Team Lidwinia - The Pride of Polynesia

[Team Lidwinia]

The first Grand Tour for the Tuvaluans!

After the great performances by riders like Malielegaoi and Kahausibware, Team Lidwinia was invited to ride the Vuelta with this team:

101. Foukimoana Rongomatane (TUV)
102. Matua Ahuatanga (TUV)
103. Iti Dakuwanga (TUV)
104. Pekahau Haumiatiketike (TUV)
105. Naingimea Itimaroroa (TUV)
106. Rahi Kahausibware (TUV)
107. Malietoa Malielegaoi (TUV)
108. Toakai Sopoanga (TUV)
109. Tofilau Talake (TUV)

The aim is to promote to the 4th division. Stage victories would be great. Lidwinia does not have a real GC guy.

[Team Lidwinia]

1st stage - Team Time Trial
01. 00:00:00 August Barner (GonzOs)
06. 00:00:13 Jan VanAntwerpen (RV Hornel)
12. 00:00:18 Darius Fletcher (EQUIPE LEGENDE)
17. 00:00:30 Messi Nieto (Les ours blancs)
23. 00:00:34 Nga Minh (RS Walbeck)
42. 00:00:50 Naingimea Itimaroroa (Team Lidwinia) (8th)
43. 00:00:50 Toakai Sopoanga (Team Lidwinia)
44. 00:00:50 Foukimoana Rongomatane (Team Lidwinia)
45. 00:00:50 Rahi Kahausibware (Team Lidwinia)
46. 00:00:50 Pekahau Haumiatiketike (Team Lidwinia)
47. 00:00:50 Matua Ahuatanga (Team Lidwinia)
48. 00:00:50 Tofilau Talake (Team Lidwinia)
145. 00:03:04 Iti Dakuwanga (Team Lidwinia)
156. 00:03:14 Malietoa Malielegaoi (Team Lidwinia)

Not so awesome. I took no risks in the beginning of the race with the climb, to make sure Itimaroroa got over it with the team. Then I started riding. I got to 7th, but the guys waited for Talake in the last km. Not so smart of me. For that reason I lose a place. 8th now. I lost some money and didn't make many points, but it's a start and quite ok for a first TTT.

[Team Lidwinia]

2nd stage - mass sprint
01. 00:00:00 Harrison Gray (vagaderi)
02. 00:00:00 Iti Dakuwanga (Team Lidwinia)
03. 00:00:00 Mark Cavedish (nadal)
04. 00:00:00 Jubo Muting (Sky Riders)
05. 00:00:00 Lilianio Safer (Les ours blancs)
39. 00:00:00 Pekahau Haumiatiketike (Team Lidwinia)
69. 00:00:00 Rahi Kahausibware (Team Lidwinia)
70. 00:00:00 Tofilau Talake (Team Lidwinia)
74. 00:00:00 Toakai Sopoanga (Team Lidwinia)
90. 00:00:00 Matua Ahuatanga (Team Lidwinia)
107. 00:00:00 Naingimea Itimaroroa (Team Lidwinia)
113. 00:00:00 Malietoa Malielegaoi (Team Lidwinia)
121. 00:00:00 Foukimoana Rongomatane (Team Lidwinia)

Very close again. Two times second in three days. After the early attack for the mountain points, Some loners left and one got a good lead, especially since there was some strange chasing in the peloton. Sopoanga, Ahuatanga, Talake and Kahausibware did quite some work and Dakuwanga got a deserved second place. Pity for those few centimeters, but I'm ok.

