Sagan wins inaugural European Championships men’s road race
World Champ outsprints Alaphilippe and Moreno
World Champion, Tour de France green jersey for the fifth consecutive year, Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec winner and now European Champion–Peter Sagan has had a storied 12-month streak. On Sunday the gregarious Slovak took the first ever European Championship’s men’s road race in Plumerec, France, edging out Julian Alaphilippe (France) and Spanish vet Daniel Moreno in a sprint.
What a feeling to win the European Championship wearing the Slovak colours! #EuroRoad16 pic.twitter.com/If8xir5QqG
— Peter Sagan (@petosagan) September 18, 2016
The riders had 17-laps of a 14-km circuit to negotiate, each lap containing the Côte de Cadoudal climb.
#EuroRoad2016
? 17 x 13,9km = 236,3 km
?? Plumelec
⏰ 10:50 pic.twitter.com/BmEFzotA77— Team Jumbo-Visma cycling (@JumboVismaRoad) September 18, 2016
Four riders shuffled away and pulled out a 9:20 lead by the third lap. By the midway point, the gap was reduced to 8:00 as France and Italy led the chase.
With 80-km to go, the breakaway split and attacks started to flare off the front of the peloton. The last fugitive standing found a chase sweeping him up with 48-km to go. This new 19-man break contained two Italians, Fabio Aru and Davide Villela. But the Belgians reunited the escapees with the peloton.
At the 22-km to go mark, three Belgians including Philippe Gilbert made a promising move. This too was reigned in. The next surge came from Italian Moreno Moser, who built up a 30-second gap on the final circuit.
#EuroRoad2016 Moreno Moser (Italia) quiere dar el golpe. 20" para él. Persiguen España y Bélgica. pic.twitter.com/jxXUTj8VmS
— CiclismoInternacional (@CiclismoInter) September 18, 2016
As soon as Moser was brought to heel with a kilometre of Côte de Cadoudal’s 6% remaining, his teammate Villela went, forcing Belgium and Poland to chase. Sagan waited for Moreno to lead out and then hit the gas for the victory. France had three riders in the top-10.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnURt8lQeJU
2016 European Road Championships Elite Men’s Race
1) Peter Sagan (Slovakia) 5:34:23
2) Julian Alaphilippe (France) s.t.
3) Daniel Moreno (Spain) s.t.