We got a few early attacks from anonymous rider, keep in line by a fast peloton.
Half way up Alto del Cordal (7.5 km at 6.0%) they are brought back.
Eros Capecchi makes a last minute attack on the climb, going for the KoM points, but he takes it easy afterwards waiting for the peloton.
Astana, led by Davide Malacarne has set a very hard pace on the climb, starting a selection from the back.
At the same time a series of crashes have split the peloton, many favorites sitting in the 2nd part, Kudos, Trofimov, Plaza, Yates, Nieve ect. at 1’17”
But this early and with such a large group, totally more than 100 riders, Astana is not trying to keep the gap open, they lead over Alto de Carabanzo (3.1 km at 5.8%) but in a moderate pace.
Starting Alto de la Cabana (3.5km at 8.4%) the two groups have been reconnected for some time.
For a while Astana has left the front, now led by Sky’s Gianni Moscon. The pace is hard enough to restart the selection, many if the heavier rider starts dropping of the back. Just 66 riders make it over in the peloton.
On Alto de la Cobert Oria (1st time: 9.4 km at 9.0%) Astana’s is starting a new selection raid, at first Malacarne pulling with all he has, and when he is done Eros Capecchi.
This pressure is so hard that only 9 riders make it to the top in the first group, we got Capecchi, Fuglsang, Aru (Astana), David Belda (Roth), Kenny Elissonde (FDJ), Simon Yates( Orica), Mikel Nieve (Sky), David Arroyo (Caja Rural) and Merhawi Kudus (Dimension Data).
At 37” another 17 riders with Diaz, Rogers, Jeannesson, Dupont, Trofimov and Plaza.
Capecchi having an excellent downhill technic, keeps the gap open on the downhill leading up to Alto de la Cobert Oria (2nd time: 18.3 km at 3.6%), while Merhawi Kudus and David Belda had to let go of the front.
It has started to rain.
With 11 km to the top Capecchi and Fulgsang is also done. Aru desides to attack.
Mikel Nieve comes back, after a while Aru attack again but again Nieve comes back.
This also happens over the top, Aru attack, Nieve comes back.
There is one final obstacle, the uncategorized Cuche Puricu (1.4 km 7.8%), the last attempt from Aru.
This last acceleration was too much for Nieve. In pouring rain Fabio Aru wins in Pola de Lena with 37 second to Mikel Nieve.
David Arroyo takes the last podium at 1’48”.
Evaluation:
Overall:
This was the 2nd season win by the 25 year’s old Italian, after he also won Giro dell'Appennino just 13 days ago.
Most of the favorite teams got an acceptable result, might be that Cofidis (Jeannesson ) and Delko-Marseille (Diaz) just inside top 15 will be a bit disappointed.
Today’s positive surprise was Caja Rural’s David Arroyo, grabbing a podium after being unnoticed by bookmakers and sports magazines.
Astana:
Not the hardest competition but never the less a great result.
It is a cold spring morning in Germany, with lots of rain falling on the riders. Luckily there is no wind.
After a few attempts the peloton settles, with 3 riders out in front, it is Gijs Van Hoecke (Topsport Vlaanderen), Jack Bauer (Cannondale) and Silvio Herklotz (Bora)
The rain does not scare the spectators, the streets are full of cycling interested Germans.
The long climb to Feldberg (14.9 km at 4.3%) is a good opportunity for the breakaway, when the peloton passes over the top they got 8’17”. 144 km to the line.
Besides a single crash, form here it is just one long pursuit.
When the breakaway climb Mammolshain first time out of four, the distance is reduced to 5’22. 100 km left.
The next important development happens with about 50 km to the line.
The soaked road and a brief moment of lost concentration, causes Laurent Pichon’s front wheel to slide. causing a massive accident in the peloton.
Guardini’s important leadout Lutsenko is involved.
Without too much hassle Lutsenko makes it back to the front.
With 15 km left the breakaway is over. Astana get is train up Tleubayev – Lutsenko – Guardini.
