Ladies and gentleman, welcome to today's second stage of the Barbados Cycling Festival! After yesterday's huge success, local team Podium Ambition will have to defend Caleb Ewan's jerseys - and they will surely be challenged, be it by the top sprinters or by some courageous escapees.
However, the profile certainly doesn't favor the latter. Whereas the first half of the race is a bit bumpy, the last 80 kilometers consist of downhill and a long flat section.
But let's go through the stage in the correct order. The sprinter teams might want to keep everything together in the beginning, as the first intermediate sprint will already be taken after 21.9km.
Then, the two 2nd category KoM sprints after 55.4km and 90.6km will certainly lead to some attacks - as there are just two category 3 KoM sprints in the final stage left, today's stage could already be decisive in terms of KoM jersey.
After a long downhill, we will then see the second intermediate sprint after 125.7km, with just a bit more than 40km to go. The riders will then see the finish line already 20km later - but not cross it, as they will turn left just before to ride two additional 10km laps.
The sprinter teams should then build up their trains - something we didn't really see yesterday - and if the race unfolds as expected, we'll again see the top sprinters fighting for line honors!
And these top sprinters - according to the bookies - are: Degenkolb, Swift and Ahlstrand, followed by Ewan, Grosu and Coquard. Kennaugh, Vanderbiest, Groenewegen and Guerao should have their chances as well.
And now, let's see if it's going to be another great day for the Barbadian fans - or if the foreign competition strikes back!
It took 5 kilometers today, until we get to see the first promising attacks. Van Winden tries again, and he's accompanied by Koishi and Kireva.
Well, EA Vesuvio doesn't seem to be really happy with this, as they sent 4 men in front to chase the early breakaway. But they don't really seem to be well organized; they're all on one line, and they're looking at each other. A truly strange situation once again!
Of course, the breakaway riders are moving at full speed as well - will the chasers finally find out how get their job done right and reel them in?
Well, no. Actually, EA Vesuvio's fifth man, Rucigaj, just jumps to the front, and his teammates immediately stop chasing.
However, the sprinter teams continue pushing hard, as the intermediate sprint is just 5km away!
The peloton pushed hard, but the breakaway countered with success! Kireva is the first to cross the line at the intermediate sprint:
1. Kireva - 6
2. Koishi - 4
3. Van Winden - 2
So Rucigaj's effort hasn't paid off for now. And maybe it was even too much effort, as he can't keep up with the others and is just a few seconds ahead of the peloton! Van Winden's got a gap as well - will we just have a 2-man-breakaway today?
But with the intermediate sprint done, the pace in the pack drops just after the line. So while Van Winden and Rucigaj are closing in on the leading duo, the sprinter teams just do a pro-forma chase for now. We have Kopfauf, Olesen, Pruus, Barthe, Ioannidis, Mas and Boonratanathanakorn setting the pace.
The gap is already up to 3 minutes on the leading duo just a few kilometers later. The chasers are somewhere in the middle.
And now they're finally re-united! As the gap is up to 4 minutes, we can definitely label them the Breakaway of the Day now. So let's take a look at their strengths and weaknesses:
Kireva is easily the strongest rider among them: the best on the flat, on the hills and the best sprinter as well - which he has already displayed by winning the intermediate sprint. Koishi then is the second best hill rider, together with Rucigaj, and the second best sprinter, slightly faster than the Slovene. However, he's much stronger on the flat! Van Winden finally is the second best flat rider, but he doesn't like hills and he can't sprint, so he'll need an early attack. At least, he's got the fighting spirit it takes for this.
We're approaching the first KoM now, and we can be almost certain that one rider out of this quartet will be wearing the KoM jersey tomorrow - and will have good chances to keep it until the end!
Kireva wins yet another sprint, this time it's one for KoM points:
1. Kireva - 10
2. Koishi - 8
3. Rucigaj - 6
4. Van Winden - 4
5. Barthe - 2
The peloton is exactly 5 minutes down, and Barthe is obviously leading it, as he takes the two final points.
The pack heads into the second categorized climb of the day. Yesterday's losing teams seem determined to deliver a better job today, as we see Cataldo and Ioannidis, Merino Criado and Nych, Gjolberg and Haddi working, supported by R. Oliveira and I. Oliveira.
Even though the deficit is down to 2'30, the BotD rider should still take the points on top - except the points for 5th, of course.
And here they are already, with Kireva again dominating the sprint and taking the jersey with a 6 point lead:
1. Kireva - 10 => 20
2. Van Winden - 8 => 12
3. Koishi - 6 => 14
4. Rucigaj - 4 => 10
5. Cataldo - 2
The peloton, led by Cataldo, has lost some time again on the uphill part, as they're 3'16 back now. 75km to go.
