Caleb Ewan (Orica-BikeExchange) took his first classics win when he came out on top in the EuroEyes Cyclassics but he would probably have preferred it to come in a less controversial manner. After a dramatic finale where the remnants of the early break was caught inside the final 500m, Nacer BouhannI (Cofidis) initially crossed the line first and even gave the winner’s interview before it was announced that he had been relegated for irregular sprinting. That allowed Ewan to take the first big one-day win of his career, with John Degenkolb (Giant-Alpecin) and Giacomo Nizzolo (Trek) completing the podium.

 

We have gathered several reactions

 

Crashes and late bike change unable to stop in-form Ewan in first classics win

22-year-old Australian sprinter Caleb Ewan took the win for ORICA-BikeExchangein a wet and crash-heavy Cyclassics Hamburg in Germany today.

 

The day’s breakaway came close to causing an upset before being caught inside the final kilometre. Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) initially won the race before being disqualified for deviating from his line.

 

Three crashes in the last 40kilometres split the field with Ewan getting tangled and needing a bike change.

ORICA-BikeExchange executed the change and the chase to perfection with Ewan taking his first European race victory of 2016 after a hard fought sprint.

 

“I’m really happy with the victory,” said Ewan. “It was a very fast and tough sprint, I had to deviate from my line a bit and it’s always difficult to try and regain momentum after that.

 

“It’s great to get a European win under my belt for this season, it was an eventful day all round after suffering a puncture and then crashing twice although fortunately I landed on my feet both times.

 

“The whole team did a fantastic job in getting me back into the bunch after the crashes and they really were superb today.”

 

Sport director Matt White was pleased with the result and praised the work of the team and Ewan in a hard race.

 

“It was a very tough race,” said White. “The conditions were very difficult and we had half of the team go down in the crash with 15kilometres to go before Luke Durbridge and Michael Albasini did some incredible work to bring us back.

 

“The finale was also chaotic and Luka Mezgec and Daryl Impey fought hard to drop Caleb (Ewan) off in great position to contest the sprint. 

 

“Caleb is a deserved winner today, he did fantastically well to avoid the crash with 300metres to go and finished off the good work of the team brilliantly. 

 

“Of course we are happy with the result, it’s the first win in Europe for Caleb this year after he started the season strongly in Australia. He was up against a top class field today and this win provides more valuable experience for him going into future races.” 

 

John Degenkolb: I am happy to be back on the podium in Germany

John Degenkolb sprinted to second place today at EuroEyes Cyclassics, held in Hamburg – a fantastic result for both himself and Giant-Alpecin at a ‘home’ worldtour race in Germany.

 

Rain and wet roads at the finish meant that some riders were involved in a crash, and Team Giant-Alpecin were not at full strength in the leadout train after losing some riders during the stage, but despite all of this Degenkolb was able to hold his position and sprint to second place.

 

Originally he had placed third on the day, but the winner was disqualified, elevating his position to second.

 

Pleased with his second place, John Degenkolb said after the finish: “It was a very hectic and messy final. For me, from the last climb it looked like the break would stay in front, so we had to give everything. Simon [Geschke] was pulling really hard to help with the chase. In the end it was a pity that Bert [De Backer] had a flat tyre and wasn’t there in the final. We were a little bit blocked and couldn’t prepare a perfect sprint, so I had to come from quite far, but still I’m happy with my sprint and happy to finish on the podium in Germany.”

 

Road captain Roy Curvers added: “Afterwards there’s always mixed feelings when you finish second. It was a tricky race with the rain at the end and that made it pretty hectic, and it was hard to really get control of the race with the laps on the Waseberg. In the end we tried to work it out with the lead-out, and everybody gave everything they had. John came out in an OK position in the sprint, not perfect, but it comes down to details.

