Croatia14 wrote:
great to see the team racing that good, seems like a first GC win in Croatia
There will be more for sure
the_hoyle wrote:
Fantastic win
Thanks
Paris – Troyes (160,7 km)
Team : I.Ahtisaari, J.Henttala, A.Jallinoja, T.Kohvakka, J.Moykkymaki, P.Paajanen, J.Toppari
While the half of the team was dominating the Istrian Spring Trophy by winning the overall classification with Jussi Veikkanen and placing two other riders in the top 10, the other part of Elisa - Stora Enso flew to France for Paris - Troyes. We inscribe a quite inexperienced team, but we can expect a spot in the top 15 if Ilmari Ahtisaari and Auris Jallinoja are feeling good. Despite the hills, a sprinter-puncher like Julien Simon (Cofidis) could cross the line first.
the_hoyle wrote:
Unlucky to miss out on the Top 10
I had to try, but it will work one day
Volta ao Alentejo
1st stage » Castelo de Vide › Redondo (165,7 km)
Team : J.Veikkanen, I.Ahtisaari, J.Henttala, A.Jallinoja, R.Kivikoski, J.Moykkymaki, P.Paajanen, J.Toppari
After a week without racing, Elisa - Stora Enso inscribes riders on a last tour before April. The 175 cyclists will fight on 5 hilly stages in Alentejo. Nevertheless, the first stage could be won by a sprinter, like Alex Rasmussen (Riwal), Manuel Cardoso (Banco Bic) or the canadian Ryan Anderson (Optum). If Ilmari Ahtisaari finally feels good, he could obtain a top 5 on the finish line.
The pack is very quiet at the start of the race, and the few breakaway attempts are neutralized by the sprinters teammates. After about thirty kilometers, the japanese Yuma Koishi (Nippo) takes the lead without being accompanied by other riders. His lead increases to 4 minutes before the peloton stabilized the gap. To the great displeasure of the organizers, the sky is threatening and the rain begins to fall on the portuguese roads. Because of these poor conditions, the Austrian Alexander Holzinger (Arbö) falls off his bike, and takes long seconds to get back on the saddle. After the passage of Koishi (Nippo) at the first intermediate sprint, Ilmari Ahtisaari takes 4 points and 2 bonus seconds just in front of the pack. Rain showers continues, and pushes on the ground an other cyclist : Nuno Ribeiro (OFM Quinta). He has been bothered by gusts of wind sweeping the road, and takes time to come back in the peloton, and sees on the side of the road Matt Lyons (Airgas), the shirt torn and the knee covered by blood. The American rider will be the first to abandon the Vuelta ao Alentejo 2014. Yuma Koishi (Nippo) continues his forward march and crosses first Serra de Ossa's hill. 4 riders, including Daniel Diaz (San Luis) attack for some points, but the argentinian will be outstripped by the colombian Ever Alexander Rivera (4-72 Colombia). This quartet is quickly caught by the peloton, which is only 2'30'' late on the fugitive, at 60 kilometers from Redondo. On the second intermediate sprint, passing on the finish line, Ilmari Ahtisaari doesn't manage to to clear a passage in the pack, and does not add any points to his counter. These are two runners of LA Aluminios - Antarte who take points behind Yuma Koishi (Nippo). Luck will smile over him twenty kilometers later, where he beats Joni Brandão (Efapel) for the second place. Ahtisaari is trying to recover, but with the peloton accelerating and bumps that come, it will be complicated. Portuguese runners have at heart to do well at home, and take the pack at a fast pace. Yuma Koishi (Nippo) scores 6 points for the mountain classification in the second passage at Serra de Osso, but is immediately taken up by the vanguard of the pack, at 11 kilometers from the finish line. The winding descent leading to the finish is wet, and a wave in the peloton sent down to 5 riders, including the former Euskaltel rider Miguel Minguez (Euskadi). In Kjell Carlstrom's car, we warn Aulis Jallinoja that he will have to sprint, because Ilmari Ahtisaari no longer has the resources to fulfill his role. But the finnish promising rider is blocked, while Joonas Henttala and Paavo Paajanen were already at to the front of the pack ! The two cyclists will have to play their own card. Manuel Cardoso (Banco Bic) slightly anticipates the sprint, and takes a few lengths on the peloton. The portuguese benefits from a slight slope to conserve his few bikes of advance, easily wins the first stage and take the yellow jersey at the same time. Paavo Paajanen, in a very good shape, is only surpassed by Muhammad Atiq Othman (Terengganu) and takes an unexpected 3rd place given our pathetic organization. Thanks to his solo breakaway, Yuma Koishi (Nippo) is provisionally 2nd overall, in front of Othman (Terengganu), Paajanen and Ahtisaari, who took 4 bonus seconds on intermediate sprints.
