CYCLING

Bole wins hotly contested Tour de Korea after wide-open week of racing

By Aaron S Lee

Australian Brenton Jones wins his second stage on final day, while Slovenian Grega Bole holds on to yellow jersey to claim overall general classification.
 
Image Credit: Daebong Kim


SEOUL—After eight days of racing, six different winners and four lead changes, the 2016 Tour de Korea (UCI 2.1) wrapped on Sunday in Seoul with points winner Brenton Jones (Drapac Pro Cycling) claiming the final stage and Slovenian Grega Bole (Nippo-Vini Fantini) holding on to general classification (GC).

For the 24-year-old Jones, the victory takes some of the pressure off after trying to fill the shoes left behind by the team’s all-time race winner Wouter Wippert (NED), who himself won two stages in Korea last year before moving on to the WorldTour (Cannondale Pro Cycling) this season.

“I think I’m taking the monkey off my back,” the Australian told NZ Bike. “The pressure has been put on my shoulders, but it’s slowly coming off. 

“The boys have been sensational, not just this week, but all year, and I’m happy to finally reward the boys that are here – and that aren’t here – and prove that I can get the job done.”

Despite having not won a stage, Bole lifted the yellow jersey off two-time stage winner Karol Domagalksi (One Pro Cycling) on stage 6, after recording his highest placement of the race – second. The 30-year-old, who admittedly entered the race flat from racing a gruelling Giro d’Italia after suffering a nasty crash at the Amstel Gold Race, earned three more top 10 finishes en route to second win of the season.

“I didn’t expect this win,” said the 2010 Critérium du Dauphiné stage winner. “After the Giro it was hard for me, because I didn’t touch the bike before the Giro after I had a bad crash at Amstel Gold Race.

“The first few stages here I felt really tired and couldn’t find my legs,” said Bole. “In the end, we won this race with only four riders after two went home after stage 2, so I am very happy.”

This year’s race was wide open, with several bright stars emerging for the ranks, such as Poland’s Domagalski, who claimed two stages in dominant fashion, while Jones also spent a day in yellow after winning stage 4, before ultimately settling on the blue jersey
“BJ has continued do step up,” said Drapac sport director Keith Flory. “He’s growing all the time, both physically and mentally.
 
Image Credit: Daebong Kim


“The blue jersey means a lot and shows that BJ is the best sprinter in the race.”
Best young rider Yevgeniy Gidich (Vino 4-ever SKO) also impressed, spending the final five days in the white jersey. The 20-year-old Kazakhstani, who is fresh off a Tour of Iran stage win last month, finished eighth overall.

A pair of freshly signed pair of 24-year-olds for Drapac Pro Cycling also showed promise this week, as New Zealand’s Brad Evans claimed a share of stage 7 in a dead heat with British veteran and 2009 national road race champion Kristian House (One Pro Cycling), one of three wins for Drapac and four for One Pro Cycling during the race.

Evans’ teammate Gavin Mannion (USA) finished third on stage 6 after riding more than 100km in a breakaway from the start. The young American, who finished third on GC at the Silver City’s Tour of the Gila and fourth at the USA Pro Challenge last year, took seventh overall on the final standings in Korea.

The feel good moment of the race came from Team Novo Nordisk.

In a refreshing surprise, the US-based Pro Continental team, which only rosters riders with type 1 diabetes, recorded its highest general classification placement at a UCI stage race in team history. Martijn Verschoor (NED) had previous held that distinction with his fifth-place finish at the Tour of Estonia (2.1) last year. Megias’ best finish previously was 10th at the 2015 Presidential Tour of Turkey (2.HC), followed by 14th at the Amgen Tour of California (2.HC) last month.

“Not bad, not bad,” a smiling Megias told NZ Bike. “This is one of our best GC finishes for the team at a stage race.

“We are working really hard, and this is just the beginning because we will keep trying every race and never stop riding for the win.”

BRIEF RESULTS
STAGE 8 CLASSIFICATION
1. Brenton Jones AUS, Drapac Pro Cycling, 1:20:25
2. Chris Opie, GBR, One Pro Cycling, s.t.
3. Jon Aberasturi, ESP, Team UKYO, s.t

FINAL GENERAL CLASSIFICATION
1. Grega Bole, SLO, Nippo-Vini Fantini, 26:42:37
2. Javier Megias, ESP, Team Novo Nordisk, +0:13
3. Hyo Suk Gong, KOR, KSPO, +0:13

FINAL CLASSIFICATION LEADERS
Race Leader (Yellow Jersey): Grega Bole, SLO, Nippo-Vini Fantini
Points Leader (Sky Blue Jersey): Brenton Jones, AUS, Drapac Pro Cycling
King of the Mountain (Polka-Dot Jersey): Hyeongmin Choe, KOR, Geumsan Insam-Cello
Best Young Rider (White Jersey): Yevgeniy Gidich, KAZ, Vino-4ever SKO
Best Korean Rider: Hyo Suk Gong, KSPO
Best Team: Vino 4-ever SKO, 84:13:05


 
TRIATHLON
Top International Professionals enter Challenge Wanaka
Challenge Wanaka continues to attract triathlon's big names to the shores of Lake Wanaka in 2019, with some of the world's best confirming their participation. American triathlon powerhouse, Andrew Starykowicz will be certainly pushing the envelope in Wanaka.
Saturday, 5 January 2019
MULTISPORT
Breca Swimrun Launches National Championships
Tuesday, 4 December 2018
CYCLING
Captivating Finishes at BDO Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge
Epic results unfolded today at the 42nd annual BDO Lake Taupō Cycle Challenge.
Monday, 26 November 2018
MULTISPORT
Wanaka athlete crowned 25thPeak to Peak supreme winner
Stunning bluebird weather greeted competitors at the 25thannual Torpedo7 Peak to Peak multisport race Saturday.
Monday, 13 August 2018
TRIATHLON
Taupo named as finalist in race to host 2020 Ironman 70.3 World Championship
IRONMAN, a Wanda Sports Holdings company, announced today that Perth, Western Australia and Taupō, New Zealand have been named finalists to host the IRONMAN®70.3® World Championship triathlon which will rotate to the Oceania region in 2020.
Wednesday, 13 June 2018

News Index »