Welcome to the final day of the World Championships here in Bulgaria, just south of the capital Sofia. The men will tackle the much-discussed 191.3 kilometer route to decide the winner of the road race. The B-Race and the U23 race taught us that even finishing should be considered an achievement, but for only one rider there is a reward: the rainbow jersey. Who will succeed Marko Kump? Here are the contenders:
Aleksandr Pluchkin won the B-Race and the ITT, and can thus take an unprecedented third title at this event, even the B-Race and Elite-Race double has never been done before. He knows the route, which could work as an advantage or disadvantage, as he also has the most kilometers in his legs already.
Simon Spilak can prolong Slovenia's reign as kings of the cycling world. The Giro d'Italia winner is a match to the Moldovan, and has five more teammates at the start.
Silvio Herklotz is the third three-star favorite from the local newspapers. The German is a good climber but whether he'll make it over the cobbles?
Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier is listed as two-star favorite and fits the same profile as the riders above him, great climbers and not that bad on the cobbles, though his star less suggest he will get in trouble sooner.
Jan Polanc gives Slovenia a second option. He might not be as good a climber as the ones mentioned before him, by no means terrible though, but his cobblestone ability will bring him into play. He might have the best combination of the two qualities out of everyone in the field.
Lukasz Wisniowski is not a climber, but is the best cobblestone specialist in the field. The roads are rough but also uphill, so pure quality might not be enough.
One-star favorites include Gesink, Kruijswijk, Summerhill and Wellens. The list does not end there, but there is no room to mention more.
Twenty-four actual countries participate in this race, twenty-three of them were automatically placed and Moldova has been added due to Pluchkin's B-Race victory, though only with three riders. Summerhill has earned the number one bib for some reason, reigning champion Kump receiving 84. The designated team leaders are all cobblestone specialists, which results in the climber-heavy teams being listed at the bottom. Colombia has the lowest number despite having the star-riddled line-up who would all be contenders in a regular mountain race. But this is by no means regular.
Happy faces at the start. This will be different in 191.3 kilometers, after eight ascents of the climb to Aleko Vithosa. Not only will they be exhausted, their faces be covered in dirt from all the cobblestones. The weather is favorable though, clear skies all the way. At this point, all I can say is best of luck to everyone and may the best rider win!
Latour is the first rider to attack at the bottom from the first climb. He is followed by Uran, Nerz and Yates at first. A bunch of strong climbers but not very proficient on cobblestones.
Another batch of six riders joins: Izagirre Paulus Oomen Kolesnikov Raileanu Kiflay
Lead to the peloton is still minimal though.
Nearly half way up and the lead is 1'30, though Izagirre and Kiflay are already struggling to follow the pace of the others. The peloton is led by Eastman, Teuns and Bostner. So far, no riders have dropped at the back.
A few kilometer later and there is a group of +- 40 riders in trouble. The entire Colombian squad except Uran (break) and Beltran (peloton) is already behind, confirming cobblestone quality is a must. Other major names include Cattaneo, Galta, Machado and Preidler, all riders with a deep-rooted hatred for cobblestones.
The breakaway is also splitting up. Oomen, Yates and Nerz are the strongest with Raileanu just about hanging on. Uran and Kolesnikov were dropped just before, Paulus and Latour behind them and Izagirre and Kiflay already caught by the peloton.
Some fresh blood is underway though. Madrazo, Haig and Senni are passing the dropped riders one-by-one and are on their way to the leading trio as Raileanu now definitively lost touch. The Spaniard is one of the strongest climbers in the race and definitely not one who should be given a huge lead.
Madrazo is the first rider at the top, seven more ascents to go. Nerz is the only rider who could follow his pace in the end. Yates passing at 50 seconds, Senni and Oomen at 1'20. The peloton catching every other attacker, Haig right on the finish line, at just under three minutes.
Even the descent causes gaps on this route. Wellens and Phinney lead the way and a split occurs around 25th position. Some former breakaway riders are here but also cobblestone specialists like Summerhill, Debesay, Theuns and Altur, even reigning champion Kump is in the front group.
The front five reunite at the end of the downhill, and still lead over the peloton by three minutes. Some groups got back to increase the size to 83. Kritskiy, Morton and Berhane a minute behind, Kudus, Taaramäe, Reis and Marquez a group further down the road.
The peloton takes it easy on the second ascent. Poland, Slovenia, United States and Belgium do not set that high of a pace and almost all groups behind manage to return, even the Colombians. The gap to the leaders stays around three minutes though.
And nothing happens for the rest of the climb, except the lead of the quintet is up to 4'30 at the top. The peloton consists of 165 riders without big-name casualties.
Going down is much quicker than going up, but the break extends its lead to five minutes before the third ascent. Eastman, Bevin, Vervaeke, Warchol and Tratnik lead the group of 133 riders, Preidler the only major climber in one of the groups behind.
