The Lincoln GP is the last big cobbled classic of the season. Criterium Hainleite in Germany may still be to come, but the amount of cobbles there is minimal. Here in Lincoln we have 15 laps to look forward to, each lap ending in the steep, narrow and cobbled Michaelgate climb. Positioning is going to be so vital, as the front of the peloton will have finished the climb before the back of the peloton has even started it.
The race is similar to Nokere-Koerse, which Damien Gaudin won, and he will hope for a repeat here. With Veelers and Boom absent, the only other winner of a cobbled classic this season here is Jerome Giaux. He will struggle to do aswell today though!
Lacking a classic are Team Bpost, but they are the form team for sure. Pieter Vanspeybrouck being the winner of the 5 Jours de Dunkerque ahead of teammate Niels Albert, who won the other cobbled stage race of the season - KBD De Panne Tour. Vanspeybrouck did win 4 classics last year though, and he will want to make that at least one this year.
Without a win at all has been an underperforming Adam Blythe, who does have home advantage today. Ricardo van der Velde is the best hope for fellow British team Cyclevox.
Sebastian Langeveld, Frederik Nolf, Arnaud Coyot and Matti Breschel lead their teams, with squads also from TCS Bank - surprisingly bringing their hilly A-team with the likes of Kolobnev, Cerne, Oz Cycling, Venchi and D2 wildcards Eurovision and Skoda-KB.
And in the first lap already there is chaos after the first Michaelgate ascent! A group of 28 is up front - with Vanspeybrouck, Langeveld, Coyot and Van der Velde. Then there is a group of 34with Blythe, Albert, Maes, Gaudin and Nolf. Finally a group of 40 is a further 3 minutes down and riding slowly - they seem to have given up after just one lap. Kolobnev and others are here, but the group eventually motivates themselves a little and make contact with the peloton a few laps later allowing some riders a chance to get involved again. The favourites all come back together - but every time we finish the Michaelgate climb, there is going to be splits!
An 8 man breakaway goes clear.
Frohlinger
Vital
Klimiankov
Deiteren
Clarke
Tzortzakis
Larsson
McNally
5 laps in they lead by 3 minutes. 125km to go, and yet Nolf is attacking!
Within a lap he has caught the break, and it takes him just one go at the climb to drop them. They desperately try to close him down again over the top, but they wont be riding with Nolf again.
Splits continue to happen on the climb, but theres no notable riders to have lost out and been unable to make it back just yet. 7 laps is enough for Luke Durbridge though. He quits the race.
In the peloton, Focused are taking a lot of responsibility with the pacing. But without fail, every lap, Vansummeren gets himself to the front on the Michaelgate climb to push the peloton up it.
On lap 10 of 15, the peloton has been reduced to 29 riders.
Vansummeren
Roy
Skuijns
Pineau
Van der Velde
Vanspeybrouck
Elissonde
Stallaert
Hardy
Polanc
Ingels
Bakari
Kirsch
Last
Kamyshev
Blythe
Langeveld
Gaudin
Maes
Partridge
Kiprotich
Broers
Coyot
Kluge
Rast
Albert
Breschel
Eichler
Geslin
Rast, Partridge and Kiprotich are dropped over the top, while the initial breakaway of 8 are caught during Lap 11. 1 lap later, Nolf leads by 4'13, and there are 40km to go.
We hit the Michaelgate climb for the 12th time and, rather than taking command, Vansummeren is clearly suffering. He drifts back to the middle of the group. This is the signal for Bpost and over the top of the climb, Vanspeybrouck attacks.
7 chasers form, and Blythe shows his frustration at having allowed Vanspeybrouck to get away. The only team with numbers here - other than Bpost with Albert and Maes is Focused. Roy is on the front to chase Vanspeybrouck for Gaudin, with Langeveld on his wheel. Van der Velde also made the group.
Later in the lap Blythe translates his fury into an attack. He and Langeveld reach Vanspeybrouck. 25km to go, Nolf is 2'08 ahead.
Blythe has more work to do over the top of the 13th climb, as Vanspeybrouck attacks in the same spot as the previous line, and Langeveld goes with him - although the Dutchman doesnt last long. (Riders being lapped will now become a feature of the screenshots)
20km to go for Nolf. His lead on Vanspeybrouck is 1'20. Blythe and Langeveld are a further 38 seconds back. And then its another 38 seconds to Roy, Gaudin, Maes, Albert and Van der Velde. They are largely relying on Roy to pace them.
Another minute down the road. Geslin is attacking away from a 9 man group: Breschol, Coyot, Vansummeren, Hardy, Elissonde, Skuijins, Eichler, Kirsch and Kluge.
So, Nolf is firmly in Vanspeybrouck's sights now.
And Blythe can see a victory chance slipping away, so he attacks Langeveld.
Onto the 14th ascent, Nolf's lead is apparantely still 30 seconds. But it doesnt look it!
Gaudin has now attacked clear from his group, while we can see Langeveld back up with Blythe
Vanspreybrouck has caught Nolf as they cross the line with a lap to go and immediately attacks! Blythe and Langeveld are a minute down now.
Vanspeybrouck gets a gap, is it game over? No! A gutsy response sees Nolf close down the gap. He has been in the lead for over 100km though, and with now just 10km to go, does he really have enough to fight against a surely fresher Vanspeybrouck?
6km to go then. Nolf and Vanspeybrouck lead, but its now down to 50 seconds over Blythe and Langeveld.
Gaudin is another minute back, but has a good 45 seconds gap on Roy, Van der Velde, Maes and Albert.
Another 45 seconds gap later is Vansummeren, just ahead of Breschel, Geslin and Coyot.
One last attempt now by Blythe to get to the leaders
As Vanspeybrouck starts applying the pressure on the small rise with just under 2km to go.
Nolf has nothing left. Vanspeybrouck is away!
And onto Michaelgate for the final time
Victory! A super May for Vanspeybrouck.
2nd for Nolf. A fabulous effort by him, and it very nearly worked.
Bylthe outsprints Langeveld for 3rd. He can only wonder why he didnt respond immediately when Vanspeybrouck left him behind.
Gaudin is 5th
Roy wins the battle for 6th by launching himself up the final climb. A great effort by him, especially since Albert and Maes have effectively sat on him for much of the last couple of laps. 9th for Van der Velde.
Vansummeren rounds out the Top 10 in a strong all round performance from Bpost
Coyot beats Breschel for 11th, with a number of Focused's youngsters also showing promise not far behind, and Vital delivers a surprise Top 20 for Cerne.
The best D2 riders are those that made the break. Frohlinger just missed out on the Top 30 for Skoda-KB but did beat the best rider of CT high flyers Jayco Red Bull - Giaux. McNally meanwhile, earnt Eurovision a Top 50 placing.
