By the time the race reached the final 35km though, things had already began to split up, with the break down to just 5 and the
UAE Team Emirates - XRG-led peloton inside a minute behind. With 24km to go, the break's day was officially done.
At 21km to go, it was then time for the big move as Juan Ayuso launched clear at the front. Despite the sheer brutality of the Spaniard's attack, Ayuso didn't manage to get complete separation at the head of the race, with Cristian Scaroni summiting the climb alongside the UAE leader, and both Neilson Powless and Michael Storer re-attaching on the descent. Just as the attackers were about to be caught by the chase group, Ayuso attacked again, bringing Scaroni clear with him once more into the final 10km.
Again though, whilst Scaroni and Ayuso were clear at the top of the climb, on the descent Powless managed to get back into contact at the head of the race. Despite some more attacks heading towards the finale, Powless continues to be like a yo-yo, always returning to the lead group every time he was distanced. At around 1.5km to go, Storer too got back into contact, making a 4-man fight for the win into the last kilometre.
In the battle for the line, Ayuso was the first man to open things up and there was simply no overcoming the Spaniard as Powless and Scaroni completed the podium.