29/09/2013 Cycling

Bradley Wiggins rides into the record books. Mark Cavendish has won

the world title for Great Britain. Here he comes. Bradley Wiggins is

the Olympic champion. Chris Froome crosses the line as the winner of

the 2013 Tour de France! A very good afternoon to you,

welcome back to Florence for the cycling World Championships. It is

the men's road race today. Made even more dramatic by the apocalyptic

weather, it has not stopped raining all day. Alongside me Lizzie

Armitstead, silver medallist and wrote in yesterday's Road race. You

must be delighted you were not racing today? Very much so. I think

there has been more crashes in this race than in a long time at a World

Championship. Yesterday you finished 19th, how content were you? I

suppose I was content, obviously not very happy, but content will do. I'm

looking forward to next season. Again another World Championships

which may suit me. Chris, we always talked about this being a difficult

course. It is now. How much difference does this make? It is an

utterly different race now. Incredibly tough out there, the

amount of time they have to spend on the circuit. We have been more

crashes in the last hour than the last five World Championships.

Absolute carnage with riders sliding off. The slightest mistake and you

are down. Chris has been out on the course and here is his guide to what

is an incredibly tough course. Although the racing started some

calamitous from here, the racing proper only starts when they get to

the finishing circuit here on the outskirts of Florence. It is a

really tough 16.5 kilometres. Although the riders are going to

have to tackle this 4.5: At a scent, a brutal ten times, on paper

it is very much the toughest dissent on the circuit, but it is not where

the final battle will be fought. As they reached the summit, the riders

are already stretched out into a thin line. They certainly will be

when they get here. Because the dissent starts immediately, there is

absolutely no possibility of forming a chasing group. Showers will make

that fast decent interesting having swooped down the five kilometre

descent, the riders will arrive here. It might be just 600 metres in

length, but with a 16% maximum gradient, it proves an excellent

opportunity for a late attack. I think there is just one more chance

around the corner. Before they arrive here there are one or two

around the corner. Before they tiny amps. But their location in the

final few minutes of racing could make them axed -- could make them

absolutely pivotal. There are a lot of different scenarios which can

play out. We can be certain of three things. The classical riders will

want to keep their powder dry until the last possible second. Climbers

will want to make life difficult for them the moment they get on the

circuit. Combined, we are going to get an action packed very open day

of racing. Really difficult day in the saddle. One rider not out there

is Jonathan Tiernan-Locke. He pulled out earlier on this week. It turns

out that the UCI, the International Federation, have asked for an

explanation of a possible discrepancy in as biological

passport. This is something which is relatively new. The biological

passport is put in place for professional riders. It means you

have a blood test every month and those values from your blood test

are put into a database which gives you your blood passport. It is

analysed, they look for trends. Then they look for anomalies within your

passport. That is what he has been asked to explain. We understand it

is an alarm -- and anomaly dating back to September. Chris, should we

really be speaking about this at this point in the investigation? It

has certainly become a trend in cycling if there is a positive

sample, it is all over the press immediately. There is definitely a

case to say, let it play through and trust the powers that be. Let them

come to a conclusion then have a judgement. As you know, reputations

can be utterly destroyed. There may be a reasonable explanation, so we

should probably hold fire. It is not good news, it is not ideal for the

British team. Not something they want to talk about on a day like

this with fantastic racing. We have to reiterate that nothing is proven

at this stage, there is no actual case he has done something wrong.

The racing started at 9am this morning, it was raining then as

well. This is the story so far. Here we are, the start of the men's

elite road race. I think all bets are off if the weather is going to

be like this all afternoon. Confirmation of our leaders. The

Venezuelan is at the front. The rain is coming down heavily.

am just hearing that the peloton has split up on the descent. The second

half of the pack containing Bradley Wiggins is just making contact again

now. Those riders were in the backpass as it is split on the

descent. He has not been up towards the front with his team-mates.

A small crash there that we can see. We will be seeing a few more of

these crashes. The Lithuanian rider is in a difficult position. The

British team chasing the breakaway, Mark Cavendish doing the vast

majority of the work there. He has Mark Cavendish doing the vast

dropped to the back now. We have had confirmation that Wiggins and

Cavendish have abandoned the race. They are out. Not a great day for

Bradley. Evans has been caught in the crash. Here we are, here is the

aftermath of the crash and it looks nasty. On the front of the peloton.

Is Chris Froome seeing his chances slip away? That leading group of

five has been whittled down to two. Chris Froome is out of the race.

Chris Froome is out of this World Championship race.

We started this morning with high hopes of British success. Chris, it

really has not worked out in the way we thought. No, we were talking in

commentary earlier that that double was easier to do because that was

when the World Championships were in August. You came out of the Tour de

France and went straight into the World Championships. Now there is a

France and went straight into the number of months and a lot of

distractions. It is difficult to keep that motivation through to the

end of September. It was a big challenge. As soon as we got to the

circuit, it was not looking good for them this year. Lizzie, were you

surprised? Chris Froome himself said he targeted this championship. Yes,

but I think that is a case of accepting the pressure and giving

the media what they want. No one wants to sit in an interview and

say, I do not have good form. You going confident because that is the

only way you would ever win a World Championship. You have to talk a

good game. In terms of who was left, Chris, the Italians are going very

well. They look good. To stay out of trouble and do the first couple of

laps, they did a great job. They whittled the bunch down to around 50

riders. They are doing a lot of work and in the last half an hour Belgium

have come to the front. They are looking really good. And the Germans

as well. There are several teams starting to show their colours.

Cancer Lara has been present all day. He is looking for a victory. --

Mike Fabian Cancellara. Who is your money on? I think I will go for the

defending champion. He is coming into form at the right time. Let's

handover to the final stages. Here we are with just over four laps

to go. What a war of attrition it is.

going win. Thunder is in the background. As the battle for the

rainbow jersey really starts to hot up. We had a

group, it has been whittled down to two.

The Polish and the Czech Republic rider are working well together at

the front. Most rider are working well together at

contenders all still together. We can see the Italian team still with

three on the front. The main man of course the winner of the Giro

D'Italia this year. He feels he can win on this course but he knows he

will have to leave everyone behind. He would have to win on his own. We

have been trying to keep track of the British team for you. The only

rider who may still be out there is the British team for you. The only

Geraint Thomas. Everybody else has definitely abandoned. Not sure about

Thomas, but we will bring you the news as soon as the. With bikes

changes and various issues, not all of the bikes have got the

transponders on now, it is not always possible to tell who is

where. Peter Sagan is one of those not coming up on any of the time

checks. This is where the Italian riders are at the moment, and a

momentary problem there for one of them. His gear seemed to slip. That

is actually a disqualification action there. Normally that is an

instant disqualification. Let's see if the judges pick up on that. I

think they would not get out of here alive if they disqualified one of

the Italians for something like that. Marcus Burghardt have gone to

the front. This part of the course is -- is short and sharp.

Cumulatively, it really does sap the strength from your legs. You can see

the second peloton. You can see the speed, just 13 kilometres an hour.

It shows how steep this is. Well speed, just 13 kilometres an hour.

over 12,000 feet of climbing they will have done today, broken into

these chunks. There is Cancer Lehrer just going through the picture

there. -- Cancer Lehrer. I suspect that he will not get up first.

Alberto Contador goes through in the red of Spain. There is Fabian

Cancellara. Alberto Contador crashed early in the race, we have to

remember that. He needs to get back on terms and get into the race. We

are seeing it start to heat up. Marcus Burghardt have gone to the

front in the last couple of minutes. An experienced rider. And

the winner of a classic as well in Belgium a few years ago.

