Latest HTC-Columbia sprint acquisition shows what he's worth in the race of the future
John Degenkolb (Germany) won the first stage of the Tour de l’Avenir between Vierzon and Saint-Amand-Montrond in a bunch sprint. The 21-year-old, who recently signed with HTC-Columbia, beat Michael Matthews (Australia) and Michal Kwiatkowski (Poland), who will also ride in the ProTour next year, with RadioShack, into second and third at the end of the 144.5km stage.
"The Americans, the French and Swiss all rode very strong at the end but my team worked really well," said Degenkolb after his victory. “It was a very tough uphill sprint and I had to start from a long way out.
“Fortunately, I had good legs,” he added. “I am very happy to have won, since the competition is particularly tough."
The stage was dominated by two solo attacks from French riders; the first of these happened after just 6km when Loïc Desriac (France B), fourth in the prologue and just 19 seconds behind race leader Taylor Phinney (United States), escaped. The 21-year-old was 1’45” ahead as he crossed the first intermediate sprint at Lunery after 34.5km, 2’45” ahead as he crossed the finish line in Saint-Amand-Montrond to start three finishing circuits; his lead was the same as he crossed the top of the 3rd category Vielle Côte for the first time after 84km.
On the second climb of the Vielle Côte though, the Australian led peloton began to pull Desriac back, cutting his lead to just 2 minutes by the summit with 40km to go. Once over the top the Frenchman’s lead fell rapidly and he was caught some 10km later.
Almost immediately an attack came from Anthony Delaplace (France A) and Michael Baer (Switzerland); the Swiss rider couldn’t sustain his attack though, leaving Delaplace alone. On the summit of the Vielle Côte for the final time, with just 19.5km to go, he had 25 seconds over the peloton but the teams from Germany, France B, the United States, Great Britain and Switzerland all chased him down on behalf of their sprinters and he was caught with 10km to go.
At 400 metres to go the pace accelerated once more but Phinney, on course for a stage win in the yellow, pulled his foot out of his pedal. Degenkolb then accelerated and took the victory ahead of Matthews and Kwiatkowski; Phinney finished fifth and holds on to the race lead.
"The day went well,” said Phinney after the stage, “the team controlled the race well, without too much effort."
“I have liked to have gone for the victory,” he explained, “but I pulled my foot out in full sprint 300 metres from the line. I am a little disappointed with my fifth place, but rather confident for the rest.
“I came here to win steges so I’ll try for victory tomorrow; it would be really great to win in yellow. In the General classification, I do not know... I feel pretty good, I do my best to keep the Jersey. We'll see how far I can get."
Result stage 1
1. John Degenkolb (Ger) German National Team
2. Michael Matthews (Aus) Australian National Team
3. Michal Kwiatkowski (Pol) Polish National Team
4. Alexei Tsatevich (Rus) Russian National Team
5. Taylor Phinney (USA) United States National Team
6. Marko Kump (Slo) Slovenian National Team
7. Vicente Garcia da Mateos (Spa) Spanish National Team
8. Kuanysh Kylybayev (Kaz) Kazakh National Team
9. Alex Dowsett (GBr) Great Britain National Team
10. Chan Jae Jang (Kor) Mixed Team
Standings after stage 1
1. Taylor Phinney (USA) United States National Team
2. Alex Dowsett (GBr) Great Britain National Team @ 6s
3. Michael Matthews (Aus) Australian National Team @ 7s
4. Loïc Desriac (Fra) French National Team B @ 19s
5. John Degenkolb (Ger) German National Team @ 21s