Phil Ligget: Hello and welcome to the first race of the season. I'm Phil Ligget and I'll be guiding you through the racing today, and we have a great day of racing ahead of us, and I'm joined here in the commentry booth by Jens Voigt and David Millar. So how do you think today is going to go down?
David Millar: Well I think the race will be controlled today by the French and Dutch teams for Alaphilippe and Mollema, but the break that went away at the start today is very strong and I think we've got to watch out for that.
Jens Voigt: Well Today is definitely a good day for a break or small bunch, so i think we'll see the favourites teams controlling the race and then splitting the group with maybe 7 or 8 laps to go to try and isolate the riders with wekear teams, such as Costa and his Portugese team. But for me the break has got to be a break away today as a bunch of this size can't finish together.
Ligget: So now the big money question, Who's going to win?
Millar: Well with this race being at the start of the year, we haven't been able to see what the favourites form is like, but for me I think it'll be Alaphilippe as he has such a strong kick on him on these type of races.
Ligget: Jens?
Voigt: Well you know I think it'll be a break that gets it, so I'll go for Valverde as he's lost the climbing legs he had a few years ago, so now he's a lot more attacking rider, so i'd say watch out for him.
Ligget: Well you know i think it's going to be a day for Dan Martin, so let's see now as we join the live action. So the break went on the first lap with Nicolas Roche of Ireland being the prominent attacker, but the bunch are chasing hard on the second lap as we join the action.
Millar: So now we can see the Swiss riders controlling the break of Roche for the World champion Albasini, they're being helped by France, Britain and Spain as they all try to reel in Roche who has just over a minute on this bunch.
Ligget: Oh dear, there's been a crash and it's Lunke of Norway who was an outsider for today's race, and that means his leader Nordhaug is going to miss his services in the finale.
Ligget: There we go the catch is made, and immediately there is a counter move and it's from Formolo.
Millar: Well whenever it's a solo attack it's never going to go anywhere as Spain are chasing hard and their going to catch him pretty quickly.
Voigt: what they need to do is for a few countries to all attack together to force the big nations to use their domestiques up early as that means it will just be the favourites in the finale and giving them a bigger chance of pulling off a surprise.
Ligget: There we go Formolo is caught an another attack, and this looks dangerous.
Voigt: Well Spain are obviously sick of chasing as they've sent my man Valverde on the attack, and this group looks strong enough, but the bunch are chasing hard.
Millar: Well this move has France, Britain and Spain in so the Netherlands aren't going to let this go because if they do they wont see this group again for the rest of the day.
Ligget: Their not chasing anymore and the gaps escalating quickly, the break of Valverde, Reichenbach, Kennaugh and Vuillermoz is going away now. What do you think Holland and Ireland will be thinking?
Millar: Well they should be panicking as all these guys can climb. To be honest I don't think this bunch will be caught but we'll see.
Voigt: In this situation you've got to catch your breath and then try to get as big a gap as possible, because if you can dishearten the bunch by pulling out the gap, then they'll give up and your away. Valverde looks strong as expected and the fact he's been allowed to get away is very dangerous.
Ligget: So now with 60 kilometres to go the gap has been closed won to 6 minutes after a hard chase from Poland and Denmark. Just as we say that Valverde attacks and tries to go solo, but Kennaugh drags the break back to him.
Millar: But here he goes again and this time the other riders have no response, is this the return of Valverde? He starts to pull away from this group.
Ligget; Behind Spain are controlling the favourites who are starting to attack, the front group now has only 20 riders in, and 6 of them are Spanish, we knew they were the strongest here, and there showing it here.
Millar; Well they are the strongest team here, and we expected them to prove it as they had 4 riders who could win the race in Contador, Del Pino, Intxausti and Izagirre, so what can we expect but to see them all at the front of the race.
Voigt: Also France have 5 riders as the three other breakaway riders are caught by this group. It's The Netherlands who are now chasing Valverde with Mollema and Kelderman apparently working for Slagter now.
Ligget: Valverde is now the only rider up the road with 3 minutes over the group of favourites with 37 kilometres to go, this could be close.
Millar: Well Froomey now has a team mate as Simon Yates chases back into this group, and Kennaugh is caught from the break.
Ligget: Let's not forget there's still a group behind this front bunch chasing, with Kwiatkowski in the middle of the gap. Sagan is now a minute behind the front group, but he has two Belgium riders with him who are trying to chase across the gap, that's Vanendert and Van Avermaet.
Millar: So now we see Mollema and Alaphilippe getting away over the top of the climb for the penultimate time as Valverde is caught, and dispensed of by this duo. The Spanish team are chasing now and they're starting to close the gap as we hit the foot of the climb again.
Voigt: And here goes Contador, this is what they were trying to set up here, as he jumps across to the leading two riders and they have a 30 second gap at the top of the climb. Contador now sits up, it's down to Alaphilippe to push on as he's got to be the favourite now. Contador and Mollema sit on him.
Ligget: We've reached the final kilometre and Contador makes his move, he knows this is his only chance, and he wants to make sure he takes it. Mollema counters and it looks like Alaphilippe has no response. Mollema is leading.
Millar: Well Mollema is going to take this as Contador and Alaphillipe start to fade.
Ligget: Mollema Takes The European Championship, Ahead of Contador and Alaphilippe, what a great race!
Voigt: Yeah that was a great race to watch, lots of attacking and a well deserving winner in Mollema.

