Erik Fetter secured 16th place in a crash-marred edition of the Poreč Classic, where a late breakaway successfully held off the peloton, led by race winner Viggo Moore of Tirol KTM Cycling Team.
The 141.6 km race from Poreč to Tar was defined by freezing fog and a high number of accidents that fractured the field. According to sports director Dejan Percic, the technical finish with three roundabouts and a final climb was perfectly suited for Fetter, but the chaos of the day disrupted the team’s lead-out plans. While the strategy was built around a bunch sprint, the unexpected success of the breakaway and a series of technical setbacks (including a puncture for Luca and a late crash for András) forced the team to settle for a top twenty finish.
Zsombor’s perspective on the chaotic dynamics and his evolving form
“My legs felt a bit heavy at the start, and I did not feel as good as I did at the Umag Classic. I jumped on a few moves, but then I mostly just followed the flow of the peloton and tried to stay out of the crashes, which occurred at least two or three times per lap. The plan was to follow the early actions and then help Erik forward before the final roundabout. Unfortunately, we lost Márkó during the race as he was not feeling well even before the start.
In the last lap, András Pakot was involved in a crash, leaving Erik, Luca, Máté, and me at the front. However, about 7 or 8 kilometers from the finish, another crash blocked the entire road. Everyone except Erik got stuck, so we began chasing to get back and help him. Although there was another crash further ahead later on, it was not enough for our group to close the gap, so Erik had to handle the sprint alone.
It was an extremely tense day due to the constant falls. It did not matter where we positioned ourselves, people were crashing everywhere. I have never experienced anything like this before. I feel much more confident and calmer at the start this year; I think my movement has changed and I am more comfortable even at high speeds. I can see where to put the wheel, making life much easier than last year. I also have higher expectations for myself and want to help the others more. It went well in Umag, but less so today. I am looking forward to the Istrian Spring Tour. I want to forget today and have some really strong races. I hope the peloton pulls itself together with fewer unnecessary crashes. Our plan for the stage race is not yet final, but I believe we can race well both for stages and the general classification.”
Máté’s breakdown of the tactical shift and team atmosphere
“Unfortunately, the breakaway made it to the finish. It was not our job to control the race, and we thought we would catch them easily because we were moving quite fast. They must have maintained an extreme pace up front; we did not even understand how they lasted until the end.
My task today was to try and get into the breakaway. I tried at the beginning, especially in the first lap. I even attacked from a promising group on the most technical part of the course, but unfortunately, we missed the winning move. My other task, along with the others, was to bring Erik into the best possible position at the very end; if he could have entered the final corners first, he likely could have won. In the last lap, on the climb ten kilometers from the finish, we started moving forward, but a huge crash split the peloton and only Erik could stay in the first group. We started a big chase after that, but catching up seemed hopeless. The first group was pushing hard, and even if we had made it back, we could not have helped Erik effectively after such an effort.
We are looking forward to the next stage race. I am primarily in a supporting role and will do everything to ensure the team finishes in the best possible position. I also feel in very good form; I have strengthened and learned a lot from last season. My winter preparation went perfectly, and I hope there will be a stage where I can show it. This is my first time sharing a room with Jani, and my experiences are very positive (I have to write this because he will read it too). But really, we talk a lot and I have a good laugh every morning at the ‘coffee tests,’ so we are getting along very well.”
Photo: János Pelikán