2010 Rabobank season
| align="right" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin-left:1em; width:300px; font-size:90%; border:1px solid #999; border-right-width:2px; border-bottom-width:2px; background-color:white;"
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#003399;" | {| style="background:#EC872F;text-align:center;width:100%;" | style="background:#EC872F;" align="center" width="100%" | 2010 Rabobank season | padding=15px | |
|-
| Manager
| bgcolor=#EEEEEE| Erik Breukink
|-
| One-day victories
| bgcolor=#EEEEEE| 7
|-
| Stage race overall victories
| bgcolor=#EEEEEE| –
|-
| Stage race stage victories
| bgcolor=#EEEEEE| 13
|-
| colspan="2" bgcolor="white" align="center" | Previous season • Next season
|}
The 2010 season for the {{UCI team code|RAB|2010}} cycling team began in January with the Tour Down Under and ended in October at the Giro di Lombardia. As a UCI ProTour team, they were automatically invited and obliged to attend every event in the ProTour.
The team's manager was former team member Erik Breukink, in his seventh season in the role. The team's ridership was almost entirely unchanged from 2009, with a small number of riders departing and the only arrivals being promotions from the Rabobank continental team.
2010 roster
Ages as of January 1, 2010.
{{Cycling squad start}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=Mauricio Ardila|nat=COL|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2010|1|1|1979|5|12}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=Lars Boom|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2010|1|1|1985|12|30}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=Graeme Brown|nat=AUS|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2010|1|1|1979|4|9}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=Stef Clement|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2010|1|1|1982|9|24}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=Rick Flens|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2010|1|1|1983|4|11}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=Óscar Freire|nat=ESP|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2010|1|1|1976|2|15}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=Juan Manuel Gárate|nat=ESP|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2010|1|1|1976|4|24}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=Robert Gesink|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2010|1|1|1986|5|31}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=Dmitri Kozontchuk|nat=RUS|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2010|1|1|1984|4|5}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=Steven Kruijswijk|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2010|1|1|1987|6|7}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=Sebastian Langeveld|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2010|1|1|1985|1|17}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=Tom Leezer|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2010|1|1|1985|12|26}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=Paul Martens|nat=GER|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2010|1|1|1983|10|26}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=Denis Menchov|nat=RUS|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2010|1|1|1978|1|25}}}}
{{Cycling squad mid}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=Koos Moerenhout|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2010|1|1|1973|11|5}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=Bauke Mollema|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2010|1|1|1986|11|26}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=Grischa Niermann|nat=GER|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2010|1|1|1975|11|3}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=Nick Nuyens|nat=BEL|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2010|1|1|1980|5|5}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=Joost Posthuma|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2010|1|1|1981|3|8}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=Kai Reus|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2010|1|1|1985|3|11}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=Tom Stamsnijder|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2010|1|1|1985|5|15}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=Bram Tankink|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2010|1|1|1978|12|3}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=Laurens ten Dam|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2010|1|1|1980|11|13}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=Maarten Tjallingii|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2010|1|1|1977|11|5}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=Jos van Emden|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2010|1|1|1987|6|27}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=Dennis van Winden|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2010|1|1|1987|12|2}}}}
{{Cycling squad rider|name=Pieter Weening|nat=NED|birthdate={{birth date and age2|2010|1|1|1985|2|18}}}}
{{Cycling squad end}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;Riders who joined the team for the 2010 season
| class="wikitable" | |
| Rider
!2009 team | |
|---|---|
| Steven Kruijswijk | {{UCI team code|RAB|2009}} continental team |
| Dennis van Winden | {{UCI team code|RAB|2009}} continental team |
{{col-2}}
;Riders who left the team during or after the 2009 season
| class="wikitable" | |
| Rider
!2010 team | |
|---|---|
| Juan Antonio Flecha | {{UCI team code|SKY|2010}} |
| Bram de Groot | Retired |
| Marc de Maar | {{UCI team code|UHC|2010}} |
| Mathew Hayman | {{UCI team code|SKY|2010}} |
| Pedro Horrillo | Retired[http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/horrillo-decides-to-retire Horrillo decides to retire] |
{{col-end}}
One-day races
Freire scored the team's first victory of the season in the Trofeo Cala Millor, part of the Vuelta a Mallorca quasi-stage race, as he outsprinted Tour Down Under stars André Greipel and Manuel Cardoso.{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/19th-challenge-ciclista-a-mallorca-1-1/race-2-trofeo-cala-millor/results
|title=McEwen returns to winners' circle in Mallorca
|date=2010-02-08
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|accessdate=2010-02-08
| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100211011246/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/19th-challenge-ciclista-a-mallorca-1-1/race-2-trofeo-cala-millor/results| archivedate= 11 February 2010 | url-status= live}}
=Spring classics=
{{Empty section|date=January 2011}}
=Fall races=
{{Empty section|date=January 2011}}
Stage races
{{Empty section|date=July 2010}}
Grand Tours
=Giro d'Italia=
Menchov, the 2009 Giro d'Italia champion, announced in October 2009 that he would not defend his championship in 2010.
