With April approaching, we were really getting into the thick of the action as far as the season is concerned. I've been doing well, a lot better than I expected in fact. I have the team to thank too, with them giving me a lot of freedom to express myself.
In April, I'll be heading back to Spain with the team to race in the Basque country and round it off with a couple pf outing in the Ardennes classics. A lot to look forward to.
Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco
Meintjes led the team and I was given the freedom once again to look after myself and pursue my own interests.
I decided to change things up by going into the break in Stage 1. It was just the two of us in the break. Of the three climbs on the stage, I won the first and the third and took second place in the other. We were caught with 65 km to go. There were more attacks from the pack but they didn't last long. The favourites started attacking as the end approached and I didn't have the energy to follow or chase. Meintjes too struggled to keep pace and finished in the third group on the road while I finished a further group down. Kwiatkowski won the stage in a three way sprint ahead of Alaphilippe and Kelderman. Not a good start for us. I did have the KOM jersey to show at the end of the stage.
Stage 2 and I joined the break after the third climb of the day. We were caught soon after. I did have the strength to attack again on the fourth climb and take the KOM points. Gilbert and Vuillermoz attacked from the group and sped away. I could not keep up with the pace and dropped out of the lead group and went on to lose a minute. Meintjes did finish in the lead group which just caught the two attackers on the line. It wasn't enough to prevent Vuillermoz from taking the win ahead of Gilbert, a good result for us.
Stage 3's finish was similar to the last but there was no attack from a long way out. This time, it was Meintjes who couldn't keep up with with the pace and lost time. I hung on to the lead group and finished just outside the top 10. Wellens won the stage.
Having lost a lot of time in the previous stages, Nibali, Contador and Zakarin joined up with the breakaway on Stage 4. I couldn't missed the chance of riding shoulder to shoulder with them and joined the break too. Through the course of the race I lost out on the KOM jersey, not being strong enough to take any points. We were caught by the pack with 35 km to go. The pack was already reduced by this time and kept getting smaller as the stage went on. Kelderman and Rui Costa contested the sprint for the win, with the Dutchman taking it on the line. I did well to hang on to 9th, despite losing more than 2 minutes. I did move up from 3rd to 1st in the U25 standings.
(Wearing the KOM jersey on Stage 4)
I joined the break again on Stage 5, this time with Kangert and Sepulveda. With 100 km, I was the leader of the GC on the road! This however did not last long as the peloton started picking up the pace. We were caught with 30 km to go. I managed to hang on to the lead group and lost no time on this stage.
Stage 6 was the customary ITT to end Pais Vasco. I was 3 seconds off the pace when I passed the first checkpoint and 6 seconds off at the finish. There were fifteen more riders who started after me and I ended up in 7th place by the time the last of them completed, a whole minute down on Kwiatkowski's winning time, but only 18 seconds off second place.
General Classification
1
Wilco Kelderman
Team Giant-Alpecin
21h50'53
2
Michal Kwiatkowski
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 36
3
Julian Alaphilippe
Stella Artois
+ 1'45
4
Simon Yates
Astana Pro Team
+ 3'18
5
Diego Ulissi
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 3'40
6
Mikel Landa
Team Katusha
+ 4'31
7
Tom Dumoulin
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 4'38
8
Simon Spilak
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
9
Carlos Betancur
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 4'45
10
Tim Wellens
ESPN
+ 4'58
Spoiler
11
Sérgio Henao
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 5'41
12
Alexis Vuillermoz
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 5'51
13
Joaquím Rodríguez
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 6'18
14
Rui Costa
IAM Cycling
+ 6'44
15
Abhishek Sinha
Lotto Soudal
+ 6'50
16
Tanel Kangert
ESPN
+ 7'40
17
Ilnur Zakarin
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 7'52
18
Adam Yates
Team Sky
+ 7'57
19
Louis Meintjes
Lotto Soudal
+ 8'00
20
Pierre Rolland
Team Sky
+ 8'25
21
Chris Froome
Team Sky
+ 8'58
22
Fabio Aru
Astana Pro Team
+ 9'10
23
Warren Barguil
Stella Artois
+ 9'30
24
Alberto Contador
Astana Pro Team
+ 10'06
25
Matej Mohoric
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 10'41
26
Daniel Martin
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 10'44
27
Bob Jungels
Team Sky
+ 10'53
28
Tejay Van Garderen
Stella Artois
+ 11'29
29
Gorka Izagirre
IAM Cycling
+ 11'44
30
Roman Kreuziger
Astana Pro Team
+ 11'59
31
Romain Bardet
Astana Pro Team
+ 12'37
32
Anastasio Ania
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 12'50
33
Eduardo Sepulveda
Team Sky
+ 12'57
34
Wout Poels
Astana Pro Team
+ 13'35
35
Tony Gallopin
Stella Artois
+ 16'33
36
Julian Arredondo
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 16'39
37
Carlos Barbero
TEAM Cepsa
+ 19'16
38
Davide Formolo
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 20'47
39
Sebastian Henao
Colombia
+ 21'19
40
Jan Barta
ESPN
+ 22'03
41
Michael Matthews
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 22'32
42
Tom Slagter
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 23'15
43
Merhawi Kudus
Bora - Argon 18
+ 23'59
44
Rafal Majka
Team Sky
+ 24'23
45
Javier Moreno
TEAM Cepsa
+ 25'41
46
Aurélien Paret-Peintre
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 26'00
47
Zico Waeytens
Stella Artois
+ 26'08
48
Moreno Moser
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 26'28
49
Marcos García
TEAM Cepsa
+ 26'40
50
Tony Martin
Stella Artois
+ 26'59
51
Egor Silin
Team Katusha
+ 27'32
52
Lawson Craddock
ESPN
+ 27'43
53
Juan José Lobato
TEAM Cepsa
+ 28'14
54
Peter Kennaugh
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 29'27
55
Cameron Meyer
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 29'40
56
Peter Velits
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 29'47
57
Alejandro Valverde
Team Katusha
+ 30'09
58
Philippe Gilbert
Lotto Soudal
+ 30'28
59
Arnaud Duteil
Team Europcar
+ 30'46
60
Ian Boswell
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 31'40
61
Vincenzo Nibali
Team Sky
+ 31'56
62
Petr Vakoc
Iberdrola
+ 32'10
63
Edward Ravasi
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 32'34
64
Alvaro Cuadros
Team Katusha
+ 32'49
65
Loïc Vliegen
Lotto Soudal
+ 34'19
66
Emanuel Buchmann
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 34'56
67
Dylan van Baarle
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 35'54
68
Kenny Elissonde
Team Europcar
