Criterium International: Theo’s the Bos on Stage 1

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 Former World Sprint champion Theo Bos (Blanco) powers to an impressive win on stage 1 of the Criterium International 

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Despite struggling on the only climb of the opening stage of the Criterium International and only just making it back to the pack in the closing moments of the race, former World Sprint champion Theo Bos powered to an impressive win after a spectacular bunch sprint.

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Above: Theo Bos wins stage 1 of the Criterium International. Photo ©ASO/P. Perreve

Beating Bouhanni and Cantwell to the line, the Dutchman captures the overall lead and will be wearing the yellow jersey in the afternoon’s time-trial.

Arashiro first on the break
The shortened format (89kms) of the morning stage attracted quite a few breakaway candidates as soon as the first kilometres, but the peloton responded to each attempt in the opening ten kilometres. Eventually, at kilometre 11, Yukiya Arashiro (EUC) managed to take off taking with him Jérémy Roy (FDJ), Romain Hardy (COF), Arnaud Gérard (BSE) and Antoine Lavieu (LPM).

The group of five enjoyed a maximum 3’30″ advantage at km 28. Teams Argos-Shimano and Garmin-Sharp then decided to really take on the chase, maintaining the escapees within a decent enough gap.

The front men led by Gerard, reached the summit of the Côte de Conca with a lead of 1’35″ on the peloton. The intermediate sprint, set at Lecci, was claimed by Arashiro while the peloton remained just 35″ adrift.

It looked like mission impossible for the leaders in the final moments of the stage as teams RadioShack-Leopard and FDJ joined in the chase. With just under 3 kilometres to go, the front five were finally caught. Time had come for a bunched sprint as the pack headed back to Porto-Vecchio.

Bos untouchable!
On the slightly uphill final straight, Theo Bos (Blanco) made the best of the excellent work of his team mate Graeme Brown to fly to victory. The Dutch sprinter flew to his fourth success of the season (after stage wins in Algarve and Langkawi) and his first on the Criterium International, beating Bouhanni (FDJ) and Cantwell (SKY) to the line.

The win gives Bos the overall leader’s yellow jersey as well as the lead of the points’ classification. Before the afternoon’s individual time-trial, Bouhanni is the best young rider and Gerard will carry the polka-dot best climber’s jersey.

Stage 1
1 BOS Theo Blanco Pro Cycling Team 2:02:43
2 BOUHANNI Nacer Equipe Cycliste FDJ
3 CANTWELL Jonathan Team Saxo-Tinkoff
4 KORETZKY Clément Bretagne- Séché Environnement
5 GESCHKE Simon Team Argos – Shimano
6 HIVERT Jonathan Sojasun
7 REZA Kevin Europcar
8 MARTINEZ Yannick La Pomme Marseille
9 SCHMIDT Fabien Sojasun
10 JULES Justin La Pomme Marseille

23 EVANS Cadel BMC Racing Team
27 PORTE Richie Sky Procycling
36 VOECKLER Thomas Europcar
53 SCHLECK Andy RadioShack – Leopard
70 FROOME Christopher Sky Procycling
96 TIERNAN-LOCKE Jonathan Sky Procycling

 

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