The Classics

[Eugene Oppelt]

And it's still Stannard on the front, doing all the chasing.

[Eugene Oppelt]

The gap creeps out to 55 seconds as Stannard does all the work on his own.

 

 

[Eugene Oppelt]

BMC and Lotto will be happy to see the Brit burn himself out but they need to think about chasing once the climbs are finished with.

[Eugene Oppelt]

All the Omega riders are on the front now as they hit the next flat section. Belkin through in some support with Vansummeren helping too.

[Eugene Oppelt]

61km to go and the gap is now a minute. Lotto have a number of riders further back from the main peloton so Greipel is going to have to wait for support. But Sky hit the front with reinforcements.

[Eugene Oppelt]

As the Boonen group add another couple of seconds to their advantage. The gap now out to 1'06.

[Eugene Oppelt]

Onto the final climb for the leaders, the gap now 1'09.

[Eugene Oppelt]

Lotto lead the chase, Sky close by as the gap moves to 1'11.

[Eugene Oppelt]

Lampaert is given a bottle by the Omega team car and with 47km to go the gap is at 1'09.

[Eugene Oppelt]

Wynants drops back to his Belkin team car and picks up some food, as well as some advice. Belkin have moved off the front for now so it's just Omega who are driving the group.

[Eugene Oppelt]

Knees is on the front of the chase now and the gap has come down to 1'05.

[Eugene Oppelt]

44 kays to go

 

And the gap ticks under a minute for the first time.

[Eugene Oppelt]

Belkin have started to work again with Omega, the lead now at 57 seconds.

[Eugene Oppelt]

And Katusha now join the chase, they'll be working for Kristoff of course.

[Eugene Oppelt]

Just love the excitement as the race winds up

[Eugene Oppelt]

Paolini takes a short turn on the front as Stannard and the Eisel follow suit.