[Team Lidwinia]

3rd stage - large lead group
01. 00:00:00 Johnny Bartsen (BayernPower)
02. 00:00:00 Darius Fletcher (EQUIPE LEGENDE)
03. 00:00:00 Lam Thuy (RS Walbeck)
04. 00:00:00 Untaani Compoaré (EQUIPE LEGENDE)
05. 00:00:00 Tejay VanGarderen (UC Norvegicus)
21. 00:00:18 Foukimoana Rongomatane (Team Lidwinia)
45. 00:02:12 Tofilau Talake (Team Lidwinia)
68. 00:02:12 Rahi Kahausibware (Team Lidwinia)
78. 00:02:37 Matua Ahuatanga (Team Lidwinia)
81. 00:02:37 Toakai Sopoanga (Team Lidwinia)
121. 00:05:09 Pekahau Haumiatiketike (Team Lidwinia)
138. 00:08:15 Iti Dakuwanga (Team Lidwinia)
153. 00:08:22 Naingimea Itimaroroa (Team Lidwinia)
155. 00:08:22 Malietoa Malielegaoi (Team Lidwinia)

No big success. Talake was in a madmen lead group where after 10 km, people started attacking each other and Talake let hemself drop back to the peloton because this was not going to work anyway. Just before the final climb, Dakuwanga won an intermediate sprint and then all hell broke lose. Rongomatane could just not follow and tried to bridge the gap in the downhill, but it was hopeless and Rongomatane ended up on his own just behind the group, taking 13th in the GC. Dakuwanga is 3rd in the sprinter's jersey. Tomorrow a mountain stage. Probably early attacks by climbers as it starts climbing right from the start.

[Team Lidwinia]

4th stage - Mountain stage
01. 00:00:00 Jean Lagarde (UC Norvegicus)
02. 00:00:01 Tom Lennox (Aixteam)
03. 00:00:01 Carlos Loayza (Arrival)
04. 00:00:01 Remo Pambele (GonzOs)
05. 00:00:01 Untaani Compoaré (EQUIPE LEGENDE)
26. 00:00:44 Foukimoana Rongomatane (Team Lidwinia)
34. 00:01:11 Tofilau Talake (Team Lidwinia)
61. 00:16:51 Pekahau Haumiatiketike (Team Lidwinia)
62. 00:16:51 Matua Ahuatanga (Team Lidwinia)
93. 00:16:51 Toakai Sopoanga (Team Lidwinia)
100. 00:16:51 Rahi Kahausibware (Team Lidwinia)
134. 00:18:05 Malietoa Malielegaoi (Team Lidwinia)
145. 00:18:05 Iti Dakuwanga (Team Lidwinia)
151. 00:18:05 Naingimea Itimaroroa (Team Lidwinia)

That was an exciting race. Talake was in a 4 man group that took 12 minutes and looked like they could take the victory, but the peloton brought them back by the end. Rongomatane didn't manage to follow the best riders, Talake got dropped, but got greatly deserved ceremonial 600 euro and maybe the red number. We'll see. The rest did their work and ended in the grupetto, where they belong.

[Team Lidwinia]

5th stage - small group with small advantage
01. 00:00:00 Johnny Bartsen (BayernPower)
02. 00:00:00 Gabriel Ascona (GonzOs)
03. 00:00:00 Than Kunh (RS Walbeck)
04. 00:00:02 Lam Thuy (RS Walbeck)
05. 00:00:02 Régis Loisel (Sky Riders)
20. 00:00:02 Foukimoana Rongomatane (Team Lidwinia)
86. 00:03:56 Tofilau Talake (Team Lidwinia)
94. 00:03:56 Pekahau Haumiatiketike (Team Lidwinia)
106. 00:03:56 Matua Ahuatanga (Team Lidwinia)
114. 00:09:53 Naingimea Itimaroroa (Team Lidwinia)
120. 00:09:53 Rahi Kahausibware (Team Lidwinia)
135. 00:09:53 Toakai Sopoanga (Team Lidwinia)
153. 00:10:01 Iti Dakuwanga (Team Lidwinia)
155. 00:10:01 Malietoa Malielegaoi (Team Lidwinia)

Not the nicest race. Some vendettas were brought to this race. Some guys were obviously riding on each other's wheels for the first half of the race and the atmosphere was also grim, sadly. After a while, a group got away and took the sprint points. Then we found a flat mountain. A cat2 climb somewhere on the flat. Sopoanga took it, Dakuwanga was 5th. Then the team was dropped on the hill. Rongomatana was there though. He tried to attack in the end, but had to settle for 20th. We made an astronomical 303 euro, so it appears the guys might well get some food today!

