martedì 21 maggio 2013

Giro stage 16: rampant riders... and more

Wilko Kelderman in Florence
Put a hill 20 to go. It's like a ramp, a skateborad one. It's good to launch an attack and Carlos Betancur knows that. Put Moncenisio at the start of a stage and the break-away will believe they are makeing it finally, Wilko Kelderman did. Put a fast descent and a fast finish after some climbs and you can attack ten times in a row. Tanel Kangert is not afraid.
Much more happened in this incredible stage but I want to talk about these three rampant riders, these three attacking guys fighting for White with power and feith. 
Breaking away you hardly win. Attacking on a hill 2o to go it's hard to succeed. And few finisseurs are able to win dashing in front of a chasing group, especially when in this group there are almost all the GC main contenders. In spite of that Kelderman didn't give up and kept fighting till the last, when that vips chasing group caught him 20 to go. In spite of that Betancur set a classy attack atop the last climb and rocked the technical descent with a classy descender like Samy Sanchez. The Pink Jersey moved to chase them down. In spite of that and with reason Kangert attacked many and many times: on the climb, on the descent, on the flat, till the last km. He didn't win only because controlling Niemiec at his right failed to see Intxasti at his left. 
Embedded image permalinkThree talented young riders and an experienced winner: Intxausti dedicated his victory to Xavi Tond. "For a whole year I couldn't sleep after his death." Xavi. The only rider who offered doping went to the police. He survived few months. RIP. He was a good guy, one of the best in the peloton. Strong and generous. Intxasti too is a good guy and in this season absolutely strong.
What about the GC? I didn't imagine such a 'easy' stage could affect it so much. Waiting for full results, Santambrogio and Kiserlovski lost a lot of time on the last climb where they got dropped by the GC group, Gesink was there but got a mechanic at the true last minute. Uran didn't look brilliant, lost the decisive move but managed to come back and finish in the Nibali's group. Evan instead is in a very good shape and confirm to be the first contender for Nibali. Scarponi is embarrassing good. Maybe he's going to retire like Denis Menchov half a way to Brescia :P  Probably GC and jerseys will stay like that till the end of this Giro. Cavendish is still in red - and Tanti Auguri! it's his birthday :) - Pirazzi is still in Blue. Betancur is still in White. Evans could grab that Red, Majka could grab that White. Many points are still waiting for the Blue jersey and many could get it as a consequence of their try to get the Pink one in the next mountain stages... The last week of the race is going to be thrilling.

RESULTS
Source http://www.procyclingstats.com/race.php?id=116937
STAGE
1 INTXAUSTI Benat Movistar Team
80 5:52:48
2 KANGERT Tanel Astana Pro Team
50 ,,
3 NIEMIEC Przemyslaw Lampre - Merida
35 ,,
4 NAVARDAUSKAS Ramunas Garmin - Sharp
25 0:14
5 EVANS Cadel BMC Racing Team
18 ,,
6 PELLIZOTTI Franco Androni - Venezuela
15 ,,
7 SCARPONI Michele Lampre - Merida
12 ,,
8 MAJKA Rafal Team Saxo-Tinkoff
10 ,,
9 HERRADA LOPEZ Jose Movistar Team
8 ,,
10 BETANCUR GOMEZ Carlos Alberto AG2R La Mondiale
6 ,,
11 URAN Rigoberto Sky Procycling
5 ,,
12 NIBALI Vincenzo Astana Pro Team
4 ,,
13 SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel Euskaltel - Euskadi
3 ,,
14 PIRAZZI Stefano Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
2 ,,
15 ARU Fabio Astana Pro Team
1 ,,
16 DUARTE AREVALO Fabio Andres Team Colombia

0:20
17 GESINK Robert Blanco Pro Cycling Team

0:23
18 BONGIORNO Francesco Manuel Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox

1:51
19 DUPONT Hubert AG2R La Mondiale

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20 FELLINE Fabio Androni - Venezuela

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21 ROSA Diego Androni - Venezuela

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22 VISCONTI Giovanni Movistar Team

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23 TROFIMOV Yuri Katusha Team

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24 MARTINEZ DE ESTEBAN Egoi Euskaltel - Euskadi

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25 KELDERMAN Wilco Blanco Pro Cycling Team

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........

