A very busy month starts with me jetting off to the Basque country, followed by a couple of Ardennes classics before finishing off the month in Switzerland. My quest for the GC win remains at the top of my priority list.
Vuelta Ciclista al Pais Vasco
Once again, Lotto sent both Meintjes and Betancur along with me to this race. I was used to this role by now, having the freedom to look out for my own prospects. The field was quite competitive and it would be a challenge to get a high result here.
Stage 1 didn't have very high climbs but there were five of them. I tried to get into the break twice early on, but the pack closed down those attacks. The last climb dropped the sprinters. Unfortunately for us, it dropped Meintjes too! The stage was decided by a reduced bunch sprint. Tinkoff swept the podium.
I tried to attack again on Stage 2 but the peloton wasn't having any of it. I guess I should be flattered with the attention they were giving me. However, at the time, it was just frustrating. I attacked on top of the last climb and got 20 seconds to the pack. The break had been swept up before this. I was cuaght with 5 km still to go and finished in the pack. We moved to the top of the team standings.
Stage 3
This stage was was a disaster! I felt good starting the stage but lost all power in my legs in third climb. I lost six minutes on the stage and fell out of contention for the GC. Betancur finished in 8th to move up to 10th in the GC.
Stage 4 started with a thunderstorm raging overhead. I attacked on the first climb with Gallopin, chasing the break. We caught up to them on the next climb. On the fourth climb, I was in the two man surviving break with Dombrowski, two minutes ahead of the pack. I dropped the American eventualy but three others joined up from the pack, one moving past us easily as I started to lose energy. we was caught by the peloton with just 4 km to go. I held on to the pack to finish in the reduced bunch.
Stage 5 had more climbs and I got into the break again. I was caught less than halfway into the stage. I remained in the pack till the end. It was Betancur's turn to have a bad day and this ended Lotto's chance of a high GC finish. I finished with the reduced bunch at the finish.
Stage 6 was a hilly ITT. When I crossed th eline, I was in 5th place, 55 seconds off the pace. I ended up in 15th, more than a minute down. I improved a couple of places to finish 17th in the GC, the best in our team.
General Classification
1
Michał Kwiatkowski
Tinkoff-Saxo
19h57'03
2
Davide Formolo
Astana Pro Team
+ 48
3
Rui Costa
Bora - Argon 18
+ 1'04
4
Geraint Thomas
Astana Pro Team
+ 1'09
5
Sérgio Henao
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 1'13
6
Nairo Quintana
TEAM Cepsa
+ 1'32
7
Rafał Majka
Team Sky
+ 1'46
8
Mikel Landa
TEAM Cepsa
+ 2'12
9
Julian Alaphilippe
Stella Artois
+ 2'18
10
Jarlinson Pantano
Colombia
+ 2'37
Spoiler
11
Wilco Kelderman
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 2'46
12
Bob Jungels
Astana Pro Team
+ 3'13
13
Simon Yates
Astana Pro Team
+ 3'32
14
Daniel Martin
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 3'33
15
Lawson Craddock
ESPN
+ 4'50
16
Andrey Amador
Team Sky
+ 6'52
17
Abhishek Sinha
Lotto Soudal
+ 6'58
18
Fabio Aru
Astana Pro Team
+ 6'59
19
Moreno Moser
IAM Cycling
+ 7'41
20
Roman Kreuziger
Astana Pro Team
+ 9'07
21
Tony Gallopin
Stella Artois
+ 9'17
22
Sam Oomen
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 9'47
23
Miguel Angel Lopez
Stella Artois
+ 10'05
24
Sebastian Henao
Colombia
+ 10'37
25
Tom Dumoulin
Stella Artois
+ 10'48
26
Tim Wellens
ESPN
+ 10'55
27
Chris Froome
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 11'32
28
Carlos Betancur
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
29
Matej Mohoric
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 12'42
30
Anastasio Ania
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 12'59
31
Joseph Dombrowski
Trek Factory Racing
+ 13'11
32
Ilnur Zakarin
Team Sky
+ 13'30
33
Ion Izagirre
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 16'19
34
Omar Fraile
Iberdrola
+ 17'03
35
Robert Gesink
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 17'27
36
Cameron Meyer
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 19'13
37
Steven Kruijswijk
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 19'15
38
David De la Cruz
Team Katusha
+ 20'23
39
Valerio Conti
Astana Pro Team
+ 20'30
40
Peter Kennaugh
Team Sky
+ 20'37
41
Carlos Barbero
TEAM Cepsa
+ 21'58
42
Víctor de la Parte
TEAM Cepsa
+ 22'33
43
Carter Jones
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 22'48
44
Sébastien Reichenbach
IAM Cycling
+ 22'50
45
Gregorio Ibañez
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 23'08
46
Louis Meintjes
Lotto Soudal
+ 24'12
47
Merhawi Kudus
Bora - Argon 18
+ 24'33
48
Mikel Iturria
Team Katusha
+ 24'54
49
Odd Christian Eiking
IAM Cycling
+ 24'55
50
Dominik Nerz
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 24'56
51
Diego Ulissi
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 25'10
52
Alexey Lutsenko
Trek Factory Racing
+ 26'24
53
Patrick Bevin
Bora - Argon 18
+ 26'49
54
Jesús Herrada
Iberdrola
+ 27'34
55
Clement Penven
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 27'36
56
Robert Power
Team Sky
+ 28'24
57
Ander Arranz
TEAM Cepsa
+ 28'36
58
Hugh Carthy
Team Sky
+ 28'47
59
Jordi van Dingenen
Lotto Soudal
+ 29'03
60
Jonathan Monsalve
Iberdrola
+ 29'06
61
Luis León Sánchez
TEAM Cepsa
+ 29'49
62
Isaac Bolívar
Colombia
+ 30'03
63
Rudy Molard
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 31'18
64
Alexander Foliforov
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 31'42
65
Luka Mezgec
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 32'01
66
Nikias Arndt
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 34'02
67
Zico Waeytens
Stella Artois
+ 34'57
68
Caleb Ewan
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 35'54
69
Ben Swift
Team Sky
+ 35'59
70
Pierre-Luc Périchon
Decathlon
+ 36'17
71
Michael Matthews
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 38'35
72
Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
73
Alex Kirsch
Trek Factory Racing
+ 41'24
74
Jonathan Hivert
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 41'44
75
Richie Porte
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 43'51
76
Steven Lammertink
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 44'16
77
Jelle Vanendert
Stella Artois
+ 44'20
78
Clément Koretzky
Decathlon
+ 45'02
79
Adrian Aas Stien
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 45'15
80
Simon Geschke
Bora - Argon 18
+ 46'30
81
Tsgabu Grmay
Iberdrola
+ 48'37
82
Marcel Aregger
Iberdrola
+ 48'43
83
Garikoitz Bravo
Iberdrola
+ 49'50
84
Jarl Salomein
Lotto Soudal
+ 49'52
85
Michael Hepburn
Team Sky
+ 50'18
86
Elia Favilli
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 50'36
87
Hector Saez
IAM Cycling
s.t.
