The first cobbled race of the calender is here and although there are no cobbled sections for the last 50km we should get a nice sorting out before a bunch finish. Hassink, Van der Ginst and Duclos-Lassalle are favourites acording to the latest odds.
The peloton pull back the first attempt at a breakaway
And as we hit the cobbles they are attempting to pull back the second
This they manage
The pace across the cobbles probably kill some legs so only 5 men get into today's break: Koloda, Rada, Fabbro, Lloyd and CHernetsky
The first cobbled section causes no real drama, the break are now 7 minutes ahead
I've spoken too soon, 45 riders fall off the back, the major causalties are Timochine and Wellens
As we hit section 3 Renders throws in an attack. With his team mates all at the front it could be tough to get a chase going. On the other hand ther are 78km to go
The peleton are only going at 7km/h and over the top Renders has an advantage of 1'40" already
As the peleton splits over the top a chase group of 6 forms: Almblad, Vandenbergh, Puric, Meul, Bachraty and Debusschere
A 39 man bunch is 51 seconds behind them, most of the other team leaders are here.
However they are in no rush to chase and the gap quickly jumps up to 2 minutes
With 60km to go Renders has caught the break, he is 3 minutes ahead of the chasers, and fully 6 ahead of the peleton, how strong is this man?
The peloton have not picked up the pace, with 55km to go they are 7 minutes behind the breakaway
On the final cobbles section Renders has riden clear of his companions, 42km solo in the rain is his aim now
1'35" behind are the chase group, now down to 5 after Puric punctures
Then the peloton, 8'23" off the lead and clearly have given up the ghost
Renders is stupidly strong, and with 25km to go the chasers having caught the break he has 2'28" on all of them. Rada is fresh however, having waited for Debusschere, so he may be able to close the gap. Maybe??
However with 10km to go his lead has increased more, to 2'40"
3km to go for hte chasers and they are lined up: Bachraty, Vandenbergh, Meul, Almblad, Debusschere, Chernetsky, Lloyd, Rada, Koloda, Fabbro. Debusschere is probably favourite, although Meul is better placed and also has his teammate leading out
As Bachraty starts to sprint the breakaway riders start drifting back, they've been just hanging on for a while now
Debusschere pulls out first
Renders can barely belive it, he's won thanks to 80km solo. What a ride, I doubt we will see better all season
As Debusschere gets alongside Vandenbergh tries to match him, Meul is happy to wait
Now Meul makes his move, with Vandenbergh in the lead
Meul pulls away to take second
Almblad just about slipstreams Meul to third, with Vandenbergh gettign 4th from Debusschere
Bachraty gets 6th, a lead out well done
The breakaway riders form the next five: Lloyd, Rada, Koloda, Chernetsky and Fabbro
The peloton picked up the pace somewhats towards the end, with Ducos-Lassalle winning the sprint for 12th
So Renders has stamped his authority on everything cobbles related, will anyone be able to bounce back for the next races? Also, will the other teams try next time?
