Chris Froome finishes second to Vincenzo Nibali in Tirreno-Adriatico after the final time trial is won by World Champion Tony Martin
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Stage winner in the mountains, Chris Froome finished the time trial in 6th, 11 seconds faster than Nibali in the short race against the watch but falling short of the time required to win the race overall.
It was Omega Pharma – Quick-Step’s World Champion Tony Martin who closed out Tirreno-Adriatico with a winning 52.992km/h average speed in the 9.2km Stage 7 ITT which was enough for a victory by six seconds. Martin finished with a time of 10’25”, pushing enough power to pass riders in the short distance time trial. Adriano Malori (Lampre-Merida) was 2nd (+6″), and Andrey Amador (Movistar) was 3rd, 10″ back. Froome was 6th whilst Essex boy Alex Dowsett (Movistar) was an excellent 10th.
Alberto Contador was able to dispatch Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) to elevate himself onto the final place on the podium, yet the Team Saxo-Tinkoff rider came under intense pressure at the death from Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma – Quick-Step), just edging out the Polish rider by a single second. Kwiatkowski finished 8th (+21″) and won the White Jersey for Best Young Rider overall as well as 4th (+53″) on the GC.
Tony Martin on his way to winning the final stage. Photo: OPQS/Tim de Waele
“It was more like a prologue than a time trial” said Martin said about the TT parcours. “I prefer the longer time trials, from 20 to 50 kilometers but, I really liked it here. It was not too technical. It was really nice, and we were lucky with the weather as there was no rain. So, everything was really fine. I expected a really big fight with Cancellara at the end, and the big contender was Malori. But OK, I won and I’m really happy. It shows me that my time trial condition is really good, and it gives me a lot of morale for the season.”
“I was really looking forward to this day,” Martin continued. “I’m really happy I could win here. This is my first time at Tirreno-Adriatico. I really liked this race, and a week of challenging climbs was very important for my conditioning. As for my performance during the stages that weren’t time trials, it went better day to day. I still need some time to improve in the mountains, but it is very early in the season. For the moment, I am very happy with this stage win, and also the good GC placement of Michal Kwiatkowski. He really deserved it. This was a very good week for the team, especially winning both of the time trials.”
Michal Kwiatkowski in the white jersey. Photo: OPQS/Tim de Waele
“It’s just a really positive atmosphere in the team,” Martin said about the morale of the squad. “You can really feel that everyone gives 100 percent — the riders, staff, mechanics, soigneurs, sports directors, really everybody. I am so happy and proud to be a part of this team. I think we really force each other to go to the limit and you really can feel it. A win for one of us is a win for the team. It gives us so much power, and makes everyone so successful. It runs pretty much by itself, I think.”
Meanwhile, Kwiatkowski said of his ride “I did everything I could — but to be honest, I was a little bit tired after this week even mentally. This race was not so easy, but it is one I will never forget. It was marvelous to be surrounded by a team that was so supportive of me. I could have maybe done better, but for now it is important to enjoy the fact that I was 4th behind three of the best in the World. For me, I cannot complain about my placement with this kind of competition. I am happy and am looking forward to the next races with great morale.”
Vincenzo Nibali produced the time trial required to stop Chris Froome from taking the race win.
Froome meanwhile was positive about his performances. “I wanted to start the season [on the front foot],†said Froome after the finish. I came off a really good winter training. I didn’t have any sicknesses or problems building up to the season.”
“I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m in the best form right now, but I’m definitely on track for where I need to be in March. Any results I’m getting now along the way on the build-up to the Tour are a bonus for me. It’s just a good indication that I’m heading in the right direction.â€
Nibali, according to Jonathan Symcox (Eurosport/Yahoo) said afterwards “There were one or two difficult corners with the rain and I preferred to take no risks. It was a great Tirreno-Adiratico, and it gives me great personal satisfaction to win against riders of the quality of Contador and Froome, like in the great three-week races.”