 

“I don’t exactly know what happened with Bouhanni, but when you’re third in a race like this – or now second, you have to be satisfied. When you’re close to the win, it’s just a little bit more luck stopping you from winning. On one hand you would have been more satisfied with a win, but on the other hand we know where we’ve come from with John and to be sprinting for the victory in a WorldTour race is also really nice – it shows that we’re doing things well and that we can focus on the win in the next races.”

 

“I think that we should be happy – of course it wasn’t a victory but we can be happy with the result,” continued Coach Marc Reef. “I think that we fought with the whole team today for John. Max [Walscheid] wasn’t feeling good today, and he had to stop in the end, but until that moment he was giving everything for the team. Later on Albert [Timmer] took over to keep John in position, and for the rest – well, we knew that the final would be hectic with the weather playing a role. In general we stayed out of all the crashes and were there with four guys left in the last kilometres. I think that we can be happy with this.”

 

Giacomo Nizzolo: It was the longest sprint I’ve ever done

The 21st edition of the Cyclassics Hamburg ended in a bunch sprint despite a breakaway trying its best to thwart the fast finishers Sunday. 

 

Giacomo Nizzolo sprinted to fourth in a disorganized rush for the line after the breakaway was caught in the final meters, but was later elevated to third when Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) was relegated for an illegal sprint. Caleb Ewan (Orica BikeExchange) was granted the victory. 

 

It was pandemonium in the final kilometers as four men from the original six-man breakaway still held a dangerous lead and wet roads added to the melee.  Under the one-kilometer banner, the catch was imminent, however, their late catch combined with the slippery conditions to create a chaotic ending and leave Nizzolo no choice but to jump early. 

 

"In the sprint, I was scared to be blocked behind so I started the longest sprint of my life," explained Nizzolo. "I think it was more than 300 meters. I had good power, but it was the wrong timing. But in this situation, I preferred to go like this.

 

"We were not, as I expected, with all the guys in the final together: We lost Jasper (Stuyven) and Rasty (Gregory Rast) after the last climb as they had helped me a lot before. And, of course, with the rain it changed things in the end… As I had said, I had to start the sprint too early."

 

The long 217.7-kilometer race began with six riders forming the day's breakaway, and after a long journey out front, four men still held a 30-second advantage with five kilometers remaining. With the rain falling and lots of turns to navigate in the finale, the breakaway appeared to have the upper hand. But from inside the peloton, Nizzolo - alone to battle out the last kilometers - was fairly confident of the catch:

 

"The bunch was so powerful today, and everyone played poker at the end as a result," he answered when asked if he was worried about the precarious situation with the breakaway. "In the end, the power of the bunch won out, and we caught them. I cannot say that I was sure we would catch the breakaway but almost sure."

 

Giacomo Nizzolo will next line up in Plouay to contest GP Ouest-France in a week's time, hoping to top his best finish in that race, a second place in 2013. 

 

In-form Danny Van Poppel close to the podium in Hamburg

Danny van Poppel produced a strong sprint to claim fourth place after a hectic final kilometre at the Hamburg Cyclassics.

 

The Dutchman came from a long way back in a star-studded field to finish strongly, with Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) crossing the line ahead of Caleb Ewan (Orica-BikeExchange).

 

Bouhanni was later relegated by the race organisers for leaving his line in the sprint, bumping Van Poppel up to fourth, and handing the win to Ewan.

 

Team Sky had played a key role in chasing down the six-man lead group, which had slimmed down to four when it came to the crunch, with Luke Rowe in particular a constant presence on the front of the peloton on a fast day, with the race conducted at an average pace of nearly 50km/h.

 

A crash almost wiped out the Welshman 16km from home when a sharp narrowing of the road caught a Cofidis rider out, but Rowe was able to avoid the incident and keep drilling on.

 

Van Poppel then ascended the last climb of the short yet steep Waseberg strongly, towards the front of the pack, but there was still no guarantee of a sprint finish, with the break digging deep out front.

