2011 Vacansoleil–DCM season

Cycling team season 2011 Vacansoleil–DCM season Manager Daan Luijkx One-day victories 6 Stage race overall victories 2 Stage race stage victories 14 Previous season • Next season The 2011 season for the VCD 2011 cycling team began in January at the Tour Down Under and ended in November at the Amstel Curaçao Race. As a UCI ProTeam, they were automatically invited and obligated to send a squad to every event in the UCI World Tour; Vacansoleil-DCM became a ProTeam for the first time ahead of the 2011 season. Improving upon 14 victories in the 2010 season, Vacansoleil-DCM managed 22 victories during the season. Having previously been invited to the 2009 Vuelta a España, Vacansoleil-DCM contested the other Grand Tour events – the Giro d'Italia and the Tour de France – for the first time. Despite rumours that the team faced exclusion due to the doping scandals involving team members Riccardo Riccò and Ezequiel Mosquera, they were included pursuant to UCI rules.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/giro-ditalia-rcs-sport-invites-23-teams Giro d'Italia: RCS Sport invites 23 teams 7 March 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 1 December 2011 29 October 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141029025839/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/giro-ditalia-rcs-sport-invites-23-teams live The team rarely featured in the Giro, while the team was more successful at the Tour de France. Johnny Hoogerland held the lead of the mountains classification on two occasions, while Romain Feillu finished in the top five on four stages during the first half of the race. Hoogerland also made headlines when he and SKY 2011's Juan Antonio Flecha were sideswiped by a car while they rode in a breakaway. Outside of the Grand Tours, Thomas De Gendt took WorldTour stage victories at Paris–Nice and the Tour de Suisse, with Borut Božič also taking a stage win in Switzerland. The team was also successful in single-day races, with six different riders all achieving a victory. Despite all the victories, the team finished last in the UCI World Tour rankings, since the majority of their victories came during UCI Europe Tour races. ProTeams, though eligible to participate in the races, were not eligible to earn points toward the Europe Tour ranking (just as Professional Continental teams were not eligible to earn points toward the World Tour ranking). 2011 roster Ages as of January 1, 2011.http://www.uciworldtour.com/Modules/SUCI/TEAMS/TeamDetails.asp?id=MjgxOA&RefDate=30.12.2011&MenuId=MTYwMTc&LangId=1&BackLink=%2Ftemplates%2FUCI%2FUCI2%2Flayout%2Easp%3FMenuId%3DMTYwMTc%26LangId%3D1 Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team (VCD) - NED 30 December 2011 31 March 2012 UCI World Tour Union Cycliste Internationale 16 March 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120316102438/http://www.uciworldtour.com/Modules/SUCI/TEAMS/TeamDetails.asp?id=MjgxOA&RefDate=30.12.2011&MenuId=MTYwMTc&LangId=1&BackLink=%2Ftemplates%2FUCI%2FUCI2%2Flayout%2Easp%3FMenuId%3DMTYwMTc%26LangId%3D1 live Santo Anzà ITA 2011 1 1 1980 11 17 Maxim Belkov RUS 2011 1 1 1985 1 9 Borut Božič SLO 2011 1 1 1980 8 8 Matteo Carrara ITA 2011 1 1 1979 3 25 Thomas De Gendt BEL 2011 1 1 1986 11 6 Stijn Devolder BEL 2011 1 1 1979 8 29 Romain Feillu FRA 2011 1 1 1984 4 6 Gorik Gardeyn BEL 2011 1 1 1980 3 17 Michał Gołaś POL 2011 1 1 1985 4 29 Johnny Hoogerland NED 2011 1 1 1983 5 13 Martijn Keizer NED 2011 1 1 1988 3 25 Sergey Lagutin UZB 2011 1 1 1981 1 14 Björn Leukemans BEL 2011 1 1 1977 7 1 Pim Ligthart NED 2011 1 1 1988 6 16 Bert-Jan LindemanStagiaire N Rider joined the team on August 1 as a stagiaire.http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1018/Wielrennen/article/detail/2443693/2011/06/09/Lindeman-stagiair-bij-Vacansoleil.dhtml Dutch Lindeman stagiair bij Vacansoleil Lindeman trainee with Vacansoleil 9 June 2011 31 March 2012 Algemeen Dagblad De Persgroep 8 January 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140108013350/http://www.ad.nl/ad/nl/1018/Wielrennen/article/detail/2443693/2011/06/09/Lindeman-stagiair-bij-Vacansoleil.dhtml livehttp://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8863/Barry-Markus-stagiaire-at-Vacansoleil-starting-August-1-2011.aspx Barry Markus stagiaire at Vacansoleil starting August 1, 2011 26 June 2011 31 March 2012 VeloNation VeloNation LLC Bjorn Haake 25 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110925005129/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8863/Barry-Markus-stagiaire-at-Vacansoleil-starting-August-1-2011.aspx livehttp://www.wielerland.nl/index.php?Itemid=36&id=17686&option=com_content&task=view Dutch Willem Wauters derde stagiair bij Vacansoleil-DCM Willem Wauters third trainee with Vacansoleil-DCM 3 August 2011 31 March 2012 Wielerland.nl Wielerland https://web.archive.org/web/20110809231612/http://www.wielerland.nl/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=17686&Itemid=36 9 August 2011 dead dmy-all NED 2011 1 1 1989 6 16 Marco Marcato ITA 2011 1 1 1984 2 11 Barry MarkusStagiaire N NED 2011 1 1 1991 7 17 Wouter Mol NED 2011 1 1 1982 4 17 Ezequiel Mosquera ESP 2011 1 1 1975 11 19 Jens Mouris NED 2011 1 1 1980 3 12 Alberto Ongarato ITA 2011 1 1 1975 7 24 Marcello Pavarin ITA 2011 1 1 1986 10 22 Ruslan Pidgornyy UKR 2011 1 1 1977 7 25 Wout Poels NED 2011 1 1 1987 10 1 Riccardo RiccòRiccò was sacked by the team on February 19 for a violation of team rules.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vacansoleil-fires-ricco-over-doping Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 19 February 2011 1 December 2011 Vacansoleil fires Riccò over doping 5 January 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120105045842/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vacansoleil-fires-ricco-over-doping live "N" ITA 2011 1 1 1983 9 1 Rob Ruijgh NED 2011 1 1 1986 12 12 Mirko Selvaggi ITA 2011 1 1 1985 2 11 Joost van Leijen NED 2011 1 1 1984 7 20 Frederik Veuchelen BEL 2011 1 1 1978 9 4 Willem WautersStagiaire N BEL 2011 1 1 1989 11 10 Lieuwe Westra NED 2011 1 1 1982 9 11 Riders who joined the team for the 2011 season Rider2010 team Santo AnzàFLM 2010http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/anza-and-pavarin-sign-for-vacansoleil-dcm Anzà and Pavarin sign for Vacansoleil-DCM 29 December 2010 1 December 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 7 March 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120307032104/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/anza-and-pavarin-sign-for-vacansoleil-dcm live Maxim BelkovISD 2010http://www.velochrono.fr/actu/transferts-cyclisme-2010-2011/ Transferts 2010-2011 French Transfers 2010-2011 1 December 2011 Velochrono.fr Velochrono 9 May 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120509044243/http://www.velochrono.fr/actu/transferts-cyclisme-2010-2011/ live Thomas De GendtTSV 2010 Stijn DevolderQST 2010http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6444/Vacansoleil-signing-Stijn-Devolder-Im-going-for-a-third-Tour-of-Flanders.aspx Jered Gruber Vacansoleil signing Stijn Devolder: "I'm going for a third Tour of Flanders" 22 November 2010 1 December 2011 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 7 April 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110407084952/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6444/Vacansoleil-signing-Stijn-Devolder-Im-going-for-a-third-Tour-of-Flanders.aspx live Martijn KeizerRabobank continental teamhttp://nos.nl/artikel/173190-martijn-keizer-naar-vacansoleil.html Dutch Martijn Keizer naar Vacansoleil Martijn Keizer to Vacansoleil 20 July 2010 1 December 2011 NOS.nl Nederlandse Omroep Stichting 13 January 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110113172503/http://nos.nl/artikel/173190-martijn-keizer-naar-vacansoleil.html live Pim Ligthartneo-pro (stagiaire: VAC 2010)http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6224/Pim-Ligthart-signs-two-year-agreement-with-Vacansoleil-DCM.aspx Ben Atkins Pim Ligthart signs two year agreement with Vacansoleil-DCM 1 November 2010 1 December 2011 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 22 October 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121022101633/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/6224/Pim-Ligthart-signs-two-year-agreement-with-Vacansoleil-DCM.aspx live Ezequiel MosqueraXAC 2010http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/mosquera-confirmed-to-vacansoleil-for-two-years Mosquera confirmed to Vacansoleil for two years 21 September 2010 1 December 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 22 November 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111122061546/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/mosquera-confirmed-to-vacansoleil-for-two-years live Marcello PavarinCSF 2010 Ruslan PidgornyyISD 2010 Mirko SelvaggiAST 2010 Riders who left the team during or after the 2010 season Rider2011 team Brice FeilluLEO 2011http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/denifl-clarke-and-feillu-join-the-luxembourg-pro-cycling-project Denifl, Clarke and Feillu join the Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project Stephen Farrand 3 November 2010 1 December 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 14 January 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120114135526/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/denifl-clarke-and-feillu-join-the-luxembourg-pro-cycling-project live Martin MortensenLEO 2011http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/luxembourg-pro-cycling-project-announce-three-more-riders Luxembourg Pro Cycling Project announce three more riders Stephen Farrand 5 November 2010 1 December 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited The team's latest signings are young Danish riders Anders Lund and Martin Mortensen and Dutchman Tom Stamsnijder. 4 March 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120304153906/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/luxembourg-pro-cycling-project-announce-three-more-riders live Matthé PronkMPC 2011http://www.marcopolocyclingteam.com/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=494&Itemid=5 Matthé Pronk in Marco Polo Cycling Team 2011 6 May 2011 1 December 2011 Marco Polo Joomla https://web.archive.org/web/20120601170833/http://www.marcopolocyclingteam.com/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=494&Itemid=5 1 June 2012 dead dmy-all Stéphane RossettoNogent-sur-Oisehttp://www.echoduvelo.com/Stephane-Rosseto-au-CC-Nogent-sur.html Stéphane Rosseto au CC Nogent sur Oise en 2011 French Stéphane Rosseto to CC Nogent sur Oise in 2011 1 December 2011 Association Echo du Vélo Nord Pas de Calais https://web.archive.org/web/20111015161935/http://echoduvelo.com/Stephane-Rosseto-au-CC-Nogent-sur.html 15 October 2011 dead dmy-all Bobbie TrakselLAN 2011http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/01/news/bobbie-traksel-departs-pegasus-signs-with-landbouwkrediet_154378 Bobbie Traksel departs Pegasus, signs with Landbouwkrediet 3 January 2011 1 December 2011 VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 11 August 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110811171559/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/01/news/bobbie-traksel-departs-pegasus-signs-with-landbouwkrediet_154378 live Arnoud Van GroenVWA 2011 One-day races Spring classics thumb|Martijn Keizer, pictured at the Four Days of Dunkirk, took his first professional victory by winning the Boucles de l'Aulne in May. The team started the single-day season with a third-place finish for Feillu at the Grand Prix d'Ouverture La Marseillaise in January,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-cycliste-la-marseillaise-1-1-1/results Jérémy Roy wins the Grand Prix d'Ouverture La Marseillaise 30 January 2011 1 December 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 November 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111102121645/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-cycliste-la-marseillaise-1-1-1/results live and first-year professional Ligthart taking a similar placing in February's Clásica de Almería.