2014 Volta A Catalunya Stage 7

Lieuwe Westra took this stage by the neck

early on 

Astana's new guy has a hard on

He's time trialling the final lap

Over the top

He can't be stopped

The overall outcome is still unclear

'tho Katusha has kept Rodríguez dear

Contador and TeJay attack

A nice duel on a Sunday wet

J J Rodríguez takes tenth

but the race is his yet

He's a local hero

Also a good bet

Alberto, TeJay, came close

KOM Stef Clement--raise a toast!

A happy Dutch lad is Westra, Lieuwe

His winning ride a thing of beauty

JJ Rod from Catalàn 

takes the homeboy prize--

He's their man!

Michel Koch wins for sprints

A big star for Steph Clement

TeJay takes third for BMC

I think he'll settle happily

Alberto Contador is two

He did quite well

I wouldn't be blue

In fact his race looked like ressurection

From the back pages of the has been section

Joaquim Rodrìguez throws his victory bouquet

All praises due to him today

I think he won a case of gazpacho

More Catalàn treats for Purito

In all --the winners a happy trio

Plus Westra who won with brio

Through rain and cold of Spanish Spring

Thrills and Chills did Catalunya bring

2014 Volta A Catalunya Stage 6

Giant's Luka Mezgec

Proves he's one of the cool kids

Yet,  a nine man breakaway

is showing great form today

Jens Voigt is there

also Pierre Rolland

Crosswinds are a factor

as they roll along

Giant Shimano spearheads the pack

Worried the break is too far to reel back

32 KM ahead

The break is earning their daily bread

at four minutes in the lead

cooperation is just what they need

Damien Howson for Orica G

Stef Clement takes his turn easily

It's a training session by Jens-- 

vieil homme

His goal is to bring the break home

The GC riders are within 10 seconds

So the race is still open

one might reckon

A headwind raises the energy bar

The Cap de Cursa might go far

At 2' 48" ahead at 20 KM

The Gran Group is lacking motivation

Or are they playing mouse and cat?

Can Giant-Shimano bring them back?

Villanova is a headwind end

Dangerous for the breakaway men

Belkin's Stef Clement and Simons, Nico

at 9 K Jens Voigt says "watch me go!"

Attack and attack the breakaway crumbles

Every man for himself

It's a regular rumble

Jens is in front to keep the pace high

Rolland attacks --Eurocar's guy!

Belkin's Stef Clement solos in

He fights the wind and takes the win!!!

He's KOM and a great stage winner

The rest of the break--he owes them a dinner

Rudy Molard two Pieter Serry three

Jens Voigt comes four

But he'll rest easily

He animated the breakaway

Although he didn't win today

Tomorrow the leader will be in dispute

JJ, Alberto, even Tejay--if he rides cute

Two jerseys today for Michel Koch

Cannondale's lad's giving all he's got

Mañana to Barcelona we look

Winner take all by hook or by crook

2014 Volta A Catalunya Stage 5

36 KM left today

A headwind bedevils

the breakaway

Burghardt and Rolland

and Preidler

Cannon and Lampre

speed on descent

Take them out

 protecting their leaders

Ditto Katush and Tink

At 20 KM the climb's on the brink

The roundabout redistributes

the teams

Reversal of Fortune?

Know what I mean?

No, here comes Cannon

They're on a mission

Alt de Lilla is yet to come

BMC, FDJ and Ryder, H

MovieStar starts to agitate

Westra attacks for Astana

Looking strong in the panorama

Contador attacks on the summit 

Purito following close

Fugslang attacks 

Descending wind cracks

Jakob is really flying

8 KM and 90 KM

He looks super-human

5 KM Fugslang is done

Saxo Tink is ready to run

Katush is in place

for Rodríguez, J J

Ryder makes another play

 Mezgec wins his third stage

Two Alaphilippe

Kévin Reza is 8th

Seven Talansky

An excellent race

Both plain and fancy

Purito remains in the leader's spot

But praises to Luka

When you're hot

You're hot!

Rodríguez, Contador, and TJ

Promise GC thrills for Saturday!

l

2014 Volta A Catalunya Stage 4

It's talking heads not tapping legs

which we find today

The weather is so funky

The broadcast is delayed

In fact, I think it's cancelled

For they're at 30 K

So my report is third hand

Plan C-- for Thursday

OK--here's a feed

De Gendt for Omega's taken the lead

Contador, Quintana, and Froome

TJ and Rodriguez all fight the gloom

At the finish there's a report of snow

We can see nothing

So what do we know?

Katusha, MovieStar, Tinkoff, and Sky

All hump at the front protecting their guys

The fog is low as is visibility

Finish line chaos is a possibility

Rolland, Barguil, Bennet attack

Peloton hard upon their backs

8 Km to go

They'e all back together

A mystery stage--

Blame it on the weather

2 KM the faves are in front

The fog remains thick

I'm totally stumped

Bardet is there among the faves

Contador attacks in heavy haze

TJ's in the lead with Barguil

TJ Van Garderen takes the stage!

BMC wins on a tough day

Bardet came two

Contador three

The race is open for the GC

PS. Talansky does well

On a day of cycling hell

2014 Volta A Catalunya Stage 3

Jack Bobridge for Belkin leads 

He'll get KOM for his deeds

Cold is the enemy

On this mountain route

Hot tea the remedy

The descent is a brute

Fingers so frigid it's hard to break

55 KM of chill to contemplate

Katusha and Tinkoff

stay at the front

Huddling together

Because of cold weather

Kévin Reza for Eurocar

Works well in the break

He will go far

20 KM the break is at three

The Cap de Cursa rolls manfully

The final climb sets the stage for Alberto

It's a real contest 'tho the pace is slow

Reza and Samoilau hang with La Molina

FDJ and Eurocar unfurl teams--ah!

De Gent, T looks strong for Omega-P

Kévin Reza takes the lead

He's fast. he's French, and très chic

Looking good at KM 6

He heads the race and takes his licks

Moviestar and Cannondale

chase La Molina--all hill no dale!

The front is filled with heavy hitters

The rear includes the colds and bitters

Contador looks happy

Rodríguez is snappy

Igor Anton climbs

Chris Froome moves forward

Ar KM 3

Astanas' Fugstang, Jak

Takes a turn but is pulled back

Chris makes his move

Rod, Contador follow

Joaquim Rodríguez wins

The race is his --

Katusha is pleased

They took care of biz

Alberto came two

Quintana three--

good on you

TJ four Chris is five

He lost no time

Sky's still alive

J J Rodríguez showed who's boss

Everybody! Go in and defrost !

2014 Volta A Catalunya Stage 2

Soggy weather

A six man break

Riche Porte is out 

A Sky belly ache?

Tommy V breaks out

at 27 K

Passing clear the breakaway

Tommy's tongue leads the way

Can he make it for 22 K?

The Peloton responds 

Voeckler le puncheur

makes the last peak

The sprinter teams 

begin to speak

Tommy steps back

He's done his bit

Mayhem at Girona

As teams are split

Luka Mezgec wins again!

Ferrari comes two

But it's all about Luka

Giant praises for you!

2014 Volta A Catalunya Stage 1

Slovenian Mezgec, Luka

Took Stage 1 Catalunya

Two was Leigh Howard

Far from a coward

Alaphilippe came three

For Omega-P

We’re looking forward

to Albertos’ ressurection

Or will Chris Froome 

offer correction?