Welcome to Brittany for 'The Hell of The West'. The continental peloton's classic specialists should have a good day today, with some cobbles on the route today. We'll have to see how the likes of Joseph, Ostergaard and De Haes get on with a route that very much suits them.
Soon enough we see a group of six attackers join together up the road, in the first attempt to form a breakaway. Those involved are:
Wu Wengelin Cruz Gene Willwohl Cooper
Those men do form the breakaway eventually, along with three more riders who join them:
Poulhiès Ruiz Barclay
While those riders try to establish a large gap early on, In-n-Out and Fletcher set the pace behind, keeping the escapees on a leash.
Mid stage, as the break exits the second of four cobbled sections, the gap is at six minutes, with everyone cooperating. Not a major concern for the riders behind yet though.
The peloton hits the same sector a few minutes later. In-n-Out and Fletcher remain in control, with TomTom also contributing to the pace.
With 50 kms left, the gap has come down to four minutes for the attackers. The peloton must be the favourites to close that completely, but all is not lost for the break with them still holding a decent advantage.
Over the next 20 kms though, the bunch seemingly struggles to raise the pace. The gap still comes down but the likes of In-n-Out and Fletcher still have 3 minutes left to close.
Soon two riders from the teams working on the front – Aulas and Roulston - in the pack get frustrated with the lack of progress and attempt to force the issue with an attack!
Soon the break reaches the 20km left banner, and the gap is not coming down fast enough! Gene leads the group of nine under the banner, whit their advantage just under 2 and a half minutes!
The pair of chasers is still well down at that point, and are being gradually reeled back in by the peloton, 30 seconds back.
At the front the attackers are starting to realise they could stay away. The first sign of in-fighting is when Cruz puts in a dig! Ruiz and Wengelin try to follow, with the others getting together a chase behind.
Aulas and Roulston’s attack looks to have failed with them nearly being caught behind, but with the peloton still two minutes behind the breakaway, it’s unlikely they’ll catch anyone else and will have to fight for tenth.
Ten kilometres left on the front, and the trio of attackers has been pulled back. That makes it nine in the front group once more.
They soon hit the penultimate cobbled sector. Gene moves onto the front to lift the tempo but nobody looks in real difficulty.
However, it’s after the cobbles end that Gene makes his move, kicking away with 5kms left!
The riders behind struggle to form a chase, and Gene opens a good gap in front. Not wanting to throw the opportunity away, Barclay decides to try and close the Frenchman down on the left of the road.
But he can’t close the gap, and Gene remains off the front with a healthy lead!
Behind in the bunch De Haes puts in an attack after Aulas and Roulston are caught, though the best he can finish is tenth. It’s the breakaway’s day today to contest the win.
Gene remains out front as the sprint begins, but it’s another Risa rider, Cooper that leads the chase early on behind. Wu and Willwohl are the next best placed.
It’s Cooper that’s really pushing on though, and he has leader Gene in his sights moving into the final 1000 metres, 600 of which are cobbled!
Gene still holds the lead on the cobbles, which somewhat halts Cooper’s advances! It could be his day! Behind those two Wu and Willwohl are battling for the final podium spot.
Gene wins the Hell of the West! The Frenchman’s attack 5kms out was enough to win the classic for Mexican team Azteca. Cooper has to settle for second despite his late surge, with Wu just edging out Willwohl for the final podium spot.
Barclay rounds off the top five with Poulhies, Wengelin and Cruz finishing in sixth, seventh and eighth respectively, all with a lot more than they hoped for before today.
The peloton almost catches Ruiz, who was dropped from the front group in the run-in, but the Spaniard manages to hold on for ninth. Peeters completes the top ten with a good sprint to finish first from the peloton, catching De Haes in the final kilometre.
