After the success in Limousin, I went to the Tour du Poitou Charentes happy and just wanting to keep my legs ticking over and building my form towards the Canadian WT Races.
With a flat profile throughout, the ITT on Stage 4 could be the GC decider. However, the hillier profile on Stage 2 could cause a few issues for the Pure Sprinters and give a surprise winner.
Race Report
With the first 3 stages looking like a Sprinter's haven, just had to make sure I stayed out of trouble. This was something that I have fell foul to in the past, if you remember the Tour of Alberta last year.
Stage 1 went to Marcel Kittel (Giant), with the powerful German Champion outsprinting Sasha Modolo (Lampre) and our South African Stagaire Goredema Chisiza. It was great start for us.
Stage 2 saw Chisiza wearing the White Jersey, and with my Rainbow Flag jersey on show as well, we proudly rode towards the front of the pack throughout the stage. As expected, the pure sprinters struggled over the final climb, including Chisiza, and Anthony Roux (FDJ) caused the shocked with the stage win. I finished in 5th, and was feeling happy to keep with someone like Kittel at the end.
Stage 3 would be where I would work for my South African compatriot. The break escaped early, was caught with 25km to go, and as Chisiza struggled to follow the wheel of Kittel, I told him to follow me and I hit the front. It was lead-out perfection, a small South African train coming into the finish.
The sprint opened up, and Goredema was looking strong. Kittel was closing, but somehow our young Sprinter discovered a Cavendish-esque second wind and threw his arms in the air! His first ever victory as a professional, and he had just beaten Marcel Kittel! I felt nothing but pride for him.
With two stages left, I sat in 9th on GC, with a good chance of challenging for a good GC position after the ITT.
After Stage 3, I was sitting well in 9th on GC, and hoping to bolster my position during the Stage 4 ITT. It is only 22km long, so the time gaps should not be too large, but with just 20 seconds more than 20 riders, the lead could easily change hands.
The final stage could still cause some issues in the GC standings, especially with the short, steep climbs on the finishing circuit. I will have to make sure I stay aware and not lose any time.
Race Report
With the Time Trial looming, the weather opened up in Western France. Rain fell from the first rider to the last, and it was not going to be a pleasant day in the saddle.
Strangely, I enjoyed the wet ride. I settled quickly, and crossing the line, I finished 20th, just 49" down on the stage winner Alex Dowsett (Movistar). I remained 9th on GC, gaining time on those above, but losing time on those behind. Mikhail Ignatiev (Katusha) finished 2nd on the stage, taking over the GC lead in the process.
The final stage was more a formality than a stage that could cause any issues. Whilst the finishing circuit was difficult, the pace being set in the run in meant that an attack was instantly neutralised by the lead-out trains. Sasha Modolo (Lampre) took the victory, as I could only manage 10th.
I was happy with my Top 10 position, but a little disappointed that I missed out on the U25 Jersey by 1 second. Saying that, my target is the Canadian WT races, so I will not dwell on the disappointment too long.
12 months ago, the Tour of Alberta was going to be my final race before my big target for the season - The Tour of Britain. This season, I return to Canada, but in preparation for the Canadian WorldTour Races. 12 months ago, my race ended with my broken shoulder, and my season over. This year will result in the same outcome.
Just like last year, Stage 5, with it's big climb and uphill finish will be my main target for the race. The 2014 edition of the race opens with a Mountain ITT, so it will be key to start strongly and limit my losses against the bigger names.
Race Report
I felt good going into the opening Mountain ITT. Riding hard, I finished 8th, just 17" down on Stage Winner, and my future team-mate, Rohan Dennis (Garmin). With big names ahead of me in the standings, and even more laying behind, I would have to remain alert to avoid dropping out the Top 10.
Stage 2 & 3 were both flat, and gave the Sprinters in the field a chance to shine in the race. Goredema Chisiza was out main man for the sprints, like in France, and he was outstanding again. Finishing 3rd on Stage 2, he just lost out on Stage 3, coming 2nd by half a wheel length. I spent the stages staying safe, and avoid the mistakes made 12 months ago. With the legs feeling strong, I also offered my lead-out duties to Chisiza again. We seemed to be making quite the pairing.
