Here we go as the riders leave Praha for a long classic. The biggest question for most teams: How hard are the hills and will it influence the sprinters?
The bets go for a mass sprint here with Bennati, Boonen, Bewley being the favourites.
4 riders in todays breakaway and interesting to see two relegation teams here with a top favourite each: Bol Van Zandbeek
They are joined by Vermeltfoort and Stalder, who attacked a bit later and had to chase them solo for a few kilometers.
Still very early before the hills as the gap goes above the 10min mark with 185km to go. Several teams have sent a rider to the front to keep the gap there. Puma and Heineken obviously can relax a bit now.
30km later and a gap of 11min, 3 teams are doing a bit more. Simply Red Bull with 2 riders for Van Heerden, Pokerstars with 1-2 riders for Boonen, but the most work is done by Vesuvio for Swift as 4-5 helpers are sent to the front.
Unfortunately the weather became really bad recently and except of the morning sun it`s dark and rainy now. At least the wind isn`t that bad.
We jump to the final 55km and hit the 3 toughest hills today. Afterwards we have ~30 easier kilometers again though.
But if a cobbler or puncheur wants to do something, these hills would be the best option.
Those 4 are working very well together. Still the peloton is coming closer. A bit more than 3'30 only are left of their gap.
Weather really is cruel today as we also fog is coming now. That said, those three teams still going fast as Pokerstars and Vesuvio share the work with ~45% each while Red Bull is doing the last 10%.
So no help by the other teams, where in especially Milka has to be named.
Van Impe and Skujins lead the 170 rider peloton over the hills.
Will all sprinters pass those with ease or are they going to struggle?
First attack as expected on those hills.
Heineken really needs points, so their manager might like their riding today as Langeveld is the first rider followed by Roux Kruijswijk Rowe
Actually Ponzi and Ballan tried it 2km earlier without success, so Wiggle also doing everything to avoid a pure sprint here.
Skujins though is catching them immediately and so the next attack.
Again Heineken this time with Pozzato, one of the race favourites. 28km to go.
He is followed by Langeveld Weiss Kruijswijk Burghardt Ballan Van Garderen Summerhill
So Wikipedia vs. Koenigsegg has started but more mentionable Heineken with 3 riders in that group and Van Zandbeek in front. They really want the win here to improve their chance to stay in the PT.
Though all are caught by the sprinter teams again. At least the gap to the breakaway is down to 1'15 with 26km to go.
Most top sprinters are still in the first part of the peloton.
24km left and of course again a Heineken rider in the attack. This time it`s Van Zandbeek out of the breakaway as he realizes that their chances decrease.
Langeveld and Van Garderen didn`t wait and are still doing some work at the front. But actually Langeveld isn`t doing as much as possible to allow Van Zandbeek a small gap.
This also allowed Ghyselinck to create a small gap being in between both groups.
Some sprinters like Hushovd, Vanderaerden, Grillo, Lavoine, Soupe, Ciolek or Caethoven just lose contact after those hills and the very high pace. Also the wind became a bit stronger with 29 km/h even though this shouldn`t be the main reason.
Last man standing. Van Zandbeek still has a 27s gap with 15km to go.
Kruijsijk, Rowe, Ballan, Summerhill and De Kort with the next attack. But Heineken is taking care now as Pozzato himself is bringing them back.
Also Bacardi is seen at the front now.
Interesting tactic by Heineken there. Don`t allow anyone to jump to their team mate but then slowing down immediately again.
What are the teams behind doing?
The sprinters might struggle a bit eventually, so Vesuvio, Red Bull etc. might have stopped a bit.
But the other teams should do something. But eventually it`s too late already as the gap is up to 2'08 again with 7,3km to go.
Will we see a surprising winner here and another huge result for Heineken?
Several riders attack again as they realize the danger:
Rowe
De Kort
Burghardt
Ballan
Kruijswijk
Summerhill
Immediately Heineken is doing the pace again with 4 riders to stop them.
With a bit more than 5km to go they are caught and everything starts again even though the pace isn`t dropping this time.
On the right the mentioned attackers while the remaining sprinters come on the left. The pace is really high now as Van Zandbeek hits the final 3km with a 1min gap.
