With the ITT out the way, I would stay in Canada with the team for the Road Race, watching from the comfort of the Team Car, and being a makeshift mechanic for the day. I was more than happy to help out, and it was fun to see a race from the 'other side'.
The route was flat, just with the Time Trail 5 days ago, and follows pretty much the same route over the course of 12 circuits. It should be a sprinter's race, with Jense van Rensberg leading for South Africa, but a late attack could cause a surprise winner.
Race Report
The race began under sunny skies in Hamilton, as group of 8 created the day's break away. Daryl Impey was present for South Africa, and he was joined with Rodriguez (ESP), Buts (UKR), Andy Schleck (LUX), Morabito (SWI), Zoidl (AUT), Anderson (CAN) and Trofimov (RUS) making it a very strong break.
Belgium and Germany set the pace, and even though the gap reached 10 minutes at one point, it was always going to be ending in a Bunch Sprint.
One deciding factor though on the result could be the weather. Reaching the halfway point, black clouds on the horizon opened up, and left the race under a deluge of water. It would be a tricky race under the wheel now. I was on the radio to make sure that Impey and Jense van Rensberg were careful.
As the break's gap to the peleton dropped to under a minute with 15km to go, Philippe Gilbert (BEL) was the first to attack the peleton and the sprinter's. I was clear before the race that a surprise, and would it be the 2012 Champion who will take the crown again?
Gilbert was pulled back along with the break, but as the pace slowed on the short climb, Sep Vanmarcke (BEL) accelerated off the front. With van Avermaet still in the peleton, the Belgians had a few different plans to play. They were playing them brilliantly.
Coming under the flamme rouge, Vanmarcke was still off the front. Would the German and Norwegian trains catch him in time?
Vanmarcke is the World Champion! The Belgian held on ahead of a fast approaching German pair of Greipel and Ciolek, who finish on the podium. Jense Van Rensberg sprinted well, and finished 12th.
My season, and my time with Europcar would be ending sooner than planned, after 'a late squad change' by Upper Management meant I was no longer going to be racing in the Japan Cup. To be honest, I wouldn't normally give two shits about an early end to a season, but I was actually looking forward to the race.
Bernaudeau apologised to me, and said it was out of his hands. I had heard that excuse from him too many times this season. Everything seemed to be 'out of his hands' when it came to decisions regarding me. I felt like I was being stabbed in the back, as I called Yukiya. He had spoken so highly of his homeland, and I was so excited to see that part of the world. He was obviously disappointed for me, but seemed happy that I was still riding Paris-Tours.
I hung up the phone and wondered what he meant by that. Why would he be happy that I was 'still riding Paris-Tours'? Without wanting to get Arashiro into any trouble, I called back Bernaudeau and put it to him. Long story short, the Upper Management wanted me to ride Il Lombardia, ride only in support of Tommy Voeckler and end my season there and then. Luckily the only thing that stopped this from happening was that I had won last season at Paris-Tours and the organisers were keen to have me take part.
I wanted to hang up the phone there and then, but I remained calm. Before Bernaudeau could say it was 'out of his hands' again, I just said that I would ride Il Lombardia and Paris-Tours, but I would be riding for myself, and myself only. If it meant that I was without any help or protection, then fine by me. I have just two races left, and then I am HTC bound.
I arrived at Il Lombardia in an angry mood, I knew before a pedal had been turned that it will have an effect on my race. People say that you can use anger to your advantage, whilst some say it can be your worst enemy. I had a feeling it was going to be the latter today.
Il Lombardia is not mean feat, but I knew what lay ahead. Short steep climbs, thin narrow roads, and the weather forecast didn't make for nice reading either. A victory today is not in my plan, but a Top 10 finish would put a smile on my face.
Race Report
The team wanted a man in the break for the day, and Jerome Cousin was the man to draw the short straw. He attacked the pack, taking Canola (Bardiani) and Rast (Trek) with him.
