Welcome to Beijing. Today we'll follow the pro peloton through a hard day in the hilly route which connects the Chinese capital to the Great Wall.
Three riders take the honours of forming the first break of the PT season. They are: Othman, Vosekalns and McConvey.
These three brave men will not enjoy the chinese countryside, as being such a small group for such a big race, might be seen as a recipe for failure. That doesn't stop them from opening a gap up to ~10min halfway to the finish.
Swisscom, Festina, Movistar and Bouygues start reducing the difference from then onwards.
And BAM! With 90km to go we get the first crash of the season. Quite a number of riders get involved! Gilbert and de Bie being the biggest! Their teams immediately slow down, before starting TTTing up to the main group.
They succeed in doing so. Let's hope that was all there was to be, regarding crashes.
The race rolls on to the last three laps around the hilly circuit. With 56km remaing the gap has been reduced to 2'36 as Pichon commands the pack.
News of another crash come in. This time a smaller one, where the most reknowned name was Edet.
We are nearing the penultimate crest of the summit, and what a better time for the first attacks! No other than Frank Schleck the record holder here in Badaling. Can he go on to take a sensational 3rd triumph?
Vanendert and Cunego try to catch him in the descent. Othman may be very helpful for the italian now that he's been dropped by the front men.
A large number of favourites has jumped from the bunch too: Spilak Ginnani Ulissi Trofimov Ponzi Flugel Hagen Bakelants Van Garderen Skujins Schumacher Gilbert Sagan
The groups are separated by very slim margins (15''-20'' ). Meanwhile Schleck has pulled himself up to the remaining early escapees
Trofimov decides it's time to bridge the gap on his own and catches Cunego and Vanendert, while his former group gets swallowed by the pack.
This trio catch the remnants of the BOTD to form a sole front group just as the last summit begins. The peloton is just around the corner though and doesn't have more than 24'' of disadvantage!
That doesn't stop them though! The pace is raised again in order to expand the gap to the main group. Unfortunately for Vosekalns and McConvey it's the end of their hopes, as they get dropped.
Troffitruffles doesn't want company any more and tries to getaway from the oldies Schleck and Cunego, while Vanendert was already suffering!
Time for Bakelants to show himself!! He pounces really hard to catch the remaining two chasers. There are 18km to go, but Trofimov already has 30'' to these.
More riders try to leave the pack: Van Garderen, Schumacher, Froome. Bakelants has left the other two behind and goes on the hunt for the russian.
Sagan and Spilak are the next attackers from the peloton and form a trio with Froome, while Van Garderen is further ahead with the veteran duo.
Spilak's group is caught a little afterwards. But the big moment is happening further ahead as Trofimov crests the hill all alone with 26'' on Bakelants, who has 34'' on his chasers. The pack comes 24'' later. It's all downhil now!
Festina is doing everything they can, but they seem unable to gain any time whatsoever!
It doesn't matter anyway, nothing was going to deter the russian powerhouse from achieving his goal. Trofimov starts this season in style by outclassing everyone else and celebrating with time to look the crowd who cheers for him by the roadside. Congratulations Tinkoff!
Bakelants will finish 2nd after a valiant effort. In 3rd comes Van Garderen, who brings a very well achieved podium result for his team.
Behind them we have a trio of Schleck, Cunego and Sagan (who seems to have jumped from the chasing group. They finish in that order.
The sprint in the main group awards Koretzky (7th), Keinath (8th), Kiserlovski (9th) and Skuijns (10th) the final places in the top10.
