Prades delivers another Philly win for Caja Rural

Team Caja Rural maintained its dominance at the Philadelphia International Cycling Classic on Sunday, as Spanish rider Eduard Prades won the event, defending Carlos Barbero’s 2015 victory. Prades was fastest up the famed Manayunk Wall, which served as the final stretch of road for the 178km race.

The 28-year-old Prades proved strongest on the short but steep finishing climb, overtaking Holowesko – Citadel’s Travis McCabe in sight of the finish line to grab the victory.

UnitedHealthcare’s Marco Canola rounded out the podium in third.

“It’s an amazing feeling for me,” Prades said. “Carlos Barbero, last year’s winner, told me where I had to go, all the tricks. He gave me the hints.”

Top 10

• 1. Eduard PRADES REVERTE, CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA, in 3:57:37
• 2. Travis MCCABE, HOLOWESKO / CITADEL P/B HINCAPIE SPORTSWEAR, at :01
• 3. Marco CANOLA, UNITEDHEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL CYCLING TEAM, at :01
• 4. Lucas Sebastian HAEDO, TEAM JAMIS, at :05
• 5. Jacob RATHE, JELLY BELLY P/B MAXXIS, at :08
• 6. Chad BEYER, LUPUS RACING TEAM, at :09
• 7. Benjamin PERRY, SILBER PRO CYCLING, at :10
• 8. Eric MARCOTTE, TEAM JAMIS, at :10
• 9. Redi HALILAJ, AMORE & VITA – SELLE SMP, at :12
• 10. Robin CARPENTER, HOLOWESKO / CITADEL P/B HINCAPIE SPORTSWEAR, at :13

After multiple breakaways failed, a 14-man group finally established itself at the race’s midpoint. The dangerous group included McCabe, Chris Horner (Lupus), Eric Marcotte (Team Jamis), and others. The group battled to stay away from the peloton, and the fight lasted until the final lap of the 19.8-km (12.3-mile) urban circuit.

The break achieved a two-minute advantage before the peloton began to reel them back in.

The group had less than a minute on the peloton heading into the penultimate lap. As the only two Pro Continental groups in the race, Caja Rural and UnitedHealthcare, kept the pace high in the chasing peloton.

A stubborn Danny Pate (Rally) a made last-ditch effort to break away on the lead-in to Mayanunk. After the group reeled Pate in through the last lap, the stage was set for a sprint up the final climb.

UnitedHealthcare set a hard tempo to keep things under control in the final kilometers of the race before Holowesko – Citadel took over at the front in the run-up to the final climb.

McCabe was first to jump, and opened a gap on the lower part of the climb. He managed to fend off a charging Canola, but Prades closed the distance and then came around the American in the final meters to take the win.

For Prades and Caja Rural, everything worked according to plan. By allowing other teams to push the pace into the climb, the squad was able to keep its designated leader fresh for the final push to the line.

“The work of UnitedHealthcare helped us a bit in the finale,” Prades said. “We knew it was a race that would see multiple groups form, but on the final lap, with everyone back together, that’s what happened last year. It’s what we expected.”

Though nearly the race winner, McCabe was pleased with the runner-up performance on the day. McCabe spent much of the day in the breakaway.

“I was in the breakaway but we were playing it pretty conservatively. I was using a little bit of effort but nothing too much, trying to keep [Rob] Squire up there and making sure that he was able to get KOM points,” he said. Squire did ultimately win the event’s king of the mountains award.

With the race back together for the final lap, McCabe made the decision launch himself early on the final climb — it nearly worked out. McCabe called his surge a “complete VO2 effort.”

“I could have sat around and waited and taken my chances with maybe a group of 10 guys coming into the finish, everyone with a good kick, or I do what I did and force the race to come to me,” McCabe said. “Coulda, woulda, shoulda, that’s how it is … I’m proud with the decision I made and I’m happy with second.”

