Clear day in The Netherlands as we line up for what is expected to be an unpredictable race. Can the sprinters hold forte, putting their strong men at the front to control the race or can a plucky attacker get away and claim glory?
Favourites
FLA
HIL
STA
RES
SPR
ACC
Ahlstrand
74
67
74
73
83
82
Guarnieri
76
66
77
76
82
81
Zabel
74
69
74
70
81
79
Gaviria
74
71
72
75
79
82
Lo Cicero
72
64
71
63
84
78
Rowe
78
66
76
70
79
80
Ciolek
74
65
72
68
82
78
Tsatevich
74
77
74
73
75
75
Bar
77
70
75
72
77
76
Vanderbiest
74
64
74
69
82
77
Kragh Andersen
77
64
70
74
80
77
Aregger
73
71
72
71
78
77
Roelandts
73
69
72
71
79
77
Avelino
71
64
70
66
83
78
Cavendish
72
64
73
70
82
80
Redecker
73
72
74
67
77
78
Bonifazio
77
65
67
73
78
78
Kupfernagel
74
64
73
66
80
80
Page
75
66
72
72
78
79
Five riders form the early break and the peloton look content to let them get a gap.
Kulppi Grand Koishi Schappi Ghani
150 km to go and many teams sharing the load at the front of the pack - ENI - MOL, Lierse, Xero, Berg, Volvo, Delvaux, Duolingo and Minions.
100 km left. The break's lead stands at 2'20".
ENI - MOL and Volvo have taken over at the front of the peloton. 50 km remaining.
Koishi attacks the break with 36 km left.
He is caught 4 km later.
Cavendish surprisingly tries to get away from the pack!
The Kraftwerk leader is caught with 25 km left.
21 km. A bit of a gap forming in the pack. 61 riders are in the group behind.
67 riders remain in the peloton with 18 km to go. Ulanowski, Page, Selig, Vanderaerden, Breen, Kreder, Lobato, Tewelde and Roelandts among those in the chasing groups.
Rowe, Vanbilsen and Vanspeybrouck attack. Tennant and Hermans lead the chase.
Kulppi and Ghani are caught by the five attackers and then by the pack.
The remaining break are caught with 11 km remaining. Bar and Stenersen have also bridged the gap to the new lead group.
Just as the peloton are about the catch them, Tennant attacks again, and is followed by Rowe and Vanbilsen.
Hermans attacks as well trying the chase down the leading trio.
Biermans is the next to attack!
Guarnieri in trouble as he's caught in a split in the pack.
Guarnieri does make it back to the peloton.
The four attackers are together while Biermans is caught as we reach the final 5 kilometers.
Delvaux have set up their train in the peloton but they still trail the leading quartet by 33 seconds. 2.5 km to go.
We're under the Red Kite and Rowe attacks.
Delvaux are still leading the pack but are not being able to close the gap.
Hermans has nothing left and is slowing down. There'll be no repeat win for the Belgian.
500 meters. Vanbilsen and Tennant are closing in on Rowe. No sign of the peloton still!
Rowe picks up his pace and the gap is now holding. Just 200 meters left to ride. Tennant is now 2nd.
Rowe wins by a comfortable margin to continue his team's brilliant form this month!
Vanbilsen is too fast in the finish and steals 2nd from Tennant on the line.
Hermans finishes a creditable 4th.
Chaos in the pack as they go nine-wide into the final 300 meters.
It is now six wide as we enter the final 100 meters. From left to right, it is Maksimov, Zabel, Avelino, Cavendish, Ahlstrand and Kupfernagel.
That's a finish and a half! Zabel wins the sprint for 5th, ahead of Maksimov and Avelino. Kupfernagel, Ahlstrand and Cavendish come through next.
Gaviria claims 11th ahead of Guarnieri, who'll be disappointed with that result.
Vanderbiest, Lo Cicero and Ciolek complete the Top 15.
Today's winner - Luke Rowe.
The late attack works for a second year in a row giving Luke Rowe and his team a well deserved and much needed win. Vanbilsen and Tennant complete a podium of strongmen.
