AlpacAttack
Yuki Ikeda Turns On The Power In Patagonia
News Release / 16.04.2015
Yuki Ikeda, literally left the rest of the field in a cloud of dust during stage 2 of AlpacAttack.
3 months of very dry weather has turned the Argentinian steppes into a massive dust bowl, engulfing the riders for large sections of the course, which looped out and back from Villa Peheunia.
111km and 1600m of ascent lay ahead of the riders as they were led out on a neutral 12km sealed section and the action started as soon as the dirt began.
Yuki kicked on the first major climb of the day and Nuno Miguel Nano Jorge of Portugal went with him, but when he turned on the power again on the second climb he was too strong for Nuno and he broke away, riding the remaining 70kk through the Patagonian wilderness on his own.
A final 20km, through soft sand into a headwind along the shore of Lago Alumine made for an arduous finish to the race, but the chasing trio of Nuno, Guillermo Alvares of Argentina and Sonya Looney of the USA, couldn’t catch Yuki, who held strong to finish 20 minutes ahead of his closest rivals.
Sonya again rode a strong stage finishing fourth overall and first female by over 30 minutes and Pablo Rodriguez of Argentinia took the male +50 category.
Tomorrow sees the race cross from Argentina in to Chile.
SleepMonsters