1	Bauke Mollema	TI Raleigh	7h24'22
2	Alberto Contador	Movistar Team	s.t.
3	Julian Alaphilippe	AG2R La Mondiale	s.t.
4	Diego Ulissi	Gazetta dello Sport	s.t.
5	Tom Slagter	TI Raleigh	s.t.
6	Rui Costa	Euskadi	s.t.
7	Thibaut Pinot	AG2R La Mondiale	s.t.
8	Simon Yates	McLaren Honda	s.t.
9	Wilco Kelderman	TI Raleigh	s.t.
10	Tim Wellens	Omega Pharma - Quick·Step Cycling Team	s.t.

Ligget: So here we are the second of the continental road races, and it's the turn of the Americas. The favourites for today are all Colombians, however the USA team is an incredibly strong line up and expect them to try and force the Colombians to tire themselves out.
Millar: The American team is going to be very organised they have Bobby Julich in control and he's a master tactician, so they're certainly going to make this a hard race.
Ligget: So lets recap what has happened so far, from the off USA were on the attack with Van Garderen going early, after he was brought back Talansky made an attack. Colombia realised the danger and tried to chase, but saw the gap wasn't coming down so they sent Henao off the front, but he took Dombrowski with him, who worked with Talansky to pull out a huge gap on the bunch.
Millar: So that means now that Colombia are in a tough position as they have a man up the road, but he's outnumbered, so they've decided to risk it and not chase leaving Costa Rica to do all of the work for their leader Amador.
Voigt: The Americans have played it perfectly so far and expect to see them try to overwork Henao.
Ligget: In fact as we join the live action you can see Talansky attacking this group, but Henao chases him down.
Millar: Here goes Dombrowski with the counter attack.
Voigt: Henao is screwed now. He's used his energy chasing Talansky, and that means Dombrowski is clear alone.
Ligget: Dombrowski is free to fly now as he starts to show those climbing legs, he showed with 7th in the Tour De France last year. Henao couldn't do anything about that, he's just got to measure his effort and try to maybe close him down in the last 50 kilometres.
Millar: And then if he does that Talansky can just counter the attack and go solo.
Voigt: Yeah Henao can't win this now he needs to wait and then let his team mates chase Dombrowski.
Ligget: there's just 100 kilometres to go and Dombrowski is still riding well.
Millar: Henao has blown, he's given everything and has nothing left. Talansky realises and leaves him. Colombia are now starting to chase behind, as the gap drops to 6 minutes to Talansky and 8 to Dombrowski after a hard chase by Costa Rica.
Ligget: Henao is caught by the bunch and immediately the Quintana brothers go solo, nobody can stay with them they're flying here as they catch and pass Dpmbrowski and Talansky as if they're standing still, unbelievable they on their own and ahead with 50 kilometres to go.
Millar: It's amazing how in 10 kilometres the race can change so much, the US team has nothing to be able to respond with this, they've played their cards and sadly it's not worked.
Ligget: The Quintans here are riding on clouds here as they tear the field to pieces.
Voigt: Here goes Nairo attacking Dayer!
Ligget: Over the top of the final climb Nairo goes solo for the win, but he's waiting he wants to finish with his brother.
Millar: What a great showing these brothers have out in, but who's going to win the sprint?
Ligget: Nairo Quintana takes the win as Dayer rides in behind him. What a great race, Matthew Busche takes 3rd for America, what a great ride by him.

