Stage 9 of the Vuelta Kolbi. Figuring a category 2 climb in the beginning and then flat terrain, Team For the Planet was on the offensive once again with Jean-Michel finishing another 2nd place and Anton in 6th.

Race description:
140km - flat - (1016m)

Race map:
Orotina - Parrita



How it unfold:
With a category 2 climb in the beginning, many riders wanted to get some ground on the peloton. The pace was very high and attacks were going on and off. Anton managed to escape with a large group of 15 riders.

Jean-Michel: "With the Regularidad jersey on the shoulder, I often cannot escape easely and so I had to wait a little bit and try to bridge across which I did with 4 other riders. Our group was very big and not everyone was interested in working."

The breakaway passed the climb catching Russian rider Serov and Colombian Cendales who were solo off the front just as the descent started.



Jean-Michel: "our group was big, too big and with a Costa Rican rider in the top 10, other teams were marking him and not working... Around the second intermediate sprint, attacks started within our group in an effort to drop the GC riders. I let Anton go away and soon enough groups went also. I waited a bit maybe too long and then I make a big effort sprinting hard to drop the remaining riders and catch up with the lead group. When I reached Anton group, we were a group of 8-9 until the end"

With an average temperature of 32celcius for the day, both Anton and Jean-Michel had to keep hydrating well. 

Anton: "Within our breakaway, many were having a free ride with me, Jean-Michel and the Russian rider doing most of the work. In the end, we got surprised as the mexican rider attacked the group forcing us to chase more."



Jean-Michel: "In the end, we made too much efforts... I tried to go solo a few times, but the group seams still fresh to cover all our moves so we waited for the sprint. The mexican rider went early and then the Russian jumped hard. I marked his move only to connect to his wheel with 250m to go and then launch my own sprint. I did'nt realized I still had other riders on my wheel and I got passed with 50m to go by Carlos Brenes of Pizza Hut. 2nd place and more points on the Regularidad is not bad, but another stage win would have been great. Kudos for Anton to helping me in the breakaway"

With a 6min 21sec gap on the peloton at the end of the stage, Cuban Yennier Lopez climbed on 2nd place GC while Jean-Michel jumped from 17th to top 10.


Results: full results - video report

Stage 9 - 140,35km - avg speed - 42,31km/h
1- Carlos Brenes, BRC Pizza Hut, 3h 19m 01
2- Jean-Michel Lachance, 1% for the Planet, same timne
3- Yennier Lopez, Sélection nationale de Cuba, same time
6- Anton Varabei, 1% for the Planet, +05
44- Gavriel Epstein, 1% for the Planet, 6m 21
58- Étienne Samson, 1% for the Planet, + 6m 21
60- Julien Gagné, 1% for the Planet, 6m 21
61- Ryan Roth, 1% for the Planet, 1% for the Planet, + 6m 21

General classification
1- Juan Rojas, JPS Giant, 29h 14m 02
2- Yennier Lopez, Sélection nationale de Cuba, + 4m 04
3- Jose Vega, JPS Giant, + 5m 31
10- Jean-Michel Lachance, 1% for the Planet, + 11m 16
32- Julien Gagné, 1% for the Planet, à 28m 07
43- Ryan Roth, 1% for the Planet, + 34m 24
54- Anton Varabei, 1% for the Planet, + 1h 01m 04
65- Gavriel Epstein, 1% for the Planet, +1h 24m 10
68- Étienne Samson, 1% for the Planet, +  1h 50m 03

Regularidad
1 - Jean-Michel Lachance - For the Planet - 113pts
2 - Juan Rojas - JPS Giant - 81pts
3 - Fabricio Quiros - BCR Pizza Hut - 61pts
4- Carlos Brenes - BCR Pizza Hut - 52 pts
5 - Jose Vega - JPS Giant - 51pts
10 - Anton Varabei - For the Planet - 43 pts
24- Ryan Roth - For the Planet - 20pts

Metas Volantes
1 - Jose Vega - JPS - 30
2 - Juan Juarez - Mexico - 26
3 - Yasmany Martinez - Cuba - 25
4 - Jean-Michel Lachance - For the Planet - 20

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Photo credit: Federacion Costaricense de Ciclismo - Fecoci.net
Altimeteria and map: Garmin