+ 37'17
69
Michael Schär
IAM Cycling
+ 37'19
70
Jonas Bokeloh
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 42'02
71
George Preidler
IAM Cycling
+ 42'06
72
Jesús Herrada
TEAM Cepsa
+ 42'13
73
Richie Porte
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 42'37
74
Daniel Moreno
Team Katusha
+ 43'18
75
Diego Rubio
Iberdrola
+ 43'27
76
Gianni Moscon
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 43'29
77
Winner Anacona
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 44'50
78
Gregorio Ibañez
Stella Artois
+ 45'56
79
Magnus Cort Nielsen
Bora - Argon 18
+ 46'13
80
Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 46'30
81
Romain Combaud
Team Europcar
+ 46'40
82
Gorka Ceballos
Iberdrola
+ 47'07
83
Miguel Angel Benito
TEAM Cepsa
+ 47'18
84
Davide Martinelli
ESPN
+ 49'41
85
Caleb Ewan
Team Katusha
+ 50'04
86
Lukas Löer
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 50'50
87
Garikoitz Bravo
Iberdrola
+ 51'55
88
Wouter Wippert
IAM Cycling
+ 51'59
89
Gerald Ciolek
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 52'05
90
Christophe Laporte
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 52'27
91
Salvatore Puccio
Astana Pro Team
+ 52'32
92
Marcel Wyss
IAM Cycling
+ 53'59
93
Josip Rumac
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 54'06
94
Rick Zabel
TEAM Pirelli
+ 54'15
95
Daniel Eaton
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 56'28
96
Taylor Phinney
Team Sky
+ 57'17
97
Jaime Castañeda
Colombia
+ 57'20
98
Lilian Calmejane
Team Europcar
+ 59'19
99
Jeppe Lykke Hartvig Nielsen
IAM Cycling
+ 59'51
100
Michael Vink
Team Europcar
+ 1h00'31
101
Fabien Grellier
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 1h01'36
102
Alberto Gallego
Iberdrola
+ 1h01'42
103
Boris Vallée
Stella Artois
+ 1h01'50
104
Koen De Kort
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 1h03'06
105
Fabio Sabatini
TEAM Pirelli
+ 1h03'13
106
Timo Roosen
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 1h03'45
107
Vincent Jérôme
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 1h03'54
108
Sven Erik Bystrøm
IAM Cycling
+ 1h04'24
109
Christian Koch
Bora - Argon 18
+ 1h05'03
110
Simone Consonni
TEAM Pirelli
+ 1h05'17
111
Raymond Kreder
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 1h05'43
112
Jonas Koch
Bora - Argon 18
+ 1h05'44
113
Jurgen van Diemen
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 1h09'59
114
Cristiano Salerno
TEAM Cepsa
+ 1h10'07
115
Marco Haller
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 1h10'31
116
Logan Owen
ESPN
+ 1h10'33
117
Davide Plebani
TEAM Pirelli
+ 1h12'14
118
Víctor de la Parte
TEAM Cepsa
+ 1h12'50
119
Pim Ligthart
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 1h12'59
120
Milan Veltman
TEAM Pirelli
+ 1h13'09
121
Romain Matheou
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 1h13'52
122
Ramon Sinkeldam
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
123
Mateusz Nowak
Colombia
+ 1h14'04
124
Rafal Palik
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 1h16'28
125
Marco Tizza
Colombia
+ 1h17'35
126
Lucas Liss
Bora - Argon 18
+ 1h18'00
127
Jan Brockhoff
Bora - Argon 18
+ 1h18'29
128
Maximilian Schachmann
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 1h21'14
129
Brenton Jones
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 1h21'33
130
Angelo Tulik
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 1h22'19
131
Georgios Bouglas
Iberdrola
+ 1h23'39
132
Aser Estévez
Iberdrola
+ 1h25'45
133
Frederique Robert
Lotto Soudal
+ 1h26'52
134
Hayato Yoshida
Colombia
+ 1h29'08
135
Yonas Tekeste
Colombia
+ 1h29'38
136
Tim Kerkhof
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 1h31'48
137
Tim Merlier
Lotto Soudal
+ 1h32'13
138
Mitchell Docker
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 1h32'37
139
Francesco Lasca
TEAM Pirelli
+ 1h33'02
140
Konrad Pister
Bora - Argon 18
+ 1h33'09
141
Florian Maître
Team Europcar
+ 1h40'13
142
Johann Van Zyl
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 1h42'38
143
Anton Vorobyev
Team Katusha
+ 1h44'42
144
Lennard Kämna
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 1h45'07
145
Lukas Spengler
ESPN
+ 1h49'08
146
Salvador Moreno
Colombia
+ 1h51'26
147
James Shaw
TEAM Pirelli
+ 1h54'24
148
Romain Bacon
Team Europcar
+ 1h54'58
149
Steve Chainel
Team Europcar
+ 2h04'16
150
Daniel Klemme
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 2h08'23
151
Michael Van Staeyen
Lotto Soudal
+ 2h08'25
152
Fariji Tahar
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 2h20'02
153
Jimmy Duquennoy
Lotto Soudal
+ 2h27'34
Points Classification
1
Michal Kwiatkowski
Team Cannondale - Garmin
77
2
Julian Alaphilippe
Stella Artois
75
3
Wilco Kelderman
Team Giant-Alpecin
72
4
Diego Ulissi
Tinkoff-Saxo
59
5
Tim Wellens
ESPN
46
Mountain Classification
1
Tanel Kangert
ESPN
51
2
Abhishek Sinha
Lotto Soudal
40
3
Alberto Contador
Astana Pro Team
22
4
Ilnur Zakarin
Tinkoff-Saxo
21
5
Egor Silin
Team Katusha
21
Young Riders Classification
1
Abhishek Sinha
Lotto Soudal
21h57'43
2
Matej Mohoric
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 3'51
3
Anastasio Ania
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 6'00
4
Sebastian Henao
Colombia
+ 14'29
5
Merhawi Kudus
Bora - Argon 18
+ 17'09
Team Classification
1
Tinkoff-Saxo
65h44'55
2
Stella Artois
+ 3'59
3
Team Sky
+ 5'46
4
Astana Pro Team
+ 6'36
5
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 13'59
After a string of good results, a bit of an off race here for me. I did come away with the U25s win and 2nd place in the KOM. A top 15 is not too bad, but after the huge highs in France in March, I've perhaps set the bar a little too high for myself. The team struggled too and Meintjes was not able to challenge for the GC.
Ardennes week up next and its something I've been looking forward to from the start of the season.
By the end of March, it was confirmed that I'll be on the startlist for Liege-Bastogne-Liege. How much would I take part in the rest of the week was a question that was left unanswered. After returning from the Basque country, I took the decision not to start in Amstel Gold Race, to better prepare for the rest of the week. So my first outing in Ardennes this year would be La Fleche.
La Fleche Wallone
I was given a free role again, I decided not to try to get into the breakaway. Instead, I hoped that there would be opportunities to attack later on in the race. The peloton kept a fast pace beyond the half-way point of the race, chasing down the break with enough time for riders to think about attacking from a long way out. And that's exactly what happened. Six riders - Kelderman, Alaphilippe, Kwiatkowski, Kreuziger, Ania and Dan Martin - got away from the pack with 20 odd kilometres left and never looked back. The group was whittled down to 4 as Ania and Kreuziger were dropped inside the last 10 kilometres. I didn't have the legs to challenge for the top 15 and had to settle for 19th place. Dan Martin won the four-way sprint.