1 Manuel CARDOSO (Banco Bic) in 3h48'39'' 2 Yuma KOISHI (Nippo) at 1'' 3 Muhamad Atiq OTHMAN (Terengganu) at 4'' 4 Paavo PAAJANEN (Elisa) at 6'' 5 Ilmari AHTISAARI (Elisa) s.t. 6 Pedro PAULINHO (LA Aluminios) at 8'' 7 Daniel FREITAS (LA Aluminios) s.t. 8 Joni BRANDÃO (Efapel) at 9'' 9 Hariff SALLEH (Terengganu) at 10'' 10 Filipe CARDOSO (Efapel) s.t.
Points Classification : 1 Manuel CARDOSO (Banco Bic) with 25 points Mountain Classification : 1 Yuma KOISHI (Nippo) with 12 points U25 Classification : 1 Yuma KOISHI (Nippo) in 3h48'40'' Teams Classification : 1 Banco Bic - Carmim in 11h26'27''
2nd stage » Portel › Santiago do Cacem (191,8 km)
After his force demonstration, Manuel Cardoso (Banco Bic) will have more difficulties to win again. He will be watched on every side by the other teams, to allow Alex Rasmussen (Riwal) or Eric Young (Optum) to take the victory. Even if we were happy of Paajanen's 3rd place on the first stage, we hope better performances from Aulis Jallinoja and Ilmari Ahtisaari.
Launched by the german Benedikt Kendler (Arbö), the first breakaway attempt seems to be the good one, passing before the peloton at the first intermediate sprint, won by Ever Rivera (4-72 Colombia) in front of Inai Salas (Burgos BH). But 6 riders, it's too many for the leaders, who come back on this group after about 40 kilometers. After, it's a trio which attack, and it will be the good breakaway. It's composed by Joshua Prete (B.Forklifts), Jussi Moykkymaki and Stan Godrie (Rabobank Dev.). The finnish rider is not interested in the second intermediate sprint, and let the dutch Godrie (Rabobank Dev.) taking it. The breakaway still has a hundred kiometers to cover, and has a comfortable lead of 7 minutes on the peloton, led on a small pace by Portuguese contis. It happens nearly nothing until the next sprint, situated about 50 kilometers from the finish line. Again, Jussi Moykkymaki let his breakaway companions fighting, for another first-place of Stan Godrie (Rabobank Dev.). Our escape has underestimated a little the rest of the fugitives, and must work to come back. And problems continue : While he was making the junction at the foot of today's hill, his rear wheel pierces, and Jussi must wait more than a minute for the neutral assistance car...The breakaway is darned for him, he's soon swallowed by the peloton. Godrie (Rabobank Dev.) take 6 points at the top of the KOM sprint, but tonight it will still be Yuma Koishi (Nippo) bringing the mountain jersey. The remaining fumbles give the best of themselves, but the peloton led by Differdange riders got back just before the ark of the last 10 kilometers. Despite the long slight slope foregoing sprinting, Aulis Jallinoja and Ilmari Ahtisaari take the wheel of Jussi Veikkanen to be brought in good conditions. The champion of Finland launches perfectly the sprint, but our two sprinters are exhausted and overtaken by their rivals. Jussi Veikkanen gave everything, but he suffers the same fat. And to the surprise of portuguese betters, this is a leadoutman who wins ! Charles Bradley Huff (Optum) remained in front of his teammates, and had overcame Manuel Cardoso (Banco BIC), who only takes the 3rd place while enroute toward another victory. Today's second is another portuguese, Antonio Carvalho (LA Aluminios). Jussi Veikkanen gets at the 15th rank. The overall classification moves slightly with the bonuses, and to our disappointment, Paavo Paajanen and Ilmari Ahtisaari lose a few places. Manuel Cardoso (Banco BIC) is still leader before a new stage for the sprinters.
