Alexander Kristoff wins RideLondon Classic

Alexander Kristoff (Katusha-Alpecin) sprinted to victory at the RideLondon Classic on Sunday, beating Magnus Cort Nielsen (Orica-Scott) and Michael Matthews (Sunweb) to the line on The Mall.

The sprinters' teams left it until late to marshal escapees Matteo Trentin (Quick-Step Floors) and Jasper Stuyven (Trek-Segafredo) but ultimately made the catch with a kilometre to go to set up a bunch finish.

Bora-Hansgrohe led the pack into the final 500 metres for Sam Bennett, with the final lead-out man peeling off with around 250 metres to go as Bennett launched his effort. The Irishman couldn't fend off his surging rivals, however, with Kristoff pulling past on his right to take a commanding lead that he held all the way across the line to triumph in the event's first running as a WorldTour race.

Cort Nielsen made a late push to finish a close second, with Matthews settling for third ahead of a surprising Sep Vanmarcke (Cannondale-Drapac).

Kristoff's victory – his second at the WorldTour level this season after Eschborn-Frankfurt – will be a welcome change of pace for the Norwegian on the heels of a frustrating Tour de France, where he was unable to win a stage. It comes at a time of uncertainty as well, with Kristoff undecided on whose kit he'll wear next season after his current contract with Katusha runs out at the end of this year.

"We weren't able to win at all in the Tour, so we wanted to bounce back today," Kristoff said. "Today we showed we still have a good level and everybody was committed. I knew this course and knew it suited me quite well."

How it unfolded

The 183-kilometre race started and finished in central London, but much of the ride took place on a lumpy parcours on the outskirts of the city, with five short but relatively steep official climbs on the day.

Mads Würtz Schmidt (Katusha), Julien Duval (AG2R La Mondiale), Twan Castelijns (LottoNL-Jumbo), Wesley Kreder (Wanty-Groupe Gobert) and Iljo Keisse (Quick-Step Floors) formed the early break, moving clear as the race headed out of town. They worked their gap up to around four minutes before the peloton tightened the leash and gradually began pulling them back in, with Sunweb putting in much of the work at the front.

Eventually, Duval and Kreder were dropped, leaving a trio of Keisse, Castelijns and Schmidt up the road. Their gap was down to two minutes with 95 kilometres to go, and it continued to fall rapidly as the pack revved up the pace for the second trip up the Ranmore climb. The catch was made shortly thereafter, but that only spurred further action in the bunch, with Sky applying serious pressure at the head of affairs.

A flurry of attacks and counterattacks saw splits open in the pack and a small group get clear over the climb, with Sky's Pete Kennaugh jumping away with Trentin and Daryl Impey (Orica-Scott). Kennaugh dropped off the back of the move before long, but he was replaced in the lead trio by a bridging Stuyven, who caught up on the next climb as the peloton regrouped behind.

The trio of Impey, Trentin and Stuyven never had much more than half a minute's advantage, but their gap remained relatively steady as the kilometres ticked down and the race headed back into central London. The move would ultimately stay clear for nearly an hour, although Impey fell off the pace with around 15 kilometres to go.

Trentin and Stuyven pressed on, and despite having a gap of only around 20 seconds, they made it all the way through the final corners only to be caught by a hungry peloton with a kilometre to go.

Although Bora controlled the sprint into the last few hundred metres, Kristoff was well-placed only a few positions behind Bennett, and he quickly pulled even once Bennett opened his sprint. The Katusha rider surged to the front as Bennett began to fade, and held off Cort Nielsen for the win.

"The team did amazing work today, especially Nils [Politt] to pull back those guys. There were not many teams who wanted to work with us so we did the main job and pulled it off at the end," Kristoff said.

"After my crash in the Tour I did not feel so good and not in training either, but today it was ok. I could not really follow on the climb, but I felt much better than I did at the Tour. I knew I had a good shot and at the end Michael Mørkøv placed me very well for the final and I just had to take it from there."

