Tour de San Luis (2013) Photos Jan 21 - 28

« Tour de San Luis 2013 Race Info and Links

Departing San Luis for a rolling, downhill 164 km stage to Villa Mercedes	The scenery in central Argentina	Low Flying Object!
39 year-old Alessandro Petacchi would take 3rd place today	A local watching from a swing	Clearly, the pace/stage wasn't that difficult
The break made up of local teams	Long straight roads today
The Break being followed by motos of every sort	Ex-teammates Daniel Oss and Ted King	Cannondale's Japanese rider takes his turn at the front
Martin Velits	Sprint #2	The remnants of the break about to be absorbed by the peloton in the distance
The sprint finish in full flight	Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) wins his first pro race in January (?) by taking the first stage of Tour de San Luis in Argentina. Sacha Modolo (Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox) was 2nd and Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Merida) was 3rd.	Your stage 1 podium: 2nd Sacha Modolo (Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox), 1st Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) and 3rd Alessandro Petacchi (Lampre-Merida).

Stage 2:  Tilisarao - Terraza del Portezuelo, 171 km  Full Results and Report

Joaquim Rodriguez getting his Zen on	First Break of the day at km 0	Thor And Ted King
Feed zone	Martin Velits on the front	If Ansel Adams were a bike racing photographer...
Alberto Contador biding his time for the hilly/mountainous stages coming up later this week	Sutter-Home's Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA) leading a break of riders from local teams	The stage 2 landscape
Michael Koch leading the peloton on a short climb; keeping the break manageable		Dam!
The peloton has the break in sight	Entering the finishing circuit with 15 to go	DSC_9756 copy.jpg
Lucas Euser pulling the Blue Train	BMC pointing out hazards
Next time around; the uphill finish	Italian Sacha Modolo (Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox), far right, beat Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) today on the uphill/power Stage 2 sprint finish at Tour de San Luis while Australian Leigh Howard (Orica GreenEdge) was third. Mark Cavendish tweeted post-race: "This guy's good. I believe if his director puts more confidence in him, he'll win a lot more races."	Sacha Modolo (Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox) celebrates a big win against a strong field
Cav feeling it after today's stage	Beating Cav makes this win especially sweet for Sacha Modolo (Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox)	Your stage 2 podium: 2nd Mark Cavendish (GBr) Omega Pharma-Quick Step, 1st Sacha Modolo (Ita) Bardiani Valvole-CSF Inox, 3rd Leigh Howard (Aus) Orica GreenEdge

Stage 3:  La Punta - Mirador del Potrero, 173 km  Full Results and Report

Departing LaPunta	First break of the day included Thor Hushovd	Scenery
Queen Stage Panoramic	DSC_8012 copy.jpg	Alberto Contador on a descent
Cav had his boys around him all day	Scenery	The Peloton approaching KOM 2
The break nearing KOM 2	Scenery	The Chase
Daniel Oss leading the chase on the climb	Tejay on his way to a 5th place finish today	KOM 2
Alex Diaz breaking free with 5 km to go	Last climb at 4k to go	Diaz with 3k to go
Chasing with 2k to go.	Brazil's Alex Diniz (Funvic Brasilinvest) soloed the 8 km finishing climb on stage 3, the queen stage of this year's Tour de San Luis and won by 24s ahead of Italian Mauro Santambrogio (Vini Fantini-Selle Italia). He now leads the GC. Stage 3 Results and General Classification	Lets hope these emotions are real since Alex Diniz is an ex-doper... he served a two-year EPO suspension between 2009 and 2011
Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma-Quick Step), left, was caught by Mauro Santambrogio (Vini Fantini-Selle Italia) for 2nd + 24s	The photo-finish for second won by Mauro Santambrogio (Vini Fantini-Selle Italia)	Your stage 3 podium: 2nd Mauro Santambrogio (Vini Fantini-Selle Italia), 1st Alex Diniz (Funvic Brasilinvest) and 3rd Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
Alex Diniz (Funvic Brasilinvest) is also the new race leader

