A long and hard day in the US for the sprinters and their teams… or for the baroudeurs! The bookies unexpectedly place Konychev at the top of the favorite list. They seem to think that his superior physical abilities will be of use today. We’ll see that in about 4 and a half hours!
Though on such a long route the break shouldn’t survive, the bumps and the circuit might give them chances. It sure gives them hope, as 8 riders have earned a 1 minute advantage: Moazemi, Matsangos, Montenegro, Hellemose, Wade, Chen, Diaz Suarez and Vanthourenhout. The latter is probably the most dangerous of the bunch, but this seems very manageable. Behind, Pickrell and Casillas try to make the junction.
Isa, Moser, Los Pollos and Assa Abloy are the teams taking control to block other attempts.
The ten leaders are together with 175 km left, and their gap begins to grow.
At half race, after getting over 5 minutes, the gap already has fallen under 3 minutes. Nothing notable happened; except a puncture for Sleen, trying to get back in the pack.
Working at the head of the said pack are Veyhe, Dlamini, Affonso, Toupalik, Bratashcuk, Piaskowy and Iversen.
Sleen couldn’t join the peloton, in the ned.
The catch isn’t made yet (the gap is around 1’20), but there is move in the peloton! 50 km from the finish line, Hansen, whose team doesn’t have a top sprinter, attacks!
Though he insists; je’s not let go. But there’s a split in the pack! The fast ace caused a hole, probably due to wrong placement. Hansenbridged easily, but favorites like Manninen, Van Poppel, Zabel, Kennett or Aniolkowski were trapped.
Moser, Tryg and ISA take the opportunity to accelerate.
Cheyne works hard to have everyone together (bar the break, at 1’20, and Sleen at 8’50) with 31 km left. A warning for the sprinters to stay close to the front though, as the finish is coming fast.
The catch is made with 14 km left, half thanks to the work of the various domestiques, half due to an attack! We’ll see what it really was.
We’ve also seen lead-out riders working to make the catch, like Gibbons. There’s another notable split, with Houle and Welten caught off-guard.
It was indeed an attack, with notably Konychev and Katrasnik, but it led nowhere.
Under the 5 km banner, the latter, who’s the usual suspect, attacks! Katrasnik doesn’t intend to have this race finish in a mass sprint.
This cause interesting splits with 3,3 km left: Nych, Pszczolarski, Räim, Halvorsen, Demare, Katrasnik and Kemboi are in the lead, with Vesely, Manninen, Resell, Aniolkowski, Kragh Andersen and Debesay 12 seconds back.
The peloton is 12 more seconds behind.
With such fast men, not sure the rouleurs will bring them to the end.
But they do! Under the flamme rouge, only Debesay, Resell and Pszczolarski – the latter probably having worked for his leader – are out of it. Halvorsen opens the sprint with a small lead.
500 m. Halvorsen still is well in the lead, but tiring. Behind, there are Kemboi and Aniolkowski. Then Kragh Andersen, Demare, Vsely and Manninen. Kemboi is the fastest for now.
200 m. Kemboi is closing in, but he’s losing speed also.
Halvorsen celebrates!
And he wins the Philadelphia International Championship! Stron work for DK Zalgiris to bring him in the right move and deliver him under the flamme rouge. Kemboi is 2nd.
Aniolkowski is 3rd.
Then come Kragh Andersen, ahead of Demare.
Nych, Vesely and Manninen cross next, close one from another.
Katrasnik gets a deserved 9th after blowing the race up.
Still no victory here for Gaviria, who takes 10th.
Indeed, the PCT teams spoiled much of the PT sprinters fun! But what an enternaining finish it was. Thank you for following us!
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