1	Nairo Quintana	HTC Android Racing
2	Dayer Quintana	HTC Android Racing
3	Matthew Busche	Gas Monkey
4	Alex Howes	Gas Monkey
5	Chris Horner	Gas Monkey
6	Ian Boswell	Gas Monkey
7	Andrew Talansky	Gas Monkey
8	John Weeden	Gas Monkey
9	Carlos Betancur	HTC Android Racing
10	Rigoberto Urán	HTC Android Racing

Ligget: You join us for the 3rd of 4 Continental Championships, it's the African championship. Today according to the bookies is for South Africa to lose. Due to the lack of countries participating South Africa have been allowed to field two teams, but if they are seen to work together the officials have said they will be disqualified. David and Jens join me here in the commentary booth. So who's your money on today then?
Millar: For me Louis Meintjes is the strongest rider here and he has a good team to back him up so he should be able to get the win.
Voigt: For me I think Berhane will be up there as he is climbing well, especially after his double Giro stage win last year. Maybe he doesn't have the team of Meintjes, but he deson't need it as he can use them to get the win.
Ligget: Well I'm going for Meintjes team mate Daryl Impey, who is probably the best sprinter here. Well let's join the live action. Currently there is a breakaway featuring Daniel Teklehaimanot of the Eritrean team, and he has a lead of 6 minutes over the chasing bunch.
Millar: I don't think this move will stay away as the bunch behind are keeping him close and 200 kilometres is a long way on your own.
Voigt: I'm surprised to see the Ethiopian team chasing, I'm Guessing Grmay is feeling good because with 150 kilometres to go a 10 minute gap can be closed easily later on in the race.
Millar: I think it's just a lack of experience from the Ethiopian team as they haven't raced very much in this size of race, so maybe they're just unsure of how to ride a race of this length.
Ligget: Whatever they're doing the gap is coming down to the break, but the South African and Eritrean teams are looking very strong.
Millar: We can see that South Africa has hit the gas pedal and have cut the gap to 1 minute in only a kilometre of climbing. Meintjes makes his move and Berhane goes with him. Behind Grmay and Kudus pull away from Impey and the rest.
Ligget: We're onto the final climb and Meintjes rides Berhane off his wheel with an apparent ease. Berhane is now 1 minute behind reaching the summit of the climb.
Voigt: Kudus attacks Grmay as well he wants 3rd place.
Ligget: Meintjes takes the African Championship ahead of berhane and Kudus, what a great team ride by Eritrea, every rider went full on to the end to try and get selection for the Inter-Continental.

Rank	Name	Team	Time
1	Louis Meintjes	Orica GreenEdge	8h08'56
2	Natnael Berhane	Compal Merida	+ 1'05
3	Merhawi Kudus	Compal Merida	+ 3'48
4	Tsgabu Grmay	FDJ.fr	+ 4'25
5	Daryl Impey	Orica GreenEdge	+ 6'55
6	Jani Tewelde	Compal Merida	+ 7'15
7	Meron Teshome	Compal Merida	s.t.
8	Tesfom Okbamariam	Compal Merida	s.t.
9	Yonas Tekeste	Compal Merida	s.t.
10	Rafaâ Chtioui	Team Giant - Shimano	+ 10'08

