A nice day ahead on the pretty short hilly classic in Serbia, the Cacak Classic. The new CT race offers some heavy winds, but quite sunny conditions.
Breakaway attempts
#1: Kanepejs, Power, Roman, Curfs, Frankiny, Eg
While the others get caught, Kanepejs and Power establish a gap of around one minutes. More riders try to go after the duo:
#2: Vliegen, Wyss, van Emden, Ugrinic
#3: Ugrinic, Frankiny, van Zandbeek, Biondo
Azteca, but also Repsol control the attacks in first line.
#4: Opie, Wyss, Vliegen, van Zandbeek
None of the attempts could get away, and in a calm minute the break could establish a gap going over the first climb.
Kanepejs Power
In the peloton it's the following teams working in the order of contribution on the first 120 kilometers of the race:
World Cycling Centre
Azteca - NBCSN
Kulczyk - DMTEX
Xero Racing p/b Octagon
Goldcorp - Nordstrom Rack
Philips - Continental
In-n-Out p/b Carrefour
Wiggle p/b Boardman Bikes
For some reason it's Anderson working very early.
125 km - 4'20
100 km - 5'10
On the climbs the wind blows from all sides, with over 60 km/h. We'll see whether that'll have any effect later.
90 km - 4'50
Meanwhile Gradek, Rybakov and Lewis involved in a crash. They'd make it back easily, as did Weber after a puncture.
80 km - 4'10
70 km - 3'30
60 km - 3'00
50 km - 2'55
The race should pick up some speed soon. Notably the presence of van Emden and Battaglin at the front for Philips - Continental. But it's only one time the climb left, and the peloton still is complete.
45 km - 2'45
40 km - 2'10
35 km - 1'50
30 km - 1'30
Also Pozzo, Briceno and Koshevoy working now, soon the ascent to the final climb should begin. It's getting interesting though when Van Emden starts to stretch the peloton with 26 km to go on the tailwind road, that soon turns right to the climb.
25 km - 1'10
Van Emden is still on the front with his teammates Leezer and Costa, those 3 lead the pack into the climb.
The breakaway seems to be almost caught.
Action!
With 23,5 to go it's Roux who uses a slowdown in the pack to attack on the steep section. A smart move with over 20 km to go and less steep roads left?
At least he draws a reaction, as...
... Vichot and Chaves use the changing crosswinds to counter that move.
The next one to reach out is...
... Wyss, going strong and reaching the two. Meanwhile at the front Roux has caught and dropped the two breakaway riders Kanepejs and Power.
WCC and Goldcorp don't like these moves though, so they chase hard behind them with the support of Wiggle. Especially...
... Thomson earning his money in the chase. Only 20 seconds to the trio, but a minute to Roux!
And with 17 kilometers to go, on top of the hill, they...
...catch the trio. Boily directly following his main helper Thomson, who still leads the pack through the rough headwind section. Kanepejs with an awesome race also still between Roux and the pack.
Surprisingly it is...
... Smukulis now, who takes it up on the crosswind section. With the peloton on his wheel he bridges the 40 seconds to the Latvian in 3 kilometers. Still Roux ahead though, and his advantage still is at 1'17. 95 riders now in the peloton behind Roux, missing some names though: Gradek, Rybakov (crash victims) and Medvedev most notably.
But splits are bound to appear on the crosswind section, especially going over the last hill before the descent:
10 kilometers to go and still a minute for Roux. They're in a headwind section now, and Marcato pulls the peloton to eat into the gap. Two riders of the very active Goldcorp team behind him: Anderson and Smukulis. Then Chaves in prime position of the favourites, but also Finetto, Gilbert, Vichot, Wyss, Pellaud, Diggle, Kratochvila, Nzeke and Boily well placed, in that order. Of the sprinters Kruopis is at the front, while Haussler and Mezgec are at the back and should be out of contension. Juarez in the middle of the pack.
7 kilometers to go. And Roux...
...completely cracked on the headwind section. What a job by the already mentioned 3 riders to close that minute gap in 2,7 kilometers. Crazy effort! But what happens next?
A slow-up. For a moment Davison took over the pace, but right before it mattered he dropped back. No attacks until 2 kilomters to go, where it's the following situation:
5 Teams dominate the positioning: Philips, Azteca, WCC, Kulczyk and Goldcorp. They all have their major riders (besides Costa, who is out the back) assembled at the front, where, however, a strong headwind blows.
Wiggle and Xero assembled themselves further behind, but they need a strong move to make up for that ground. Kratochvila, Cherel, Godoy and Othman in their region.
1,5 kilometers to go. And we turned right, so now it is atailwind situation. Trying to use that in spectacular fashion is...
... Wyss, who following attacks the race with 1.5 to go. Boily and Vichot directly in his wheel.
Chaves also reacts...
..., but it may be too late! Under the flamme rouge the gap was already open, and it may only be for minor places for him. Instead...
...the trio ahead sprints for glory. With 500 meters to go it is still Wyss leading, but Vichot tries to come around left. and when does Boily fire? It will be a long uphill sprint for the Suisse. Has he got what it takes?
He still looks good with 200 to go. But is it enough?
Yes! What an upset by Marcel Wyss. He really beats Boily and Vichot to the line with a long, gutsy sprint. That man showed some balls today, what a well deserved win.
Chaves comes in as lonesome 4th, ahead of...
...2 In-n-Outs and 2 Wiggle's. It's Kratochvila ahead of Finetto, Durasek and Opie.
The top 10 is rounded off by...
Pellaud, who at least somehow rewards his team for the tremendous work. The final Top 10 spot belongs to Nzeke from the rather unlucky Xero squad.
But let's now go back to the well deserved winner of this race, who could justify the hard work of his team:
Serbia 
