal, will you be able to keep it all the way?
Yeah, i think i will, i got a big lead and the chances to make points gets smaller and smaller.
Today is a big stage with at lot of points, will you attack?
Who knows, i sure as hell could use the points as it would secure the jersey, but we must wait and see how the stage forms!
Post Tour interview with Astana Director Niclas Jørgensen
Spoiler The tour is over, are you satisfied?
I think my guys rode very well, Vino was outstanding the same was Kessiakoff. Brajkovic did all he could but faced some though compition. Bozic was mingling in the sprints but never reached the top, thats sad. But all in all i am very pleased, we got the Polka dot jersey and the stage win
Do you thibk you can convince Vinokourov in to taking another turn?
Maybe, he rode very well and by winning the jersey maybe he has got a taste for blood, but only he knows.
Rumours are that Kessiakoff will find a new team, is this true?
No absolutly not, he will stay at our team and by the riding he showed this year i am sure he will return even stronger next year and maybe compete for the Vuelta this year!
Edited by Cult11 on 18-07-2012 22:20
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| Cult11 |
Posted on 12-07-2012 12:00
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Under 23
Posts: 61
Joined: 27-03-2007
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Startlist
Classement Top 11
Spoiler 1. Bradley Wiggins 87h54'29
2. Cadel Evans +4'31
3. Levi Leipheimer +7'26
4. Ryder Hesjedal +7'46
5. Vincenzo Nibali +10'53
6. Andy Schleck +11'10
7. Alberto Contador +11'35
8. Jurgen Van den Broeck +12'08
9. Pierre Rolland +13'47
10. Bauke Mollema +13'54
11. Janez Brajkovic +14'30
Youg Riders
Spoiler 1. Wout Poels 88h38´29
2. Thibaut Pinot +11'48
3. Damiano Caruso +18'25
4. Diego Ulissi +30'12
5. Edvald Boasson Hagen +32'20
Team ranking
Spoiler 1. Radioshack - Nissan 264h23'00
2. Team Garmin - Sharp +16'19
3. SKY +19'23
KoM overall
Spoiler 1. Alexandre Vinokourov 136 pts
2. Fredrik Kessiakoff 52 pts
3. Thibaut Pinot 45 pts
Sprint overall
Spoiler 1. Mark Cavendish 387 pts
2. Matt Goss 370 pts
3. Oscar Freire 285 pts
4. Andre Greipel 276 pts
5. Peter Sagan 269 pts
Stage winners:
Spoiler 1. Liege - Liege : Bradley Wiggins
2. Liege - Seraing : Oscar Freire
3. Visé - Tornai : Mark Cavendish
4. Orchies - Boulogne-sur-Mer : Pierre Rolland
5. Abbeville - Rouen : Tyler Farrar
6. Rouen - Saint Quentin : Andre Greipel
7. Espernay - Metz : Mark Cavendish
8. Tomblaine - La Planche des Belles Filles : Fränk Schleck
9. Belfort - Porrentruy : Ryder Hesjedal
10. Arc-et-Senans - Besancon : Bradley Wiggins
11. Mâcon - Bellegarde-sur-Valserine : Ryder Hesjedal
12. Albertville - La Toussuire - Les Sybelles : Robert Gesink
13. Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne - Annonay Davézieux : Oscar Freire
14. Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux - Le Cap D'agde : Matt Goss
15. Limoux - Foix : Damiano Cunego
16. Samatan - Pau : Matt Goss
17. Pau - Bagnéres-de-Luchon : Fredrik Kessiakoff
18. Bagnéres-de-Luchon - Peyragudes : David Moncoutié
19. Blagnac - Brive-la-Gaillarde : Mark Cavendish
20. Bonneval - Chartres : Bradley Wiggins
21. Rambouillet - Paris Champs-Élysées : Andre Greipel
Withdrawals:
Spoiler Florent Barle - DOPING!
