Welcome to Lincoln, England in the East Midlands for the long standing Lincoln GP. The riders will take on this technically challenging circuit in the city-centre of Lincoln. We have quite a nice day today, some grey clouds here or there, but predominantly sunny. The riders look ready to set off as they gaze at the famous Lincoln Cathedral.
We get our first action early on, as Mundle and Baterdene make the move away from the peloton.
We have a few more that want to try their luck in the breakaway. Gunnlaugsson and Munton sprung free and then another wave of 4 followed. It's Lucca, Umerbekov, Brandt and Sotberg.
Next we have Jaramillo putting in a sharp acceleration to catch up to the others and as we see there are plenty more behind him with the same idea. Too many to count at this moment, but everyone wants to make in today's breakway it seems!
Mundle and Baterdene are still upfront as they get over this short hupser, before the cobbled ascent of Michaelgate. Let's take this moment to talk about the cobbled hill the riders finish on and the circuit in a little more detail.
There are two different approaches to the cobbled hill. This one here has the little sharp hill before it. The other has a flat cobbled section before it. These approaches alternate. First 2 times with the little hill, then 2 times with cobbles, then 3 times with the hill and then another time with the cobbles. Then it's hill, cobble, hill and the last two approaches including the finish is with cobbles. Whoever designed this... well let's just say it's confusing and the riders will have to know what's coming up.
Back to the race. Our two leaders are about to start the Michaelgate climb. They have 31'' gap to a group of 13 riders! We're still trying to figure out everyone there, but they have 1'30'' lead over the peloton. This could be our break of the day.
Mundle and Baterdene weren't really interested in waiting up for the bigger group behind them, so it took an entire circuit length for the group to merge, just as they started the 2nd ascent up Michaelgate. We now have a group of 15 riders with a gap of 1'42 over the peloton. Let's finally list everyone one here:
Some interesting names. Jaramillo and Meyer are great puncheurs, can they climb the cobbles? Katrasnik has been active this season a lot, can he perform here as well? Schelling in the break for Phillips looks like a smart move from them so they have an excuse not to work in the peloton.
This is how the approach to Michaelgate looks like with the cobbled section before it. The section is only 700 m long, but they're 4 star cobbles that will hurt the riders. The break has only a gap of 1'23''. The peloton are keeping them on a short leash, 122 km to go.
Back in the peloton we have Bralirwa, Carrefour and Carlsberg doing most of the work. Los Pollos are helping out when they can, Strava have numbers near the front, but are keeping their powder dry for now. The gap is 1'41'' with 102 km left.
The escapees have completed their 5th ascent of Michaelgate and their number have dwindled, 12 are left upfront. Mundle, Lucca and Umerbekov have been dropped. The gap is 1'11'', 94 km to go.
But there is action back in the peloton also. Some manic pace setting along with an attack from Rathe have completely decimated the group. There is only 17 riders in the "peloton"!
The big names missing are Van Avermaet, even though Oelerich is there. Weber and Taubel are missing, as is Nolf. But Carrefour have Tsatevich with two teammates there.
We can see Van Avermaet now just being brought back to the front by Sbaragli and Kluge. The Belgian is either on a bad day or is playing a dangerous game here.
The peleton looks a bit bigger here, but it's mostly the breakaway riders being caught. In fact there are only Jaramillo and Muhindo up ahead with a 1'09'' gap. 82 km from the finish now.
Well the peloton have decided to just slow down a bit now and a bunch of riders have made it back, including Nolf and Weber. Baugnies should also be pleased as he was isolated, but now has 3 teammates coming back. The gap has grown to 1'59''.
It was all quiet in the peloton for a good 20 km, the group grew back to 90 riders, but then it was time for some more attacks. Rathe goes for the 2nd time today and is followed by Resell. Carlsberg playing the tactics, trying to put a man up the road.