The sprinters are in that order:
Pozzato, Bennati, Guerao, Van Avermaet, Van Heerden, Swift, Boonen, Vanderbiest, Goss, Bewley, Vanoverschelde.
A bit behind Kreder, Stauff, Langeveld, Boasson Hagen and Ponzi.
The attackers are caught and Pozzato slows down a bit again as Van Zandbeek is still having a nice gap.
Poor Bennati was behind him and now is in a bit of a dilemma. Same goes for Guerao as both expected Pozzato to start the sprint.
On the right though Rowe is starting now as also Van Avermaet with the other sprinters on the left.
Van Zandbeek is so close to his biggest career win.
But Van Avermaet did a perfect leadout for the other teams.
Van Heerden now ahead of Swift and Boonen.
Boonen comes strong around Van Heerden now and also Van Avermaet obviously found more energy.
Ouch...
250m ahead of the line Von Zandbeek is caught. Perfect timing.
Boonen in first now with the trio behind, while all other sprinters have a huge gap.
Huge win for Tom Boonen. He still is one of the strongest and today definitely the smartest.
Van Heerden with a great 2nd for his team ahead of Van Avermaet, who was able to stay in front of Swift in the end. I guess all 4 teams can be quite happy with that outcome.
Also Heineken might be happy after their first sadness of missing a win here.
But Van Zandbeek staying 5th is a huge result for him of course and together with Pozzato`s 6th this are quite a few points, which are added to Weiss (19th) and Langeveld (25th).
Bennati and Bewley next are the biggest loser today as they couldn`t close the gap to the 4 sprinters ahead of missing contact.
Summerhil and Boasson Hagen complete the top10. Last one could have done better for sure when being better placed in the sprint.
Gueraom Burghardt, Vanderbiest, Ponzi and Van Garderen complete the top15. So Wikipedia clearly won the duel today.
B&O might be the biggest loser in the relegation zone even though Bennati couldn`t score that high.
Result
1
Tom Boonen
Pokerstars.com
6h39'55
2
Juan Van Heerden
Simply Red Bull
s.t.
3
Greg Van Avermaet
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
s.t.
4
Ben Swift
Vesuvio - Accumalux
s.t.
5
Ronan Van Zandbeek
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
s.t.
6
Filippo Pozzato
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
s.t.
7
Daniele Bennati
Team Puma - SAP
s.t.
8
Sam Bewley
Milka - AVG
s.t.
9
Danny Summerhill
Wikipedia
s.t.
10
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Aker - MOT
s.t.
11
Óscar Guerao
Festina-Canal+
s.t.
12
Marcus Burghardt
Team Bacardi
s.t.
13
Romain Vanderbiest
Pearl Adidas
s.t.
14
Simone Ponzi
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
15
Tejay Van Garderen
Wikipedia
s.t.
16
Alessandro Ballan
Koenigsegg
s.t.
17
Michel Kreder
Swedbank-PEAB
s.t.
18
Steven Kruijswijk
Team B&O
s.t.
19
Ethan Weiss
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
s.t.
20
Matthew Goss
Wikipedia
s.t.
21
Koen De Kort
Project 1t4i
s.t.
22
Luke Rowe
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
23
Nick Kinney
Wikipedia
s.t.
24
Marcel Wyss
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
25
Sebastian Langeveld
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
s.t.
26
Thomas Vedel Kvist
Team Puma - SAP
s.t.
27
Geert Steurs
Festina-Canal+
s.t.
28
Kobe Vanoverschelde
Aker - MOT
s.t.
29
Tom Diggle
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
30
Jan Ghyselinck
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
31
Ioannis Tamouridis
Festina-Canal+
s.t.
32
Rafaâ Chtioui
UBS - BMC
s.t.
33
Frantisek Rabon
Milka - AVG
s.t.
34
Jure Kocjan
Team Bacardi
s.t.
35
Andreas Stauff
Lotto - Cervelo
s.t.
36
Jerome Coppel
Milka - AVG
s.t.
37
Enrico Gasparotto
Team Puma - SAP
s.t.
38
Daryl Impey
Aker - MOT
s.t.
39
Gianni Meersman
Team Puma - SAP
s.t.
40
Taylor Tolleson
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