[Team Lidwinia]

sixth stage - small group with favorites just behind
01. 00:00:00 Marthe Kristoffersen (BayernPower)
02. 00:00:00 Marit Björgen (BayernPower)
03. 00:00:00 Jan VanAntwerpen (RV Hornel)
04. 00:00:25 Johnny Bartsen (BayernPower)
05. 00:00:25 Mikkel Anderson (Suisse Racing)
15. 00:00:32 Foukimoana Rongomatane (Team Lidwinia)
63. 00:02:14 Tofilau Talake (Team Lidwinia)
85. 00:02:14 Matua Ahuatanga (Team Lidwinia)
93. 00:04:10 Toakai Sopoanga (Team Lidwinia)
97. 00:04:10 Rahi Kahausibware (Team Lidwinia)
99. 00:04:10 Naingimea Itimaroroa (Team Lidwinia)
105. 00:04:10 Pekahau Haumiatiketike (Team Lidwinia)
138. 00:04:10 Iti Dakuwanga (Team Lidwinia)
141. 00:12:58 Malietoa Malielegaoi (Team Lidwinia)

While I achieved nothing much more than yesterday, this was a more enjoyable ride. Kahausibware was in a lead group that worked together well and got the intermediate sprints. TYhen the peloton got over the hill in the end and Rongomatane attacked in the downhill. He just did not manage to reach a lead group that attacked the km before. Sadly he was brought back and chanceless in the sprint for 8th place, but he was with the favorites and had an attack which was good. Tomorrow is the Dakuwanga day and after that, two Rongomatane days and a time trial.

[Team Lidwinia]

7th stage - small lead group
01. 00:00:00 Erik Goetenborg (vagaderi)
02. 00:00:00 Blaise Vaogo (EQUIPE LEGENDE)
03. 00:00:00 Toakai Sopoanga (Team Lidwinia)
04. 00:00:00 Pekahau Haumiatiketike (Team Lidwinia)
05. 00:00:00 Vibjorn Koremann (vagaderi)
06. 00:00:00 Malo Marin (EQUIPE LEGENDE)
13. 00:01:15 Iti Dakuwanga (Team Lidwinia)
51. 00:01:15 Malietoa Malielegaoi (Team Lidwinia)
63. 00:01:15 Rahi Kahausibware (Team Lidwinia)
109. 00:01:15 Naingimea Itimaroroa (Team Lidwinia)
110. 00:01:15 Foukimoana Rongomatane (Team Lidwinia)
137. 00:01:15 Tofilau Talake (Team Lidwinia)
153. 00:01:15 Matua Ahuatanga (Team Lidwinia)

The only thing that did not go right is that I didn't win. Nothing at allhappened during the first 50 km, but vagaderi announced an attack and 4 guys followed him, including Sopoanga and Haumiatiketike. Because Goetenborg was there, Haumiatiketike was not the best sprinter, so I decided to try for an attack at the end by Sopoanga, which failed. 3rd and 4th out of six is not awesome and Dakuwanga was 2nd in the peloton (a group of flat specialists went out in the end). But this is quite succesful.

