It is a nice clear morning in Beijing though we got some strong winds in the region of 40 km/h. 195 riders ready at the start incl. 3 from a local amateur team.
The morning breakaway is initiated by Naud. Godoy, Vilela and Dzhus also on the move, but it is only Naud and Godoy able to stay clear.
A little later Altur and Brandão joins the front.
We are still in Beijing city, but the hard pace of the pursuit has already broken the peloton, 31 riders sitting more than two minutes behind, some of them capable riders like Moscon, Tsatevich, Smirnovs, Gebrezgabihier Mudarra and strongest of all Paulinho
The group gets back and afterwards things settle down, the breakaway start to build a lead.
The peloton passes the first time over the climb 6’19” behind the breakaway, about 140 km to go. Hivert and Van Niekerk working on the climb.
2th passing of the climb, distance still growing now 7’11”, Hivert and Van Niekerk still doing most of the work.
3rd passing of the climb, the peloton is starting to take back some distance and selection has started from the back of the bunch. 96 km left, lead 6’50”.
4th passing of the climb, distance 5’10”
5th passing of the climb, distance 3’29”, with 157 riders in the peloton the pace is not that hot yet, but in the front group Altur seems to have realized he won’t make it today, losing more than a minute very fast.
More teams are setting pace now, Hugo Boss especially working hard.
6th passing of the climb, distance 2’04”, just one more left. We got 124 rider in the peloton at this point, Vosekalns and Salinas leading on most of this climb.
Now the final climb before the descent and uphill sprint finish. Godoy attacks from the breakaway with 18 km left, distance a little more than a minute.
The motorcycle camera catch the first prominent victim of the day Vogt, sitting in a group 1’23” behind the peloton and not looking like he could bounce back.
In front of the peloton we get the first attack between the favourites, Sagan opening with Bakelants, Skujins and De Bie
That was closed down quickly, but over the top another attempt this time started by Ponzi and followed by Bakelants, Skujins and Sagan.
Acceleration by Hagen and the gap were closed again. All these accelerations and counters do not change the fact, that the peloton is not riding a constant high pace and race leader Godoy is extending his lead, 2’04” with just 7.2 km to the line. With 120 riders in the peloton some riders have actually been re-joining.
The peloton gets closer on the downhill, but Godoy has 1’20” under the red kite, he has to seriously explode not to get a sensational underdog win in Badaling International.
The favourite group has 1.5 km to the line, with Ponzi in front it looks like this,
.
Ponzi
Sagan
Bakelants
Gallopin
Hagen
Skujins
De Bie
Arndt
McCutcheon
Kelderman
Ramos Ticona
Landa
Prado
With 300 meter to the line Godoy is already celebrating, there is no way he can lost this race. Unbelievable!
700 meters left for the favorites.
It is Ponzi in front of Arndt, Sagan, Bakelants, Skujins, McCutcheon, Ramos Ticona and Hagen, Gallopin the last domestic left protection his leader De Bie
300 meters left for Ponzi. He has extended his gap a few meters to Sagan and Bakelants. Skujins close behind Bakelants left.
Then Arndt, Hagen, Ramos Ticona, De Bie, McCutcheon, Salinas and Van Garderen in that order. Behind those a gap of 6-8 meters.
Ponzi crosses the line as 2nd, Bakelants 3rd.
Sagan just missing the podium as 4th. Skujins 5th.
Hagen disappointing his many fans as 6th and De Bie 7th
Arndt 8th a great race from the Team Puma climber, Van Garderen 9th and Ramos Ticona 10th what a day for him in Beijing – stunning result.
Overall hard to believe that the favorites did not manage to make this race harder, giving it to the breakaway and letting 121 riders get the same time.
Badaling International