GC
1 (1) NIBALI Vincenzo Astana Pro Team 67:55:36
2 (2) EVANS Cadel BMC Racing Team 1:26
3 (3) URAN Rigoberto Sky Procycling 2:46
4 (5) SCARPONI Michele Lampre - Merida 3:53
5 (6) NIEMIEC Przemyslaw Lampre - Merida 4:13
6 (4) SANTAMBROGIO Mauro Vini Fantini 4:57
7 (7) BETANCUR GOMEZ Carlos Alberto AG2R La Mondiale 5:15
8 (8) MAJKA Rafal Team Saxo-Tinkoff 5:20
9 (10) INTXAUSTI Benat Movistar Team 5:47
10 (9) POZZOVIVO Domenico AG2R La Mondiale 7:34

domenica 19 maggio 2013

ATOC: finally!

Embedded image permalink Peter Sagan won the last stage. Tejay Van Garderen won the GC. Andy Schleck can be happy with his race and with his results: always on the attack, he finished 25 in GC and 3rd in the Mountain Classification. Bravo! 
Embedded image permalinkBusche is 6th: RSLT aimed to something more but the young American showed talent and class. More will come. Must I add anything about Jens Voigt? He has been amazing. And for sure Laurent Didier demonstrated to be a precious helper for his team leader. Finally this team has been brilliant! Bravi!
RESULTS 
Source http://www.procyclingstats.com/race/1179911-Amgen-Tour-of-California-2013
STAGE
1 SAGAN Peter Cannondale Pro Cycling Team2030 3:04:07
2 SCHORN Daniel Team NetApp – Endura1418 ,,
3 FARRAR Tyler Garmin - Sharp812 ,,
4 MEERSMAN Gianni Omega Pharma - Quick-Step77 ,,
5 HANSON Ken Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies64 ,,
6 HUSHOVD Thor BMC Racing Team53 ,,
7 MATTHEWS Michael Orica GreenEDGE42 ,,
8 KEOUGH Jacobe UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis21 ,,
9 CHAVANEL Sylvain Omega Pharma - Quick-Step

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10 BRAMMEIER Matthew Champion System Pro Cycling Team

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11 FLECHA Juan Antonio Vacansoleil - DCM

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12 STUYVEN Jasper Bontrager Cycling Team

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13 PIPP Frank Kevin Bissel Pro Cycling

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14 VENNELL Jeremy Bissel Pro Cycling

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15 ACEVEDO COLLE Janier Alexis Jamis - Hagens Berman

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16 VAN GARDEREN Tejay BMC Racing Team

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17 DEIGNAN Philip UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis

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18 FRANK Mathias BMC Racing Team

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19 ROMERO AMARAN Luis Jamis - Hagens Berman

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20 MEYER Cameron Orica GreenEDGE

