Welcome to New Zealand’s beautiful North Island for the C1 Gisborne GP. The race sees a slightly revised parcours with more shorter climbs but about the same total distance – 225km.
Italian National Champion Di Maggio headlines the favorites for his new team Campari. National Champions jerseys are well represented as we also have the champions of Colombia, the Netherlands and Ukraine among our favorites.
The clear blue skies and perfect weather seem to lull the peloton because it takes 4k for the first attack which comes from Bol
Bol is chased by 5 riders, they are: Verschaeve, Mäder, Clarke, Vilela and Joeaar.
The 6 come together and that appears to be our break of the day as they hit the first climb with 209km to ride and a lead of 1’25. But Strava and Nordstron have other ideas as Schinnagel and Smukulis launch from the peloton.
But Swisslion and Duolingo think 6 is enough and the last two are hunted down halfway up the first climb. The original six still have 1’01.
There are no further attacks and the breaks leads by 5’51 as they complete the first of the two opening circuits. The lead peaked at just over 6 minutes a few km earlier
They have 156k to ride. By the time they complete the 2nd lap of the opening circuit the lead is down to 3’49. The peloton has been chasing steadily with Campari, Mapei, Popo, GCN, Duolingo and Swisslion all working. Pictured are: Neuman Gladysh Stedman Kiskonen Antonijevic Rikunov Velasco Kunshin Williams Brkic Fiorelli
There are 95km to ride. The peloton has 30 km of mostly flat back through Gisborne before we encounter the series of short climbs new to the race this year.
With 62 kms to go the break has started the new section of climbs. None of the riders in the break stands out in terms of climbing ability so don’t look for them to survive once the peloton gets serious.
After 30 Km of punchy climbs they will then tackle the 2 circuits of the old finish plus one more climb to the line. The peloton is 2’55 behind and nobody has been dropped.
43km to go now and the steepest inclines are just starting. The pack has briefly split a few times but only 1 rider has been dropped. Mapei are flooding the front with Ravanelli, Brkic, Palyi and Velasco.
Swisslion also hanging tough at this point. Over that climb and into the next one and we have some splits. The break is at 2 minutes and behind them the front group is 25 riders strong, with the next group with another 26 riders 25 seconds back. Behind that the pack is split multiple times. We have 40km to ride.
All the top favorites are in the front group. Benoot and Areruya are the most notable riders in the second group while some of the lesser team leaders like Roux, Haas, Felline and Teklit are further back still.
2kms later Mapei continue to drive the pace but they aren’t using the strongest riders as the lead remains at 2 minutes and most of the groups have rejoined. But the warning signs are there for poorly placed riders.
With 32 km to go the peloton approaches the last of the small climbs. The break has 1’41 and Verschaeve has been dropped. The peloton is 68 riders strong with all the team leaders except for Haas, Teklit and Le Gac present. Dowsett for GCN has also been dropped.
Mapei are running out of riders and GCN, Duolingo and Campari are now working as well.
With 30 km to go the peloton faces two ascents of the old finishing climb followed by a new climb to the new revised finish. Each climb is about 4 km.
23km to go as the 72-rider front group starts the first of the 3 finishing climbs, the break has 1’04. On the front are: Williams, Kunshin and Tanovitchii.
Halfway up the climb Mäder and Vilela attack their breakaway companions and get a gap, but the peloton is closing in.
But Eiking isn’t willing to wait for the catch and he attacks. Schreurs and Beltran lead the response.
Soon after Schreurs and Beltran turn the chasing over to two domestiques, Rumac and Guerreiro, and Eiking is brought back.
With just under 1k to go to the top of the climb Eiking goes again and this time he gets some strong followers. Behind him are: Turgis Edmondson Beltran Schreurs Borges Buchmann Prevar Paulinho Di Maggio Moscon
The last riders from the break are just ahead of the attackers.
After briefly creating a gap the attack peters out and a 32-rider group crests the climb with 20km to go.
So far all of the race favorites are well placed. Among other team leaders both Strava riders have been dropped and those distanced earlier have not rejoined. Mäder and Vilela have expanded their lead to 42 seconds as the favorites group takes a breather. The rest of the breakaway riders have been caught. Dieteren is working on the front.
With 13km to go the front group is still 32 riders, the gap to the breakaway is 21 seconds and Padun is now on the front.
Beltran attacks next but pulls much of the group with him. Although he does finally close down the break.
Next Turgis counters and a 18 rider group forms with a 55 second lead.
The 18 riders include 16 team leaders plus Plucinski and Yates. The former rider definitely a surprise in this elite selection. Only Strava, Glanbia, Aramco and Guave are not represented.
Over the top Areruya, Schreurs and Paulinho have digs but the group of 18 is still intact as they enter the final 10km and head toward the finishing climb.
With all these leaders and few helpers nobody is willing to ride and Mäder, Vilela and Villella are able to rejoin.
While the other helpers stick with their leaders, Villella goes to the front and sets a steady pace as they cross the 5k mark. The real climbing doesn’t start for another k. Then they have 2.5k of steep climbing and then 1.5 k of gentle slopes to the finish.
Another group of 27 riders rejoins with 3.5 km to go. None of the riders look likely to contest the finish but Felline and Teklit are in the group. Kudos particularly to Teklit who has been chasing in various groups for 25km.
Immediately upon rejoining Mutsumine goes to the front and leads them onto the steeper slopes.
Another group of 49 riders is also closing in and may rejoin if the pace doesn’t quicken soon.
But Borges has other ideas and starts the closing ceremonies. With 2.3km to go Borges aggression has yet to create any gaps but some riders are poorly placed including Beltran, Meyer, Buchmann and Edmondson who are all in the midst of the second grouping.
As they reach the flatter section Schreurs goes to the front ahead of Di Maggio.
Behind them in order it is: Turgis Borges Eiking Paulinho Yates Pernsteiner Plucinski Beltran Moscon Edmondson Prevar Buchmann
Great work from Pernsteiner to get back up front and help Moscon. While Plucinski is clearly on a great day.
1km to go, the order is pretty much the same. The front 3 have a small gap and the next 9 through Edmondson have pulled away from Prevar and Buchmann, it looks lke these 12 will contest the win.
0.8km to as the sprint starts Turgis hits the front but the rest of the group is closing on the first three. Plucinski has finally relented and is dropping back so 11 riders will contest the sprint.
0.3 km to go and Paulinho is going fastest but Turgis still leads. Behind them are: Schreurs Beltran Di Maggio Eiking Yates Borges Pernsteiner Edmondson Moscon
0.1k for the leaders and Paulinho is almost up to Turgis.
But he can’t get there and Turgis can relax as he takes the victory
Paulinho second while Schreurs pips Beltran for 3rd.
Then it is Di Maggio, Eiking, Yates and Borges. Two in the top 7 for Farfetch who are on a roll in the early season. While Eiking is the best CT finisher and avenges his lowly placement in the race preview.
9th, 10th and 11th go to Pernsteiner, Edmondson and Moscon. Mixed feelings for Centovalli as two in the top 11 is great for the CT outfit in C1 race, particularly given Pernsteiner was not in the original selection, but maybe weaker sprint stats hurt them in this finish.
Then a 28 second gap before the plucky Plucinski beats Buchmann for 12th while Prevar and Meyer round out the top 15.
Gisborne GP 
