Today history is written. The first time ever a 1x road bike is raced by a team at the highest level of pro cycling. Todays race, the 1st stage at Towards Zero Race in Melbourne, at Melbourne’s Formula 1 Grand Prix track, was the first for the Aqua Blue Team with the Strada. The circuit race format is best suited for the fastest men and women in the sport as its mainly flat. And it showed! The race was spectacular, and with the high speeds of the riders, the aero dynamic design of the Strada delivered. Larry Warbasse, US National Road Champion, raced with his special Stars And Stripes Strada.
The overall win went to Irishman Sam Bennett who finished after 116.6km in 2h29m:08. Dutchman Peter Koning won the Sprint Classification after the breakaway. George Bennett (LottoNL-Jumbo), José Gonçalves (Team Katusha Alpecin), Nathan Elliot (KordaMentha Real Estate), Nathan Earle (Israel Cycling Academy), Owain Doull (Team Sky) and Chad Haga (Team Sunweb) joined Peter in the breakaway, but the Dutchman came out strongest.
Peter said after the race:
It was an exciting race today, really fast from the start! I did a good pre-season with a lot of Beach Racing (on the 3T Exploro re) and fortunately the legs felt good after the first couple of laps and I managed to get in the break. In the first intermediate sprint we were caught off guard and didn’t realise there was a sprint but I was still second and then decided to go for the Sprint Classification. I got enough points to win it and this result gives me good motivation”.
Aaron Gate crashed in the early stages of the race, and examination showed he fractioned wrist. We wish Aaron a fast recovery!