88
Yoann Paillot
Team Europcar
+ 50'44
89
Gerald Ciolek
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 50'57
90
Daniel Hoelgaard
IAM Cycling
+ 51'50
91
Romain Sicard
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 52'19
92
Luke Keough
Trek Factory Racing
+ 52'40
93
Frederique Robert
Lotto Soudal
+ 52'41
94
Oscar Gatto
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 52'47
95
Juan Manuel Puntas
Iberdrola
+ 53'07
96
Adrien Costa
Trek Factory Racing
+ 53'24
97
Eros Capecchi
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 53'56
98
Mamyr Stash
Team Katusha
+ 54'04
99
Jack Bobridge
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 54'16
100
Gijs Van Hoecke
ESPN
+ 54'30
101
Logan Owen
Trek Factory Racing
+ 54'46
102
Edwin Ávila
Colombia
+ 54'53
103
Geoffrey Curran
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 57'18
104
Aser Estévez
Iberdrola
+ 57'47
105
Robert-Jon McCarthy
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 58'24
106
Boris Vallée
Stella Artois
+ 58'48
107
Michael Schär
ESPN
+ 59'33
108
Jaime Castañeda
Colombia
+ 59'42
109
Peter Erdin
IAM Cycling
+ 1h00'48
110
Shane Archbold
Colombia
+ 1h01'26
111
Antoine Demoitie
Lotto Soudal
+ 1h01'46
112
Liam Bertazzo
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 1h02'30
113
Clément Venturini
Decathlon
+ 1h02'44
114
Afram Iwu
Decathlon
+ 1h03'03
115
Bertrand Pradel
Team Europcar
+ 1h04'02
116
Marco Haller
Bora - Argon 18
+ 1h04'03
117
Jefferson Reátegui
Colombia
+ 1h04'07
118
Daniel Eaton
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 1h04'25
119
Tejay Van Garderen
Astana Pro Team
+ 1h05'28
120
Javier Francisco Aramendia
Team Katusha
+ 1h05'31
121
Sonny Colbrelli
TEAM Cepsa
+ 1h05'38
122
Hugo Pigeon
Team Europcar
+ 1h08'22
123
Eduard-Michael Grosu
Lotto Soudal
+ 1h08'34
124
Kevin De Jonghe
Trek Factory Racing
+ 1h08'46
125
Nikodemus Holler
Bora - Argon 18
+ 1h09'07
126
Francisco José Ventoso
Team Katusha
+ 1h10'56
127
Max Walscheid
Bora - Argon 18
+ 1h11'38
128
Jay Thomson
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 1h12'29
129
Andrea Piechele
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 1h12'38
130
Mateo Popovic
ESPN
+ 1h12'53
131
Pello Bilbao
TEAM Cepsa
+ 1h12'54
132
Andreas Schillinger
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 1h13'05
133
Steven Tronet
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 1h13'11
134
Théry Schir
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 1h13'54
135
Romain Guyot
Team Europcar
+ 1h14'25
136
Rodolfo Torres
Colombia
+ 1h14'52
137
Pio Scarpato
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 1h15'34
138
Jeremy Leveau
Decathlon
+ 1h16'37
139
Benjamin Giraud
Team Europcar
+ 1h18'52
140
Etienne Fabre
Team Europcar
+ 1h19'14
141
Michaël Baer
IAM Cycling
+ 1h20'54
142
Maxime Daniel
Team Europcar
+ 1h20'56
143
Justin Oien
ESPN
+ 1h22'20
144
Andrea Zordan
Team Katusha
+ 1h22'22
145
Nordin Krijgsman
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 1h23'12
146
Jan Maas
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 1h24'55
147
Lukas Spengler
ESPN
+ 1h25'30
148
Miguel Bryon
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 1h26'59
149
Philip Lavery
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 1h28'45
150
Romain Cardis
Team Europcar
+ 1h29'17
151
Bert De Backer
Stella Artois
+ 1h32'28
152
Grégory Rast
ESPN
+ 1h33'04
153
Christophe Laborie
Decathlon
+ 1h33'44
154
Jori van Steenberghen
Decathlon
+ 1h37'07
155
Alexander Porsev
Team Katusha
+ 1h41'05
156
Joris Dertin
Decathlon
+ 1h53'03
Points Classification
1
Michał Kwiatkowski
Tinkoff-Saxo
92
2
Daniel Martin
Tinkoff-Saxo
74
3
Julian Alaphilippe
Stella Artois
64
4
Geraint Thomas
Astana Pro Team
45
5
Jarlinson Pantano
Colombia
40
Mountain Classification
1
Joseph Dombrowski
Trek Factory Racing
72
2
Tony Gallopin
Stella Artois
28
3
Pierre-Luc Périchon
Decathlon
27
4
Alexey Lutsenko
Trek Factory Racing
14
5
Abhishek Sinha
Lotto Soudal
12
Young Riders Classification
1
Abhishek Sinha
Lotto Soudal
20h04'01
2
Sam Oomen
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 2'49
3
Miguel Angel Lopez
Stella Artois
+ 3'07
4
Matej Mohoric
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 5'44
5
Anastasio Ania
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 6'01
Team Classification
1
Astana Pro Team
59h56'12
2
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 1'39
3
Team Sky
+ 10'51
4
Stella Artois
+ 11'41
5
TEAM Cepsa
+ 13'45
A very disappointing race for us as all three GC candidates were not in top form. I wondered whether I had put too many race days in my schedule in the early season. This was a wake up call to better look after myself going ahead. The first dark spot in an other wise good season so far. The U25s classification victory was a small bright spot.
The Ardennes have never been my friend. The profiles don't seem to suit me, and I keep missing the decisive moves. Would this year be any different? Let's find out.
La Fleche Wallone
Betancur led the team as I was given the freedom the do as I pleased. What else is new, right? I started too far back in the peloton to join the break that got away and the pack wasn't in amood to let anyone else get away. I waited for my chance later on. The middle section proved uneventful. We caught the break with 12 km to go. At the 10 km marker, the pack was down to 40 riders. The attacks started soon after and inexplicably, once again, I didn't have it in me to stay in touch. Another year, the same disappointment. Turned out to be a bad race for our full team.
1
Michał Kwiatkowski
Tinkoff-Saxo
4h27'02
2
Nairo Quintana
TEAM Cepsa
+ 30
3
Sérgio Henao
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
4
Julian Alaphilippe
Stella Artois
s.t.
5
Tim Wellens
ESPN
+ 1'17
6
Odd Christian Eiking
IAM Cycling
+ 1'39
7
Valerio Conti
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
8
Fabio Aru
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
9
Daniel Martin
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
10
Petr Vakoč
Iberdrola
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Simon Yates
Astana Pro Team
+ 1'58
12
Sam Oomen
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
13
Wilco Kelderman
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
14
Carlos Betancur
Lotto Soudal
+ 2'20
15
Miguel Angel Lopez
Stella Artois
s.t.
16
Tony Gallopin
Stella Artois
+ 2'29
17
Jan Polanc
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
18
Gijs Van Hoecke
ESPN
+ 2'41
19
Bob Jungels
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
20
Ion Izagirre
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 2'50
21
Dayer Quintana
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
+ 3'02
22
Elmar Reinders
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
23
Diego Ulissi
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
24
Jarlinson Pantano
Colombia
s.t.
25
Robert Gesink
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
26
Moreno Moser
IAM Cycling
s.t.
27
Samir Jabrayilov
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 3'23
28
Abhishek Sinha
Lotto Soudal
+ 3'38
29
Alexis Vuillermoz
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
30
Geraint Thomas
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
31
Edward Ravasi
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
32
Tejay Van Garderen
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
33
Dylan Teuns
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
34
Warren Barguil
IAM Cycling
s.t.
35
Roman Kreuziger
Astana Pro Team
+ 4'24
36
Romain Bardet
Team Sky
s.t.
37
Francesco Bongiorno
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
38
Davide Formolo
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
39
Gianni Meersman
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
40
Floris De Tier
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
41
Benjamin Brkic
Team Joker
s.t.
42
Tom Dumoulin
Stella Artois
s.t.
43
Mikel Landa
TEAM Cepsa
s.t.
44
Dominik Nerz
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 4'57
45
Jan Hirt
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
46
Sebastian Henao
Colombia
s.t.
47
Jan Bakelants
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
48
Ian Boswell
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
49
Derk Abel Beckeringh
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
50
Clement Penven
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
51
Cameron Meyer
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 5'26
52
Simon Spilak
ESPN
s.t.
53
Jeppe Lykke Hartvig Nielsen
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 5'36
54
Stefano Pirazzi
ESPN
s.t.
55
Goredema Dabengwa
Iberdrola
s.t.
56
Mattia Cattaneo
TEAM Cepsa
s.t.
