Farrar Wins Tirreno-Adriatico Second Stage

Last updated : 10 March 2011 By Kev Monks

Team Garmin's Cervelo's Tyler Farrar won the second stage of the Tirreno-Adriatico this afternoon.

The 202km stage from the marble producing town of Carrara to Indicatore in Arezzo, saw HTC Highroad's Mark Cavendish on the attack. early on before he encountered a problem and dropped back to the peleton and then off the back of it.

With 35km to go, Cavendish was safely back in the peleton whilst Omega Pharma Lotto's Vincente Reynes Mimi went out in front with a thirty second lead.

He was caught and the battle to get the sprinters to the front was on. All the big boys moved up and with 1.5km to go, Robbie McEwen was on the front.

Everyone looked at everyone else waiting to see who was going to make the move and with Mark Cavendish blocked, Tyler Farrar was able to get over the line first. Allesandro Pettachi was second with JJ Haedo third and Mark Cavendish fifth.



Farrar (pictured above) takes the leaders jersey.

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German Andrea Kloddin won the fifth stage of the Paris-Nice this afternoon.

This was a 193km stage from Saint-Symphorien-sur-Coise to Vernoux-en-Vivarais and comprised of another seven climbs.

A number of riders tried to attack but Vacansoleill's Lieuwe Westra was the only rider to make any real escape. He was 45 seconds clear and first over the Col de la Croix de Chaubouret.

Westra was joined by Hubert Dupont (AG2R), Arnold Jeannesson (FDJ), David Lopez Garcia (Movistar), Christophe Le Mevel (Garmin-Cervelo) and Romain Hardy (Bretagne-Schuller) and as the stage approached the 60km to go mark, Westra, Lopez-Garcia and Dupont broke clear once more.

They were caught with 35km to go. Yesterday's stage winner Thomas Voeckler was amongst a group of riders who next took over the running along with Pierrick Fedrigo, Sandy Casar, Cédric Pineau, Jérémy Roy, Yuriy Trofimov, and Simon Spilak.

Tony Martin (pictured below) and Thomas De Gendt also moved up to the leaders on another beautiful day



A twenty man chasing group were eleven seconds back with 10km to go.

With two kilometres to go, any of eight riders was in with a chance of the stage victory. The Radio Shack riders went for the line and it was Andrea Kloddin who was first over beating Sanuel Sanchez with Carrara third and Tony Martin fourth.

Ireland's Nicholas Roche came in 2 mins,50 seconds back.

Tomorrow's sixth stage is a 27km time trial from Rognes to Aix en Province.

Pictures copyright of Covsupport News Service. Credit CNS/KM
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Tour of Britain aims for first-class volunteering experience in 2011

Volunteers to continue to get first-hand experience of Britain's biggest professional cycle race

 

Volunteers at The Tour of Britain in 2011 can look forward to an enhanced experience at Britain's biggest professional cycle race, as race organisers SweetSpot Group look to reward all of those playing a part in The Tour.

 

Around 1,000 volunteers participated in the 2010 Tour of Britain, fulfilling a variety of roles at start and finish venues, as well as at intermediate Sprints and King of the Mountains locations, getting a first-hand experience of professional cycle racing.

 

"Following feedback on the volunteer process in 2010 we have begun a full review of volunteering at The Tour of Britain", said Mick Bennett, Race Director for SweetSpot Group.

 

"Volunteers are tremendously important at The Tour of Britain, and all other cycling events in this country, which could not run without their input.  We want to make sure than in 2011 their experience is a first-class one and duly rewards them for giving up their time to be a part of Britain's biggest professional cycle race.

 

"We are working on improving the information given to people upon volunteering to make the whole process as easy as possible, while also providing every one of our volunteers with a 'goody bag' that will leave only positive memories of The Tour."

 

Details of how to volunteer will be announced and made available via www.tourofbritain.co.uk once the full route of the 2011 Tour of Britain has been announced at the National Launch in April.  Companies wishing to find out more about the opportunities surrounding the volunteering process and The Tour of Britain Goody Bags are urged to get in contact with race organisers.

 

Scotland will be the perfect stage for The Tour of Britain Grand Depart on Sunday 11th September, with Britain's biggest free-to-spectate sporting event finishing in central London eight days later on Sunday 18th September.

 

The Tour of Britain is proud to be partnered with The Prostate Cancer Charity.  Don't forget this summer your chance to follow in the wheel tracks of the professionals and ride stages from The Tour of Britain.  Go to www.tourride.co.uk to find out more!