Elias Holmström of Ponsbach CST recorded his biggest-ever win yesterday at the Alpe d’Huez Classic. The Swedish climbing ace, fresh from winning Rider of the Season and Best Climber at the recent OCM Awards, powered away from the leading group on the final hairpins to further extend his lead in the World Rankings.
The first serious climbing test of the season attracted a star-studded field, with all the mountain specialists eager to add Alpe d’Huez, with its new ‘Classic’ status, to their palmares.
Verner Ulrichsen of skils and Stephan Cederholm of snyltarane took the remaining places on the distinctly Scandanavian podium, but were powerless to prevent Holmström taking the honors when he made his final attack. It looks like its business as usual for Elias…
Nico | | Holt of Ursus RT returned to winning ways at the Giro di Firenze earlier in the week. Holt saw off the advances of Broderick Legros (Team RI) and Kittipong Klahan of Fairfield Flyers on the final climb into Florence to gain his first victory since leaving the FFL camp.
The Dutchman made a declaration at the OCM Awards that this season ‘would be very, very different’ after winning the Most Disappointing Rider, and it seems he was correct. It is hard to believe, but this was Holt’s first victory in FOUR seasons… there is life after FFL.
Valladolid – León, the first sprinting race of the season proved to be a closely run affair with Jari Fredriksson of Team RI narrowly edging out Archer Houel of CCFC and Nicolai Hermansen of JJL24SS in the dash
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Although a fine victory for Fredriksson, the absence of the likes of van Bon, Vibbard, Lemire, Hodgson and Michielsen, this cannot be considered the first true sprint of the season. The big boys will be coming out to play this week.
And to cap the exciting opening week of the new season, Oscar O’Turnbull of Team Hurricanes won the first time trial, the Rome TT. The Scottish ace powered through the streets of the Eternal City like an exocet missile to record the fastest time ahead of Demy Schiphouwer of skils and Carlos Rubeira of Team Whalers.
All eyes will be on Sieuwerd Bouwens on Friday to see if he can repeat last year’s victory at the Roubaix Classic. Watch this space…
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