Van der Kooij looked to be in the mix, then out of the mix, then back in the mix though it was a bit too late there at the end. A top 10 is nice, but closer to the podium would be even nicer!
Was hoping for something like this from Kuli in the flat stages. Good start for us there.
Our best climber losing 4 minutes on a flat stage is probably a rule for GTs now! Really hope this is Leemreize setting up for breakaway raids all through the race and not a meek surrender
Happy days for Carlsberg! The big brother definitely still got it. Congratulations, bbl
Not a great start for us. Curious to see us do a train. Fingers crossed we can improve Prasad’s positioning if we decide to go for it again, or if this was a sign for him to rather try his luck on his own, picking a different train.
Now for stage 2, though! Expect it to be the first Herklotz vs. Areruya battle, probably in a sprint, seeing similar stages earlier this season. Hopefully Valter can join the mix!
Halfway through the report I was already ready to comment that we were in trouble. I mean, we're up against real leadout trains, and we're having unmaxed stage racers and puncheurs (see 69 flat Arnaburu) try to deliver our sprinter to the line. I had basically forgotten that AKA was enough of a favorite to warrant a train, and I thought we were likely toast given how underpowered we were on the flats.
But obviously, I had no idea what I was talking about. What an insane turn by Tilen Finskt, our 30 year old unmaxed Slovenian, to drag AKA from behind the other trains at the 1 km banner to the front of the race with 500 meters left. He's basically our only flat domestique in the race, and he showed up. Amazing pull that will go down in history. Even more impressive because AKA doesn't have passable acceleration at this point, so really needs to be close to top speed before launching his sprint. You wouldn't think 70 sprint Finskt would be that guy (and perhaps he shouldn't be), but today, he was.
Give AKA a straight shot at top speed with everyone beside him also in the wind, and he'll give you a pretty good shot. This is a victory I will absolutely remember. Mr. Carlsberg himself, taking the opening stage of his last GT in his age 33 season, and finding himself in the red jersey. To say it's an ideal start to our race would be an understatement. I hope he can savor it a bit tomorrow because he deserves it.
Thank you for the report!
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
The big brother definitely still got it. Congratulations, bbl 
