Welcome to San Cristobal to kick off the 2017 Continental Season! Surprisingly it’s quite overcast and windy but despite the lack of support from the weather we’ll look forward to some good racing!
Dabkowski is the first rider to attack of the season! The sort of honour Poland deserves as an emerging nation in the world of professional cycling!
Many other attacks mean he never has a chance of staying away but also the peloton blasts it over the hills due to this and we find ourselves at the bottom with only 76 riders left in the pack. Chaoufi, Durasek, Schurter and Anderson are the best riders caught up in the split.
Fortunately for the riders behind they can come back as the pacesetters really back off, this also allows former World Champion Valverde to escape with Asgreen quickly joining him, who looks to excuse WCC from chasing duties, they look to be the only escapees today, making a nice comparison of an old rider in his last years and a neo-pro with a bright career ahead.
The rain begins to pour which is an ominous sign for the riders. Otherwise, as the break builds up a 5 minute lead we see a statement of intent from Kulczyk by setting the pace for Vichot, they also get some support from Xero, In-N-Out and Azteca.
Not much happens until there’s 40km left in the race on the final ascent of the 2nd last lap, Antón comes to the front and ups the tempo pulling van der Hugenhaben, Chaves and Roux off the front with him!
Kulczyk panic in the pack behind as they know this move should not be allowed to go away! But their use of men earlier mean only Gradek is left to chase for Vichot.
Far ahead, the break’s lead is at 1’30 now.
Over the top of the climb the pack is reduced to just 25 riders by the fast pace! It contains:
The quartet makes the catch with the break and becomes a 6 man group, although Asgreen surely won’t help the group. They have a 30 second lead now with 37km to go, but Gradek will need some help if the bunch wants to catch them.
Cunego and Haavardsholm join the chase. While weirdly Xero don’t work in the front group, choosing to conserve energy instead. Allowing the break to be caught. van der Hugenhaben isn’t happy though and immediately attacks once again but he can’t force a gap.
So with 15km left we begin climbing again as Kratchovila sets a steady tempo. The pace is enough to drop a few riders though, most notably Cunego and Grippo.
With the group thinned Chaves makes his move! Wyss and former winner Gaimon want to be involved! But while the Swissman collapses and the American can’t maintain an attack, letting the Colombian escape alone
The climb however had a large impact on the pack, with many being shelled out following Chaves’ attack, now just 12 riders are left with 10km left to race! They include:
Van der Hugenhaben, Kratchovila Roux, Antón Haavardsholm, Khripta Wyss Gaimon Gilbert, Valverde Vichot Boily
Many duos means many riders to chase down Chaves’ 30 second lead if they can organise themselves.
Kratchovila is really the man of the race! He takes advantage of a small pinch to accelerate again pulling Van der Hugenhaben, Roux, Antón and Haavardsholm away, as well as shaving 10 seconds off Chaves’ lead.
4km left as we are about to start the final climb! Chaves still leads, 20 seconds behind, Roux has come to the front and dropped teammate Antón. He’ll try to hold off the trio 57 seconds behind the group he was dropped from of Vichot, Gaimon and Wyss.
2 steep kilometres of racing left! Roux leads the catch on Chaves as Kratchovila bows his head! All the riders in this group have put their face in the wind at one point or another, except of course, Haavardsholm, who is racing extremely well to still be present here!
1km left! Roux keeps pounding the pedals as they line up for the sprint!
500 metres… and Roux goes for it! Van der Hugenhaben is a split second late on the uptake and tries to get back on the wheel! Chaves is paying for his earlier efforts though and Haavardsholm tries to get round the Colombian!
Anthony Roux throws his hands up in the air! A commanding win of a gruelling race for the Frenchman and a beautiful way for him to kick off his stint in the CT! Van der Hugenhaben claims a resigned second place, while a spectacular Haavardsholm fought hard but was badly placed and couldn’t quite make up the ground, only managing third place. Behind, Chaves takes fourth.
Man of the day Kratchovila and Vichot, who didn’t quite have it to make the move, filter in next. Before a 6-man group contests the rest of the minor places, Gilbert wins the sprint for 7th, while a disappointed Boily, Gaimon and the amazing Antón fill up the rest of the top 10 ahead of Wyss and Khripta.