Dropping back a little bit is the Italian. The latest information we

are getting is Geraint Thomas has joined the rest of the British team

on the bus. I think that is it from the British team. We were just

talking with Jonathan Edwards, the British team set the bar so high

everybody expects medals out of every single thing they write. It

just shows how hard it is. At the end of a long season, weather like

this, difficult to keep that level of performance. Official

confirmation, there are no British riders in this elite world road race

champ and ship -- championship. We have still got potentially a

fantastic race to look forward to. There is the defending champion,

Philippe Gilbert and he looks really good. Looking back just to see what

shape everybody is in, are there any gaps, is it worth me committing to

make some effort? That is the first gaps, is it worth me committing to

time I have seen him starting to make the gap but he has been caught

out here. How did he find himself back in this part of the field? That

is a surprise, he has been right at the front every time we have seen

him. I cannot believe there are physical reasons, he has looked so

good in the last hour of race. Lizzie Armitstead's for the day.

Huzarski from Poland leading Jan Barta of the Czech Republic. The

long straight road towards the finishing line. They will still have

four laps to go and live -- when they crossed the line. That is one

four laps to go and live -- when hour 40 minutes of racing left, when

they get back to us, still a long way to go. It's a short and use a

four laps, but each one is over 25. -- its sounds short when you say for

now -- for Belgium are well presented in this

group. The only right that they have lost is Leukemans, who crashed on

the descent from Fiesole quite a while ago now. Otherwise well

represented towards the front of the race. He was the leading duo.

If you have just joined our coverage, it has been like that

pretty much for the entire day and they started at 9am UK time.

The five rider lead group is down to two. The lead maximised at eight

minutes, long time ago. I didn't think they would be anywhere near

being out in front at this point in think they would be anywhere near

the race. I thought they would have been caught up by all the

infighting, probably helps they are both from the same professional

team, of course. That little bit bigger than cash

puddle and again every lap. Five and half hours in the saddle. There is

quite a lot of action back in the group, everybody has decided now is

the time. That will suit the Batley -- Nibali. There are the two leaders

for the moment, we are not expecting them to be in the shake-up towards

the end, a little gap opening up, that is Alex Howells of the United

States. A bit further back maxi mum for -- maxi mum for.

These tight camera shots are showing us the riders, we are not sure

whether they are attacking. Gilbert just grabbing a snap behind the

Polish rider who leads the way. Fabian Cancellara, tucked into the

middle of that group. Why will find itself was that.

Carlos Betancur in the white, from Columbia. The last thing you would

want to do in a situation like this is eat that they have to eat a

thousand calories in a race like is eat that they have to eat a

this, critical to get the fuel on board. I just saw Cancellara tucked

in behind one of his team-mates. The weather is not getting any better.

Just under four laps to go. This remaining at over two minutes. They

have been out that 190 millimetres. It is splitting up a little bit at

the front of the race. The German, we saw him attack at the Via

Salviati. The Austrian is fourth on the road, four seconds behind.

Interesting time for him to attack, four laps to go, a long way out to

start making the moves. If he did manage to get a gap of some fresh

riders, a very difficult circuit to organise a chase.

Still coming through in dribs and drabs, those left in the race. Right

at the back of the group was Matthias Brandle who had been in the

lead part for quite a long time. Fortier of France -- Gautier. He got

into attacking day after day. He has got a similar style to Voeckler,

which is a hard thing to do. Back with the leading to riders. A long

day for them in the front. Not entirely a bad thing to be in that

breakaway, the rain was so terrible earlier, it gives you a little bit

more elbow room and a bit more of an opportunity to pick your own line. I

don't think it is in any way an easy job to sit on the wheels. It has

been a big advantage earlier, but with these conditions, expending

some energy riding on the front has not been anywhere near as costly as

it might have been in the dry conditions, just keeping yourself

out of edition, right smoothly rather than constant acceleration

is. A few seconds advantage for Gautier. Very prominent in the Tour.

He will start the client in a kilometre. He will have had to have

saved a bit of energy. The energy you expend to get the time gap,

suddenly on the climb, it makes a huge difference if you are a little

fatigued. All of the attacking will happen on the climb. On the

descent, for a good defender like Gilbert or Cancellara, attacking on

the descent could be a good move, or the final place, Via Salviati with

3.5 kilometres to go. That was where both races were won yesterday. The

junior men's race, and also Marianne Vos in the women's race. That was

where she delivered the knockout blow and escaped to win on her reign

ahead of Emma Johansson and Rossella Ratto. The weather is so different,

just 24 hours difference. The entire week has been perfect, dry racing.

Even last weekend they forecast this weather. It is utterly changed the

landscape. Van Summeren on the front. 61 in the White with the gold

and green for a stranger, Simon Clark. Gilbert just pushing Serge

Pauwels in forward. Disappearing behind a tree. If that Alberto

Contador we are looking up without the number visible? In the red and

black with yellow stripe. Gilbert alongside him, the number one on his

back. Looks to be working a little bit harder than he was earlier in

back. Looks to be working a little the race. Have a marked looking very

smooth still. He was an outsider, the kind of person who could take

advantage. Germany with a couple of riders up towards the front,

Burghardt, having been reeled back in. Serge Pauwels as they come back

around to the coin. -- climb. Belgium starting to fill the role

the Italians were a little earlier on. You wonder, the Italians came

onto the circuit, so dominant, is this a strategic thinker where they

have decided they are going to back off and sit back, or have they done

too much work to early last remark number 90 in the red and white is

Fabian Cancellara, and Norwegian there. 119 is the Ukrainian, he has

been hanging around towards the front of the race. The lower slopes

of the climb, two or 3% gradient, it slowly ramps up. A few Columbia

riders in that group but none of them up towards the front so far.

They are just riding on the back, that is Ruby Arno. -- with the

anode. You can see the damage being done at

the back of the field. The remaining struggling to hang on at the back of

the peloton. Every lap we will lose more one to more people. We were

down to 84 at the last check. I think we will have 40, 50 finishers.

It is the Belgian team setting the pace. The climb proper has started

now, 4.5% average before it gets down little bit and kicks up to

nearly 8%. Fairly constant for the last kilometre and a half. The

Belgians have decided they want control on the descent, I am

wondering if they have decided to try something, is it too early? They

have committed to keeping the whole team at the front? The French team

coming forward as well. Thomas team at the front? The French team

Voeckler in the middle of the three French riders.

Thomas Voeckler up there, and the French national champion, the French

are quite a few riders are there. The first time the French have come

towards the front today, they were very tacking in the men's under 23

race on Friday afternoon. One after the other having a go in the last

race on Friday afternoon. One after three laps also, didn't quite work.

The kind of pattern you normally see in a World Championships, you don't

see people until the final few laps, and you remember they are actually

in the race. Maxine Montfort taking up the pace for Belgium. Six riders

left for Belgium, the big number at this stage of what has been an

incredibly tough race, certainly since it they reached the circuit, a

very difficult race, treacherous for sure, physically hard as well.

Instigated by a team of Italy who have gone quite quiet at the moment,

we're not sure whether they are just regrouping for the final couple of

laps or whether they have spent too much energy earlier on. it looks

like a rider from the United States there handing underneath their race

cape. -- hiding. They have been riding well. They have not really

lost contact with the front group as it has been splitting up. The

Italians know they have got to get someone at the front. The third life

-- the third rider in line is from Belgium. That is interesting, I am

not sure who it is from Italy trying to close the gap there. They are not

waiting to save their troops. They physically were unable to close the

gap there. The Swiss rider is playing a waiting game. Marcus

Burghardt there in the German jersey. An Italian rider, I am not

sure who it is coming towards the front. Meanwhile, back with the

leading duo. The next time check will be at the 212 marks. That

little flurry has split the field a little. Not massively, three or four

seconds. I think this will be the shape of things for the next few

laps. When the front group sense of the selection is right, the pressure

will stay on. They have just under four laps to go. What a tough, elite

road race course this is. The French four laps to go. What a tough, elite

man there, in second place. There is the American. Thomas, seventh in

this event last year, quite a disappointing year by his standards.

