@Sutty He's still 47 seconds of the yellow jersey, which will be hard to make up on the flat stages. Except for the next one, I think all other stages are nearly completely flat.
@Shonak Yeah, it was great. He really pulled back a lot of time on the last kilometre or so.
@Martial Being the only one in form bonus, more like.
Might get up a stage today, since my exam has passed. Want to catch up on my MG HQ before though, so maybe stage 4 will have to wait for tomorrow.
The last of the hilly stages. It's quite flat for most of the race, though it ends on a steep hill, so it suits my abilities perfectly. It should be long enough to open a gap in a sprint, so I'll probably wait for that this time.
In the pink jersey again, though I'm still only in because Hivert is in yellow. I hope to take it over for real though at the end of today.
I rolled over in third for the intermediate after the breakaway of two had passed. Those two points and seconds for the GC might be very valuable at the end, though for now, Hivert still leads.
As nothing much was happening, I had a chat with Jay Thomson, the South African champion. I do hope to take over that jersey in a months time though!
We had our obligatory mid stage attacks. Most dangerous riders by far were Dutch champion Hoogerland and young Italian climber Aru. Nobody serious though, so the peleton remained calm.
Then I decided to attack on a short but steep hill, just testing my legs and those of my opponents. I quickly made a gap - now I had to wait and see.
Soon a chasing group, lead by Belkin for Hivert, but also including Ulissi, broke free from the pack. I still had a little gap on them.
Then Ulissi and Hivert decided to leave the group, consisting of their team-mates and two NetApp riders behind, for whatever reason. I let them catch me, figuring two vs. one wouldn't pay off for me, at least not at this point.
We worked relatively well together, but it was obvious nobody wanted to go all-out, and so the pack caught up to us.
Now only the original breakaway and the midstage attackers remained, in a big group up the road. But they were slowly dropping back too, one by one.
As we entered the finishing hill, about two kilometres from the summit, only Aru remained from the original breakaway. One of the outside favourites, Bakelants, decided to go for it. I didn't follow, as I figured it wouldn't be worth going, so close to the finish.
I started my sprint from the very front of the pack. Bakelants had already gotten a dangerously big gap however, and Aru was definitely gone.
I was gaining speed quickly though. Maybe I could still get the same time as Bakelants?
Aru took a deserved win after his mid-stage attack. I still had a lot of work to do to catch Bakelants, and was slowly losing energy. I had however opened a gap behind me, so I was sure to take time on Hivert, at least.
In the end, me and Kennaugh broke free from the pack, and got our own time, a little behind Bakelants. I'm only 16" behind Hivert now!
@Shonak Indeed. Only flat stages from now on though, so he'll have to show his sprinting qualities to do that. Especially given that Hivert is a quite good sprinter himself.
@Sutty Yup. Kanelo is his second name btw, not sure if you're using it like that.
@Martial Yes, even a second place would be a great start to the season.
Going to play the next stage now, will hopefully be up soon.
The first real sprint stage here. The first half is quite lumpy, but the last kilometres are completely flat, so we will almost certainly see a bunch sprint. I have Vangenechten and Van der Sande here to lead me out, but it will still be tough to beat guys like Sam Bennett.
Another day in pink, and another day in yellow for Hivert. I'm really intent on getting that jersey off him though, since I'm a much better sprinter than him. Okay, maybe not that much, but I've got the better train for sure.
As expected, Belkin did no work at all, hoping for the break to take the bonus seconds. So it was us at the front for most of the race. Big shoutout to Breen, Vallée and Broeckx, they were amazing in the early stages of the race!
At last the teams of the other favourites joined the pursuit. Wanty, NetApp and Lampre obviously didn't want to give the break much leeway either, especially with guys like Rohan Dennis in it.
Then suddenly, the wind grew stronger and stronger. I was caught behind a little, whereas Hivert was safely near the front. What's worse, I only had Lightart left, the others were all way behind.
I fought my way further up, but Ulissi and Hivert seemed to be plotting something up front.
Luckily, the pace slowed a lot after the remainders of the break were caught, and I managed to get to the very front. Maybe if I could push a little harder, get a bit of a gap...?
