To end the 2015 MG Worlds the best cyclists ride for the rainbow jersey. The course is the same as in the previous B Worlds and favours the climbers. 4x85 climbers was not seen this season. So it`s a thrilling fight today. Pluchkin dominated in his GT`s. Schleck won the Giro and often dominated the mountains in other races as well. Spilak was a threat in short stage races but often looked a bit weaker than you would expect while Madrazo surely was weaker than you would expect.
Who of those four is going to win today? Or can somebody else ruin their win? In the B Worlds we already saw a small surprise even though Lövkvist clearly was one of the top5 riders there.
So it could be a chance for riders such as Alarcon, Amador, Taaramae? They all had solid seasons and were able to beat those superior riders at least once. Also Machado, Dekker, Sicard or Martin could be solid bets.
The Italian team lives from the depth. Ricco, Nibali, Cunego, Sella or Pozzovivo. All of them are threats here.
Outsiders are Denifl, Velits, Kritskiy or Dombrowski but also Henao Montoya/Rujano, Van den Broeck or Dekker`s team mates Gesink/Keizer.
There are just far too many elite climbers to name them all. Spain for example has the same depth as Italy but are Contador, Intxausti, Marquez allowed to ride against Madrazo?
The first group had more than 10 riders including Heymes (LUX) or Valverde. So quickly they were caught again as nobody wanted the top4 Nations in the break today and so mainly Portugal, Slovenia and Germany worked against it.
Then we saw an interesting move. Nobody else but the new B World Champion Lövkvist attacked close to the first summit.
Behind him though we see the older of the Schleck brothers trying to follow with Bibby, Stetina, Maillet, Kunshin and Vysna.
They though keep a 30s gap until the next summit but the peloton is really going fast as Frank Schleck possibly is the rider, they don`t like to see in that group.
Surprisingly Belgium is working and even bigger the surprise that Van Den Broeck himself is working a lot that early! He should be their leader clearly. Also Spain is showing strength by sending Valls into the wind.
In especially the Spaniard caused the fusion. So after two laps we are back to 167 riders in front with only a couple of weak climbers being dropped already.
Going up the climb for the third time finally a group is allowed the magical 2min gap. Now we see why Belgium was working as Curfs is one of them. Though they should have worked with another rider obviously.
The other three riders are Öste Macdonald from the active Swedish team, who btw was already in the B Worlds breakaway. So kudos to him.
The remaining three are: Brändle Briceno Furdi
Last one is interesting as Spilak already lacks the support depth of Luxembourg or Spain but still is allowed to let one of their riders into the break. In Brajkovic though he has one of the best support riders.
130km to go on the 4th summit and a gap of under 5min. And we get the next very interesting move.
Colombia with a double attack. Pantano Gomez is working hard to bring Suaza to the first group. Behind them Elissonde, Ratiy and Faiers. So 5 riders already a level above the morning break.
In the peloton it`s mainly Luxembourg (Gastauer/Heymes) doing the work. But they have some small support by Koren (SLO) and Rajalo (EST)
Suaza had to help out as well but they finally made the bridge with 108km to go. 6min the gap now. Faiers, Elissonde and Ratiy should be the freshest now as they did not have to work at all!
Behind it`s Valls again working hard for Spain. Also Frank Schleck for Luxembourg and Mestre/Cabreira for Portugal are helping.
Jumping to 47km and the last short climb. In the B Worlds we have seen the first real attacks here but they weren`t successful. And today we also see a big attack at this point as the gap is down to 2'30. And when having a nice depth you should attack of course. Italy is doing just this with one of their very best in Cunego, who possibly sees his last chance ever to win the Worlds.
But it`s a tough task for him seeing the rider lineup behind him, who are working now!
Brajkovic-Contador-F.Schleck-Intxausti-Valls-Kirsch-Sanchez Gil-A.Schleck-Marquez.
Crazy Spaniards you might think. Also Vesuvio...ääh...Luxembourg want Andy to win this clearly.
Just when Cunego was caught again the next attack by Amador.
But also he got caught by the Spanish team. He though feels strong enough to immediately follow Cunego`s attack. Those two remind quite a lot on Kwiatkowski and Ji in the B Worlds with their non stopping attacks. Those two got a podium in the end but missed the win. Let`s see if the scenario is different today.
This picture is known and feared from most managers. Andy Schleck comes to the front and pulling himself. Normally the moment he starts to dominate the mountains. Many riders really start to struggle now.
Spilak, Dekker, Taaramae, Gesink, Ricco, Pozzovivo, Rujano are not far behind.
Monsalve, Sicard, Dombrowski, Keizer, Pluchkin, Madrazo a bit in the middle of the pack still.
