A sprint classic, maybe the most prominent in PCT. Most of the big names are here, though the major bull will miss this again. Instead, a late big chance for Ahlstrand to finally recieve a leadout?
Early a group of 4 recieve a reasonable advantage:
Avetisyan Gradek Verhelst Lane
Wiesenhof, Strava, Spotify, Netia, Eritel, Coldeportes, Arrinera & Meji take over control in the peloton.
215 km - 3'00
200 km - 4'45
Interestingly we have a rather strong sidewind for most of the race, also projected to be there in the final. But there it will be twisty and turny, so for now we can't draw the racing there too much.
180 km - 8'15
160 km - 8'15
140 km - 7'15
For raging managers: Again Mørkøv and Kvist already working. No clue what the directeur sportiv of the Swedes is thinking, maybe they should think about a sacking on that position.
120 km - 6'15
100 km - 5'00
80 km - 40 km
Strong wind is...
...stretching the peloton out to a length of 2.3 kilometer currently. Now using a guy like Hermans or Vermeltfoort might be a decent idea.
60 km - 3'15
50 km - 2'45
Attack in the peloton! It is...
... Arashiro attacking together with Viviani and Horton. Finally we see these types of attacks in these races. Where is Maes when he's needed?
40 km - 1'00
With 38 kilometers to go Kemboi brought everything back though. Soon the next attacks though happen, and...
...Generali is on the move again with Ghyselinck. He's got Ford for company here.
They get caught again, despite both carry on by attacking once individually too. Headwind makes this an almost impossible move to win though. Riders like Afewerki working in the pack to turn these kind of attacks down though. 45 seconds for the break.
With 20 to go the break is caught, and thus the next riders attack. It's...
... Vermote attacking the race on the crosswinds now. And the guy trying to bridge on his own is Van der Sande!
15 kilometers left and...
... Hoffman makes his move! They are half a minute down on the leading duo now. What an exciting race this is. Meanwhile 70 riders are dropped from the peloton already, including the whole Spotify train of Reimer, van Poppel and Kvist as well as SanCor team and sprinters such as Canelon, Reinhardt and Harrison.
Strong move by...
... Zielinski though to bring everything back together with 10km to go.
Over the climbs now Dall'Oste ripped the race apart for his captain, when Impey takes over for Van Heerden. The top sprinters all upfront, when from 5km to go there is another attack.
And this is a big one! Bauer and Langeveld really attack the race here, just in the moment when nobody was willing ot take up the pace.
After those goes...
... Cisse, building a train for Van Heerden. Vantomme and especially the Lierse duo perfectly positioned with 3.5 to go. Though they have to close 20 seconds down before, which won't be too easy with the side/tailwind the leaders enjoy.
2.5 kilometers and on the right side...
... Redecker really goes for it, attacks the peloton and the leaders now. This race is intense and open for anybody. Zabel now in the perfect wheel of Van Heerden, while Appollonio and Pelucchi had to let go a little.
Flamme Rouge!
This is completely open. Appollonio and Van Heerden are done, while Pelucchi takes a second breath. Still it's anybodys race.
500 meters!
Impey and Pelucchi cooked now, while Van Asbroeck looks to be in prime position. That Spotify rider beneath Ahlstrand is Hermans by the way!
But, the leading 2 are streaming forward, they have 13 seconds left. Can they hold on?
They will! But who can take it? 100 meters left and it's undecided still.
Victory Sebastian Langeveld! The Strava captain sets the exclamation mark under a fantastic season by beating Jack Bauer in an intense final, who'll be very happy with the points he added here in the battle against relegation for his team.
The final spot on the podium goes to...
... Heiko Redecker, who completey an absolute surprising first 3. What a result for the African, that was just able to hold on. Minor places then for Zabel and Van Asbroeck, who could both have taken much more with smarter riding.
Same for the upcoming Spotify duo Ahlstrand and Hermans, that might have benefitted if one lead out the other. Now the captain couldn't even make the Top 5, and was even almost beaten by his helper.
Final Top 10 spots for...
... Van der Sande with a strong ride after his attempt earlier. 9th and 10th go to Granjel Cabrera and Vantomme, which won't be too happy with that.
Another strong result for Kuznetsov in 11th, even more interesting was the 14th for Sakala, which is a big result for the exotic rider. Some won't be very unhappy with the race, in first line Coldeportes and Eritel, the later could've won this riding smarter and setting the train another way round.
But let's come back now to honor the winner of today, Sebastian Langeveld. He crowns a fantastic season with another shot that brings Strava even closer to the title in PCT. What an effort!
France 