Patrick Gretsch - Broken Collarbone
Theo Bos - Time limit
Markus Burghardt - Sickness
Adam Blythe - Time limit
Gaetan Bille - Time Limit
Marcel Kittel - Time Limit
Damien Gaudin - Time Limit
Tyler Farrar - Time Limit
Kris Boeckmans - Time Limit
Yauheni Hutarovich - Time Limit
Christophe Le Mevel - Head injury
Edited by Cult11 on 18-07-2012 22:13
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| Cult11 |
Posted on 12-07-2012 12:55
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Under 23
Posts: 61
Joined: 27-03-2007
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Prologue
The time has finaly come Le Tour is here.
The prologue sets of with Nicolas Vogondy as the first man out and he sets a low bar with a time saying 8'04.
First Astana rider on the route is Vinokourov, how can he preform?
He comes in 25 seconds after Millar who is the current leader with a time of 7'42.
This is not a good day for Astana, we had a few guys who we thought could mix in the top, but today was not the day
Contador (Yes he is out of doping  this is a race for all) is the last man to cross the line and it displays a Wiggins in great shape, his time is 7'24 8 seconds to spare, he is a true challenger for the overall victory.
To sum up Astanas stage this was not a good day, but thats not gonna break the spirit and we are sure this will be our tour.
Astana on the stage:
Spoiler Kessiakoff +28 38th
Grivko +33 56th
Vinokourov +43 96th
Brajkovic +47 125th
Bozic +48 135th
Kashechkin +49 138th
Kiserlovski +50 142th
Fofonov +1'01 193th
Iglinskiy +1'04 198th
Edited by Cult11 on 12-07-2012 14:04
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 12-07-2012 13:15
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34002
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Like the Tour de Astana logo |
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| Cult11 |
Posted on 12-07-2012 14:01
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Under 23
Posts: 61
Joined: 27-03-2007
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Stage 1
We are now at the first real stage and this is not a day for the sprinters but a day for the Puncheurs.
The favourites for the stage is guys like the Schleck brothers, The tourminator, Cunegoo r maybe Iglinskiy as an outsider? Could we get our stage win allready?
Shortly after the stage was released a breakaway got away. We had Fofonov in the break, but with his legs not being the best he was left behind after the first KoM, he is trying his best to catch the breakaway again but will this be possible with the guys in front battleing for the polka dots?
Riders in the breakaway:
Spoiler Brice Feillu
Bram Tankink
Moreno Moser
Giampaolo Caruso
Jon Izaguirre Insausti
Javier Moreno Bazán
Daniele Pietropolli
Riders caught between:
Dimitri Fofonov
Francis De Greef
Fofonov caught the breakaway with 134 Km to go and De Greef joind a couple of km later. So we now have a 9 man breakaway with 5 min on the clock.
The breakawat cap at 7'41 with 92 km to go before the peleton reacts.
BMC and Saxo Bank Tinkoff is doing all the work allthough it's Sky who is in the Yellow jersey...
Pierre Roland tries his luck with 40 km to go, will he be able to take this alle the way?
No he is quikly wieled in by Saxo Bank Tinkoff..
Now Gadret and Marcato goes for it, still 36 to go. No one is getting away, Saxo Bank really want this stage and maybe the yellow jersey.
Inglinskiy makes his attempt with 21 km to go, will he go all the way?
Inglinskiy moved right by the morning breakaway and has now got a minute on the clock with 13 km to go, it is looking promising!
He is wield in with 3 km to go, but can he stay for the sprint?
De Greef from the morning breakaway is now in front with a small gap of 5 seconds...
And the winner is.....
Spoiler Oscar Freire, he was the fastest man at the line!
