Welcome to Russia for the National Championships! Tinkoff dominates the startlist with 5 teams of 6 riders each, while Novatek is the only other team with more than 2 riders, with a 5 rider team to support Serebriakov, who should be a favourite should the race come to a bunch sprint. The other main favourites for the bunch sprint is the ever inconsistent Maksimov and Tinkoff sprinters Porsev and Korzh, who will work together as they put all their sprinting options on the same team. Although as ever, these races can be very unpredictable, so it’s likely an opportunist will spoil the sprinter’s party.
It’s a wet day today but the rain doesn’t deter Silin and Mamykin from trying to defy the peloton today, if they do go all the way they’ll both be pretty equal match for each other with both being roughly equally strong on the flats or in a sprint.
Novatek chases the break alone but keeps them within striking distance the whole time and has them within 30 seconds with just over 20km left to race. Tinkoff puts in a couple attacks but always they chase themselves down before they can even leave the pack, as Rovny makes a failed attempt now.
Kozontchuk attacks past the break and it’s all over for them, still Novatek and Tinkoff mark the move so there’s no escape.
The group is still compact with 5km left, Kuznetsov and Stash lead the pack, behind them on the left you can see Trofimov, Kolesnikov and Kritskiy. The sprinters favour the middle of the road with Vorobev - Maksimov - Pozdnyakov - Serebriakov - Porsev.
On the right Tsatevich and Gusev position themselves.
Vorobev launches an attack which messes up most of the organisation up front! Kuznetsov has it covered though and once again there’s no gap.
And with 2.5km to race Tsatevich starts a very early lead-out for Maksimov! Porsev is on his wheel and the only other riders who seem able to contend at all are Pozdnyakov and Serebriakov!
Just over 1km left and Tsatevich swings off the front! Maksimov launches while Porsev grits his teeth and follows, one has the advantage of having better pure speed, but the other should be able to time his sprint much better!
Behind Serebriakov tries to come back, but he’s in the wind now and flagging! Kuznetsov is also trying to bring a lot of riders not on his team back into the fray, but it seems too late now.
Porsev comes out from behind Maksimov with 600 metres left and we are seeing a massive showdown to decide the Russian National Champion!
Maksimov is suffering from his long sprint and Porsev edges up closer and closer going much faster, but he’s running out of road!
And Porsev gets it by a millimetre! He’s not even sure he’s won and doesn’t celebrate but Maksimov knows and bangs his handlebars in frustration!
With the other two best time trialists missing the door is open for Kritskiy to win the ITT, his biggest opponents are teammates, Vorobev and Trofimov, with only Kovalev standing in the way of a win for Tinkoff, or the entire top 10 for them, for that matter.
Before many favourites begin Shilov has an amazing day despite the rain and finishes with 1’48 on the next best rider, his time of 1h21’06”
Ovechkin trounces Shilov on both of the two checkpoints but collapses in the final section, no doubt hindered by the increasing rain, to miss out on taking the lead by 16 seconds.
Trofimov isn’t having the best ride today, never really in it at the checkpoints he is a full 40 seconds down at the finish, still the third best time.
Kovalev is riding really well though, he speeds through the course despite the wet and asserts his claim on the Russian TT jersey, claiming the provisional lead by 32 seconds!
Vorobev is even faster though and takes the exact same lead – 32 seconds – over Kovalev, ensuring a Tinkoff win, although he still has to beat Kritskiy.
And here is Kritskiy coming onto the final straight and he looks fast – he is fast, and breaks the chain of claiming the lead by 32 seconds, by claiming it by 34! So Kritskiy wins the Russian Time Trial Championships!
