With two superstars here in Pozzato (Mercedes) and Gilbert (Pendletons) this race should attract plenty of attention. Its going to be quite a challenge with Efimkin (Milka) listed as the most likely to challenge this top duo.
The middle section of four quite tough and longish climbs for a hilly classic should make the race tough, but the decisive moves will surely be on the final circuits which features a short sharp climb.
We are in Germany and still being in May, the weather is unkind!
Who likes the wet stuff?
With a fairways until the first climb a breakaway has tried to get away, its not unknown that these will succeed.
Its our escapees
The Wiggle man is Locatelli, they only have a squad of 5 but they still have two excellent riders in Bertagnolli and Caruso who have been having good consistent seasons. The Tinkoff man is Marycz, one of their few non Russians. Richie Porte of Milka is here too, which is a good move to make sure his team does not have to chase much. Also slightly hidden is the inevitable escapee from Yamaha, its Baez this time. The break cut through the miserable weather on to the hills.
The hills are alive with the sound of raindrops
A number of people have made the trip out to watch this one, you may make out David Kopps name on the road. I'm afraid that is Germany's best hope, but he will surely be working for Cillit Bang team leaders Bellis and Ben Nasser. The gap remains steady at 4 minutes, with the peleton under control of Mercedes.
Pozzato's team in control
With the longest climb out of the way and still 108 km to go, the US team are controlling the break well. They will be confident after Pozzato showed he was terrific in Turkey. On the second climb, a move from a favourite in the peleton.
Ventuso (Santander) makes a move.
Its been a poor season from the hilly sprinter, this however is a bold move with over 100km to go. It does as you can see provoke some riders to join, the Lego man is Cleays. Slightly hidden is Petronas World View Challenge champion Simon Gerrans and also going for it is Gilbert policeman Molleta (pendletons). The move well together and using their climbing ability the bridge across to the breakaway quite quickly.
4 becomes 8
Also keen to get in on the act is Cillit Bang, they send Marc De Maar away on the descent...
Netherlands Antilles finest son
De Maar would also make it across, making it nine men in the breakaway. The Mercedes and Pendletons squad though have things under control as they now have the gap pegged at 1 minute and 30 seconds. It doesn't change much between 60 and 50km as we appoach the last of the four big hills, we can see Milka are joining Pendletons and Mercedes at the front of the peleton.
Any Milka cows around?
The pace is steady rather than relentless and this means some riders are going to try and bridge to the break of nine. Caruso (Wiggle) starts things off...
Wiggle's second man to escape the peleton
Lots of other riders are active here, Caruso needs to be marked. Anthony Roux and Albasini of UBS are also trying to get across. Meanwhile in the breakaway, it's also splintering there as the powerful hill men Ventusa, Cleays and Gerrans are putting pressure on Molleta and De Maar (the others are gone)
The heat is on.
De Maar does get dropped from this, however behind virtually all the hilly favourites have noticed the first selection is being made and are moving across to a large unwieldy group of about 17 or so riders up front.
Favourites group forms
Efimkin, Pozzato, Gilbert, Bellis, Ben Nasser, Caruso, Bertagnolli, Monfort, Roux etc. They are all here really, its slightly surprising its happened so soon and one rider who thrives on this sort of riding is Phillipe Gilbert. Indeed he uses it to launch a solo move with 20.5 km to go before the three short climbs at the end.
Gilbert launches...
So with 20km to go we have... e1: Gilbert e2: De Maar + Ben Nasser (Cillit Bang), Bertagnollu + Caruso (Wiggle), Monfort + Claeys (Lego), Pozzato (Mercedes), Roux (UBS), Ventusa (Santander), Gerrans (Petronas) and Molleta (Pendletons) at 34 seconds e3: Albasini (UBS), Bellis (Cillit Bang), Efimkin (Milka), Rabon (Lego) and Scholz (Petronas) at 1 minute and 10 seconds.
The peleton is about 3 minutes back now and it looks like these riders are the ones contesting this. A lot of movement in the group of 11, they are not working together and its Caruso who looks like he is on a good day who can bridge to Gilbert.
Good move from Wiggle man
Also coming across eventually is Pozzato, Ben Nasser, Monfort and Molleta. This is good and bad news for Gilbert, good because he has a teammater, but bad because three extra threats have come across! With 10km to go its these lead 6...
Winner from these probably
Behind this we have Roux and Bertagnolli at 45 seconds, further back at about a minute is everyone else with Albasini struggling 50 seconds after these. Its tense between 10km and 5km to go but these six do just about keep clear, Wiggle man Caruso doesn't work because his teammate Bertagnolli is working his way across. Indeed he makes it by the 5km to go banner.
Two wiggle men out of seven
The lead seven do start to look at each other, behind the other riders are looking like they will come across...
Big regrouping?
But they run out of road and the sprint starts its just really seven riders...
one of seven to win this
At the front its clear that its between Gilbert and Pozzato, only Caruso seems to be able to move forwards as well. Pozzato seems to not be on the best of days, normally he would be able to match the Belgian but in the rain perhaps the Pendletons man is better.
Gilbert pulls away
... and Phillipe wins the Frankfurt hilly race!
Rainmaster reigns in Germany
In the scramble for minor placings...
Mad rush for CT points
Its Wiggle who grab the 2nd and 4th spots over a disappointed Pozzato he is 3rd. Monfort just edges Molleta for 6th, still a good day for Pendletons and Ben Nasser doesn't really get into the sprint and finished 7th.
