As we roll out of the start in Novi Ligure, the sun is shining on the peloton. Everything is set for the 2013 Giro dell’Appellinio to begin.
The main pre-race favorites are the puncheurs like Roche, Bellis, Flugel and Efimkin.
Hilly sprinters are also being tipped by some because of the flat finish, so Geschke and Reimer could also be in with a chance if they hold on.
There are a few teams who want to get in the break, especially the smaller teams who want some camera time and a shot at a surprise high finish. Initially four riders attack. The names are Scheit, Geniez, Boswell and Traficante.
Dufrasnes then joins the quartet, before the group pull away from the peloton. The five will be today’s breakaway as they have got a gap of 2’25. Not any real threats in there.
ING are the main driving force on the front of the bunch, but are not chasing hard at the moment while the breakaway pull away.
The first climb of the day has begun for the front quintet, and their gap has swelled to a large 7’21. There is still over 100kms to go though so it is definitely chase able for the peloton. Nothing for them to be worried about yet.
And with half the race gone the pace has been drastically picked up. Rothaus, Meiji and Tinkoff have joined ING on the front of the peloton which has helped reduce the gap to five minutes on the breakaway.
As we reach the day’s major climb, 60kms from the finish, no riders have been dropped from the bunch, despite the break’s gap being decreased. If the hilly riders want a shot at the win, they will have to attack.
Roy and Lofkvist do just that, and will be trying to bridge the three minute gap to the breakaway. This will probably be the first of many attacks.
The duo is joined by Durasek and Zeits, before they bridge up to the breakaway surprisingly quickly.
The gap has started to go up again from three minutes, thanks to the extra work being done by Lofkvist and Zeits. The Alstom riders are not working at the moment. Maybe the peloton underestimates the group?
Over the top of the climb now and the pace has proved too high for some of the front group. Lofkvist, Geniez, Boswell and Zeits have pulled out a gap of 40 seconds to the other five. Strange to see Roy getting dropped as he is one of the bigger favorites.
In the peloton behind the pace is being kept high, and no-one else has attacked. The gap however is still going up for the front group thanks to them cooperating well. 50kms to go and the almost fully intact bunch will have to close an almost four minute gap. The race seems to be in the balance.
Finally, on the penultimate climb there is a massive chunk of the peloton which is dropped. Cisco have started to ramp up the pace and it is clearly taking its toll with only 21 riders remaining in the main group!
There are lots of big names dropped like Geschke, Reimer, Schreurs, Hermans, Mendes, Levarlet, Ghisalberti, Betancourt, Vrecer, Dall’Antonia, Kump, Gingsjo and of course the biggest name of all: Ben Nasser! The Tunisian is the only big favorite to miss the move and will be hoping to be paced back to the favorites group by his Pivorvarna squad.
Back at the front, four has now become three as Boswell has been dropped. The Trio has about 2’30 over the main group, with scattered breakaway riders in between.
This is how the situation looks on the road with 32kms to go:
-> 55”
-> 1'47"
-> 2'27"
-> 3'06"
-> 44”
-> 11”
-> 52”
-> 40"
-> 39”
Lofkvist
Boswell
Durasek
Traficante
Efimkin
Ben Nasser
Zeits
Scheit
Dufrasnes
Bellis
Hermans
Geniez
Roy
Flugel
Levarlet
Gautier
Schreurs
Roche
Betancourt
Zaini
Geschke
Kolobnev
Reimer
De Maar
Mendes
+ 13 riders
+ 40 riders
Luckily for some the dropped riders though, 24 rejoin the peloton, while the rest drift further back. Most of the main names make it back though, bar Dall’Antonia and Kump.
Back in the 45-strong front group, we are currently on the short final climb and if no-one attacks, we could have a mass-finish. That would favor riders like Bellis, Geschke or Reimer, who are the best sprinters who remain.
For that to happen though, the breakaway still needs to be caught.
Despite no climbing remaining on the parcours, Flugel won’t give up yet. He goes on the offensive on the final downhill, in chase of the break which is 1.55 up the road at the moment. Can the German catch them, and give them the push they need to hold off the main bunch lead by Cisco?
Rothaus have resumed control at the front of the bunch, probably because of their chances in a sprint. With 22kms to go they have brought back everyone bar the front three and Volkswagen’s leader.
Flugel has 43 seconds on the bunch and is pushing on hard, closing the gap on the attackers. He is only 31 seconds behind currently.
The German rider reaches the trio, before foolishly sitting up. The others refuse to cooperate with Flugel and the four drift backwards towards the jaws of the peloton. Geniez decides he doesn’t want to get caught just yet and attacks away once again.
And with 12kms to the finish the Frenchman is the last rider off the front of the peloton. Surely his 25 second gap won’t hold to the finish? Volkswagen, Rothaus and ING will hope so as they are working hard on the front.
Under the 10kms to go banner and the race is all back together. That surely means that the 53-man bunch will fight out the win amongst themselves in a sprint.
We are into the last few kilometers but no sprint trains have been set up. All the favorites are near the front of the bunch, with Bellis, Geschke and Schreurs being the best positioned riders that can sprint decently.
3kms to go and still no sprint trains. Preidler seems to be leading out Flugel for Volkswagen. Possoni is also in front of Efimkin, and Bellis and Geschke are also in the first ten positions for Rothaus. This looks as if it will be a messy sprint.
Further back amongst the dropped riders, there has been a crash involving 21 riders, including Dall’Antonia which rounds out a bad day for the Italian.
We stay at the front though, where the final kick for the line has started. Flugel is going past Preidler into first. He has started his sprint pretty early though, 2500m is a long way. Bellis and Efimkin are right behind him looking for a wheel.
Flugel is fading already moving into the last 1500m. Bellis is in his wheel, positioned perfectly while Mendes is coming through to the German’s right.
Under the flammage rouge Bellis has gone, and is flying away from everyone else. Betancourt and Schreurs are his closest challengers but they are struggling to match the Brit.
Efimkin, Kolobnev, Ben Nasser, Der and De Maar are also all moving through. It is going to be a very exciting final few meters.
Bellis is still leading and just has to hold on for a few more meters. Gautier, Schreurs and Roche are coming very fast though from behind, and could overtake him. Can he hold on?
He can! A great finish from Bellis, holding off the rest of the sprinters in the final kilometer to add to Rothaus’ very successful season.
Roche gets second, while Schreurs just pips Gautier and Zaini for the final podium place. Gautier takes fourth ahead of Zaini, who gets Meiji a top 5.
Flugel comes in sixth after a long sprint, with Mendes just seventh. Efimkin, Betancourt and Der round out the top 10 in eighth, ninth and tenth respectively.
Most of the main teams got a rider into the top 10, which they shouldn't be disappointed with. Some of the teams with smaller favorites may be a bit downhearted though like Tinkoff, HTC, Alstom and Swedbank.
Also a special mention to Rovny, the only rider to not finish the race. He couldn’t complete the race after being dropped in the early hills, and being involved in a crash which left him injured.
