Kristian Sbaragli’s consistent run of form continued today when he sprinted to 5th place at the GP du Canton d’Argovie. The victory was taken out by Alexander Kristoff (Katusha) with Michael Albasini (Orica-Greenedge) 2nd and Davide Appollonio (Androni-Giocattoli) 3rd.
The race would unfold pretty much as expected and as it has over the last 2 years as well. A break of 6 riders were allowed to go up the road early on and they would be able to muscle out a 7 minute lead for themselves. BMC and Greenedge did much of the pace setting during the race.
As the race was comprised out of 15 laps of a 12km circuit, the first 10 laps were all about going through the motions before the chase began in earnest. After the accumulated fatigue in the opening 120km, the climb on the circuit started to bite over the last 5 laps and the gap to the break quickly came down. With the final 12km lap to go, a 70 rider peloton had just reeled in the breakaway.
There were a number of attacks on the final climb of the race and Silvain Dillier (BMC Racing) would be the rider that got away to make a solo push for the line. Katusha were too strong for the lone escapee and the race came down to the bunch sprint. Kristoff showed his class once again while Kristian came home in respectable 5th place.
Alex Sans Vega – Sport Director
