The 116 flattest km of the series gives the advantage to the sprinters - the rider group most prominent in the peloton.
Favourites:
Three riders end up forming the early break: Alburdainy, Batchelor and Thiltges.
90 km to go and the gap is 4'12
80 km and 4'19
With Project: Africa, ONCE, Bouyoges and Volkwagen all helping in the chase the break doesn't look to stand a chance.
70 km and 3'42
60 km and 3'11
50 km and 2'50
40 km and 2'12
30 km and 1'35
Bold move from Zhilenko to attack with 25 km to go and 1'23 between the peloton and the break.
20 km. The break has 49 seconds to Zhilenko and a further 26 seconds to the peloton.
15 km and 56 seconds. Zhilenko is back in the peloton.
The speed of the chase is so high that 45 riders are dropped. Among them are surprisingly Bouglas and most of his team mates except Borisavljevic. Guillemos is another competent sprinter caught behind by the hard pace from especially Volkswagen.
10 km and 45 seconds
7,5 km and 36 seconds
5 km and 28 seconds Rajapakshage, Shalunov and Zamora decides to attack out of the peloton, which dooms the break.
Volkswagen have built a brilliant train. Droste leads them into the final 3 km. Weiss is first into the final 1,5 km leading out Schoch.
Behind them Corella, Hendricks, Keough, Aadel…
Heading into the final turn before the finish line both Hendricks and Corella tries to get past the Volkswagen riders with Arana also coming fast from behind despite a bad starting position.
It was apparent from the first few km that Volkswagen felt thay had this under control and apparently they were right. What a leadout and what a sprint.