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FINAL GC
1 VAN GARDEREN Tejay BMC Racing Team
150 29:43:00
2 ROGERS Michael Team Saxo-Tinkoff
110 1:47
3 ACEVEDO COLLE Janier Alexis Jamis - Hagens Berman
90 3:26
4 FRANK Mathias BMC Racing Team
80 3:32
5 MEYER Cameron Orica GreenEDGE
70 3:33
6 BUSCHE Matthew RadioShack - Leopard
60 3:50
7 MANCEBO PEREZ Francisco 5-hour Energy
55 4:52
8 CRADDOCK Lawson Bontrager Cycling Team
50 5:24
9 DEIGNAN Philip UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis
45 5:33
10 HAGA Chad Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
40 5:52
11 KONIG Leopold Team NetApp – Endura
36 6:03
12 DE MAAR Marc UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis
32 6:28
13 DE LA CRUZ MELGAREJO David Team NetApp – Endura
28 8:58
14 ENGLISH Nathaniel 5-hour Energy
24 11:17
15 VANDBORG Brian Cannondale Pro Cycling Team
20 11:32
16 DIDIER Laurent RadioShack - Leopard
16 11:40
17 ZUBELDIA AGIRRE Haimar RadioShack - Leopard
14 11:51
18 EUSER Lucas UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis
12 12:41
19 HUZARSKI Bartosz Team NetApp – Endura
10 14:29
20 WESTRA Lieuwe Vacansoleil - DCM
8 14:59
21 BEYER Chad Champion System Pro Cycling Team
6 16:23
22 FLECHA Juan Antonio Vacansoleil - DCM
4 17:51
23 MOINARD Amaël BMC Racing Team
3 19:01
24 BOOKWALTER Brent BMC Racing Team
2 19:26
25 SCHLECK Andy RadioShack - Leopard
1 20:11
JERSEYS
Points
1 JONES Carter Bissel Pro Cycling47
2 ACEVEDO COLLE Janier Alexis Jamis - Hagens Berman20
3 SCHLECK Andy RadioShack - Leopard20
Mountains
1 JONES Carter Bissel Pro Cycling47
2 ACEVEDO COLLE Janier Alexis Jamis - Hagens Berman20
3 SCHLECK Andy RadioShack - Leopard20

Giro stage 15: out of the mess...

Embedded image permalink...Visconti. Hard to write about this stage and it has been hard to race it. Neutralized by riders agreement on Moncenisio covered in snow - team cars were not allowed to play horns and no helicopters to prevent any risk of avalanches - a first attack at the first KOM, a break-away and then a pure mess on the Télégraphe. Race exploded, peloton splitted, attacks, conterattacks from the breack and from the bunch. Finally a solo victory by a man who had spent the day out the front. Behinde the open fight for jerseys and points.
Snow on Moncenisio, snow on the Galibier, snow on Pantani's monument and on riders' shattered faces. RAI commentators frozen at the finish. The race went slow and prudent, not even 30 km/h of average speed in the first hour, 33 in the second one. Pirazzi and Chalapud go away to catch the KOM points,  Bongiorno, Weening and others chase and join but it isn't sure that's a break-away: leaders gains immediately 1'. No reaction by the peloton.

Weening was also yesterday in the break-away, but crashed. Today he wants to go, even solo. In the chasing group there are  Bongiorno, Pirazzi, Rabottini, Visconti, Rubiano and Chalapud. Then the peloton. Heading solo to Modane Weening understand that it's better to wait for the others and start together the second climb.
Embedded image permalinkCol du Télégraphe (2nd cat.): 11,8 km and 7,2 % average. 30 km to go. The race explodes. Attacks after attacks.  Stetina, De Greef, Gesink got a slight advantage on the bunch with 27.9km to go. Egoi Martinez joins. Then Henao. 25 to go Kiserlovski has bridged to Henao. Pirazzi, Weening, Rabottini and Weening are still in front. Gesink and Martinez continue to chase. Di Luca and Gastauer attacked too. Eventually, the decisive move: Visconti attacks the breack-away. Pirazzi, Weening and Rabottini are dropped. Martinez, Kiserlovski, Henao, Gesink and Di Luca out the bunch are chasing.
Meanwhile in the Maglia Rosa's group Pozzovivo fell. Gastauer stops and wait for him but today he's going to lose a lot of time.
Col du Galibier (1st cat.): 13,9 km and 5,8% average. Visconti is still leading solo.  Then Rabottini at 40'', at 2'30'' the Maglia Rosa's group. Kelderman launches a generous attack but it doesn't work: bravo anyway! 5 km to go Sanchez and Caruso attack from the bunch. Carlos Betancur has waited and waited well hiden in Nibali's group. Things are fluid. On the road there is Visconti, almost at the finish, pedaling in the snow and then just three men: Niemiec, Majka and Duarte. Betancur is a flash: from the group to the break. No time, no road, no climb to win but he even sprints and takes a second place (again). In front of Majka, for the White Jersey. Also in front of Wilko Kelderman, who didn't have the legs to stay away.
Amazing stage. Riders really did it amazing.
RESULTS
Source  http://www.procyclingstats.com/race/1169351-Giro-d%C2%B4Italia-2013-Overview
STAGE
1 VISCONTI Giovanni Movistar Team1680 4:40:48
2 BETANCUR GOMEZ Carlos Alberto AG2R La Mondiale850 0:42
3 NIEMIEC Przemyslaw Lampre - Merida435 ,,
4 MAJKA Rafal Team Saxo-Tinkoff225 ,,
5 DUARTE AREVALO Fabio Andres Team Colombia118 0:47
6 SCARPONI Michele Lampre - Merida
15 0:54
7 NIBALI Vincenzo Astana Pro Team
12 ,,
8 EVANS Cadel BMC Racing Team
10 ,,
9 SANTAMBROGIO Mauro Vini Fantini
8 ,,
10 URAN Rigoberto Sky Procycling
6 ,,
11 KISERLOVSKI Robert RadioShack - Leopard
5 ,,
12 CARUSO Damiano Cannondale Pro Cycling Team
4 0:58
13 PELLIZOTTI Franco Androni - Venezuela
3 ,,
14 KELDERMAN Wilco Blanco Pro Cycling Team
2 1:00
15 TROFIMOV Yuri Katusha Team
1 ,,
16 SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel Euskaltel - Euskadi

