2010 Tour de Romandie

[steve]

The Tour de Romandie is a stage race which is part of the UCI ProTour. It runs in the old Romandie region, in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. It began in 1947, to coincide with the 50-year celebration of the Swiss Cycling.

The race traditionally starts with an individual time trial prologue in Geneva and ends with another individual time-trial in the hilly terrains in Lausanne. The final time-trial traditionally starts in the stadium north of Lausanne, goes downhill southwards to the Lac Léman (Lake Geneva), and makes its way back uphill to the stadium again. Not surprisingly, the winner and several of the top-ten finishers are usually excellent time trialists or doped riders.


2010 Tour de Romandie Stages

Prologue Tuesday, April 27 2010
Porrentruy 4.3 km

Stage 1 Wednesday, April 28 2010
Porrentruy - Fleurier 175.6 km

Stage 2 Thursday, April 29 2010
Freiburg 171.8 km

Stage 3 (ITT) Friday, April 30 2010
Moudon 23.4 km

Stage 4 Saturday, May 1 2010
Vevey - Chatel 157.9 km

Stage 5 Sunday, May 2 2010
Sion1 21.8 km

2010 Tour de Romandie Start List

AG2R La Mondiale
Cyril Dessel (Fra)
Hubert Dupont (Fra)
Alexander Efimkin (Rus)
Martin Elmiger (Swi)
John Gadret (Fra)
René Mandri (Est)
Christophe Riblon (Fra)
Nicolas Roche (Irl)

BMC Racing Team
Mathias Frank (Swi)
Chad Beyer (USA)
Jackson Stewart (USA)
Steve Morabito (Swi)
Alexandre Moos (Swi)
Simon Zahner (Swi)
Michael Schär (Swi)
Danilo Wyss (Swi)

Cervélo Test Team
Davide Appolonio (Ita)
Joao Correia (Por)
Stefan Denifl (Aut)
Volodymir Gustov (Ukr)
Roger Hammond (GBr)
Joaquin Novoa Mendez (Spa)
Oscar Pujol Munoz (Spa)
Marcel Wyss (Swi)

Footon-Servetto
Matthias Brandle (Aus)
Eros Capecchi (Ita)
Marco Corti (Ita)
Markus Eibegger (Aut)
Noe Gianetti (Swi)
Martin Pedersen (Spa)
Rafael Valls (Spa)
Johnnie Walker (Aus)

Garmin-Transitions
Jack Bobridge (Aus)
Kirk Carlsen (USA)
Murilo Fischer (Bra)
Michel Kreder (Ned)
Robbie Hunter (RSA)
Travis Meyer (Aus)
Svein Tuft (Can)
Christian Vande Velde (USA)

Liquigas-Doimo
Ivan Basso (Ita)
Maciej Bodnar (Pol)
Roman Kreuziger (Cze)
Fabio Sabatini (Ita)
Peter Sagan SKV 19900126
Silvester Szymid (Pol)
Alessandro Vanotti (Ita)
Oliver Zaugg (Swi)

Quick Step
Mauro Facci (Ita)
Andrei Kunitski (Blr)
Branislau Samoilau (Blr)
Kevin Seeldraeyers (Bel)
Andreas Stauff (Ger)
Marco Velo (Ita)
Wouter Weylandt (Bel)
Thomas Vedel Kvist (Den)

Team Sky
Dario Cioni (Ita)
Chris Froome (GBr)
Gregory Henderson (NZl)
Peter Kennaugh (GBr)
Serge Pauwels (Bel)
Nicolas Portal (Bel)
Morris Possoni (Ita)
Ben Swift (GBr)

Team Katusha
Lazlo Bodrogi (Fra)
Lazlo Botcharov Alexander (Rus)
Gianpaolo Caruso (Ita)
Gianpaolo Ignatyev Mikhail (Rus)
Vladimir Karpets (Rus)
Alexandr Pliuschin (Mda)
Danilo Napolitano (Ita)
Artem Ovechkin (Rus)

Team RadioShack
Janez Brajkovic (Slo)
Matthew Busche (USA)
Markel Irizar (Spa)
Tiago Machado (Por)
Sergio Paulinho (Por)
Luis Rubiera Jose (Spa)
Geert Steegmans (Bel)
Haimar Zubeldia (Spa)

