Barcelona welcomes the riders to one of many Spanish races in the Continental Tour. This one is a rare Spanish race though, and not one of those "usual" Spanish races, suiting puncheurs or climbers. No, this is a classic for the sprinters, and you don't find many of them in Spain! The bookmakers have promised an exciting race, where they hold Bennati Gasparotto Kennaugh
as the big favourites for today. Bennati and Kennaugh are obviously 2 of the biggest favourites, but it's surprising to see Gasparotto together with them. The bookies must have been impressed by Puma - SAP's recent performances in GP Moscow and Rogaland GP.
The riders are ready to go. 97 showed up in the morning, all are determined to make a name off themselves today. The clouds dominates the sky, but at least there's no wind to speak about. Hopefully that will give us a fair race, where the best rider wins.
There's only 500 meters of riding before we have our first attack. Locatelli
pulls the trigger first. Bianchi clearly has intentions of being offensive today, which is quite natural, as they haven't brought their great sprinter Ciolek here. He's followed by Verona Signego
Only a kilometer later, more riders decide they want to be up front today. Interestingly, it's Sütterlin
who initiates the attack. It looks like Puma - SAP aims for another tactic today, sending one of their riders in the breakaway. Odebrecht Williams Van Keirsbulck
follow Sütterlin. Bianchi are really aggressive from the very start today, sending not only 1, but 2 men in the first 2 attacks.
Puma - SAP
seems to have changed their mind, immediately after Sütterlin's attack they take the front of the peloton, chasing the first attackers. Sütterlin cleverly sits on the back of the breakaway, only marking the move.
And with 15 kilometers done, Puma - SAP makes the catch. But that doesn't lead to anything, but more attacks. Locatelli Schoch Nishizono Williams Verona Van Keirsbulck
try this time, hoping Puma - SAP or any other team won't chase this time.
Team Puma - SAP looks happy to let the 6 riders go, and riding up the hill for the first time, they've allowed them a gap of 2 minutes. Also, notice how narrow these roads actually are. It’s going to be a brutal fight inside the peloton on the last laps. If you’re behind on the hill, you risk to never make it back to the front of the peloton, thus never being able to fight for glory. Crocket, Minard & Delage
are the 3 loyal helpers working for Bennati on the front of the peloton.
165 kilometers left of the race, and the rain has suddenly started to fall in Barcelona. Beppu
is the first victim, as he crashes just after the dangerous descent of the hill.
On the long flat after the hill, the peloton is really stretched, and we've only climbed the hill once! A quick shot from the helicopter shows what the hill makes out of the peloton. The peloton is on one, long line. This should be very interesting on the final laps.
The gap to the 6 riders in the breakaway is stabilized around 2 minutes. Park Van Der Sande Gudsell
are off, hoping to join the 6 up front.
And they succeed, with 150 kilomters left, we've 9 riders in the usual breakaway. Their gap is 2'30 down to the peloton.
The wet and slippery roads makes another victim in Monterastelli
who falls off his bike when the peloton is approaching the hill for the 2nd time. Luckily, he takes no one with him.
Odebrecht
attacks when it looks like the 9 riders up front is about to make themself a "safe" gap back to the peloton. Bianchi is definitely determined on racing aggressive today, initiating lots of these early attacks.
Williams
is another one who hits the tarmac. Naturally, he looses contact with the 8 others in the breakaway, he can only see them ride away.
"Luckily" for Williams, he's back on the bike when Odebrecht flies past, meaning he can chase his fellow attackers, and hopefully join forces with them soon.
Afonso Ajewole
are the next who decide to attack from the peloton. The peloton, led by Puma - SAP is confident to let they go aswell.
Puma - SAP's tactic of allowing many riders in the breakaway starts to look a bit dangerous, as Odebrecht Williams Afonso Ajewole
all manage to catch the 8 front runners, meaning there's no less than 12 riders in the breakaway now. Their lead is 2'50, and there's 132 kilometers left to race.
And there’s more drama for Cyclevox. In the absence of Docker/Vaitkus, Knees
leads their team. He crashes with 130km left, and they send 4 men to help him make contact with the peloton. Their best sprinter for the race, Briggs is amongst those who’s relaying for dear life to get Knees back into the peloton.
And Cyclevox manages to bring Knees back, is he planning a strong attack on one of the last laps?
Shpilevski Marinangeli Jelloul
take advantage of a stretched peloton, after they've been over the hill for the third time. They quickly gain a minute to the peloton, and they're chasing the breakaway.
Brammeier
also finds out he wants to be up front, and he goes after the latest attackers.
And Shpilevski, Marinangeli and Jelloul easily join the breakaway, meaning there's no less than 15 riders up front now, there's 120 kilometers to go, their lead is 3 minutes. Brammeier chases 2 minutes behind, 1 minute ahead of the peloton.
The descent of the hill is really dangerous, and Meersman
is the next victim.
Meanwhile at the front of the peloton, Puma and Rapha picked up the pace when Brammeier attacked, and when they face the hill for the fourth time, they catch all the early attackers. The race is for everyone now!
Not surprising at all, the catch leads to new attacks. Brammeier Jelloul Marinangeli Shpilevski
launches an attack once again, and they’re quickly allowed a gap of 1’50.
Iglinski
attacks 4 kilometers later. He needs to bridge a gap of nearly 3 minutes if he’s going to catch up with the front 4.
And Iglinski shows great strength, joining the breakaway only 9 kilometers after he attacked.