1
Daniel Martin
Tinkoff-Saxo
4h36'21
2
Michal Kwiatkowski
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
3
Julian Alaphilippe
Stella Artois
s.t.
4
Wilco Kelderman
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
5
Anastasio Ania
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 1'43
6
Roman Kreuziger
Astana Pro Team
+ 2'03
7
Sérgio Henao
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 2'20
8
Rui Costa
IAM Cycling
s.t.
9
Diego Ulissi
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 2'37
10
Wout Poels
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Tony Gallopin
Stella Artois
+ 2'47
12
Simon Yates
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
13
Alexis Vuillermoz
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
14
Mathieu van der Poel
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 3'20
15
Tim Wellens
ESPN
+ 4'47
16
Andrew Talansky
Team Sky
+ 4'56
17
Michal Paluta
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
s.t.
18
Stefano Pirazzi
ESPN
s.t.
19
Abhishek Sinha
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
20
Carlos Betancur
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
21
Domenico Pozzovivo
TEAM Pirelli
+ 5'20
22
Joaquím Rodríguez
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 5'32
23
Warren Barguil
Stella Artois
s.t.
24
Bart De Clercq
Stella Artois
s.t.
25
Rafal Majka
Team Sky
s.t.
26
Tejay Van Garderen
Stella Artois
s.t.
27
Sindre Lunke
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
28
Dayer Quintana
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
s.t.
29
Moreno Moser
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
30
Arnaud Duteil
Team Europcar
s.t.
31
Antoine Lavieu
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
s.t.
32
Tom Dumoulin
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
33
Sebastian Henao
Colombia
s.t.
34
Gorka Izagirre
IAM Cycling
s.t.
35
Romain Bardet
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
36
Simon Spilak
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
37
Davide Formolo
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
38
Vincenzo Nibali
Team Sky
s.t.
39
Jarlinson Pantano
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
40
Bauke Mollema
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
41
Peter Kennaugh
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
42
Ian Boswell
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 6'53
43
Richie Porte
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 7'18
44
Bob Jungels
Team Sky
s.t.
45
Jelle Vanendert
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
46
Edward Ravasi
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
47
Ivan Santaromita
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
48
Kristijan Durasek
IAM Cycling
s.t.
49
Heiner Parra
Drapac Professional Cycling
s.t.
50
Diego Rosa
TEAM Cepsa
s.t.
51
Ilya Koshevoy
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
52
Dylan Teuns
ESPN
s.t.
53
George Preidler
IAM Cycling
s.t.
54
Yannick Eijssen
Stella Artois
s.t.
55
Sam Oomen
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
56
Ion Izagirre
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 8'01
57
Mattia Cattaneo
TEAM Cepsa
s.t.
58
Merhawi Kudus
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
59
Jan Hirt
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
60
Huub Duyn
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
61
Arvid Melchiot
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
62
Gregor Mühlberger
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
63
Tony Martin
Stella Artois
s.t.
64
Benjamin Brkic
TEAM Pirelli
+ 8'58
65
Yury Trofimov
Alcatel
s.t.
66
Tao Geoghegan Hart
Team Sky
s.t.
67
Sébastien Reichenbach
IAM Cycling
s.t.
68
Kenny Elissonde
Team Europcar
s.t.
69
Brian Bulgac
IAM Cycling
s.t.
70
Louis Meintjes
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
71
Sergey Nikolaev
Drapac Professional Cycling
s.t.
72
Steven Kruijswijk
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
73
Yoann Bagot
Team Europcar
s.t.
74
Eduardo Sepulveda
Team Sky
s.t.
75
Koen De Kort
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 9'50
76
Laurens De Plus
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
+ 10'06
77
Beñat Intxausti
TEAM Cepsa
s.t.
78
Valerio Agnoli
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
79
Egor Silin
Team Katusha
s.t.
80
Pieter Jacobs
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
81
Jacques Janse Van Rensburg
Drapac Professional Cycling
s.t.
82
Emanuel Buchmann
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
83
Philippe Gilbert
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
84
Daniel Moreno
Team Katusha
s.t.
85
Peter Velits
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
86
Eduard Beltran
Colombia
s.t.
87
Sven Erik Bystrøm
IAM Cycling
s.t.
88
Floris De Tier
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
89
José Ramella
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
90
Cameron Meyer
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
91
Gianfranco Zilioli
TEAM Pirelli
s.t.
92
Miguel Rubiano
TEAM Cepsa
s.t.
93
Jérémy Maison
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
94
Hugh Carthy
Team Sky
s.t.
95
Maciej Paterski
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
96
Carlos Ribeiro
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
97
Serghei Tvetcov
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
98
Kevin Ledanois
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
99
Lawson Craddock
ESPN
s.t.
100
Léo Vincent
Cyanide
s.t.
101
Nicolas Edet
Cyanide
s.t.
102
Alexander Geuens
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
103
Graham Traino
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
104
Alfredo Balloni
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
105
Arnold Jeannesson
Cyanide
s.t.
106
Winner Anacona
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 11'49
107
Anatoliy Budyak
Drapac Professional Cycling
s.t.
108
Lorenzo Rota
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
109
Francis De Greef
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
110
Patrick Facchini
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 12'06
111
Magnus Cort Nielsen
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
112
Fabio Duarte
Colombia
s.t.
113
Clément Chevrier
Alcatel
s.t.
114
Steff Cras
ESPN
+ 12'23
115
Badu Obasanjo
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
116
Josip Rumac
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
117
Yannick Martinez
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
s.t.
118
Pedro Bras
Team Joker
s.t.
119
Aurélien Paret-Peintre
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
120
Bernardo Suaza
Drapac Professional Cycling
s.t.
121
Alvaro Cuadros
Team Katusha
s.t.
122
Tiago Machado
TEAM Pirelli
s.t.
123
Eddie Dunbar
Team Katusha
s.t.
124
Simon Clarke
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
125
Kevin Pauwels
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
126
Manuele Boaro
Team Katusha
s.t.
127
Óscar González
TEAM Cepsa
s.t.
128
Leonardo Pinizzotto
Team Joker
s.t.
129
Jeppe Lykke Hartvig Nielsen
IAM Cycling
s.t.
130
Lars Petter Nordhaug
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
s.t.
131
Nikolay Mihaylov
TEAM Pirelli
s.t.
132
Larry Warbasse
Team Sky
s.t.
133
Salvador Moreno
Colombia
s.t.
134
Kristian Aasvold
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
135
Miguel Angel Benito
TEAM Cepsa
s.t.
136
Quentin Pacher
Alcatel
s.t.
137
Lennard Kämna
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
138
Muhamad Othman
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
s.t.
139
Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
140
Markus Hoelgaard
Team Joker
s.t.
141
Gerald Ciolek
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
142
Arnaud Courteille
Cyanide
s.t.
143
Emilien Viennet
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
144
Jordi Simón
Team Katusha
s.t.
145
Rudy Molard
Cyanide
s.t.
146
Gregorio Ibañez
Stella Artois
s.t.
147
Michael Hepburn
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
148
Tanel Kangert
ESPN
s.t.
149
Simon Raffin
Team Europcar
s.t.