Stage Classification :
1 Charles Bradley HUFF (Optum) in 4h21'22'' 2 Antonio CARVALHO (LA Aluminios) s.t. 3 Manuel CARDOSO (Banco Bic) s.t. 4 Hariff SALLEH (Terengganu) s.t. 5 Muhamad Atiq OTHMAN (Terengganu) s.t. 6 Filipe CARDOSO (Efapel) s.t. 7 Carlos BARBERO (Euskadi) s.t. 8 Mohd Zamri SALLEH (Terengganu) s.t. 9 Ryan ANDERSON (Optum) s.t. 10 Eric YOUNG (Optum) s.t. … 15 Jussi VEIKKANEN (Elisa) s.t.
Overall Classification :
1 Manuel CARDOSO (Banco Bic) in 8h09'57'' 2 Charles Bradley HUFF (Optum) at 4'' 3 Yuma KOISHI (Nippo) at 5'' 4 Muhamad Atiq OTHMAN (Terengganu) at 8'' 5 Antonio CARVALHO (Efapel) s.t. 6 Stan GODRIE (Rabobank Dev.) s.t. 7 Paavo PAAJANEN (Elisa) at 10'' 8 Ilmari AHTISAARI (Elisa) s.t. 9 Joshua PRETE (B.Forklifts) at 10'' 10 Ever RIVERA (4-72 Colombia) at 11''
Points Classification : 1 Manuel CARDOSO (Banco Bic) with 41 points Mountain Classification : 1 Yuma KOISHI (Nippo) with 12 points U25 Classification : 1 Yuma KOISHI (Nippo) in 8h10'02'' Teams Classification : 1 Arbö Gebruder Weiss – Oberndorfer in 24h30'33''
sutty68 wrote:
Its looking good for the guys in 7th and 8th on the GC
When I see how strong Cardoso is, i think the final top 10 is a good target
the_hoyle wrote:
Solid result and GC looking good
Thanks to the quite weak startlist ^^
Volta ao Alentejo
3rd stage » Odemira › Ourique (168,6 km)
Before an uphill finish that could change the overall classification, the sprinters have another opportunity to win. Not surprisingly, Manuel Cardoso (Banco BIC) is given as the winner by all the local fans came out in droves on the roads of the Alentejo. But other Portuguese like Antonio Carvalho (LA Aluminios) and strangers such as Eric Young (Optum) and Ilmari Ahtisaari should have their word to say.
Very early in the stage, a group of six riders tries to take over the pack. It's composed Patrick Kos (Airgas), Maarten de Jonge (Terengganu), Eduard Prades (OFM Quinta), Juan Ariel Lucero (San Luis), Jakub Kratochvila (Arbö) and Peter Loft (B.Forklifts). While they seem well launched, Ever Rivera (4-72 Colombia) and Nuno Matos (R.Popular), who are trying to come back, wake up the pack. After that Eduard Prades (Quinta OFM) has won the first intermediate sprint in Sonega, the two pursuers suceed their return. This is a final blow for the breakaway, which spent only 60 kilometers at the front of the race. They will still be able to play the second sprint in Sines, won by Patrick Kos (Airgas). Then, there was a brief moment of hesitation, stopped by the attack of Francisco Moreno (Louletano). The spanish is joined by one of his compatriots, Alvaro Robredo (Burgos). Although the pack doesn't ride very quickly behind the Iberian duo, the gap doesn't pass above 2 minutes. The breakaway still manages to lead, arriving even to the last intermediate sprint, 15 kilometers from Ourique, with more than a minute ahead ! There is a very good agreement between the two men, but the riders of the peloton accelerates, so Robredo (Burgos) and Moreno (Louletano) are caught at a little more than 10 kilometers away of the finish line. The sprinters then apply their strategy. Elisa - Stora Enso, for once in full possession of his faculties, asks Joonas Henttala, Paavo Paajanen and Aulis Jallinoja to form a train for Ilmari Ahtisaari. Riwal and Efapel also have riders at the disposal of their sprinter, while Manuel Cardoso (Banco Bic) threads his way in front of the pack to find a place. This does not preclude the yellow jersey to find the right wheel, of his namesake Filipe Cardoso (Efapel). Ilmari Ahtisaari is slightly slowed by riders who completed their role, and is forced to inflict himself a big effort to come back on the two Cardoso. Their face to face will be judged at the photo finish, but the leader of the overall Manuel Cardoso (Banco Bic) takes the win again ! He beat Filipe Cardoso (Efapel), Carlos Barbero (Euskadi) and Ilmari Ahtisaari, who signs his first top 10 of the season. With his victory, Cardoso (Banco Bic) takes ten bonus seconds, and is now 14 seconds ahead of his nearest rival.
