Here we are at the startline for the final race in CT for the season, the Zuri Metzgete!
A flurry of attacks from the gun has resulted in a 13 rider front group with 9 teams included. The riders are:
Ablenado
Vuillermoz
Vanmarcke
Hahessy
Cote
Oelerich
Novikov
Walls
Lunder
Jurado
Rojas
Schunk
Drizners
The gap is already out to 4’30” after 40km. Taking a closer look at the break, there are indeed some strong riders present. The BNZ duo of Ablenado and Vuillermoz are the two strongest riders in the break on paper, it will be interesting to see their teams’ tactics as Edmonson may need their assistance later in the race. Oelerich is the only other notable rider who could surprise as he is strong uphill. The rest of the break is predominantly younger riders who will relish the opportunity to be in the break in a race like this.
The riders have just passed the halfway mark of the race, 116km to go. The gap has come down to 2’29” due to a steady pace laid down by Aramco, Trans and Eddie Stobart. In the break Vuillermoz has not contributed to the work and a few members of other teams are not very pleased at all.
The gap is down to 1’53” with 74km remaining. The peloton have just gone over the top of one of the major climbs of the day and is starting to fracture. The same teams on the front pushing the pace.
The peloton now swing onto the next major climb and have the break in their sights. The gap is now dwindling at 1’14” with 49km remaining. All the main favourites are well positioned near the front, although Chaves and Bystrom are a little far back.
Ablenado has put his foot down and only a few riders can follow him. Teammate Vuillermoz, Jurado, Cote and Novikov are those riders. The rest will be eaten up by the now 68 rider peloton. The gap is steady.
Jurado attacks with 33km to go! Vuillermoz unsurprisingly goes with him. Ablenado is cooked and is done. The other two unable to follow either. Martin has come to the front and his big turnis keeping the gap steady and shedding riders out the back of the peloton at quite a rate. They’re 1’25” behind the leaders.
What a strange sight! Boswell is at the back of the peloton on water duties. He still has three teammates in the peloton with him and is a puzzling sight with 29km to go. The peloton has been reduced to 42 riders, with Skjerping, Hansen the most notably dropped riders, along with Vogt who is very far behind. Martin is still on the front and has just brought the gap to the two leaders to under a minute, with the other three BOTD riders about to be swept up by the peloton.
Vuillermoz takes off as the last few bumps lie ahead. He can’t shake Jurado though. 20km to ride and their gap is 46”. Gjensidige, Eddie Stobart and and now BWT riding hard on the front.
And a kilometer later the break is done! Vuillermoz still looking fresh and considering Edmondson is isolated, will be a welcome help to him. Jurado on the other hand is exhausted, it’s going to be a slog home for him.
The peloton hits the last hill at speed, led by Ziesler and McEvoy. Eiking in fourth wheel with Paez and Meyer close by. With 15km to go, there’s still 35 riders left in the peloton. Recent notable drop-ees include Bystrom, Le Roux, Mudarra, Lilovski and Favilli.
And almost immediately Eiking goes on the attack! Paez, Kreder, Meyer and Juul-Jensen are immediately on to his wheel.
He pulls 6 others with him, besides those previously mentioned a strong Robov and Calmejane are also there. Boswell was caught out and is with Molard 20” down the road, but coming quickly. The 26 rider peloton is being led by Edmondson who missed the move. They are 34” back from group Eiking.
Juul-Jensen makes his move as soon as Boswell reaches the back of the group with Molard. Kreder goes with him. It seems the Strava boys are feeling good today.
The front 9 come back together under the 10km banner as Meyer decides it’s time to go. Again it’s Kreder right behind him.
That move also goes nowhere before Robov has a little dig to test the legs. The constant attacks in this group have increased the gap to the chasers (now a group of 14) to 46”.
Edmondson has been dropped from the chase group and is struggling and now over a minute behind the race lead. He has support, maybe they can drag him back into contention?
Robov is feeling inspired and attacks again! Everyone in the front group is able to follow him comfortably. The gap to the next group which is being lead by Paulus and Lavery is now 36”. Chaves is sitting at the back of this group which also includes: Haas, McEvoy, Gaspar, De Vos, Riesebeek, Battaglin, Barbero, Ludvigsson, Barta, Weiss and Skjerping. There is 6km left in season 2021!
Juul-Jensen goes! And once again it’s Kreder trying to follow. There are some fast finishers in this group and JJ knows his best chance is to try and go alone.
..And with 3km remaining, we are back to grupo compacto. The winner will almost certainly come from this group now as the next group are still 45” down the road. Kreder, Paez, Molard, Calmejane and Meyer can all possess a deadly quick finish on their day, especially Kreder. Strava’s strategy not going to plan currently as Kreder is at the front and Molard at the back.
Molard digs in and reaches the front to leadout Kreder. Calmejane, Robov, Juul-Jensen, Paez, Eiking and Boswell follow Kreder with Meyer to the side. If the leaders aren’t careful, they’ll be joined by the chasing group! 25” gap with 1.3km. Barbero leading the group behind.
Under the banner and Kreder wastes no time as he launches himself out of Molard’s wheel! Calmejane and Robov desperately try to stay on his wheel as Meyer prepares his sprint. Paez, Eiking and Boswell are sitting a little too far back and will need some luck from here.
Kreder still leads into the final 600m. Meyer, Calmejane and Juul-Jensen the only riders that could take it from Kreder from here.
300m now and nothing has changed! Kreder is still flying and it seems like nobody can catch him. Meyer still battling in 2nd with Calmejane, Juul-Jensen and Paez next. McEvoy going very fast in the group behind.
He’s even got time to celebrate! Wesley Kreder is the winner of the 2021 Zuri – Metzgete! What a phenomenal ride.
Meyer finishes 2nd and Calmejane 3rd to round out the podium. Next in is Paez, Juul-Jensen, a very strong Robov, Eiking and Boswell.
Molard hangs on for 9th just ahead of a fast finishing McEvoy.
Chaves comes in disappointing 21st 52” in arrears, he’ll definitely feel like he could have done better here.
Even worse, Edmondson comes in 29th 2’25” down to Kreder. A day to forget for him.
WINNER: WESLEY KREDER
Another round of congratulations for today’s victor Wesley Kreder! He was by far the strongest rider today, he followed every attack and animated the race towards the end. What a way to end the season for Strava! Meyer finished comfortably in 2nd and lost out due to Kreder’s sheer pace. Calmejane giving his manager another reason to smile after the teams’ promotion to PCT being confirmed. Paez and Juul-Jensen just miss the podium, but as both teams are also promoting they won’t despair too much. Robov rode well and fought admirably to secure 6th. Eiking and Boswell had to shake up the race to dislodge the fast finishers, but couldn’t manage to and will probably feel disappointed and thinking what could have been.
And with the completion of this race, that concludes the 2021 Continental Tour! Congratulations to the promoting managers, and good luck in the pre-season to all.
Zuri - Metzgete
