It is a beautiful morning in Berlin, just a few clouds on the sky and just a light breeze.
A breakaway form already on the first small bump, after about 10 km we got Eiking, Takenouchi, Tiller and Vlasov leading with a bit more than 30”, but the pace in the peloton is still hard and they do not make it.
Another small hill before the stage flat out, and another attack Petrus, Rodríguez and again Tiller
With some 140 km left, the trio have built up a lead of about 7’30”
Up to this point, we have mainly seen Iberia leading the peloton, Brockhoff, Bagdonas, Gallego Martin, Nych, but also other team have shown a bit of interest taking a few turns.
After that many teams deside to take part in the chase, sending riders to the front. Most active in this period are Azman, Bagdonas, Brockhoff, Burghardt, Gallego Martin, Goldstein, Nych, Owen, Reckweg, Sirironnachai, Walsleben
We now got just 40 km left and the distance is down to 2’07”
Ford attacks from the peloton but never get more that 20”
33 km left, distance 1’46” Ford attacks again and behind him also Chatarunga accelerating.
20 km left,
The peloton did not allow Ford and Chatarunga to get any substantial gap, after they were caught the peloton did slow down a little bit, anyway the trio in front has just a 1’11” gap left, so it is very unlikely that they will make it to the finish line, even though they have regained a few seconds.
We see a chance in the peloton, where Fablok - Bank BGZ takes over the lead with D. Ignatiev Nechita and Cohen, up to the 13 km mark.
After that is it riders from Iberia - Team Degenkolb and Kraftwerk Man Machine forming the pace line, first Nych then Kurth and finally Brockhoff , crushing the dream of the breakaway riders.
Under the 5 km banner, this is the situation:
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Nych
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Brockhoff
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Maikin
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Cavendish
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Merino Criado
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Van der Sanden
Van Asbroeck
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Gough
Burghardt
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Willwohl
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Degenkolb
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Nelson
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Ewan
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Lander
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Bouhanni
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Kurth
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Goss
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Appollonio
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D. Ignatiev
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Vantomme
Guerao
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M. Ignatiev
Suryadi
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Khalilikhosroshani
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Saber
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Maes
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Roelandts
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Arashiro
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Granjel Cabrera
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Baugnies
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Malecki
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It seems we never get the traditional long spearhead train we often see, it is more like two teams Iberia and Kraftwerk fighting for and changing position all the time, also Podium Ambition well placed with several riders.
3.5 km left, the situation is:
Van der Sanden
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Gough
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Nych
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Degenkolb
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Cavendish
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Brockhoff
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Nelson
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Burghardt
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Lander
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Merino Criado
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Suryadi
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Willwohl
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Maikin
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Goss
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Van Asbroeck
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Ewan
Bouhanni
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Guerao
Appollonio
D. Ignatiev
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Nepomnyachsniy
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M. Ignatiev
Vantomme
Arashiro
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Saber
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Baugnies
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Roelandts
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Maes
With 2,7 km left Van der Sanden in front of Merino Criado takes the lead for Degenkolb, now able to lay some distance to the Kraftwerk Man Machine train ( Gough, Willwohl, Cavendish)
Lander sitting clued to Degenkolb in a perfect position to make a great result. Goss at Cavendish wheel.
SPAR – Shimano, ( Suryadi, Guerao) and Podium Ambition ( Nelson, Ewan) on par with Goss.
Right now looking perfect for Iberia but a long way to the finish line.
2 km left
The Iberia train has further distanced the competitors, they now have a clear gap. Van der Sanden swings of and Merino Criado opens the sprint. Lander still clued to Degenkolb.
Behind them Gough has also swung of. We got three trains almost on par:
Right: Willwohl, Cavendish, Goss, Van Asbroeck
Middle: Nelson, Ewan, Bouhanni, Appollonio, Vantomme, Saber, Roelandts
Left: Suryadi, Guerao
Many not mentioned riders are still attached in a cluster behind Roelandts and might come back, but not likely for a top result.
The Iberia train is not as fast from km 2 to 1 and the competitors regain contact.
But it is still Merino Criado in front of Degenkolb and Lander first under the red kite.
Almost on par with Lander, Nelson for Ewan and right behind him Suryadi for Guerao.
Behind these two top sprinters, we have a lot of riders spread out over the road, all attempting to find the best position to make the best out of the last km.
This is the order of these riders, but they are very close, sometimes just a few cm in front of each other: Appollonio, Willwohl, Vantomme, Bouhanni, Saber, Cavendish, Goss, Roelandts, Van Asbroeck, Granjel Cabrera, Gough, Vanderbiest, Van der Sanden, Rowe, Mohs, M. Ignatiev, D. Ignatiev, Arashiro, Baugnies
Behind him a substantial gap to the next rider.
500 meters to go. Merino Criado have done all he could for his team, he falls back.
Lander has left the wheel of Degenkolb they now lead almost side by side.
Nelson with Ewan now at Degenkolb’s well.
In next row behind Ewan, Guerao at the right side moving in on Merino Criado, at the left very close to Ewan Appollonio
The distances is still very short, next a cluster of 10 riders still perfectly in contact with the riders in front, the order is this: Vantomme, Saber, Bouhanni, Roelandts, Granjel Cabrera, Cavendish, Goss, Vanderbiest, Mohs, Van Asbroeck.
Very open with these small gaps, but if you got something this is last moment to kick the throttle down.
300 meters to go
Between the first duo it is still the same, Degenkolb just a bit in front of Lander
Nelson also done now, Ewan in 3nd position and have to be fast if he want to beat the two in front lacking more than a cycle length. In fourth position Guerao, very close at Ewan’s right side and surely still a podium contender.
Actually also Appollonio and Vantomme could easily take a podium here if it works out for them and not for others.
In next row (in this order but so close) Saber, Roelandts, Bouhanni
After that all the previously mentioned sprinters still close, this is THE traditional mass sprint.
If you love a surprise win this was not the day, Lander had used it all and fell back in the end, but as we will see he made a great result anyway, way above what could be expected from him.
Top favorite John Degenkolb very strong of the last 300 m, wins in Berlin.
Ewan 2nd in a close fight with Guerao, photo decision between those two.
Lander 4th, as mentioned super race from him, just holds of Saber 5th.
Appollonio 6th, Vantomme 7th, Bouhanni 8th, Roelandts 9th and Goss rounds of top 10
Cavendish 11th, Granjel Cabrera 12th, Van Asbroeck 13th, Vanderbiest 14th and to round of top 15 Mohs, I guess the most disappointed of everyone today.
Berlin ProRace (HC) 