Stage Classification :
1 Manuel CARDOSO (Banco Bic) in 3h34'30'' 2 Filipe CARDOSO (Efapel) s.t. 3 Carlos BARBERO (Euskadi) s.t. 4 Ilmari AHTISAARI (Elisa) s.t. 5 Antonio CARVALHO (LA Aluminios) s.t. 6 Eric YOUNG (Optum) s.t. 7 Nikola AISTRUP (Riwal) s.t. 8 Joni BRANDÃO (Efapel) s.t. 9 Paavo PAAJANEN (Elisa) s.t. 10 Andre MOURATO (LA Aluminios) s.t.
Overall Classification :
1 Manuel CARDOSO (Banco Bic) in 11h44'17'' 2 Charles Bradley HUFF (Optum) at 14'' 3 Yuma KOISHI (Nippo) at 15'' 4 Filipe CARDOSO (Efapel) at 18'' 5 Antonio CARVALHO (LA Aluminios) s.t. 6 Muhamad Atiq OTHMAN (Terengganu) s.t. 7 Stan GODRIE (Rabobank Dev.) s.t. 8 Eduard PRADES (OFM Quinta) at 19'' 9 Carlos BARBERO (Euskadi) at 20'' 10 Paavo PAAJANEN (Elisa) s.t.
Points Classification : 1 Manuel CARDOSO (Banco Bic) with 66 points Mountain Classification : 1 Yuma KOISHI (Nippo) with 12 points U25 Classification : 1 Yuma KOISHI (Nippo) in 11h44'32'' Teams Classification : 1 San Luis Somos Todos in 35h14'03''
Another victory for Manuel Cardoso (Banco Bic) could allow the portuguese to give thirty seconds ahead before the final stage, slightly hilly. Other portuguese sprinters, led by Antonio Carvalho (LA Aluminios) and Filipe Cardoso (Efapel) will try to end the victories monopoly that only Charles Bradley Huff (Optum) has suceed to intersect. After his encouraging 4th place yesterday Ilmari Ahtisaari is full of motivation on the start line in Mertola.