After the long descent, Kireva makes it 4/4, as he wins the second intermediate sprint, too:
1. Kireva - 6
2. Koishi - 4
3. Van Winden - 2
So until now, EA Vesuvio's effort was worth 10 KoM points, that's all. By winning even just one bonus second, Rucigaj could have taken 2nd in the U25 standings - now he'll have to do it on the finish line!
But - will 2 minutes be sufficient for these last 40 kilometers?
There are some doubts about this, as the peloton now moves really fast. Gjolberg leads the pack across the line.
20 kilometers later, the riders have just entered the first out of two extra laps. The speed in the breakaway seems to be too low for Koishi, and he tries to make it on his own!
The peloton is just 48" back, the timing seems to be good today - but the BotD won't give up too easily!
Still 3km later, Kireva now seems to be the strongest, as he's taken the race lead from Koishi, with Van Winden and Rucigaj desperately trying to catch up again!
And the pack is still about 50" back - can the escapees keep up this speed until the end?
Surprisingly, Van Winden is the first to be reeled in, while Koishi and Rucigaj have joined Kireva to form a leading trio now. 13km left, and the gap is down to 30" now!
Just ahead of the 10km banner, Nych catches Rucigaj, whose teammates definitely won't be amused about his achievements.
Koishi and Kireva are tiring as well, as they've just 16" left. But anything can happen...
Well, it wasn't to be. The pack easily caught them, and now we've already reached the 5km mark.
Iberia and Aker are working really hard at the front of the pack, while the actual sprint trains are taking shape behind. Let's see whom we can spot: Oss - Haddi - Scully - Swift Petit - Stauff - Coquard King - Merino Criado - Degenkolb Tolhoek - Grosu van Zyl - Cavendish Campenaerts - Ahlstrand Petelin - Vanderbiest Ivanov - Vantomme Schoffmann - Appollonio Cheung - Itami Mundle - Salleh Dunbar - Nizzolo
And then many others are on their own: Boeckmans, Kennaugh, Groenewegen, Guardini, Zabel - and even our race leader Ewan, who got so much support yesterday! Does this give us a hint about their party night?
But for now, let's focus on the race, as there are just 3 kilometers left! We can now see the Iberia train moving to the front, with Boeckmans trying to get Degenkolb's wheel! Most other sprinters seem to be waiting - for too long?
2 kilometers to go and the Iberia train with Degenkolb is still in the lead. But Festina has now caught up, getting Coquard into a great position as well. Avelino's got two leadouts as well, whereas the Aker train has completely fallen apart - Yzeiraj is up front, Haddi is somewhere near the Duolingo train, and Swift himself is quite much at the rear of the sprinters pack - but still ahead of Guardini, Cavendish, Grosu, Groenewegen, Vantomme, Guerao, Nizzolo or Salleh!
Merino Criado is the first under the red kite, closely followed by Degenkolb and Boeckmans! Let's take a look at the positioning of all these sprinters ahead of the final 1,000 meters!
Merino Criado
Degenkolb
Boeckmans
Stauff
Bouglas
Coquard
Zabel
Yzeiraj
King
Barbier
Avelino
Petit
Haddi
Guardini
Kennaugh
Ewan
Chen
Cavendish
Campenaerts
van Zyl
Tolhoek
Groenewegen
Petelin
Ahlstrand
Swift
Grosu
Ivanov
Vanderbiest
Guerao
Scully
Vantomme
Mundle
Appollonio
Schoffmann
Brockhoff
Salleh
Cheung
Dunbar
Arashiro
Itami
Sergent
Nizzolo
600 meters to the line, and Degenkolb has now passed his final leadout Merino Criado and has taken the lead! Boeckmans, Zabel and Coquard are in the mix, too, and Avelino even still has his final leadout Bouglas pulling him!
Guardini and Groenewegen are slightly behind this group, followed by Haddi, Kennaugh, Cavendish and Ewan! Swift seems to be out of contention again, just as Guerao. Ahlstrand and Grosu are even further away, just as all other sprinters not mentioned.
400 meters remaining - fortunately, none of the riders took the road to the left to add a third extra lap...
Degenkolb is still in the lead, but Coquard is almost level now! Zabel and Boeckmans are currently fighting for 3rd, whereas Avelino is about to pass his leadout Bouglas.
Guardini and Groenewegen are slowly closing in - is it too late?
Will we get a similar situation to what we had yesterday? The five leading riders are making the race closer and closer with just 300m left. Coquard now seems to have the edge over Degenkolb, who is still slightly ahead of Boeckmans, Zabel and Avelino.