Astana
Allan Davis (Aus)
Valeriy Dmitriyev (Kaz)
Maxim Gourov (Kaz)
Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz)
Valentin Iglinskiy (Kaz)
Alexandr Dyachenko (Kaz)
Sergey Renev (Kaz)
Andrey Zeits (Kaz)

Caisse d’Epargne
David Lopez (Spa)
Alejandro Valverde (Spa)
Christophe Moreau (Fra)
Jose Cobo Juan (Spa)
Jose Vicente Garcia (Spa)
Mathieu Perget (Fra)
Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa)
Mauricio Soler (Col)

Euskaltel-Euskadi
Koldo Fernandez de Larrea (Spa)
Gorka Verdugo (Spa)
Aitor Galdos (Spa)
Igor Anton (Spa)
Mikel Nieve (Spa)
Iñaki Isasi (Spa)
Alan Perez (Spa)
Juan José Oroz (Spa)

Française des Jeux
Sandy Casar (Fra)
Remy Di Gregorio (Fra)
Christophe Le Mevel (Fra)
Francis Mourey (Fra)
Thibaut Pinot (Fra)
Jérémy Roy (Fra)
Jussi Veikkanen (Fin)
Arthur Vichot (Fra)

Lampre Farnese Vini
David Loosli (Swi)
Adriano Malori (Ita)
Danilo Hondo (Ger)
Simon Spilak (Slo)
Enrico Magazzini (Ita)
Marco Marzano (Ita)
Daniele Righi (Ita)
Francesco Gavazzi (Ita)

Omega Pharma-Lotto
Jean-Christophe Péraud (Fra)
Mario Aerts (Bel)
Jan Bakelants (Bel)
Christophe Brandt (Bel)
Francis De Greef (Bel)
Philippe Gilbert (Bel)
Jurgen Van Den Broeck (Bel)
Charles Wegelius (GBr)

Rabobank
Mauricio Ardila (Col)
Rick Flens (Ned)
Dimitri Kozontchuk (Rus)
Denis Menchov (Rus)
Bauke Mollema (Ned)
Tom Stamsnijder (Ned)
Pieter Weening (Ned)
Denis Van Winden (Ned)

Team HTC-Columbia
Mark Cavendish (GBr)
Bernhard Eisel (Aut)
Bert Grabsch (Ger)
Adam Hansen (Aus)
Marco Pinotti (Ita)
Frantisek Rabon (Cze)
Mark Renshaw (Aus)
Michael Rogers (Aus)

Team Milram
Gerald Ciolek (Ger)
Robert Förster (Ger)
Markus Fothen (Ger)
Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger)
Dominik Nerz (Ger)
Dominik Roels (Ger)
Thomas Rohregger (Ger)
Matthias Russ (Ger)

Saxo Bank
Anders Lund (Den)
André Steensen (Den)
Chris Anker Sorensen (Den)
Jaroslaw Marycz (Pol)
Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg)
Michael Morkov (Den)
Richie Porte (Aus)
Gustav Larsson (Swe)




Recent Winners

2009 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas
2008 Andreas Klöden (Ger) Astana
2007 Thomas Dekker (Ned) Rabobank
2006 Cadel Evans (Aus) Davitamon-Lotto
2005 Santiago Botero (Col) Phonak Hearing Systems
2004 Tyler Hamilton (USA) Phonak Hearing Systems
2003 Tyler Hamilton (USA) Team CSC
2002 Dario Frigo (Ita) Tacconi Sport-Emmegi
2001 Dario Frigo (Ita) Fassa Bortolo
2000 Paolo Savoldelli (Ita) Saeco-Valli & Valli
1999 Laurent Jalabert (Fra) ONCE-Deutsche Bank
1998 Laurent Dufaux (Swi) Festina
1997 Pavel Tonkov (Rus)
1996 Abraham Olano (Spa)
1995 Tony Rominger (Swi)
1994 Pascal Richard (Swi)
1993 Pascal Richard (Swi)
1992 Andrew Hampsten (USA)
1991 Tony Rominger (Swi)
1990 Charly Mottet (Fra)

 

[steve]

