The final PTHC classic of the season and its the hilly Japan Cup the worlds best two puncheurs Lopez and Areruya head the favourites with PT title chasing Lutsenko and Skujins here. Can Stannard potentially seal Everesting place in PCT for another year after his win in Canada or will it be Ardila providing another miracle to MOL who need to massive races to even stand a chance of being in PT next season.
Lets remind ourselves of the last rankings update though bar in mind Grand Prix Cycliste and Tour of Japan results are yet to be added as well. Those in bold are here today.
PCT
Pos
Last
Team
Total
RD
PpRD
Proj
1
4
ELCO - ABEA
3887
152
25.57
4168
2
1
ISA - Hexacta
3559
146
24.38
3974
3
2
Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo PCTeam
3452
151
22.86
3726
4
3
Sony - Force India
3375
146
23.12
3769
5
5
Indosat Ooredoo
2850
147
19.39
3161
--Automatic Promotion--
6
6
Team UBS
2809
146
19.24
3136
7
7
Benetton Bimex Cycling
2799
148
18.91
3082
8
8
Specialized
2447
144
16.99
2769
9
9
Tryg - Eni
2373
146
16.25
2649
17
19
Sauber Petronas Racing
1856
146
12.71
2072
18
16
Manada Coyote
1771
146
12.13
1977
19
17
Tafjord Kraft
1611
146
11.03
1798
-Relegation-
20
18
Everesting
1557
146
10.66
1738
21
21
JEWA TIROL
1552
148
10.49
1710
22
20
Kraftwerk Man Machine
1514
144
10.51
1713
Protour
Pos
Last
Team
Total
RD
PpRD
Proj
1
2
Gazelle
7226
176
41.06
7391
2
1
Tinkoff Team - La Datcha
7206
176
40.94
7369
4
6
Evonik - ELKO
6736
174
38.71
6968
15
14
Cedevita
5604
178
31.48
5666
16
18
Rabobank
5522
174
31.74
5713
17
15
Oxxo - Frisby
5470
176
31.08
5594
-Relegation-
18
16
Moser - Sygic
5383
178
30.24
5443
19
19
MOL Cycling Team
5139
176
29.2
5256
We have 11 laps of the finishing circuit spilt into 5 laps, then a loop around a bigger climb followed by 6 finishing laps of the circuit including a big descent into a 500m uphill sprint to the line.
Some really good solid climbers made the break which went just before the first climb on our first lap
the gap would be 5"35 by the time we finished the first 5 laps of the finishing circuit.
6 laps to go this was down to 4"00
4 laps to go we are under 2"15 and this were we pick up the action
As over the 4 last climb we got a spilt in the peloton which De Plus lose most of his main teammates although the gap looks small here it would never be closed as the first 35 riders of the day are dropped Covi the best of those dropped 100% down to bad positioning. As the PCT title chasers already lose some depth points early.
Coming to our 4th last lap of the finishing circuit and its on the front trying to bring the break back as the gap comes under "45 seconds. Lopez, Ardila, Areruya Gaudu are all sat in the first 6 riders as teammates become thin on the ground already.
*4 laps to go* 40km left
We catch the break on the right hand side as, The only action we get on this climb is Gall launching an attack and stretching the peloton into a long line behind, De Plus, Schlegel, Higuita, Stannard, Benoot were all aware to the move and on the wheel but with Lopez leading the peloton this move was brought back over the top.
The leaders are down to 50 riders though no big names have currently missed the spilts.
*3 laps to go* 30km left
Higuita and Lopez make a big move early on the climb Ardila is very aware to this and jumps on the right hand side to cover this off but causes some big spilts in behind
We have under 30 riders making the jump as Vansevenant sets a strong pace to ensure the Higuita and Lopez move is going nowhere
In the group with standings implications we have
PT Title Race Skujins Trakhov Lutsenko Peters
PT Relegation Race Champoussin Kron (just behind UBS rider but makes the group) Higuita Osorio Ardila Amezawa Dina Filutas
PCT Promotion Race De Plus Benoot Buchmann
PCT Relegation Race Stannard Turgis
*25km to go*
Here we go again a big attack from Stannard, Areruya is first to react with Vansevenant and Lutsenko bridging in what could be a huge move at the top of the PT.
Polanc has still made the group for MAL though and as we flatten out puts the peloton in a line. The leading 4 are unwilling to go all in on this move so far.
*20km to go*
Our 4 rider break is caught in an awkward position at the bottom of the climb just past the 20km to go banner. Hirschi comes to the front to set a really hard tempo Lopez is on his wheel. Riders are being dropped quickly behind including both Blums and Polanc who brought the race back together.
Lopez goes past Hirschi then sets a hard pace up the next 2km of the climb to bring the group down to 29 riders. He pulls off and no one comes to the front. Champoussin then comes to the front to set pace for what looks like Kron but has now ridden 10m off the front of the group coming to the downhill.
Many riders in trouble at the back of this group De Plus and Stannard are notable for looking on the edge.
We are coming to the descent just the final 500m climb Champoussin still leads narrowly now Amezawa attacks across Paret-Peintre, Meurisse, Benoot and Schmid are going with this attack.