For the first time on this tour, a consequent breakaway managed to outpace the peloton without being caught immediately. We find the chilean Andrei Sartassov (San Luis), the spanish Delio Fernandez (OFM Quinta), the portuguese Daniel Silva (R. Popular), the american Benjamin Jacques-Maynes (Jamis), the dutch Emiel Dolfsma (Rabobank Dev.), the czech Jakub Kratochvila (Arbö) and the colombian Ever Rivera (4-72 Colombia). Unfortunately for these 7 riders, the team Efapel suddenly starts to ride at an high speed, while the gap was approaching 4 minutes. Regardless of this surprising awakening of the pack, the break competes the first intermediate sprint in Santa Vitoria. The comissaires had to look at the photo-finish to find the winner between Jakub Kratochvila (Arbö) and Ever Rivera (4-72 Colombia), and it's the czech who takes 6 points ahead the colombian. Waiting for the second sprint, located in Canhestros, Filipe Cardoso's teammates continues to put an impressive speed at the first places of the peloton, heleped by riders of OptumManuel Cardoso's mates. Ever Rivera (4-72 Colombia) wins easily this sprint, but the gap is now of only 1'40'' ! At 60 kilometers from the finish line, it will be really hard to cross the line ahead the peloton. The long and straight lines not helping them, the breakaway riders finally cut their effort, at around 30 kilometers from Grandola. The race then slows down, and the peloton passes the last intermediate sprint of the day at very low speed. Victor Etxeberria (Euskadi), who was trying for several hectometers to sneak in the lead, finally managed to do it. He wakes up the pack and tries to stretch up to create breaks. This will pay at the top of Serra de Grandola, where the basque takes 6 points, and where the pack is cut into 3 pieces. They are only fifty riders in the peloton now. We note the absence of the best young rider Yuma Koishi (Nippo), but also 4 Elisa - Stora Enso : Jussi Moykkymaki, Jaakko Toppari, Risto Kivikoski and Aulis Jallinoja were left behind, and our 4 riders still in the peloton will have to rethink their strategy for the sprint. Then a crash of the second overall Charles Bradley Huff (Optum) cuts again the peloton at 8 kilometers from the finish. The american is helped by some teammates, but the peloton is already far. 3 trains are formed at the front of the race, and Elisa - Stora Enso has prepared one for Joonas Henttala and Ilmari Ahtisaari. These last two were well placed, but must slow down suddenly because of a right angle turn. Filipe Cardoso (Efapel) negotiated it much better, and takes few meters on the pack. But unfortunately for the show, Manuel Cardoso (Banco Bic) tumbles at great speed, and crucifies his namesake at 100 meters from the line ! The yellow jersey has 10 new bonus seconds and thus won the stage in front of Hugo Sabido (LA Aluminios), which is interposed between the two Cardoso. Ilmari Ahtisaari missed punch on the end, so Joonas Henttala is our best rider behind Cardoso (Banco Bic) : 9th, two ranks ahead Jussi Veikkanen.
Stage Classification :
1 Manuel CARDOSO (Banco Bic) in 3h12'02'' 2 Hugo SABIDO (LA Aluminios) s.t. 3 Filipe CARDOSO (Efapel) s.t. 4 Carlos BARBERO (Euskadi) s.t. 5 Takashi MIYAZAWA (Nippo) s.t. 6 Joshua PRETE (B.Forklifts) s.t. 7 Eric YOUNG (Optum) s.t. 8 Antonio CARVALHO (LA Aluminios) s.t. 9 Joonas HENTTALA (Elisa) s.t. 10 Kasper KLOSTERGAARD (Riwal) s.t.
Overall Classification :
1 Manuel CARDOSO (Banco Bic) in 14h56'09'' 2 Filipe CARDOSO (Efapel) at 23'' 3 Muhamad Atiq OTHMAN (Terengganu) at 28'' 4 Hugo SABIDO (LA Aluminios) s.t. 5 Antonio CARVALHO (Efapel) s.t. 6 Stan GODRIE (Rabobank Dev.) s.t. 7 Carlos BARBERO (Euskadi) at 30'' 8 Joni BRANDÃO (Efapel) s.t. 9 Paavo PAAJANEN (Elisa) s.t. 10 Ilmari AHTISAARI (Elisa) s.t.
Points Classification : 1 Manuel CARDOSO (Banco Bic) with 91 points Mountain Classification : 1 Yuma KOISHI (Nippo) with 12 points U25 Classification : 1 Muhamad Atiq OTHMAN (Terengganu) in 14h56'37'' Teams Classification : 1 Team Riwal in 44h50'09''
It gives us some points for a possible promotion in Continental Pro
sutty68 wrote:
Don't let the guys slip out of the top ten
If the top 3 is the same as the other days, i could keep riders in the top 10
Sorry for being a little late, i had to repair a problem i created while editing my WeeklySave file
Volta ao Alentejo
5th stage » Vila Nova Santo Andre › Santiago do Cacem (132,0 km)
The punchers still well placed in the general classification, such as Jussi Veikkanen will surely do everything to create a gap in the final climb to take time on Manuel Cardoso (Banco Bic), who gives a perfect copy on almost all sprints. However, in case of massive sprint, the sprinters as the yellow jersey or Eric Young (Optum) should be able to fight for the stage win.
