MARYLAND.

>> LET'S GO BACK TO RASAN BAHADI.

>> AND WE ARE RAPIDLY COMING UP... >> WE STARTED THIS MORNING, 8:30 WITH THE INAUGURAL WOMEN'S RACE HERE AT THE 2025 MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

TEMPERATURES WERE IN THE 70s.

NOW IT IS TIME FOR THE MEN.

107 MILES ON TAP HERE IN BEAUTIFUL CHARMED CITY, THE BAY, THE RIDERS, BUT THE TEMPERATURE HAS TURNED UP.

THE HIGH TODAY IS 85.

HUMIDITY HAS JUMPED UP A LITTLE BIT.

WE ARE GOING SEE A FAST RACE.

107 MILES AND THEY'RE GOING TO DO IT AROUND FOUR HOURS AND JUST IN MOMENTS TIME.

THESE RIDERS FROM 15 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES WILL BE ON THE STREETS OF BALTIMORE TACKLING THE 2025 MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

89 RIDERS FROM 13 TEAMS, SIX RIDERS PER TEAM, ALMOST 108 MILES, SIX LAPS OF AN 18-MILE COURSE AND WE ARE ABOUT TO ROLL.

SO THEY ROLL OUT FROM HARBOR POINT, A NEUTRALIZED START HERE, SO THE RACE HASN'T GORBACHEV-- THE RACE HASN'T BEGUN OFFICIALLY YET BUT WE ARE UNDER WAY ON THE FIRST OF SIX LAPS FOR THE MEN IN THEIR THIRD EDITION OF THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

THERE ARE CHANCES FOR FLATTS, CRASHES.

YOU CAN SEE THE BUNCHES ARE PRETTY NERVOUS RIGHT FROM THE START.

ANY TIME IT'S FANNED OUT COMPLETELY LIKE THAT,ITE MEANS THAT RIDERS WANT TO BE IN THE FRONT.

QUINN SIMMONS FLYING THE AMERICAN FLAG.

>> THE MOST TENACIOUS FACIAL HAIR IN THE PELOTON 2, QUINN SIMMONS.

HE DEFINITELY HAS POWERFUL HAIR.

>> AND THESE COBBLES ARE OVER 200 YEARS OLD SO THEY'RE NOT THE SMOOTH PAVEMENT THAT YOU MIGHT SEE THAT BASICALLY SERVED A COSMETIC PURPOSE ON ROADS THESE DAYS.

THESE ARE LEGIT.

THESE ARE THE REAL THINGS THAT ARE VERY UNEVEN, THEY'RE CHOPPY.

AND YOU WILL FEEL IT UNDER YOUR TIRES THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF A RACE LIKE THIS.

FELLS POINT DOWN THERE, SECOND LARGEST POINT OF IMMIGRATION TO THE U.S. AFTER NEW YORK EASEL IS ISLAND, HERE WE GO.

THE RACING IS GOING TO START IN EARNEST PRETTY QUICKLY.

OBVIOUSLY YOU GET THE ATTACKS RIGHT WHEN YOU GET PAST THE NEUTRALIZED SECTION.

BUT WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE LAYOUT OF THIS RACE, SIX LAPS OF AN 18-MILE CIRCUIT, OVERALL BIG PICTURE, VERY EARLY, WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM THIS RACE?

>> YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY MAYBE 5, 6, 8 YEARS AGO THERE WOULD BE A GROUP OF FOUR, FIVE, MOSTLY CONTINENTAL TEAMS, YOUNG RIDERS THAT WOULD GO OFF THE FRONT IN A BREAKAWAY AND THE TEAMS WOULD CONTROL FROM BEHIND.

BUT THE WAY THAT THE TRENDS ARE MOVING IN CYCLING IS MORE ABOUT HAVING ACTION FROM THE START AND THEN WHEN IT WHITTLING IT DOWN OVER THE COURSE OF THE RACE.