The five seem evenly matched, taking turns at the front and no one is really in trouble. They keep the gap at five minutes for the entire climb, despite the peloton using heavy-hitters such as Eastman in the chase.
The descent once again splits the peloton in several groups, though not as intensive as the first time. On the not-so-steep sections, riders manage to rejoin from behind and at the bottom we would almost have the same composition as the top. Still the same five teams leading: USA, Belgium, Poland, Slovenia and New Zealand.
From the helicopter the breakaway reaches the fourth top, meaning they are halfway there. Tiredness has kicked in, the gap is down to four minutes. Peloton still containing more than 100 riders, some more riders dropping at the back but none with favorite status. Majka and Dombrowski now setting the pace.
Down and back up again, the gap now 3'30 with the break in sight of the peloton. Switzerland moving up with four riders, maybe they will help in the chase. Quintana, Cattaneo and Galta lost contact again on the downhill and need extra effort to get back on the climb.
The pace from Wellens puts even more riders in trouble, only 65 able to follow now. Phinney, Spilak and Wisniowski in the first few positions, B-Race winner Pluchkin in the middle of the group but at the back we have the likes of Beltran, Kritskiy, Morton, Keizer, Taaramäe and Schelling all in trouble again.
E1 still together after climbing to the ski station for five times, three more to go. The largest gaps between them occur as they head onto the downhill again with some needing a little more rest after a gruesome climb. Nevertheless, no one stands out as strongest or weakest.
The first rider of the peloton, Wellens, passes the timing point at three minutes. A long line of riders behind him: Novak Warbasse De Bie Dombrowski
Then we find some cobblestone specialists: Theuns Per Summerhill Polanc Wisniowski Kasperkiewicz
Only then we find some climbers: Spilak Pluchkin Herklotz
Following them: Squire Debesay Kwiatkowski Ringheim Riesebeek Kung
And as we are down again, these 20 riders are still together. The next group, a minute down, contains the following 26 riders:
Benoot, Serry Grashev Beltran Konig Burghardt Tarvis Okbamariam Altur, Tenorio Lecuisinier, Sicard Bongiorno, Zardini Kozhatayev Gesink, Kruijswijk Bugge David Oliveira Kritskiy, Rybalkin Kump, Tratnik Eastman, Phinney, Van Garderen
Arndt Blythe Faiers Novak
the next group at three minutes from the favorites group, six from the leaders. Any group beyond this is probably out of contention.
The lead of the breakaway is evaporating on ascent six, 1'30 with 60 kilometer to go. The second group has partly rejoined with the first, but riders like Kritskiy, Lecuisinier, Phinney and Tenorio struggle on the cobblestones. It are the stronger specialists such as Okbamariam and Kozhatayev who make the jump much easier.
A new wave of attacks is initiated by Gesink. Debesay, Wisniowski and Polanc on his wheel, though this one only got the group to the back of the breakaway, not past it yet. Most riders were able to follow anyway.
Madrazo, Nerz and Senni are the last three standing, Oomen and Yates are caught. The Spaniard even has energy left to attack at five kilometer from the top, but it is only putting off the evil hour most likely.
Another attempt from Gesink, which draws a response from: Theuns Wisniowski Summerhill Polanc Debesay Spilak
mostly cobblestone experts except the first and last one in the queue.
Van Garderen Wellens Yates Benoot Oomen Pluchkin Kozhatayev Konig Kruijswijk Herklotz Riesebeek Rybalkin Zardini Grashev Dombrowski
remain in the chasing group.
Madrazo maintained the minute lead until the steep final section, but is caught by Wisniowski, Polanc, Summerhill and Gesink. Nerz, Senni and Theuns unable to follow their pace with Spilak falling back to the chasers headed by Pluchkin.
Despite the steepness it is Gesink who struggles to keep touch with the cobblers! This is unexpected, even though the road is also very difficult to ride on. Madrazo found some extra energy to just stay ahead, or the others can't pass him on this narrow part.
The cobblestone trio does make it past the Spaniard at the top and lead him by 45 seconds at the finish line. Two descents and two ascents to go. Let's see who comes next.
Another 40 seconds to Gesink just ahead of Spilak, Herklotz and Pluchkin. A strong descent and they can make it back to the front, though they should normally outclimb those ahead.
The next group another 45 seconds down is headed by Wellens ahead of Theuns Benoot Kruijswijk Nerz Konig Kozhatayev Senni Debesay
Just behind this group are Van Garderen Riesebeek Zardini Rybalkin Grashev
Some more struggling riders on the final meters: Kasperkiewicz Dombrowski Yates Oliveira Bugge De Bie Oomen Ringheim Okbamariam
at 7'30 from the leaders.
