Welcome to a rainy day in Germany. In todays conditions some riders will be happy when the racing of a little more than 200 kilometres over the hilly streets of Northrhine Westfalia is over.
Right from the beginning the Pokerstars.com show themselves at the front underlining Tom Boonens ambitions for the day. Mark Dzamastagic leads the peloton from kilometre 0 onwards. On the right it's Senechal launching the first attack of the day.
A number of teams seems to be interested in joining that move. Besides Senechal those five are also part of the first group ahead of the field: Vermote Pineau El Fares Gastauer Erviti
The field has no problems with letting them go for the moment. The gap is already at almost one minute.
The weather might be to blame,as we saw one of the most boring starts of a race imagineable. The first attackers were allowed to go and those six seemed to be the only ones interested. The hierarchy at Aker - Mot seems to be clear as with 165 kilometres to go Juan Van Heerden puts himself in front of the peloton, now 5 minutes behind the break. Do the hopes of the team lay on his fellow countrymen Daryl Impey for today?
We skip the next 100 uneventful kilometres and see the peloton 2'56'' behind the break. The teams of the biggest favourites seem to have the race under control. Only surprise is that the team of top favourite Sam Bewley hasn't shown itself at the front yet. That might be an indicator of how the super sprinter feels today. Only one major hill is left to be raced now. It might be the last chance for some puncheurs to split the field into groups and go for the win.
With 50 kilometres to go the break is already on that hill. The lead decreased further to 2'43''. The leading riders will most likely as expected have to be happy with the fact that they at least tried.
With 30 kilometres to go every bump that could have brought some intense racing is passed. The race seems to get a typical sprinters race. The break is less than 1 and a half minutes ahead now. Besides Pokerstars it was especially Festina showing themselves at the front. Guerao seems to believe that he can handle the bad weather well.
When we enter Cologne, Demare has already the six leaders in sight. 46 seconds is the lead and 15 kilometres to go. Two laps of the city circuit have to be mastered still.
Finally some action! Just as the finish line is passed for the first time Adam Blythe attacks. The break crossed the line 35 seconds before him.
His attack wasn't successful, but we have to go back. At a tight corner the peloton split under the pace set by Latvian Smukulis, who reduced the peloton to only 54 riders. Some favourites were among them, the biggest are: Guarnieri Van Heerden Roelandts Cavendish
But also to mention are: Krasnov Trusov Bouhanni Zabel Santos Merino Criado Croket Stauff Hutarovich Clarke Guardini Nizzolo Sobota Pedersen
The race is over for all of them, even if the big groups should rejoin each other.
The first to enter the last lap is still the break, lead by Vermote, but the peloton is right behind them.
The lead is still there 25 seconds, when Vermote attacks. The riders of the break seem to have found some spare energy.
Behind the preparations for the final sprint have started. Boonen picked Erik Mohs as his last leadout, while he is lead by his countryman John Degenkolb. The desired spot on the wheel of Tommeke is taken by Daniele Bennatti. The absence of some top sprinters is used by some other riders that look to gain some points against a weeker competition. Kruijswijk, Sbargali and Summerhill are visible here. Meanwhile the train for Guerao is forming as well. Keukeliere and Tzortzakis will lead him out. The next strong sprinter of Pokerstars Kluge is on his wheel.
Pineau is the next one who decides to leave his fellow members of the break behind as the gap is decreasing to 19 seconds with 3 kilometres and a tricky turn to go.
Degenkolb leads the back past the four other breakaway members, who bring confusion into the preparations for the sprint. The chances for the other two remainders of the break have decreased, they are only 18 seconds in front now.
Around the corner on the finishing straight. The two leading trains of Pokerstars and Festina almost caught the break now.
Degenkolb
Tzortzakis
Mohs
Guerao
Boonen
Avelino
Bennati
Kruijswijk
Kluge
Bewley
Summerhill
Swift
Behind visble and also in contention:
Keukeleire Kennaugh Howard Blythe Weylandt
Additionally there are still the members of the break that got just caught.
While there is still the official car that accompanied the break taking away some space, Mohs and Tzortzakis are the first to rocket past the remaining breakaway members. In the end it got closer than expected for them.
All the big sprinters are launching there sprints. Mohs is still in front. Avelino, Bewley and Swift are coming fast. Kennaugh is just behind and Bennati already lost some ground.
Under the red kite Boonen finally found enough space to launch himself properly. He is in a very good position now.
But it is Guerao passing his leadout the first with 400 metres to go. Boonen seems to be faster, though. Behind those sprinters in the picture there is a big gap claffing with Bennati still the best of the rest.
And then Boonen passes Guerao and the win shouldn't be taken from him anymore.
Indeed he does it, congrats to Pokerstars.
After Guerao came second, Kennaugh took the last spot on the podium with one of the strongest sprints today. Mohs holds on to fourth after he delivered his captain perfectly. Swift in fifth, Bewley disappointing in sixth and Avelino the last of the seven that were fighting it out.
Only after those crossed the line Tom Boonen raised his arms to celebrate his second win in a row here in Cologne.
Last years second Bennati holds on to eigth ahead of Howard. Danny Summerhill wins the sprint for the last spot in the top 10.
The sprint of the second goup is dominated by Tinkoff Credit Systems, until Guarnieri spoils the party.
