EuroTrash Monday!

By Alastair Hamilton On May 28, 2012

Sad to say, but the 2012 Giro d’Italia is over, wasn’t it great from the first pedal stroke to the last? Canada (and Garmin) has its first Grand Tour winner, Ryder Hesjedal had more than one battle to overcome, but apart from one scare on stage 20, he had it all under control. We also have the Tour of Belgium and the Bayern-Rundfahrt to catch up with, along with some other news and lots of video action. Settle back for an overflowing EuroTrash Monday.

“Top Story”
It has to be the Giro d’Italia and that first Canadian Grand Tour win by Ryder Hesjedal. It was a very good Giro, nail biting from beginning to end with nothing certain until the last day. Basso, Scarponi, Pozzovivo tried their best to keep the win in Italy, but they just didn’t have what it needed. Mark Cavendish kept the sprint excitement high and he has become more human, although I don’t think Roberto Ferrari will ever be on his Christmas card list.

Joaquim Rodriguez and Thomas De Gendt attacked and that’s what we like to see, but Rodriguez couldn’t take enough time for an overall victory, De Gendt took lots of time, but only did it once and did lose time on other stage. Ryder Hesjedal conserved when needed and rode hard also when needed, so the best man won.

The Giro route was well planned and not dangerous, very hard and compulsive viewing. On a personal note; I wrote eleven race reports and short reports on every stage of the Giro for EuroTrash and looked forward to every one of them.

It was a great Giro for Canada, a good race for the Spanish and not a bad race for the Italians, RAI Sport coverage has to be the best, I don’t know how much TV time people in Canada got, but in Spain (apart from Euro Sport) there was no TV of any kind, live or repeat.

It’s the Tour de France next, but it won’t be as good as the Giro d’Italia, just can’t wait for those excruciatingly long boring flat stages in the middle of France!

Any excuse to see the promo video again:

Giro d’Italia 2012: The Last 4 Day’s
When we left the Giro d’Italia on Thursday Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) was leading the overall by 30 seconds from Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin-Barracuda), with Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale) in third at 1:22 and Michele Scarponi (Lampre-ISD) and Rigberto Uran (Sky) within 3 minutes.

Stage 18 was very fast as they covered the 139 kilometres in 3 hours, this was mostly down to Mark Cavendish and his team wanting all the available points for his red jersey. They chased down the break before the intermediate sprint for Cav to take that one and then had to do the same for the finish. The Sky lead-out train was not the best again as they were pushed out the way a couple of times, but in the end Geraint Thomas towed Cavendish to as close to the line as he could before swinging out the way. The problem was that the Manxman didn’t have enough speed/strength to hold off Andrea Guardini (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia) and it was an angry Cavendish who crossed the line second. As he said after “I don’t like losing!” As he will not win many more points before Milan and Joaquim Rodriguez might, it puts his red jersey in jeopardy.

Giro d’Italia Stage 18 Result:
1. Andrea Guardini (Ita) Farnese Vini-Selle Italia in 3:00:52
2. Mark Cavendish (GB) Sky
3. Roberto Ferrari (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
4. Robert Hunter (RSA) Garmin-Barracuda
5. Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Saxo Bank
6. Giacomo Nizzolo (Ita) RadioShack-Nissan
7. Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha
8. Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step
9. Geoffrey Soupe (Fra) FDJ-BigMat
10. Dennis Vanendert (Bel) Lotto Belisol.

Giro d’Italia Overall After Stage 18:
1. Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha Team 77:47:38
2. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Barracuda at 0:30
3. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale at 1:22
4. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-ISD at 1:36
5. Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky at 2:56
6. Benat Intxausti Elorriaga (Spa) Movistar at 3:04
7. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Colnago-CSF Inox at 3:19
8. Paolo Tiralongo (Ita) Astana at 4:13
9. Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM at 4:38
10. Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky at 4:42.

The stage 18 sprint:

Roman Kreuziger (Astana) may have won Stage 19 but it was Garmin-Barracuda’s Ryder Hesjedal who stamped his authority all over the Giro stage to the Alpe di Pampeago on Friday. Kreuziger was at 12 minutes overall at the start in Treviso, but this win has shown he can do it (possibly) in the future. The usual early break (of 17) split to leave Sandy Casar (FDJ-BigMat), Stefano Pirazzi (Colnago-CSF Inox), Thomas Rohregger (RadioShack-Nissan) and Emanuele Sella (Androni Giocattoli) out front. 25 kilometres from the finish Kreuziger made his move and went through them all for his stage win. Behind; all the GC men were on the limit with the Liquigas-Cannondale team doing the riding on the front for Ivan Basso. When the top men hit the last climb of the Alpe di Pampeago they were all together, Basso, Rodriguez, Hesjedal, Scarponi and Pozzovivo, with the two Sky Columbians; Uran and Henao. Scarponi attacked Basso countered, Scarponi again and Hejedal closed to him, rode with him, then dropped him. Behind they were all fighting to keep their places, Rodriguez managed to pass the struggling Scarponi, but now only had 17 seconds lead on Hesjedal.

