Wednesday, 23 February 2011 09:33
Wind plays role in Cell C Tour of SA, stage 3
It was expected to be a windy day in Port Elizabeth, for the third stage of the Cell C tour of South Africa, and nature did not disappoint. The 171km stage ended with Yohann Gene of Europcar winning from Johann Rabie (Bonitas), and Gregory Habeaux (Verandas Willems Accent). How did we get there:
The stage started at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, and after a trip around the Addo Elephant Park, and back around Algoa Bay, the race headed up some of PE's favourite hills before finishing in the beach front at Summerstrand.
After a rapid start with some cross winds a small group escaped and was allowed some leeway. Johann van Zyl (Toyota CSA), Tomasz Kiendys (CCC Polsat), and Arran Brown (MTN Qhubeka) were the three brave riders up for a day ahead. The break went up to 2 minutes and then stayed there as the race leader Kristian House's team Rapha Condor - Sharp controlled the pace.
It was still relatively relaxed, and the speed not too high due to a headwind, but once the race turned back towards PE, things were changing.
The break was brought back and just at that moment, an attack by Europcar, using the strong cross wind, split the bunch into pieces. It was chaos as riders were riding on the edge of the road trying to keep some slipstream from the riders in front. I was on my limit, trying to stay on the wheels, but was just gapped and could no longer hold the wheel ahead of me.
I looked back and there was a sizeable gap, but then saw Louis Meintjes trying to get across to me. We formed a bit of a group, along with Arran Brown and a spanish rider, but there was no way we were going to bridge the gap to the front 20 or so guys working together.
Most of the pre race favourites had made the split, but I saw Ian Mcleod (DCM) puncture from the front group, Dan Craven (Rapha Condor- Sharp) also crashed in a touch of wheels and we passed him.
Eventually we conceded defeat, and the chase group swallowed us up, but that was no easier, as the pace was on, and with such a strong cross wind, the only place to find shelter was if you were in the first few places going through the pace line. If not, trying to sit on meant that you eventually ended on the edge of the road with no slipstream.
This caused the group to split, and we ended in the third group! We worked hard for a good 20km to get back up to the second group, with about a minute defecit behind the front group. It was brutal, and while all of this was going on at 50kph, we had no chance to feed, so for this final 50km of gutter section, everyone was on the limit!
Entering town, the race direction turned more into the head wind, and we were now second group on the road, and the gap to the front was coming down, But even though we got it to about 20 sec, the race entered the final 10kms which included two good steep climbs in the city of PE. The race was on up front, and the groups split.
Twelve riders regrouped in the front after the race for the King of the Mountains, and went down to finish together. Gene of Europcar wins from Rabie, and Habeaux. Daryl Impey took the king of the mountain jersey for his efforts today, and Reinardt janse Van Rensburg is the best young rider. Kristian House leads the points as well as the tour with the same margin of 2m22 from a group of 12 riders. then a group of 30 odd riders are at 42 sec, so there is still everything to race for!
Europcar showed today why they were one of the favourite teams for this race. They may have lost their proposed GC Leader Anthony Charteau, but they still have some good depth in the remaining riders. They are also from the Vendee region in France which is know for the wind and gutter riding. They showed their prowess today in that discipline!
Stage Results
1 Yohann Gene (Fra) Team Europcar 4:05:27
2 Johann Rabie (RSA) Team Bonitas
3 Gregory Habeaux (Bel) Veranda's Willems - Accent
4 Tony Hurel (Fra) Team Europcar
5 Kristian House (GBr) Rapha Condor - Sharp
6 Jonathan Tiernan-Lock (GBr) Rapha Condor - Sharp
7 Jacques Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Burgos 2016 - Castilla y León
8 Thomas Degand (Bel) Veranda's Willems - Accent
9 David George (RSA) 360 Life
10 Perrig Quemeneur (Fra) Team Europcar
General classification after stage 3
1 Kristian House (GBr) Rapha Condor - Sharp 7:47:30
2 Tony Hurel (Fra) Team Europcar 0:02:22
3 Jacques Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Burgos 2016 - Castilla y León
4 David George (RSA) 360 Life
5 Daryl Impey (RSA) MTN Qhubeka
6 Jonathan Tiernan-Lock (GBr) Rapha Condor - Sharp
7 Johann Rabie (RSA) Team Bonitas
8 Yohann Gene (Fra) Team Europcar
9 Perrig Quemeneur (Fra) Team Europcar
10 Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) MTN Qhubeka
From our side, Louis, Johann and Christiaan finished in the second group. Johann had perhaps spent a little too much up the road all day, but did a good job to make the initial split, just lacked enough punch to follow the surges over the last two hills. I was almost in the front, but also struggling a little to follow the big punches, not a good lead up to the race I had… feeling the effects a little. Christian brought the second group home for 13th position, and they are all still in contention for a possible top finish in the Best Young rider competition.
Wednesday 23 Feb is a stage from Blouwkrans Bridge to George, over some interesting climbs like Nature's Valley, and a special little one 15km from the end that Kevin Evans was kind enough to point out the organisers.
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