Cycling: Hardly anyone expected that at the opening weekend of the Cyprus Sunshine Cup. Britain's Grant Ferguson won stage two of the Afxentia stage race. After 55 kilometers he crossed the finish line in Lefkara six seconds ahead of Brazilian Henrique Avancini and nine ahead of Stephane Tempier of France. The duel between Annika Langvad and Jolanda Neff went to the marathon world champion from Denmark. Third was the French talent Margot Moschetti.
The BH-Sr Suntour-KMC duo tried to act as a team. "The plan was that we go into the long single trail in first and second position, but Stephane couldn't overtake", explained Maxime Marotte after crossing the finish line 23 seconds behind.
So Marotte came out of the long single trail with a 20-second lead when there were still a good 20 kilometers left. The chasing group, led by Henrique Avancini (Cannondale Factory Racing), caught up again and as the final four-kilometre climb made its way up to Lefkara, the battle for stage victory was launched.
About 400 meters from the finish, in a very steep passage, Grant Ferguson (Betch.nl Superior-Brentjens) attacked. "I had to try, why not", laughed the Brit. "Of course I tried to win the stage, but I'm surprised that I managed it", he added.
No one could follow him right away. Henrique Avancini, seen by several competitors as the strongest that day, missed the attack. “Grant started at the right moment, but nothing is decided. I hope I can surprise again tomorrow”, said Avancini. And: "Yeah, for a while I felt like I was the strongest of the group. My form is pretty good and I hope to continue that on Saturday.”
Stephane Tempier lost nine seconds to take third place on the podium. “Grant was extremely strong on that last climb but overall we're in a good position with the team. We'll see what kind of strategy we can use tomorrow."
He is now eleven seconds behind Forian Vogel, who defended his leader jersey in fourth. Stage winner Ferguson is also eleven seconds behind.
That promises a very exciting stage for Saturday in Lythrodontas.
The situation is clearer for women. Annika Langvad (Specialized Racing) and Jolanda Neff (Stöckli Pro) came together on the last long climb to Lefkara. "I wasn't sure if Jolanda wasn't that strong today or if she would launch a counter-attack. That's why I tried to choose my rhythm in such a way that I could still react. But she couldn't follow me", Langvad recounted how she won the stage and slipped into the yellow jersey. "It was so great today. Last year Jolanda left me behind in the downhills, but today I was able to hold her rear wheel. I tried to keep my cool and knew I was going to be strong on the last climb. Yea!
Jolanda Neff did not make a disappointed impression. "I'm not at the same point as last year, I know that. I started my preparation later. That's no excuse, Annika was very, very strong today. congrats to her. I'm not dissatisfied because I know why it is", said the young Swiss woman. And then, to Margot Moschetti (Betch.nl Superior Brentjens), she added: "She was very, very strong on the climbs, respect". Neff lost 1:24 minutes to Langvad.
Margot Moschetti (Betch.nl Superior Brentjens) formed the leading group after the first climb with Neff and Langvad, but lost contact on the long downhill. "I then rode my own pace, but the feeling was very good today", said a grinning U23 Vice World Champion. She lost 2:55 minutes to Langvad.
Kathrin Stirnemann was fourth, 7:40 minutes behind. "I am very happy with it"said the Haibike Ötztal riders from Switzerland. She wasn't happy that her future Cape Epic partner Gunn-Rita Dahle-Flesjaa (Multivan-Merida) had a flat tire just as they were racing together. "Too bad, I thought we could ride together for a while but she had a puncture right after the second technical zone", Stirnemann was annoyed.
Dahle-Flesjaa then had another puncture after the third technical zone and was very late.
Fifth of the day was Elisabeth Osl (Ghost Factory Racing) from Austria (+9:06).
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