Over the top the peloton is at 130 riders and Schleck has stopped to accelerate. He though caught Amador/Cunego as also most of the early break.
Only Öste Macdonald and Furdi are remaining but also quickly caught by Luxembourg/Spain support.
16km left. Only one climb left and we are soon to start it, when some riders attack: Spilak A.Schleck Amador Pluchkin
Not a big surprise that the only 85 climber Madrazo is waiting. This is how his season was basically all year long.
Then again for the first time this year it might be smart as he still has 6 team mates ahead of him, who should have the needed strength to pull them back.
And indeed they did but again allowed a new wave of attacks. A.Schleck Dombrowski Cunego Spilak
+16s Dekker
+22s
123 riders led by Henao Montoya! No more the Spanish train in the lead! Also Pluchkin missed this move now.
Isolated Madrazo! Where are his team mates? Did they refuse to work for him?
Pluchkin, Henao Montoya, Sicard, Ricco, Machado are the riders in the first rows as also Dan Martin who tries to attack.
In the end the great effort by Sicard and Ricco caught the attackers with only 2km to go! Behind them Madrazo now in a perfect position as also Kritskiy.
Taaramae going on the right side immediately followed by Spilak. Schleck and Cunego just behind.
In the middle Madrazo, Dombrowski, Sicard, Ricco, Monsalve, Kritskiy, Dekker and Machado, Sella, Amador and Alarcon in this order.
Biggest name missing are Pluchkin who is having another few meters to Alarcon next to Brajkovic and Denifl, Velits, Martin, Henao Montoya, Pinot.
From quite far behind Sella now attacks under the Flamme Rouge. Still no real gaps today. Monsalve tries to follow while Brajkovic is there as well now! The right side of the road became a bit quiet at the moment. Too quiet?
Sella with a nice gap now. Brajkovic is behind again as his team mate Spilak was the first to react. Behind him Schleck and Madrazo.
Then Monsalve, Dombrowski, Cunego, Sicard, Brajkovic and Dekker.
Pluchkin it seems with a very bad day. Surely he lost the timing in the classics after just doing GT`s this season.
600m and still Sella. Spilak though no longer in 2nd as he is passed by Andy Schleck! Can the best climber of the last two years also take this big trophy today?
The higher it gets, the steeper. Surely Sella struggles more than the three riders behind. Schleck now right next to him.
Spilak looks beaten while Madrazo with a late push?
Also Dombrowski and Monsalve still doing fine as also Taaramae who passed lots of riders in last few meters.
Schleck goes into the lead. Can Sella strike back?
The mentioned 2nd row. Spilak close to lose the podium spot as Madrazo, Dombrowski, Taaramae and Monsalve look faster.
The winner today though is Andy Schleck. It possibly was not as dominant as other mountain races with so many riders having their best form. Gaps were hard to create today as the strong Spanish team kept everything together but also did not do enough to bring Madrazo a real advantage.
So after a year where Andy takes the career GT triple, he also takes the rainbow season. Definitely the best climber these days.
The surprising 2nd is Sella today. Italy made it a lot better than Spain by using 2 of their riders by riding aggressive. With a bit more luck this tactic had been caused a huge surprise.
Spilak keeps the 3rd in the end ahead of Madrazo, who couldn`t take profit from the strongest team today.
Taaramae on a good 5th ahead of Monsalve, who possibly should have performed like this more often this season to avoid relegation with his team.
Dombrowski once more showing great riding as 7th and should be back even stronger in the years to come while Ricco 8th and Cunego 10th complete a strong Italian showing. Dekker in between them as Dutch leader.
Amador 11th, Sicard 12th, Machado 13th, Kritskiy 15th, Denifl 16th, Velits 18th, Pluchkin 20th!!! or Alarcon 21st surely had hoped for more just like Colombia with Henao Montoya at 26th. At least they tried an interesting mid stage move today.
Germany with Keinath 39th and Fothen as 41st surely wait for Herklotz to be competive, while Belgium`s weird use of Van den Broeck in the beginning only delivered a 44th.
Lövkvist attacked close to the first summit. 
Van Den Broeck himself is working a lot that early! He should be their leader clearly. Also Spain is showing strength by sending 
Valls into the wind.
Brändle
Briceno
Furdi
Pantano Gomez is working hard to bring 
Elissonde, 
Ratiy and 
Faiers. So 5 riders already a level above the morning break.
Cunego, who possibly sees his last chance ever to win the Worlds. 
Amador. 
Andy Schleck comes to the front and pulling himself. Normally the moment he starts to dominate the mountains. Many riders really start to struggle now.
Pluchkin
Dombrowski
Dekker
Dan Martin who tries to attack.
Taaramae going on the right side immediately followed by 
Kritskiy, 
Machado, 
