The flag drops on a beautiful but windy day in Portugal, rolling hills will be a task for the riders today but a sprint finish is expected when the riders return to Lisbon.
202 km
It doesn't take long for riders to make the break of the day, led by Vainionpää. Penko is the first to follow with Klemme behind him which should be noted as he is one of the top puncheurs in the field.
Further back we have Pokälä giving Valio two up front and Mudarra who might be a danger as he is rather good on the hills as well.
194 km
Another 15 kilometers for the breakaway to get fully organized as Setiawa is able to bridge across the gap and give Swisslion a pair as well in the break.
117 km
Several teams would be willing to help out in the chase, and never really let the breakaway get much more than three minutes advantage keeping the two punchuers always within reach.
74 km
The hills have started to take their toll as we see some riders yo-yo off the back of the peloton, while no one is getting completely dropped yet some groups are having to work back up to the field after each little bump.
40 km
Pokälä is the first casualty of the breakaway as the field is only a minute and half behind now and still mostly together. A few outsider names have missed out, Havik, Merino Criado, and Tzortzakis.
Vanoverschelde had fallen off the pace some time ago, and will not be using his good sprint today.
33 km
In a bit of a surprise it is Penko who attacks the breakaway and not the two stronger punchuers sitting in the group.
29 km
That attack is pulled back and now we do see the bigger attack from Mudarra though the scattered field isn't too far behind.
28.5 km
Moments later the field gets attacked as well from Bellis! Silvestre jumps to his wheel with Mundle behind and the rest of the peloton working to stay in touch.
20 km
The attacks have all been pulled back, but now we just see several bunches of riders on the road. The lead group of 27 has about 45 seconds over a second group of 18. Another minute and ten back to the biggest group of 80 riders.
All of the riders listed as pre-race favorites and even most of the other top sprinters have managed to make the first group, with a few of the other favorites still alive in the 2nd.
18 km
It has been a terrific and brutal day of work for these two front riders who have been doing a lot of pacemaking and chasing over the last 15 km. Kadri and Gallego Martin have been putting everything they have on the road for their elite sprinters.
17 km
That fatigue didn't go unnoticed as the attack from the fighters comes! Feng leads the way with Arashiro, Gallopin, Bellis this time following the move instead of making it, and Debesay.
15 km
Sensing weakness in the teams of the favorites Cerny also makes a move hoping to bridge across the now 30" gap.
14 km
With the danger now fully present, it is Brockhoff who takes over on the front of the field.
12 km
A challenge between two of the elite men on the flats, Arashiro leading for the breakaway and Brockhoff for the field. Only 23" between them.
9 km
Gallopin takes over for the breakaway, and there just isn't anyone left for the field. The break pulls to over a minute lead now. Of this bunch, you have to like either Cerny (75sp)or Bellis (74sp) to win.
3 km
There hasn't been any changes to the order of the breakaway, as Gallopin has been stuck up front, the field far enough back now to not be a danger.
1 km
Maybe the reason Gallopin is on the front for so long isn't because they are playing games, but simply because they can't go past him. Distance between everyone else except Bellis now.
500 m
Bellis finally opens up his sprint though, as does Cerny and Debesay.
fin
It is going to be Bellis winning this year's Lisbon Classic!
2nd will go to a surprising Debesay who had a terrific day and possess the all-round abilities needed for this race.
In 3rd we get Cerny who was able to use both his punchy ability with a good sprint to get him this far.
4th is for Arashiro who did a big part of the work to ensure this attack stayed out front of the field.
5th goes to Gallopin who really did the rest of the work for the attackers.
Feng will hold onto 6th in front of a now sprinting field behind trying to salvage whatever they can from this race.
A close fight for 7th as Silvestre just edges Manninen. 9th place for Boeckmans, and Van Asbroeck rounds out the top 10. Other favorites in the next five, Saber, 11th, Degenkolb takes a disappointing 12th. Modolo with 13th, Enger, 14th and Houle 15th.