Omega Pharma – Quick-Step’s Dario Cataldo was amongst the action riding with Kreuzigger at one point and eventually finishing 15th on the stage, this is his story: “Today I tried to do something special,” Cataldo said. “I was scared about this stage. I’m the type of rider who suffers on the climbs with high inclination. I decided to attack, to try to anticipate the best riders of the peloton before the last climb. Tactically we played very well. Along the way I found Pauwels, who was a great help for me before the final ascent. When I remained alone with Kreuziger to try to win the stage, I had no power left in my legs. I would have preferred a more regular ascent — it would be better for me. Beyond all, though, today it was also important to give a signal, showing that we are a team of fighters. Tomorrow is another day, the last on the mountains. If we will find the right condition, we will try again with an eye also on the GC. I really would like to conquer a place in the top 10, for me and for the team. The Stelvio is a monument of cycling, and tomorrow might hold some surprises for the top of the charts.”

“Today we decided to try to stick with the two men who ride well on the mountains,” Sports Director Davide Bramati said. “The objective was to recuperate sometime in the standings and maybe try to win the stage if there were the right conditions. The tactic was good. Cataldo did a great job but unfortunately, wasn’t able to follow the rhythm of Kreuziger in the final. Dario missed some legs today, but certainly not the courage. The goal for tomorrow is to keep Dario among the top 10 in the overall standings, waiting for the last time trial in Milan on Sunday.”

Giro d’Italia Stage 19 Result:
1. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana in 6:18:02
2. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Barracuda at 0:19
3. Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha at 0:32
4. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-ISD at 0:35
5. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Colnago-CSF Inox at 0:43
6. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale at 0:55
7. Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky at 0:57
8. Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi at 1:18
9. Stefano Pirazzi (Ita) Colnago-CSF Inox at 1:22
10. John Gadret (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale.

Giro d’Italia Overall After Stage 19:
1. Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha in 84:06:12
2. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Barracuda at 0:17
3. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-ISD at 1:39
4. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale at 1:45
5. Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky at 3:21
6. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Colnago-CSF Inox at 3:30
7. John Gadret (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale at 5:36
8. Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM at 5:40
9. Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky at 5:47
10. Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-ISD at 6:09.

Stage 19 action:

Thomas De Gendt of Vacansoleil-DCM upset the apple cart by totally dominating the stage in the style of the great Eddy Merckx. Stage 20 was the stage everyone was scared of, it could have been a day of negativity, but with the horrendous climbs of the Tonali, Aprica Teglio followed by the unbelievably hard Mortirolo and finishing up the mythical Stelvio there had to be action, but who would have guessed that a Belgian would set the Giro alight. A break of 14 went away on the first climb of the Tonali; Roman Kreuziger (Astana), Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Barracuda), Damiano Caruso (Liquigas-Cannondale), Tom Slagter & Stef Clement (Rabobank), Jose Serpa (Androni Giocattoli), Andrey Amador & Branislaw Samoilau (Movistar), Matteo Rabottini (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia), Oliver Zaugg (RadioShack-Nissan), Matteo Carrara (Vacansoleil-DCM), Mathias Frank (BMC), Matteo Bono (Lampre-ISD), Alberto Losada (Katusha) stuck it out as long as they could. Zaugg went for it on the Mortirolo, but behind him Thomas De Gendt had a plan, he rode through them all, building up a small group ahead until they had served his purpose and he headed off on his own for glory. There was a certain amount of confusion in the pink jersey group which in the end forced Garmin-Barracuda to chase using Stetina and Vande Velde until they were spent.

Scarponi attacked a tiring Hesjedal, Rodriguez waited, then rode away from the Canadian, passed Scarponi and finished 4th taking time from all the other GC hopefuls, but would it be enough for the time trial? Thomas De Gendt moved from 8th to 4th, from 5:40 to 2:18 behind the pink jersey of Joaquim Rodriguez. Now just the time trial to go.

Bad news for Mark Cavendish, as Rodriguez finished 4th he took the red jersey by 1 point.

Giro d’Italia Stage 20 Result:
1. Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM in 6:54:41
2. Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-ISD at 0:56
3. Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi at 2:50
4. Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha at 3:22
5. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-ISD at 3:34
6. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Barracuda at 3:36
7. John Gadret (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale at 4:29
8. Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky at 4:53
9. Sergio Luis Henao Montoya (Col) Sky at 4:55
10. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale.

Giro d’Italia Overall After Stage 20:
1. Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha in 91:04:16
2. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Barracuda at 0:31
3. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-ISD at 1:51
4. Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM at 2:18
5. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale at 3:18
6. Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-ISD at 3:43
7. Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky at 4:52
8. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Colnago-CSF Inox at 5:47
9. Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi at 5:56
10. John Gadret (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale at 6:43.