LET'S SEE IF WE GET AN EARLY BREAK.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE ACTION FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

IT'S NOT A STRAIGHTFORWARD FLAT COURSE BY ANY MEANS, SO IT'S GOING TO BE HARD IN THE BACK THERE.

>> ALL RIGHT, TO GET THE FULL PICTURE OF THE CANVAS THEY'RE RACING ON, LET'S TAKE YOU INTO BALTIMORE HERE.

AND THIS BRAND NEW COURSE FIRST TIME THEY'VE EVER RACED THIS COURSE IN WHAT IS THE THIRD YEAR OF COMPETITION FOR THE MEN, IT'S THE SAME FINISH WE'VE HAD IN THE TWO PREVIOUS YEARS, BUT A DIFFERENT COURSE BEYOND THAT.

>> YOU GO THROUGH PATTERSON PARK, ONE OF THE OLDEST URBAN PARKS IN THE COUNTRY AND AT THIS POINT YOU ARE HEADING NORTH PAST THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT ALL THE WAY TO THE KING OF THE MOUNTAINS CLIMB, WHICH IS AT THE FURTHEST END OF THE COURSE, THE NORTHERN MOST PORT RIGHT HERE.

AND THEN FROM HERE YOU HEAD BACK DOWN SOUTH AND IT'S LARGELY DOWNHILL ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE END OF EACH LAP.

ORGANIZERS WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENT COURSE THAN IN THE PAST, THE ROLLING HILLS OF BALTIMORE COUNTY, A MORE COUNTRY SIDE FEEL TO THE RACE, MORE ELEVATION GAIN.

THIS TIME THE COURSE IS ENTIRELY IN THE CITY OF BALTIMORE, SO YOU HAVE THE CITY SORT OF URBAN FEEL TO THE COURSE BUT YOU DON'T SACRIFICE THE CLIMBING OR THE TEM CORNERS.

YOU STILL HAVE A LOT OF DIFFERENT FEATURES THAT WILL IMPACT THE RACE.

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS IT'S ENTIRELY IN THE CITY OF BALTIMORE, SHOWCASING THE CULTURE, THE DIFFERENT LANDMARKS, THE SCENIC NATURE OF BALTIMORE THESE DAYS AND RIDING THROUGH A LOT OF DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS.

THIS IS A CITY OF OLD AND NEW WHEN IT COMES TO NEIGHBORHOODS AND YOU SEE A LOT OF DIFFERENT ONES ALONG THIS COURSE TODAY.

220 NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE CITY.

I DIDN'T COUNT MYSELF BUT THAT'S WHAT I HAVE LEARNED.

>> ONCE YOU GET UP BEYOND 200, YOU TAKE SOMEBODY'S WORD FOR IT, RIGHT?

>> YES.

THEY ACTUALLY START TO DRAG UP AFTER THEY MAKE THIS LEFT HAND TURN AROUND THE PARK.

THIS COULD BE A STRONG MOMENT FOR THE BREAKAWAY.

NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE IN THE PELOTON, THE ROADS ARE LARGELY STRAIGHT BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY DON'T GO UP AND IT IS NOT EASY ANYWHERE IN THE PELOTON.

SO WE ARE UNDER WAY.

THE FIRST OF SIX LAPS FOR THE MEN'S RACES HERE, 105 MILES LEFT TO GO IN THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

AGAIN, SUNNY SKIES, A BREEZE, THE TEMPERATURES ARE WARM, MID 80s, VERY HUMID AND THERE IS A THREAT OF RAIN AS THIS AFTERNOON UNFOLDS.

COULD BE ANOTHER HOUR OR TWO BEFORE IT ROLLS IN.

THAT'S THE FORECAST.

WE COULD HAVE THUNDERSTORMS, GUSTY WINDS AND MAYBE HAIL AND LIGHTNING.

WE SHALL SEE.

FOR THE MOMENT, JUST HOT AND DRY.