Looking further down the climb we have a group containing Serry, Kwiatkowski, Per, Beltran and Kung at nine minutes. Warbasse and Squire at ten, Sicard and Lecuisinier at eleven. Kump at thirteen minutes together with Phinney, Tenorio, Kritskiy, Morton and Faiers amongst others. Any other rider is more than fifteen minutes behind and can pretty much be written off. Let's return to the action at the front!
The three leaders start the penultimate ascent with a minute over Madrazo, who has received company from Herklotz. 45 seconds behind this duo we find Pluchkin, Gesink and Spilak, with the Belgian duo of Wellens and Theuns just ahead of the chasing group at three minutes.
As expected, Madrazo has imploded and is no longer in the picture. Herklotz now has a decent gap over Spilak and Pluchkin with Gesink struggling to keep up with the aforementioned two. The gap to the front trio is going up to nearly three minutes though, despite being lesser climbers!
The leaders run into lapped traffic on the steep section, Kennett moving aside nicely but the car and motorcycles are a bigger problem. Still three minutes to the chasers with 2.5 kilometer to the top. Cooperation is good.
Gesink in deeper trouble, as the gap to the riders in front is 1'20, lapped Joaeer in between. Still a slight gap between Herklotz and Pluchkin/ Spilak though they can be considered one group for all intents and purposes. Madrazo has been caught by the riders behind: Kruijswijk, Konig, Kozhatayev, Benoot and Van Garderen, though multiple minutes behind.
The bell has rung for the final 25 kilometers. Polanc, Wisniowski and Summerhill are the prime favorites for the rainbow jersey unless they implode on the mountain.
Herklotz has indeed been caught by Pluchkin and Spilak, the trio willing to cooperate. The gap to front is four minutes and ten seconds though.
Gesink alone at 6'20. It does not look like he can challenge those ahead of him, he rather has to look back.
Konig, Kruijswijk and Kozhatayev and two lapped Bulgarians crossing the top at ten minutes. Benoot thirty seconds behind them, and another thirty seconds to Madrazo and Van Garderen. Another minute to a larger group of Rybalkin, Riesebeek, Wellens, Zardini, Debesay and Theuns. Two more minutes to Grashev and Oliveira, everyone else more than fifteen minutes behind.
The leaders are down at the bottom again. 11 kilometer and it is over, but those 11 kilometer are uphill, on cobblestones, between lapped traffic. The gaps stayed the same on the downhill. From the front three, Polanc the best climber on paper, though Wisniowski and Summerhill are superior cobblestone riders which is also important.
The trio passes many groups on their way up, seven kilometer to go on another cobblestone section. GPS says the gap to Spilak, Pluchkin and Herklotz is six minutes, no way they will give this away!
A quick look behind, Pluchkin appears to be the strongest there by putting the lapped Panayotov between himself and Herklotz, who has Hepburn between him and Spilak. Gesink three minutes behind them so positions four to six look safe between them.
Wisniowski accelerates on a cobblestone section while passing some backmarkers. Summerhill and Polanc cannot follow that for now, perhaps saving energy for the end. The final two kilometer is where most time can be lost.
The Pole is flying though, leading over his former companions by a minute with five kilometer to go. Polanc struggling to follow Summerhill who has Schreurs and Kiskonen as reference up the road.
Pluchkin has put some more riders between himself and Herklotz, the gap around thirty seconds. Spilak at a minute from the Moldovan, who puts in another impressive effort which, while not rewarded with a podium today, can only be applauded.
Wisniowski now leads by two minutes with only the steep final two kilometer left. Summerhill attacking Polanc but probably too late unless the leader completely grinds to a halt.
Final kilometer for Wisniowski, safely negotiating around a group of backmarkers. Summerhill now entering the previous hairpin, which means the Pole is visible but the gap is still the same as before due to the nature of this climb. Polanc 30 seconds behind the American, having conceded to the bronze medal.
Pluchkin might be able to see the leaders if he looks up the mountain, but the gap is now double digits. He has ridden away from Herklotz by 1'30 and Spilak by 2'15. Only a major problem can keep him from fourth. All riders at the front have been lucky with regards to punctures, which only seems to affect those hours behind.
A quick celebration from Wisniowski as he is done climbing, a few more meters down to the finish line. It allows some riders to unlap themselves.
And it's official, Lukasz Wisniowski is the winner! Nine hours, five minutes and 46 seconds of constant climbing and descending over rough roads, but it will be rewarded with the Rainbow Jersey! A massive effort from a non-climber to win on this route! 25 minutes faster than Pluchkin in his B-Race triumph as well!
Danny Summerhill takes the silver medal but no jersey. Surely he is disappointed, but the first thing he wants to do after this race is get off his bike, eat ten hamburgers and take a long bath. He ends up 2'23 down on the winner.