57
Alberto Contador
TEAM Cepsa
s.t.
58
Eurico Semeano
Team Sky
s.t.
59
Lachlan Morton
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
60
Alessandro De Marchi
Team Katusha
s.t.
61
Richie Porte
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 6'05
62
Eros Capecchi
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 6'39
63
Kristijan Durasek
IAM Cycling
s.t.
64
Yukiya Arashiro
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
65
Jacques Janse Van Rensburg
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
66
Kenichi Kondo
IAM Cycling
s.t.
67
Nick Van Der Lijke
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
68
Grégory Ambroise
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
69
Tim Declercq
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
70
Romain Guyot
Team Europcar
s.t.
71
Ilnur Zakarin
Team Sky
s.t.
72
Jérémy Cornu
Decathlon
s.t.
73
Tsgabu Grmay
Iberdrola
s.t.
74
Clément Koretzky
Decathlon
+ 7'23
75
Carter Jones
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
76
Serghei Tvetcov
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
77
Romain Sicard
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
78
Peter Velits
Iberdrola
s.t.
79
Léo Vincent
Decathlon
+ 7'50
80
Miguel Angel Benito
TEAM Cepsa
+ 8'46
81
Rudi Milic
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
82
Tilegen Maidos
Team Joker
s.t.
83
Matvei Mamykin
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
84
Mikel Iturria
Team Katusha
s.t.
85
Marko Díaz
Colombia
s.t.
86
Axel Domont
Decathlon
s.t.
87
Vincenzo Nibali
Team Sky
s.t.
88
Dario Cataldo
Team Sky
s.t.
89
Jelle Vanendert
Stella Artois
s.t.
90
Elia Favilli
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
91
Francis De Greef
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
92
Evgeny Shalunov
Team Katusha
s.t.
93
Rudy Molard
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
94
Leonardo Pajuelo
IAM Cycling
s.t.
95
Cayetano Sarmiento
Iberdrola
s.t.
96
Arnaud Courteille
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
97
Laurens De Plus
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
98
George Preidler
IAM Cycling
s.t.
99
Jean-Albert Carnevali
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
100
Geoffrey Duteil
Stella Artois
s.t.
101
Aurélien Paret-Peintre
IAM Cycling
s.t.
102
Théry Schir
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
103
Peter Stetina
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
104
Brad Malkinson
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
105
Eduardo Sepulveda
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
106
Dylan Girdlestone
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
107
Anastasio Ania
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
108
Floris Gerts
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
109
Gijs De Berlanger
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
110
José Mendes
Iberdrola
s.t.
111
Kenny Elissonde
Team Europcar
s.t.
112
Robert Power
Team Sky
s.t.
113
Alexey Lutsenko
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
114
Primož Roglič
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
115
Sergei Pomoshnikov
Team Katusha
s.t.
116
Alexey Vermeulen
ESPN
s.t.
117
Óscar González
TEAM Cepsa
s.t.
118
Daryl Impey
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
119
Jarosław Marycz
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
s.t.
120
Serge Pauwels
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
121
Daniel Eaton
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
122
Eliot Lietaer
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
123
Luis Largo
TEAM Cepsa
s.t.
124
Isaac Bolívar
Colombia
s.t.
125
Sander Armee
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
s.t.
126
Esteban Chaves
Team Katusha
s.t.
127
Michael Carbel
Team Joker
s.t.
128
Kristoffer Skjerping
Team Joker
s.t.
129
Muhamad Othman
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
s.t.
130
Joachim Vanreyten
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
131
Simon Geschke
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
132
Juan Manuel Puntas
Iberdrola
+ 11'18
133
Clément Chevrier
Team Europcar
s.t.
134
Merhawi Kudus
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
135
Aldo Di Somma
Team Joker
s.t.
136
Rodolfo Torres
Colombia
s.t.
137
Thomas Sprengers
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
138
Alexander Edmondson
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 11'36
139
Ben Hermans
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
140
Timo Roosen
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
141
Jack Bobridge
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
142
Beñat Txoperena
Team Katusha
s.t.
143
Stefan Denifl
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
144
Vegard Stake Laengen
Team Joker
s.t.
145
Gorka Ceballos
Iberdrola
s.t.
146
Anthony Vandrepotte
Decathlon
+ 12'06
147
Tibor Kozak
Team Katusha
s.t.
148
Daniel Felipe Martinez
Colombia
s.t.
149
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
150
Oczan Henrichs
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
151
Finn E. Rosenkilde
Team Europcar
s.t.
152
Kenneth Vanbilsen
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
153
Marco Haller
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
154
Juan Chamorro
Colombia
s.t.
155
Víctor de la Parte
TEAM Cepsa
s.t.
156
Alexander Geuens
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
157
Julien Vermote
Stella Artois
s.t.
158
Jasper Ockeloen
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 13'14
159
Alexis Dulin
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
s.t.
160
Bertrand Pradel
Team Europcar
s.t.
161
Kamil Małecki
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
s.t.
162
Mickaël Rouge
Team Europcar
s.t.
163
Jonathan Hivert
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
164
Bernard Thiel
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
165
Jeffrey Perrin
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
166
Stig Broeckx
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
167
Paul Voss
Decathlon
s.t.
168
Dennis Vanendert
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
+ 13'50
169
Bernardo Pedone
Stella Artois
+ 14'06
170
Jonathan Fumeaux
ESPN
+ 14'40
171
Dirk Jan Rijsbergen
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
172
Adrian Tekliński
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
s.t.
173
Maxime Daniel
Team Europcar
s.t.
174
Pierre Gouault
Team Europcar
s.t.
175
Alex Carmichael
ESPN
+ 14'59
176
Jenthe Biermans
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
177
Robbe Casier
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
178
Emiel Dolfsma
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
s.t.
179
Andrey Amador
Team Sky
s.t.
180
Nolberto López
Bora - Argon 18
+ 15'49
181
Michael Schär
ESPN
s.t.
182
Ramon Sinkeldam
Bora - Argon 18
+ 16'58
183
Julius van den Berg
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
184
Kevin De Jonghe
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
185
Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier
Decathlon
s.t.
186
Joe Evans
Team Sky
s.t.
187
Clément Saint-Martin
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
+ 17'39
188
Aljaz Hocevar
Team Joker
s.t.
189
Joris Dertin
Decathlon
s.t.
190
Alex Howes
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
191
Leigh Howard
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
192
Arvid Melchiot
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 19'26
193
Bjørn Vidar Riseth
Team Joker
+ 19'54
194
Davy Gunst
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 20'45
195
Nikodemus Holler
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
196
Fredy Antonio Reátegui
Team Katusha
s.t.
197
Alfonso López
Colombia
s.t.
198
Aidan van Niekerk
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 21'33
199
Donny Schrijvers
Team Roompot-Oranje Peloton
+ 31'03
Liege - Bastogne - Liege
Meintjes led the team this time around. My situation was similar to what it was in Fleche Wallone. Here, however, the attacks from favourites started from a long way out. A t 30 km to go, and with the break long caught, there were 2 riders out in front with a 17 man group chasing. I was in the latter group but Meintjes was in the bigger peloton behind us. With 15 km to go, the situation had changed to me being in the 40 man peloton, behind three nearly two minutes behind the lead riders. There were two more groups between us and the lead group of three. It would be those three riders who contested the finish for the win. Alaphilippe beat the Tinkoff duo of Martin and Kwiatkowski to win LBL. I managed 25th.
1
Julian Alaphilippe
Stella Artois
6h16'19
2
Daniel Martin
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
3
Michał Kwiatkowski
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
4
Sam Oomen
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 57
5
Fabio Aru
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
6
Moreno Moser
IAM Cycling
+ 2'38
7
Samir Jabrayilov
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
8
Alexis Vuillermoz
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
9
Odd Christian Eiking
IAM Cycling
+ 2'57
10
Alexandre Geniez
ESPN
+ 3'08
Spoiler
11
Wilco Kelderman
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
12
Tony Gallopin
Stella Artois
+ 3'26
13
Jan Hirt
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
14
Adam Yates
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
15
Romain Bardet
Team Sky
s.t.