Philadelphia International Cycling Classic Results

• 1. Eduard PRADES REVERTE, CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA, in 3:57:37
• 2. Travis MCCABE, HOLOWESKO / CITADEL P/B HINCAPIE SPORTSWEAR, at :01
• 3. Marco CANOLA, UNITEDHEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL CYCLING TEAM, at :01
• 4. Lucas Sebastian HAEDO, TEAM JAMIS, at :05
• 5. Jacob RATHE, JELLY BELLY P/B MAXXIS, at :08
• 6. Chad BEYER, LUPUS RACING TEAM, at :09
• 7. Benjamin PERRY, SILBER PRO CYCLING, at :10
• 8. Eric MARCOTTE, TEAM JAMIS, at :10
• 9. Redi HALILAJ, AMORE & VITA – SELLE SMP, at :12
• 10. Robin CARPENTER, HOLOWESKO / CITADEL P/B HINCAPIE SPORTSWEAR, at :13
• 11. Guillaume BOIVIN, CAT, at :13
• 12. Jesse ANTHONY, RALLY CYCLING, at :13
• 13. Nicolae TANOVITCHII, LUPUS RACING TEAM, at :14
• 14. Orlando Trinidad GARIBAY CONTRERAS, CYLANCE PRO CYCLING, at :15
• 15. Brayan Stiven SANCHEZ VERGARA, TEAM JAMIS, at :17
• 16. Taylor SHELDON, JELLY BELLY P/B MAXXIS, at :18
• 17. Eddie DUNBAR, AXEON – HAGENS BERMAN, at :18
• 18. Jonathan LASTRA MARTINEZ, CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA, at :19
• 19. Camilo ZAMBRANO, CYLANCE PRO CYCLING, at :20
• 20. Jacob SITLER, ACT, at :20
• 21. Ryan ROTH, SILBER PRO CYCLING, at :23
• 22. Diego RUBIO, CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA, at :25
• 23. Angus MORTON, JELLY BELLY P/B MAXXIS, at :26
• 24. Matthew BUSCHE, UNITEDHEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL CYCLING TEAM, at :27
• 25. Christopher PRENDERGAST, H&R BLOCK PRO CYCLING, at :28
• 26. Chris BUTLER, CAT, at :29
• 27. Bruno LANGLOIS, GARNEAU QUEBECOR, at :30
• 28. Daniel TUREK, CAT, at :31
• 29. Oscar CLARK, HOLOWESKO / CITADEL P/B HINCAPIE SPORTSWEAR, at :37
• 30. Alexander CATAFORD, SILBER PRO CYCLING, at :39
• 31. Javier Alexis ACEVEDO COLLE, TEAM JAMIS, at :42
• 32. Joseph SCHMALZ, ELEVATE PRO CYCLING P/B BICYCLE WORLD, at :43
• 33. Griffin EASTER, TEAM ILLUMINATE, at :43
• 34. Joshua BERRY, JELLY BELLY P/B MAXXIS, at :44
• 35. Kyle MURPHY, TEAM JAMIS, at :44
• 36. Simon-Pierre GAUTHIER, GARNEAU QUEBECOR, at :48
• 37. Marco ZAMPARELLA, AMORE & VITA – SELLE SMP, at :50
• 38. Rémi PELLETIER-ROY, GARNEAU QUEBECOR, at :54
• 39. Damien SHAW, SKT, at :55
• 40. Connor BROWN, ELEVATE PRO CYCLING P/B BICYCLE WORLD, at :55
• 41. Uri MARTINS, AMORE & VITA – SELLE SMP, at :57
• 42. Michael RICE, GARNEAU QUEBECOR, at 1:01
• 43. Robbie SQUIRE, HOLOWESKO / CITADEL P/B HINCAPIE SPORTSWEAR, at 1:02
• 44. Connor MCCUTCHEON, TEAM ILLUMINATE, at 1:17
• 45. Christopher HORNER, LUPUS RACING TEAM, at 1:18
• 46. Christopher JONES, UNITEDHEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL CYCLING TEAM, at 1:18
• 47. John MURPHY, UNITEDHEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL CYCLING TEAM, at 1:45
• 48. Samuel Hunter SNIPE GROVE, CYLANCE PRO CYCLING, at 1:49
• 49. Andrès Miguel DIAZ CORRALES, CYLANCE PRO CYCLING, at 1:50
• 50. Max JENKINS, ACT, at 1:55
• 51. Mihkel RÄIM, CAT, at 2:04
• 52. Will ROUTLEY, RALLY CYCLING, at 2:07
• 53. Adam DE VOS, RALLY CYCLING, at 2:07
• 54. Matthieu JEANNES, LUPUS RACING TEAM, at 2:10
• 55. Bryan LEWIS, LUPUS RACING TEAM, at 2:13
• 56. Flavio DE LUNA, TEAM ILLUMINATE, at 2:54
• 57. Bradley WHITE, UNITEDHEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL CYCLING TEAM, at 2:54
• 58. Daniel EATON, UNITEDHEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL CYCLING TEAM, at 2:54
• 59. Andzs FLAKSIS, HOLOWESKO / CITADEL P/B HINCAPIE SPORTSWEAR, at 2:56
• 60. Daniel SUMMERHILL, UNITEDHEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL CYCLING TEAM, at 3:11
• 61. Bailey MCKNIGHT, H&R BLOCK PRO CYCLING, at 3:20
