This very long hilly race could well prove to be a war of attrition today - if the riders are not up for it they will be in for a long one.
The circuit itself features a total of six climbs:
Climb 1 is really more of a drag to the upper city limits of Kathmandu. It is 2.5 km @ around 3%.
Climb 2 is a more feared one which is steady at around 7% for another 2.3 Km. A rapid steep descent follows before a short 1.1km 5% ramp.
The last three climbs come in the last 10km of the race, the last two are the steepest but the first is a constantly changing 2.2km rise averaging 6.5%. The penultimate climb is a shorter but nasty 8% wall like climb of 1.4 km.
The final 1.5km kick averages at 7.5% before a 3km descent to the finish.
The TV cameras join us on the second lap of the race and five riders have ambitiously broke away on the first rotation.
Altanzul (Evian), Abreu (FCC Barcelona), Sai-Udomsin (Armavia), Umerbekov (Mobil-Castrol) and Jeandesbosz (WWE) are the five riders to have broken away
Magna, CSC, Gazelle, Adira and Iberia are keeping an eye on things but are happy enough to allow things to slip into cruise control.
The break of five are cheered on as they come to the end of the second lap. Here Sai-Udomsin leads them up the big final slope of the lap - only 210km left to go boys!
Nasty moment on circuit 3 as JK Cyclings Seo takes a tumble.
Some of the riders are riding for the first time in the pro peloton obviously nervous and perhaps already feeling the effects of this undulating circuit! Still not too much of a problem for the Japanese to rejoin the pack.
Our break moves into lap six taking in some refreshments. Their lead was approaching 10 minutes with 150km to go, but here we can see some moves in the pack as Adira, Iberia and Gazelle are looking to peg this back.
These teams have the big leaders of the race really in Mehr-Wenige, Sammy Sanchez and Weening. They may be rivals at the end but they have their teammates working together at this stage.
The tension is beginning to build as we are reaching that critical final third of the race. Another JK cycling rider takes a tumble Hatsuyama slipping near the beginning of the 7th circuit. You can imagine the thoughts for veteran Di Luca when he hears of teammates falling like dominos.
The yellow and blue army of Team Gazelle are really taking control now in the final 100km. Mugerli, Minnard, Daspuntsag and Kreik leading up these climbs.
Towards the end of the 8th lap we have our first rider to blow out, unsurprisingly it's a JK Cycling rider and its German sprinter Baumann!
50 km to go and the break of five are looking leggy with the pack looming in the background. The gap is down to just under three minutes.
It's and impressive display from Gazelle but Adira are notable in the background. It's time to mix it up though as Ilias (Magna) goes for a long range move.
Schurter (Sauber) is next as you can tell the race is really on with weak riders now dropping like flies off the back.
Schurter and Ilias join forces 30 seconds ahead of the pack. Gazelle and Adira still under control of this you'd say. Up front as we go past 40km to go Sai-Udomin, Umerbekov and Altanzul move clear of the other two breakaways with the two later escapees and the pack closing.
At the other end, surprisingly one of WWE's leaders Asterloza decides to let go of the pack which has reduced to nearly 50 riders.
Midway through the penultimate lap Gazelle catch the two late breakaways and Jeandesbousz and Abreu. It leaves just three a minute clear. Ilias decides to make another move as the really big favourites wait for the last lap.
It's a sneaky downhill move, but surely this is just shadow boxing for the main event to come. The Greek punches past the last surviving break man Sai-Udomsin as we approach the end of this lap.
Major drama.
As both of Saubers leaders are off the back seemingly Schurter formerly on the attack with Ilias has suffered a fall or a puncture. Alizadeh is amongst the riders to slip back to help, could be a disaster for them in this the action point of the race.
Meanwhile Ilias has a 40 second lead going into the final 23km lap.
FC Barcelona are now on the front thinking of protecting Grau perhaps. Calzati and Neive are two riders who can certainly keep the pace high.
With 18km to go Ilias' second folly is over as Westra leads the blue and yellow train past.
Onto the second of the six climbs in the lap and Gazelle are utterly in control with all seven riders there and five on the front.
Classic Samu though as he attacks on the descent of this climb!
Mehr-Wenige himself has to come up front to chase as Gazelle play games.
Samu tackles the small third climb as he comes to the tough trifecta, takes a sip of his bottle and places it back calmly on the descent.
Weening sets off meanwhile with under 10km to go in pursuit of Samu.
That's Tamayo Martinez of Armavia leading the pack perhaps surprisingly. Mehr-Wenige is forced to punch out of the pack also... Can he bridge also?
The three join at the top of this climb. There 30 man pack are only at 25 seconds so this is a bit of a tipping point, will these three work together?
Grau's henchmen Calzati and Nieve are working hard to keep the three in sight. That's Barrio behind them, with Ilias, Tamayo Martinez, Westra, Furdi, Wang, Grau, Vrecer, Valancia.
On the penultimate climb now and Weening keeps the pace pretty high, Samu and Mehr-Wenige smartly keeping tow. Or just hanging on for all their worth?
Last climb now and Barrio senses this 20 to 25 second gap will be permanently there and looks to bridge. Grau is right the on his wheel like glue.
But the lead three have that 15 seconds lead going into the descent and they start to push hard for the finish. Samu's age looks telling as he struggles to hold Weening and Mehr-Wenige.
Dramitically behind Furdi has made a burst, whilst Grau has blown trying to follow Barrio.
1.5km out and Weening seems to paying for doing much of the pace work as Mehr-Wenige goes past him
What's Samu up to?
Furdi may catch team leader Weening as behind that Wang goes past Barrio who himself is surely paying for that last hill blast with Grau now sprinting up to him.
Close sprint up front as Weening could be finding a second wind also. Samu is level with Mehr-Wenige.
400 meters left.
Are Samu's legs just buckling slightly? Deitmer Mehr-Wenige senses he can sneak it back....
He just takes it, Samu second and Weening third, with Furdi quite close in Fourth place.
Wang is fifth with Vrecer finishing well to take sixth. Grau just takes seventh ahead of Barrio, Rochetti and Silva.