 

Tony Gallopin (Lotto Soudal) and Rui Costa (Lampre Merida) tried to bridge across to the four leaders on the wet German roads but couldn't escape the clutches of the peloton, as Etixx - Quick-Step, Dimension Data and Team Sky all chased hard in the closing 15km.

 

The wet roads, after a deluge of rain midway through the race, unquestionably played their part in proceedings, but in the end the one-day Classic unfolded as expected, and the sprinters did battle.

Chaotic finale destroys Alexander Kristoff’s plans in Hamburg

A last minute catch resulted in a chaotic sprint with Team KATUSHA’s Alexander Kristoff fighting for position on the finish line. The Norwegian sprinter ended up with a fifth place finish after a relegation for irregular sprinting gave Caleb Ewan (Orica-BikeExchange) the win.

 

”I think the team did a good job. During the day we were contributing to the control of the race with the whole team. Also during the laps we were in a good position and I was never in trouble. Coming in to the end the break had a little bit too much time and we had to chase them back with Marco [Haller]. At the end it was me and Jacopo [Guarnieri]. Our plan was to jump onto the leadout from Giant for Degenkolb, but they were too far back. I had a plan to go on the right side because it usually opens up there, but today we caught the break so late that they were coming back down the line on that side so it never opened up. I was then just too far back although I did feel that I had good legs and good speed. We needed to change our plan a little but we didn’t execute that part so well,” explained Alexander Kristoff.

 

LottoNL-Jumbo: Dylan Groenewegen can win Hamburg Cyclassics in the future

Dylan Groenewegen sprinted to sixth in the Euro Eyes Cyclassics in Hamburg today. Team LottoNL-Jumbo’s sprinter was lead out well by Sep Vanmarcke during the final kilometres of the WorldTour race, but was boxed in afterwards. Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis) won, but the jury relegated him due to dangerous sprinting and the victory went to Caleb Ewan (Orica - BikeExchange).

 

“It was quite exciting eventually,” Sports Director Merijn Zeeman said. “The race changed because of the heavy rain, so the first group was able to stay in front a little easier. We worked hard in front of the peloton to help close the gap to the leaders and force a bunch sprint. Our rider decided together to go for Dylan Groenewegen in that sprint instead of Moreno Hofland. The final part of the race was chaotic, but Sep Vanmarcke was able to stay with Dylan and brought him in front. Dylan grabbed his first top 10 result in a WorldTour classic and I think that he will be able to win this race in the future.”

 

“The rain made it all a bit more chaotic,” Groenewegen added. “I wanted to compete for the victory today and I succeeded quite well. In a sprint like this, you have to be a little bit fortunate, as well. We did quite a good job with the team and I’m glad that I was in front after this tough final part of the race. Sep brought me in front very well. He led me to the fifth position, but I was boxed in afterwards.”

 

Mark Renshaw grabs rare opportunity to lead Dimension Data i Hamburg

Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka had a strong squad for today’s Cyclassics Hamburg and Mark Renshaw was the plan A for the finale. The peloton was dealt a blow just inside of 20km to go when a crash in the front few positions held up the majority of the main pack and slowed the chase somewhat. Bernhard Eisel and Youcef Reguigui were doing a great job to look after Reinardt Janse van Rensburg, Edvald Boasson Hagen and Renshaw and so the African Team was still in contention after the pile-up.

 

The escapees were digging deep though and they still had 40″ to play with at the 6km to go mark. Janse van Rensburg did a few big turns at the head of the peloton to bring the gap right down. Boasson Hagen was also mightily impressive as he did an extended turn to pilot Renshaw into the final kilometer. Finally, the break was caught with 600m to go and despite a crash at 300m to go, Renshaw was still able to mix it up with some of the fastest names in the world to finish 7th.

 

Mark Renshaw said:

 

”The team was really good today, looking after me all race and taking me into the final in a good position. It was touch and go near the end if the break was going to be caught but Reinie and Edvald worked right until the end for me. Edvald did a massive turn to set up the sprint so I was happy to get up for 7th.”