But he is going to like this sort of circuit and poor weather.

Even if this move does not actually work, there is quite a large group

there and we get an idea of who is strong and who is not. Who was

capable to chase easily. I sense some holes in the Italian squad

there. And back with the chasing group.

The Norwegian is there wearing a red and white jersey. If you have just

joined our coverage, the British team backing Chris Froome today, but

not a good day for Great Britain. The whole of the British team out of

the race. Two safely over the summer to yet again. Quite a lot of action

going on behind them. Our camera shop there gives us a quick glimpse

of who are struggling and who is comfortable. Just a little bit

further down the climb. That group has really lined out. The group is

thinning out very quickly. What is most courageous is having the legs

and waiting and waiting. Watching people go up the road and not

reacting to it. That takes a lot of experience and a lot of courage. We

have seen on the other races, around the three laps to go mark, it has

just been too early. No one has been able to get away and stay away for

just been too early. No one has been that length of time. About an hour

and a quarter of racing. It is inside the last hour that we will

start to see it shape up. Gilbert still nicely tucked in the middle of

that group. Another one of the Sky riders. Still about 54 riders left

in this lead group plus some stragglers. Lots of riders there. A

little short also of Diego, he has done a lot of work for Italy. It is

no surprise he is running out of gas.

His day is almost done. There is a lot more he can do to help the

team. If you cannot stay with the front runners on the climb, there is

not much flat to give any kind of assistance. It has been like that

for some time. The Italians have done a lot of work in the early laps

of this circuit. Pack with the leaders. The Italians heading back

towards the front on the descent there.

The overall winner of the tour of Denmark this year, just 22 years of

age. It is quite a tough race. It is, quite a hilly race. He is in

some great company here. Sure enough, we have only had 69

riders go over the summit. It is just whittling down, a few at a

time. They must be getting familiar with this descent right now. What

will happen in the last two laps as people start to push it? A little

bit of desperation creeping in. You might be able to hear the thunder on

our microphones. Every now and then there is a huge clap. A flash of

lightning just lit up our commentary position here. That cameraman's

cloth was saturated hours ago, but he is still doing his best. It is a

point in the race now where all the riders should be having those

numbers uncovered. It is getting very difficult to take the capes

off. They may be forced to go all the way to the finish wearing them.

One of the Italian riders looked to be off the front of that group.

Hopefully we can get closer and see who it was.

It is who I thought it was. He has decided it is his lap to attack, it

didn't happen the first time so he has driven on. He has decided, yes.

He is more than capable of sticking it out at the front there. 56

kilometres remaining. Interesting little turn of events. And something

for the other teams to think about. They will have to commit themselves

and because there are some quality riders at the front there. Do a fair

and because there are some quality bit of racing to go, an hour and a

quarter I think. Good descenders as well. I am trying to think if it has

actually stopped racing -- raining on the race once today. I do not

think so. Back with the front of the race now.

Huzarski of Poland and Barta. The camera scans back down the incline.

That is less than ten kilometres an hour. You can see how hard it is.

The two chasers are probably only 200 metres behind now. Here come the

chasers. Preidler is immediately behind Huzarski and Barta. Even if

it does not work out of a forcing the hands of the opposition,

Italians. You can just feel the pain from

Barta as he strings to get to the top of this climb. I do not think

you will have to worry for too much longer.

Marcus Burghardt there on the left-hand side for Germany. Nobody

is having an easy time up here. You are looking to see who is in good

shape, but no one is having fun getting up here. Huzarski and

Barta, the first to riders to reach the top. Preidler at 25 seconds.

It is an interesting turn of events at this point of the race that they

have been allowed to slip the peloton. I was just trying to decide

what to call it now, is it a group? No, that is a peloton. Well, they

have escaped the growth of favourites in many ways. Looking

ahead at the race, some of the real big hitters, the fake Fabi and

cancel error's of this world. -- Fabian Cancellara love.

Switzerland is in trouble. If they give them much moreover it will

become very dangerous indeed. Belgium have not got anybody up

there either. Belgium and Switzerland. Belgium, the nation of

the defending champion filly Jill there -- Philip Gilbert.

-- Philippe Gilbert. Who's going to do some chasing? The Swiss are

gathering at the front but not doing anything with it. They may be

waiting for the climb. This is where experience comes in. Just wait and

waiting for the climb. This is where let them ride away. You know if you

chase now, you will get to the foot of the climb and you will get blown

away. They have to wait until the climb before they start the chase,

so everybody has got to pay a price for the chase. A good hour and a

quarter to go before the finish line. We riding with Visconti and

Gautier, they are fifth and sixth. Preidler and Kelderman are just in

Gautier, they are fifth and sixth. front of them by about 17 seconds.

If they can reach that that it is a powerful group of four. I don't

think they have got a lot left to give. They have been out there for

an awful long time. Kelderman and Preidler, not two of the bigger

names to the wider public, but who really good young riders. Preidler

is 23, just finished the vaulted Italia -- Vuelta a Espana. He needs

him for the next hour. Becoming a dab hand at riding away

roads, these two men. Plenty of practice today. Young Barta and

Huzarski, just a couple of twists and turns before they turned down a

very long finishing straight, a couple of climate as a weight from

that finishing straight. That is the race at the front, very much under

way. Just over three laps to go, but the whole of the British team out of

the race already, no World the whole of the British team out of

Championships jersey for the Tour de France winner Chris Froome today, he

pulled out some while ago and after doing so

Ceglar through that, disappointed enough to pull out. Definitely, big

disappointment especially after having trained so hard and making

this such a big objective, it would have been fantastic way to finish of

the season. In these conditions here today, it just wasn't to be. Can you

tell us what it is riding in the conditions last remark --? The first

three maps, even before coming on the circuit, there were crashes

everywhere. It's just the weather today. It hasn't let up all day,

reigning solidly, and all the drains are flooded, at some points on the

road we were that deep in water, that was what caused most of the

crashes, people trying to move on the sides and getting stuck in the

gutters. You dropped off the tracing group, when was the decision may you

were going to pull out? After three laps this blitz started happening

and I didn't really have any team-mates with me and I thought

this was not going to happen today. Looking forward, this is something

of a trial run, looking further Looking forward, this is something

ahead towards Rio, is that something you can think about? This would have

been a good exercise for that, but given we have come up empty handed

we will have to go back to the drawing board. No Brits left in the

race now, a significant way to go, pretty disappointing. The conditions

are the same for everyone, we have got no excuse, we just went there

today. -- were not there today. A disappointing day for Chris

Froome, but he has had a pretty good year, several major victories. It

isn't Britain's day-to-day in the rain in Tuscany at the World

Championships. As we head into the rain in Tuscany at the World

final 50 comet is, these two are still in the lead, the Chase is very

much on. Preidler from Austria, Kelderman from the Netherlands,

catching to close at five seconds since the

last check, they are still motoring. It is not long now

in a very good edition. Not had a massive year. A couple of wins in

the Gia row. -- Jerry did Italia. Belgium have been forced to take up

the chase. That is Johan Van Belgium have been forced to take up

Summeren riding on the front. The group containing a lot of the

favourites for the race. Mollema just having a bite to eat. Thomas

Voeckler in the friend in the navy blue. We will see a lot of action on

this next climb. They cannot let this go much further now.

Just 12 seconds between Preidler and Kelderman, and Gautier and Visconti.