Stage Top 5
Spoiler 1. Oscar Freire 4h38'54
2. Damiano Cunego
3. Marco Marcato
4. Daniel Moreno Fernandez
5. Stephen Cummings
KoM overall
Spoiler Fancis De Greef 1 pts
Jon Izaguirre Insausti 1 pts
Javier Moreno Bazan 1 pts
Oscar Freire 1 pts
Daniele Pietropolli 1 pts
Sprint overall
Spoiler Bradley Wiggins 26 pts (6)
Jon Izaguirre Insausti 20 pts (20)
Oscar Freire 20 ps (20)
Sylvain Chavanel 17 pts (0)
Damiano Cunego 17 pts (17)
*() todays stage
The team rode a good stage, good to have Fofonov in the morning break even though he did not get any KoM points. Inglinskiy made his try and did what he could. We will be back and the stage win will come
Edited by Cult11 on 12-07-2012 14:28
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| fcancellara |
Posted on 12-07-2012 14:08
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4813
Joined: 18-08-2011
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Very good for a first story!
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 12-07-2012 14:09
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34002
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Pity the move by Inglinskiy didn't work out  |
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| Cult11 |
Posted on 12-07-2012 14:10
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Under 23
Posts: 61
Joined: 27-03-2007
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Thanks Guys
Must give the credit for the Tour de Astana Logo to Google haha |
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| Cult11 |
Posted on 12-07-2012 15:23
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Under 23
Posts: 61
Joined: 27-03-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Stage 2
Now it is time for the sprinters to move up and show who is the best, the first flat stage of the race.
All the big boys are present at this years tour: Cavendish, Greipel, Farrar, Freire, Ciolek, Goss and so on. So im 99 % sure that this will end up in a mass sprint and it is a nice day to see how Bozic will do against the big boys.
But for the rest of the team this will be a quiet day.
The stage is set under way and shortly after the stage was released a lot of riders made their move, but after a couple of attempts 4 riders got away: Samuel Dumoulin, Peio Bilbao Lopez de Armentia, Marco Marcato and Matteo Pelucchi. The peloton has let them go.
They are joined by Yoann Offredo.
At the KoM sprint Peio Bilbao Lopez de Armentia is by far the strongest and takes the only point.
The breakawy lead caps at 8'25 with 115 km to go and then Lotto Bellisol abd Green Edge reacts it looks to be an easy day for Sky yet again.
The big boys show off when the peloton hits the PMU sprint Goss, Cavendish, Greipel, Kittel and Bos take the points after the breakaway.
The breakaway gains a little ground again after the sprint the peloton is relaxing again.
Lotto, Green Edge and Sky are taking the lead now and this is looking to be a mass sprint!
Vinokourov tried to beat the sprinters with an attempt with 15 km to go but was quickly wield in and it all ended in a mass sprint!
But who was the fastest on the line, Kittel maybe?
Stage Result
Spoiler Cavendish beats them all!
1. Cavendish 4h40'42
2. Matt Goss
3. Marcel Kittel
4. Peter Sagan
5. Tyler Farrar
KoM Overall
Spoiler Fancis De Greef 1 pts
Jon Izaguirre Insausti 1 pts
Javier Moreno Bazan 1 pts
Oscar Freire 1 pts
Daniele Pietropolli 1 pts
Peio Bilbao Lopez de Armentia 1 pts
Sprint overall
Spoiler 1. Mark Cavendish 60 pts (54)
2. Matt Goss 50 pts (45)
3. Marcel Kittel 37 pts (37)
4. Oscar Freire 36 pts (16)
5. Marco Marcato 25 pts (20)
*() todays stage
Bozic did not get in position for the sprint so we did not see his potential today. But a quiet day for the team. |
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| Ian Butler |
Posted on 12-07-2012 18:08
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Tour de France Champion
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Nice choice of team and I like your goals, they're quite realistic, though top 5 will be very hard! |
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| Cult11 |
Posted on 12-07-2012 18:47
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Under 23
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Stage 3
Yet again a hilly finish... We are not going for the morning breakaway but will set our focus on getting Brajkovic safely trugh and fight for the victory with Iglinskiy. I am sure this will be a hard stage but at the same time sure we will do well!
