Ten laps of an 18.2k course would determine the winner of the U23 men’s road race this afternoon. Below: the American men arrived ahead of sign on.
I like how these fans are hedging their bets.
The best spot in town (if you want a shot at making it to the podium, anyway) is on the climb in front of Ponferrada’s castle.
Before the U23 race got under way, half the Netherlands’s elite men’s squad casually chatted their way up the climb.
Meanwhile I was chatting with a lovely Irish couple about all things peloton. They were great company and throughout the race, we all looked at each other in astonishment every time the break approached again, not realizing how much we’d been talking!
10 laps to go
I was about 3k into the 18.2k circuit and right from the gun, Romania, Austria, and Turkey attacked. They had about 15 or 20 seconds by the time they reached the castle.
The peloton.
Spectators on the castle lawn.
9 laps to go
Turkey was dropped from the break before long and Azerbaijan bridged to keep it a trio.
30 seconds later, the peloton.
Ruben Zepuntke hanging on the back.
Sunbathing Italians.
Picnicking Norwegians.
Thirsty Dutchies.
And a few minutes after the peloton and the handful of dropped riders had gone by, Tony Martin quietly rode up the hill for afternoon training.
8 laps to go
Austria was joined by Russia and Algeria when he dropped Azerbaijan and Romania. The break was around 1:15 clear.
The peloton approached the base of the hill.
An organized Australian team rode at the front.
Dion Smith, runner up in the New Zealand U23 road race nationals back in January.
7 laps to go
The break had gained a little time and was now 2:15 ahead.
The peloton was just a little more stretched out on this lap.
Poland joined Australia at the front.
6 laps to go
No changes in the break or the peloton.
Poland had not yet lost (dear reader, I am assuming you are familiar with Poland’s national anthem).
At the tail, James Oram, Robin Carpenter, and Sven Erik Bystrom.
5 laps to go
Austria was hanging tough with Russia as the break was whittled down to 2.
The Italians took a break from sunning themselves to give their riders a message on their whiteboard.
Fans from Brittany waved their flags.
Solo riders from a couple of different countries came to the front.
4 laps to go
The duo held their advantage steady at about 2:15.
Zepuntke led a chase group.
Australia was back on the front of the peloton.
3 laps to go
See the woman in the hot pink sparkly pants? Based on how loudly she yelled, “SEBASTIAN!” when the break came up the hill, I think it’s safe to assume she’s his mother. On this lap, her son and the Russian rider had only 40 seconds on the chase group.
Still led by the German, the chase group of 10 or so riders was just 25 seconds ahead of the peloton.
South Africa and Australia at the front.
Norway was suddenly riding together.
2 laps to go
Zepuntke and a Dutch rider had finally bridged and joined the 2 riders in the break but with no more than 35 seconds on the rest of the field, it was a matter of time before they were reeled in.
Last lap!
The doomed break was hanging on by a thread as Australia, followed by Norway, powered up the hill.
A French rider displayed his climbing face.
The finish!
I bolted across town to get to the finish. I found the shortest pair of spectators I could and stood behind them to watch as Sven Erik Bystrom stormed his way up the finishing straight, several seconds clear of a desperate peloton.
It was a bunch sprint to grab the 2 remaining spots on the podium with Colombia, Norway, Kazakhstan, and Belgium in the mix.
It was impossible to see the line from my spot at 150 meters out, so I went up towards the podium and caught the results over the loudspeaker: Australian sprinter Caleb Ewan had taken the silver while another Norwegian, Kristoffer Skjerping, got the bronze.
Floris De Tier had left part of his kit–and probably a chunk or two of his skin–out on the road in a crash.
Exhausted riders caught their breath after the bunch sprint.
Two thrilled Norwegians and one disappointed Aussie.
I was rooting for Caleb (as well as for a few others) to be on the top step but he’s got a bright future ahead of him joining Orica next season so I think he’ll do alright in the long run.
The U23 road race champion!
Putting on the rainbow jersey for the first time.
The podium: 1st Sven Erik Bystrom, 2nd Caleb Ewan, 3rd Kristoffer Skjerping.