The winner is not from Slovenia this year but they do get a medal, as Jan Polanc finishes third at 3'11. The route suited him like no other, but the cobblestones were more important than predicted.
Pluchkin going slowly on the steep section, riding the same pace as the riders far down the order. Only four riders separating him and Herklotz, with Spilak also still visible right behind the German.
The Moldovan is even passed by De Plus, Suur and Bonnin, all a lap down. Herklotz will sneak past on the final meters of the climb and he has to worry about Spilak as well. You can't blame him for being empty, doing this route twice within a week is madness.
Fourth place at the death for Silvio Herklotz, which makes him winner amongst the climbers. A title worth nothing at all, especially as he finishes eighteen minutes behind Wisniowski.
Aleksandr Pluchkin holds on to fifth, though it should not have lasted a kilometer longer. I can only write praise to someone who wins the B-Race and the ITT and finishes fifth in the Road Race on a route whose designer should be locked up for crimes against humanity, but surely the Moldovan will feel like a unique opportunity of taking the treble has eluded him.
Simon Spilak is sixth. Polanc turned out to have better form today and was able to follow Gesink's attack, unlike his countryman. Two riders in the top ten is another good performance from Slovenia.
Seventh place for Robert Gesink, who struggled all the way up the final climb but remains ahead of the next riders. He finishes more than half an hour down though.
Another Dutchman finishing in eighth. Steven Kruijswijk with a solid race, helping Canty get up for his final lap. The time limit is set at two hours and eleven minutes of which thirty-seven have already passed.
Ninth for Edward Theuns at 41'48, another cobblestone specialist prevailing over the climbers. Another lap for Izagirre, who was in the morning breakaway but spend the rest of the day at the back.
The Low Countries dominate the lower end of the top ten as tenth place also goes to a Belgian: Tiesj Benoot. He finishes at 44 minutes.
The best African rider of the day is Debesay, the Eritrean finishing in eleventh at 48'16. He had a strong final climb as he only started it in the lower end of the top twenty. Saving energy for the end it seems.
Konig and Riesebeek finish somewhat together at nearly forty-nine minutes, a ten second gap awarded between them which won't make this the first group to arrive.
In fourteenth we find Kozhatayev, twenty seconds shy of losing fifty minutes.
Bugge completing the course in fifteenth (+ 51'11) just ahead of Van Garderen (+ 51'25) and Wellens (+ 52'11).
P18 is occupied by Ringheim, P19 by Okbamariam. Anonymous rides but kudos for finishing.
Grashev is the best Bulgarian of the day and rounds out the top twenty. Lilovski has another lap to go but would be better off giving up now, no way he'll make it down and up again within the time limit.
Zardini, Kasperkiewicz, Oliveira and Rybalkin are the only other riders to finish within an hour of the winner. The top thirty is completed by Faiers, Per, De Bie, Kung, Kwiatkowski and Serry. Madrazo falling down all the way to thirty-first, one place ahead of teammate Altur. Tarvis, David and Blythe finish 33rd, 34th and 35th. For 36th and 37th we finally have the first riders in the same time: Beltran and Spengler, a few seconds ahead of Burghardt. In thirty-ninth we find the new ex-World Champion Kump at more than one-and-a-half hour.
In the end, 76 riders finish the race, Reis as last of them making it with a few seconds to spare. Riders like Taaramäe, Denifl, Morton, Kudus, Uran, Quintana, Henao Montoya and Cattaneo don't even finish despite the climbing, what a race this was.
Time for the podium ceremony, and introducing the new Champion of the Wooooooooooooooooooorld: Lukasz Wisniowski!
Marko Kump? Here are the contenders:
Aleksandr Pluchkin won the B-Race and the ITT, and can thus take an unprecedented third title at this event, even the B-Race and Elite-Race double has never been done before. He knows the route, which could work as an advantage or disadvantage, as he also has the most kilometers in his legs already.
Silvio Herklotz is the third three-star favorite from the local newspapers. The German is a good climber but whether he'll make it over the cobbles?
Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier is listed as two-star favorite and fits the same profile as the riders above him, great climbers and not that bad on the cobbles, though his star less suggest he will get in trouble sooner.
Lukasz Wisniowski is not a climber, but is the best cobblestone specialist in the field. The roads are rough but also uphill, so pure quality might not be enough.
Gesink, 
Summerhill and 
Wellens. The list does not end there, but there is no room to mention more.
Uran, 
Yates at first. A bunch of strong climbers but not very proficient on cobblestones.
Izagirre
Paulus
Kolesnikov
Kiflay
Cattaneo, 
Galta, 
Machado and 
Haig and 
Taaramäe, 
Bevin, 
Schelling all in trouble again.
Grashev
Konig
Kozhatayev