 

Sondre Holst Enger ’completely empty’, Heinrich Haussler hugely disappointed

Ninth is the spot that Sondre Holst Enger took on the line, though he was eventually awarded eighth place after the finish of the EuroEyes Cyclassics following the disqualification of Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis).  This was a good result considering how the young rider felt.

 

“I was completely empty and missing all strength,” the Norwegian rider admitted.  “I expected more.  I am disappointed, though I am aware that this race also  represents my return to competition.”

 

“The breakaway scared us, and very nearly went to the finish,” IAM Cycling directeur sportif Thierry Marichal explained. “Fortunately, we were able to count on a strong and cohesive team in the final to bridge the pack back up to the break. Oliver Naesen did a huge job of work. Unfortunately, we were poorly rewarded. Heinrich Haussler was hampered in his effort. And then Sondre Holst Enger, who was our second man for the sprint, gave everything he could.”

 

Heinrich Haussler said:

 

“When I wanted to launch my sprint, the rider on my right veered into me when he launched his at the same time. He touched my front wheel, and I effectively was stopped in my tracks. Luckily I did not crash.  But I won’t pretend: I am very disappointed. I had amazing legs. I trained extremely hard for this goal, and I failed.”

 

Oliver Naesen added:

 

“I punctured at the foot of the Waseberg on the penultimate lap. That is just about the worst possible moment. I gave everything I had to rejoin the peloton. In the end, I did the best I could to help my teammates with the little strength I had left.”  

 

Though the race kicked off in a sunny Hamburg, the peloton headed towards a dark and threatening sky.

 

“The rain surprised many riders,” Thierry Marichal said.  “It was very difficult to remain organized in the bunch. The road meandered around a lot and at times was even flooded. This actually favored the breakaway riders in their efforts.”

 

Marcel Kittel taken out by another puncture: It’s like someone wants to test mu character

Coming into the closing kilometer, Marcel Kittel was in the wheel of Nacer Bouhanni (Cofidis), but soon saw his ambitions go up in smoke, due to a flat rear which took him out of contention.

 

"I punctured in the most unfortunate moment, with 1000 meters to go, while being glued to Bouhanni's wheel. It's like someone wants to test my character. But there are also some positive things that I can take from this race, like the good legs I had and the strong team which helped me throughout the day", said Marcel Kittel, who rolled over the line one minute after the main group, from which Matteo Trentin sprinted to 9th place.

Fantastic Alessandro De Marchi nearly denies the sprinters in Hamburg

BMC Racing Team’s Alessandro De Marchi spent the day in the breakaway before today’s EuroEyes Cyclassics came down to a chaotic and crash-marred bunch sprint which was won by Caleb Ewan (ORICA-BikeExchange).

 

De Marchi was part of a six-rider breakaway that led for most of that day after extending an early advantage of six minutes over the peloton.

 

Heading into the final 40 kilometers of the race, the previously predicted bunch sprint looked to be under threat as the breakaway were still holding a solid lead over the peloton.

 

The race eventually came down to the wire with De Marchi and the remaining breakaway riders caught as the peloton headed onto the final 500 meter finishing straight.

 

Alessandro De Marchi said: 

 

 “It was a little bit strange today as I was trying to do something but I didn’t really have an exact idea of what to do in the finale. I was just trying to seize the day really.

 

“In the last 40 kilometers I knew that we had a really small chance to go all the way so I tried to keep all 4 of us left in the breakaway together as I knew it would be impossible to stay out in front alone and then I was waiting for the best moment to try and make a move and I was really feeling ready to do that and to be alone on the finish line but the bunch was just too fast.

 

“I came into this race feeling ready after Tour du Limousin. I have been feeling good for a few months and today was a chance to play and we did that. I’m happy with how I rode today because in the last two months I have shown every time that I am ready to work for the team when called on.”

