Here we go for 215 incredibly demanding kilometers of this circuit around Vanadzor. The weather is pleasant so at least the riders can relax a bit. As soon as we are underway there's a spate of attacks. Mager leads the way followed by Vitoria, Jang, Cummings, Bostner, Avetisyan, Sterobo and Chaabane. The group is deemed too large and doesn't get away.
The next 30km of racing are punctuated by a number of attacks. Fumic, Schoffmann, Alafaci, Dieteren, Pires, Agnoli, Ardila, Umberkov and all of the earlier attacks try and get away at some point. But the peloton never seems happy and as soon as 4 or more riders try and go clear it's an instant chase response.
Just as the race passes through the 70km finally someone seems to have cracked it! Chaabane manages to get away solo and establish a significant margin. Ardila and Fumic try and bridge across but the moment has passed.
Chaabane presses ahead solo to constitute the days breakaway. There's still 145km to race so best of luck to him but it's only going to be about TV time.
112km into the race and the first rider makes a mistake. Riutort decks it on one of the decents right by a photographer. He seems uninjured and rejoins the peloton shortly after.
Rolling through the halfway mark Chaabane has extended his lead to a stable 5'18. It's fluctuating around that mark for now as if the peloton knows he won't last alone.
Mendes falls! The race favorite and Bank of Ireland leader tumbles over and over at the road side! He's slow to get up but does get moving again and is soon chasing the peloton. Dunne and O'Brien drop back to pace him and Mendes is back with the peloton soon enough.
80km to race and the peloton ups it's chase of lone breakaway Chaabane. Bank of Ireland, Nutresa and Bonsucro are the teams heading the chase for their respective leaders.
22km to go now and Chaabane's gap has plumeted to 1'29. But more importantly is the damage done to the peloton. The chase has split the race leaving only 46 riders inside the lead peloton! Lejman, Passalacqua and Bole have already been dropped.
18km to go and the race enters the final lap. Chaabane leads by 1'14 to a 43man peloton. 2'12 behind them is A1 containing Geschke, Lejman and Passlaacqua. Bole is in a small group a further 1'00 behind. These riders won't be getting back without a serious effort.
Early on the main climb Marentes is the first man to attack!
13.5km to go and Chaabane summits the big climb. He holds 1'10 over a 37man peloton which has caught Marentes.
Down the decent and against the odds Chaabane extends his lead to 1'30! Suddenly the doomed solo ride has a slim hope of success. If the main favorites mark each other for a sprint he could survive...
Wyss sees this and attacks on the decent. He's a good bike handler and carves into Chaabanes lead.
5km remain for Chaabane as he hits the final climb! Wyss is just 54" behind and the Peloton just 50" behind Wyss. Chaabane is digging hard but losing ground with every pedal stroke to Wyss.
Godoy attacks from the peloton to give chase to Chaabane and Wyss. Summiting the final climb with 2.5km to go Chaabane holds barely 20" of Wyss. Godoy is another 20" behind Wyss whilst the peloton has missed the moment and is 45" Behind Godoy and will fight for 4th place!
1600m and Chaabanes defiant ride comes to nothing. Wyss catches the ailing rider and sweeps past and clear.
Under the Kite and Wyss can't lose this one now. Chaabane still has something to give as he tries to hold off Godoy.
Victory for Marcel WYSS! He timed his move amazingly and easily dispatched the tiring breakaway rider. Chaabane survives his solo 145km effort to hold an incredible second place. Godoy couldn't close in but has enough time to savor his podium finish.
It was all about positioning for the peloton sprint as Walker takes 4th ahead of Martinez and Marentes. Txurruka completes a good race for Bonsucro in 7th ahead of favorites Kolobnev, Haas and Mendes in 10th.
A number of riders failed to finish: Willwholl of Evonik, Brezink of Lierse, Wu of Compal, Selig of Amex and Mortensen of Carlsberg
