The youth has the future. The list of winners of the U23 contains names which went on to win GCs, monuments and major titles, but no guarantee that the rider live up to the potential. Kemboi is the best sprinter from his generation and as such the main favorite, but the course might be more suited to all-rounder Cavagna.
Errazkin opens the attacks, De Plus responds, followed by Le Court, Roman, Asgreen, Kanerva, Acosta, Hamilton and Padun. This group is considered too large by the peloton and would be caught...
partly. The first two attackers, Errazkin and De Plus, are allowed to go clear and they build a gap. Three minutes at the end of the first lap.
200 kilometer to go and the gap is up to nine minutes. The chasing is not very hard, Slovenia leads the way but also a few riders from Russia and the mixed African, American and Asian teams.
We're at the halfway mark, the gap reached eleven minutes max but is down to eight due to the work of the Danish and the French.
100 kilometer to go, gap is five minutes. Africa now in control of the peloton, making sure Kemboi survives. Le Court, Sendeku, Maroga and Zahiri do the work, together with Casillas for the American squad.
On the third-a-last lap, 45 kilometer to go, the gap is 2'30. Denmark and Asia increase their presence at the front. Bokeloh, from one of the mixed European squads, is the first semi-favorite to drop.
Another lap gone, the lead is down to 1'40. Morne Van Niekerk attacks from the peloton, but the Mixed Asian team is not allowing that.
Van Niekerk attacks again, and now a larger coalition of teams is necessary to bring him back. France, Russia and the Asian teams all agree he's too dangerous.
As the lead of the breakaway duo dips under the minute, De Plus decides to drop Errazkin and continue solo as we enter the final lap. Baterdene and Hodeg are the next victims of the increased pace. 127 riders remaining in the peloton.
Errazkin caught at 13k by the French and African team. De Plus still has 45 seconds.
Bonnamour, Cosnefroy and Gaudu lead the peloton over the first hill for the final time in the hope to drop sprinters. Nych shows them it is possible to ride even faster, and quickly rides towards De Plus.
Nych then proceeds to drop De Plus with eight kilometer remaining, leading by 35 seconds over the peloton. The African train has completely disappeared, Kemboi is a bit further down the group. The French still at the front with Cavagna in fifth position.
A few more sprinters dropped. Wouters and some teammates, Cullaigh and Okamoto.
Slovenia and the Netherlands join France at the front. They have trouble catching De Plus with only five kilometer to go, and then realize Nych is far ahead of him.
And another group of sprinters is gone. Jakobsen and Looij for the Netherlands, they will be focussing on Van der Poel. Other riders to mention are Tivani, Malecki and Vahtra.
Back to Nych, who is off the descent and has three flat kilometer separating himself from the World Championships. His lead measures over a minute now, no way this could go wrong. De Plus got caught however, so the remains of the peloton will sprint for second place.
Sixty riders remaining there, as the course proved to be too tough for some. Kabala, GarcÃa Cortina and Halvorsen the latest sprinters dropped. Svab and Van den Berg lead the group but without their sprinters on their wheel. Hsu best positioned in third, Cavagna in ninth with Minali, Van der Poel and Pedersen on his wheel. Kemboi around fifteenth position making his way forward. Major, Barta and Bengtsson still in the peloton but too far back most likely.
Final kilometer for the Russian. GPS says 1'27 the gap. He is allowed the celebrate the entire final kilometer.
Cavagna goes quite early for the lack of a proper leadout, at 1500 meters. Kemboi has made it right to his wheel. Hsu hoping to profit of Svab and Van den Berg who appeared to go for a late attack.
Artem Nych crosses the line after extensive celebrations. He surprises the sprinters to become U23 World Champion! Second gold medal for Russia after the TTT.
Kemboi sprints to second, his leadout Cavagna finishing third just ahead of Pedersen and Svab. The two main contenders go to the podium but leave with only silver and bronze. Van der Poel, Kulikovskiy, Vlasov, Oliveira and Budenieks complete the top ten. Hsu only finishes thirteenth after being in a promising position.
Kemboi is the best sprinter from his generation and as such the main favorite, but the course might be more suited to all-rounder 
Cavagna.
Errazkin opens the attacks, 
De Plus responds, followed by 
Le Court, 
Roman, 
Asgreen, 
Kanerva, 
Acosta, 
Hamilton and 
Padun. This group is considered too large by the peloton and would be caught...
Sendeku, 
Maroga and 
Zahiri do the work, together with 
Casillas for the American squad.
Bokeloh, from one of the mixed European squads, is the first semi-favorite to drop.
Morne Van Niekerk attacks from the peloton, but the Mixed Asian team is not allowing that.
Baterdene and 
Nych shows them it is possible to ride even faster, and quickly rides towards De Plus.
Cullaigh and 
Okamoto.
Jakobsen and 
Tivani, 
Malecki and 
Vahtra.
Halvorsen the latest sprinters dropped. 
Svab and 
Hsu best positioned in third, Cavagna in ninth with 
Minali, Van der Poel and 
Major, 
Barta and 
Bengtsson still in the peloton but too far back most likely.
Oliveira and 
Budenieks complete the top ten. Hsu only finishes thirteenth after being in a promising position.