{{cite news
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/menchov-to-focus-on-tour-skip-giro-defense
|title=Menchov to focus on Tour, skip Giro defense
|date=2009-10-31
|publisher=Cycling News
|accessdate=2010-01-08
| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100111111248/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/menchov-to-focus-on-tour-skip-giro-defense| archivedate= 11 January 2010 | url-status= live}} The team thus entered the Giro without any expectations of contending for another overall victory. Mollema rode as the squad leader. Freire was supposed to start the race, with aims of winning one of the flat road race stages in the team's home country, the Netherlands, but he pulled out of the race two days before it started due to respiratory illness. Kruijswijk took Freire's place on the squad.
{{cite news
|author=Jean-François Quénet
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/menchov-to-focus-on-tour-skip-giro-defense
|title=Rabobank racing Giro d'Italia without expectations for title defence
|date=2010-05-07
|publisher=Cycling News
|accessdate=2010-07-03
}} The squad wore special jerseys for the Giro, incorporating the colors of the Italian flag and the logo for Right To Play, which the team supports. The jerseys were later auctioned off with the proceeds going to Right To Play.
{{cite news
|author=Susan Westemeyer
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rabobank-celebrates-giro-with-special-jersey
|title=Rabobank celebrates Giro with special jersey
|date=2010-05-04
|publisher=Cycling News
|accessdate=2010-07-03
| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100701035245/http://www.cyclingnews.com/news/rabobank-celebrates-giro-with-special-jersey| archivedate= 1 July 2010 | url-status= live}}
As expected, the squad was active in the opening to the Giro in the Netherlands. Van Emden was ninth best in the stage 1 individual time trial, 9 seconds off Bradley Wiggins' winning time.{{cite web
|author = Cycling News
|url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/93rd-giro-ditalia-gt/stage-1/results
|title = Wiggins wins Giro opener
|date = 2010-05-08
|work = Cycling News
|publisher = Future Publishing Limited
|accessdate = 2010-05-11
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100511011904/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/93rd-giro-ditalia-gt/stage-1/results
|archivedate = 2010-05-11
|url-status = dead
}} Flens made the breakaway in stage 2, and Brown took eighth in the sprint for the finish line.{{cite web
|author = Cycling News
|url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/93rd-giro-ditalia-gt/stage-2/results
|title = Farrar fastest in Utrecht
|date = 2010-05-09
|work = Cycling News
|publisher = Future Publishing Limited
|accessdate = 2010-05-11
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100511185239/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/93rd-giro-ditalia-gt/stage-2/results
|archivedate = 2010-05-11
|url-status = dead
}} The next day of racing was similar, with Stamsnijder making the morning break and Brown finishing second just behind Wouter Weylandt in the sprint. Weening was tenth in the overall standings prior to the transfer to Italy, 16 seconds behind the race leader. Brown led the points classification and wore the red jersey at this point.{{cite web
|author = Les Clarke
|url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/93rd-giro-ditalia-gt/stage-3/results
|title = Weylandt takes chaotic stage
|date = 2010-05-10
|work = Cycling News
|publisher = Future Publishing Limited
|accessdate = 2010-05-11
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100511190154/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/93rd-giro-ditalia-gt/stage-3/results
|archivedate = 2010-05-11
|url-status = dead
}} The squad was 11th in the stage 4 team time trial, just over a minute of {{UCI team code|LIQ|2010}}'s winning pace.{{cite web
|author = Les Clarke and Stephen Farrand
|url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/93rd-giro-ditalia-gt/stage-4/results
|title = Liquigas-Doimo fly to TTT victory
|date = 2010-05-12
|work = Cycling News
|publisher = Future Publishing Limited
|accessdate = 2010-05-12
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100513081051/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/93rd-giro-ditalia-gt/stage-4/results
|archivedate = 2010-05-13
