Haut Var: Raleigh’s Christian 9th on Stage 2

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Isle of Man rider Mark Christian (Team Raleigh) was ninth on stage 2 of the Haut Var won by  Amaël Moinard. The overall was won by Carlos Betancur.

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Raleigh’s Christian 9th on Stage 2

The stage was a difficult 203km leg with by several steep climbs which favoured a real attacking race. A strong break of eight riders dominated the stage and once brought back into the fold, the attacks didn’t cease until the finish where Amaël Moinard (BMC) took the stage ahead of overall winner, Carlos Betancur (AG2R). Mark Christian was 9th.

Moinard beat Carlos Betancur (AG2R La Mondiale) in a two-up sprint after the pair broke away on the final climb of the 203.4-kilometer race. Moinard said he knew the Côte des Tuilières ascent “perfectly” and waited until it flattened out slightly with 500 meters to go.

“Then I jumped and made it pretty hard,” he said. “Betancur came up to me and we went full out on the downhill. I didn’t touch the brakes – I just went full gas. He was interested in winning the GC (general classification) and I wanted the stage, so it was perfect to go together to the line.”

Earlier in the 203.4-kilometer race, BMC’s former World Champion Thor Hushovd was in an aggressive move by soloing out of an eight-man breakaway with about 55 km to go. The reigning Norwegian national road champion enjoyed a nearly two-minute lead before the peloton overtook him inside the final 20 kms.

It was Moinard’s first victory since joining the BMC Racing Team in 2011, the season he helped Evans win the Tour de France. His last victory before Sunday had also come in a two-up sprint, in the final stage of the 2010 edition of Paris-Nice.

Talking about the stage, Giant Shimano rider Reinardt Janse van Rensburg (7th) said “It was really tough out there today, always up and down”. “The legs were good and the bike was great too. I came down on the final climb and it took a lot of energy to get back to the front and I paid for that at the end.

Cadel Evans who was 4th on that final stage (same time as Mark Christian) said of the race “Tour du Haut Var done. As I’d heard for many years…this race is not easy ”

Team Raleigh manager Cherie Pridham reported: “Our objective for stage one was to try for the breakaway, which we succeeded in with a super ride from young Joe Perrett. Today (Sunday) we set about protecting Mark Christian and Matthieu Boulo on a very difficult mountainous course. In the shake up for the final 20km, we had Mark and Matthieu up there in some great company. Matt did a fantastic job leading Mark to take a fine 9th on the stage. I have for to say well done to the entire team on a great show!”

STAGE 2
1 MOINARD Amaël BMC Racing Team 05:23:30
2 BETANCUR Carlos Alberto AG2R La Mondiale
3 VIENNET Emilien FDJ.fr 00:10
4 EVANS Cadel BMC Racing Team 00:12
5 FONSECA Armindo Bretagne РS̩ch̩ Environnement
6 GARCíA ETXEGIBEL Egoitz Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
7 JANSE VAN RENSBURG Reinardt Team Giant-Shimano
8 AMADOR Andrey Movistar Team
9 CHRISTIAN Mark Team Raleigh
10 RUBIANO Miguel Angel Team Colombia

19 CHAVANEL Sylvain IAM Cycling
30 ANTON Igor Movistar Team
31 FEILLU Brice Bretagne РS̩ch̩ Environnement
33 SáNCHEZ Samuel BMC Racing Team
34 BOULO Matthieu Team Raleigh

47 DEGENKOLB John Team Giant-Shimano 2.47
49 ROLLAND Pierre Team Europcar

51 GONçALVES Domingos Team La Pomme Marseille
65 WILKINSON Ian Team Raleigh 3.44
78 HUSHOVD Thor BMC Racing Team
82 SUTTON Chris Team Sky 06:44
85 KNEES Christian Team Sky

DNF OLIPHANT Evan Team Raleigh
DNF STONES Liam Team Raleigh
DNF PERETT Joseph Team Raleigh –

OVERALL
1 BETANCUR Carlos Alberto AG2R La Mondiale 09:05:30
2 DUMOULIN Samuel AG2R La Mondiale 00:12
3 MOINARD Amaël BMC Racing Team
4 FONSECA Armindo Bretagne РS̩ch̩ Environnement 00:15
5 EVANS Cadel BMC Racing Team
6 CHEREL Mikael AG2R La Mondiale
7 GAUTIER Cyril Team Europcar
8 VIENNET Emilien FDJ.fr 00:16
9 PINEAU Jérome IAM Cycling 00:18
10 AMADOR Andrey Movistar Team

18 CHRISTIAN Mark Team Raleigh @ 21
19 CHAVANEL Sylvain IAM Cycling
24 BOULO Matthieu Team Raleigh
37 SáNCHEZ Samuel BMC Racing Team 01:42
38 DEGENKOLB John Team Giant-Shimano 02:47
63 WILKINSON Ian Team Raleigh 4.08
65 HUSHOVD Thor BMC Racing Team 04:16
81 SUTTON Chris Team Sky 07:19

 

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