An exciting course here today in Emilia for one of the last hilly classics on the calendar. A tough finishing circuit suits your typical puncheurs, such as Hagen, Kinoshita and Van Garderen. Interestingly, none of the trio have won it before - in fact we are guaranteed a new name on the winner's list as many former winners are competing in the PT and even CT for Cunego, and the teams of Di Maggio and Roche are not in attendance.
A sunny day in Bologna as 170 riders take to the start line.
Not much competition for the breakaway, so it's Sanogo, Fominykh, Gavazzi and Marcos who are off on an adventure. The latter two clearly the best puncheurs if they are somehow successful.
Plenty of teams represented in the chase, but it's Newton, Lierse and Grieg doing most of the work so far on the flat opening third. The gap settles around 7 minutes.
Over the Mongardino climb Orange join the chase, and the gap begins to fall. 114km to go.
The breakaway enter the finishing circuit in the beautiful town of San Luca with a slender advantage of 1'37.
They're holding onto it pretty well and over the third-to-last time on the climb Gavazzi puts in a dig and gaps the rest. Just under a minute of the other three, and another 20 seconds for Gavazzi.
Woah! A massive fall in the pack as Vink crashes on the descent whilst leading the peloton. He brings down many riders, including Barbin, Brajkovic, Quevedo, Paulinho Waeytens, Betancourt, Moazemi and Boily. In fact reports are saying this is well over half the peloton - I've never seen anything like it!
Unfortunately it looks like this will be the end of their chances with just 12km left. Also a big boost for Gavazzi ahead, who still has over a minute!
Stunningly, all of the crashed riders return actually but in the confusion the gap to the trio of chasers is over a minute - whilst Gavazzi has 2 and a quarter! Two climbs left, can anybody stop Gavazzi now?
I don't know if they can - but Van Garderen is the first favourite to look like he even wants to win here! Three riders try to respond to this move, they are Kwiatkowski, Kinoshita, and, surprisingly, Omarsson, the Icelandic Champion!
Only the American makes it away though as already he bridges to the dying breakaway! Hagen himself now takes over the chase!
A little Scandinavian alliance? Omarsson again dancing on the pedals and putting in what looks to be an attack of his own as he catches the breakaway! Van Garderen now with a 15 second lead, Gavazzi ahead with another 50!
Hagen counters that move as we near the end of the penultimate climb, only Kwiatkowski looks attentive as he swings around Omarsson to follow the Norwegian. That Carlsberg man near the front is Hansen, for those of you asking.
Kinoshita responding now, with Schreurs, Anuar Aziz, Gautier and Reichenbach also near the front.
However none of them can get around the freakish ice powers that Omarsson is showing, trying to track down the four riders ahead! He's stringing out the peloton as Kinoshita and Anuar Aziz are next in line behind Hansen.
Meanwhile Hagen and Kwiatkowski have almost caught TVG, and Gavazzi actually in the corner of our picture finally visible. Maybe the favourites will win this one after all!
Time for metaphors, kids!
On one side Gavazzi. In the middle, Van Garderen, Kwiatkowski and Hagen. The other, Ingvar “Frozone” Omarsson's ice powers (ice being the fridge, powers being extra blood) as well as other, more normal, guys to see with 7km left in a hilly classic! 25 seconds' gap each. Three groups who could all win this race. Who will it be?
Anuar Aziz now attacks the descent, Kinoshita and Schreurs following.
Behind Barbin, Waeytens and Betancourt have been dropped, obviously hurt from the crash.
Behind them it's Gautier, Juul-Jensen and Mohoric who are the best-positioned favourites.
All three groups back together now as we approach the final climb! Who's got enough left - all favourites bar Gautier really are badly positioned or have used quite a bit of energy, so we could see either some positional reshuffles or a battle of dying men up the final climb!
Van Garderen and Hagen - what a rivalry we've seen so far this season. There's at least one more battle to come, as they head into the final climb neck and neck!
No tactics, just a good ol' hill sprint for the favourites! Everybody launches, with Hagen and Van Garderen the favourites, Kwiatkowski and Kinoshita next in line.
Behind them are Hansen, Juul-Jensen, Portela, Omarsson, Zaini, three Indosat riders (Brenes, Intxausti, Le Roux), Gautier, Kadri, Svab, Mohoric, Sanchez Gil, Klemme, Mugerli, Moazemi, and Reichenbach.
1500m left and Kwiatkowski looks tired as it seems to be between Van Garderen, Hagen and Kinoshita. Gavazzi looked quick but is now tired, meanwhile Zaini and Juul-Jensen are looking good for a top 5 battle.
My mistake, Kwiatkowski still in this race as he's just behind the front three. Make that a front four, as Anuar Aziz has come forth to challenge the big three! That Novatek rider is Klemme, having come from 15th wheel now to challenge for the top 5!
Flamme rouge and it's Hagen with a small advantage over Anuar Aziz! Klemme also looking to squeeze through the gap between them, a super-strong sprint here from the German. Only halfway through and many riders look shot, including Kinoshita. Juul-Jensen and Hansen, the Carlsberg duo, not doing badly, whilst Schreurs is holding the wheel of Hagen quite nicely.
Hagen cracks? It sure seems so! Kwiatkowski continues his intelligent ride by catching the wheel of new pole position Anuar Aziz, whilst Gautier does the same with Klemme. Juul-Jensen pulls closer now, and van Garderen is still going within himself.
Please note the Shimano rider is not a wild contender for the win, just a dropped rider!
The merry-go-round of favourites continues as Anuar Aziz now looks very tired, giving Klemme the advantage! 800m left, still a bloody long way! A favourite seems to crack every 200m, so I wager we have Klemme, Kwiatkowski, Van Garderen to go, giving the win to the silent predator Schreurs!
Juul-Jensen also looks tired, but his teammate Hansen leads the sprint behind.
500m left and Klemme grabs the advantage and runs with it! Anuar Aziz still fighting for second, as is Hagen. Kwiatkowski not quite with the legs for the win it seems, neither Van Garderen. Gautier and Schreurs yet to come through - can they?
200m left and I honestly don't know who will finish where of the top 7, but if Klemme holds on he will take a magnificent win!
The underdog podium of Klemme-Anuar Aziz-Kwiatkowski seems to be set, who has anything left to give? Hagen-Schreurs-Gautier-TVG the order of the next four, all very close!
What a stunning victory from Dominik Klemme! The German wasn't in a great position but put in a stunning burst of speed to catch the big players, and somehow beat them to the line! A very active Anuar Aziz holds on for second ahead of a clever Kwiatkowski. Hagen can only manage fourth, whilst Schreurs beats out van Garderen and Gautier for the top 5. A very exciting final sprint, if not the most epic build-up!
Juul-Jensen holds off a disappointed Kinoshita and a late charge from Moazemi for 8th, whilst hills tourist Intxausti won't mind 11th behind his leader Aziz's superb second. His teammates Brenes and Le Roux in 15th and 16th making for some Indosat joy today.