If they come together it is a formidable group. A good number in

weather conditions like this. We are now with Visconti. It is fair to say

you can discard the clothing, the racing is underway and it will not

let up. The race is really on for the world title. Visconti tucked in

their behind Cyril Gautier. Preidler just different. They offered and

forth on the road. As you say, when they get together, a lot of talent.

Interesting to see how much cooperation there is. Generally you

get good cooperation to make a solid before they start to look at each

other and think about medals and the like. No disparity between the

countries, all well represented. Refuelling is a key element. Pretty

much the last possibility. Only the next few minutes. After that it

doesn't matter what you eat, it will not be digestive until you finish.

Most will have switched to liquid feeds so they can kill two birds

with one stone. Probably about 70 grams of carbohydrates in each of

the bottles. A big turn on the front from Van Summeren, Cancellara going

through not taking anything on board. Simon Clark as well, Carlos

Betancur going through. So many big names all in that group. I am

interested to see who is going to do the chasing as they go on to the

main slopes of the climb. Just got confirmation those four are together

now. If they managed to stay together over the top of this next

climb it becomes a dangerous move will stop surely we have got to see

reaction from behind. Belgium and Switzerland are the two nations that

everybody will be looking at more than anybody else. Philippe Gilbert

and Fabian Cancellara. I cannot believe how long they have lasted. I

thought a couple of laps they will be finished but they have been

pacing themselves very well. Being team-mates outside of this on the

professional team. They ride as team-mates throughout the year.

Working very well together at the front. Nothing to lose. Dedicated

crowd to be out in this today. So many umbrellas, everybody has come

prepared with waterproofs. Those are in the posh seats, they have got a

roof. We have been moaning a little bit about being really hot in this

enclosed booth all week. Air conditioning not working. We are

laughing now! Not saying a word. They are still having a good time.

As we head towards the closing stages of this elite road race.

Those two are holding the gap according to the GPS track which is

phenomenal. Over four kilometres long, the climb up to fears of a. A

strong right by Huzarski and young Barta -- Jan Barta. It was

considered to be an open race but Fabian Cancellara, who has really

targeted this world road race. I am wondering if they have lost some

pictures momentarily, as much as I like flags, but it would be great to

see the bike riders. We have a slight technical hitch here. That

gave us the briefest of looks at Radley Wiggins legs. -- Bradley

Wiggins' legs. One or two riders coming to grief. While we take this

little rake we will hopefully get the technical sorted out. Let's find

out about current Thomas' day. Was it like that then? Not the best

day on the bike. Obviously we had Froome as a leader, he wasn't on a

great day, the rain and cold, it wasn't to be. A bit of bad luck with

Steve puncturing, not the weather for Brad, so they were our two

strongest guys and we lost them as soon as we hit the circuit. Not

ideal, not a lot we can do. The rest of us didn't have the legs to do

anything in the final. You look at the teams, you would think the Great

Britain 's would-be best suited to the teams, you would think the Great

the rain. Not so much climbing. It was just carnage out there. As soon

as you drift to the second half of the peloton, crashes everywhere. I

saw five or six big crashes in front of me. As soon as that happens the

people lose a wheel, you are chasing, get back on the climb, it

offers Lee goes over the top again, once you are in that back half you

are destined to get dropped. We all committed to trying, but it wasn't

meant to be. Did everybody fully commit at the end? By the time you

got to the circuit it was a decimated team. Luke and Cavendish

did a great job earlier on. The first time at the client we will all

their apart from Brad and Steve -- up the climb. When the Italians went

we were still in a good position. It was just hard, not a lot we could

have done, don't have the legs. Geraint Thomas talking to Jill

Douglas reflecting on a disappointing day for the British

team. There have not been many of those in recent years. Disappointing

is an understatement, not what they would have hoped for to be out of

contention so quickly. They will have two had a good thing. The

weather conditions not sitting there. They would have definitely

hoped to be in play at least until the state of the game. Visconti

leading the chase. Two riders out in front. Huzarski from Poland and

Barta from the Czech Republic. The Polish rider was just forging ahead

little bit as resort. Towards the head of that peloton, the main

chasing peloton, the Belgian team are starting to come to the front.

chasing peloton, the Belgian team Van Summeren is driving it or he was

only one, I am assuming it is the same person on the front. This group

has formed, they have to start working together. Having said that

it could quickly be a group of three because Kelderman is not comfortable

at all. Visconti putting on the pressure. He is really driving on

here. He senses and opportunity. Even if he doesn't pull it off he

had is putting pressure on the other teams to chase this down which is

helping his own team. The Italians have always astounded me, their

ability to be able to put on a national jersey and worked as a

cohesive strategy for stock they work very hard to make sure an

Italian wins, not I win. Here is the front, Huzarski who is still hanging

on there, going past the Polish wrangler corner. -- Fanclub corner.

He has been holding on, this next time check will be fascinating. They

have been out there for all but ten kilometres of the race. they were

cleverer at the start, for the first 100 kilometres they kept it at a

steady pace. That lulled the peloton 100 kilometres they kept it at a

into a false sense of security. No chase was started, so they have

saved some energy for the circuit. I think it will be over fairly soon,

but it has been one massive effort. Visconti of going away, the Italian.

but it has been one massive effort. He has left everybody behind, I did

not think he would do this, but he has decided he can make more

progress alone. He is about to catch Barta. He is a very dangerous rider.

It has given the other teams something to think about. He has

gone past Barta as though he was standing still. Visconti is a

team-mate of... He is going like a standing still. Visconti is a

train up this climb. He is a very good defender, so he will have a

chance to take a breather. There is no way you can get a chase

organised. Here is the leader once more. His advantage is around half a

minute. The chase is further down the

climb. Almost reaching the highest point on the circuit here. This is

going to be a fascinating time check on the top of this climb. Everybody

happy to let the Belgians get on with it at the moment. They are

almost into the last hour of racing today, the gaps of one minute become

very interesting indeed. Just looking in the background there.

Just looking to see if Visconti is coming into view. He cannot be too

far behind, surely. That is a group containing the big

favourites for victory today. It is to quite large, this group. Despite

the completely different weather conditions, we have seen large

groups towards the end. It whittles down to 50, but since then it has

not shrunk much further. Just under 44 kilometres to go.

now. This will get the Italian crowds leaping up and down by the

now. This will get the Italian side of the road. To ride through

your home crowd, and be close to the front, what a feeling. And almost up

to the top, the main chasing peloton. Gautier the third over of

the time check. Now then, it gets interesting on the descent. There is

a pressure to maximise the opportunity of a descent. Up towards

the front there we just saw Rodrigue 's. Up the side last year's number

one Philippe Gilbert. There really is pressure to push on with this

descent. The fatigue is there. So easy to lose the advantages you have

spent hundreds of kilometres gaining. Just over 1.5 minutes

behind. 1.28 the official time gap. Visconti should probably be hour

mark now. They do not have long now. Two more sense. Two laps to go when

they crossed the line next time. It Two more sense. Two laps to go when

has stopped raining now in the race for the first time today. The roads

are still saturated, but the rain has actually stopped and I think we

can see the sun in front of us. Do not get too excited. I had almost

forgotten what it looks like. We know this country is an excellent

defender. The motorbike is struggling to keep up with him here.

18 seconds between them. He has taken another seven seconds from the

Polish rider. He is eating into the advantage. Sweeping left-hander

coming up. Listen to the breaks. We have all had a good chance to check

this out. The Belgian back on the front. You can see the third Belgian

rider. Just happy to leave a bit of a gap there and maybe let team-mates

slip away on this descent. 40 kilometres remaining. From the

height of the helicopter I thought that was two Belgian jerseys, it is

in fact one of the Italians on the wheel. Back to Visconti. Now, can he

close the gap on the next passage? Surely he is going to get close.