Very stressed in the first stages, the peloton now accept all the breakaway attempts. The first one is the good one today, launched by the portuguese Sandro Pinto (Louletano). 4 others riders decide to follow him : Alessandro Bisolti (Nippo), Tobias Knaup (LKT Brandeburg), Delio Fernandez (OFM Quinta) and above all, Daniel Diaz (San Luis) ! The argentinean climber lost 2 minutes on yesterday stage, and targets now a stage win. He seemed able to take 5 points on the first KOM sprint, but he has been suprised by the young italian Alessandro Bisolti (Nippo). It's logical that this rider tries to take every point : the mountain jersey is already in his team, on the shoulders of Yuma Koishi (Nippo). A lap and 30 kilometers later takes place the second KOM sprint. Bisolti (Nippo) didn't repeat his performance and is beaten by Delio Fernandez (OFM Quinta) and Sandro Pinto (Louletano). The gap is about 5 minutes at this moment, and the peloton starts to wake up. At the intermediate sprint, contested on the starting point of the stage, Fernandez (OFM Quinta) crosses the line just ahead of Diaz (San Luis), while the 3 other riders don't try to fight for points. The peloton continues to accelerate, led by Euskadi and LA Aluminios. When Delio Fernandez (OFM Quinta) won the third GPM, the leading cyclists advantage got down to 3 minutes. Disappointing on the flat finishes, the young dutch sprinter Bart Van Haaren (Koga) suffered a fall, which will not prevent him to get back on his bike and rejoin the peloton. The breakaway get along well, but the pack still managed to reduce the gap at the last crossing of the finish line. While Alessandro Bisolti (Nippo) ensure the jersey of best climber, the peloton splits, leaving only 31 riders in the pursuit of the breakaway. Leaders fail to take advantage of this fact of race and everything comes back to normal ten kilometers later. This allowed the fugitives to stabilize the gap, which is still at one minute when Bisolti (Nippo) wins the final intermediate sprint. The italian does not cut his effort, and drops his companion. There was then a moment of hesitation in the peloton, that Jussi Veikkanen tries to exploit. In the wheel of Risto Kivikoski, the champion of Finland puts a big pace, forcing the pack to start rolling. This will take back the breakaway, which had slowed. Kivikoski leaves his leader alone at 4 kilometers from the end, but Veikkanen, who expected arrival in small groups, is surrounded by the sprinters trains ! He tries to hang on and compete, but he lacks force to keep up. There is then a real show of force on the part of Manuel Cardoso (Banco Bic), who surpasses his opponents even in little hills. The portuguese won his fourth stage in 5 days, and takes also the overall standings, 27 seconds in front of Filipe Cardoso (Efapel), second of the stage also. The final podium is 100% portuguese, with Hugo Sabido (LA Aluminios) taking advantage the third place because of bonus seconds in front of Muhammad Atiq Othman (Terrenganu). Jussi Veikkanen, 13th in the stage, gets a mitigated 18th final rank, while Ilmari Ahtisaari retains his place in the top 10 overall, with the ninth.
Stage Classification :
1 Manuel CARDOSO (Banco Bic) in 3h07'10'' 2 Filipe CARDOSO (Efapel) s.t. 3 Hugo SABIDO (LA Aluminios) s.t. 4 Eric YOUNG (Optum) s.t. 5 Muhamad Atiq OTHMAN (Terengganu) s.t. 6 Carlos BARBERO (Euskadi) s.t. 7 Alex RASMUSSEN (Riwal) s.t. 8 Charles Bradley HUFF (Optum) s.t. 9 Antonio CARVALHO (LA Aluminios) s.t. 10 Joni BRANDÃO (Efapel) s.t. ... 13 Jussi VEIKKANEN (Elisa) s.t.
Overall Classification :
1 Manuel CARDOSO (Banco Bic) in 18h03'09'' 2 Filipe CARDOSO (Efapel) at 27'' 3 Hugo SABIDO (LA Aluminios) at 34'' 4 Muhamad Atiq OTHMAN (Terengganu) at 38'' 5 Antonio CARVALHO (Efapel) s.t. 6 Stan GODRIE (Rabobank Dev.) s.t. 7 Carlos BARBERO (Euskadi) at 40'' 8 Joni BRANDÃO (Efapel) s.t. 9 Ilmari AHTISAARI (Elisa) s.t. 10 Patrick KOS (Airgas) s.t.
