Archie Ryan (EF Education-EasyPost) has once again lit up Tour de Pologne, going on the attack for the second day in succession but just coming up short. Though the terrain did not favour Ryan, with no classified climbs today, he went up the road very early.
And after spending almost the entire 142km stage from Wieliczka to Kraków in the breakaway, he was among the last two men standing from the group and was only caught a couple of kilometres from the finish.
His being recaptured with 3km to go to the finish was a repeat scenario from yesterday, though on hillier terrain 24 hours earlier. And though Ryan comes away from this race without a hoped-for stage win, he looked very strong and can now hopefully have a successful late season in the weeks ahead.
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While Ryan was on the attack today, and Ryan Mullen (Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) was on lead-out duties, Sam Bennett (Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale) was unfortunately unable to contest the final sprint today.
The Irish rider abandoned during the stage, with no indication at the time of writing if he had suffered some illness. Stickybottle will update when that information becomes available.
After Ryan - and Marcin Budziński of the Polish national team - were caught by the peloton with 3.1km to go, it set up the final stage for a bunch sprint. OIav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike) took his second stage win of the race, from Tim Merlier (Soudal-QuickStep) and Gerben Thijssen (Intermarché-Wanty).
That was a sprint finish where Bennett may have featured had he been present and in form, especially as he took 2nd place to Kooij on stage 4.
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Today, Rémi Cavagna (Movistar Team) attacked shortly after the start and he was soon joined by Ryan and his team mate, Jack Rootkin-Gray, along with Budziński.
While they stayed clear for almost the full stage, and onto the three 5km finishing circuits in Kraków, the breakaway split, with Ryan and Budziński the last men to survive out front.
However, the sprinters' teams were in full flight in the final, recapturing the leading duo with 3km to go and setting up the final bunch sprint, won by Kooij. As the race ended in a bunch sprint today there was no change in the overall.
Jonas Vingegaard (Visma | Lease a Bike) took the final yellow jersey, after riding a low-key race once he took the yellow jersey in the stage 2 TT. He ran out the winner by 13 seconds from Diego Ulissi (UAE Team Emirates) with Wilco Kelderman (Visma-Lease a Bike) in 3rd at 20 seconds.
Ryan slipped off the back of the bunch today after his breakaway move came to an end, finishing in 124th at 1:25, with Mullen finishing in the bunch. Ryan placed 27th overall at 4:34.
— PuroCiclismo (@BlancoAsegurado) August 18, 2024
