Juanpe’s new time lap in the demanding final on top of L´Isard

Ronde de l´Isard
Stage 2: Fonsorbes-Goulier Neige (154,3 km)

At the top of Goulier Neige, second stage of the Ronde de l´Isard, almost ten kilometers of ascent with maximum ramps of 11%, victory of the yellow jersey. British rider Stephen Williams (SEG Racing) strengthened his lead with a second consecutive victory. Juan Pedro Lopez was again the best of the Polartec-Kometa in the finish line, twenty-fourth classified, but again gave up time, more than two minutes. Sergio García (42nd, 4:41) and Jorge Pastor (43rd, 4:53) were the next members of the finish line formation.

The day proposed a route with no other orographic difficulties than the tremendous final ascent. One day, in the current jargon,’uniport’. It was very likely that the script would be developed with a breakaway, the more numerous the better, opening the race. And so, a flight of fifteen units would run at the head of the race for many kilometers, it managed to integrate the grenadian José Antonio García.

“We had the intention of messing with some of the guys on the main run of the day and that was achieved. With this end, the evolution of the day was clear: go all the way to the port and, once there, at full speed, each one with his own strength. Juanpe has stayed within the last four or three kilometers. And although he has since taken some of the runners off the pace in the lead group, the strength he had didn’t give him any more. He’s given his all. It takes a lot of accumulated effort and we can’t rule out that he is entering a phase of tiredness”, says director Rafa Diaz Justo about the day.

The third stage of the French round is the most accessible, 153.4 kilometres between the towns of Levignas and Boulogne-sur-Gesse. Juan Pedro López, in 23rd place, 2:53 ahead of the leader, is the best classified Polartec-Kometa rider in the general classification.

(automatic translation, sorry for mistakes)