Despite being out there for so long, Huzarski is still riding strongly.

Visconti is a commended wild card to throw in there from Italy. -- a

tremendous. When he had been towards Florence again, there will be a wall

of noise either side of the road cheering him on in proceeds of

Huzarski from Poland. The gap is still 17 seconds. Perhaps Visconti

is playing the long game and aiming for the finish line. Without the

shine of the rain on the roads, it gives you the sense it is actually

dry now, but surely that is not the case. Simon Clark is still riding

strongly. He has been quietly getting on with it all day. There is

now a 12 second gap. Huzarski has done the ride of his life here.

Being warned about the right-hander coming up. There is Simon Clark from

Australia. What a stupendous effort. Number 48 just sorting out his back

pocket. Our leader has about a minute and a half of pain and

torture now, he is about to do this climb. An anxious glance behind, and

here is Visconti. Panda lies in the close now, but the

speed has dropped. 100 metres is still quite a long way. A lot of

motor bikes on the roads, both of them are riding with similar styles

and cadence. There is no style involved. It is a struggle after

this long in the saddle. Look at that. A push from the crowd there.

The crowd doing their best to roar on the home rider from Italy. Look

how close they are now, but that gap is still around ten seconds I would

say. Nine: It is an hour. The women's race actually went up here

considerably quicker. You are seeing the effect of the rain and all that

extra distance. Just think, they have got to do that twice more

before they are done today. Surely have got to do that twice more

it is going to kick off soon in the main field. There is Gautier back

with that group. This conte coming through now in second place. --

Visconti. 200 and 34 kilometres completed it has got to kick off on

the next percent of the main climb. -- the next ascent of the main

climb. Let's see what kind of condition

people are in. At the back of that group, the remaining riders still

hanging on there. Gilbert, just if you wield behind.

Visconti now joining with Huzarski at the front of the race. Just

backing off a little bit, happy to stay in second place at the moment.

I will have to get a time check for you off the race radio, because the

GPS signals did not trigger on that lap. Probably full of water, just

like everything else around here. The most important thing is we know

who is at the front of the race and it is that man there. He is showing

no signs of weakening, even now. Also a tremendous effort from the

Polish rider to be in that lead breakaway group and stay at the

front of the race for so long. There we are, our two leaders. We could do

with confirmation of the gap. They we are, our two leaders. We could do

are three kilometres away from the finishing line and then they will

have two more laps of the circuit to go. The last incline.

Cycling heartland, many of the professional cyclists living in this

region. This is the first time the championships have ever been held in

Tuscany. Amazing really, when it is championships have ever been held in

considered the heartland for bike riding. You can see why. Amazing to

rain, culture and food. In the World Championship is in Spain next year.

The gap we have been given is one minute 15. It is all going to happen

on the climb. 1.15 is a sizeable gap. In a race with decent chasing

roads and big teams to do the chasing, 1.15 would be not much of a

problem, but this is not the same thing at all. There has been a crash

at the back. We have not had one of those for quite awhile now that it

has down. It is Vincenzo Nibali who has gone down, which would be

disastrous for the Italian team. Is that Nibali sitting on the floor in

the background? That is the second that Nibali sitting on the floor in

time we have had a crush on that part

Dan, Luca Paolini from Italy. A disaster for the Italian team,

everything was working out well for them, everybody else on the back

foot and they have lost major players. So many white lines on the

circuit. It has done quite some damage to the group. I think that

what they're worried looks like Nibali has come off was exactly the

same place where a number of riders felt earlier in the afternoon when

Cadel Evans was forced out of the race. He is getting back on his

bike. He doesn't look unreadable. It will take him a while to get back in

touch. A long, hard JC has got in front of him. Doesn't look like he

has got himself going. What a disappointment for the home crowd.

Nibali, the winner of the Duro Italia this year, one of the

favourites for victory dashed Jiro Italia.

It is not the riding they were hoping for but it is the one they

have got, he is doing a great job. Nibali is out of contention in this

race now. As Visconti pushes on at the front. This has become a very

important break for Italy, they are probably just getting the news

important break for Italy, they are passed across now. There are no race

radios. There is nothing he can do, he is already committed to this

course of action. It is not a decoy any more, this is going for the

victory. 1:10 the gap. Too early to start driving for home. All the

British team are out of the race, all of the Irish riders are out as

well. It will still be a tremendous battle for this world championship

jersey. Two laps to go, just over six and a half hours racing already.

Italy have a man at the front, not the one they were expecting, Nibali,

their big star, having just crashed. Visconti leads the way along with

Huzarski who has been part of the leading group throughout the day.

The last man standing from an original five man leading group. If

you are wondering why he is sitting at the back, I think he deserves it.

He has done 230: That is out in front to date. -- 230: That is out

in front Van Summeren drag them up the climb

and he is turning himself inside out.

The speed the front two riders, Visconti and Huzarski, are going,

they made it look fairly steady but the inroads they are making, they

are getting there, it is slow and steady. It will be about one minute,

just over a minute difference. Peter Sagan in a bright green crash helmet

and a royal blue jersey in the middle of your picture, alongside

Tim Fabian Cancellara. Gilbert is also there, they are probably the

biggest names going into the race, Alejandro Valverde is still up

there. They will not wait till the last descent, the tax will come

thick and fast. -- the attacking. One: seven the gap. Trying to pick

out some of the contenders at one minute and seven.

Boasson Hagen, Burkhardt. Boasson Hagen is hanging in there well. You

wouldn't want to get him -- let him get over the top. 12 kilometres of

climbing left in this race to make the difference to get across. You

have got to assume they will be roughly neutral on the descent. They

have got about 20 parameters of chase a ball road to get back --

kilometres. The action has to start on this next climb. Inside the last

two laps of the finishing circuit of the men's elite road race at the

world Championships. Jan Barta let's -- back... Takes off and outer

layer. We might get a replay of the crash.

The pedestrian crossing that causes it. That is a terrible feeling. That

is the Luca Paolini crash, I think. That was Paoli knee. -- Luca

Paolini. It also involved the Norwegian and Roman bar day France.

The crash before the crash, so many to choose from. At one moment we

were having great radio calling a crush every two or three minutes.

Then it can't down for the last hour or so. With the pressure going on we

might see one or two more. Just over one minute. All the medallist last

year or in contention, Alberta, Boasson Hagen and fell 30. --

Alejandro Valverde. Twice world bronze medallist, two other top-10

finishes over the years, will this finally be his year for Spain in the

World Championships? He is still in contention. He has team-mates in the

chase group as well. Van Summeren has peeled off, his day is done.

Gilbert still looks strong, in third position. I am just looking for who

is left out of the Italian team. There is Peter Sagan, number nine.

Contador from Spain. Skype only is still there. -- Michaelis Carboni

still there. Still chasing, he hasn't given up.

It is so hard now, they are already on the climb and riding hard. Here

we are with the leaders, Visconti at the front. Belgians on the front,

we are with the leaders, Visconti at possibly the moment they will make

their move or at least it will be the first selection that decides the

medals. 30 kilometres to go until the finish.

A story with another chapter or two left in it. The fight for the

rainbow jersey really hots up. There is the chasing peloton on the

lower slopes of the climb. It looks like one of the Colombian riders has

gone to the front, is that Betancur? It is Atapuma. This is where

sometimes we get a little bit of crossover with professional team

responsibilities. That is why sometimes it can look a bit odd, who

is working on the front and who are they working for? I think that was

Darwin Atapuma. Visconti doing a lot of the work there. There are the

gaps. Nibali chasing for all his worth to get back with the peloton.

