Rickaert shows much higher on the favorites list than originally expected, but most other names appeared in the preview.
One interesting point to note is that Reinhardt does get the 121 bib over teammate Lo Cicero. We’ll see if that matters come the end of the race.
Of course, getting into the daily break is still important, even though it is unlikely it makes it to the finish. 8 riders are able to get away relatively easily, representing 7 teams: Blanca Pareja, Loland, Fagundez, Berckmoes, Rojas, Piccolo, Kamzong, and Marte are the day’s breakaway. They manage to extend the cap to 5:30 with approximately 150km remaining as the maximum lead.
100km to go for the breakaway and the gap is holding steadier than expected. It’s now at 3:30 as they cross the finish line. Don’t mind the organizer’s blue car which has decided to sit right at the start/finish line after picking up the administrative abandons. At least the riders seem to be maneuvering around (through?) it without any concerns.
Behind the peloton is lead by a conglomerate of teams. JEWA TIROL, Stela-Vita, and Team Würth MODYF are the ones contributing most. Adidas-Eurocash and Assa Abloy are also providing helpers occasionally.
The cameras sit at the back of the peloton for a moment with 80km to go, showing exactly how long the bunch is. Riders playing around at the back may find out that’s not the place to be. At least, it will take them a significant period to find the front. Gap to the 8 breakaway riders is 2:50.
At the 50km to go marker, the breakaway’s gap has decreased again as expected. The group has 1:50. 7 of the 8 are riding through for their turns with power, with Piccolo deciding to sit on the back.
The peloton is approaching the finish line for the 3rd to last time with 35km to go and they can just see the breakaway ahead. There’s 1:15 between them and that’s after 3 crushing pulls from Schlechter, Hoole, and Allegaert who all put in tremendous turns at the front.
Fagundez punctures out of the front group with 30km to go. The peloton sweeps him up immediately.
Cresting the top of the only uphill for the penultimate time, the breakaway 7 still have 58 seconds over a smaller group in the peloton. The extent of the pace has dragged the peloton extremely thin and the smallest gap can find space. Still, they’re expected to all come back together. Colbrelli and Boivin are the biggest names left behind although again they may come back.
The gap is STILL 1:00 and the hope for the breakaway must be increasing. They’ve all pushed the pace and have to earn credit for being a cooperative bunch. JEWA TIROL and Stela-Vita are the main protagonists behind as they try to bring this group together. There’s lots of tiny turns on this circuit though that tend to stop momentum. Boivin and Colbrelli have returned - although to the back of the peloton. Only 8 domestiques has fallen behind for good.
The gap has extended to 1:24 with 15km to go. Team Würth MODYF has come to the front with Heinrich, but it doesn’t seem like he can keep up with the men up front and no one else seems to want to take his spot.
In the distance Rickaert attacks the main group after losing some faith. He’s followed by Yzeiraj (no surprise there), Bernas, Barbero, and Lunder who all want to get away from the big bunch at 11km to go. They’ll have a whopping 1:41 to make-up on the leaders though - who are still somehow cooperating fully and faithfully. They realize they have a real shot now.
All three groups are in view with 7km remaining. The breakaway of Kamzong, Piccolo, Marte, Berckmoes, Blanca Pareja, Rojas, and Loland still lead and they had 1:12 on the 5-man chasing group. That group is Rickaert, Barbero, Bernas, Yzeiraj, and Lunder (who is sitting on with a teammate in front.
Trentin now leads the peloton having with Saeco missing both moves. Boudat is second wheel, but who knows if he will work on his own, attack, or stall the pacing again. The peloton is 41 seconds behind the chasers, meaning they’re 1:53 behind the lead.
Rickaert, Barbero, and Bernas have left Lunder and Yzeiraj behind as they aim to watch the leaders only 56 seconds ahead now. Still, the leading 7 only have 4.3km to go! Lunder is pulling Yzeiraj almost 20 seconds behind.
This race will go to the day’s breakaway! What an upset! Marte leads the sprint from 1.1km out with Berckmoes in his wheel. Kamzong is leading the others with Rojas well positioned behind him. Piccolo, Loland and Blanca Pareja have worse positioning, but it is possible the others opened up too quickly.
Marte still leads with just 400m to go. Piccolo is right up alongside still with lots of energy and Kamzong is trying his hardest. Loland has found themselves into 4th with Berckmoes, Rojas and Blanca Pareja behind him all across the road.
With just 200m left, Kamzong has taken the lead while Piccolo is clearly dying. Rojas however is coming with a huge burst of speed and looks ready to jump into at least second. Marte is holding on as best as possible to that 2nd spot. Blanca Pareja and Berckmoes seem to have found some extra energy too, although who knows if there’s enough room for them to make up ground and on how many.
Rojas comes FLYING BY! He wins the Nakhon Ratchasima Trophy by ¾ of a bike! Kamzong takes 2nd while Berckmoes had enough for 3rd. Marte takes 4th, Blanca Pareja 5th, Piccolo 6th, and Loland 7th.
The three chasers just left too much ground to be made up and they’re sprinting for the final top 10 spots.
Barbero sneaks by Bernas for 8th and 9th.
Rickaert takes 10th.
The remaining sprinters are fighting for 11th place after the win fell right out of their hands.
Rojus takes 11th as the winner of the bunch sprint ahead of Reinhardt, Yzeiraj who was caught, Boudat, and Lunder.
I don’t think anyone expected this man to take the podium today, not even Rojas. Rojas wins! An exciting win for the Costa Rican!
Nakhon Ratchasima Trophy 
