Italy hosts the final 'sprinters' classic of the season, though in truth these races have not been as predictable as sprinters may have wished it this year.
The parcours for this one are pretty hilly to begin with and the end results in a pretty long drag to the sine. At 190 kilometers, it will likely not drop too many riders however the October European weather has thrown up another blustery one folks!
Taking into account the windy conditions and the fact we are in Italy, last years winner Napolitano (Unicredit) is given the favourites tag over the likes of Vespa's Steegmans and 100% Me's man for the late season Ben Swift. Lots of other sprinters to conisder really though like Intesa's Lorenzatto, Bacardi's Goss, Milka's Casper, Davis (Quiksilver), Ciolek (LEGO), Guarnieri/Chicchi (Falcon), Loddo (Pirelli), Van Heerden (Pendletons), Haedo (Mercedes), Crocket (Petronas) and Markov (Tinkoff).
Such a high volume of sprinters saw the early breaks controlled so that just three riders were allowed to escape. British low level sprinters Briggs, Unicredits Fran Gavazzi and the man of the breakaway in France a few days agao Ladagnous (Pendletons).
Ladagnous part of the breakaway once again
It is controlled pretty well by the peleton, with 50km to go the three riders have just three minutes. The pack are only too aware of breakaway victories in these races! However there is another reason for the high pace, the wind is making it tough. Indeed with 50km to go a dreaded split in the pack occurs.
Echelons start to form
Caught in the back group then are Goss, Ciolek, Chicchi and Crocket, LEGO are pretty experienced at classics riding and pull this back together. But just how much will that affect the sprinters in the back? Things do calm down a bit as the pacers just ease off slightly so not to catch the break too soon, however with 38 to go five riders decide to put the pressure back on by breaking away.
Milka's Y Nepomnyachsniy, Intesa's Grabovski ignite the move and they are followed by Kucheenski (Bacardi), Laloutte and Feillu (Petronas).
Five riders look to bridge to the breakaway
Feillu realising he is probably short of the power to win the sprint, has decided to go for a break before the finish. But this type of move has not really worked for him and he quickly realises the pack are not allowing him any freedom at all and sensibly drops back. Grabovski and Laloutte keep it going and bridge to the two riders out in front, Briggs has dropped back to the peleton it is only Ladagnous and F Gavazzi left up there.
Grabovski and Laloutte bridge
The extra numbers up there don't really help and after a brief foray once again by Ladagnous things are hauled back together by two of the teams with a sprinting favourite 100% Me and Vespa-Caffreys.
100% and Vespa close everything down.
Unicredit with a man in the breakawa have not had to chase today and that advantage shows as the sprint trains form with Van Poppel, just ahead of a joint Gasparotto/Napolitano power train. With 4.2 km to go they are pulling up towards the pace snake.
Sprint trains form with Unicredit looking powerful/
The man in green behind the Unicredit duo is Allan Davis and then it is Tinkoffs Markov. The 100% Me boys are not too far away though, towards the bottom left is Cavendish and Swift, with Jaan Van Heerden making a nuisence of himself and Ciolek also there next to Abdullah.
Van Poppel drops back in the next kilometer as the Unicredit boys move forward, Swift intelligentely moves onto the back of it with Van Heerden and Ciolek in two.
Meanwhile Loddo (Pirelli) is looking to bring himself up there with Steegmans and Goss making a late bid to get involved just behind him.
2.9km to go, all aboard the Unicredit train
With the wind like it is none of the sprinters want to expose themselves into it too soon and as the sprint starts they all remain in a line. Loddo has not quite managed to get up there, with only Van Heerden trying to move out and make his big push. The top five are all in a line Gaspa, Napo, Davis, Markov and Swift, you fancy with 1800m to go that it is one of these five.
1.8km to go no-one can break this Unicredit train yet
Klimov is the other Tinkoff man in the picture but being blasted by the wind is not helping him, still sitting in a line forever will not help those in the back of it. Van Heerden is beginning to inch his way forward, with Davis looking itchy, Napolitano decides to start to move around under the kite.
1.2km to go Napo looking to strike
Into the last kilometer and as Gasparotto fades back it is clearly between Napolitano and Davis with a gap opening to Markov as Van Heerden slots behind him closing the door on Ben Swift. Steegmans, Chicchi and Goss are making late bids for decent top 10 places.
Last km: it is Davis vs Napolitano
The Unicredit holds off the Quiksilver riders for his second consecutive Piemonte triumph, the Italian has had an excellent season.
Napolitano banks another one for Unicredit
Davis takes second, Markov a good third ahead of Van Heerden and Swift. Alberto Loddo manages to come through for 6th ahead of a disappointing Steegmans with Chicchi 10th, Ciolek 12th and Goss 13th.
The other sprinters finish in the shadows of Napolitano
