It is a brilliantly sunny day but the wind is picking up as we get started. It is around 20 km/hr, but at the moment, it is a tail-wind for the riders.
On the second attempt, the break of the day is formed. It consists of Gillett, Kasa and Bettiol. They have a lead of 4'15" at the 150 km to go mark.
125 km left and the peloton has picked up the pace. It is Fablok, Valio, Spar, Netia and Orange sharing responsibilities at the front. The break's lead has stretched to over 7 minutes.
With 100 km to go, Lierse, Minions and Grieg, surprisingly, join the front to chase down the breakaway. Gillett is perhaps not feeling good anymore!
50 km left. The break is still working together but their lead is down to 2'56".
The first rider dropped on the day is Pozdnyakov. There were no reports of any incident on the race radio, so he must be having a bad day on the bike.
With 34 km to go, Golas attacks. There is no response at the moment. The break are exactly 2 minutes ahead.
And now, Chawchiangkuang attacks. 28 km to the finish.
A kilometer later, the situation is as follows:
E1 -> Gillett, Kasa, Bettiol
E2 (43" ) -> Golas
E3 (1'11" ) -> Chawchiangkuang
Peloton (1'19" ) -> 160 riders
And just as I say that, 45 riders are dropped from the peloton. Riders of note in this group are Cisse, Colbrelli and Nepomnyachsniy.
25 km left and we have more riders dropping back. Chen and Matthews are in this group!
The wind speeds have picked up to 50 km/hr. This might explain the splits! The peloton is down to 67 riders now.
Up ahead, Bettiol has dropped his breakaway companions and is attempting to go solo. 21 km left.
17 km now, Vanbilsen the next to attack.
The pack accelerates too, as they are aware of Vanbilsen's abilities. They catch Golas, Gillet and Chawchiangkuang in the process.
Up ahead, Bettiol and Kasa are back riding together. They have 53" to the peloton now.
More riders are dropped from the pack. Peeters an important name here.
10 km left, and Vanbilsen has caught up to the remaining break but their lead is only 27 seconds. The peloton has reduced to 43 riders.
It is Vermote pulling the peloton along for Novatek. Meiji and Grieg also helping out.
8 km to go, and Vanbilsen with a 16 second lead is the only rider ahead of the pelton for the moment. Both Bettiol and Kasa have been caught and dropped!
Vanbilsen is finally caught with 5 km to go.
Cohen and Caldeira have been dropped. The peloton is down to bare bones.
2.8 km left and it is Netia and still Vanbilsen setting the pace. What a powerful ride from the Lierse rider! Surprisingly, no sprint trains have been set up yet.
Just 300 meters later, Kennaugh goes for it. Surely, this is too early to launch a sprint to the line!
2 km to go, and it's Guerao, Vantomme, Mohs, Lo Cicero and Itami trying to get onto the Orange rider's wheel. This is the current situation for the first ten positions:
Drapac
Van Asbroeck
Vanbilsen
Bernas
Itami
Lo Cicero
Mohs
Vantomme
Guerao
Kennaugh
Almost everyone else has got onto the train of Drapac and Van Asbroeck!
1.5 km left. Kennaugh is already fading. Mohs storms through with Lo Cicero.
1 km to go. There's a change at the front once again as Itami now takes the lead from Mohs. The order at the moment is Itami followed by Mohs, Lo Cicero, Van Asbroeck, Drapac, Goss and Holloway.
600 meters. Mohs and Lo Cicero fading now. Itami is still ahead but he is being challenged by Van Asbroeck from the outside and Goss through the inside. Drapac has made up ground too. Holloway seems too far back to challenge.
The second row (from left to right) has Kupfernagel, Castenada, Avila, Nelson and Maksimov.
The third row (from left to right) is made up of Kennaugh, Vantomme and Boy Van Poppel.
200 meters. Itami still has the lead. Goss is second. Drapac is third. Van Asbroeck looks to be out of it. Lo Cicero is tired an cannot sprint any more! Maksimov is finishing strongly on the right.
With 100 meters to go, the top 3 have reversed. Drapac leading now from Goss!
And Drapac hangs on by half a bike length! He takes a stunning win, coming from a long way back when the sprint started! Goss is 2nd and Itami does a repeat of last year's 3rd place.
Van Asbroeck takes 4th.
Holloway is 5th.
Maksimov pips Mohs to 6th. A tired Nelson takes 8th.
Kupfernagel comes home in 9th. Lo Cicero seems out on his bike but holds on for a top 10.