It is still possible but it will take an awful lot out of him. You

It is still possible but it will have got no choice when you are

racing on and soil. -- home soil. There he is. Vincenzo knew Billy --

Vincenzo Nibali. He is driving through the cars now.

If they are taking the time checks on the front of the group he might

be a handful of seconds of the back. It may be closer than we think. Get

a helicopter shot we will be able to see how he is getting on. It will be

quite something if he manages to get through that group of the Belgian

striving hard. Back Lance was at the front last time we saw it. And the

Colombian. Really strung out on the climb.

Quite a big group. They are driving hard. Be careful. A little problem

with the break. Identity they will like that at all. Really taking some

risks. I heard them shouting on race radio, no, they don't want to have

to take action against an Italian at an Italian World Championships, you

wouldn't get out of here alive for is coming down fast enough? I am

surprised nobody has made a move yet. Cancellara starting to move up.

That is Nibali, right in behind Cancellara. Iran is still in there

as well. Uran. Everybody is not waiting until

the last possible climb. Ken Tana there as well.

Up the climb to Fiesole for the penultimate time. All of those

riders there still in contention. It is a very big group, we didn't think

we were going to see that. It is how it has played out in the juniors and

the women's World Championships a large group contesting it on the

last lap. The Via Salviati has been decisive in more than one race.

Marianne Vos went away in the final three, it is to take care race. Nine

seconds is the gap being shown. I have just had 20 on race radio or

the GPS is probably more accurate. It is coming down very rapidly. I

think that is Atapuma leading the peloton with half the Belgian team

behind him. Back Lance has been dropped from this team.

-- Bakelants. Survived over the top? Their time is numbered. Suddenly it

is all looking very shaky for the Italian team. I just saw a large

flag about 30 seconds or so ago. He might be champion of the hill that

it will not be the world champion. The gap is almost closed now. What

are the Italians going to do? It looked so good for them, so strong

when I entered the circuit, and then that crash with Nibali has utterly

when I entered the circuit, and then change things. The other thing is

they have still got Pozzato in that lead group. He is back up to the

front. They have also got, that is Nibali, not just got back on but

worked his way right back up to the front. He has been there for a

little while, alongside Cancellara and the careless Carboni. --

Michaelis Carboni. There is Pozzato with betting colour on his wheel.

Simon Clark from Australia. He has done a really good ride. And the

silver medallist from a year ago. I thought he was an outsider, just

drifting off the back but he has managed to stay in this group may be

the distance is working in his favour it is not just physical

ability, it is endurance as well. What a final lap this is going to

be. And another rider to keep an eye on, the Portuguese man. Another

rapid finisher who has stayed near the front is the German. He is still

right up there at the business end of the race. This group is slimming

down. We have probably the best part of 35, 40 riders there. Even with

1.5 laps to go in this race, I would not want to call who it is that is

going to take this championship. There must be ten names who could

win. Luck will play a big part in this. This next passage, maybe

someone will use it to launch an attack. That would be an audacious

move. They would have to survive the climb and the next main climb. It

will probably come down to the next two climbs. It it is still a long

way. 42 riders still in contention today. It is Pawels leading them

down the descent. There is Visconti who led just a few minutes ago. His

day is done. He did a good job at drawing the other teams out. It was

certainly not a breakaway that could be ignored. I think that is Serge

Pauwels at front. All happy to stay on the wield at the descent. This is

going to be some final lap. It will have to be. I am surprised the

action did not start sooner. I think the climb was so ferocious that no

one felt able to attack. We have not seen Fabian Cancellara, only to

identify the fact that he is here, all day. He has lost a lot of

weight. It seems this was the main objective for him in these

championships despite his courageous effort in the time trials a few days

ago. But he is right there in this work of ten or so in that group.

Just the one win this year for the Dutchman, in the Tour of Spain, but

that is the right time to have it in the run-up to these championships.

This group is really stringing out now. There is an opportunity for

attacking because you get everything strong out like this, fifth or sixth

in line, just launch one. Everyone can see you attack but they cannot

do anything about it until they get onto the flat roads. Here we are at

the back of the group. The Lithuanian rider bringing up the

rear. You are utterly at the mercy of the bike handling skills of your

colleagues in a race like this. Everybody has to take the same

line. There is no room for error. Anybody who does make an error, we

have seen the consequences of that. Only the three riders from Norway in

the race. Alongside each other up towards the front. There is

Gilbert, number one. 23.6 kilometres remaining in this race. Everybody is

easing, everybody is worried about the climb. Having a look around, a

chance to regroup. A dangerous time somebody slips off the foot. I

suspect this is going to be a ferocious climb up here. Probably

neutralise though, everybody now with the bit between their teeth.

Kilometres kicking down -- ticking down fast. 272 kilometres, this race

today. 42 riders went over the top together. Inside the last 23

kilometres. Pauwels still on the front. Marcus Burghardt in second

place. Pauwels has spotted the danger, if we let this slow down too

much someone will hit us hard. Gilbert making his way back to the

front. So he can have something of an advantage at the corner.

Will someone launched a savage attack here or will it all happen in

the final lap? The Spanish time trial champion is on the side. They

are at the foot of the climb. Visconti looked poised, watching for

anybody to make a move. Is anybody going to launch one now? Marcus

Burghardt is a big figure in the centre in the white jersey. His

team-mate is there as well. It is such a short climb, if you want to

make use of it you need a team-mate at the front. I do not think it is

long enough on this lap, I think it will take too much energy to make a

break, too much energy to sustain it and then you would get swamped on

the final main climb. Everybody is just going to wait and watch each

other. No one is making a move. These riders have been in the saddle

for so long there is nothing left in the tank. We are left with the

clever riders and they know what they can do. You can get sucked into

the trap of going too early and World Championships is finished.

They know it comes down to the final two climbs. If there is any small

group, the final selection will be made right here in about 25 minutes

time. Just going over the summit for the penultimate time.

Visconti there who led half a lap ago. 250 kilometres in the bag now.

I do not think the Frenchman has much of a chance at all. That really

is the longest of long shots, that one. The right move, but too late in

the climb. Marianne Vos only had 34-macro seconds over the top, but

she did not have an extra laps to go. I think he is just showing his

face really. Bardet, here he is at the front.

Vincenzo Nibali, after his crash, backed up with the leading riders,

were the leading contenders I should say. Was that Bardet at the front?

Yes. They have to push it to the limits on these wet roads. The

riders have to assume that everything is wet. The white line

stay wet even longer, so you can think you are safe, then you hit one

of the white lines and it goes from under you. So treacherous. That

Swiss jersey you saw at the front is not Fabian Cancellara, it is one of

his team-mates. I will be interested to see if Fabian Cancellara has the

ability to get over the final climb. Marcus Burghardt there from Germany

at the front. Inside the last 20 kilometres of this World

Championship race. Probably half an hour of racing

remaining in the 2013 championships. That was the sight of the crash,

wasn't it? Yes. So many white lines, right where you do not need them.

You can see what it is doing to the peloton. There is an opportunity to

make a break here, but it is just too costly. I am sure somebody is

going to attempt it because a lot of these guys have nothing but a long

shot possibility and you may as well have an attack rather than wait for

it to be doled out. Interesting to ride the entire race with long

bottoms, long arms and a jacket on. It may look quite pleasant now, but

the weather has been awful for the cyclists all day. Rain is falling

again outside. Just spitting a little bit. It will be damp roads

all the way, for sure. The sun just peeking out for the closing stages

of this road race. With a little over a lap to go, it is still

anybody's race. We just have not seen anything that gives the a

decisive idea who is playing for this world title. We can come up

with five, six, ten names that have a possibility. They are playing such

a cagey game. Experience is clear by the fact they are not doing anything

right now. Just two kilometres from getting back to the finish line. And

with Marcus Burghardt of Germany. He is trying to keep the speed up to

discourage the attacking. I think there is a Spaniard behind him. His

job is to keep it together now. There will be several team riders

whose last activity is to keep it together until the climb. It is not

a big group now at all. Maybe 30 riders. Whittled down throughout the

day, and in the next few minutes the big guns are going to go to to toe.