Stage 4:  San Luis (ITT) 19.2 km  Full Results and Report

A UnitedHeathCare rider getting ready for the 19.2 km ITT in San Luis	47th Mark Cavendish (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) + 2:07	34th Joaquim Rodriguez (Katusha) + 1:11
Canadian time trial champion, Svein Tuft, powering through the second half of the course	Svein Tuft (Can/Orica GreenEdge) won the 19.2 km Stage 4 ITT in 22:14. Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol/Omega Pharma-Quick Step) was 3rd + 11s and is now the new race leader by 23s over Tejay van Garderen (USA/BMC Racing Team) Stage 4 ITT Results and Report — cyclingnews Full Results and GC — biciciclismo	45th Peter Sagan (Cannondale) + 2:02
Local boy Argentine, Leandro Messineo (San Luis Somos Todos), was second today just two seconds back.	After troubles at the start, the morning's race leader, Flavio De Luna (Mexico) finishd 159 + 5:24	Vincenzo Nibali was 4th + 14s
Alberto Contador was 10th + 33s	16 Sylvain Chavanel (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) + 41s	3rd + 11s today and now first overall, Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)
7th Tejay van Garderen (BMC Racing) + 33s and now 2nd overall + 23s	Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) again	Your new race leader, Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma-Quick Step) by 23s
Your stage 4 ITT podium: 2nd Leandro Messineo (San Luis Somos Todos), 1st Svein Tuft (Can/Orica GreenEdge), 3rd Michal Kwiatkowski (Omega Pharma-Quick Step)

Stage 5:  Juana Koslay - Carolina 169.8km  Full Results and Report

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Stage 6:  Quines - Merlo (Mirador del Sol) 157 km  Full Results and Report

It looked like OPQ might set the pace today again, but it was not to be	Ted King and ITT winner Svien Tuft on the early climb	It looked like Saxo had a plan from the start
The early break of five	The peloton was never far back of the break	Vincezno Nibali driving the pace at the beginning of the final climb with the race leader sitting third
Nibali had help from his team, but only managed to place 15th	Fighting it with 5 km to go	Van Garderen (and spital) and Contador
The final efforts within 1 km to go	Contador!	Alberto Contador wins ahead of race leader and local boy, Daniel Diaz (Arg/San Luis Somos Todos)
Contador opens his account for 2013		Appreciation and sportsmanship from the 2nd and 3rd place finishers.
Van Garderen Spent!	Needless to say, having Contador on good form at your 2.1 event is great news	Your stage 6 podium: 2nd Daniel Diaz (Arg/San Luis Somos Todos) + 2s, 1st Alberto Contador (Spa/Team Saxo-Tinkoff) 3:47:34, 3 rd Alex Diniz (Bra/Funvic Brasilinvest)

Stage 7:  San Luis - Juana Koslay 155 km  Full Results and Report

The rollout from San Luis	DSC_9802 copy.jpg	The Stage begins quickly
The first break approaching the first sprint	After a week of blistering heat, finally, a day with partial shade	Argentina Pride
The First Sprint	The local San Luis team making sure they keep the overall winner safe	DSC_4634 copy.jpg
Road hazzard	Peter Sagan had his mind set on the win today	The pace was fast in the last 25k
Greenedge	Lampre	The last surviving three from today's break
The sprint finish in full flight	Mattia Gavazzi (Androni Giocattoli) outsprints Peter Sagan (Cannondale) during the stage 7 finish in Juana Koslay to claim his first win since returning from a two-year cocaine suspension while riding for Colnago at the time.	Stage 7 podium: 2nd Peter Sagan (Svk/ Cannondale Pro Cycling), 1st Mattia Gavazzi (Ita/Androni Giocattoli) 3:25:48, 3rd Francisco Jose Ventoso (Spa/Movistar Team)
Your overall winner, 23 year old Argentine Daniel Diaz (San Luis Somos Todos)	The Overall podium: 2nd Tejay van Garderen (USA/BMC Racing) + 33s, 1st Daniel Diaz (Arg/San Luis Somos Todos) 24:03:16, 3rd Alex Diniz (Bra/Funvic Brasilinvest) + 39s	Best team this week: BMC Racing