Stage 1 Results

1 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Team HTC - Columbia 0:05:17
2 Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Doimo 0:00:01
3 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française Des Jeux 0:00:04
4 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia
5 Rick Flens (Ned) Rabobank 0:00:05
6 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne 0:00:06
7 Gregory Henderson (NZl) Sky Professional Cycling Team
8 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo 0:00:07
9 Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
10 Haimar Zubeldia Aguirre (Spa) Team Radioshack
11 Fabio Felline (Ita) Footon-Servetto 0:00:08
12 Juan Jose Oroz (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
13 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
14 Artem Ovechkin (Rus) Team Katusha 0:00:09
15 Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) Team Saxo Bank
16 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Lampre-Farnese Vini
17 Adam Hansen (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia
18 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC - Columbia
19 Frantisek Rabon (Cze) Team HTC - Columbia
20 Tom Stamsnijder (Ned) Rabobank 0:00:10
21 Steve Morabito (Swi) BMC Racing Team
22 Jack Bobridge (Aus) Garmin - Transitions
23 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Team Katusha
24 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank
25 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
26 Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) Française Des Jeux 0:00:11
27 Svein Tuft (Can) Garmin - Transitions
28 Jaroslaw Marycz (Pol) Team Saxo Bank
29 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia
30 Dennis Van Winden (Ned) Rabobank
31 Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Liquigas-Doimo
32 Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) Omega Pharma-Lotto
33 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale 0:00:12
34 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Team Radioshack
35 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Milram
36 Markus Fothen (Ger) Team Milram
37 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank
38 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Transitions
39 Tiago Machado (Por) Team Radioshack
40 Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus) Team Katusha
41 Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini
42 Alexandre Moos (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:05:29
43 Markus Eibegger (Aut) Footon-Servetto 0:05:30
44 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale
45 Gorka Verdugo Marcotegui (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
46 Branislau Samoilau (Blr) Quick Step
47 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Team Radioshack
48 Matthias Brändle (Aut) Footon-Servetto
49 Adriano Malori (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini
50 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank 0:05:30
51 Robert Hunter (RSA) Garmin - Transitions
52 Simon Zahner (Swi) BMC Racing Team
53 Ben Swift (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:05:31
54 Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col) Rabobank
55 Marcel Wyss (Swi) Cervelo TestTeam
56 Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
57 Bert Grabsch (Ger) Team HTC - Columbia
58 Markel Irizar Aranburu (Spa) Team Radioshack
59 Andrei Kunitski (Blr) Quick Step
60 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française Des Jeux 0:05:32
61 Charles Wegelius (GBr) Omega Pharma-Lotto
62 Simon Spilak (Slo) Lampre-Farnese Vini
63 Robert Förster (Ger) Team Milram
64 André Steensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank
65 Michael Morkov (Den) Team Saxo Bank
66 Björn Schröder (Ger) Team Milram 0:05:33
67 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Team Katusha
68 Rémy Di Grégorio (Fra) Française Des Jeux
69 Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
70 Eros Capecchi (Ita) Footon-Servetto
71 Jan Bakelants (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
72 Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:05:34
73 Michel Kreder (Ned) Garmin - Transitions
74 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team HTC - Columbia
75 Mauro Facci (Ita) Quick Step
76 Matthias Russ (Ger) Team Milram
77 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
78 Stefan Denifl (Aut) Cervelo TestTeam
79 Allan Davis (Aus) Astana
80 Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:05:35
81 Alexandr Pliuschin (Mda) Team Katusha
82 Michiel Elijzen (Ned) Omega Pharma-Lotto
83 Koldo Fernandez De Larrea (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
84 Arthur Vichot (Fra) Française Des Jeux
85 Matthew Busche (USA) Team Radioshack 0:05:36
86 Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
87 José Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:05:36
88 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Liquigas-Doimo
89 Peter Kennaugh (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team
90 Thomas Rohregger (Aut) Team Milram
91 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
92 Jeffry Louder (USA) BMC Racing Team
93 Mathias Frank (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:05:37
94 Marco Velo (Ita) Quick Step
95 Francis De Greef (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
96 David Loosli (Swi) Lampre-Farnese Vini
97 Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Astana
98 Travis Meyer (Aus) Garmin - Transitions
99 Andrey Zeits (Kaz) Astana
100 José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Team Radioshack
101 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française Des Jeux
102 Inaki Isasi (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:05:37
103 Dmitry Kozontchouk (Rus) Rabobank
104 Davide Appolonio (Ita) Cervelo TestTeam 0:05:38
105 Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por) Team Radioshack
106 Aitor Galdos Alonso (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
107 Roger Hammond (GBr) Cervelo TestTeam
108 Alan Perez Lezaun (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:05:39
109 Juan Mauricio Soler Hernandez (Col) Caisse d'Epargne
110 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux
111 Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Team Milram
112 Alexander Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale
113 Oliver Zaugg (Swi) Liquigas-Doimo 0:05:40
114 Nicolas Portal (Fra) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:05:41
115 Manuel Antonio Leal Cardoso (Por) Footon-Servetto
116 Serge Pauwels (Ned) Sky Professional Cycling Team
117 David Lopez Garcia (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
118 Dario David Cioni (Ita) Sky Professional Cycling Team
119 Andreas Stauff (Ger) Quick Step
120 Joao Correia (Por) Cervelo TestTeam 0:05:42
121 Kirk Carlsen (USA) Garmin - Transitions
122 Alexsandre Diachenko (Kaz) Astana
123 Sergey Renev (Kaz) Astana
124 Francis Mourey (Fra) Française Des Jeux
125 René Mandri (Est) AG2R La Mondiale
126 Christophe Brandt (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:05:43
127 Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team
128 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Team Katusha
129 Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
130 Murilo Antonio Fischer (Bra) Garmin - Transitions 0:05:44
131 Oscar Pujol Munoz (Spa) Cervelo TestTeam
132 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Team Katusha
133 Wouter Weylandt (Bel) Quick Step
134 Rafael Valls Ferri (Spa) Footon-Servetto
135 Maxim Gourov (Kaz) Astana
136 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Cervelo TestTeam 0:05:45
137 Dominik Roels (Ger) Team Milram
138 Kevin Seeldrayers (Bel) Quick Step 0:05:46
139 Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
140 Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini
141 John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:05:48
142 Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
143 Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini
144 Chad Beyer (USA) BMC Racing Team
145 Mathieu Perget (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne 0:05:49
146 Enrico Magazzini (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini
147 Arkaitz Duran Daroca (Spa) Footon-Servetto
148 Anders Lund (Den) Team Saxo Bank
149 Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank
150 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Team Katusha 0:05:51
151 Morris Possoni (Ita) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:05:53
152 Thomas Vedel Kvist (Den) Quick Step
153 Valentin Iglinskiy (Kaz) Astana 0:05:55
154 Mario Aerts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
155 Scott Davis (Aus) Astana 0:05:59
156 Noe Gianetti (Swi) Footon-Servetto 0:06:01
157 Richie Porte (Aus) Team Saxo Bank 0:06:07
158 Christopher Froome (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:06:41
159 Joaquin Novoa Menedez (Spa) Cervelo TestTeam

