The second edition of the HC Rheden GP is soon kicking off in the windy Gelderland! The gods of cycling decided to be clement with the 192 riders at the start today, hence we will attend a sunny race. Some riders will also be happy to hear that the wind is almost non-existent today. This means that, weather-wise, today’s race will be totally different to last year’s.
And we’re started. A classic like this one normally is going to attract some big breaks. In fact, soon a group of 8 is formed in the front of the race. The riders inside it are: Duque, Feillu, Ford, Martins, Meier, Okbamariam, Villella, Vinther.
However, 8 is apparently too much for the peloton, as they get caught few kilometers later. Out of the ashes of that one, yet another breakaway attempt comes to life. Once again, 8 riders get into it: Ahlstrand, Brambilla, Ford, Gyurov, Herklotz, Naud, Paajanen, Villella.
Aaaand no luck. You expected it, didn’t you? Just as they get caught, a group of 4, made up of top sprinter Ahlstrand, Corwin, Kozhatayev and Scully tries to escape. The teams at the front of the bunch still look a bit reluctant about it and some are still relaying rather hard: does it mean this attempt won’t succeed either?
Eventually, BPost and TomTom decide they’re not a big threat at all and let them go.
The 4 of them now see their advantage rising to more than 5 minutes with the peloton taking it fairly easy.
With about 120 kms to go and the gap now up to 9 minutes, the biggest favourites’ teams start to increase the tempo.
Thanks to Azteca’s efforts the gap is currently down to 6 minutes. 100 kilometers to go now.
The 4 of them just keep on going, all are lending their hand but they know their attack won’t last too long, so they just are trying to enjoy their few hours of glory.
And now, also due to the help AMEX are giving, the gap is being shaved down to just 4’.
Declerq, previously left out of the break, tries to take his revenge. He just attacked, with not less than 90 kilometers to go: is this a tactical move in order to help Daniel in the final kilometers? Still a long way to join the current leaders though, but at least he tried.
Seeing that, also Van Asbroeck attacks soon after. Quickstep doesn’t really have a leader for this race, but the Belgian should be the stronger on the cobbles among them.
The break is not really going that strong and the Belgian duo soon catches them. There’s now 6 riders in the lead.
The men in the front are then joined by another rider a few kilometers later. It’s Taubel I’m talking about. However, the Austrian - who had attacked some kilometers beforehand - is really strong on the cobbles and the pack should start to be worried. About 65 kilometers to go now.
3 riders just escaped from the peloton! Ingels, Schlechter and Sparling want to jump on the successful chasers’ bandwagon.
Nevertheless, it’s when Thomas attacks that the race actually explodes! The Brit tries his luck with just less than 60 kilometers to go, which should be a bit too early for a serious attack to be launched. Perhaps he doesn’t feel that well?
The teams at the front are now pulling the bunch at a ridiculous pace!
Despite that, other 2 riders - Eichler and Taramarcaz try their luck. Another rider has also attacked before them, Sulimov.
They won’t have easy life if they’re aiming to catch the group at the front though, indeed, look at how fast the peloton is still going! BPost’s locomotive is pulling so hard they distanced the rest of the pack in the attempt of setting an even higher pace… In fact, Eichler and Taramarcaz soon get caught.
Meanwhile, Sulimov and Thomas join the trio that was formed before. They are now getting closer and closer to the men in the very front.
However, they get to know the hard way that the main group was even closer to them.
Baugnies doesn’t want the race to come down to a sprint apparently, and neither does Thomas! Just as they attack they bridge the gap with the riders at the head of the race.
BPost just won’t stop it though, and already with 35 kilometers still to race, the BotD is no longer in the front. The Flemish have done a majestic job controlling the situation, but the question still remains the same: will they still be able to help Vanspeybrouck later on?
Although there’s no one in the front anymore, the red-dressed men still are setting an almost unsustainable tempo… Are they now trying to avoid further attacks?
