It’s time for the moment that you all have been waiting for, we saw how tough the route is in the U23 race with a fantastic effort from the Italian team that lead to a victory for Dainese. However, with such a strong field present for the A race it might be tough to make that decisive gap that is needed to claim the rainbow jersey. Without further ado, let us look at the route and the favourites:
The bookies’ favourites are Kennaugh, Howard and Degenkolb. The likes of Coquard and Demare do not even get a mention, do they know something that we do not?
A breakaway is always intesizing at a World Championship, and right off of the line it is Amanuel and Natarov making the first attacks, they really want the screen time!
They’re joined by Hnik after creating almost a gap of almost 60” and further down the road a big group consisting of some very interesting names has also put distance into the peloton. The riders in the chasing group are: Boswell, who might be trying his luck on home soil, Prevar Fominykh, Ferreira, Fernandes, Moscon, Hoelgaard, Mäder. And that seems to be our break of the day.
With 250km to go the front two groups are able to link up and start working together, their gap currently stands at 2’55”.
While the break is putting in the distance to the peloton with 200km to go the gap is at over 5 minutes, something that is worth talking about is the wind which is currently at 25 in game units. Who knows this might become a factor later? This weather update was brought to you by the front of the peloton currently being led by Cherkasov.
With 140 to go the gap has been reduced to around 3’30”, only other interesting news is that Cavagna had a puncture but was never distanced by the peloton, he could be a very important piece for the French team later on. At the front of the pack the pace is currently being set by Heymes, which is somewhat surprising since Losch is not one of the top contenders in the field, but who knows maybe he has the day of his life!
With 77km to go it is time for a new weather report! It is now 30 in game units of wind per second! In the pack it is currently PCT hills rivals Haugaard Jensen and Kwiatkowski doing the pulling. Gap to the break is now 2123”.
With 50km to go the gap has been reduced to 1’17” and the cooperation in the break seems to be fully over with multiple riders trying to animate the race. Hnik Prevar, Amanuel and Moscon are the ones on the offensive.
It looks like the Italian and the Eritrean seems to have found something as they create a gap to the group. Fominykh is trying to close them down!
Boswell is now the rider trying to reel back the duo back to breakaway
And 7km later the pair is brough back, the gap to the pack is currently 1’24”. 43km to the finish line, it is looking like a bunch sprint!
And the peace was not for long as Fominykh initiates another round of attacks, Moscon and Ferreira follow!
The trio gets a lead of 21” to their compatriots who are actively trying to bring them back.
Meanwhile in the peloton the increase in pace sees the pack split in 2, with the most prominent names currently not positioned correctly being B race winner Kemboi, Silvestre among others! The gap is currently 36”, probably not decisisve but could be a bad omen for their chances to mix it in the final!
At the front the previous trio has been brought back, however a new wave of attacks have been initiated by Ferreira, who doesn’t have the energy to put in a gap to riders around him.
However, he catches the wheel of Hnik for just a second as the Czech rider creates a decisive gap to the group of 10”.
Hnik is caught and Ferreira launches another attack that is quickly followed by by Prevar.
The Ukrainian is the strongest of the two riders, but it looks like his efforts might be in vain as he is starting to be able to see the heavily decimated peloton over his shoulder.
As we enter the final 30km of the race by Ferreira launches another attack with Fominykh in his wheel as there is general unrest in the group, gap is down below 40”.
The break is absolved, only by Ferreira and Fominykh are still out in front with a 24” gap, but with 24.7km to go it will most likely not amount to anything. In the pack it is Slovenia setting the pace.
And with 20km to go they are caught and now it is all about getting the favourites in their preferred positions for the sprint! Or maybe we will see some late attacks?
And late attacks it is! Dzamastagic and Rowe are the first to riders to initiate with 16km to go!
However, they are not able to create decisive gaps as Edmondson currently takes the front with 15km to go.
