Darwin Atapuma (BMC) must have had a sinking sense of déjà vu when he looked over his shoulder 400 metres from the top of the climb to Carì and saw Warren Barguil (Giant-Alpecin) bearing down upon him, but the Colombian summoned up one final effort to hang tough and claim victory on stage 5 of the Tour de Suisse, while French youngster Pierre-Roger Latour (Ag2r-La Mondiale) moved into the overall lead after placing an impressive third on the day.
Atapuma had been denied in similar circumstances on the Giro d’Italia’s Dolomite tappone to Corvara three weeks ago, when he was the lone survivor from the day’s early break but was overhauled in the finishing straight with the win within his grasp.
This time, however, Atapuma was not to be denied. The Colombian was part of the day’s early escape that formed ahead of the mighty Furka Pass and stayed clear on the following Gotthard, but he bided his time as the remnants of that move attacked one another on the lower slopes of the final haul to Carì.
ADVERTISEMENT
Atapuma unleashed a crisp acceleration of his own with 6.5 kilometres remaining that only Natnael Berhane (Dimension Data) could follow, but he too was distanced when the Colombian kicked again and forged clear alone.
At that point, Atapuma was a minute clear of the reduced group of favourites, which was being led by Team Sky. His fellow escapee Tim Wellens (Lotto Soudal), meanwhile, was his most persistent pursuer, but the Belgian never got closer than 20 seconds and faded closer the summit.
When the favourites for overall victory began to attack one another in the final three kilometres, however, Atapuma’s advantages dwindled accordingly. Barguil and Mathias Frank (IAM Cycling) were the first to break ranks, but Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) was the first to gain any real purchase on an acceleration, dancing clear with three kilometres to go.
You can read more at Cyclingnews.com
via Cyclingnews Latest Race Results http://ift.tt/1UPEl9E
No comments:
Post a Comment