Benoot and Schmid blow up during the attack and leave a big gap to our remaining 4. Gaudu senses danger and makes a big effort across Hirschi is in his wheel it's carnage everywhere now there's no teammates to control and riders are blowing up all over the road.
*10km to go*
Through the finish line one lap to go and we can see the remaining peloton 22 riders strong still.
PT Title Race Skujins Trakhov Lutsenko Peters - DRPOPPED
Valter is trying to rally a chase but the impetus is gone from the peloton with a lot of tired legs thankfully there's a 3km climb to come but the gap to the leading 6 is 45 seconds with only 8km to go.
Gaudu and Meurisse are not taking turns in the leading group maybe out of choice or just being completely on the limit. Hirschi looks very strong and is taking the majority of the pulls.
Madouas finally gives Valter on the front and then Higuita come to help maybe even just to bring back two potentially threatening teams in the PT relegation battle. Lopez has bluffed that this breakaway will comeback on this final climb.
We are on the climb and coming under the final 5km to go banner the break has 45 seconds still! and Hirschi and Champoussin are putting the pressure truly on both have dragged the break up to this point.
Lopez attacks and its a huge one Madouas is on him Valter, Buchmann Vansevenant, Higuita are the only riders to go with him.
Lutsenko cracks early Skujins has now cracked but is pedalling squares, Areruya has gone in a shock and Schmid once again has lost the wheel.
Now can the peloton catch the break. Gaudu has now been dropped but he's almost at the crest of the main climb and can sense there's some points on offer.
Champoussin is riding like a man possessed on the front of the break he knows this could save his team from relegation alone if he keeps this break clear. Paret-Peintre looks absolutely drained of energy at the back but is not dropped yet. Amezawa and Meurisse haven't hit the front for the last few kms and are saving.
There going to do it are leading 5 crest the climb at 1.5km to go Madouas makes a small gap in the group behind but everyone is at their limit. Stannard and Higuita are just dying on the back but still hold on these could be valuable points for both teams and there leaders are putting everything on the line
And here we go the drop down to the finish just 500m of climbing to go Paret-Peintre let go seconds from the top of the climb and is the only man out of position. Amezawa comes on the right of Hirschi while Meurisse slips between the two Champoussin suddenly has no where to go and is boxed in behind.
Champoussin spys a gap between Hirschi and Meurisse. Amezawa is the first rider beat.
Meurisse !!!! he kicks on the afterburners as it flattens out and he scores a big win in the Japan Cup the most surprising rider of the PCT season does it again and he will move into the top 10 of the individual standings.
2nd - 4th place is going to be so close.
Hirschi by inches takes 2nd that will save Sauber for sure if they were not already safe, Champoussin with a valuable 100pt in 3rd which all but guarantees the long running Rabobank PT riding next year. 4th is Amezawa 90pts which doesn't change to much for MOL but keeps slim survival hopes alive Paret-Peintre held on brilliantly for 5th considering he looked dead for most of the final climb.
The sprint for 6th is won by Madouas who kept his small gap all the way to the line Vansevenant in 7th, Lopez disappoints in 8th and end the very slim chance of a Evonik title charge.
Valter in 9th from a charging Stannard he takes 10th Hindley takes 44th to give Everesting 39pts to go with their big haul in Canada satisfactory even though no mathematically safe, Gaudu in 11th great attack though did too much to have to jump across to the break he still gains a good result. Buchmann blew up in the sprint in 12th. Higuita used too much energy at the bottom of the climb trying to catch the break to factor in the final Oxxo don't score any depth points and the 25pt don't seem like much but they at least move MOL and Moser target further away and bring Cedevita within 100pt
The dispointing rides belong in this group Benoot is next he blew up trying to follow the winning move but at least showed good race craft, Areruya just had no legs and 15th is not what we are used to from him. Gregaard though is probably delighted at 16th a top ride from the climber, Schmid has similar comments to Benoot blowing up following the winning attack then Aranburu who was outperformed by his teammate.
THE PT TITLE FIGHT
Lutsenko and Skujins eyeball eachother there racing over 19th place but there's only 20pts in the title race at the line Lutsenko lunges ahead 13pts for him over 12pt for Skujins.
Gazelle depth points comes from Peters he takes 36th its an extra 2pt in valuable and 15pt on the day.
Tinkoff though had an extra man in the main group Trakhov he finishes last in the main group in the end 28th place. 6pt taking Tinkoff to a total 18pt.
The gap closes by 3pt and is 17pts going to Lombardia the closest title race of all time just got closer.
De Plus is only 21st which probably ends the PCT title race for the season disappointing from him. Schlegel in 22nd doesn't help Tryg - Eni especially with 8th place Specialized having a big race. Kron in behind is 23rd bagging a few more points for Rabobank. 109pts to be exact on the day as they goes past Cedevita in the standings and have just under 250pts in hand of Moser. Ardila is also in this group but only 27th MOL didn't get any other depth scorers despite having plenty in the bunch throughout the day 96pts in total for them. There not completely dead in the relegation race but likely need a monument win now to survive.
That wrap up our Japan Cup coverage we hope you enjoyed the race!
