One of the longest PCT stage races of the Year starts with one of the shortest prologues. 2.1km only and pan flat. A weird HC startlist really with more PT than PCT teams. This gives the higher division teams a good chance to take todays opener and a rare chance of a leader jersey in the HC events.
Top favourite is Gazelle`s Gretsch followed by the PCT duo Ligthart and Aregger.
Then a long list of PT prologue specialists with only Nepomnyachsniy in the mix for the PCT.
The Kazakh actually one of few GC riders, who might already go for the win today. Others are Laengen, Dees or top climber Reis.
Early on Schär did lead ahead of Van Baarle, Velits and Ulanowski.
Then Porte for Vesuvio taking the provisional lead.
Downey came close being 1s down as also Moscon but it`s Lindgren to be the next on the hot seat being 1s faster.
But just for a moment as Frison goes 2s faster. So far a fight between PT teams mainly.
Dees a bit later and he is showing his GC ambitions by going all-in in todays prologue. But he is 2s down and in 2nd spot. Christian Meier a bit earlier also in the top5 at the moment.
Laengen in 3rd some micro seconds behind Dees.
Gretsch coming to the finish and while being 1s faster than the recent duo, he can`t beat the fastest so far, which is still Frison.
Clarke and Ligthard just moments later also struggle and both inside the top10 but off from the top spots.
Christensen is another strong Grieg prologue rider at the start. But also 3s off. 3rd of theirs in the top10 at the moment though.
Dal Col and also Aregger a bit later also just inside top10 struggling to beat the very best times. So the top3 prologue riders all finished by now and none is sitting on the hot seat.
Nepomnyachsniy goes decent but not as strong as the others. 15th being 4s down. Surely gaining on some but a lot of itme wasn`t able to get today. So more important for him all the tough uphill stages.
Portuguese favourite for the GC is Reis and he has a great start. Almost a perfect start actually seeing him coming close to the win. Same time as Gretsch being in 3rd position and best of all GC riders but this also means that no one is able to beat Frison, who takes a great win in his young career. First since his surprising U23 Worlds coup.