I was getting a tiny gap, but it really only was marginal. Hivert was right behind me, too. If it stayed like this, I'd just end up leading him out!
Suddenly Gavazzi came out of nowhere. I tried to take his slipstream, and left Hivert behind me. Only about 1.5km to go...
I caught up to him! It was looking good now, nobody seemed to be coming up too fast behind us, and I was still feeling fresh. It didn't look like there'd be a time gap, but a win would do, given Hivert wouldn't get bonus seconds.
Yes, I overtook him. Nearly there now!
No sign of Hivert behind me. I only needed to hold on now.
And I did it! Clarke and Navardauskas took 2nd and 3rd, so I took yellow! What a day!
@Sutty Now that's something I didn't expect to hear him called so soon.
@Shonak For sure. I reckon he must easily be the best in form of the whole field. Looking good ahead of the NC's where he might get the title if he can play it well against MTN, and the cobbles where he might be a great help to Roelandts.
The flattest stage of the race so far. This time, crosswinds should be the only thing preventing this from being a normal sprint stage. We are better prepared than yesterday though, so it shouldn't be a problem.
Being in the yellow jersey is simply undescribable. Suddenly you are the centre of the whole race, everybody wants a picture with you before the start, but of course it also means a lot more pressure. I feel that I'm in great form though, so it shouldn't really be a problem.
Winds were strong-ish in the early stages of the race, but we had everything under control. Of course we were the main team chasing the break.
Suddenly, Wanty placed an attack. This could be dangerous, but where did my helpers go? One moment, they're working on the front, the next, they're nowhere to be seen.
Shortly after, I noticed why: Crosswinds! Lighthart managed to stay at the front, but I was well back. Vallée was trying to pull me back to the front, though.
I was getting back slowly. But what was the situation up front? How far were the breakaway away? It was all very chaotic.
Seemingly they had just been caught, because the pace dropped and I made it to the front again. Some great work by Vallée, big shoutout to him!
We even managed to form a little train, with Vallée at the front and Lighthart as my last man. We were the only ones though, could I get another win?
It looked likely. As Vallée dropped back, we were well ahead of everybody else.
As I started my sprint, Gavazzi was the only one who seemed able to challenge me.
He had burnt himself up already! I surely had this now...
I had! Lighthart even managed to make this a 1-2. This really has been a great race for me so far, I don't want it to finish tomorrow!
Simphi being in yellow and then winning the stage. And of all races, it's here. Simphi must be already on Cloud 7. This joy will have to be paid though with some unbearable suffering in the mountains.
"It’s a little bit scary when Contador attacks." - Tommy V
@Shonak He sure is! Though it has to be said, this race is more about early season form than about anything else. So with this and the SA NC's being big goals, he's obviously doing well.
And yes, the mountains won't be fun. A nice HI stat and MO in the 60's should keep him safe from the worst though.
Trying to up the pace again by a bit, so I'll probably post stage seven in a few minutes, too.
Rated flat, the peleton has to pass a rather steep hill eight times today. This should be a stage for hilly sprinters, like me. Though today is all about bringing the yellow jersey home.
An idyllic start under palms, but of course the atmosphere wasn't relaxed. You can see how tense me and my only real remaining challenger, Hivert, are.
Broeckx attacked, trying to take over the KoM lead, where he is two points off the top spot, and giving the rest of the team an easier day.
He got caught out on the first KoM sprint though. Two remaining.
On the second, he was looking good, but got stuck behind Clarke. Only one chance to take over the lead...
And again no luck. Instead, the KoM jersey goes to Wallays, who was also in the group (in second position, on the picture).
However, things were more interesting back in the back. Me and Breen were on the good side of a split containing 16 guys. Of course it didn't last long, but it showed that we needed to keep attention on the two remaining climbs.
Meanwhile up front, the breakaway had a dangerously big lead. Broeckx had dropped back and was helping the chase, but it looked like the break would stay clear.
On the last ascent, Ulissi and Hivert tried to get away. Lighthart and Vallée were right there to cover the move, while I'm just outside the picture.
