UCI Road Championships 2012, Linberg, The Netherlands, 15-23 September 2012

['Dale]

So who's it going to be today?

 

My top 3 picks for podium:

 

Sagan

Gilbert

Freire

['Dale]

What say you, CAAD4?

 

Tough call.

[Squier]

I'm going to go with Voeckler.

 

Just checked the dstv guide and can't find it on the listing. Is it being broadcasted on dstv today?

[Monre]

What time are they showing the race on dstv?

['Dale]

Some footage scheduled for this evening and tomorrow... :-/

['Dale]

10:54:12 CEST

It is an overcast day with chances of showers later on. Cooler rather than warmer.

['Dale]

11:19:08 CEST

Another rider has jumped from the field, and we have our first crash: Oscar Freire!

['Dale]

11:19:59 CEST

His bike has problems, but he may hve injured himself as well. He is back up and going, so let's hope he is ok.

['Dale]

Finally a break makes it:

 

 

215km remaining from 261km

12:02:36 CEST

Not ten, but eleven riders: Lastras (ESP), Cataldo (ITA), Duggan (USA), Howes (USA), Coppel (FRA), Anacona (COL), Mezgec (SLO), Isaichev (RUS), Buts (UKR), Ferrari (URU), and Kangert (EST).

['Dale]

200km remaining from 261km

12:19:02 CEST

The gap is at 4:15 with 200km still to go.

['Dale]

Cavendish has done a fair share of work on the front in the early stages. As the outgoing world champion he's racing today as a sign of respect for the rainbow jersey. With little chance of a sprint, he's devoted all of his energies to GB.

['Dale]

171km remaining from 261km

13:01:06 CEST

We have covered about 90km and the gap is nearly at six minutes. There is still a very long way to go, though.

['Dale]

Some SA riders contributing to some history:

 

13:04:29 CEST

We have three sets of brothers in the race today, with Slovakia even having two pairs: Peter and Juraj Sagan, and Martin and Peter Velits. The other pair is Jacques and Reinardt Janse Van Rensburg of South Africa.

['Dale]

12:53:40 CEST

It is a big field today, 203 riders from 46 different countries. Team sizes range from nine riders to one.

['Dale]

13:12:16 CEST

The gap has come down slightly, and is now at 5:30.

['Dale]

13:27:18 CEST

The official time gap between the break and the peloton at the finishline was 5:11.