Petek, 17. 6. 2011, 8.46
8 let, 7 mesecev
Viviani ahead of Bole, Vrečer in the lead
Termometer prikazuje, kako vroč je članek.
Termometer prikaže, kako vroč je članek.
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Statements from the best:
On arrival to the finish, the winner Elia Viviani (Liquigas-Butan plin) said: "It was hard. The sprint was really tough. The climb at the end of the stage split us apart very much. The entire team worked for me, so I'd like to dedicate this victory to my colleagues. In the last stage, the team will work for Guarnieri. The team will work for him in the last stage."
The Slovenian Grega Bole finished second: "Viviani beat me, he was stronger. I wasn’t riding 100% tactically. I started sprinting too soon. I should have raced on the left because the wind was blowing from the right. He overtook me on the left. I had a great desire to win, but this was what cost me the win in the end. Wishes are one thing and legs another. Viviani’s victory is well-deserved. I still beat some very good riders, so second place is an excellent result. Though it is true that only victories count."
The leader in the overall general classification, Robert Vrečer, said: "I wasn’t afraid of anything this time. Maybe only that we’d catch up to the breakaway riders too soon. Vincenzo Nibali should try and catch me on Saturday, if he dares. I will make my attack in the 3rd stage. I hope it’ll be enough and Nibali will yield, and if he won’t, I’ll keep on attacking."
Finish in Nova Gorica Team Lampre is still in the lead in the second lap. Their riders are preparing the best possible starting point for Alessandro Petacchi and the Slovenian Grega Bole.
Arrival in Nova Gorica Lampre riders are dictating the pace during the first finish pass.
165 km - The last breakaway rider, Andrej Rajšp, was caught in Volčja Draga. This promises an exciting fight for the win.
151 km - The pack has already caught Nik Burjek and Francesco Di Paolo. The advantage of Andrej Rajšp has dropped to one minute.
146 km - The breakaway riders have crossed the last mountain finish in the stage and are heading towards the stage finish in Nova Gorica.
135 km - The leading three have crossed a jubilee mark in the Tour de Slovénie, namely as many as 15 thousand km have been travelled in total so far. In 4 minutes and 24 seconds, the peloton will reach the village of Manče, which will be recorded in the annals of history. Team Liquigas-Butan plin is setting the pace in the peloton.
126 km - The breakaway riders are 4:20 ahead.
120 km - The breakaway riders are rapidly losing their lead, which is 3:25.
117 km - The breakaway group is losing its lead, which is now down to 3:25. The riders are approaching Ajdovščina and the third intermediate sprint of the 2nd stage.
105 km - The breakaway riders have passed Štanjel. The main pack has started pursuing them and has shortened the gap to 4:25. The next intermediate sprint is 20 km further ahead in Ajdovščina.
95 km - With less than half of the stage to go, the first three riders have passed the intermediate sprint in Komen. The peloton is 5:20 behind. The next few kilometres are intended for eating, with team members passing snacks and drinks to each other.
82 km - The leading three riders have reached Dutovlje with a lead of 4:55. They are slowly nearing the intermediate sprint in Komen, which is 13 km further ahead.
70 km - The breakaway group has a lead of around 5 minutes. The current ambient temperature is a comfortable 28 degrees Celsius, though there are some clouds forming above Primorska. If it were to rain, it would really complicate matters for the caravan of riders.
60 km - The breakaway group has increased its lead to 5:30.
57 km - In the village of Kopriva, the three breakaway riders hold a 4:40 lead.
13.25 - Of the three breakaway riders, Rajšp was the fastest in the 1st stage time trial, finishing 32 seconds behind the winner Robert Vrečer. Di Paolo and Burjek were 43 and 48 seconds behind, respectively.
50 km – The three-man breakaway is 50 km into the 2nd stage. Their lead over the pack is now 3:55. The pack’s tempo is still dictated by Perutnina Ptuj riders.
40 km - The team cars may now distribute food to their riders. They are approaching the first intermediate sprint, Šmarje.
39 km - The breakaway has left Divača behind and holds a 3:30 lead. At present, the race is proceeding at a steady tempo. According to our data, the average speed of the riders is about 39.5 km/h.
13.10 - Who is Andrej Rajšp? The young rider of Team Radenska, which is led this year by Sava’s former coach Marko Polanc, is appearing in this classification for the first time. His 19th birthday is coming up next month. He is the least experienced among the breakaway riders. He placed 13th in the Trofeo Alcide Degasperi 2nd category single-day race two weeks ago. The fact that this is his first year in this classification did not stop him from winning the first mountain finish at Črni Kal though – a feat that brought him much closer to becoming the polka dot jersey wearer in Nova Gorica.
32 km - The riders are approaching Divača. The breakaway now has a lead of 3:40, which means that Perutnina Ptuj has managed to reduce the gap. The race management have informed the teams that feeding from the team cars will be permitted after 40 km.
13.05 - Who is Nik Burjek? This rider of Kranj’s Sava will turn 24 this year. This is his fifth consecutive appearance in the Tour de Slovénie (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011). His best result in the overall general classification was last year’s 35th position. Like Di Paolo, Burjek has not won any International Cycling Association races yet. He came closest to victory last year when he took second place in the Banja Luka – Belgrade 2nd category single-day race.
26 km - In Kozina, the breakaway riders have accumulated a lead of 4:10. Perutnina Ptuj riders are dictating the tempo at the front of the main pack.
12.53 - Who is Francesco Di Polo? This is the Italian's (aged 29) third appearance in the Tour de Slovénie. His first appearance at our biggest race was in 2007, when he took 71th place in the overall general classification. He did better in 2009, finishing 18th. He won 87th place in the 1st stage of this year’s race. He was 43 seconds behind the winner Vrečer.
18 km - 500 m before the first mountain finish of this year’s race, Nik Burjek’s attack was met with resistance from Andrej Rajšp, who won the first points. The breakaway riders are 3:26 ahead.
12.35 - One of the best Slovenian riders, Gorazd Štangelj, is also following the race - on a motorcycle.
15 km - Nik Burjek (Sava Kranj) has closed the gap to the two leaders and the three riders now have a lead of 2:38 over the main pack.
12 km - The two breakaway riders have a lead of 2:15, Nik Burjek (Sava Kranj) is in pursuit 50 m behind them.
5 km- The two breakaway riders have gained a 25-second lead in Dekani.
12.11 - Immediately after the start, Francesco Di Paolo (Acqua Sapone) and Andrej Rajšp (Radenska) have broken away from the leading pack, forming a 15-second gap.
11.46 - For the third time in a row, Koper is hosting the start of a Tour de Slovénie stage (2009, 2010, and 2011).
11.45 - Greetings to all fans of cycling. The 2nd stage of the Tour de Slovénie will take place from Koper to Nova Gorica, a distance of 189.6 km. The stage race starts at 12.00 in Koper. The race will start with a 3.4 km close formation ride around the streets of Koper.
We will be providing detailed coverage of the entire stage race starting at Koper’s Ukmar trg square and ending outside the town hall in Nova Gorica. In addition to following the riders via GPS, you will be able to watch a live broadcast of the stage finish. We invite you to join the caravan on the Tour de Slovénie.
