A tough finale to a relatively easy course awaits the riders in Gisborne - the main difficulty of the first half being the length it takes to the hills. After that the riders take on three climbs with no real long descents before descending down to the finishing duo of climbs, where the race was fought out last year. Last edition it was home team Xero who animated proceedings over the final duo of climbs, before landing George Bennett the win. Could it be Di Maggio and Serry, or Kadri and Vichot putting those tactics to the test again here? Or will it just go the other way and see one of BNZ's riders clinch successive wins by Kiwi outfits?
A lovely late summer's day here in Gisborne, but some strong coastal gusts up to 50km/h means a mixed bag when it comes to weather. Time will tell what effect either factor has on the race.
A bit of time is taken to establish the breakaway, but a trio of riders finally make it clear of the bunch over the first climb. They are: De Bondt, Kukrle and Reijnen. The former in particular is a useful man to have up the road.
A wide variety of teams help with the early pacemaking, most notably BNZ. Most favourites staying near the front all race, just behind the paceline. Meanwhile the breakaway is allowed to float between 7 and 8 minutes ahead.
Now into the last 70km of the race it's the Valio show as the mottled jerseys come to the fore ahead of the big climb that begins our finale run-in. The break still with 3 minutes' advantage.
Campari take over later on in the climb and shed the pack to 109 riders.
Reijnen has soloed clear on the descent and with 16km to go at the foot of the penultimate climb leads by 1'10 to the MOL-lead peloton.
Right as the catch is made of De Bondt and Kukrle it's Hassen Ben Nasser who puts in an attack! Nobody tracking him so he's got a small gap, and this is a proper move!
Gautier manages to jump to his wheel and Edmondson, to the delight of the home crowd here at the finish line, is trying to go with the elite duo! Meanwhile no other responses but it's Domagalski who is trying to go to the front to limit this gap for his leader Zaini.
Teuns decides he can't miss this move which is gaining ground every meter and sets off in pursuit, followed by Di Maggio.
It's not the Pole but Anguilet who leads the peloton now in chase, but the gap is only widening, already over half a minute as Ben Nasser keeps going!
Ben Nasser, Gautier and Edmondon catch Reijnen and slow for a second before the Tunisian goes again to try and maintain the gap to Teuns and Di Maggio!
Dramatic scenes here as the Campari leader is just on fire up this first ascent of the climb! First Gautier and now Edmondson have cracked under his pressure. The Frenchman is caught by a tiring Teuns and Di Maggio - can anybody rally to catch Ben Nasser? 11.3km to go.
We missed the jump in the drama at the front but Zaini leads Siskevicius, Kadri, Stancu and Mancuso clear of the bunch, whilst Reijnen is dropping like a stone through the groups.
The Lithuanian countering now, to not much response from Zaini! Meanwhile the MOL duo are dropped.
Bell lap for Ben Nasser as he carries a slender 13-second lead over Edmondson. The Gautier group out of sight, 38 seconds behind the Briton.
Siskevicius leads Kadri and Zaini across to the chasing trio to form an elite group, but now over 40 seconds down. Can they co-operate well enough to catch the duo ahead?
Anguillet continues to lead the peloton, which is now just 14 riders ahead of a lot of tired ones behind. No signs of some bigger names, here is this GCN-powered group 30 seconds down on the chasers: Hategeka, Cuming, Belgasem, Anguillet Teklit, Bugge, Taborre Kebede, Yamamoto Stancu, Mancuso Pibernik Hoelgaard and Reijnen.
Edmondson utilises his superior descending skills to catch Ben Nasser with 5km to go - and now a minute's lead over the next chasers. Can they work well enough to hold them off on the climb?
Onto the climb and Ben Nasser makes clear his intentions with an early attack, 3km from home!
No problems for the Brit responding to the acceleration but the prolonged pressure has given Ben Nasser a slight gap with 2.4km to go! Is this the decisive move?
Teuns with a similar move to Ben Nasser, attacking as soon as the second group arrives on the final climb. The gap is down to 50 seconds, but this rate of shutting it isn't enough!
Kadri and Di Maggio manage to follow the Belgian, the other three can't for the moment.
Ben Nasser has 50 seconds to Teuns et al for the moment with 1800m left, but he and Edmondson are fountains of suffering on these tough slopes! Our GPS systems say 8 seconds between these two. Edmondson is absolutely not giving in, no sir!
Cuming is on the attack now in the battle for 9th, with Bugge, Hategeka, Teklit, and Mancuso following.
Teuns grits his teeth and flicks his elbow at Di Maggio as Kadri cracks, having shaved the gap down to 40 seconds, but nobody here has an answer. Behind Zaini can't follow Gautier and Siskevicius any longer.
Flamme rouge for Ben Nasser, he's edging out his gap to Edmondson but is still a paragon of pain. It's a physical world of torture but a mental game here. He needs to right hard, straight and not stop pedalling!
He rounds the final bend with 12 seconds to Edmondson and only 1-3% inclines ahead. 600m until he can raise his arms!
The time gaps don't matter here, so Hassen Ben Nasser has time to salute the crowd and his jersey, and soak in a fantastic win here in Gisborne. What a victory, attacking first and never looking back or taking a moment out of the wind for 16km! Richly deserved.
A valiant, never-say-die ride from Edmondson here today but it wasn't quite enough. He's warmly received by the crowd but he has to settle for second today.
Teuns leaves Italian champion Di Maggio in his dust on his way to a strong third. He took the initiative in the chasing group and is rewarded.
Gautier pushes Siskevicius to the line but has to settle for 7th, whilst neither of them catch Kadri who rounds out the top 5.
A four-up sprint for 9th is taken by Teklit, who edges out a resurgent Kebede and teammate Bugge, whilst Hategeka doesn't have the punch for more than 12th. 3 Africans here and one in first on a positive day for African cycling.
But of course, the African hero and top dog today was Hassen Ben Nasser, and he rightly is greeted with huge cheers and plaudits for his magnificent solo victory. Chapeau!