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/clasica-de-almeria-1-1-1/results Pelucchi takes Clasica de Almeria victory 27 February 2011 1 December 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 30 January 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120130093555/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/clasica-de-almeria-1-1-1/results live In March, Westra took his first victory since the 2009 Tour de Picardie, by winning the Classic Loire Atlantique, in France.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/classic-loire-atlantique-1-1/results Jean-François Quénet Westra wins Classic Loire Atlantique 19 March 2011 1 December 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 14 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110914043347/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/classic-loire-atlantique-1-1/results live After creating a four-man breakaway with Anthony Geslin of FDJ 2011, SAU 2011's Jean-Marc Marino and LAN 2011 rider Frédéric Amorison, they were joined by five other riders within the last 5 km 1 on; one of the five, Amorison's teammate Bert Scheirlinckx attacked in the closing stages but Westra followed and outsprinted him to the line, eventually winning by two seconds. Four days later, Marcato finished sixth in Dwars door Vlaanderen.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/dwars-door-vlaanderen-a-travers-la-flandre-1-1-1/results Nuyens victorious at Dwars door Vlaanderen 23 March 2011 1 December 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 26 March 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110326181406/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/dwars-door-vlaanderen-a-travers-la-flandre-1-1-1/results live Ligthart won his first race as a professional in April, by winning Hel van het Mergelland in a sprint finish of 26 riders.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/38th-hel-van-het-mergelland-1-1/results Ligthart bests Canuti for home turf win 2 April 2011 1 December 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 16 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110916101848/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/38th-hel-van-het-mergelland-1-1/results livehttp://www.demorgen.be/dm/nl/1001/Wielrennen/article/detail/1245037/2011/04/02/Nederlander-Pim-Ligthart-wint-Hel-van-het-Mergelland.dhtml Dutch Nederlander Pim Ligthart wint Hel van het Mergelland Dutchman Pim Ligthart wins Hell of the Marl 2 April 2011 1 December 2011 De Morgen De Persgroep 9 November 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211109230049/https://myprivacy.dpgmedia.be/consent?siteKey=6OfBU0sZ5RFXpOOK&callbackUrl=https%3a%2f%2fwww.demorgen.be%2fprivacy-wall%2faccept%3fredirectUri%3d%252fdm%252fnl%252f1001%252fWielrennen%252farticle%252fdetail%252f1245037%252f2011%252f04%252f02%252fNederlander-Pim-Ligthart-wint-Hel-van-het-Mergelland.dhtml live The following day, Leukemans was in contention for victory at the Tour of Flanders,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-flanders-upt/results Nuyens makes his big break through 3 April 2011 Cycling News Brecht Decaluwé 1 December 2011 Future Publishing Limited 6 April 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110406122305/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-flanders-upt/results live attacking off the front of the field on the Molenberg, remaining in contention with the persistent attacks by other riders within the last 50 km 1 on of the event; Leukemans was aided by De Gendt and Devolder, but could do no better than a seventh-place finish.http://www.vacansoleildcm.co.uk/news/leukemans-has-to-settle-with-7th-place-in-the-tour-of-flanders-wt.html Leukemans has to settle with 7th place in the Tour of Flanders (WT) 3 April 2011 VCD 2011 1 December 2011 Vacansoleil Eindhoven 6 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120406220538/http://www.vacansoleildcm.co.uk/news/leukemans-has-to-settle-with-7th-place-in-the-tour-of-flanders-wt.html live In the Grand Prix Pino Cerami, Marcato finished in second place, having been part of an eleven-man breakaway formed with around 40 km 1 on remaining, before losing to Scheirlinckx in a two-man sprint after the two had jettisoned their fellow escapees.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-pino-cerami-1-1/results Scheirlinckx slays the Dragon 7 April 2011 Cycling News 1 December 2011 Future Publishing Limited 16 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110916130856/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-pino-cerami-1-1/results live Leukemans suffered the same result in Brabantse Pijl, losing out to OLO 2011's Philippe Gilbert in another two-man sprint, after the two riders attacked off the front of a seven-man lead group.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/de-brabantse-pijl-la-fleche-brabanconne-1-hc/results Gilbert wins De Brabantse Pijl 13 April 2011 Cycling News 1 December 2011 Future Publishing Limited Brecht Decaluwé 2 November 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111102121208/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/de-brabantse-pijl-la-fleche-brabanconne-1-hc/results live Following a second place at the Grand Prix de Denain,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gp-de-denain-porte-du-hainaut-1-1-1/results Casper claims GP de Denain 15 April 2011 Cycling News 1 December 2011 Future Publishing Limited 16 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110916161411/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gp-de-denain-porte-du-hainaut-1-1-1/results live Feillu won the Tour du Finistère in mid-April, gapping the field in an uphill sprint to the line.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-du-finistere-1-1-1/results Feillu victorious in Tour du Finistère 16 April 2011 Cycling News 1 December 2011 Future Publishing Limited 18 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110918081342/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-du-finistere-1-1-1/results live Leukemans continued his good form into the Ardennes classics, taking seventh place in the Amstel Gold Race,https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/8457105/Amstel-Gold-Race-2011-Philippe-Gilbert-becomes-first-Belgian-to-win-back-to-back-titles-in-Holland.html Philippe Gilbert becomes first Belgian to win back-to-back titles in Holland John MacLeary The Daily Telegraph Telegraph Media Group 17 April 2011 1 December 2011 29 April 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110429012421/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/8457105/Amstel-Gold-Race-2011-Philippe-Gilbert-becomes-first-Belgian-to-win-back-to-back-titles-in-Holland.html live and ninth in Liège–Bastogne–Liège.http://www.cyclingnews.com/liege-bastogne-liege/results Gilbert the great! 24 April 2011 Cycling News 1 December 2011 Future Publishing Limited Brecht Decaluwé dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120110164412/http://www.cyclingnews.com/liege-bastogne-liege/results 10 January 2012 May was not as successful for the team, as Marcato finished in sixth place in the Eschborn-Frankfurt City Loop at the start of the month,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/rund-um-den-finanzplatz-eschborn-frankfurt-1-hc-1/results Degenkolb snatches win in Frankfurt Susan Westemeyer 1 May 2011 Cycling News 1 December 2011 Future Publishing Limited 2 November 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111102121730/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/rund-um-den-finanzplatz-eschborn-frankfurt-1-hc-1/results live and Ruijgh took seventh place in the Grand Prix de Plumelec-Morbihan, towards the end of the month.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/35th-grand-prix-de-plumelec-morbihan-1-1/results Georges triumphs in Grand Prix de Plumelec-Morbihan 28 May 2011 Cycling News 1 December 2011 Future Publishing Limited 10 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110910044054/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/35th-grand-prix-de-plumelec-morbihan-1-1/results live Keizer took his first professional victory, by winning the Boucles de l'Aulne. From a breakaway of five riders, Keizer attacked in the closing stages and soloed to the win.https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/29052011/58/keizer-claims-boucle-de-l-aulne-title.html Keizer claims Boucle de l'Aulne title 29 May 2011 Yahoo! Eurosport 1 December 2011 TF1 Group 9 November 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211109230138/https://consent.yahoo.com/v2/collectConsent?sessionId=2_cc-session_793e4ae0-6279-4652-90a9-1b2d3816ecf8 live While in June, Gardeyn finished fourth in the Tour de Rijke,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/22nd-tour-de-rijke-1-1/results Bos nets sprint win in Tour de Rijke 5 June 2011 Cycling News 2 December 2011 Future Publishing Limited 9 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110909124033/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/22nd-tour-de-rijke-1-1/results live Ruijgh finished second to LAN 2011 yes's Dirk Bellemakers in the Ruddervoorde Koerse national event,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/ruddervoorde-koerse-2011/results Bellemakers bests Ruijgh in Ruddervoorde 21 June 2011 Cycling News 1 December 2011 Future Publishing Limited 2 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110902093419/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/ruddervoorde-koerse-2011/results live and Veuchelen finished eighth in Halle–Ingooigem.