150
Kahled Zitouni
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
s.t.
151
Patrick Bevin
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
152
Finn E. Rosenkilde
Team Europcar
s.t.
153
Jean Küpper
Team Europcar
s.t.
154
Jack Bobridge
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 14'03
155
Alex Peters
Team Joker
+ 15'00
156
Simone Stortoni
TEAM Pirelli
s.t.
157
Dylan Girdlestone
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
158
Paul Voss
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
159
Olaf Buekens
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
160
Rein Taaramäe
Team Katusha
s.t.
161
Guillaume Bonnafond
Alcatel
s.t.
162
Bernard Thiel
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
163
Koen Bouwman
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
164
Bert-Jan Lindeman
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 15'39
165
Kevyn Ista
ESPN
+ 16'02
166
Jan Bakelants
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
+ 16'30
167
Jean-Christophe Peraud
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
168
Marlon Gaillard
Alcatel
s.t.
169
Xabier Martínez Madrigal
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
s.t.
170
Rémy Rochas
Alcatel
s.t.
171
Frederik Backaert
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
172
Nathan Haas
Team Joker
s.t.
173
Clément Venturini
Team Europcar
s.t.
174
Ben Dyball
Drapac Professional Cycling
s.t.
175
Gediminas Bagdonas
Team Joker
s.t.
176
Romain Hardy
Cyanide
s.t.
177
Boy Van Poppel
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 17'16
178
Damien Monier
Team Europcar
s.t.
179
John Ebsen
Alcatel
+ 18'04
180
Davide Plebani
TEAM Pirelli
s.t.
181
Beñat Txoperena
Team Katusha
s.t.
182
Hugo Pigeon
Cyanide
+ 19'02
183
Abel Kenyeres
Drapac Professional Cycling
s.t.
184
Antonio Dubois
Colombia
s.t.
185
Milan Veltman
TEAM Pirelli
s.t.
186
David Belda
TEAM Cepsa
+ 19'18
187
Jefferson Reátegui
Colombia
s.t.
188
Maxime Cam
Cyanide
+ 19'27
189
Lucas Gaday
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
190
Christian Koch
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
191
Louis Convens
ESPN
s.t.
192
Marco Tizza
Colombia
+ 20'26
193
Patrick Gretsch
TEAM Cepsa
+ 20'40
194
Oliver Karjalainen
Team Joker
s.t.
195
Jérémy Roy
Alcatel
+ 21'14
196
Carlos Quintero
Colombia
+ 22'33
197
Bjørn Vidar Riseth
Team Joker
s.t.
198
Dieter Markaï
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
Liege - Bastogne - Liege
Three days later, I put the mediocre performance in La Fleche behind to concentrate, and enjoy, my first outing in this legendary race. Again, I stayed away from the break but this time it perhaps wasn't the best decision. I struggled as the pack picked up pace beyond the mid-way stage, hanging to its tail for some time before losing touch for good. I would finish more than 10 minutes after the lead group. Talking of the latter group, ten riders would distance the rest and contest the sprint at the finish. Three teams had two riders - Giant, Tinkoff and Orica - and were the favourites to have one of their riders take the win. And true to predictions, it was Mathieu van der Poel of Giant pipping Betancur at the line to win LBL. Kreuziger took the last podium place. Meintjes in 16th was our best, finishing more than 2 minutes down on van der Poel. 68th place for me.
1
Mathieu van der Poel
Team Giant-Alpecin
6h47'37
2
Carlos Betancur
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
3
Roman Kreuziger
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
4
Tim Wellens
ESPN
s.t.
5
Wilco Kelderman
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
6
Simon Spilak
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
7
Daniel Martin
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
8
Fabio Aru
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
9
Rui Costa
IAM Cycling
s.t.
10
Bauke Mollema
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Michal Kwiatkowski
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 35
12
Joaquím Rodríguez
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
13
Anastasio Ania
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 56
14
Simon Yates
Astana Pro Team
+ 1'16
15
Ion Izagirre
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
16
Louis Meintjes
Lotto Soudal
+ 2'11
17
Andrew Talansky
Team Sky
+ 3'05
18
Sérgio Henao
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
19
Steven Kruijswijk
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
20
Odd Christian Eiking
Team Joker
s.t.
21
George Preidler
IAM Cycling
s.t.
22
Marcel Wyss
IAM Cycling
+ 4'19
23
Sam Oomen
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
24
Tony Gallopin
Stella Artois
s.t.
25
Winner Anacona
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 5'14
26
Wout Poels
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
27
Miguel Angel Lopez
Stella Artois
s.t.
28
Philippe Gilbert
Lotto Soudal
+ 6'05
29
Rafal Majka
Team Sky
s.t.
30
Tejay Van Garderen
Stella Artois
+ 6'28
31
Jan Polanc
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
32
Evgeny Shalunov
Team Katusha
s.t.
33
Jarlinson Pantano
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
34
Dylan Teuns
ESPN
s.t.
35
Jan Hirt
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
36
Peter Kennaugh
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
37
Alejandro Valverde
Team Katusha
s.t.
38
Julian Alaphilippe
Stella Artois
s.t.
39
Tiago Machado
TEAM Pirelli
s.t.
40
Matej Mohoric
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
41
Egor Silin
Team Katusha
s.t.
42
Sebastian Henao
Colombia
s.t.
43
Vincenzo Nibali
Team Sky
s.t.
44
Tom Dumoulin
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
45
Diego Ulissi
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
46
Yury Trofimov
Alcatel
s.t.
47
Romain Bardet
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
48
Magnus Cort Nielsen
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
49
Lachlan Morton
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
50
Petr Vakoc
Iberdrola
s.t.
51
Davide Formolo
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
52
Alex Peters
Team Joker
s.t.
53
Tanel Kangert
ESPN
s.t.
54
Francis De Greef
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
55
Nathan Haas
Team Joker
s.t.
56
Emanuel Buchmann
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
57
Sondre Holst Enger
Team Joker
s.t.
58
Yonas Tekeste
Colombia
s.t.
59
Tao Geoghegan Hart
Team Sky
s.t.
60
Simon Raffin
Team Europcar
+ 8'33
61
Hugh Carthy
Team Sky
s.t.
62
Steff Cras
ESPN
s.t.
63
Ben Hermans
Stella Artois
+ 9'44
64
Jelle Vanendert
Lotto Soudal
+ 10'29
65
Eduardo Sepulveda
Team Sky
s.t.
66
Simon Geschke
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
67
Kenny Elissonde
Team Europcar
s.t.
68
Abhishek Sinha
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
69
Sebastian Schönberger
Cyanide
s.t.
70
Mattia Cattaneo
TEAM Cepsa
s.t.
71
Benjamin Brkic
TEAM Pirelli
s.t.
72
Jan Bakelants
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
73
Rein Taaramäe
Team Katusha
s.t.
74
John Ebsen
Alcatel
s.t.
75
Jan Barta
ESPN
s.t.
76
Pim Ligthart
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
77
Eddie Dunbar
Team Katusha
s.t.
