The Paris-Tours is the final big meet for the best Pro Continental sprinters, and some of them are under pressure to score big today, so their teams can stay in the fight for promotion, improve their place in the table or avoid relegation. 234 kilometres with a few hills along the way, but mostly flat should make for a mass sprint finish.
But it's windy today in central France. As the early attackers are trying to get away the pack gets strung out. So wind could end up a factor.
For now, it won't matter. Chuzhda of Credexbank takes advantage of some guys being reeled in and counters away alone.
A few ks later he gets company from Tanguy, Coutinho and Hocevar.
Also Rijntjes gets across.
160 to go and we have a few different teams at the front here. Bouygues is one of them and they need a good result from Roelandts today. Deficit is 6'46.
20 kilometres later it's 8'13.
It starts to come down from this point though. Evian especially taking charge for Danilo Napolitano, Bouygues is also up there and Vueling who is riding for Pete K are also taking some turns.
Just under 50 to go and the break is about 3 minutes ahead now.
We're about to enter the finale and so Breschel and Smukulis tries to get away. Impossible feat at this point of the race.
With 20 kilometres to go Lagutin tries, Smukulis and Breschel moves with him. Again as expected that is not going to work. Pace is too high.
Markus Eichler of Sram is allowed some leeway though and alone he catches up to the break with 14 to go.
With 9.2 to go they're brought back and as we hit a steep but short climb, Kozontchouk now puts in a huge dig.
Over the top with 7.2 to go he has 13 seconds on the pack.
Then this happens. The pack is shattered across the road after that climb. This could aid Kozontchouk on his way to victory! The big group in front is trailing Kozontchouk by 15 seconds and most of the favourites are in there. Some of them aren't though. In the group behind we're getting confirmation that the likes of Kupfernagel, Drujon, Avelino, Hutarovich, Krasnov, Arashiro, Farrar, Pedersen and Giaux are situated. Only 3,800 metres left and this group is 25 seconds behind the group in front.
Kozontchouk is still powering on. 3,600 metres to go and his gap is out to 16 seconds! Surely he is benefitting from the big split.
2 kilometres to go and it looks like the pack is not going to merge back together. There's now 46 seconds between the two big groups.
Kozontchouk still leads! Now 23 seconds ahead as he goes under the Flame Rouge!
The 22-man group has opened up now. Roelandts is in a good position! Rene Mandri is on the far left. The two Metinvest riders are Vitoria and Hoffmann, while Haussler is coming up from behind. It's completely unorganized!
Roelandts looks to be the strongest and with 200 metres to go he has almost caught Kozontchouk!
But Kozontchouk takes it in incredible fashion! Tinkoff is still powering towards promotion! Incredible win!
Vitoria takes 3rd ahead of Hoffmann, Mandri and Haussler. Cav, Vantomme, Napolitano and Kennaugh were all in that group but they came nowhere close.
Danilo Kupfernagel leads in the next group but that's only good enough for 24th. His teammate Breschel ended up 19th. Dissapointment surely.
So a great solo win for Kozontchouk who couldn't even muster energy to celebrate his win.
