Tour du Limousin (2.1), 20 Aug - 23 Aug 2013

[Dazed and Confused]

Yes, we are in France and this is the 46th edition, four stages:

Some of the teams starting: Europcar, FDJ, AG2R, Movistar, Euskatel, Vancan and Cofidis.

Arashiro from the land of the rising sun took the win last year, he will start again this year. Some other riders in the race this time:

Voeckler, Vichot, Kadri, Lagutin, Astarloza, Visconti, The Great Cobo, Løfkvist and Siskevicius (just because).

Official site: http://www.tourdulimousin.com/

Don't know if the race is live on the TV, but some European fans may use this race as a bit of distraction before the Vuelta kicks off and the good evening entertainment from Colorado.

 

[Ruudz0r]

Lammertink, Delfosse and Reichenbach to top 10!

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Ticker:

http://direct.directvelo.com/live-course/1751/tour-du-limousin-etape-1--.html

Race starts in 30 minutes or so.

This man:

will strike on stage 1, that is if he can scale the mighty Côte du Chemin Neuf (600m @ 8,8%)

 

[roundabout]

My favorite is Simon, but I don't know his form and how difficult stages 2 and 4 really are.

That is for the overall.

 

[Ferminal]

2 and 4 are nothing. False flat sprints. 3 is the best chance for a good selection. I will go with someone from FDJ, they have several options.

 

[Ferminal]

Seems like a pretty hot race so far. BOTD lasted only about 50km.

 

[Ferminal]

Eh, today's finish is actually the hardest of the lot. 5% for the last k if the schedule is to be believed (first French race I've seen with altitude listed).

 

[Ferminal]

13km to go, this move looks like a winner.

Arashiro (Europcar), Lagutin (Vacansoleil), Elmiger (IAM Cycling), Gérard, Malacarne (Bretagne-Séché), Di Corrado (Bardiani), Bonnafond (AG2R La Mondiale), Martinez (La Pomme Marseille), Delaplace (Sojasun), Fedrigo (FDJ.fr) et Lemarchand (Cofidis)

à 48'' : Astarloza (Euskaltel-Euskadi)

à 1' : Peloton

 

[Dazed and Confused]

13km to go, this move looks like a winner.

Arashiro (Europcar), Lagutin (Vacansoleil), Elmiger (IAM Cycling), Gérard, Malacarne (Bretagne-Séché), Di Corrado (Bardiani), Bonnafond (AG2R La Mondiale), Martinez (La Pomme Marseille), Delaplace (Sojasun), Fedrigo (FDJ.fr) et Lemarchand (Cofidis)

à 48'' : Astarloza (Euskaltel-Euskadi)

à 1' : Peloton

In that case Arashiro FTW.

 

[Gloin22]

In that case Arashiro FTW.

Yannick Martinez is better sprinter, at least this year.

 

[roundabout]

Martinez is the fastest in theory.

But I hope old man Fedrigo can surprise.

 

[Ferminal]

Elmiger... going to be hard to stop IAM.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Looks like a late move.
Stage 1 result (prelim.):

1 Elmiger (IAM Cycling)
2 Arashiro (Europcar) à 2''
3 Di Corrado (Bardiani)
4 Lagutin (Vacansoleil)

 

[veji11]

Pretty hectic stage really breakaways kept on forming and being chased down for a new one to form itself, probably happpened 4/5 times in total, lots of battling all the way long, really old fashioned cycling, all a fast rythm. This will have tired out lots of riders for the next 3 days.

 

[CzechBike]

Stage 2 is underway and a reasonable breakaway gas formed which takes all of the early points in KOM

 

[Dazed and Confused]

112km left of stage 2, gap 2:30.

39 * VIMPERE Théo (FRA) BIG à 01'20''
59 GARCIA AMBROA Ricardo (ESP) EUS à 01'20''
72 BRUN Frédéric (FRA) ALM à 01'20''
99 GENE Yohann (FRA) EUC à 02'17''

GC gap noted for each rider.

Average speed so far about 35 km/h, i.e. granny pace.

 

[roundabout]

Ha. Cobo was one of the first to be dropped.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Situation:
30km to go, one rider in front, Stéphane Rossetto (BigMat-Auber 93)

+1'25'' : Antoine Lavieu (La Pomme Marseille), Hubert Dupont (AG2R La Mondiale), Pim Ligthart (Vacansoleil-DCM) et Maxime Méderel (Sojasun)

+2'15'' : Peloton

 

[Dazed and Confused]

3KM, bunch sprint on the cards

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Andrea Pasqualon (Bardiani Valvole) takes the stage win.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

From the ticker:

Top 9 :
1 Pasqualon (Bardiani Valvole)
2 Sanz (Movistar)
3 Simon (Sojasun)
4 Ladagnous (FDJ.fr)
5 Pozzo (Vini Fantini)
6 Pichon (FDJ.fr)
7 Visconti (Movistar)
8 Lammertink (Vacansoleil)
9 Coledan (Bardiani Valvole)

 

[SafeBet]

Good day for the Eye-talians

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Stage 3 in progress...

Key climbs:
Km 38 : Côte de la Brousse (4,2 km à 5,9%) - MG 2
Km 113,1 : Côte de Seilhac (7,9 km à 3,2%) - MG 3
Km 156 : Côte des Costes (1,5 km à 11,1%) - MG 2

Ticker: http://direct.directvelo.com/live-course/1753/tour-du-limousin-etape-3--.html

 

[Dazed and Confused]

After 56km, gap 5:35

1 Théo Vimpère (BigMat-Auber 93)
2 Frans Claes (Crelan-Euphony)
3 Frédéric Brun (AG2R La Mondiale)

Soft break, meh.

 

[DJ Sprtsch]

Visconti has made an attack with 15km to go. Now has 45s.
And now 35s.