Team Dimension Data’s Omar Fraile is second in the King of the Mountain (KOM) classification following the Vuelta a Espana queen stage yesterday.
Over a course of 196km from Urdatx-Dantxarinea to the summit of the Aubisque the riders had to tackle three cat.1 climbs before reaching the final ascent.
Team Dimension Data’s Omar Fraile is second in the KOM classification following the Vuelta a Espana queen stage yesterday. Photo: Stiehl Photography
Fraile was the first rider to attack and as defending champion in the KOM classification he was keen on flying the flag for his team out front.
His move dragged 40 other riders along, including team mate Jacques Janse van Rensburg and eventual stage winner Robert Gesink (LottoNL-Jumbo).
Fraile took maximum points atop the Col Inharpu, but it was there that bad luck struck the team.
On the narrow and technical descent Janse van Rensburg crashed onto his shoulder and had to drop back to the peloton.
Fraile was henceforth the team’s only rider in the break and managed to take maximum points on the Col de Soudet.
Later on he couldn’t find the legs to stay with the break when a small group of riders increased the pace on the Col du Marie Blanque.
Kenny Elissonde emerged as the strongest of these. He managed to get the points for the KOM and then continued to dictate the pace at the front of the race in a decimated six-rider lead group.
He and Egor Silin (Katusha) were the only ones to keep up with Gesink, when the latter bridged across on the Aubisque.
Crossing the line in second behind Gesink meant that Elissonde would pull on the KOM jersey.
Fraile now sits second in this classification, but still has plenty of chances to overtake the Frenchman.
