As The Dust Settles

Strade Bianched!
Third place finisher,
Jose Serpa...



Stage 5 was an amazing test for all the riders, on my favorite strade bianche.


Italian classic...



It looked like a organized or disorganized ride with many riders suffering punctures and falls. Like last year's Montalcino stage the strade bianche figured dramatically. Watching the riders toil over the white roads was a lesson in agility for many and a case of survival for the rest.

A strong solo flyer for Martin Kohler, holding onto a five minute lead into the first section had me believing good things are coming for the BMC rider. Tried as he might, he was caught by flying Dutchman Pieter Weening & Frenchman John Gradet. I follow former cyclocross champion Gradet with interest, remember his high flying antics in the TT Plan de Corones last year?

Weening broke away and had enough in the tank to win a decisive dusty victory and to take the maglia rosa off David Millar. The Dutchman won this exciting stage eight seconds from a fast charging peloton including the talented Colombians, Fabio Duarte (second), Jose Serpa (third) & Frenchman Christophe Le Mevel in fourth.



Comments

Jim said…
Wow, so steep they have to get off and walk/run? Incredible.
Richard said…
loose gravel on steep climbs ...crazy riding terrain!