Giro dell'Emilia 2018 : Elite Men As It Happened

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Live coverage of the first of the Italian autumn classics.

2018-10-06T12:39:21Z

Hello there. The Italian autumn classics are so underrated, aren't they?

Maybe it's the beautiful scenery, maybe it's the style of racing, maybe it's that end-of-season sense of abandon. Maybe it's even the prospect of those barren winter months - with nothing but Jingle Cross to sustain you - that make you appreciate them all the more. Either way, it's good stuff, and it starts here with the Giro del'Emilia.

2018-10-06T12:48:17Z

80km remaining from 207km

As we pick up the action in the final 80km of racing, we have a breakaway of eight riders with a lead of seven minutes. Those escapees are:

Alberto Bettiol (BMC)

Ben Swift (UAE Team Emirates),

Robert Power (Michelton-Scott)

Scott Davies (Dimension Data)

Niklas Eg (Trek-Segafredo)

Umberto Orsini (Bardiani-CSF)

Nicola Bagioli (Nippo-Vini Fantini)

Viesturs Luksevics (Amore & Vita)

2018-10-06T13:00:11Z

We've done a full preview for these late-season classics, ending with Il Lombardia next Saturday. You can read that here:

From Giro dell'Emilia to Il Lombardia: The final act of the European road season

2018-10-06T13:09:44Z

Here's the race profile

2018-10-06T13:12:52Z

With just under 50km left to race, we've dealt with the early climbs of Mongardino, Passo Brasimone and Valico Ganzole and we're now heading back into Bologna for the all-important finishing circuit. It's 9.3km long and is centred on the short but steep climb to the Santuario della Madonna di San Luca. The riders will do it five times.

2018-10-06T13:20:00Z

Before things really heat up, let's have a look at the potential winners.

Giovanni Visconti was the victor last year in a Bahrain-Merida one-two with Vincenzo Nibali. Both are here again, along with Matej Mohoric and Domenico Pozzovivo. Gianni Moscon (Team Sky) has been in flying form recently and is one of the big favourites. Sky also have Egan Bernal here. EF-Drapac have Worlds bronze medallist Michael Woods and Rigoberto Uran, while Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale), Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ), Enrico Battaglin, Primoz Roglic (LottoNL-Jumbo), Simon Yates (Mitchelton-Scott) and Mikel Landa (Movistar), and Miguel Angel Lopez all figure.

It's a hell of a start list.

2018-10-06T13:20:21Z

40km remaining from 207km

The gap to the break is down to two minutes.

2018-10-06T13:22:39Z

The breakaway riders hit the San Luca climb and the gradients are punishing.

2018-10-06T13:23:18Z

Interesting to see Ben Swift in the break. Things haven't worked out for him at UAE so far and he's still searching for a contract for next season.

2018-10-06T13:23:32Z

FDJ are in control of the peloton as they begin the climb.

2018-10-06T13:28:01Z

The break has split on the climb and the peloton is close at hand. Or what's left of it.

2018-10-06T13:29:45Z

Mohoric has attacked beyond the finish line. The road dips down and then back up again before the descent proper begins. And boy can Mohoric descend.

2018-10-06T13:36:46Z

Mohoric has swept past some of the remnants of the break but only has a handful of seconds over the main field.

2018-10-06T13:37:35Z

It's just Power, Davies, Orsini, and Bagioli left out front.

2018-10-06T13:38:33Z

Orsini has lost contact as the climb starts for a second time.

2018-10-06T13:39:34Z

29km remaining from 207km

Mohoric is caught

2018-10-06T13:42:32Z

A small group has clipped off the front of the main field towards the top of the climb.

2018-10-06T13:43:28Z

Alessandro De Marchi (BMC) has attacked and is making his way over to the three remaining breakaway riders.

2018-10-06T13:44:17Z

Diego Rosa (Team Sky) and a rider from EF were also on the attack. So was Mohoric - again - and he has now dropped them and is also tracking down the break.

2018-10-06T13:44:31Z

De Marchi joins the break, and now Mohoric makes it across too.

2018-10-06T13:45:31Z

Rosa is battling to get across.

2018-10-06T13:46:37Z

It's Danny Martinez from EF, with Alexandre Geniez from AG2R, and they join Rosa now.

2018-10-06T13:47:44Z

Alexandr Riabushenko (UAE) has regained contact with that group now.

2018-10-06T13:49:22Z

23km remaining from 207km

So, up front we have:

De Marchi

Mohoric

Power

Davies

Bagioli

Chasing behind we have:

Rosa

Geniez

Martinez

Riabushenko

2018-10-06T13:49:39Z

Mohoric has dropped everyone on the descent and is leading the race.

2018-10-06T13:53:14Z

The peloton is vastly reduced as they come back around for another lap.

2018-10-06T13:53:36Z

As the road kicks back uphill, De Marchi catches Mohoric and passes him.

2018-10-06T13:55:49Z

Mohoric is weaving on the climb, trying to take the bite out of the gradient. He can descent better than anyone but this race finishes at the top of the climb, so it's hard to see him winning. Bahrain, remember, have decent options behind.

2018-10-06T13:58:22Z

De Marchi crosses the finish line in the lead of the race. He does so with a lead of 27 seconds.

2018-10-06T13:58:35Z

Roglic attacks from the peloton.

2018-10-06T14:01:11Z

Roglic's attack shatters the peloton but riders come across and it calms down once more.

