Eight riders have escaped the clutches of the peleton and have opened an advantage of 5m 36s, the riders are Bazin/Auber 93, Matcalfe/Carmin Prio, Morton/Chipotle First Solar, Byrgesen/Christina Watches, Kovalev/RusVelo, Fiedler/Team NSP Ghost, Hofer/Team Voralberg and Jurco/Whirlpool Author

The lead has been reduced by a minute despite the fact that the peleton has lost over forty riders due to the intense pace that is being set

Race radio is reporting that the advantage is now 3m 15s

Team Optum are setting a fast pace on the front of the bunch and have every rider struggling to follow hence the single line

The lead is just 56s as tiredness begins to set in

Bazin/Auber 93 and Hofer/Team Voralberg have decided to give it one last dig as the fast moving pack finally catches up with the leaders

Rutkiewicz/CCC Polsat and Downing/Endura Racing have found themselves with a slight lead as they go inside the final five kilometres

Under the red kite and Russell Downing starts the sprint for the line

But he cannot hold on and its his team mate Camano who comes from nowhere to take a memorable victory here in Russia

Endura Racing

Well i have to say that i am very disappointed with todays showing here in Russia, after recent performances i was hoping for at least a top ten finish but it never came, there will definitely be more training put in on the road before our next race i can guarantee you that

Julien Antomarchi
Alex Bowden
William Dugan
Julien El Fares
Joe Eldridge
Kiel Reijnen
Joey Rosskopf
Gary Sutton

Schmitt/Team NSP Ghost and Eldridge/Team Type 1 went clear of the peleton after just three kilometres of today's stage and have been away ever since, pounding out a nice pace as they try to stay out in front for as long as they can

Race radio has given the latest time check as 3m 4s

Bissell Pro Cycling are beginning to gather at the front of the pack as they look like they are going to start the chase

A team helper on the side of the road shouts to Eldridge/Team Type 1 that the lead is 2m 43s and Joe acknowledges his comment

Our two men of the day were eventually brought back in to the fold by the fast moving peleton and almost immediately a group of four riders decided it was there time to risk an attack and go off down the road, they are Vennell/Bissell Pro Cycling, Atkins/Bontrager Livestrong, Cooke/Team Exergy and Hernandez/Jelly Belly

The four leaders have gained an advantage of just over two minutes on the pack, but somewhere in the middle is Eldridge/Team Type 1 once again as he tries to chase them down on his own

Vennell/Bissell Pro Cycling and Cooke/Team Exergy are beginning to pull away from their fellow escapees as the road starts to go up the steep finish to Mogollon

A group of seven riders have gone clear on the hill after catching the breakaways and I find myself waiting at the back of them all

I time my move to perfection and pass them all with 300 metres to go and grab the win and my first ever yellow jersey as a Professional

Ricardo Vilela - Efapel - Glassdrive

UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team

What a Brilliant way to start things off at the Gila, firstly Joe Eldridge did a sterling job in the break of the day and then a superb finish by Gary Sutton to take the first leaders jersey of this years event, i couldn't have wished for more