Stage 20:

The Final Stage was the decider for a very hard Giro d’Italia, Marco Pinotti (BMC) won the stage, but it didn’t seem so important with the battle for the Giro podium between Joaquim Rodriguez, Ryder Hesjedal, Michele Scarponi, Thomas De Gendt and Ivan Basso going on. Hesjedal was faster all the way and at one point it looked like a landslide victory, but Rodriguez rode the last section flat out, not enough to save the overall, but he only lost by 16 seconds at the end. Not so lucky was Michele Scarponi, Thomas De Gendt was much too fast for the Italian and jumped over him for his 3rd place on the podium. A great Giro and a great winner and Canada’s first Grand Tour win.

Giro d’Italia Stage 21 Result:
1. Marco Pinotti (Ita) BMC in 33:06
2. Geraint Thomas (GB) Sky at 0:39
3. Jesse Sergent (NZl) RadioShack-Nissan at 0:53
4. Alex Rasmussen (Den) Garmin-Barracuda at 1:01
5. Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM
6. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Barracuda at 1:09
7. Gustav Larsson (Swe) Vacansoleil-DCM at 1:14
8. Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Liquigas-Cannondale at 1:15
9. Svein Tuft (Can) Orica-GreenEdge at 1:22
10. Julien Vermote (Bel) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step at 1:23.

Giro d’Italia 2012 Final Overall:
1. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin-Barracuda in 91:39:02
2. Joaquim Rodriguez Oliver (Spa) Katusha at 0:16
3. Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Vacansoleil-DCM at 1:39
4. Michele Scarponi (Ita) Lampre-ISD at 2:05
5. Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale at 3:44
6. Damiano Cunego (Ita) Lampre-ISD at 4:40
7. Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky at 5:57
8. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Colnago-CSF Inox at 6:28
9. Sergio Henao (Col) Sky at 7:50
10. Mikel Nieve (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi at 8:08
11. John Gadret (Fra) AG2R-La Mondiale at 9:12
12. Dario Cataldo (Ita) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step at 11:59
13. Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Colnago-CSF Inox at 14:20
14. Johann Tschopp (Swi) BMC at 14:27
15. Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Astana at 19:58
16. Hubert Dupont (Fra) Ag2r-La Mondiale at 20:59
17. Marzio Bruseghin (Ita) Movistar at 25:39
18. Sergio Pardilla Bellon (Spa) Movistar at 29:19
19. Francis De Greef (Bel) Lotto-Belisol at 35:00
20. Daniel Moreno Fernandez (Spa) Katusha at 36:17.

Point’s Competition:
Joaquim Rodriguez (Spa) Katusha.

Mountain’s Competition:
Matteo Rabottini (Ita) Farnese Vini-Selle Italia.

Best Young Rider:
Rigoberto Uran Uran (Col) Sky.

The last stage TT:

And the podium:

Tour of Belgium 2012
Stage 1 was won by Andre Geipel (Lotto-Belisol) to take the stage and the overall. Stage 2 saw the big German do the double by beating Danilo Napolitano (Acqua & Sapone) by a tyres width, needing a close look at the photo finish. Earlier in the day there was a 5 man break of Pim Ligthart (Vacansoleil-DCM), Aleksejs Saramotins (Cofidis), Ramon Sinkeldam (Argos-Shimano), Jay Thomson (UnitedHealthcare) and Mark McNally (An Post-Sean Kelly), it was caught on the run-in for the Lotto-Belisol lead-out train to take over the running for Griepel.

Tour of Belgium Stage 2 Result:
1. Andrй Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol in 3:46:13
2. Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Acqua & Sapone
3. Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Astana
4. Adrien Petit (Fra) Cofidis
5. Kenny Robert Van Hummel (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM
6. Michael Van Staeyen (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator
7. Timothy Dupont (Bel) Jong Vlaanderen
8. Bert De Backer (Bel) Argos-Shimano
9. Alexey Tsatevitch (Rus) Katusha
10. Sven Vanthourenhout (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Euphony

Tour of Belgium Overall After Stage 2:
1. Andrй Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol in 7:19:04
2. Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Acqua & Sapone at 0:08
3. Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Astana at 0:16
4. Kenny Robert Van Hummel (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM
5. Pim Ligthart (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM at 0:17
6. Egidijus Juodvalkis (Ltu) Landbouwkrediet-Euphony
7. Simon Geschke (Ger) Argos-Shimano at 0:18
8. Mark Mcnally (GB) An Post-Sean Kelly
9. Leonardo Fabio Duque (Col) Cofidis at 0:19
10. Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Argos-Shimano.

Stage 2 on RTBF.

The break on Stage 3 went after 30 kilometres, in it were; Maxim Belkov (Katusha), Pieter Vanspeybrouck (Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator), Coen Vermeltfoort (Rabobank), Tijmen Eising (Sunweb-Revor) and Alessandro Donati (Acqua & Sapone), they built up a lead of 4 minutes, but were pulled back for the sprint by Omega Pharma – Quick-Step and BMC and then Lotto Belisol took over for Andrй Greipel to take the sprint.

