jaxika wrote:
The KOM seems a reasonable target ...

Ripley wrote:
I mostly think he shouldn't have the pressure of being a captain so soon. So I'd pick the strongest team. Otherwise staying with ColoQuick first, not having to move far from home yet, and then I guess Beat Club second.

?

Unbelievable few teams have chosen to ride the HC race in Denmark, just 35 riders in the startlist, which also make this flat stage very boring. No rider attempting to break from the pack, the only entertainment the spectators get is the two times Nicolai Brøchner wins the point sprints.



Brøchner is the strongest sprinter in the tiny peloton. Team ColoQuick set up a trains where Johan Price-Pejtersen deliver Oliver Wulff Frederiksen to open for the favorite.

Emil Vinjebo opening for Piotr Havik, Riwal – Readynez first under the red kite but Nicolai Brøchner clearly faster on the last 300 meters.

Team ColoQuick wins the first stage already a successful race for the team.

Again Nicolai Brøchner is the top stage favorite and again the pack is just rolling trough the route with 30 km/h, enjoying the landscape. This is until Noah Takaima attacks for the KoM points about 5 km before the first hill climb.

There is absolutely no reaction from the pack and Noah pick up the first 6 points already with a gap of 2’23, soon extended to 3’30. Sadly for Noah the pack haven’t given up at all and from some 80 km they start to up the pace a bit with a mix of riders from Riwal – Readynez and Fundación Euskadi — Orbea.

Noah still got a lead of 2’40� taking the 2nd KoM but from there the gap melts fast and he was caught with about 9 km left.

Noah burning the last calories to keep some distance to the peloton closing in on the “Asnæs Indelukke� circuit.

Noah’s adventures over, his teammates can concentrate on the sprint. Setting up a train with Mads Østergaard Kristensen delivering Oliver Wulff Frederiksen to lead out Nicolai Brøchner.

Frederiksen first under the red kite and Brøchner got a nice gap with 500 meters left.

The timing was not perfect, Brøchner start to lose momentum with about 250 meters left, especially Anders Skaarseth from Uno-X Norwegian Development Team very fast on the last 500 meters, he wins the stage with a clear margin.

Nicolai Brøchner has to settle with 4th. Noah Takaima marked by his solo breakaway loses 46�.

It is going to be a difficult stage for Coloquick for many reasons, we got windspeeds at around 40-45 km/h. It is a much more undulated terrain where we must decide who to race for, current race leader Nicolai Brøchner or the stronger puncher Frederik Wandahl. Also, we need to protect Mads Østergaard Kristensen as he is our strongest rider in the decisive ITT coming later.

To make it all even worse, very early Mads Østergaard Kristensen crash and we have to send Rasmus Lund Pedersen back to help.

Turns out the peloton seize the opportunity to crack Coloquick’s best tempo rider, stepping hard on the gas pedal. Even with the help of Rasmus, Mads Østergaard fall’s further and further back, it is soon clear he is out of the GC for good.

The only positive thing so far for the team is that Noah was able to claim both KoM climbs without much competition.

2nd in GC Anders Skaarseth from Uno-X Norwegian Development Team attacks form about 8 km close to the 2nd passage of the finish line, Noah close the cap for his teammates.

Anders Skaarseth attacks again on the short sharp climb just prior to the finish line, Rasmus Quaade, Riwal - Readynez counters.

Noah opens for Frederik Wandahl and Nicolai Brøchner but Coloquick can’t close the gap and Skaarseth wins the stage in front of Quaade.

Quite surprisingly the team’s stronger punchers Frederik and Nicolai was not able to pass Noah even though he had been leading the train for the last 5 kilometers. Noah 3rd, Frederik 4th and Nicolai 5th. Nicolai falls to 2nd in GC.

Mads Østergaard Kristensen lost 11’46�

As oppose to yesterday a very straight forward sprinter stage and the peloton agree to take it very easy as not even the early KoM will have importance to anyone. The first interruptions come with the points sprint won by Nicolai Brøchner.

The pack is enjoying the landscape slowly covering the first 90 km of the race

It comes at a mass sprint finish. Rasmus Lund Pedersen set up to deliver the sprinters, and then Oliver Wulff Frederiksen to open for Nicolai Brøchner. Coloquick a bit far behind under the red kite and it looks like a win for the fast Mikkel Øritsland from BHS - PL Beton Bornholm.

No doubt Anders Skaarseth thought he would win this one, as he already has started celebration as he sees Nicolai pass the finish line first. 2nd stage win for Coloquick's top sprinter in this tour.

With the bonus seconds Nicolai Brøchner is also back in the leader jersey.

With just 11 riders remaining Coloquick holds both 1st and 2nd position with Johan Price-Pejtersen 21� in front of teammate Mads Østergaard Kristensen.

Then Martin Toft Madsen three times winner of Danish National Championship ITT, comes in with a new best 1’23 faster than Price-Pejtersen

A few riders later Norwegian national Champion Andreas Leknessund with new best, stunning 1’08� faster than Martin Toft Madsen.

Also Rasmus Christian Quaade 49� faster than Price-Pejtersen who ends as 4th on the stage, a very good result for Coloquick. Placing Price-Pejtersen as 5th in GC.

Andreas Leknessund, Uno-X Norwegian Development Team won the race in front of Martin Toft Madsen, BHS - PL Beton Bornholm.
Nicolai Brøchner, Team ColoQuick took the points jersey
Noah Takaima, Team ColoQuick took the KoM

Race leader Nicolai Brøchner lost 5’52 in the ITT, dropping 20 positions in the GC

Noah is sitting in the rider room watching the mountain stage from Villaviciosa to Alto de la Farrapona in Vuelta a España, chatting with teammates Oliver and Mads. Having a lot of fun remembering the good results in PostNord.

Christian Andersen enters the room: “Ok – OK, you all did brilliantly in Tour of Denmark I must admit, but I am not so sure you will improve much from watching others ride in the telly.� Andersen smiles and hands some papers to each of the three riders:

“Here is the four races we got in September, when you have checked out the profiles carefully, come back to me and we will see what races each of you can ride�

Egan Bernal won the stage but Simon Yates still leads the GC. Noah thinking: "few danes loves Ineos but that guy is kinda likable"

On Noah’s papers “Hafjell TT� was crossed out, he won’t be allowed to ride the time trail.

Lillehammer GP, bonuses from Fur Bryghus:
Individual win: 255 €, Individual top 5: 125 €, Individual top 10: 55 €

Gylne Gutuer, bonuses from Scantruck:
Individual win: 330 €, Individual top 5: 165 €, Individual top 10: 80 €

Raiffeisen Grand Prix, bonuses from Renault passion for life:
Individual win: 255 €, Individual podium: 125 €, Individual top 10: 50 €

Pick two (or one) of three races to ride in September
Option 1: Lillehammer GP
Option 2: Gylne Gutuer
Option 3: Raiffeisen Grand Prix