Having already hosted the Balkan Championships, Athens will now host the European Championships. With so many eligible nations, there are to be two qualifier races, and this is the first. First 12 with a finisher will make it through.
Skujins, Hagen, Mohoric, Kelderman, Kwiatkowski, Izagirre and Ponzi are amongst the favourites here - showing that Latvia, Norway, Slovenia, Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Italy are amongst the top nations.
The full startlist includes Russia, Ukraine, Estonia, the hosts Greece and many more.
We're underway.
First to attack is Giannoutsos, followed by Kulppi and Räim.
Greece are keen to make an impact, Kiriakidis also joins the move, with Mullen.
A second group of 5 then chases across to them, including a 2nd Finnish rider Pokälä. Shapira, Akdilek, Kiserlovski, and Kharatyan.
Slovenia, Latvia, Netherlands, Poland, Italy and Norway contributing riders to the peloton pace.
Into the final 50km and the breakaway leads by two minutes. There's contrasting positions for the Top 2 from the Balkan Road Race. Kump is on the front of the pack, while Grosu was positioned much further back and as the race begins to break apart, he has been dropped.
Into the last 30km and the teamwork in the breakaway is breaking up. Mullen attacks, and it's a strong one - Kiserlovski blows up trying to follow.
But on the main hill of the penultimate lap, it proves that Mullen went too early. The four strongest emerge - Shapira, Räim, Giannoutsos and Kulppi.
Mohoric and Skujins have gone on the attack. Budyak tried to follow.
Gerts brought them back, now Ulissi is on the pacesetting. 13km to go, the lead group of 4 are a minute away.
The pace in the peloton has been pretty relentless and many strong riders have been left behind - Moscon for one, the recently attacking Budyak for another. Only 40 left in the group.
Final hill, 8km to go, Giannoutsos is on the attack!
That's a lapped rider from Liechtenstein in between
Giannoutsos leads over the top!
Behind the pack was reduced in numbers as more ran out of steam, but no real attacks. Hagen pushes it on the descent now, Mohoric, Skujins and Kwiatkowski are tracking.
And they now form an elite group of 10, with Izagirre, Bilbao, Kelderman, Ponzi, Prevar and Chernetskiy.
9 nations here, 4 nations in the still surviving breakaway. 13 in total - only 12 can make it through.
Giannoutsos's dreams look to be over as he has been reeled in. The Blue/White dominated breakaway could also soon be caught, as Boasson Hagen has continued to push on.
However, nobody is willing to offer up support to the Norwegian, and so still the gap is yet to close.
Here's a look at the next group on the road. 15 riders, and Dunbar is the only rider here without a teammate in front. Taaramae is the other team leader in this group - Estonia's qualification rests on Räim now.
Räim does have a good sprint, and he leads into the final kilometre.
Kelderman launches the sprint behind, and is up alongside Mohoric and Hagen as they all respond.
Räim has blown. Now Kulppi leads from Shapira.
Hagen going backwards too as Mohoric now leads the sprint. But still only for 4th right now!
Giannoutsos now opens up his sprint, moving alongside Kulppi!
Miltiadis Giannoutsos takes the victory! What a result for Greece!
Kulppi is 2nd; Mohoric is able to take 3rd from Shapira. Ponzi, Kwiatkowski, Skujins, Kelderman, Bilbao and Prevar the Top 10.
That leaves the fading Hagen and Räim, plus Chernetskiy, in the battle for the final 2 qualifications.
And it is Estonia that will miss out.
Kump leads in the next group to take 15th place. Eislers, Formolo, Bernas, Taaramae and Roglic completing the Top 20.
Giannoutsos, followed by 
Kulppi and 
Räim.
Mullen.
Shapira, 
Akdilek, 
Kiserlovski, and 
Kharatyan.
Kump is on the front of the pack, while 
Grosu was positioned much further back and as the race begins to break apart, he has been dropped.
Skujins have gone on the attack. 
Budyak tried to follow.
Gerts brought them back, now 
Ulissi is on the pacesetting. 13km to go, the lead group of 4 are a minute away.
Hagen pushes it on the descent now, 
Kwiatkowski are tracking.
Izagirre, Bilbao, 
Chernetskiy.
