Welcome to Rwanda, one of the most passionate fanbases for cycling in Africa and with a great cobbled classic that has now been around for over 10 years in the man-game.
We get an early sight of the long cobbled stretch towards the finish here as many teams try to join the breakaway where particularly active along with as teams try to get some satellite riders up the road for the leaders.
Theres real panic as we eventually see a group of around 15 go clear but already riders are struggling to hang on to the pace Iversen here was caught in no mans land between the groups as went over the climb and wouldn't make it to the lead group.
And we ended in a stalemate, riders coming up the final climb for their first lap, we see how steep it gets towards the finish with numerous riders still trying to get up the road Owen has taken off up front and peleton is not happy about letting the American go. Zepuntke has kept his team towards the front, trying to limit the breakaway to just riders that are not a threat, but that is still proving difficult.
Finally over the top of the climb we have 4 riders able to get away.
Van Poucke De Bondt Seibeb Edmondson
as they gain 30 seconds over the top of the climb and into the descent.
By the time we reach the 4th of our 8 ascents up the final climb we are down to 3 but finally a gap has opened up between them and the chasing peleton with only Van Poucke dropped.
Daniel has led up the final climb this time round with most of the favourites keeping very close to the front.
Owen senses the pace has slowed over the top and he attacks again.
Sanogo Orue Lecourt De Billot
are all jumping after him as ISA now are committed to this long range attack though with the short parcour this is only 65km to go.
The leaders are all together with a 1"30 gap as they approach the finishing climb again there's 60km to go now but this has been a tough opening stretch to the race.
And we see the effects of that over the top of climb 6 of 8. De Bondt, Seibeb and Edmondson, despite being in the break for a relatively short time, are all out of energy up the really steep gradient
we are inside in the last 40km and our 4 leaders still hold a large gap over the group as we come to the 2nd to last climb.
It's obvious that this is starting to get quick in behind though with the pace being cranked up by Kasperkiewicz team as they enter the cobbles again this is still a big group coming in and many sprinters including Ovsyannikov, Van Asbroeck and Stallaert remain.
Lapped riders are everywhere here but Orue and Lecourt De Billot are the strongest in the break they go clear but that won't last long the peleton has made up 2"00 on the break the last lap and they all look to be in real trouble now.
Over the top of climb 7 of 8 Debesay has made a hard effort with Gamper in his wheel this has brought the favourites to the front of the race Zepuntke is still well positioned towards the front.
Gamper goes again over the top of the climb as the leaders try and follow Ovsyannikov is dropped as the pace has really picked up here.
Gamper breaks those behind and is attacking hard on the left, Jacobs wants to close it but has missed the wheel and Gamper now puts his power down.
Theres a real stalling in the group no one wants to commit to this chase before the final climb
So Gamper is now 1"00 clear coming into the last 5km will he pay for the effort up the climb.
As we enter the finishing cobbles Stallaert leads the group hoping to sprint from the front Gamper only has 30 seconds on the pack Summerhill, Kortsidakis and Stavrakakis all made it from ELCO but don't want to contribute probably wisely with no clear leader.
Gamper hits the final climb and is cracking quickly but the chase is not closing too fast, Benoot leads on the right side with Zepuntke through the middle, Kasperkiewicz and Kortsidakis are also there.
Gamper holds them off! a great advert for those who dare to fail miserably can achieve greatly. He put everything on the line in the final lap and is well rewarded with the win.
Benoot is 2nd the final climb really suited him, Kasperkiewicz is next in 3rd with Zepuntke 4th.
Kortsidakis a great 5th his team will be happy they saved his legs well for the final climb Debesay flew home from no where to take 6th he could have quickly challenged Benoot with better positioning and has probably cost himself a podium. Jacobs is 7th with a Teggart a surprise in 8th, Daniel doing well despite the climb in 9th.
Stallaert stalled greatly on the hill in front of another surprise Dewulf in 11th.
train really stopped quickly on the final climb and the next group do catch some places though they get 14th and 16th with Boutopoulos and Summerhill.
Ovsyannikov wins the sprint from behind after being dropped on the climb.
Gamper is our winner in Rwanda this year though what a brave attack from the Austrian to win the day
[C1] GP Kigali 
