Saturday’s 128.7-kilometer stage began with a six-man breakaway gaining a gap of approximately four minutes before the race hit the day’s main climbs. The queen stage, featuring over 3,535 meters of climbing, lived up to its billing. By the time the race reached the slopes of Mount Baldy, all escapees were caught and the peloton was diminished to an elite group. As the gradients increased, Sergio Henao (Team Sky) and Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quickstep) attacked with Alaphilippe proving the strongest. The Frenchman soloed to the win and into the overall race lead.
“We knew today was going to be a hard stage but didn’t expect the snow and fog at the end on Baldy. The first climb was incredible and it only kept getting harder. It was a very challenging day on the bike,” Team Novo Nordisk’s Kevin De Mesmaeker said. “With only one stage left, the team’s plan is to push extra hard to get a good result on the final sprint tomorrow.”
Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx-Quickstep) took the stage win 23 seconds ahead of Sergio Henao (Team Sky). Ian Boswell (Team Sky) rounded out the podium.
Team Novo Nordisk, the world’s first all-diabetes pro cycling team, ends racing at the Amgen Tour of California on Sunday with the race’s final stage. The 105-km Stage 8 begins at L.A. Live and with the overall classification still on the line, should end with a bunch sprint in Pasadena.
20.04: EPZ Omloop van Borsele |
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