Hello and welcome to Berlin for 189 km of waiting until the final sprint. That’s what we think will happen at least, with all those strong sprinters here. The neutral fans wouldn’t mind being surprised with a (late) breakaway victory, but I suppose most of the team managers present in Germany think otherwise.
Germans are known to be pünktlich and always prepared for everything, but it seems Berlin isn’t Germany. The cameras start the live images a bit too late, as the riders have started several seconds ago. Luckily we haven’t missed anything so far, now we’ll just have to wait for the break of the day to form itself.
Aha, there we have the first action of the day. Bralirwa is more than just Bralirwa, they are also Stevens Bikes. This race in Germany is important for the CT team’s sponsor, and youngster Mugisha knows that. He attacks and brings Allegaert with him.
More attacks coming from the peloton, as five others succeed in joining the leading duo. Bralirwa now has two men up front as Chokri is among them, the other riders are Ravanelli, Razumov, Grashev and Stedman.
Israeli champion Yechezkel also attacks, but Gallego Martin decides enough is enough and doesn’t let him go. It seems the break of the day is final.
Fast forward a bit as we are almost halfway the race with 100 km to the finish line. Nobody has been skipping turns in the leading group, but as the German roads are wide and broad, the peloton can easily see them and thus control them without any trouble. The maximum lead was 3’45”, at the moment it is 2’20”.
More teams are working than we have leaders, so it’s no surprise to see the gap being reduced. The riders putting in some work are Konychev, Moricz, Rubio, Christodoulos, Stocker, Steimle, Ruiz and Gallego Martin.
Merlier suffers a puncture with 60 km to go! Bad luck for the Belgian, as he has to waste a lot of energy to make it back to the peloton.
50 km to go for our seven leaders, who have a 1’20” lead over the peloton. I must admit, I always have a weak spot for the underdogs (except when Baugnies is racing), but if they want to hold their lead until the finish line, several miracles should be taking place.
In the peloton, some teams are now sending multiple domestiques to help in the chase and make the escapee’s dream even more unrealistic. Those are Centovalli – Fiat, Podium Ambition, Polar and Swisslion Cycling Team. The gap is at a minute with 42 km to go.
It’s a hail Mary, but at least he gets some extra media attention. Allegaert attacks with 35 km to the finish line!
One lap down the line as all seven leaders have been caught by the peloton, as we’re back to a full peloton with 2 more laps to go on the Berlin circuit!
15 km left! First three teams in the race now Podium Ambition, Swisslion and MOL. We’re expecting some late attacks soon (which seems contradictory, but isn’t).
11.3 km to the finish line as the riders enter the final lap! We haven’t seen any attacks yet, but they should come soon now!
Well, maybe not. Bakkafrost now also with some riders at the head of the peloton, helping to keep the pace high.
Only 5 km left! Except from the sprinters from the controlling teams, Guerao and Itami are also positioned well!
4 km to go! Podium Ambition and Bakkafrost now with the most riders next to their sprinters, while Swisslion is a bit all over the place. Other sprinters coming to the front now are Reinhardt, Cavendish and Avelino.
Late attack by van den Berg! 3 km to go as the Dutch Farfetch rider tries to surprise the sprinter teams, while Mundle, Biermans and Vanbilsen try to follow him! The Swisslion train now more organized, as Boeckmans is behind Saber and Marin. Van Poppel now bringing leader Kump to the front as well.
van den Berg didn’t get away, 2.5 km left now! Other sprinters trying to make their way up front are his teammate Kemboi, Rowe, the MOL sprinters and Zabel!
2 km to go as Nelson creates a gap over the others, but leader Ewan decides not to follow him! On the left, Van Poppel is now going rapidly, as he might be launching Kump too soon!
Last 1.5 km! Saber leading out Boeckmans and Guarnieri behind teammate Perera! Kump, Itami, Ewan Guerao and Kemboi also in the top-10, while Mundle and Vanbilsen are the surprising names for their teams in the top-20. Zabel, Maksimov and Rowe also still not out of contention!
The domestiques are burned our early, Boeckmans has no choice but to take the lead and start his sprint under the flamme rouge!
Ewan is impatient and flies by him entering the last 800 meters! Kemboi now in the Australian’s wheel, which might be the best position in the race!
600 meters to go as Kemboi is next to Ewan! Itami now going quickly and into third, while Boeckmans and Guarnieri seem to be struggling! Guerao also losing places, while Zabel, Maksimov, Lo Cicero and out of nowhere Reinhardt are now trying to still reach the head of the race!
400 meters left! Kemboi in the lead but Itami close to taking over now, while Boeckmans and Guarnieri haven’t given up yet and are still battling for fourth, or even more!
The three leaders still very close together entering the final 200 meters of the day, but home rider Reinhardt now with an incredible speed, going 8 km/h faster than any other rider in the top-20!
Oh, the drama! Reinhardt gets stuck in a Kemboi - Itami sandwich and loses his speed! It seems it will be between the Kenyan and the Japanese for the win, or is Ewan able to make a late comeback with a final jump?!
Reinhardt manages to dive in between the two of them, but he comes a fraction too late! The wheels of both riders seem to be crossing the finish lines, but after studying the photo finish several times, the jury decides Itami wins the race ahead of Kemboi! Ewan and Boeckmans then complete the top-5!
Guarnieri (6th), Lo Cicero (7th), Rowe (8th), Guerao (9th) and Manninen (10th) complete the top-10. While Swisslion will be happy with Saber’s 12th place, Zabel (11th), Kump (13th), Cavendish (14th) and Vanbilsen (15th) will make their managers less happy. Selig the second CT rider in sixteenth.