STAGE RESULT
1 MARTIN Tony Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 10:25
2 MALORI Adriano Lampre – Merida 00:06
3 AMADOR BAKKAZAKOVA Andrey Movistar Team 00:10
4 CANCELLARA Fabian RadioShack – Leopard 00:12
5 CASTROVIEJO Jonathan Nicolas Movistar Team 00:14
6 FROOME Christopher Sky Procycling 00:15
7 ROULSTON Hayden RadioShack – Leopard 00:20
8 KWIATKOWSKI Michal Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 00:21
9 CATALDO Dario Sky Procycling 00:23
10 DOWSETT Alex Movistar Team same time
11 DUMOULIN Tom Team Argos – Shimano 00:24
12 NIBALI Vincenzo Astana Pro Team 00:26
13 MOURIS Jens Orica GreenEDGE 00:27
14 DEVOLDER Stijn RadioShack – Leopard 00:29
15 KOREN Kristjan Cannondale Pro Cycling Team same time
16 DENNIS Rohan Garmin – Sharp 00:30
17 CONTADOR VELASCO Alberto Team Saxo-Tinkoff same time
18 INTXAUSTI Benat Movistar Team 00:31
19 BARTA Jan Team NetApp – Endura same time
20 QUINZIATO Manuel BMC Racing Team 00:32
21 SAGAN Peter Cannondale Pro Cycling Team 00:33
22 GESCHKE Simon Team Argos – Shimano 00:36
23 FARRAR Tyler Garmin – Sharp 00:39
24 RABOTTINI Matteo Vini Fantini same time
25 HONDO Danilo RadioShack – Leopard same time
26 ROUX Anthony Equipe Cycliste FDJ 00:40
27 BODNAR Maciej Cannondale Pro Cycling Team same time
28 HORNER Chris RadioShack – Leopard 00:42
29 URAN Rigoberto Sky Procycling same time
30 MORENO FERNANDéZ Daniel Katusha Team same time
31 STYBAR Zdenek Omega Pharma – Quick-Step same time
32 MOSER Moreno Cannondale Pro Cycling Team same time
33 HENAO MONTOYA Sergio Luis Sky Procycling 00:43
34 CASAR Sandy Equipe Cycliste FDJ same time
35 RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquim Katusha Team same time
36 TAMOURIDIS Ioannis Euskaltel – Euskadi same time
37 VICIOSO ARCOS Ãngel Katusha Team 00:44
38 ROELANDTS Jurgen Lotto Belisol Team 00:45
39 COBO ACEBO Juan Jose Movistar Team same time
40 SLAGTER Tom-Jelte Blanco Pro Cycling Team same time
41 LANGEVELD Sebastian Orica GreenEDGE 00:46
42 IMPEY Daryl Orica GreenEDGE same time
43 EVANS Cadel BMC Racing Team 00:47
44 MONTAGUTI Matteo AG2R La Mondiale same time
45 GREIPEL Andre Lotto Belisol Team same time
46 SCHAR Michael BMC Racing Team 00:48
47 HUSHOVD Thor BMC Racing Team 00:50
48 PINEAU Cédric Equipe Cycliste FDJ same time
49 NIEMIEC Przemyslaw Lampre – Merida 00:51
50 BELKOV Maxim Katusha Team 00:52
51 VISCONTI Giovanni Movistar Team 00:53
52 POELS Wout Vacansoleil – DCM same time
53 VENTER Jaco Team MTN Qhubeka same time
54 FLECHA Juan Antonio Vacansoleil – DCM same time
55 POZZOVIVO Domenico AG2R La Mondiale 00:54
56 KREUZIGER Roman Team Saxo-Tinkoff same time
57 BRAJKOVIÄ Janez Astana Pro Team 00:55
58 VOSS Paul Team NetApp – Endura same time
59 SPRICK Mathieu Team Argos – Shimano 00:56
60 HUZARSKI Bartosz Team NetApp – Endura same time
61 MARTENS Paul Blanco Pro Cycling Team same time
62 VENTOSO ALBERDI Francisco José Movistar Team same time
63 PUCCIO Salvatore Sky Procycling 00:57
64 VELITS Martin Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 01:00
65 TOSATTO Matteo Team Saxo-Tinkoff same time
