The first of our U23 Classics this season is the Puncheur's Classic. Raced on the well-known roads of La Doyenne, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, we should see some of the stars of the future out to play here, either as favourites, such as top contender Mohoric, or as still-developing minor players, such as outsider (but still a contender) and future climbing god Lopez. Also in the mix are some of the best young climbers around, such as Kudus and Herklotz.
Overcast conditions here as the breakaways finally gets free after many attempts. It's Kanerva, Arifin, Andersen and Arslanov who've made it away.
With 60km to go there's a crash which brings down a few leaders. Lopez, Borisavljevic, Jung, Ranaweera and Moscon are down from the favourites. Unfortunately the latter has to abandon. Jung is obviously injured but carries on behind the pack whilst the other three make it back, no problem.
The breakaway should be caught in time, with a current gap of 3'23.
Now the race is heating up! After 30km of sustained Isostar pace putting many riders in too much difficulty to keep up it's actually Shirota who kicks off the attacking with 27km remaining. No immediate response given by anybody else. The breakaway are still up ahead, albeit with a gap of only about a minute.
However after the Meiji man gets a decent gap it's the Aussie rocket Ewan who's on the move now! After his third place in last year's cobbled U23 World Championships, we know he isn't just a sprinter, and many think he is also a contender over hills at this level!
But Isostar instantly shut that move down. Shirota has a gap of 24 seconds now as he catches the break.
All is back together now though thanks to the great work of Khamberaj and Quicibal as we pass the 20km to go banner.
Just a kilometre later it's Shirota on the aggressive once more! We mentioned in the preview the Japanese rider's fast finish, however he seems to think attacking the favourites is his best shot at winning today.
This is now prompting Mohoric to take the lead, the Slovenian isn't getting away or catching Shirota though! Kudus and Herklotz are right next to Mohoric, waiting for an acceleration.
However over the top of the climb the trio gets a gap to the peloton along with Herklotz's teammate Denz, who could be very useful for his countryman should he stay with the group. Shirota has a gap of 41 seconds now also, very dangerous!
The peloton fracturing a bit behind with two groups of 14 riders getting away. In the first of the groups are Ewan, Borisavljevic, Gaviria, Novak, Gebrezgabihier, van der Poel, Carthy and Oomen, whilst the second contains riders such as Lopez, Padun, Faglum Karlsson, Kalaba, Muhlberger and Ciccone.
Wurtz, Contreras and Padun bridge to the first group as they also make the catch on the Mohoric group. Shirota now has a full minute with under 15km to go!
Herklotz now isn't happy with the 20-man group he's been dragged into and attacks immediately. Mohoric and Kudus follow.
The German gets a good gap as Mohoric and Kudus get away but can't catch him just yet and if Herklotz finds Shirota before the latter duo find him it could be game over! Behind them a quartet also gets away, consisting of Denz, Borisavljevic, Khamberaj and Oomen.
The second group is swallowed back up by the peloton, however Faglum Karlsson, Ciccone, Eiking, Mamykin and Prasad attack.
12km and just two climbs left to go as a clearly fustrated Lopez initiates another group going clear of the peloton, including Muhlberger and Mas. they have 15 seconds to the Jayco-lead peloton.
The quartet behind Mohoric and Kudus are now caught, making it a 17-rider chasing group. They look unorganised though, which is a shame for them as they could all have a shot at the win if they make the catch!
Under 10km left for Shirota now, however Herklotz can see him and is closing the gap fast to 42 seconds.
Meanwhile Lopez and co.'s ill-fated attack has been caught.
Oomen and Würtz now on the attack looking for fifth - or even the podium if they can catch Kudus and Mohoric, who are 33 seconds ahead of them.
Herklotz catches Shirota with 6.4km remaining, however another gap that's quickly shutting is theirs as Kudus attacks Mohoric in the background.
Why would you paint the L on a white line?
Kudus now leaves Mohoric behind and has almost caught the duo in front on the extremely tough Côte de Saint-Nicolas. 6km left and this is a big move from the Eritrean!
Würtz can feel the walls closing in and attacks Oomen.
It's a surprisingly powerful move as the young TT prodigy catches Mohoric already!
Kudus now immediately attacks Herklotz and Shirota with a stunningly powerful attack - Herklotz looks the more likely to respond but Kudus is just too strong here!
Contreras has bridged to Oomen however Schlegel is doing his utmost to bring both duos ahead back to the group.
Kudus now goes solo in front as we take another look at the overall race situation. It'll be a very tight-run thing to see if Oomen and Contreras and Mohoric and Würtz make it to the the finish ahead of the group behind.
A bigger question is if anybody except the leading three will make it ahead of the peloton as they are not far behind! Contreras knows he has to get to Mohoric and Würtz and so for the second time in a few hundred metres Oomen is left behind.
Mas, Ciccone, Eiking, Mamykim, Faglum Karlsson, Per and Kasperkiewicz now attack the peloton and are already nearly in contact with the struggling riders from the next group, including van der Poel.
Per now counter-attacking that group and with good timing as he catches his teammate Poljanec who could help him reach the group ahead for the final climb and a shot at the top 10.
Kudus has descended safely and is now on the last climb. He has extended his gap to over 30 seconds with 1.5km to go - a huge gap to close for a tired Herklotz and Shirota.
The trio behind them have extended their gap to a minute to the chasing group with 2.5km to go for them - a battling Oomen only 10 seconds behind them though!
The flamme rouge now for Kudus and it's fair to say he'll be our winner as he nears the famous final corner in Ans. He's absolutely destroyed the race, his gap to Mohoric et al is over a minute and a half now.
Oomen has made the catch and it'll be four riders in the fore for fourth.
400m left for Kudus but all the time in the world to soak in a simply stunning solo victory, leaving everybody else in the dust. Truly a special performance, his stamina really showed on the Côte de Saint-Nicholas where nobody else could match his attacks.
Two very fast-finishing riders here - Herklotz leads into the final corner but Shirota has the inside lane!
Shirota actually gapped the German but bonked with 200m to go, leaving Herklotz to take second after a strong performance. Shirota will be pleased with third after a great day, attacking twice and hanging on for third after a big solo effort beforehand.
The sprinter Contreras with an unexpected but lovely, well-taken fourth ahead of Würtz, who pips Mohoric for fifth. The first two will be happy (as will Oomen in seventh) but the Slovenian will be sorely disappointed by his result here.
Borisavljevic is 8th with a late dig whilst Gaviria is easily the fastest in 9th ahead of Carthy in 10th and actually a fast-coming Per is 11th after a very strong last two climbs.
