The 199.4km route from Gent-Gent features 24 cobbled sectors and a lovely route around Belgium. This will surely be a race for the cobble specialists but could indeed come down to any group size under 10. Stallaert comes in as the two-time defending champs so let’s see who wants to help him.
They’re off from the start line as they begin the race. It looks like a calm start with no one jumping away immediately. The past history with not many breakaways making it far may be hurting folks in that regard.
It’s Szarka and Berger the first to make some major attacks. They’re followed by 4 riders - Firdaus, Mostov, Eaton, and Degenkolb. Borg also wants to get away but the pack seems to not want this group to get away. Los Pollos Hermanos are the team most interested in controlling the counter attacks which extended to approximately 20 riders at one point. Eventually, the 5 riders here, except for Degenkolb and Borg are allowed a minute, with no other attacks coming.
15km in and the gap is not going anywhere. Fastned, Bralirwa - Stevens, Tryg - Gobik, Los Pollos Hermanos and Team UBS - Tissot are all strongly contributing to not allow the 5 breakaway riders anymore gap.
In case it wasn’t clear how hard the race was, just over the 1st cobble section with 170km to go and there are already 17 riders off the back. The strongest seems to be Petit while Indosat Ooredoo and Glanbia have both already lost 3 riders into this group.
The race up front has already split apart too. Berger is driving the breakaway, but only Mostov is even remotely close. Eaton, Szarka and Firdaus have all fallen off the pace. The front two are 45 seconds in front of the peloton which sits at 146 riders. All 5 fall into the peloton quickly.
There’s a new breakaway with 150km to go and this appears to be the full breakaway. Degenkolb finds himself back in the front with Martino, Hagen, Simmons, Eriksson, and Jarc. Pickrell was not able to stay with the pace but is trying to make contact while Berger is left to dry between Pickrell and the peloton. He tried to go with the new attacks and was given freedom by the peloton. However, the energy just seems gone. Back in the peloton, all the drop riders have returned as the peloton allows this break to establish.
Off camera, Schomber takes a flat near Pave 23 and is off the back for good. Berger finally returns to the peloton with 135km to go while the rest of the break has 4:35. Selig and Kolev also take flats near pave 22 but stay within the group. Pickrell reconnects to the breakaway. No surprise but Matte is barely holding on at the back.
With 100km to go, its Fastned, UBS - Tissot and Tryg - Gobyk putting in most of the pace. Behind those three pace setters, the favorites are already in the first 10 wheels as Summerhill, Theuns, Stallaert, Van Hooydonck, and Zepuntke are the next 5. Still 17 cobble sectors to go. Only 7 riders off the back total. The gap is 3:30 and they’ve clearly made an effort to close the gap.
After Pave 17, the peloton is down to 107 and there’s 87km to go.
72km to go and the breakaway is still working strong. Simmons is probably putting in the most work with Eriksson contributing well on the non-cobbled sectors too. Pickrell is struggling on the back and not taking many turns. The gap continues to decrease to 2:36 now and the peloton is at 87 riders after taking on Pave 15. On pave 14, Pickrell says goodbye to the leaders as he can’t hold on over the incline. Martino also loses connection.
It’s the first attacks from the peloton! Vahtra jumps off the front with Naud considering following the burst of speed. With 60km to go and a major breakaway still in front. This is a bold strategy. Our leaders in the peloton Fastned do not appreciate the change in tempo and refuse to easily allow them freedom. Their attempts are swarted by 55km to go and Pickrell is picked up in the melee alongside Martino.
The breakaway continues to diminish as Jarc and Eriksson no longer have what it takes to hold on with 54km to go. This leaves Simmons, Degenkolb and Hagen the only ones left up front with any strength. They’ve dropped the peloton to 68 riders though and not many domestiques are available for each team. Bralirwa - Stevens takes the front.
Pave 9 is the longest of the race at 2.8km long and 47km to go to the finish. With a steep section to start, it should play the first decisive moves amongst the leaders. Still the 3 breakaway men sit out front, with none really willing to push the pace. The gap is 1:05 to the peloton and it could be swept up amongst the next 5-10km. Jarc and Eriksson are caught.
5km was too long of an estimate as the breakaway is caught before the climb even ends! Bohli is stomping away at the front and the group is only 43 strong and should be smaller shortly as riders who almost hang on are sent on a gap.
The long range attacks begin and no surprise it comes from Summerhill! He’s got a tiny gap to a group of 7: Theuns, Van Keirsbulck, Ringheim, Zepuntke, Moulingui, Gamper, and Zubov. Bohli still leads the peloton and the gap isn’t major.
In fact, Okbamariam comes to the front to bring the 7 back, but Summerhill has 24 seconds over the 38 rider main group with 40km to go. The next 10km will be crucial with a number of tough cobble sections.
