Seven of the favourites coming from two teams. Who is able to use their depth better than the other team?
After a tough race, Rojas wins the race! Great win by Volcanica, who definitely did not come here expecting to win it! Just kidding of course, as the Nicaraguan is the first attacker of the day, crossing the finish line for the first time. Every lap the riders go up two hard cobbled hills with percentages of up to 11%. One lap done, ten to go. Rojas in the lead so far, with seven riders right behind him. The surprising Taubel in a free role, Paez, Jurado, Hvideberg, Arensman, Oss, Vuillermoz. They quickly get a 2’30” gap over the peloton, where the first riders have been distanced already.
Just before the two cobbled hills there is a very small flat cobbled sector. Corwin punctures here in the second lap, bad start of the race for him.
The leading group has been reduced to six riders with nine laps to go, as Oss and Vuillermoz were dropped on the cobbled ascents after they had spent a lot of energy to be in the break. The Strava rider still close though. The peloton, led by Crabbe, Trans and HelloFresh, at 3’45”.
8 laps to go as the peloton is on the first cobbled ascent, with slopes of up to 15.5%. Difference to the seven leaders now 4’. They should be careful with a cobbler like Taubel up front.
Seven laps and a couple of meters to go, as Ratto is the first rider to get lapped. Teammate Arensman says hello and goodbye, as there are still 136 out of 199 km to go. Poor Ratto. The peloton, which has already been cut in half, following at 4’30”.
We’re just over halfway the race with five laps and 97 km left. Paez, in theory by far the weakest cobbler up front, holding on nicely to the leading group of six. The peloton coming closer though, to 3’15”.
Vanspeybrouck himself leading the peloton over the finish line with four laps and 75 km to go! The peloton has now been reduced to 40 riders and is 3’ behind the six leaders. Biggest names dropping in the peloton are Corwin, Domene and Taillefour.
We are down to a peloton of 32 riders, as Sbaragli and Rathe attack, trying to reach the six leaders! They are still 2’30” behind though.
Three laps and 58 km left, as it looks like we are down to four leaders! Jurado has been dropped on the first cobbled ascent, whereas Hvideberg is in trouble just before reaching the finish line! Rathe at 1’15”, Sbaragli at 1’50” and the peloton, still led by Crabbe, Trans and HelloFresh, at 2’20”! Domestique Kolev dropped in the peloton though, with Richardson having some trouble holding on, but he manages to get back for now!
Thwaites, Abraha and Kumara now taking turns in the peloton of only 22, catching everyone except for our remaining four leaders with 40 km left. The gap at 1’45” currently. Kristoff just behind the peloton, he seems done.
Paez and Arensman are done at the front, as Taubel and Rojas enter the two final laps together with 1’40” over the peloton! I thought I was kidding at the start of the race, claiming the Nicaraguan would win it, but he’s doing everything to prove me wrong!
30 km to the finish line as the peloton catches Paez and Arensman. Leaders Taubel and Rojas have a gap of 1’20”. Interesting to see is Declerq and even Vanspeybrouck both took a turn on the flat. Are the domestiques done? Manakov has been dropped, Abraha is struggling to hold on at the back of this peloton.
Puccio sacrifices himself! He reduces the gap towards the lead of the race to 30” in no time, but immediately pays the price and gets dropped from the group of favourites together with Abraha, Kumara and Thwaites! HelloFresh really going all in for Van Keirsbulck. At the front, Taubel leaves Rojas behind him just before starting the final ascent for the penultimate time!
Declerq with a big turn now, catching the two leaders! We enter the last lap, 19 km left! Declerq, Van Keirsbulck, Vanspeybrouck, Taubel, Naesen and Tsatevich with a gap now! Perfect Crabbe tactics?!
Taubel can’t hold on though, so we have five leaders with 15 km to the finish line! Eight riders are 35” behind: Losch, Nielsen, Ovsyannikov, Richardson, Taubel, Vanmarcke, Sbaragli and Ariesen. Still some domestiques here, this isn’t over yet!
Naesen can’t hold on in the leading group! Four leaders enter the final ten km with a gap of 25” over the chasers, where Taubel has lost touch.
Final five km as we start the first out of the two cobbled ascents! The chasers haven’t come any closer, and Van Keirsbulck attacks! Vanspeybrouck and Tsatevich try to follow, as domestique Declerq gets dropped!
But he can’t get away! It will all come down to the final ascent, as the three leaders reach the top with 40” over Declerq and an additional 40” over the chasing group behind him.
Vanmarcke trying to get in the top-4 with an attack behind, but all camera’s at the leading trio now! Vanspeybrouck leads them into the final km!
Van Keirsbulck feeling his legs still after the attack a second ago, he’s out!
Tsatevich seemed to be on his way to a dominant win, but is falling still again in the final 400 meters! Vanspeybrouck coming closer again!
The Belgian takes the lead with 200 meters left!
Cote almost denies him the win by blocking him, but the Belgian is able to stay on his bike! Vanspeybrouck wins the 2021 edition of Geraardsbergen – Bosberg, with Tsatevich (2nd) and Van Keirsbulck (3rd) also on the podium!
Still a great Crabbe performance though, as Declerq holds on for fourth, whereas Ariesen secures the fifth place!
Vanmarcke then in sixth, with right behind him a strong Ovsyannikov in seventh ahead of the next Crabbe rider, Naesen in eighth.
Richardson in ninth ahead of two Strava riders Nielsen and Sbaragli, with BWT teammate Losch in twelfth.
And the top-15 gets completed by Weber, breakaway rider Taubel and youngster Jorgenson.
Sadly I had some trouble uploading the race file, so I can only give you the rest of the top-25, who score points for their team as well. These are:
16 Puccio
17 Thwaites
18 Favilli
19 Rojas
20 Abraha
21 Kristoff
22 Orue
23 Kumara
24 Rathe
25 Teggart
