Welcome to the opening stage of this edition of Vuelta a Venezuela. It’s a crucial race for Champion in particular but also Fed-Ex’s Tom Danielson, who holds a unique chance to grab the overall win in the Continental Tour Individual Rankings.
Today’s stage is raced on a 20-kilometres hilly circuit which will be completed five times. There is a KoM and a Points Sprint on each lap so there’s something for the breakaway riders to contest here.
A lot of riders tried to get away as we got underway. Here we have two groups with a total of 13 riders who have gone clear. The pack would have none of it though as they reeled it back in, except 4 riders.
These 4 riders were Johnson (Irn Bru), Sibilla Romero (Dasani), Wijaya (American Suzuki B) and Belmokhtar (Gatorade B). Coming into the second lap they would become 9 as Colby (Slipstream), Mesa Flores (Gazetta B), Dviri (Sony Ericsson B), Del Nero (Zenmind) and Mugerli (British Airways) came across to them.
Back in the pack it was White Bear Steyr, Ersnt&Young and Fed-Ex controlling.
Johnson won the 2nd KoM Sprint ahead of Colby and Belmokhtar as Dviri and Mesa Flores had to let go. Shortly after that Mugerli, Del Nero and Tizza (who had also come across) were also dropped as we now have a five man front.
Going up the KoM Hill for the third time Thomas Rohregger and Franklin Chacon attacked from the pack, but only the Austrian would go clear. The KoM Sprint was won by Sibilla Romero this time followed by Colby and Johnson. Now it was Wijaya’s who had to let go of the break, as Rohregger tried to come across in the descend.
Rohregger in hot pursuit of the leaders.
With about 30 kilometres left, we have Sibilla Romero, Colby, Johnson and Belmokhtar leading Wijaya and Rohregger by 44 seconds, and then another 1’04 down to the pack.
The Front 4 going up the KoM Hill for the penultimate time.
Johnson grabbed the points as the break went over the KoM Sprint for the fourth time of the day.
Still with a decent gap on the peloton, Sibilla Romero and Johnson attacked as we have just entered the final lap with the pack trailing by 47 seconds.
Colby and Belmokhtar had no response to the attacks of Sibilla Romero and Johnson.
Sibillia Romero and Johnson charging up the first climb on the final lap.
With 10 kilometres to go the Front 2 has one minute on the pack, but the finish line is in the town to their right and it’s a long way off still.
Johnson tried to up the pace as they hit the KoM Hill for the last time. But behind it’s Manuel Medina who has put in an attack!
Medina charges up past the two breakaway riders and takes full marks in the KoM Sprint ahead of Johnson and Sibilla Romero.
But as we hit the flat part just before coming into the descend which leads to the finish line, Medina slows down! A lot of the other GC favourites have also attacked and here comes Irn Bru’s Ochoa Quintero!
Kohl has also gone clear of the pack as he has come across to Medina and they’re leading a group of six containing Colorado, Sibilla Romero, Lara Ruiz, Arriagada, Peterson and Terciado. Up front Ochoa Quintero splashes down the descend as he enters the final kilometre!
Medina and Kohl are coming from behind, but Ochoa Quintero takes the stage win!
Medina comes in 2nd and Kohl in 3rd, but no time gaps were registered meaning the race leader is Sibillia Romero from the early break, as he picked up a lot of boni seconds in the points sprint.
