We've seen lots of this course already, including the finishing climb but nevertheless let me remind you that it is brutal - over 260km of cobbles and smaller hills, beginning on a circuit with a small section of cobbles and many undulations before riding, with more cobbles, to the finishing circuit with, you guessed it, more cobbles. It's an actually ok looking day here in Krakow, meaning although the fans may not get all the destruction they want we will see some faster racing.
Many of the favourites are going to be battling for the cobbled classics at the highest level given a few years, and this si their first chance to have the first of many fights. The likes of local hope Kasperkiewicz and Spengler are the major favourites but watch out for the likes of Owen or even the German duo of Herklotz, a stage racer, and Zabel, a sprinter, if it's an easier race. Globalisation has been reaching higher and higher levels and it's nice to see a pair of Carribean riders among the top favourites in Gonzalez of Guatemala and Richardson of Bermuda.
Just how long has that car been parked there?
It's been a while now, but finally Poland find a break they're somewhat happy with - Dulanjana of Sri Lanka, Page of Switzerland and German Yasyliv - all good riders but none of the trio are cobblers, so we should see the peloton take the honours today. Spengler will be happy with a teammate in the break and now riders from two of the biggest teams are in the break the onus will be on Poland to set the pace, who only have two domestiques.
Coming off of the initial circuit now and it's Poland doing most of the work with the help of Guatemala, the break have a lead of 6'28 with 150km still to be raced.
The first time up the brutal climb up to Fort Skala Observatory and the first riders are being shelled from the peloton, the biggest names at the moment being Kung and Haig with no real contenders dropping just yet, however, 20 riders have already been left behind by the peloton. The break have 6'56 at the moment As Poland and Guatemala turn up the heat. However down the descent 13 of them rejoin, including the aforementioned bigger names.
Rain is, in fact, starting to come lightly down on the riders now and although the skies don't look too bad this will affect some of the upcoming cobbled sectors. 110km to go.
We're onto the final circuit now in the beautiful city of Krakow, the advantage is crumbling for the escapees as the home team begin to reel them in. There's 90km to go and the gap is 4'03.
With 60km remaining the gap is under a minute and here's a shot of the damage being done by the leaders - workhorse Rekita karmically having to slip straight to the back of the race and watch what he just did.
Is this the definitive split? Pre-race contender Skala leads the new biggest group as 16 riders are now chasing the morning break. The favourites group consists of: Kasperkiewicz, Kaczmarek Herklotz, Zabel Venturini Sliva Owen Sanogo Ewan Cataford Orue Richardson Sweeck Novardianto Spengler Gonzalez
The catch is made now for 19 riders in the front and a new teammate for Zabel and Herklotz and the previous lonesome Spengler and Silva. the gap to the second group which includes Skala and Sembukutti among other is now 1'12 with under 60km and two circuits to go.
However the front group can't make it count when they should despite having teammates and it's back together for a group of 38 with 55km to go.
Except those pesky Poles persistently push potential rivals to the brink once again on the hill and so we have a similar group of 18, except we have Vainionpää and CX master Van Aert tagging along. 37km to go.
The first move of the day comes from home favourite Kasperkiewicz on the third-to-last cobbled sector. Lone Indonesian Novardianto has been quietly sitting on his wheel all day and follows with ease, so too do Richardson, Spengler, Ewan and Gonzalez, so we have the four main favourites and a couple of outsiders in the lead at the moment. the young Aussie is one to watch if they let him reach the finish with them.
30 seconds behind it's Sanogo from the Côte d'Ivoire leading the chase along with the German team of Herklotz.
Just before the 20km banner, the second group splits with Herklotz driving them away, Sanogo, Sweeck and ITT Champion Cataford follow. About 25 second's gap either way right now.
Another move from a possibly wary Kasperkiewicz, Novardianto again is straight on his wheel whilst Ewan struggles (but ultimately returns) behind, Richardson leaves a gap whilst taking a moment to accelerate and there's a few second's gap between the front two and the other three with 18km to go.
