Shane Archbold, 26-years old new addition to BORA – ARGON 18 and lead-out rider for sprint captain Sam Bennett, scored himself a top result for his team at the Classica Corsica. The fast New Zealander sprinted to 2nd place in Bastia, only defeated by Thomas Boudat (Europcar) after 204 kilometers.

Two days before the start of the Critérium International, the one-day race was held on the French island. Bora-Argon 18 rode attentively during the entire race. In the first hilly part of the race, Patrick Konrad represented the team in all significant leading groups. Konrad completed the successful day with finishing in 15th place.

”Today’s top result underlines the quality of a rider like Shane: being originally a lead-out rider for the sprinters, he takes his own chance and becomes a great second in a very tough race. That’s exactly what you can hope and wish for as a team“, comments Bora-Argon 18 Sport Director Christian Pömer on the result to the Bora Argon website.

“We expected that the two early climbs would be too selective for the sprinters. But Shane came back with great fighting spirit. So we changed our tactics on the run, aiming for the sprint with Shane. Dominik Nerz showed his leader qualities and guided perfectly the guys. Our riders, pure climbers in fact, took the responsibility and they rode a lead-out for Shane that was almost perfect. They delivered him in a front spot so Shane could do his sprint. That was a top job by the entire team”, Pömer continues.

"I am very happy with this 2nd place," Archbold told Directvelo. "I was selected to these events in Corsica to do the job for the sprinters on the first stage of the Criterium International. In the briefing this morning, we do not focus on me. I did not make it over the mountains with the best. Given the profile of the race, we did not necessarily hope for much. This was primarily a training race for the weekend. 

"I was in trouble on the two climbs. I found myself in a group of with fifteen riders. I was five minutes behind at the top of the climb. We were able to get back 80 kilometers from the finish.

"In the final, the team positioned me. I think of Patrick Konrad who did a great job. I have not had to fight for my position. I did a good sprint but there was nothing to do against Thomas (Boudat). 

"This is my first year at this level, I don't have a lot of personal ambitions. The rest of the year, I'm here to help Sam Bennett in the sprints. Today, he was not there and I was second. It's good for my morale."

On Saturday, Bora-Argon 18 will start with the same line-up at the Critérium International on Corsica. The race includes a flat half-stage, a short individual time trial as well as a mountain-top finish up the Col de l’Ospedale, a climb over 14 kilometers and with an average incline of 6%.