Welcome to Norway for the opening stage of the Ringerike Grand Prix - we have a fairly short day in the saddle today with the big mid stage climb near the village of Gol dominating proceedings.
If things end in a sprint Yamaha's Daryl Impey would probably be the best bet for a dash for the line. But it is a windy opening day, the weather up in these northern parts is not very predictible!
There are plenty of early attacks with a KOM prime place near the start of the stage has brought the attacking riders out of their shell. Santander and Highroad lead the charges knowing that a breakaway is their best realistic chance of glory here.
By the top of the climb however it was a Bbox rider who went over the top chased by a Tinkoff man.
Wei takes the first KOM prime over Serov (Tinkoff) and Vermeltfoort (Highroad)
These three riders would form todays breakaway along with Telenor's Wilman. A big race this for the Scandenavian telephone company, though competition will be tough. Behind these four riders Gallego Martin (Santander) and Tim Cassidy (Vespa) are trying to bridge but alas they are not really strong enough.
Four followed by two
There are two sprint points before the big mountain climb of the day, the first is taken by Wilman.
Wilman - > Serov - > Wei
Highroad's Vermelfoort misses out on this one but would reverse his fortunes at the next prime.
Vermelfoort - > Serov - > Wei
This effectively makes Serov the 'virtual' leader, but we still have the tough climb to go and a lengthy exposed section. There are reports it is blowing a gale up there, so the 6 minute gap these riders have with 75km to go is not yet enough. Indeed, as we go up the climb it is Ikea and Yamaha who really crank up the pace.
C'mon Yamaha have you heard Ikea hunt whales - stop working with them!
This begins to look like it is not really going to be a day for the sprinters as Finning, Gavazzi, Westling and Guarnieri drop back. Ikea and Yamaha however are replaced by UBS and Petronas who really elevate things to snapping point.
Up front Wei has to let go of the wheels, which leaves Tinkoff's Serov free to claim the climb and the KOM lead.
Serov takes the full points, ahead of Wilman and Vermelfoort
Behind though as we go over the top a huge split has been caused by the fast pace set by the UBS/Petronas dual work.
A small group of riders go clear
It is Yamaha at the front of the second group as Evans and Impey have missed the move. Up front we have Carrara (Petronas) and Kohl (UBS), whose teams have worked for this. Looking around we can also see Kessiekoff, Hoogerland, Alarcon and Bososio also in this lead group. Big names are missing however Kritsky,Eltink, Bbox duo Paulinho and Asterloza, perhaps the biggest headline is that Taaramae is not there either!
That last name is a real motivator for the front group in particular UBS who have three riders here with Kohl.
UBS trying to land a decisive blow here
With 25km to go it looks fantastic as they catch the lead three riders (Wei some time before), now with a 2.25 gap! However no-one else really comes to the front to help this move, with 10km to go the gap has slimmed down to 1.09 with 10km to go.
The gap is visable with 5km to go.
Five km to go: will there be a time gap?
At this point there is about a 45 seconds gap, with sprint trains being formed we could get a confusing situation at the finish! Speaking of sprint trains, it seems that Petronas have been saving themselves for this moment as Gerrans produces an uber lead out for Carrara. UBS look like angry hornets at this point!
Petronas power away
As the sprint proper starts though at least one of the UBS men has come up to challenge the duo.
Bogdan tries to catch the double act out
It is still blowy out there and this seems to hurt Carrara in particular as he stops sprinting leaving it between Gerrans and Bogdan. Gerrans cannot seem to get as much power as the UBS rider.
Petronas plans down the toilet
Meanwhile the peleton has come back together in this windy finale, Bogdan will get the win and GC lead but only on time bonuses.
Nothing dirty about this win for Bogdan
Behind him, Shpelevski of Tinkoff comes around Gerrans for a surprise second place.
Tinkoff man takes out Gerrans
The peleton behind is made up of 41 further riders, meaning the gaps that looked like being there at one stage disappeared!
