Burundi/Ecuador/El Salvador/Gabon/Tunisia/Venezuela
National Championships
Road Race
6 countries get together today for their mountain-based national championships. Just 14 pro’s expected to make the running which means 4 of the 6 are head-to-head battles.
The biggest guns in the race mostly come from Venezuela, with 3 strong climbers, but Alarcon is clearly the strongest. Anguilet, also a strong climber has a big edge over Ngandamba for the Gabonese title. Nikiema should have the advantage over Minoungou for Burundian honors. The other 3 races are more open.
The overall favorites show up as:
Startlist
Spoiler
Last name
First name
2021 Team
Country
Nikiema
Bachirou
Xero Racing
BUR
Minoungou
Oumaru
Los Pollos Hermanos
BUR
Cepeda
Jefferson Alexander
Los Pollos Hermanos
ECU
Cepeda Hernandez
Jefferson
Cedevita
ECU
Narvaez
Jhonatan
Zwift Pro Cycling
ECU
Herrera
Erick
Volcanica - Fox
ESA
Mendoza
Bryan Fernando
Volcanica - Fox
ESA
Anguilet
Charles
Philips - Force India
GAB
Ngandamba
Geoffroy
Aker - MOT
GAB
Hasnaoui
Maher
Aramco DP
TUN
Khederi
Souheil
Bralirwa - Stevens
TUN
Alarcon
Jose
Cedevita
VEN
Salinas
Jonathan
Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team
VEN
Aular
Orluis
MOL
VEN
17k to go, two climbs left to race and two of the original breakaway left out front. There are 13 riders in two chase groups (one of 9 and then 4) closing in on the breakaway. What is surprising is Anguilet, Narvaez and Salinas have all missed the split and are with the main peloton around 2 minutes behind.
The first chase group of 9 has swept by the last of the breakaway and reached the base of the final climb. The three mentioned earlier are out of it and the two professionals who were in the second chasing group, Minoungou and Ngandamba also haven’t been able to reach the front, they are almost a minute back.
With Minoungou already dropped Nikiema has the Burundi title under control but that doesn’t stop him attacking and pulling 4 riders clear, including Cepeda Hernandez, Khederi, and Aular. Hasnaoui unable to stay with them Alarcon chasing behind.
1k to go, Alarcon now with Hasnaoui and Cepeda is 12 seconds behind the lead group. The two El Salvadorans fighting it out just behind the Alarcon group.
300 meters, Alarcon has closed the gap but the rider he needs to beat is Aular, who is on the front of the group.
He can’t make it, Aular is Venezuelan champion. As consolation Cedevita will get the Ecuadorian RR title through Cepeda Hernandez. Nikiema and Khederi are Burundian and Tunisian champions respectively while Herrera has dropped Mendoza to win the all-Volcanica battle to be El Salvadorian Champion.
Ngandamba struggles home solo a little later but he can celebrate a surprising Gabonese RR title as Anguilet seemed to lack motivation today.
Results
1
Orluis Aular
MOL
1h54'16
2
Jefferson Cepeda Hernandez
Cedevita 2
s.t.
3
Souheil Khederi
Bralirwa - Stevens
s.t.
4
Jose Alarcon
Cedevita
s.t.
5
Bachirou Nikiema
Xero Racing
s.t.
6
Erick Herrera
Volcanica - Fox
+ 19
7
Maher Hasnaoui
Aramco DP
s.t.
8
Jefferson Alexander Cepeda
Los Pollos 2
s.t.
9
Bryan Fernando Mendoza
Volcanica - Fox
+ 1'00
10
Oumaru Minoungou
Los Pollos Hermanos
+ 2'10
11
Geoffroy Ngandamba
Aker - MOT
+ 2'37
12
Jhonatan Narvaez
Zwift Pro Cycling
+ 4'29
13
Charles Anguilet
Philips - Force India
s.t.
14
Jonathan Salinas
Gjensidige Pro Cycling Team
+ 8'21
Time Trial
Not a lot of time trial talent in this grouping. After his surprising road race win Ngandamba favored to do the double. Hasnaoui should take the Tunisian title. The rest pretty open.
The full favorites list.
Minoungou has passed the final check a minute up on Nikiema and appears to have the Burundian TT title locked up.
Mendoza passes the 2nd check with the best time so far and 2’30 up on his teammate, so the Volcanica pair split the titles for El Salvador.
Aular goes through that check in 2nd overall and 18 seconds better than Alarcon. Salinas, the best of the Venezuelan’s on paper, still to come.
Hasnaoui has the new best time at the 2nd check and confirms his favorite status for the Tunisian title with a 3-minute edge on Khederi
Narvaez had a 19-second edge over Cepeda Hernandez at the final check. If he can hold that to the end, he will be Ecuadorian champion.
He holds his lead and Zwift gets the Ecuadorian Time Trial championship.
Salinas is not far behind him on the road. He had an excellent ride and wins the Venezuelan title by 2’30. A dominant win.
Ngandamba is the last finisher and puts up the best time on the day and secures the NC double for Gabon.
