The sun is out in full force and there is hardly any wind. This race, in all likelihood, will come down to a bunch sprint, unless something dramatic happens over the next 200 km.
Quite a few unsuccessful break attempts are made early on but the peloton is having none of it. Everyone is chased down.
The first 'incident' of note is a crash involving six riders - Chen, Kiflay, Morales, Hadi, Mareczko and Sobota.
The last two make their way back to the peloton but the other four are struggling a bit. Hopefully, there aren't any injuries.
After 30 km of racing, a break is allowed to escape by the peloton. Only two riders are in it, Verhelst and Sanogo.
The crashed riders have finally made it back to the pack. 140 km to go now.
100 km left. The peloton has picked up the pace. The gap to the break has started to decrease. It is now 5'32" after having gone above seven minutes for a while. Fablok, Kraftwerk and Netia lead the peloton.
The break have 3'21" with 60 km to go.
de Bondt attacks now. 47 km left.
30 km to go, it is still Netia, Fablok and Kraftwerk pulling the pack. de Bondt has just been caught. The break's lead is down to 51 seconds.
Over the next few kilometeres, we hear the news of two retirements. It is Sobota and Mareczko. The day's earlier crash have claimed it's victims belatedly. Surprisingly, it is the two riders who made it back to the peloton the easiest, are the ones who are feeling the most effects of the crash!
18 km to go, and the break's lead is still 50 seconds. The peloton have not closed in over the past 12 km.
10 km. The peloton have suddenly closed the break's lead to just 10 seconds. Kwok has done almost all of the chasing down in the past 5 km. Behind him though, it is a Kraftwerk monopoly. Cavendish must be feeling really good today.
Hadi and Chen are dropped. Both riders now feeling the effects of the earlier fall.
6 km to go and the break is caught. Kraftwerk have the front of the peloton locked out.
4 km left. Irvine - Park - Cavendish - Maikin is the Kraftwerk train at the front. Goss, Drapac, Mohs, Vantomme, Itami, Van der Sande, Vanoverschelde and Kurth are in their slipstream, forming a single line.
2.8 km. Park leading out teammate Cavendish. Goss, Drapac, Mohs, Vantomme, Itami and Van der Sande are all using the Kraftwerk slipstream. Maikin is still in touch.
2 km left and incredibly, it is Maikin launching the sprint early! The top sprinters are still biding their time it seems. The train has got longer with Vanoverschelde, Bouhanni, Kupfernagel and Castaneda joining it.
The sprinters finally launch their sprints with 1.4 km to go. Park drops off. Maikin has a sizable lead. He's no slouch in the sprint either.
800 meters and it is Cavendish chasing his teammate for the win. Lobato, Kwok and Arashiro have joined the bunch behind.
Half a kilometer left. Does Cavendish have enough road left to catch Maikin? It doesn't look like anyone else can challenge for the win any more.
300 meters. Goss and Itami are fading on the right. Vanoverschelde and Bouhanni are moving up through the middle. Mohs is third for the moment.
Maikin might win this! Only 100 meters left.
But wait! Cavendish is now level with his teammate with just 20 meters to go. Behind them, it is Bouhanni now ahead of Mohs and Vantomme for third.
And Cavendish takes it! Perfectly timed sprint from the Manx rider. Maikin takes a brilliant 2nd, with a ride that can only be applauded. I'm sure he had his teammate in a world of worry for some time. Kraftwerk won't care, they will be celebrating a 1-2 finish today!
The fun does not stop there as a photo-finish sees Bouhanni take 3rd ahead of Mohs and Vantomme.
Behind them, Drapac pips Goss for 6th.
Vanoverschelde takes 8th ahead of Itami. The MOL rider made up a lot of ground in the last kilometer. Van der Sande completes the top 10.
Kupfernagel, Castaneda, Lobato, Kwok and Arashiro is the finishing order of the other riders in this bunch.
