Welcome to the Lillestrom GP, the riders face 16 circuits totaling 207km. A 2.6k long, 3-star sector of cobbles features on every lap. The best of the PCT cobblers are here, Vanbilsen, having flown in after a disappointing Ronde tops the favorites list.
As the riders tackle the cobbles for the first time there are 8 riders out front, 8 more trying to bridge across.
30k gone, the riders cross the cobbled section for the 3rd time it is up to 14 riders in the break. They lead by just over 3 minutes, one more rider, Waerenskjold, trying to bridge across. A few riders already dropped from the peloton. The 14 up front are: Stash Reddish Silva Habtom Touze Losch Cannister Cimolai Kristoff Matthews Prasad Stoltz Rossi Varga
5th time over the cobbled sector for the peloton, 150k to go. Break at 3’31, Waerenskjold was unable to bridge across and has been caught. Trans, HelloFresh and Bralirwa working on the front of the peloton.
100k to go, the peloton crossing the start-finish line, about to cover the cobbled sector for the 9th time. The break’s lead is down to 2’18. 100 riders left in the peloton (16 dropped).
With 85k to go Reddish is dropped by the break and caught by the peloton. Cimolai also dropped by the break but is still between the break and the peloton.
67k to go and Saber launches the first attack from the peloton. Shiki Kuroeda and Vanmarcke follow. Habtom and Stoltz have been dropped from the break which is now 10-riders strong and 1’06 ahead of Saber.
57k to go, the cobbles have been completed for the 12th time. Saber has reached the front to make an 8-rider lead group with Varga, Cannister and Matthews dropped. They are back with Shiki Kuroeda and Vanmarcke who trail the lead group by 19 seconds. A new attack has been launched by Saya Kuroeda and Naesen. Just 1’04 between the leaders and the peloton, where Palyi is on the front.
13th cobbled sector, all the attackers have reached the front, their lead over the peloton is 1 minute. Varga and Matthews also able to rejoin but they look about to be dropped again.
40k to go for the peloton, Okbamariam on the front. The leaders have 47 seconds. 11 riders left up front: Stash Naesen Silva Touze Saber Saya Kuroeda Shiki Kuroeda Kristoff Prasad Vanmarcke Rossi
14th cobbled section, Silva attacks his breakaway companions.
It is a last-ditch attempt, with 30k the last holdouts from the break are just in front of the peloton as Gamper attacks.
Gamper’s attack just serves to close down the break. The next attack comes form Van Keirsbulck, Stallaert, and Breen.
That is closed down and soon after Breen tries again along with Dakteris. But they are quickly closed down on the 15th cobbled section. With 22k to go it is a 38-rider front group.
More attacks from Breen, Vanbilsen and Chatarunga, among others, follow, but no one can get a gap. 18k to ride.
The next attack is Breen again and he is able to get a small gap. Resell and Schoonbroodt chasing.
That attack is brought back and the next round comes from David and Blythe. Breen and Trentin follow. This drags 10 riders clear of the pack. The other 6 are Stallaert, Vanbilsen, Daniel, Fenn, Gamper, and Chatarunga.
11k to go and the leaders are on the final cobbled sector. The front four have got a 26 gap on the other 6. Another 12 seconds back to a 24 rider chasing pack. Manakov leading the pack although Bianchi have Chatarunga ahead. Lapped traffic confusing the picture.
On the cobbles Stallaert drags the chasers back to the front 4 and then rides away on his own, he has 5 seconds over the next 8. Fenn has been dropped and is 12 seconds behind the others, the peloton another 28 seconds back, now being led by McLay.
7.5k to go, Trentin and Daniel bridge up to the Belgian Champion. The cobbles are done. The 6 chasers (Breen, Gamper, Chatarunga, David, Blythe and Vanbilsen) at 16 seconds. The peloton another 44 back.
3.4k to go for the main chase group who are closing in on the 2nd group on the road with Bianchi, Pas Normal and Phillips working. In the 2nd group only Vanbilsen appears to have anything left and their deficit to the 3 leaders is out to 24 seconds.
But the status quo pretty much holds and with just under 1k the leaders start the sprint. Stallaert comes off Daniel’s wheel.
500 meters and Stallaert has the edge. Behind the 5 chasers are still together and have 24 seconds over the chase group so they should sprint out the minor placings.
Stallaert cracks a few hundred meters short and Daniel celebrates the race win and finally getting one over on his rival. Trentin second, one place behind his finish in Hungary, but a lot more points.
David, Blythe, and Gamper emerge from the chase group to contest 4th place. 200 meters to go for them.
David takes 4th ahead of Gamper and Blythe.
Chatarunga continues his solid season with 7th, followed by Breen. He animated the race but has to settle for 8th (Eddie Stobart rider is lapped)
McLay and Bush sprinting out of the chasing pack pass Vanbilsen to take 9th and 10th. The Trans rider paid for all his efforts to close down the front runners.
Down Under Classic 