 

[genedan]

Peter Sagan is one BAMF.

 

[tonyzackery]

LOL! So Cav won a stage today.
No top rung sprinters in the race, but he still acts an a$$ when he crosses the line.
Has Renshaw and Eisel (Columbia's A team) for his lead-out train and still doesn't have the class to act like a pro when beats 2nd tier sprinters.
Finished almost 10mins down yesterday and acts like he's accomplished something of significance in winning today...
Should I have expected anything different out of him? LOL!

 

[slovakguy]

LOL! So Cav won a stage today.
No top rung sprinters in the race, but he still acts an a$$ when he crosses the line.

have to agree that the gesture was classless behaviour. understandable that he's ticked off at having been raked over the coals by both the press and greipel, but he can give a better victory salute than what he gave today. bad form.

 

[steve]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJoTkFtSMAM[/ame]

Stage 1 Results

1 Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Doimo 4:50:21
2 Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini
3 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale
4 Maxim Iglinsky (Kaz) Astana
5 Fabio Felline (Ita) Footon-Servetto
6 Robert Hunter (RSA) Garmin - Transitions
7 Michel Kreder (Ned) Garmin - Transitions
8 Anders Lund (Den) Team Saxo Bank
9 Ben Swift (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team
10 Stefan Denifl (Aut) Cervélo TestTeam
11 Alexandre Moos (Swi) BMC Racing Team
12 Jeremy Roy (Fra) Française Des Jeux
13 Inaki Isasi Flores (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
14 Allan Davis (Aus) Astana
15 Andrei Kunitski (Blr) Quick Step
16 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
17 Jan Bakelandts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
18 Dmitry Kozontchuk (Rus) Rabobank
19 Mauricio Ardila Cano (Col) Rabobank
20 Richie Porte (Aus) Team Saxo Bank
21 Alexandr Pliuschin (Mda) Team Katusha
22 Alexander Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale
23 Arthur Vichot (Fra) Française Des Jeux
24 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo
25 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank

