Beautiful weather today in Portugal, as the peloton sets off to the 205 kilometres long circuit of the 2017 Lisbon Classic.
Stoenchev and Kovalev are today's first attackers. They pass the official car, just after the race manager has waved the flag.
The duo is joined by Raileanu and Pibernik and we have our break of the day. A gap of more than 3 minutes is quickly established.
The sprinter teams control the gap, which reached 7 minutes at a maximum. Nothing else noteworthy happens. With 100 kilometres left the gap to the early attackers is 5'34".
With 80 kilometres to go, news of a crash are transmitted over the race radio. No big name is involved, but some will have to do without some helpers.
Riders involved are: Lutsyshyn, Planckaert, Soupe, Benito, Sweeting and Maikin
Other than that not much has happened. With 40 kilometres to go the peloton has increased its pace and is already only 2'35" behind on the 4 attackers. Hnik is riding ahead on this picture.
With 20 kilometres to go it's over for the first member of the break. Kovalev is swallowed by a fast closing in lead by Moser - Sygic. It looks like we'll see a mass sprint. The remaining 3 break riders are 1'20" in front.
None of the puncheurs has made a move so far, but shortly before we reach the 10 kilometres mark, we finally get an attack. It is Lukasz Wisniowski, who tries his luck on the false flat with a gradient of 3%
With a second acceleration the Pole creates a gap and quickly bridges to the 3 escapees ahead. 44 seconds is his gap.
Wisniowski still going strong, as he easily rides the 3 others of his wheel in the flat.
30 seconds behind Bialoblocki gives it everything to reduce the gap to his compatriot for his captain Mohs and the other sprinters.
5 kilometres to go and the peloton catches Stoenchev. The sprinters start to regret to have a strong roleur like Wisniowski allowed to get a gap. They are still 30 seconds behind.
Wisniowski
-17"->
Raileanu
-16"->
Peloton
Pibernik
Raileanu is done, Pibernik accelerates one last time and Siskevicius is leading the peloton into a chaotic sprint. Due to the fast pace set by the Lithuanian, many splits open up. 3 kilometres and Wisniowski still has his 30 seconds.
Pibernik kept his gap quite long but with 2,5 kilometres it's also over for him. He is caught by a group of 8 riders that got a small gap: Siskevicius Van Avermaet Mohs Van Asbroeck Dzamastagic Kluge Langeveld
In the small group behind, that has created a gap from the main pack, Degenkolb launches his sprint extremely early, trying to catch up with the front. Notable other names in here are: Avelino Howard Van Stayen Rowe
After staying in the front of the peloton all race long, world champion Bewley was badly placed within the peloton and suddenly finds himself in a terrible position going into the last kilometres. He won't be able to fight for the victory here.
Other favourites are also caught in this group, towards the front of it there are the following sprinters: Boeckmans, Kristoff, Ewan, Saber, Bouhanni, Guardini, Cavendish, Vesely
With 1 kilometres the front group launches its sprint. They will only fight for 2nd place, though.
Wisniowski wins the 2017 Lisbon Classic. His gap was enough to celebrate early. After 2 sprinters in the last year, it is again an attacker taking the win. The Pole was the only one to dare to attack the sprinter teams today and gets rewarded. Congrats to Grieg - Eftel. Their tactic has paid off. This could be a big moment in their fight for the PCT title.
Mohs gets a gap on the three Evonik riders Siskevicius, Van Avermaet and Dzamastagic. Also still in contention are Van Asbroeck and Roger Kluge.
Behind is a small group of 6 riders sprinting for 8th: Langeveld (who lost contact to the group in front) Stoltz Howard Van Stayen Rowe Pibernik
Bewley starts his powerful sprint and still catches many riders who were positioned better.
Mohs makes it a PCT 1-2 and wins the sprint for second very convincingly ahead of the Evonik duo of Van Avermaet and Dzamastagic. The German/Latvian team can be considered the team of the race, as in 6th after Kluge in 5th, there is another Evonik rider: Siskevicius. He did a great job positioning his team mates and spliting up the peloton in the last 3 kilometres, but couldn't close the gap to Wisniowski. Van Asbroeck is 7th. Howard is the only one of the group behind to save his position ahead of an extremely fast Bewley. The world champion still won't be happy with his result. Langeveld, who stayed long with the front, completes the top 10. Van Stayen finishes 11th in front of three more sprinters who came from very far behind: Kristoff(12th), Cavendish(13th) and Boeckmans(14th). Yannick Stoltz is the 5th Evonik rider in the top 15. Degenkolb cracked completely and only finishes 29th. Hats off to Pibernik in 28th who had a strong race from the break.
