Time for the next cobbled race. 2 longer pavement sections and some pretty short ones. The last being just before the finish, a nice selection could be expected with top favourites Baugnies Franzoi Maes.
But they must be aware of the sprinters, who perform well on the cobbles as well: Breschel Eisel Steegmans Veelers Trentin Ventoso
6 riders form todays breakaway. All those teams have no real favourite even though some have outside options. Bostner Nelson Ghdamsi Khviyuzau Phelan Zmorka
Several teams can be seen in the peloton working at the front. In especially the top teams of Quickstep, Gazelle, Hornbach and Amex though. But as it`s still 135km to the line it`s no surprise that they allow the group quite a big gap. Almost 8min already.
On the paves though it`s more or less only Quickstep. And actually only Sander Armee with very, very few relays by Waeytens.
It`s still the same on the first long section. Armee doing 100% of the work and still reducing the gap a lot. Only 5min are left as the group is clearly struggling to ride very fast on the paves.
At the end of the same section the gap is down to 3min. Incredible pace difference between both groups.
And we have the first serious attack before halftime!
It`s no less than Thomas, last years 9th in this race. This is much earlier than expected but probably the best chance to jump into the front group to have some more support.
More riders and mainly outside favourites or leaders of weaker teams belong to those. So far better cobblers than the original break.
The following riders all join Thomas in his attempt: Declerq Okrouhlicky Nepomnyachsniy Sys Turgot Kruopis
Interesting the tactics of Allianz, who have Maes behind as one of the race favourites. Also Kazzinc with Taillefour playing the co-leader card.
Two more riders following them a bit later on the short hill before the end of lap 1. Veelers Altur
First was 4th yesterday and is a very dangerous rider. Also it puts a lot of pressure from Team Hornbach, which is one of the two strongest cobble squads in the PCT. Franzoi at least can wait behind and react to the other favourites only.
Quickstep with Waeytens for the non cobbled parts is joined by Amex and also Jaguar to control the recent attackers.
Special mention must go to Robert Bush, who is a young American cobbler with lots of room to improve in the future. He is having a helpber role only today but in a few years he is expected to come back to his home race to ride on his own.
Also the Africans of Jaguar improved consistently on the cobbles and have a pretty good rider with Lagab this seson.
All attackers have fusioned with 93km to go. So we have a huge group of 15 riders including dangerous riders such as Veelers or Thomas. Also Nepomnyachsniy is a solid rider due to his good sprint.
The gap is up to 4'40 again but still under control.
Still the teams behind mustn`t underestimate the new power horses in front. So Gazelle, Quickstep and also Oz Cycling are highering the pace.
Oz is a bit of a surprise as they have Phelan in front, who is one of the weaker though. But also Visconti and Del Nero are far from being a top cobbler.
Baugnies wants to win today, which is quite obvious when seeing all other 7 Quickstep riders in a long line ahead of the peloton chasing. In especially Armee on the cobbled sections and Waeytens on the usual roads are doing lots of work. Within those only one Gazelle rider, which is quite surprising Steegmans, who could be expected to play a nice role on his own as well.
40km and the gap consistently melted to 2'30.
When the breakaway hits the next section with 30km to go, there clearly is a huge difference in strengths.
While the later attackers are all decent cobblers, the morning break is really struggling now.
The peloton was riding really fast as well and it`s Nuyens doing a lot of work by pacing himself trying to get rid of the sprinters.
The last riders of the early break are caught now and also the 9 later attackers around Veelers and Thomas are only 70s ahead.
Here the attack right after the cobbles, when many riders looked most exhausted: Lagab Visconti Baugnies Trentin Nuyens Eisel
So most big teams are starting their attacks now with top favourite Baugnies being one of those. Interesting that Hornbach already sends their 2nd co-leader instead of Franzoi, while Maes, Breschel, Taillefour, Machado or Ventoso are also still waiting.
Not a big surprise to see Allianz at the front now. Maes is still in the peloton, that is down to 47 riders. Also Kazzinc reacts as they obviously don`t trust Nepomnyachsniy enough with those strong cobblers around him.
1min between the two attacking groups and another 40s to the peloton including some top cobblers.
With a bit more than 20km and some cobbles left, nothing is decided though.
Surprisingly it`s Nuyens and Trentin creating a gap first, while Baugnies, Lagab, Eisel and Visconti were surprised by this.