The lead-out is perfect, Lutsenko delivers Guardini in front, starting his sprint at 1200 meters.
It gets a bit close at the last 50, but Andrea Guardini wins in Frankfurt, in front of José Joaquin Rojas.
Evaluation:
Overall:
This was the 26 year old Italians first win of the season and his first win since a stage in Abu Dhabi Tour last October.
Must be a huge disappointment for Cofidis. Having on paper clearly the stronger sprinter in Nacer Bouhanni, but not getting on the podium.
Astana:
Another great result, very important that also Guardini seems fit for the coming Giro.
1/5 Final Stage 6/6 Lausanne - Lausanne ITT 16.8 km
We will have fine weater for this final stage of Tour de Romandie, sunny with winds below 10 km/h.
This could be a very decisive day, the focus is on the only 51” distance between race leader Nairo Quintana and Vincenzo Nibali, but also the small time gabs between 4th and 10th in GC could easily provide for some changes.
The first to get a time that might hold, starting as 199th in GC is BMC’s Taylor Phinney, with 21’22, impressively 33” faster than previous best Alex Dowsett (Movistar).
Starting from GC 81th to 37 we now see most of the Astana riders, best is Valerio Agnoli 1’18 after Phinney.
Then it is Tanel Kangert, he is a fine tempo rider, he should be able to do much better. 4th best 25” behind Phinney, looks good - might well be a top 10 time.
Alberto Contador get a disappointing time losing 56” to Phinney
Jean-Christophe Péraud a much better performance,right behind Kangert, also in 25”
Then it is Ion Izagirre Insausti (Moviestar) clocking the best first sector with 7’18”, the best 2nd sector 15’23” and also the best full time 21’18” a total of 4” faster than Phinney
Christopher Froome get a fine time 35” behind Izagirre, currently 9th.
Stage favorite Tejay Van Garderen a little better 30” behind, currently 7th.
Now to the Top 10
Alexis Vuillermoz
Ag2r La Mondiale
+1:42
Beñat Intxaust
Team Sky
+1:05
Wilco Kelderman
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+57”
Mikel Landa Meana
Team Sky
+1:42
Bob Jungels
Etixx - Quick Step
+42”
Pieter Serry
Etixx - Quick Step
+1:00
Pierre Rolland
Cannondale Pro Cycling Team
+1:42
Esteban Cháves
Orica-GreenEDGE
+1:37
Then it is Vincenzo Nibali, and he got perfect legs today.
Setting a first sector time just 1” behind Izagirre. 3rd best in the same time as Phinney.
Just abouth to catch Cháves, Nibali sets new best 2nd sector 15’22,
A little slower on the last section he comes in 2nd, 1” behind Izagirre.
Then we got race leader Quintana left.
He clocks a first sector 20th best, 19” behind Izagirre, looks like a very close GC after this.
2 sector 18 best, 33 seconds behind Nibali.
And last sector 16th best, losing a total 46 seconds to Izagirre, with a narrow margin he holds of Nibali in the GC.
Evaluation Stage:
Overall:
This was the first season win by 27 years old Spanish Ion Izagirre Insausti, his first win since winning the GC at Tour de Pologne in August last year.
Some of the pre-race favorites disappointed, they may have been demotivate by the already bad GC they had. Especially Kelderman and Kiryienka had a very bad ITT, both finishing outside top 25.
The positive surprice was German Patrick Gretsch (Ag2r), not a rider with many results as good as this.
Astana:
Fine ITT from both Nibali and Kangert. So close so close.
Evaluation Race:
Overall:
This was the first season GC win by 26 the years old Colombian, although he has won a stage in Paris-Nice back in March. His last GC win was Tirreno – Adriatico March last year.
The race was a huge disappointment for both podium favorite Contador (Tinkoff) and Froome (Sky), Sky with some comfort in having other in top 10.
The positive was Orica’s Esteban Cháves, unregarded by media and despite a bad ITT, his ride on Champex-Lac secured a GC podium.