Full Results

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#Rider Name (Country) TeamResult
1Alexander Kristoff (Nor) Katusha-Alpecin4:45:41
2Magnus Cort Neilson (Den) Orica-ScottRow 1 - Cell 2
3Michael Matthews (Aus) Team SunwebRow 2 - Cell 2
4Sep Vanmarcke (Bel) Cannondale-DrapacRow 3 - Cell 2
5Wouter Wippert (Ned) Cannondale-DrapacRow 4 - Cell 2
6Jean-Pierre Drucker (Lux) BMC Racing TeamRow 5 - Cell 2
7Zakkari Dempster (Aus) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 6 - Cell 2
8Sam Bennett (Irl) Bora-HansgroheRow 7 - Cell 2
9Rudy Barbier (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 8 - Cell 2
10Oliver Naesen (Bel) AG2R La MondialeRow 9 - Cell 2
11Elia Viviani (Ita) Team SkyRow 10 - Cell 2
12Jack Bauer (NZl) Quick-Step FloorsRow 11 - Cell 2
13Ben Swift (GBr) UAE Team EmiratesRow 12 - Cell 2
14Michel Kreder (Ned) Aqua Blue SportRow 13 - Cell 2
15Danilo Napolitano (Ita) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 14 - Cell 2
16Edward Theuns (Bel) Trek-SegafredoRow 15 - Cell 2
17Jonas Rickaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 16 - Cell 2
18Jonas Koch (Ger) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 17 - Cell 2
19Francesco Gavazzi (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 18 - Cell 2
20Hugo Houle (Can) AG2R La MondialeRow 19 - Cell 2
21Yves Lampaert (Bel) Quick-Step FloorsRow 20 - Cell 2
22Scott Thwaites (GBr) Dimension DataRow 21 - Cell 2
23Stefan Küng (Swi) BMC Racing TeamRow 22 - Cell 2
24Ryan Gibbons (RSA) Dimension DataRow 23 - Cell 2
25Jonathan Lastra (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 24 - Cell 2
26Simone Ponzi (Ita) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 25 - Cell 2
27Amund Grondahl Jansen (Nor) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 26 - Cell 2
28Nikolas Maes (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 27 - Cell 2
29Preben Van Hecke (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 28 - Cell 2
30Loïc Vliegen (Bel) BMC Racing TeamRow 29 - Cell 2
31Rick Zabel (Ger) Katusha-AlpecinRow 30 - Cell 2
32Gijs Van Hoecke (Bel) Team LottNl-JumboRow 31 - Cell 2
33Sebastian Langeveld (Ned) Cannondale-DrapacRow 32 - Cell 2
34André Greipel (Ger) Lotto SoudalRow 33 - Cell 2
35Manuel Belletti (Ita) Wilier TriestinaRow 34 - Cell 2
36Krists Neilands (Lat) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 35 - Cell 2
37Julien Vermote (Bel) Quick-Step FloorsRow 36 - Cell 2
38Rüdiger Selig (Ger) Bora-HansgroheRow 37 - Cell 2
39Lukasz Owsian (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 38 - Cell 2
40Xandro Meurisse (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 39 - Cell 2
41Gregory Rast (Swi) Trek-SegafredoRow 40 - Cell 2
42Fabricio Ferrari (Uru) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 41 - Cell 2
43Koen De Kort (Ned) Trek-SegafredoRow 42 - Cell 2
44Julen Amezqueta (Spa) Wilier TriestinaRow 43 - Cell 2
45Matthias Brändle (Aut) Trek-SegafredoRow 44 - Cell 2
46Jon Irisarri (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 45 - Cell 2
47Ben Gastauer (Lux) AG2R La MondialeRow 46 - Cell 2
48Manuel Quinziato (Ita) BMC Racing TeamRow 47 - Cell 2
49Francisco Ventoso (Spa) BMC Racing TeamRow 48 - Cell 2