78
Richie Porte
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
79
Diego Ochoa
Colombia
s.t.
80
Rafael Valls
TEAM Cepsa
s.t.
81
Eduard Beltran
Colombia
s.t.
82
Cameron Meyer
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 11'47
83
Alfredo Balloni
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
84
Clément Chevrier
Alcatel
s.t.
85
Silvan Dietrich
IAM Cycling
s.t.
86
Matteo Busato
TEAM Pirelli
s.t.
87
Dennis Vanendert
ESPN
s.t.
88
Fabio Duarte
Colombia
s.t.
89
Scott Ambrose
IAM Cycling
+ 12'42
90
Dylan Girdlestone
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
91
Arnold Jeannesson
Cyanide
s.t.
92
Léo Vincent
Cyanide
s.t.
93
Gianni Moscon
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
94
Stéphane Poulhiès
Alcatel
s.t.
95
Esteban Chaves
IAM Cycling
s.t.
96
Lawson Craddock
ESPN
s.t.
97
Jelle Wallays
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
98
Alex Dowsett
Team Sky
s.t.
99
Jonathan Castroviejo
TEAM Cepsa
s.t.
100
Yoann Bagot
Team Europcar
s.t.
101
Bakhtiyar Kozhatayev
Astana Pro Team
+ 13'51
102
Floris De Tier
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
103
José Ramella
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
104
Luis Ángel Maté
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
105
Romain Sicard
Team Europcar
+ 14'48
106
Björn Thurau
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
107
Ian Boswell
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 15'41
108
Patrick Konrad
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
109
Arthur Vichot
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
110
Hector Saez
Iberdrola
s.t.
111
Christian Livieri
TEAM Pirelli
s.t.
112
Luca Sterbini
TEAM Pirelli
s.t.
113
Simone Stortoni
TEAM Pirelli
s.t.
114
Jasper Ockeloen
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
115
Leonardo Pinizzotto
Team Joker
s.t.
116
Nicolas Edet
Cyanide
s.t.
117
Óscar González
TEAM Cepsa
s.t.
118
Floris Gerts
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
119
Laurens De Plus
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
120
Tony Martin
Stella Artois
s.t.
121
Pedro Bras
Team Joker
s.t.
122
Massimo Mogni
TEAM Pirelli
s.t.
123
Kevin Pauwels
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
124
Lars Van Der Haar
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
125
Stéphane Rossetto
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 16'23
126
Victor Lafay
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
127
Edward Theuns
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
128
Maximilian Schachmann
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
129
Merhawi Kudus
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
130
Thibaut Pinot
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 16'39
131
Goredema Dabengwa
Iberdrola
+ 17'20
132
Eros Capecchi
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
133
Mikaël Chérel
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
134
Lennard Kämna
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
135
Petr Ignatenko
Team Katusha
s.t.
136
Marc De Maar
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
137
Josip Rumac
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
138
Giovanni Carboni
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
139
Thomas Degand
Iberdrola
s.t.
140
Gianfranco Zilioli
TEAM Pirelli
s.t.
141
Warren Barguil
Stella Artois
s.t.
142
Rafal Palik
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
143
Badu Obasanjo
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
144
Anton Vorobyev
Team Katusha
s.t.
145
Neil Van Der Ploeg
Team Joker
+ 18'50
146
Víctor de la Parte
TEAM Cepsa
+ 19'55
147
Jean Küpper
Team Europcar
s.t.
148
Garikoitz Bravo
Iberdrola
s.t.
149
Daan Myngheer
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
150
Frederico Figueiredo
Iberdrola
s.t.
151
Finn E. Rosenkilde
Team Europcar
s.t.
152
Juan Chamorro
Colombia
s.t.
153
Alexis Guerin
Team Europcar
s.t.
154
Jaime Castañeda
Colombia
s.t.
155
Jan Brockhoff
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
156
Bernard Thiel
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
157
Boy Van Poppel
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
158
Salvador Moreno
Colombia
s.t.
159
Sander Armee
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
160
Johann Van Zyl
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
161
Jasper Bovenhuis
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
162
Alberto Gallego
Iberdrola
s.t.
163
Bob Jungels
Team Sky
s.t.
164
Thomas Damuseau
Alcatel
s.t.
165
Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
166
Gert-Jan Bosman
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
167
Mike Teunissen
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 22'27
168
Philip Lavery
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
169
Quentin Pacher
Alcatel
s.t.
170
Bert-Jan Lindeman
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
171
Gregorio Ibañez
Stella Artois
+ 23'01
172
Arvid Melchiot
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 23'15
173
Nicolas Baldo
Cyanide
+ 23'44
174
Dylan Van Zijl
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 25'11
175
Fredrik Galta
Iberdrola
s.t.
176
José Vicente Toribio
TEAM Cepsa
s.t.
177
Hugo Pigeon
Cyanide
s.t.
178
Rémy Rochas
Alcatel
s.t.
179
Brice Feillu
Team Europcar
s.t.
180
Rudy Barbier
Cyanide
s.t.
181
Karel Hník
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
182
Laurent Evrard
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
+ 26'45
183
Bjørn Vidar Riseth
Team Joker
s.t.
184
Alexis Vuillermoz
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
185
Rubén Pols
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
+ 28'50
186
Martijn Keizer
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 29'20
187
Robert Kiserlovski
IAM Cycling
+ 30'47
188
Marlon Gaillard
Alcatel
+ 32'09
189
Sergey Firsanov
Team Katusha
s.t.
190
Matteo Rabottini
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
191
Milan Menten
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
+ 32'28
192
Stefano Pirazzi
ESPN
+ 35'22
193
Tim Merlier
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
194
Anthony Vandrepotte
Cyanide
+ 35'58
195
David Belda
TEAM Cepsa
+ 39'07
A lot of excitement leading up to this week but the team failed to deliver any good result. Good form in the preceding six weeks had my hopes up for a good personal showing here too. However, reality checks like these come around to remind me of the hard work that is still to do in order reach the top of the cycling world.
"There is a chill in the air in Foligno as I suit up in the team paddock. I can see Meintjes talking to our Directeur Sportif Marc Sargeant. They both look quite relaxed. The rest of my teammates are spread across the paddock. Some are warming up in the stationary bikes, a couple are suiting up like me while another is talking to a couple of team managers. I'm not able to catch the conversation.
I feel a little light-headed as I get up on the practice bike for the last warm up before heading off to sign against my name in the start-list. I work up a sweat pretty soon, which takes away the numbness that the chill seemed to have brought in my arms. Nothing much is going through my head at the moment. I've been waiting a long time for this chance. It is now a question of how I go in the following three weeks..."
The two weeks leading up to the Giro were spent on numerous reconnaissance trips and rhythm building rides in some of the stage routes. The mountain routes were meticulously dissected to look for the best options for our riders. I took things in with an increased gusto, never wanting to give the impression of being daunted by the situation. I made a mental note of parts of the route which would suit me, parts of the route from where I could launch attacks, or where I could help out the team in the best way. There was palpable tension mixed with excitement in the air. Protecting Meintjes would be our main aim. The KOM jersey would be another achievable target. Individual glory would be welcome if the situation presented itself. In such a long Tour, the team managers were sure that it would.