60 kilometers to go, and the wet roads causes another crash, this time it's no less than one of the pre-race favourites, Kennaugh
who bites the dust. Appleby, Teklit and Grmay immediately slows down to help him, but they’ve a lot of chasing to do. They’re no less than 2 minutes behind the peloton.
Approaching the hill for the third last time, Rapha manages to make contact with the peloton. But all these crashes are definitely slowing down the peloton. And the 5 riders up front co-operate well, their gap is 5 minutes now, and there’s only 55 kilometers left.
Puma & Delage
realizes how dangerous the breakaway could be, and Delage sets a cracking pace on the third last climb back in the peloton. Over the top, the gap is only 4’28, and the peloton is really stretched, though everyone is still in contact, but this could split in any moment.
Despite Delage's strong pace on the hill, Rooijakkers
attacks on the following flat. He's followed by Priamo
and the early crasher, Knees
Good to see that Knees apparantly can't be hurted after his crash, he's showing great fighting spirit!
But their attack aren't meant to be. And the peloton, led by Puma, Rapha and quite surprising, Bpost, catches them. Are Bpost trying to set up something for their star on cobbles, Vanspeybrouck?
The gap to the breakaway is 3 minutes now, with 8 kilometers left.
Van Keirsbulck
leads the peloton over the hill for the penultimate time. They haven’t been able to take more time on the front 5 though, their gap is still 3 minutes. This could be touch and go. Luckily it has stopped raining, meaning it should be easier for the riders to stay on their bikes.
On the descent the peloton splits. 20 riders are left behind, meaning there’s 55 left in the peloton. None of the fastest men are dropped, but several good sprinters are dropped. Cucinotta Park
are amongst them. But it’s a nightmare for Tinkoff, 3 of their sprinters, Galimzyanov, Trusov & Timofeev
are all dropped! They will struggle to make it back, as the peloton is going fast now.
25 kilometers to go, and we see why Bpost was chasing. Vanspeybrouck
makes his bid for the win. Cherel Lequatre
try to follow him, but they aren't able to, and are quickly swallowed by the pack. Vanspeybrouck though, he gets a small gap on a determined peloton.
With 17 kilometers left, Vanspeybrouck
approaches the hill for the final time. He’s 1 minute behind the 5 in front, but 23 seconds ahead of the peloton, led by Rapha and Puma. Also the rain has started to fall again, meaning this hill could serve more drama than good is.
Maksimov
faces the moment of thruth now, as he's dropped on the climb, together with Arashiro
Just as the peloton were about to finish the dangerous descent, with only 11 kilometers left, Knees
falls again! And this time, lots of other riders can’t avoid him.
The biggest pre-race favourite of them all, Bennati
also goes down, and so does everyone behind him. This is a decisive crash, there’s only 11 kilometers left, and lots of riders are either on the tarmac, or they were hindered by the crash.
Despite the crashes, we've to move our attention to the front of the peloton again. There's only 11 (!) riders left in the "peloton." They're: Appleby, Grmay, Kennaugh & Sulzberger Locatelli, Rabon & Rooijakkers Bragazzi & Visconti Vanspeybrouck Impey
But they will have a hard time catching the breakaway, going under the 10 kilometers left banner, they’re exactly 1 minute behind the 5 up front.
The 5 up front gain time on what’s left of the peloton, where Rapha and Bianchi for strange reasons refuse to work. Their lead is now 1’30, it's only 4.4 kilometers left, and it’s clear that one of them will win this race.
2700 meters to go, and Marinangeli
is forced to lead out the sprint. He's the best sprinter of the 5, but he should struggle to win, starting his sprint 2700 meters from the finish line. In his slipstream follows Iglinski Jelloul Shpilevski Brammeier
All of them really want this win!
1600 meters to go, and Jelloul
makes his move. He's challenging Marinangeli on the left side of the road. And he suddenly holds the upper hand, as his acceleration gives him the fastest bike.
800 meters to go, and Iglinski
moves past the fading Marinangeli. Brammeier
is also going strong on the right, but Jelloul is still in pole position.
But with 200 meters left, Iglinski
proves he has timed his move to perfection. He storms past Jelloul, heading for a big victory!
And indeed, Iglinski
can celebrate the win! A great performance from him, catching the 4 others solo, then deciding the race on the final hundred meters.
Jelloul
holds on to a great 2nd place, his team can't be disappointed with that. Neither can Saab, as Brammeier taes the last spot on the podium.
Marinangeli
sprints home in 4th, no doubt he missed a golden opportunity, as the strongest sprinter of the 5. Shpilevski
takes 5th, quite as expected, as his sprint is significant weaker than the sprint to any of the 4 others.
Kennaugh
takes the "bunch" sprint for 6th. One could ask why Rapha didn't chase, they had no less than 3 riders together with Kennaugh after the big crash. Impey
follows Kennaugh's wheel to 7th place, which concludes a great race for Jayco - Red Bull.
Vanspeybrouck
concludes his aggressive racing with a solid 8th place, ahead of Rabon
in 9th. A good result for both teams, as none of them had brought a great sprinter to the race.
Visconti
edges Sulzberger
for 10th place.
One of today's many crashers, Bennati
leads one of many groups home. He's 3'10 behind the race winner. A shame for him and all the others that crashed, but staying on your bike is part of cycling.
That was it from a dramatic classic here in Barcelona. The Continental Tour is now turning its focus on Central Europe, with Bayern Rundfahrt going on in Germany, and Berlin ProRace and Tour de Luxembourg next on the calendar.
