Stage 1: San Pedro del Pinatar - San Pedro del Pinatar, 166km
Endura Racing had a great day on the opening stage of the Vuelta a Murcia in southern Spain. Alexandre Blain took the Meta Volantes (intermediate sprint) jersey and Ian Wilkinson scored a top 10 finish.
Rolling off under a lovely blue sky, it didn't take long before Alexandre made the running in an early break at the 11km mark with Danny Pate (Garmin - Transition. They were soon joined by Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil) and Rubén Reig (Caja Rural) and the foursome managed to pull out a quick advantage, gaining a five minute advantage over the next 15 km.
Behind, the peloton was being driven by the Rabobank and Cervelo squads and the escapees lead was eaten into until it fell to under three minutes.
The break pushed on over the Alto de La Cuesta, the first of the day's three categorised climbs maintaining their advantage. Alexandre sprinted for the points, but was overhauled by Westra. As the break headed towards the intermediate sprint at Cartagena the pace lifted and Alexandre took it in a tight finish to claim both the sprint and the Meta Volantes jersey.
Rabobank and Cervelo were pushing hard at the front on the final climb and as the race descended back to the coastline, the break's day was done and they were overhauled by a rampaging peloton.
With a strong tailwind and a flat finish, it was a day for the sprinters. Robbie Hunter (Garmin - Transitions) took the win and to top an already fine day for Endura Racing, Ian Wilkinson came home in tenth. Alexandre held on to the leaders to take 16th place.
After the stage, Alexandre spoke with Anthony McCrossan of Cyclevox and said “I decided with the wind and the climbs today that I would go on the attack. I wanted the Meta Volantes jersey and I took that today. I am pleased; it shows that we are not just here for show but that we came to race. This is good for the Endura Racing Team. I am very pleased.”
Stage 2: Calasparra - Caravaca de la Cruz, 155km
As the race headed out of Calasparra on rolling terrain, Endura were well represented in the day's early moves, but the peloton soon brought these back. Heading towards the first intermediate sprint of the day, Alexandre Blain again showed his class by getting into afour man move at 33km. Alexandre outsprinted the others to take maximum points and ensure a second day in the blue Meta Volantes jersey.
On the first crossing of the 1227m Alto de San Juan, Sky picked up the pace on the front and the peloton soon lost riders out the back. Alexandre, Ian Wilkinson, James Moss and Ross Creber lost some ground, but all but Ross were able to chase back on. Ross sensibly got himself in the grupetto and finished safely.
The route then looped through the finish town and headed back to tackle the climb again at a slightly gentler pace. With Lagutin (Vacansoleil) alone out front, the peloton was content to monitor the gap. Garmin-Transitions took over on the front and as we headed back to Caravaca de la Cruz, Lagutin was overhauled by a charging peloton.
Endura were again involved at the pointy end, with Alexandre leading the sprinters through the final bend, only being caught with 50m to go and coming in 4th. Ian also sprinted well coming in 8th. The stage was again won by Robbie Hunter of Garmin-Transitions.
Shortly after the stage a delighted Alexandre told Cyclevox's Anthony McCrossan, "I started my sprint with 300 metres to go. I came out of the last corner on the front and they only came past with 50 metres to go. I am pleased with the result and also took the first Meta Volante today. I have held on to my jersey so am very happy."
Ian and Alexandre are now well placed in GC, with Ian lying 6th and Alexandre 8th.
Stage 3: Las Torres de Cotillas - Alhama de Murcia, 166km
The profile for this stage was all about one thing - the 1st category climb of the 1150m Alto del Collado Bermejo. Coming late in the stage it was expected to decide the outcome of the race. In the end, a select group featuring all the major challengers finshed together.
Long before we got there, Endura Racing had had an eventful day. First, Alexandre Blain made a heroic effort to mark out his closest challenger for the Meta Volantes jersey - Lieuwe Westra of Vacansoleil Pro Cycling Team - but despite chasing for 30km, was unable to make it up to the break and was forced to rejoin the peloton. Alexandre finished the day in blue however and carries the jersey through the individual time trial into the final day.
Ross Creber took a trip to the floor when Alexsandr Dyachanko (Astana) touched wheels in front of him and fell heavily. Despite piling straight into the prone Dyachenko, Ross was quickly back up and chasing the bunch like a seasoned pro.
Up front, Jack Bauer recorded a fantastic result, finishing 15th overall and making a big jump up the GC.
Speaking after the stage, Jack said "The climb split up into two, first one was OK - Radio Shack were drilling it, but I managed just to hang on to the back going over the top of it. And then on the second one it just all popped. I managed to get back on after the downhill –laid it all on the line, took some risks and managed to get back on the flat. I had a bit of a kick at it at the end, but it was pretty fast! Stoked with a top 15 finish!"
Stage 4: Alhama de Murcia - Alhama de Murcia, ITT, 22km
The 22km ITT was pan flat, straight and a dead turn - a classic UK drag strip transplanted into Murcia.
Jack Bauer was again the stand out performance on the day, powering back into a stiff headwind on his Look 596 to finish 12th only a matter of second down on some of the best time triallists in the world.
Frantisek Rabon (HTC-Columbia) won with a stunning ride and took the overall race lead.
Alexandre Blain said afterwards: "I wasn't that happy with my result today, good in first half with the strong tailwind, but return was very difficult. For tomorrow I want to keep the Meta Volantes jersey and aim to win the first sprint. I don't know if we have to go war all day!"
Stage 5: Redyser - Murcia, 121 km
At the rider briefing the night before the final stage, the message was clear - ride to defend the lead in the Meta Volantes competation and get in on the sprint. Both objectives were met with impressive team work and yet another aggressive ride from Alexandre.
Before racing got started, Ross Creber got a chance to catch up with Lance Armstrong for Eurosport's Planet Armstrong. Ross had been filming for this regular Eurosport feature all week and the show arranged for Ross and Lance to have a chat on the start line. Check out Planet Armstrong online for
Almost as soon as we passed the end of the neutralised section the attacks started. First a group including Lieuwe Westra (Vacansoleil) - Alexandre Blain's main rival for the Meta Volantes jersey - attempted to break clear - but were soon reeled in.
Next away was a group of nine including Alexandre. This quickly gained an decent advantage but as it contained a couple of GC contenders, the peloton soon organised themselves to mount an effective chase. The break just managed to hold off the bunch through the intermediate sprint with Alexandre taking the points required to guarantee the blue Meta Volantes jersey.
Not content with just the jersey, Alexandre immediately broke clear again, taking Philip Deignan (Cervelo) and a rider from Oleg Chuzda (Caja Rural) with him. The threesome crested the days only categorised climb - the Alto Cabezo de la Plata - after 69km with a lead of 2:21 and despite a minor mechanical for Alexandre on the ascent and a fall for Deignan on the horribly slick descent maintained their advantage into the second and final intermediate sprint. Alexandre stamped his authority on the blue jersey competition by again taking full points in front of a big crowd in La Alberca.
As the leaders headed into the last 20km they held an advantage of 1:20, but as the race entered Murcia, they were overhauled. Theo Bos (Cervelo) won the gallop with Ian Wilkinson placed a creditable tenth place. Underlining how far Endura Racing have developed during the trip, Ian was disappointed with finishing tenth.
The team rode superbly well as a unit with everyone pulling hard to meet the objective of keeping the jersey.
Birthday boy Alexandre beamed from the podium as he received his jersey and spoke afterwards of his joy at winning: "A very good week. Perfect for me and for the team too. High positions on stages and the blue [intermediate sprints] jersey. Am very happy to finish with the jersey on my birthday today."