Ukraine boost a couple of very fine riders with the Tour de France podium man Popovich probably the pick. Youngster Ratiy looks like one for the future and we can throw solid domestiques Grivko and Bileka into the pot contenders here also.
The reigning champion is Grabovski who rode for the Intesa outfit this year, this team has unfortnately disbanded so he will be looking to impress here. The circuit is labelled as hilly but should is not decisively so.
Rather surprisingly Popovich, Grivko and Grabovski allow a dangerous split ahead of them to occur. Bogdan (UBS), Gustov (Lego), Bileka (Festina) and Martynenko (Wiggle) move away into a big lead.
The favourites stay calm behind feeling confident they can chase back they do at least maintain a steady tempo.
Only four riders are here though Grychenko, Grivko, Grabovski and Popovich, being distanced is young Ratiy.
With 75 to go the lead 4 have 2.17 on the chasing four with Ratiy at 5.09, his race is over. But for the others it is very much game on as the two groups of four finally merge with two laps to go.
A tense penultimate lap ensues and as we get to the end of it after Grivko briefly lifts the pace LEGO's Gustov launches an attack over the start/finish area.
The Lego man has been out there all day in the front group and is given some latitute before Grivko launches with Popovich as we hit the climbs.
These two just about get across to Gustov as they reach the top and it will be these three as we descend to the finish. Popovich cleverly manauvers Grivko into leading out with Gustov clinging on for grim death. Popo leaves it late though moving out in the last kilometer.
It's close has the Carmuese star left it too late?
No he hasn't and he clinches the Ukraine national championships!
In the TT, Popovich is looking to double up. Grivko is a little weak in comparison but reigning TT champion Grabovski is a capable challenger and should be more than up for this after failling to figure in the RR.
However the first climbing section is not really the soon to be free agent Grabovski's cup of tea and Popovich pulls out five seconds here.
At the second check Popovich still holds a six second advantage that he will take to the finish. What a national championships for Popo!