16
Clement Penven
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
17
Petr Vakoč
Iberdrola
s.t.
18
Gregor Mühlberger
Zuno
s.t.
19
Tim Wellens
ESPN
s.t.
20
Ian Boswell
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
21
Nairo Quintana
TEAM Cepsa
s.t.
22
Mikel Landa
TEAM Cepsa
s.t.
23
Simon Yates
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
24
Sérgio Henao
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
25
Abhishek Sinha
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
26
Robert Power
Team Sky
s.t.
27
Arnaud Duteil
Team Europcar
s.t.
28
Diego Ulissi
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 4'25
29
Ion Izagirre
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
30
Sebastian Henao
Colombia
+ 4'43
31
Vincenzo Nibali
Team Sky
+ 5'07
32
Loïc Vliegen
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
33
Geraint Thomas
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
34
Sébastien Reichenbach
IAM Cycling
s.t.
35
Anastasio Ania
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
36
Edward Ravasi
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
37
Michael Matthews
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
38
Warren Barguil
IAM Cycling
s.t.
39
Roman Kreuziger
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
40
Tom Dumoulin
Stella Artois
s.t.
41
Jacques Janse Van Rensburg
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
42
Ilnur Zakarin
Team Sky
s.t.
43
Esteban Chaves
Team Katusha
s.t.
44
Michael Valgren
IAM Cycling
s.t.
45
Jean Küpper
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
46
Louis Meintjes
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
47
Jasper Ockeloen
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
48
Tejay Van Garderen
Astana Pro Team
+ 7'24
49
Bob Jungels
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
50
Richie Porte
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
51
Davide Formolo
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
52
Arnaud Courteille
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
53
Eduardo Sepulveda
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
54
Graham Traino
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
55
Dylan Teuns
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
56
Hugo Pigeon
Team Europcar
s.t.
57
Rigoberto Urán
Stella Artois
s.t.
58
Alejandro Valverde
TEAM Cepsa
s.t.
59
Aurélien Paret-Peintre
IAM Cycling
s.t.
60
Dominik Nerz
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
61
Benjamin Brkic
Team Joker
s.t.
62
Dayer Quintana
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
s.t.
63
Gijs De Berlanger
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
64
Gavin Mannion
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
65
Peter Sagan
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
66
Valerio Conti
Astana Pro Team
s.t.
67
Eurico Semeano
Team Sky
+ 10'19
68
Rafał Majka
Team Sky
s.t.
69
Anthony Delaplace
ESPN
s.t.
70
Mattia Cattaneo
TEAM Cepsa
s.t.
71
Yury Trofimov
Team Katusha
s.t.
72
Hector Saez
IAM Cycling
s.t.
73
Jordi van Dingenen
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
74
Jelle Vanendert
Stella Artois
s.t.
75
Grégory Ambroise
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 11'08
76
Serghei Tvetcov
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 11'25
77
Simon Spilak
ESPN
s.t.
78
Robert Gesink
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 13'15
79
Ulf Hausweiler
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
80
Dylan Girdlestone
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
81
Marko Díaz
Colombia
s.t.
82
Tilegen Maidos
Team Joker
s.t.
83
Steff Cras
ESPN
s.t.
84
Rudi Milic
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
85
Yoann Bagot
Team Europcar
s.t.
86
Andrey Amador
Team Sky
s.t.
87
Eros Capecchi
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
88
Laurens De Plus
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
89
François Bidard
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 13'40
90
Léo Vincent
Decathlon
s.t.
91
Marcel Wyss
ESPN
s.t.
92
Jenthe Biermans
Ag2r La Mondiale
s.t.
93
Elia Favilli
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
94
Tiago Machado
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
s.t.
95
Cayetano Sarmiento
Iberdrola
s.t.
96
Tsgabu Grmay
Iberdrola
s.t.
97
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
98
José Vicente Toribio
TEAM Cepsa
+ 14'52
99
Mathias Frank
Trek Factory Racing
+ 15'29
100
Merhawi Kudus
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
101
Francis De Greef
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
102
Yelko Gomez
Zuno
s.t.
103
Emanuel Buchmann
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 16'20
104
Anthony Roux
Decathlon
s.t.
105
Ramon Carretero
Zuno
s.t.
106
Vegard Stake Laengen
Team Joker
s.t.
107
Søren Kragh Andersen
Team Joker
s.t.
108
Luis Largo
TEAM Cepsa
s.t.
109
Sander Armee
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
s.t.
110
Sergei Pomoshnikov
Team Katusha
s.t.
111
Philip Lavery
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
112
David Wöhrer
Zuno
s.t.
113
Maxime Daniel
Team Europcar
s.t.
114
Björn Thurau
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 17'21
115
Jack Haig
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
116
Yannick Eijssen
Stella Artois
s.t.
117
Pieter Serry
Stella Artois
+ 17'50
118
Isaac Bolívar
Colombia
+ 18'23
119
Haritz Orbe
Iberdrola
s.t.
120
Matteo Rabottini
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
121
Julien Duval
Decathlon
+ 19'20
122
Ivar Slik
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 19'29
123
Primož Roglič
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
124
Simone Petilli
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
125
Kilian Frankiny
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
126
Óscar González
TEAM Cepsa
s.t.
127
Larry Warbasse
Team Sky
s.t.
128
Finn E. Rosenkilde
Team Europcar
s.t.
129
Tosh Van der Sande
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
130
Carter Jones
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
131
Diego Rubio
TEAM Cepsa
s.t.
132
Floris De Tier
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
+ 20'15
133
Tommy McCoosh
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
134
Gini Turano
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
135
Thomas Sprengers
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
136
Lukas Meiler
Zuno
s.t.
137
Jonathan Hivert
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
138
Bernard Thiel
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
139
Felix Großschartner
Zuno
s.t.
140
Moritz Backofen
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
141
Juan Chamorro
Colombia
s.t.
142
Kevin De Jonghe
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
143
Stig Broeckx
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
144
Anthony Vandrepotte
Decathlon
+ 21'05
145
Peter Velits
Iberdrola
s.t.
146
Aldo Di Somma
Team Joker
s.t.
147
Matthew Busche
ESPN
s.t.
148
Patrick Olesen
Team Joker
s.t.
149
Karel Hník
MTN-Qhubeka
s.t.
150
Kamil Małecki
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
s.t.
151
Yoeri Havik
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
152
Aidan van Niekerk
Team Giant-Alpecin
s.t.
153
Michael Goolaerts
ESPN
s.t.
154
Geoffrey Curran
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 22'22
155
Juan Manuel Puntas
Iberdrola
s.t.
156
Ricardo van Dongen
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
s.t.
157
Chad Haga
Team Cannondale - Garmin
s.t.
158
Paweł Poljański
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
s.t.
159
Kris Boeckmans
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
160
Romain Guillemois
Team Europcar
s.t.
161
Bertrand Pradel
Team Europcar
s.t.
162
Miles Scotson
Orica-GreenEDGE
s.t.
163
Max Walscheid
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
164
Franco Cantaluppi
IAM Cycling
s.t.
165
Serge Pauwels
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
166
Nolberto López
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
167
Pieter Jacobs
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
+ 23'35
168
Pierre-Luc Périchon
Decathlon
s.t.
169
Josh Berry
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
s.t.
170
Marco Tizza
Colombia
s.t.
171
Eliot Lietaer
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
172
Mickaël Rouge
Team Europcar
s.t.
173
Muhamad Othman
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
s.t.
174
Carlos Quintero
Colombia
s.t.
175
Joseph Dombrowski
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
176
Jelle Donders
Lotto Soudal
s.t.
