Rowe is announced as the top favourite, together with Nizzolo and B.King. But other sprinters like Nelson, Vanderaerden or Manarelli won't give up that easily today. Strong wind is expected too.
The first breakaway attempt is the good one, 3 guys will be at the front today, despite Jiatz and Mamykin tries : Cooper Stevenson Gonzalez
Very classic race, as the peloton lets the breakaway an interesting gap, but comes back easily. The pace goes up a bit more at 40 kilometers to go, while the 3 riders escaped have a 2 minutes margin.
The new rhythm causes a first echelon, leaving 15 riders behind. Vanderaerden, Abdallah and Awang as the most notable names.
De Haes decides to attack with 30 kilometers left ! There's only one minute left for the breakaway, and the peloton goes even faster now to catch the belgian.
He got caught, but not the breakaway, as Gonzalez goes solo after the 20 kilometers arch. The peloton lost some riders, let's check who's still here (ranked by number of guys)Â : Giacoppo, De Vocht, Bayly, Von Hoff, Schultz, Delgerbayar, Altanzul, Flens B.King, Napolitano, Galimzyanov, Szalontay, Varga, Mamykin, Rybalkin Turgot, Selig, Last, Connolly, Perry, Field, Holohan Mezgec, Drucker, Raim, Laas, Timmer, Nommela, Katrasnik Bush, Venturini, Puerta, Bouglas, Contreras, Clifford Nizzolo, Markus, Tempier, Trusov, Timofeev Rowe, Brammeier, Takenouchi, Wu Nelson, Thomas, Alaphilippe Drapac, Matthews, De Haes Salleh, Zafferani Guillen Thorsen
The guy from Guatemala exploded, and he's passed by an other rider : B.King ! The american probably doesn't want a sprint today. At 10 kilometers left, it's not the moment to stop behind, as the peloton only have 32 guys left to chase. Thomas and Bush are trying to come back.
B.King is finally caught at the edge of the last 5 kilometers, with big work of Nizzolo. But look at that, only 10 guys are in the front now ! Hectic situation. Drucker, Timmer Nelson, Thomas B.King Delgerbayar Connolly Bush Nizzolo Drapac
The rest of the peloton couldn't come back before the start of the final sprint.
Drapac
King
Thomas
Bush
Nizzolo
Delgerbayar
Nelson
Drucker
Timmer
Connolly
2 km left, and Thomas built a little lead on his opponents. Bush and Drapac are dropped from the group.
Thomas is still in first place under the Flamme Rouge, but he's back on his saddle. It's now King and Drucker who surrender. Only Timmer and Connolly are in a sprint position now.
Timmer and Connolly passed Thomas ! 600 meters left.
The last one sprinting is Connolly, can he come back on Timmer on the final 200 meters ?
He does it, William Connolly wins the Great Ocean Road Classic ! Nearly nobody could have predicted this one. Albert Timmer comes second, in front of 2 Podium Ambition riders : Ricki Nelson and Geraint Thomas. And Nizzolo closes the top 5 !
The sprint of the « peloton » for 7th place is won by Marco Guillen, before 2 guys that were at the front earlier : Drucker and King.