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/halle-ingooigem-2011/results Curvers nabs Halle-Ingooigem victory 22 June 2011 Cycling News 2 December 2011 Future Publishing Limited 13 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110913234123/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/halle-ingooigem-2011/results live The team also sent squads to the Omloop Het Nieuwsblad,http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/7580/Omloop-Het-Nieuwsblad-Langeveld-takes-two-man-sprint-against-Flecha.aspx Langeveld takes two-man sprint against Flecha Bjorn Haake 26 February 2011 3 April 2012 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 1 March 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110301203731/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/7580/Omloop-Het-Nieuwsblad-Langeveld-takes-two-man-sprint-against-Flecha.aspx live Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne,http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/02/news/road/2011-kuurne-brussels-kuurne-results_161915 2011 Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne results VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 27 February 2011 28 March 2012 28 February 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150228111745/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/02/news/road/2011-kuurne-brussels-kuurne-results_161915 live Le Samyn,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/43rd-le-samyn-1-1/results Klemme takes first win for Leopard Trek Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 March 2011 3 April 2012 5 March 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110305092151/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/43rd-le-samyn-1-1/results live the Nokere Koerse,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/nokere-koerse-1-1/results Steegmans wins Nokere-Koerse 16 March 2011 3 April 2012 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 October 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121002144750/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/nokere-koerse-1-1/results live the Handzame Classic,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/handzame-classic-1-1/results Schets takes sprint in rainy Handzame Classic Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 18 March 2011 3 April 2012 25 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110925201346/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/handzame-classic-1-1/results live Milan – San Remo,http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/03/news/road/2011-milan-san-remo-results_164531 2011 Milan-San Remo results VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 19 March 2011 3 April 2012 12 July 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150712073325/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/03/news/road/2011-milan-san-remo-results_164531 live the Cholet-Pays de Loire,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/cholet-pays-de-loire-1-1/elite-men/results Jean-François Quénet Voeckler victorious at Cholet-Pays De Loire with late attack 20 March 2011 3 April 2012 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 October 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121002232843/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/cholet-pays-de-loire-1-1/elite-men/results live E3 Prijs Vlaanderen – Harelbeke,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/e3-prijs-vlaanderen-harelbeke-1-hc/results Cancellara cruises to victory in late solo breakaway Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 26 March 2011 3 April 2012 8 August 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110808233359/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/e3-prijs-vlaanderen-harelbeke-1-hc/results live Gent–Wevelgem,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gent-wevelgem-upt/results Boonen sprints to victory 27 March 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 3 April 2012 27 May 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160527220421/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gent-wevelgem-upt/results/ live the Scheldeprijs,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/scheldeprijs-1-hc/results Cavendish prevails in Scheldeprijs 6 April 2011 Cycling News 3 April 2012 Future Publishing Limited 3 March 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120303040404/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/scheldeprijs-1-hc/results live Paris–Roubaix,http://www.letour.fr/2011/PRX/LIVE/us/100/classement/index.html Standing Paris–Roubaix Amaury Sport Organisation 10 April 2011 3 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120325024410/http://www.letour.fr/2011/PRX/LIVE/us/100/classement/index.html 25 March 2012 dead dmy-all the Tro-Bro Léon,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tro-bro-leon-1-1-2/results Jean-François Quénet Jerome prevails in Tro-Bro Léon 17 April 2011 Cycling News 3 April 2012 Future Publishing Limited 2 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110902143355/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tro-bro-leon-1-1-2/results live La Flèche Wallonne,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/la-fleche-wallonne-his/results Gilbert takes audacious victory atop Mur de Huy Brecht Decaluwé Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 20 April 2011 3 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20110425034645/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/la-fleche-wallonne-his/results 2011-04-25 dead the GP Herning,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-herning-1-1-1/results Vinther tops GP Herning Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 23 April 2011 3 April 2012 24 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110924123420/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-herning-1-1-1/results live the Rund um Köln,http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/04/news/road/2011-rund-um-koln-results_169974 2011 Rund um Köln results VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 25 April 2011 3 April 2012 4 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001915/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/04/news/road/2011-rund-um-koln-results_169974 live the ProRace Berlin,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/prorace-berlin-1-1/results Kittel wins ProRace Berlin Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 22 May 2011 3 April 2012 14 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110914124012/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/prorace-berlin-1-1/results live and the Gullegem Koerse,http://www.wielerland.nl/index.php?Itemid=242&c=u&id=27117&option=com_database&sc=1 Uitslag: 2011 Gullegem Koerse Results: 2011 Gullegem Koerse 31 May 2011 3 April 2012 Wielerland.nl Wielerland https://web.archive.org/web/20120423000713/http://www.wielerland.nl/index.php?Itemid=242&c=u&id=27117&option=com_database&sc=1 23 April 2012 dead dmy-all but placed no higher than 12th in any of these races. Fall races thumb|left|The finish of Paris–Tours, as BMC 2011's Greg Van Avermaet (left) outsprints Marco Marcato, who took his first professional win a week prior at the Tour de Vendée, for victory. Shortly after the Tour de France, Božič took third place in the Vattenfall Cyclassics.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/8714384/Team-Sky-registers-wins-in-Vuelta-a-Espana-and-Vattenfall-Cyclassics-in-Hamburg.html Brendan Gallagher Team Sky registers wins in Vuelta a España and Vattenfall Cyclassics in Hamburg The Guardian Guardian Media Group 21 August 2011 2 December 2011 4 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110904190542/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/cycling/8714384/Team-Sky-registers-wins-in-Vuelta-a-Espana-and-Vattenfall-Cyclassics-in-Hamburg.html live Willem Wauters – who joined the team as a stagiaire in August – made an immediate impact for the team, finishing second behind SPI 2011's Svein Tuft in the Grote Prijs Stad Zottegem,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gp-stad-zottegem-1-1-1/results Tuft solos to victory in Belgium 23 August 2011 Cycling News 2 December 2011 Future Publishing Limited 12 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110912085417/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gp-stad-zottegem-1-1-1/results live while the following day, Leukemans followed up his overall win from the Tour du Limousin with victory in Druivenkoers Overijse – for the second year in successionhttp://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9524/Leukemans-wins-Druivenkoers-in-Belgium-again.aspx Bjorn Haake Leukemans wins Druivenkoers in Belgium again 24 August 2011 VeloNation 2 December 2011 VeloNation LLC 23 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120423005640/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9524/Leukemans-wins-Druivenkoers-in-Belgium-again.aspx live – beating LAN 2011 yes's Davy Commeyne and Jurgen Van Goolen of VWA 2011 to the line.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/druivenkoers-overijse-1-1-2/results Leukemans best in Overijse 24 August 2011 Cycling News 2 December 2011 Future Publishing Limited 13 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110913013125/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/druivenkoers-overijse-1-1-2/results live The team achieved more top-ten placings in September, taking six within the space of a week; Božič finished ninth in the Memorial Rik Van Steenbergen,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/memorial-rik-van-steenbergen-1-1-1/results Van Hummel victorious at Memorial Rik Van Steenbergen 7 September 2011 Cycling News 2 December 2011 Future Publishing Limited 15 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160315213823/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/memorial-rik-van-steenbergen-1-1-1/results/ live and sixth in Paris–Brussels,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/parijs-brusssel-paris-bruxelles-1-hc-2/results Galimzyanov prevails in Paris-Bruxelles 10 September 2011 Cycling News 2 December 2011 Future Publishing Limited 31 March 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120331162649/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/parijs-brusssel-paris-bruxelles-1-hc-2/results live while Leukemans finished sixth in the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec World Tour race,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-cycliste-de-quebec-upt-1/results Kirsten Frattini Gilbert triumphs in GP Quebec City 9 September 2011 Cycling News 2 December 2011 Future Publishing Limited 30 March 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120330113049/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-cycliste-de-quebec-upt-1/results live and third on his return to Europe, in the Grand Prix de Wallonie.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-de-wallonie-2011/results 14 September 2011 2 December 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited Gilbert triumphs in Grand Prix de Wallonie 23 November 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111123201739/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-de-wallonie-2011/results live Feillu and Marcato each took a seventh place in the Grand Prix de Fourmies,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gp-de-fourmies-la-voix-du-nord-1-hc-2/results Blot tops GP de Fourmies 11 September 2011 Cycling News 2 December 2011 Future Publishing Limited 24 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110924024434/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gp-de-fourmies-la-voix-du-nord-1-hc-2/results live and the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal respectively.