Welcome to Norway for the Lillestrom GP! It’s a sunny day in the land of the Fjords and we should be in for a good day of racing. There are about 200km of that, so let’s get started shall we?
The cobbled sector has 2.6km in length and is, as always, 5 star rated
This is going to be a difficult day for the lot of the riders present. The second time we pass it the peloton is already reduced to 67 elements!
They relax a fair bit when they realize only one rider managed to getaway. This man’s advantage starts growing beyond 2min. His name is Gaetan Bille
Sweeck experiences a flat tire but he quickly regains his position.
The Belgian’s advantage peaks at 2’56 with 127km to go as we’re about to hit the 7th passing of the cobbled sector.
An interesting move then occurs with 118km to go. Domene decides to attack, taking Young with him
Corwin, Kumara, Minoungou and later Langeveld will join these two creating a dangerous group up front.
They quickly catch Bille in the next circuit.
Ngandamba, Taramarcaz and Kolev also attack the peloton with 100km to the line.
They are able to create a 2’20 gap in 5-10km, but are finding it difficult to get up to the front. In fact, by the time we hit the last 90 km they trail that group by 1’14. These gaps are beginning to look dangerous.
Even more so when you consider the fact that the peloton isn’t a peloton anymore. Only 21 riders complete the group of favourites.
That number regrows before we hit the cobbles, but as soon as Martins Sandoval lays down the hammer in that stony stretch of road, all the domestiques start showing their weakness and lose contact again.
This dynamic makes it difficult for this group to create an organized chasing effort.
Bille and the intermediate group couldn’t continue the respective escapades and get caught by the favourites group.
With 50km to the line the remaining 6 men in the front group have a 4min gap!
You can understand the consternation this is causing in the favourites group, where the actual favourites are the ones actually doing the chasing with Kasperkiewicz at the elm!
At this point of the race there only 3 more passings of the cobbled sector. Anyone with eyes on victory today will need o bring the hammer down on these.
Kasperkiewicz goes at it again.
He does bring the difference down, but only by 11 seconds by the end of the sector. It’s looking more and more likely that the front group will dispute the victory among themselves. Kluge doesn’t seem to be having the best of days as he’s been constantly at the back of this group every time they hit the cobbles
It’s the penultimate passing for the front group. They’ve been collaborating quite well and no attacks have occurred since they all have joined together.
These 6 will be glad to know their gap has extended to 5’27 with 22km to the finish, which makes unfeasible to think they can be caught. Cat and mouse play should ensue shortly.
Again Kasperkiewicz is seen pressing down in the sector, shaving 30’’ of gap, but there’s just nobody to continue his effort on the tarmac and as such the gap grows ever larger!
Strangely it is Richardson and Cosnefroy picking up the pace after him. They both have team mates up the road, but perhaps they realized Young is the fastest sprinter of the lot.
This is all too late as their facing a 4’46 deficit for the last 14km. The last cobbled sector is just around the corner though so we should see some action now.
We actually don’t need to wait that long. Taubel accelerates with 15km to go!
Kasperckiwecz and co. are quick to put this down and catch the Austrian before he gets any leeway!
The front group is in the final sector of cobblestones and the slowest of the group have paired up to distance the rest: Langeveld and Corwin set off on their own! 9km to go!
This little venture lasts for only a couple of kilometers though as Young assumes the responsibility to crack down on the fugitives.
In the chasing group, 3min behind, Van Keirsbulck has created a gap as he exits the final sector. Everyone of note is still there. Biggest names left out are Ghani, Ngamdamba and Kolev.
Everyone looking at each other in the front group as they enter the final 5km. The gap is being erased but still sits at 2’36.
The Belgian is being pursued by Orue who also has distanced the rest of the favourites by 29’’
The front group has reentered the city of Lillestrom. Young is in the driver’s seat as the group starts lapping a number of riders. 2.5km to go – they’ll face a short downhill and then the finish straight which includes a relevant 1km slope around 3%
Kumara is tricked into the leadout position as they pass the flamme rouge. Minoungou follows with Domene, Young, Corwin and then Langeveld behind.
Domene opens up the hostilities immediately passing Kumara. Minoungou and Young choose the same side of the road, with the American getting blocked.
He finally gets rid of the burkinoese champion and moves up to challenge Domene. Kumara holds a very reasonable speed still…
Domene and Young, who’s going to take it?
Domene!!
The Spaniard manages to fend off his rival Young, who will leave with the feeling he could have achieved better than his 2nd place. Kumara will be overjoyed with 3rd place, even if his team was gunning for the victory. Minoungou, Langeveld and Corwen then finish in that order.
But let’s get back to the action behind. Nepomnyachsniy, Richardson, Broers, Kluge and Sweeck have been dropped in the meantime from the favourites group. Van Keirsbulck and Orue are still up front.
Kluge’s group finds its way to the rest of the favourites inside the final kilometer. Bolivar has started the sprint on the right while Orue is bonking and is about to get caught.
Kluge accelerates on the left with Sweeck on his wheel. Orue is already at the back of the group, while up front Van Keirsbulck is also fading!
And it’s Kluge who takes 6th place ahead of Sweeck.
Nepomnyachsniy and Bolivar complete the top 10, while Kasperkiewicz will be utterly disappointed at his 11th. Van Keirsbulck is only good for 17th.
And that’s it from Norway, thank you for joining us. Cheers!