Up front, my good mate Louis Meintjes took the win. Feeling really happy for him, he really deserves it!
With the top four places gone, I sprinted for fifth, which I managed. What a great end to a great race!
Result
1
Louis Meintjes
MTN - Qhubeka
2h50'10
2
Francesco Failli
YellowFluo
+ 21
3
Christian Knees
Team Sky
s.t.
4
Jelle Wallays
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
5
Simphiwe Kanelo
Lotto Belisol
+ 1'02
6
Michael Mørkøv
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
7
Ramunas Navardauskas
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
8
Sam Bennett
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
9
Pim Ligthart
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
10
Alexey Tsatevitch
Team Katusha
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Jonathan Hivert
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
12
Diego Ulissi
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
13
Daryl Impey
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
14
Michel Kreder
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
15
Simon Clarke
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
16
Danilo Napolitano
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
17
Sonny Colbrelli
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
18
Ariel Maximiliano Richeze
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
19
Barry Markus
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
20
Salvatore Puccio
Team Sky
s.t.
21
Matteo Pelucchi
IAM Cycling
s.t.
22
André Cardoso
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
23
Bartosz Huzarski
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
24
Jan Bakelants
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
25
Kenneth Vanbilsen
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
26
Jempy Drucker
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
27
Boris Vallée
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
28
Julien Vermote
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
29
Blaz Jarc
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
30
Borut Božic
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
31
Daniel Schorn
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
32
Brett Lancaster
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
33
Paul Martens
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
34
Davide Rebellin
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
35
Lieuwe Westra
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
36
Francesco Chicchi
YellowFluo
s.t.
37
Martin Velits
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
38
Tosh Van der Sande
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
39
Francesco Bongiorno
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
40
Jay McCarthy
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
41
Miguel Rubiano
Colombia
s.t.
42
Kenny Van Hummel
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
43
Davide Appollonio
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
44
Enrico Battaglin
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
45
Wilco Kelderman
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
46
Zakkari Dempster
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
47
Laurens De Vreese
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
48
Giampaolo Caruso
Team Katusha
s.t.
49
Bob Jungels
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
50
Graeme Brown
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
51
José Mendes
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
52
Roy Jans
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
53
Aidis Kruopis
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
54
Frederique Robert
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
55
Damien Gaudin
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
56
Julian Alaphilippe
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
57
Scott Thwaites
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
58
Vegard Breen
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
59
Fumiyuki Beppu
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
60
Matti Breschel
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
61
Jonas Vangenechten
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
62
Gert Steegmans
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
63
Stig Broeckx
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
64
Raymond Kreder
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
65
Davide Cimolai
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
66
David Millar
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
67
Leonardo Duque
Colombia
s.t.
68
Frantisek Padour
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
69
Maarten Wynants
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
70
Jeffry Romero
Colombia
s.t.
71
Manuel Belletti
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
72
Jens Keukeleire
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
73
Marco Frapporti
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
74
Sergio Pardilla
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
75
Jacek Morajko
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
76
Alexandr Kolobnev
Team Katusha
s.t.
77
Michal Golas
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
78
Jos Van Emden
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
79
Edoardo Zardini
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
80
Fabio Aru
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
81
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
Team Sky
s.t.
82
Rafael Andriato
YellowFluo
s.t.
83
Johnny Hoogerland
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
84
Nikolas Maes
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
85
Andrea Palini
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
86
Bram Tankink
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
87
Matteo Rabottini
YellowFluo
s.t.
88
James Vanlandschoot
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
89
Vicente Reynès
IAM Cycling
s.t.
90
Stefano Locatelli
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
91
Pieter Vanspeybrouck
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
92
Vladimir Isaychev
Team Katusha
s.t.
93
Stijn Devolder
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
94
Marco Bandiera
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
95
Peter Kennaugh
Team Sky
s.t.
96
Alexey Lutsenko
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
97
Christopher Sutton
Team Sky
s.t.
98
Sébastien Reichenbach
IAM Cycling
s.t.
99
Ángel Vicioso
Team Katusha
s.t.
100
Steve Chainel
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
101
Guillaume Van Keirsbulck
Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team
s.t.
