2010 Volta Ciclista a Catalunya

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

seems to me he needed a confidence boost, so even if he isn't beating all the greatest sprinters, this helps.
will be interesting to the next time we get to see him up against some of the bigger sprinters.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

2nd etapa online video

http://www.elsesports.cat/volta

now has a 23 min online video of second stage - click on "2o etapa"

Hope this isn't old news.

 

[python]

pereiro, rodriguez and tondo lead the race in a breakaway with 43 k to go. they are on a downhill off el cameron. not sure how big is the gap but must be small.

 

[icefire]

Pereiro has been dropped. Tondo and Rodríguez lead with 1:10 at 15 km to the finish

 

[icefire]

1:00 with less than 10km to go

 

[python]

the stage winner should be either rodriguez or tondo. i dont see them caught with less than 10k to go and a full minute advantage. logging off.

 

[icefire]

Tondo got it. There's probably been some deal, as Rodríguez takes the GC.

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

1. Xavier Tondo (Cervélo) 4:43:23
2. Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha) m.t.
3. Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne) a 48
4. Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux) a 1:20
5. Michel Kreder (Garmin-Transitions) m.t.
6. Nicolas Roche (AG2R) m.t.
7. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) m.t.
8. Aitor Pérez (Footon-Serevtto-Fuji) m.t.
9. Paolo Tiralongo (Astana) m.t.
10. Rein Taaramae (Cofidis) m.t.

 

[Moondance]

1. Xavier Tondo (Cervélo) 4:43:23
2. Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha) m.t.
3. Luis León Sánchez (Caisse d'Epargne) a 48
4. Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux) a 1:20
5. Michel Kreder (Garmin-Transitions) m.t.
6. Nicolas Roche (AG2R) m.t.
7. Pieter Weening (Rabobank) m.t.
8. Aitor Pérez (Footon-Serevtto-Fuji) m.t.
9. Paolo Tiralongo (Astana) m.t.
10. Rein Taaramae (Cofidis) m.t.

Another nice win for Tondo. Rodriguez has the GC lead tho, and looking at the profiles for the last few stages this should be enough for the GC victory. Katusha have a pretty strong team and should be able to handle any attacks.

 

[Eyeballs Out]

Rodriguez and Tondo did remarkably well to gain that much time - the climbs didn't look that difficult on paper

 

[cineteq]

Today's Result!!!

1 Xavier Tondo (Spa) Cervelo Test Team 4:43:23
2 Joaquin Rodriguez (Spa) Team Katusha
3 Luis Leon Sanchez Gil (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:00:48
13 Oscar Pereiro (Spa) Astana
14 Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Garmin - Transitions
16 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo
18 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Team Katusha
19 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Team Radioshack
23 Guillaume Bonnafond (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:02:05
26 Vladimir Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale
27 Frank Schleck (Lux) Team Saxo Bank
28 Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team Radioshack
33 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
34 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française Des Jeux
42 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Team Radioshack
44 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Transitions

 

[icefire]

Full classifications here:

http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/noticias-ficha.asp?id=24283

 

[theyoungest]

Well, Leipheimer & Klöden, nice job finishing the work your team has done all day. WTF??

 

[theswordsman]

What happened with Oscar Pereiro's placement? He was 10th for post-stage GC at 1:24 on Biciclismo's early listing. Now they and CN have him at 1:44. This morning Rodriguez started 6 seconds back and Pereiro 4 behind him, and on the stage he was 1:20. Should be in tenth place with same time as ninth?

Edit: the official site only has the top ten listed, but Pereiro is there. That puts him, Jufre and Tiralongo ell ahead of Leipheimer and Kloden. Jani Brajkovic is top guy for the Shack but will they let him lead and work for him?

 

[cineteq]

Well, Leipheimer & Klöden, nice job finishing the work your team has done all day. WTF??

That's really disappointing. LA is not a happy camper...
What is the excuse this time?

 

[Jamsque]

I'm happy for Oscar Pereiro, he has been struggling to find form for a couple of years now and he seems to have gotten it sorted out.

Also, Team Sky absolutely stank the place up today.

 

[Publicus]

Well, Leipheimer & Klöden, nice job finishing the work your team has done all day. WTF??

JB was there. Frankly, I don't know why they don't give him opportunities to lead the team at this time of the year. It's clear that he has the goods. Kloden and Levi will work for whoever, he shouldn't have to suffer in their shadows.

Also, it seems like we have the same pattern developing: Levi does well in the TT or prologue and raises everyone's expectations about his form. First mountain stage, those expectations come crashing back to reality. I'm sure we will be reminded that this is just a training ride for him. Wait, was it cold today?

 

[cineteq]

Wait, was it cold today?

Levi's tweet:
A lot of riders crashed on the last descent, including @christianvdv.
It was a very dangerous!

 

[Moondance]

Levi's tweet:
A lot of riders crashed on the last descent, including @christianvdv.
It was a very dangerous!

Very dangerous indeed! There were a couple of evil Spaniards, Lance help them, actually attacking on the climbs. That's no way to conduct a proper race and such unacceptable behavior should be rectified immediately.

 

[BroDeal]

Levi's tweet:
A lot of riders crashed on the last descent, including @christianvdv.
It was a very dangerous!

Maybe Bottle should have taken a page out of Armstrong's playbook and led a rider protest.

 

[theswordsman]

Levi's tweet:
A lot of riders crashed on the last descent, including @christianvdv.
It was a very dangerous!

He also said that Daryl Impey crashed off a bridge into a creek?

 

[Publicus]

He also said that Daryl Impey crashed off a bridge into a creek?

I think he has withdrawn from the race as well. Crashed on a descent when he was in the break.

 

[theswordsman]

I'm happy for Oscar Pereiro, he has been struggling to find form for a couple of years now and he seems to have gotten it sorted out.

Yeah, he looked good chasing Tondo and Rodriguez. I think the change of schedule from Contador will turn out to be really good for Pereiro. I believe he's down for leader at the Tour de Suisse as well. I hope he has the season he deserves. This was his post-stage tweet, via Babelfish:

Good day in the Volta. Again I am ahead and disputing races! I have had cramps when it went with Rodriguez and Tondo! A pain...

Now Astana needs to get David de la Fuente healthy and racing.

 

[theswordsman]

I think he has withdrawn from the race as well. Crashed on a descent when he was in the break.

I didn't mention it, but Levi also tweeted that Jason McCartney crashed on the final descent.

Here's another photo with him wearing a collar after the race. http://img413.yfrog.com/i/hzv.jpg/

 

[Ninety5rpm]

“It was really important for me to win today as this stage is just seven kilometres from my home,” said Tondo after the race.

When they're close to home are they just more motivated, or does the peloton knowingly give them preference?