Adam Blythe registered his fourth top five finish of the season – and his second at the Tour of Belgium – Blythe’s result was his best since finishing third at the Handzame Classic March 16. It also earned him the white jersey of best young rider. “With about five kilometres to go, I tried to get as close as I could to Marcus (Burghardt) and then we found each other and (Michael) Schдr took me to the front,” Blythe said. “Just before the 2 km banner, I was on Danilo Napolitano’s wheel, but then it stayed in single file to the finish.” Directeur Sportif John Lelangue said the BMC Racing Team tried several times to split the peloton in the crosswind section of the finishing circuit. Though the acceleration did not force a selection, it did contribute to the chase and catch of five riders who had broken away earlier in the 173.5 km stage. “The final loop was really tricky and one part of the team protected Philippe Gilbert while the other helped position Blythe in the top five for the last kilometre,” Lelangue said. Saturday’s penultimate stage is a flat, 20 km individual time trial.

Tour of Belgium Stage 3 Result:
1. Andrй Greipel (Ger) Lotto Belisol in 4:03:34
2. Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Acqua & Sapone
3. Adam Blythe (GB) BMC
4. Kenny Robert Van Hummel (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM
5. Andrew Fenn (GB) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step
6. Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator
7. Bert De Backer (Bel) Argos-Shimano
8. Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank
9. Alexey Tsatevich (Rus) Katusha
10. Borut Bozic (Slo) Astana.

Tour of Belgium Overall After Stage 3:
1. Andrй Greipel (Ger) Lotto-Belisol in 11:22:28
2. Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Acqua & Sapone at 0:12
3. Kenny van Hummel (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM at 0:26
4. Adam Blythe (GB) BMC
5. Jacopo Guarnieri (Ita) Astana
6. Pim Ligthart (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM at 0:27
7. Egidijus Juodvalkis (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Euphony
8. Maxim Belkov (Rus) Katusha
9. Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank at 0:28
10. Mark McNally (GB) An Post-Sean Kelly.

Stage 3:

Stage 4 was an individual time trial of 20.5 kilometres from Turnhout to Arendonk and World time trial champion Tony Martin showed he is over his crash in April and won the test and took the overall at the same time. “I am happy to have won the first of the year,” Martin said. “It took a while but now I’m satisfied. It was hard a windy time trial, maybe not one of the best of my career but it was important to break the ice. We have a really strong team. We will try to fight for the GC tomorrow. There are a few guys we have to watch. Tomorrow it will be a battle. It’s a hard stage, but I feel very good and I will try for it, surrounded by a great team able to ride without fear in the wind. The guys here know every meter of tomorrow’s race and they are really motivated.”

“It was my goal to make a good race here in Belgium and so far I did what I was expecting from myself,” Martin said. “It’s a pleasure to return to victory in Belgium in front of such a great crowd.”

Tour of Belgium Stage 4 Result:
1. Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step at 24:04
2. Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM at 0:46
3. Niki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step at 0:52
4. Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Rabobank at 1:00
5. Alexander Serov (Rus) RusVelo at 1:05
6. Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank at 1:11
7. Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana at 1:15
8. Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Argos-Shimano at 1:19
9. Sergey Firsanov (Rus) RusVelo at 1:21
10. Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step at 1:23.

Tour of Belgium Overall After Stage 4:
1. Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step in 11:47:02
2. Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM at 0:46
3. Niki Terpstra (Ned) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step at 0:52
4. Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Rabobank at 1:00
5. Alexander Serov (Rus) RusVelo at 1:05
6. Lars Boom (Ned) Rabobank at 1:09
7. Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana at 1:15
8. Tobias Ludvigsson (Swe) Argos-Shimano at 1:19
9. Sergey Firsanov (Rus) RusVelo at 1:21
10. Guillaume Van Keirsbulck (Bel) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step at 1:23.

Short report on stage 4:

Colombian Carlos Betancur (Acqua & Sapone) got the better of Kevin Pauwels (Sunweb-Revor) and Sergey Firsanov (RusVelo) at the end of a long and hard 208.5 kilometre Final Stage from Clavier to Engis. The three managed to stay ahead of the peloton and Tony Martin (Omega Pharma – Quick-Step) held on to his overall.

Martin said after the race that he will go to the Critйrium du Dauphinй as his next step, in preparation for the Tour de France.

“The whole stage was pretty hard, like expected,” Martin said. “The profile, I think it was 16 climbs, really hard climbs from the Ardennes Classics, so we knew it would be a hard stage. But we really had a strong team here. We controlled the race right from the beginning, and then in the final I took the risk to stay in front, so that the gap in front couldn’t get far away. It was really hard, but I have to say thank you to the whole team. The whole week they always protected me. I am really happy for this team that we could win this race here.”

“It was really an important race for me,” Martin said of his win in Belgium. “I didn’t have a win yet. I had some physical problems due to the crash and it takes always a while to get with a new team and get used to everything, but I think we are now in a really good way. It’s really important to give the confidence for the future. I am really happy, the team is happy especially since it’s the home race here. So, this is a special win and a great week for me and the whole team.”

“My next race will be the Critйrium du Dauphinй as next step, in preparation for the Tour de France,” concluded Martin.