[Team Lidwinia]

8th stage - medium mountain stage
01. 00:00:00 Tom Lennox (Aixteam)
02. 00:00:02 Jean Lagarde (UC Norvegicus)
03. 00:00:04 Régis Loisel (Sky Riders)
04. 00:00:15 Pascal Rape (Suisse Racing)
05. 00:00:31 Remo Pambele (GonzOs)
17. 00:01:20 Foukimoana Rongomatane (Team Lidwinia)
40. 00:08:34 Rahi Kahausibware (Team Lidwinia)
53. 00:16:49 Tofilau Talake (Team Lidwinia)
93. 00:29:45 Matua Ahuatanga (Team Lidwinia)
132. 00:36:00 Malietoa Malielegaoi (Team Lidwinia)
135. 00:36:00 Pekahau Haumiatiketike (Team Lidwinia)
141. 00:36:00 Toakai Sopoanga (Team Lidwinia)
142. 00:36:00 Iti Dakuwanga (Team Lidwinia)
143. 00:36:00 Naingimea Itimaroroa (Team Lidwinia)

The final hill was too hard, as expected. I knew that I needed to be in the early lead group to have a chance for some money, so Kahausibware was is there at his second try. He got over the hills and scored quite some points uphill and in intermediates. In the finale, Rongomatane made his move with a small group where Kahausibware was able to do some more work, but the group didn't get a lot of room and the classement leader somehow wanted me to stop making tempo, which is strange if you're trying to win and there's a chasing pack behind you. But he was not able or willing to explain what he wanted from me. Anyway, the group was caught and some favorites got away with victory.

[Team Lidwinia]

9th stage - La Covatilla

01. 00:00:00 Maxime Pellois (EQUIPE LEGENDE)
02. 00:00:03 Tom Lennox (Aixteam)
03. 00:00:05 Remo Pambele (GonzOs)
04. 00:00:06 Untaani Compoaré (EQUIPE LEGENDE)
05. 00:00:12 Carlos Loayza (Arrival)
17. 00:01:06 Foukimoana Rongomatane (Team Lidwinia)
39. 00:05:59 Malietoa Malielegaoi (Team Lidwinia)
56. 00:10:30 Tofilau Talake (Team Lidwinia)
105. 00:15:06 Toakai Sopoanga (Team Lidwinia)
115. 00:15:06 Rahi Kahausibware (Team Lidwinia)
123. 00:15:06 Naingimea Itimaroroa (Team Lidwinia)
135. 00:15:06 Matua Ahuatanga (Team Lidwinia)
140. 00:15:39 Pekahau Haumiatiketike (Team Lidwinia)

This is the stage that will be remembered as The-Stage-Where-Malielegaoi-Closed-A-Ten-Minute-Gap-On-His-Own-For-Fun. Two guys escaped and Malietoa bridged the gap to them halfway the race. Then They were brought back along the final climb where some leaders escaped and Foukimoana lost some time. But he's still well inside the top-20 and with a time trial and a rest day, he'll stay there for a while. First the chance for Ahuatanga and then we'll see what we do after the rest day.

[Team Lidwinia]

Stage 10 - Individual time trial
01. 00:00:00 Tuyet Nga (RS Walbeck)
02. 00:00:10 Mike Hunter (GonzOs)
03. 00:00:15 Robert Delgad (Les ours blancs)
04. 00:00:48 Blaise Vaogo (EQUIPE LEGENDE)
05. 00:00:52 Tejay VanGarderen (UC Norvegicus)
06. 00:01:31 Matua Ahuatanga (Team Lidwinia)
15. 00:04:39 Foukimoana Rongomatane (Team Lidwinia)
20. 00:05:36 Naingimea Itimaroroa (Team Lidwinia)
97. 00:09:48 Tofilau Talake (Team Lidwinia)
123. 00:10:20 Iti Dakuwanga (Team Lidwinia)
133. 00:10:55 Toakai Sopoanga (Team Lidwinia)
134. 00:11:04 Rahi Kahausibware (Team Lidwinia)
141. 00:13:31 Pekahau Haumiatiketike (Team Lidwinia)
142. 00:14:50 Malietoa Malielegaoi (Team Lidwinia)

An expected good ride. Ahuatanga was aimed to get top-5 which he didn't make. Rongomatane and Itimaroroa did what was asked of them (both top-20 and Rongomatane inside top-10 in the GC) and the rest had to recover and that's well done. Tomorrow a rest day.

