We have perfect circumstances for this cobbled classic in Croatia. The riders are ready to go.
Just as a reminder, the list of favorites is pretty short (just as the startlist is): Arnaud Coyot, Niki Østergaard and Jonas Vangenechten should be the top-favorites when the cobbles will be decisive today.
Michal Golas is the first to break clear. A rather surprising attack, as he's the best puncheur his Team Credexbank has here. Looks like he doesn't consider this race being too hilly.
He will have time to change his tactics anyway, as his attempt is short-lived. As soon as the riders enter the first paved sector, he's swallowed by the pack.
Credexbank definitely wants a rider in the break, as Stanislau Bazhkou is part of another attack, accompanied by Alexander Gingsjo and Alex Meenhorst.
With 140kms to go, it looks like we have a first succesful breakaway, as the 3 riders enter the second cobbled sector with the peloton being settled.
The escapees' lead stretches to a maximum of 7'20" with 110kms to go..
Die Berg and Gazelle meanwhile took control of the peloton, starting to chase down the BOTD. Shortly after today's longest cobbled section, a split happened, leaving 30 riders in the bunch, with 6'30" in arrears.
But with 85kms remaining, the peloton is all together again (52 riders), as the pure sprinters, who got dropped, still hope for a mass-sprint. Allianz joins the Die Berg in the pursuit, but the gap's decreasing slowly: 6'10".
66kms: The leading trio enter today's toughest climb, maintaining a 4'35"-lead on the peloton. The hillier profile definitely suits a rider like Bazhkou.
Allianz now tries to keep the escapees under control with a rather tough pace. It's 50kms left and the bunch is still 3'20" in arrears.
Twenty kilometers later (33kms to go) the leading group works hard to defend their gap. And it ain't looking too bad: the bunch struggles to narrow the gap, which is still at 3'05" by now!
And Niki Østergaard can't wait anymore, attacking the bunch with 30kms to go! The first top-favorite finally made his move then, just at the moment where the race looked (too) settled.
Østergaard holds on to his gap on the pack and so the favorited teams Allianz, Risa and Gazelle continue to chase hard. With now 20kms to go, the early break and Østergaard lead by 1'15".
Just as Østergaard caught up to the leading three, all of them attack! Bazhkou is the first to do so, Gingsjo and Meenhorst follow!
14kms to go and the escapees fight hard. A great effort. Østergaard struggles to re-join, he's 12" behind.
The bunch is within sight though, as Allianz did most of the work to cut down the gap to 26".
On today's last cobbled sector, the early breakaway is eventually swallowed by the pack. Still, they deserve some credit for working well together.
But now it's time for the top-favorites to take control: Østergaard with yet another attack, this time joined by Arnaud Coyot! 13kms remaining..
Aleksei Saramotins tries to follow! The few top-favorites finally battle each other and it seems like all of them (except Laengen yet) see a chance to stay clear from the bunch.
Coyot tries to move ahead of Østergaard! 12kms left..
..but it's a tough challenge, as Team Gazelle and Risa-Ergon ain't done yet! While Saramotins managed to catch up to Coyot/Østergaard, it's an empty-handed effort.
8kms before finish, the late-attackers get reeled in by the bunch..
..and here they go again! Coyot, Saramotins with another try and this time, Laengen and Vangenechten join the fun! 6kms to go and they quickly establish a 15"-lead on the bunch.
5km-mark: The new leading group lead by 25" now, while Die Berg now has to chase.
And Niki Østergaard still has something left in this tank: he jumps behind the leading 4, trying to bridge the gap quickly, with now only 4kms to go!
He catches up to group Coyot and with only 3.5kms remaining, it looks like we have the winning group:
Coyot Østergaard Saramotins Vangenechten Laengen
+ 1'01" E2 (19 riders)
+ 35" P (20 riders)
So we have all of the pre-race top-favorites battling out today's victory. The bunch (which was led by Allianz, Die Berg, Gazelle or Risa the whole race) won't be able to fight back, as no team looks strong enough to do so.
Unsurprisingly, Østergaard is the first to push for the finish on his own! Quite early, it's still 2.9kms to go..
Coyot and Saramotins overtake him easily, while Vangenechten and Laengen lost contact for a moment.
Coyot and Saramotins had by far the fastest punch, creating a small gap already. Østergaard suffers and won't stand a chance anymore.
Vangenechten manages to bridge the gap though, as he passes Saramotins with an impressive kick! Coyot holds on to his lead as they reach the "flamme rouge"!
Coyot looks too strong with the finish approaching..
And he takes it! A great win for Arnaud Coyot and a wise decision to bring him here.
Behind it's a foto-finish: Jonas Vangenechten is awarded as 2nd, being rewarded for his great finish-speed, while Aleksei Saramotins completes the podium.
Øystein Stake Laengen couldn't join the fight for podium, but will be pleased with his 4th place.
Niki Østergaard may have deserved more, finishing 5th with 34" in arrears. He was today's most aggressive top-favorite and his team surely had hoped for more than a 5th place.
Leonardo Duque wins the bunch-sprint for 6th place, while Chavanel (10th) and Abakoumov (11th) add some points for the dutch team.
7th place goes to Nardin, while Arturs Ansons finishes 8th.
Risa-Ergon will be satisfied with Lander (9th), Sutton (12th) and Breen (13th), while Credexbank's best is Ilia Koshevoy as 14th.
Vattenfall couldn't deliver at all, early escapee Gingsjo finishes 28th as their best.