Tour of Belgium Stage 5 Result:
1. Carlos Alberto Betancur Gomez (Col) Acqua & Sapone in 5:04:18
2. Kevin Pauwels (Bel) Sunweb-Revor at 0:02
3. Sergey Firsanov (Rus) RusVelo
4. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC at 0:05
5. Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM
6. Bert De Waele (Bel) Landbouwkrediet-Euphony 0:00:08
7. Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step
8. Dmitry Kozontchuk (Rus) RusVelo
9. Alexandr Kolobnev (Rus) Katusha at 0:11
10. Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Rabobank at 0:13.

Tour of Belgium Final Overall:
1. Tony Martin (Ger) Omega Pharma – Quick-Step in 16:51:28
2. Lieuwe Westra (Ned) Vacansoleil-DCM at 0:43
3. Carlos Barredo Llamazales (Spa) Rabobank at 1:02
4. Sergey Firsanov (Rus) RusVelo at 1:11
5. Andriy Grivko (Ukr) Astana at 1:26
6. Francesco Reda (Ita) Acqua & Sapone at 1:38
7. Philippe Gilbert (Bel) BMC at 1:45
8. Simon Spilak (Slo) Katusha at 1:47
9. Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC at 1:50
10. Maarten Wynants (Bel) Rabobank at 1:58.

Bayern-Rundfahrt 2012
Stage 1 went to the “old man” Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD), he also had the overall. Stage 1 from Traunstein to Penzberg of 216 kilometres with a climb in the middle was held together by the Lampre-ISD team for the sprint, where Danilo Hondo led-out for Petacchi.

Bayern-Rundfahrt Stage 1 Result:
1. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-ISD in 5:29:01
2. Allan Davis (Aus) Orica GreenEdge
3. Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) FDJ-BigMat
4. John Degenkolb (Ger) Argos-Shimano
5. Alexander Porsev (Rus) Katusha
6. Andreas Stauff (Ger) Team Eddy Merckx-Indeland
7. Tony Gallopin (Fra) RadioShack-Nissan
8. Rafai Chtioui (Tun) Europcar
9. Blaz Jarc (Slo) Team NetApp
10. Baden Cooke (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge.

Bayern-Rundfahrt Overall After Stage 1:
1. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-ISD in 5:28:51
2. Allan Davis (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge at 0:04
3. David Boucher (Fra) FDJ-BigMat
4. Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) FDJ-BigMat at 0:06
5. Alexander Schmitt (Ger) Nutrixxion Abus at 0:07
6. Marcus Fothen (Ger) Team NSP-Ghost
7. Steffen Radochla (Ger) Team NSP-Ghost at 0:08
8. Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Team NetApp
9. Bjorn Thurau (Ger) Europcar at 0:09
10. Jasha Sьtterlin (Ger) Thьringer Energie Team.

Stage 1:

Michael Rogers (Sky) won Stage 2 from a five man break away that escaped with around 45 kilometres to the finish in Kempen. The 5 were; Rogers and Sky team mate Kanstantsin Sivtsov, Vladimir Gusev (Katusha), Jerome Coppel (Saur-Sojasun), Haimar Zubeldia (RadioShack-Nissan). Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD) brought in the bunch 23 seconds later, but Michael Rogers took the overall.

Bayern-Rundfahrt Stage 2 Result:
1. Michael Rogers (Aus) Sky in 4:43:48
2. Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Katusha
3. Jerome Coppel (Fra) Saur-Sojasun
4. Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) RadioShack-Nissan
5. Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Blr) Sky
6. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-ISD at 0:23
7. Allan Davis (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
8. John Degenkolb (Ger) Argos-Shimano
9. Tony Gallopin (Fra) RadioShack-Nissan
10. Tim Declercq (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator.

Bayern-Rundfahrt Overall After Stage 2:
1. Michael Rogers (Aus) Sky in 10:12:36
2. Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Katusha at 0:05
3. Jerome Coppel (Fra) Saur-Sojasun at 0:09
4. Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Blr) Sky at 0:12
5. Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) RadioShack-Nissan at 0:13
6. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-ISD at 0:26
7. Allan Davis (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge at 0:30
8. Thomas Voeckler (Fra) Europcar at 0:31
9. Marcus Fothen (Ger) Team NSP-Ghost at 0:33
10. Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Team NetApp at 0:34.

Stage 2:

Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD) won the sprint for Stage 3 in Treuchtlingen ahead of Yauheni Hutarovich (FDJ-BigMat), the two clashed after the line to come down, both seemed OK apart from a Hutarovich receiving a cut over his left eye. Daniel Westmattelmann (Eddy Merckx-Indeland), Andre Benoit (Heizomat), Jacob Fiedler (NSP-Ghost) and Bastian Bьrgel (Thьringer Energie) escaped after 5 kilometres but with Lampre, Sky, FDJ and Garmin chasing they were pulled back with 5 kilometres to go. The Lampre-ISD lead-out train took Petacchi perfectly to the line for his second stage win.

