Lasse Norman Hansen Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race: Irish ProContinental team Aqua Blue Sport once again demonstrated its can-do attitude to aggressive racing at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race. And with an attacking ride out front from Lasse Norman Hansen it took the climbers' classification.
Lasse Norman Hansen attacks Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
Aqua Blue Sport has taken the climbers classification for the second time at the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.
Last year in the Australian event Conor Dunne went up the road and took the prize for the Irish ProContinental team.
Dunne is not racing Down Under this time around. And so it was left to Lasse Norman Hansen to ‘do a Conor Dunne’.
And the Dane did it with some style. He broke clear in the main breakaway of the day very early in the contest.
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As the miles ticked by and the sun beat down on the riders, Hansen proved by far the strongest of the escapees.
Not only was he one of the last men to be caught by the peloton but also looked stronger on the climbs as the race went on.
“We attacked from the gun and got a massive gap quickly,” Hansen said.
“We were dictating the speed all day and took it relatively easy until we hit the circuit.
“Quickly we were down to three riders. But I felt strong and sprinted for some mountain points and got them all.
“I don’t think anyone in the break thought we could hold off the peloton. We just rode as hard as we could.
“And I think we were all surprised with how far we made it into the race. All the team did a super job even if some of the guys struggled a bit in the heat.
“I did as well but had a big advantage before I started to suffer because I had six minutes to give.”
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Hansen's climbers' classification win follows team mate Peter Koning taking the sprint classification in Race Melbourne last week.
In the end today all of those who took flight and worked hard to gain a gap were recaptured.
As a result, the honours were decided in a sprint from a group of 30 men. And it was Jay McCarthy who took victory; the Australian delighting the home crowd.
His win brought to four the number of victories Bora-hansgrohe has taken in Australia in the early season exchanges.
Sam Bennett won Race Melbourne on Thursday. Peter Sagan claimed victory in the People’s Choice Criterium two weeks.
And he claimed a Tour Down Under stage win; won overall by Daryl Impey (Mitchelton-Scott).
McCarthy won today from Elia Viviani (QuickStep) and the in-form Impey.
Bennett was the sole Irish rider in the race. None of the Irish Aqua Blue Riders – Dunne, Eddie Dunbar and Matt Brammeier – were on the start line.
Unfortunately for Bennett his form remains patchy even though he now appears to be recovered from his illness.
He said after his win four days ago he was surprised to ride so well as he had felt awful just 24 hours earlier.
It was a shame Bennett was not involved in the final sprint as he had won Thursday’s sprint by a large margin.
How it unfolded for Lasse Norman Hansen
In today’s race Hansen broke clear with Pavel Kochetkov (Katusha-Alpecin), Robbert De Greef (Roompot-Nederlandse Loterij), and Australian national team riders Alex Porter and Sam Welsford.
They gained six minutes on the peloton as Hansen set about winning the climbers’ classification.
And he was first up Challambra Crescent on each of the three passages of that climb.
Hansen pressed ahead with Kochetkov with 30km to the finished and lasted out front for about 15km before the catch was made.
Australian Calvin Watson was best placed Aqua Blue Sport rider. He was 46th; some 2:39 down on the winner.
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