24 April 2016
IAM Cycling
THE EXPOLIT
Vegard Stake Laengens efforts for the day. Having already taken part in the breakaway on Wednesday at the Flèche Wallonne, the tall 26-year old Norwegian managed to bridge up to the established breakaway of seven riders after a 25 kilometer chase within the first hour of the race, and then remained at the front for over 160 kilometers.
THE ESCAPE
Pavel Brutt (Tinkoff), Paolo Tiralongo (Astana), Nicolas Edet (Cofidis), Thomas De Gendt (Lotto-Soudal), Cesare Benedetti (Bora Argon), Alessandro De Marchi (BMC), Jérémy Roy (FDJ ) and Vegard Stake Laengen (IAM) had built up a nine minute lead ahead of the pack full of race favorites by the time they rolled past Bastogne around 125 kilometers into the race averaging a very respectable 40km/h. Nicolas Edet and Alessandro de Marchi managed to keep ahead of the pack until about 24 kilometers to go, but were eventually reeled in by the pack under the impetus primarily of Alejandro Valverdes Movistar team.
THE QUOTE
I tried my luck chasing onto the break, but I still managed to reach my goal, confessed Vegard Stake Laengen after his heroic ride for the day. I tried to keep a good pace to join up to the breakaway. Then we rode well together since there was a good amount agreement among us. But I was not able to hang onto the leading group once we hit la Redoute. Even if my legs were good today, that was just a bit too much for me. I hope to be as fit for my next races coming up like the Tour of Belgium.
THE ANALYSIS
Vegard managed to get into the break, but his chase probably cost him an important amount of strength, Kjell Carlström, directeur sportif for IAM Cycling at the race, explained. We talked in the morning during our team briefing that we should try to and do something in the break. We succeeded in doing that, and managed to put in a good performance. But it has to be said that this was a very hard day and those who are resistant to the cold rode the best.
THE FACT OF THE DAY
On account of the snow, certain sections of the route were impassible, so the board of commissioners of the UCI and the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) amended the course between the 45th and the 75th kilometer. The change meant that the race was in fact 3 kilometers shorter, though it was still a whopping 250 kilometers in total.
THE STORY
In 1980, Bernard Hinault won the race solo in a snow storm; the race was renamed Neige -Bastogne-Neige” because of the hellish conditions.
THE NUMBER
46 – That is the number of riders who abandoned the 102 edition of La Doyenne due to snow, rain, and cold that the race suffered throughout the day.
Race Pictures – BettiniPhoto
