Team SpiderTech powered by Planet Energy continues its winning success with 2 stage wins thus far in the challenging Telmex Vuelta Mexico (UCI 2.2)
The team arrived in Veracruz, Mexico ready for a tough stage race. Our team goals were simple; focus on winning stages.
STAGE 1 was fast and windy on the gulf coast which would be a first chance for our sprinters to heat up the action. The aim of the team was to bring Martin Gilbert to the last 200 meters in front on the wheel of Lacombe. Martin’s goal was to win the last left hand turn coming into the short finish straight.. The team formed a good plan after reviewing the final km which would be hard fought and a bit crazy with 5 turns, rough pavement and plywood covering water drainages. The teamwork of Parisien, Langlois, Boily, Euser and De Luna, placed Boivin, Lacombe and Gilbert in excellent position at the flame rouge with Boivin, then Lacombe hitting the front approaching the final turns. Team Type 1 rider, Ilesic jumped clear at 500 meters scooping the lead with a small gap going into the final two turns. Gilbert sprinted to a well deserved 3rd place with Guillaume Boivin 4th. It was a very good start to our tour in Mexico and a confidence boost for our men working well together.
STAGE 2 promised to be a little different with over 1600 meters of climbing over 108 km with the race finish at 1400 meters above sea level. From the gun the attacks were insistent for the first hour and a half over rolling terrain. The speed of the race never dropping below 45 km per hour. At approximately 50 km to go Mancebo (Rock Racing), Kobzarenko (Team Type 1) and Parra (Boyaca) launched away. Parisien recognized the good moment and made a huge effort to bridge across to the break now making four men in front. The men worked well and efficiently to mount an advantage on the first significant gains of elevation of the tour. The time gap increased to 4 minutes in front of the peloton with 30 km to go.
The foursome continued to roll well over the KOM and were holding the lead regardless of a peloton pursuit led by the Mexican team Arenas Alubike. I spoke with Francois from the team car on several occasions and he tried hard not to let out a big smile he was feeling so good. I told him put that grin away and don’t give away his excellent condition. The uphill finish to Xalapa was not easy and Francois matched the accelerations of the others. At 500 meters Mancebo led it out hard hoping to gain as much time as he could on GC. Francois attacked from his wheel over the steep crest into the finish straight winning by several bike lengths. A great win for Francois, well deserved after hard work.
Stage 5
After getting beat up on a very tough altitude day on stage 4, the team regrouped with knowledge that today was a bike race suited to us. We knew it was time to get back in the game and take our shot and another stage win. The strategy was simple. Rock Racing would control the GC race and be happy to let a breakaway ride clear with riders that were far behind on general classification. I told the boys; “it’s a breakaway today for sure that will win and we cannot miss the break”.
The stage’s terrain suited plenty of early attacking as the profile held no significant climbs. The first hour of the race clocked 50 km without anyone going clear of the bunch. Finally a small group of 8 riders formed 10 seconds in front over a highway overpass which contained Bruno Langlois of Team SpiderTech. More riders joined making the group stronger. Flavio de Luna of Team SpiderTech realized it was the moment and jumped to the group. Flavio was the final rider of the breakaway to join.
19 riders in total cruised to an important lead immediately as Rock Racing dropped the chase. The peloton relaxed with all the riders in front having more than 16 minutes deficit to the GC leader Mancebo. With over120 km to go the group of 19 cruised to 10 minutes advantage continually working well together. No team had more than two riders in the front group so Team SpiderTech were in good shape. Flavio de Luna and Bruno Langlois both looked smooth and concentrated each time Rick Barrow and I moved forward to provide electrolyte mix and water. As the sun pushed through the cloud cover temperatures rose dramatically (42 C) in the final 40 km. We began to form some tactical plans. I spoke to Bruno first who told me he was feeling the heat effects and did not feel top. Flavio felt good and strong and looked smooth. I told Bruno that he needed to set Flavio up for an attack. Bruno asked “Where should I attack” and I told him “you will feel the moment.” It was Flavio’s turn. I told him. “Flavio, you will need to attack to win, do not wait for the sprint” Flavio replied, “yes Bruno will try something” and I told him “If and when Bruno gets caught, you must counter attack with everything you have”. The breakaway rolled into Cuautla on a big highway, flat and boring with no elevation to speak of. It was looking like the attack opportunity may not present itself before the sprint. At 4 km to go, a Chipas rider made the first aggressive move getting a small gap. Inside 3 km to go he was brought back by the group. The elevation began to climb slightly to the finish line when Bruno Langlois launched his full out attempt to win. Only one rider could hold his wheel but the Mexican rider taking Bruno’s wheel would not take a pull. Bruno continued with force the speed to no avail as the group gradually regained contact and paused at 2 km to go. From the middle of the group Flavio de Luna attacked hard and decisive on the right side. The group paused. The group paused some more. We shouted from the team car; Go Flavio Go man. We could see clearly his advantage was gaining quickly as the breakaway group waited too long in response. The breakaway now responded beginning the chase for the sprint winding up speed, reducing Flavio’s lead. At the 1 km banner Flavio was holding on but clearly ahead. The 20 year old neo pro raised his arms in victory 50 meters ahead of the sprint. Brilliant!
