Welcome to the Trofeo Laigueglia! It's a beautiful day in the town of Laigueglia, on the Adriatic coast of Italy. We have wind blowing from the Adriatic at over 20 km/h, as an extra challenge for the riders. As an aside, the town of Laigueglia is only about 50 km up the coast from Sanremo which hosted the best riders in the world earlier today. Will we see another exciting race in this part of the world today?
We certainly hope so. The riders look ready to set off the start line, which is also the finish line of this race.
We get our first attack of the race by the trio of Venchiarutti, Ulloa and Berard.
We get our second attempt to join the breakaway this time by another 6 riders. Resell, Wilson, Lopez, Coronel, Van Heerden and Battistella are on the move. The front 3 have a 1'30'' by now.
That attack was shut down, but this time it's Van Heerden who initiates another move. He has Primozic, Wilson and Lopez on his wheel. And the peloton seem content to let this one go.
The others are able to catch up with the first escapees just as they start the 1st climb of the day, the Vendone. It's a long uneven climb that riders should not feel in their legs now, but towards the end of race. We are 25 km into the race, the gap is at 3'19''. The breakaway consist of the following riders:
Venchiarutti Ulloa Berard Van Heerden Primozic Wilson Lopez
Back in the peloton it's a familiar sight with Gjensidige, Phillips, Eddie Stobart, Centovalli and BNZ working at the front of the pack.
Our breakaway hit the 2nd climb of the day, Cima Paraveena. 6.1 km in length on a 6.1% average gradient, it doesn't get more consistent than that does it? It's 120 km from the finish line and the breakaways lead has grown to 4'42''. There are some decent climbers and rouleurs in this breakaway, the peloton better make sure they manage the gap correctly this time.
We are on the 3rd and last of the big climbs today, the Testico. Another gradual not too steep of a climb for the riders. We are now 70 km from the finish for the breakaway. There was almost 30 km of flat road between the end of the previous descent and the start of this climb. The peloton used that time to get organised and have cut the gap to 3'31''. Still some work to be done.
Some splits occured in the peloton on the descent, with some of the lesser favourites and top domestiques working hard behind to rejoin the main group on this flat part of the race, before the final hilly circuit. With 40 km from the finish the gap to the breakway is 2'32''. Centovalli and Phillips doing the bulk of the work at the moment.
The escapees have reached the start and finish line back in Laigueglia and are entering the last circuit. The riders have to tackle the steep hill up the Colla Micheri for three times. We can see the reformed and complete peloton approaching in the background. The gap is 2'03'' with 30 km to go.
We have 20 km left, the escapees are starting the 2nd ascent up the Colla Micheri with a 58'' gap to the now main group of 67 riders. All of the prerace favourites are within that group. Meanwhile at the front Van Heerden decides to accelerate, Venchiarutti is dropped. 20 km to go.
Van Heerden pops shortly after his attack and it's Berard the best climber amongst the breakaway that counters with an attack of his own. The peloton are looming in the background.
Berard is giving it his all and has 24'' gap over the pursuers Lopez, Primozic and Wilson, who have another 29'' to the main group, which still led mainly by Centovalli, Phillips and Gjensidige and is now only 37 rider strong. Notable names that have just lost contact are Frankiny, Lavery and Ben Nasser.
We're now going up the last ascent of the Colla Micheri. Berard still has a small gap, but both him and the rest of his breakaway companions look to be on their last legs. The group of favourites is in touching distance. 10 km to go.
As expected the escapees get quickly swallowed up and it's Storer upping the pace for Kelderman, followed by Lienhard and Thiery.
As soon as Storer is done it's not Kelderman, but Moscon who attacks! He's followed by Felline and Quevedo. Kelderman and Eiking are slow to respond.
Moscon keeps pushing on after the descent, Felline and Quevedo are trying their best to keep up.
Kelderman is the one doing the chasing with Eiking and Edmondson in his wheel. The gap to the front is 23'' with the 5 km mark coming up.
Felline and Quevedo have caught up, now Moscon seems to be fading as they head into the final little uphill before the drop to the line.
Behind them is still Kelderman, doing all the work. Eiking and Edmondson are sitting on the Dutchman's wheel.
Behind them is another group of 5 riders chasing on. Those are:
Meyer Hoelgaard Juul-Jensen Palini Barbin
Moscon is still pulling at the front, where is he getting this energy from!? Quevedo sitting on, but Felline has popped. The 3rd group has made contact with the 2nd thanks to a turn from Juul-Jensen. And just as that has happened, Eiking and Edmondson put in an acceleration. Kelderman might be struggling at this point.
Moscon has managed to pull Quevedo over the last uphill. They have a 15'' gap with 2 km to go, over the 7 man group of:
Trofeo Laigueglia 