[socca team]

I found one Lidwinia's guy :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bd5XMgbG ... r_embedded

[Team Lidwinia]

Actually, that's Talake's best friend. He's not in the team

By the way, I did some research. This was het personal record, but he was about 1.5 seconds slower than the slowest woman that ever competed in a world championship 100 meter sprint. Funniest thing is that this guy is actually a bullet thrower (or whatever that is called in English), but he didn't make it to the qualification limit. That's why the Tuvaluan athletics association decided to let him do the 100 meter sprint, "to get experience"... That's like getting me to do curling or cricket

[Team Lidwinia]

11th stage - La Manzaneda
01. 00:00:00 Rahi Kahausibware (Team Lidwinia)
02. 00:00:00 Luis Scola (RV Hornel)
03. 00:02:38 Jean Lagarde (UC Norvegicus)
04. 00:02:40 Remo Pambele (GonzOs)
05. 00:02:43 Tom Lennox (Aixteam)
23. 00:03:58 Foukimoana Rongomatane (Team Lidwinia)
49. 00:08:32 Tofilau Talake (Team Lidwinia)
62. 00:16:49 Pekahau Haumiatiketike (Team Lidwinia)
68. 00:16:49 Matua Ahuatanga (Team Lidwinia)
82. 00:16:49 Toakai Sopoanga (Team Lidwinia)
129. 00:18:33 Malietoa Malielegaoi (Team Lidwinia)
133. 00:18:33 Naingimea Itimaroroa (Team Lidwinia)
139. 00:18:33 Iti Dakuwanga (Team Lidwinia)

A stage win! by Rahi Kahausibware. Honestly, that was an awesome geste by RV Hornel. He got a lot of mountain points that I didn't compete for and he decided not to drop me on the final climb and not to sprint, so it was a geste which is most apreciated. There was a group with 4 riders where one rode the first half of the race and one the second half until the climb and then we worked together. Besides, Rongomatane did a nice job for the GC. He remains 9th.

[NoPikouze]

I was gonna make fun of you, but grrr now you won... It's unfair

[Team Lidwinia]

Glad to see you sad I hope to win a lot more stages to see you struggle

[Team Lidwinia]

12th stage - Group
01. 00:00:00 Baptiste Poquelin (Aixteam)
02. 00:00:00 Mirko Racing (Suisse Racing)
03. 00:00:00 Larry Bird (Aixteam)
04. 00:00:00 Lambert vanAerden (NL-Sport)
05. 00:01:30 Johnny Bartsen (BayernPower)
15. 00:01:31 Iti Dakuwanga (Team Lidwinia)
26. 00:01:31 Pekahau Haumiatiketike (Team Lidwinia)
27. 00:01:31 Foukimoana Rongomatane (Team Lidwinia)
51. 00:01:31 Matua Ahuatanga (Team Lidwinia)
58. 00:01:31 Malietoa Malielegaoi (Team Lidwinia)
61. 00:01:31 Naingimea Itimaroroa (Team Lidwinia)
71. 00:01:31 Tofilau Talake (Team Lidwinia)
82. 00:01:31 Rahi Kahausibware (Team Lidwinia)
109. 00:01:31 Toakai Sopoanga (Team Lidwinia)

Nothing special. A group stayed away because the peloton didn't work and in the end another group got away. No Lidwinia ahead, but it's ok.

[Team Lidwinia]

13th stage - small group

01. 00:00:00 Marthe Kristoffersen (BayernPower)
02. 00:00:00 Johnny Bartsen (BayernPower)
03. 00:00:00 Than Kunh (RS Walbeck)
04. 00:00:00 Darius Fletcher (EQUIPE LEGENDE)
05. 00:00:00 Malo Marin (EQUIPE LEGENDE)
17. 00:00:23 Foukimoana Rongomatane (Team Lidwinia)
47. 00:11:04 Tofilau Talake (Team Lidwinia)
65. 00:17:59 Matua Ahuatanga (Team Lidwinia)
77. 00:17:59 Toakai Sopoanga (Team Lidwinia)
82. 00:17:59 Rahi Kahausibware (Team Lidwinia)
89. 00:17:59 Pekahau Haumiatiketike (Team Lidwinia)
104. 00:17:59 Iti Dakuwanga (Team Lidwinia)
129. 00:18:47 Naingimea Itimaroroa (Team Lidwinia)
131. 00:23:21 Malietoa Malielegaoi (Team Lidwinia)

