The first to attack in this new CT season is Soler. A good statement, even if this move came to nothing.
A mixture of La Poste and MOL riders controlling things early on.
A four man break did break clear, and it contained:
- Kasperkiewicz
- Bohli
- Christian
- Lee
101 KM to go.
Out of the blue a big crash takes down a host of riders. Grivko, Mancuso, Rodriguez Galindo and Taborre all went down, but would make it back to the bunch with ease. Time would tell whether any would suffer because of this.
54 KM to go.
3 man break
Lee
'27
Peloton
3'20
Not at the same level as the others in the break, Lee is dropped as the peloton eat into the advantage of those up ahead.
Three teams, all with a favourite, really pushing on the pace behind over the sapping terrain. Konte and Abelouache very noticeable on the front for much of the stage.
Not to plan for Carslberg.
37 KM to go
3 man break
57 man peloton
1'12
Chaoufi and Lejman
2'00
De Maar, Cherel and Bru
2'30
With the pace pushed on over the hills we see stage outsider De Maar dropped with the rest of his team. He like all those dropped at this stage would not contest even the minor points on the season opener.
The 3 men were swallowed up with 15 KM to go, Christian, marginally, being the last to be caught. There is no let-up in the pace, however, with the final punishing hills nearing.
11 KM to go
Hategeka attacks, the first favourite to animate the race! The pace has really decimated the front group with only 17 other riders still in contention: (Klemme, Toribio, Vachon, Dowsett, Valencia, Dahlberg, Barbin, Gaimon, Krizek, Pomoshnikov, Taborre, Pavarin, Tatarinov, Diggle, Hasnaoui, Hugentobler, Rodriguez Galindo.)
Klemme attacks across, and has no trouble getting to the Rwandan's wheel. Dowsett, also makes a move, but it takes much more to bridge the gap.
Behind Ferrero have the numbers, will that be a difference?
7 KM to go.
Hategeka pushes on on the descent, only the smaller kick-up to the finish remains.
Hategeka, Dowsett & Klemme
Diggle, Barbin, Taborre, Toribio, Hugentobler
'28
C.10
1'30
However, those three would not alone decide this one. The lead group swells to 7 on the descent with Barbin, Diggle, Taborre and Hugentobler joining up.
Slow pace into the final.
Hategeka finds himself on the front and he sets a nice easy tempo, saving something for the final. However, surely the winner will be one of the other 6 riders in the group: given the effort he has put in. No one has made a move with the flame rouge passed when with .7 KM to go .....
.... Hategeka puts in his final effort. He quickly gets a small gap back to the rest, maybe they weren't expecting the finish line?!
And with the line well in-sight Hategeka is still looking good. Klemme isn't losing ground, but he is sure isn't gaining any either on the other hand Dowsett doesn't have it today and is losing positions to those who joined up on the descent.
The faster finishing ... Hugentobler and, the fastest, Diggle. But are they fast enough?
A Rwandan wins the CT season opener in Cuba!
Hategeka takes a well deserved win for MOL - OMW Petrom. No one can begrudge him that, the first favourite to attack, on the front for longer than any other favourite and on a really good day.
Diggle, almost, made it and would surely have won with a few more meters added, but settles for a very good second place. Klemme, the best of the big two puncheurs, holds off a very good Hugentobler for the last podium spot. With Taborre, Dowsett and Barbin all finishing within '30 of the race lead.
Former race winner Gaimon, finishing well, just behind Toribio for 9th this time around with Pomoshnikov rounding out the top 10.
So we learn there are certainly question marks over how dominant Klemme and Dowsett can be this season.
1 DNF: Schurter
Our man from Havana, then, is Hategeka, who, wins the Clasico San Cristobal!
