Tour of Bejing (9th October - 13th October)

[greenedge]

Congrats to Gavazzi. EBH looked to have sealed the win like in Plouay but congrts for his fighting spirit.

 

[ValleyFlowers]

Gavazzi pulls closer to Martin in the overall.

 

[jens_attacks]

hmmm another good finale in the tour of beijing. strong sprint by gavazzi

 

[ToreBear]

As an ignorant EBH fanboy I'm pleased with his performance!

Would have been nicer if he could have held out another few meters, but I like the way he tried.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

speaks a lot about the uselessness of this race

lol but atleast it's nice reading about after sucking most of the year.

 

[Eshnar]

lol but atleast it's nice reading about after sucking most of the year.

yeah whatever
But I'm pleased Moser is still there after the whole season.

 

[whittashau]

That was pretty pathetic for the queen stage for what surely should be Asia's "premier" cycling tour. China is a massive country. Surely they could have found a better hill to finish on. Also, why are they there in the first place? Who in China is paying for this, and for what reasons? Because the general public don't seem to care.

Nice win by Gavazzi.

 

[maltiv]

As an ignorant EBH fanboy I'm pleased with his performance!

Would have been nicer if he could have held out another few meters, but I like the way he tried.

Indeed, he showed a lot of panache. He's been climbing better and better throughout this season, despite starting in TDU, and ending in Beijing (it's not possible to have a longer season!). Hopefully he can bring this form to the classics next year, which is what really matters.

Tomorrow's stage should be another bunch sprint, probably Viviani again, but the last stage could be a good stage if it's raced aggressively.

 

[theyoungest]

Indeed, he showed a lot of panache. He's been climbing better and better throughout this season, despite starting in TDU, and ending in Beijing (it's not possible to have a longer season!). Hopefully he can bring this form to the classics next year, which is what really matters.

It seemed like he didn't really trust in his climbing though, he attacked when the gradient dropped a little, clearly he had studied the profile. I have no doubt that he could have been in the top-3 regardless.

I don't think his form has been that bad in the classics, after all in Oman and Tirreno he's shown before to have good form, and then fail to impress in the classics. The Worlds are a good sign though that he's learned to handle the distance, even if it wasn't such a hard race.

 

[ToreBear]

Indeed, he showed a lot of panache. He's been climbing better and better throughout this season, despite starting in TDU, and ending in Beijing (it's not possible to have a longer season!). Hopefully he can bring this form to the classics next year, which is what really matters.

Tomorrow's stage should be another bunch sprint, probably Viviani again, but the last stage could be a good stage if it's raced aggressively.

That's my understanding too. Though I have not been a fanboy long enough to watch his development over the years. From all I have read and seen though, he is becoming much better at climbing. I hope next year he improves even more, and also gets more oppurtunities to show his abiliities.

I hope he does well in the classics too. Hopefully he will have outgrown his stomach issues.

 

[maltiv]

Looks like Roy is attempting one of his courageous solo rides again. I think he'll be caught in the last kilometer or so.

 

[ValleyFlowers]

Belkov?
That was some confused finish.

 

[Rui Quinta]

Belkov?
That was some confused finish.

Marco Haller i think

 

[maltiv]

Marko Haller wins the sprint. I've never heard of him to be honest.

EBH had to start his sprint from 300 meters to go as he only had 1 leadout guy who had to ride far too long. Pointless to try to have a leadout when they don't have a team really.

 

[ValleyFlowers]

Confirmed. It was Marco Haller.

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

Has Schleck finished yet?

 

[maltiv]

Has Schleck finished yet?

Yes, he finished only 17 minutes behind the peloton. 12 minutes behind the second-to-last guy.

 

[Bernie's eyesore]

Yes, he finished only 17 minutes behind the peloton. 12 minutes behind the second-to-last guy.

Good to see him starting to find some form at last.

 

[burning]

Good to see him starting to find some form at last.

He's trying to earn his 10 CQ points

 

[maltiv]

He's trying to earn his 10 CQ points

I'll almost be impressed if he simply makes it to the finish within the time limit tomorrow considering how he suffered on today's easy stage.

 

[iZnoGouD]

We already know who will take GC, too easy lol

Do you know who??

No it will not be him

Can'y you guess who?
























Rui Alberto Faria da Costa

 

[Afrank]

Confirmed. It was Marco Haller.

What team is he, I've never heard of him .

 

[Afrank]

Don't believe this has been posted yet.

Result stage 4
1. Marco Haller (Aut) Katusha Team
2. Alessandro Petacchi (Ita) Lampre-ISD
3. Elia Viviani (Ita) Liquigas-Cannondale
4. Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Saxo Bank-Tinkoff Bank
5. Daniele Bennati (Ita) RadioShack-Nissan
6. Francesco Chicchi (Ita) Omega Pharma-Quick Step
7. Klaas Lodewyck (Bel) BMC Racing Team
8. Allan Davis (Aus) Orica-GreenEdge
9. Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team Sky
10. Dominique Rollin (Can) FDJ-BigMat

Beijing is a crap race but the one thing it is good for is to give guys like Haller a chance to win their first WT race and guys like Gavazzi to end their season with a win that they haven't been able to get.

 

[The Hitch]

I was so happy to.see hallers reaction. Dude celebrated like if he had won the worlds and that's the passion i love to see.

Come to think of.it, most of.my happiest.moments of the year were katusha victories.

 

[Dedelou]

I was so happy to.see hallers reaction. Dude celebrated like if he had won the worlds and that's the passion i love to see.

Come to think of.it, most of.my happiest.moments of the year were katusha victories.

I will drink to that, Hitch, adding : Alberto's wins to it and Vino's Olympic medal