When they use like this, this is when surprise attacks can come from

the back. There is Marcus Burghardt. The Croatian rider is alongside him.

They are being rapidly followed by Visconti. And right behind him as

number 34. We have just seen a small gap form, it may have been the

camera angle. Is Marcus Burghardt still in front? One kilometre from

the finish we have an attack being launched.

Several team riders whose duty it is to stop this kind of thing

happening. The card just driving along -- Burghardt. Good if we could

get an idea of where everybody is lying. One of the Slovenian riders

having a go. It is the wrong place to attack, one and a half kilometre,

you start the climb, it will be a very costly attack. The Slovenian

you start the climb, it will be a rider who won the man's -- men's

under 23 race. They have got a bright future ahead of them. Seven

hours in the saddle as they prepare to take the bell. The way he is

writing, I wondering if he thought it was a lap shorter because he was

driving there. 16.5 kilometres plus 50 metres.

Of the 208 starters we have just 42 riders remaining. This will be some

final lap. They have all been waiting, longer than I thought, it

has got to happen inside the next three or four kilometres. The first

selection. It might not be completely decisive but they will

have to whittle down this Greek -- route. Rodriguez, haven't heard much

from him. Boasson Hagen, if you let him get over the climb you wouldn't

get against him. Pietersen gang, again we haven't seen much of him --

Peter Sagan. The climb rapidly approaching. There

is Castroviejo, leads them through. A bit late for picking up a bottle

now. Anything that you drink will not be digestive in time. Late

problem for the Austrian. Such a terrible day, all that work. I'm

problem for the Austrian. Such a done by an untimely puncher. This

race will wait for nobody. The Germans investing.

What a finale it is going to be. Six: It is uphill. Castroviejo is

digging in a bit on the front. It will be uphill all the way to

Fiesole now. The Italians with a couple of riders up towards the

front. Michaelis Scarponi is one of them. This will be such a good last

few kilometres, the Italians have invested so much in this race, on

home territory, decimated the field, suffered crashes in the last

half hour with Nibali, their favourite. What can they do with it?

Paolo Bettini hasn't presided over a win, he would desperately like to

see an Italian victory. He is not giving ground, 107 is Marcus

Burghardt. Philippe Gilbert, King followed by Cancellara, marking his

every move. He seldom picks the wrong will. Visconti, his last job

of the day, public got hundreds of metres of left. Hasn't got a lot

left to give. Just a few more metres before he peels off. There you go.

Denmark taking it up. Scarponi the furthest forward rider for Italy.

Just have a look from when they come out from behind those trees. The

Danish rider up there. Sorensen is used to playing this key role.

Castroviejo has been dropped, he has done his job for the day. They have

got to make it hard early on in this climb, it is only a third category

climb. Maximum of about 9%. Just on the lower slopes now. Just backs off

for a few moments before it ramps up the lower slopes now. Just backs off

again. They need to use all of this climb, that is why Sorensen is

driving so early. The Danish rider, some people mentioned as one to

watch a. Scarponi is on his wheel. Sorensen is really having a go.

Dishing out some pain to himself and everybody else behind. Fuglsang

looks relatively comfortable. Nibali is not too many riders behind. Lots

of warnings coming over the radio to the camera motorbikes, don't get too

close, I think they are so enthusiastic to capture the action.

close, I think they are so They are becoming part of the

action. Also there, about fifth or sixth is in the Royal blue... It is

Peter Sagan. If he gets over this climb he will be a difficult one to

shift and nobody will but against him in the spring. He has been on

his own for some time, had some issues with the bike anyone the race

-- earlier on. Sorensen, Fuglsang, Scarponi, Eglin ski from Kazakhstan,

and then Peter Sagan. Rui Costa on his wheel, Philippe Gilbert, and

Peter Sagan looks good. Valverde, twice silver medallist, then Carlos

Betancur from Columbia, also up there is Fabian Cancellara.

Everybody is just waiting, just too shallow to start the attacking.

Somebody has got to make it hard otherwise everybody will be able to

dig deep enough to stay in contact. Scarponi has decided it is time for

him to make it hard and opens up a Scarponi has decided it is time for

bit of a gap over Fuglsang. That is the job he is doing. Between an

bit of a gap over Fuglsang. That is attack and riding on the front, just

driving hard stop I will just keep going. That is Carlos Betancur ,

also Sergio Hanau. Joaquim Rodriguez in the red and black of Spain. The

gaps are starting to form already. The race is really on on this climb

gaps are starting to form already. up to Fiesole. Once they get over

the top they have just got the descent and the climb up Via

Salviati. It is starting to break appear in the final lap. But rejects

-- Rodriguez has decided now is the time to commit. It will only be

small gaps, not enough distance to make big gaps. But they are starting

to form. He is in contention? There is Nibali disappear behind a tree

but when he comes back out at him short at is Vincenzo Nibali there.

He is without the number on his short at is Vincenzo Nibali there.

right hip having fallen. Suddenly it is Scarponi has been for a trying to

keep up with the Spaniard. This could be a selection, quite a few

riders caught out, the gaps are not big. Some great descenders a bit

further back. Peter Sagan has not managed to go with them. Nibali

looks good. Right there with Michaelis Scarponi. The crowd will

be going wild. This will stick. They're just losing touch, Boasson

Hagen. The front group have possibly got about a six second gap as they

head the final summit. Scarponi and Nibali and Rui Costa from Portugal

in the white journey in their place. Nibali is going. Scarponi has done

his work. Valverde is on his wheel. We thought these would be reduced on

his nations. It will come down to who descends the best. There will

only be fractions between them as they get over the summit. Nibali is

a good ascender. He said leading into these championships he felt he

could win but he felt he would have to get rid of everybody else. Nibali

on the front, the rider on his wheel is Joaquim Rodriguez from Spain. He

has shown himself as the strongest of the opposition. Two gaps he has

closed. He will do well on Via Salviati. He just has to stay with

them. Behind him, Valverde on the back of the group and union.

Rodriguez launching an attack. Leading up towards top of the

climb. He was the time check, Valverde is also in that group.

Riding on the front, Nibali in second place, Rodriguez at the

front. Look at the gap they have opened, everybody else was riding in

the red, they had to pause. A gap has opened. Rodriguez was always on

the outside. Perfect race for him. Climb like this. Which of the two

would you back on Via Salviati? Rodriguez and Nibali lead over the

top. The leading five separated by just five seconds. With a gap so

top. The leading five separated by small, how you can fit to motorbikes

in behind them is outrageous, it helps to close the gaps behind. Some

good descending is an understatement. They have got to

descend better than they ever have in their life if they want to keep

descend better than they ever have this gap. The potential to make an

error is very high. They have got the feel of this descent, for sure,

but it is patches of dry starting to appear. What a race we have got on

our hands. We will stay for the conclusion of this men's road race,

coverage of the America's Cup will follow immediately after this

programme. We with the rainbow jersey on the line, we are watching

Vincenzo Nibali and Rodriguez leading the descent down from

Fiesole on the final lap of the race. Five second lead, from Rui

Costa from watchable, Alejandro Valverde from Spain. -- Portugal.

