Good morning from Empingham, East Midlands for the 2018 East Midlands Cicle Classic. The classic British weather seems to be absent today, since the skies are clear and the sun is shining somewhat. The jerseys will stay relatively clean, despite the gruesome cobble sectors ahead. Hoping on not too many crashes and punctures, and may the best rider win!
The first morning breakaway attempt is immediately successful: Hadi Gjølberg Hofland Jiang Zakarin
There was a counter attempt with Laengen, Kossouhorou, Gaze, Nareklishvili, Ariesen and Page, but failed. Laengen then tried again with Becis, Van Hooydonck and Vliegen to no avail.
The quintet reaches the first cobble section of the day with a seven-minute lead. 140 kilometers remaining.
A shot from the peloton. RBC and AirFrance are the teams working at the front, and surprisingly not Moser. Three riders have punctured: Clarke, Rybalkin and Rumac. All managed to safely return to the peloton.
Later Moser does move towards the front, where even Bewley himself takes a pull at the front. Kamyshev doing the same. The gap to E1 is 4'30 with 120 to go.
The gap fluctuates all day, going up on the asphalt sections and down on the cobble sections, but the overall trend is downwards. 3 minutes is the lead with 78k to go, with 154 riders still in the peloton.
RBC storms on to bring the gap down to within a minute at the 50k mark, shattering all hopes and dreams of the breakaway. Hadi already in trouble, having to leave a gap to the rest and would very soon be caught by the peloton.
One section later and the other four are caught as well. The main group slowly becomes smaller and smaller, only 83 riders remaining at this points. Most notable absentees are Polnicky and Potts.
The peloton is lapping another group, who will be taken out of the race. Benoot and Naud are pacing, then Bewley, Kamyshev, Sibilla, Senechal, Van Avermaet, Summerhill, Vanspeybrouck, Wisniowski, Stallaert, Altur and Trentin all near the front.
A bit further down the group we can find riders like Teunissen, Daniel and Spengler at risk of being on the wrong side of a split.
Summerhill attacks! The American opens the finale with 35 kilometer to go. That's quite early but maybe necessary to lighten up the race.
Stüssi with his moment of camera time, but he's a lap down now.
Tinkoff the team who puts men at the front. Zubov, Sulimov and Sibilla chase for Senechal. Summerhill never got more than 20 seconds, but the chasing group is not getting closer immediately either.
His endeavour lasted ten kilometers but Summerhill is caught by the chasing group with 25 kilometer remaining. Lhotellerie, Ringheim and Skala sacrificed themselves for their leaders, reducing the group to 34 riders in the process:
Bewley at the back of the group! That's surprising at the very least, you'd expect him more towards the front of the group to counter any attacks. Is he not feeling well?
Summerhill with another attack less than five kilometers after being caught. Bewley recovers from behind to follow his wheel, as would Senechal. A strong trio now escaping, who will take control of the group behind?
Another five kilometers later and a small group led by Van Avermaet and Wisniowski managed to rejoin. The following twelve riders are the leading group and most likely to battle for the victory:
Altur Bewley Daniel Kamyshev Polanc Senechal Summerhill Teunissen Trentin Van Avermaet Vanspeybrouck Wisniowski
Nolf just behind the group. Stallaert and some others at a minute
Bewley now attacking by himself! A moment of hesitation by the riders behind and he's gone!
10 kilometers, coming off the final cobble section. Bewley leads by 20 seconds over the nine chasers, with Wisniowski taking command again. Kamyshev and Polanc couldn't follow the pace and are one minute behind together with Nolf. Stallaert at 2 minutes with a larger group at 2'30.
7000 meters to go and the chasers can see Bewley in the distance. The gap remains static around 20 seconds. The very high pace was too much for Daniel who dropped off this group.
But Bewley has trouble on a small uphill section and Altur leads the group to his wheel! 5 kilometers left, will we see attacks or heading towards a sprint?
It's almost like a track sprint race, nine riders alongside each other with no one willing to take the lead! Mindgames are prominent in this one.
The pace is so slow that Daniel returns easily. Instead of fooling the group and continuing on his own pace he joins the parking game. Kamyshev, Polanc and Nolf are at 2 minutes but if the current situation doesn't end soon they'll also be back in contention.
Less than two kilometers to go and Bewley ends the charade. One powerful acceleration and he's gone. Van Avermaet and Wisniowski try to stay within distance.
Summerhill and Senechal also in close proximity, cathing up to the back of Van Avermaet and Wisniowski who get close to Bewley. Only 1000 meters to go and the New Zealander has no intention of slowing down.
Instead he has an extra acceleration and almost makes it look easy.
Samuel Ryan Bewley wins the East Midlands Cicle Classic for the fifth time in his illustrous career! After missing out last year he surely succeeded in his redemption!
Second place for Greg Van Avermaet, losing his title but there was no matching Bewley today.
Lukasz Wisniowski completing the podium. Very good result for the Pole!
Summerhill in fourth after placing the first attack. Trentin with a late sprint for fifth, ahead of Senechal.
Teunissen, Vanspeybrouck, Altur in places seven to nine.
Daniel completes the top ten. He had no energy left to sprint after his miraculous return.
Polanc best of the rest in eleventh in a group with Sulimov, Nolf, Kamyshev and Declerq at 1'48
Sibilla with a late attempt but didn't get further than 16th. Kristoff wins the sprint for 17th ahead of Weber, Orue and Stallaert in what looks to be the peloton.
Bakari 40th at 6'31. Once again not showing his full potential.
139 out of 192 riders are classified in the results, the others either abandoning or not finishing within the time limit.