And even despite the high pace, Baugnies doesn’t give up and tries to escape once more! He has few to 0 chances given how the peloton is acting at the moment, but you gotta appreciate the courage!
His attempt lasts more than expected, until the big favourite Summerhill decides it’s time to go and carries Vanspeybrouck away with him. Baugnies gets caught by the bunch just as the two of them overtake him. 17 kilometers to go.
The duo is slowly building their advantage on the next cobbled sector. The group is currently being pulled by Thomas in the meantime but he won’t want to do everything on itself, especially after such an active day.
No one takes the initiative when the Welshman stops setting the pace. With BPost and Azteca now just chilling with their captains comfortably in the lead, everyone is looking at each other.
This obviously is just a further help to Summerhill and Vanspeybrouck, who now look strong to get to the finish line and set for a 1-2: in fact they can currently count on a gap floating around the 40” on the group.
However, the Belgian is currently far more active than the American. This may be a problem, if he wants to hold on to the finish line, he needs to give his hand as well. So far he’s mostly wheelsucking his companion.
Tommeke attacks! This year’s runner up at “the Hell of the North” is the first one to try to respond to the big favorite’s attack. If he is going to be capable to join them in the head, he will probably count on a superior kick in the final meters.
The two don’t have a decent chemistry anymore, assuming they ever had. Vanspeybrouck stopped wasting his energies now; Boonen is getting closer and closer currently.
The main bunch is filling the gap as well, but may it be too late with just 4 kms to go? Baugnies is now in the lead, followed by Maes and Veelers.
As we reach the last cobbled sector, who will eventually lead the riders to the finish line, Boonen won’t help either and the head of the race just stops, waiting to be caught by the riders behind! The 3 are now destined to contest the win in a bunch sprint, while they could have gone for a sure podium... What an utter waste!
But it’s Tom Veelers who finally breaks the silence! He just attacked from the bunch, which is still led by Baugnies in the meantime.
The 3 still don’t make a move, they’ve just given up. This really hurts to see.
The sprint is off. Veelers still has a more than decent advantage on everyone, while Boonen, Summerhill and Vanspeybrouck are behind him, with a small advantage on the group. They may have saved some energies for the final sprint, but it’s going to be hard to overtake the Dutchie again.
From the screenshot below we can also notice that Maes has been the first to launch the sprint, and is now in the front of the group, which is important as the riders are going to take the turn to the toughest cobbles.
Veelers still is in the front, but Boonen definitely is closing the gap. But of course, they are not the only contenders; in fact, Stallaert is coming from behind at double speed, and so does Trentin!
These 4 should be the ones in the best position at the moment, but Vanmarcke is getting close to them. He was a bit unlucky because of his positioning but he surely hasn’t given up either. Van Asbroeck, Daniel and Eisel also are still there and shouldn’t be discounted, but as we have already passed the Flamme Rouge, they will need to unleash a monster sprint to make it to the podium.
Not much has changed in the podium fight though, and the winner will in fact be decided in the last few meters. Veelers lost some of the speed having spent some more compared to the others. Boonen could still make it given he’s still in the lead but it looks like either Stallaert or Trentin are going to stand on the highest step of the podium.
Stallaert is still looking really strong and looks like no one will take the win away from him. BPost’s infinite alternatives surely paid off today.
Boonen may have given up on the win too early as Trentin is now really really close to him. The Belgian may have forgotten that there are other places besides the winner’s.
And as we predicted, Stallaert pays back his teammates’ incredible team work and takes the win! What a brilliant day for the Flemish team!
Boonen is once again the first of the losers, having resisted to Trentin’s assault. Vanmarcke just misses on the podium and Veelers takes a bitter-sweet 5th. In the fight for the PCT’s crown, today Gazelle scored more than Aegon.
Van Asbroeck, Eisel, Daniel, Lagab and Thomas close the top 10.
Summerhill and Vanspeybrouck come just now, ironically still in couple, around the 17th place. In the background you can sight Baugnies, closing the top 20.