Once again a breakaway has formed, we know the recipe of a tour stage now
The break is formed by: David Moncoutié, Christophe Le Mevel, Jürgen Roelandts, Anthony Charteau and Anthony Geslin. A 5 man break, the lead cap at 8'00. But surely they wont stand a chance.
BMC and Saxo Bank Tinkoff is leading the pack...
Oscar Freire looks flying, he takes the points taht the break left behind.
Le Mevel takes care of the last KoM points and is heading for the polka dots tommorow.
As said earlier Freire is flying and opens the finaly with 12 km to go, Iglinskiy is after him!!!
Le Mevel is holding out at the front... Can he go all the way? 2.4 km to go!
The victory goes to!!!!!
Ingliskiy missed out on the finnish but he tried his best..
Stage top 5
Spoiler 1. Pierre Rolland 4h34'05
2. Arnold Jeannesson +17
3. Chris Anker Sørensen +17
4. Simon Gerrans +17
5. Bradley Wiggins +17
KoM overall
Spoiler 1. Christophe Le Mevel 2 pts (2)
2. Anthony Geslin 2 pts (2)
3 Anthony Charteau 2 pts (2)
*() todays stage
Sprint overall
Spoiler
1. Mark Cavendish 67 pts (7)
2. Matt Goss 59 pts (9)
3. Oscar Freire 46 pts (10)
4. Marcel Kittel 43 pts (6)
5. Peter Sagan 40 pts (8)
*() todays stage
Edited by Cult11 on 13-07-2012 16:08
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| Cult11 |
Posted on 13-07-2012 16:51
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Under 23
Posts: 61
Joined: 27-03-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Stage 4
Another fairly flat stage, but will it be a day for the sprinters?? Our team will defenetly do what we can to spoil their day, maybe Iglinskiy can go away on the last small hill??
The morning break is formed as allways S. Dumoulin, S. Chainel, G. Insausti and M. Marcato.
Marcato takes 3 of the KoM sprints and at the same time the Mountain Jersey with his 3 points.
The stage formes as usual, the break is caught with 15 km to go.
The peloton is racing away and the pace is to high for Iglinskiy to get away and it all ends up in a mass sprint as expected. But who was the fastest on hte line?????
Spoiler Farrar was the fastest today and takes his first win and still no double winners!
Stage top 5
Spoiler 1. Tyler Farrar 4h57'11
2. Peter Sagan
3. Mark Cavendish
4. Andre Greipel
5. Matt Goss
KoM overall
Spoiler 1. Marco Marcato 3 pts (3)
2. Christophe Le Mevel 2 pts
3. Anthony Geslin 2 pts
4 Anthony Charteau 2 pts
*() todays stage
Sprint overall
Spoiler
1. Mark Cavendish 102 pts (35)
2. Matt Goss 93 pts (34)
3. Tyler Farrar 77 pts (46)
4. Peter Sagan 75 pts (35)
5. Marcel Kittel 69 pts (26)
*() todays stage
I know this was a bit short and less detailed stage, but nothing happened worth wasting time on |
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| Cult11 |
Posted on 15-07-2012 02:29
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Under 23
Posts: 61
Joined: 27-03-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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Doping hits the Tour! Read in the Gazetto post! |
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| fcancellara |
Posted on 15-07-2012 02:35
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Grand Tour Specialist
Posts: 4813
Joined: 18-08-2011
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Realistic doping case, now hoping for the moment Team Sky gets caught 
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| baseballlover312 |
Posted on 15-07-2012 02:47
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 16555
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Why does Inglinsky have 79 overall?
