We join you here for the inaugural edition of the Colombo Classic, doubling as inaugural race of the new PTHC category, where PT and PCT leaders alike can duke it out for the win. That sounds unbalanced but today's favourite, Hagen, actually races for PCT team Greig, and many of today's other contender's come from cycling's second division. The riders meander along an undulating course before tackling a ferocious hill towards the end before descending into the finish. Reduced bunch sprint? Solo win? Small group cat and mouse? It's all on the table here.
We started in the city of Colombo, capital of Sri Lanka and it's a bright day today as people flock the streets to see one of the countries' newfound sports. There are only two home riders here but home team Ayubowan! have a shot at the win with McCarthy and Bellis.
Sirironnachai,
(PRP) Egidio, Schachmann and Wöhrer made a sustainable gap which was at around 3'35 with 70km to go
60km and 3'01
50km and 2'40
40km and 2'13
30km and 1'15
With the gap shutting at a steady rate, Sirironnachai decided he wanted to be the last man standing and powered clear with just6 6km before the climb.
We join you live as the Thai rounds the corner onto the lower slopes of the climb with 40 seconds' advantage and the title of the last escapee secured.
Attack Hagen! Eddy Boss uses a sneaky moto to launch his move under the 20km to go banner. Is this his stamp of authority or an early move to shed the dead weight. In the background it's Ginanni counterattacking whilst Boswell and Gastauer attempt to follow the Italian.
Fans of all nations line the climb as Hagen slingshots around the breakaway rider to set pace. He now has 30 seconds' advantage over his rivals.
With the counterattack failed it's Norwegian champion Dyrnes taking up the responsibility to chase his countryman but does he realise he's now team leader with Beltran horribly out of position in around 100th place?
Ginanni accelerates again, clearly realising the danger of Hagen's move.
Nobody can make a direct response so he's caught in no-man's land whilst Dyrnes continues to lead.
We're done with the steeper sections but now as the road flattens out it's too much for Sirironnachai as Hagen goes solo.
After a delayed response Gastauer sets of in pursuit of the three up front.
Strange to see riders such as Bobridge and Costa only now coming to the front as the trio of Boswell, Kelderman and Dyrnes go clear as well.
Over the top of the first part of the climb and the situation is:
15.4km to go
E6
<40”>
E5
<25”>
E4
<16”>
E2
<31”>
E1
Demare
Boswell
Gastauer
Ginanni
Hagen
Schreurs
Kelderman
Sirironnachai
Mager
Dyrnes
Kwiatkowski
Costa
Beltran
Bobridge
Yates
Juul-Jensen
Honkisz
Sagan
McEvoy
Hofland
Bellis
Kinoshita
Hatanaka
However that last group was caught on the flat and is part of the 90-strong peloton. No favourites have been dropped and Netia are working hard to bring back the Bobdridge group. There's 50 seconds betweent hem, though, making it an arduous task.
We now see Sagan, dropped from the Bobridge group, fly over the handlebars as he desperately tries to fix his chain. An unfortunate end for the Slovakian's chances.
Back to the front and the gaps between the three spaced out leaders is largely the same as Hagen is now on the false flat last 700m of the climb before the descent to the finish. Can anybody stop the Norwegian beast?
Hatanaka now makes a move as the battle for 4th or perhaps even higher honours commences. Juul-Jensen and the former's leader Kinoshita follow easily whilst Bobridge is somewhat slow off the gun but still responds.
However the Dane is having none of that and counters and sets a hard tempo while the rest of the group tries to catch up. The gap to Gastauer is now 40 seconds.
It's now Hofland and Sirironnachai almost dropped to the peloton after not being strong enough for Juul-Jensen's pace.
9km to go and Hagen is cool as a cucumber on the descent, with 30 seconds back to Ginanni and another 40 to Gastauer.
The Luxembourgian also now in the sights of the rest of the favourites who are clear of the pack.
Ginanni is descending fast but is clearly tired on the flatter sections, and he is now 45 seconds behind sure winner Hagen with 5km to go.
Bobridge is now leading the group after the Joker caught Gastauer. He's going fast and the gap to Ginanni is falling, but it's 46 seconds with 4.8km to go for the Italian. Is it too late?
Kwiatkowski going down this hill like a madman with Hofland in sight, it's only for 12th but the pack don't let him get away anyway
His gap to Hagen is decreasing slightly but it's too little too late for Ginanni and his main focus is preserving his 33-second gap to the Bobridge group.
Hagen can see the finish line and taste the win. He just has to not blow up for one more kilometre.
It's the previously crashed Sagan leading out the sprint for 12th which tells you how disinterested this peloton seemed to be in catching the leaders.
Edvald Boasson Hagen has all the time in the world and enjoys himself and shouts in joy as he takes an authoritative and stunning solo victory here in Colombo. Chapeau!
Bobridge and Dyrnes swing past Ginanni on the final swooping corner to deprive him of a podium, with Juul-Jensen even possibly pipping him to fourth.
Gastauer is unlucky to only just make the top 10, beating Costa in a battle of dying men.
Sagan wins the sprint of dissapointments for 12th place.
Boasson Hagen deserves all the plaudits and adulation he's getting on the podium after a textbook show of strength. That's all from us here in Colombo, Sri Lanka, goodbye and ayubowan!
