The bookies favourites look to be those sprinters who are still capable of getting over a small hill so not the purest sprinters being backed here. Is that a sign of how this one will be raced?
The riders set off on what appears to be a beautiful sunny day here. 205km ahead of them.
Quite a few riders getting amongst the action early on here and a few interesting names too.
20km into the race and it appears we have established who our break of the day will contain. A group of 6 has a 3'23 gap back to the Peloton. In here are: Waeytens Bjerg Senyenov Leung McKenna Vanhoucke
130km and the gap, which got up to 3'48, has been reduced to 2'38.
The Peloton not making big strides towards the breakaway just yet. It would appear they lose time on the small hills where they don't want to put too much hurt into their sprinters legs. With 95km still to go, the gap is 2'23.
It's Rochas who's decided to up the pace in the Peloton and he has brought the gap down to 1'16 with 52km remaining.
Not great news for Swift as his main lieutenant, Cavendish, has been spat out the back of the Peloton on one of the hills. It's pretty unlikely he'll be able to make it back on his own with the pace being set at the front of the Peloton.
Waeytens is the last member of the breakaway to be caught as the Peloton is full steam ahead with 22km to the finish. The front getting quite spread out here so a split could occur.
18km to go and the Peloton may have made the catch a bit too soon because Andersen has attacked!
Kortsidakis decides that this isn't going to stick for the Grieg man and drags the Peloton forward to cover the attack.
12km to go and it's another attempt! This time by the trio of Culey, Bernas and Dzamastagic. This could be bad news for the sprinters with two of the top teams featuring here.
10km to go and, rather weirdly, it's Luke Rowe who came charging after them and dragged the top sprinters along with him.
It's another attack shortly after though and this time it's Wisniowski who tries his luck. Dzamastagic is the closest to him!
7km remaining and this time it was Lammertink who chased the duo down.
It's yet another attack with 5.5km to go! This time it's Kurianov who is closely followed by Andersen who is trying his luck again!
3km left. Lammertink was leading the Peloton but he's low on energy. It's now Stoltz who is powering the group forward. The 2 leaders have a 32 second gap though!!
1.5km remaining and this duo may be able to make it to the end!! (Please Note: Lapped riders).
Behind them it's Grosu who has launched the early sprint. Coquard is the closest other sprinter to him.
800m now for Grosu who is charging after Andersen and Kurianov.
But it's too late as Andersen wins Rund um Koln! It was a strong, well timed attack and he was far too strong in the end for his companion.
Kurianov holds on easily in the end for a very surprising 2nd.
Grosu has to settle for the final spot on the podium. He launched his sprint very early and didn't have the stamina to catch the two ahead of him.
Coquard is best of the rest in 4th ahead of Ahlstrand, Degenkolb, Gaviria and Demare.
Rowe is 9th while Pedersen rounds out the Top 10 and makes this an even better race for his team.
They are a team well suited to the Classics but I can't imagine this is one they expected to win but Soren Kragh Andersen takes a massive win here. He was the most aggressive rider in the final part of the race and he is rewarded for his efforts!
Rund um Koln - Preview 