|url-status = dead
}} Brown was one of the many sprinters upset by a three-rider breakaway just surviving to the finish in stage 5. He was seventh on this stage, but lost the red jersey to Jérôme Pineau who was up the road in the breakaway and won the stage.{{cite web
|author = Peter Hymas and Jean-François Quénet
|url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/93rd-giro-ditalia-gt/stage-5/results
|title = Pineau nabs Quick Step's second stage
|date = 2010-05-13
|work = Cycling News
|publisher = Future Publishing Limited
|accessdate = 2010-05-14
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100515105232/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/93rd-giro-ditalia-gt/stage-5/results
|archivedate = 2010-05-15
|url-status = dead
}} Van Emden contested the depleted group sprint in stage 9, finishing ninth.{{cite web
|author = Les Clarke
|url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/93rd-giro-ditalia-gt/stage-9/results
|title = Goss sprints to victory in Cava de' Tirreni
|date = 2010-05-17
|work = Cycling News
|publisher = Future Publishing Limited
|accessdate = 2010-05-21
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100520011030/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/93rd-giro-ditalia-gt/stage-9/results
|archivedate = 2010-05-20
|url-status = dead
}}
The squad was then quiet for several days, but in the final stages in the Dolomites both Mollema and Kruijswijk turned in solid rides. In stage 14, which went over Monte Grappa, Mollema rode with the second group on the road, finishing the stage seventh.{{cite web
|author = Susan Westemeyer
|url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/93rd-giro-ditalia-gt/stage-14/results
|title = Nibali solos into Asolo
|date = 2010-05-22
|work = Cycling News
|publisher = Future Publishing Limited
|accessdate = 2010-06-13
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100616024538/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/93rd-giro-ditalia-gt/stage-14/results
|archivedate = 2010-06-16
|url-status = dead
}} Kruijswijk made a winning breakaway three stages later and had a chance for victory at Pejo Terme. Kruijswijk, Danilo Hondo, and Damien Monier were the last three riders together at the head of the race and finished well clear of the others. Monier soloed to victory more than 30 seconds ahead, and Hondo left Kruijswijk behind in the stage's final kilometer, leaving him third.{{cite web
|author=Les Clarke
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/93rd-giro-ditalia-gt/stage-17/results
|title=Monier finally gets first pro win in Pejo Terme
|date=2010-05-26
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|accessdate=2010-06-20
| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100620025334/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/93rd-giro-ditalia-gt/stage-17/results| archivedate= 20 June 2010 | url-status= live}} Brown contested the sprint in stage 18, the Giro's last mass finish, coming away sixth.{{cite web
|author=Les Clarke
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/93rd-giro-ditalia-gt/stage-18/results
|title=Greipel sprints to stage victory in Brescia
|date=2010-05-27
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|accessdate=2010-06-20
| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100620032815/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/93rd-giro-ditalia-gt/stage-18/results| archivedate= 20 June 2010 | url-status= live}} Mollema was eighth in the Giro's most climbing-intensive day, stage 20, riding the Passo di Gavia and Passo del Tonale with or near the Giro elite.{{cite web
|author=Cycling News
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/93rd-giro-ditalia-gt/stage-20/results
|title=Tschopp nets first Swiss stage win since Zulle
|date=2010-05-29
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|accessdate=2010-06-23
| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100624214006/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/93rd-giro-ditalia-gt/stage-20/results| archivedate= 24 June 2010 | url-status= live}} In the final day's time trial, Stamsnijder took tenth. Despite not expecting their squad to contend in the overall standings, Rabobank was one of only three squads (the others being {{UCI team code|LIQ|2010}} and {{UCI team code|ALM|2010}}) to finish with three riders in the top 20 overall. These were Mollema in 12th, Ardila in 15th, and Kruijswijk in 18th. Stamsnijder won the Giro's TV classification for intermediate sprints (TV being short for traguardo volante, or "flying sprint"). The squad also placed well in both teams classifications, finishing second in the Trofeo Fast Team and third in the Trofeo Super Team.{{cite web
