Mountain NC in Moldovia. And who else but Pluchkin can win this? 4 riders only and the difference between him and the next best is 17 mountain stats. Plus he is the only rider with a support rider in Tanovitchii.
Braico (Swisscom) and Cioban (DeLaval) still might give it a try.
And they give it a great try it seems. Both attack the Metinvest duo early.
But Pluchkin himself pulls them back. Tanovitchii, who won last year struggles to keep contact with his lead but also makes it back to this group.
Those duo attacks happened another 3 times but always Pluchkin is in full control. And now going up the remaining first climb his speed is high enough to not even allow Braico to attack.
That said, as soon as the climb was passed, Braico this time attacked in the downhill and quickly gets gap.
Weird to see that there is no real work by the Metinvest duo. Instead of going a strong pace all day, Pluchkin seems to give up. Ouch and sorry Avin.
So it is an easy win for Braico. A huge one for him. But with Pluchkin only chasing hard on the first mountain, it was a perfect attack after this one.
No other rider even finished. That big of a time gap in the end.
The obvious favourite in the ITT is Pluchkin again. But this time a small addition as he is the reigning ITT World Champion. Whoever gets 2nd will also wear the NC jersey all year and chances are huge that Braico can make a double NC as he is decent against the clock and by far stronger than Cioban or Tanovitchii.
Tanovitchii the first on the road but without any chance. Clearly the weakest today.
And even though Cioban has won last season, he won`t repeat it in 2015. Already more than 1min with 33km yet to go.
Braico feels good today and not only wants the jersey but also the win here. He is just 16s off Pluchkin at the first split.
Though the Moldovan star is doing as expected. Those 16s get added basically with every 10km and in the end he is winning the ITT today with a 65s gap.
Wearing the Moldovan jersey all year though is Alexandr Braico as 2nd. Swisscom with a nice jersey to design now.
Alexandr Braico
