STANDINGS AFTER DAY 1
NOMAN – 16 points Opportunity International – 12 points World Bicycle Relief – 8 points Soldier On Australia – 4 points
NOMAN showed their pre-season efforts were not in vain with a strong start on Day 1 of the TE Giro, leading the standings at the close of racing. Each day Ben, Alistair, Colin, James, Justin, Tristan, Tomas and Liam must race their competitors up brutal mountain climbs in stages called General Classifications (GC) with the criteria for points varying on each.
With 3 significant climbs to welcome the riders to the Italian Dolomites, this was a tough start to the event with a sobering warm up provided in the form of the Passo Staulanza. Following a lengthy and technical descent there was enough time for a caffeine fix, prior to the day’s real racing.
GC 1: Passo Duran – First Four NOMAN Riders Have Best Average Time
The first GC of the day was the Passo Duran and NOMAN showed strong mettle on the ascent. The real plaudits however go to the pros – Liam Holohan, Songezo Jim and Cadel Evans in particular, earning their crust with scorching runs on steep inclines. NOMAN’s riders worked hard to get the maximum points on this GC.
GC 2: Passo Frassene – Team NOMAN works as One Unit To Take the Leaderboard at the End of Day 1
It was on the second GC however that NOMAN came into their own with an inspired team effort on the Passo Frassene. A 19.5km ride, with a sharp steep start, NOMAN worked beautifully as a unit under the expert pacing of Holohan, and stormed up the Pass in impressive fashion, pushing hard on the final km at the Frassene’s crest to again take the maximum points in the second GC.
For now it’s back to the hotel for refuelling and recuperation ahead of tomorrow’sQueen stage, in the form of NOMAN’s nemesis in the TE Giro 2014, the Passo Fedaia…
We’ll be updating you daily until Monday with Team NOMAN’s drive to win the Maglia Rosa!
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