Cycling: Dries Devenyns has brought in the next victory for the team Deceuninck – Quick-Step. The Belgian kept his cool in the eliminator of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, winning despite outnumbering Mitchelton – Scott and Ineos.
Mitchelton – Scott invests heavily
Starting and finishing in Geelong, the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race had to cover 171,7 kilometers. The sixth edition of the race was initially shaped by the young local drivers. Carter Turnbull and Elliot Schultz were given a six-minute lead by the peloton before the gap was closed by strong teams from the WorldTour.
The peloton kept splitting into several groups. A preliminary decision was made around 30 kilometers from the finish when Mitchelton - Scott caught up with the escapees and reduced the first group to just 16 riders. Nine kilometers from the finish, the Australian team then used a final climb to finally shake off the fastest men in the world. None other than Vuelta winners Simon yates It was (Mitchelton – Scott) who brought about this further selection to now eight men.
Dries Devenyns defies the outnumbered
At least now it was clear that a classic sprinter will not win the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race 2020. From then on there were constant attacks in the small leading group. Outnumbered after the work done by Simon yates (Mitchelton – Scott) and his distancing only the Ineos team. So resolved Pavel Shivakov (Ineos) together with Dries Deveynns (Deceuninck - Quick Step). Behind could Dylan VanBaarle (Ineos) from Jens Keukeleire (EF), Jay McCarthy (Bora – hansgrohe) and Daryl Impey (Mitchelton – Scott) let go.
But it wasn't enough for the Ineos team to win. Dries Devenyns proved faster in the sprint against Pavel Sivakov. Daryl Impey secured third place. Austria Mark Haller (Bahrain – McLaren) can look forward to eighth place after a strong performance.
The winner of the @CadelRoadRace...Dries Devenyns! 🏆#CadelRoadRace pic.twitter.com/OE6GiwH7v8
- 7Sport (@ 7Sport) February 2, 2020