There is nothing like a shock to bring you back to your senses. I was still riding on anger, and my mind was elsewhere. Either way, I missed that the road narrowed, and I forced off the road. With nowhere to go, I just ditched myself off the bike, and called for assistance on the radio. As expected, I was going to be riding for myself today.
Thank god that I had a friend like Rohan Dennis in the peleton today. The Australian dropped through the peleton in search of the me, and by the crest of the climb, I was back at the front of the peleton. Rohan wouldn't leave my side again today.
The weather worsened as the stage continued, and I wanted to see who might be affected by the wet conditions. Dennis set a good pace, I hung onto his wheel, and looked behind to see the damage. We had opened a small gap, and all the favourite's teams were fighting to stay on my wheel. It was too far out to attack, but I had gauged how the others felt.
On the lower slopes, as we reached the final climb, the break was swallowed up by a group of 14 favourites. Tommy Voeckler, our leader for the day, was long gone, and I was on my own as well. Rohan had ridden his heart out for me, and I would thank him at the finish. Just before the final climb, I made a rookie mistake. Having seen the favourites suffer, I attacked.
As soon as my legs hit the slope of the climb, they just stopped. I might as well have put on my brakes. The group I had attacked instantly came past me, and dropped me within 1km. I would be battling until the finish.
Dan Martin (Garmin) attacked with 2km to go, and took a great victory for the Irishman. Jelle Venendert (Lotto) and Roman Kreuziger (Tinkoff) rounded out the podium. I would cross the line in 11th, 2'23" down on the Garmin winner.
My final race in Europcar colours comes at the new WorldTour race for 2015 - Paris-Tours. I won the race last year, and it seems the organisers were wanting me to come back and go for back-to-back victories.
The route is identical to last year, and I will look for a similar tactic. The short climbs with 10km and 6km to go respectively take enough pace out of the peleton, and the sprinter's teams, to launch a big attack. Let's see if I am a marked man this year.
Race Report
The race began with a 6 man break attacking, and gained a good 8 minute gap over the peleton. BMC and OmegaPharma set themselves up on the front of the peleton. I sat near to the front, and looked comfortable. The team would work for Chisiza, who was riding his last race before joining MTN next season, at the finish, but I was given a free role to attack for the victory.
With 10km to go, Delage (FDJ) and Gilbert (BMC) attacked the peleton, but OmegaPharma pulled them back every quickly. I was anxious about my chances if I went, but I jumped out the saddle anyway. I used the gap to Gilbert as my launch pad, and opened up a huge gap, that slowly grow to 43" with around 4km to go.
At the flamme rouge, I had 20" over Gilbert, who was in hot pursuit, with the peleton another 12" behind him. I looked behind with 300m to go, and I knew that I had back-to-back victory in Paris-Tour. The jersey was zipped, and I threw my arms in the air in celebration. I was leaving Europcar in a blaze of glory, and it was the perfect end!
'A Rollercoaster Ride' - I think that is the only way to describe my year. My second year as a WorldTour rider saw me win in the Desert of Dubai, face the Hell of the North, finish on the Podium in an Ardennes Classic and I rode my first Grand Tour, wearing the Maglia Rosa for 5 days, taking home the Maglia Rosso and two Stage Wins in the process. I successfully defend my National TT title with little preparation, and ended the season with late solo victory in Paris-Tour.
Sadly, all this was in the wake of in-team disputes, questions over my Leadership due to my Nationality, and ultimately being part of a team where the management thought more about themselves and wanted to see a French rider take glory over a rider riding on their team.
I believed that Europcar could have been the team for me, and somewhere were I saw a long future, but in the end, I leave feeling like I was never wanted. I can't wait to start again at HTC.
Sep Vanmarcke
André Greipel
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Arnaud Démare
Mark Cavendish
Peter Sagan
Moreno Hofland
Daniel Martin
Roman Kreuziger
Carlos Betancur
Simon Spilak
UAE
Switerland
Canada