>> THOSE AFTERNOON SUMMER STORMS CAN BE POWERFUL.

THERE WAS ONE A COUPLE DAYS AGO WHEN I WAS ON MY WAY UP HERE AND THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE THE DYNAMIC OF THE RACE SIGNIFICANTLY.

WE ARE NOT GOING CLAIM THAT WE ARE METEOROLOGISTS AND WE KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITH THE WEATHER BUT THAT IS WHAT THE FORECAST IS CALLING.

SO LET'S SEE.

FOR NOW, BEAUTIFUL BALTIMORIAN SUMMER LATE SUMMER, AUTUMN DAY.

>> YEAH, MY WEATHER SKILLS ONLY GO SO FAR.

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE POLLEN COUNT OR THE MOLD OR WHATEVER ELSE IS IN THE AIR, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO ELSEWHERE.

I CAN GIVE YOU HOT, HUMID AND THAT'S ABOUT WHERE IT ENDS.

FOR THESE RIDERS, IF IT STAYS HOT AND HUMANITARIAN, THAT IN AND OF ITSELF, FOREBET ABOUT POTENTIAL PRECIPITATION BUT HOT AND HUMID CAN TAKE ITS TOLL, TOO.

>> THE NICE THING ABOUT HAVING A CIRCUIT COURSE IS THAT YOU HAVE AMPLE OPPORTUNITIES TO PICK UP BOTTLES, WHICH MEANS YOU DON'T HAVE TO THINK SO MUCH ABOUT BEAD ZONES AND THE LIKE.

SCOW THESE RIDERS-- SO THESE RIDERS WITH THE TEAM CARS BEHIND AND WITH AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO GRAB FEED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THEY'RE GOING TO BE HYDRATED BUT IT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE RACE.

>> ONE RIDER DANGLING OFF THE FRONT OF THE FIELD.

NOVO...

IT LOOKS LIKE.

HOW BIG OF A BREAK, TAYLOR, WOULD YOU EXPECT TO FORM IN A RACE LIKE THIS, AGAIN JUST A ONE-DAY CIRCUIT RACE.

HOW BIG OF A GAP AND HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU THINK THEY WOULD GET ON A DAY LIKE TODAY?

>> WHAT I WAS SAYING EARLIER, IT SEEMS LIKE 6, 7 YEARS AGO IT WOULD BE A MORE TRADITIONAL GROUP OF LET'S SAY BETWEEN FIVE AND MAXIMUM 10. , BUT AS WE'VE SEEN IN THIS EDITION IN THE YEARS PRIOR THE BREAKAWAY TWO YEARS AGO WAS 30 RIDERS.

IT IS MORE OF A SELECTION THAN A BREAKAWAY.

THAT COULD BE A BREAKAWAY IN THE TOUR DE FRANCE TOWARDS THE LATE STAGES THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS OF THE RACE BECAUSE YOU HAVE TEAMS BEHIND THAT ARE WITH THE YELLOW JERSEY THAT ARE GOING TO CONTROL.

BUT IN A ONE-DAY RACE LIKE THIS IF THE WORLD TOUR TEAMS END UP IN A LARGE SELECTION OFF THE FRONT OF THE RACE, THEN THEY HAVE NO REASON TO CHASE THAT GROUP BACK; WHICH ULTIMATELY THEN MEANS THE RACE IS UP IN THE FRONT.

SO I'M EXPECTING SOMETHING LIKE THAT, ALTHOUGH, LET'S SEE.

>> EVERYBODY COMES TO A RACE LIKE THIS WITH DIFFERENT AMBITIONS, DIFFERENT GOALS, DIFFERENT RIDERS TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS.

DIFFERENT WAYS TO SKIN A CAT, DIFFERENT WAYS TO WIN A ONE-DAY EVENT SUCH AS THIS.

AND A REMINDER THAT WE ALSO HAVE DIFFERENT COMPETITIONS WITHIN THE COMPETITION.

