Welcome to Nelspruit Classic. We have a hilly course to tackle here in South Africa, by going around a circuit with a tough climb to be managed for a total of 6 times.
A break of nine gets away from the pack. Let’s get through their names: Altur Slagter Anderson Anaya Shamsonau Van Zyl Vervaeke Kimmince Chevrier
Slagter should be the biggest threat to the favourites in the pack being the best puncheur in here.
The escapees reach their maximum advantage by the 2nd passage through the top of the climb with 8min in total
News of fall come from behind. It’s Grau who’s arranged a meeting with the tarmac. He could have an important role for his leader Betancourt so it would be good to see he come back.
That does happen about 10km later.
There’s nothing happening for a while so we fast-forward to the 3rd last crest of the mountain. Gazelle is the one doing most of the work, but Quickstep and Bacardi are helping as well. The gap sits around 3’28 with 65km to go.
Another passage through the finish and still nothing of relevance is happening. Quickstep has become the main force in the pack, but other than reducing the gap to 1’19, there isn’t much to report as of yet. There are still 94 riders in the main group including all candidates. There are only 33km left to race now.
Back in the front group things have started to get interesting as everyone starts to attack each other. That leads to nothing as the group reaches the 20km banner altogether.
With 12km to go this lack of cooperation has acted in favour of the bunch, with the breakaway being caught in its entirety.
 
The peloton is rolling pretty fast here, which stretches the whole group for a couple of kms. Some leaders take this chance and try to catch some other riders on the back foot launching the first real offensive. These are: Altur Di Maggio Froome Betancourt Ulissi
This gets them a 20’’ gap. However Gazelle isn’t going to permit such an endeavour as they quickly bring them back. Bobridge though takes this chance and gets himself on the run.
Ventoso Rodriguez Oliver Barrio Acevedo Tiernan-Locke and Passalacqua
are the biggest names losing time, with already a minute down on the main group! CSC seems too confident that Altur will do the job for them!
Bobridge’s attempt hasn’t worked either as we start climbing for the final time today.
Gazelle once again take to the front and lead the rest of the group for the first kms of the climb, but there are only 3.5km to go, surely someone will want to attempt something?
The chasing group is 1’14 behind and it doesn’t seem likely they will be recovering their place in the pack.
A trio of riders tries to break free: it’s Di Maggio, Monfort and Bobridge
Froome, Dowsett and Ulissi go after them right away. Betancourt doesn’t seem to have enough in the tank to follow them. Efimkin is playing it cool by resting on his team mate Murakami’s wheel
With Gazelle suddenly dropping out of command the chasing group has actually caught the pack, but it’s going to be painful to recover to a good position, now that the road has hit an 11% gradient.
The latter attackers have joined forces and formed a group of 6 as we reach the last 2km. The gap is minimal – only 30’’
Betancourt is the main chaser while Bellis, Ben Nasser, Jiao, Efimkin, Weening and Gautier seem to be waiting for the sprint to start.
Back at the front it’s Monfort leading the other 5 as they start the final sprint. Bobridge seems to be suffering now after his multiple attacks. The flame rouge is right in front of them.
Betancourt still leads the pack but Ben Nasser manages to surprise everyone by starting his sprint early on the interior side of the road
Monfort still goes strong as we hit the last 500m but Di Maggio has moved alongside him in what it looks like a two-horse race. Behind, the rest of the group is losing steam as Ben Nasser quickly gains ground on them.
Di Maggio takes the lead as Monfort starts to fade. Ben Nasser keeps his momentum and starts overtaking the rest of the group.
But he’s not going to reach Di Maggio!. Great victory for the Italian.
Monfort takes 2nd place, while Ulissi, Froome and Dowsett still manage to hold off Ben Nasser to take places 3rd-5th in that order.
Then comes Bobridge for 7th, Bellis, Efimkin and Betancourt to occupy the rest of the top10
