Luxembourg looks on nervously in the early going as Vesuvio are left to control the huge number of early breaks. A group of 19 gets up the valley roads to test the resolve of Frank Schleck's squad.
The 19 names of the riders in this break were as follows: Aidis Kruopis Jesus Tendero Alexandre Aulas Vicente Reynès Klaas Sys Wout Poels Kristof Vandewalle Matej Vysna David Loosli Jonathan McEvoy Juan Abenhamar Gallego Martin Kevin Fouquet Blel Kadri Michael Faerk Christensen Rubens Bertogliati Kévin Lalouette Gabriel Brizuela Behnam Khalilikhosroshani
and Timothy Vangheel
Vesuvio though are equal to the task particularly with Pearl Adidas keen to lend a hand. They shut this large group down before the first section of hills.
Into the triple hill section and with Vesuvio having neutralised everything we get some bunching up, causing David Loosli having been in the early break to crash badly and to withdraw.
Once the triple section of climbs is over Jure Kocjan attacks solo and begins to build a more serious gap.
The Slovenian cannot really be classed as a big threat, known more as a lead out of sprinters. However he is joined by two very useful punchears a short time later in Maurice Schreurs and Santo Anza
These two jumped across on the first of the six climbs, I labelled as section two in the preview. On the third of these climbs another decent punchaer in Tom Diggle jumps away from the pack.
On the short and sharp 4th climb of this section we get two more riders in Jonas Ljungblad and Guillaume Levarlet
We reach that lengthy plataeu on the fifth climb on this section and Diggle joins our lead three. With 75km to go these 4 have 2.30 on the two chasers and just over six minutes on the pack.
This is getting dangerous for the pack with Schreurs, Anza and Diggle more than capable of capitalising as we saw in this seasons Fleche Wallonie. UBS lend Pearl Adidas and Vesuvio a hand in the pace setting.
We go into our last section of climbing.
The lead four have still got a gap over the chase two Ljungblad and Leverlet of 1.30. The pack which is down to 65 riders is back at 4.45 with 50 kilometres of up and down terrain to go.
The first short climb sees the end of Kocjan's challenge as Schreurs, Diggle and Anza up the ante.
They are making it difficult for Leverlet and Ljungblad to come across, these two do quickly catch and dispatch Kocjan though.
In the pack the Fleche Wallonie winner Sylvain Chavanel has a different task today as he is sent to the front to reduce the gap to our leaders.
The pace is kept high and this does whittle down the pack to 56 riders, however at the top of the second climb and with 40km to go the lead three still have 4 minutes.
The third and the fourth climbs in this last section are really nasty and now look the key of the race, can the pack get this gap down to something catchable. Filippo Pozzato now adds more high class to the chase work.
The addition of UBS, Festina, Jack Wolfskin to Pearl Adidas and Vesuvio is reducing this gap and also getting the pack down to just 36 riders.
27km to go and the lead 3 have 1.30 on the two chasers and 2.50 on the pack, it is still in the balance.
On the fourth climb, the three men up front sensing a great chance are getting twitchy particularly young Brit Diggle who attacks at the base of the climb.
The pack remains under control of the domestiques as now Rund um Koln winner Jukka Vastaranta leads the pack with Dietmar Mehr-Wenige
Diggle's attack looked initially like it could be the decisive move but the Wiggle riders seems to have overestimated his strength and Schreurs and Anza power they way back across.
A couple of minutes behind them Ljungblad and Leverlet are caught which signals the first move in a while from the pack as Andrei Kashechkin fires.
This is now exploding things as other big guns fire, initially it is Robert Gesink, Patrik Sinkewitz, Simone Ponzi, Stefan Schumacher and Diego Ulissi.
The leaders lead is evaporating fairly fast but this was the last seriously long hill so they still have chances. That said Tom Diggle has suffered on it, attacking at the base he was caught 1 km from the top and is now being dropped.
It's a bit chaotic behind as it seems as if Gesink and Sinkewitz have prised out a 20 second gap on everyone else.
Frank Schleck is leading the next group on the road also contains Ponzi, Ulissi, Kashechkin, Schumacher and Trofimov.
Behind him Philippe Gilbert seems to have feared that the boat may have already sailed.
5 riders (Bakelandts, Rodriguez, Iglinski, Paterski and Mehr Wenige) at 1.50
15 riders (Efimkin, Hagen, TvG, Van der Hugenhaben, Pozzato, Albasini, Ljungblad, Chavanel, Leverlet, Hermans, Vastaranta, Hoogerland, Zaini, Pavarin and Betencourt) at 2.20.
