Sibiu Cycling Tour 2020 – Prologue [FULL STAGE – Individual Time Trial] (romanian)

July 23, 2020

Sibiu Cycling Tour 2020 – Prologue – Sibiu : 2,5 km

The Sibiu Cycling Tour (Cycling Tour of Sibiu until 2015) is a 2.1 category professional bicycle road race held in Sibiu, Romania. Its first edition took place in July 2011, as part of the UCI Europe Tour. The race is organised with the support of the local council as well as the regional council of Sibiu. Held entirely around the city, the race normally runs over four days including a prologue on the cobbled streets of the city, and two climbing stages, one on the Transfăgărăşan Road to Balea Lac and a second to the mountain resort of Paltinis.

Nikodemus Holler (Bike Aid) took out the biggest win of his career, taking out the prologue of the UCI 2.1-ranked Sibiu Tour in Romania on Thursday.

Holler was only the sixth rider off the start ramp in the historic centre of Sibiu and dove through the cobbled turns, powered up the short, steep climb and sprinted to the line in 03:34.6.

It was a solid effort but with Bora-Hansgrohe and Israel Start-Up Nation on the start list, few expected the 29-year-old to keep the lead. Mother Nature had other ideas, however, and after a vicious storm blew through and soaked the highly technical course, Holler’s time held.

Not only was the win Bike Aid’s first of the year, their first leader’s jersey of a stage race, but also Holler’s win will go down in history as the first in a 2.1 race in the restart of racing amid the coronavirus pandemic.

After sitting through 100 minutes of other riders finishing, Holler finally let out a whoop of joy as the last rider came through well behind.

“I was nervous all the time, it was getting more and more dry and good guys were starting on the last positions. But there were still four or five corners that were still wet – I’m lucky. I was nervous as hell – I’m not made for being a time trialist. I prefer to go over the line and know already you won. This was not good for my health,” Holler joked.

“I always did good in this prologue, I was top 20. I knew I could do a good time, but there was some luck with the weather. Today it was fortune, but still to take it you have to take the opportunity. There were some other guys starting on good roads without rain and I beat them, so it’s a victory.

“I’ve had so many bad times – in March I broke several bones in my face. This time I had luck, so I think it’s fair.”

How it unfolded

The prologue of the Sibiu Tour got underway as the first stage race fielding WorldTour teams (two) after the coronavirus pandemic brought the season to a halt in March.

Racing in the time of COVID-19 looked quite different from previous years, with masked men holding the riders on the start ramp and a gloved hand counting down to each rider’s launch.

The streets of the short, 2.5km twisting dash over historic cobbles in Sibiu, Romania were mostly deserted, especially after an intense rain storm blew in and threatened to knock over riders and barricades.

Romanian stand-out Serghei Tvetcov started his ride in the worst part of the storm and, despite being a strong time trialist, finished well off the mark set by Nikodemus Holler (Bike Aid), who finished his effort before the rain came.

WorldTour riders like Pascal Ackermann (Bora-Hansgrohe) and Mihkel Räim (Israel Start-Up Nation) were taking no chances and cruised through the individual time trial well over a minute off the leader.

While the storm let up before the last wave of starters, the still rain-soaked streets continued to slow down even the best riders, leaving Holler in the hot seat well into the final.

Maciej Paterski (Wibatech Merx) clocked one of the faster times after the rain, sneaking in for tenth place as the cobbles began to dry out. Michael Bresciani (D’Amico um Tools) nearly crashed in the final turn and others simply soft-pedalled through the finish – clearly the time limit had been removed.

That changed when 19-year-old local Iustin-Ioan Vaidian cracked the top 10 and took home the prize for best Romanian rider after a dare-devil ride. “I grew up with the Sibiu Cycling Tour,” Vaidian said.

“For three years, I have been a volunteer at the race and worked here on the Piața Mare, now I stand on the podium. It is a dream come true. My goal is to finish the race in good health, anything else is a bonus.”

All eyes were on Romanian Eduard Grosu (Nippo Delko One Provence), who started third to last, for a home victory but the roads were still too slick for quick turns and he came through outside the top 10, with only Mathias Brändle (Israel Start-Up Nation) and Patrick Konrad (Bora-Hansgrohe) still to come.