2018-10-06T14:01:46Z

Mattia Cattaneo has attacked for Androni.

2018-10-06T14:02:10Z

16km remaining from 207km

On the secondary incline Geniez has dropped the rest of the chase group and is now alone chasing De Marchi.

2018-10-06T14:02:54Z

The rain is still coming down and the descent is treacherous. There's one nasty hairpin and De Marchi and Geniez in turn both have to slaw to crawling pace.

2018-10-06T14:04:35Z

De Marchi is in a good position but a lot can change on that climb, especially when the big favourites open up.

2018-10-06T14:06:19Z

Mohoric advances once more on the descent. He catches a tentative Geniez who misjudges a corner and has to swing a leg out.

2018-10-06T14:08:33Z

11km remaining from 207km

Trek-Segafredo are leading the chase in the peloton as they come back into town.

2018-10-06T14:08:51Z

Again, as the road heads uphill Mohoric suffers and is dropped by Geniez.

2018-10-06T14:09:22Z

The peloton are close at hand and we should see some action on this next ascent.

2018-10-06T14:10:59Z

10km remaining from 207km

De Marchi hits the steep section and springs out of the saddle. He's in a low gear and travelling slowly. It's a brute of a section. Geniez hits it now and is almost hauling himself up it.

2018-10-06T14:11:24Z

De Marchi has 28 seconds on Geniez. The peloton are a few seconds further back.

2018-10-06T14:12:33Z

Mohoric is caught by the peloton towards the top of the climb.

2018-10-06T14:14:16Z

De Marchi takes the bell as he crosses the finish line for the penultimate climb.

2018-10-06T14:14:46Z

Geniez is caught now so the main field is back together - if reduced - in pursuit of the lone leader De Marchi.

2018-10-06T14:15:04Z

De Marchi leads by 44 seconds. This could be tight.

2018-10-06T14:16:12Z

9km remaining from 207km

The road ducks downhill and then kicks up again before the descent, where De Marchi shouldn't lose too much time. The race will be won and lost in the final two kilometres on the fifth ascent of the devilish San Luca climb.

2018-10-06T14:17:56Z

Such are the weather conditions, television coverage has gone down.

2018-10-06T14:20:45Z

4km remaining from 207km

De Marchi is still upright despite the treacherous conditions. He's giving it everything on the flatter part of this descent.

2018-10-06T14:21:48Z

There have been some attacks from the bunch. Trek have sent a rider off.

2018-10-06T14:22:19Z

It's Brambilla. Oh, and Mohoric is there with him. Obviously.

2018-10-06T14:22:53Z

2km remaining from 207km

De Marchi comes back into town and begins the climb for the last time!

2018-10-06T14:23:03Z

Puncture for Brambilla. Game over.

2018-10-06T14:23:23Z

Mohoric is alone in pursuit now but on the evidence of the previous climbs he won't be catching De Marchi.

2018-10-06T14:23:36Z

Who's going to hit out from the main field?

2018-10-06T14:23:59Z

De Marchi still has a sizeable lead and it looks like he could be on his way to victory here.

2018-10-06T14:24:11Z

Still no big attacks from the main group.

2018-10-06T14:24:31Z

1km remaining from 207km

De Marchi has a lead of 30 seconds.

2018-10-06T14:25:16Z

Bernal is leading the main group now. Nibali, Woods, Pinot and Roglic are all up there but no one is making a big play.

2018-10-06T14:25:39Z

De Marchi's lead is increasing. He has 36 seconds.

2018-10-06T14:25:58Z

Bernal flicks the elbow but no one comes through.

2018-10-06T14:26:14Z

Woods attacks!

2018-10-06T14:26:24Z

Nibali follows.

2018-10-06T14:26:41Z

Into the final kilometre and they can see De Marchi now.

2018-10-06T14:26:51Z

Pozzovivo accelerates now.

2018-10-06T14:27:14Z

The gap is dropping but De Marchi is over the hardest part of the climb.

2018-10-06T14:27:28Z

De Marchi is churning a big gear and is surely tiring now.

2018-10-06T14:27:47Z

Woods goes again but he's marked by a BMC rider and looks over his shoulder.

2018-10-06T14:28:03Z

They're all looking at each other behind.

2018-10-06T14:28:13Z

And now Woods' teammate Uran attacks.

2018-10-06T14:28:31Z

Uran takes off from a group of seven that has formed. No one follows for now.

2018-10-06T14:28:40Z

Pozzovivo now goes after Uran.

2018-10-06T14:28:54Z

But De Marchi is into the home straight and is going to take this.

2018-10-06T14:29:14Z

De Marchi crosses his chest and punches the air as he crosses the line.

2018-10-06T14:29:26Z

Uran takes second place, 10 seconds down.

2018-10-06T14:36:31Z

"I had to go it alone," says De Marchi. "It was the only way I could win today, and thankfully it paid off."

2018-10-06T14:41:41Z

No big spectacle among the pre-race favourites, but hats off to De Marchi for a smart and well-executed victory.

2018-10-06T14:42:24Z

Top 5

1 Alessandro De Marchi (Ita) BMC Racing Team
2 Rigoberto Uran (Col) EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale
3 Dylan Teuns (Bel) BMC Racing Team
4 Hugh Carthy (GBr) EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale
5 Thibaut Pinot (Fra) Groupama-FDJ