00:00Sous-titrage Société Radio-Canada
00:30...
01:00...
01:01à obtenir le 63ème édition de Der Radklassica.
01:06Plus de 3,400 mètres de climb,
01:09twice up the Feltberg and Mommels Seine,
01:12with the introduction of a brand-new,
01:13very steep climb, the Bergweg.
01:16The organisers have understandably billed this
01:18as the toughest addition in the race's history.
01:21Thomas Gachinard and Samuel Leroux
01:23were the first to break out,
01:25recalling Total Energy's great duo break day
01:27from Stage 8 of last year's Tour de France.
01:29Yet the French pair were soon joined
01:31by Lotto Intermarché's Jonas Roush
01:33and Matthias Kopessi of Unibet Rose Rockets.
01:39And soon needing rocket fuel
01:41was the Lithuanian national champion,
01:44Avaras Makutis, making his move
01:46as they reached the first obstacle of the day
01:48at San Plakon.
01:50The 23-year-old catching the last carriage
01:53on this escapé train before it disappeared over the summit.
01:57Only Jonas Roush had previous experience of this race,
02:01the Germans 17th in 2024,
02:04the rest all taking up the Eschborn Frankfurt challenge
02:07for the very first time.
02:08And together their advantage was over five minutes,
02:11but no pressure on the peloton to reel them in just yet.
02:16Rush was the first over San Plakon,
02:19earning the maximum three points
02:20and the 28-year-old clearly had the objective
02:23of being king of the mountain.
02:25Adding to his total when they climbed first at Feldberg,
02:28and then onto the first of three Bergweg summits.
02:33Born just an hour south of Frankfurt,
02:35clearly a big day for the Lotto intermarshy rider.
02:38He'd previously finished second on his home race,
02:40but eight years ago in the under-23 competition.
02:44Rush making the most of the opportunity
02:46to soak up the atmosphere in front of the local fans
02:49on the first passage up Mammelschan.
02:54The halfway mark passed at kilometre 105,
02:58and the peloton began to stretch out.
03:00The consequence was the gap started to crumble.
03:04The second climb of Feldberg,
03:06and no one challenging the virtual king of the mountain.
03:09At this stage, Rush with 16 points,
03:12more than double that of Kopeci and Leroux.
03:17Meanwhile, Uno X Mobility and Bahrain victorious
03:20in the main sharing the responsibility of driving the resistance
03:23as the gap slipped below two minutes.
03:28And then the first crack,
03:31as the leaders reached the final brutal climb of Bergweg.
03:35Makutis blowing up.
03:37Rush on the flip side,
03:39confirmed the king of the mountain win at the top
03:41as long as he completed the race.
03:45Time for a shake-up at least according to the three chasers.
03:48Belgian champion Tim Vellens' compatriot Emil Verstrenghe
03:52and Kofidis' Jamie Mayen.
03:54The front four about to become seven.
03:59No great surprise given the tremendous work done
04:02over the previous 143 kilometres.
04:04The original escapades tanks empty
04:07as the two red devils took charge
04:09of the 63rd edition of Eschborn Frankfurt.
04:13Tim Vellens, a danger to the peloton.
04:16Remembering his 40-kilometre solo win on stage 15
04:19of last year's Tour de France,
04:21only Verstrenghen matched his move.
04:24The Alpesin Premier Tech rider finished top five
04:27at the Amstel Gold Race and Liège-Baston-Liège,
04:30two races Vellens failed to finish.
04:33The peloton contenders knew they couldn't afford
04:35to let the duo get too far ahead.
04:41Yet a gear problem hampered Verstrenghen
04:43and allowed the Belgian national champion to go clear.
04:47Vellens had previously won 17 races with a solo effort,
04:50but he wasn't able to create a big enough gap.
04:53The peloton drive meaning the race win was back up for grabs.
04:57The hard work bringing back into contention the likes of Tom Pidcott,
05:01Michael Wahlgren, Peo Bilbao, Ben Tullet, Alex Baudin,
05:06Ian Izagiri and for the home fans German champion Georg Zimmermann,
05:10Tudor's Florian Storch and Felix Engerhardt.
05:15All part of the 12-strong group that looked to make a clean break from the rest.
05:21Making the cut also were Natniel Tesfasian, Adria Perikas and Simone Gualdi.
05:30Decathlon, Ineos, NSN, Alpeson and UNOX running out of time to reel them in.
05:38The lead group playing cat and mouse ahead of a stunning finale.
05:42They're all looking around.
05:45They start to think about taking the victory,
05:47but if they mess around too much, they're going to get caught.
05:50It's Aguirre knows that. Perikas, that second wheel.
05:53Pidcock through towards the front.
05:56Tullet is there towards the back of the group.
05:58Zimmermann in that German champions jersey through the Flamme Rouge.
06:02Now one kilometre to go and Pidcock hits the front.
06:07It looks like Tom Pidcock is confident in this one.
06:09He's going to try and lead this one out.
06:11Tullet looks back over the shoulder. Pidcock sits up.
06:15There's the chasing group behind.
06:18And they're almost with them.
06:20And they're literally going to get swept up through this final left-hand turn here.
06:26So the chasers make contact with the group.
06:30Right and they're running towards the line here.
06:33The lead out up towards the finish.
06:36And it is Spanish rider as well that is the man that was a podium last year.
06:40Bananachea is right there.
06:42Here comes the charge from the group behind.
06:45Valgren leading out.
06:48Baobau right on the wheel.
06:49Georg Zimmermann goes long here.
06:51Peo Bilbao starts the sprint.
06:53Tullet coming through.
06:55Zimmermann to the centre.
06:57Georg Zimmermann coming through.
06:58Tom Pidcock trying to challenge Zimmermann.
07:00Right on the line.
07:01It is a win for the German champion.
07:04And the home crowd take the roof off Frankfurt.
07:09Georg Zimmermann takes the home win for Lotto Intermarche.
07:15They got caught right inside of the line.
07:19But what a ride.
07:20Absolutely spectacular victory here in Eschborn Frankfurt.
07:28Georg Zimmermann bursting past Peo Bilbao.
07:31And holding off Tom Pidcock to win Eschborn Frankfurt for the very first time.
07:36And doing so in the German national jersey.
07:39The icing on the cake for the 28-year-old from Augsburg.
07:44Not only the first one day victory.
07:46But also the biggest victory of my career so far.
07:49So yeah, I'm a bit speechless.
07:52And just so happy like I was feeling good.
07:57The last couple of weeks already in the Arden Classics I had good legs.
08:00But never really showed up in the result sheets.
08:05And yeah, now I find myself at one of the most beautiful races on the top of the podium.
08:10That makes me proud.
08:13Zimmermann a first home winner in seven years.
08:16And double German delights for Lotto Intermarche.
08:18As Jonas Rusch claimed the King of the Mountain prize.
08:21A British 2-3 with Pidcock joined by Wisma's Ben Thulett.
08:25But a perfect day for the hosts as Zimmermann shine brightest.
08:29Now focus switches to stage racing and the Grand Tours on the horizon.
08:32Join us next time.
08:34And thanks for watching.
08:35something
08:35Excellent
08:36Thank you.
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