Results: Montepaschi Strade Bianche - Eroica Toscana - 1.1

by Christopher See on Mar 7, 2009 3:51 PM EST

1 Thomas Lövkvist (Swe) Team Columbia - Highroad                           
2 Fabian Wegmann (Ger) Team Milram                                        
3 Martin Elmiger (Swi) AG2R La Mondiale                                       
4 Edvald Boasson Hagen (Nor) Team Columbia - Highroad                         
5 Linus Gerdemann (Ger) Team Milram

Run today under threatening skies the 3rd episode of Italy's answer to Paris Roubaix was handled well by Team Columbia Highroad and Milram. Both teams placed two of the top 5 finishers. Alesandro Ballan and Gerald Cioleck failed to make the start. Noticable DNF's include Servais Knaven, Mick Rogers and about 30 others. Of note Fillipo Pozzato finished up 4:30 down, while Svein Tuft wandered in 6 minutes down. An early break went at KM 28 and held out until the peloton, with Columbia driving, caught them at the base of the final climb. Full story here and here for those with the proper linguistic skills. There was a moment of silence to observe the passing of Candido Cannavo a respected Italian journalist.

Tweet Comment 46 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

That is a pretty impressive top 5.

I was really hoping Leenoos was going to pull it out. He certainly gave it his best shot and put in one hell of an attack at the end, but Columbia had some big engines to chase him down; it was one nasty little hill too many for Gerdemann.

As usual, a fantastic race, and it sure is nice to see Lovkvist, Boasson Hagen, and Gerdemann all living up to their promise. All three of these guys are going to have some big results in the years to come.

by The Team Chef on Mar 7, 2009 4:27 PM EST reply actions

+1

Lövkvist, dammit, I scrapped him from my team, thanks to ursula’s and majope’s brainstorms…. :)

by Bruce Suomi on Mar 7, 2009 5:36 PM EST up reply actions

VDS points from Eroica:

1. Thomas Lovkvist: 150
2. Fabian Wegmann: 125
3. Martin Elmiger: 100
4. Edvald Boasson Hagen: 80
5. Linus Gerdemann: 60
6. Giovanni Visconti: 50
7. Peter Velits: 40
8. Andy Schleck: 30
9. Daniel Lloyd: 20
10. Ryder Hesjedal: 10

(posted in the other Eroica thread, but seems to belong in the results thread as well)

And Bruce…Lovkvist is on my team. :-)

He has no charisma--Thomas Dekker, on Cadel Evans

by majope on Mar 7, 2009 5:46 PM EST reply actions

I have Cav and Bert..... :)

by Bruce Suomi on Mar 7, 2009 5:52 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah Velits! 40 points

Crashdan: "Veni Vidi Vici beats Wing Kong Exchange... … and I’ll change my signature to a backwards smile for a month."
Veni Vidi Vici beats Txirrindulariak and I win a date..

by Frinking on Mar 7, 2009 5:56 PM EST up reply actions

And Gerdemann! Yeah 60 points!

All together 100 points.. Woow.. Thats 1% of the points Iḿ aiming to score

Crashdan: "Veni Vidi Vici beats Wing Kong Exchange... … and I’ll change my signature to a backwards smile for a month."
Veni Vidi Vici beats Txirrindulariak and I win a date..

by Frinking on Mar 7, 2009 5:57 PM EST up reply actions

Wow, I only got a lousy 265 points an majope only had a lousy 320 points :)

I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff

by Phil H. on Mar 7, 2009 6:00 PM EST up reply actions

Curses!

Now I really can’t gloat about my 260 points.

Mon coeur appartient à les forçats de la route.

by Josenka on Mar 7, 2009 6:03 PM EST up reply actions

Iḿ on schedule but nice for you..

Never even considerd the top 4 so prett satisfied with the results.. And you know..
The end of the VDS is far.. Very far away

Crashdan: "Veni Vidi Vici beats Wing Kong Exchange... … and I’ll change my signature to a backwards smile for a month."
Veni Vidi Vici beats Txirrindulariak and I win a date..

by Frinking on Mar 7, 2009 6:26 PM EST up reply actions

i got 170 across 4 riders

4, 5, 9, 10

i’m repeating from the other thread, too. oughta be a bonus for number of riders in the top ten… :)

You may very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment.

by nicknorco on Mar 7, 2009 8:00 PM EST up reply actions

How many points did you rack up last weekend?

I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff

by Phil H. on Mar 7, 2009 5:58 PM EST up reply actions

I got 265 from Het Nieuweuiewwsblad

and a big nothing from KBK. Nothing in Murcia, either, so I’m still behind everybody who scored big last weekend. 585 total—just 9415 to hit my goal!

He has no charisma--Thomas Dekker, on Cadel Evans

by majope on Mar 7, 2009 7:07 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah, well you're still ahead of me, so...

sticks tongue out

by Ed K on Mar 7, 2009 7:29 PM EST up reply actions

Jens is awfully quiet

Is he OK?

I wandered in to check the results on CN as soon as I woke up. My first thought was “Mmph”…. my second thought was “Haaahaha, wonder if Jens has PdC decked out in blue and yellow yet?”.

by Lou... on Mar 7, 2009 5:46 PM EST reply actions

Check the other thread

my guess is Jens is in bed by now or is extremely drunk after celebrating the victory.

