The Ukrainian NC is traditionally a fight between the two home teams. PT squad Metinvest against PCT squad Children of Chernobyl.
On a flat course like this both lack the top sprinter option though.
Vasyluk and Polivoda are their best options while Chernobyl should have the stronger sprint support for later.
While Metinvest splitd their 10 riders into 2 squads of 5 each, Chernobyl decided to take a sprinter squad of 7 around Polivoda and then 3 individuals with their "stars" Prevar, Kononenko and Topchanyuk.
Then a couple of single outsiders: Vansilyev (Lierse), Golovash (Once, loaned by COC), Grabovski (RBC), Grivko (Oz), Ratiy (Movistar).
Whoever has expected a sprinter race, is going to be disappointed. At least it`s a fight between the two home teams as we see a 2-rider break of young level 1 rider Orlov (COC) and even younger but more experienced Dzhus (MET).
While first looks like a future puncheur talent, second is more of a climber. Though on a course like this, they are probably equally weak.
Even though Metinvest`s Vasylyuk squad could or possibly should work in the peloton, the bunch gives up quickly.
And as no other team even has more than 1 rider, it`s definitely a fight of those two.
Their sprint skills are similar even though Dzhus seems to think, he is the weaker one. So he attacks with 4km to go.
Orlov tries to follow but is slowly losing ground on him and the Flamme Rouge is almost reached already.
Metinvest finally beat the curse and are able to take their home NC after years of disappointings. Might not have been the expected rider but a nice one for the young fellow.
After having 2 NC`s in the past, Chernobyl is beaten this time. Orlov gave it a nice try and actually has a decent palmares already at that level. Though the experience was missing today in such final.
After two NCs in a row for Bacardi`s Grabovskiy, Metinvest Zmorka took it last year. And in 2015 he really had his breakthrough year also outside of Ukraine as he became one of the top chrono guys in the Pro Tour as well taking the ITT classic. Those two clearly are favourites again but actually later shuold be the Ukrainian top time trialists for many years to come.
Early on though we see the biggest Ukrainian cycling star of all time. Former Tour de France winner Popovych is far from his best but at times shows pieces of his old potential as seen in this years Tour of America.
And also today in one of his last NC`s he is doing a nice job by taking the early lead.
He beats stronger guys such as Popkov. 6s after 10km for the Metinvest rider. Also Buts can`t beat him as he goes 3rd.
When Popovych finishes, he still has the lead and no rider was able to beat his times on the next. So Popkov and Buts definitely stay behind him.
Late in todays ITT though the strongest time trialists are on the road.
Movistar`s Ratiy might have had a shit season but today he seems to be okay. He beats Popovych`s time by a few hundreds. Also Krasnoperov goes within the same time a bit later. So the intern Chernobyl duel is also exciting.
Grivko meanwhile disappoints with a very bad time.
Also Lagkuti really bad as he almost misses the top 10 early on.
Former ITT winner Grabovski then takes the lead beating the trio by 21s!
But it doesn`t last long. Zmorka justifies his favourite role and goes 18s faster even. So he might defend his jersey.
10km to go and we still get the Chernobyl duel. Krasnoperov seems to win this duel today though. It must be his best season performance as he seems to fight for a new contract. 11s faster than team mate Popovych.
Ratiy and Grabovski go faster though. First within the same time, while Grabovski is 1min quicker.
Though Zmorka almost another minute faster. 53s for him.
It will be 2nd for Grabovski while Ratiy is taking bronze after beating Krasnoperov by less than 1s.
Popovych in his last 2015 race with a great 5th to end the season. Possibly also fighting for another contract actually.
Dominating guy though is Zmorka. Metinvest with a double NC this year. And seeing that the only 22 year old Zmorka will come back even stronger next year, he could potentially be the new chrono star in the whole cycling world for many years.
Volodymyr Dzhus
