2010 Tour of Turkey 2HC

[Mellow Velo]

They've kept the break in check without too much difficulty. Stunning scenery doing its best to make up for the endless road kms......
Gruppo Compato at the finish and half the sprinters have already packed.

Still, it's better than the non-existent Castilla y Leon.

 

[Jamsque]

Greipel again. First boring stage of the race so far. I thought Columbia had gone from too far out, but Greipel managed to hold on just long enough.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Fisticuffs and handbags! Spain v Italy.
Kenny v H contests (and loses) the sprint.
Still 3rd...
Gavazzi almost took the giant German.

Yup, it was the bore of the race, this far.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Considering Kenny vH was ill the first few days, and since Greipel is a level higher, he did well

 

[Jamsque]

I was watching at work so without sound, does anyone know what 'tempers flare in bunch sprint chaos' subtitle of the CN report is referring to? Did someone get cut up?

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

I was watching at work so without sound, does anyone know what 'tempers flare in bunch sprint chaos' subtitle of the CN report is referring to? Did someone get cut up?

No some guy punched another guy in the sprint preperation. And after the race some CSF guys and Xacobeo guy where almost fighting

 

[Libertine Seguros]

Isaychev (Xacobeo) was having to fend for himself, and was trying to get in line. Coming up to the final corner it looked like he felt the CSF train was crowding him into the barriers, they felt he was trying to barge in on their train, it was a bit of six of one and half a dozen of the other, Isaychev threw a punch at Frapporti, the CSF guys got rather heated about it and one of the CSF staff was more or less holding back his riders.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Yes, a Galicia rider couldn't get up the inside, a couple of kms out, so he got miffed and clobbered a Colnago CSF dude on the back, with his fist. (see LS's post for names)
After the finish we had a lot of finger waving, latin, hand baggy stuff, from all those involved.

I thought Kenny vH did well, considering he flatted, about 8kms out, when Skil were chasing and had a bad change.
On the overhead, he lost ground as soon as AG opened up, but came back to almost nick second.

 

[Jamsque]

Cofidis have been all over this race so far, but they don't have much to show for it. They had a rider in the break today and on Monday, and were represented in the winning move by one man on stage 3 and three men on stage 4, but the best they have managed to do is a pair of 3rd places. They said they were just using this race as a training ride but you have to think they will be disappointed to have been so aggressive without managing to win.

Wearing the leader's jersey for a day offers some small consolation I'm sure, but they let it slip and I think Moncoutie is out of chances to improve his 3rd place. There's a potentially nasty climb tomorrow, but it's 70km from the finish with the last 30 along a nice flat dual-carriageway, and Saturday's climb is less steep and even farther from the finish. Barring high wind or crashes Visconti should be able to hang on to his lead without too much trouble.

If Columbia are willing to work to pull back breaks every day (and they'll have to do most of it themselves) there is no reason why Greipel couldn't leave Turkey with six wins in eight stages. That would really put the pressure on Cav to produce the goods in front of all the sponsors in California and repay the faith his team has shown in him, although he'd never admit it of course.

 

[luckyboy]

Worst stage so far. At least Cofidis have a jersey to get out of this

Noticed over the past few weeks that Harmon & Backstedt make a good commentating team.

 

[Ferminal]

Worst stage so far. At least Cofidis have a jersey to get out of this

Noticed over the past few weeks that Harmon & Backstedt make a good commentating team.

Magnus is the best of anyone I've heard this year.

Another sprint

The ridiculously "steep" bump there must be only 10km @ 5-6%.

 

[craig1985]

What a beautiful country Turkey is. Seems well supported and organised, and stunning scenery, not bad at all.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Magnus is the best of anyone I've heard this year.

Another sprint

The ridiculously "steep" bump there must be only 10km @ 5-6%.

On that map it looks like they climb 500m in 5kms, which would be 10%.
34kms of nothing much at the end, though.

 

[Mellow Velo]

100kms still to go. Headwind and the big cat 1 climb coming up.
Lead group has 4 minutes.
http://www.myp2p.eu/broadcast.php?matchid=71966&part=sports

 

[TRDean]

Wilmann looking good? Odds the break makes it?

 

[Mellow Velo]

A fair chance I think.
According to the profile, they should be on the climb any minute.....
Hah! 8.5kms at 5.9%
Ferminal called it.

 

[TRDean]

A fair chance I think.
According to the profile, they should be on the climb any minute.....
Hah! 8.5kms at 5.9%
Ferminal called it.

Ahhh... got a stream working!! I am now happy.

 

[TRDean]

Whats up with Doi?? Did he just realize he has talent???

 

[zapata]

Kern dropping wilmann and duran, while the rest of cofidis is attacking visconti in the peloton.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Things have taken off. Cofidis on the charge and Visconti isolated....

 

[Jamsque]

The climb has split the race to pieces. Greipel has been dropped like a hot potato.

 

[TRDean]

Wilmann back up to Kern...Visconti in 3rd group on road??

 

[zapata]

Visconti looking good, and smart. Cofidis strongest team, but if they want to make time on him, they must do it soon.

 

[zapata]

G2 is the remains of the original break, i suppose? Apart from wilmann and kern, i mean.

 

[TRDean]

G2 is the remains of the original break, i suppose? Apart from wilmann and kern, i mean.

Good question...not sure of time splits either??