Welcome to South Africa and for this interesting one-day race. The Nelspruit Classic takes its debut in the Man-Game starting out flat before entering a relatively long circuit with a long and tough climb, that has to be ridden a total of six times. That makes for some 200 kilometres and almost 3000 altimetres!
Masciarelli gets us underway. Interesting tactic from ING who also have Roche here.
First attack from Masciarelli doesn't stick though as we have a tough fight today to get into the break. Nielsen, Camaño, Zepunkte, Wippert, Van Niekerk, Maessen, Ghdamsi, Vanbilsen and De Bie all try, but in the end it's these four who gets away.
Masciarelli wouldn't give up as he makes the break with Seledkov and Geniez. Dviri attacks later and joins the three after a short chase.
The pack has calmed down with BPost, Jaguar and Swedbank at the front. These three teams have Cyril Gautier, Chris Froome and Johnny Hoogerland respectively as their captains. All riders capable of winning here. The big favourite Ginnani's team Vespa is still keeping off the front though. We should definitely see them later.
The advantage tops at a little above the 7-minute mark with 110 kilometres left to race. Vespa is still not really doing much though as we now have Volkswagen, Cisco and Vueling leading. Their leading riders should today be Flügel, Efimkin and Sinkewitz.
We fast forward to 30 kilometres to go. The break has hit the steepest part of the climb for the penultimate time. Their lead is down to 1'27 only. The first part of the climb isn't anything serious in terms of steepness but the final 3.5 kilometres kicks up to gradients between 7 and 10 %!
Meanwhile Vespa has now taken over completely. Ginanni should be all ready here! As we come down the descent Fabian Wegmann decides to attack!
Up front the break has split for a bit. But Wegmann catches the back end quickly and brings it together.
Only for a short while though as Vespa is bringing this race back together again! Notice that Roche is coming to the front on the outside.
Wait! He is attacking!
There's still 23 kilometres to the line and Roche has attacked in the valley. That's a very difficult place to go alone especially with that climb coming up. He quickly builds a lead of 30".
But this is a strong effort from Nicolas Roche! The domestiques just cannot reel the Irishman back in and so the other favourites has to go to the front themselves. Ginanni and Flügel are both doing turns!
Also Sinkewitz, Efimkin and Froome are working hard to reel Roche back in!
As we come onto the last and steep part of the final climb Roche still leads by 29 seconds. 3 kilometres to go now! He could do this!
Froom realizes this and puts in a big effort break clear of the favourites group. Efimkin goes with him and also Roy is responding!
These three gets away but they haven't quite caught Roche yet eventhough they are very close!
Here's a good view over the situation as only 1.3 kilometres remain. Roche still leads ahead of Froome, Efimkin and Roy but there's a big gap down to the rest. These four will definitely settle this between them.
The chase group here of seven consists of Hoogerland, Flügel, Ben Nasser, Dowsett, Salerno, Wegmann and Lejman. They are only racing for fifth though. Ginanni is really nowhere to be seen.
Up front Froome has started the sprint and Roche has finally been caught!
Efimkin can't respond but Roy is coming up strong! Roche is obviously roasted here!
Froome wins it! A win on his home continent! Roy takes second and Efimkin just manages to edge Roche for third.
Flügel takes 5th ahead of Dowsett, Lejman and Wegmann.
Ginanni finishes strongly to take 9th but must be very dissapointed with this effort. Hassen Ben Nasser rounds out the Top 10.
Great win for Froome, brave solo effort from Roche and a let-down for Ginanni wraps up the first Man-Game Edition of Nelspruit Classic!
