With attacks from the off, riders are dropped within 3 kilometres, including our favourite crap rider, Mads Kaggestad.
The first few attacks are chased down, but Bradley Wiggins launches the succesful one. He is joined by Ignatiev, Boonen and Rogers.
They are later joined by Pena, Perez Cuapio, Parra Pinto, Poos, Augustyn, Hutchings and Matamoros.
Not much happens for a while, only riders getting dropped from the peleton once the chase quickens up. Then some embarassment in the American camp as Zabriskie crashes and takes Horner down with him.
Wegmann, Gadret and Brajkovic try some attacks. As do Vanendert, and Menchov.
They dont work but at least its something to watch 3 laps after the USA crash, in the same spot - Kirchen goes down at the front of the peleton. He doesnt take anyone with him though.
Riders start to get dropped from the breakaway and with 55km (3 laps) to go, Sanchez and Boogerd attack!
They move through the riders dropped from the lead breakaway group and lap Mads Kaggestad.
With 40km to go, Sanchez and Boogerd are looking good and Frank Schleck attacks. Still nothing from the Italian or German camps though.
Schleck gets held up by Boonen and after 12km away he is caught again.
Up front a 4 man group leads. Sanchez, Boogerd, Perez Cuapio and Parra Pinto.
22km to go and Frank Schleck attacks again.
He is countered by Julich, Vanendert and Brajkovic, but only Schleck gets a gap.
Sanchez and Boogerd are now alone up front after Parra got dropped and Perez Cuapio crashed.
Schleck is joined by Leipheimer and Kroon. They dont have much of an advantage and so Schleck attacks yet again!!
5km to go now for Sanchez and Boogerd.
They are 1.4km (1'33) ahead of Schleck and Kroon. It looks like Schleck has finally gotten away as he and Kroon have 43 seconds over the pack. (Thats a lapped Alex Rasmussen seen inbetween)
You cant deny that Schleck deserves a medal after his constant attacking but its not to be as he starts to struggle with 3km to go, and has to let go of Kroon.
Boogerd and Sanchez begin their sprint with 1.7km to go.
Within 500 metres, Boogerd has created a gap!
Kroon looks like getting 3rd now, while Schleck is being chased down by Oscar Freire, Thomas Dekker and then Kim Kirchen and Andy Schleck.
Boogerd pulls away from Sanchez now.
But suddenly, Sanchez finds a resurgence and is now 3kph quicker than Boogerd!
Heading round the final turn, can Boogerd do it?
Sanchez goes round the outside.
He draws alongside Boogerd
And Samuel Sanchez wins, he is the new Olympic champion!
Bronze medal for Karsten Kroon.
As seen in the Sanchez victory picture, Schleck was still in 4th with just over a km to go, with two Italians Cunego and Pozzato behind him. Dekker has faded and Freire has seemingly disappeared.
Schleck cant quite keep 4th as Pozzato comes past near the finish.
3 laps after the USA crash, in the same spot - Kirchen goes down at the front of the peleton. He doesnt take anyone with him though.
