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So, prologue is done. Easy win for Cal. For the GC he will also be my guy. This will be more than difficult. But anyway, it's something to go for. Without a sprinter I focus on defending the yellow jersey for some days.

Somebody who wants to make the favo check?

Interesting stage today. Last km with 4%. Bigmat's Mat Smith could be the man today. Maybe he has good chances in the GC as well. He is not bad in TT and could gain time in the Middle Mountain/Pave stages (plus time bonus). And there are a lot of sprinters who want their stage wins. The last km could be difficult to reach this aim today. I don't really know what to do yet.
Besides Smith, Ogo's Antonio Arriagada is my big GC favorite at the moment. But there is a lot of space for surprises. Thank god, there is no red jersey this time. Maybe we will see some nice escapes.

Nice start for Team Franconia, Angel Ramos was able to get the grey jersey...

Hm a check...

Yellow:
I think there are only 3 maybe 4 riders who have real chances to win...
Cal Clutterbuck
Antonio Arriagada
Angel Ramos

and with a little distance maybe
Urs Buser

Clutterbuch is strongest guy in time trial, but he has his weakness in his mountain-strength

Arriagada is probably the best mix of time trial and mountain-strenght

Ramos good day could be Stage 3, he got the best pave-skill of these 3(4) contenders, furthermore he has a good chance to take another time trial improvement at the 20nd

Buser could be the laughing guy who can benefit from a fight between these 3 above...

Hopefully you will be split in different groups. I don't want to chase you two/three together, then my chances are very bad. Unfortunately I think that I lose a lot of time in the hilly terrain, but I will fight. It's gonna be interesting...

Hopefully our sprinters let us fight for ourselves...i'm scared of chasing by flat-teams at the pave-stage...

Green is completely open...Terranova the strongest sprinter, but always a lottery

Red...thank god no red jersey!!!!!!

Grey/White...
Ramos or Buser...don't think other competitors have chances...

Team Franconia wrote:Hopefully our sprinters let us fight for ourselves...i'm scared of chasing by flat-teams at the pave-stage...

Hm, maybe I can make an agreement with the sprinterteams today so that they help me later

Today and the next Sprint-Stages a cooperation between yellow and the sprinters is absolutely ok and i wish for it...to be quiet honestly...a little part of me hopes to get the yellow after stage 3 ...but on the hilly stages it would be very sad if for expample nevigeser rides for his 21 year old guy who will reach pos 10 or 11 in the gk and pulls other flat time trial riders like Clutterbuck

I will ride, i will ride, everything for Johannson.

You better watch Clutterbuck. He can ride as well

After todays stage we will see who is the topfavo for the GC. I can't imagine how much time I will lose but I am sure that I will lose yellow. Therefore the other riders are too strong. But great, my riders are all fit for today.

hm, the important question: how many time will cal loose today? will it be enough for Ogo to win?

hm, fit riders...yes me too, only one rider a little bit weak...

i'm really looking forward...

Ogo's problem is that his team has only two riders with more than 60 mountain. One of them is his leader/TT specialist.

Yes...and that's my little problem too...at least tomorrow...today i have to hope to get rid of him...not because i want to win...noo Ogo smells strange

Well, the most challenging stage is done. I lost less time than expected. That's good. On the next days the gap shouldn't increase. Otherwise I can't win the tour. Now it's open. Hopefully I don't lose the tour with a gap of 3-5 seconds. Then Gismo has a new main opponent

Hm, today the last stage before the ITT...let's see if some teams try to win some additional time...Team Franconia wants to defend the yellow...today a group got my blessing if the riders are far enough behind Ramos in the GC

With the knowledge of the last stages I would be more than surprised if more than three guys will escape. Unfortunately, it's not that interesting without good groups. I am sure that several teams would attack if there was one single mountain category.

Me too...but i'm glad that there's no red jersey...you know it...if there is a red jersey almost every attempt to escape is only for this jersey...
chasing, tempo for 40, 50 in red because there are sooo important three points at KM 60...and bullshit like that

With the strong sprinter teams in our field it could be a mass sprint again today. 30km after the last siebkm is a long way. I am really looking forward to this stage.

Wow, what a highly exciting race, 29 seconds between Ramos and Clutterbuck... 7 points in TT difference, it can either depend on form or risk taking ... really really interesting, I´ll watch tonight!

My form is not perfect because this tour was not planned. But it's ok. I am a bit scared of the 1% and 2%. Hopefully this makes no big difference. I think that risk/luck will be decisive.

Well, the 6 seconds yesterday...very important...but, i still belive in a victory for Cal...29 seconds, 16 KM TT...let's pray for less loose of time at 2 and -1, -2....

risk and luck will decide...