The pace is crazy right from the start as pretty much the entire peloton tries to get in the break. At least that how it seems with the relentless attacks from every team withouot a top favourite.
In the end five riders manage to get a gap: Polish champion Gradek, Downey, Oba, Egidio and Janse van Rensburg.
With 125 km to go they have a gap of 4'29
100 km and 5'13. The rain is pouring down now.
75 km and 3'45
It's Kenya Airways orchestrating the chase.
50 km and 2'31
With 45 km to go Quintero decides to try bridging the gap.
The main effect of the attack however is cutting the breaks gap to one minute in the following 10 km before he is caught again. A gap of that size makes the breakers start attacking in turns again.
25 km and 1'23
15 km and 40 seconds. Eritel - Sonatrach seems to have things under control.
Knowing that the race is usually won by an attacker everyone starts attacking again and with 7,5 km to go it's Vandousselaere Gradek and Downey with a 30 second gap to the chasing peloton.
With 4 km to go it's effectively Vandousselaire vs Grupo Nutresa.
The gap is constant so it starts looking good for the trio ahead.
Vandousselaire powers into the final km without looking behind.
Downey stuck to the Belgians wheel until the final 400 m.
Cavendish wins the sprint of the rest.
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