WE HAVE A KING OF THE MOUNTAINS JERSEY THAT WILL BE AWARDED TO THE RIDER WHO DOES THE BEST ON THE SIGNATURE CLIMB, WHICH IS AT THE NORTHERN MOST POINT OF THE COURSE.

WE WILL SEE THAT IN A LITTLE WHILE.

A FEW INDIVIDUAL RIDERS.

THIS IS THE PART OF THE RACE THAT YOU KNOW WHERE YOU MIGHT GET A RIDER THAT GOES OFF THE FRONT AND WAITS TO SEE WHO IS GOING TO JOIN HIM HOPING THAT'S HE WON'T BE ALONE FOR TOO LONG AND HOPING THAT THE RIGHT GROUP COALESCES AT THE FRONT TO HAVE ENOUGH HORSE POWER TO GET SOME TIME OVER THE FIELD.

>> THIS IS A NOVO NORDISK RIDER.

>> TO FINISH THE THOUGHT ON THE COMPETITIONS BEYOND THE OVERALL CLASSIFICATION, WE HAVE THE KING OF THE MOUNTAINS AND ALSO A SPRINT COMPETITION.

YOU WILL HAVE THE KING OF THE MOUNTAINS POINTS AWARDED AT EVERY TIME THEY GO UP THE SIGNATURE CLIMB.

THE SPRINT ONLY HAPPENS AFTER THE SECOND THIRD, FOURTH, FIFTH AND SIXTH LAPS AT THE END OF THE FIRST LAP THERE WON'T BE PRINT POINTS BUT EVERY LAP AFTER THAT, WILL WILL BE POINTS AND THE POINTS ARE THE SAME FOR THE KING OF THE MOUNTAINS AND FOR THE SPRINTS, 4, 2 AND 1 POINT FOR THE FIRST THREE EACH TIME AT BOTH SELECTIONS.

>> YEAH SO THOSE TWO RIDERS ARE HAMISH AND VICTORIA.

HAMMISH ARMITT FROM KNOW IF OWE NORDISK KNOW VOW NORDISK.

A SMALL TEXT THEY HAVE TO% NAVIGATE BUT THEY TACKLE THAT EASILY.

>> THIS IS A LARGE GROUP THAT HAS MADE SOME SEPARATION FROM THE MAIN PACK.

LUCKILY WE HAVE THE DRONE SHOTS BUT WHEN IT'S STRUNG OUT LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW ALL THE GUYS ARE AT THEIR LIMIT EVEN THOUGH WE JUST STARTED THIS RACE.

>> I MEAN THEY'RE REALLY FLYING.

CREATING SOME DAMAGE AT THE BACK HERE.

THEY'RE NOT WAITING.

>> WELL THIS COURSE IS SNEAKY.

ON PAPER IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT'S THAT HARD BUT IT'S RELENTLESS.

IT'S UNDULATING.

YOU KNOW, YOU ARE GOING THROUGH ALL THESE DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS.

A LOT OF STRAY ROADS MENTALLY, THAT'S HONESTLY FATIGUING.

YOU DON'T HAVE ANYWHERE TO HIDE AND YOU CAN JUST SEE THE RACE AS YOU CAN NOW UP IN FRONT OF YOU.

HUGE SELECTION BIG GAP IN BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS.

>> FIRST PART OF THE COURSE GRADUALLY UPHILL AS IT GOES FROM SOUTH TO NORTH.

YOU HAVE THE KING OF THE MOUNTAINS CLIMB AND TURNS BACK SOUTH AND LARGELY DOWNHILL ALL THE WAY TO THE END OF EACH LAP.

UNION STATION OFF TO THE RIGHT THERE.

