Tou Alsace *spoilers*

FJS
FJS Posts: 4,820
edited August 2014 in Pro race
Another nice little tour with lots of climbing, often a good hunting ground for young riders.

19 year old Mathieu van der Poel won stage 3 today. Was signing for cross-team BKCP until 2017(!) really a good decision?

Mountain top finish tomorrow

Comments

  • knedlicky
    knedlicky Posts: 3,097
    Think the route this year is tamer than the last couple of years. Though Saturday’s stage should be good. Also decisive.

    Only Brit there is Dan McLay, with the Lotto U23 team. Finished 10th in stage 1 but is now contesting the Lanterne Rouge, 32 mins back.
  • knedlicky
    knedlicky Posts: 3,097
    Czech Karel Hnik won stage 4 and took over the leader’s jersey, but not by much – 6 secs to Australian Haig and 10 secs to Czech Hirt, both of whom were in the 4-man group at the finish with Hnik.
    At 24 secs is the other man of the 4-man group, Martin, who must be regretting the fact that he would only be at 4 secs if he hadn’t incurred a 20 sec penalty during stage 1.

    First the Kazak Bizhigitov led alone on the last ascent (Grand Ballon), but was caught by a group with Hirt, a well known-name - Di Gregorio, Penven, Martin, Hnik and Haig.
    Hirt went in front and was first over the top, but on the slight decline to Markstein he was caught by Hnik, Martin and Haig, who finished in that order, with Hirt 4th on the same time.
    Di Gregorio was at 4 secs, and keeps the mountain jersey (and is unlikely to lose it), Penven came in at 7 secs, and the rest were 30 secs or more back.
  • wombly_knees
    wombly_knees Posts: 657
    Cheers knedlicky.

    Haig is really turning out to be quite some rider. Beat Earle for the overall NRS crown last year as a rookie and splitting time between road and MTB.
  • knedlicky
    knedlicky Posts: 3,097
    No change in the GC after stage 5 (the last stage) so Hnik won the Tour, Haig was second (and won the young rider’s jersey) and Hirt took the other podium spot.
    Di Gregorio won the mountains jersey and Pokidov the points jersey.

    Jack Haig at the final ceremony:
    14818454542_09f23bf7d9_z.jpg

    Pokidov acquired the points jersey during the last stage – he was part of an early break of about ten which soon dwindled down to only 5 riders. Those 5 first increased their lead to 3 mins, then saw it reduce with every passing km. However they held on, just, to the end, finishing 4 secs ahead of the peloton – just visible 100 m in the distance in this finishing line photo.
    And Brit Daniel McLay won the peloton sprint!
    10568980_10152136787386511_8751490840148512758_n.jpg?oh=e2e42293fed08d0c5a4bcb78bf74b4b3&oe=5435A94D
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,174
    knedlicky wrote:
    Jack Haig at the final ceremony:
    14818454542_09f23bf7d9_z.jpg
    Alsace - where podium girls are mass produced in a factory.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 40,881
    RichN95 wrote:
    knedlicky wrote:
    Jack Haig at the final ceremony:
    14818454542_09f23bf7d9_z.jpg
    Alsace - where podium girls are mass produced in a factory.

    Or inbreeding is rife. Also, fashionable clothes shops seem to be in short supply.
  • wombly_knees
    wombly_knees Posts: 657
    They are a Tasmanian team, must've special ordered inbreds.

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