We are in China for a late classic that looks more like an italian autumn classic than it actually is. Kinoshita might add another big result to his already great season here.
Another race with good weather conditions, another race enough sttep climbing kilometers for a hard mountain classic. The breakaway stands already after 15 kilometers, containing...
Senni Bartl Herrera
UBS, Meiji, Hugo Boss, Coldeportes, Generali, Wiesenhof in the chase. Mostly Meiji responsible though
175 km - 3'30
150 km - 6'50
125 km - 6'30
100 km - 5'00
Herrera...
...already dead and gone from the break, while half of the race is done now.
90 km - 5'00
80 km - 7'45
The peloton slows down notably on every climb, so all together still. Herrera back in the pack.
70 km - 3'35
60 km - 3'40
50 km - 3'20
40 km - 1'20
The only team to do really valuable pacemaking is Wiesenhof. 3 more climbs left.
30 km - 1'45
Wait what?
Attack Kinoshita! We suddenly have a race going on here! Over the top he stretches his advantage to 35 seconds. 110 riders left in the peloton though, and Wiesenhof chasing with numbers.
And with 20 kilometers to go the move is...
...brought back, but the Japanese kicks again. This race starts to get interesting a lot earlier than anticipated. Gautier now leads the chase, strangely riding for Bellis today.
Immediately the peloton breaks down, 25 riders remain at the front. Names like Zaini (who is captain today), Palini, Kratochvila and Slagter are gone already.
25 seconds for Kino when...
... Flügel makes his move, closely followed by Costa and Di Maggio. Who is going to react to that?
van der Hugenhaben! Another guy trying to prevent his team from relegation. He makes his move, overtakes and drops Di Maggio and has only have a minute left to the trio in front, where Kinoshita has been caught.
In behind Schelling has to be on a fantastic pace, cause he unintentionally drops his leader Reichenbach by increasing the pace for what's left of the bunch.
He...
...catches Betancourt, who was between the groups over the climb, and Di Maggio, which makes them a group of 22. They are chasing now 4 riders working perfectly together and 1'30 ahead, as van der Hugenhaben was able to bridge the gap.
3 kilometers now left, and the 4 have 1'12 heading into the climb. In behind...
...nobody wants to take responsibilities, so it should be in between these 4. The good the racing has been so far, the bad is it now. Neither group sees any pacemaking, so the situation holds on for 1 kilometer with the group of 4 increasing their lead to 2 minutes with 1.5 to go. Costa looks in danger, can one of the other set the lucky punch?
Under the kite we still don't know. The chase is lead by Ben Nasser, the front doesn't try any moves. Like this we'll have an almost flat sprint on the final 500.
There we go!
600 left and Flügel kicks up the sprint. In his wheel Kinoshita, van der Hugenhaben and Costa.
The later...
...won't win, but Kinoshita tries to come around the German champion. Another one for him?
Yes indeed! He beats Flügel in the sprint for the win at the Nantou Classic.
The podium is well rounded off by...
... Costa, who has more left in the tank than a brave van der Hugenhaben. The dutch scores some very valuable points for his team here though.
The battle for 5th was wide open, at the end it's one for...
... Betancourt ahead of Ben Nasser and Roche.
Final Top 10s go to...
... Gautier, a strong recovering Slagter and the big surprise of the day, Cristiano Salerno.
But let's take a look back for honoring the winner in Chushoi: Tomohiro Kinoshita.
China 
