Cataford instigates break of the day
“The last two laps started to get hectic,” McCabe said at the press conference. “Guys were attacking on the hill; that forced breaks and a lot of disorganization. Once everyone got back together they were pretty much on the limit with the altitude and the climb. You didn’t have many cards to play with.”
Team director Seba Alexandre said the plan for the team was to race aggressive and have representation in the break, in order to put pressure on other teams to ride.
“With six riders per team, it is limited the number of riders to ride, and we knew everyone was going to look at us.”
The plan worked when Alex Cataford took off in a break with three riders, Pascal Eenkhoorn (Lotto NL Jumbo), Liklas Eg (Trek Segafredo). Eventual winner Gage Hecht (Aevolo) bridged across to the break to make it four up the road leading by a maximum of just a minute and 30 seconds on the 109-km stage.
“EF Educational First Drapac missed the move and they were forced to ride,” Alexandre said. “Last two times up the KOM climb, the gap was still 40” and lot of attacks in the field.”
On the last lap, Daniel Jaramillo was sent to the front and follow attacks on the climb. The gap to the break was just 30 seconds at that point. Once they hit the climb, Hecht attacked and open 40 seconds on the field.
“Jaramillo did great following the attack of Daniel Martinez (EF Education First) and closed the gap,” Alexandre said. “They caught the three remaining riders from the break, field chased them, but once they caught those guys all sat on, and the gap to the kid was holding at 20 seconds. Gavin Mannion did a good pull to hold it, but no other team was interested and we didn’t have the number of guys. Then Jaramillo rode again, but without Cataford, who was in the break all day and Norris, not feeling good at the end, we just couldn’t bring it back with two guys.”
Despite the odds, Seghei Tvetcov did a fantastic lead out for McCabe to finish second. McCabe is also second on GC, 12 seconds behind Hecht before tomorrow’s uphill time 16km trial.
Photos: Jonathan Devich
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