Bayern-Rundfahrt Stage 3 Result:
1. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-ISD in 4:54:24
2. Yauheni Hutarovich (Blr) FDJ-BigMat
3. John Degenkolb (Ger) Argos-Shimano
4. Michael Schweizer (Ger) Nutrixxion Abus
5. Allan Davis (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
6. Stйphane Poulhies (Fra) Saur-Sojasun
7. Tony Gallopin (Fra) RadioShack-Nissan
8. Koldo Fernandez (Spa) Garmin-Barracuda
9. Alexander Porsev (Rus) Katusha
10. Ricardo Garcia Ambroa (Spa) Euskaltel-Euskadi.

Bayern-Rundfahrt Overall Stage 3:
1. Michael Rogers (Aus) Sky in 15:07:00
2. Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Katusha at 0:05
3. Jerome Coppel (Fra) Saur-Sojasun at 0:09
4. Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Blr) Sky at 0:12
5. Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) RadioShack-Nissan at 0:13
6. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-ISD at 0:16
7. Allan Davis (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge at 0:30
8. John Degenkolb (Ger) Argos-Shimano at 0:32
9. Marcus Fothen (Ger) Team NSP-Ghost at 0:33
10. Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Team NetApp at 0:34.

Stage 3:

Michael Rogers (Sky) won the 26.4 kilometre time trial Stage 4 in Feuchtwangen ahead of team mate Richie Porte, extending his overall lead on Vladimir Gusev (Katusha) to 25 seconds from the previous 5 seconds with only one stage to go. The recovering Fabian Cancellara (RadioShack-Nissan) finished 1:15 down on Rogers, so still has some work to do to regain full fitness after his broken collarbone in the Tour of Flanders.

Bayern-Rundfarht Stage 4 Result:
1. Michael Rogers (Aus) Sky at 31:15
2. Richie Porte (Aus) Sky at 0:04
3. Jerome Coppel (Fra) Saur-Sojasun at 0:16
4. Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Katusha at 0:24
5. Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Blr) Sky at 0:35
6. Tony Gallopin (Fra) RadioShack-Nissan at 0:37
7. Christian Knees (Ger) Sky at 0:41
8. Joost Posthuma (Ned) RadioShack-Nissan at 0:46
9. Jens Mouris (Ned) Orica-GreenEdge at 0:49
10. Jйrйmy Roy (Fra) FDJ-BigMat at 0:54

Bayern-Rundfahrt Overall After Stage 4:
1. Michael Rogers (Aus) Sky in 15:38:14
2. Jerome Coppel (Fra) Saur-Sojasun at 0:25
3. Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Katusha at 0:30
4. Richie Porte (Aus) Sky at 0:41
5. Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Blr) Sky at 0:47
6. Tony Gallopin (Fra) RadioShack-Nissan at 1:13
7. Christian Knees (Ger) Sky at 1:17
8. Joost Posthuma (Ned) RadioShack-Nissan at 1:22
9. Jйrйmy Roy (Fra) FDJ-BigMat at 1:30
10. Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) RadioShack-Nissan at 1:33.

Stage 4:

The Final Stage was won by Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-ISD) from Allan Davis (Orica-GreenEdge) in (surprise, surprise) a bunch sprint, which suited overall leader Michael Rogers (Sky) as he finished with the peloton. Earlier in the stage Karsten Kroon (Saxo Bank), Cedric Pineau (FDJ-BigMat) and Maximilian Werda (Thьringer Energie) broke away on the first climb of the day, but were caught on the finishing circuit.

Bayern-Rundfahrt Stage 5 Result:
1. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-ISD
2. Allan Davis (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
3. Andrй Schulze (Ger) Team NetApp
4. Christophe Kern (Fra) Europcar
5. Baden Cooke (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
6. John Degenkolb (Ger) Argos-Shimano
7. Koldo Fernandez (Spa) Garmin-Barracuda
8. Tony Gallopin (Fra) RadioShack-Nissan
9. Sven Vandousselaere (Bel) Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator
10. Rudiger Selig (Ger) Katusha.

Bayern-Rundfahrt Final Overall:
1. Michael Rogers (Aus) Sky in 19:26:20
2. Jerome Coppel (Fra) Saur-Sojasun at 0:25
3. Vladimir Gusev (Rus) Katusha at 0:30
4. Richie Porte (Aus) Sky at 0:41
5. Kanstantsin Sivtsov (Blr) Sky at 0:47
6. Tony Gallopin (Fra) RadioShack-Nissan at 1:13
7. Christian Knees (Ger) Sky at 1:17
8. Joost Posthuma (Ned) RadioShack-Nissan at 1:22
9. Jйrйmy Roy (Fra) FDJ-BigMat at 1:30
10. Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (Spa) RadioShack-Nissan at 1:33.

Three From BMC Racing Team To U.S. Nationals
Press Release: BMC Racing Team’s Brent Bookwalter and Tejay van Garderen will compete in Saturday’s time trial before joining George Hincapie for the road race Monday in Greenville, S.C. at the Greenville Hospital System USA Cycling pro championships.

