Welcome to Keszthely for the 2019 edition of Betonexpressz GP. 210 kilometer and a bit before we're back here for what most riders hope to be a mass sprint. The hills might throw a spanner in the works though. Let's see how the race plays out!
Ten kilometer in and we have the first two attackers: Fouche and Sleen. No one else willing to join them at the moment but that can still change.
But they remain the only two attackers, this duo is the breakaway of the race. They lead by 3'30 coming over the second hill. Two riders versus 133 is a bit unfair, but the sprinter teams don't want to leave this to chance.
Every rider in the peloton survives the repeated early ascent four times, no casualties as of yet. The gap reached its maximum at 4'30 with 150 kilometer to go. Early riders leading the peloton are Cherkasov, Revard, Savini, Kurianov and Eenkhoorn.
The midway point of the race, gap is three minutes. Revard and Habtemichael lead for McCormick but what for? More logical chasers are Burke for GCN, Savini for Eddie Stobart, Kurianov and Quicibal for Equinor, Eenkhoorn for Centovalli, Cherkasov for Netia, Ford for Glanbia and Ricco for Adastra.
70 kilometer and the lead is down to two minutes. We have are inside the second circuit with hills, though less high than those in the beginning. Glanbia, Netia, Centovalli and still the sprinterless McCormick the teams at the front.
The gap goes under a minute at 40 kilometer from the finish line. The hills have taken no casualties so far. Malecki the newest rider leading the peloton, the riders behind are those whom we have seen all day.
30k, 34 seconds. Cherkasov and Malecki closed in 30 seconds on the previous hill alone and nearly forced a split in the peloton. This has been a wake-up call for the sprinters who were further back, they are moving forward to avoid being in the wrong place at the wrong time again.
In the streets of Keszthely, the understanding amongst the escapees is gone as Sleen attacks Fouche. The peloton has come within twenty seconds, so it is an all-or-nothing move from the Norwegian. Fouche gave up and was caught by the peloton shortly thereafter.
Hoehn and Kurianov give the final push to catch Sleen with 22 kilometer to go. Lots of Netia, Centovalli and McCormick riders at the front. We still have a hill between here and the finish line where someone might fancy his chance with a late attack.
It's a sprint to the foot of the hill as we see many riders setting a fast pace: Veyhe, Minoungou, Bille, Langeveld, Ngandamba, Connolly and Quispe.
The top is at 11 kilometer from the finish line. The three GCN riders Ngandamba, Bille and Minoungou are the first to cross the top, lead sprinter Mohs in fourth position already but a small gap occured between him and his teammates in the final meters of the climb. Guillen, Boivin, Granjel Cabrera, Moser, Carsi, L. Keough, Bennett and Thorsen got over the hill unscathed and in a good position.
Mohs closed the gap to his teammates but lost some places as Eddie Stobart forms a rival train with Dahlberg, Andersson, Cimolai and Thorsen. The peloton remained largely in one piece, only a few riders irrelevant for the victory got dropped, including both Fouche and Sleen.
4500 meters and the GCN train has been shortened to only Ngandamba for Mohs. Guillen, Carsi and Granjel Cabrera on his wheel. The Eddie Stobart train is riding as scheduled, Boivin, Moser, L. Keough, Bennett and Awang bought tickets for it. A few positions behind we have Krieger, Von Hoff, Yamamoto looking for a wheel to follow. Sobota, Kamberaj and J. Keough are much further down the field and perhaps too late for a top classification.
The GCN train is completely overtaken by the Stobart train, who played it smarter by organizing after the hill. Mohs switches to the other side, and finds himself a place between Guillen and Boivin.
Mohs can thank McLay, who comes from behind and tows him back to the front alongside Cimolai, who is the last man standing for Thorsen. A full overview of the positions:
Cimolai
McLay
Thorsen
Mohs
Boivin
Guillen
Carsi
Granjel Cabrera
Andersson
Bennett
Veyhe
Keough
Moser
Quispe
Szalontay
Awang
Langeveld
Krieger
Dockx
Castrillo
Losch
Manamalage
Petrie-Armstrong
Under the kite and Thorsen has lost the wheel of Cimolai, the Italian now with the opportunity of a lifetime. Mohs also didn't get off to the best of starts but he has some margin behind. Granjel Cabrera and Bennett follow Mohs as Boivin is slightly blocked by the fading McLay and Thorsen. The front 25 are separating themselves from the rest of the field, who have no interest in sprinting it seems.
Cimolai's dream is shattered as he is passed on all sides. Mohs now leading though Granjel Cabrera, Bennett and Keough closing in. Boivin has gotten around the blockade and is in the mix, Awang and Guillen on the next row followed by Krieger and Carsi. Thorsen still not up to speed.
A turn at 500 meters and despite having the outside line, Granjel Cabrera draws alongside Mohs. Bennett looking for the small gap in between them, Keough trying on the inside. The other sprinters are fighting for the positions behind.
Granjel Cabrera now in the lead but Bennett seems to have the highest speed. Keough still trying to find a way around them. Boivin, the everlasting Cimolai and Guillen occupying the next positions but it's increasingly likely the winner will come from the current top four.
Bennett ever so slightly in the lead but Keough has finally found his highest gear and a way forward. He gets very close to Bennett trying to make his way past, maybe even making slight contact. Boivin is also in with a shot of the podium, but he might be running out of tarmac.
Luke Keough wins the Betonexpressz GP! An aggressive sprint pays off, and he timed perfectly as any previous leader found himself overtaken.
Mohs led... then imploded. Granjel Cabrera led... then imploded. Bennett led.. then imploded. Guillen and Boivin take the remaining podium spots. Carsi from pretty much nowhere to fourth in the final 200 meters. Where are Mohs, Granjel Cabrera, Bennett?
Krieger fifth, Moser sixth. Bennett goes from leading with 200 meters to go to finishing seventh. Awang takes eighth ahead of Granjel Cabrera and Mohs, the other riders who apparently hit a wall. Cimolai eleventh after an improvised sprint.
Veyhe with twelfth place ahead of Losch, McLay and Dzervus as the remaining riders from the front group roll over the finish line. Thorsen as last of this group in 25th, having not sprinted at all.
Yamamoto wins the sprint for 26th ahead of Von Hoff, given at 42 seconds. Palyi the best Hungarian in 28th, Szalontay in 34th. The other lead sprinters finish outside the top 30: Sobota in 35th, Kamberaj in 36th. Jake Keough 43 positions behind his younger brother.
