Welcome to 189.7 kilometres of Dutch hills. It looks a lot like your typical Ardennes Classic and the amount of climbing here matches exactly those.
Quikcly a group of three gets away. Kiprotich, Koshevoy and Portela in there.
It's closed down immediately by Gazelle though.
Kiprotich goes again though. The Kenyan is determined to get away! Once more it's closed down quickly.
The Kenya Airways rider is having none of it as he goes one more time!
But once more him and his companions are brought in by the two Gazelle domestiques, Mugerli and Daspuntsag.
This time it's another Kenyan, Kangani! He gets away with four others.
And this time it sticks! But Kangani is surprisingly dropped on the next hill. So it's only four riders here. Soto Pereira, Forminykh, Moren and Wolf.
So the packs sits up at least for a moment. Gazelle of course leading.
The four riders in front are kept within reach as their gap never exceeds four minutes and one second, which is their exact advantage right here with 100 kilometres to go.
Here they are 15 kilometres later at the highest point of the route. We are closing in on the final circuit where Cauberg is to be climbed a total of five times!
Ten kilometres later with the gap at a bit under 4 minutes, we have an attack from the pack! It's Kononenko of Privatbank and Ilias of Magna Airways.
Kenya Airways moves to the front. They want to make sure Chaoufi is set up perfectly today.
63 kilometres to go and Kononenko and Ilias have come across the gap swiftly.
Kononenko moves straight to the front in the following descent. The gap is at 3'39 here and the four early escapees are in for a free ride here. Interesting move from these two strong riders. Ilias is in fac the captain of Magna here.
Gazelle and Adira reacts now. Here it's Mugerli at the front. Gap down to 3'08 with 58 kilometres left.
With a 43 to go we hit Cauberg for the first time and it's Ilias and Kononenko leading the race with the early escapees still hanging tough. It's only the mid-race attackers doing the work in this group though.
The entire Gazelle team now moves to the front. Here it's Christian Kriek leading the chase. The gap hasn't come down since we checked last. In fact, it's up to 3'16 now! 28 to go!
Entering the penultimate lap with still two ascents remaining the break's gap has come down to 2'35, but there's only 19.7 to go!
With 16 to go, Pereira Soto and Wolf are trying to make the most of this as they attack! They are brought back quickly though.
They go one more time!
But as we have climbed the Cauberg for the penultimate time they are back in the group. Ilias leading and the gap is 1'47 with 9.4 to go. The favourites have to go now!
And that they do! Pieter Weening starts it off! Chaoufi responds and just about gets in his wheel!
Right behind we get a trio with Mehr-Wenige, Appleby and Minnard.
And behind them Westra and Vorganov are clear!
The favourites are coming up fast from behind but the break is still ahead. Wolf now attacks again!
Weening is leading the chase and he is powering! Chaoufi is right behind with Mehr-Wenige, Appleby and Minnard also catching up!
1,500 metres left and we have hit the Cauberg with surprise package Wolf of ANC-Halfords in the lead. He still has a good gap!
Kononenko, Ilias, Moren and Soto Pereira are not far behind!
Forminykh has been swallowed up by the favourites and he is here with Mehr-Wenige, Weening, Minnard, Appleby and Chaoufi. They haven't reached the base of the climb yet though. Have they left it too late?
Ilias is powering away from the group behind Wolf and he is almost there!
The Favourites Group have latched onto the back of the break now as we're almost at the top! Mehr-Wenige looks the strongest! He is about to pass Kononenko, Moren and Soto Pereira!
Ilias have accelerated away from Wolf and will almost certainly win! Mehr-Wenige and Kononenko are fighting for the podium though!
Big win for Magna and Ilias!
Mehr-Wenige takes second place with a big final sprint!
Wolf takes a sensational 3rd place as Kononenko just can't quite get past the American!
A bit later Fonte leads in the pack.
Perikles Ilias - another example of mountainbikers doing well in road racing!