Ligget: The Asian Championships are going to be very interesting today don't you think? I mean normally it would be dominated by the Aussies, but due to the large quantity of European countries racing, the Russian, Ukraine and Kazakhstan teams have all been moved into this race.
Millar: Well the Aussies are still the strongest, but they won't have as big an advantage as they would of in previous years.
Ligget: So how do you see this race panning out?
Voigt: Well for me it's a day for a break as the main teams are all very attacking, so expect to see them trying to get away. If i had to pick someone for the win, I'd have to go for someone like Michael Matthews.
Millar: Definitely this is going to be a small bunch finish, but I think that it'll be the main favourites. I think someone like Porte will try to get away and hold off the bunch for victory.
Ligget: Well let's see which one of you is right as we join the live action now. There's currently a break 6 minutes ahead of the bunch, the break contains Sulzberger of Australia and Gorbunov of Kazakhstan.
Millar: I don't think this will; stay away as they went very erly, so it'll be very easy for the Lithuanian and Russian teams to control and reel in, but it means the Aussies will have fresh legs late on.
Voigt: Well of course Richie Porte must be going well as early on he chased a break and ended up splitting the bunch to just his Aussie team mates, so by the look of it he's flying today so watch out for him.
Ligget: In fact just as we say that there's a crash and it's Porte thats gone down, but he's back up and chasing on. I think that crash was caused by Lutsenko who clipped the barriers on the fast descent, but everyone is back up and into the bunch now.
Millar: That crash won't affect Porte he's a true professional, I mean who don't win back to back Giro d'Italia titles without being very tough, and I expect this crash to not affect his performance today.
Ligget: We now have just 40 kilometres to go and Sulzberger has gone solo in the break, he's decided this is the time to make his move. He has a 3 minute gap over a chasing Russian led bunch.
Millar: By my calculations with this gap he'll be caught on the final time up the climb.
Ligget: As the bunch hit the bottom of the final time up this brutal climb, it appears that the peloton have eased up, the gaps gone out to 3 minutes 30 seconds, Sulzberger could do this and provide a real shock. His Aussie team mates are following every attack as they try to prevent him from being caught.
Millar: Sulzberger is going to win this now he has a 2 minute gap as he summits the climb, what a great ride by this man.
Voigt: And watch out for his team mates in the sprint behind who are all relatively fresh. What and unbeliavble ride by this Aussie.
Ligget: Sulberger crosses the line, I don't think he can quite believe it. he's led the race for almost 260 kilometres, and he's taken the biggest win of his career. We see him there with his team manager in tears, this win means so much to him.
Millar: Well here come his team mates and there all screaming with delight. The camera man will have to be careful there as Sulzberger's team mates swarm around him. It's great to see that their all so happy for him.

1	Wesley Sulzberger	Orica GreenEdge	7h39'41
2	Michael Matthews	Orica GreenEdge	+ 1'27
3	Ramunas Navardauskas	CCC Polsat Polkowice	s.t.
4	Nathan Haas	Orica GreenEdge	s.t.
5	Simon Clarke	Orica GreenEdge	s.t.
6	Richie Porte	Orica GreenEdge	s.t.
7	Jay McCarthy	Orica GreenEdge	s.t.
8	Benjamin King	Orica GreenEdge	s.t.
9	King Lok Cheung	TI Raleigh	s.t.
10	Patrick Bevin	Citroen Cycling Team	s.t.

The first race was the Team Time Trial, with the Citroen Guest team being the favourites as they were made up of the very best time triallists in the pro peloton including Tony Martin and Adriano Malori.

Their closest rivals were to be the second of the two time trial super teams, racing in the colours of Cannondale Garmin, but the younger of the two teams was no match for the more experienced Citroen who won by almost 3 minutes over the difficult 60 kilometre course.

meanwhile in the battle for the Overall Inter-Continental Title, Europe B riding as OPQS took the lead ahead of Europe A (Movistar) and Europe C (Giant). That puts Europe firmly ahead going into this afternoon's mountainous road race stage.

The next round takes us into the mountains, as the other teams aim to take back the ground on the European teams, who are in the strongest place going into the next few races.

The break went away early and contained two big name riders, Simon Spilak, riding for one of the neutral teams, and Ian Boswell of America A. They built up a decent lead before Spilak left Boswell and went solo.

Spilak was then able to build up enough of a lead to hold off the bunch as they started to ride hard, Ellissonde then left the rest of the bunch, with Quintana and Dombrowski trying to chase across to him, but they weren't able to do that and Ellissonde held them off.

In the all important team race America A were able to take the win and the crucial 10 points, behind it was Europe D and Europe B that managed to get 2nd and 3rd. That meant Europe B kept there lead in the standings going into the next round.