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-cycliste-de-montreal-upt-1/results Kirsten Frattini 11 September 2011 2 December 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited Costa claims GP Montreal 24 March 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120324235125/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-cycliste-de-montreal-upt-1/results live Mouris and Keizer finished third in Duo Normand,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/duo-normand-2011/results Van Summeren and Decker win Duo Normand 18 September 2011 Cycling News 2 December 2011 Future Publishing Limited 25 November 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111125144839/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/duo-normand-2011/results live while on the same day, Božič finished fourth in the Grand Prix d'Isbergues.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-disbergues-pas-de-calais-1-1-2/results Jorgensen edges O'Grady to win Isbergues 18 September 2011 Cycling News 2 December 2011 Future Publishing Limited 27 January 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120127090625/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grand-prix-disbergues-pas-de-calais-1-1-2/results live In October, Marcato took his first professional win in the Tour de Vendée,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-vendee-1-hc-1/results Marcato wins from the break 2 October 2011 Cycling News 2 December 2011 Future Publishing Limited 4 December 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111204160415/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-vendee-1-hc-1/results live and also finished second to BMC 2011's Greg Van Avermaet in Paris–Tours,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-tours-1-hc-1/results Van Avermaet victorious in Paris-Tours 9 October 2011 Cycling News 2 December 2011 Future Publishing Limited 7 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120407153502/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-tours-1-hc-1/results live Feillu finished eighth in Paris–Bourges,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-bourges-1-1-1/results Hayman tops sprint for Paris-Bourges win 6 October 2011 Cycling News 2 December 2011 Future Publishing Limited 5 December 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111205070239/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/paris-bourges-1-1-1/results live and Devolder finished seventh in the Chrono des Nations time trial.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/chrono-des-nations-1-1-2/elite-men/results Martin wins Chrono des Nations time trial 16 October 2011 Cycling News 2 December 2011 Future Publishing Limited 19 November 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111119021215/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/chrono-des-nations-1-1-2/elite-men/results live Hoogerland completed the team's year, in November, with third place in the Amstel Curaçao Race.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/amstel-curacao-race-2011/amstel-curacao-race/results Kittel claims Amstel Curaçao 5 November 2011 Cycling News 2 December 2011 Future Publishing Limited 9 December 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111209152950/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/amstel-curacao-race-2011/amstel-curacao-race/results live The team also sent squads to the Clásica de San Sebastián,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/clasica-ciclista-san-sebastian-upt/results Barry Ryan 30 July 2011 6 April 2012 Gilbert's stunning season continues with San Sebastian victory Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 20 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120420053314/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/clasica-ciclista-san-sebastian-upt/results live the Dutch Food Valley Classic,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/dutch-food-valley-classic-1-1/results 19 August 2011 6 April 2012 Bos triumphs at Dutch Food Valley Classic Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 14 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110914123814/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/dutch-food-valley-classic-1-1/results live the Châteauroux Classic,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/chateauroux-classic-de-lindre-trophee-fenioux-1-1-2/results 21 August 2011 6 April 2012 Ravard wins in Châteauroux Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 12 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110912124259/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/chateauroux-classic-de-lindre-trophee-fenioux-1-1-2/results live the GP Ouest-France,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gp-ouest-france-plouay-upt-2/results Bole sprints to win in Plouay Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 28 August 2011 6 April 2012 15 January 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120115125817/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/gp-ouest-france-plouay-upt-2/results live the Schaal Sels-Merksem,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/schaal-sels-1-1-2/results Kruopis sprints to victory in Schaal Sels Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 29 August 2011 6 April 2012 30 March 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120330172630/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/schaal-sels-1-1-2/results live the Grote Prijs Jef Scherens,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grote-prijs-jef-scherens-rondom-leuven-1-1-1/results Pineau smiling again at GP Scherens Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 4 September 2011 6 April 2012 11 June 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150611014115/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/grote-prijs-jef-scherens-rondom-leuven-1-1-1/results live the Kampioenschap van Vlaanderen,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/kampioenschap-van-vlaanderen-1-1-2/results Kittel tops Greipel in Koolskamp Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 16 September 2011 6 April 2012 24 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110924024507/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/kampioenschap-van-vlaanderen-1-1-2/results live Omloop van het Houtland,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/omloop-van-het-houtland-lichtervelde-1-1-2/results Van Keirsbulck fastest of breakaway in Lichtervelde Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 21 September 2011 6 April 2012 18 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120418144622/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/omloop-van-het-houtland-lichtervelde-1-1-2/results live Binche–Tournai–Binche,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/binche-tournai-binche-1-1-1/results Selig sprints to victory Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 4 October 2011 6 April 2012 14 January 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120114030129/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/binche-tournai-binche-1-1-1/results live the Nationale Sluitingsprijs,http://www.wielerland.nl/index.php?Itemid=242&c=u&id=29262&option=com_database&sc=1 Uitslag: 78th Nationale Sluitingsprijs Putte-kapellen Wielerland.nl Wielerland 11 October 2011 6 April 2012 Dutch Results: 78th Nationale Sluitingsprijs Putte-kapellen https://web.archive.org/web/20111026061323/http://www.wielerland.nl/index.php?option=com_database&c=u&sc=1&id=29262&Itemid=242 26 October 2011 dead dmy-all and the Giro di Lombardia,http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/GiroLombardia/2010/it/download/Ordine_di_arrivo_lombardia2011.pdf PDF 15 October 2011 6 April 2012 Giro di Lombardia RCS MediaGroup Il Lombardia 2011: Ordine d'arrivo / Ordre d'arrivee / Order of arrival 22 December 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151222170213/http://www.gazzetta.it/Speciali/GiroLombardia/2010/it/download/Ordine_di_arrivo_lombardia2011.pdf live but finished no higher than 11th in any of these races. Stage races The team was very successful at the Tour Méditerranéen in February, as Feillu won three consecutive stages, along with the points classification, and Poels finished as the best young rider in third place overall, having finished in the same position on the final and most difficult stage.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-mediterraneen-cycliste-professionnel-2-1-1/stage-5/results Moncoutie wins on Mont Faron 13 February 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 December 2011 4 November 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111104212523/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-mediterraneen-cycliste-professionnel-2-1-1/stage-5/results live Westra finished third in the Volta ao Algarve,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/volta-ao-algarve-2-1-1/stage-5/results Susan Westemeyer Martin takes stage and overall title 20 February 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 December 2011 4 November 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111104175105/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/volta-ao-algarve-2-1-1/stage-5/results live before De Gendt took the team's first World Tour stage win of the season, managing to just outlast the advancing field in a sprint finish to the opening stage of Paris–Nice.http://www.cyclingnews.com/paris-nice/stage-1/results De Gendt holds on in Houdan 6 March 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 December 2011 Jean-François Quénet https://web.archive.org/web/20130307110414/http://www.cyclingnews.com/paris-nice/stage-1/results 2013-03-07 dead Feillu took another stage victory at May's Tour de Picardie,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/65th-tour-de-picardie-2-1/stage-2/results Feillu sprints to stage win 14 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 December 2011 27 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110927092314/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/65th-tour-de-picardie-2-1/stage-2/results live en route to an eventual overall victory in the race.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/65th-tour-de-picardie-2-1/stage-3/results Feillu secures overall success 15 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 December 2011 27 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110927080014/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/65th-tour-de-picardie-2-1/stage-3/results live The following week at the Circuit de Lorraine, De Gendt won the third stage – giving him the race lead for a timehttp://www.cyclingnews.com/races/circuit-de-lorraine-professionnel-2-1-1/stage-3/results Alex Hinds De Gendt too good in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges 21 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 December 2011 14 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110914024034/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/circuit-de-lorraine-professionnel-2-1-1/stage-3/results live – and Feillu won the fifth and final stage,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/circuit-de-lorraine-professionnel-2-1-1/stage-5/results Roux does enough on final day to win Circuit de Lorraine 24 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 December 2011 7 August 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110807094729/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/circuit-de-lorraine-professionnel-2-1-1/stage-5/results live with De Gendt finishing at the top of the mountains classification, and the team won their respective classification. Westra won the opening prologue of the Tour of Belgium,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-belgium-2-hc-1/prologue/results Westra wins Tour of Belgium prologue 25 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 December 2011 16 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110916084908/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-belgium-2-hc-1/prologue/results live with the squad eventually winning the teams classification.