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
Now that's how you do it. Perfect execution with the late catch, top tier leadout and our man delivers the stage and the red jersey. As the report says it's his first GT stage win (after multiple 2nd places) and now his third different jersey worn - and a good chance of the points at some point I imagine to make it 4/4.
I do really wish we had a proper rouleur beyond Redy now if we want to be in charge of the peloton for the first week, but either way we will enjoy the passive points from the day in rojo. Sure AKA will be wanting it back after he did a good job to stay in the front group.
I am not getting my hopes up about beating Herklotz in the long run but I do think we showed the model for it today. Six of our riders in the Top 30 is very pleasing to see, we need to use that team strength to deliver Areruya with the freshest legs. First time in his career we can really say he's got a strong team behind him, and here it might be the strongest, at least going uphill.
24/02/21 - kandesbunzler said “I don't drink famous people."
15/08/22 - SotD said "Your [jandal's] humour is overrated"
11/06/24 - knockout said "Winning is fine I guess. Truth be told this felt completely unimportant." [PT] Xero Racing
Really off to a great start here! I would have bet Aranburu would not finish above Herklotz in a single stage this whole Tour, and he already did it on day 2 to snag a podium placing. Glad he's finally finding his footing here in the second half of the season. Some really nice results showing he has a role in this engine even if a race like Liege is out of the question. 10th for Hellemose is fun too. And most importantly, Carthy was both near the front and not working for anyone. So far, so good.
AKA put up a really valiant effort there to hang onto the front group too. I mean, his climbing ability was bottom of the barrel his whole career. So it must suck a bit for him to lose the jersey anyway, but that was pretty inevitable. All told, it's probably for the best if we don't have to worry about controlling the peloton for another couple of days and all the mayhem that comes with it.
Congrats to jandal!
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
The big brother definitely still got it. Congratulations, bbl 
