In April we took part in 7 races again, one PTHC stage race, two HC classic, one C1 classics, two C1 stage races and one C2 classis.
Starting out 8/4 in C2 one day race Coppa Placci a hard semi mountain race up and down all day. Campari’s Filippo Rocchetti won the very first edition last season from a breakaway. This time our best option would be Estifanos Kebede with a fine mix of climbing and punch. Kebede crossed the line as 8th, very acceptable result.
The day after the points wise the much more important PTHC stage race Tour of Pologne, running from 9/4 to 15/4. A race where we was had send a very weak squad with Estifanos Kebede and Laurent Pichon in shared leader role and where out best hope was likely to be a lucky punch from a breakaway.
At stage 1 we did get Ha Jeon Jung in the breakaway but a puncture ended his possibilities.
At stage two we were completely invisible, that changes at stage three where we got no less than 5 riders in the breakaway including our co-leader Laurent Pichon, but it is Blel Kadri who had the legs and the day, taking the stage win, the GC and the KoM, fantastic result for us in a race where we could expect very little.
Stage four again completely invisible but kept the two jerseys, Stage five was a mush harder mountain stage but with all he had Blel Kadri was able to stay with the first group and against all odd’s he did hold on to the leader jersey although he lost the KoM.
Stage six was another hard stage, with a lot of semi mountain climbs, Clearly the team expected to lose the jersey here and send Estifanos Kebede into the breakaway. Estifanos Kebede was caught and still riding on a Yellow jersey boots does very well fighting like a made dog to keep the jersey, but it is over today he loses 1'13” falling to 15th in GC.
Kadri attacks in pursuit of Hagen but logically not a rider he can catch on this profile
The last stage was an ITT, not a discipline to great for Blel Kadri, but he ended as 19th in GC and that was still fantastic.
Next up was C1 race Tour of Cyprus running from, 20/4 to 23/4, with two early flat stages then a hard mountain stage and finally a more moderate semi mountain stage.
We entered with the strongest climber lineup possible Daniel Martin supported by Aleksej Kunshin and Estifanos Kebede, yet nobody for the flat days.
Stage one was won by a breakaway and stage two the sprinters, we did not do anything.
Aleksej Kunshin seemingly having a bad day struggled to help Martin, but Estifanos Kebede was great, first chasing the breakaway and later leading Martin on the final climb.
Daniel Martin won the stage at took the race lead.
The final stage was exiting, Daniel Martin lost time to just one rider Eduard Alexander Beltran, but sadly enough to drop to 2nd in the GC.
Next was C1, GP Wallonie at the 27th, Laurent Pichon our leader likely to fight for a top 25 or something. He ended 23th, expected but useless result.
Then three days at C1 Corsica International from 28/3 to 30/3, A mountain race and with Aleksej Kunshin as leader, with no climbing support. Another race where a top 25 would be ok and we could only hope for a breakaway miracle.
Stage one went to the sprinters we very not doing anything, stage two was a ITT we had no rider for it, so the first time we did anything was getting Yosukue Matsumoto in the breakaway at the last day, he ended 5th in U25 the best result we got here. Aleksej Kunshin finished 39 in GC.
In the meantime, we participated in Veenendaal – Veenendaal and Lisbon Classic both 29/4, both slightly undulated HC sprinter classics. We had a very weak squad in Veenendaal, Yuma Koishi got some TV time as the last surviving rider from the break, other than that nothing for us.
In Lisbon Classic we came with the sprinter squad, Patrick Naud, Blel Kadri, Francisco Lasca and Kris Boeckmans. A late attacking group made in to the finish, Kris Boeckmans 3rd in the mass sprint but 9th overall, a slightly disappointing result.
The official April ranking came in and we dropped from 2nd to 4th in standings, but not using that many race days lately we have established a solid position as a top 5-6 team, at least as it looks right now.
In May we took part in 6 races, one PTHC stage race, one HC classic, one HC stage race, two C1 classics and one C1 stage race.
Starting out with HC stage race Cheshire Cycling Tour running from 1/5 to 5/5, a race composed of flat and cobbled stages likely to be won by a hilly cobbler.
We attended with our best possible squad led by Ricardo Ferreira, with support from Clement Lhotellerie and Patrick Naud.