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-belgium-2-hc-1/stage-4/results Gilbert wins Tour of Belgium 29 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 December 2011 16 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110916114656/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-of-belgium-2-hc-1/stage-4/results live Feillu took his eighth victory of the season at June's Tour de Luxembourg, taking the final stage win.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/71st-skoda-tour-de-luxembourg-2-hc/stage-4/results Feillu finally gets his win 5 June 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 December 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110902082708/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/71st-skoda-tour-de-luxembourg-2-hc/stage-4/results 2 September 2011 dead dmy-all Later in June, the team took two stage victories in the Tour de Suisse; in the fifth stage into Tägerschen, following an attack by Marcato, Božič took out the uphill sprint to the line,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/75th-tour-de-suisse-upt/stage-5/results Peter Hymas Tight teamwork nets Bozic a stage win 15 June 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 December 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111017025622/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/75th-tour-de-suisse-upt/stage-5/results 17 October 2011 dead dmy-all and on the seventh stage that finished in Austrian town Serfaus, De Gendt triumphed after breaking clear of a 17-man group with 25 km 1 on remaining on the stage, eventually winning the stage by over half a minute.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/75th-tour-de-suisse-upt/stage-7/results Barry Ryan De Gendt caps long break with solo win 17 June 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 December 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111017030434/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/75th-tour-de-suisse-upt/stage-7/results 17 October 2011 dead dmy-all Held concurrently with the Tour de France, van Leijen won the second stage of the Tour de Wallonie,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-wallonie-2-hc-2/stage-2/results Van Leijen wins stage 2 24 July 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 December 2011 7 August 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110807073038/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-wallonie-2-hc-2/stage-2/results live with Selvaggi later finishing on top of the mountains classification, and the squad took another teams classification win.Stephen Farrand http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-wallonie-2-hc-2/stage-5/results Van Avermaet wins overall 27 July 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 December 2011 7 August 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110807090648/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-wallonie-2-hc-2/stage-5/results live Poels claimed a stage win during the Tour de l'Ain in August,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-lain-la-route-du-progres-2-1/stage-3/results Poels tops Rolland in Lélex Peter Hymas 12 August 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 December 2011 11 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160311222929/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-lain-la-route-du-progres-2-1/stage-3/results/ live eventually finishing the race second overall after cracking from the race lead on the final stage, but did win the race's sprints classification.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-lain-la-route-du-progres-2-1/stage-4/results Moncoutie takes overall victory 13 August 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 December 2011 21 August 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110821152732/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-lain-la-route-du-progres-2-1/stage-4/results live Hoogerland also took the team's sixth mountains classification win of the year. Leukemans completed the team's stage race successes with a stage and overall win at the Tour du Limousin.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-du-limousin-2-hc/stage-4/results Peter Hymas Leukemans wins Tour du Limousin 19 August 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 December 2011 24 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110924154641/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-du-limousin-2-hc/stage-4/results live The team also won lesser classifications at the Étoile de Bessèges,Stephen Farrand http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/41st-etoile-de-besseges-2-1/stage-5/results Haddou tops final stage 6 February 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 December 2011 10 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110910013735/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/41st-etoile-de-besseges-2-1/stage-5/results live the Critérium International,Jean-François Quénet http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/80th-criterium-international-2-hc/stage-3/results Schleck defends overall lead 27 March 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 December 2011 22 August 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110822034047/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/80th-criterium-international-2-hc/stage-3/results live the Three Days of De Panne,Brecht Decaluwé http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/kbc-driedaagse-de-panne-koksijde-2-hc-1/stage-3b/results Rosseler wins Three Days of De Panne 31 March 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 December 2011 5 November 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111105013318/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/kbc-driedaagse-de-panne-koksijde-2-hc-1/stage-3b/results live and the Tour de Pologne.http://tdp.infocity.pl/pdf/editions/34/wyniki.pdf PDF 6 August 2011 2 December 2011 Tour de Pologne Polskiego Związku Kolarskiego 06.08.2011 Kraków-Kraków 128 km: Komunikat Numer 8 13 March 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120313163604/http://tdp.infocity.pl/pdf/editions/34/wyniki.pdf live The team also sent squads to the Tour Down Under,http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/512295/tour-down-under-2011-start-list.html Tour Down Under 2011: Start list Nigel Wynn 11 January 2011 6 April 2012 Cycling Weekly IPC Media Limited 18 November 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111118112302/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/512295/tour-down-under-2011-start-list.html live the Vuelta an Andalucía,http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/vuelta-a-andalucia-ruta-ciclista-del-sol-start-list Vuelta a Andalucia (Ruta Ciclista Del Sol) start list Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 21 February 2011 6 April 2012 7 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110907152137/http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/vuelta-a-andalucia-ruta-ciclista-del-sol-start-list live Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen,http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/driedaagse-van-west-vlaanderen-start-list-1 Driedaagse van West-Vlaanderen start list Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 28 February 2011 6 April 2012 6 March 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120306132820/http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/driedaagse-van-west-vlaanderen-start-list-1 live Vuelta a Murcia,http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/vuelta-ciclista-a-la-region-de-murcia-start-list Vuelta Ciclista a la Region de Murcia start list Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 1 March 2011 6 April 2012 7 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110907142415/http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/vuelta-ciclista-a-la-region-de-murcia-start-list live Tirreno–Adriatico,http://www.cyclingnews.com/tirreno-adriatico/start-list Tirreno–Adriatico 2011 start list Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 6 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120317114735/http://www.cyclingnews.com/tirreno-adriatico/start-list 17 March 2012 dead dmy-all the Volta a Catalunya,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/volta-ciclista-a-catalunya-upt-1/start-list Volta Ciclista a Catalunya 2011 start list Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 6 April 2012 16 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110916235957/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/volta-ciclista-a-catalunya-upt-1/start-list live the Tour of the Basque Country,http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/03/news/chris-horner-earns-no-1-start-big-at-tour-of-basque-country_166072 Chris Horner earns No. 1 start bib at Tour of Basque Country Andrew Hood 30 March 2011 6 April 2012 VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 9 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120709084720/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/03/news/chris-horner-earns-no-1-start-big-at-tour-of-basque-country_166072 live Ronde van Drenthe,http://cyclesportmanagement.com/2011/04/15/lacombe-5th-holland/ Keven Lacombe – 5th in Holland SPI 2011 Cycle Sport Management 15 April 2011 6 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20110423114206/http://cyclesportmanagement.com/2011/04/15/lacombe-5th-holland/ 23 April 2011 dead dmy-all the Tour de Romandie,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-romandie-upt/start-list Tour de Romandie 2011 start list Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 6 April 2012 7 October 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121007145812/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-romandie-upt/start-list live the Four Days of Dunkirk,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/4-jours-de-dunkerque-tour-du-nord-pas-de-calais-2-hc-1/start-list 4 Jours de Dunkerque / Tour du Nord-pas-de-Calais 2011 start list Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 6 April 2012 8 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120408040505/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/4-jours-de-dunkerque-tour-du-nord-pas-de-calais-2-hc-1/start-list live the Critérium du