177
Miguel Angel Lopez
Stella Artois
+ 24'26
178
Pablo Lechuga
Iberdrola
+ 26'44
179
Simon Geschke
Bora - Argon 18
s.t.
180
Aser Estévez
Iberdrola
s.t.
181
Paul Voss
Decathlon
s.t.
182
Jaime Castañeda
Colombia
+ 27'05
183
Rémy Mertz
Trek Factory Racing
s.t.
184
Sergey Belykh
Team Katusha
+ 28'26
185
Michael Carbel
Team Joker
+ 30'10
186
Brent Luyckx
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
+ 31'16
187
Christian Querter
Topsport Vlaanderen - Baloise
s.t.
188
Alessandro De Marchi
Team Katusha
+ 31'35
189
Alfonso López
Colombia
+ 32'41
190
Nordin Krijgsman
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 33'40
191
Axel Domont
Decathlon
+ 35'29
192
Javier Francisco Aramendia
Team Katusha
s.t.
193
Tobias Wauch
Zuno
+ 37'11
194
Léonard Quentin
Zuno
+ 37'26
195
Joris Dertin
Decathlon
+ 38'05
196
Fredy Antonio Reátegui
Team Katusha
+ 39'02
197
Bjørn Vidar Riseth
Team Joker
s.t.
198
Artem Nych
Team Katusha
+ 46'50
The same story repeats at Ardennes for me. After a good start to the season, April has been a disappointment so far. Time to turn things around in Romandie I believe. And what's up with Meintjes I wonder...
I dunno cycling well enough to know Odd Christian Eiking, but I'm a fan already, I love the name. Apart from that, these Ardennes races are very tough, Sinha would have to work more on his classics skills. And be prepared to dig deep when the attacks start, the others aren't holding back, there's no tomorrow to worry about like in a Grand Tour.
@Ripley: Right you are about the Ardennes. Not strong enough to stay with the best punchers when they put hammer down. Time to step up the training I think.
Guess Ripley is right, Classic are very diffrent from the long constant climbs, that Sinha do so well, either have to put focus on it, or just accept he is better suites for the stage race.
Louis Meintjes flopping big time (again), odd how bad he has been lately.
Stage races are where my heart is. Maybe it's time to start specializing.
There's something going on with Meintjes, which probably has more to do than just his early season injury setting him back. I'm trying to figure that out too. He's not very keen to talk about it though.
The next race and the last chance to redeem a poor month was in Romandie.
Tour de Romandie
Despite Betancur's presence, I was the designated leader for Lotto! I couldn't help but smile to myself when I read the team-sheet. The profile was one that did suit me and I was quite keen to do better than the previous couple of races.
The prologue on Stage 1 was decent for me. I finished 34th, just 16 seconds off the pace.
Stage 2 was flat with a slightly uphill finish. Betancur finished in 10th.
Stage 3
I stayed in the pack. Dylan Teuns did much of the pace making throughout the stage. After the fifth climb, with 30 km to go, the lead group was down to 30 riders. The first major attack happened just at the base of the last climb with eight riders, including me and Betancur leaving the rest behind. Another attack followed from Barguil, Pinot and Van Garderen, who were never caught. The rest of us were swept up by the peloton on the downhill. Despite this, me and Betancur finished 7th and 6th respectively out of the bunch.
Stage 4
de Troyer joined up with the break. They didn't survive. I made my move 2 km from the top of the third climb. one by one the counters followed and I got left behind by four riders. I finished in a group of 11 riders at the finish picking up 7th place with Betancur 9th. Simon Spilak was the strongest on the day. I moved up to 10th in the GC.
Stage 5
I felt really good on the this stage. All but one rider from the break was reeled in after the first climb. Betancur attacked at the base of the second climb. I too attacked out of the pack and joined up with Betancur. After the second climb, it was Betancur, Pinot and myself chasing down the stubborn break, still thirty ahead on the road. The break was caught and dropped on the climb to the finish. I couldn't hang to the others and started being caught by the next group on the road. Meanwhile, Betancur's next attack was enough to distance and win the stage. I hung on for 3rd place, just as the trio of Froome, Bardet and Barguil caught up to me. Betancur was up to 4th in the GC, while I moved up to 6th.
Stage Result
1
Carlos Betancur
Lotto Soudal
4h44'42
2
Thibaut Pinot
Stella Artois
+ 9
3
Abhishek Sinha
Lotto Soudal
+ 1'18
4
Chris Froome
Tinkoff-Saxo
s.t.
5
Romain Bardet
Team Sky
s.t.
6
Warren Barguil
IAM Cycling
s.t.
Stage 6
It remained to be seen how much my efforts up the mountain would affect my ITT. It did affect me to some extent. I was already down a minute at the second intermediate to then leader and eventual stage winner Nathan Brown. I lost 94 seconds by the time the last rider crossed the line. I lost a place in the GC to finish 7th, while Betancur slipped two spots to finish 6th.
General Classification
1
Warren Barguil
IAM Cycling
18h01'26
2
Romain Bardet
Team Sky
+ 8
3
Thibaut Pinot
Stella Artois
+ 37
4
Tejay Van Garderen
Astana Pro Team
+ 2'42
5
Chris Froome
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 2'58
6
Carlos Betancur
Lotto Soudal
+ 3'18
7
Abhishek Sinha
Lotto Soudal
+ 3'33
8
Simon Spilak
ESPN
+ 4'35
9
Gregorio Ibañez
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 5'37
10
Eddie Dunbar
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 6'17
Spoiler
11
Alexander Foliforov
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 6'57
12
Steven Kruijswijk
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 7'10
13
Alberto Contador
TEAM Cepsa
+ 7'49
14
Dominik Nerz
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 9'21
15
Esteban Chaves
Team Katusha
+ 9'23
16
Lawson Craddock
ESPN
+ 9'25
17
Vincenzo Nibali
Team Sky
+ 9'33
18
Serghei Tvetcov
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 9'49
19
Jeppe Lykke Hartvig Nielsen
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 10'17
20
Larry Warbasse
Team Sky
+ 10'44
21
Rafael Valls
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 11'37
22
Lennard Kämna
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 11'48
23
Jay McCarthy
Team Sky
+ 11'56
24
Nathan Brown
ESPN
+ 12'01
25
Mathias Frank
Trek Factory Racing
+ 13'00
26
Arnaud Courteille
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 14'32
27
Jacques Janse Van Rensburg
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 17'23
28
Moritz Backofen
Bora - Argon 18
+ 18'15
29
Romain Sicard
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 18'45
30
Matej Mohoric
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 19'30
31
Yury Trofimov
Team Katusha
+ 21'49
32
François Bidard
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 21'52
33
Matteo Rabottini
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 22'38
34
Joshua Edmondson
Team Sky
+ 22'44
35
Gorka Ceballos
Iberdrola
+ 23'54
36
Michael Valgren
IAM Cycling
+ 24'03
37
Frederico Figueiredo
Iberdrola
+ 24'12
38
Tobias Ludvigsson
Stella Artois
+ 24'34
39
Bakhtiyar Kozhatayev
Astana Pro Team
+ 25'22
40
Tony Martin
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 25'42
41
Alexey Lutsenko
Trek Factory Racing
+ 26'21
42
Théry Schir
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 26'37
43
Rafal Palik
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 27'36
44
Enrico Battaglin
Astana Pro Team
+ 27'48
45
Rigoberto Urán
Stella Artois
+ 28'04
46
Dylan Teuns
Lotto Soudal
+ 29'33
47
Hugo Pigeon
Team Europcar
+ 29'37
48
Ben Swift
Team Sky
+ 30'39
49
Tsgabu Grmay
Iberdrola
+ 30'52
50
Peter Velits
Iberdrola
+ 31'08
51
Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 31'48
52
Sergei Pomoshnikov
Team Katusha
+ 31'55
53
Ildar Arslanov
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 32'06
54
Pello Bilbao
TEAM Cepsa
+ 32'07
55
Cayetano Sarmiento
Iberdrola
+ 32'14
56
Arthur Vichot
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 32'17
57
Kilian Frankiny
Trek Factory Racing
+ 33'07
58
Chad Haga
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 34'20
59
Mads Würtz Schmidt
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 34'43
60
Carlos Barbero
TEAM Cepsa
+ 38'24
61
Eurico Semeano
Team Sky
+ 38'37
62
Magnus Cort Nielsen
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 38'39
63
Ulf Hausweiler
Bora - Argon 18
+ 40'18
64
Clément Koretzky
Decathlon
+ 41'16
65
Jack Haig
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 41'39
66
Marcel Aregger
Iberdrola
+ 42'16
67
Salvatore Puccio
Astana Pro Team
+ 43'00
68
Kevin Ledanois
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 44'20
69
Nick Van Der Lijke
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 44'35
70
Geoffrey Curran
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 45'45
71
Romain Guillemois
Team Europcar
+ 45'54
72
Jasha Sütterlin
Stella Artois
+ 46'03
73
Lukas Spengler
ESPN
+ 46'32
74
Luis Largo
TEAM Cepsa
+ 46'51
75
Victor Campenaerts
Stella Artois
+ 46'57
76
Alex Kirsch
Trek Factory Racing
+ 47'30
77
Silvan Dillier
IAM Cycling
+ 47'38
78
Simon Geschke
Bora - Argon 18
+ 47'50
79
Steven Lammertink
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 48'17
80
Jérémy Cornu
Decathlon
+ 48'19
81
Ivan Balykin
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 48'22
82
Lorenzo Manzin
Decathlon
+ 48'23
83
Elia Favilli
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 48'33
84
Jonas Bokeloh
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 48'35
85
Rudi Milic
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 48'38
86
Julien Vermote
Stella Artois
+ 49'38
87
Carlos Ribeiro
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 49'53
88
Davide Martinelli
ESPN
+ 49'56
89
Luka Mezgec
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 49'59
90
Matthieu Ladagnous
IAM Cycling
+ 50'40
91
Jasper Lindenbergh
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 50'42
92
Miguel Angel Benito
TEAM Cepsa
s.t.