Four seconds in it now, a very fragile lead. They have already

showed themselves to be the strongest two. Nibali has only

showed themselves to be the one number on because he crashed. A

crash there. It is Rigoberto Uran who has gone down. His chances of

being watch Albion have gone in an instant. What a drama, a disastrous

outcome, the silver medallist in the instant. What a drama, a disastrous

Olympic Games a year ago, he was going so well, then suddenly

everything just slipped going so well, then suddenly

grasp in a moment. We talked descent is just as important as the

climb in part, when it is wet like this temptation to overcook it is

very high. I would like the camera to pan out

so we could see where Vincenzo Nibali is. Roderigo leading the way.

Valverde leading the way as well. They have actually got back

together. Just to reiterate the America's Cup highlights will follow

the coverage of this on the BBC. We are looking at a Vincenzo Nibali.

Leading the way is Rodriguez. He just made a bit of a gap on the

descent. He thought, I am going to make the most of this descent and

see how much time I can put into it. With a rider like Rodriguez he has

shown he can win in this sort of situation. He showed it by winning

in the past, and Valverde perfectly poised. Vincenzo Nibali has been

outmanoeuvred here. He started it, it was a great move, and suddenly

there is two Spaniards. He cannot just sit in the wheels and wait to

recover, he has got to do all the work. I tell you what, after all the

talk and watching this afternoon, Philippe Gilbert and the Belgian

team are not here. They went quite Philippe Gilbert and the Belgian

quickly on that climb when it started and I am surprised. I

thought there would be a larger group at the top of that climb. The

Italians brokered apart. Vincenzo group at the top of that climb. The

Nibali can shout all day about Valverde, but Valverde is not

interested at all. I think he is asking cost if he will help him out

and he is saying, no thanks. While that squabble is going on, Rodriguez

is stealing the time. He has got to pace himself very carefully. He

cannot get to the bottom of this final ascent overcooked or he could

lose it all. They are down -- they were down to less than ten

kilometres an hour on the previous lap. If you overcook it you could

come to a standstill. Costa not helping at all. He is playing a

dangerous game, one where he is probably going for a medal. 11

seconds now the advantage for Rodriguez. Vincenzo Nibali is going

to have to go for it on his own on this climb. The Italians started

this move and they did a great job of it. What has Vincenzo Nibali got

left? What has this man got left? He can see the gold medal before his

eyes. You have got to not panic in a situation like this. Do not go into

the climb too hard, ride it steady and then sprint the last 200 metres

of this ascent to get you onto the downhill section. What have they got

left? This is it for a Vincenzo Nibali. The world title is in

sight. I think he could be outsprinted. We should not forget

that he was on the seat of his pants not so long ago on the side of the

road looking as if he was out of it. He has had to chase really hard, and

here he is, contending for a medal. Valverde on his wheel and Costa just

a little bit behind. He is staying at one bike length and looking

behind. It does not looked like any of them have the legs to attack

Vincenzo Nibali. There is not a lot of distance between the top two

riders. There is no way they should be a motorbike between those two

groups either. Great for our pictures but really starting to

interfere with the racing. What a finish to this race. There is

nothing in it as they come to the top of the climb. What a tussle for

nothing in it as they come to the the world champion jersey. I would

say that is about 2.5 seconds. Vincenzo Nibali have got him in his

sights. He has decided, I am not going to get any help. I'm going to

have to do the work," gap and take the chances. Valverde will instantly

counterattack. Rodriguez is still in front. If the gap is closed down,

Valverde is in the box seat to become world champion. Spain have

played a fantastic game. They have kept themselves in contention and

out of sight. It has come together beautifully for them. The slight

surprise for me was that Rodriguez had got that 11 second advantage and

was not able to stretch that to another four or five seconds. I

thought that might be where he confirmed his victory. I think it is

going to come back together and it absolutely has. The danger here for

the Spanish riders is they have to use that advantage. Valverde strewed

instantly counterattack now. He is probably the better sprinter here.

Vincenzo Nibali have had to do all of the work. Do not give him a

chance to recover. They are staying on the wheels, maybe they are

confident on the sprint. kilometres to go. What about Costa,

do you think he will try a flyer? Rodriguez have gone again. Rodriguez

having another go for Spain. Once more Valverde sitting on

Rodriguez's wheel. Costa is playing a very cool game here. Are they

going to let it come down to a sprint. What a finish to this race.

Three medals between four riders. Three kilometres remaining now. This

is the last little rump that we talked about at the beginning of the

show. Sure enough, Rodrigue 's have another go. He is forcing Vincenzo

Nibali to do all the work. -- Rodriguez. A little bit of a gap

there. Vincenzo Nibali being forced to chase again. Rodriguez pretending

to set up. Vincenzo Nibali being forced to do all of the chasing.

Here's the one doing all the work as they come into Florence. It is a

beautiful piece of tactics because they know Valverde is a better

sprinter. He is starting to go away with only two kilometres to go. I

wonder if Costa is going to do something about this? Vincenzo

Nibali doing all the chasing while something about this? Vincenzo

the others try to work him over. Valverde stuck on his wheel. Costa

loitering on the back of the four. Any minute now Vincenzo Nibali is

going to say, I cannot do this, I will start to wait and try and see

what I can do in the sprint. Surely enough he has backed off. Rodriguez

has got the bit between his teeth for Spain. At the end of such a long

day for the cyclists, the weather was awful for most of the day,

finally the sun is shining and the roads are beginning to drive. Five

seconds the gap. Costa has decided to have a go. Is Valverde going to

close the gap? If I was Vincenzo Nibali I would say, if it is going

to be for a bronze, I will fight you for it. At the moment, if Vincenzo

Nibali does that he will be beaten in the sprint. Costa knows he is

going for the gold-medal, can he get there? Can he take the rainbow

jersey? Surely Rodriguez has nothing left. It is going to be a chase up

the finishing straight with about a three second advantage for

Rodriguez. Costa is going to chase him all the way to the line. An

absolute slow motion sprint. He is closing that gap ever so slowly. He

is into the slipstream now. These two riders are slugging it out to

the finish. I think Costa is going to get it. Costa is chasing, he is

closing and he is closing. Rodriguez looks into his eyes. The pair of

them are going to contest the gold-medal, surely. Vincenzo Nibali

is out of contention. The world title is on the line. Will it go to

Portugal or Spain? It is all going to come down to this, the game of

cat and mouse. Who has got anything less? Elbow to elbow and at the

moment it looks like Portugal are going to have a world champion.

Rodrigue 's is not beaten yet! -- Rodriguez. Finally it is gold to

Portugal and to Costa. He has not hit the front once all day, but he

hit the front when it mattered. He is the new world champion. For the

third time in his career Valverde get the bronze medal and Vincenzo

Nibali, the Italian winner of the Giro D'Italia did everything he

could but finished just outside of the medals. What a finish that was

and it literally came down to the line. Costa took advantage of the

infighting between the favourites. Valverde absolutely got it. The

podium again. That was a great ride by him. There was nothing he could

have done, really. Valverde, that is twice he has finished second and

three times he has finished third. A few of the others crossing the

finishing line. No British finishers in this race. The British team had

all retired long before the end. There is Valverde. A bronze medal

for him. A silver medal also goes to a Spanish rider, but the gold medal

goes to Portugal, one by Costa in a time of seven hours, 22 minutes.

Here is the finish once again as they went toe to toe towards the

line. Costa just found that little bit extra. Amazing ride by Rodriguez

there. What a dramatic end. Next up the America's Cup

highlights. Straight after that the rugby league play-off highlights of

Huddersfield against Warrington. And then from Thursday it is the

world's gymnastic Championships, the men's all-round live on Thursday and

the highlights on Friday. Then the women's all-round live on BBC Three

at 7pm. That is it from Florence. A

disappointing race for the British. The Italians threw everything at it,

but in the end it was Costa who took the rainbow jersey.