|author=Stephen Farrand
|url=http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/93rd-giro-ditalia-gt/stage-21/results
|title=Basso wins Giro d'Italia
|date=2010-05-30
|work=Cycling News
|publisher=Future Publishing Limited
|accessdate=2010-06-25
| archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20100623042628/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/93rd-giro-ditalia-gt/stage-21/results| archivedate= 23 June 2010 | url-status= live}}
=Tour de France=
Menchov and Gesink co-captained the squad sent to the Tour de France. Menchov was often mentioned as a contender for overall victory, as he sought the Tour title to complete the career sweep of the Grand Tours.{{cite web
|url=http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/38022368/ns/sports-tour_de_france/
|title=Top contenders to win 2010 Tour de France
|date=2010-06-30
|work=NBCsports.msnbc.com
|publisher=NBC Universal Inc.
|accessdate=2010-09-30
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100704035044/http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/38022368/ns/sports-tour_de_france
|archive-date=2010-07-04
|url-status=dead
|author=Bonnie D. Ford
|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/tdf2010/columns/story?columnist=ford_bonnie_d&id=5344842
|title=2010 Tour de France: Top contenders
|date=2010-07-06
|work=ESPN.com
|publisher=ESPN Internet Ventures
|access-date=2010-09-30
|author=Jason Devaney
|url=http://www.universalsports.com/news/article/newsid=479282.html
|title=Tour de France contender: Denis Menchov
|date=2010-06-23
|work=Universal Sports.com
|publisher=NBC Universal Inc.
|accessdate=2011-01-09
}} Menchov had fallen ill in May at the Tour de Romandie, but reported regaining his strength during the Critérium du Dauphiné and believed himself to be in optimal form for the Tour. Freire was also named to the squad, with the intention of acting as a free agent (a sprinter without his own leadout train) in the flat stages. The team hoped for a mountain stage win and possibly a high overall placing from Gesink.{{cite web
|author=Andrew Hood
|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/06/news/menchov-gesink-to-lead-rabobank-at-tour-de-france_122668
|title=Denis Menchov, Robert Gesink, to lead Rabobank at Tour de France
|date=2010-06-22
|work=VeloNews
|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc.
|accessdate=2011-01-09
|archive-date=2011-05-24
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524170851/http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/06/news/menchov-gesink-to-lead-rabobank-at-tour-de-france_122668
|url-status=dead
}}
File:Denis Menchhov (cropped).jpg entered the Tour de France with overall victory his goal, and finished third overall.]]
The team was mostly quiet in the race's first week. Menchov rode poorly in the prologue time trial, nearly a minute off the winning time of Fabian Cancellara and five seconds worse than Gesink, despite the fact that Menchov is generally the far superior time trialist.{{cite web
|author = Cycling News
|url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/97th-tour-de-france-gt/prologue/results
|title = Cancellara wins prologue time trial
|date = 2010-07-03
|work = Cycling News
|publisher = Future Publishing Limited
|accessdate = 2011-01-10
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100704102925/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/97th-tour-de-france-gt/prologue/results
|archive-date = 2010-07-04
|url-status = dead
}} In stage 2, when dozens of riders from nearly every team crashed on a slippery descent of the Col du Stockeu in Spa, Gesink crashed and broke a bone in his right arm. It was reported as likely that he would withdraw from the Tour,{{cite web
|author=Neal Rogers
|url=http://velonews.competitor.com/2010/07/news/the-stockeau-massacre-damage-assessment-after-the-tour-de-frances-second-stage_125976
|title=The Stockeau Massacre: Damage assessment after the Tour de France’s second stage
|date=2010-07-05
|work=VeloNews
|publisher=Competitor Group, Inc.