66 CARUSO Damiano Cannondale Pro Cycling Team 01:03
67 LAGUTIN Sergey Vacansoleil – DCM same time
68 PIMENTA MENDES José Joao Costa Team NetApp – Endura same time
69 MARANGONI Alan Cannondale Pro Cycling Team 01:04
70 POPOVYCH Yaroslav RadioShack – Leopard same time
71 WYNANTS Maarten Blanco Pro Cycling Team 01:06
72 AZANZA SOTO Jorge Euskaltel – Euskadi same time
73 GARZELLI Stefano Vini Fantini 01:07
74 MARTINEZ DE ESTEBAN Egoi Euskaltel – Euskadi same time
75 MINGUEZ Miguel Euskaltel – Euskadi 01:08
76 SANTAMBROGIO Mauro Vini Fantini 01:09
77 FINETTO Mauro Vini Fantini 01:10
78 DELAGE Mickaël Equipe Cycliste FDJ same time
79 VICHOT Arthur Equipe Cycliste FDJ same time
80 CIOLEK Gerald Team MTN Qhubeka 01:11
81 MOREIRA PAULINHO Sergio Miguel Team Saxo-Tinkoff same time
82 VAN AVERMAET Greg BMC Racing Team 01:12
83 CUNEGO Damiano Lampre – Merida 01:13
84 VANOTTI Alessandro Astana Pro Team same time
85 HANSEN Adam Lotto Belisol Team 01:15
86 KUSCHYNSKI Aleksandr Katusha Team same time
87 DEMARE Arnaud Equipe Cycliste FDJ 01:17
88 FROHLINGER Johannes Team Argos – Shimano same time
89 PIETROPOLLI Daniele Lampre – Merida 01:18
90 SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel Euskaltel – Euskadi 01:20
91 LODEWYCK Klaas BMC Racing Team 01:23
92 SABATINI Fabio Cannondale Pro Cycling Team 01:24
93 BENEDETTI Cesare Team NetApp – Endura same time
94 GASTAUER Ben AG2R La Mondiale 01:26
95 NORDHAUG Lars Petter Blanco Pro Cycling Team same time
96 PARDILLA BELLON Sergio Team MTN Qhubeka 01:27
97 MARTIN Daniel Garmin – Sharp 01:30
98 MOLLEMA Bauke Blanco Pro Cycling Team 01:31
99 BOOM Lars Blanco Pro Cycling Team 01:32
100 CIMOLAI Davide Lampre – Merida 01:34
101 BRAVO Garikoitz Euskaltel – Euskadi 01:40
102 NOCENTINI Rinaldo AG2R La Mondiale 01:45
103 FERRARI Roberto Lampre – Merida 01:47
104 BELLETTI Manuel AG2R La Mondiale 01:52
105 HERNáNDEZ BLAZQUEZ Jesús Team Saxo-Tinkoff 01:57
106 SELVAGGI Mirko Vacansoleil – DCM 01:58
107 APPOLLONIO Davide AG2R La Mondiale 02:23
FINAL OVERALL
1. NIBALI Vincenzo Astana Pro Team 04:08
2. FROOME Christopher Sky Procycling 00:23
3. CONTADOR VELASCO Alberto Team Saxo-Tinkoff 00:52
4. KWIATKOWSKI Michal Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 00:53
5. RODRIGUEZ OLIVER Joaquim Katusha Team 00:54
6. HORNER Chris RadioShack – Leopard 01:21
7. SANTAMBROGIO Mauro Vini Fantini 02:03
8. AMADOR BAKKAZAKOVA Andrey Movistar Team 02:42
9. NIEMIEC Przemyslaw Lampre – Merida 03:19
10. POELS Wout Vacansoleil – DCM 03:35
18. SANCHEZ GONZALEZ Samuel Euskaltel – Euskadi 06:49
20. MARTIN Daniel Garmin – Sharp 07:54
22. EVANS Cadel BMC Racing Team 09:46
24. VOSS Paul Team NetApp – Endura 10:07
29. MARTIN Tony Omega Pharma – Quick-Step 17:49
33. SAGAN Peter Cannondale Pro Cycling Team 20:30
62. HUSHOVD Thor BMC Racing Team 16:32
63. DOWSETT Alex Movistar Team 16:48
71. CANCELLARA Fabian RadioShack – Leopard 43:44:00
85. BOOM Lars Blanco Pro Cycling Team 54:50:00
94. GREIPEL Andre Lotto Belisol Team 01:00:09
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