As Bakelandts comes across to the Schleck group Trofimov and Sinkewitz attack.
With a number of Vesuvio riders and ultimately the group of 15 also coming across to the big group of favourites manage to catch Trofimov and Sinkewitz before the penultimate climb.
The lead two still have 1.15 going into this climb as the chase becomes briefly becalmed.
Kashechkin again kicks clear this time with Hagen and TvG on his wheel.
All this does however is reduce the gap down to our two leaders to 40 seconds, Kashechkin tries again though on the descent this time followed by Schleck and Bakelandts.
Schleck decides it's too early as Bakelandts goes whizzing past, either that or he hasn't the energy to live with the Belgian at this possibly decisive moment.
3.8km are left and we still have that final climb the lead two Schreurs and Anza still lead but not by much on Bakelandts.
The gap is 17 seconds on the Belgian and 40 seconds on the 23 riders favourites group led by Chavanel.
Bakelandts catches the lead duo and will lead us onto the final climb measuring at just under 3km. He has a gap of 21 seconds on the pack - has the Belgian made the right tactical move?
After 500m of climbing and with 2.5km left it is clear that Schreurs and Anza will not be able to live with Bakelandts.
Behind Kashechkin jumps yet again, this time with Gesink, TvG, Efimkin and Ulissi following. Meanwhile Schleck Hagen, Ponzi, Schumacher and Sinkewitz are all also poised at the front.
Kashechkin blows up a little as he reaches Schreurs and Anza. Meanwhile Gesink and Schleck round the two herioc breakaways riders. With 2.1km left though they still have to reel in Bakelandts who still has 12 seconds.
Schleck can see the wheel he wants and moves across to track Gesink leaving Ponzi and Hagen to stuggle in the shadows.
The Gesink and Schleck duo begin to eat into Bakelandts advantage.
With 1.6km to go no-one else in the pack seem to be able to launch an acceleration with Ponzi up front under pressure from Hagen, Sinkewitz, Schumacher, Gilbert, TvG, Kashechkin, Trofimov, Efimkin and Ulissi.
Having used Gesink to come across to Bakelandts, Schleck eases off of the Dutchmans wheel as they approach the kite.
The lead three look like they are jostling for a podium place, though Sinkewitz is finding this hill to his liking again and is move quickly behind ahead of Ponzi, Trofimov and Schumacher.
Bakelandts cannot respond as Schleck comes past with 600 metres to go.
Frank looks like he has got this sprint right as he romps away. Bakelandts in a dog fight for second with Gesink.
Schleck has time for a cheeky look around - no sign of Bakelandts or anybody else.
He savours this home win and takes the Grand Duche title.
Bakelandts could not maintain his advantage that he had at the start of the hill, he battles to get yet another runner up place over the impressive Gesink.
Sinkewitz is in 4th ahead of Schumacher both finishing strongly.
Ponzi holds on for 6th, again just unable to live with the very best. He is ahead of Hagen, Ulissi, Efimkin and Pozzato.
Trofimov finishes behind his teammate Van den Hugenhaben in 12th and Gilbert is a disappointing 13th. These three are ahead of the fading world champion TvG and the attacking but ultimately fruitless Kashechkin.
Chavanel sprints in ahead of a brave performance by wild card rider Hermans, Team Rothaus unable to have much of an impact.
Result
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Frank Schleck
Vesuvio-Accumalux
5h53'12
2
Jan Bakelants
Pearl Adidas
+ 11
3
Robert Gesink
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
4
Patrik Sinkewitz
Spyker Cars
+ 21
5
Stefan Schumacher
UBS - La Pierre
s.t.
6
Simone Ponzi
Wiggle - San Pellegrino
+ 34
7
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Team B&O
s.t.
8
Diego Ulissi
Festina - Conec
s.t.
9
Aleksandr Efimkin
Milka - Vittel
s.t.
10
Filippo Pozzato
Festina - Conec
s.t.
11
Robin van der Hugenhaben
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
12
Yuri Trofimov
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
13
Philippe Gilbert
Pendleton's Twicer
s.t.
14
Tejay Van Garderen
Wikipedia
+ 1'04
15
Andrei Kashechkin
Webeffect
s.t.
16
Sylvain Chavanel
Jack Wolfskin
+ 1'26
17
Ben Hermans
Team Rothaus - Aegon
s.t.
18
Maxim Iglinski
Vesuvio-Accumalux
s.t.
