Son of Erik wins the 5th stage in Normandie Whilst Alex Blain (Raleigh-GAC) closes gap by two seconds on the overall
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There is no doubt the Zabel clan is a family of sprinters! Prior to Rick Zabel winning the stage, a breakaway of seven led the race for about 80 kilometers before the final rush to the line and the triumph by Zabel.
The riders had to cover 180 km on roads that were sure to be wearing them down but that didn’t stop the riders covering 49 kilometres in the first hour. Suffice to say that for those wanting to attack, it was difficult to get out of the peloton.
It wasn’t until 80 kilometres had passed that seven riders took flight. Markus Fothen (Team NSP-Ghost), Bizhigitov Zhandos (Astana CT), Krainer Taruia (Vendée U), Bob Schoonbroodt (Cyclingteam De Rijke-Shanks), Stian Remme (Joker Merida), Magnus Cort (Team Cult Energy) and Lodewijks Gert (Verandas Willems) opened up a three minute lead and were not allowing themselves to easily be caught by the peloton.
As they approached the final circuit to be covered three times, they were being brought back and on the finishing circuit sees 40 riders or so in contention for the stage from which Zabel showed he was the fastest.
Sunday sees the final stage and the last opportunity for Raleigh-GAC to get back the five seconds and give Blain the opportunity to win the race for the second time.
Stage
1 ZABEL Rick Rabobank Development Team 4:02:09
2 HUREL Tony Europcar
3 BENFATTO Marco Continental Team Astana
4 JARRIER Benoit Bretagne- Séché Environnement
5 VAN DER LIJKE Nick Rabobank Development Team
6 KLEMME Daniel Leopard – Trek Continental Team
7 THOMEL Tino Team NSP – Ghost
8 VAN BAARLE Dylan Rabobank Development Team
9 LECUISINIER Pierre-Henri Vendée U
10 NIKOLAEV Sergey Itera – Katusha
13 BLAIN Alexandre Team Raleigh – GAC @ st
30 HOUSE Kristian Rapha Condor @ 6 secs
39 SCULLY Thomas Team Raleigh – GAC 0:12
44 GRIVELL-MELLOR Luke Rapha Condor ‘ 1.46
51 MCLAUGHLIN James Sojasun espoir-ACNC @ 2.31
62 LAVERACK Ed Rapha Condor ,,
67 BUGGLE Aaron Rapha Condor ,,
87 NORRIS Lachlan Team Raleigh – GAC 5:57
90 LANG Richard Team Raleigh – GAC 6.07
92 BERTHOU Eric Team Raleigh – GAC ,,
93 CHRISTIAN Mark Team Raleigh – GAC ,,
109 CUMING Michael Rapha Condor 13.59
OVERALL
1 DILLIER Silvan BMC Development Team 20:07:37
2 BLAIN Alexandre Team Raleigh – GAC 00:05
3 VAN BAARLE Dylan Rabobank Development Team 00:09
4 SILVESTRE Fabio Leopard – Trek Continental Team 00:24
5 LUDVIGSSON Fredrik Team People4you – Unaas Cycling 00:31
6 HANSEN Jesper Team Cult Energy 00:34
7 HUREL Tony Europcar 00:41
8 DION Renaud Bretagne- Séché Environnement 00:42
9 OLSSON Michael Team People4you – Unaas Cycling 00:48
10 SCULLY Thomas Team Raleigh – GAC
49 GRIVELL-MELLOR Luke Rapha Condor 10:28
67 BERTHOU Eric Team Raleigh – GAC 26:35
75 MCLAUGHLIN James Sojasun espoir-ACNC 31:21
78 HOUSE Kristian Rapha Condor 32:11
80 CHRISTIAN Mark Team Raleigh – GAC 33:23
81 LANG Richard Team Raleigh – GAC 33:55
89 NORRIS Lachlan Team Raleigh – GAC 36:33
94 BUGGLE Aaron Rapha Condor 43:47
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