GOING ACROSS THIS BRIDGE AND MAKING A HARD LEFT BUT AS IS USUALLY THE CASE IN THE U.S., WIDE ROADS FOR THIS PELOTON OFTEN TIMES IN THE EUROPEAN ROADS YOU HAVE NARROW ROADS AND TRAFFIC FURNITURE BUT HERE IN THE U.S., WIDE ROADS, IMPERFECT PAVEMENT BUT YOU DON'T HAVE THE PINCH POINTS AND BOTTLE NECKS THAT YOU OFTEN SEE IN SOME OF THE EUROPEAN RACES OVER THE COURSE OF THE SEASON.

>> THE ONLY PLACE I'VE BEEN WITH PERFECT PAVEMENT IS SWITZERLAND.

THE REST OF THE WORD, ESPECIALLY ITALY, VERY IMPERFECT PAVEMENT.

THIS FALLS ROAD IS NOT A BIG ROAD AND ALSO VERY NICE, NEXT TO THE RIVER, THERE IS COOL GRAFFITI ON THE BUILDINGS ON THE SIDE.

>> STILL TRYING TO SEE IF ANYBODY CAN GET AWAY.

IT HAS BEEN A FAST, HEAVY TEMPO HERE.

THE FIELD PRETTY STRUNG OUT HERE.

STILL ON LAP NUMBER 1 IN BALTIMORE.

WE DIP INSIDE OF 100 MILES LEFT TO GO HERE IN THIS MEN'S RACE.

STILL THE FIRST OF SIX LAPS ON AN 18-MILE CIRCUIT.

3868 FEET OF CLIMBING ALL TOGETHER FOR THE MEN TODAY.

ONE KING OF THE MOUNTAINS CLIMB THAT THEY WILL DO SIX DIFFERENT TIMES AND THE INTERMEDIATE SPRINT AT THE END OF EVERY LAP EXCEPT THE FIRST AND NOW THINGS SETTLING BACK DOWN HERE AFTER A FEROCIOUS START.

SOME VERY FAST RIDING, AGGRESSIVE TACTICS BUT NOW THINGS RELENTING SOMEWHAT HERE IN THE FIELD, YEAH, YOU SEE EDUCATION FIRST, YOU SEE LITTLE TREK UP THERE I THINK WE JUST SAW BRANDON McNULTY GIVING IT A LITTLE DIG AND THE THING ABOUT THE RIDE ROADS IS IT MAKES IT VERY EASY TO PAT SO ANYBODY WHO WANTS TO GO FOR IT, THEY CAN GO FOR IT.

>> WHILE THE MEN'S RACE UNFOLDS.

ENJOY THE WOMEN'S PODIUM PRESENTATION OVER ON THE RIGHT.

>> HONOR OF PRESENTING OUR SILVER MEDALIST.

THANKS AGAIN FOR HAVING US IN BALTIMORE.

IT HAS BEEN AMAZING.

WHAT A COOL CITY.

LET'S MEET OUR SILVER MEDAL WINNER.

ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS WOMEN IN THE SPORT.

SPORT ALLISON JACKSON!

MAN, THERE ARE SOME GOOD VIBES ON THIS PODIUM.

YOU DON'T ALSO HAVE TO WIN A BIKE RACE TO WIN LIFE AND BOTH THESE LADIES WON LIFE TODAY.

NEXT UP, WE RESERVE THE TOP STEP OF THE PODIUM FOR OUR OUTRIGHT CHAMPION AND I WANT TO INTRODUCE TO YOU MY CHAMPION OF BALTIMORE, THIS MAN IS AMAZING.

HE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE MARYLAND SPORTS CORPORATION, THE CORNERSTONE OF THIS EVENT, TERRY HAZELTINE WITH OUR CHAMPIONS JERSEY.

THANK YOU, TERRY.

TERRY HAS A CHANCE TO CONGRATULATE THE SILVER AND BRONZE MEDAL BUT NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, TIME TO INTRODUCE FROM THE WORLD RENOWNED CANYON VAM CRYPTOTEAM.

THIS IS YOUR CHAMPION STANDARD AGNIESZKA SKALNIAK-SOJKA!

