Definitely some nerves on the peloton as we gear up for what could be a season-defining race for a few teams.
The nervousness is evident as Campari and Compal team up to close down the first couple of attacks.
It's third time lucky for the breakaway as Reijnen, Ngandamba and Belkov get away to form the break of the day.
We're at the start of the first climb on the first circuit with Zalgiris, Compal, ENI-EMO, Valio, Campari and Eddie Sobart, all sharing the pace-making. The break's lead stands at 8 minutes.
100 kilometers to go as we start the downhill of the second hill in the second circuit. The break's lead is down to 5'40".
Campari and Valio dominate the front of the peloton for the moment with ENI-MOL helping out on occasion. The peloton have done well to gradually bring down their deficit to the break. We have 64 km to go.
First of today's riders dropped from the peloton, and it really isn't distinction would like having!
The pack is starting the last circuit with the break 1'41" ahead. They're gaining time in heaps now.
Gautier attacks with 34 km remaining. Haavardsholm tries to close him down. Ikibe starts to set the pace in peloton for Ben Nasser.
Gautier is caught a kilometer later.
The break is starting the last climb of the day on the final circuit. Their lead has stabilized over the past 10 kilometers. It is currently 1'22".
Ngandamba attacks with 19 km remaining, with the pack closing in again. He pulls out 12 seconds to his breakaway companions.
Gautier goes again from the peloton. Ben Nasser this time counters.
They quickly catch up to Reijnen and Belkov from the break. The peloton are 15 seconds down on this quartet.
17 km to go and the lead for Ngandamba is 22". Gautier and Ben Nasser have dropped the breakaway stragglers, with the latter now caught by the pack.
Haavardsholm and Di Maggio lead the charge of the peloton.
Di Maggio attacks...
...as Gautier drops Ben Nasser up ahead!
Gautier catches Ngandamba with 15 km remaining. Ben Nasser is at 9 seconds while Di Maggio is a further 36 seconds behind.
Ben Nasser catches Gautier as Ngandamba is finally dropped.
Hugentobler and Aasvold attack from the pack. Geschke and Weiss do the same and catch up.
Ngandamba is caught by the peloton with 12 km left. The four attackers are also back in the group.
Ben Nasser and Gautier reach the flat section after the final downhill. 7 km to go.
Following are the gaps:
E2 --(16" )--> Di Maggio
E3 --(45" )--> Kadri, Teklit, Zaini, Teuns, Siskevicius, Haavardsholm, Vichot, Favilli, Michely, Costagli, Hugentobler, Hategeka, Cahyadi, Serry, Hoelgaard, Pibernik, Kedebe, Ziesler, Othman, Meyer
E4 --(1'10" )--> Ngandamba, Thill, Pinot Haas, Weiss and Geschke are further behind.
(E3)
(E4)
Michely is dropped from E3 a kilometer later.
Di Maggio has almost caught up to the front two.
And he does as we enter the final 5 kilometers.
The chasing group behind the front three has split up.
The front three are caught by nine riders from the chasing group with 2.5 km left.
They, in turn, have almost been caught by the next group. 2 km remaining now.
24 riders are together as we head into the final 1500 meters.
Zaini kicks things off under the red kite.
700 meters to go and the situation at the front is as follows:
Gautier
Siskevicius
Kedebe
Kadri
Zaini
Ben Nasser
Zaini is done and drops back rapidly. We have 400 meters remaining. Ben Nasser still leads but has taken the outside line, with Kadri better placed.
Ben Nasser still ahead with 200 meters to go. Kadri is his closest challenger. Siskevicius and Gautier are finishing fast, but still have some ground to make up.
It's safe to say that it's between Ben Nasser and Kadri now...
It is indeed Ben Nasser, who keeps Kadri at bay to win Zuri Metzgete. Kadri takes 2nd place.
Siskevicius with an excellent 3rd place after a fast finish. Gautier perhaps will be disappointed with 4th, after being the most aggressive rider of the day.
Kedebe rounds out an excellent outing for Campari, by finishing 5th, ahead of the second Delvaux rider Favilli in 6th.
Delvaux's day gets better as defending champion Vichot crosses the line in 7th. Zaini, Teuns and Pibernik complete the Top 10.
Teklit, Hugentobler, Hoelgaard, a disappointed Di Maggio and Othman round out the Top 15.
Today's winner - Hassen Ben Nasser
Campari and Delvaux the winners on the day, but it still might not be enough for the former for a promotion push. The champions end the season in a wonderful way and you can be sure there'll be a party all the way to Belgium tonight. Valio and Compal celebrate their promotion with 4th and 8th places here. Swisslion confirm promotion too, with Pibernik's 10th place surely givinh them enough to seal the deal. Not a good day for Andorra, but none of ENI-MOL, Banco de Bogota or Sauber look to have done enough to take advantage.