Dzamastagic and Rowe are not done however as they try to launch another attack. This time around they might get more support! That was not the case, there were mentions of more attacks from the likes of Søren Kragh Andersen but their attacks were not strong enough to breach the front that is currently being held by Puma teammates ! Herklotz and Demare! 11.3km to go.
The pace set by the current world champ is so high that it has exploded the peloton into a million pieces! Some of the big names caught in back groups are: A. Kragh Andersen, Silvestre and Bonifazio. In the back of the front group Kump is currently struggling to hold onto the group. Coquard is currently tucked in behind Koretzky and Demare, there’s no doubt who they’re riding for today! Jakobsen is currently looking like the leadout for Groenewegen. 10.2km to go.
Herklotz has given up the front to Demare and the reduction in pace is welcomed news for Dzamastagic who is seeing rainbows when he closes his eyes as he goes in for yet another attack! However his efforts while remarkable are deemed futile yet again as he cannot push past it.
Under the 5km mark it is still Demare in a leading positon, the French team must be really confident in Coquard’s ability to sprint for himself as by this rate he is going to have to close this out by himself!
And the front is probably not the preferred position as every remaining top sprinter in the front of the field is lining up behind the French rocket as the other sprinters are all out of helpers.
With 3km to go it is still Demare pulling for Coquard, behind them it is Groenewegen trying to hold the wheel of the French with Kennaugh, Gaviria, Ewan, Samolenkov, Degenkolb and Kemboi rounding out the front of the field. This is looking like a man vs. man sprint.
As the pack swings onto the finishing straight the balance flips entirely, the lineups that were put in place have been blown up. Demare has not given up the front though.
Behind him it is almost the wild west with Herklotz all of the sudden taking Demare’s wheel! Andersen is in the mix too alongside Wisniowski and Stoltz who might want to make a late move!
All of this theory crafting for nothing! As the peloton is approaching the flame rouge the sprint is opened by Groenewegen.
Behind the Dutchie it is looking like it is going to be a sprint from favourites as Kennaugh has taken his wheel, to their right there is currently a sprint train consisting of Couqard Gaviria and Ewan. Andersen also trying to give it his all, despite being significantly weaker than the rest of the field.
As Groenewegen starts to fade the favourites as neck and neck with 400m to go, this sprint is far from decided yet!
With 100m to the line it is looking like it might be a rainbow jersey for Gavirira! But Ewan is close on his tail, what a redemption arc for the Aussie if he could upset the Colombian!
AND ITS COLOMBIAN GOLD HERE IN NEW YORK Fernando Gaviria crowns his fantastic season with a gold medal and rainbow jersey, Ewan was unable to find energy to snatch the win.
And look at his celebrations as the realization kicks in!
Also worth noting that it is very surprising bronze medal for Søren Kragh Andersen who pulls off a blinder of a sprint usurping some of the best in the world! A very disappointing 10th for Coquard who is most likely going to be going back to the team bus in disbelief over how the French team threw this away despite a very strong position as they took the last corner!
And let that be the final words as we show the results of this year’s world championships from lovely New York, what a week of racing!
Championship Road Race - New York 
Kennaugh, 
Howard and 
Degenkolb. The likes of 
Coquard and Demare do not even get a mention, do they know something that we do not? 
Amanuel and 
Natarov making the first attacks, they really want the screen time! 
Hnik after creating almost a gap of almost 60” and further down the road a big group consisting of some very interesting names has also put distance into the peloton. The riders in the chasing group are: 
Prevar 
Ferreira, Fernandes, 
Moscon, 
Hoelgaard, 
Mäder. And that seems to be our break of the day. 
Cherkasov.
Heymes, which is somewhat surprising since Losch is not one of the top contenders in the field, but who knows maybe he has the day of his life! 
Haugaard Jensen and 
Kwiatkowski doing the pulling. Gap to the break is now 2123”.
Kemboi, 
Dzamastagic and 
Jakobsen is currently looking like the leadout for Groenewegen. 10.2km to go. 
Gaviria, 
Wisniowski and 