93
Adrien Petit
ESPN
+ 51'43
94
Robert-Jon McCarthy
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 52'02
95
Miles Scotson
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 52'24
96
Andrea Guardini
Astana Pro Team
+ 53'52
97
Jesse Sergent
Astana Pro Team
+ 54'22
98
Zamrat Bachurin
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 54'48
99
Peter Erdin
IAM Cycling
+ 54'53
100
Andrea Fedi
Astana Pro Team
+ 54'59
101
Ivar Slik
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 55'23
102
Roy Jans
Stella Artois
+ 56'23
103
Ricardo van Dongen
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 56'26
104
Nikias Arndt
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 56'50
105
Kenneth Van Rooy
Lotto Soudal
+ 57'09
106
Nicolas Baldo
Team Europcar
+ 57'12
107
Romain Cardis
Team Europcar
+ 57'42
108
Guillaume Thevenot
IAM Cycling
+ 57'45
109
Michael Schär
ESPN
+ 57'54
110
Jingbiao Zhao
IAM Cycling
+ 58'54
111
Nacer Bouhanni
Decathlon
+ 59'10
112
Ramon Sinkeldam
Bora - Argon 18
+ 59'28
113
Sjoerd Van Ginneken
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 59'35
114
Yoeri Havik
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 59'36
115
Jurgen van Diemen
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 1h00'33
116
Logan Owen
Trek Factory Racing
+ 1h01'25
117
Aser Estévez
Iberdrola
+ 1h01'35
118
Luke Keough
Trek Factory Racing
+ 1h03'01
119
Tim De Troyer
Lotto Soudal
+ 1h03'29
120
Cees Bol
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 1h03'48
121
Jenthe Biermans
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 1h04'55
122
Max Walscheid
Bora - Argon 18
+ 1h05'37
123
Frederique Robert
Lotto Soudal
+ 1h05'52
124
Afram Iwu
Decathlon
+ 1h05'55
125
Manuele Boaro
Team Katusha
+ 1h06'05
126
Jan Maas
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 1h07'21
127
Liam Bertazzo
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 1h07'59
128
Angelo Tulik
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 1h08'46
129
Jelle Donders
Lotto Soudal
+ 1h08'51
130
Michaël Baer
IAM Cycling
+ 1h09'50
131
Marco Haller
Bora - Argon 18
+ 1h10'07
132
Sebastian Langeveld
Team Katusha
+ 1h10'31
133
Philip Lavery
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 1h10'33
134
Maxime Daniel
Team Europcar
+ 1h10'47
135
Brenton Jones
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 1h11'18
136
Kevin De Jonghe
Trek Factory Racing
+ 1h12'44
137
Clément Venturini
Decathlon
+ 1h12'55
138
Jempy Drucker
Trek Factory Racing
+ 1h13'40
139
Johann Van Zyl
TEAM Cepsa
+ 1h13'44
140
Benjamin Giraud
Team Europcar
+ 1h14'14
141
Javier Francisco Aramendia
Team Katusha
s.t.
142
Justin Oien
ESPN
+ 1h14'39
143
Yevgeniy Gidich
Team Sky
+ 1h15'40
144
Nicola Ruffoni
Bora - Argon 18
+ 1h19'32
145
Antoine Demoitie
Lotto Soudal
+ 1h20'09
146
Steven Tronet
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 1h25'31
147
Francisco José Ventoso
Team Katusha
+ 1h26'37
148
José Vicente Toribio
TEAM Cepsa
+ 1h27'05
149
Wouter Wippert
Decathlon
+ 1h29'10
150
Tom Boonen
Team Katusha
+ 1h31'34
151
Nordin Krijgsman
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 1h32'23
152
Connor O'Leary
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 1h32'46
153
Alexandre Pichot
Team Europcar
+ 1h41'34
154
Bert De Backer
Stella Artois
+ 1h41'59
155
Bertrand Pradel
Team Europcar
+ 1h43'56
156
Joris Dertin
Decathlon
+ 1h45'25
157
Jon Aberasturi
TEAM Cepsa
+ 1h52'08
Points Classification
1
Warren Barguil
IAM Cycling
48
2
Romain Bardet
Team Sky
46
3
Thibaut Pinot
Stella Artois
45
4
Chris Froome
Tinkoff-Saxo
42
5
Carlos Betancur
Lotto Soudal
38
Mountain Classification
1
François Bidard
Ag2r La Mondiale
0
68
2
Thibaut Pinot
Stella Artois
0
30
3
Cayetano Sarmiento
Iberdrola
0
28
4
Carlos Betancur
Lotto Soudal
0
20
5
Pello Bilbao
TEAM Cepsa
0
19
Young Rdiers Classification
1
Abhishek Sinha
Lotto Soudal
18h04'59
2
Gregorio Ibañez
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 2'04
3
Eddie Dunbar
Team LottoNL - Jumbo
+ 2'44
4
Lennard Kämna
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 8'15
5
Moritz Backofen
Bora - Argon 18
+ 14'42
Team Classification
1
Team Sky
54h20'22
2
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 32
3
ESPN
+ 10'05
4
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 19'10
5
Lotto Soudal
+ 20'32
A much better outing than the rest of the month. I felt I could still have done better, expecially in both the ITTs. The mountain stages saw me get into the top 10 consistently, the podium on the Queen Stage the highlight of the race. The win in the U25s has become a habit and has lost some of its charm in these races. A good race from Betancur too as he found himself high on all the classifications. A rare top 5 finish from the team.
I'll be off racing for a month as I go for altitude training. See you at the Dauphine in about 5 weeks' time...
I haven't been racing over the past month. But that's not accurate for the state my mind is in right now. Let me take you back to how the month has panned out for me, and more importantly for the team.