SO TWO WORLD TOUR DANGER WOMEN AND AN AMERICAN CHAMPION ON OUR PODIUM HERE IN MARYLAND.

PRESENTING OUR CHAMPIONS JERSEY.

BIG THANK YOU TO MATT FOR CREATING OUR WINNERS JERSEY, AS IS THE TRADITION NOW, OUR POLISH CHAMPION FROM THE CANYON-SRAM TEAM IN WHAT WAS A PHOTO FINISH WITH ALLISON JACKSON.

AGNIESZKA SKALNIAK-SOJKA!

EMMA LANGLY, THANK YOU LADIES, THANK YOU FOR AN AMAZING SHOW.

ONE MORE TIME.

[ APPLAUSE ] THANK YOU AGAIN TO TERRY ERIC AND IT'S TIME FOR THE CHAMPAGNE, THESE LADIES HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE.

TO THE VICTOR GO THE SPOILS.

THESE ARE THE GLADIATORS OF THE SPORT.

WITHOUT ANY QUESTION.

I CAN'T THANK ALL THESE WOMEN FOR COMING AND MAKING IT A SPECIAL, SPECIAL EXPERIENCE HERE IN BALTIMORE.

THESE ARE YOUR CHAMPIONS, BALTIMORE!

>> IT WAS AN EXCITING FINISH IN THE WOMEN'S RACE.

IT CAME DOWN TO THE PHOTO AT THE END, THE TOP TWO DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHO HAD WON, THEY HAD TO WAIT FOR THE IMAGES JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE AND NOW THE MEN OUT ON THE ROADS HERE AS THE WOMEN FINISH UP THEIR PODIUM PRESENTATION.

THIS IS THE FIRST OF SIX LAPS FOR THIS MEN'S RACE.

98 MILES STILL TO GO AND STILL WAITING TO SEE WHAT KIND OF A SELECTION OR GROUP WE MIGHT GET AT THE FRONT HERE SEEN SOME ATTACKING AND AGGRESSIVE RACING BUT NOTHING HAS STUCK SO FAR.

>> WE HAVE EF MOVING UP ON THE LEFT.

SKYLINE IS ACTIVE AT THE FRONT.

TEAM USA, YOUNG TEAM, THEY'RE EXCITED TO BE HERE.

SO EVERYBODY IS GOING FOR IT.

BIG SPORTS WEEKEND IN BALTIMORE, NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC THE BIGGEST PROFESSIONAL RACE IN THE U.S.

TAKING PLACE TODAY.

YOU ALSO HAVE THE DODGERS IN TOWN FOR A THREE-GAME WEEKEND SERIES AGAINST THE ORIOLES AT CAMDEN YARDS WHICH IS ONLY ABOUT A HALF MILE AWAY FROM THE FINISH AND THEY HAVE THE 30th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF CAL RIPKEN BREAKING LOU GEHRIG'S RECORD FOR MOST CONSECUTIVE GAMES PLAYED.

THAT CEREMONY WILL TAKE PLACE BEFORE THE DODGERS GAME WITH THE ORIOLES TONIGHT AND THEN THE BALTIMORE RAVENS KICKING OFF THEIR NFL SEASON NORTH OF HERE IN BUFFALO BILLS.

JOHN KELLIE HELPING TO GIVE OUT THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS JERSEY HENRIETTA CHRISTIE OF THE EF EDUCATION-OATLY TEAM.

SHE LOCKS UP THE QUEEN OF THE MOUNTAINS JERSEY BEFORE THEY EVEN CLIMBED THE FINAL ASSENT FOR THE LAST TIME.

SHE HAD AN INSURMOUNTABLE LEAD BEFORE THEY WENT UP FOR THE LAST TIME AND SHE WINS THAT PART OF THE CYCLING CLASSIC.

>> LOOKS LIKE THE ROAD TIGHTENS UP A BIT THERE.