Dauphiné,http://www.letour.fr/2011/CDD/RIDERS/us/partants.html Riders list Critérium du Dauphiné Amaury Sport Organisation 6 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120204160003/http://www.letour.fr/2011/CDD/RIDERS/us/partants.html 4 February 2012 dead dmy-all the Delta Tour Zeeland,http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/delta-tour-zeeland-provisional-start-list Delta Tour Zeeland: Provisional start list Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 6 June 2011 6 April 2012 7 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110907152450/http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/delta-tour-zeeland-provisional-start-list live the Ster ZLM Toer,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/ster-zlm-toer-2-1/start-list Ster ZLM Toer 2011 start list Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 6 April 2012 17 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110917101840/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/ster-zlm-toer-2-1/start-list live the Danmark Rundt,http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/tour-of-denmark-start-list Tour of Denmark start list Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 August 2011 6 April 2012 22 August 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110822072351/http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/tour-of-denmark-start-list live the Eneco Tour,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/eneco-tour-upt-2/start-list Eneco Tour 2011 start list Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 6 April 2012 29 December 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111229095226/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/eneco-tour-upt-2/start-list live the Tour of Britain,http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/529877/tour-of-britain-2011-start-list.html Tour of Britain 2011: Start list Nigel Wynn 5 September 2011 6 April 2012 Cycling Weekly IPC Media Limited 2 October 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20121002083858/http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest/529877/tour-of-britain-2011-start-list.html live the Tour de Wallonie-Picarde,http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/circuit-franco-belge-2-1-1/start-list Circuit Franco-Belge / Tour de Wallonie-Picarde 2011 start list Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 6 April 2012 1 December 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20111201161910/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/circuit-franco-belge-2-1-1/start-list live and the Tour of Beijing,https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/tour-of-beijing-start-list 4 October 2011 6 April 2012 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited Tour of Beijing start list 19 September 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200919055011/https://www.cyclingnews.com/features/tour-of-beijing-start-list/ live but did not achieve a stage win, classification win, or podium finish in any of them. Grand Tours Giro d'Italia The UCI considered a potential revoking of Vacansoleil-DCM's ProTeam licence in mid-February,http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-considers-revoking-vacansoleil-dcms-proteam-license UCI considers revoking Vacansoleil-DCM's ProTeam license 17 February 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 3 December 2011 7 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110907195629/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/uci-considers-revoking-vacansoleil-dcms-proteam-license live which would stop the team from automatically being invited to any World Tour race and be demoted to a Professional Continental team, as they were in 2010. This licence issue came to light due to continued investigations into doping regarding two of the team's riders; Mosquera and Riccò. Mosquera had tested positive for hydroxyethyl starch at the 2010 Vuelta a España, while Riccò had been admitted to hospital earlier in February, amid allegations that he had carried out a self-administered autologous blood transfusion at his home. (For more information on the Riccò allegations, see the Dismissal of Riccardo Riccò section) Despite talk of a potential exclusion from the race due to these scandals, the team was included in the list of 23 teams admitted on March 7, per UCI rules. Carrara was the team's leader for the race, while Božič and Hoogerland were named to the squad to aim for stage wins and breakaway representation.http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8303/Vacansoleil-DCM-looking-forward-to-teams-first-ever-Giro-dItalia.aspx Vacansoleil-DCM looking forward to team’s first ever Giro d’Italia Ben Atkins 2 May 2011 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 2 December 2011 5 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110505090802/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/8303/Vacansoleil-DCM-looking-forward-to-teams-first-ever-Giro-dItalia.aspx live The team's showing in the stage 1 team time trial was average, as they came home 10th of the 23 teams, 37 seconds off the winning pace set by THR 2011.Stephen Farrand http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-1/results HTC-Highroad triumphs in team time trial 7 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 December 2011 2 March 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140302032455/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-1/results live Božič finished near the front of the field in the Giro's first road stage, taking fifth in the mass sprint finish to the second stage, in Parma.Susan Westemeyer http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-2/results Petacchi wins the sprint in Parma 8 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 December 2011 2 March 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140302090138/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-2/results live Hoogerland and Selvaggi made breakaway attempts on stages 7 and 8, but neither could hold a sustainable advantage until the end of each stage. Carrara moved into the top ten overall after stage 9, finishing 14th on the race's first summit finish, at Mount Etna.Les Clarke http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-9/results Contador climbs to stage victory and into overall lead 15 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 December 2011 2 March 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140302084859/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-9/results live Selvaggi took the team's only top-ten placing in the second half of the race by finishing eighth in a mass sprint finish on stage 12,Peter Cossins http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-12/results Cavendish reigns in Ravenna 19 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 December 2011 3 March 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120303062609/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-12/results live while Carrara eventually finished the race as the team's highest placed rider in the general classification, finishing 17th overall.Barry Ryan http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-21/results Contador claims second Giro d'Italia victory 29 May 2011 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 2 December 2011 27 February 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140227003148/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/giro-ditalia-2011/stage-21/results live Tour de France Feillu was the team's leader for the Tour,http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/06/news/romain-feillu-to-lead-vacansoleil-into-tour-de-france_179894 Romain Feillu to lead Vacansoleil into Tour de France 23 June 2011 VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 2 December 2011 1 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110901104415/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/06/news/romain-feillu-to-lead-vacansoleil-into-tour-de-france_179894 live leading a youthful team into the race, with three riders – De Gendt, Poels and Ruijgh – eligible for the young rider classification. Westra made the first breakaway of the Tour along with two other riders, while the team finished 20th of the 22 teams in the team time trial.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-2/results Garmin-Cervelo wins team time trial Les Clarke Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 3 July 2011 2 December 2011 9 January 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170109172349/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-2/results/ live It was not until stage 3 that the team finished highly; Feillu finished second behind GRM 2011's Tyler Farrar, with Božič also making it into the top ten, in eighth position.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-3/results Farrar nabs his first Tour de France stage Peter Cossins Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 4 July 2011 2 December 2011 2 March 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120302204714/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-3/results live Hoogerland and Westra made breakaway manoeuvres on stages 4 and 6 respectively, but again could not muster a big enough advantage for a stage victory. Hoogerland did, however, take the lead of the mountains classification at the conclusion of the sixth stage, where Feillu had finished fourth and Marcato ninth.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-6/results Boasson Hagen edges Goss for soggy stage win Les Clarke Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 7 July 2011 2 December 2011 2 March 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120302212619/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-6/results live Feillu took another fourth place the following day on the seventh stage into Châteauroux.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-7/results Cavendish repeats at site of first Tour success Peter Cossins Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 8 July 2011 2 December 2011 2 March 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120302224743/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-7/results live Hoogerland made another break from the peloton on the ninth stage, as he was joined by five other riders who extended their lead over the field. With 36 km 1 on remaining, Hoogerland and fellow escapee Juan Antonio Flecha of SKY 2011 were involved in a dramatic crash; while attempting to overtake the riders, a support car from France Télévisions sideswiped Flecha, and as a result, caused Hoogerland to crash into a barbed wire fence, and would later require 33 stitches to close gashes on his leg.http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/07/news/hoogerland-receives-33-stitches-after-stage-9-crash_183191 Johnny Hoogerland stitched up after stage 9 crash 11 July 2011 VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 2 December 2011 Agence France-Presse 23 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110923172304/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/07/news/hoogerland-receives-33-stitches-after-stage-9-crash_183191 live Prior to the crash, Hoogerland had gained enough points on the stage to retake the lead of the mountains classification from THR 2011 yes's Tejay van Garderen. Flecha and Hoogerland both finished the stage and were jointly awarded the combative rider award for the day.