Abou Sanogo now surprising a bit by attacking his uncooperative companions now in pursuit of the chasing group, however he has 40 second's gap to close.
Trying to bridge across to the leaders and form the real red and white brigade is Spengler, we don't know if his attempts will be succesful but hes at least put 10 seconds into the trio behind, who either can't or won't respond. It's 16 kilometres to go and anyone not named Ksperkiewicz, Novardianto, Spengler or Sanogo is looking at each other.
It's now 3 vs 3 with the red and whites against the mostly whites, with 20 seconds the gap and Sanogo coming closer with just 25 seconds the advantage from the second group to the lone Ivorian.
15.3km Remaining
E5
<21”>
E4
<39”>
E3
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E2
<20">
E1
Silva
Sweeck
Sanogo
Gonzalez
Kasperkiewicz
Venturini
Herklotz
Richardson
Novardianto
Orue
Cataford
Ewan
Spengler
Zabel
Owen
Kaczmarek
Another fustrated chaser attempts a bridge, this time it's Silva trying to join the group of Herklotz, Cataford and Sweeck.
Back together for the two front groups and it may get even bigger as there's a clear lack of acting like mature adults as six petulant toddlers refuse to share their pace-making toys with each other.
Just as the Ivorian turns up and more riders are on the way, Kasperkiewicz makes yet another dig and you know the deal. Novardianto follows closely, Spengler and Gonzalez too. The other three don't even bother and I get a feeling this could be the move that sticks.
Who am I kidding, these guys seemingly couldn't work together if the U23 rainbow jersey was on the line...
Over the summit Silva catches up and the other three aren't far behind.
And guess what they did next? The red and white brigade drive forth once more and for their own sakes they better work because I don't see any of them being able to sprint when we get to the final hill...
And into Krakow they went 2 by 2 - Kasperkiewicz shows his cobbles dominance and distances the other two, Ewan and Richardson next 20 seconds behind, then Gonzalez and Sanogo 10 seconds away and a further eleven behind Silva brings up the rear, 50 seconds ahead of the next group.
5km to go now and the Pole has 26 seconds' lead as he's roared on by the home crowd.
Spengler hits out for second but the tiring Indonesian has his number for the time being, however they pull back 5 seconds on Kasperkiewicz and push out the gap to Ewan and Richardson to 20 seconds.
Caleb Ewan now with a last gasp effort to put himself in the podium running, leaving his Bermudan partner in his wake.
Spengler attacks once more and it's too much for Novardianto, however Ewan with a storming effort to try to latch on.
Kasperkiewicz under the arch signalling 1 kilometre to go, 20 seconds and it looks like nobody will stop him taking the victory here on home turf as he enters the noise wall of crazy Polish fans!
Ewan's chasing Spengler now on the final hill with an awesome display of power, will it be enough?
Nobody can say he hasn't earned this - attacking time and again it's time for Przemyslaw Kasperkiewicz to salute the crowd, his team and himself - what a ride son, what a ride.
Ewan exhausted, Spengler spent - the Aussie overhauls the Swiss rider around the final corner for silver.
Behind them Chequan Richardson keeps putting out some solid watts to pass Novardianto for fourth, the Indonesian was strong all day but was a couple of kilometres too short for winning a medal here.
Two minutes down Gonzalez holds off Sanogo and Silva, the latter two will be pleased, the Guatemalan dissapointed and all of them utterly exhausted.
Some more traditional cobbled countries close out the top 10 as Sweeck and Venturini fend off their companions on the final climb.
Congratulations to Przemyslaw Kasperkiewicz for showing everybody who's boss here and making a true statement of intent for the future - but more importantly, winning the U23 World Championship Road Race!
Kasperkiewicz, Kaczmarek
Herklotz, Zabel
Venturini
Sliva
Owen
Sanogo
Ewan
Cataford
Orue
Richardson
Sweeck
Novardianto
Spengler
Gonzalez