GETTING CLOSE TO THE RIGHT TURN TO HEAD UP TO THEIR FIRST TIME UP AT KOM.

WE'LL SURELY SEE SOME ATTACKS FLY.

SEEMS THEY'RE NEUTRALIZED WAITING FOR THE RIGHT TURN AND THE START OF THE CLIMB.

THAT CLIMB, NOT AN OVERLY DIFFICULT ONE, NOT SOMETHING YOU WOULD SEE IN THE APPS OR ROCKY MOUNTAINS BUT IT WILL STILL STING, NOT LIKE THE ALPS.

IT AVERAGES%-- IT AVERAGES 7% AND STARTING THE ACTUAL CLIMB THAT IS INSIDE OF 1K LONG.

IT WILL TAKE THEM UP TO THE MOST NORTHERN POINT ON THE COURSE.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, ANY CLIMB CAN SEEM-- ANY CLIMB WILL STING, ESPECIALLY ONE THAT DOESN'T GO DOWN IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS SO THERE IS QUITE A LOT OF CHANCE FOR SOMEBODY OVER THE TOP TO GAIN A GAP.

YOU KNOW, YOU WILL SEE THE MAIN DAMAGE DONE PERHAPS DURING THE CLIMB BUT IT'S OVER THE TOP, WHEN THINGS START TO GET TACTICAL.

EDUCATION FIRST GOING FOR IT ON THE FAR LEFT SIDE OF THE PELOTON THERE.

>> THERE AND THERE IS A FALSE FLAT ONCE YOU GO IT TO THE TOP OF THE CLIMB BEFORE IT STARTS GOING DOWNHILL AS WELL.

BACK END OF THE FIELD HERE ON THIS HALF MILE CLIMB, AN EF EDUCATION RIDER.

WE SAW TRYING TO GET UP THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF THE CLIMB AND NOW SOME OTHERS COMING ACROSS AS WELL.

SO THERE IS SEVERAL RIDERS TRYING TO BRIDGE FROM THE FIELD UP TO WHAT IS LOOKING TO BE A SELECT GROUP HERE.

WE'LL SEE IF THIS STICKS.

>> WE'VE GOT UNO-X, EDUCATION FIRST, TUDOR, TEAM MEDELLIN, TOTAL ENERGY, SKYLINE, MAURO SCHMID COMING UP.

A LOT OF REPRESENTATION IN THIS LITTLE GROUP.

YOU CAN SEE KNOW IF OWE NORDISK TRYING TO-- NOVO NORDISK TRYING TO COME ACROSS.

THIS WILL BE NEUTRALIZED BUT THESE ARE THE COMPOSITIONS WE ARE LOOKING FOR, LOOKING FOR A BREAKAWAY TO STICK.

>> SOMETIMES ON A CLIMB LIKE THIS, RIDERS WILL TRY TO GET TO THE FRONT AND GET ENOUGH OF A GAP THAT ONCE THEY GET TO THE TOP, THEY HAVE A MARGIN TO WHERE THEY CAN PERHAPS STAY AWAY IF THERE IS NO SERIOU CHASE THIS EARLY IN A RACE BUT RIGHT HERE, IT LOOKS LIKE THINGS ARE STILL STILL VERY MUCH TOGETHER.

SINGLE FILE AND NO GAPS OPENING UP.

>> THIS IS MAURO SMID SCHMID, THAT'S THE MOMENT, WHEN IT'S THE HARDEST AND YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING TO REST, THAT'S WHEN THE BEST RVEGHTS THEY LAUNCH AND YOU NEVER SEE THEM AGAIN MAURO SCHMID PUTTING IN THE WORK.

ANY TIME IT'S STRUNG OUT LIKE THIS, NOBODY HAS AN EASY RIDE.

>> ALL IT TAKES IS THAT ONE MOMENT, RIGHT?

