Maksimov, Chicchi, Rizza & Abakoumov, and Dekkers are listed as top favourites. Surprisingly Guillen is not included on the betting card even though 15 riders made the list ahead of him. Guess the bookies figure the race is just to long to give him a chance. Something worth considering as we head down to the start line.
240kms is a extremely long day, especially for C2 cyclists, so it isn't surprising that the peloton spends the first 10 kms taking it easy and riding together.
Stoenchev kicks off the first attack. He is followed by, Howson Mojica Paillot
As that move is quickly shutdown Brataschcuk and Tratnik go for it.
And it's like nobody saw them go by as they quickly pull out a minute.
5kms later and it's 3 minutes, so we can offically call them our breakaway (partnership) of the day. 220kms to go, if they make it all the way I can't even image what the celebration is going to be like. Well from their managers, I don't even think they would be able to raise their arms if they did the impossible.
Allianz-BMW has done 95% of the pacing making as we reach the 200kms to go. The other 5% belongs to Timochine of LukOil. The gap is still hovering around 3 minutes so they are keeping a close eye on our two leaders.
Tiernan-Locke hits the ground with 130kms left to race. He easily rejoins the peloton, as the breakaway is still locked in at 3 minutes.
Down to 60kms to go, the peloton is taking in the view as a few more teams are starting to come to the front including Banco Nacional de Costa Rica and Mobil - Castrol Cycling. Brataschcuk and Tratnik's lead you maybe wondering, well it still hasn't changed - 3 minutes.
A move out of the peloton with 42kms to go, Kopp and Alafaci. Kopp is clearly the best sprinter out in front of the peloton and is dangerous threat at this point in the race.
As the peloton goes over the only tough speed bump (11.5% for a mere second) on the road today the situation stands at: Morning breakaway at 1'20" with the latest attackers right in the middle of the gap at 40" in front of the peloton.
Privatbank has yet to take their turn pulling on the front and has both Dzhus and Cunha shielding Maksimov up the climb. Can't believe the other teams are allowing this to happen!
LukOil makes the catch of Kopp and Alafaci and now has their sights set on the morning breakaway riders who now have been in the lead for over 200kms.
But that doesn't happen at all. The peloton is finally feed up with PrivatBank not leading the chase, so LukOil and Allianz quit chasing and start slowing down. The result of this action is none other than an attack by Cunha. Mironov and Kopp counter. This race just got a lot more interesting with 20kms to go.
But it is all for nothing as Allianz drags back Mironov forcing LukOil to reel back in everybody including the morning partnership. At least everybody knows now that PrivatBank is here to compete and isn't going to play these silly games brought upon by the other teams.
But now with that wave of attacks over the door is left open for another attack. This time by Dall'Antonia on the left hand side of the road. A very strange move for him, considering it looked like a bunch sprint was in the works.
In pursuit are, Meul Cunha Serov
10kms left and the 3 chasers give up their chase and head back into the peloton to try and work together to bring back Dall'Antonia's 40 second gap.
Just 5kms to go and Dall'Antonia's move is starting to look like the winning move! Kind of hard to believe as the peloton are still pushing strong trying to catch him.
A blink of the eye later and he is already under the banner!
Back in the pack they are feeling the heat of their major mistake.
The major sprinters are in fused with their teammates that are still trying to chase. And would you look at that...
Guillen is sitting in the best position 4 riders back. (I know, I know, after that intro some of you probably saw that coming ).
Then is Abakoumov around 9th position. Right in the middle is Abdallah who is the first man to start sprinting around 11th places back.
Credexbank has Clarke and Kankovsky a few riders further back.
Then Dekkers, Sutton, Chicchi, and Bozic can be found.
And finally about 20 riders deep is the man everyone was been talking about, Maksimov.
Not to mention Rizza and Hochmann are even further back along with a few other sprinters wishing to have a do-over button.
With no sprint trains it is everybody for themselves. Abdallah who started the sprint jumps into the lead, closely behind are Abakoumov, Mironov, and Bozic.
However, they just couldn't catch this man.
Dall'Antonia wins with a surprising attack that caught everyone off guard.
Behind the battle of 2nd easily goes to Abdallah, who just happened to kick at the right moment. MTN surely is going to happen with his performance.
Abakoumov takes 3rd over Bozic and Mironov.
6th through 8th are taken without a challenge, Dekkers Clarke Sutton
9th through 13th however is the exact opposite, photo finish required.
The two PrivatBank riders just beat out the two Credexbank riders.
Giving Gomenyuk 9th, and in a mad scramble overwhelming race favourite Maksimov gets a top 10. Which means Kankovsky 11th and Papok 12th.
After all the work they did today LukOil gets Klimov in for 13th place.
14th to Schinker and a major collapse in the final 1.5 kilometers to 15th place by Guillen (guess the bookmakers were right).
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