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-9/results Luis León Sánchez wins crash-hit stage Peter Cossins Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 10 July 2011 2 December 2011 9 January 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170109172537/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-9/results/ live Marcato made the breakaway on stage ten, with Feillu and Božič again making the top ten at stage end; Feillu finished fifth with Božič three places behind, in eighth place.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-10/results Greipel defeats Cavendish for stage win in Carmaux Stephen Farrand Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 12 July 2011 2 December 2011 2 March 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120302205847/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-10/results live Feillu closed the first half of the race, with sixth place on stage 11.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-11/results Cavendish gets stage number three and green jersey in Lavaur Susan Westemeyer Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 13 July 2011 2 December 2011 2 March 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120302194012/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-11/results live None of the team's riders featured prominently in the early mountain stages, as it was not until stage 16 when Vacansoleil-DCM returned to the top ten of a stage result, with Marcato finishing eighth into Gap.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-16/results Hushovd smashes breakaway for second stage win Les Clarke Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 19 July 2011 2 December 2011 10 January 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170110075602/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-16/results/ live Božič was tenth on stage 17 and seventh on the final stage, sandwiching two top ten placings for De Gendt, who finished sixth on stage 19 to Alpe d'Huez, and fourth on the following day's individual time trial. At the race's conclusion, the team's highest-placed rider was Ruijgh in 21st, some 33 minutes down on race winner Cadel Evans of BMC 2011 yes.http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-21/results Cadel Evans wins 2011 Tour de France Barry Ryan Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 24 July 2011 2 December 2011 10 January 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120110054010/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/tour-de-france-2011/stage-21/results live Vuelta a España thumb|left|Ezequiel Mosquera, who was second for XAC 2010 in 2010, failed to start the 2011 race due to an ongoing investigation into a positive doping test. Although the team had 2010 runner-up Mosquera on their books, they elected not to send him – having been on the team's pre-selection listhttp://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9196/Ezequiel-Mosquera-named-in-vacansoleil-DCM-Vuelta-long-list.aspx Ben Atkins Ezequiel Mosquera named in Vacansoleil-DCM Vuelta long-list 26 July 2011 1 December 2011 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 24 January 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120124004052/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/9196/Ezequiel-Mosquera-named-in-Vacansoleil-DCM-Vuelta-long-list.aspx live – to the race due to the ongoing investigation into his positive doping case for hydroxyethyl starch. Instead, the team elected to place leadership upon the shoulders of Poels, who had taken second place and a stage victory in the Tour de l'Ain, held one week before the Vuelta. The team started with another mediocre performance in the team time trial, coming in 18th of the 22 teams,http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-1/results Leopard Trek claims team time trial Les Clarke Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 20 August 2011 2 December 2011 19 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110919075256/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-1/results live but Pidgornyy was part of a successful four-man breakaway on the third stage, and although he eventually finished 15 seconds down on the eventual stage winner Pablo Lastras (MOV 2011), Pidgornyy moved into fourth place in the general classification.http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-3/results Lastras solos to Vuelta stage win Peter Cossins Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 22 August 2011 2 December 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20111103151926/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-3/results 3 November 2011 Poels featured in the top ten of the next two stages, the sharp incline to Sierra Nevada – finishing eighth, two places behind teammate Lagutinhttp://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-4/results Moreno climbs to stage victory in the Sierra Nevada Peter Cossins Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 23 August 2011 2 December 2011 19 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110919022813/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-4/results live – and was the closest to KAT 2011's Joaquim Rodríguez on the steep finish into Valdepeñas de Jaén.http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-5/results Rodriguez powers to stage victory Stephen Farrand Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 24 August 2011 2 December 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20120824204834/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-5/results 24 August 2012 He also tried to make a late-stage move, within the final 5 km 1 on, on the eighth stage, but was unsuccessful, as he was swallowed up by the main field prior to the 20% gradient final climb to the line.http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-8/results Rodríguez climbs to stage win Les Clarke Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 27 August 2011 2 December 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130921120126/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-8/results 21 September 2013 Ligthart and Keizer made their way into the breakaway on stage 9, with both being dropped before the climb to La Covatilla.http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-9/results Martin triumphs atop La Covatilla Les Clarke Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 28 August 2011 2 December 2011 18 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110918032655/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-9/results live Pidgornyy made it into his second breakaway of the race, as the race moved into its second half, on stage 12, but he and COF 2011 rider Luis Angel Maté were overhauled with just 6 km 1 on remaining.http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-12/results Sagan pounces in Pontevedra Peter Cossins Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 1 September 2011 2 December 2011 24 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110924033758/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-12/results live As the race began to take shape in the Cantabrian Mountains, Poels continued his impressive Vuelta by again featuring in the top five of a stage, by taking fourth place on stage 14.http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-14/results Taaramae tackles La Farrapona Les Clarke Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 3 September 2011 2 December 2011 24 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110924033810/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-14/results live Having stayed with the main group of overall contenders, Poels managed to stay with the likes of SKY 2011's Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome, while others such as Rodríguez and defending race winner Vincenzo Nibali of LIQ 2011 had faded out of contention. The next day, the race headed to the summit finish of the Angliru for the first time in three years, and while GEO 2011's Juan José Cobo soloed into his eventual race-winning general classification lead, Poels was his closest challenger, 48 seconds in arrears but enough to move him into the top ten overall.http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-15/results Cobo climbs into Vuelta lead on Angliru Les Clarke Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 4 September 2011 2 December 2011 16 May 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120516001358/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-15/results live Poels slipped out of the top ten after losing time on the finish to Peña Cabarga, and thus tried to make a breakaway the following day, on stage 18, but was not given the freedom to break and finished with the main field.http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-18/results Gavazzi wins big in Noja Susan Westemeyer Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 8 September 2011 2 December 2011 8 September 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120908150517/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-18/results live Poels ultimately finished the race 17th, but the team's best-placed rider honour went to Lagutin, who finished almost three minutes ahead in 15th place.http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-21/results Sagan steals final stage from pure sprinters Les Clarke Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 11 September 2011 2 December 2011 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20130102215145/http://www.cyclingnews.com/vuelta-a-espana/stage-21/results 2 January 2013 Season victories Date Race Competition Rider Country Location February 6 Étoile de Bessèges, Teams classification UCI Europe Tour The riders on the squad were Borut Božič, Stijn Devolder, Frederik Veuchelen, Gorik Gardeyn, Johnny Hoogerland, Björn Leukemans, Marco Marcato, and Lieuwe Westrahttp://www.cyclingnews.com/features/etoile-de-besseges-start-list-1 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 1 February 2011 6 April 2012 Etoile de Bessèges start list 7 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110907152947/http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/etoile-de-besseges-start-list-1 live "N" February 10 Tour Méditerranéen, Stage 2 UCI Europe Tour Romain Feillu FRA Rousset February 11 Tour Méditerranéen, Stage 3 UCI Europe Tour Romain Feillu FRA La Farlède February 12 Tour Méditerranéen, Stage 4 UCI Europe Tour Romain Feillu FRA Biot February 13 Tour Méditerranéen, Young rider classification UCI Europe Tour Wout Poels NED March 6 Paris–Nice, Stage 1 UCI World Tour Thomas De Gendt BEL Houdan March 19 Classic Loire Atlantique UCI Europe Tour Lieuwe Westra NED La Haie-Fouassière March 27 Critérium International, Mountains classification UCI Europe TourPim Ligthart NED March 31 Three Days of De Panne, Mountains classification UCI Europe TourLieuwe Westra NED April 2 Hel van het