A race where there was not a lot to win for a team without riders that can do both the flat and the climbing. Talake tried to get away with the early attack, but the peloton brought them back just over halfway. The Team was quickly dropped and only Rongomatane and Talake were in front. In the end, a small group got away and took the victory. Rongomatane was with the favorites and remained in the GC subtop.

[Team Lidwinia]

14th stage - Lagos de Somiedo
01. 00:00:00 Blaise Kidur (EQUIPE LEGENDE)
02. 00:00:08 Luis Scola (RV Hornel)
03. 00:00:08 Tofilau Talake (Team Lidwinia)
04. 00:01:04 Richard Slager (NL-Sport)
05. 00:05:27 Régis Loisel (Sky Riders)
29. 00:09:44 Foukimoana Rongomatane (Team Lidwinia)
42. 00:13:20 Toakai Sopoanga (Team Lidwinia)
54. 00:34:55 Pekahau Haumiatiketike (Team Lidwinia)
90. 00:34:55 Rahi Kahausibware (Team Lidwinia)
91. 00:34:55 Matua Ahuatanga (Team Lidwinia)
125. 00:36:55 Iti Dakuwanga (Team Lidwinia)
128. 00:36:55 Naingimea Itimaroroa (Team Lidwinia)
144. 00:37:24 Malietoa Malielegaoi (Team Lidwinia)

Only just behind! A group of about 7 or 8 riders with Talake and Sopoanga escaped and got 20 minutes. At the beginning of the last climb, there were still a lot of them left and the group (which fell to a 5 man group) was away for the stage win. One rider dropped quickly and Talake and another were unable to respond to an attack in the end. Then Talake bridged, but a new attack at the last km was too much. Still good work. Sadly Rongomatane lost over 4 minutes but he is still inside the top-20 which is the goal.

[Team Lidwinia]

15th stage - Angliru
01. 00:00:00 Régis Loisel (Sky Riders)
02. 00:00:07 Tom Lennox (Aixteam)
03. 00:00:07 Jean Lagarde (UC Norvegicus)
04. 00:00:08 Untaani Compoaré (EQUIPE LEGENDE)
05. 00:00:08 Lam Thuy (RS Walbeck)
19. 00:04:20 Foukimoana Rongomatane (Team Lidwinia)
65. 00:16:44 Tofilau Talake (Team Lidwinia)
67. 00:16:44 Rahi Kahausibware (Team Lidwinia)
83. 00:17:32 Pekahau Haumiatiketike (Team Lidwinia)
126. 00:34:03 Iti Dakuwanga (Team Lidwinia)
128. 00:34:03 Matua Ahuatanga (Team Lidwinia)
135. 00:34:03 Toakai Sopoanga (Team Lidwinia)
142. 00:34:19 Naingimea Itimaroroa (Team Lidwinia)
143. 00:34:19 Malietoa Malielegaoi (Team Lidwinia)

An ok ride. I knew it was going to be hard to keep Rongomatane in the GC, but he managed to hold on, because hardly anyone below him managed to take time. Kahausibware and Ahuatanga were in the early group. Ahuatanga got dropped and joined the grupetto to do some work to keep Dakuwanga out of trouble. Rongomatane could have help of downhill specialist on the last downhill and Talake and a strong Haumiatiketike on the flat. Nothing of real significance happened.

