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Tour of Taiwan report · 17/03/10

Deputy Directeur Sportif, Phil West, describes his view from the team car:

Stage 1

The race started well, with Dean Downing taking 7th on the first stage. The stage was pretty full-on with an average speed of 48kph. Although there were a few climbs the race stayed together, with the only split coming after halfway when a group of 20 riders went clear. Dean Windsor and Graham Briggs both made the split. Eventually the break was caught after polish team, CCC-Polsat, put five riders on the front and rode the break down.

Coming into the last 15km everything was together. The final 10km of the stage was a long gradual drag and sure enough the race started to split, six riders escaped including eventual winner David McCann. Dean Downing made the chasing group of about 15 riders with Ben Greenwood almost making it in there too, just missing out as the pressure was put on at the front. Dean drove the chase group for the rest of the stage, closing up to the leaders as they split apart. Eventually Dean cracked the chase group and dragged two other riders clear. He then comfortably out-sprinted them to take 7th. Ben rode in strongly in the next group, with the other riders safely tucked in with the peloton.

Stage 2

After getting a good solid ride under their belts on stage 1, the morale in the camp was good and the nervousness gone. Everyone was up for it and the parcours suggested a bunch sprint finish. With this in mind we planned a lead-out should the race stay together.

A blustery day, the stage kicked off in typical style with attacks going left, right, and centre. Giant Asia rode tempo on the front to protect team and race leader David McCann. Shortly after they started riding tempo several riders tried for a long move and eventually four riders came together and made it stick. Giant Asia then kept the gap around the 1min 20 mark, with it yo-yoing depending on wind direction. Approaching the finishing circuit the gap was down to 45 seconds and was coming back. With 2 laps to go the Australian Genesys team came to the front and under pressure the breakaway lead crumbled.

The Rapha boys were holding good position and biding their time. The plan was for them to be in position but then make their move late just before the 1km to go sign. Bell lap and the Aussies sat back and several attacks ensued, with Polsat taking the lead coming into the final 3km. Then, after a corner, two riders clipped off, a Japanese Shimano rider and an Aussie Gensys rider, still CCC Polsat chased. Inside of 2km and the Rapha boys had formed but because of a lull, Dean Windsor ended up on the front too soon but the pressure stayed on as the Aussie rider was still clear after ditching the Japanese guys.

Inside the final kilometer and the Aussie was still clear. Graham Briggs and Dean Downing were both well placed at the front. The Australian was caught inside the last 500m and some riders came together, while there was no crash, Dean and Graham had to go on opposite sides, Dean left and Graham right. Both riders managed to grab a top 10 finish placing 8th and 9th. The other guys rolled into the finish safely after a sterling effort. Dean maintained a high overall position but lost one place due to one of the riders picking up a time bonus in an intermediate sprint. Dean is now 8th overall.

Stage 3

Today’s stage started and finished in the same place, taking in a Cat 2 climb inside the first 15km and then finishing up a savage 700m long twisting climb with a cobbled section halfway up. There were high winds and lower temperatures compared to the previous two days. This was a welcome break for the boys. Positioning was paramount today as there was a possibility that the bunch would split under pressure in the cross winds.

After 35km a break of three formed and quickly gained time on the bunch as everyone looked to Giant Asia to ride tempo. The break had a gap of over 5mins going into the second half of the race. A rider from the American Kenda Team who at only 2m40s down on GC became virtual leader on the road. With Giant Asia reluctant to ride, several of the other teams placed highly on GC rode on the front and this was supported by Matt Cronshaw from Rapha. Once the tempo of the bunch went up the lead tumbled and at 10km to go the break had a 59sec lead.

The run in was long and straight and with the lead down to 32 seconds at 5km, the peloton relaxed knowing that the break was under control. At this point Matt Cronshaw then left the other teams to continue as Rapha got organised to execute their team plan. While Rapha pulled together the break was just caught inside the final 600m. An uphill finish, it was vital that Deano was well placed and had a clear run at the line, so while going for victory there was also no risk of losing time on GC.

The goal for the lead-out was to place Dean at around 5th place coming into the last 300m. The boys executed this brilliantly as a unit at the front of the bunch, each maintaining position while protecting the other riders from the wind. In the final 500m, Ben Greenwood put Dean Windsor and Dean Downing into the first 5 riders, Dean Windsor then put Dean D into the position to sprint in the final 150m. Dean D went on to ride a great sprint and place 3rd, gaining a time bonus and valuable seconds over the rest of the field. Dean now holds 7th place on GC and after three consistent stages is 2nd overall in the point’s competition.

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