187km are ahead of the starting riders. The weather actually could be better as it`s pretty grey and also quite windy, which could add another factor to the race and making it harder than the profile actually looks like.
Lots of attacks early on. 5 riders seem to be allowed a gap: Herrada Partridge Tatarinov Schoonbrodt Flückiger
Interesting to see ONCE sending one of only 3 helpers for Guillen into the breakaway as also Vingerling having one here. First quite a smart move as this gives ONCE some easier tasks behind to be less exhausted in the sprint preperation.
Then again it`s only working when you are concentrated.
All 3 remaining ONCE riders are victim of an early race echelon and find themselves in a dropped group. Also in here Hochmann, who might be the most important helper for Serebriakov in the end.
More or less it`s only ASDA for Rowe and Ameriabank for Serebriakov doing the work. Good news though for the dropped riders as all made it back.
5min time gap for the 5 attackers.
Not much happened for a longer time. So with 20km the breakaway once again passes the finish area with only a bit more than 1min left. This will be close for them.
But here we go. More riders are interested to disturb the sprinters. We have some cobblers/roleurs attacking late. One of them an expected Dane: Ostergaard Joseph
Looking at the back of the peloton we see a few surprising riders. Guillen still struggling a lot with the wind and the small team support. Also Rasmussen pretty far behind.
The gap to the breakaway is steadily melting and it`s Joseph almost reaching them. Behind him Stoltz, who also attacked.
And with Rasmussen looking too weak it`s another Carlsberg duo being a bit behind the German: Ostergaard Rosseler
Crash! 10 riders hit the ground in a roundabout.
Two of those and actually those riders staying are sprinters! And nobody less than top favourite Rowe next to Fonseca. What a bad luck as they definitely won`t make it back late in the race. Another sprinter is Teruel.
This of course favours the breakaway with ASDA being out of the pace behind.
Bad luck also for ONCE as Herrada can`t follow his former companions but he is joined by the Carlsberg duo, while Joseph and Stoltz are back in the peloton.
Only 4km left and still a 1min gap.
Ameriabank with the only real train today with two riders ahead of Serebriakov. Also nothing to see from the ONCE riders, who most likely won`t be able to make it in time.
Schmidt
Hochmann
Serebriakov
Peeters
Westling
Stoltz
Gayek
Joseph
Vingerling
Vitoria
Forero
Herrera
Matthews
Duque
Murray
Farrar
Tronet
Sabatini
3km and the Carlsberg duo joins the break. Rosseler immediately takes the lead working for Ostergaard.
Hochmann in the wind already with 3km to go for the peloton. Peeters and Westling in the ideal position and as Gayek lost contact this is a desaster for Vingerling/Forero, who dropped back a bit.
Forero with a huge effort reducing the gap to the first riders. But while this is perfect work for Herrera, Vingerling and Matthews behind, this is probably his end of a podium chance.
But back to the leading group. 1,3km to go and still a gap to the peloton.
Ostergaard starts his sprint now and only Schoonbroodt seems to follow a bit. Rosseler slowly drops back while the others are already a bit behind.
Can they really make it?
Serebriakov in the wind and almost reaching the end of the breakaway. Peeters still behind him with Westling trying to go on the right. And still a strong effort by Forero, who is behind them with Vingerling being gapped by the Colombian.
The Dutch sprinter together with Herrera and Matthews as also a surprisingly strong De Winde with a ~10m gap.
600m and Ostergaard still in the lead ahead of his teammate Rosseler. But the sprinters are coming...
Westling on the far right side with Serebriakov behind him. Also Peeters still with good chances. All other sprinters are too far behind as Forero can`T keep his high speed.
Serebriakov looks beaten. His team had to do too much work all day to give him a strong enough leadout. So also Peeters is passing him now trying to challenge Westling for the win.
But it`s not enough. In a very close finish the Swede is keeping a small advantage and takes the first Himmerland Rundt win. Big win for Team Live Nation. But also a good result for Peeters today.
Serebriakov coming in as 3rd today before the rest of the sprinters and some breakaway riders:
Matthews just outsprints Vingerling for 4th. Ostergaard and Rosseler with a decent team effort as 6th and 7th just ahead of Forero, Herrera and Opie.
Disappointing day for Richeze (18th), Farrar (19th), Sabatini (34th) or Guillen (38th). And obviously a day to forget for Rowe (85th), who surely had good chances to win this race.