• 62. Ruben COMPANIONI, TEAM JAMIS, at 3:21
• 63. Danick VANDALE, H&R BLOCK PRO CYCLING, at 3:22
• 64. Cory GREENBERG, CYLANCE PRO CYCLING, at 3:26
• 65. Fabricio FERRARI BARCELO, CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA, at 3:28
• 66. Nicolas LEFRANCOIS, TEAM NOVO NORDISK, at 3:28
• 67. Danilo CELANO, AMORE & VITA – SELLE SMP, at 3:29
• 68. Stephen CLANCY, TEAM NOVO NORDISK, at 3:29
• 69. Olivier BRISEBOIS, GARNEAU QUEBECOR, at 3:34
• 70. Ian RICHARDSON, at 3:48
• 71. Eugenio BANI, AMORE & VITA – SELLE SMP, at 3:49
• 72. Danny PATE, RALLY CYCLING, at 3:49
• 73. Matteo DAL-CIN, SILBER PRO CYCLING, at 3:55
• 74. Felix COTÉ BOUVETTE, H&R BLOCK PRO CYCLING, at 3:56
• 75. Tom ZIRBEL, RALLY CYCLING, at 3:58
• 76. Marc-Antoine SOUCY, GARNEAU QUEBECOR, at 3:59
• 77. Pierrick NAUD, RALLY CYCLING, at 4:00
• 78. Jason SALTZMAN, TEAM ILLUMINATE, at 4:00
• 79. William STEPHENS, ELEVATE PRO CYCLING P/B BICYCLE WORLD, at 4:04
• 80. Zack ALLISON, ELEVATE PRO CYCLING P/B BICYCLE WORLD, at 4:04
• 81. Luis ROMERO AMARAN, TEAM JAMIS, at 4:09
• 82. Dan CRAVEN, CAT, at 4:09
• 83. Martijn VERSCHOOR, TEAM NOVO NORDISK, at 4:10
• 84. Kevin DE MESMAEKER, TEAM NOVO NORDISK, at 4:10
• 85. Darcy WOOLLEY, GARNEAU QUEBECOR, at 4:11
• 86. Nigel ELLSAY, SILBER PRO CYCLING, at 4:11
• 87. Alexandr BRAICO, JELLY BELLY P/B MAXXIS, at 4:15
• 88. Evan MURPHY, LUPUS RACING TEAM, at 4:17
• 89. David WILLIAMS, ACT, at 4:17
• 90. Nolan TANKERSLEY, LUPUS RACING TEAM, at 4:17
• 91. Travis LIVERMON, ACT, at 4:19
• 92. Elliot DOYLE, SILBER PRO CYCLING, at 4:19
• 93. David BOILY, GARNEAU QUEBECOR, at 4:20
• 94. Joseph LEWIS, HOLOWESKO / CITADEL P/B HINCAPIE SPORTSWEAR, at 4:23
• 95. Charles Bradley HUFF, RALLY CYCLING, at 4:25
• 96. Hector SAEZ BENITO, CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA, at 7:28
• 97. Miguel Angel BENITO DIEZ, CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA, at 7:28
• 98. Thomas VAUBOURZEIX, LUPUS RACING TEAM, at 7:30
• 99. Jacob Mark KING, TEAM JAMIS, at 7:30
• 100. Aviv YECHZKEL, CAT, at 7:41
• 101. Shane KLINE, RALLY CYCLING, at 7:43
• 102. Jure RUPNIK, H&R BLOCK PRO CYCLING, at 8:59
• 103. Luis Enrique DAVILA, CAT, at 9:00
• 104. Chris PUTT, JELLY BELLY P/B MAXXIS, at 9:03
• 105. Joel TAYLOR, H&R BLOCK PRO CYCLING, at 9:04
• 106. Julian KYER, ELEVATE PRO CYCLING P/B BICYCLE WORLD, at 9:05
• 107. Nicolas MASBOURIAN, SILBER PRO CYCLING, at 9:06
• 108. Matt GREEN, ACT, at 9:25
• 109. Paolo LUNARDON, AMORE & VITA – SELLE SMP, at 12:41
• 110. Mehdi BENHAMOUDA, TEAM NOVO NORDISK, at 12:41
• 111. Brandon FEEHERY, ACT, at 14:45
• DNF Carlos BARBERO CUESTA, CAJA RURAL-SEGUROS RGA
• DNF Tanner PUTT, UNITEDHEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL CYCLING TEAM
• DNF Kris DAHL, SILBER PRO CYCLING
• DNF Mac BRENNAN, HOLOWESKO / CITADEL P/B HINCAPIE SPORTSWEAR
• DNF Miguel BRYON, HOLOWESKO / CITADEL P/B HINCAPIE SPORTSWEAR
• DNF Edwin Alcibiades AVILA VANEGAS, TEAM ILLUMINATE
• DNF Cullen EASTER, TEAM ILLUMINATE
• DNF Pierpaolo FICARA, AMORE & VITA – SELLE SMP
• DNF Michael SHEEHAN, JELLY BELLY P/B MAXXIS
• DNF Gerd DE KEIJZER, TEAM NOVO NORDISK
• DNF Brian KAMSTRA, TEAM NOVO NORDISK
• DNF Eoin MORTON
• DNF Daire FEELEY
• DNF Travis SAMUEL, H&R BLOCK PRO CYCLING
• DNF Jacob SCHWINGBOTH, H&R BLOCK PRO CYCLING
• DNF Dan GARDNER, ACT
• DNF Ansel DICKEY, ACT
• DNF Cory Lewis WILLIAMS, CYLANCE PRO CYCLING
• DNF Diego SANDOVAL, CYLANCE PRO CYCLING
• DNF Stephen HYDE, CYLANCE PRO CYCLING
• DNF Alberto COVARRUBIAS, ELEVATE PRO CYCLING P/B BICYCLE WORLD
• DNF Logan Dennis HUTCHINGS, ELEVATE PRO CYCLING P/B BICYCLE WORLD
• DNF Nicholas TORRACA, ELEVATE PRO CYCLING P/B BICYCLE WORLD
• DNF Guy SAGIV, CAT