Two weeks after Romandie ended, I was off to the Alps for altitude training for the Tour. We had some reconnaissance rides over Tour stages and put in hundreds of kilometers in the week that we were there. We even managed to squeeze some sightseeing into our busy schedule.
All the while, we kept ourselves updated with the progress of the Giro d'Italia. The first week was uneventful for us. After we returned from the Alps and took up training in the flats, the Giro reached it's climax. As the stages progressed, Meintjes kept rising up the GC standings. On the last mountain stage, he picked up the stage win after attacking on the climb to the finish. He moved up from 7th to 4th in the GC after putting serious time into his rivals. He stayed out of trouble on the ceremonial ride into Milan. This was Lotto's highest GC finish in a Grand Tour ever. Understandably, the management and most of the team were chuffed to bits.
The last stage of the Giro was on Sunday, 2nd June. Just two days later, we woke up to discover the following article in the newspaper:
South African Cycling Superstar Signs with MTN Qhubeka
"...we cannot hide our delight at having captured the signature of Louis Meintjes for the coming season. MTN Qhubeka have always strived to promote and popularise cycling in Africa and we cannot think of a better rider to lead our Grand Tour ambitions than Louis. For now, he has signed a one year contract with the team but we hope, and sincerely believe, that the partnership will be extended..."
Judging by the shocked messages I received from some teammates and the responses I got from those I had messaged myself, no one had any clue about Louis planning a move away from Lotto. Needless to say, the team management were seething.
I later realized that this perhaps better explained Louis's early season results! I don't know what to make of all this right now. I'm caught between hoping for finally getting the leader role in Grand Tours next season and trying to better understand the reasons for Louis's sudden departure. Was there something going on behind the scenes that I wasn't aware of?
The Criterium Dauphine starts in two days' time and I don't know how well I'm prepared for it. It hasn't been easy concentrating on cycling over the past week...
Edited by AbhishekLFC on 14-06-2017 12:19
After the crazy week that had just passed, it was actually time to go racing again. June would see me ride my preparation race for the Tour de France - the Criterium Dauphine.
Criterium Dauphine
A strong field turned out for this race. I would have to be at my best to get a high GC finish.
Stage 1 was a Prologue ITT but it was in no way flat. The results reflected the terrain as Nairo Quintana took the win and announced his claim for the race win. I finished 20 seconds off the pace. A good start no doubt.
Stage 2
I stayed with the pack as we swept up the berakaway and reached the last climb. I attacked 1.5 km from the top of the last climb. Two more pairs of attackers followed, with first Quintana and Kreuziger and then Sergio Henao and Eiking countering and catching me. Quintana and Kreuziger proved too strong, got a small gap to the rest of us and contested the finish. The trio of me, Henao and Eiking finished and few seconds later, but we were given the same time. The peloton rolled in more than a minute later. I moved up to 4th in the GC.
Stage 3 had a similar profile to the previous one. Beukens did an excellent job protecting me till the last climb of the day before dropping back. A very select bunch of just 19 riders, with me in it, reached the finish line together. None of the GC leaders lost time.
Stage 4
I was looking forward to the long ITT. I felt good from the start and it showed on the timing screens too. I was in pole position through the first two intermediate time checks. I got tired at the end and lost a minute to stage winner Taylor Phinney by the end. However, I gained enough time on the riders ahead of me in the GC - Quintana lost 2'34" - and took over the lead in the GC! This was the first time ever that I was the GC leader in any race in professional cycling!!
I lived a dream on Stage 5, that of wearing a leader's jersey in a professional cycling race. Could I keep it till the finish? Only time would tell...
(Me in the leader's jersey, with Declerq in tow)
The team took turns, first chasing down the break and then chasing down an attack from Quintana. They did a fantastic job of the latter as there was a point Quintana had become the virtual leader on the road. I lost about a minute to the Colombian but held on to my jersey by a mere 11 seconds.
Stage 6
This stage saw an early attack from Pierre Rolland who was seven minutes down in the GC. We took no chances as we kept the berak on a leash throughout. However, on the second climb, both me and Quintana lost teammates and the break got a second wind. They held on for the win but the damage wasn't major. I got past the climb and the descent in a 12 man group behind the break and won the bunch sprint to take 5th place, with Quintana right on my tail.
Stage 7
The early break did not seem to pose much of a threat. Ion Izagirre was the highest placed among them, nine minutes down in the GC. This time however, our team couldn't handle the climbs and got decimated in the second climb itself. I was with the group of GC leaders till a quarter way up the HC climb. Beyond that, I cracked. It was a hard ride up that climb, as I kept dropping down the groups. My hopes of winning, or even salvaging a podium were done.
I rode across the line eleven minutes down on Quintana, who took over the GC lead. I had even lost my place to Izagirre!
I tried to get into the break on Stage 8. But every time I tried, I was reeled in. I gave that up and settled in to try again later. I did attack and was successful on the final categorised climb. I was in a group of eight riders behind the four man break at the base of the last (un-categorised) climb. Eight became two at the top of the climb and I rode alonside Craddock till the finish, him beating me in the sprint at the line for 5th place. I climb up two spots in the GC to finish 8th.
General Classification
1
Nairo Quintana
TEAM Cepsa
28h00'05
2
Simon Yates
Astana Pro Team
+ 4'59
3
Davide Formolo
Astana Pro Team
+ 7'48
4
Warren Barguil
IAM Cycling
+ 7'53
5
Thibaut Pinot
Stella Artois
+ 8'08
6
Chris Froome
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 8'34
7
Ilnur Zakarin
Team Sky
+ 8'44
8
Abhishek Sinha
Lotto Soudal
+ 8'57
9
Arnaud Duteil
Team Europcar
+ 10'40
10
Pierre Rolland
Team Sky
+ 11'03
Spoiler
11
Ion Izagirre
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 11'16
12
Julian Alaphilippe
Stella Artois
+ 11'42
13
Alexis Vuillermoz
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 12'11
14
Tejay Van Garderen
Astana Pro Team
+ 12'37
15
Dominik Nerz
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 14'07
16
Peter Kennaugh
Team Sky
+ 17'16
17
Roman Kreuziger
Astana Pro Team
+ 19'49
18
Dario Cataldo
Team Sky
+ 21'59
19
Nelson Oliveira
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 23'42
20
Lawson Craddock
ESPN
+ 28'43
21
Fredrik Galta
TEAM Pirelli
+ 29'24
22
Damiano Caruso
Astana Pro Team
+ 30'44
23
Jérémy Maison
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 31'02
24
Simon Spilak
ESPN
+ 31'36
25
Cyril Gautier
Alcatel
+ 32'50
26
Tom Slagter
Team Katusha
+ 34'12
27
Evgeny Shalunov
Team Katusha
+ 35'28
28
Emanuel Buchmann
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 37'47
29
Tiesj Benoot
Lotto Soudal
+ 39'44
30
Bart De Clercq
Stella Artois
+ 40'22
31
Dylan Teuns
Lotto Soudal
+ 40'34
32
Odd Christian Eiking
IAM Cycling
+ 42'01
33
Daniele Dall'Oste
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 44'31
34
Maxime Bouet
TEAM Pirelli
+ 44'36
35
Geoffrey Duteil
Stella Artois
+ 45'10
36
Stefan Denifl
Bora - Argon 18
+ 45'39
37
Francesco Bongiorno
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 47'23
38
Jonathan Castroviejo
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 47'48
39
Beñat Intxausti
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 48'56
40
Joseph Dombrowski
Trek Factory Racing
+ 50'12
41
Sergey Chernetskiy
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 51'27
42
Marcos García
TEAM Cepsa
+ 51'37
43
Bernard Thiel
Bora - Argon 18
+ 52'01
44
Rudy Molard
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 52'07
45
Gini Turano
Bora - Argon 18
+ 52'13
46
Rudi Milic
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 52'25
47
Alexis Dulin
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
+ 52'57
48
Arnold Jeannesson
IAM Cycling
+ 54'51
49
Gianni Meersman
Lotto Soudal
+ 55'03
50
Philip O'Donnell
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 55'35
51
Nick Van Der Lijke
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 55'38
52
Thomas Bonnin
Alcatel
+ 55'51
53
Alexey Lutsenko
Trek Factory Racing
+ 55'54
54
Thomas De Gendt
Lotto Soudal
+ 56'35
55
Hugo Houle
TEAM Cepsa
+ 56'43
56
Rayane Bouhanni
Stella Artois
+ 57'08
57
Maciej Paterski
TEAM Pirelli
+ 57'55
58
Stéphane Rossetto
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 57'57
59
Mitchell Lovelock-Fay
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 57'59
60
Gracjan Gregorek
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 59'26
61
Romain Hardy
Team Europcar
+ 59'54
62
Toms Skujins
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 1h00'21
63
Karel Hník
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 1h01'06
64
Joey Rosskopf
Alcatel
+ 1h01'17
65
Jean Küpper
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 1h01'36
66
Vitaliy Buts
TEAM Cepsa
+ 1h02'16
67
Tim Declercq
Lotto Soudal
+ 1h02'26
68
Nacer Bouhanni
Decathlon
+ 1h02'48
69
Taylor Phinney
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 1h03'06
70
Eurico Semeano
Team Sky
+ 1h03'28
71
Alexander Edmondson
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 1h03'46
72
Ricardo García
Team Katusha
+ 1h04'03
73
Pierre-Luc Périchon
Decathlon
+ 1h04'16
74
Maxime Roulet
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 1h05'14
75
Javier Moreno
TEAM Cepsa
+ 1h06'31
76
Moreno Hofland
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 1h07'44
77
Victor Lafay
Alcatel
s.t.
