China will take on the Mountain route for the RR. 14 riders split across 9 teams.
Vesuvio-Accumalux
Wikipedia
Metinvest-Emirates
Chen Shikai
Wen Hao Li
Haijun Ma
Meiji-Cannondale
Oz Cycling Project
Compal-Merida
Jianhua Ji
Pengda Jiao
Meiyin Wang
Biao Liu
ASDA-Savers
Dell-361
Siam Cement-Lenovo
Shengjun Wu
Xiaoyong Dong
Peilun Wu
Libin Chen
Zhihui Jiang
Fan Hsin Chu
Zhou Guozhang
The ProTour teams bring the biggest names but the numbers are provided by the lower divisions. Could go either way.... probably a breakaway.
Dong (DEL 56MO) is the first to attack, followed along by Wang (CPL 69MO), Li (WIK 53MO) and Ma (MET 55MO). The quartet do the expected and move well clear of the peloton. Meiyin Wang with a huge advantage over his companions must be feeling confident!
Wang is so confident he moves clear on the first decent! The chasing trio are clearly surprised or already tired. Dong seems to be the only one interested in a chase today as he's dragging Li and Ma.
Dong drops Li and Ma on the second climb and actually catches up to Wang. But as soon as the junction is made Wang gets out of the saddle and gos clear without breaking a sweat.
Meiyin Wang wins the Chinese Natinonal Road Title without any issues or competition whatsoever. He pulled nearly 4 minutes over Dong in 2nd place. Ma outclimbed Li for the final podium spot.
There's potential for a great fight in the Time Trial. Liu (CPL 74TT), Shikai (VSA 74TT), Li (WiK 76TT) and Ma (MET 77TT) could all take the win.
Liu is the first of the four on the road. As expected he sets provisional best times at all the checks. 37'24 at halfway and 1'11'10 at the finish line. Respectable times but not outstanding.
Shikai is next on course. He shaves '2 off Liu's time at the halfway check with a 37'22. By the finish line he has managed to grow that gap, only just, to '3. His time is a 1'11'07 and guarantees him a medal at worst.
Li takes to the road and he looks very fast! A new best at the halfway with 36'58, a full '24 up on Shikai. Li also seems to manage his pace better and by the finish line has sliced '44 seconds of Shikais time. A 1'10'23 from Li that should be tough to beat.
Ma is the race favorite and last to go. The halfway check confirms the feeling as Ma goes '17 up on Li! The gap grows from there to the finish taking the suspense out of the race. Ma wins the Time Trial with a time of 1'09'59!
China will take on the Mountain route for the RR. 14 riders split across 9 teams.