The Austrian champion also finished outside the top 10 and Holler’s fortunes rose one step higher as the clock ticked out on Konrad. The Bora rider came through in 10th and Holler let out a primal scream, having claimed the biggest win of his career.

Results :
1 Nikodemus Holler (Ger) Bike Aid 0:03:35
2 Kacper Walkowiak (Pol) CCC Development Team 0:00:02
3 Wojciech Sykala (Pol) Voster ATS Team 0:00:03
4 Adam Toupalík (Cze) Elkov-Kasper 0:00:05
5 Matteo Rotondi (Ita) Work Service-Dinatek-Vega 0:00:09
6 Jon Knolle (Ger) Team SKS Sauerland NRW 0:00:10
7 Patryk Stosz (Pol) Voster ATS Team 0:00:12
8 Iustin-Ioan Vaidian (Ita) Romania 0:00:13
9 Rudy Barbier (Fra) Israel Start-Up Nation 0:00:13
10 Patrick Konrad (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:15
11 Manuel Zobrist (Swi) Akros-Excelsior-Thömus 0:00:15
12 Maciej Paterski (Pol) Wibatech Merx 0:00:16
13 Matthias Brändle (Aut) Israel Start-Up Nation 0:00:16
14 Karol Kuklewicz (Pol) Wibatech Merx 0:00:16
15 Szymon Krawczyk (Pol) CCC Development Team 0:00:17
16 Riccardo Stacchiotti (Ita) Vini Zabu’ KTM 0:00:17
17 Emanuel Piaskowy (Pol) Mazowsze Serce Polski 0:00:17
18 Petr Kelemen (Cze) CCC Development Team 0:00:18
19 Eduard-Michael Grosu (Rom) Nippo Delko Provence 0:00:18
20 Valter Ghigino (Ita) D’Amico um Tools 0:00:18
21 Mel Van der Veekens (Ned) A Bloc CT 0:00:20
22 Davide Bais (Ita) Friuli Asd 0:00:21
23 Nicolas Dalla Valle (Ita) Bardiani CSF Faizane’ 0:00:21
24 Lucas De Rossi (Fra) Nippo Delko Provence 0:00:21
25 Gregor Mühlberger (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:22
26 Simone Bevilacqua (Ita) Vini Zabu’ KTM 0:00:23
27 Robin Froidevaux (Swi) Akros-Excelsior-Thömus 0:00:23
28 Justin Wolf (Ger) Bike Aid 0:00:24
29 Karel Hník (Cze) Elkov-Kasper 0:00:24
30 Pawel Szostka (Pol) Wibatech Merx 0:00:25
31 Serghei Tvetcov (Rom) Romania 0:00:25
32 Rémy Rochas (Fra) Nippo Delko Provence 0:00:25
33 Andrea Meucci (Ita) Amore e Vita-Prodir 0:00:26
34 Adriaan Janssen (Ned) A Bloc CT 0:00:27
35 Piotr Brozyna (Pol) Voster ATS Team 0:00:27
36 Federico Zurlo (Ita) Giotti Victoria 0:00:27
37 Erik Bergström Frisk (Swe) Bike Aid 0:00:27
38 Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Nippo Delko Provence 0:00:28
39 Michael Kukrle (Cze) Elkov-Kasper 0:00:29
40 Luca Covili (Ita) Bardiani CSF Faizane’ 0:00:29
