Here we are at the start line for the 2022 Clasico San Jose in Costa Rica!
After 30km and a flurry of early attacks, the break has been formed. 18 riders have been allowed up the road and currently have a 2’51 gap to the peloton. The riders in this first group are:
Juneau
Murphy
Hollmann
Renard
Matthews
Orosco
Redy
Debusschere
Walsleben
Chumil
Rojus
Nielsen
Magnussen
Bergstrom Frisk
Mulubrhan
Henao Montoya
Zumer
Montenegro
We’re now at the halfway point of the race with a little over 100km remaining. Everything has gone to plan so far and as such the race has been uneventful, however Debusschere and Rojus have both just been dropped from the break leaving 16 riders ahead of the peloton. The break has a 3’35 advantage.
A very audacious attack with 61km left! Wackermann, Doubey, Hansen and Grosser try to get up the road over a small climb. They get a small gap and push on with Pas Normal, McCormick, Jura, Tryg and BNZ pushing the pace in the peloton.
A few kilometers later, it is only the Bordeaux duo left. Doubey does his work and peels off, leaving Wackermann in front of the peloton Who has a 22” gap. The Break of 16 out in front still with a 2’30 advantage.
McCormick really not a fan of this move and trying desperately to shut it down with Hecht doing a big turn on the front.
Wackermann is toasted and swept up by the peloton as the riders are about to make their last ascent up the larger climb with 47k to go. Break at 1’45. All the favourites in and around the front where they need to be, except for Rodriguez, McKenna, Le Court and Schachmann. They’re going to need to move forward soon otherwise they could be in danger of being caught out in a split.
The riders get over the climb, and due to the frantic pace at the front the peloton has been stretched out and split into quite a few groups! The previous mentioned names have been caught out and are behind the peloton, along with Pibernik, Bernas and Besada. There’s a gradual downhill/flat until the next climb, so they have time to come back.
And here we go! The peloton of 44 enters the finishing circuit of climbs for the second last time and immediately Vliegen attacks! Boswell attentive and straight on his wheel along with Hoelgaard, Moscon and Watson! Vendrame and Barbero going hard at the front of the peloton to catch up.
Hoelgaard is immediately out of the saddle again an off up the road! He causes carnage in the group behind. Vliegen, Watson and Luchshenko try to follow, but can’t. Hoelgaard has reached a few riders dropped from the breakaway and holds a 24” gap to the chasers.
They’re caught, but Hoelgaard is caught along with the break’s remnants (except Bergstrom Frisk who is still ahead, alone and only 25” ahead). Svab and Watson predominantly doing the work to bring him back, whilst also decimating the peloton! Only 26 riders remain in the group, with Pibernik the only name mentioned earlier able to make it back. Dieteren, Luchshenko, Vendrame, Skjerping and Ziesler have all also lost contact. Luchshenko and Vendrame are only 30” behind and might still catch up.
15km remaining and Bergstrom Frisk is brought back. Luchshenko now 55” behind and probably done. His teammate Svab is the one who’s been doing the damage on the front, so it appears Bianchi are going all-in on Le Roux.
Piaskowy leads the front group of 27 into the last series of climbs with 8km to go. Mudarra, Hoelgaard and Le Gac right behind him.
Hoelgaard again attacks! Again he is followed by Vliegen, Watson and Budyak.
4km to go and they get a gap! A 16” gap to be precise. Watson, Mudarra and Edmondson right at the front. Budyak, Rota and Le Gac just behind. Strangely Boswell and Moscon are towards the back of the group. Hopefully just conserving energy for the finish.
We hit the last climb with 2.5km to go and Boswell, Moscon and Quevedo have shot to the front! Hoelgaard and Vliegen looking a little sluggish ahead.
Going into the final kilometer, Hoelgaard and Vliegen are caught. Boswell is right where he needs to be. He takes the inside of the corner and continues with Quevedo, Budyak and Vogt on his wheel. Le Gac, Moscon, Edmondson and Hoelgaard are fighting to come up alongside the American in the middle of the road.
Boswell starts the sprint with 500m to go! He is flanked by Quevedo and Budyak with Vogt still in his wheel. Edmondson, Le Gac and Hoelgaard trying to come up the middle. Disaster for Jura as Moscon has cracked and is quickly going backwards, a real shame as he should be hoping to fight for the victory here.
300m to go and an identical situation. Boswell still strong on the front, but he has to be careful! Edmondson has put on the afterburners and is coming for him. Quevedo is losing speed on the rail as Budyak and Vliegen move up.
100m now and Boswell and Edmondson have both hit a wall, they’re losing speed fast! They’re in real danger. Vliegen, Budyak and Le Roux have hit their strides and are flying home! But have they left their run too late?
No they haven’t! Loic Vliegen has done it! He’s pulled off the win of the season so far! He’s come from a distance behind and timed his run to the line perfectly and takes the victory! What a start to the season for his team Colombini. Budyak and Le Gac complete the podium, both with great rides today. The Ukrainian might be a little disappointed, he was the fastest in the finish. Le Roux comes in 4th for Bianchi, whilst Boswell faded away and will have to settle for 5th. It’s still a great result, but he’ll be wondering what could have been if he maybe started his sprint a bit later. Edmondson comes in 6th, he looked to be using up a lot of energy after teammate Watson was dropped and that could have been the deciding factor in him also fading at the finish as well.
Next in is a small group with Vogt limping over the line to 7th. Pibernik, Novikov and Mudarra round out the top 10 making it a good day out for the PCT teams having 4 riders in the top 10. Quevedo, Hoelgaard and Senyenov finish 11th-13th. Moscon comes in 16th 1’02 down after cracking in the finale. He won’t be happy with himself after that.
Congratulations to the winner of the 2nd edition of the Clasico San Jose – Colombini – Adler’s Loic Vliegen! He rode an aggressive race and was out on the attack a number of times. He had to do It the hard way in the finale, coming from a far back to pip Boswell and Edmondson before the line but did it in style! His team will be very happy with their start to the season, with Saber and now Vliegen’s exploits here.
Boswell will be disappointed he let that one slip through his fingers. He looked the strongest going into the finale, but just went a little bit too early along with Edmondson. Hoelgaard also finishing lower than expected, but he did animate the race with a number of attacks but just couldn’t make any of them stick. Quevedo rode an anonymous race up until the end and will feel he could have done better. Moscon too, he must have been on a bad day today and just didn’t have the legs unfortunately.
Budyak and Le Gac will both be very happy standing alongside Vliegen on the podium. Le Roux rode a very good race also to finish 4th after the trust put into him from his teammates that did a lot of work towards the end of the race. Trans will also be very happy with their depth scoring here today.