Three stages down, and I was feeling stronger and stronger the more race went on. I was also incident-free, which was also a nice surprise. This time last year, I was on my way to hospital with my season in tatters. This year, I was in a battle for the GC victory.
Stage 5 was still my target stage, and with just 17" separating Dennis in 1st to myself in 7th, any time gaps could be key to the Overall Victory. Stage 4 & 6 would favour the Sprinters, and like in the earlier stages, I would have make sure that needless seconds wouldn't be lost.
Race Report
Stage 4 was the biggest test so far in the race. Windy, cold and the rain fell hard all day. Splits were happening all over the peleton, but thankfully I finished the stage with the other favourites, and Goredema Chisiza took another Stage Podium, with a strong 3rd place.
And so it was to the big stage in Alberta. Stage 5, with it's uphill climb to the finish line. The day spent staying safe, near the front of the peleton to avoid splits or attacks. On the 4km climb to the end, I told Christophe Kern to go hard on the front and I would follow. It worked perfectly! At 1.6km to go, with Kern slowly dying in the saddle, I attacked. No-one could respond to the acceleration, and I held on for the win! I couldn't have been happier. Looking back, only Dennis, Ignatiev (Katusha), Offredo (FDJ) and Wegmann (Garmin) were able to keep up.
Entering the final stage, I sat 2nd on GC, but knew that the Bonus Seconds on the line could drop me to 5th if the stage finished a certain way. A majority of the stage was spent sitting nervously in the pack, trying to avoid any crashes, and thinking about the 'What If's' all stage. It didn't make for a comfortable day.
With 5km to go, there was only one certain way to avoid any ate crashes. I did what I was good at recently, and led-out Chisiza for the stage win. If he could take away any bonus seconds on the finish line, then it would be advantage North! With 500m to go, he faded, but in the end, the order on the line was enough for me to keep my GC place. The smile on my face crossing the line was a sight for all to see. They knew I was ready for the WorldTour races in a week's time.
It has been said from the beginning of the season that the Canadian WorldTour Races were going to be my big targets for the year. Both routes suited my strengths, and build up races have enabled me to slowly add miles to the legs and be fully prepared.
First up in the Grand Prix de Quebec. Hilly in profile, but seen as more rolling than its sister race in Montreal. The finish is uphill, and position coming into the last kilometre will be key.
Tommy Voeckler leads the team, but I will be quickly promoted if he begins to struggle. Whilst Tommy is a great rider, his main target is the World Championships and Il Lombardia, so his preparation has been very different.
Race Report
Hoping to going with similar tactic to at Fleche Wallonne, Björn Thurau was part of a large 12 man break that attacked at the start of the stage. Given his promising future as a Puncheur, we couldn't think of anyone better to play a key role towards the end of the race.
The early stages of my race was spent trying to relax and not expend too much energy near the front of the peleton. Tommy did a great job, and even before we had hit the second of the race had already decided that I would stand a better chance of a high finish. He turned to a Road Captain role and I was Leader.
The Leader role seemed to really focus my mind, and as the attacks began to happen, I was alert enough to follow. Kwiatkowski (OmegaPharma) and Quintana (Movistar) made the first move, and with 20km remaining, easily bridged the gap to the lead group of escapees.
Heading into the final lap, all the favourites were part of a 29 rider lead group. I had Björn and Tommy for company, but they were tiring with every pedal stroke and I was pretty much on my own.
Pre-race I said that position going into the final kilometre was key, and I certainly learnt that that was the case. Taking the wheel of Contador (Tinkoff), I was too far back to make an impact, and saw my chance of winning disappearing with it.
Victory went to Kwiatkowski, as he comfortably outsprinted the whole group. Under the Flamme Rouge, he was perfectly placed, and from there, the Pole didn't look back, as I crossed the line a respectable 7th place.