41 Meindert Weulink (Ned) A Bloc CT 0:00:30
42 Hideto Nakane (Jpn) Nippo Delko Provence 0:00:30
43 Frantisek Sisr (Cze) Elkov-Kasper 0:00:30
44 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Meridiana Kamen Team 0:00:30
45 Dusan Kalaba (Srb) Meridiana Kamen Team 0:00:31
46 Simone Sanò (Ita) Team Novak 0:00:34
47 Adrian Banaszek (Pol) Mazowsze Serce Polski 0:00:34
48 Marco Tizza (Ita) Amore e Vita-Prodir 0:00:35
49 Stijn Appel (Ned) A Bloc CT 0:00:36
50 Iuri Filosi (Ita) Bardiani CSF Faizane’ 0:00:36
51 Pawel Bernas (Pol) Mazowsze Serce Polski 0:00:36
52 Filippo Fiorelli (Ita) Bardiani CSF Faizane’ 0:00:36
53 Andrea Pietrobon (Ita) Friuli Asd 0:00:36
54 Per Christian Münstermann (Ger) Team SKS Sauerland NRW 0:00:37
55 Adne Van Engelen (Ned) Bike Aid 0:00:38
56 Davide Appollonio (Ita) Amore e Vita-Prodir 0:00:38
57 Marcin Budzinski (Pol) Wibatech Merx 0:00:39
58 Ciprian Ioan Jitaru (Rom) Giotti Victoria 0:00:39
59 Daniel Crista (Ita) Romania 0:00:39
60 Anatolii Budiak (Ukr) Wibatech Merx 0:00:40
61 Yehor Dementyev (Ukr) Team Novak 0:00:40
62 Lars Kulbe (Ger) Team SKS Sauerland NRW 0:00:40
63 Andreas Schillinger (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:42
64 Charly Petelin (Lux) Amore e Vita-Prodir 0:00:42
65 Francesco Manuel Bongiorno (Ita) Vini Zabu’ KTM 0:00:43
66 Emil Dima (Rom) Giotti Victoria 0:00:43
67 Emanuele Onesti (Ita) Giotti Victoria 0:00:44
68 Dario Puccioni (Ita) Work Service-Dinatek-Vega 0:00:44
69 Jan Bárta (Cze) Elkov-Kasper 0:00:45
70 Rüdiger Selig (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:45
71 Pawel Cieslik (Pol) Voster ATS Team 0:00:45
72 Jeen De Jong (Ned) A Bloc CT 0:00:45
73 Matteo Busato (Ita) Vini Zabu’ KTM 0:00:45
74 Valère Thiébaud (Swi) Akros-Excelsior-Thömus 0:00:46
75 Antonio Barac (Cro) Meridiana Kamen Team 0:00:46
76 Adi-Narcis Marcu (Ita) Romania 0:00:49
77 Matteo Badilatti (Swi) Israel Start-Up Nation 0:00:50
78 Paolo Totò (Ita) Work Service-Dinatek-Vega 0:00:50
79 Antoine Debons (Swi) Akros-Excelsior-Thömus 0:00:50
80 Thomas Devaux (Fra) Akros-Excelsior-Thömus 0:00:50
81 András Szentpéteri (Hun) Team Novak 0:00:51
82 Tomasz Budzinski (Pol) Wibatech Merx 0:00:51
83 Nicolas Nesi (Ita) D’Amico um Tools 0:00:51
84 Michal Schlegel (Cze) Elkov-Kasper 0:00:51
