Unlike their two Baltic neighbours Estonia and Latvia, Lithuania organizes an own championship. It's held on the same course though, and with a very small starting field. Cyclevox are big favourites, with Tomas Vaitkus and Ignas Konovalovas being probably the two strongest riders in the race.
Already at halfway through the race, the action kicks off. Ignas Konovalovas sets Cyclevox's plan in work by jumping across to the sole early escapee, Mindaugas Striska.
For some reason, they're not even worried in the big group. No chase is started, allowing the two leaders to work out a whopping ten minute advantage in no time at all, destroying everyone else's chances today.
Konovalovas plays it smart and lets Striska lead it out. The man from Ekspla-Maxima makes a big mistake though, and launches very early in an attempt to surprise.
A strong Konovalovas takes no risks and waits for the final 700 metres before he makes the jump past a dead empty Striska. Easy victory for the punchy timetriallist in the end, netting the road title!
Vaitkus takes the sprint from the main group over nine minutes later, removing all doubts over whether Cyclevox were the strongest team or not.
The timetrial is expected to provide a great battle between newly crowned road champ Konovalovas, Drasutis Stundzia and Ramunas Navardauskas, plus a couple of outsiders. Hard to predict a winner.
Second last starter, Konovalovas, impresses by taking a pretty solid lead against all earlier starters. Will it be enough, or will the last man on the course change it?
It's not enough! Navardauskas pulls off an incredible ride and wins the race by a massive 28 seconds! Konovalovas will have to try again next year if he wants to take the double.
