Perfect weather conditions, just some minor winds and 181 riders awaiting this flat classic to be kicked off: welcome in Moscow!
2012's winner Bennati as today's top-favorite, with several more riders like Degenkolb, Cavendish, Van Heerden or Avelino considered the be good bets as well..
The first 10 riders attacking were already the first to build the break of the day, so some favorites-teams (like Pokerstars or Aker) send a rider into this escaping group, too:
Aasvold, Downey, Einsle, Iannetti, Zahner, Gonzalez Salas, Decouttere, Paillot, Atkins and Drucker
Those ten establish a 3'20"-gap quickly..
The peloton though looks of course interested in not allowing a too huge gap and teams like Lotto, Good Energy and Vueling keep this gap at about 5 minutes for most of the race so far.
82km before finish, the escapee's lead is down to 2'50"..
..and down to 1'40" with now 45km remaining..
First roleur to attack the peloton: Nooytens! Maybe not the best moment with the bunch chasing hard right now..
Indeed an empty-handed attempt, but 25km before finish (the breakaway leading by 59" in the meantime), we see the next rides trying the same:
Stenersen and Albert try to jump away!
Again no easy action and as teams like Wikipedia, Lotto and Belarusbank keep pulling the strings hard back in the peloton, it's just Albert holding on to a small gap with now 15km to go!
The early escapees keep fighting as well, but there lead is down to 30" and they are soon to be caught!
Yap, 7km before finish, to be precisive.. it looks all set for the expected bunch sprint decision..
..but wait, there go two riders already inside the final 5km: Smukulis and Jallays give it a late try, just when teams like Belarusbank would start to build their trains!
This late attacks are just short-lived, too, but they made for some confusion at the very front of the peloton:
2.5km remaining and just Belarusbank managed to set up a train for Cavendish, with several more sprinters and a few leadouts still figuring out, where to find the best position for the sprint..
And so the "real" sprint kicks rather late: 1.5km to go and Belarusbank's duo still at the front as we now have a clearer picture of the situation behind:
Hutavorich
Cavendish
Rowe
Avelino
Van Hummel
Bennati
Croket
Kip
Tzortzakis
Kennaugh
Van Heerden
Summerhill
Vinter
Bouhanni
Trusov
Howard
Flamme rouge and Belarusbank still in the lead, with Rowe right behind and Avelino now trying to move forward! Also Kip/Kennaugh closing up, while Bennati still fights to catch up to Rowe!
Finally popping up way too late: Degenkolb, who - just like Howard - definitely hadn't the best position prior to this sprint..
Cavendish now goes with Rowe still at his wheel.. Avelino struggling to make up ground, while Kip/Kennaugh may slip through on the left side..
Bennati not right yet at Rowe's wheel, but in the mix. Same goes for Tzortzakis... Bouhanni now going on the right side with Degenkolb and Howard a few metres behind..
..those latter names won't be in the mix for the win as it's still the same names at the very front, who keep holding them off easily:
Cav now head-to-head with Rowe, as Hutavorich still went strong in between those two! Almost the same situation behind..
Hutavorich is finally done and losing ground quickly, while Rowe sprints for a small advantage over Cav with the line approaching!
Bennati closing the gap.. Avelino still on the way to challenge for the podium at least, while also Kennaugh now moves forward on the very left side!
Rowe takes it though! A perfect timed sprint and definitely the perfect wheel behind runner-up Cavendish. A huge win for Rowe, who's skills on the flat might have been a factor as well.
Bennati completes the podium, but may be disappointed to not repeat his previous victory here. Kennaugh and Avelino round up the Top-5 ahead of Kip, Tzotzakis, a strong leadout Hutarovich and a disappointing Degenkolb as 9th. The German totally missed the sprint preparation and had a loong way to go then.
Vinter 10th ahead of Bouhanni and Howard. The latter clearly missing out on a better result, also thanks to a rather worse early position. Van Heerden totally cracked on the final metres to finish ahead of Summerhill and Trusov, who wasn't much of a factor for the local team here.
