Report/Results: Blain 2nd for Raleigh in Normandie

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Winner in 2011, Alex Blain (Raleigh-GAC) fell just three seconds short of winning the 2013 Tour of Normandie on the final stage

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Alex, winner of the CiCLE Classic last year and a winner of the Tour Series in Southport when riding for Endura Racing, did what he could to win the race today, getting three bonus seconds in an early sprint but was unable to add to that in the final sprint.

The French rider who had won a stage in the race fell just three seconds short of what he needed to win the race overall but did make the podium as winner of the Points jersey. Another Raleigh-GAC rider Tom Scully made it two in the top ten overall with 10 place.

Two in the top 10, Two stage wins, Two podium jerseys for Raleigh-GAC in Normandie
“We gave everything and gained seconds on the road with the boys riding the race of their lives” said Raleigh’s manager Cherie Pridham. “I could not have asked anymore of them.”

Alex Blain meanwhile said “Despite two stage’s wins, two days in yellow, 2nd on GC, Green jersey, 2nd-3rd-5th on stages, is unreal but right now I am so dissapointed! I guess Team Raleigh squad got the feeling now of what it is like to lose the cup at penalties. I just hit the crossbar & fell on my knees … Huge thanks to Eric Berthou, Richard Lang, Lachlan Norris, Mark Christian and the Scud (Tom Scully). Team Raleigh gave an awesome show all week and we won respect on the UCI scene now!”

BMC’s Silvan Dillier Wins Tour de Normandie

Silvan Dillier earned the BMC Development Team’s first victory by winning the overall classification Sunday at the Tour de Normandie. Dillier took a three-second win over Alex Blain (Team Raleigh-GAC), whom he overtook for the lead after Friday’s stage of the seven-day French race.

Blain made it close on the final, 137-kilometer stage by winning a three-second intermediate time bonus sprint, but Dillier earned one second himself by placing third. Tino Thömel (Team NSP-Ghost) won the last stage as Dillier placed 15th.

“This is the greatest victory I have had so far for sure,” Dillier said. “It is also an overall victory and I have never won a stage race before, so this is really special. I am really happy. The team did a great job for me. They protected me the whole day. It was a really great job they did all week.”

Dillier, 22, also won the best young rider classification of the UCI 2.2 race. His young career already includes Swiss Under 23 national titles in the time trial (2010 and 2012), one on the road (2009) and Under 23 European track championship titles in the pursuit and the madison (both in 2012).

BMC Development Team Manager Rik Verbrugghe said it would be hard to imagine a more perfect start to the season. “The team was really strong all week and rode perfectly,” he said. “This is the first year of our program, this was our first stage race, it was our first goal of the season and we came back with a victory. So it’s amazing.”

FINAL STAGE

Bagnoles-de-l’Orne / Caen
1. THÖMEL Tino Team NSP – Ghost GER 03h08’07
2. LEMONTAGNER Maxime Roubaix Lille Métropole
3. VAN DER LIJKE Nick Rabobank Development Team
4. DUVAL Julien Roubaix Lille Métropole
5. CLAUSEN Patrick Team Cult Energy
6. ALAFACI Eugenio Leopard Trek CT
7. DRUYTS Gerry EFC Omega Pharma – Quick St
8. KLEMME Daniel Leopard Trek CT
9. HUREL Tony Team Europcar
10. SILVESTRE Fabio Leopard Trek CT

12. BLAIN Alexandre Team Raleigh
15. DILLIER Silvan BMC Development Team
23. BUGGLE Aaron Rapha Condor JLT
33. GRIVELL-MELLOR Luke Rapha Condor JLT
37. HOUSE Kristian Rapha Condor JLT
39. LAVERACK Edward Rapha Condor JLT’
60. SCULLY Thomas Team Raleigh
88. MC LAUGHLIN James Sojasun Espoir ACNC
97. LANG Richard Team Raleigh
98. BERTHOU Eric Team Raleigh
99. CUMING Michael Rapha GBR19901218 Condor JLT
102. NORRIS Lachlan Team Raleigh
103. CHRISTIAN Mark Team Raleigh

OVERALL
1 DILLIER Silvan BMC 23h15’43”
2 BLAIN Alexandre Raleigh-GAC @ 3 secs
3 VAN BAARLE Dylan RB3 @ 8 secs
4 SILVESTRE Fabio LET @ 25 secs
5 LUDVIGSSON Fredrik PPY @ 32 secs
6 HANSEN Jesper GLU @ 35 secs
7 HUREL Tony EUC @ 42 secs
8 DION Renaud BSE @ 43 secs
9 OLSSON Michael PPY @ 49 secs
10 SCULLY Thomas Raleigh-GAC @ st

49 GRIVELL-MELLOR Luke RCJ @ 10’29”
71 BERTHOU Eric Raleigh-GAC@ 31’12”
73 MC LAUGHLIN James SOJ @ 31’22”
75 HOUSE Kristian RCJ @ 32’12”
83 CUMING Michael RCJ @ 36’31”
86 LANG Richard Raleigh-GAC@ 38’32”
88 CHRISTIAN Mark Raleigh-GAC@ 40’16”
91 NORRIS Lachlan Raleigh-GAC AUS 23h59’09” 43’26”
93 BUGGLE Aaron RCJ @ 43’48”
104 LAVERACK Edward RCJ @ 53’13”

Points
1. Alex Blain, Raleigh-GAC

Best Young Rider
1. DILLIER Silvan BMC Development Team
6. SCULLY Thomas Team Raleigh 49”

 

 

 

 

 

 

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