1:06
17 DI LUCA Danilo Vini Fantini

1:09
18 ATAPUMA HURTADO John Darwin Team Colombia

1:24
19 INTXAUSTI Benat Movistar Team

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20 CAPECCHI Eros Movistar Team

1:27
21 KANGERT Tanel Astana Pro Team

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22 DUPONT Hubert AG2R La Mondiale

1:39
23 POZZOVIVO Domenico AG2R La Mondiale

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24 ROSA Diego Androni - Venezuela

1:49
25 RABOTTINI Matteo Vini Fantini

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26 GESINK Robert Blanco Pro Cycling Team

1:52

GC
1 (1) NIBALI Vincenzo Astana Pro Team 62:02:34
2 (2) EVANS Cadel BMC Racing Team 1:26
3 (3) URAN Rigoberto Sky Procycling 2:46
4 (4) SANTAMBROGIO Mauro Vini Fantini 2:47
5 (5) SCARPONI Michele Lampre - Merida 3:53
6 (6) NIEMIEC Przemyslaw Lampre - Merida 4:35
7 (9) BETANCUR GOMEZ Carlos Alberto AG2R La Mondiale 5:16
8 (8) MAJKA Rafal Team Saxo-Tinkoff 5:20
9 (7) POZZOVIVO Domenico AG2R La Mondiale 5:57
10 (10) INTXAUSTI Benat Movistar Team 6:21

ATOC: Andy Schleck said...

“We had a plan that if more than 10 guys were up there we should have two guys in the break.  I jumped and I felt pretty good in the first climb. But they never really gave us more than 4 minutes. Laurent Didier did an amazing job.  Thanks to Laurent we managed to stay in the front for such a long time.  For myself I can be happy.  I worked a lot today in the front in and in the wind. When I got caught by the peloton with 7km to go, it hurt a little bit.  You lose morale when you know that you worked the whole day in the front.  This was the second day I’ve been in the front"
Matthew Busche:  “We thought maybe the break would stay away since there were strong guys in there and Andy was feeling strong.  We hoped he could go for the win.  There wasn’t much we could do in the end.  But we gave it a try plus we tried to make it exciting.  I lost some on the GC so I won’t make the podium and that was my goal but I felt strong on the climb.  I attacked at 1km to go just in case I had more than the others, but it didn’t play out that way.”

