Welcome to sunny Australia for the PCT season opener, the Down Under Classic! Held on a short flat profile around Melbourne, the favourites for the race beforehand are the big sprinters - Ciolek, Cavendish and Vantomme. There are plenty of potential winners though due to the huge depth of sprinting present.
The flag is waved, and the season begins! The first attackers to establish any sort of gap are:
Jungels Meersman Wohler Terpstra
However, their gap at most was 1'30" and with 34 kilometres left they are reeled in by a peloton eager to ensure the sprinters contest the finish, with 7 different teams relaying on the front of the bunch.
As we enter the final 25 kilometres there is another attack, with Stenersen going off the front. He quickly builds quite a promising gap.
He builds of 45" over the next 10 kilometres, where we see the first signs of sprint trains being formed from Puma for Ciolek and Eritel for Van Heerden.
Among those near the front are also Vantomme, Ahlstrand, Stallaert and Vanoverschelde. The bunch will have to catch Stenersen at the front though before they start to think about a bunch sprint for victory.
The Norwegian is then joined at the front by a rider from a fellow Scandinavian team, in Trentin. The Italian impressively crosses the gap, although the peloton is now closing up behind them and the lead has dropped below 30 seconds.
Unfortunately Trentin and Stenersen are eventually caught with just over 5 kilometres left to race, largely down to the great work of Weber on the front.
However, the peloton sits up as soon as they are caught and 5 riders sense an opportunity for a late attack! Baugnies is the first rider to attack, and is followed by fellow Cobbles star Summerhill, Evonik duo Dzamastagic and Smukulis and also another Swedbank rider Kvist.
The attackers get a gap! With the peloton still struggling to put together a chase this group manages to pull out a 35” advantage, led by Summerhill who opens up the sprint!
The American’s power puts Smukulis in trouble, and also Kvist is a bit behind. That could prove crucial if they hold off the bunch, with the Dane being the strongest sprinter in the move.
Summerhill soon slows as he realises he can’t make it home first from so far out, and a game of cat and mouse begins. The gap is only 30” though, so that could be foolish! Kvist does a good job of closing the gap to the group and could be in with a chance with the fastest finish here.
The sprint has started behind in the peloton, with Demare doing a great job in positioning leader Ciolek right at the front. Stallaert is well positioned behing the German, with Vanoverschelde, Vantomme and Avelino on his wheel.
Demare
Ciolek
Vingerling
Stallaert
Vanoverschelde
Trentin
Vantomme
Avelino
Van der Sande
Boonen
Kupfernagel
Van Heerden
Back at the front of the race, it's Dzamastagic who kicks-off the sprint, the young Slovenian managing to surprise the others with his group. With the gap at 25" and just 1.8 kilometres left for this front group, it's going to be close!
The attackers are now in sight for the main field, with Demare continuing to leadout the bunch. Ciolek is perfectly placed if they can catch the front five, including Smukulis who remains in the gap. Keukeleire, Vanoverschelde and Vantomme all remain well-positioned.
However, it is looking less and less likely that the sprinters will get their bunch sprint for victory! Entering the final kilometre Dzamastagic has a good lead over Summerhill and Kvist who are ahead of Baugnies. Could this be a surprise victory for Evonik?
Behind the Slovenian Kvist overtakes Summerhill in what is fast becoming the race for second! Baugnies is coming fast as well and will challenge for a podium place.
The bunch now rides under the flammage rouge! Ciolek has been launched and is alongside Stallaert and Vanoverschelde. Vantomme and Boonen are also coming quickly from behind them.
It's Dzamastagic who wins the Down Under Classic! The Slovenian talent outsprinted his fellow attackers and takes a hugely surprising victory for newly promoted Evonik, a great start to life in the PCT for them!
Second place is taken by Baugnies who managed to overtake his two rivals and gain a great unexpected result for AMEX. Kvist rounds off the podium, a deserving finish as the team has been active all day. Summerhill's early sprint took it's toll but it is still a good result for him and his Azteca team.
The sprint behind is incredibly close, with Vantomme just leading Vanoverschelde and Boonen. It's not looking good for big favourite Ciolek though, who has started to fade.
Just beating the peloton to the like is Smukulis who manages to get the final top five spot, another great result for Evonik. Vantomme was the fastest of the sprinters, who will wonder what would have happened if the attackers were caught.
Avelino is seventh after a strong finish, while Boonen makes it a 1-5-8 for the PCT new boys Evonik, what a day for them. Last year's winner Kupfernagel and Vanoverschelde round off the top 10.
It was a disappointing day for favourite Ciolek who fails to get in to the top 10, finishing in 13th. Likewise, Van Heerden and Cavendish were probably hoping for more today but have to settle for 15th and 16th respectively.