Today it's the turn of a flat road race, but with an apparent lack of sprinters this could be the most open round so far, so sit back and enjoy what could turn out to be a very interesting race.

Due to the flat nature of the course, crosswinds would alway play a factor with the bunch splitting to form a 3 rider front group, and two larger bunches. This front group contained a number of riders from the Europe C team, who pressed hard as they tried to extend the gap, which they were able to do. They were then able to set up their star rider Peter Sagan for the win, as they took the team prize

The penultimate round of the inter continental championships was always going to be a tough day of racing, taking place over the course used for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

With only 17 teams racing today, it was always going to be a hard race to control, and so it proved. Europe A were on the front foot from the start putting Costa in an early break, which he then blew up with 60 kilometres to go, Costa was then able to solo to a great win with Nairo Quintana coming home just a few minutes behind for 2nd, followed closely by Kwiatkoski.

The team win on the day went to Europe A who showed their strength with riders finishing 1st, 4th and 5th behind them it was America A just ahead of Europe B.

Ligget: So here we are the last round of this year's intercontinental championship, and this race is very interestingly set up. We have a tie for first place for Europe A and Europe B, with Europe C only two points behind and America A not out of the mix yet as the top four teams are only seperated by 4 points, so this is all to play for. I'm joined in the studio by David Millar and Tyler Hamilton. So how do you both think this is going to go?
Millar: Well I think that the European teams are in the best place as this time trial is flat and that will suit them as the American team would bet better suited to a hilly time trial.
Hamilton: You know I don't think that America A is a strong time trial team, I think that America B with Van Garderen is a better time trial team, but they are way out of contention.
Millar: I think the win today will go to Europe B as they did the better team time trial, and they have the likes of Chris Froome and Kwaitkoski who are probably going to be fighting for the win today.
Ligget: Well let's join the live action now and you can see that the riders are just starting their effort, currently the riders have just reached the first check, and its Yury Trofimov who is the current best time, but just as we say that he's beaten by Tony Martin of the control team. that's a strong ride from Martin.
Millar: Uran is riding well as well as he goes 2nd 9 seconds back.
Hamilton: Here is one of the only guys that we cold see beating Mrtin, and that's Malori who goes faster by just over a minute, so that just shows that Martins team isn't so great like we thought.
Ligget: Malori is riding well here as he comes up to the second check and destroys the current best set by Uran who was 4 seconds ahead of Martin, he beats the time by 2 minutes, Malori is flying, but can he keep it up?
Millar: I think he'll be able to as Malori is an absolute star, he's one of the best time triallers on the scene and he knows how to maintain a good effort.
Ligget: Here's Kelderman crossing the line he's a minute behind Martin who did a superb descent. Now it's Malori and he goes into the lead, but only by 10 seconds, what happened?
Millar: I think he must of over estimated the descent, perhaps he thought it was steeper so he wouldn't have to push as hard, but he almost mucked that up.
Hamilton: Just as your saying that Talansky goes 4th, which puts America A in a good place we thought they couldn't win it but maybe they could surprise us.
Ligget: Well the next big time trialling name is Gretsch and he goes 3rd, just under 30 seconds behind Malori. But at the second check Flakemore has gone second, so maybe he could be the first rider to beat Malori. The world time trial champion is flying down the descent, but where's he going to finish he comes up to the line and....... it's a new best time Flakemore goes fastest just over 20 second ahead of Malori, what a ride!
Millar: In the fight for the overall win Europe B take a big step towards the win, with Ion Izagirre going into 6th just behind his team mate Kelderman.
Ligget: Well also Froome is lighting up the timing screens as he is riding hard today could this be a win for Europe B?
Hamilton: There on the camera we can see a few specs of rain, so this could change things beacuse it's a lot harder to do a fast time in the rain, so those that are later off could be affected by this.
Ligget: Froome goes 6th that means Europe B have riders 6th, 7th and 8th, they look to be in the driving seat now. The last rider out today Leo Konig has set off for his ride that means everyone is out on the course.
Millar: Kwiatkowski is also putting in a strong ride, so this appears to be Europe B's to lose. Although here comes Konig and he's catching Kwiatkowski, this could be a superb ride from the Czech national champion.
Ligget: Europe B have done it they take the victory on the day and with it the series win, Leo Konig takes the win.