Team Presentation
Meintjes would challenge for the GC. He would be ably supported by Bonnen and de Gendt, among others. Me and Polanc were free to look after our own interests, mainly going after the KOM points, as long as it did not come in the way of the GC goal. Cimolai was our only designated sprinter.
I was almost dropped from the peloton in the first climb itself, having not ventured into the break. I recovered well following the climb and stayed safe in the pack as they gobbled up the break and then reached the approach to the finish together. With the red kite above, I found myself at the front of the pack. Sensing a visible lull among the sprint favourites, I took the cue and attacked off the front, followed by a handful of others, including Polanc and Meintjes. We built a gap and the peloton were just a little late in reacting. Although I was caught my one of the sprinters, I still managed an incredible 5th place in my first stage in a Grand Tour! Polanc took 3rd while Meintjes came home in 7th.
(That's me on the far left sprinting to the line)
The ITT on Stage 2 saw big time gaps among the favourites. It was a bad day for Meintjes as he lost more than 2 minutes to new Pink jersey holder Bob Jungels. I lost 1'45" but wasn't too disappointed with my outing. Lotto's best was de Gendt, finishing 9th, losing 33"
Stages 3 to 6 were majorly flat stages won by sprinters in bunch sprints. Nothing much to report from my end. Cimolai finished 4th on stage 3 and 10th on stage 6, these being Lotto's best results. At this stage, I stood 4th in the U25s classification.
Stay tuned to find out about my exploits in the later stages...
Stage 7 started off badly for Lotto with Meintjes falling in the first half. He did recover, but the effects showed throughout. Coming into the last climb, nobody from our team could respond to the attack from 8 riders up ahead. I settled into E2 with Meintjes and a couple more of my teammates. Overnight leader Jungels was in this group too. I was dropped further and ended the race in the next big group, almost 6 minutes behind stage winner Tanel Kangert. Rigoberto Uran took away the Pink jersey from Jungels. Meintjes lost more than 2 minutes to Uran and now stood at 27th place in the GC.
Stage 8
I joined the break on Stage 8 with Bardin, van Baarle, Maartens and Buts. I picked up points steadily at the KOM sprints and moved up to 4th place in the standings. The break was caught 50 km from the line, on the downhill approach to the last climb. The early efforts had drained me and I could not stay with the lead pack, losing 8 minutes on the stage. Aru's 2nd place made him the new wearer of the Pink Jersey while Meintjes moved up to 17th in the GC.
Stage 9 was a flat one and Cimolai picked up 9th place for us.
The long ITT on Stage 10 wasn't a very good one for us. It started off well for me though. I passed the first intermediate time check in third place, a mere 3 seconds off the pace. By the time I reached the finish, I was down 1'41"! When the last rider crossed the line, I was more than 2 and half minutes behind the winning time of Lawson Craddock. Meintjes was more than a minute behind my time and lost a couple of positions in the GC. Aru still had the lead but it was down to a miniscule 4 seconds for Felline.
Stage 11
Not wanting to miss out on the points on offer in the KOM, I joined the 5 man break which included Landa and De Marchi. I picked up three 2nd places, 3rd and a 4th on the five KOM sprints. At 100 km, another rider joined us in the break. Only 25 km later, 4 of us from the break were caught. I stayed in the group and protected Meintjes for as long as I could. I was dropped from the lead group, down to just 30 riders now, with 30 km left. I rode alongside Arnaud Duteil, the overnight leader of the U25 classification before dropping him on the climb to the finish. Aru won the stage, Meintjes lost no time (thereby moving up to 14th in the GC) and I got to wear the KOM jersey on the stage ending podium
Current KOM Standings
1
Abhishek Sinha
Lotto Soudal
88
2
Enrico Barbin
Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
84
3
Mikel Landa
Team Katusha
66
4
Jeppe Lykke Hartvig Nielsen
IAM Cycling
66
5
Paul Martens
Southeast
42
Stage 12 was meant to be for the sprinters but Julien Vermote surprised everyone with a very late attack and snatched the win away from the sprinters.
How will the second half of the race go for me and the team? Will I be able to keep hold of the KOM jersey till the end? Stay tuned to find out...
Edited by AbhishekLFC on 20-04-2017 17:41
Stage 13 was an undulating in-between stage featuring just one categorised climb. There were just 2 riders in the break, so I took the chance to claim 3rd place and 2 points off the front of the peloton. The break was caught with about 20 km to go. U25s leader Latour was dropped from the peloton and lost more than 3 minutes on the stage. With 2.5 km to go, I attacked out of the peloton to try my luck in the slightly uphill finish. I reached the finishing straight ahead in first position but could not hold on ahead of the sprinters, settling for 5th place on the stage.
(That's how close I was again to the stage win)
Stage 14
The first MTF and having three massive climbs, this stage was gong to be tough. I joined the 9 man break with the likes of Geniez, Landa and Barbin. The break was down to four on the second climb and to go 3 after it, with only Landa and Geniez left with me. I picked up three third places in the three intermediate climbs. We were caught with 55 km to go and it all went downhill for me after that. I lost 23 minutes on this stage, as I struggled up the climb to the finish. I still finished inside the top 50! Meintjes finished 9th and moved up to 12th in the GC. I had lost the KOM lead to Landa too.
Stage 15
Polanc joined the break for us. An uneventful stage for me but I managed to hang on to the leaders' group till the end, taking up the role of protecting Meintjes. Despite the high climbng, a relatively big group of nearly 40 riders finished together, with me taking 8th place and losing no time. Landa picked up even more points in the KOM race. Jungels' time bonus for first place moved him 3 seconds ahead of Aru in the GC!
I joined the break again on Stage 16 along with 9 others. I took first in the only climb of the day. I was back in the pack soon after with only 4 riders remaining in the break. The second half of the stage was mostly flat. The sprinters' teams chased the break and the race ended in a bunch sprint. Cimolai got 7th for us.
Stage 17
The massively important ITT on Stage 17 would have a major impact on the GC. Jungels destroyed the competition, finishing more than 2 minutes better than anyone else. I had a dream day too, finishing 6th and making up 5 positions in the GC. Meintjes too moved into the top 10 with his 7th place finish on the stage.
Stage 18 was a simple stage on paper and was decided in a bunch sprint but Pierre Latour lost ground and lost his U25 jersey to Arnaud Duteil.
Stage 19 was another tough one. de Gendt joined the break. The break itself did not survive till the end. I was in the group of the leaders till 10 km to go before being dropped. A four man late attack went away unchallenged, Caruso winning from there. Meintjes finished with the same time as the GC leaders and moved up one place in the GC. Landa increased his lead at the top of the KOM standings to 30 points more than me.
I tried to get into the break on Stage 20 but was brought back every time. Landa did manage to get into the break and that proved the end of my KOM chances. I was dropped with 18 km to go. Aru won the stage and put time into Jungels but it was not enough to take back the GC lead. Meintjes finished 6th on the stage, moving up to 7th in the GC.