102
Lloyd Mondory
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
103
Elia Favilli
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
104
Danilo Hondo
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
105
Mitchell Docker
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
106
Roger Kluge
IAM Cycling
s.t.
107
Jonathan Cantwell
Drapac Pro Cycling
s.t.
108
William Clarke
Drapac Pro Cycling
s.t.
109
Nathan Earle
Team Sky
s.t.
110
Dimitriy Muravyev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
111
Sergiy Gretchyn
Torku Seker Spor
s.t.
112
Rafael Valls
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
113
Xabier Zandio
Team Sky
s.t.
114
Yuri Metlushenko
Torku Seker Spor
s.t.
115
Nick Nuyens
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
116
Mateusz Nowak
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
117
Łukasz Owsian
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
118
Kristian Sbaragli
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
119
Matej Mugerli
Adria Mobil
s.t.
120
Primož Roglič
Adria Mobil
s.t.
121
Jarlinson Pantano
Colombia
s.t.
122
Andriy Grivko
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
123
Laurent Didier
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
124
Francesco Gavazzi
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
125
Heinrich Haussler
IAM Cycling
s.t.
126
Marcel Aregger
IAM Cycling
+ 4'27
127
Gang Xu
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
128
Gijs Van Hoecke
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
+ 5'19
129
Radoslav Rogina
Adria Mobil
+ 5'41
130
Mauro Finetto
YellowFluo
s.t.
131
Koldo Fernández
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
132
Marco Canola
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
133
Jarl Salomein
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
134
Maciej Paterski
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
135
Fabio Silvestre
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
136
Rohan Dennis
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
137
Christian Meier
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
138
Bartlomiej Matysiak
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
139
Damien Howson
Orica GreenEdge
s.t.
140
Edward Theuns
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
141
Gediminas Bagdonas
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
142
Matthias Brändle
IAM Cycling
s.t.
143
Jacques Janse Van Rensburg
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
144
Angelo Pagani
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
145
Ahmet Akdilek
Torku Seker Spor
s.t.
146
Yaroslav Popovych
Trek Factory Racing
+ 6'15
147
Sébastien Minard
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
148
Patrick Facchini
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
149
Gabriel Rasch
Team Sky
s.t.
150
Vyacheslav Kuznetsov
Team Katusha
s.t.
151
Hayden Roulston
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
152
Anton Vorobyev
Team Katusha
s.t.
153
Ben Gastauer
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
154
Filippo Fortin
Bardiani CSF
s.t.
155
Edwin Ávila
Colombia
s.t.
156
Sébastien Hinault
IAM Cycling
s.t.
157
Marko Kump
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
158
Adam Phelan
Drapac Pro Cycling
s.t.
159
Marco Minnaard
Wanty - Groupe Gobert
s.t.
160
Pawel Poljanski
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
161
Michael Kolar
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
162
Juan Esteban Arango
Colombia
s.t.
163
Lasse Norman Hansen
Garmin Sharp
s.t.
164
Antonino Parrinello
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
165
Tomás Gil
YellowFluo
s.t.
166
Wouter Wippert
Drapac Pro Cycling
s.t.
167
Aleksandr Kuschynski
Team Katusha
s.t.
168
Lachlan Norris
Drapac Pro Cycling
s.t.
169
Juan Pablo Valencia
Colombia
s.t.
170
Mirac Kal
Torku Seker Spor
s.t.
171
Jay Thomson
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
172
Manuele Boaro
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
173
Preben Van Hecke
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
174
Ruslan Tleubayev
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
175
Nikolay Mihaylov
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
176
Patrick Gretsch
AG2R La Mondiale
s.t.
177
Robbie Hucker
Drapac Pro Cycling
s.t.
178
José Serpa
Lampre - Merida
s.t.
179
Tomasz Nose
Adria Mobil
s.t.
180
Christopher Juul-Jensen
Tinkoff - Saxo
s.t.
181
Youcef Reguigui
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
182
Freqalsi Debesay
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
183
Nicola Testi
Androni Giocattoli
s.t.
184
Luigi Miletta
YellowFluo
s.t.
