Saint-Jean-la-Poterie
164.5 km
Friday 7 September
Stage 2: Quiberon – Saint-Jean-la-Poterie. Official start at 12h30. Cataldo powers to victory in Saint-Jean-la-Poterie. He captures the point’s green jersey. Poulhiès, who finished within the main pack keeps command of the overall standing.
It only takes a few kilometres before the first attacks occur. At kilometre 5, Kvist (DEN) and Siskevicius (LTU) manage to break away. The two riders enjoy a maximum 1’50 lead. In Grand Champ (Intermediate sprint at km 47,5), Kvist claims the most points ahead of Siskevicius before the two escapees are caught back by a group of five riders including yellow jersey Poulhiès at kilometre 50. This group is eventually caught back by the pack at kilometre 68. At the top of the Côte de Cadoudal, Paterski (POL) makes it first ahead of Wyss (SUI), Honkisz (POL) and Klyuev (RUS).
Exiting the feeding zone (km 82), Jebjerg (DEN) and Coledan (ITA) manage to take off. They gradually increase their advantage and on the second intermediate sprint line at Saint-Congard (km 100,5), Jebjerg claims the three points ahead of Coledan while the pack led by Milan (SPA) remains over 2’ adrift. At the top of the Mont Hersé (km 104), both men confirm their advantage (Coledan and Jebjerg have a two minute lead over Rovny at the front of the pack).
Progressively the pack increases its pace. The French squad taking care of the chase moves closer as the escapees only have a minute’s lead. But the front riders insist and reach the intermediate sprint at Allaire (km122) with a 1’40 lead over the pack. In the climb up the Côte de Saint-Jean-la-Poterie, Pudans (LAT), Boily (CAN) and Offredo (FRB) take off in a counter-attack. They remain 1’30 behind Coledan and Jebjerg while the pack is 2’ adrift.
Moving closer to the second passage on the line, the counter-attackers are caugt by the pack that still has a 1’45 deficit on the line (climbers points are awarded to Coledan, Jebjerg, Mendez (por), Coppel (fra)).
At the start of the third lap of the final circuit, the pack breaks up into several groups. With 20 kilometres to go, the gap drops down to 40’’. At the bottom of the penultimate climb Jebjerg is caught back while Coledan carries on alone. But once at the top, the Italian is caught as well. Attacks are then ever present as a group of seven riders led by Cataldo enjoys a 20” lead over the pack. Most of these men are caught back one after the other in the final moments of the race. In the last climb to the line, Cataldo continues his effort and claims stage victory. He captures the point’s green jersey while his compatriot Coledan takes control of the polka dot jersey. Meanwhile Frenchamn Stephane Poulhiès finishing in the main field keeps the yellow jersey.
I was supposed to be at the Tour de Pologne this week, but I insisted to come here because the Tour de l’Avenir is really great race. And obviously, it was a good idea: one stage victory, and the green jersey! Even better than the Giro Baby (nota: Cataldo won the Giro Baby in 2006)