|accessdate=2011-01-10
}} but he rode on. Freire had difficulties in the early flat stages, tenth in stage 4 the closest he came to a victory.{{cite web
|author = Les Clarke
|url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/97th-tour-de-france-gt/stage-4/results
|title = Take two for Ale-Jet
|date = 2010-07-07
|work = Cycling News
|publisher = Future Publishing Limited
|accessdate = 2011-01-10
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100708221007/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/97th-tour-de-france-gt/stage-4/results
|archive-date = 2010-07-08
|url-status = dead
}}
In stage 7 to Station des Rousses in the Jura, the first stage with any significant quantity of climbing, Menchov and Gesink both finished with the peloton, a result which moved Menchov into tenth overall after being distant in the overall classification to that point.{{cite web
|author = Richard Moore
|url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/97th-tour-de-france-gt/stage-7/results
|title = Chavanel races to victory in first mountains stage
|date = 2010-07-10
|work = Cycling News
|publisher = Future Publishing Limited
|accessdate = 2011-01-10
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100913224049/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/97th-tour-de-france-gt/stage-7/results
|archive-date = 2010-09-13
|url-status = dead
}} The next day, in a more climbing-intensive stage, Menchov and Gesink finished with the second group on the road, ceding 10 seconds to Andy Schleck and Samuel Sánchez but gaining time against everyone else in the race. This result moved Menchov up to fifth overall, and Gesink to 11th, up from 23rd.{{cite web
|author = Richard Moore
|url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/97th-tour-de-france-gt/stage-8/results
|title = Advantage Schleck on first major mountain stage
|date = 2010-07-11
|work = Cycling News
|publisher = Future Publishing Limited
|accessdate = 2011-01-10
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100915234053/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/97th-tour-de-france-gt/stage-8/results
|archive-date = 2010-09-15
|url-status = dead
}} In the next stage, one which featured one of the Tour's hardest climbs, the Col de la Madeleine, Menchov and Gesink rode most of the stage together. They lost two minutes to Schleck and Alberto Contador and effectively any chance to win the race, and also lost one minute and ten seconds to Sánchez, but gained time against nearly everyone else in the race. They occupied fourth (Menchov) and seventh (Gesink) after the stage.{{cite web
|author = Les Clarke
|url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/97th-tour-de-france-gt/stage-9/results
|title = Casar claims stage win for France
|date = 2010-07-13
|work = Cycling News
|publisher = Future Publishing Limited
|accessdate = 2011-01-10
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110304064049/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/97th-tour-de-france-gt/stage-9/results
|archive-date = 2011-03-04
|url-status = dead
}} During stage 14, Menchov and Sánchez pulled back 14 seconds from Schleck and Contador, after the two leaders engaged in a bizarre seeming track stand during the stage's final climb to Ax-3-Domaines. They still sat over two minutes behind them in the overall classification, an effectively insurmountable time gap. Gesink also passed Levi Leipheimer in this stage to move up to sixth overall, as the American lost 45 seconds to Gesink's group.{{cite web
|author = Richard Moore
|url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/97th-tour-de-france-gt/stage-14/results
|title = Riblon stellar in Ax-3 Domaines
|date = 2010-07-18
|work = Cycling News
|publisher = Future Publishing Limited
|accessdate = 2011-01-10
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100819044812/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/97th-tour-de-france-gt/stage-14/results
|archive-date = 2010-08-19
|url-status = dead
}}
