Welcome to Ljublana for the first of many one-day classics in September and October. This race will take us from Slovenia to Croatia, where we end with 3 climbs. Hard enough to eliminate some puncheurs?
The favorites are Efimkin, Gilbert and Ginanni. Efimkin might be the best choice as he is the best climber of the three, and is almost riding on home soil. Surely the fans will cheer for him in absence of any other home riders.
6 riders try their luck today: Esmaeli, Garbelli, Seledkov, locatelli, Gallego Martin and Balck. And with this many wind, you never know.
The peleton is being lead by Pendleton's, Milka and Tinkoff. Kolobnev is riding, who knows, an outsider?
On one of the uphill parts leading to the big climbs, Del Nera, Cataldo and Ljungblad attack. The break has an advantage of 7 minutes at that moment.
The trio almost catches the break, but for some reason doesn't manage to close the gap completely.
And by that time, we are already aat the big climb, where they get caught. The original break only has a 30" gap left, so the team leaders are free to go.
There are the first attacks, and from some big names. Efimkin, Gil, Ginanni and Kolobnev launch an attack.
A little bit later, Cobo, Flugel, Claeys and Roux atttack.
They get countered by Gilbert and Monfort.
They form one big group. Except for Ginanni and Gil, who have an advantage on the other favorites. We are nearing the top of the first climb.
Kolobnev, Efimkin, Cobo and Monfort attack again. Trying to get to Ginanni and Gil before the downhill.
Ginanni cracked near the top and had to let go Gil. Cobo and Kolobnev did succeed in catching Gil.
A second chasin group consists of Flugel, Monfort, Ginanni and Efimkin.
Behind this group Gilbert and Claeys attack. Trying to bridge the gap.
However Flugel and Monfort attacked away from that group and reached the front group in the downhill.
So did Gilbert.
And the rest. Every favorite is in the lead group. Ginanni for some reason, is letting himself drop back.
Gil takes the lead in the sprint. The steepest part is done though.
Kolobnev takes over the lead, can Claeys, Efimkin or Flugel still come around?
No, Kolobnev takes the win!
Flugel gets second and Gil hangs on for third. The big favorites were badly positioned in the sprint. Ginanni and Efimkin were the fastest, but had to come from far back.
