Sachsen 18h

[Robyklebt]

Ape will have to ride in the middle of the night, should be ok though without being to dead the next days. Hopefully.

For the GC: 3 strong riders, without strong teams.
Vandendoom, Thomas, 86,2 pavé
Cunejo, Boktorense, 84,1 pavé. He should be out of the GC almost... Vandendoom better everywhere. A better nr 2 for Cunejo, 78 pavé, but that's really it. Looks very hard to beat Vandendoom for Cunejo I think
Jamieson, Zugspitze, 83,8 pavé. But some mountain. Actually not really sure how big a role that will play, haven't really looked at the stages closely yet.. or at the group either. But more mountain, same sprint as Vandedoom... looks more dangerous than Cunejo somehow. Team not that good either

Then 3 teams without the big leader, but generally stronger. Which could favor Vandendoom-Jamieson too of course.

Moscow, Petit Singe, Team SM
All three teams multiple guys above 80, ape 4, Moscow 3, SM 2, but nr 3 right below it. Leader position seems open in all 3 teams...

Winner most likely will come from one of those 6 teams... no idea yet from where.
Ape hopes for a stage win at least somehow.. we'll see if it works. GC will try too, but as often in the last years somehow not sure if I really have the riders for the GC. Villa has the reg, but the mountain could be missing? We'll see.

[sylvainmeteo]

Stage 1 won by Hanski, congrats Black star, 2 and 4 for me, but I sprint very bad, like sunday and also saturday... Still have to find the right thing for the final sprints...

Jamieson vs Vandenboom for yellow, but strongs teams can move it well, let's see

[Robyklebt]

No looks very good for Vanderboom, now I know the name too.
Behind him a group with the other contenders, basically the 80+ pavé guys with sprint, Ragnarsdottir (who the ape somehow hadn't seen until today, well as a GC man with 80+ pavé..), Villa, Hegyvary and Kudriasov. Before today Rag 10" ahead of the rest except Kudriasov who was at 6".. Tomorrow and especially after tomorrow time loss to Vanderboom is to be expected, but with the bonifications today we all had chances to still be there in the GC. So Villa rode in the last pavé, Viktor unfortunately didn't join, but ok, not that tragic yet. Then the flat, we normally could have taken Vanderboom back easily I think, but with Ragnarsdottir helper going out there... for a 1 km break.. and with 71 sprint AND 10" advantage he looked to profit the most, ape then was out too, no problem carrying him back if he works, but if he thinks he can take another 1 km break... no no. So Vanderboom now the big favorite, which he wasn't that clearly before todays stage. Possibly 20" to the Icelander, possibly 16" to Kudriasov, possibly 10" to Villa and Hegyvary not automatic to get back, since all those guys very likely were going to get some bonifications in the following days too. Now the bonification option is out, which could very well open the race up. To beat Vanderboom now nobody can wait til the last pavé anymore, there Vanderboom will just destroy us, we'll have to take risks... we'll see if somebody is ready to do that tomorrow and Friday.

[sylvainmeteo]

No looks very good for Vanderboom, now I know the name too.

It seems not, it's Vandenboom

Good summary, Vandenboom will be unstoppable the 2 next days

[Robyklebt]

Most interesting stage so far. The ape had kind of planned to see what happens if he attacks... then didn't. Then way too late actually did anyway... THOMAS had a hard job, but did it very well... until the decisive kilometers.. Attack at the first 5, when he just should have siebed. He would have gotten rid of most guys already on the first pavékm. If not, the Villas etc would have fought like crazy, sure to be dropped on the second. Maybe only Cunejo following, maybe Jamieson too?`But both fighting as well, losing more or the same as Ruud as well. Then -3, not ideal for an attack, probably better to wait for +3? Although then there Jamieson could maybe follow? But don't think so. That way I think Thomas would have had a pretty clear win. In the back then either different small groups, or waiting to regroup. Like that he was at 2" before the 3, where Jamieson went, as everybody that was thinking new... the ape clearly wasn't. stupid, stupid, pretty confident Fariborz would follow there. And ok, then the sprint third anyway most likely, since Moscow forgot to sprint, but still, argh, stupid mistake

Tomorrow the favorite still Ruud, IF he's ok with energy, which actually isn't sure after today. Mmhh... Yellow Skvarsomething, Ruud at 2", Jamieson at 4".. Ruud not fit then Jamieson with chances.. but no real idea about the fitness actually. Tomorrow pretty easy stage until the last km.. we'll see what happens.

[sylvainmeteo]

Most interesting stage so far. The ape had kind of planned to see what happens if he attacks... then didn't. Then way too late actually did anyway... THOMAS had a hard job, but did it very well... until the decisive kilometers.. Attack at the first 5, when he just should have siebed. He would have gotten rid of most guys already on the first pavékm. If not, the Villas etc would have fought like crazy, sure to be dropped on the second. Maybe only Cunejo following, maybe Jamieson too?`But both fighting as well, losing more or the same as Ruud as well. Then -3, not ideal for an attack, probably better to wait for +3? Although then there Jamieson could maybe follow? But don't think so. That way I think Thomas would have had a pretty clear win. In the back then either different small groups, or waiting to regroup. Like that he was at 2" before the 3, where Jamieson went, as everybody that was thinking new... the ape clearly wasn't. stupid, stupid, pretty confident Fariborz would follow there. And ok, then the sprint third anyway most likely, since Moscow forgot to sprint, but still, argh, stupid mistake

Tomorrow the favorite still Ruud, IF he's ok with energy, which actually isn't sure after today. Mmhh... Yellow Skvarsomething, Ruud at 2", Jamieson at 4".. Ruud not fit then Jamieson with chances.. but no real idea about the fitness actually. Tomorrow pretty easy stage until the last km.. we'll see what happens.

A bit unexpected that win today, was ready to see all my guys dropped by a Ruud tempo on the first km at 5*, then it was easier for us to chase...
Podium would be nice for Pavol, but I don't think I can do better, still, he has yellow 1 day at least

[sylvainmeteo]

As I expected, I lose yellow today, but not to Team THOMAS, but to the guy I followed yesterday, very strange sprint at the end, Don't know what happened...

Hegyvari managed to get 4th place, and takes green at the last stage, nice

Skvarka lost 2 positions and got 3rd, and Hmiel won red, without opponents...

Was a good tour, with results way better than expected, 2 days in yellow, green and reg + podium, hard to do better without pavé monster at the moment, Thanks all for the tour