85 Mateusz Grabis (Pol) Voster ATS Team 0:00:52
86 Johannes Adamietz (Ger) Team SKS Sauerland NRW 0:00:53
87 Raul Colombo (Ita) Work Service-Dinatek-Vega 0:00:53
88 Johannes Hodapp (Ger) Team SKS Sauerland NRW 0:00:55
89 Leonardo Tortomasi (Ita) Vini Zabu’ KTM 0:00:55
90 Luca Raggio (Ita) D’Amico um Tools 0:00:56
91 Andrea Guardini (Ita) Giotti Victoria 0:00:56
92 Matthias Schnapka (Ger) Bike Aid 0:00:57
93 Lorenzo Marenzi (Cro) Meridiana Kamen Team 0:00:57
94 Antonio Zullo (Ita) Amore e Vita-Prodir 0:00:58
95 Ivan Martinelli (Ita) D’Amico um Tools 0:00:58
96 Riccardo Marchesini (Ita) Amore e Vita-Prodir 0:00:58
97 Szymon Tracz (Pol) CCC Development Team 0:00:59
98 Piotr Pekala (Pol) CCC Development Team 0:01:00
99 Rémi Capron (Fra) Akros-Excelsior-Thömus 0:01:00
100 Daniel Turek (Cze) Israel Start-Up Nation 0:01:01
101 Marek Rutkiewicz (Pol) Mazowsze Serce Polski 0:01:02
102 Dominik Gorak (Pol) CCC Development Team 0:01:02
103 Adam Stachowiak (Pol) Voster ATS Team 0:01:03
104 Lucas Carstensen (Ger) Bike Aid 0:01:04
105 Michal Podlaski (Pol) Mazowsze Serce Polski 0:01:04
106 Michel Gießelmann (Ger) Team SKS Sauerland NRW 0:01:04
107 Filippo Ferronato (Ita) Friuli Asd 0:01:05
108 Luca Wackermann (Ita) Vini Zabu’ KTM 0:01:08
109 Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:01:12
110 Antonio Santoro (Ita) Work Service-Dinatek-Vega 0:01:12
111 Nicholas Rinaldi (Ita) D’Amico um Tools 0:01:13
112 Mihkel Räim (Est) Israel Start-Up Nation 0:01:13
113 Balazs Rozsa (Rou) Team Novak 0:01:14
114 Federico Burchio (Ita) Work Service-Dinatek-Vega 0:01:15
115 Gabriele Petrelli (Ita) Friuli Asd 0:01:15
116 Carol-Eduard Novak (Rom) Team Novak 0:01:18
117 Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:01:28
118 Viktor Filutás (Hun) Giotti Victoria 0:01:33
119 Martin Nessler (Ita) Friuli Asd 0:01:33
120 Matteo Pelucchi (Ita) Bardiani CSF Faizane’ 0:01:46
121 Ivar Slik (Ned) A Bloc CT 0:01:49
122 Guy Sagiv (Isr) Israel Start-Up Nation 0:01:59
123 Matija Lojen (Cro) Meridiana Kamen Team 0:02:02
124 Julien Trarieux (Fra) Nippo Delko Provence 0:02:21
125 Valentin Plesea (Ita) Romania 0:02:32
126 Adrian Kurek (Pol) Mazowsze Serce Polski 0:02:53
127 Michael Bresciani (Ita) D’Amico um Tools 0:03:26
128 Andrei Cosmin Bidilici (Ita) Romania
DNS Lovro Matek (Cro) Meridiana Kamen Team

