First time's the charm for whom? We'll find that out after the next five or so hours of racing to see who writes their name as the first entry in the honours board of this race. The strongest punchers and some more have made their onto the startlist. A list of favourites are mentioned below with Eiking and Boswell expected to be the favourites. Let's see how this one plays out.
Favourites
MON
HIL
STA
RES
ACC
Eiking
69
80
78
74
76
Boswell
71
80
77
73
76
Chaves
76
79
74
73
72
Bystrom
68
79
75
72
76
Calmejane
71
77
73
76
76
Palini
70
78
75
68
74
Budyak
74
78
72
67
68
Felline
66
77
75
73
78
Paez
72
77
74
70
76
Tsatevich
62
77
74
73
75
Vliegen
67
77
76
70
74
Bratashcuk
71
77
75
70
67
Paulus
74
77
71
68
71
Kanepejs
67
77
72
71
71
Mudarra
68
77
74
70
68
Goh
74
76
74
74
68
The early action sees six riders join the breakaway: Sureda Savini Christakos Nareklishvili Urianstad Chen
Jacobs tries to join them but he's currently stuck in between, 1'20" behind the break, and a minute ahead of the pack.
The break trails by 3'22" with 120 kilometers to go. Bralirwa, Popo4Ever, Volcanica, Gjensidige and McCormick lead the chase.
Jacobs is still stuck in between the two groups.
The break leads by 2'57". Jacobs has been caught by the pack.
50 kilometers to go for the pack who now trail by 1'54". The same teams are still controlling the pack. One big climb to go before the final lead-in to the finish.
The break splits up with 45 kilometers left. Savini and Nareklishvili are in the lead group followed by Chen and Christakos in the next and Sureda and Urianstad following behind them singly.
Urianstad and Sureda are caught in the next few kilometers.
Christakos is dropped by Chen with 39 kilometers to go.
The peloton are down to 71 riders.
Christakos is caught with 34 kilometers to go. Chen is then caught a couple of kilometers later.
23 riders are dropped from the pack including the likes of Mudarra, Felline and Weiss. Zeisler is even further back.
The break is caught with 27 kilometers to go.
The pack splits further with 24 kilometers remaining. Brataschuk, Barbero and Khederi are among those dropped.
18 riders remain in the peloton with 20 kilometers to go, Kanapejs and Tsatevich are the latest to be dropped. The Crabbe-CC rider is not having a good day here.
The gap is increasing to the dropped riders.
Korosec and Holmes are pushing the pace in the lead group.
Rodriguez Galindo, Paulus, Chaves, Eiking, Bystrom, Calmejane, Vliegen, Boswell, Budyak, Palini, Tarvis, Paez, Gogl, Shirota, Kaczmarek and Goh are in this group.
Paez, Goh, Paulus, Kaczmarek, Shirota, Korosec and Tarvis are dropped a couple of kilometers later.
Calmejane is dropped a kilometer later.
3 kilometers to go and the riders are starting the climb to the finish. Eiking, Bystrom, Chaves, Boswell, Vliegen, Holmes, Rodriguez Galindo, Budyak, Palini and Gogl remain in the group, Calmejane is trying to catchup in the distance.
Calmejane momentarily caught up with the group but was dropped again. 2 kilometers to go.
Bystrom is also being distanced with a kilometer to go. Not a good time for Trans at the moment. Vliegen is leading the group. Holmes and Eiking are next.
Holmes is going into the lead with 500 meters to go. Behind the front three, Palini is trying to bring the others closer to the front.
Holmes is pulling away now inside the final 100 meters!
Holmes takes an unlikely but famous win in Costa Rica! Vliegen takes a good 2nd with Eiking getting 3rd.
Budyak is 4th to continue the good results for PCT teams. Palini is 5th with Boswell is 6th.
Chaves is 7th, followed by Rodriguez Galindo.
Gogl and Bystrom complete the Top 10.
Calmejane, Paez, Goh, Shirota and Kaczmarek is the order from 11th to 15th.
Today's winner - Matthew Holmes.
Holmes picks up an unlikely win with Vliegen adding important points for his team. Eiking continues his good start to the season with another podium. A good race for PCT teams with seven out of the Top 15 from those teams.