Summerhill is now 45 seconds up on a peloton of 29 now and this is the 30 riders who have any chance. Anyone dropped now may pick up a slot or two, but there’s no way they can earn a win. Stallaert was at the front of the peloton for a bit, but Paprstka takes over instead. Peng
also takes some opportunities to pace the group.
De Buyst, Rowe, Yechezkel, Havik, Kuroeda (x2) and Bohli are all dropped on the next sector leaving just 23 up front.
A huge stroke of bad luck as Daniel hits a flat on the 3rd to final cobble sector. He’s looked strong and may be able to catch those who falter ahead, but his chances of the win have just flown away. 28.7km to go with 2.5 cobble sectors to go. 17 now in the peloton with Summerhill still strong at 40 seconds up. Stallaert is pushing the pace.
Just heading into pave 2, Ringheim also takes a puncture. Daniel joins him in the chase for the front group which is 14 strong. That 14 is: Spengler, Gamper, Theuns, Stallaert, Zepuntke, Van Hooydonck, Van Keirsbulck, Blythe, Kulppi, Moulingui, Zubov, Zhupa, Fenn, and Manamalage. Summerhill is still strong just 30 seconds up now and 25km to go.
Ringheim and Daniel are making it back to the “peloton” and they’re up to 16. The strength of their chase says they still have a chance. Just as they return though, Stallaert is starting to prep an attack on the left hand side as Summerhill is just 25 seconds ahead.
The final cobble section and Stallaert has found his way to Summerhill while the remaining 15 are together. The lead is only 15 seconds as they enter the sector and Stallaert looks the stronger of the two.
The cobbles are done and there’s a new gap. Van Hooydonck, Spengler, Gamper, and Stallaert are 16 seconds up after pushing the cobbles as hard as they can. The other 13 are still all tother although Zhupa may have reached his limit. Just 500m off the cobbles and they’re 17 again.
16km to go and the attacks keep coming! Theuns is now leading a select group of 3 including Spengler and Van Hooydonck. Blythe sits seconds back in 4th. Gamper, Zepuntke, and Daniel realize this is the move and are again trying to pull them back. Stallaert leads the rest but who knows if he can pull the select group back. Not many look able to help him.
The front three are still in front, but Stallaert and Moulingui stop the others from escaping. The front 3 have 25 seconds and are working very well. Van Keirsbulck goes right to the front though to pace for teammate Daniel now that he’s been caught again. All 3 of the leaders are working together.
These three should be the ones who determine the stage. Group 2 just can’t find the pace and the 3 are 41 seconds up with 5km to go. Van Hooydonck knows how dangerous Theuns can be in a sprint and tries to create a gap under the 5km to go banner. It’s unsuccessful. Group 2 has given up and the gap skyrockets.
Spengler leads Theuns and Van Hooydonck into the final 2km. Behind Gamper is now leading the following group with Ringheim, Stallaert and Moulingui next in line there.
The sprint begins with 1.3km to go. Spengler opens it up but Theuns is immediately next to him. Van Hooydonck smartly stays in the wheel as they’ve all gone long here and there’s a slight kicker to the line.
Theuns is a master of the sprint and there’s a gap. Van Hooydonck appears stronger than Spengler for 2nd but the gap might just be unsurmountable. Unpictured, Gamper is under the 1km to go banner with a few meters over group 2.
Theuns takes the victory! He’s exhausted so no celebration across the line even though he had a major gap. It’s still unknown between the other two. Behind for 4th, Stallaert can be seen using his sprint to try to take the minor results, but he’ll be disappointed for sure.
Now that is a photo finish between Van Hooydonck and Spengler. The commissaires refuse to show the side angle, but the nod goes to Van Hooydonck who had a spectacular race. Spengler should also be happy to take a top spot here knowing he found the right move.
The sprint behind is a little more hectic as Stallaert leads them ahead of Daniel, Gamper, Ringheim, Moulingui, Zepuntke, Blythe and Summerhill.
Photo missing apologies
Stallaert takes 4th with Daniel 5th. Even though it wasn’t for the win, Stallaert takes the cake over Daniel for a 3rd year in a row of their head-to-head. Ringheim, Gamper, Moulingui and Zepuntke go 6-9 in that order. Summerhill takes home 10th with Fenn, Blythe, Zubov, Zhupa, Manamalage, Kulppi, and Van Keirsbulck going 11-17 as the front group. It’s a major ways back to the rest of the top 20. Those go to both Kuroedas and De Buyst who outsprint a dying Paprstka.
A fantastic win by Theuns! He played his cards correctly and found the perfect group to go to the line with. A great win for Jura Giants!