GC after stage 1 - top 10

1 Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Doimo 4:55:29
2 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Team HTC - Columbia 0:00:09
3 Jeremy Roy (Fra) Française Des Jeux 0:00:12
4 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia
5 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne 0:00:14
6 Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 0:00:15
7 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo
8 Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
9 Haimar Zubeldia (Spa) Team Radioshack
10 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale 0:00:16

 

[steve]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1KNEw2qlm0]YouTube - Tour de Romandie 2010 - Stage 2 - Final kilometers[/ame]

Stage 2 Results

1 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC - Columbia 4:28:59
2 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Lampre-Farnese Vini
3 Robert Hunter (RSA) Garmin - Transitions
4 Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank
5 Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Doimo
6 Koldo Fernandez De Larrea (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
7 Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team
8 Ben Swift (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team
9 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale
10 David Loosli (Swi) Lampre-Farnese Vini
11 Alexandre Moos (Swi) BMC Racing Team
12 Davide Appolonio (Ita) Cervelo TestTeam
13 Arthur Vichot (Fra) Française Des Jeux
14 Wouter Weylandt (Bel) Quick Step
15 Jan Bakelants (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
16 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo
17 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Milram
18 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Team Radioshack
19 Fabio Felline (Ita) Footon-Servetto
20 Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Astana

GC after stage 2 - top 10

1 Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Doimo 9:24:28
2 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Team HTC - Columbia 0:00:09
3 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française Des Jeux
4 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Lampre-Farnese Vini 0:00:11
5 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia 0:00:12
6 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne 0:00:14
7 Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 0:00:15
8 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo
9 Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
10 Haimar Zubeldia Aguirre (Spa) Team Radioshack

 

[Andrija]

Somehow I'm missing enthusiasm for this race... This edition at least.
It's very nice race, in beautiful part of Switzerland, and very good preparation for the Giro, but parcourse this year is missing decisive, selective, mountain stages; which would be perfect preparation for mountainous Giro.
In order with that, the racing field's missing few names which would make the race more exciting.
Even those who lined up don't look too much interested in competing.
Let's wait and see ITT, maybe it changes something.

 

[tambourlain]

but parcourse this year is missing decisive, selective, mountain stages; which would be perfect preparation for mountainous Giro.
In order with that, the racing field's missing few names which would make the race more exciting.

Ditto. This is suppose to be Switzerland. But the courses look like they are being designed so that Cancellara can win them.

 

[genedan]

There are a lot of guys in the top 10 that I think would be interesting if they won:

Karpets: consistent but hasn't nudged himself enough to become a star
Brajkovic: young talent who has been riding under the shadow of Bruyneel's superstars
Moreau: old guy

Rogers has been riding very well in the early season stage races. It'd be nice to see him take another win.

 

[steve]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvwZsgNDLmE[/ame]

Stage 3 Results- top 20

1 Richie Porte (Aus) Team Saxo Bank 0:30:54
2 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:00:26
3 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Team Katusha 0:00:27
4 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia 0:00:29
5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0:00:31
6 Artem Ovechkin (Rus) Team Katusha 0:00:32
7 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Team Radioshack 0:00:36
8 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne 0:00:52
9 Simon Spilak (Slo) Lampre-Farnese Vini 0:00:55
10 Tiago Machado (Por) Team Radioshack 0:00:59
11 Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:01:02
12 Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) Team Saxo Bank 0:01:06
13 Marcel Wyss (Swi) Cervelo TestTeam 0:01:10
14 Alexandre Moos (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:01:11
15 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Transitions 0:01:14
16 Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:01:17
17 Gorka Verdugo Marcotegui (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:01:19
18 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française Des Jeux 0:01:21
19 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Team HTC - Columbia 0:01:22
20 Fabio Felline (Ita) Footon-Servetto 0:01:23

