Volta a Catalunya

[briztoon]

Michael Albasini doing his best to win the first stage of the Volta a Catalunya.

Greenedge on a roll.

[briztoon]

Good ride by Albasini to take the first stage win.

[MichaelB]

Has a nice lead of 42 sec too.

Gerry Ryan must be a happy camper at the moment. Great start by them, and the surprise is different wins than what they expected, and was expected of them !!!

[Chuck]

Their season is starting to hum nicely

[familyguy]

Did I hear right? 2 in a row?! Great work.

Jim

[MichaelB]

All the naysayers are still saying they are a crap team.

Doing a lot better than some of the other big $$ teams, so can't be too bad ....

[RICHARDH]

I haven't heard too much negativity though i don't visit Cyclingnews forum's so that maybe be why. I think alot of the wins have come from solid tactics, but mainly having guys in some really good form. Gerran's is in career best form, and Albasini is looking really strong. Hopefully this will translate into a strong Ardennes, certainly have no excuse not to place highly. Interestingly Goss isnt lining up for either E3 Prijs or Gent Wevelgem I really wonder if his season is geared almost totaly around July and the ORR?

Waiting to see if tonights stage is shorten due to the snow, if so is Albasini a sneaky chance for GC?

[JV911]

Did I hear right? 2 in a row?!

you certainly did!

Albasini in a sprint finish

[MichaelB]

Albasini keeps his 1:32 lead as the times for the shiortened 3rd stage were not counted (inclement weather & snow).

Poor ol' Andy Pandy abandoned as well

Has he actually finished anything longer than a one day race that he has started this year ....

[norbs]

Julian Dean has broken his leg by the looks of it.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-spor ... -shattered

He must have hit that car hard!
http://www.biciciclismo.com/cas/site/no ... p?id=49085

See the bottom photos.

[toolonglegs]

Crap... Going to be hard to come back from that... Bad luck magnet is a pretty fair description!.

[norbs]

Crap... Going to be hard to come back from that... Bad luck magnet is a pretty fair description!.

I am pretty sure he hurt his back there last year.

[MichaelB]

Was it femur or tibia/fibula ?

Poor bugger. Broke his shoulder at their training camp

[RICHARDH]

Looks like Albasini has weathered the storm, hardest stage down he should be able to cover any of the attacks now. Really good result for a team that has stated outright its not going for GC and sent a team that is made up of guys doing there first race for the season.

[RICHARDH]

Two WT Stage Race wins from a team that has stated that they weren't going for Stage Race's, almost a dream start for the team. Maybe another result in one of the Classics, and a good showing in the Tour and you would have to give them a 100% for the season.

[norbs]

Was it femur or tibia/fibula ?

Poor bugger. Broke his shoulder at their training camp

From the GE FB page.

Team Doctor Peter Barnes visited Julian Dean at the hospital in Valencia on Sunday, the day before his was discharged, and he had this to say:



Julian has a fracture at the head (top end) of the fibula and a displaced fracture of the lateral (outer) part of the upper part of the tibia with the fracture line extending to the knee joint. This is obviously a direct impact to the lateral aspect of the left knee.



Surgery on March 23, put the fractured tibial fragment back into place, and it’s now held in position with a titanium plate and eight screws. The fractured fibula was not significantly displaced and did not require specific treatment.



Julie’s leg will be immobilized in a back slap for ten days after which moving the knee joined will be permitted to minimized stiffness and muscle wasting.



Julian was in good spirits, all things considered, but is realistic about his recovery and fitness – having done this before. I estimate that he may be ready to start gentle cycling on a trainer around the three week mark. Healing of fracture will still take up to eight weeks to get solid.



Julian’s wife Carole has been updating his personal blog. You can read more details here: http://www.juliandean.co.nz/diary.php

[MichaelB]

Sounds nasty. Hope he recovers well