The racing in Austria kicks off with a 158 kilometer stage consisting of five laps containing a tough hill in Innsbruck.
Stage favourites are Levarlet Bibby Hoogerland
according to the bookmakers.
Luckily for the riders lining up in the beautiful city in Tirol, the weather is excellent. No wind to speak about and a perfect day for cycling.
Right from the start there are attacks, as predicted due to the race starting with the big climb. Cimolai Viennet Barclay Khalmutarov
are the four riders being able to gap the peloton 7 kilomeeters into the stage. Though, their lead is only 30 seconds back to the peloton.
The first of three intermediate sprints comes 133 kilometers away from home, and it’s Cimolai
edging Barclay
for the three bonus seconds. It also looks like the four riders mentioned as the early attackers will form today’s breakaway as they lead the peloton with two minutes now.
Quite surprisingly it’s the big Frenchman Viennet
who outsprints the other three for the first five mountain points 114 kilometers from the finishing line. He times his attack perfect and gets the better of Khalmutarov
who must settle for second. They’re now a healthy 4’40 ahead of the bunch.
Cimolai
repeats his win at the intermediate sprint when he claims another three bonus seconds ahead of Barclay
with 103 kilometers to go. Their lead is still on the rise, as they are now six minutes in front of the peloton. Will we see the breakaway run away with the glory today?
National champion Anguilet
misjudges a tricky corner at the start of the descent with 109 kilometers left and finds himself at the back on the asphalt. Luckily he’s quickly back in the peloton.
As the peloton approach the climb for the third time today it’s LukOil-Rostelekom
showing themselves at the front. They’ve brought two strong climbers in Iglinski V. Efimkin
and they must fancy their chances in such a tough stage race.
Viennet
makes another perfect jump for another five mountain points 84 kilometers away from home. Though, it isn’t looking too good for the breakaway now as the peloton has picked up the pace. They’re only 5’20 ahead.
The peloton splits when climbing for the third time today. Stage favourite Levarlet
are one of the riders caught behind. In total 40 riders have not been able to keep up with the pace.
Danielson Ortega
are the two riders with biggest overall ambitions caught behind.
But most of them are able to come back as Swedbank-PEAB
continues the chase with 68 kilometers to go. Though, the breakaway riders are fighting well, as they still lead the peloton by five minutes.
When climbing the hill for the penultimate time Swedbank-PEAB
forces 26 riders to let go. The biggest names left behind are Ortega Raisin Hasanovic Piamonte
Barclay
finally proves himself as the best sprinter in the breakaway as he edges Cimolai
for the six sprint points 41 kilometers from the finishing line. Though, the high pace back in the bunch sees them only 2’50 ahead of the peloton.
With 32 kilometers to go it’s action back in the peloton on the flat before the final time climbing the hill. It’s Dahlberg
launching a strong attack. He’s followed by Morabito Eibegger Huzarski Lejman
As they cross the finish line with 29 kilometers left and hear the clock ring, Eltink
has been able to bridge the gap to Huzarski Lejman
Dahlberg Morabito
have gapped the other attackers as Eibegger
finds himself behind the duo, but ahead of the chasing trio.
The six attackers start the climb with a nice advantage of 1’23 back to the peloton! This could be a tactical masterpiece by them as they are only 50 seconds behind the breakaway 26 kilometers away from home and with 4.2 kilometers left of the climb.
The pace is incredible the final time climbing today as Vueling Airlines
has picked up the pace to try to win the stage with Schreurs
Only 34 riders are able to follow, and several of the overall contenders have been dropped with 23 kilometers left. It’s a disaster for Cataldo Scarponi Kolesnikov Niemiec Rohregger Vasquez
All of them have been gapped.
One kilometer from the top of the climb Cherel
attacks from the bunch in pursuit of the earlier attackers. He quickly gets 30 seconds back to the chasers.
Khalmutarov
wins the final mountain sprint with 22 kilometers to go.
Viennet
follows in second, which means the Frenchman will wear the mountain jersey tomorrow. Just before they attacked for the points they were caught by the group of six and Cherel.
They’re only 50 seconds ahead of the peloton.
And with 17 kilometers left, just before the riders start to descend, Fuglsang Quintana
catch all attackers meaning we have 38 riders fighting for the stage win.
Lejman
isn’t done for the day though, and goes again only 11 kilometers from the line! No one immediately follows as Teklehaimanot
picks up the chase.
The Polish rider gets a lead of 20 seconds, but Anderson
decides he’s having none of it and attacks clear of the bunch 7.500 meters from the line in pursuit of Lejman
Though, both of them are caught a kilometer later, and Acevedo
decides it’s a good time to make a counterattack!
He keeps a 20 seconds lead with only five kilometers to go as several riders decide they can’t wait anymore and attack to join Acevedo
The riders attacking are Eibegger Zakarin Schreurs Cherel Bibby Anderson Kunshin Der
But they’re not able to make the catch as Acevedo
thunders away and increases his lead to 28 seconds with 3.500 meters left!
Zakarin
has another dig with 2.7 kilometers to go, and he’s followed by pretty much the whole peloton.
Anderson Der Pakthusov
follow closest.
Zakarin’s
attack makes the catch! Acevedo
is caught only 1.800 meters away from the line, meaning 37 riders will decide who wins the opening stage here in Innsbruck.
Lejman
has the legs for another attack as he comes from behind and storms past them all 1.500 meters from the finishing line! He gets the inside of a corner and goes straight into the lead!
But as the riders go under a bridge with 700 meters to go Lejman
seems just about done as he’s barely going forward anymore!
The road kicks up again in the final 300 meters as Acevedo Zakarin Schrangl
leads the race for the win!
Just behind follow Vrecer Anderson Der Pakthusov Lejman Lahsaini Teklehaimanot Schreurs
Schrangl
pips Acevedo
on the line for an unexpected win here in Austria!
Der
rounds off the podium with Anderson Zakarin Lahsaini Teklehaimanot Pakthusov Vrecer Schreurs
following for the other top 10 placings.
You must say it was a disappointing sprint by stage favourite Schreurs
But he was poorly placed when the sprint started and never found space to launch his bid for the stage win.
It couldn’t be much better for the Austrians here in Innsbruck as home hero Schrangl
gets to wear the yellow jersey!
It’s an absolute nightmare for Bouygues Telecom
as their captain Suaza
crashes in the final five kilometers. He was in the bunch before his crash, but now he’s passed by several groups and will lose a lot of time as he has stopped racing hard as well.
Niemiec
leads home a group two minutes behind the stage winner. Several riders with overall ambitions are here with Kolesnikov Scarponi Cataldo Rohregger
all can be found here.
Suaza
crosses the line more than six minutes behind Schrangl, and he has most likely lost all his chances for an overall podium here on the opening day.
