Ok, I apologize to anyone who read my preview and got all pumped up for this classic because it really was a snoozer this year. I do hope you set your alarm clocks for the end, though, because Matt Goss certainly made it worth getting up for. The young Australian sprinter took advantage of the "Groupo Compacto" finish and beat out American speedster Tyler Farrar for his first classic of the year. Goss made a case for himself for the Aussie worlds team, stating that he "proved he can win on that type of circuit." There really isn't much to say about the rest of the race. A large breakaway group that attacked very early got up to a 13 minute lead, and the peloton really wasn't doing much to pull them back.
In fact, at one point in the earlier part of the stage, the crowd even jeered and booed the peloton as they passed slowly by. HTC eventually took up the job of the pacemaking and closed the gap slowly but surely until it was a bunch again. A few riders tried to make moves, but could not get off the front of the field and it was set up for a sprint.
1. Matthew Goss2. Tyler Farrar
3. Yoann Offredo
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