 

Sports Director Fabio Baldato said: 

 

“The performance from De Marchi today was incredible. The plan this morning was to try and go with a group of around seven or eight riders but Alessandro is so strong that we thought why not try it with this move. He did a great race and a great performance. The sprinters’ teams behind had to work really hard to bring them back and with five kilometers to go I thought they could maybe go all the way but the peloton gave everything they could to catch them.

 

"The rest of the team did a good job trying to cover the break and stay at the front to slow down the chase but also show that all the team was up there. The finish was definitely dangerous with the rain and sprinters fighting for positions. Rick Zabel and Daniel Oss were stuck behind a crash on the last ascent of the Waseberg which was a shame but we came into this race looking to be competitive and we did that so I am happy.”

 

Waseberg too tough for Andrea Guardini

The Astana Pro Team had the Italian sprinter Andrea Guardini but unfortunately he suffered on the penultimate climb of the Waseberg and was not able to fight for the victory.

 

Maxat Ayazbayev attacked on the last climb 15 km from the finish, and Ruslan Tleubayev finished 13rd in the final sprint

 

“I attacked on the last climb of the Bergwertung,” explained Maxat Ayazbayev after the finish. “In the front part of the bunch many riders were doing tactics so I decided to try. Unfortunately the gap I accumulated in the last part of the climb wasn’t enough to escape but I’m satisified that I had very good legs only 15 km from the finish.”

 

Nikolay Trusov takes over from Adam Blythe in Hamburg

At the end of a hectic, crash-marred sprint finish in Hamburg at the 21st Cyclassics, Nikolay Trusov and Michael Valgren raced to 14th and 15th respectively, the fastest finishers for Tinkoff. The result looked like it would be settled by the day’s break, but a late catch inside the final kilometre set up a fast finish that was hampered by a nasty crash on the wet city roads.

 

“Our goal for today was to bring Adam Blythe into position for the sprint but with the really fast pace chasing the break, he lost contact on the last climb and so we switched our tactics to Nikolay,” explained Sport Director Patxi Vila. The six guys out front did an amazing ride today and the peloton had to work really hard to bring them back for a sprint.”

 

 

On wet roads in the city streets of Hamburg, a hectic sprint unfolded, with a crash bringing down several riders including Juraj Sagan, who managed to finish and was OK.

 

“Nikolay was sitting in second wheel with around 400m to go, but in the final sprint he was passed from behind,” Vila continued. “He tried and gave a good sprint but if you look to the start list here there are some big name sprinters and it was always going to be hard to get a result.

 

“During the race we were protecting Adam and Nikolay, with Gatto, Valgren and Juraj waiting to go with the attacks if they came on the last climbs. But we switched to Nikolay for the sprint. Usually it’s hard for a break to survive here but today they put up a good fight.”

 

Verva-ActiveJet Pole nearly upsets the stars in Hamburg

Kamil Gradek was caught in the last meters. His Verva-ActiveJet teammatesAdrian Banaszek, Jiri Polnicky and Jonas Koch crashed and Norbert Banaszek had a flat tire.

 

”This is cycling, hard and merciless. I gave it my all, I felt good and believed until the end that we would get there. In Hamburg we had our sponsors and it would be great for them, myself and the entire team. Well, we'll keep trying,” said Gradek. 

 

Matej Mohoric close to big WorldTour win in Hamburg

The ambitious project of Matej Mohoric died 2km from the finish. The Slovenian from LAMPRE-MERIDA was in the beak all day and caught in the finale.

In the sprint there was also the blue-fuchsia-green jersey of Sacha Modolo but he had to change the trajectory, redirecting his bike to the center of the road in order to avoid a crash on the left side. The Italian sprinter could only cross the finish line in 21st position.

