Climbs! A bit of a change after Gert Steegmans‘ 2 sprint wins in a row. An early break got away and went all of the way. McGee dropped off on the last climb but played his part in the successful break, leaving Carlstrom to take the win. An extract from the CyclingNews report:Something must have changed in cycling: long lasting breakaways can now succeed. Kjell Carlstrom (Liquigas) and Clement Lhotellerie (Skil-Shimano) were well inspired to go clear after only eight kilometres with Bradley McGee (Team CSC). The duo lost the Australian on the day’s final climb, and battled for the stage win in Saint-Etienne at the end of another hard day of racing. Lhotellerie was stuck on the front in the finale and managed to keep 43 seconds lead over the chasing group in which Sylvain Chavanel took the lead over from Thor Hushovd, but could not prevent Carlstrom from coming past at the line.
Big gains today for Chavenal, Sanchez, Moreau, Cunego and Popovych. Evans (supporting Popovych, the latter now moving into the Top 10 on GC) and Millar are now at over 7 minutes back from the new overal leader, Chavenal. Lowe (who fell) is over 4minutes back on GC. Slightly better, Gerrans is at 3:10. McGee himself is now 24mins off the lead but taking mountains points, which has to be a good sign of a return to past form – and hopefully no back pain. Keep away from hefting those potted plants, Brad.
The Top 10 on GC (via CN):
1 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis 12.37.01
2 Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 0.03
3 Gorka Verdugo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0.08
4 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 0.14
5 Juan Manuel Gárate (Spa) Quick Step 0.18
6 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Silence-Lotto 0.19
7 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) Ag2r-La Mondiale 0.21
8 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank
9 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team CSC 0.22
10 Alexander Efimkin (Rus) Quick Step 0.34
Climbs! A bit of a change after Gert Steegmans‘ 2 sprint wins in a row. An early break got away and went all of the way. McGee dropped off on the last climb but played his part in the successful break, leaving Carlstrom to take the win. An extract from the CyclingNews report:Something must have changed in cycling: long lasting breakaways can now succeed. Kjell Carlstrom (Liquigas) and Clement Lhotellerie (Skil-Shimano) were well inspired to go clear after only eight kilometres with Bradley McGee (Team CSC). The duo lost the Australian on the day’s final climb, and battled for the stage win in Saint-Etienne at the end of another hard day of racing. Lhotellerie was stuck on the front in the finale and managed to keep 43 seconds lead over the chasing group in which Sylvain Chavanel took the lead over from Thor Hushovd, but could not prevent Carlstrom from coming past at the line.
Big gains today for Chavenal, Sanchez, Moreau, Cunego and Popovych. Evans (supporting Popovych, the latter now moving into the Top 10 on GC) and Millar are now at over 7 minutes back from the new overal leader, Chavenal. Lowe (who fell) is over 4minutes back on GC. Slightly better, Gerrans is at 3:10. McGee himself is now 24mins off the lead but taking mountains points, which has to be a good sign of a return to past form – and hopefully no back pain. Keep away from hefting those potted plants, Brad.
The Top 10 on GC (via CN):
1 Sylvain Chavanel (Fra) Cofidis 12.37.01
2 Luis León Sánchez (Spa) Caisse d’Epargne 0.03
3 Gorka Verdugo (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi 0.08
4 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Gerolsteiner 0.14
5 Juan Manuel Gárate (Spa) Quick Step 0.18
6 Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Silence-Lotto 0.19
7 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ita) Ag2r-La Mondiale 0.21
8 Robert Gesink (Ned) Rabobank
9 Karsten Kroon (Ned) Team CSC 0.22
10 Alexander Efimkin (Rus) Quick Step 0.34
I forgot to mention that Aussie Brett Lancaster fell on stage 1 as well… and now just about everyone managed to fall or be blocked by the pile-up at the finish in Gent. No real surprise that home-town-boy Steegmans won, he looked like a future winner last year with his awesome, rocketing leadouts for McEwen and here he was arriving centre stage in front of his home crowd. It was just a matter of timing – let him go late enough and no-one’s going to get past – not even Tom Boonen.
McEwen looked sore after his Stage 1 prang, and that uphill finish can’t have been good for the wrist or the knee. What he didn’t need was to lose his lead out man, Fast Freddy, who appeared to get tangled up in the big smash. McEwen himself was hit by a flying bike and only just escaped – at first I thought he went down when Zabel pulled his foot and caused the following rider to veer hard right. But it was the green Liquigas jersey of Quinziato instead. In comparison Quickstep seemed to escape damage, clearly a help to Steegmans and Boonen in in the end. That’s bike racing.
We’ll have to see who wakes up fresh and who wakes up sore to judge the full impact. Cancellara looked OK but he may have lost some domestiques – but then again, which team hasn’t? Some will be battered and bruised but will hang in there at less than 100%, which will open up possibilities for the riders who are unscathed and can ride without (additional) pain. It’s a long, long 236km stage so having a rest could be on some riders’ minds. So expect breakaway action and another chase – but how complete and motivated to chase will the sprinters’ teams be? Hey, it’s their job – of course they’ll chase.
I forgot to mention that Aussie Brett Lancaster fell on stage 1 as well… and now just about everyone managed to fall or be blocked by the pile-up at the finish in Gent. No real surprise that home-town-boy Steegmans won, he looked like a future winner last year with his awesome, rocketing leadouts for McEwen and here he was arriving centre stage in front of his home crowd. It was just a matter of timing – let him go late enough and no-one’s going to get past – not even Tom Boonen.
McEwen looked sore after his Stage 1 prang, and that uphill finish can’t have been good for the wrist or the knee. What he didn’t need was to lose his lead out man, Fast Freddy, who appeared to get tangled up in the big smash. McEwen himself was hit by a flying bike and only just escaped – at first I thought he went down when Zabel pulled his foot and caused the following rider to veer hard right. But it was the green Liquigas jersey of Quinziato instead. In comparison Quickstep seemed to escape damage, clearly a help to Steegmans and Boonen in in the end. That’s bike racing.
We’ll have to see who wakes up fresh and who wakes up sore to judge the full impact. Cancellara looked OK but he may have lost some domestiques – but then again, which team hasn’t? Some will be battered and bruised but will hang in there at less than 100%, which will open up possibilities for the riders who are unscathed and can ride without (additional) pain. It’s a long, long 236km stage so having a rest could be on some riders’ minds. So expect breakaway action and another chase – but how complete and motivated to chase will the sprinters’ teams be? Hey, it’s their job – of course they’ll chase.