78
Moritz Backofen
Bora - Argon 18
+ 1h09'25
79
Michał Paluta
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
+ 1h09'36
80
Hugo Pigeon
Team Europcar
+ 1h10'04
81
Maxime Cam
Decathlon
+ 1h10'22
82
Carlos Ribeiro
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 1h12'37
83
Igor Antón
TEAM Cepsa
+ 1h12'51
84
Luca Chirico
Astana Pro Team
+ 1h13'43
85
Dylan van Baarle
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 1h14'47
86
Adrian Aas Stien
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 1h15'08
87
Youcef Reguigui
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
+ 1h15'44
88
Sérgio Henao
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 1h15'55
89
Damien Howson
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 1h16'36
90
Kevin Ledanois
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 1h17'05
91
Alexander Roman
IAM Cycling
+ 1h18'21
92
Luis Largo
TEAM Cepsa
+ 1h18'36
93
Johan Le Bon
ESPN
+ 1h19'45
94
Davide Gabburo
TEAM Pirelli
+ 1h21'26
95
Julien Vermote
Stella Artois
+ 1h21'34
96
Jonathan Hivert
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 1h21'45
97
Tom Wirtgen
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 1h24'37
98
Jasper Lindenbergh
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 1h25'23
99
Sondre Holst Enger
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
+ 1h25'49
100
Maximilian Schachmann
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 1h26'14
101
Robin Carpenter
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 1h26'27
102
Clément Saint-Martin
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
+ 1h26'40
103
Davide Martinelli
ESPN
+ 1h26'59
104
Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier
Decathlon
+ 1h27'55
105
Romain Guillemois
Team Europcar
+ 1h28'11
106
Sander Armee
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
+ 1h28'58
107
Jempy Drucker
Trek Factory Racing
+ 1h29'59
108
Zdenek Stybar
IAM Cycling
+ 1h30'01
109
Alex Peters
Team Sky
+ 1h30'08
110
Rafal Palik
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 1h31'07
111
Andrea Zordan
Team Katusha
+ 1h32'05
112
Geoffrey Soupe
CCC Sprandi Polkowice
+ 1h32'13
113
Roy Jans
Stella Artois
+ 1h35'30
114
Gianni Moscon
TEAM Pirelli
+ 1h39'06
115
Alex Dowsett
Team Sky
+ 1h39'13
116
Daniel Hoelgaard
IAM Cycling
+ 1h39'46
117
Morgan Lamoisson
Team Europcar
+ 1h40'30
118
Afram Iwu
Decathlon
+ 1h40'38
119
Jan Kovar
TEAM Pirelli
+ 1h40'59
120
Miles Scotson
Orica-GreenEDGE
+ 1h41'23
121
Joeri Stallaert
Lotto Soudal
+ 1h41'36
122
Manuele Boaro
Team Katusha
+ 1h42'57
123
Jean-Lou Paiani
Team Europcar
+ 1h43'47
124
Roland Thalmann
IAM Cycling
+ 1h45'14
125
Sieben Wouters
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 1h45'58
126
Paul Martens
Bora - Argon 18
+ 1h46'20
127
Kevin Reza
Team Europcar
+ 1h47'27
128
Pierre Morlet
ESPN
+ 1h47'38
129
Francesco Lasca
TEAM Pirelli
+ 1h47'52
130
George Pym
Team Sky
+ 1h50'38
131
Michael Goolaerts
ESPN
+ 1h50'48
132
Emil Wang
Alcatel
+ 1h51'12
133
Liam Bertazzo
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 1h51'35
134
Claude Thevenon
TEAM Cepsa
+ 1h51'43
135
Gero Walbrül
Bora - Argon 18
+ 1h53'30
136
Matteo Collodel
Astana Pro Team
+ 1h55'25
137
Etienne Tortelier
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 1h58'04
138
Sébastien Turgot
Team Giant-Alpecin
+ 1h58'27
139
Julien Duval
Decathlon
+ 1h58'44
140
Jean-Albert Carnevali
Trek Factory Racing
+ 2h02'36
141
Nikita Zharoven
Alcatel
+ 2h03'31
142
Mohammed Mat Senan
IAM Cycling
+ 2h03'39
143
Araik Storozhuk
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 2h04'49
144
Louis Rohde
MTN-Qhubeka
+ 2h06'51
145
Connor O'Leary
Team Cannondale - Garmin
+ 2h14'45
146
Jon Gaitán
Decathlon
+ 2h14'52
Points Classification
1
Nairo Quintana
TEAM Cepsa
97
2
Warren Barguil
IAM Cycling
74
3
Simon Yates
Astana Pro Team
56
4
Abhishek Sinha
Lotto Soudal
56
5
Arnaud Duteil
Team Europcar
49
Mountain Classification
1
Nairo Quintana
TEAM Cepsa
63
2
Ion Izagirre
Tinkoff-Saxo
52
3
Dario Cataldo
Team Sky
47
4
Warren Barguil
IAM Cycling
40
5
Nelson Oliveira
MTN-Qhubeka
38
Young Riders Classification
1
Abhishek Sinha
Lotto Soudal
28h09'02
2
Tiesj Benoot
Lotto Soudal
+ 30'47
3
Odd Christian Eiking
IAM Cycling
+ 33'04
4
Geoffrey Duteil
Stella Artois
+ 36'13
5
Bernard Thiel
Bora - Argon 18
+ 43'04
Team Classification
1
Astana Pro Team
84h17'51
2
Team Sky
+ 2'30
3
Stella Artois
+ 26'14
4
Tinkoff-Saxo
+ 27'41
5
Ag2r La Mondiale
+ 58'21
Ecstacy, followed by Agony, followed by a measure of Redemption. That is probably how I would describe this race. I cannot explain the exhilarating feeling that came with stepping stepping on to the podium as the race leader. I got the chance to do it for three stages. A lot of high finishes also in this race. One bad stage put paid to a brilliant result. The huge loss in the high mountain stage is a big worry going into the Tour. I wish I did better on that stage...
Apart from that, these Ardennes races are very tough, Sinha would have to work more on his classics skills. And be prepared to dig deep when the attacks start, the others aren't holding back, there's no tomorrow to worry about like in a Grand Tour.
Interesting ! 
