general

Sylvain Georges (AG2R-La Mondiale) took a stunning solo win at Big Bear Lake, finishing 28 seconds ahead of the peloton – Peter Sagan (Liquigas-Cannondale) and Peter Velits (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) took 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

Sebastian Salas (Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies) with teammate Andrew Bajadali, David Boily (Spidertech-C10), Yukihiro Doi (Argos-Shimano), Sylvain Georges (AG2R La Mondiale), Gregory Rast (RadioShack-Nissan), and Jeremy Vennell (Bissell) made up the day’s break.  The riders built up a maximum lead of 8 minutes after the day’s first categorized climb.  Garmin-Barracuda cut the lead down to 4 minutes by the 3rd categorized climb of the day - Bajadali, Doi, Vennell, Boily and Rast were all dropped off from the break by the time the break made it to the top of the climb.  Salas and Georges continued on alone.  After the CA 18 climb, Salas dropped back, and Georges pressed on alone, 5 minutes ahead of the peloton.  Rast and Vennell were the last riders from the day’s break to be absorbed by the peloton.  Wilco Kelderman (Rabobank) attacked with 23km remaining – Pieter Weening (Orica GreenEdge) and Vennell chased after Georges, but the duo was caught 4km from the line.  David Zabriskie (Garmin – Barracuda) continues to lead in the GC, 34 seconds ahead of Tejay Van Garderen (BMC), and 39 seconds ahead of Robert Gesink (Rabobank).

Photos from SteepHill.

Mark Cavendish (Sky) took the bunch sprint win in Cervere, his 3rd sprint victory in this year’s Giro d’Italia.  Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) and Matt Goss (Orica GreenEdge) took 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

Martijn Keizer (Vacansoleil-DCM) and Francesco Failli (Farnese Vini – Selle Italia) were the first riders off the front of the peloton, quickly gaining 5:30 over the peloton in the first 40km raced.  The duo was eventually caught with 21km remaining in the stage.  Fabio Felline (Androni Giocattoli), Julien Berard (Ag2r-La Mondiale) and Julien Vermote (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) attacked together with 6.5km remaining, but were caught 2km from the finish line.  Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) continues to lead in the GC, 17 seconds ahead of Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin – Barracuda) and 26 seconds ahead of Sandy Casar (FDJ-Big Mat).

Photos from SteepHill.

Dave Zabriskie (Garmin-Barracuda) won the individual time trial on stage 5 of the Amgen Tour of California, rounding the 29.7km course around Bakersfield in 35:59.  Jens Voigt (RadioShack-Nissan) finished in 2nd place, 23 seconds down.  Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) finished 3rd, 34 seconds down from Zabriskie.  Zabriskie now leads in the GC, 34 seconds ahead of Van Garderen, and 39 ahead of Robert Gesink (Rabobank).

Photos from SteepHill.

Lars Bak (Lotto Belisol) took a solo win on stage 12 of the Giro, successfully attacking away from his breakaway – Sandy Casar (FDJ-BigMat) and Andrey Amador (Movistar) took 2nd and 3rd, respectively.

Bak, Casar, Ivan Santaromita (BMC), Jan Bakelants (RadioShack-Nissan), Amets Txurruka (Euskaltel-Euskadi), Amador, Jackson Rodriguez (Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela), Martijn Keizer (Vacansoleil-DCM) and Michal Golas (Omega Pharma-QuickStep) formed the day’s break, 50km into the 155km race.  50km from the finish line in Sestri Levante, the break had a 5:30 lead over the peloton.  10km later, their lead was at 6:30 – the gap topped out a 7 minutes as the break approached the Valico La Mola.  Liquigas-Cannondale reduced the gap to 4:10, but it climbed back up to 5 minutes.  Golas rode off the front of the breakaway, attempting to ride the rest of the way to the line alone – he gained 25 seconds over the break, but was caught by them 2km from the top of the final categorized climb.  Amador attacked off the front, but was countered by Casar and Santaromita – the 3 riders regrouped on the descent, pushing their lead to 4 minutes over the peloton, 10km to the line.  Bakelants, Txurruka, and Bak bridged to the 3 riders up ahead, with Liquigas-Cannondale chasing from the peloton.  Bak placed his stage winning attack 1.5km to the line, and held his lead until the end.

Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) continues to lead in the GC, 17 seconds ahead of Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin – Barracuda) and 26 seconds ahead of Casar.

Photos from SteepHill.