50Dylan Van Baarle (Ned) Cannondale-DrapacRow 49 - Cell 2
51Mark Christian (GBr) Aqua Blue SportRow 50 - Cell 2
52Nikias Arndt (Ger) Team SunwebRow 51 - Cell 2
53Jaco Venter (RSA) Dimension Data0:00:11
54Maarten Wynants (Bel) Team LottoNl-Jumbo0:00:14
55Mitch Docker (Aus) Orica-ScottRow 54 - Cell 2
56Michael Morkov (Den) Katusha-AlpecinRow 55 - Cell 2
57Marcel Sieberg (Ger) Lotto SoudalRow 56 - Cell 2
58Mathew Hayman (Aus) Orica-Scott0:00:24
59Michael Hepburn (Aus) Orica-Scott0:00:37
60Nils Politt (Ger) Katusha-AlpecinRow 59 - Cell 2
61Paul Martens (Ger) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 60 - Cell 2
62Ian Stannard (GBr) Team SkyRow 61 - Cell 2
63Mike Teunissen (Ned) Team Sunweb0:00:59
64Ramon Sinkeldam (Ned) Team SunwebRow 63 - Cell 2
65Vegard Stake Laengen (Nor) UAE Team EmiratesRow 64 - Cell 2
66Peter Kennaugh (GBr) Team Sky0:01:08
67Marco Haller (Aut) Katusha-Alpecin0:01:17
68Jasper Stuyven (Bel) Trek-Segafredo0:01:19
69Matteo Trentin (Ita) Quick-Step FloorsRow 68 - Cell 2
70Roger Kluge (Ger) Orica-Scott0:01:25
71Marko Kump (Slo) UAE Team Emirates0:01:34
72Søren Kragh Andersen (Den) Team Sunweb0:01:45
73Daryl Impey (RSA) Orica-Scott0:05:21
74Andreas Schillinger (Ger) Bora-Hansgrohe0:09:04
75Stijn Steels (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 74 - Cell 2
76Benjamin Perry (Can) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 75 - Cell 2
77Julien Berard (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 76 - Cell 2
78Alexander Edmondson (Aus) Orica-ScottRow 77 - Cell 2
79Michal Paluta (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 78 - Cell 2
80Tao Geoghegan Hart (GBr) Team SkyRow 79 - Cell 2
81Mirko Trosino (Ita) Wilier TriestinaRow 80 - Cell 2
82Federico Zurlo (Ita) UAE Team Emirates0:13:01
83Iljo Keisse (Bel) Quick-Step Floors0:13:10
84Matthew Brammeier (Irl) Aqua Blue SportRow 83 - Cell 2
85Leszek Plucinski (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 84 - Cell 2
86José Manuel Díaz (Spa) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 85 - Cell 2
87Owain Doull (GBr) Team SkyRow 86 - Cell 2
88William Clarke (Aus) Cannondale-DrapacRow 87 - Cell 2
89Mark Mcnally (GBr) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 88 - Cell 2
90Fabien Doubey (Fra) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 89 - Cell 2
91Raffaello Bonusi (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 90 - Cell 2
92Josu Zabala (Spa) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 91 - Cell 2
93Dylan Page (Swi) Caja Rural-Seguros RGARow 92 - Cell 2
94Lars Boom (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 93 - Cell 2
95Benjamin Declercq (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 94 - Cell 2
96Kenny Elissonde (Fra) Team SkyRow 95 - Cell 2
97Andrea Palini (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 96 - Cell 2
98Twan Castelijns (Ned) Team LottoNl-JumboRow 97 - Cell 2
99Moreno Hofland (Ned) Lotto SoudalRow 98 - Cell 2
100Mateusz Taciak (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 99 - Cell 2
101Oliviero Troia (Ita) UAE Team EmiratesRow 100 - Cell 2
102Filippo Ganna (Ita) UAE Team EmiratesRow 101 - Cell 2
103Mads Würtz Schmidt (Den) Katusha-AlpecinRow 102 - Cell 2