Stage 21
I attacked on the second climb on but was caught and then dropped! This later turned into a blessing in disguise. Meintjes was dropped from the lead group with 15 km to go and I took the initiative to pace him back. We did manage to bridge the gap and Meintjes finished in 8th place, moving up two places in the GC to finish 6th. I finished 13th on the stage, in the second group on the road.
General Classification
1
Bob Jungels
Team Sky
83h23'06
2
Fabio Aru
Astana Pro Team
+ 57
3
Adam Yates
Team Sky
+ 11'13
4
Julian Arredondo
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 13'28
5
Rigoberto Urán
TEAM Cepsa
+ 14'58
6
Louis Meintjes
Lotto Soudal
+ 16'27
7
Tanel Kangert
ESPN
+ 17'34
8
Thibaut Pinot
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 18'27
9
Bauke Mollema
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 21'29
10
Richie Porte
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 21'56
Spoiler
11
Mikel Landa
Team Katusha
+ 23'34
12
Roman Kreuziger
Astana Pro Team
+ 24'25
13
Damiano Caruso
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 25'36
14
Diego Ulissi
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 26'06
15
Kenny Elissonde
Team Europcar
+ 32'03
16
Fabio Felline
TEAM Pirelli
+ 35'40
17
Alejandro Valverde
Team Katusha
+ 36'21
18
Eduardo Sepulveda
Team Sky
+ 36'35
19
Rohan Dennis
IAM Cycling
+ 38'43
20
Alexandre Geniez
ESPN
+ 42'12
21
Rafał Majka
Team Sky
+ 43'02
22
Romain Bardet
Astana Pro Team
+ 45'22
23
Peter Kennaugh
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 46'19
24
Rubén Fernández
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 48'45
25
Pierre-Roger Latour
ESPN
+ 53'32
26
Andrey Amador
Team Sky
+ 54'06
27
Arnaud Duteil
Team Europcar
+ 55'23
28
Lawson Craddock
ESPN
+ 55'32
29
Dominik Nerz
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 56'15
30
Thomas De Gendt
Lotto Soudal
+ 56'30
31
Leopold König
Astana Pro Team
+ 57'07
32
Edward Ravasi
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 1h02'50
33
Bart De Clercq
Stella Artois
+ 1h03'40
34
Abhishek Sinha
Lotto Soudal
+ 1h06'21
35
Jeppe Lykke Hartvig Nielsen
IAM Cycling
+ 1h14'21
36
Vincenzo Nibali
Team Sky
+ 1h15'27
37
Stéphane Rossetto
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 1h24'39
38
Serghei Tvetcov
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 1h25'02
39
Jan Barta
ESPN
+ 1h25'11
40
Jesús Herrada
TEAM Cepsa
+ 1h26'09
41
Ivan Santaromita
Astana Pro Team
+ 1h27'05
42
Jan Polanc
Lotto Soudal
+ 1h29'52
43
Alessandro De Marchi
Iberdrola
+ 1h30'08
44
Dylan Teuns
ESPN
+ 1h35'01
45
François Bidard
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 1h37'05
46
José Herrada
TEAM Cepsa
+ 1h37'28
47
Benjamin Brkic
TEAM Pirelli
+ 1h45'01
48
Javier Moreno
TEAM Cepsa
+ 1h47'24
49
Silvio Herklotz
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 1h48'59
50
Evgeny Shalunov
Team Katusha
+ 1h50'50
51
José Ramella
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 1h52'21
52
Daniele Dall'Oste
Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
+ 1h52'38
53
Alexis Guerin
Team Europcar
+ 1h56'58
54
Enrico Barbin
Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
+ 1h58'59
55
Fredrik Galta
Iberdrola
+ 1h59'05
56
Marcel Wyss
IAM Cycling
+ 2h01'06
57
Pello Bilbao
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 2h02'58
58
Dylan Girdlestone
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 2h03'01
59
Tsgabu Grmay
Iberdrola
+ 2h03'40
60
Vitaliy Buts
Team Europcar
+ 2h04'08
61
Björn Thurau
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 2h04'14
62
Jean-Christophe Peraud
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 2h05'59
63
Gavin Mannion
Trek Factory Racing
+ 2h07'39
64
Víctor de la Parte
TEAM Cepsa
+ 2h08'28
65
Sergey Chernetskiy
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 2h08'35
66
Carter Jones
Trek Factory Racing
+ 2h10'31
67
Peter Stetina
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 2h11'23
68
Fabio Tuzi
Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
+ 2h15'31
69
Tiago Machado
TEAM Pirelli
+ 2h17'14
70
Toms Skujins
Bardiani CSF
+ 2h17'22
71
Matteo Rabottini
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 2h19'12
72
Adriano Malori
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 2h19'44
73
Yoann Bagot
Team Europcar
+ 2h20'29
74
Valerio Conti
Astana Pro Team
+ 2h21'22
75
Janier Acevedo
IAM Cycling
+ 2h26'11
76
Tobias Ludvigsson
Stella Artois
+ 2h26'59
77
Davide Pacchiardo
Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
+ 2h27'46
78
Giacomo Berlato
Southeast
+ 2h27'53
79
Eros Capecchi
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 2h30'41
80
Karel Hník
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 2h30'52
81
Gabriele Pizzaballa
Bardiani CSF
+ 2h31'41
82
Erick Rowsell
Iberdrola
+ 2h33'56
83
Miguel Rubiano
TEAM Cepsa
+ 2h34'54
84
Matteo Pelucchi
Team Katusha
+ 2h35'37
85
Théry Schir
Trek Factory Racing
+ 2h38'04
86
Egor Silin
Team Katusha
+ 2h40'27
87
Matteo Gozzi
Bardiani CSF
+ 2h42'03
88
Mads Pedersen
ESPN
+ 2h45'10
89
Anthony Roux
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 2h46'34
90
Ramunas Navardauskas
Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
+ 2h46'58
91
Daniel Moreno
Team Katusha
+ 2h47'54
92
Daniele Ratto
Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
+ 2h49'50
93
Moreno Giampaolo
Bardiani CSF
+ 2h50'29
94
Patrick Gretsch
TEAM Cepsa
+ 2h50'42
95
Filadelfio Soriano
Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
+ 2h51'03
96
Maciej Paterski
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 2h53'35
97
Nick Van Der Lijke
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 2h54'49
98
Mirko Torta
Bardiani CSF
+ 2h55'05
99
Wout van Aert
Trek Factory Racing
+ 2h55'19
100
Matthieu Ladagnous
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 2h56'11
101
Fernando Gaviria
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 2h56'34
102
Daryl Impey
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 2h59'50
103
Luca Chirico
Astana Pro Team
+ 3h01'27
104
Jeffrey Perrin
Trek Factory Racing
+ 3h01'51
105
Caleb Ewan
Team Katusha
+ 3h02'20
106
Giacomo Nizzolo
TEAM Cepsa
+ 3h02'41
107
Bert-Jan Lindeman
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 3h03'17
108
Pieter Serry
Stella Artois
+ 3h04'26
109
Garikoitz Bravo
Iberdrola
+ 3h07'00
110
Andrea Vaccher
Southeast
+ 3h07'53
111
Bryan Coquard
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 3h09'58
112
Stef Clement
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 3h14'40
113
Rasmus Guldhammer
Southeast
+ 3h15'41
114
Stefan Küng
ESPN
+ 3h15'51
115
Davide Cimolai
