June 15/10 16:32 pm - Tour de Beauce: Stage 1 report, PHOTOS and results

Posted by Editoress on 06/15/10
 

The 25th edition of the Tour de Beauce opened with a record win for Rafael Serrano Fernandez (Heraklio-Murcia), who not only won the stage, but also took the leader's jerseys in all four categories - Yellow, White (Points), Polka Dot (Climber) and Red (Best Young Rider) - a first ever occurrence for Beauce.  Sergiy Grechyn (Amore e Vita) took second place and Charles Dionne (Fly V Australia) nipped fellow Canadian Andrew Pinfold (United Healthcare p/b Maxxis) for third.

Photos

Rafael Serrano Fernandez

The 165 kilometre Lac Etchemin stage usually ends with a small breakaway staying clear, but this year it nearly came to a field sprint, as Serrano Fernandez held off a fast-closing group to win by eight seconds.  Although the day was bright and sunny, heavy, gusting winds discouraged breakaways.

This did not stop riders from trying, with Serrano Fernandez figuring in most attacks, spending a total of 125 kilometres off the front.  After a number of attempts, a group of 17 riders formed after the first KoM climb.  Serrano Fernandez was part of an early group that went for the KoM points (won by Serrano Fernandez), and then other riders bridged across in ones and twos, to make up the 17 leaders.

This group had a lot of heavy hitters, and initially looked to be the winning move.  In addition to Serrano Fernandez, the break included Fly V Australia's Ben Day (former Beauce champion), David Tanner and Jay Thomson; BMC's Jeff Louder and John Murphy; United Healthcare's Marc Demaar and Pinfold; former Beauce champion Valeriy Kobzarenko and Michael Creed from Team Type 1; SpiderTech's Francois Parisien, Ryan Roth, Lucas Eusler and David Boily; Grechyn from Amore e Vita; André Tremblay from Québec Provincial and Will Routley (Team Canada).

This group quickly went 90 seconds clear, but never got completely organized, and once the chase began - led by Felt-Holowesko and CKT Champion - it was brought back.  However, it did set the stage for the longest break, which Serrano Fernandez launched his victory from.

Routley and Thomson joined Serrano Fernandez in a new break as the original one was getting absorbed, and the small group was successful in getting away.  With 10 kilometres they were over four minutes up, and went to five-plus minutes before BMC half-heartedly organized a chase to keep the gap manageable.

BMC chases

As the wind took its toll, the gap started to drop, but the race then hit a downhill after the third KoM that was unexpectedly covered in loose gravel, causing multiple flats (including Serrano Fernandez) and a very bad crash in the main field.

The section was under construction but, according to organizers, they had checked it the day before and it was hardpacked dirt.  Overnight, it appears that the construction crew put down fresh gravel on the section [the construction on this section was also supposed to be completed before the race began...].

The section took down half a dozen riders, with Team Canada's Matt Bell and BMC's Alexander Kristoff the worst off.  Both lay in the dirt bleeding from head wounds and were rushed to hospital.  Thankfully, the latest word is that the worst off, with a probable concussion, is Bell.  Creed also went down hard, but managed to finish, and was then carted off to hospital.  He is expected to start stage 2.

At the front, the three breakaways took their lead back to five minutes, but the bunch was getting reorganized, with SpiderTech taking a turn on the front.  At 20 kilometres to go the gap was down to two minutes, and five kilometres later just over a minute.

Routley, Thomson and Serrano Fernandez

Serrano Fernandez attacked his two companions at 14 kilometres to go on one of the constant climbs that make up Beauce.  Initially, Routley tried to chase, but didn't have the legs, and he and Thomson were scooped up by the peloton.

"When the break went, it was right after the other one came back, so it seemed like a good time," explained Routley.  "But when there were only three of us, I started to wonder a bit if it had been the right idea...  But we were working well together, and the gap went up pretty quick and stayed there.  When [Serrano Fernandez] went, we tried to get back up to him, but couldn't quite make it."

Serrano Fernandez continued to dangle some 30 seconds in front of the chase, and the field splintered on the last significant climb, with less than five kilometres remaining.  38 riders stayed in the chase as the race swept back into Beauce, but it was eight seconds too late, as Serrano Fernandez took an extremely impressive win.

"We thought that Canada would be flat," commented Serrano Fernandez, "but it is not!  This was a hard race, and I did not know if I could stay away.  But we came to Canada to win."

Dionne was surprised and pleased to be on the podium.  "At the start of the stage my legs were not so good, so I did not think that I would be there at the end.  But as the race went on I started to feel better, and in the final kilometres I had very strong support from my team mates Ben Day and David Tanner.  We were surprised that he [Serrano Fernandez] was able to stay away.  I went quite far out on this downhill finish, 500 metres, but one guy was able to catch me at the line [Grechyn]."

Race Notes

- While Serrano Fernandez would be happy with any jersey, "the [yellow] one is the most important one, and we will try to defend it."

- Regarding the riders who crashed in the gravel:  Matt Bell was transferred to hospital and has been diagnosed with a severe concussion.  He also has some facial contusions, but with some rest will be okay.  Alexander Kristoff has some cuts on his face that required stitches

- Tomorrow's stage starts and finishes in Thetford Mines, west of St-Georges.  The 160 kilometre stage has two KoM climbs and two intermediate Sprints, however, like every stage at Beauce, the profile resembles a saw blade.  The stage begins at 10:00 am EDT.