A million times during the off season, I meant to write a new post, but there was always something else to divert my attention. You can be sure now that the peloton is back to racing in Europe, they’ve got my full attention!
The fifth and final stage of the Valencia race was scheduled to start surprisingly early at 9:30, meaning sign on would begin at 8:30, not quite 30 minutes after sunrise.
Things didn’t quite go according to schedule, with preparations for the start/finish area moving slowly and most teams not even arriving until 9am. No matter, the crowd waited patiently in the morning chill while JuanMa, Spain’s leading cycling emcee, entertained the crowd, until the riders began to trickle in.
Nicholas Roche.
Even though I was in prime position to ask for just about any autograph I think of, I’m always a bit overwhelmed at my first race of the year and today was no exception. I love watching the steady flow of the sport’s best athletes punching the clock on their way to work.
Fabio Aru, usually tense and focused later in the season, was relaxed as could be this morning.
Everyone wanted a moment of Joaquim Purito Rodriguez’s time.
Waiting for the day to start.
Ion Izagirre, Dayer Quintana, and Jesús Herrada.
A collection of wounds for Izagirre.
Winner of stage 4 and race leader Wout Poels chatted with Tom Boonen.
Long time staples of the peloton, Matti Breschel and Boonen.
The peloton rolled out and to do 4 laps on the finishing circuit as part of the stage’s neutral start.
As it was early yet and the day was expected to end in a sprint, most of the riders took it easy and talked with their compatriots on other teams. By the final neutral lap, Sky had gotten organized, placing a few riders around Wout Poels just to keep him safe for as long as possible.
The race thus far went as expected. A small break went free but the peloton never gave them much more than a minute’s advantage. Katusha rode at the front for much of the 120 kilometer course as the peloton fought against windy conditions.
I followed the events on the big screen, under which bored soigneurs lingered until it was time to be useful.
The bunch easily caught the escapees before entering Valencia for the first of 6 circuits. Luis Leon Sanchez, borrowing the green jersey from Wout Poels, led the peloton along with Sky and Etixx Quick Step riders.
When Italy’s Mirco Maestri jumped, Stijn Vandenbergh was the only rider to follow. The duo soon opened up 30 seconds.
Bardiani and Cofidis both moved to the front with opposing intentions. The French squad wanted to catch the escapees and set up Nacer Bouhanni for the sprint while Bardiani aimed to slow down the bunch to help their teammate up the road.
Kristoffer Skjerping and Breschel.
Alexy Vermuelen.
Joe Dombrowski.
One lap closer to the finish, Vandenbergh and Maestri continued to trade off turns at the front.
Cofidis was getting serious.
The urban circuit featured about half a dozen turns and roundabouts in only 2 kilometers.
Three laps to go with the break’s advantage dwindling down to under 20 seconds.
Skjerping and Breschel still together.
A loyal domestique, Vandenbergh doesn’t get many opportunities to go for the win himself. Knowing this was a rare chance for him, he attacked the Italian with 2 laps to go.
Unsure of how much distance he’d gained, the big Belgian risked a glance over his shoulder.
The ever approaching peloton.
Cofidis feeling the pressure to chase down Vandenbergh.
Niki Terpstra and Alex Peters.
Coming through the finish, the clang of the bell signaled last lap.
Jorge Arcas and Dayer Quintana, winner of last month’s Tour de San Luís.
Will they catch him or won’t they? The peloton chased hard to catch Vandenbergh and were quickly taking back open road from the Belgian—but the peloton had left it too late. The bunch was still 25 meters behind when Etixx Quick Step earned their second stage win of the 67th Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana.
With an emphatic fist in the air, Stijn Vandenbergh took his first win since the Tour of Ireland in 2007.
Dylan Groenewegen won the bunch sprint for second place, with Raymond Kreder in third, and Bouhanni, widely considered the day’s favorite, in fourth. Jonas Van Genechten rounded out the top 5.
Tom Boonen smiled at his teammate’s victory.
The peloton.
Terpstra and Carlos Verona.
Poels raised his arms to celebrate and then let out a deep breath, happy to have secured the overall win.
Beñat Intxausti.
After crossing the finish line, riders rolled up the road to grab a drink from their soigneurs before turning around to reach the team buses. Below: time trial world champion, Vasil Kiryienka.
Even after watching for him all day, it was only as he headed to the bus that I finally spotted Pierre Rolland. I’m not quite used to seeing the Frenchman in bright green argyle yet!
Aru and Diego Rosa.
An irritated Bouhanni.
He’s not called Big Stijn for nothing. Vandenbergh claimed his trophy as the winner of the stage.
Poels received the leader’s jersey for the final time.
The fastest way to clear out a pack of photographers?
Champagne.
Final podium:
1st Wout Poels
2nd Luis Leon Sanchez
3rd Beñat Intxausti
The podium ceremony was the Wout Poels shows. Not only did he win the overall GC, he also took the combined jersey, the KOM jersey, and the points jersey.
Just for fun, compare Poel’s leg to those of the podium hostess.
Poels returned to the podium a fifth time, this time accompanied by his Sky teammates to collect the prize for best team.
Today’s 20 autographs came from
15 Ion Izagirre
16 Dayer Quintana
23 Vasil Kiryienka
24 Leopold König
26 David Lopez
28 Nicholas Roche
31 Tom Boonen
33 Carlos Verona
35 Dan Martin
37 Niki Terpstra
44 Luis Leon Sanchez
56 Paul Martens
57 Alexy Vermuelen
62 Matti Breschel
63 Joe Dombrowski
66 Kristopher Skjerping
81 Nacer Bouhanni
85 Cyril Lemoine
86 Daniel Navaro
88 Geoffrey Soupe
Judging by how many people had come out to watch the race early on a chilly Sunday, I’ve got my fingers crossed that the organizers and sponsors consider the race a success. The race dates back to 1929 but was cancelled after 2008 due to finances. Let’s hope the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana becomes an annual race once again.
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