196km await the riders today, who will win the 2020 Roma Maxima?
Rutsch, Ulloa, Molard and Nieuwenhuis are today’s breakaway. They reach the foot of the major climb on today’s route with 110km to go with an advantage of over 4 minutes.
The climb creates no difficulties for them, nor for the peloton, which remains relatively intact with all the big favourites present. The advantage is down to 2 minutes as the break hits the first cobbles of the day with 79km to go.
Nieuwenhuis is the first to be dropped, and as the remaining trio’s advantage drops to under a minute with 68km to go Saber and Thomas try to bridge.
They make it across and push the pace, until with 45km to go Saber decides enough is enough and goes solo, 50 seconds clear of the 118 rider peloton.
His former companions catch him as we go back onto the tarmac with 37km to go though, as Havik and Paprstka become the next to bridge. The peloton is now 85 riders strong, and 38 seconds back.
On the sector with 28km to go the gap comes down under 30 seconds, so Havik and Saber try to ride away from the others. Paprstka is the only member of the escape who can try to follow, but he’s caught in no man’s land.
And with 23km to go, the break’s day is over. 83 riders remain in the front group, so perhaps Havik and Saber would have been better not attacking!
Finally with 15km to go the pace increases and we see a favourite in difficulty, as Trentin is surprisingly dropped! Race radio makes no mention of a puncture, and no teammates go back to help. Sinkeldam is the only other notable name caught behind.
Albert is setting a high pace, and soon we’re down to just 32 riders. Naesen, Insausti, Van Lerberghe, Owen, Benoot, Van Avermaet, Schoonbroodt, Saber and Havik are at 37 seconds, with Bolivar at 1’19 and Trentin at 1’50.
Naesen makes it back, as do Benoot, Owen and Schoonbroodt as we head under the 10km to go banner. Trentin is 1’18 down, with Sinkeldam almost 3 minutes back.
Then on the ramp with 6km to go, we get the move we’ve been expecting: Summerhill attacks, proving he doesn’t need to be on the cobbles to stamp his authority on the race.
20 riders are in the chase group, but Naesen and Benoot aren’t among them. Van Asbroeck is also dropped, removing one of the biggest threats in a sprint from the group.
Summerhill comes off the penultimate cobbled sector with 3km to go holding a 26 second advantage over the chasing group, consisting of:
Vanspeybrouck Kulppi, Daniel, Chatarunga Altur Vanbilsen Trentin - who has made a miraculous recovery, joining this group as Summerhill attacked Bush Maes Van Keirsbulck Van der Haar, Breen Vanmarcke Zepuntke Baugnies Moulingui Taillefour Van Avermaet Schoonbroodt Van Lerberghe
and Benoot, who has clawed his way back as well!
Summerhill still has 32 seconds as we reach the final cobbled section, so Vanbilsen tries to bridge.
But it’s all for nothing, as the gap grows and Summerhill leads by 40 seconds under the Flamme Rouge!
Vanspeybrouck, Altur, Trentin, Maes and Bush have joined Vanbilsen to contest second, unless the others can bring them back?
We’ll have to wait and see, but one thing is for sure: Danny Summerhill is the 2020 Roma Maxima winner!
Altur launches away from the chasers to take 2nd, quite comfortably in the end.
The battle for 3rd is tighter, but Bush takes it ahead of Trentin - who recovered remarkably after being almost 2 minutes back at one point - and Vanspeybrouck, who completes a great day for his team.
Vanbilsen is rewarded for his aggression with 6th, outsprinting only Maes of those who chased him down.
Van Keirsbulck takes 8th, almost catching the first chase group in the finale with Zepuntke, Vanmarcke and Daniel following him home.
Breen, Baugnies, Moulingui and Van der Haar complete the top 15, ahead of a likely very disappointed Benoot.