Sports director Orlando Maini said:

 

"Our first target was to be in the main breakaway of the race and, thanks to a great Mohoric, we did even better: we were not in a simple attack without too many chances of reaching the finish, but we were in a very good breakaway which was close to holding off the chase of the bunch.
 

”This was made possible also thanks to the good work by our riders in the peloton and thanks to some crashes which occurred in the bunch and which slowed the chase.  In the approach of the sprint, Pibernik had a good harmony with Modolo, however it was not enough to achieve a result in the top 10.”

 

Bora-Argon 18 neo-pro close to huge WorldTour win in Hamburg

BORA - ARGON 18 rider Lukas Pöstlberger was in the breakaway and rode a very strong race. He took both, the sprints and the mountains classification today.

 

In the finale, BORA - ARGON 18 formed a train for Phil Bauhaus, who proved his good shape several times in the last weeks. The leaders started to play a little poker and Pöstlberger decided to go own his own, but the seconds lost in the poker game turned out to be crucial - he was caught with just 350m to go. The frantic final also caused a crash in which Phil Bauhaus was involved. Hence, Zakkari Dempster was the best BORA - ARGON 18 rider in the end, taking 21st place.

 

"It's really a shame how the final turned out. If we had pulled 100% to the finish we would have made it, I am sure about that! I tried it on my own in the end, but the uphill home straight was too long. For sure I am proud that I showed our colours that well, but still it is a little frustrating at the moment,” Lukas Pöstlberger

 

Juan Jose Lobato crashes in Hamburg

Luck wasn’t entirely feasible for the Movistar Team as the Blues couldn’t avoid all troubles into the 21st EuroEyes Cyclassics in Hamburg (UCI WorldTour, 217.1km). Juanjo Lobato was involved in one of the crashes affecting the bunch in the final loop around the Waseberg, and was left with no chance to take on the final sprint.

 

Some minor bruises in his right knee and leg were the only serious medical report for Lobato, unable to hobnob within the top sprinters of a race where Nacer Bouhanni (COF) crossed the line first, yet got relegated due to irregular tactics at the finish. Caleb Ewan (OBE) won outright as Jasha Sütterlin - always riding at the front, together with a committed Fran Ventoso - finished Blues’ best in 22nd spot.

 

Cofidis

 

Wouter Wippert crashes out of contention in Hamburg

For Cannondale, Wouter Wippert was among the pointy end action until he was taken out by a crash at 300m. He hit the deck hard but escaped with superficial injuries only.

 

Stölting attacks unrewarded in Hamburg

Team Stölting Service Group played an active role in the EuroEyes Cyclassics Hamburg (1.UWT) as rider made several moves on the Waseberg but never got away. In the end, the race came down to a dramatic sprint finish. The last remaining attackers were caught with only 250 metres to go; just before that there was a mass crash in the peloton that took down Christian Mager. Michael Reihs finished in 33rd place and was the team’s best-placed rider.

 

On the second of four ascents of the Waseberg, climbing at 9%, Christian Mager made a move in the peloton, but couldn’t get a gap. At the penultimate ascent with 29 km to go the four remaining escapees still had a gap of more than two minutes; Fabian Wegmann attacked in the peloton, but he didn’t get away either.

 

Christan Mager was positioned well in the peloton, but he came down in a mass crash with about 400 m to go. Fortunately, he only suffered some road rash. Michael Reihs had supported Christian Mager in an exemplary manner and finished in 33th place, becoming Team Stölting Service Group’s best-placed rider.

 

Sports Director Jochen Hahn said after the race: “It was a hard race against world-class competition. We tried to attack on the Waseberg, but so many teams raced for a sprint today. And it didn’t help that the early break was still out there. In the sprint Christian went down in the crash, that cost us a better placing.”

 

Michael Reihs commented: “It was a crazily fast final with everyone racing at 100%. Christian and I were still there in the end, and I brought him to the front for the sprint. Due to Christian’s crash, I ended up as the team’s best finisher in 33th place.”