Quality Line-Up
Winner of the stars-and-stripes jersey in 1998, 2006 and 2009, Hincapie will enjoy a “hometown advantage” one more time before the 185 kilometer road race moves to Chattanooga, Tenn., next year. “It’s been great having it in Greenville the past six years,” Hincapie said. “It’s nice to be able to do the race in a place where I train every day. We don’t have a big team but Brent, Tejay and I are in good shape coming out of the Amgen Tour of California.” Last year, Bookwalter finished fourth in the 33 km time trial while Hincapie was narrowly edged out in the road race and van Garderen finished fourth. BMC Racing Team Assistant Director Michael Sayers said any of the team’s riders can win the road race. “So everyone will be free to try and go for the win,” he said.

Download the official race card (PDF with roster, bios, statistics): https://tinyurl.com/7jw6uuq.

BMC Racing Team Puts Two On Podium At U.S. Time Trial
Press Release: Tejay van Garderen finished second and Brent Bookwalter was third for the BMC Racing Team Saturday as David Zabriskie (Garmin-Barracuda) won his seventh national time trial title in the past nine years at the Greenville Hospital System USA Cycling pro championships.

Road Race Is Monday
Zabriskie covered the 33-kilometer course in 40:41, six seconds faster than van Garderen and 27 seconds faster than Bookwalter, who improved on his fourth place from a year ago. Van Garderen said he was surprised to learn he was only six seconds off the winning time after conceding 34 seconds to Zabriskie in a time trial over a similar distance last week at the Amgen Tour of California. “I left everything on the course so I can’t say I have any regrets,” van Garderen said. “But six seconds is a tough pill to swallow. It would have been easier to get second place by 40 seconds. When it’s six seconds, you go back and think about where you could have gone better here or there, or taken a corner differently.”

Racing in front of several family members and close to his home in Asheville, N.C., Bookwalter said he was also encouraged by his result. “Third place is nice and it’s nice to get on the podium,” he said. “But I’m not going to stop here. I’m going to try to keep working to get that jersey.” Monday, van Garderen and Bookwalter will be joined by teammate George Hincapie for the 185 km U.S. national road championship race.

US National Time Trial Championships
1. David Zabriskie (Garmin-Barracuda) in 40:41
2. Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) at 0:06
3. Brent Bookwalter (BMC) at 0:27
4. Thomas Zirbel (Team Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) at 0:42
5. Nathaniel English (Kenda 5-Hour Energy Cycling Team) at 0:57
6. Timothy Duggan (Liquigas-Cannondale) at 1:16
7. James Stemper (Kenda 5-Hour Energy Cycling Team) at 1:25
8. Andrew Talansky (Garmin-Barracuda) at 1:30
9. Benjamin King (RadioShack-Nissan) at 1:52
10. Andy Jacques-Maynes (Kenda 5-Hour Energy Cycling Team) at 1:54.

Contador to Omega Pharma – Quick-Step?
It was thought that Alberto Contador would be making his return to racing with his old team; Saxo Bank, it appears that there have been quite a few teams after the Spaniard, the biggest now in the running being Omega Pharma – Quick-Step. Contador is out of contract at the moment as Saxo Bank annulled their contract when CAS gave Contador his ban. In an interview with Belgian newspaper Gazet Van Antwerpen, Omega team manager Patrick Lefevere confirmed his interest saying “I’m always interested in a free rider with great potential” and that he would find the money for Contador. The problem of Contador not having any UCI ProTour points would not be a problem for Omega as they are top of the league at the moment, where as Saxo Bank are struggling to stay in the ProTour at the bottom with the least points. At the moment anything is possible, but remember that Alberto Contador’s bike sponsor is Specialized and Omega Pharma – Quick-Step also ride the big S.

Large attendance of cyclists at the Alberto Contador Second Gran Fondo
Press Release:The Second Gran Fondo Alberto Contador was held today in Pinto with a massive attendance of cyclists, who took advantage of a great spring day to overcome the hard route of this year, characterized by a section of dirt track that made the final selection.

Alberto Contador was the protagonist of the day and, after giving the start of the race, followed the entire route riding his own motorbike to not miss any detail of the performance of followers and friends, both of them, which were at the head of the pack as well as those who took it more calmly.

Finally, Alberto signed autographs and was photographed with all his fans.

The cyclist day ended with a monumental paella and the drawing of many prizes donated by sponsors of the race, led by Pincasa and Specialized.

Alberto Contador will inaugurate, on Monday at 6 pm, at the Cuesta de Moyano (Madrid) one of the solitary penguins campaign in support of Faunia, which is a charity in favour of people intellectually disabled. Alberto will climb the Cuesta de Moyano by bike with a group of children.

Jan Van Eijden – “Melbourne is an indicator of just how fast things have moved on in track sprinting”
Press Release: Jan Van Eijden, Olympic Sprint Coach for the Great Britain Cycling Team, has spoken of how much times have moved on with regards to sprinting on the track, and has highlighted that he is happy with the team’s performances and feels they are in a good place relating to Olympic medal contention.

Jan told British Cycling:
“Although the 200m times in Melbourne weren’t world record pace, the amount of people going under 10s has simply never been seen before. Even though people argue that it’s a fast track, I think it’s more an indicator of the level at the moment…

“I think the team sprint in the London world cup was a big step for Jess Varnish especially. Even in Melbourne during qualification, she rode the second fastest time of her life.