In stage 15, Menchov and Sánchez were tangentially involved in the day's greater controversy. While the group of overall favorites was climbing the hors catégorie Port de Balès, the chain on race leader Schleck's bicycle slipped. At the exact moment that happened, Contador attacked and got clear of the group. While Schleck was unable to respond due to his mechanical trouble, Menchov and Sánchez, along with five others, followed Contador and finished 39 seconds clear of the Luxembourger, though their positions relative to both of the leading riders was essentially unchanged.{{cite web
|author = Les Clarke
|url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/97th-tour-de-france-gt/stage-15/results
|title = Voeckler victorious in Bagneres-de-Luchon
|date = 2010-07-19
|work = Cycling News
|publisher = Future Publishing Limited
|accessdate = 2011-01-10
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100819075548/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/97th-tour-de-france-gt/stage-15/results
|archive-date = 2010-08-19
|url-status = dead
}} In the race's queen stage, stage 17 ending at the Col du Tourmalet, Menchov and Gesink again finished together. The lost a minute and 40 seconds to Schleck and Contador, who finished together at the head of the race, and eight seconds to Sánchez. This gave Sánchez a 21-second lead over Menchov for the third step on the podium, but with a {{convert|52|km|abbr=on}} individual time trial still to contest, Menchov had good odds of overtaking him.{{cite web
|author = Les Clarke
|url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/97th-tour-de-france-gt/stage-17/results
|title = Schleck takes stage win atop Col du Tourmalet
|date = 2010-07-22
|work = Cycling News
|publisher = Future Publishing Limited
|accessdate = 2011-01-10
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110304064940/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/97th-tour-de-france-gt/stage-17/results
|archive-date = 2011-03-04
|url-status = dead
}} During that time trial, a drastic change in wind direction occurred. This made it so earlier starters posted considerably better times than those who came later. Contador, for example, who had won the long time trial in the 2009 Tour de France, was 35th on the day, 5 minutes and 43 seconds off the pace. Menchov, however, was 11th, taking time out of nearly every other rider in the race. The result moved him up to third overall,{{cite web
|author = Hedwig Kröner
|url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/97th-tour-de-france-gt/stage-19/results
|title = Contador bests Schleck, remains in yellow
|date = 2010-07-24
|work = Cycling News
|publisher = Future Publishing Limited
|accessdate = 2011-01-10
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110304065202/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/97th-tour-de-france-gt/stage-19/results
|archive-date = 2011-03-04
|url-status = dead
}} a position he held in the Tour's largely ceremonial finale the next day. The squad finished third in the teams classification.{{cite web
|author = Anthony Tan
|url = http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/97th-tour-de-france-gt/stage-20/results
|title = Tres victorias de Francia para Contador!
|date = 2010-07-25
|work = Cycling News
|publisher = Future Publishing Limited
|accessdate = 2011-01-07
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100815033234/http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/97th-tour-de-france-gt/stage-20/results
|archive-date = 2010-08-15
|url-status = dead
}}
=Vuelta a España=
{{Empty section|date=January 2011}}
Season victories
| class="wikitable sortable" | ||||||
| Date | Race | Competition | Rider | Country | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{dts | February|8}} | Trofeo Cala Millor | UCI Europe Tour | {{flagathlete|{{sortname|Óscar|Freire}}|ESP}} | {{ESP}} | Mallorca |
| {{dts | February|22}} | Ruta Del Sol, Stage 2 | UCI Europe Tour | {{flagathlete|{{sortname|Óscar|Freire}}|ESP}} | {{ESP}} | Córdoba |
