Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race 2017 [FULL RACE]

January 29, 2017

Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race 2017– Geelong circuit – 174 km

The 2017 Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race is a road cycling one-day race that is scheduled to take place on 29 January. It will be the third edition of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and will be the second event of the 2017 UCI World Tour. It will be the first time that the race is included in the UCI World Tour calendar.

Nikias Arndt continued the traditional of European riders getting the better of Australians at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race with the German timing his run to the line to pip Cam Meyer, after his late flyer, and the fast finish of Simon Gerrans (Orica Scott).

Despite repeated efforts on the final circuit around Geelong, the peloton couldn’t shake the fast men and it was Arndt who took the spoils and opened Team Sunweb’s account for season 2017. Having had to wait until May for a WorldTour win, Sunweb have ensured a winning start to the season Down Under with victory in the first one-day WorldTour race of the season.

Gerrans, fifth last year, explained that a lack of teammates for the favourites ensured a frentic finale as he just came up short for his first win of the season.

“No one really had any teammates left so it was a really dicey sprint with everyone ducking for wheels and trying to get out of the wind. Nikias went from a long way out and did the whole sprint in the seat and in the end, I had nothing left and just couldn’t get past him,” Gerrans said in a flash TV interview.

With the largest group yet in three editions of the race all together at the start of the final lap around Geelong, a tactical 20km saw numerous attempts from riders to shake things up across the climbs. In the end though, the race was decided at almost the final possible moment like a film plot revealed in the final frame.

Agressive racing and late attacks from the likes Richie Porte, Nathan Haas, Chris Froome, and Rafa Valls all proved to be an entree for the final kilometre which almost saw Meyer cap his comeback with a triumphant win but it was the unfancied Arndt who proved the canniest of the lot to steal in and take out the victory.

How it unfolded

On the start line for the first edition of the race at WorldTour level were 126-riders ready to rock’n’roll in almost ideal racing weather conditions. With Cadel Evans leading the peloton through the intermediate kilometres, he peeled off as race director Scott Sunderland dropped the flag to get things going.

Conor Dunne, on his debut for Aqua Blue Sports, launched the breakaway with Kordamentha-Australia’s Alex Porter, Ángel Vicioso (Katusha-Alpecin) and Gazprom-RusVelo’s Kirill Sveshnikov joining him at the head of the race. The quartet quickly built a lead over the peloton who were content to roll along at just over 25mk/h. The leaders had an advantage over 10:30 minutes 30km into the race which was when BMC, Orica-Scott and Bora-Hansgrohe decided to send men to bring things back under control.

At the first intermediate sprint point, Dunne made a move via the inside line but it was too far out for the Irishman with Porter pulling him back just before the line to snare the three points. With Porter holding the advantage, there was no contest for the second intermediate sprint point as Porter hit out, checked his rivals and realising no one was contesting, easily took the points, and the classification.

The breakaway then resumed its earlier approach of swapping off turns and working well together. Having enjoyed its 10-plus minute advantage, the peloton decided it wanted a more comfortable gap of around five minutes, which was the lead when the race hit the first KOM point at Bells Beach.

Back in the bunch, the heads of state decided it was content with a lead around the four-minute mark to ensure the catch wouldn’t be made too soon. The breakaway had other ideas and quickly grabbed one minute. Once the peloton enjoyed its lunch of Panini and energy gels and bars, Orica, BMC and Bora, with assistance from Dimension Data, they upped the effort to bring the break back within comfortable distance.

BMC’s Damiano Caruso decided to test his legs with 65km to race and caused the first selection in the peloton with the breakaway’s lead being severely cut down to just 1:40 minutes. The move split the head of the peloton with a group of around 20 getting clear before a regrouping and numerous counter attacks that came to nought.

Approaching Challambra Crescent for the first time, it was Bora driving hard for Jay McCarthy and cutting the lead to the breakaway down to just 40 seconds. On the climb Sveshnikov lost contact with Vicioso intent on chasing the KOM points but it was Dunne who snuck in and took the spoils. Dunne and Porter continued to fly the flag for the breakaway as the peloton closed in for the kill.

Team Sky’s Danny van Poppel and AG2R-La Mondiale’s Francois Bidard attacked off the front of the peloton to ensure their respective teams had men up the road. That move failed but didn’t deter Cameron Bayly of the national team as he launched an attack in a bid to join the two leaders. Calvin Watson took up chase of his teammate Dunne who continued to survive out in front with Porter.

Unlike Bayly, Watson successfully made the bridge across to the two leaders who had an advantage of 1:07 minutes under the start/finish line for two laps to go. however, on the second ascent of Challambra Crescent the break was done and dusted. Sebastián Henao (Sky) started the attack on the climb with Michael Woods (Cannondale-Drapac) joining the Colombian as Dunne confirming his win in the KOM classification.

