Welcome to the Hiroshima Circuit, today is very hot day in Japan that for sure will have an affect on today's outcome. The question is how it will affect the outcome of the race. Who will profit from the temperatures?
Off we are!
The teams begin very slow, probably due to the heat. After 6 kilometres we still got no attack.
Just then the real racing begins, with Bert Dockx (Dexia) being the first to launch an attack. He is followed by Wesemann (Standard Bank), the winner of the Tour du Haut Var Tom Stamsnijder (Rucanor) and LKT's Krauss.
The quartet fast establishes a lead of 1'30'' with the peloton unwilling to spend too much energy too early
Just then Kimmince attacks out of the field, but iBanesto wouldn't let him go.
The lead of the leading four hit the 2 minutes mark and it is clear that we've got today's break.
With 150 kilometres to go the lead is 4'48'' and the expected teams, Here Schoffmann (Miche) and Huang (Fuji), are controlling the pace of the field.
At the 100 kilometres to go mark the lead of the break is already decreasin, as it is now down to 6'37''. 11 kilometres before it reached its maximum at 7'13''. Here we see Downing of Node4 leading the pack.
In the next 50 kilometres the lead would almost be cut in half, as it is now back to 3'22''. There seems to be no chance for the break today.
Especially hometeam Fuji is now showing there colours in front, it will be interesting to see how Pierzga will do today.
With 9 kilometres to go two riders make their jump out of the peloton, they are De Winde (Electrabel) and LKT's leader Peter Möhlmann. The german team now has in each of the first two groups a rider including. Group one, in which Krauss will now obviously refuse to do work, is still 2'23'' ahead of the now built second group, 21 seconds in front of the main field.
At 30 kilometres to go the field closed the gap, but the break of the morning is still 1'56'' in front.
Just when they were about to be swallowed by the pack, De Winde and Möhlmann attack again. That's the fighting spirit we need to make the racing interesting!
That attack was of no use, the pack immediately closed up, just to see Möhlmann to attack again. He obviously doesn't want to put his energy on his decent sprint skills.
But also this attack gets neutralised by Node4's Cassidy.
With 25 kilometres to go the break is still 1'47'' in front, but the field is already visible in the distance.
Now the pace in the peloton increased very much, the break lost 25 seconds in the last 7 kilometres, it doesn't look like they could be successful. Malaysian Hamdan (Van Merkstijn) is the first to fall out of the back of the field. It looks like it is going to be a mass sprint, as we now have past the biggest hill for the last time
Even though the effort of all the break members, the lead goes under one minute at the 15 kilometres mark.
Though the gap is closed very fast by Fuji's chinese Wu.
Because of the pace increasements the break almost lost all of its lead, that's why Krauss attacked with 12 kilometres to go, Wesemann Dockx follow. Stamsnijder lets himself fall back into to the main field.
And then its another attack by LKT, whose riders seem to never tire out, this time it is Bissinger followed by Ibrahim. This attack leads to the catch of the last three remainders of the break.
But also that attack wouldn't be successful, as it is neutralised just before the 10 kilometres mark by Wu. Fuji is today putting much trust on their captain Pierzga. All back together now.
At the 5 kilometres mark a mass sprint is almost certain. There is one little bump still though.
But noone uses it to attack and the sprint trains form. Miche is today putting their hopes on Fabio Borghesi, as he placed himself on the wheel of Sabatini. On the right of that we can see the train of Node4 for Hawkins. Volik (KazMunayGaz) is behind Borghesi and Portuguese Saraive takes the spot behind Hawkins. He is followed by Argo Airway's Hannachi.
In the mean time Möhlmann took the toll of his attacks and lost contact to the Peloton, he won't be contesting the sprint.
Miche's Rigotto sabotages the plans of his own team, as he blocks Sabatini while dropping back. Now it looks like an easy game for Node4.
McNally pulls out a gap, while leading out his captain, on whose wheel we can see Banihammad who is leading out Pierzga. Also contesting are Saraiva (Millenium), Diaz (Fuji), Hannachi (Argo Airways), Jules (BNP), Volik (KazMunayGaz) and Aarbia (Standard Bank). The two Miche guys we see are Fabio Borghesi and Di Negri. Co-captain Sabatini is a little bit behind.
With one kilometre to go McNally is still in front, but Hawkins is coming. Besides the already mentioned Coldeporte's Frazer is now coming very strong on the left-hand side and Suisse Kohler of Peugeot is also contesting. Hannachi is also coming with a big pace, can he still set Node4's first certain believed win in danger?
400 metres to go, McNally falls back and also Hawkins is not looking very strong. Hannachi took over the lead and Frazer seems very dangerous.
During the sprint some splits occured, here we see Italian Davide Martinelli (Standard Bank) leading the second group. Also in that group pre-race outside favourite Wim Stroetinga.
Congrats to the Pole and his team for securing a big win on home soil. Disappointed will be especially Miche, not even securing a Top 20, and Node4 just getting Hawkins into the Top 10. The next classic in which the big sprint teams will clash is the Launceston to Norfolk Classic, Miche and Node4 will look for revenge here.
