Here we are in Italy. The favourites are Cunego, Ulissi and Ricco,, but their team support is almost not existent, so expect Vespa, Ferrari, Venchi and Wiggle to try and swarm away to victory in this very challenging route.
We hit the finish line for the first time after 50km of racing Vespa and Wiggle still haven't found a break they are happy to let go. This is playing into Cunego's hands.
The first lap is crazy with rider after rider jumping across the gap. Impressively, every time someone attacks, a Vespa rider is on his wheel. This is causing Wiggle so real trouble, and the gap quickly grows to two minutes.
Then Vespa have a change of heart and start chasing.
So, on lap two Vespa pull back a break which has 4 Vespa riders. I really don't know what they are thinking here.
Proni attacks and after with 133km he is allowed to get a three minute gap with Pirazzi and Pozzo. Viviani and Moschella also join them.
125km to go, Ballan and Marzano attack.
Vespa and Wiggle seem to have calmed down, so Mori also tries to make a move.
17km after they attack Ballan and Marzano catch Viviani and Moschella, 1'22" behind the three leads, but now over 5 minutes ahead of the peloton. Wiggle and Vespa need to wake up.
With 100km to go, Ballan and Marzano catch Proni, who must be pleased as the Ferrari riders are not much help. Mori is 2'12" behind with Viviani and Moschela, while the peloton have let the gap grow to 8'28". This seems like insanity on Wiggle and Vespa's part.
Pirazzi cracks this time up the climb, while the gap has dropped to 8 minutes.
Wiggle crack the whip now though and the peloton is almost shattered immediately. This hill is really hard.
6 laps to go and the four leads have 7'15"
This time up the hill and it's Pozzo who cracks. Mori is still plugging away, and catches him near the top, 50 seconds behind the leaders.
Wiggle and Vespa now have the peloton down to 36. Anaza is the biggest name missing.
Only 4 riders are dropped on that ascent, but as Wiggle pull back Pirazzi with just over 4 laps to go, the gap is down to 5'43". 58km mean it's touch and go, but surely the break will crack.
Mori cracks up the next climb, he is now 2 minutes behind the leaders and fading fast. It was a nice try, but it always felt like he had missed the boat.
39km to go for the front three as they start lapping exhausted riders. The gap is still 4'38", but there are 3 vicious climbs to come, and Ricco has just sent his helper to the front.
The pace keeps increasing, but it's hurting the peloton more than the break, down to just 19 now.
Say it quietly, but I think we may be running out of helpers. All the big names are happy to let the visibly struggling Caruso, Cataldo and Pavarin do the work. If they don't attack next lap then they won't catch the break.
38km to go and 3'12" still the gap, Cunego has no choice but to hit the front. Ricco decides he has to help out as well.
Mori leads us onto the penultimate lap, Marzano looks tired, but after a glance over his shoulder reveals no one, he grits his teeth and gets back in line.
Ginanni, Cunego and Ricco are rotating on the front now, as Mori and some lapped riders are caught. The gap is down to 2'34", and there are still 25km left. Is this coming back to the leaders?
Marzano decides he has to go solo from here, and attacks. Ballan is in real difficulty.
In the peloton it's Ulissi who makes the first move.
As Ulissi gets a gap Cunego just ups the tempo, destroying the peloton. The only riders who can follow are Ponzi, Di Maggio, Caruso and Pozzato. Vespa have been completely caught out. (the two riders ahead of Ulissi are being lapped. There are now a lot of lapped riders.)
Cunego pulls back Ulissi, but keeps pushing on the front. I guess he is more worried about Ricco than anyone else.
Up front, Marzano has managed to pull out a 25 second gap.
No one will help Cunego, so Ricco's attack on the descent gets himself back in the mix. The Vespa and Pirelli riders are being lapped.
Marzano goes onto the final lap with just a 13 second lead. 13.8km left
Even with Ricco in the group Cunego is still pushing hard, confident in his superiority. They are now just 51" behind Marzano.
40 seconds later: Pellizotti, Pozzovivo, Ginanni, Caruso and Zaini are all trying to make up ground.
Ricco leads us onto the hill, but Ulissi atacks immediately. Ponzi and Cunego are right at the back of the group.
Ginanni and Pozzovivo are almost back in the mix as well.
Ricco follows Ulissi as he blows past Ballan and Proni. Di Maggio Ponzi and Cunego are also alert to the move.
Lapped riders are making it almost impossible to tell what is going on, but as Ulissi sits back in the saddle Ricco tries to go past, closely followed by Ponzi and Cunego.
Ricco can't drop Ulissi, but Ponzi puts in a big acceleration, to which Cunego can't immediately respond. Pozzato and Di Maggio are now also trying to get back on terms.
Here goes Cunego into the lead, Ponzi now can't respond, Pozzato is trying his best.
Over the top and straight onto the descent. There are just 10km to go and Pozzato is 15" behind Cunego
Ricco, Di Maggio, Ponzi, Ulissi and Ginanni are 20 seconds further behind, but need to work together if they are to win this.
6km to go, and Pozzato has the gap down to 12 seconds. He should be stronger than Cunego on the flat.
4km left and the gap is almost gone, it's between these two for the win now. Again, sorry about the two lapped riders between them.
3km to go and Pozzato is in the slipstream, Cunego tries a desperate attack.
Maybe not so desperate, as he immediately opens a gap.
Pozzato killed himself trying to get to Cunego, he just needed a couple of seconds of recovery, but the Tour de France champion gave him nothing, and Pozzato just has to watch him sprint away.
Cunego takes victory. He was strongest, he knew he was strongest, and he made sure everyone knew it. One gets the feeling he won't struggle to get a new contract next year.
Pozzato limps home in second. Oh well, at least he won the Olympics.
Ulissi makes it a better day for Festina by beating Ponzi in the sprint for third.
One can't help but feel that a mid race attack would have suited Wiggle and Vespa better than their attempt to make the race hard. Amazingly a third of the riders were lapped today. Even more amazingly the top 3 had no other team mates.
Cunego is also favourite for the time trial, along with Ascani and Pozzovivo.
Ponzi is the very first rider off, and sets a time of 1h07'12" on this hilly course.
Cataldo is 12 seconds slower
Ricco is going well and takes the lead by 11 seconds
Pozzato goes even better, taking the lead by just 2 seconds.
Is that enough? Nope, again Cunego crushes Pozzato's dreams, relegating him into 2nd place by 23 seconds.
Pozzovivo is below par, only managing 5th at +44"
Ascani is the last rider on course, but he can only manage 14th as Cunego caps his season with the double Italian champ. Pozzato is again second, I don't think he can be too disappointed with his year.