ATOC: Andy Schleck breaks away on Mt.Diablo

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View from Mt.Diablo
They were: Andy Schleck Verona, English, De La Cruz, Didier, Westra,  Brown, Butler, Jones, & Koren
60.4km to go their gap was 3'20": quite few, the peloton didn't let them go and only 30'' were left at the start of the last climb. Then Didier set a hellish pace preparing Andy's attack. But Verona attacked first, followed and passed by Westra and De La Cruz. They managed to gain more than 1'.
Andy, Didier and Verona kept chasing and got eventually caught 6 km to go. Then Jens Voigt attacked!! Unbelivable!! Mancebo joined and dropped him, caught and droped De la Cruz and Westra. 2 km to go Acevedo attacked from the bunch and was solo ahead. The front group pulled by BMC reached Mancebo. Koenig bridged to Acevedo and they got together into the last km. Finally Koenig speeded up and crossed the line first. 2nd Acevedo, 3rd van Garderen.
What a stage!! Waiting for full results one thing is sure: Andy is back, feels good and found back his attacking style. That's a very good news! He's also 2nd in the Mountain Classification :)
RESULTS
Source http://www.procyclingstats.com/race.php?id=130594
STAGE
1 KONIG Leopold Team NetApp – Endura
30 3:54:17
2 ACEVEDO COLLE Janier Alexis Jamis - Hagens Berman
18 0:07
3 VAN GARDEREN Tejay BMC Racing Team
12 0:12
4 ROGERS Michael Team Saxo-Tinkoff
7 ,,
5 FRANK Mathias BMC Racing Team
4 0:23
6 BUSCHE Matthew RadioShack - Leopard
3 0:29
7 CRADDOCK Lawson Bontrager Cycling Team
2 0:32
8 MANCEBO PEREZ Francisco 5-hour Energy
1 0:38
9 PIMENTA COSTA MENDES José Joao Team NetApp – Endura

0:44
10 DE MAAR Marc UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis

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11 DENNIS Rohan Garmin - Sharp

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12 MEYER Cameron Orica GreenEDGE

0:48
13 DEIGNAN Philip UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis

0:53
14 MOINARD Amaël BMC Racing Team

0:56
15 MEERSMAN Gianni Omega Pharma - Quick-Step

1:02
16 HAGA Chad Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies

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17 VOSS Paul Team NetApp – Endura

1:06
18 JUNGELS Bob RadioShack - Leopard

1:09
19 ZUBELDIA AGIRRE Haimar RadioShack - Leopard

,,
20 VANDBORG Brian Cannondale Pro Cycling Team

1:17

GC
1 (1) VAN GARDEREN Tejay BMC Racing Team 26:38:53
2 (2) ROGERS Michael Team Saxo-Tinkoff 1:47
3 (5) ACEVEDO COLLE Janier Alexis Jamis - Hagens Berman 3:26
4 (4) FRANK Mathias BMC Racing Team 3:32
5 (3) MEYER Cameron Orica GreenEDGE 3:33
6 (6) BUSCHE Matthew RadioShack - Leopard 3:50
7 (7) MANCEBO PEREZ Francisco 5-hour Energy 4:52
8 (10) CRADDOCK Lawson Bontrager Cycling Team 5:24
9 (8) DEIGNAN Philip UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis 5:33
10 (9) HAGA Chad Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies 5:52
..