“We certainly learned something as a coaching team from having London then the worlds, I think we are definitely in with a chance in London. We just need to see how far we can progress in the lead up to the Games this summer.”

Endura Racing make it a perfect four from four in Redditch
Press Release: Four races into the 2012 Halfords Tour Series and Endura Racing have now recorded a perfect four team victories after the latest round in Redditch. The team of Ian Bibby, Jonny McEvoy, Scott Thwaites, Ian Wilkinson and Dean Windsor were in fine form on a beautiful late Spring evening round a tough course in the West Midlands.

The race started with a couple of easy laps before the pace rocketed and the peloton started to lose riders off the back quickly on the hilly course. A dozen or more had been dropped before a quarter of the race had been completed showing just how tough the parcours were and the scorching pace of the bunch.

The hill on the course was used to launch attacks but no move stuck until Dean Windsor and Kristian House (Rapha Condor Sharp) got away. The moved last a few laps before the peloton got them back only for House and Windsor to get away again, but this time with three other riders, all from different teams. The break comprised of Bernie Sulzberger (Team Raleigh-GAC), Matt Cronshaw (Node4 – Giordana Racing), Niklas Gustavsson (Team UK Youth) along with House and Windsor.

The peloton were happy to let the break go and with Dean Windsor in there for Endura Racing, the team were happy to let him go knowing what great form he is in. The gap between break and peloton got bigger and bigger until the last five laps when the break were crawling down the finish straight, watching and daring each other to make the move.

House had a few digs but wasn’t able to do the damage he inflicted last week in Durham and so the race came down to a sprint. Missing in that final dash for the line was Cronshaw, who had been in the break but crashed out with 250 metres to go while out front. Gustavsson and Windsor duelled for victory and the win went to the Swedish rider from Team UK Youth, with Windsor hot on his heels in second.

Scott Thwaites meanwhile, winner of two rounds already, won the bunch sprint for fifth place while Jonny McEvoy’s seventh place was enough for Endura Racing to win the all important team award and increased their lead in the 11 round series to nine points as they approach the halfway point.

Top British Cyclist Lizzie Armitstead to Ride The Daily Mirror Great Manchester Cycle
Press Release: The organisers of the Daily Mirror Great Manchester Cycle, Nova International, have today announced that British cycling sensation, Lizzie Armitstead, will be riding the closed-road urban bike ride on Monday 4th June 2012.

Armitstead, 23, who is a big hope for Olympic gold at this summer’s road race in London, will join over 5000 participants for the event, which is being dubbed as the UK’s largest street party and is England’s first closed road cyclosportive.

Armitstead will be riding the 52-mile ‘Test Yourself’ route and will also set off the first wave of cyclists taking part in the 26-mile ‘Rule the Road’ distance.

With over 200 events already planned over the weekend in Greater Manchester, the Daily Mirror Great Manchester Cycle, which takes places on the Bank Holiday Monday, 4th June, will certainly be the most spectacular. It will showcase 13 miles of closed roads, including a stretch of Manchester’s busiest motorway – the iconic Mancunian way.

“I am really looking forward to taking part in The Daily Mirror Great Manchester Cycle. I spend a lot of time in Manchester and to be able to explore the city in this way is something I really wanted to do. It is going to be the highlight of Manchester’s Jubilee weekend,” said Armitstead.

She continued: “To have 13 miles of closed roads reserved for cyclists only is a great opportunity for Manchester. It’s lovely to be able to do something like this and it will be great to see everyone taking part.”

The 26-mile route has sold out, reaching its 2,500 capacity, but the Daily Mirror Great Manchester Cycle still features two other distances based around the 13-mile closed road loop. The route is designed to cater for all abilities, from club cyclists, to families who wish to take in the sights of the city on a ride together. There’s Get Out and Pedal over 13 miles, or Test Yourself over 52 miles still open for entries.

For the more experienced riders, or those wanting a challenge on this four day weekend, the 52 mile Test Yourself route, which is also being classed as England’s first ever closed-road sportive, will see riders complete four laps of the 13 mile loop. Starting and finishing at Eastlands, the home of Manchester City FC, the course takes in the districts of Manchester, Trafford and Salford, allowing cyclists the chance to see their city from a new perspective as they ride along roads normally strictly off limits to cyclists.

Set over the four-day Jubilee weekend (2-5 June) it means participants will be able to take a well-earned break on the Tuesday Bank Holiday so they can be rested to start back at work on the Wednesday.

The Ј10 entry fee not only gains admission to a closed road mass participation event, but riders will also be given accurate chip timing, a Great Manchester Cycle T-shirt, a medal and a finishers pack.

Set up by Nova International to be part of a ‘Great’ festival of sport in Manchester this summer, the Great Manchester Cycle will join a full programme that includes the UK’s most popular 10k, the Bupa Great Manchester Run and the British Gas Great Manchester Swim.

For event information and how to sign up, please see here: https://www.greatcycle.org.

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