Team Vorarlberg cracks with a super strong race at Mercan Tour Classic Alpes-Maritimes UCI 1.1 – Moreno in sixth place – Thalmann despite hand fracture in eighth place!

 

Rain and cold, plus a course profile with 4000 meters of altitude in the hinterland of Nice. This was again an incentive for a brilliant performance, because the competition was top positioned with four World Tour and seven Pro Continental teams – and all had the same weather!

 

Lukas Meiler launches attack!

Together with his long-time ex-team colleague Davide Orrico (Vini-Zabu) Lukas Meiler occupies the leading group. This is swallowed in pouring rain in the second half of the race again, but Guerin u. Co were protected by it.

 

Thalmann solo leading the race – despite metacarpal fracture!

Then follows the “Thalmann – Show”. 50 kilometers before the finish, the team captain, who suffered a metacarpal fracture in his right hand last week, launched an attack from the 20-man leading group around Guillaume Martin (Cofidis), the overall 11th in the 2020 Tour de France. The Eurosport commentators were beside themselves with excitement about this riding style and courage. Thalmann was dropped again before the 12-kilometer final climb up the Col de Valberg, but was able to keep up the pace for the time being.

 

Elimination race to the drop – Moreno, Thalmann top – Guerin gives powerful comeback!

“All in” is now the name of the game up to 1670 meters. Guillaume Martin (FRA/Cofidis) lives up to his role as favorite and wins solo ahead of his compatriots Paret (AG2R) and Armirail (Groupama FDJ). Behind Mathias Frank (AG2R) Adria Moreno Sala becomes a great sixth. Only a few seconds later the next Team Vorarlberg rider follows with Roland Thalmann in eighth place. Alexis Guerin completes with rank 14 on the one hand a super comeback after his long injury break, on the other hand a sensational team performance. The reward 75 UCI points and by far the strongest Continental team: Chapeau – that was really strong today!

 

Squad: Alexis Guerin, Roland Thalmann, Maximilian Kuen, Antoine Debons, Linus Stari, Adria Moreno, Lukas Meiler;

 

Result: https://www.procyclingstats.com/race/mercan-tour-classic-alpes-maritimes/2021/result

Organizer: https://mercantourclassic.com/