General Classification after Prologue :
1 Nikodemus Holler (Ger) Bike Aid 0:03:35
2 Kacper Walkowiak (Pol) CCC Development Team 0:00:02
3 Wojciech Sykala (Pol) Voster ATS Team 0:00:03
4 Adam Toupalík (Cze) Elkov-Kasper 0:00:05
5 Matteo Rotondi (Ita) Work Service-Dinatek-Vega 0:00:09
6 Jon Knolle (Ger) Team SKS Sauerland NRW 0:00:10
7 Patryk Stosz (Pol) Voster ATS Team 0:00:12
8 Iustin-Ioan Vaidian (Ita) Romania 0:00:13
9 Rudy Barbier (Fra) Israel Start-Up Nation 0:00:13
10 Patrick Konrad (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:15
11 Manuel Zobrist (Swi) Akros-Excelsior-Thömus 0:00:15
12 Maciej Paterski (Pol) Wibatech Merx 0:00:16
13 Matthias Brändle (Aut) Israel Start-Up Nation 0:00:16
14 Karol Kuklewicz (Pol) Wibatech Merx 0:00:16
15 Szymon Krawczyk (Pol) CCC Development Team 0:00:17
16 Riccardo Stacchiotti (Ita) Vini Zabu’ KTM 0:00:17
17 Emanuel Piaskowy (Pol) Mazowsze Serce Polski 0:00:17
18 Petr Kelemen (Cze) CCC Development Team 0:00:18
19 Eduard-Michael Grosu (Rom) Nippo Delko Provence 0:00:18
20 Valter Ghigino (Ita) D’Amico um Tools 0:00:18
21 Mel Van der Veekens (Ned) A Bloc CT 0:00:20
22 Davide Bais (Ita) Friuli Asd 0:00:21
23 Nicolas Dalla Valle (Ita) Bardiani CSF Faizane’ 0:00:21
24 Lucas De Rossi (Fra) Nippo Delko Provence 0:00:21
25 Gregor Mühlberger (Aut) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:22
26 Simone Bevilacqua (Ita) Vini Zabu’ KTM 0:00:23
27 Robin Froidevaux (Swi) Akros-Excelsior-Thömus 0:00:23
28 Justin Wolf (Ger) Bike Aid 0:00:24
29 Karel Hník (Cze) Elkov-Kasper 0:00:24
30 Pawel Szostka (Pol) Wibatech Merx 0:00:25
31 Serghei Tvetcov (Rom) Romania 0:00:25
32 Rémy Rochas (Fra) Nippo Delko Provence 0:00:25
33 Andrea Meucci (Ita) Amore e Vita-Prodir 0:00:26
34 Adriaan Janssen (Ned) A Bloc CT 0:00:27
35 Piotr Brozyna (Pol) Voster ATS Team 0:00:27
36 Federico Zurlo (Ita) Giotti Victoria 0:00:27
37 Erik Bergström Frisk (Swe) Bike Aid 0:00:27
38 Ramunas Navardauskas (Ltu) Nippo Delko Provence 0:00:28
39 Michael Kukrle (Cze) Elkov-Kasper 0:00:29
40 Luca Covili (Ita) Bardiani CSF Faizane’ 0:00:29
41 Meindert Weulink (Ned) A Bloc CT 0:00:30
42 Hideto Nakane (Jpn) Nippo Delko Provence 0:00:30
43 Frantisek Sisr (Cze) Elkov-Kasper 0:00:30
44 Davide Rebellin (Ita) Meridiana Kamen Team 0:00:30
45 Dusan Kalaba (Srb) Meridiana Kamen Team 0:00:31
46 Simone Sanò (Ita) Team Novak 0:00:34
47 Adrian Banaszek (Pol) Mazowsze Serce Polski 0:00:34
48 Marco Tizza (Ita) Amore e Vita-Prodir 0:00:35
49 Stijn Appel (Ned) A Bloc CT 0:00:36
50 Iuri Filosi (Ita) Bardiani CSF Faizane’ 0:00:36
51 Pawel Bernas (Pol) Mazowsze Serce Polski 0:00:36
52 Filippo Fiorelli (Ita) Bardiani CSF Faizane’ 0:00:36
53 Andrea Pietrobon (Ita) Friuli Asd 0:00:36
54 Per Christian Münstermann (Ger) Team SKS Sauerland NRW 0:00:37
55 Adne Van Engelen (Ned) Bike Aid 0:00:38
56 Davide Appollonio (Ita) Amore e Vita-Prodir 0:00:38
57 Marcin Budzinski (Pol) Wibatech Merx 0:00:39
58 Ciprian Ioan Jitaru (Rom) Giotti Victoria 0:00:39
59 Daniel Crista (Ita) Romania 0:00:39
60 Anatolii Budiak (Ukr) Wibatech Merx 0:00:40
61 Yehor Dementyev (Ukr) Team Novak 0:00:40
62 Lars Kulbe (Ger) Team SKS Sauerland NRW 0:00:40
63 Andreas Schillinger (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:42
64 Charly Petelin (Lux) Amore e Vita-Prodir 0:00:42