Stage 1: Lhotellerie and Matsumoto both in the 8-rider breakaway, Clement Lhotellerie did hold out quite good and ended 13th at the stage although 7’24” behind the winner. Ricardo Ferreira with a disappointing stage 34th at 13’05”
Clement Lhotellerie last survining rider form the morning breakaway
Stage 2: Yosukue Matsumoto in the morning breakaway, but it went to a mass sprint finish.
Stage 3: Matteo Moschetti in the breakaway, again it went to a mass sprint finish.
Stage 4:Matteo Moschetti and Patrick Naud in the breakaway, this time it went to the breakaway and we got Patrick Naud 3rd and Matteo Moschetti 5th.
Stage 5, the 2nd cobbled stage of the race, Yosukue Matsumoto and Filippo Rocchetti in the morning breakaway. The breakaway was caught and it went to the cobblers, Ricardo Ferreira as 35th was a huge disappointment.
Next race was C1 classic Chrono d'Arenberg at 9/5.
Another race with a cobbles just this one on a time trail bike. Funny concept that worked quite well with a mix of tempo riders and northern classic riders on the podium, but we do not have than mix and Lhotellerie 9th not very impressive on a very short start list.
Some days without races and back, 16/5 for HC classic Berlin ProRace
A sprinter race with Boeckmans as leader, Lasca leadout sprinter with Kadri and Naud in supporting roles.
We do not get riders in the breakaway, believing in Boeckmans chances at a top result, Lhotellerie working early in the pack. The race was won by Fabio Silvestre from the breakaway with just a few meter over the sprinters Boeckmans with a very fine but also bitter/sweet 2nd best from the pack.
Next race C1 stage race Tour d'Andorra 5 stages from 19/5 to 23/5
A very different race Mountains, Mountains and more Mountains. Martin leader with Kunshin as lieutenant and also Kebede in support.
We play stage one defensively not doing much but Martin is strong finish with a five-rider favorite group 2nd behind Rigoberto
Stage two a rather invisible race from us although Kunshin does chase the breakaway near the final and finish 4th, after two breakaway riders took the stage. 72 riders came in together with the pack.
Stage three, Martin sitting in a group of 7 riders with 3 km left, but now attacks for the stage win, soon to pick up and drop the breakaway. Wins the stage and takes yellow.
Stage four was the ITT, 15.3 mountain km with summit finish at Coll d’Ordino, Martin ay an absolute peak form taking another 7” on main competitor Rigoberto Uran
Just the final stage left to defend the jersey. 13 riders took on the breakaway mission and this group would hold the winner, George Alexandru Stancu takes the stage, Martin still at his best, attack from the favorite group with a few 100 meters left, gaining another 11” on Rigoberto and secure the overall race win.
Two days later 25/5 we are in C1 classic Frankfurt Eschborn, a very undulated yet most likely sprinter race, we got Boeckmans, Lasca and Kadri, but also Pichon is here to deal with the hill’s.
Jonathan Bellis, Hugo Houle and Mirac Kal make a late attack from rather far out, they make it with Bellis winning the race, Naud in another trio distancing the pack takes fourth. Boeckmans with a disappointing finish 12th.
Patrick Naud wins the sprint for fourth
Our last race of the month was Tour of Norway from 27/5 to 31/5, a 5 stage PTHC puncher race, with a 30 km ITT.
Little options for us and we must hope for some breakaway action, most likely from Pichon, Rocchetti, Matsumoto or Christian
We get Matsumoto and Pichon in the breakaway at stage one, having strong puncher Pichon here secures the overnight KoM, it ends in a technical sprint won by Tosh Van der Sande. Matsumoto leads the U25.
Stage two and Matsumoto again in the break, but it ends in another sprint won by Caleb Ewan, Pichon still lead the KoM.
Stage three is the ITT Christian does quite will ending 8th at both stage and GC
Stage four the first puncher race in the tour, very important we get Pichon in the breakaway to defend the KoM also Jung as support.
Pichon has a brilliant race, attacking the breakaway companions from far out, and although he was beaten by Joseph Areruya at the finish line, 2nd on the stage and defends the KoM jersey was perfect.
Stage five is another hilly stage, we get relative weak Yamamoto in the breakaway, but great to see the youngster taking a chance, also Christian makes the breakaway. Tomasz Marczynski (Kulczyk – Alitalia) attack from the breakaway from far out, winning the stage with 2’37,