Mergelland UCI Europe TourPim Ligthart NED Eijsden April 16 Tour du Finistère UCI Europe TourRomain Feillu FRA Quimper May 14 Tour de Picardie, Stage 2 UCI Europe TourRomain Feillu FRA Château-Thierry May 15 Tour de Picardie, Overall UCI Europe TourRomain Feillu FRA May 20 Circuit de Lorraine, Stage 3 UCI Europe TourThomas De Gendt BEL Saint-Dié-des-Vosges May 22 Circuit de Lorraine, Stage 5 UCI Europe TourRomain Feillu FRA Hayange May 22 Circuit de Lorraine, Mountains classification UCI Europe TourThomas De Gendt BEL May 22 Circuit de Lorraine, Teams classification UCI Europe Tour The riders on the squad were Santo Anzà, Thomas De Gendt, Romain Feillu, Pim Ligthart, Ruslan Pidgornyy, Wout Poels, Marco Marcato, and Rob Ruijghhttp://www.circuitdelorraine.com/Classements%20et%20photos/20110518%20-%20Liste%20CL.pdf PDF Circuit de Lorraine La Région Lorraine 18 May 2011 6 April 2012 Circuit de Lorraine Professionnel 2011 - du 18 au 22 mai 2011 French Circuit de Lorraine Professional 2011 - May 18 to 22, 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110815094127/http://www.circuitdelorraine.com/Classements%20et%20photos/20110518%20-%20Liste%20CL.pdf 15 August 2011 dead dmy-all "N" May 25 Tour of Belgium, Prologue UCI Europe TourLieuwe Westra NED Buggenhout May 29 Tour of Belgium, Young rider classification UCI Europe TourPim Ligthart NED May 29 Tour of Belgium, Teams classification UCI Europe Tour The riders on the squad were Stijn Devolder, Gorik Gardeyn, Björn Leukemans, Jens Mouris, Pim Ligthart, Joost van Leijen, Lieuwe Westra, and Wouter Molhttp://www.cyclingnews.com/features/tour-of-belgium-start-list-1 Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 23 May 2011 6 April 2012 Tour of Belgium start list 14 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110914150208/http://www.cyclingnews.com/features/tour-of-belgium-start-list-1 live "N" May 29 Boucles de l'Aulne UCI Europe TourMartijn Keizer NED Châteaulin June 5 Tour de Luxembourg, Stage 4 UCI Europe TourRomain Feillu FRA Luxembourg City June 15 Tour de Suisse, Stage 5 UCI World Tour Borut Božič SLO Tägerschen June 17 Tour de Suisse, Stage 7 UCI World TourThomas De Gendt BEL Serfaus July 24 Tour de Wallonie, Stage 2 UCI Europe TourJoost van Leijen NED Houffalize July 27 Tour de Wallonie, Mountains classification UCI Europe TourMirko Selvaggi ITA August 6 Tour de Pologne, Mountains classification UCI World TourMichał Gołaś POL August 6 Tour de Pologne, Teams classification UCI World Tour The riders on the squad were Matteo Carrara, Ruslan Pidgornyy, Romain Feillu, Michał Gołaś, Martijn Keizer, Sergey Lagutin, Marco Marcato, and Wout Poelshttp://tourdepologne.pl/files/EtapyWynikiOficjalne/file/communique21312123006012857500.pdf PDF Tour de Pologne Polskiego Związku Kolarskiego 31.07.2011 Pruszków-Warszawa 101.5 km: Komunikat Numer 2 31 July 2011 6 April 2012April 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes "N" August 12 Tour de l'Ain, Stage 3 UCI Europe TourWout Poels NED Lélex August 13 Tour de l'Ain, Mountains classification UCI Europe TourJohnny Hoogerland NED August 13 Tour de l'Ain, Sprints classification UCI Europe TourWout Poels NED August 16 Tour du Limousin, Stage 1 UCI Europe TourBjörn Leukemans BEL Guéret August 19 Tour du Limousin, Overall UCI Europe TourBjörn Leukemans BEL August 24 Druivenkoers Overijse UCI Europe TourBjörn Leukemans BEL Overijse October 2 Tour de Vendée UCI Europe TourMarco Marcato ITA La Roche-sur-Yon Away from competition Dismissal of Riccardo Riccò thumb|Riccardo Riccò, pictured at the team's presentation for the 2011 season, was sacked in February after reportedly confessing to blood doping. Having made his season début with a seventh place in the Grand Prix d'Ouverture La Marseillaise in France on January 30, and prior to travelling to the Tour Méditerranéen, Riccò was admitted to hospital in Pavullo nel Frignano on February 6, with his father Rubinho stating that his son had apparent "kidney failure" and a body temperature of 104 °F °C; he was later transferred to a hospital in Modena.http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/02/news/riccardo-ricco-hospitalized-with-fever-apparent-kidney-failure_159118 Riccardo Riccò hospitalized with fever, apparent kidney failure 7 February 2011 VeloNews Competitor Group, Inc. 3 December 2011 17 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110517172020/http://velonews.competitor.com/2011/02/news/riccardo-ricco-hospitalized-with-fever-apparent-kidney-failure_159118 live Two days later, the Italian State Police confirmed that they were investigating Riccò for blood doping, after an apparent self-administered autologous blood transfusion at his home, and obtained his medical records while Riccò was in hospital recovering.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/italian-police-investigate-ricco-for-blood-doping Italian police investigate Riccò for blood doping Stephen Farrand Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 8 February 2011 3 December 2011 17 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110917234152/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/italian-police-investigate-ricco-for-blood-doping live His team also released a statement that day, calling the reports "a rumour", but started their own investigation into the matter, and if found to have doped, Riccò would be sacked as a violation of UCI anti-doping rules.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vacansoleil-investigating-ricco-doping-rumours Vacansoleil investigating Riccò doping "rumours" Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 8 February 2011 3 December 2011 13 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110913224358/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vacansoleil-investigating-ricco-doping-rumours live Personalities within the cycling world condemned Riccò for returning to doping,http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ricco-to-be-questioned-about-blood-doping-investigation Ricco to be questioned about blood doping investigation Susan Westemeyer Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 9 February 2011 3 December 2011 14 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110914065328/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ricco-to-be-questioned-about-blood-doping-investigation livehttp://www.cyclingnews.com/news/pozzato-says-ricco-scandal-damages-cycling Barry Ryan Pozzato says Riccò scandal damages cycling Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 10 February 2011 3 December 2011 16 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110916063651/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/pozzato-says-ricco-scandal-damages-cycling livehttp://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-cavendish-aldag-and-kelly-react-to-ricco-doping-news Cavendish, Aldag and Kelly react to Ricco doping news Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 10 February 2011 3 December 2011 8 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110908055924/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/video-cavendish-aldag-and-kelly-react-to-ricco-doping-news live having already served a 20-month ban for the banned blood booster CERA in 2008. After conducting their investigation, the team announced that they had suspended Riccò on February 11, also indicating that they had sent a letter of their decision to Riccò.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vacansoleil-dcm-suspends-ricco Vacansoleil-DCM suspends Riccò Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 11 February 2011 3 December 2011 14 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110914092126/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/vacansoleil-dcm-suspends-ricco live Following this scandal, as well as the continued allegations over teammate Mosquera in 2010, the UCI had planned to look at the credibility of having the team at the highest echelon of the sport – as a ProTeam – with Riccò's points making up a proportion of the team's allocation in regards to a ProTeam licence. Riccò was sacked by the team on February 19, on the basis of their "zero-tolerance policy" on doping.http://www.vacansoleildcm.co.uk/news/team-fires-riccardo-ricco-.html Team fires Riccardo Ricco 19 February 2011 VCD 2011 3 December 2011 Vacansoleil Eindhoven 6 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120406220601/http://www.vacansoleildcm.co.uk/news/team-fires-riccardo-ricco-.html live The team later announced a more stringent policy on how they deal with doping. Having previously given Leukemans a second chance after a positive test for artificial testosterone, team manager Daan Luijkx stated that the team would not give riders a second chance to prove their capabilities after Riccò's situation.http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/7630/No-more-second-chances-at-Vacansoleil-We-will-not-do-that-anymore.aspx Jered Gruber No more second chances at Vacansoleil: "We will not do that anymore." 2 March 2011 VeloNation VeloNation LLC 3 December 2011 5 March 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110305065647/http://www.velonation.com/News/ID/7630/No-more-second-chances-at-Vacansoleil-We-will-not-do-that-anymore.aspx live Riccò announced his intention to never race again in March,http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ricco-reveals-he-will-never-race-again Riccò reveals he will never race again Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 12 March 2011 3 December 2011 3 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110903064817/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ricco-reveals-he-will-never-race-again live but signed with Continental team Meridiana-Kamen in June in the hope of competing in the Tour de Serbie.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ricco-registered-with-merdiana-kamen-team Stephen Farrand Riccò registered with Merdiana-Kamen team Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 7 June 2011 3 December 2011 2 September 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110902072842/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ricco-registered-with-merdiana-kamen-team live This did not transpire, as he was suspended by the Italian National Olympic Committee prior to the race, in relation to the February blood transfusion.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/coni-suspends-ricco CONI suspends Riccò Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 10 June 2011 3 December 2011 2 January 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120102080545/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/coni-suspends-ricco live He eventually received a twelve-year ban from the Italian National Anti-Doping Tribunal in April 2012.http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ricco-receives-12-year-ban Ricco receives 12-year ban Cycling News Future Publishing Limited 19 April 2012 19 April 2012 22 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120422171739/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/ricco-receives-12-year-ban live Footnotes N References 30em Category:2011 road cycling season by team Category:Vacansoleil–DCM Category:2011 in Dutch sport