185
Johann Van Zyl
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
186
Josef Cerny
CCC Polsat Polkowice
s.t.
187
Thomas Sprengers
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
188
Klemen Stimulak
Adria Mobil
s.t.
189
Jordan Kerby
Drapac Pro Cycling
s.t.
190
Andrea Dal Col
YellowFluo
+ 7'51
191
Aljaz Hocevar
Adria Mobil
+ 8'21
192
Muhammed Atalay
Torku Seker Spor
s.t.
193
Robinson Chalapud
Colombia
s.t.
194
Feritcam Samli
Torku Seker Spor
s.t.
195
Thomas Palmer
Drapac Pro Cycling
s.t.
196
Fatih Keles
Torku Seker Spor
+ 9'30
197
Rasim Reis
Torku Seker Spor
+ 10'37
What a race! I took the GC, the points jersey, the youth jersey, and an incredible four stages in my first race for Lotto. The team are very content with me so far, and going by my form, I might be one of Roelandts and Greipels key helpers in the Omloop and at K-B-K. Before that, I have both SA NCs. Due to my form, I'm considered the biggest favourite that doesn't ride for MTN.
A hilly profile for this. Last year, on a completely flat route, I finished seventh. Due to two reasons I feel confident on improving on that:
1) This is a constant up and down, and I'm good both on the hills and the downhills, so that's definitily a good thing.
2) Only five pros entered. We knew only few would make the trip, which could be a real problem in the road race, but only five seems very little. Quite a disgrace, in my opinion. Everybody else just seems busy in other races. Hopefully more will enter the roadrace.
To my own surprise, I entered this race as the top favourite (and as only WT rider), so I started last. Pressure was on, but I delivered at the first checkpoint. 44" ahead of Smit.
On the second time check, I even manage to extend this to just over 1'00". I had it in my pocket, it was all downhill from now.
I crossed the line 47" ahead of Smit. What a victory! Not a hard one, granted. But wearing the colours of my country in every TT for the next year is of course a huge honour. Hopefully I can do that in normal road stages, too. We'll have to wait and see.
Result
1
Simphiwe Kanelo
Lotto Belisol
54'56
2
Willie Smit
Vini Fantini Nippo
+ 47
3
Martin Wesemann
MTN - Qhubeka
+ 50
4
Dennis Van Niekerk
MTN - Qhubeka
+ 54
5
Devan Dunn
Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
+ 1'03
Road Race
Profile
Another hilly route. The competition is indeed a bit better than in the TT, with Daryl Impey and John-Lee Augustyn being the main favourites beside me. MTN field a full team, so following every move with an MTN rider in it is a real must.
The start. Last year I was here as helper, but now, I feel I have a real chance of winning. I was at the front of the 11 man peleton right from the start, ready to respond to any possible attacks.
Wesemann and Smit were the first to go. Of course, I followed immediately.
It didn't last very long though. Over the summit of the climb, everything was back together.
Another attack! This time the MTN rider is Van Zyl, whereas the other one is Smit again. I set off in pursuit again.
And managed to bridge the gap. The groups advantage was growing quickly, it looked like this move migth stick...
So it did. Soon our gap reached double figures, and it was obvious we were gone for good.
Of course this sparked attacks from the peleton, but Impey was well guarded by Augustyn and Venter, so it all came back together.
Our gap finally maxed out at around 15'00". It was clear I was the best on these hills out of our group, so I wasn't really worried.
Smit was the first rider in our group to attack. This happened on a flat part, around 15km from the finish.
On the last ascent of the sharktooth hill before the finishing hill, I tried to bridge the gap to Smit. I was getting slightly worried, what if we gave him a too big advantage?
I didn't manage, and soon Van Zyl was back with me. What if we did let Smit go to easily, what if I blew my chances of the jersey so stupidly?
But Smit was no match for me on the finishing hill. I caught up to him pretty much as soon as it started...
...and just rode right past him! Nothing was going to stop me now!
I started celebrating way before the finishing line, just like Mayo on L'Alpe d'Huez.
My biggest victory of the year! This means I will wear the South African jersey in every race I enter. Words really can't describe how happy I am about that.