Lotto Soudal
+ 3h16'58
116
Michele Scarponi
Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
+ 3h20'18
117
Kenneth Vanbilsen
ESPN
+ 3h20'40
118
Dylan van Baarle
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 3h22'45
119
Taylor Phinney
Team Sky
+ 3h24'23
120
Sacha Modolo
Stella Artois
+ 3h24'29
121
Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier
Team Europcar
+ 3h27'03
122
Antonino Parrinello
TEAM Pirelli
+ 3h30'55
123
Alexis Gougeard
Astana Pro Team
+ 3h31'24
124
Sean De Bie
Stella Artois
+ 3h32'41
125
Alexey Tsatevitch
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 3h33'02
126
Dylan Page
IAM Cycling
+ 3h34'34
127
Carlos Ribeiro
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 3h35'40
128
Jelle Vanendert
Lotto Soudal
+ 3h36'29
129
Leigh Howard
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 3h37'35
130
Kristian Sbaragli
TEAM Pirelli
+ 3h38'02
131
Raymond Kreder
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 3h38'23
132
Pim Ligthart
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 3h38'49
133
Paul Martens
Southeast
+ 3h39'19
134
Geoffrey Curran
Trek Factory Racing
+ 3h40'04
135
Oscar Gatto
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 3h40'28
136
Vincent Jérôme
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 3h42'22
137
Simone Ponzi
Bardiani CSF
+ 3h42'39
138
Paweł Franczak
Southeast
+ 3h50'48
139
Paweł Bernas
Bardiani CSF
+ 3h51'11
140
William Barta
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 3h51'54
141
Albert Timmer
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 3h52'02
142
Boris Vallée
Stella Artois
+ 3h54'04
143
Davide Appollonio
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 3h55'46
144
Jesper Asselman
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 3h57'12
145
Martijn Keizer
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 4h00'28
146
Manuele Boaro
Team Katusha
+ 4h00'49
147
Julien Vermote
Stella Artois
+ 4h01'05
148
Niccolo Bonifazio
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 4h04'11
149
Gerald Ciolek
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 4h04'49
150
Alex Dowsett
Team Sky
+ 4h05'56
151
Tim De Troyer
Stella Artois
+ 4h07'39
152
Clément Venturini
Team Europcar
+ 4h10'05
153
Roy Jans
Stella Artois
+ 4h11'06
154
Michael Schwarzmann
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 4h11'42
155
Aser Estévez
Iberdrola
+ 4h11'51
156
Jonas Bokeloh
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 4h11'55
157
Nicola Ruffoni
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 4h12'52
158
Francesco Lasca
TEAM Pirelli
+ 4h13'39
159
Marc Sarreau
Team Europcar
+ 4h15'00
160
Yoeri Havik
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 4h16'09
161
Denis Galimzyanov
IAM Cycling
+ 4h17'55
162
Andrea Palini
TEAM Pirelli
+ 4h18'32
163
Michael Van Staeyen
Lotto Soudal
+ 4h19'24
164
Jurgen van Diemen
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 4h19'37
165
Alexander Geuens
Lotto Soudal
+ 4h21'19
166
Eduard-Michael Grosu
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 4h23'39
167
Aleksejs Saramotins
TEAM Cepsa
+ 4h24'03
168
Tom Wirtgen
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 4h24'18
169
Mark Cavendish
Trek Factory Racing
+ 4h26'57
170
Matthew Goss
IAM Cycling
+ 4h30'47
171
Andrea Guardini
Astana Pro Team
+ 4h34'10
172
Jacopo Guarnieri
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 4h34'44
173
Liam Bertazzo
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 4h37'47
174
Davide Ballerini
Bardiani CSF
+ 4h40'19
175
Anton Vorobyev
Team Katusha
+ 4h41'21
176
Jonas Ahlstrand
Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
+ 4h43'39
177
Jan Maas
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 4h43'59
178
Brenton Jones
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 4h47'53
179
Eugenio Alafaci
Southeast
+ 4h50'00
180
Benjamin Giraud
Team Europcar
+ 4h53'40
181
Filippo Fortin
Bardiani CSF
+ 4h58'18
182
Georgios Bouglas
Iberdrola
+ 4h58'35
183
Koen De Kort
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 4h59'31
184
Robert Wagner
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 5h01'25
185
Cristian Delle Stelle
Southeast
+ 5h09'24
186
Gian Marco Di Francesco
Southeast
+ 5h39'32
Points Classification
1
Fernando Gaviria
MTN-Qhubeka
244
2
Bryan Coquard
Tinkoff-Saxo
195
3
Bob Jungels
Team Sky
161
4
Fabio Aru
Astana Pro Team
143
5
Niccolo Bonifazio
Orica-GreenEDGE
143
Mountain Classification
1
Mikel Landa
Team Katusha
305
2
Abhishek Sinha
Lotto Soudal
183
3
Bob Jungels
Team Sky
170
4
Enrico Barbin
Androni Giocattoli - Sidermec
118
5
Fabio Aru
Astana Pro Team
115
Young Riders' Classification
1
Pierre-Roger Latour
ESPN
84h16'38
2
Arnaud Duteil
Team Europcar
+ 1'51
3
Edward Ravasi
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 9'18
4
Abhishek Sinha
Lotto Soudal
+ 12'49
5
Benjamin Brkic
TEAM Pirelli
+ 51'29
Team Classification
1
Team Sky
250h39'59
2
Astana Pro Team
+ 21'55
3
ESPN
+ 41'13
4
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 1h00'06
5
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 1h06'36
The Giro was a two-way fight where Jungels did just enough to hold off Aru and claim the win. I was so so close to a KOM jersey in my first outing in a Grand Tour! Could I probably have done better in the GC? Yes, I think I could have. But that would've meant staying in the peloton more, and where's the fun in that . The team management were quite pleased with Meintjes's 6th place finish in the GC. I was very happy that I could play some small part in that too, especially getting him back to the front of the pack on the last stage. The team finished 6th in their standings too, another satisfactory result. My first Grand adventure comes to an end. Hopefully the first of many more to come...
Even though you didn't win the KOM jersey, i think that it has been a great first GT for you. Let's hope for a great second part of the season, with hopefully a few wins, and your first GC win
Tamijo wrote:
Not easy at this level, would have been cool with the KoM, but been there done that hopefully learned a lot.
Yes a lot of good experience from this race . Would've been great to hang on to that jersey though but Landa was just too good...
Aquarius97 wrote:
Even though you didn't win the KOM jersey, i think that it has been a great first GT for you. Let's hope for a great second part of the season, with hopefully a few wins, and your first GC win
Thanks . Off to Switzerland next, where I'll be hoping to challenge at the top. I won't be riding in the Tour. My next GT will be the Vuelta. Building up to that now.
Go get'em
