Israel Premier Tech, represented by Krist Neiland, lost its status as a world tour team in the off-season, however, as a Pro tour team, it will have the opportunity to compete in almost all major world tours and one-day cycling events.
Kuldīga’s best athlete of the past year started the season in the city of Marseilles and its surroundings, where the 167.8-kilometer long UCI 1.1 category cycling race took place. This was one of the first UCI-level road cycling races this year. Riders conquered a series of climbs of different lengths. Most of them were a few kilometers long, however, some were additionally distinguished by a high degree of steepness.
One of the key moments in the race was the 3.4 kilometer climb. Its average steepness reached 9.6 percent. The big group split up. Krist Neyland could also be in the leading group. Leaders initially cooperated well, accumulating a significant lead over followers. The large group of about 15 riders became smaller by only a couple of riders by the finish line.
Neiland paid a lot of attention to US athlete Neilson Paules (EF Education), who was among the most powerful riders from the leading group. In a relatively innocent situation, as the athletes raced down the hill, Powells sped up a bit. Unexpectedly, one of the competitors pushed the US cyclist a little further. Powells did not miss such an opportunity. He gradually continued to increase his lead.
Among the followers, meanwhile, there was a lack of common efforts to catch up with the leader. Only individual attacks followed, which yielded no results. Powells held on to his lead for his first win of the season. He spent 4 hours 19 minutes and 13 seconds on the track.
The following group with our Krista Neyland in it finished 1 minute and 15 seconds later. Kuldīdznieks, who had already given almost all of his strength, also struggled admirably in the sprint, where he narrowly remained behind the top three. A high fifth place for Krist in his first start of the season. Our cyclist also gained 50 UCI world ranking points. During his professional career, this was the most successful first start of the season for Krist.
Veltin Feron of French team Total Energies finished in second place, while Belgian Brent van Moor of Lotto Dstny rounded out the top three.
On Sunday, Emīls Liepiņš took part in the world tour bike ride named after the legendary Kaydel Evans in Australia. In the 174.3-kilometer long distance, the steep and several kilometers long ascent around the city circle was decisive. Crosswinds also had a serious impact.
One of the main tasks for the “Trek – Segafredo” team was to make the course of the race more difficult, thereby reducing the peloton. Everything was decided in the finishing sprint of the large leading group of 35 drivers. Liepiņš, who performed his duties for the team earlier, was not among the leaders. However, among his teammates, Antonio Tiberi and Natnael Tesfatsion fought for the victory.
The first to cross the finish line was the German cyclist Marius Mayrhofer of the “DSM” team, followed by the Frenchman Hugo Paget and Neyland’s Australian teammate Simon Clarke. Emīls Liepiņš finished in 67th place, 6 minutes and 14 seconds behind the winner. 13th position for his teammate Tesfatsion.
On Sunday, in her first start of the season, Lina Svarińska took part in the Almeira Classic held in Spain. During the 135-kilometer distance, our cyclist helped her teammates. She did not manage to reach the finish line herself.
