Lasse-Norman Hansen (Cannondale-Garmin) won stage 5 at the Tour of Alberta Sunday in Spruce Grove after the chasing riders rode off course near the end of the stage. Officials neutralised the planned two finishing circuits in town as Hansen soloed in for the win. Officials gave second place to Trek Factory Racing's Laurent Didier and third to his teammate Bauke Mollema, who remains in the overall lead.
"Approximately two kilometres to go, I got the report that I had won the stage, the peloton had done a wrong turn,” Hansen said. “I would have liked to have finished the race in a proper way, and I’m pretty sure I would have made it to the line anyway but I’m satisfied – a win is a win.”
Sven Erik Bystrøm (Katusha) had been chasing Hansen, who was away solo near the end of the stage. Bystrøm approached an intersection where volunteer course marshals were waving and directing him to turn right, however, he continued to ride straight through the intersection, which was not blocked off. The peloton followed Bystrom's lead and also continued off the course. Bystrøm noted on the Katusha team's website that he had followed the motorbikes in front of him.
ADVERTISEMENT
While the rest of the field was led back onto the course, officials told a confused Hansen, who had already completed a lap and a half of the two final circuits, that he had officially won the stage before crossing the finish line.
How it unfolded
After the sun-kissed and breathtaking views of the Canadian Rockies during the fourth stage that finished at the Marmot Basin Ski Area, the weather conditions took a turn back to rain and cold temperatures for stage 5, the longest day at the Tour of Alberta.
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Race Results http://ift.tt/1i8rr8z
No comments:
Post a Comment