Denmark might lack the real top puncheurs on a hill course like this. Though 2 names stand out. These are Risa`s Juul-Jensen and Aker`s Guldhammer, who is more a stage racer. Those two are the strongest on shorter hills but only first has some support here. 2 riders in total while Guldhammer is on his own.
So he surely needs to hope for support by the biggest team here: Carlsberg. The home team has the numbers to dominate but lack the clear leader.
Only 2 riders in a break is quite surprising with such small teams. The first is Mortensen of one of the split Carlsberg teams. The other Wilsgaad of Fablok. Hard to say who is the stronger of those on such course.
The whole race then went in the same way. Gap up to 2-3 min on the flat. Guldhammer himself leading on the climb and reducing the gap to ~1min.
On the flat Risa and Swedbank again allowing a gap up to 3min and again Guldhammer reducing it on the next climb to under 1min and so on. In especially Risa disappointed here as the support for Juul-Jensen was tiny.
With 10km to go and only the final climb left, the gap is in danger to go up again after Guldhammer just reduced it to 1'20.
To avoid that we see the first attacks.
Swedbanks Cort Nielsen and just behind him the strongest today it seems in Guldhammer, who now wants to take the glory after his work.
Also on the move a bit later De Laval`s Sörensen, who had a nice season.
Anonymous in the peloton the Risa guys around Juul-Jensen, who is not following but also not getting the needed support by his guys once again.
For Carlsberg it`s the disaster that there is simply no leader, who could match the recent attacks. And with 8km to go the 1min gap is gone as Guldhammer has reached the duo in front, while Cort Nielsen and Sörensen still have a bit.
The peloton would still have chances but need to really go for it now...but they apparently don`t as Risa is in the middle of the pack and Carlsberg`s Bochman is the only rider able to chase for himself, which is not enough. No sign of Orange neither.
When Cort Nielsen and Sörensen just made it we see an interesting attack.
Kilsgaard now attacks just ahead of the climb. Must be a desperate move by him but they work at times.
Not today though as Guldhammer as seen on all climbs today is able to pull more than 2min on them.
Just on the toughest part he is accelerating and no one is able to follow despite trying it.
So it`s a surprising win for Aker but Guldhammer proved his strength today even without support riders. If only all top favourites would ride like this.
Sörensen and Cort Nielsen came in 40s later with first winning their sprint for 2nd.
Kilsgaard and Mortensen also ahead of the peloton while Juul-Jensen, Morkov, Hansen, Lander or Bochmann all reacted far too late and only went for the late top10 spots.
The time trial was expected to be a close fight. Risa`s Steensen and Christensen have not done a lot in the RR and hence should be fit for the TT. Their biggest opponent and actually a tad stronger time trialist is Quaade. But all of them are very equal.
Behind this trio, Sterobo, Hansen, andersen or Bochman only with outsider chances.
Steensen was the first of those on the road and he dominated all splits. 1st on each of them and obviously also in the finish.
His team mate Christensen though 12s faster at the first split...
...while Quaade does not have his best day. Only 4th there 29s behind him. And only s.t. with Sterobo, who is in 3rd though.
Same at the 2nd split, where Christensen has improved to 18s on Steensen, while Quaade and Sterobo are just the same speed. Both 57s behind already.
Coming to the finish Christensen almost has passed Sterobo ahead of him. 38s for him in the end on Steensen. And knowing that Quaade was just 1s faster than Sterobo at the 3rd split, the gold medal seems secured for him.
Quaade in the finish just keeps those 1s on Sterobo for the podium but surely a disappointing ride for him 1'45 off.
Steensen at 52s also a level behind his team mate today. Well done Risa at least after their horrible RR performance.
Rasmus Guldhammer