[Team Lidwinia]

16th stage - Disaster
01. 00:00:00 Martin Fourcade (Aixteam)
02. 00:00:00 Jan Baumann (Sky Riders)
03. 00:00:00 Carlos Lagerenza (GonzOs)
04. 00:00:00 Werner Hallinger (RV Hornel)
05. 00:00:00 Nga Minh (RS Walbeck)
11. 00:00:23 Pekahau Haumiatiketike (Team Lidwinia)
120. 00:04:15 Toakai Sopoanga (Team Lidwinia)
121. 00:04:15 Malietoa Malielegaoi (Team Lidwinia)
122. 00:04:15 Naingimea Itimaroroa (Team Lidwinia)
124. 00:04:15 Matua Ahuatanga (Team Lidwinia)
125. 00:04:15 Tofilau Talake (Team Lidwinia)
126. 00:04:15 Rahi Kahausibware (Team Lidwinia)
140. 00:04:15 Foukimoana Rongomatane (Team Lidwinia)
142. 00:04:15 Iti Dakuwanga (Team Lidwinia)

Dakuwanga, Itimaroroa and Malielegaoi were dropped on a tiny uphill section. This was that one race that I was kind of offline, but I did let some people help Dakuwanga and some Haumiatiketike. Huge blunder to let the leader help the sprinter. I let all riders drop to help, except second class sprinter Haumiatiktike, who managed to get a decent placing, but this is a disastrous day. BLEGH stupid. That was Rongomatanes top-20

[Team Lidwinia]

17th stage - uphill finish
01. 00:00:00 Tom Lennox (Aixteam)
02. 00:00:16 Untaani Compoaré (EQUIPE LEGENDE)
03. 00:00:24 Maxime Pellois (EQUIPE LEGENDE)
04. 00:00:29 Pascal Rape (Suisse Racing)
05. 00:00:42 Régis Loisel (Sky Riders)
22. 00:02:18 Foukimoana Rongomatane (Team Lidwinia)
81. 00:12:53 Rahi Kahausibware (Team Lidwinia)
101. 00:12:53 Tofilau Talake (Team Lidwinia)
119. 00:18:22 Pekahau Haumiatiketike (Team Lidwinia)
126. 00:18:22 Matua Ahuatanga (Team Lidwinia)
133. 00:28:06 Toakai Sopoanga (Team Lidwinia)
134. 00:28:06 Iti Dakuwanga (Team Lidwinia)
137. 00:28:06 Malietoa Malielegaoi (Team Lidwinia)
139. 00:28:06 Naingimea Itimaroroa (Team Lidwinia)

After yesterday, much is fine. I had two aims and I reached them both. I wanted to have two riders in the lead group. The first 30 kms were frantic with attacks with dangerous GC-riders and mountain king Scola that were not allowed. Sopoanga, Haumiatiketike, Talake, Itimaroroa and Kahausibware tried to get away in turns and when the right group was there, Kahausibware and Haumiatiketike were there with just one other guy. By the end, Rongomatane was kind of at the back tracking the wrong riders, but he managed to fix it and went back into the top-20. That was the other aim. Now we'll see. The team needs to rest, so probably no all out attacks again. A couple of more days to get Rongomatane to Madrid and Dakuwanga to another sprint try.

[Team Lidwinia]

18th stage - small group and medium size pelotons
01. 00:00:00 Johnny Bartsen (BayernPower)
02. 00:00:00 Darius Fletcher (EQUIPE LEGENDE)
03. 00:00:00 Theres Johaug (BayernPower)
04. 00:00:00 Marthe Kristoffersen (BayernPower)
05. 00:01:05 Lam Thuy (RS Walbeck)
34. 00:02:37 Foukimoana Rongomatane (Team Lidwinia)
56. 00:17:31 Tofilau Talake (Team Lidwinia)
66. 00:17:31 Malietoa Malielegaoi (Team Lidwinia)
83. 00:17:31 Rahi Kahausibware (Team Lidwinia)
92. 00:17:31 Matua Ahuatanga (Team Lidwinia)
124. 00:17:31 Toakai Sopoanga (Team Lidwinia)
136. 00:17:31 Iti Dakuwanga (Team Lidwinia)
140. 00:30:17 Naingimea Itimaroroa (Team Lidwinia)
142. 00:30:17 Pekahau Haumiatiketike (Team Lidwinia)

