Welcome to the first edition of the Transfagarasan GP, here in Romania. The CT teams have sent their big guns, in terms of climbing, who all wish to become the first name in the record book of this race. The race is expected to be a dogfight up the climb to finish, with the short distance not likely to cause major problems for any of the top climbers.
Favourites
MON
RES
ACC
Intxausti
81
77
69
Eastman
81
75
69
Pinot
80
79
69
Ratiy
80
73
58
Valls
79
77
72
Kiserlovski
79
74
65
Medvedev
78
77
72
Panayotov
78
76
72
Faiers
78
75
73
Giogieri
78
74
67
Stetina
78
74
65
Manfredi
78
73
73
Diaz
78
73
68
Signorini
78
72
74
Nibali
78
71
53
Campero
78
70
71
They're off and we have the first move of the day already.
Revard Brkic Van der Ploeg Fedeli Lagab
...are the riders in the break.
The pack rides together with 50 km to go. Azteca, GCN, Zalgiris, CBX and Bianchi set the pace at the front.
30 km left and the break's lead is 1'59".
22 km. The peloton hits the lower slopes of the climb to the finish. Bianchi, Azteca and Zalgiris remain dominant at the front. BNZ have started to show their colours.
Split in the break 5 km later! Brkic and Van der Ploeg have dropped the others. They have a gap of 38 seconds to the peloton.
Fedeli is caught a kilometer later.
Just the two remain ahead of the pack with 15 km left. The pack has shed some riders, with 120 now remaining.
The break is soon caught by the now 104 rider strong peloton.
The peloton is further reduced to 65 riders as we reach the 10 km banner. All the favourites are here as Azteca, GCN and CBX continue their work at the front.
Potocki leads the field past the 5 km banner. 42 riders, including all the big names, remain in this group.
It's snowing!
Seven riders get away with 2 kilometers to go. Intxausti, Eastman, Ratiy, Faiers, Kiserlovski, Pinot and Valls are in this group.
500 meters later, Valls gets dropped.
And now its Kiserlovski being distanced under the Red Kite.
Behind, Valls is caught by a group containing Panayatov, Medvedev, Nibali, Cort Nielsen and Manfredi. Potocki is just behind this group.
Ratiy loses all power in his legs with 600 meters to go.
And now, Pinot can't keep up as they enter the final 300 meters.
The group behind the front six have broken up as well. Panayatov, Cort Nielsen and Manfredi are in the leading positions.
Eastman takes the lead as Faiers look to be cooked!
Eastman looks fresh as a daisy as we reach the final 100 meters! Intxausti too, has now slumped on his bike.
Eastman wins in what has become a regular sight this season. Intxausti claims 2nd ahead of Faiers, who will be pleased with this result.
Pinot misses out on the podium, finishing 4th. Ratiy is 5th.
Cort Nielsen storms past Kiserlovski just before the line to claim 6th. The latter has to be content with 7th.
Manfredi edges out Panayatov to 8th.
Medvedev is 10th.
Valls will be disappointed with 11th, and so will Nibali in 12th.
Potocki finishes just ahead of Bugge for 13th.
Burmann wins the sprint for 15th from what remains of the peloton.
Today's winner - Ryan Eastman.
The incredible season continues for Azteca and Eastman continues as he becomes the first ever winner of this race. Intxausti wil be quite happy with 2nd as well. Faiers the real over-performer on the podium.