Points Classification : 1 Manuel CARDOSO (Banco Bic) with 116 points Mountain Classification : 1 Alessandro BISOLTI (Nippo) with 14 points U25 Classification : 1 Muhamad Atiq OTHMAN (Terengganu) in 18h03'47'' Teams Classification : 1 Team Riwal in 54h11'39''
sutty68 wrote:
Well at least Ahtisaari got a top ten finish then
He only has 67 in SP, so it's quite satisfying
GP Sencur (163,7 km)
Team : J.Veikkanen, I.Ahtisaari, S.Halme, J.Henttala, A.Jallinoja, J.Kangaskokko, J.Toppari
Well recovered from her trip on Portuguese roads, Elisa - Stora Enso is back in action ! On this slovenian classic, it's the sprinters who should monopolize the first places. And riders who had a WorldTour experience predominate among the favorites, like Grega Bole (Vini Fantini), Maxime Vantomme (Roubaix) or Russell Downing (NFTO). Quite satisfied with his Tour of Alentejo, Ilmari Ahtisaari is here today for a new top 10.
As usual, our riders are not rewarded in the breakaway attempts. Jaakko Toppari and Juha Kangaskokko have tried, but miss the good shot, which includes 5 riders today. These are Nils Politt (Stölting), Simon Schrams (De Rijke), Gilles Devillers (Veranclassic), Oscar Guarin (Funvic) and Edward Laverack (Rapha). Politt (Stölting) is unfortunate, because he suffers a flat tire after just ten kilometers of breakaway. But given the low speed of the bunch, He has no problem to come back. the favorites of the race leaves 4 minutes to the fugitives, before gradually accelerating at the beginning of the last 100 kilometers. Despite the several possibilities, the scenario of this GP Sencur is moribund, dull. We just look the escapees losing their advantage over the peloton, led principally by Verandas Willems, Vini Fantini and Roubaix. Spite of appeasement moments in the peloton, allowing the breakaway a breath, the fugitives can see behind them the shape of the pack. They struggle, but will be taken up under the arch of the last 5 kilometers by sprinters trains ready to battle. Ilmari Ahtisaari was ideally placed, but a wave caused him to lose many meters and forces him to produce an effort to pick up at the wheel of his launcher Aulis Jallinoja. Timothy Dupont (Roubaix) performs a titanic work for Maxime Vantomme (Roubaix), that only Benjamin Giraud (La Pomme) manages to follow. Both sprinters have taken a considerable lead, and that's the Belgian Maxime Vantomme (Roubaix) who won this strange sprint ahead Giraud (La Pomme). Income as an arrow, Grega Bole (Vini Fantini) completed the podium. Our first two rungs of the train, Jussi Veikkanen and Samuel Halme have surprised and respectively took the 8th and 10th place. We can console ourselves with the honorific title of the best team, having placed our 7 riders in the top 21.
Classification :
1 Maxime VANTOMME (Roubaix) in 3h33'16'' 2 Benjamin GIRAUD (La Pomme) s.t. 3 Grega BOLE (Vini Fantini) s.t. 4 Mike TEUNISSEN (Rabobank Dev.) s.t. 5 Steven TRONET (BigMat) s.t. 6 Timothy DUPONT (Roubaix) s.t. 7 Nicolas VEREECKEN (Verandas Willems) s.t. 8 Jussi VEIKKANEN (Elisa) s.t. 9 Evaldas SISKEVICIUS (La Pomme) s.t. 10 Samuel HALME (Elisa) s.t.
... 11 Jaakko TOPPARI (Elisa) s.t. 15 Juha KANGASKOKKO (Elisa) s.t. 16 Ilmari AHTISAARI (Elisa) s.t. 17 Joonas HENTTALA (Elisa) s.t. 21 Aulis JALLINOJA (Elisa) s.t.
