Hello and welcome to GP Kigali, today the weather is high sun and very little wind, in case you need to take a second look at the profile for today’s race here it comes:
The riders have barely started to pedal before the first attacks of the day are made:
The first glory hunters are: Stannard, Korosec, Pibernik Oss & Nzeke
However, as the peloton enters the Wall of Kigali for the first time the escapees have been reeled in and major splits happen in the peloton, however no riders of note have been dropped as the pack has been reduced to just 83 riders after the initial climb, my expert bet is that we will see most of the dropped riders return to the peloton before the next ascend of the wall.
Despite my best guesses and some efforts in the grupetto, they are nowhere near gaining contact with the main group, which is still at 83 members as no one has attempted to make a break for it. At this rate the next attacks we’re going to be seeing will be the from the favourites as they try to make the decisive move!
Also as seen in the picture Sbaragli is the first rider of the day to suffer a puncture, the Italian was struggling on the first ascend and will most likely not have an impact on the race.
However, I am now hearing on Radio Tour that there has been a puncture for a potential key figure in the race, the Wolverine Owen suffers a puncture just a bit further up the road, however quick work from the Podium Ambition mechanics means that Owen has a new tire and is ready to go before losing contact with the pack! Major crisis averted for the PCT outfit.
A couple of uneventful ascends of the wall has led the peloton to be reduced to 53 riders, only somewhat interesting name to be dropped at this race is Gaudin the 34 year old Frenchmen has been made painfully aware of the fact that he is no longer at the level of his peers. To make up for the lack action here is a picture of the backend of the peloton!
With 115km to go Thomas is already looking like he is done for, shortly before the top the Trans Cycling captain has been distanced, this must be very disappointing for the Welshman who is still held in high regard by his fans! Other notable names who have appears to be struggling are: Minoungou & Jacobs.
The Welshman makes it back on the flat part of the circuit but I am not expecting him to hold on for much longer if the pace gets turned up just a notch. And talk about the pace getting turned up a notch, we’re finally seeing attacks being made!
It’s the young Dutchman van den Berg that initiates it and he is followed by Oelerich, Cominelli, Ngandamba and Flaksis. The attack is made just before the peloton approaches the wall, let’s see if it pays off, before the wall the gap is 33”.
During the climb three more riders join the group as De Vreese, Skala & Lindeman goes for glory. The climb has however cracked both van den Berg and Ngandamba who are now quickly falling down the pack, it looks like they both overextended and now just have to make it to the finish line in one piece.
TAUBEL ATTACKS! The Austrian cobbler obviously believes that with 100km to go this is the best way for him to make a move for the win. He is followed by Bridges. The gap to the front group is 1’33” as the pack has been reduced to 32 riders.
The Austrian cobbler is flying and flys past most of the group, meanwhile Lindeman has gone solo and is 33” ahead of a duo consisting of Taubel and Flaksis.
The Latvian cobbler has now distanced himself from Taubel who seems to have sat up, which makes it double Minions in front, albeit there is still some distance. With 84km to go Lindeman is currently 3 minutes ahead of the pack, which is not 29 riders and the most recent big name to be dropped is Insausti, however both Owen and Domene is still in the pack for Podium Ambition so there is probably not any sweaty palms in the DS car. The next ascend of the Wall cuts down the gap of Lindemann to just above a minute whilst Thomas has been dropped and most likely won’t come back for the rest of the day.
With 70 to go everything is brought back together, the front group is lead by Baugnies, maybe he is contemplating an early move here?
After 30 relatively dull kms, with 38.7 kms to go Taubel launches an attack which seems to activate all the favourites. He is followed by his old buddy Lindeman, but most interestingly BAUGNIES attacks to close down the move. Nothing major comes of this attack, even if the group was reduced to just 10 men for a brief second. As they approach the wall the front group is back to being 25 man strong.
MAJOR MOVES ALERT, Baugnies leads into the cobbled sector and sets a pace that oblirates the group, leaving himself in the lead at the top of the wall. He has created a 20” gap to a 4-man group consisting of: Sinkeldam, Salzmann, Menten & Owen.
Baugnies’ main rival Nolf is a further 20 seconds down.
As Baugnies has been brought back by the chasing group the overall state of the race is wide open, but maybe there is an upset looming with Salzmann looking sharp.
Baugnies looks absolutely flying, with 20kms to go as the quartet has been reduced to a duo, Sinkeldam was the first rider to sit up as Baugnies increased the pace and soon after Salzmann was forced to do the same, Owen is the only one who is remotely able to keep up with the Belgian, however he can thank his abilities on the descend for that.
Meanwhile Nolf is 4’20” down sitting in a group with Taubel and Menten. Not the day that he was hoping for, but he missed the deciding moment and has been paying for it ever since.
ABSOLUTE DISASTER FOR PODIUM ABITION! Owen suffers another puncture, this time with 13kms to go! Someone might have to check AmberAlert because there might be a missile threat imminent. This means that Baugnies is at the front of the race with a 55” gap to Salzmann who is now the main chaser!
Baugnies is starting the final descent of the wall only 11 kms remain before Baugnies might finally be able to call himself GP Kigali champion! Owen is now back on the chase and has already distanced Salzmann by 20”. The Wolverine needs to claw back 1’04” on the Belgian.
As Baugnies enters the cobbled sector for the last time today he still has just under a minute to Owen, a great win under some fortunate circumstances.
No celebration from the absolutely drained Baugnies who spent the entire back half of the race in full control. Massive win for Pollos Hermanos, manager Nemolito must be dancing with happiness right now!
Owen comes in just around a minute after the Belgian, he must be incredibly frustrated but can still be very happy with his performance today! Salzmann takes the last spot on the podium as Sinkeldam takes 4th just behind him.
Nolf finishes out the top 5, but will be very disappointed to have missed the move from Baugnies that split the entire pack earlier on in the race.
As the field continues to roll on in Taubel who animated the race for a decent portion of it, came in 6th, Paprstka, Marcos, Lindemann & Schreurs finish off the top 10 of the day.