GC @ stage 3

1 Michael Rogers (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia 9:56:03
2 Alejandro Valverde Belmonte (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:00:02
3 Vladimir Karpets (Rus) Team Katusha 0:00:05
4 Artem Ovechkin (Rus) Team Katusha 0:00:07
5 Denis Menchov (Rus) Rabobank 0:00:09
6 Janez Brajkovic (Slo) Team Radioshack 0:00:15
7 Richie Porte (Aus) Team Saxo Bank 0:00:17
8 Christophe Moreau (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne 0:00:24
9 Simon Spilak (Slo) Lampre-Farnese Vini 0:00:35
10 Tiago Machado (Por) Team Radioshack 0:00:39
11 Jean-Christophe Peraud (Fra) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:00:40
12 Alexandre Moos (Swi) BMC Racing Team
13 Gustav Erik Larsson (Swe) Team Saxo Bank 0:00:42
14 Jérémy Roy (Fra) Française Des Jeux 0:00:47
15 Fabio Felline (Ita) Footon-Servetto 0:00:48
16 Marco Pinotti (Ita) Team HTC - Columbia 0:00:50
17 Marcel Wyss (Swi) Cervelo TestTeam 0:00:51
18 Christian Vande Velde (USA) Garmin - Transitions 0:00:54
19 Peter Sagan (Svk) Liquigas-Doimo
20 Roman Kreuziger (Cze) Liquigas-Doimo 0:01:00
21 Christophe Riblon (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:01:01
22 Ruben Plaza Molina (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne
23 Sandy Casar (Fra) Française Des Jeux 0:01:03
24 Jussi Veikkanen (Fin) Française Des Jeux 0:01:06
25 Robert Hunter (RSA) Garmin - Transitions 0:01:08
26 Adriano Malori (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 0:01:10
27 Pieter Weening (Ned) Rabobank 0:01:12
28 Adam Hansen (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia
29 Haimar Zubeldia Aguirre (Spa) Team Radioshack 0:01:13
30 Branislau Samoilau (Blr) Quick Step 0:01:15
31 Jan Bakelants (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:01:20
32 Eros Capecchi (Ita) Footon-Servetto
33 Alexandr Pliuschin (Mda) Team Katusha
34 Nicolas Roche (Irl) AG2R La Mondiale 0:01:24
35 André Steensen (Den) Team Saxo Bank 0:01:25
36 Igor Anton Hernandez (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:01:26
37 Mathias Frank (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:01:29
38 Juan Jose Oroz (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:01:30
39 Thomas Rohregger (Aut) Team Milram
40 Philippe Gilbert (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:01:34
41 Ivan Basso (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
42 Markus Fothen (Ger) Team Milram 0:01:35
43 Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (Col) Rabobank
44 Stefan Denifl (Aut) Cervelo TestTeam 0:01:37
45 Rémy Di Grégorio (Fra) Française Des Jeux
46 Matthias Brändle (Aut) Footon-Servetto 0:01:40
47 Bauke Mollema (Ned) Rabobank 0:01:41
48 Maxim Iglinskiy (Kaz) Astana 0:01:44
49 Cyril Dessel (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:01:45
50 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale 0:01:50
51 Markus Eibegger (Aut) Footon-Servetto 0:01:53
52 Svein Tuft (Can) Garmin - Transitions 0:01:54
53 Danilo Hondo (Ger) Lampre-Farnese Vini 0:01:58
54 Michel Kreder (Ned) Garmin - Transitions 0:02:04
55 José Luis Rubiera Vigil (Spa) Team Radioshack 0:02:06
56 Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 0:02:07
57 Dmitry Kozontchouk (Rus) Rabobank 0:02:08
58 Alexsandre Diachenko (Kaz) Astana 0:02:17
59 Tom Stamsnijder (Ned) Rabobank 0:02:20
60 Juan Mauricio Soler Hernandez (Col) Caisse d'Epargne
61 Hubert Dupont (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:02:28
62 Volodymir Gustov (Ukr) Cervelo TestTeam 0:02:29
63 Gorka Verdugo Marcotegui (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:02:30
64 Juan Jose Cobo Acebo (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:02:31
65 Murilo Antonio Fischer (Bra) Garmin - Transitions 0:02:32
66 Ben Swift (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team
67 Arthur Vichot (Fra) Française Des Jeux 0:02:33
68 David Loosli (Swi) Lampre-Farnese Vini
69 Alexander Efimkin (Rus) AG2R La Mondiale 0:02:37
70 Inaki Isasi (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:02:45
71 Francis De Greef (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto
72 Sylvester Szmyd (Pol) Liquigas-Doimo 0:02:47
73 Johannes Fröhlinger (Ger) Team Milram 0:02:51
74 Dario David Cioni (Ita) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:02:52
75 Oliver Zaugg (Swi) Liquigas-Doimo 0:02:55
76 David Lopez Garcia (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:03:02