19
Maciej Paterski
Vesuvio-Accumalux
+ 1'48
20
Maurice Schreurs
Spyker Cars
s.t.
21
Dietmar Mehr-Wenige
Vesuvio-Accumalux
+ 2'08
22
Michael Albasini
UBS - La Pierre
s.t.
23
Jukka Vastaranta
Pearl Adidas
s.t.
24
Tommy Zaini
Wiggle - San Pellegrino
s.t.
25
Johnny Hoogerland
Vesuvio-Accumalux
s.t.
26
Santo Anza
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
27
Joaquin Rodriguez Oliver
Nestlé Cycling Team
+ 2'37
28
Marcello Pavarin
Wiggle - San Pellegrino
+ 3'15
29
Tom Diggle
Wiggle - San Pellegrino
+ 4'02
30
Rob Ruijgh
Team Rothaus - Aegon
+ 4'41
31
Guillaume Levarlet
Carmeuse - Bouygues Telecom
+ 4'56
32
Jonas Ljungblad
Festina - Conec
+ 5'10
33
Carlos Betancourt
Vesuvio-Accumalux
s.t.
34
Lars Boom
Team Rothaus - Aegon
s.t.
35
Ryder Hesjedal
Team Rothaus - Aegon
+ 5'24
36
Danilo Di Luca
Nestlé Cycling Team
+ 5'37
37
Rasmus Guldhammer
Team B&O
+ 6'06
38
Jose Mendes
Pearl Adidas
+ 6'18
39
Ran Margaliot
Pendleton's Twicer
+ 7'11
40
Thibaut Pinot
Wikipedia
+ 7'22
41
Sergio Barrio
UBS - La Pierre
+ 7'51
42
Ben Gastauer
Vesuvio-Accumalux
+ 9'56
43
Sebastien Einsle
Vesuvio-Accumalux
s.t.
44
Pieter Mertens
Pendleton's Twicer
+ 10'09
45
Andrei Kunitski
Team Rothaus - Aegon
s.t.
46
Andrey Zeits
Spyker Cars
s.t.
47
Yevgeni Nepomnyachsniy
Milka - Vittel
+ 10'23
48
Lasse Bøchman
Festina - Conec
s.t.
49
Damiano Caruso
Wiggle - San Pellegrino
s.t.
50
Geert Steurs
Festina - Conec
s.t.
51
Evgeni Sokolov
Bacardi - Ignis
s.t.
52
Mathieu Perget
Bacardi - Ignis
s.t.
53
Salvatore Mancuso
Bacardi - Ignis
s.t.
54
Eric Berthou
Pearl Adidas
s.t.
55
Andrea Moletta
Pendleton's Twicer
s.t.
56
Julien El Fares
Carmeuse - Bouygues Telecom
s.t.
57
Johann Tschopp
UBS - La Pierre
s.t.
58
Leonardo Bertagnolli
Wiggle - San Pellegrino
s.t.
59
Evgeni Popov
Pearl Adidas
s.t.
60
Simon Zahner
UBS - La Pierre
s.t.
61
Rinaldo Nocentini
Wiggle - San Pellegrino
s.t.
62
Sébastien Duret
Pendleton's Twicer
+ 11'37
63
Russell Downing
Pendleton's Twicer
s.t.
64
Matej Mugerli
Bacardi - Ignis
s.t.
65
Edward King
Wikipedia
s.t.
66
Honorio Machado
Café de Colombia
+ 11'52
67
Miguel Angel Rubiano Chavez
Café de Colombia
+ 12'13
68
Romain Zingle
Webeffect
s.t.
69
Tom Leezer
Pearl Adidas
s.t.
70
Paul Martens
Jack Wolfskin
+ 13'25
71
David Lelay
UBS - La Pierre
s.t.
72
Luis Fernández Oliveira
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
73
Jure Kocjan
Bacardi - Ignis
+ 14'15
74
Sébastien Ivars
Café de Colombia
+ 14'45
75
Thomas Rohregger
Milka - Vittel
s.t.
76
Sébastien Joly
Café de Colombia
s.t.
77
Nicolas Portal
Nestlé Cycling Team
+ 15'39
78
Grega Bole
Wiggle - San Pellegrino
s.t.
79
Pierrick Fédrigo
Nestlé Cycling Team
s.t.
80
Rémy Di Gregorio
Carmeuse - Bouygues Telecom
s.t.
81
Zdenek Stybar
Milka - Vittel
s.t.
82
José Antonio Baños Ballester
Café de Colombia
s.t.