Luke Durbridge (Orica-Scott) and Rohan Dennis (BMC) bridged to make a four-man leading break. The ingredients weren’t right though as Jhonatan Restrepo made contact just before the peloton reeled them in. Henao then crashed around a roundabout with just over 20km to race, but quickly recovered, with Lachlan Morton (Dimension Data) leading the peloton over for the bell lap.

A flurry of attacks continued with Mads Pedersen particularly aggressive before Challambra. On the climb, Kenny Elissonde launched first but couldn’t hold on, like Peter Kennaugh did last year and was caught over the summit. A Jan Bakelants front wheel wash out caused a minor split in the peloton but that didn’t stop an aggressive finale.

Esteban Chaves (Orica-Scott), Sergio Henao (Sky) and Nathan Haas (Dimension Data) rolled the dice with a late attack to cause a selection with 10km. BMC’S Richie Porte and Lucas Hamilton jumped across with Rafa Valls (Lotto Soudal) following. Porte continued be to aggressive, as did Haas, but with 5km to race a large group was together and moving all over the road.

Froome tried a late move with Haas, Gesink and Valls jumping on his wheel before Porte launched a counter attack and looked like holding on for the win. Inspired by teammate Miles Scoston at the national titles, Porte was digging deep with his solo time trial effort that was matched by Froome to ensure it was a doomed move.

“When it didn’t happen in the climb I thought to myself that I really want to win this race so I have to attack. I did a nice little attack but at the end of the day it didn’t quite pay off, but still a good way to start the season by winning the Santos Tour Down Under and come here and have a bit of fun,” Porte explained of his move.

Bauer launched the first counter attack before Meyer made his move at around 800 metres, and looked to hang on for a famous victory. However, Arndt had other ideas and inside the final 10 metres he jumped the Australian and held off the fast finishing Gerrans for his first win on Australian soil and first win since May’s Giro d’Italia.