77 Mario Aerts (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:03:04
78 Gerald Ciolek (Ger) Team Milram 0:03:07
79 John Gadret (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:03:08
80 Francis Mourey (Fra) Française Des Jeux 0:03:13
81 Charles Wegelius (GBr) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:03:14
82 Daniele Righi (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 0:03:16
83 Giampaolo Caruso (Ita) Team Katusha 0:03:17
84 Christophe Le Mevel (Fra) Française Des Jeux 0:03:22
85 Kevin Seeldrayers (Bel) Quick Step 0:03:27
86 Morris Possoni (Ita) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:03:29
87 Anders Lund (Den) Team Saxo Bank 0:03:30
88 Mathieu Perget (Fra) Caisse d'Epargne 0:03:31
89 René Mandri (Est) AG2R La Mondiale 0:03:38
90 Alan Perez Lezaun (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:03:39
91 Mikel Nieve Ituralde (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi
92 Marco Marzano (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 0:03:56
93 Alexandre Botcharov (Rus) Team Katusha 0:04:02
94 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) Francaise Des Jeux 0:04:09
95 Enrico Magazzini (Ita) Lampre-Farnese Vini 0:04:32
96 Christophe Brandt (Bel) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:04:36
97 José Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:04:49
98 Oscar Pujol Munoz (Spa) Cervelo TestTeam 0:05:16
97 José Vicente Garcia Acosta (Spa) Caisse d'Epargne 0:04:49
98 Oscar Pujol Munoz (Spa) Cervelo TestTeam 0:05:16
99 Michael Morkov (Den) Team Saxo Bank 0:11:33
100 Michael Schär (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:11:41
101 Simon Zahner (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:11:46
102 Markel Irizar Aranburu (Spa) Team Radioshack 0:11:51
103 Jack Bobridge (Aus) Garmin - Transitions 0:12:13
104 Jaroslaw Marycz (Pol) Team Saxo Bank 0:12:15
105 Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:12:35
106 Koldo Fernandez De Larrea (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:12:47
107 Steve Morabito (Swi) BMC Racing Team 0:12:50
108 Sergio Miguel Moreira Paulinho (Por) Team Radioshack 0:12:59
109 Jeffry Louder (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:13:02
110 Matthias Russ (Ger) Team Milram 0:13:05
111 Laszlo Bodrogi (Hun) Team Katusha 0:13:06
112 Andrei Kunitski (Blr) Quick Step 0:13:08
113 Davide Appolonio (Ita) Cervelo TestTeam 0:13:10
114 Lucas Sebastian Haedo (Arg) Team Saxo Bank 0:13:19
115 Marco Velo (Ita) Quick Step 0:13:23
116 Dominik Roels (Ger) Team Milram
117 Travis Meyer (Aus) Garmin - Transitions 0:13:26
118 Wouter Weylandt (Bel) Quick Step 0:13:29
119 Mark Renshaw (Aus) Team HTC - Columbia 0:13:32
120 Mark Cavendish (GBr) Team HTC - Columbia 0:13:35
121 Maciej Bodnar (Pol) Liquigas-Doimo 0:13:50
122 Alessandro Vanotti (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo 0:14:19
123 Kirk Carlsen (USA) Garmin - Transitions 0:14:34
124 Peter Kennaugh (GBr) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:14:35
125 Matthew Busche (USA) Team Radioshack 0:15:03
126 Bernhard Eisel (Aut) Team HTC - Columbia 0:15:16
127 Mauro Facci (Ita) Quick Step 0:16:27
128 Allan Davis (Aus) Astana 0:16:31
129 Mikhail Ignatiev (Rus) Team Katusha 0:23:01
130 Robert Förster (Ger) Team Milram 0:23:26
131 Maxim Gourov (Kaz) Astana
132 Sergey Renev (Kaz) Astana 0:23:56
133 Fabio Sabatini (Ita) Liquigas-Doimo
134 Andrey Zeits (Kaz) Astana 0:24:13
135 Serge Pauwels (Ned) Sky Professional Cycling Team
136 Gregory Henderson (NZl) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:24:26
137 Thomas Vedel Kvist (Den) Quick Step 0:25:01
138 Andreas Stauff (Ger) Quick Step 0:25:11
139 Chad Beyer (USA) BMC Racing Team 0:25:21
140 Dennis Van Winden (Ned) Rabobank 0:25:26
141 Scott Davis (Aus) Astana 0:25:28
142 Valentin Iglinskiy (Kaz) Astana 0:25:44
143 Manuel Antonio Leal Cardoso (Por) Footon-Servetto 0:26:09
144 Bert Grabsch (Ger) Team HTC - Columbia 0:26:22
145 Noe Gianetti (Swi) Footon-Servetto 0:26:27
146 Frantisek Rabon (Cze) Team HTC - Columbia 0:26:39
147 Rick Flens (Ned) Rabobank 0:26:55
148 Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Team Katusha 0:30:08
149 Aitor Galdos Alonso (Spa) Euskaltel - Euskadi 0:30:37
150 Gert Steegmans (Bel) Team Radioshack 0:31:14
151 Nicolas Portal (Fra) Sky Professional Cycling Team 0:31:40
152 Roger Hammond (GBr) Cervelo TestTeam 0:32:24
153 Michiel Elijzen (Ned) Omega Pharma-Lotto 0:32:38

