The weather is nice today with little wind, this is the media favorites:
Salcone is the first rider to make a move, looking at 185 km in front of the peloton.
But the peloton seems inspired to do a hard race today and he was brought back.
After that a hard race over the next 30 km where riders try to get in one of the many breakaway attempts. Attacks are brought back with participating of Grossschartner, Oelerich, Per, Poels, Petrovski , Sakalou, Salcone, Stüssi, Viennet, Vilela and Zepuntke
Then with 150 km left we see the first breakaway get above two minutes, it is Grossschartner, Per, Petrovski and Stüssi.
100 km left, the distance have been growing steadily now 6’31”.
Up to this point it has been Bettiol, Jans, Dulanjana, Landa, Ranaweera, Kumara, Weber, Varga and Cruz working in the peloton.
The peloton increase the pace, Ranaweera, Bettiol, Dulanjana, Herrada and Burmann now working hard, but the peloton is still intact.
About 80 km left, we are past the hardest climb (Montalcino), distance 4’08”
40 km left, Evonik is doing a lot of hard work in front of the peloton, especially Sakalou and Sergis burning calories.
The breakaway still united in the common aim to get a result in this important race, the distance is now just under two minutes.
30 km left Per either having very good legs today or just being the most desperate to get a result. He is taking a lot of hard turns in the breakaway now.
Hugo Boss have now completely takes over the chase with four riders leading the peloton, Burmann, Barbero, Herrada and Landa focusing on closing down the 1’36 advantage left for the breakaway.
20 km left
Still Per taking some very hard turns in the breakaway.
In the peloton Bettiol is now helping Hugo Boss close the last gap.
Distance 1’12”
15 km left
The breakaway is now splitting up, no attack Petrovski and Stüssi simply can’t follow the fast of Grossschartner, Per
Peloton at 1’05”
A little more than 10 km left
We have got the first decisive move from the peloton. Ponzi have accelerated and only Lutsenko strong or alert enough to grab his wheel.
Behind those two Skujins and Kelderman have also left the peloton behind and have caught Petrovski and Stüssi
Soon Ponzi and Lutsenko catch the breakaway and Lutsenko have also started to show his interest in this move sharing the workload with Ponzi
Quite impressively they did not just fly by the previous race leaders, Grossschartner and Per is hanging in here.
Skujins and Kelderman was not able to keep a gap open and was swallowed by the peloton, same of course goes for Petrovski and Stüssi
Distance 1’02”
5 km to go
Distance from the leaders to the peloton 59”, but we have one final and very steep climb left so it is not over yet.
With and almost unreal show on power and determination Grossschartner and Per is still clinging on to the two race favorites despite the many kilometers they got in their legs and the obvious qualities difference between them.
In the stretched peloton it is now the race favorites working together to hunt down the escapees, Claeys, Bellis, Schreurs, Boswell, Bilbao, McCarthy, Kelderman sitting at the front without any domestics left to help.
4 km left Schreurs makes a move from the peloton, a group of six riders behind him also seems to go clear, it is still Claeys, Bellis, Boswell, Bilbao, McCarthy, Kelderman
2 km left
The move made by Schreurs was unsuccessful, peloton is 69 riders and seemingly not able to agree on a high enough pace to get any closer, with a distance of 1’01 hard to imagine that they will still be fighting for a stage win, a podium cloud even be hard but we still have that hard climb left.
In the front group it is again Lutsenko tearing himself apart to keep the gap as wide as possible. Clearly not the best strategy if he wants to beat Ponzi to the line, but I am not sure he care surely knowing that his team will be very happy with 2nd here.
Hard to believe so have to mention again Grossschartner and Per is still right at Ponzi’s rear wheel.
At the exact same time but 700 meters further back on the road, this is how it looks in the peloton: Bellis leads the chase at his wheel Boswell and McCarthy
Then Kelderman, at his wheel Gaspar keeping teammate Villella as close to the front as possiable. At Villella right side Claeys and further right Schreurs
Behind those a 4-5 meters gap to Bilbao and behind him another gap down to the next chunk of riders.
1 km left for the race leaders Lutsenko still first with, Ponzi at his left side.
This climb got sections of 10-13% and now it is too much for Grossschartner and Per they have lost 10” at this point, just 27” down to the top riders closing in from behind.
At the exact same time but 300 meters or 37” behind the race leader, it is now Boswell leading the chase in front of McCarthy, then Kelderman, Claeys
At Claeys right side sitting outside of the pace line Bellis
Then at Claeys wheel Gaspar with teammate Villella some impressive teamwork right there.
Behind Villella, Bilbao, Froome, Bystrom, Jensen, Vogt, Dowsett, Juul-Jensen, Schreurs and Rovny
Ponzi start his sprint from 500 meters passing Lutsenko with ease
At the same time some 500 meters further back, Grossschartner have lost momentum now distanced a bit by Per, but the group of favorites have now closed the gap passing Grossschartner. McCarthy in front of Kelderman, Claeys, Bellis and Boswell
A 2-3 meters gap down to Bilbao, Gaspar and Bystrom
On their right rear Villella have fallen back to help team leader Dowsett who have finally gotten a bit closer to the front, at his wheel Froome
Another small gap down to a group led by Vogt
The Italian spectators got what they came for, seeing Ponzi winning the Strade Bianche, with time left for celebration.
Lutsenko a well-deserved 2nd, did put a lot of effort into the winning move created by Ponzi.
500 meters down the track, the sprint is also starting for the last podium McCarthy in front of Kelderman and Claeys
At their right side, I can hardly believe it, Per is still in the competition and looking rather composed at this late point of the race.
At his left rear we got Boswell and Bellis with Bilbao at wheel.
Then some gap down to Bystrom and Dowsett side by side.
On a line behind Dowsett, Villella and Gaspar with Froome.
Could turn out to be a good race for Nordstrom – BioWare with 3 riders in the top if they keep this up.
Next is Grossschartner but traveling at ½ speed of everyone else.
Vogt leading the next group some meters behind Grossschartner, with Schreurs, Jensen, Skujins
Also technically in this group Juul-Jensen and Koretzky but hanging some meters back.
Quite a gap to the next group they will not be able to close it this late.
250 meters left for the last podium Kelderman have gone past McCarthy
Claeys in 3rd position, with Per and Boswell side by side on his rear right.
4-5 meters down to Bellis and Bilbao
A lager gap to the next group
Kelderman takes the last podium.
McCarthy 4th quite good result by the Ayubowan! team leader considering the weak team he had.
With a very fast finish Per snatches 5th, in front of Boswell 6th and Claeys 7th
Bellis keeps his distance to Bilbao for 8th and 9th, both will be sleeping well with that result.
Dowsett rounds of top ten in front of Bystrom 11th and Villella 12th.
Froome 13th Vogt 14th and Schreurs 15th Gaspar 16th and Skujins 17th of those five only Gaspar can be happy with that result.
Jensen 18th Juul-Jensen19th and Koretzky round of top 20.
Besides Simone Ponzi expected win, a race providing some very unexpected results. Some teams like Philips – Continental got a huge points haul, that could not have been expected while others (I dare not mention any of those) will walk away from this race with a sour taste that could not have been foreseen. To those can only hope they will do better elsewhere.
Strade Bianche 
