While the PCT sprinters and some CT sprinters are busy in The Faroe Islands other sprinters will be trying their luck in Sweden! The Uppsala Classic returns for its third rendition! Neither of the previous winners in Dusan Rajovicor or Max Losch will be on the start line today which means that we are guaranteed a third winner of this classic.
The race itself is 194kms of more or less flat roads with very minor bumps along the circuit that won’t have a huge impact on the race but might help tire out some of the sprinters before the finish line!
Favourites
The favourite filed is stacked with a lot of the best sprinters in the division and thus it will be hard to fully state who will be the main favourite here since everything can happen in a sprint. It will be hard to look away from Rojus as one of the main favourites. Outside of his lack of stamina he is one of the most complete sprinters in the division with a proven ability on the flat. Boudat is also a sprinter that on paper should suit the parcours quite well and could contest in the sprint come the end of the race. Waersted is another name that has performed incredibly well this year, the Norwegian sprinter is also someone that we need to keep an eye out for especially with some of the interesting sprinting tactics we have seen from Tafjord recently.
Two strong trains that could be formed this race that we need to be aware of is the Strava and Fresh Cement trains. Sanikwathi leads the Strava train but Bauhaus and Kreder have both shown their strentghs in the past and could be somebody to look towards should the Thai sprinter struggle to find his legs on race day. For the Fresh Cement boys Wippert and Habtom will have to decide who will shoot for the stars as they enter the final lap but it’s a dangerous duo regardless.
Rider
FL
ST
RS
SP
AC
Degenkolb
73
68
66
81
76
Rojus
75
66
74
79
78
Boudat
73
71
74
79
78
Willwohl
73
71
67
79
78
Guerao
70
65
58
79
70
Mareczko
74
71
73
78
77
Marin
74
73
73
78
78
Bauhaus
74
71
65
78
75
Liepins
73
73
68
78
79
Colbrelli
73
72
70
78
73
Waersted
73
69
78
78
79
Sanikwathi
72
70
67
78
78
Van Stayen
70
67
62
78
69
Habtom
75
75
75
77
78
Major
74
74
70
77
78
McLay
73
74
72
77
76
Guardini
69
69
64
77
77
Wippert
69
74
69
77
81
The Glory Seekers
Onee of the few PCT teams present in Sweden are Assa Abloy. They don’t have any sprinters eligible for C2 but they do bring some great roleurs! Veyhe and Rickaert are two dangerous attackers from the distance although the Belgian isn’t necessarily known for a late attack. Strava will also have a different string to play on in Bernas.
“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to hear again. The ones you can enter anywhere and inhabit comfortably."
A. Roy
Great win for Bordeaux, congrats! With such a twisty route, this one was always at risk of going to a break or a late attacker, and the peloton definitely paid the price of letting go a rather large group!
So in 3 years, we've only had one bunch sprint (in 2021, Losch won with a late attack) - these outcomes are getting a bit too frequent for my taste, but it might also be due to weak support, haven't studied the startlist in detail. 2nd time this year that a breakaway wins a flat C2 classic?
Oh wow. Who needs a sprinter, right?
I was tempted to say, reading the report's beginning that I should send Wackerman here, but no, good choice here.
And with a drafted rider, that is.
Thanks for the thrilling report, sorry for the sprinters' teams, but quite happy with that one
“...the secret of the Great Stories is that they have no secrets. The Great Stories are the ones you have heard and want to hear again. The ones you can enter anywhere and inhabit comfortably."
A. Roy
Thanks for the report and congrats to Imladrik for the glorious win
It doesnt matter if we participate in these one day races, no matter if flat, cobbles or hilly. We wont do anything ???? Will be mostly dissapointing months for us from now on, well maybe someone can surprise us.
