Cyclingheroes

Tour de L'avenir : Hartmann took 8th stage, Mollema defended overall lead

The route of the 2007 Tour de l'Avenir (picture: A.S.O.)

The battle started after only just 9 kilometers when Andrey Klyuev (RUS) and José Herrada (ESP) managed to break away. In the climb up the first hill of the day, the Côte de Brion, Klyuev eventually failed to follow leaving Herrada on his own. Nicolas Hartmann (FRA) then took off on a counter-attack and caught up with the front man. At the top Herrada made it first, followed by Hartmann. The pack led by Nelson Rocha (POR), Fabio Taborre, Dario Cataldo (ITA) and Lars Boom (NED), remained 20’’ adrift. In the downhill portion, the gap started growing. Both men made it to the top of the Col de Vestizoux (km 24,5) with a 50’’ lead (in the following order: Herrada, Hartmann, Cataldo). They enjoyed an advantage of 1’15 after 27 kilometers, 2’30 at Apchat and close to 3’30 at the entry of the feeding zone at Le Babory de Blesle.

In the first kilometers of the climb up the Col de Lescure, Herrada and Hartmann saw their lead increase and reach 3’50. Valerio Agnoli (ITA) made the best of the hill climb to try and take off on a counter-attack. He was caught by Dalivier Ospina, Jarlinson Pantano (MIX – COL) and Pawel Cieslik (POL) who carried on their effort; dropping the Italian behind. Agnoli was finally caught by Bole (SLO) also ahead of the pack. Halfway up the climb Cieslik attacked again leaving his companions behind. With 500m to go before the top of the climb, the bunch increased its pace led by the Dutch team and caught up with all the counter-attacking riders. Herrada and Hartmann continued their fine day and made it clear to the top with a 3’ advantage over a pack led by Cataldo, Mollema, Buividas, Vandewalle, Martin and Cieslik.

Going downhill, Ignatas Konovalovas (LTU) took off on his own. After 92 kilometers he had a 3’ deficit on the leading riders and a 15’’ advantage over the pack. At the first passage on the line in Brioude (km102), Hartmann claimed the most sprinters points ahead of Herrada. Konovalovas crossed the line, 2’45 adrift with the pack at 3’20. At the start of the first climb up the Côte de Vazeilles, Hartmann and Herrada kept a 2’50 lead on Konovalovas and 3’10 on the main field. But under the influence of the Dutch squad, the bunch started moving closer and caught up with the Lithuanian rider at kilometre 108. At the top (km 110), Herrada and Hartmann maintained a decent 2’50 lead over Cataldo, Mollema, Spilak (SLO) and Steensen in the front positions of the pack.

At the second passage on the line for the second bonus sprint  Herrada and Hartmann again increased their advantage to 3’ over a pack led by Oleh Opryshko (UKR). In the second climb up the Côte de Vazeilles, Herrada and Hartmann hung on to their lead. At the top they could still enjoy a 2’10 lead over a pack led by the yellow jersey and his team mates.

Going downhill for the final kilometers, the front men kept a good enough lead. With one kilometre to go Hartmann and Herrada started looking at each other and preparing the final sprint for victory Hartmann took off with 300m to go. He maintained his lead all the way to the line to clinch his first success of the Tour. Behind the pack eventually finished the stage with a 1’45 deficit. Dutch rider Bauke Mollema keeps his yellow jersey.

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