Day six and the spotlight fell on the U23 men, where some slick Swiss precision teamwork led to rainbows for Marc Hirschi.
U23 Men RR
Unlike the junior races, the U23 race was a lot cagier in the early stages. It also gives fans a chance to see how tactics might play out in the elite ranks, and what we saw was some aggressive, exciting racing on the finishing circuits. The whole Swiss team rode smart and clever, marking the moves by and making sure they were represented in all the action.
Belgium’s Bjorn Lambrecht forced a selection of the last ascent on the Ingls, but the winning move went on the descent where Hirschi chose the perfect moment to attack, got the jump and simply rode away from Lambrecht and the sole Finnish representative Jaako Hanninen. The speed though the first corners was so impressive, and despite some Herculean efforts from his pursuers he maintained his gap all the way to line to add the world title to the European he won earlier in the year. It was impressive.
Lambrecht pipped Hannienen for silver.
Hirschi rides for Sunweb development team and will make the step up to their WorldTour elite in 2019
Lambrecht never stopped attacking, never gave up hope and we salute that. I felt good, but I was beaten by someone better…
I was the only rider from Finland, and I knew there are a lot of professional riders, but I felt the course was one for me. Bravo Jaako
Midge shout-out to
Ireland’s Eddie Dunbar for terrier-like fiestiness
Canada’s Nickolas Zukowsky for a brave 100km solo breakaway
Innsbruck Vibes
They have Bonnie Tyler on the schedule!!!
It took VeloVoice Journal Velo to remind me about the real Zucchero though
Header Image: Tim de Waele/Getty Images
Pingback: VeloVoices Podcast 130: World class, baby! | VeloVoices