sabato 18 maggio 2013

Giro stage 14: out from the mist

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A Tweet: "Rain has stopped on the final climb. It's jackets off and game on." - Julian Dean
A Hero: Sonny Colbrelli
Some Winners: Nibali, Santambrogio, Betancur. But also Kiserlovski.
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Some Losers: Gesink, Scarponi. But also Uran and Evans showed some weakness on the last and only steep climb, losing time and/or positions.
A stage to imagine. Nothing to see. Cold, rain, even snow. Route changed. Kms added. A four men break-away including Colbrelli who, aproaching the finish, attacked with Pietropolli and Paolini. Behinde, Sky pulling. The first attacks from the bunch. In the mist. In the nothing. Rumors only, only voices by Race Radio and teams cars. Henao they says. Then Nibali with a few others. Far at the back sprinters fighting to survive, included Cav. In front Paolini and Colbrelli fighting to stay away. Caught. But Colbrelli resists: what a guts that guy! We see them now. Santambrogio first and Nibali on his wheel. Fluo yellow: very useful today. People waiting in the snow are probably amazed: so there IS a race! not only  rumors, and cold, and waiting! then Betancur. Behinde it's a different story.
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And the story had finished before the start for many riders who abandoned. Cavendish has lost Steegmans (sick), Nibali has lost Vanotti (crashed). Battaglin crashed too.
Gesink finally finishes escorted by all his Blanco's guys. Game over. Maybe Wilko Kelderman could have been let free to defend his White Jersey.
Frozen photographers - I spotted Scott Mitchel on the line - frozen speakers in the box, frozen riders who spent the day chan ging clothes trying to stay dry. No Galibier tomorrow. And maybe no stage. All passages to France are closed for snow. But today I must say organizers respected riders. They are on the bike. They should decide.
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Pic by Emily Maye: RSLT watching from Cali


RESULTS
Source http://www.procyclingstats.com/race/1169341-Giro-dItalia-WT-Stage-14-Cervere-Bardonecchia
STAGE
1 SANTAMBROGIO Mauro Vini Fantini
80
2 NIBALI Vincenzo Astana Pro Team
50
3 BETANCUR GOMEZ Carlos Alberto AG2R La Mondiale
35
4 SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel Euskaltel - Euskadi
25
5 URAN Rigoberto Sky Procycling
18
6 EVANS Cadel BMC Racing Team
15
7 POZZOVIVO Domenico AG2R La Mondiale
12
8 KISERLOVSKI Robert RadioShack - Leopard
10
9 COLBRELLI Sonny Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
8
10 CARUSO Damiano Cannondale Pro Cycling Team
6
DNF BATTAGLIN Enrico Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox

DNF MILLAR David Garmin - Sharp

DNF VANOTTI Alessandro Astana Pro Team

DNS BENNATI Daniele Team Saxo-Tinkoff

DNS KROON Karsten Team Saxo-Tinkoff

DNS STEEGMANS Gert Omega Pharma - Quick-Step

DNS BOBRIDGE Jack Blanco Pro Cycling Team
GC
1 (1) NIBALI Vincenzo Astana Pro Team 57:20:52
2 (2) EVANS Cadel BMC Racing Team 1:26
3 (3) URAN Rigoberto Sky Procycling 2:46
4 (6) SANTAMBROGIO Mauro Vini Fantini 2:47
5 (5) SCARPONI Michele Lampre - Merida 3:53
6 (7) NIEMIEC Przemyslaw Lampre - Merida 4:55
7 (9) POZZOVIVO Domenico AG2R La Mondiale 5:02
8 (10) MAJKA Rafal Team Saxo-Tinkoff 5:32
9 (13) BETANCUR GOMEZ Carlos Alberto AG2R La Mondiale 5:39
10 (8) INTXAUSTI Benat Movistar Team 5:41
11 (4) GESINK Robert Blanco Pro Cycling Team 6:40
12 (14) KISERLOVSKI Robert RadioShack - Leopard 6:42
13 (11) HENAO MONTOYA Sergio Luis Sky Procycling 7:06
14 (15) TROFIMOV Yuri Katusha Team 7:19
15 (12) KANGERT Tanel Astana Pro Team 7:36
16 (16) PELLIZOTTI Franco Androni - Venezuela 8:11
17 (17) SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel Euskaltel - Euskadi 8:24
18 (19) CARUSO Damiano Cannondale Pro Cycling Team 9:53
19 (20) KELDERMAN Wilco Blanco Pro Cycling Team 13:23
20 (22) DI LUCA Danilo Vini Fantini 14:29

ATOC: some pics from California

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