104Michael Schwarzmann (Ger) Bora-HansgroheRow 103 - Cell 2
105Jay Robert Thomson (RSA) Dimension Data0:17:18
106Simone Consonni (Ita) UAE Team EmiratesRow 105 - Cell 2
OTLNathan Van Hooydonck (Bel) BMC Racing Team0:23:44
OTLMads Pedersen (Den) Trek-SegafredoRow 107 - Cell 2
OTLMarco Frapporti (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 108 - Cell 2
OTLMarco Benfatto (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 109 - Cell 2
OTLMaximiliano Richeze (Arg) Quick-Step FloorsRow 110 - Cell 2
OTLAlberto Cecchin (Ita) Wilier TriestinaRow 111 - Cell 2
OTLJames Shaw (GBr) Lotto SoudalRow 112 - Cell 2
OTLGediminas Bagdonas (Ltu) AG2R La MondialeRow 113 - Cell 2
OTLGuy Sagiv (Isr) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 114 - Cell 2
OTLJan Bárta (Cze) Bora-HansgroheRow 115 - Cell 2
OTLPascal Ackermann (Ger) Bora-HansgroheRow 116 - Cell 2
OTLJason Lowndes (Aus) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 117 - Cell 2
OTLMiles Scotson (Aus) BMC Racing TeamRow 118 - Cell 2
DNFTim Declercq (Bel) Quick-Step FloorsRow 119 - Cell 2
DNFMichal Kolár (Svk) Bora-HansgroheRow 120 - Cell 2
DNFPiet Allegaert (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 121 - Cell 2
DNFDries Van Gestel (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 122 - Cell 2
DNFBert Van Lerberghe (Bel) Sport Vlaanderen - BaloiseRow 123 - Cell 2
DNFReto Hollenstein (Swi) Katusha-AlpecinRow 124 - Cell 2
DNFPhil Bauhaus (Ger) Team SunwebRow 125 - Cell 2
DNFTom Stamsnijder (Ned) Team SunwebRow 126 - Cell 2
DNFFilippo Pozzato (Ita) Wilier TriestinaRow 127 - Cell 2
DNFJakub Mareczko (Ita) Wilier TriestinaRow 128 - Cell 2
DNFAlex Turrin (Ita) Wilier TriestinaRow 129 - Cell 2
DNFLuca Pacioni (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 130 - Cell 2
DNFMatteo Malucelli (Ita) Androni GiocattoliRow 131 - Cell 2
DNFJonathan Dibben (GBr) Team SkyRow 132 - Cell 2
DNFRoy Goldstein (Isr) Israel Cycling AcademyRow 133 - Cell 2
DNFAlberto Bettiol (Ita) Cannondale-DrapacRow 134 - Cell 2
DNFRyan Mullen (Irl) Cannondale-DrapacRow 135 - Cell 2
DNFPeter Koning (Ned) Aqua Blue SportRow 136 - Cell 2
DNFMartyn Irvine (Ire) Aqua Blue SportRow 137 - Cell 2
DNFLars Petter Nordhaug (Nor) Aqua Blue SportRow 138 - Cell 2
DNFCalvin Watson (Aus) Aqua Blue SportRow 139 - Cell 2
DNFJasper De Buyst (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 140 - Cell 2
DNFJurgen Roelandts (Bel) Lotto SoudalRow 141 - Cell 2
DNFMark Renshaw (Aus) Dimension DataRow 142 - Cell 2
DNFKenny Dehaes (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 143 - Cell 2
DNFWesley Kreder (Ned) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 144 - Cell 2
DNFRobin Stenuit (Bel) Wanty - Groupe GobertRow 145 - Cell 2
DNFEugenio Alafaci (Ita) Trek-SegafredoRow 146 - Cell 2
DNFPiotr Brozyna (Pol) CCC Sprandi PolkowiceRow 147 - Cell 2
DNFTom Leezer (Ned) LottoNL-JumboRow 148 - Cell 2
DNFJulien Duval (Fra) AG2R La MondialeRow 149 - Cell 2

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Dane has been a sports writer and editor for many years, and makes a return to Cyclingnews as a contributor in 2022. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Virginia.

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