The Capital of Lithuania plays host to a flat, if a little bumpy, race today. The top sprinters here are Rizza and Abdallah. We've had two flat classics so far this season though, Schinker won the mostly flat Trofeo Luis Puig, while Dall'Antonia prevailed in the more hilly Emerald Race. Can either make it 2 classic victories in the season today?
Miserable weather today here in Vilnius as four riders make up the breakaway.
Tratnik Khviyuzau Waeytens Athanasiades
They build up a lead and then have to hope they can hold onto it for as long as possible.
It is on the way down at 2 and a half minutes with 45km to go as Kenya Airways go on a double attack with Brammeier and Ghdamsi. Joining them is Gingsjo.
Five kilometres later the Swede actually leaves both teammates behind on one of the courses hills, on the outskirts of the city.
And with 30km to go, he catches the breakaway - who hold a lead of 1'30. Mobil-Castro currently leading the chase.
But it seems the break don't want Ginsjo. They pan across the road to block him, and sit up.
Then just as the peloton are about to catch them, they attack away from Gingsjo.
The net result sees Tratnik as the sole remaining rider in front of the peloton. Initially with a 30 second lead, but he builds that back up to over a minute.
Risa are doing the chasing now, in windy conditions. Tratnik making it harder for them than they might like.
They slowly reduce the gap to 30 seconds with 8km to go, but it is all over for the Slovenian a couple of kilometres later with an attack from the peloton. Its a lapse in patience for Dall'Antonia to attack so near to the line. Needless to say, he doesnt get far.
So a bunch sprint we will get, but without much in the way of organisation.
Giacoppo is 2nd wheel, and in a vague line behind him are: Lasca Tiainen Gomenyuk Da Dalto Ben Youcef Bozic
With Belletti, Abdallah, and Ghafari in there. Schinker is at the bottom of shot, with Die Berg's Rizza and Duque badly positioned at the moment a little behind him.
The Dutch squad do have presence on the front though with Kochetkov. In the background it seems like MTN are trying to build a train of Ben Youcef, Abdallah and Day - but leadout trains are usually better when placed at the front of the field!
Giacoppo decides to just go for a long one - and it turns out that only Lasca was actually following him as the Australian surges clear.
The gap quickly opens, and the chase is coming from the home team Ekspa. Their best sprinter Gavazzi was last seen struggling at the back of the field, up here now is Saramotins. Bozic also making an early move here.
The road is at 4% approaching the final kilometre. Sys, Appollonio, Tiainen and Gomenyuk are at the front of the chase - sheltering the likes of Abdallah, Belletti and Die Berg pair Rizza and Duque - Rizza seemingly trying to lead Duque into a good position still.
Into the final kilometre and Lasca makes his move after a very handy leadout, before Saramotins is able to move infront.
Dall'Antonia edges into 5th alongside Hansen and just infront of Schinker. The big guns on the right hand side of the road seem to be struggling to get going - stuck behind slower riders infront of them.
It's going to be Lasca vs Saramotins for the victory
And Francisco Lasca is the superior sprinter of the two and takes the win. He could hardly lose after the headstart Giacoppo handed him!
2nd is a good result for Saramotins and his Lithuanian team. Giacoppo and Bozic hold on for 3rd and 4th and Belletti edges a very tight battle for 5th.
Hansen, Schinker, Rizza, Sys and Ghafari complete the Top 10. Bad result for MTN as Abdallah only manages 17th.