Results :
1 Nikias Arndt (Ger) Team Sunweb 4:19:15
2 Simon Gerrans (Aus) Orica-Scott
3 Cameron Meyer (Aus) KordaMentha Real Estate Australian National Team
4 Jhonatan Restrepo (Col) Katusha-Alpecin
5 Luke Rowe (GBr) Team Sky
6 Petr Vakoc (Cze) Quick-Step Floors
7 Nathan Haas (Aus) Dimension Data
8 Gianluca Brambilla (Ita) Quick-Step Floors
9 Jay Mccarthy (Aus) Bora-Hansgrohe
10 Paul Martens (Ger) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
11 Robert Gesink (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
12 Rafael Valls (Spa) Lotto Soudal
13 Sven Erik Bystrom (Nor) Katusha-Alpecin
14 Lucas Hamilton (Aus) KordaMentha Real Estate Australian National Team
15 Michael Woods (Can) Cannondale-Drapac
16 Jai Hindley (Aus) KordaMentha Real Estate Australian National Team
17 Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
18 Michael Storer (Aus) KordaMentha Real Estate Australian National Team
19 Janier Alexis Acevedo Calle (Col) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
20 Brendan Canty (Aus) Cannondale-Drapac
21 Richie Porte (Aus) BMC Racing Team
22 Sergio Henao (Col) Team Sky
23 Dries Devenyns (Bel) Quick-Step Floors
24 Jack Bauer (NZl) Quick-Step Floors 0:00:18
25 Baptiste Planckaert (Bel) Katusha-Alpecin 0:00:37
26 Edward Theuns (Bel) Trek-Segafredo
27 Aaron Gate (NZl) Aqua Blue Sport
28 Gregor Muhlberger (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe
29 James Shaw (GBr) Lotto Soudal
30 Patrick Bevin (NZl) Cannondale-Drapac
31 Lars Ytting Bak (Den) Lotto Soudal
32 Tom-Jelte Slagter (Ned) Cannondale-Drapac
33 Damiano Caruso (Ita) BMC Racing Team
34 Pavel Brutt (Rus) Gazprom – RusVelo
35 Sjoerd Van Ginneken (Ned) Roompot – Nederlandse Loterij
36 Alexey Vermeulen (USA) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
37 Danilo Wyss (Swi) BMC Racing Team
38 Mitch Docker (Aus) Orica-Scott
39 Clement Chevrier (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
40 Tiago Machado (Por) Katusha-Alpecin
41 Matteo Montaguti (Ita) AG2R La Mondiale
42 Jonathan Clarke (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
43 Sander Armee (Bel) Lotto Soudal
44 Lachlan Norris (Aus) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
45 Enrico Battaglin (Ita) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
46 José Gonçalves (Por) Katusha-Alpecin
47 Koen De Kort (Ned) Trek-Segafredo 0:00:42
48 Simon Geschke (Ger) Team Sunweb
49 Christopher Froome (GBr) Team Sky 0:00:43
50 Jarlinson Pantano (Col) Trek-Segafredo
51 Wilco Kelderman (Ned) Team Sunweb
52 Damien Howson (Aus) Orica-Scott 0:00:45
53 Luke Durbridge (Aus) Orica-Scott 0:00:47
54 Esteban Chaves (Col) Orica-Scott 0:00:54
55 Cameron Bayley (Aus) KordaMentha Real Estate Australian National Team 0:01:14
56 Julien Berard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale 0:01:56
57 Peter Stetina (USA) Trek-Segafredo 0:01:57
58 Jesper Asselman (Ned) Roompot – Nederlandse Loterij 0:02:11
59 Leigh Howard (Aus) Aqua Blue Sport
60 Scott Bowden (Aus) KordaMentha Real Estate Australian National Team
61 Lawrence Warbasse (USA) Aqua Blue Sport
62 Jeroen Meijers (Ned) Roompot – Nederlandse Loterij
63 Travis McCabe (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
64 Michael Hepburn (Aus) Orica-Scott
65 Koen Bouwman (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo 0:03:47
66 Mads Pedersen (Den) Trek-Segafredo 0:04:18
67 Maurits Lammertink (Ned) Katusha-Alpecin 0:05:22
68 Kenny Elissonde (Fra) Team Sky 0:05:32
69 Sebastian Henao (Col) Team Sky
70 Ben O’Connor (Aus) Dimension Data 0:05:49
71 Peter Koning (Ned) Aqua Blue Sport
72 Chris Hamilton (Aus) Team Sunweb
73 Rudiger Selig (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe
74 Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-Hansgrohe
75 Thomas De Gendt (Bel) Lotto Soudal
76 Jacques Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Dimension Data
77 Alexander Porter (Aus) KordaMentha Real Estate Australian National Team
78 Ben Gastauer (Lux) AG2R La Mondiale 0:07:02
79 Taco Van Der Hoorn (Ned) Roompot – Nederlandse Loterij
80 Tim Ariesen (Ned) Roompot – Nederlandse Loterij
81 Bert-Jan Lindeman (Ned) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
82 Nick Van Der Lijke (Ned) Roompot – Nederlandse Loterij
83 Sergey Nikolaev (Rus) Gazprom – RusVelo
84 François Bidard (Fra) AG2R La Mondiale
85 Alex Howes (USA) Cannondale-Drapac
86 Martijn Tusveld (Ned) Roompot – Nederlandse Loterij
87 Conor Dunne (Irl) Aqua Blue Sport
88 Martin Velits (Svk) Quick-Step Floors
89 Robert Wagner (Ger) Team LottoNl-Jumbo
90 Lennard Hofstede (Ned) Team Sunweb
91 Michel Kreder (Ned) Aqua Blue Sport
92 Enric Mas (Spa) Quick-Step Floors
93 Amael Moinard (Fra) BMC Racing Team
94 Tanner Putt (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
95 Miles Scotson (Aus) BMC Racing Team
96 Rohan Denis (Aus) BMC Racing Team
97 Lukas Postlberger (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:11:07
98 Lachlan Morton (Aus) Dimension Data
99 Calvin Watson (Aus) Aqua Blue Sport 0:12:38
100 Ivan Savitckii (Rus) Gazprom – RusVelo
101 Artur Ershov (Rus) Gazprom – RusVelo
102 Jaco Venter (RSA) Dimension Data
103 Jan Bakelants (Bel) AG2R La Mondiale 0:14:30
DNF Francisco Ventoso (Spa) BMC Racing Team
DNF Sam Bewley (NZl) Orica-Scott
DNF Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe
DNF Michal Kolar (Svk) Bora-Hansgrohe
DNF Tyler Farrar (USA) Dimension Data
DNF Mark Renshaw (Aus) Dimension Data
DNF Sean De Bie (Bel) Lotto Soudal
DNF Adam James Hansen (Aus) Lotto Soudal
DNF Angel Vicioso (Spa) Katusha-Alpecin
DNF Danny Van Poppel (Ned) Team Sky
DNF Ian Stannard (GBr) Team Sky
DNF Phil Bauhaus (Ger) Team Sunweb
DNF Johannes Frohlinger (Ger) Team Sunweb
DNF Ruben Guerreiro (Por) Trek-Segafredo
DNF Laurent Didier (Lux) Trek-Segafredo
DNF William Clarke (Aus) Cannondale-Drapac
DNF Tom Van Asbroeck (Bel) Cannondale-Drapac
DNF Eros Capecchi (Ita) Quick-Step Floors
DNF Kirill Sveshnikov (Rus) Gazprom – RusVelo
DNF Aleksei Tcatevich (Rus) Gazprom – RusVelo
DNF Nikolay Trusov (Rus) Gazprom – RusVelo
DNF Adrian Hegyvary (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
DNF Greg Henderson (NZl) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team