Guardini and Groenewegen aren't far away, but it's still a sizeable gap. Behind the Dutchman, we have NOT Swift - it's his leadout Haddi probably getting the best result for the team! Kennaugh, Ewan and Cavendish take the last positions in this group, while Bouglas blocks the road ahead of Ewan. Can he still save his jersey?
Coquard still leads the race with 200 meters to go, but Degenkolb surely hasn't given up yet, and Zabel and Boeckmans are closing in! Avelino seems to lack the absolute top speed - but we shouldn't write him off yet!
Guardini and Groenewegen have gotten even closer - will they even get into the mix for the stage podium? Haddi is delivering a good race, whereas Kennaugh, Cavendish and Ewan certainly won't be happy with their performance - at least they're still fighting for some bonus seconds!
We're on the final 100 meters, as Coquard is still leading! Zabel now is almost level with Degenkolb, whereas Avelino has caught up with Boeckmans!
Behind, Ewan seems to be the one struggling most, as he's currently 11th - just one place short of the bonus second that might save him the leader jersey!
Only a few meters to go for Coquard, who's still fighting hard to keep the lead! Degenkolb is still 2nd, ahead of Zabel, and then Boeckmans or Avelino - we can't really say now.
It will probably be Guardini vs Groenewegen for 6th, Haddi vs Kennaugh for 8th, and Cavendish vs Ewan for the final bonus second!
He did it! Bryan Coquard finishes off Festina - OAKA's great team work in the final kilometers and gets his 3rd stage win of the season! Can he even grab the GC lead? As he hasn't won any bonus seconds yesterday, he's not in the best position - but let's wait and see!
Zabel now has overtaken Degenkolb - but beware of Boeckmans and Avelino!
Rick Zabel indeed gets the 2nd place, with a tiny margin on Oscar Avelino, who takes the last podium step today!
Now let's see who's next - it seems to be incredibly close!
It's John Degenkolb! He edges out Kris Boeckmans for 4th - a result he surely won't be too happy with, Iberia having done a huge amount of work, and perfectly led out their sprinter - it might just have been a tad too early.
Next is Andrea Guardini, edging out Dylan Groenewegen for 6th. Soufiane Haddi and Peter Kennaugh are next - but who will take that final Top 10 spot?
It's very, very close between these two again - and Mark Cavendish takes his revenge on Caleb Ewan and beats the Australian for 10th.
That gives us a situation where Ewan won yesterday and is 11th today, whereas Coquard was 11th yesterday and took the win today, making them exactly equal in terms of both bonus seconds and ranking points. Who's going to be declared leader? Or is there another rider who got more bonus seconds on these two stages? Let's see - but first let's wait for the next sprinters to come in.
Swift finally takes the 12th place, ahead of Guerao. He and his team will be really disappointed, although Haddi got a good personal result with 8th. But we'll see many more unhappy faces, as those riders on the next positions won't be glad, either:
The good news for all of these sprinters is that there were no time gaps awarded today, and they still have two chances remaining! And with still 50 bonus seconds available, anything is possible!
But now, let's head over to the victory ceremony - and find out who's our (new?) race leader!
First, let's applaud Bryan Coquard, our stage winner, who gave the perfect answer today after yesterday's bad result. He's definitely back in the mix for the overall win - is he even taking over the leader's jersey today? Or has the home crowd's favorite Caleb Ewan successfully defended it?
Neither of them appear on the podium, but it's Kris Boeckmans! With yesterday's 3rd and today's 5th places, he got 25 bonus seconds, just as the two other riders. But as he's got the lowest ranking points total (8 vs 12 vs 12), the GC lead goes to the PCT sprinter!
Behind him, we have Caleb Ewan on 2nd and Bryan Coquard on 3rd - is this a local bonus, or did the judges have any objective reason? We don't know. But we know that it's the same way round in the points standings, meaning Caleb Ewan will be riding in Green tomorrow.
The KoM jersey will be worn by Albert Kireva on the remaining two stages, as we don't have any KoM sprint tomorrow. He'll have to defend it on the last day, though.
The white jersey remains on Caleb Ewan's shoulders (it will actually be worn by Petelin, as Ewan's got the green one as well).
And in the team standings, Aker - MOT takes the lead, despite their messed-up sprint preparation. But with two riders in the Top 15, they still got something good out of it.
And that's all for today. For the neutral observer, it's great to see that the race is still wide open. For the home crowd, Ewan's 11th place surely was a bummer - had he again edged out Cavendish, he'd still be the leader. But hey, there are two stages remaining - can he strike back tomorrow? Or will we see the 3rd winner on the 3rd stage? Stay tuned for some more great sprinting action!
Barbados Cycling Festival 