65 Francesco Manuel Bongiorno (Ita) Vini Zabu’ KTM 0:00:43
66 Emil Dima (Rom) Giotti Victoria 0:00:43
67 Emanuele Onesti (Ita) Giotti Victoria 0:00:44
68 Dario Puccioni (Ita) Work Service-Dinatek-Vega 0:00:44
69 Jan Bárta (Cze) Elkov-Kasper 0:00:45
70 Rüdiger Selig (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:00:45
71 Pawel Cieslik (Pol) Voster ATS Team 0:00:45
72 Jeen De Jong (Ned) A Bloc CT 0:00:45
73 Matteo Busato (Ita) Vini Zabu’ KTM 0:00:45
74 Valère Thiébaud (Swi) Akros-Excelsior-Thömus 0:00:46
75 Antonio Barac (Cro) Meridiana Kamen Team 0:00:46
76 Adi-Narcis Marcu (Ita) Romania 0:00:49
77 Matteo Badilatti (Swi) Israel Start-Up Nation 0:00:50
78 Paolo Totò (Ita) Work Service-Dinatek-Vega 0:00:50
79 Antoine Debons (Swi) Akros-Excelsior-Thömus 0:00:50
80 Thomas Devaux (Fra) Akros-Excelsior-Thömus 0:00:50
81 András Szentpéteri (Hun) Team Novak 0:00:51
82 Tomasz Budzinski (Pol) Wibatech Merx 0:00:51
83 Nicolas Nesi (Ita) D’Amico um Tools 0:00:51
84 Michal Schlegel (Cze) Elkov-Kasper 0:00:51
85 Mateusz Grabis (Pol) Voster ATS Team 0:00:52
86 Johannes Adamietz (Ger) Team SKS Sauerland NRW 0:00:53
87 Raul Colombo (Ita) Work Service-Dinatek-Vega 0:00:53
88 Johannes Hodapp (Ger) Team SKS Sauerland NRW 0:00:55
89 Leonardo Tortomasi (Ita) Vini Zabu’ KTM 0:00:55
90 Luca Raggio (Ita) D’Amico um Tools 0:00:56
91 Andrea Guardini (Ita) Giotti Victoria 0:00:56
92 Matthias Schnapka (Ger) Bike Aid 0:00:57
93 Lorenzo Marenzi (Cro) Meridiana Kamen Team 0:00:57
94 Antonio Zullo (Ita) Amore e Vita-Prodir 0:00:58
95 Ivan Martinelli (Ita) D’Amico um Tools 0:00:58
96 Riccardo Marchesini (Ita) Amore e Vita-Prodir 0:00:58
97 Szymon Tracz (Pol) CCC Development Team 0:00:59
98 Piotr Pekala (Pol) CCC Development Team 0:01:00
99 Rémi Capron (Fra) Akros-Excelsior-Thömus 0:01:00
100 Daniel Turek (Cze) Israel Start-Up Nation 0:01:01
101 Marek Rutkiewicz (Pol) Mazowsze Serce Polski 0:01:02
102 Dominik Gorak (Pol) CCC Development Team 0:01:02
103 Adam Stachowiak (Pol) Voster ATS Team 0:01:03
104 Lucas Carstensen (Ger) Bike Aid 0:01:04
105 Michal Podlaski (Pol) Mazowsze Serce Polski 0:01:04
106 Michel Gießelmann (Ger) Team SKS Sauerland NRW 0:01:04
107 Filippo Ferronato (Ita) Friuli Asd 0:01:05
108 Luca Wackermann (Ita) Vini Zabu’ KTM 0:01:08
109 Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:01:12
110 Antonio Santoro (Ita) Work Service-Dinatek-Vega 0:01:12
111 Nicholas Rinaldi (Ita) D’Amico um Tools 0:01:13
112 Mihkel Räim (Est) Israel Start-Up Nation 0:01:13
113 Balazs Rozsa (Rou) Team Novak 0:01:14
114 Federico Burchio (Ita) Work Service-Dinatek-Vega 0:01:15
115 Gabriele Petrelli (Ita) Friuli Asd 0:01:15
116 Carol-Eduard Novak (Rom) Team Novak 0:01:18
117 Pascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe 0:01:28
118 Viktor Filutás (Hun) Giotti Victoria 0:01:33
119 Martin Nessler (Ita) Friuli Asd 0:01:33
120 Matteo Pelucchi (Ita) Bardiani CSF Faizane’ 0:01:46
121 Ivar Slik (Ned) A Bloc CT 0:01:49
122 Guy Sagiv (Isr) Israel Start-Up Nation 0:01:59
123 Matija Lojen (Cro) Meridiana Kamen Team 0:02:02
124 Julien Trarieux (Fra) Nippo Delko Provence 0:02:21
125 Valentin Plesea (Ita) Romania 0:02:32
126 Adrian Kurek (Pol) Mazowsze Serce Polski 0:02:53
127 Michael Bresciani (Ita) D’Amico um Tools 0:03:26
128 Andrei Cosmin Bidilici (Ita) Romania