 

[limerickman]

I agree with the others here : this edition of the race has held little or no interest for me as a stage race.
The stage profiles are not the same as the editions of old (Romandie used be more mountainous).

Valverde won todays stage and took overall GC.

Cavendish?
I think there are problems there.

 

[Eagle of Toledo]

I agree with the others here : this edition of the race has held little or no interest for me as a stage race.
The stage profiles are not the same as the editions of old (Romandie used be more mountainous).

Valverde won todays stage and took overall GC.

Cavendish?
I think there are problems there.

I thought I would never say this, but I can't help adding my "Meh" to the others.

This was the first time (that I remember) that Romandie has been televised here in Australia on one of our new free-to-air HD channels so I was pretty excited when I heard we were getting that last 2 hours each day, but seeing Valverde win was about as exciting as seeing Vino take Liege - not.

The only highlight for me was seeing local boy Porte whom I photographed last October (at this point he didn't even have a team!) put almost half a minute into everyone else in the ITT:

Picasa Web Albums - EagleOfToledo - Jayco-Herald ...

I realise the weather conditions for the last few riders worsened somewhat but it was an impressive ride nonetheless.

Cav has no class whatsoever, no amount of talent can compensate for that.

 

[limerickman]

I thought I would never say this, but I can't help adding my "Meh" to the others.

This was the first time (that I remember) that Romandie has been televised here in Australia on one of our new free-to-air HD channels so I was pretty excited when I heard we were getting that last 2 hours each day, but seeing Valverde win was about as exciting as seeing Vino take Liege - not.

The only highlight for me was seeing local boy Porte whom I photographed last October (at this point he didn't even have a team!) put almost half a minute into everyone else in the ITT:

Picasa Web Albums - EagleOfToledo - Jayco-Herald ...

I realise the weather conditions for the last few riders worsened somewhat but it was an impressive ride nonetheless.

Cav has no class whatsoever, no amount of talent can compensate for that.

EoT : nice to read that European races are getting some free TV footage down below.
That's a positive at least.

 

[Eldrack]

Yup, this race got well and truly neutered just like last years TdS. Fortunately the TdS this year has an absolute monster of a mountain stage. Still, I think I should design the routes for next years Tour de Romandie and we'll see if Canc can win a race with 3000m of climbing per stage .

Didn't really follow the TdR this year because of its general dullness, hopefully the Giro will lift me enthusiasm for watching bike races back up again.

Edit: As for Cavendish, he should have more respect for the fans than to do a two fingered victory salute no matter how much the press has been pissing on him for the last 3 months.

 

[john gault]

Edit: As for Cavendish, he should have more respect for the fans than to do a two fingered victory salute no matter how much the press has been pissing on him for the last 3 months.

I don't get it I heard about some rude gesture by Cavendish and found a pic. It must be some kind of U.K. / Euro thing. What's the deal? I read in the paper why he did it, but I've never seen that gesture before and thus it means nothing to me.

Please enlighten an ignorant American.

 

[Andrija]

Enlightenment: http://www.cyclingforums.com/professional-cycling/470267-griepel-vs-cavendish-3.html#post3941835 + this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V_sign#V_sign_as_an_insult

 

[limerickman]

I don't get it I heard about some rude gesture by Cavendish and found a pic. It must be some kind of U.K. / Euro thing. What's the deal? I read in the paper why he did it, but I've never seen that gesture before and thus it means nothing to me.

Please enlighten an ignorant American.

It is an offensive gesture - it saying "go fcuk yourself".

Totally inappropriate gesture.

 

[john gault]

Go Fvck yourself...I don't think that's what she is saying