I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff

by Phil H. on Mar 7, 2009 5:53 PM EST up reply actions

Jens is (rightfully) probably

passed out by now…….

by Bruce Suomi on Mar 7, 2009 5:55 PM EST up reply actions

Cav

He was with the main group until the final kick, looks like he can handle the climbs better than before?

by Bruce Suomi on Mar 7, 2009 6:08 PM EST reply actions

Yep, but his biggest rival(most likely) can handle it even better

that being Bennati, who finished 11th and only cracked in the last km, actually launched several attacks before than.

I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff

by Phil H. on Mar 7, 2009 6:14 PM EST up reply actions

Pozzato blew before Cav though?

by Bruce Suomi on Mar 7, 2009 6:36 PM EST up reply actions

Same climb I believe

but Pozzato was weak today, he should have never cracked so far out.

I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff

by Phil H. on Mar 7, 2009 6:41 PM EST up reply actions

yeah, he cramped, if I got it right, Pippo that is

by Bruce Suomi on Mar 7, 2009 6:44 PM EST up reply actions

I think it's what the announcers said

it was Italian so I’m sot sure but that’s what it sounded like. Still weak for him to cramp that far out, he has pretty good form so it was surprising.

I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff

by Phil H. on Mar 7, 2009 6:54 PM EST up reply actions

yep, agree.

by Bruce Suomi on Mar 7, 2009 6:55 PM EST up reply actions

ehm, make that he apparently had cramps....

by Bruce Suomi on Mar 7, 2009 6:54 PM EST up reply actions

According to a caption of a photo on CN he cramped

I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff

by Phil H. on Mar 7, 2009 6:58 PM EST up reply actions

cramped is really ok, word wise?

by Bruce Suomi on Mar 7, 2009 7:10 PM EST up reply actions

Yeah he cramped is Ok to say, past tense of cramp

I don't know if you knew this, CTV is run by Bernard Madoff

by Phil H. on Mar 7, 2009 7:15 PM EST up reply actions

Thanks, so cool this place!

by Bruce Suomi on Mar 7, 2009 7:28 PM EST up reply actions

and now Bruce talks like Gavia

Did your favourite rider just win Montepaschi Strade Bianch Eroica Toscana? OK then.

by Jens on Mar 8, 2009 3:21 AM EST up reply actions

lol

I feel stupid and contagious.

by Jen See on Mar 8, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Well..

Here we are now – entertain us!

[aaargh! NO! Get It Out Of My Head. Gee thanks, Gav ;-) …]

by Lou... on Mar 8, 2009 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions

You love me, you know you do ;-)

by Jen See on Mar 9, 2009 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions

brat..

A Nirvana ear worm at 1am.. that’s just wrong.

by Christopher See on Mar 9, 2009 2:28 AM EDT up reply actions

For those who haven't seen video

there are highlights of the finale on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GMbokAJd8E

Nice result for EBH on such an uphill finish.

by mysterion on Mar 7, 2009 9:32 PM EST reply actions

thanks!

hadn’t seen it – quite a finish! i was pleased with EBH too :)

You may very well think that; I couldn't possibly comment.

by nicknorco on Mar 7, 2009 11:04 PM EST up reply actions

Molto video

Don’t know if it has all been posted but here is the RAIcoverage in two parts. Found on a swedish forum.

Part 1 & Part 2

Did your favourite rider just win Montepaschi Strade Bianch Eroica Toscana? OK then.

by Jens on Mar 8, 2009 3:10 AM EST reply actions

I can listen to those RAI guys all day long.

I have no idea what they are saying, but they could make watching a melting ice cube seem exciting.

Also, that last hill was truly tortuous. I think I read it was 16%, and it didn’t look like it was exactly short, either.

Outside of the Monuments and WC RR, this just may be my favorite single-day race.

by The Team Chef on Mar 8, 2009 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

so heart those guys!

My most favoritest cycling commentators EVAH.

by Jen See on Mar 8, 2009 1:38 PM EDT up reply actions

by the way

that one dude seems to have a distinctly french accent (especially with the "r"s), what’s up with that?

by plinytheelder on Mar 8, 2009 4:18 PM EDT up reply actions

huh, think it must be regional

Haven’t noticed, but I’ll listen for it next now.

by Jen See on Mar 9, 2009 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions

Cassani?

I think that he’s just a bit softly spoken.

by Monty. on Mar 9, 2009 5:06 AM EDT up reply actions

yeah

the Rs just seem very French, and to my ear the one guy’s pronunciation sounds very different from the other guy’s. When I first listened to them I thought maybe he was a Frenchman or Belgian of Italian ancestry. Anyways yeah maybe it’s regional, I don’t know a whole lot about the different accents in Italy.

by plinytheelder on Mar 9, 2009 2:21 PM EDT up reply actions

ditto. Love the RAI coverage

and then add the di Stefano interviews… perfetto

by lyne on Mar 8, 2009 5:57 PM EDT up reply actions

It's a great race

I hope we get more coverage of the earlier sections in future years. There are some nice photos, but none of the white sections yet have a character in the way that the cobbles of Roubaix do. And the ending was changed from last year. I don’t know whether they were looking for something tougher, or if there’s a policy to rotate the through the various gates in the walls of Siena over the years.

by Monty. on Mar 9, 2009 5:05 AM EDT up reply actions

I think they need to make sure the finish is hard enough

to make the selection before they reach the square. This years version was better but if someone had been able to match the killer-attack of Lövkvist it still would be less than optimal.

Did your favourite rider just win Montepaschi Strade Bianch Eroica Toscana? OK then.

by Jens on Mar 9, 2009 7:13 AM EDT up reply actions