Cobbles! Two Moroccans in the favourites list, they’ll battle for the race and for their NC. Saber is the guy to beat though.
Bester is the 3rd wheel, and the favourite for the South-African NC. Ruiz, Hamza and Sendeku should win their respective national championship.
ISA and Colombini don’t let anyone go out after the 1st cobbled sector. It’s too easy to drop the pack on this type of route.
At the end of the 2nd sector, our three favourites have 30’’ on a group of 8 (Van Zyl, Ruiz, van Niekerk, El Sabbahi and an amateur). Van Niekerk could be an asset to bring back van Zyl before the next cobbled sector.
The Algerian and Ethiopian contenders are some 30 seconds further. 29 km left to ride.
Van Niekerk indeed brings back his group 1 km ahead of the 3rd sector – a long one! Ruiz, Saber and Chokri all have an helper.
At the 20 km mark, Saber after he let Chokri work in the cobbles, easily pass him. Beste and Ruiz are with Van Zyl and Mraouni. Van Niekerk and El Sabbahi are some meters behind.
In the other races, Barbari seems in better form than Hamza. Sendeku and Tesfaye Heyi are in the same group, while Hailemichael seems done for.
15 km left, 6 km before the next cobbled sector. Chokri came back on Saber, but probably left forces in this comeback. The duo has 1 minute on its 6 followers.
They enter the 4 km long last sector with a 1’30 lead. Chokri still is working.
Ruiz is leading the chasing group, ready to take his national title. Four the South-African race, though Xero has 2 riders, Bester is the best cobbler and sprinter…
All the others in this group are Moroccans.
Saber manages to get a small gap in the cobbled sectyor. I wonder why he doesn’t wait for the sprint.
At the back, Barbari joined Van Niekerk, but Hamza’s not far, with Sendeku and Tesfaye Heyi.
Saber has 1 minute under the flamme rouge.
And King Saber it is! Strong and smart race from the Colombini rider. Chokri is a deserving 2nd.
Bester is 3rd an the road race champion of South Africa.
Hard he fought! Ruiz is 6th and the Peruvian champion!
Barbari found the right wheel to become the champion of Algeria!
And, feeling his contenders come back, Sendeku sprints in 10th. He’s the champion of Ethiopia.
“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to hear again. The ones you can enter anywhere and inhabit comfortably."
A. Roy
Van Niekerk fought hard yesterday – in vain; but today, he should take the win, both in the race and in his domestic championship.
Same case for Chokri in the Moroccan race.
Senndeky could do the double, same for Barbari in the Algerian duel.
The Peruvian race probably is the most open of them.
Peru
Ruiz leads at the 1st time-check. He already has 1 minute on his contenders, a lead that increases at the 2nd time-check. He of course remains in the lead until the end.
1
Robinson Steven Ruiz
Los Pollos Hermanos
1h02’44
2
Andre Alexander Gonzales
Colombini-Adler Aalterpaint
+ 2’34
3
Alain Quispe
Colombini-Adler Aalterpaint
+ 2’56
South-Africa
The South-African are good time-trialists! They take 4 of the top 5 seats at the first time-check, with Van Niekerk fastest and Van Zyl not too far behind. The situation doesn’t really change until the end, and that’s two solid races which are rewarded by a NC title for Van Niekerk.
1
Morne Van Niekerk
Xero Racing
58'29
2
Johann Van Zyl
Xero Racing
+ 52
3
Nicholas Dlamini
ISA - Hexacta 3
+ 58
4
Shaun Nick Bester
Isostar - Specialized
+ 1'18
Morocco
It’s an easy day for Chokri, who is more than 1’ faster than his national opponents at the first time-check, and not able to beat van Niekerk for the race crown.
1
El Mehdi Chokri
ISA - Hexacta
59’27
2
Salah Eddine Mraouni
ISA - Hexacta
+ 54
3
Houcaine El Sabbahi
Bralirwa - Stevens
+ 3’41
4
Lahcen Saber
Colombini-Adler AP 2
+ 4’06
Ethiopia
Sendeku! He’s flying (well, at least compared to his national contenders, not really compared to van Niekerk) and doesn’t have any difficulties to do the double.
1
Getachew Sendeku
ISA - Hexacta 2
1h00’49
2
Henok Tesfaye Heyi
Xero Racing 3
+ 3’08
3
Mulu Hailemichael
Minions - Subwoolfer
+ 6’25
Algeria
This race isn’t really a difficulty either. Barbari has 1 minute at the first time-check, and he keeps his advance without any difficulty.
“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to hear again. The ones you can enter anywhere and inhabit comfortably."
A. Roy
