Welcome to Moscow for another sprinter classic in the Continental Tour.
Lots of big sprinters on the line. Also the biggest of all. Who can beat top favourite Bennati today? Corioni might be the biggest challenger although he lacks in the speed against his country man.
And what about the Russians? Tinkoff sends many of their fast men in Morkov, Galimzyanov or Trussov
First attack by Gudsell. Weissinger Murakami Tzortzakis
follow him.
Some time later these four are joined by Vlatos.
And also Pauwels and Jorgensen are coming from behind. Last named is a solid sprinter as already shown early this season. So an interesting move by Aker, who have another sprinter in Haedo here.
After some more attacks and some riders falling back into the peloton we have finally a group after 45km. Aker and Koppert with the tactical advantage having two riders here.
Jorgensen, Le Bon
Vlatos, Venter
Westling
Pauwels
Weissinger
Murakami
Tzortzakis
Jungels
Mainly Unicredit and Venchi are doing the work here for their leaders Borrajo and Corioni. Also Tinkoff have sent one of their riders to the front while Puma isn`t doing anything although they have the clear top favourite here.
30km later the pace becomes higher due to Puma`s effort. Venchi are still doing a lot with Unicredit realizing that they just have outside chances and so they reduce their effort a bit.
And Puma is making serious now. With Gasparotto one of the very best helpers here is doing a crazy pace.
Same counts for Venchi`s Marinangeli. So both luxury helpers are already involved in the early work and might be tired in possible sprint preparations.
87km -> 5'30
Still some riders think it`s time for an attack 35km to the finish. Kwok Priamo
and Rojas Gil
Aker surely being one of the most active teams so far, but also the other two teams are already in the break of the day.
But no chance for these 3. Although Rojas Gil is still a bit ahead they had no chance and just last 5km ahead of the favourites.
With 25km to go another team is involved in the work. Focus is starting their work with Romain Feillu hoping for a surprise today.
20km and just 40s left for the break. Some riders try to attack. But they start to become tired while the peloton is working well together.
But also in the peloton some more attacks. Most known surely R.Feillu. The sprinter obviously had other plans how to beat Bennati an now the pace makes more sense.
He is joined by another sprinter in Lorenzetto Priamo once again
and Brammeier
Puma is doing all the work alone now with 5 riders while Bennati is directly behind in 6th position.
And with 4km to go all rides are caught. Time to prepare the sprint but somehow most sprinters are left alone now.
Still many riders of the former breakaway are in the first position trying to get a good result here, while the top sprinters are not in the first 20 spots.
Far behind a long sprint train is forming. Tinkoff for Markov and Galimzyanov. Also Bennati and Corioni are here.
In a very weird sprint Bennati sees the danger and goes first with 1,7km to go.
His acceleration is incredibly and so most other sprinters are just too surprised to follow immediately.
Corioni reacts first following him with Markov being behind him. Also attackers like Jorgensen or Lornzetto are in these first rows, while Haussler or Van Locke are bad placed on the full right side.
And the win for the top favourite. The early sprint surprised all the others and so he takes a deserved win after his team did an excellent job.
2nd for Corioni ahead of Russian Markov.
Jorgensen wins the sprint for 4th against Lorenzetto. (I know it looks a bit different here, but I checked it several times)
With Brammeier another attacker comes in 6th and brings a good result for Saab as Hushovd disappointed today.
Delage as 7th with more points for Puma ahead of Rojas, Galimzyanov and Priamo in the last top 10 spots.
In general a strange sprint as the breakaway and late attackers were caught that late. So sprinters like Haussler, Van Locke, Feillu or Hushovd with bad results.
