Tour Mediterraneen

[theyoungest]

Absolutely appalling weather led to the race being annulled, not a 'search for a finish line' - leave that kind of stupidity to the ToC - a race in search of a mountain top finish line

They were in fact looking for a finish line, because the département Alpes-Maritimes didn't want to take responsibility, and they had to finish before entering the département. Afterwards, they just annulled the whole race.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

anyone know where we can watch tonights stage online??? thankyou

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

anyone know where we can watch tonights stage online??? thankyou

Just for the benefit of the 95% of the world that hadn't hit 10am Sunday when you posted that, I think you'd be better off saying tomorrow in future.

 

[Ferminal]

Just for the benefit of the 95% of the world that hadn't hit 10am Sunday when you posted that, I think you'd be better off saying tomorrow in future.

Lies, he had Asia and Europe covered

 

[Mellow Velo]

Short reports of all the stages, plus a little longer coverage of Mallorca, can been found on the Tube, here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/worldcyclingchannel2#p/u/6/aPwlbInaMNY

 

[laurentiu46]

Valverde seems to be the big favourite for Mt Faron today. I'm not sure Vino or some other guys like Hoogerland or Nocentini can do something against him if it comes down to a reduced sprint,let alone drop him.
Gesink's climbing form at this time is still unknown for me,same thing for Moncoutie or Garzelli.
Outsider? I should say Przemyslaw Niemiec,looks better than at the Tour of San Luis.
French guys...Brice Feillu,Jonathan Hivert maybe and Steve Chainel,who comes in good shape after the cyclo cross season and could hang on with the best.

 

[bianchigirl]

theyoungest, do you have a link to that? Equipe only mentions the hail and the stage being annulled, nothing about a search for a finish line.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

Lies, he had Asia and Europe covered

Americans are 95% of the world remember

 

[theyoungest]

theyoungest, do you have a link to that? Equipe only mentions the hail and the stage being annulled, nothing about a search for a finish line.

link
It's in Dutch, though.

 

[bianchigirl]

Thanks for the link

 

[mortand]

Valverde seems to be the big favourite for Mt Faron today. I'm not sure Vino or some other guys like Hoogerland or Nocentini can do something against him if it comes down to a reduced sprint,let alone drop him.
Gesink's climbing form at this time is still unknown for me,same thing for Moncoutie or Garzelli.
Outsider? I should say Przemyslaw Niemiec,looks better than at the Tour of San Luis.
French guys...Brice Feillu,Jonathan Hivert maybe and Steve Chainel,who comes in good shape after the cyclo cross season and could hang on with the best.

Moncoutié's not participating in the race, unfortunately. He would've been my first choice as a winner - his palmares on Mont Faron is outstanding: Two times winner, two times second, four third-places and one fifth. They really should name the climb Mon(t) Coutié. (Yeah, you're right - I've been waiting a whole year to write that pun).

Anyway, Valverde's probably the favorite, with Hoogerland and Nocentini as dark horses - Faron is a perfect fit for Nocentini - but I wouldn't count out Veikkanen either. He's pretty good at these kind of short(ish), steep climbs, but his 10 seconds lead to the aforementioned three's probably not enough to hold on to the overall GC.
Niemiec's an interesting bid to win from a breakaway. Matteo Carrara could do well on a climb like this, David Lopez Garcia too. But who knows where they are form-wise?

 

[krebs303]

theyoungest, do you have a link to that? Equipe only mentions the hail and the stage being annulled, nothing about a search for a finish line.

here's a pic of the stage.

 

[theyoungest]

Francesco Masciarelli takes the final stage, Valverde overall winner.

 

[Aguirre]

First for Valverde this year and not last!!!!!!!

 

[stefrees]

not the most appettising result

 

[theyoungest]

not the most appettising result

I don't see why not.

 

[ak-zaaf]

1 Francesco Masciarelli (Acqua E Sapone)
2 Alejandro Valverde (Caisse d'Epargne)
3 Rinaldo Nocentini (Ag2r La Mondiale)
4 Robert Gesink (Rabobank)
5 Johnny Hoogerland (Vacansoleil)
6 Maxim Iglinskiy (Astana)
7 Julien El Farès (Cofidis)
8 Alexandre Geniez (Skil-Shimano)
9 Amaël Moinard (Cofidis)
10 Alexandre Vinokourov (Astana)
11 Stefano Garzelli (Acqua E Sapone)
12 Florian Guillou (Bretagne-Schuller)
13 Ludovic Turpin (AG2R La Mondiale)
14 Tom Danielson (Garmin-Transitions)
15 Clément Lhotellerie (Roubaix Lille Métropole)

 

[Mellow Velo]

I am sure that seeing who finished 14th today, without falling sick, it's time for Bro Deal to confidently announce someone's return to form..........
........yet again.

 

[bianchigirl]

And 7th for El Fares - he had a good season last year (points jersey at Tirreno-Adriatico, winner of the Tour of Wallonie) and will hopefully have a better one in 2010.

 

[BroDeal]

I am sure that seeing who finished 14th today, without falling sick, it's time for Bro Deal to confidently announce someone's return to form..........
........yet again.

I am worried. He finished a race. He might have peaked too early in the season. He needs to time the race finishes to coincide with the ToC and TdF.

 

[mortand]

And 7th for El Fares - he had a good season last year (points jersey at Tirreno-Adriatico, winner of the Tour of Wallonie) and will hopefully have a better one in 2010.

Yeah, that's a great result. Especially considering his long breakaway yesterday. As mentioned, he was quite a revelation at Tirreno last year, and with a good start to this season, he'll hopefully continue his development. He's an interesting rider - a little punchy hill-climbing fella.

Great to see Alexandre Geniez in 8th. I've got high hopes for the young climber. Intriguing to see him drop guys like Vinokourov and Garzelli.

 

[laurentiu46]

Yes,Geniez is part of the new wave of french climbers,along with Romain Sicard and Thibaut Pinot,but it's too early in the season to compare his form with the other ones,given their teams' objectives.
Skil want to start the season strongly,probably hoping to impress ASO(imo,no way they can get a Tour spot,those 6 remaining places are already taken),while Vino and Garzelli are taking it easier during this time of the year,but will be two of the most attacking guys to watch,come May.

Gesink looks good,i didn't quite expect him to stay with Valverde and Nocentini today. Surprising climbing skills shown by Maxim Iglinskiy.

 

[craig1985]

Valverde will be enjoying a two year holiday soon, so he should make the most of what he can win while he still can.

 

[bianchigirl]

More on the annulation - and similar incidents (in French) http://www.cyclismag.com/article.php?sid=5610
Alpes Maritimes refused to host the stage finish because of safety concerns with the bad weather so the race was stopped short.

 

[craig1985]

Nicolas Roache came in 17tyh. I suppose he would of grown up ridding Mt Faron.