Tamijo wrote:
Nice, in a very strong crowd

sutty68 wrote:
A nice top ten to start the classics season

DiCyc wrote:
Edoardo and Diego had a great race

Next up is La Doyenne, 253k from Liège to Bastogne and back to Ans, with renowned hills such as La Redoute, La Roche-aux-Faucons and La Côte de Saint-Nicolas before taking the last uphill sector towards the finish in Ans.

Without three-time winner Daniel Martin, who won the 2 previous editions, all eyes are on the Etixx duo Gilbert-Alaphilippe and Flèche winner Wellens.



Favourites are still together at La Redoute and are clearly waiting for someone else to attack. This waiting lasts until the Côte de Saint-Nicolas, where a small group breaks clear: Gilbert, Alaphilippe, Sérgio Henao, Aru, Adam Yates, Costa, Fuglsang and Rolland have a small gap at first, but Intxausti has to chase them down himself. The chrono says 40".



All of a sudden, the gap seems to be getting smaller. Just before the flamme rouge, Intxausti joins the group at the front, where co-operation has completely disappeared. But who's gonna take it?

AbhishekLFC wrote:
Caja Rujal are having one hell of a year so far

miguejack wrote:
Massive win by Intx!

cunego59 wrote:
Wow, that's a massive result, congrats! I always struggle on the hilly classics, currently facing them in my first year with Lampre. Would be more than happy to even come close to your performances

sutty68 wrote:
What a Great result for Beñat Intxausti and the Team

Shonak wrote:
Gratz, great win for Intxausti and the team.

First we're headed to northwestern Spain for 2 flat and one slightly uphill sprinter stages. Without Barbero, last year's winner, Ochoa's looking for a good GC finish but he's still feeling the afterpains of a very tough LBL.

He manages to achieve a top 10 in the GC nonetheless, while the overal win goes to Norway and Roompot's Odd Christian Eiking, the first non-Spaniard winning since 2009. We missed our top-5 GC sponsor goal, but they probably won't be too disappointed after our triumph back in the Ardennes.

In the colder north Ochoa proves he's still got some of his good form left and that he's capable of performing in all circumstances.

In absence of Peter Sagan, winner of the 2015 and 2016 editions, another 'climbing sprinter' takes the GC. Michael Matthews wins it Sagan-style: without a single stage win. Ochoa is outsprinted by Ion Izagirre for the queen stage win, being Zabel'd as well. Still a good result finishing 3rd in the GC and bringing the white jersey back to the Iberian peninsula.

In late June, Intxausti is picking up racing coming out of a well-deserved break after his moment de gloire in La Doyenne. After a solid opening TT, limiting the time loss to 14", he suffers in the mountain stage.

His only preparation race for the NC's ends with him collecting the ultimate top-10 spot in the GC, 2 places ahead of team mate Ruben Guerreiro.

miguejack wrote:
Intx suffered. Let's hope he's OK in NC!

Tamijo wrote:
Some fine results, a great podium, and top 10s in the other races.

sutty68 wrote:
Diego looks like he has some good form at the moment

MothBones wrote:
Magnificent results in the early WT races, Intxausti will be delighted he signed for you. You must be in with a shout for promotion after winning LBL?

Kiserlovski01 wrote:
Things look quite good but we definitely need some reinforcement for the WT, especially for cobbled races and sprints.