The peloton content to ride at their own pace for now have allowed Rathe and Resell a gap of 1'17''. They still have 1'06'' to make up to join up with Jaramillo and Muhindo. 56km left to the finish.
We have two more riders who feel there best chance is to make a move now. Abraha and Hagen try their luck.
All the escapees and the peloton have made their way up Michaelgate for the 9th time. Abraha's stint up the road was short lived, but let's revise the entire situation on the road.
Peloton
27''
Hagen
19''
Rathe
36''
Jaramillo
Resell
Muhindo
Rathe, Hagen and Resell are caught with 38 km left. The peloton contains 36 riders. Again Weber and Taubel are not present here, they might have missed the last train. The front two still have a 50'' advantage.
The 10th ascent up Michaelgate shattered the peloton further. Van Lerberghe was the biggest name dropped, but Paprstka brought him back after the descent. 25 riders in the peloton now, 28 km to go and three more time up Michaelgate. The front two have a 31'' gap left.
Jaramillo and Muhindo have just gotten caught on the small rise before Michaelgate. A great effort by both of them. 26 km to go.
With the breakaway caught the riders waste no time kicking into action. It's Sinkeldam with an attack over the top of Michaelgate!
The escape was short lived as Okbamariam and Skala shut the attempt down before the descent. 21 km left.
Last year's winner Coronel is leading the front group containing 23 riders towards the penultimate ascent. All the big names are here, even Weber has made it into this group. 16 km to go.
Going uphill it's Baugnies who ups the tempo. Tsatevich is alert on his wheel, with Sinkeldam and Naesen also right behind.
Baugnies keeps going over the top. He has splintered the group apart, but hasn't quite shaken clear of the other favourites.
We have 10km left, the situation on the road now is as followed:
Baugnies Tsatevich Sinkeldam Naesen
15''
Basso
24''
Van Avermaet
37''
Van Lerberghe Maes Oelerich Bovenhuis Schlechter
After Baugnies's big turn at the front, the others come through to do their bit, but they are not going flat out. Basso has latched on to the back. Situation is still the same behind. Van Avermaet for now is trying to bridge on his own, instead of waiting for the group with Oelerich.
Van Avermaet has made a big effort, but has joined the five up front. They have a 23'' gap over the next group with 5 km to go. How much did that effort take out of him?
The leaders are clearly saving their strength for the uphill finish as the group with Van Lerberghe and the others have made it back to the front of the race. The next group that contains Weber and Nolf is 55'' back and with 3.5 km left, the winner will come from this group of 11 riders.
We can see Tsatevich leading into the cobbled section before the climb. Naesen, Sinkeldam and Baugnies are on his wheel. 1.5 km from the finish.
Don't mind some of the riders here that have been lapped. This is the order going into the climb:
Tsatevich
Naesen
Baugnies
Sinkeldam
Basso
Van Avermaet
200 left and it's Tsatevich who looks in control on the left side of the road. Naesen is next, then Baugnies. Sinkeldam, Basso and Van Avermaet are pretty much side by side, but seem less comfortable with this final effort.
Tsatevich is clearly the strongest and a fantastic bike handler as well. Look at him raise his arms on a cobbled hill as he celebrates his victory in style!
We have a 4 way battle for 2nd place. Naesen is in the best position right now, but Van Avermaet is not in the picture. The Belgian has cracked in the final part of the climb, perhaps the earlier effort coming back to haunt him.
No changes in final few meters. Naesen holds on for 2nd place. Baugnies completes the podium. Basso has to be the surprise of the day coming in 4th, Sinkeldam finishing 5th.
Next we have a real neck and neck for 6th place. Bovenhuis just manages to edge a fast finishing Schlechter on the line.
Next we have Oelerich and Van Avermaet finishing 8th and 9th. Van Avermaet will be dissapointed with his performance, but his German teammate makes this a real solid depth performance by Strava.
Paprstka takes the final spot in the top 10, which makes it two Philips riders there. They will also be very happy with their team performance today.
Lincoln GP 
