Mixed NC on a cobbled course.
Egypt: Abdallah vs. Ragaey
Gabun: Anguilet vs. Thaouta (NO Bakari!)
Albania: Giogieri vs. Zhupa
All 6 are riding in single rider teams. Even the two Albanians (both Becherovka) are seperated)
Thaouta, Giogieri and Abdallah with a first attack and they have a 2min gap.
But the other three are deciding to go for it as well and chase them down.
Minutes later it`s Thaouta (GAB) in a solo attempt and he is allowed a gap of 4min!
While the Gabun NC seems decided, the other two are still unsure. Well until Zhupa attacks. He is the strongest cobbler anyway and quickly gets a gap to Giorgieri.
And it couldn`t be much easier for a reporter as also the Egypts start to attack each other. Ragaey might not have a chance to win the classic but he is about to win the Egyptian NC.
In front Zhupa has bridged the 4min gap! Strong performance.
He then though gets attacked on the cobbles! A 71 cobbler can`t follow a 54 cobbler! The long chase on high speed must have cost him more energy surely.
Zhupa found contact a bit later again but again on cobbles he is losing contact.
So Thaouta takes the classic! What a surprise. This also means he wins the Gabun NC.
Zhupa might have lost today but he still has won the Albanian NC.
Last but not least Ragaey, who takes the Egyptian NC.
All 6 riders are no time trialists. Abdallah is the weakest by far and so the Egyptian ITT NC seems the least open, while the other two are +-1 ITT decisions.
Can Anguilet take the Gabun ITT against Thaouta again and Ragaey defend his 2014 win against Abdallah? At the first split both are in front.
Giogieri has won the Albanian ITT last year and also today is 9s faster than Zhupa at the first split. But it`s the closest fight it seems.
Anguilet keeps the advantage against Thaouta. So the Gabunese share the two NC`s fairly and as he will be back with Eritel next season, the team collects 2 NC`s here.
Same in Albania where Giogieri defends his shirt beating Zhupa but both jerseys go to Becherovka. Giogieri actually is fastest of all today.
The Egyptian ITT was easy. No chance for Abdallah and so it`s the only decision today where we have a double NC winner.
Cedric Thaouta
Eugert Zhupa
Nasser Ragaey
