Volta ao Algarve 2011 **Spoilers**

frenchfighter

Some super class riders here.

Gilbert attacks in the last 1km; slightly uphill and takes the win, 5secs ahead of Ciolek

Stage 1 results
1 Philipe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
2 Gerald Ciolek (Quick Step) + 5s
3 André Greipel (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
4 Tyler Farrar (Garmin-Cervélo)
5 Michael Mattehews (Rabobank)
6 Baden Cooke (Saxo Bank-SunGard)
7 John Degenkolb (HTC-Highroad)
8 Andreas Kloden (RadioShack)
9 Tony Gallopin (Cofidis)
10 Wouter Poels (Vacansoleil)

stfc1

Thanks, FF, sounds like a good win for Gilbert. Do let us have some pics if you see any good ones - especially as this won't now be on TV.

The Kennington Kaiser

Gilbert is a beast, isn't he? I thought he was just doing Volta Algarve to buil up a little form, looks pretty good for someone getting into shape.

andyp

He's also laid to rest the annual "when will Omega-Lotto win their first race" debate in the Belgian press.

takethehighroad

He's looking good for the first Yellow in the Tour, eh?

frenchfighter

Hardly any good photos.

Bettini

AP

frenchfighter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyKpEDeTk4c

frenchfighter

Photos on their site:
http://www.voltaalgarve.com/?page_id=845

Video highlights:
http://www.digitalmaistv.com/

Gilbert says in that video that he wasnt feeling too good as he has been trying new material , new bikes, new shoes.

rockmount

frenchfighter wrote:

Hardly any good photos.
AP

oh ...don't tell me it's em ...

Alpuerto Clenbutador !

calvjones

frenchfighter wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyKpEDeTk4c

Slight warning on this: it's the cycling 180 degree polar opposite of a last Km Gilbert attack.

stfc1

frenchfighter wrote:

Video highlights:
http://www.digitalmaistv.com/

Thanks FF.

frenchfighter

Stage 2


Last year Greipel won an uphill sprint in the rain:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E62cQEOVpdU

gabriel959

Greipel is soooo ugly!

frenchfighter

Stage 2 live ticker (in spanish)
http://jornalciclismo.com/volta-ao-alga ... ecto-da-2-ª-etapa

MrTapir

gabriel959 wrote:

Greipel is soooo ugly!

He's got another interest you know...

frenchfighter

John Degenkolb HTC takes stage 2

frenchfighter

Stage 2 results
1 John Degenkolb (HTC-Highroad) 4:57:56
2 Tyler Farrar (Garmin)
3 Michael Matthews (Rabobank)
4 Baden Cooke (Saxo Bank-SunGard) + 0:01
5 Sebastién Hinault (AG2R) + 0:02
6 Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto)
7 Filipe Cardoso (Barbot)
8 Fabian Wegmann (Leopard-Trek)
9 Gerald Ciolek (Quick Step)
10 Dmitri Fofonov (Astana)

General classification after stage 2
1 Philippe Gilbert (Omega Pharma-Lotto)

frenchfighter

Nope, came in 13th on the stage.

mattsy666

frenchfighter wrote:

Dope, came in 13th on the stage.

Doobz

Nice to see Cummings sitting in 15th.. He is doing quite well early on in the season.. 9th place in the med and now doing well in Algarve.. Would love to see him make the podium

FJS

Degenkolb, Matthews - some impressive early neo-pro results this year

frenchfighter

“Tomorrow will be a tough day, with a summit finish that’s good for me, but I don’t have the same legs as in other years,” said Alberto in reference to his current state of form. “Tomorrow I will try to do my best, because I want to do it for my team and for everybody that’s supported me in recent months. We’ll see what happens.”

Alberto said that his feelings during the these first two days of racing were “not bad, because these have been two very complicated days. I’m very happy, too, because the team is working well. Tomorrow’s the day for coming to conclusions,” he said.

Among all the possible favorites for the victory on the Malhão, Alberto pointed to Tiago Machado, “because he’s been the toughest rival in the last two years. But there could be others, too, because it’s a short climb of only two kilometers.” And he concluded with a comment about his own chances: “I’m not like in other years, but you can never count out a victory.”

frenchfighter

Stage 3 profile:


Contador won last year.
http://www.digitalmaistv.pt/index.html?id=731
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjc__S2DvKc

frenchfighter

Kreuziger

Nice!

On the front, drilling it

Neil Buckley

Doobz wrote:

Nice to see Cummings sitting in 15th.. He is doing quite well early on in the season.. 9th place in the med and now doing well in Algarve.. Would love to see him make the podium

+1 Steve is a top bloke, good to see him up there!

domhopson

Frenchfighter... Where do you get your photo's from?

rockmount

domhopson wrote:

Frenchfighter... Where do you get your photo's from?

He "borrows" them from photo agencies like this, often re-editing, and re-publishing without the copyright owner's permission ...

http://www.daylife.com/search/photos/1/grid?q=algarve

domhopson

Thanks Rockmount, I'll have a look

sonny73

Steve Cummings, what a legend. Great stage win beating Clenbutador amongst others on the climb and 2 days in yellow with a 7th overall. Chapeau.

nakita222

frenchfighter wrote:

“I’m not like in other years, but you can never count out a victory.”

What he means is he is not doped up to his eyeballs