Not that impressed. Everything went just wrong. Talake was in the lead group, but it didn't get a lot of room. I wanted to have a chain attack with Kahausibware and Rongomatane on the descent of the biggest mountain, but Kahausibware got dropped and I didn't have a chance to react on time. It let Talake wait a bit and catch Rongomatane, but they were caught at the bottom of the next hill and both dropped afterwards. Then Rongomatane got inside a group that almost made it to the big peloton and he was last of his group at the finish, after managing to save his 20th place. Tomorrow may even be harder.

[Team Lidwinia]

19th stage - Hilly
01. 00:00:00 Johnny Bartsen (BayernPower)
02. 00:00:00 Darius Fletcher (EQUIPE LEGENDE)
03. 00:00:00 Theres Johaug (BayernPower)
04. 00:00:07 Untaani Compoaré (EQUIPE LEGENDE)
05. 00:00:07 Remo Pambele (GonzOs)
09. 00:00:14 Foukimoana Rongomatane (Team Lidwinia)
44. 00:07:45 Rahi Kahausibware (Team Lidwinia)
50. 00:07:45 Tofilau Talake (Team Lidwinia)
84. 00:20:24 Iti Dakuwanga (Team Lidwinia)
96. 00:20:24 Matua Ahuatanga (Team Lidwinia)
109. 00:20:24 Toakai Sopoanga (Team Lidwinia)
139. 00:23:18 Pekahau Haumiatiketike (Team Lidwinia)
140. 00:23:18 Malietoa Malielegaoi (Team Lidwinia)
141. 00:23:18 Naingimea Itimaroroa (Team Lidwinia)

A good ride in a stage where I feared to get in GC trouble. There was a lead group with Sopoanga. At the back Rongomatane, Talake and Kahausibware were protected. They got pretty far, but Kahausibware was dropped just too early and Sopoanga got caught and passed just one km too early on the climb. Talake did a good job to help Rongomatane and the leader managed to attack in the end and take some time and a good 9th place.

[Team Lidwinia]

20th stage - small group
01. 00:00:00 Johnny Bartsen (BayernPower)
02. 00:00:00 Malo Marin (EQUIPE LEGENDE)
03. 00:00:14 Darius Fletcher (EQUIPE LEGENDE)
04. 00:00:14 Wang Shaliong (GonzOs)
05. 00:00:14 Foukimoana Rongomatane (Team Lidwinia)
32. 00:06:59 Tofilau Talake (Team Lidwinia)
33. 00:06:59 Rahi Kahausibware (Team Lidwinia)
80. 00:07:35 Toakai Sopoanga (Team Lidwinia)
102. 00:07:35 Matua Ahuatanga (Team Lidwinia)
128. 00:27:53 Malietoa Malielegaoi (Team Lidwinia)
132. 00:27:53 Pekahau Haumiatiketike (Team Lidwinia)
134. 00:27:53 Naingimea Itimaroroa (Team Lidwinia)
140. 00:27:53 Iti Dakuwanga (Team Lidwinia)

A good double for Rongomatane with two top-10 finishes and another raise in the GC, to 19th. It was a race like yesterday. A group with Sopoanga went away, but Sopoanga let himself be dropped very quickly because a pure climber was breaking the group, so the aim: to get Sopoanga over the hill in front, was impossible to reach. Talake and Kahausibware made a tandem try, but didn't make it, but Rongomatane did and he was in the right wheel when the attacks happened. With his decent flat skills, he managed to get some time on the opponents and another nice finish. Tomorrow, if everything goes right, Dakuwanga can have a go and then a reasonably succesful Vuelta is over.