| {{dts | February|23}} | Ruta Del Sol, Stage 3 | UCI Europe Tour | {{flagathlete|{{sortname|Óscar|Freire}}|ESP}} | {{ESP}} | Benahavís |
| {{dts | February|25}} | Ruta Del Sol, Points classification | UCI Europe Tour | {{flagathlete|{{sortname|Óscar|Freire}}|ESP}} | {{ESP}} | |
| {{dts | March|7}} | Paris–Nice, Prologue | UCI World Ranking | {{flagathlete|{{sortname|Lars|Boom}}|NED}} | {{FRA}} | Montfort-l'Amaury |
| {{dts | March|16}} | Tirreno–Adriatico, Youth classification | UCI World Ranking | {{flagathlete|{{sortname|Robert|Gesink}}|NED}} | {{ITA}} | |
| {{dts | March|20}} | Milan–Sanremo | UCI World Ranking | {{flagathlete|{{sortname|Óscar|Freire}}|ESP}} | {{ITA}} | Sanremo |
| {{dts | April|5}} | Tour of the Basque Country, Stage 1 | UCI ProTour | {{flagathlete|{{sortname|Óscar|Freire}}|ESP}}Freire was originally relegated to second place in this stage despite crossing the finish line first, though when all of Alejandro Valverde's 2010 wins were vacated due to his suspension, Freire became the stage winner. | {{ESP}} | Zierbena |
| {{dts | April|6}} | Tour of the Basque Country, Stage 2 | UCI ProTour | {{flagathlete|{{sortname|Óscar|Freire}}|ESP}}Freire originally finished second to Valverde in this stage, but was awarded the victory after all of Valverde's 2010 results were vacated | {{ESP}} | Viana |
| {{dts | May|30}} | Giro d'Italia, TV classification | UCI World Ranking | {{flagathlete|{{sortname|Tom|Stamsnijder}}|NED}} | {{ITA}} | |
| {{dts | June|11}} | Delta Tour Zeeland, Prologue | UCI Europe Tour | {{flagathlete|{{sortname|Jos|Van Emden}}|NED}} | {{NED}} | Hulst |
| {{dts | June|13}} | Delta Tour Zeeland, Youth classification | UCI Europe Tour | {{flagathlete|{{sortname|Jos|Van Emden}}|NED}} | {{NED}} | |
| {{dts | June|16}} | Ster Elektrotoer, Prologue | UCI Europe Tour | {{flagathlete|{{sortname|Jos|Van Emden}}|NED}} | {{NED}} | Gemert |
| {{dts | June|17}} | Tour de Suisse, Stage 6 | UCI World Ranking | {{flagathlete|{{sortname|Robert|Gesink}}|NED}} | {{SUI}} | La Punt Chamues-ch |
| {{dts | July|8}} | Tour of Austria, Stage 5 | UCI Europe Tour | {{flagathlete|{{sortname|Nick|Nuyens}}|BEL}} | {{AUT}} | Deutschlandsberg |
| {{dts | July|10}} | Tour of Austria, Stage 7 | UCI Europe Tour | {{flagathlete|{{sortname|Joost|Posthuma}}|NED}} | {{AUT}} | Podersdorf am Neusiedler See |
| {{dts | July|10}} | Tour of Austria, Stage 8 | UCI Europe Tour | {{flagathlete|{{sortname| Graeme|Brown}}|AUS}} | {{AUT}} | Vienna |
| {{dts | August|6}} | Tour de Pologne, Stage 6 | UCI ProTour | {{flagathlete|{{sortname|Bauke|Mollema}}|NED}} | {{POL}} | Terma Bukowina Tatrz |
| {{dts | August|20}} | Eneco Tour, Stage 3 | UCI ProTour | {{flagathlete|{{sortname|Koos|Moerenhout}}|NED}} | {{BEL}} | Ronse |
| {{dts | August|20}} | Tour du Limousin, Youth classification | UCI Europe Tour | {{flagathlete|{{sortname|Sebastian|Langeveld}}|NED}} | {{FRA}} | |
| {{dts | August|20}} | Tour du Limousin, Teams classification | UCI Europe Tour | align="center"| The riders on the squad were Mauricio Ardila, Steven Kruijswijk, Sebastian Langeveld, Dennis van Winden, Grischa Niermann, Laurens ten Dam, Dmitry Kozontchuk and Tom Stamsnijder | {{FRA}} | |
| {{dts | September|5}} | Grote Prijs Jef Scherens | UCI Europe Tour | {{flagathlete|{{sortname|Lars|Boom}}|NED}} | {{BEL}} | Leuven |
| {{dts | September|12}} | Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal | UCI ProTour | {{flagathlete|{{sortname|Robert|Gesink}}|NED}} | {{CAN}} | Montreal |
| {{dts | September|15}} | Grand Prix de Wallonie | UCI Europe Tour | {{flagathlete|{{sortname|Paul|Martens}}|GER}} | {{BEL}} | Namur |
| {{dts | October|9}} | Giro dell'Emilia | UCI Europe Tour | {{flagathlete|{{sortname|Robert|Gesink}}|NED}} | {{ITA}} | San Luca |
| {{dts | October|10}} | Paris–Tours | UCI Europe Tour | {{flagathlete|{{sortname|Óscar|Freire}}|ESP}} | {{FRA}} | Tours |
Footnotes
{{Reflist|group=N}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Rabobank seasons|state=collapsed}}
{{2010 road cycling season by team}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rabobank 2010}}