Tour of Alberta 2014 (2.1), 02.09 - 07.09

[whittashau]

It helped him win the U23 WC so it can't be that bad...

I doubt anyone else in the peloton has gone this fast on a descent this year. Mohoric's technique clearly works.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

But I think Zepunkte can threaten him through boni's; Zepunkte is only 9 seconds back. Another stage win and he leads the GC.

Fair enough. Hoping for crosswinds however.

 

[purcell]

The Red Deer / Sylvan Lake stage was great fun. Left here at the crack of dawn, 8 hours drive got to see the circuit at Sylvan Lake and then jumped in the car to head to Red Deer for the finish.

I know someone in Red Deer and they had snagged a great spot at the finish, and scouted out easy parking for us ..

Had a great time, crashed overnight in Lake Louise and driving home this morning. Love having this race here.

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Live feed now http://kingstreams.tv/iframe/snone.php

-46km Peloton at 40s from a break of 40 riders

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Echelons in the Garrison, guys?

 

[Zinoviev Letter]

Echelons in the Garrison, guys?

Good stuff. OGE plus Bissel versus Belkin TTT

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Clever Sep VM for Belkin

 

[Geraint Too Fast]

That was the best stage in the history of this race.

 

[pastronef]

argh! Ramunas second again

 

[jpljpl]

he gets to wear the green jersey. not sure if that's a consolation, but still something

 

[trevim]

I love the fact that Vanmarcke rides all year when considering that he isn't a sprinter (Boonen/Sagan) or TT (Cancellara) he could be more or less invisible like Flecha, Terpstra or Langeveld used to be / are in the Summer.

 

[Jagartrott]

They describe today's stage as having cobbles and gravel sections. So, what is that really like? Classics guys terrain, or not really that much of an obstacle?

 

[argyllflyer]

The problem with the rural North American races is that when there is a lull in proceedings, the scenery is... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. What a boring and unimaginative part of the world. Flat, flat, flat, long, long, long, dull, dull, dull.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

The problem with the rural North American races is that when there is a lull in proceedings, the scenery is... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. What a boring and unimaginative part of the world. Flat, flat, flat, long, long, long, dull, dull, dull.

yep, without crosswind action such a race requires large amounts of imagination to stay awake in front of the TV.

Luckily we got some great racing during stage 3.

More pics: http://www.steephill.tv/2014/tour-of-alberta/photos/stage-03/

Solid group went away at the business end where Sep played it smart (strong too). Perhaps Navardaukas could have been more aggressive in the last corner, but I guess the Garmin folks wants to stay on their bikes at this point.

Stage 3:
BEL 1 VANMARCKE, Sep (BELKIN) 3:12:11
LTU 2 NAVARDAUSKAS, Ramunas (GARMIN SHARP)
AUS 3 HOWARD, Leigh (ORICA GreenEDGE)
LTU 4 KRUOPIS, Aidis (ORICA GreenEDGE) + 12
AUS 5 VON HOFF, Steele (GARMIN SHARP)
USA 6 SUMMERHILL, Daniel (UNITEDHEALTHCARE)
MDA 7 TVETCOV, Serghei (JELLY BELLY P/B MAXXIS)
GER 8 ZEPUNTKE, Ruben (BISSELL DEVELOPMENT TEAM)
NED 9 VAN DER LIJKE, Nicky (BELKIN)
DEN 10 BROCHNER, Nicolai (BISSELL DEVELOPMENT TEAM)

GC:
NED 1 DUMOULIN, Tom (GIANT-SHIMANO) 9:38:45
GER 2 ZEPUNTKE, Ruben (BISSELL DEVELOPMENT TEAM) + 9
LTU 3 NAVARDAUSKAS, Ramunas (GARMIN SHARP) + 12
MDA 4 TVETCOV, Serghei (JELLY BELLY P/B MAXXIS) + 14
AUS 5 HOWARD, Leigh (ORICA GreenEDGE)
RSA 6 IMPEY, Daryl (ORICA GreenEDGE) + 15
CAN 7 ANDERSON, Ryan (OPTUM P/B KELLY BENEFIT STRATEGIES) + 16
USA 8 SUMMERHILL, Daniel (UNITEDHEALTHCARE) + 18
NZL 9 ORAM, James (BISSELL DEVELOPMENT TEAM) + 23
NED 10 WEENING, Pieter (ORICA GreenEDGE) + 26

More guys are in play it seems.

Stage 4:

So cobbles, dirt roads and perhaps wind. Could be fun.

 

[Echoes]

I love the fact that Vanmarcke rides all year when considering that he isn't a sprinter (Boonen/Sagan) or TT (Cancellara) he could be more or less invisible like Flecha, Terpstra or Langeveld used to be / are in the Summer.

Good post though I don't think the last three riders you mention are that invisible either. Many think Sep's season is over after Paris-Roubaix. So far from the truth

I don't really like dedication in celebrations but as a Vanmarcke fan I'm glad he won for Igor.

 

[Nadalina]

Cannondale rider lying on the top tube while pedalling. Wrong wrong wrong wrong

What's so wrong wrong wrong... about it?

 

[TourOfSardinia]

Some coverage on Canadian TV
http://kingstreams.tv/iframe/snone.php

Strade Bianche section highlight shown.

-70km
8 riders at 2mins (down from 4mins)

 

[roundabout]

Not windy and the unpaved section they are on now looks easily manageable

 

[pastronef]

Bos wins, Impey 2nd, Kocjan 3rd

 

[Rollthedice]

Bos wins, Impey 2nd, Kocjan 3rd

Easy for Bos. Impey moving up on GC I think, third?

 

[TourOfSardinia]

2nd city circuit of the day.
This time with thr threat of nasty weather.
Feed working for me
http://www.liveonlinetv247.com/embed/sportsnetone.php?width=650&height=480

Simon Yates in the break of 10 riders
@30s Lap7 of 11

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

Dumoulin attacked himself on the last climb and lol

 

[Dekker_Tifosi]

And again Dumoulin loses a Tour while being the strongest.

Parcours was against him though.. too much suited to strong sprinters like Impey. Needed more hill to shake them all off.

This sucks. Totally undeserved

 

[roundabout]

GE with the best Saeco impression in the end

 

[Bushman]

And again Dumoulin loses a Tour while being the strongest.

Parcours was against him though.. too much suited to strong sprinters like Impey. Needed more hill to shake them all off.

This sucks. Totally undeserved

How does it suck? The parcours didn't suit him very well, why is it undeserved? Also he could have gone with Vanmarcke and Navardauskas on stage 3.

I guess it also sucks that Boom didn't win the Tour now that he was the strongest on the cobble stage.