DK Žalgiris is the main employer in Lithuanian profession cycling, only three pros are not on the team. Will the team focus on Dzervus or Kruopis?
Žalgiris controlling the three amateurs in the lead, as they should with this numerical advantage.
Then they disappeared, leaving amateurs for Iberia and Philips to chase. They are not getting much closer, the three amateurs still lead by 35 seconds with five kilometer to go.
Fourteen seconds as we head into the final kilometer, this might be a huge upset. Bagdonas and Navardauskas each with an helper left, then a lot of Žalgiris.
The gap goes down and the amateur in the lead is only 300 meters away from glory but clearly struggling. The two amateurs in the Iberia and Philips jersey lead the sprint ahead of, from left to right, Bagdonas, Dzervus, Kruopis, Navardauskas.
The amateur celebrates, imagining the kisses from the podium girls.
Oh no, he's beaten on the line by Darijus Dzervus, who becomes Lithuanian champion in the final meters. Kruopis also sneaks past, but the amateur does hold on to a podium spot. What a story to tell his grandchildren.
While DK Žalgiris populates the majority of the startlist, the bookmakers predict a victory for Navardauskas.
Kokorevas is fastest amongst the early Žalgiris starters: 1h09'14.
It won't be the fastest. Reigning champion Bagdonas beats all the Žalgiris so far in 1h09'01.
Žalgiris still has Talacka, but he doesn't reach the time set by Bagdonas. He's even slower than Kokorevas, Rumsas and Dzervus. Since he was the last starter from Žalgiris, the team won't take the double.
Konovalovas notes down the same time as Bagdonas at the first time check, but falls behind afterwards. At the finish it is the same time as Kokorevas. Unfortunately, the precise time calculation puts him behind.
Only one man left: the bookie's favorite Navardauskas. He beast Bagdonas at all splits to live up to the expectations.
Lithuanian National Road Race Championship 