Safe to say, I learnt some key lessons in One Day Racing today. I just need to put it into place in Montreal.
In Quebec, it felt like 'Close, but no Cigar!' 7th place was a very respectable finish, and when you see that I was ahead of the current World Champion, many wondered why I was sulking. In my head, I felt like a Top 5 finish was a minimum coming into the final sprint. My problem was my positioning and the inability to make an impact. GP de Montreal was all about payback and showing that I can do better.
Despite being classed as a Puncheur's heaven on paper, like Quebec, Montreal looks like a completely different race in reality. The finish is downhill, whilst the climbs are sharper and could cause more splits if the pace is high enough.
I go into the race as the pure Leader, and with a team that will be able to help me throughout the entire race.
Race Report
To say that the start of the race was manic, it would be an understatement. Every attack was instantly chased down by the Katusha and Astana riders, and even with Malacarne tried to sneak off on his own, he could only gain a lead of 33" before being brought back. It was so fast, and I am glad I had the others around me.
When a break finally formed, it was given a lead of 3 minutes before the chase began, and with 3 laps remaining, the favourites began to make their move. I was alert, following the attacks and sat patiently at other times. I was learning from previous races, and feeling good if this ended in a bunch sprint.
Offredo (FDJ), Rui Costa (Lampre) and Kwiatkowski (OmegaPharma) made their moves first, and this I felt happy to let go. There was still 2 laps remaining in the race, and the chase group behind was going to quick to waste energy attacking out of.
Over the top of the climb on the final lap, it was going to be down to 9 riders to take the win. GP Quebec winner Kwiatkowski was looking the favourite again, and a small battle was on behind for his wheel. I was locked on, and World Champion or not, Rui Costa was not going to muscle in.
I knew Kwiatkowski had gone too early, and felt strong as I jumped out of the pedals to sprint. Rui Costa was on my shoulder, but strangely wasn't coming past. I jumped out from behind Kwiatkowski with 200 metres to go, looked back and threw my arms in the air! The scream of delight could have been heard for miles around. I was a winner of a WorldTour race. This was a dream come true.
Woohoo! Excellent result there, Martijn showing up the world's best despite his relative inexperience at the top level. Beating the World Champion too... is this a sign of things to come? Hope so!
@Oz: I was expecting more from Costa and really happy to get two 'victories' over the World Champion. Montreal was perfection in a race. Martijn followed all attacks and had energy to burn in the sprint. Good signs for the future WC announcement to come tonight
Whilst I was riding to glory in Canada, the 2014 Vuelta a Espana was coming to it's conclusion with a short 20km ITT in Santiago de Compostela, and it was a fantastic Grand Tour for Team Europcar.
After his disappointment at the Tour de France, Pierre Rolland battled against the odds, and lack of fitness before the race, to finish a fantastic 7th place on GC, as Chris Froome (Team Sky) put his Le Tour demons behind him, and comfortably won the Vuelta Title. The Spanish pair of Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) and Joaquim RodrÃguez (Katusha) rounded off the podium.
Shortly after I returned to Geneva from my exploits in Canada, I received a call from Douglas Ryder, the Team Principal of MTN - Qhubeka. Puzzled at first, but he soon explained he has been chosen to pick the 2014 World Championships squad for South Africa. As the current National Road Race and Time Trial Champion, and given my recent form, it seemed I was first choice for up and coming race in Ponferrada, Spain.
With a huge smile on my face, I was more than pleased to accept. Representing my country was a huge honour, and when you get the call for duty, who wouldn't say Yes!
Marcel Kittel
Sacha Modolo
Anthony Roux
Juan José Lobato del Valle
Chisiza has deserved the win
Mikhail Ignatiev
Brent Bookwalter
Kanstantsin Siutsou
Jackson Jesus Rodriguez Ortiz
Stephen Cummings
Stanley Camus
Nelson Oliveira
Rohan Dennis
Daniel Ricardo Diaz
Fabio Andres Duarte Arevalo
Michal Kwiatkowski
Simon Spilak
Roman Kreuziger
Fränk Schleck
