Milano - Torino. First race in October and a good test for the HC classics such as Paris-Tours and the Giro dell'Emilia.
While only having a C1 rating, it`s still a prestigious race and winning here is a nice addition into someones palmares.
Lots of riders including teams of favourites wanted into the break. No surprise that those attempts failed in the end. Only three rider made it: Sai-Udomsin Brambilla Giger
So two teams in or just on top of the PCT relegation zone and a CT team.
Bank of Ireland with a couple of riders doing the most with some small support of Buff, Nutresa, RBC, TomTom and Puma.
We jump to the climbs and with 22km to go the gap is down to a bit more than 1min only.
First half of the first climb done and while the breakaway splits some riders try to attack. The first is McCarthy followed by Bellis and van der Hugenhaben. But so far only McCarthy is able to create a gap as Nutresa is keeping the pace high with Gavazzi and Chaves.
Almost on top and McCarthy still solo in the lead with Giger being the last breakaway rider in 2nd.
Then a trio of van der Hugenhaben, Felline and Wang. Last two a bit of a surprise as Kelderman is also in there and Wang is only a 3rd tier rider.
A bit behind them Bellis and Di Maggio solo trying to close the gap and now after the short descent already. Only one more climb left and gaps are small.
49 riders still in the peloton just ~20s later.
Giger and Bellis are caught. So only McCarthy solo and Hugenhaben/Felline/Wang in front.
There is some movement though as Chernobyl and Kenya are coming to the front now.
So it`s not a big surprise to see their move: Prevar and Kwiatkowski just attacked and passed Felline, who is back in the peloton.
Those two have joined Wang and Hugenhaben. Later though seems stronger and has a small gap to Wang already.
The peloton just a bit later though. Bernas, Klemme, Di Maggio, Vakoc, Minard, Chaves, Felline, Kelderman, Levarlet, Ben Nasser, Furdi, Bellis, Shaw, Efimkin, Siskevicius, Pozzato, Monfort, Juul-Jensen, Betancourt in the first positions in that order.
But no rider was able to beat McCarthy, who clearly was the strongest and smartest today.
Behind the fight for 2nd is open. Hugenhaben with an acceleration followed by Kwiatkowski. Wang can`t follow and also Prevar is tired it seems.
Only rider, who jumped out of the peloton is Klemme. All others will wait for the uphill sprint.
Easy 2nd for the TomTom rider. Also Kwiatkowski in 3rd with a nice result.
Prevar as 4th beats Wang. For both teams very nice points of course in the relegation fight, where they do beat others today such as Project:Africa.
Klemma following in 6th.
The peloton sprint was weird as some weaker puncheurs made it to the better spots. Surprising 7th is Siskevicius, who keeps their promotion dream realistic ahead of Di Maggio with important (but too few strength wise) points against relegation.
Vakoc and Megias as next ahead of Levarlet and Minnard as best Gazelle rider.
So while Kenya and Evonik might be happy with the outcome other promotion teams with weak performances. Gazelle can`t really close the gap as Furdi/Monfort/Pozzato underperformed a lot while also Puma can`t be happy. Rumours though say that Kelderman wants to focus on the Giro dell'Emilia instead of those small shit C1 races.
Disaster for Project:Africa. Not only did other teams score. Their leader Craven once more underperforming heavily in 40th only.