83
Michael Reihs
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
84
David Vitoria
Nestlé Cycling Team
s.t.
85
Matthieu Ladagnous
Pendleton's Twicer
s.t.
86
Dmitri Muravjev
Sony Ericsson
+ 16'17
87
Paul Voss
Festina - Conec
s.t.
88
Wout Poels
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
89
Arthur Vichot
Spyker Cars
s.t.
90
Welle Jallays
Jack Wolfskin
+ 17'25
91
Vicente Reynès
Festina - Conec
s.t.
92
Kévin Lalouette
UBS - La Pierre
s.t.
93
Francisco Javier Echarri
Santander
s.t.
94
Juan Carlos Rienda Segura
Santander
s.t.
95
Rubens Bertogliati
UBS - La Pierre
s.t.
96
Behnam Khalilikhosroshani
Webeffect
+ 17'55
97
Matej Vysna
Milka - Vittel
s.t.
98
Gracjan Lejman
Wikipedia
s.t.
99
Nicolas Edet
Spyker Cars
s.t.
100
Ethan Weiss
Spyker Cars
s.t.
101
Adrian Honkisz
Milka - Vittel
s.t.
102
Darwin Atapuma
Wikipedia
s.t.
103
Gabriel Brizuela
Webeffect
s.t.
104
Clément Lhotellerie
Carmeuse - Bouygues Telecom
s.t.
105
Aidis Kruopis
Bacardi - Ignis
s.t.
106
Jacopo Guarnieri
Pearl Adidas
+ 18'22
107
Jesus Tendero
Café de Colombia
s.t.
108
Blel Kadri
Spyker Cars
s.t.
109
Edwin Orozco
Café de Colombia
+ 18'59
110
Adam Semple
Wikipedia
s.t.
111
Anthony Delaplace
Milka - Vittel
s.t.
112
Rafael Serrano
Santander
s.t.
113
Alexander Wetterhall
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
114
Tony Gallopin
Carmeuse - Bouygues Telecom
s.t.
115
Bas Giling
Jack Wolfskin
+ 19'50
116
Richie Porte
Milka - Vittel
s.t.
117
Jonathan McEvoy
Pendleton's Twicer
s.t.
118
Thomas Koep
Team Rothaus - Aegon
s.t.
119
Richard Cleaver
Wikipedia
+ 20'19
120
Alexandre Aulas
Carmeuse - Bouygues Telecom
s.t.
121
Alexandre Geniez
Spyker Cars
s.t.
122
Kristof Vandewalle
Jack Wolfskin
+ 20'37
123
Klaas Sys
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
124
Juan Abenhamar Gallego Martin
Santander
s.t.
125
Timothy Vangheel
Wikipedia
+ 21'01
126
Abolfazl Gilanipoor
Webeffect
s.t.
127
Jude Libert
Carmeuse - Bouygues Telecom
+ 21'21
128
Simas Kondrotas
Bacardi - Ignis
+ 24'16
129
Arkaitz Durán
Santander
s.t.
130
Hernâni Broco
Nestlé Cycling Team
s.t.
131
Sven Vandousselaere
Carmeuse - Bouygues Telecom
s.t.
132
Mauro Richeze
Pearl Adidas
s.t.
133
Juraj Sagan
Team B&O
+ 26'05
134
Kristoffer Nielsen
Team B&O
s.t.
135
Michael Faerk Christensen
Team B&O
s.t.
136
Kevin Fouquet
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
137
Imanol Erviti
Santander
s.t.
138
Christopher Schmieg
Webeffect
+ 27'07
139
Daniel Allonca
Santander
+ 28'16
140
Alexander Krieger
Team Rothaus - Aegon
s.t.
141
Johim Ariesen
Team Rothaus - Aegon
s.t.
142
Damion Drapac
Festina - Conec
+ 29'37
143
Jempy Drucker
Team B&O
+ 30'34
144
Lluis Mas
Webeffect
+ 31'59
145
Marc Machado
Nestlé Cycling Team
+ 32'39
146
Aleksandr Mironov
Webeffect
s.t.
147
Tyler Butterfield
Bacardi - Ignis
s.t.
148
Casper Jørgensen
Team B&O
+ 32'55
149
Aitor Galdos
Santander
s.t.
150
Juan Esteban Arango
Café de Colombia
s.t.
151
Thomas Riber-Sellebjerg
Team B&O
+ 33'44
David Loosli had to abandon
Edited by SportingNonsense on 13-01-2018 14:16