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy |
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| Cult11 |
Posted on 15-07-2012 14:20
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Under 23
Posts: 61
Joined: 27-03-2007
PCM$: 200.00
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It is the RSM-News db, thats all i know |
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| Cult11 |
Posted on 15-07-2012 16:32
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Under 23
Posts: 61
Joined: 27-03-2007
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Stage 5
Flat flat flat, easy stage (Hopefully).. Our team will do it's all to set op Bozic this time to see if he can follow the other sprinters!
This is the first stage after the doping has hit the tour, will this effect the riders or will they just do their job?
The stage starts out in very bad weather with high winds and rain, have we hit the flanders???
But anyways 4 riders take their "15 minutes of fame".
D. Gaudin, I. Izagirre Insausti, A. Vichot and M. Moser...
The gap caps at 8'06 before Green Edge and Lotto take control of the peloton...
A. Vichot was the only one in the break interested in Sprint point and takes the 20 points, why i dont know.. But in the peloton more riders are interested in points... Greipel took 11 pts Cavendish 10 pts and Goss 9 pts...
And their in for the final sprint.. Bozic takes the wheel of Kittel and sit in a good position, he is 4th with 800 meters to go.. Can he go all the way?
But no, Bozic is just not strong enough, but still a great 7th place, Greipel takes the win in front of Goss, Cavendish and Kittel!
The day for us was quiet and easy to overcome and Bozics sprint was good, the guys who beats him were very fast to the line. We are closing in on the mountains. That's what we are looking forward to!
Stage top 7
Spoiler 1. Andre Greipel 4h33'59
2. Matt Goss
3. Mark Cavendish
4. Marcel Kittel
5. Tyler Farrar
6. Arnaud Demare
7. Borut Bozic!
KoM overall
Spoiler 1. Marco Marcato 3 pts
2. Christophe Le Mevel 2 pts
3. Anthony Geslin 2 pts
4 Anthony Charteau 2 pts
*() todays stage
Sprint overall
Spoiler 1. Mark Cavendish 142 pts (40)
2. Matt Goss 137 pts (44)
3. Andre Greipel 121 pts (56)
4. Tyler Farrar 103 pts (26)
5. Marcel Kittel 103 pts (34)
*() todays stage |
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| Cult11 |
Posted on 15-07-2012 17:31
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Under 23
Posts: 61
Joined: 27-03-2007
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Stage 6
Yet again! I'm getting sick of theese flat stages But at least this is the last one before the mountains call!
We will again today see if Bozic can improve his 7th place form yesterday.
The morning breakers this day is; C. Kern, L. Westra and M. Wynants. They cap at 8'23... The usual suspects at the front Green and Lotto!
At the intermidiate sprint Cavendish is unbeateble in the peloton he takes the 4th place followed by Goss and Greipel..
The battle for the right wheel is tight, they all want this last flat stage before the peloton leaves the flat!
Bozic picks up Greipels wheel! Will this be the right choice?
That was def. not the right choise, he was puhsed away from the wheel and quickly dropped and is out of the sprint!
Cavendish is just insane today and drop the others by miles! He is the first with 2 victories this year!
A bad stage for us with Bozic beeing shuffed out of the sprint but easy day for the others and now the mountains has arrived!
Stage top 5
Spoiler 1. Mark Cavedish 4h38'01
2. Matt Goss
3. Oscar Freire
4. Peter Sagan
5. Yauheni Hutarovich
KoM overall
Spoiler 1. Marco Marcato 3 pts
2. Christophe Le Mevel 2 pts
3. Anthony Geslin 2 pts
4 Anthony Charteau 2 pts
*() todays stage
Sprint overall
Spoiler 1. Mark Cavendish 200 pts (58)
2. Matt Goss 182 pts (45)
3. Andre Greipel 142 pts (21)
4. Peter Sagan 123 (34)
5. Tyler Farrar 117 pts (14)
*() todays stage |
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| sutty68 |
Posted on 15-07-2012 22:55
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Tour de France Champion
Posts: 34002
Joined: 22-08-2010
PCM$: 200.00
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Nice to see Bozic get a seventh place on stage five |
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