Astana:
At first coming this close without winning is not easy, but 2nd is a good result against a Quintana seemingly in top shape.
1/5 Final Stage 2/2 Soto de Ribera – Oviedo 167.4 km
It is fine weater, just a few clouds and nearly no wind.
The stage is officially hilly but that is a bit of an understatement, especially the 7.0 km to Alto de la Degollada comming with 50 km to the line, got an average of 6.8%, and with a first 2 km often above 15% is very hard.
Also Alto de Violeo, starting with just 10 km left, is very steep. Just 3.7 km but average of 8.0%. Again very hard at the first 2 km.
Now to the race:
Roy (FDJ) and Maté (Cofidis) attacks on the first small hill getting a minute on the peloton.
On “Dosango” Brutt (Tinkoff) accelerates, Contreras (Quick Step), Capecchi and Brown (Cannondale) counters, and soon joins the duo in front.
The peloton seems to accept the situation we got a 6 rider breakaway.
Astana is very fine with the situation, Capecchi is an paper the strongest rider in the break, and the pressure is of Astana, no longer having to control the race.
Capecchi wins the KoM, the jersey is almost secured.
The distance grow to more than 4 minutes, but Cofidis is not satisfied with Maté’s possibility’s in the break, they start to set a higher pace in the peloton, approaching “Alto de la Fallona” the gap is down to 2’43.
The reason for Cofidis’ pursuit becomes clear on the climb, when Arnold Jeannesson accelerate away from the peloton. A little later also Daniel Ricardo Diaz (Delko) attack.
The hard pace have reduced the breakaway to Capecchi, Roy and Maté. With 21 km left, close to the top of Alto de la Miranda they got 1’29 to a favorite group of 23 riders, everyone else are now brought back.
Capecchi attack in the breakaway with 10 km left, soon after Aru accelerates away from the favorites closing the gap to Roy and Maté.
4 km to the line:
Mikel Nieve (Sky) and Arthur Vichot (FDJ) have caught Aru the trio have 20 seconds to Capecchi and Yury Trofimov (Tinkoff)
At 1’08 Ruben Fernandez (Movistar)
At 1’55” Simon Yates (Orica), Kenny Elissonde (FDJ) Omar Fraile (Dimension Data) and Jakob Fuglsang
Under the red kite it is clear than it is between the three in front. Aru sits on Nieve’s wheel, Fraile last.
Nieve start the sprint , Aru has no problem passing him but Fraile has the stronger sprint and beats him on the last 50 meters.
Evaluation Stage:
Overall:
This was the 2nd season win by 27 year’s old French Arthur Vichot, after he also won Classic Sud Ardèche back in February.
A stage where the favorites delivered, no huge surprises.
Even though not mentioned above we had some serious crashes during the stage:
Romain Combaud (Delko), Bert-Jan Lindeman (LottoNL – Jumbo) and Fabio Sabatini (Etixx - Quick Step) was hospitalized with long term injuries.
Jérôme Mainard (Equipe Cycliste) abandoned, but with just some minor bruises.
Astana:
Can’t complain with 3 riders in top 10.
Evaluation Race:
Overall:
This was the 3nd season win by 25 year’s old Italian Fabio Aru, after he’s stage win here and winning Giro dell'Appennino 14 day ago.
A race with no huge negative surprises, may be that Tinkoff is a bit disappointed neither Michael Rogers nor Yury Trofimov making it to top 10, but they were not podium favorites and both ended just outside the leaderboard.
The positive surprise was Movistar’s 25 years old Ruben Fernandez, showing constant result on both stages. A podium here will be amongst his better results.
Astana:
Not much to win and all to lose in this race, but Astana delivered with winning GC, Points, KoM and 3 riders in top 10, can’t get much better.
30/4-1/5 2016 Vuelta a Asturias
1/5-2016 Rund um den Finanzplatz 1.HC
26/4-1/5 2016 Tour de Romandie