And also the work behind them is good enough to keep the gaps small.
Also Amex btw. is working there as they don`t want to play the Eisel card only. In especially as some of the other sprinters in front don`t make it very easy for the Austrian. Breschel probably is the stronger choice for the team.
What a final. First the tough last section, then another hill and the road towards the finish.
Now the best cobblers must do something to get rid of the sprinters. Last chance for them.
Nuyens and Trentin are caught by the Baugnies group again. And the Quickstep rider is immediately accelerating again going solo knowing that there are still 9 riders ahead.
With a strong solo he is reaching the first group bridging a 40s gap.
Totally stunned by his performance none of them is able to follow him, when he immediately flies past them.
Officials might have to test his bike for hidden engines I guess.
The two groups behind Baugnies come together and form a 14 rider group chasing the top favourite.
But also the peloton is closing with a huge effort by Amex, Allianz and Kazzinc. Even CSC for Ventoso is seen at the front at times.
This really is a fast final now and the last section has to decide most likely.
Surprisingly some cobblers have problems to follow the pace and so the 47 rider peloton was split in two halfs. Machado as best cobbler in the 2nd part obviously struggling due to his weaker roleur skills.
Also surprising that the cobbles brought everything together. Neither Baugnies solo, nor the 14 riders behind were able to stay ahead of the peloton.
But the section is long and will give them another opportunity to attack.
Hornbach clearly wants to control the pace here with Veelers and Trening in pole position ahead of Oz`s Visconti and their actual leader Franzoi.
This acceleration leads to another selection with 18 riders in front and 12 behind. Those 18 are: Nuyens Steegmans Franzoi Veelers Trentin Baugnies Steurs De Maar Breschel Eisel Maes Ventoso Altur Lagab Thomas Visconti Del Nero Nepomnyachsniy
So the top favourites still have some helpers left but also the sprinters are still here making it hard for them.
Best riders missing are Taillefour and MAchado probably and making it even harder for Kazzinc is the fact that Nepomnyachsniy can`t really follow and is soon to be dropped from that group.
The cobbles are behind us and the riders start the sprint even though there is still a steep hill coming, which might be the last chance for the weaker sprinters to win.
At the moment it`s all about the sprinters as Steegmans is in the lead ahead of Thomas, Veelers, Eisel, Breschel and Trentin.
But also Franzoi, Baugnies, Lagab, Nuyens, Steurs and Ventoso are right behind. Last year Baugnies even won a sprint out of a smaller group against better sprinters.
Steegmans suffers after the work he did during the stage and is slowly dropping with Veelers taking over ahead of the Amex duo.
Bad news for Maes as well as he is the next rider dropping from that group and being together with Nepomnyachsniy ahead of the next group.
Flamme Rouge and as the highest point is reached, it is indeed one for the sprinters today to the anger of Quickstep and Gazelle.
Breschel in the lead ahead of his team mate Eisel. We have seen a 1-2 by those earlier and it might be another one. Veelers, Ventoso and Thomas though are against this.
From behind Trentin, Lagab, Steegmans, Visconti, Franzoi and Steurs as next, while Baugnies obviously gave up.
Breschel towards the win? After last years 2nd this is his only improvement.
Eisel still in 2nd with Ventoso coming fast now alongside Veelers.
Easily the Dane takes the win. Huge gap for him while behind the others are still fighting for the podium. So in the end it was the right decision by Amex to chase down all groups despite having Eisel in there.
Veelers ruins the Amex domination as he takes 2nd ahead of Eisel. Still a huge race for AmexPC, who clearly are the big winners here.
Ventoso with a surprising 4th in this field ahead of Thomas, who also improves from last season and showed a great race today as initiator of the first row of attacks with 100km to go.
Also Visconti with a surprisingly strong performance winning the sprint behind for 6th. Trentin could not pass him and comes in 7th ahead of Steurs as best Quickstep rider. Steegmans as 9th at least delivers Gazelle a top10 ahead of Lagab as best Jaguar rider.
Behind those Franzoi, Altur, Del Nero, Baugnies, De Maar and Nuyens. Some of those are clearly disappointed. In especially Baugnies after leading the race for some kilometers.
Even further behind Nepomnyachsniy as best Kazzinc rider as 17th ahead of a hugely disappointing Maes. Machado as 29th also disappointing.