A LITTLE BIT OF INATTENTION, SOMEBODY MAKES A MOVE WHEN YOU ARE NOT EXPECTING IT AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A SUSTAINED TYPE OF SITUATION.

IT CAN HAPPEN QUICKLY AND IF YOU ARE NOT READY FOR IT, THE GAP OPENS UP.

IT'S SMALL BUT IT GROWS.

>> THAT LOOKS LIKE A PRETTY BIG GROUP COMING OFF THE FRONT THERE.

THAT'S DANGEROUS RIGHT THERE AS YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SO MANY TEAMS UP HERE IN THE GROUP, IT'S A MATTER OF IF RIDERS-- IF TEAMS HAVE RIDERS IN THE GROUP, WHO IS GOING TO CHASE?

>> EXACTLY.

THAT'S WHAT I WAS SAYING FROM THE START.

LOOKED LIKE QUINN SIMMONS WAS TAKING THAT GROUP INTO THE WARP SPEED.

AS THE MEN'S RACE UNFOLDS HERE, STILL IN THE FIRST OF THEIR FIRST SIX LAPS.

A FAMILIAR FACE HANDING OUT THE SPRINT JERSEY.

ALL IN THE FAMILY HERE TODAY FOR THE FINNEY SQUAD.

>> IS THAT MY MOM?

>> DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT?

>> MOM, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?

>> DID YOU MAKE HER BUY YOU DINNER LAST NIGHT?

>> NO COMMENT.

>> I WOULD.

I WOULDN'T MAKE YOUR MOM BUY ME DINNER.

I WOULD MAKE MY MOM BUY MY DINNER.

>> MY MOM IS HERE REPRESENTING PEOPLE WITH PARKINSON'S LEARNING TO LIVE WITH THE DISEASE AND GIVING THEM INFORMATION THAT THEY NEED TO LIVE WELL WITH IT AS MY FATHER DOES AND HAS FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS.

SO SUPER GRATEFUL TO THIS RACE FOR INCLUDING THE DAVIS FINNEY FOUNDATION IN THE-- YEAH, AS THE SOLE CHARITY PARTNER.

>> GREAT CAUSE AND WE HOPE TO SPEAK WITH YOUR MOM AND SOME POINT THROUGH WITHOUT THIS MEN'S RACE LATER ON THIS IS REALLY STRUNG OUT HERE.

PELOTON NOT FULLY DISMISSED YET BUT THIS IS THE PART OF THE RACE WHERE THINGS CAN HAPPEN QUICKLY IN TERMS OF A GAP FORMING AND RIDERS GETTING AWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY START GETTING CHUNKS OF TIME AS YOU CAN SEE WITH THE RIDERS COASTING, THEY'RE GOING DOWNHILL HERE SO WHEN YOU COME INTO A GROUP OR YOU ARE PART OF A GROUP IT'S EASERRIER TO GAIN SPEED ON THE DOWNHILL AND USE THAT TO RIP AROUND AND BRIDGE ACROSS.

>> BACK TO THE WOMEN'S PODIUM.

AS THE MEN ROLL ALONG HERE, STILL VERY EARLY IN THEIR RACE HERE BUT AMBITIOUS RACING HERE ON THE FIRST OF SIX LAPSE AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

GOT A RIDER HERE WHO NEEDS SOMETHING.

>> LOOKS LIKE HE MIGHT HAVE BROKEN A CHAIN OR SOMETHING WITH THE DERAILER.

THERE WERE BOTTLES FLYING ON THE DESCENT BACK INTO THE FALLS ROAD I SAW ONE RIDER GOING STRAIGHT OFF TO THE LEFT.

NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED THERE BUT THAT SECTION COMING BACK DOWN INTO HERE IS REALLY I WOULD SAY THE MOST TECHNICAL DESCENDING THAT HAPPENS ON THE COURSE.

AND NOW WE ARE BACK ON THE QUOTE UNQUOTE SMALL ROAD AND EVERYBODY HAS FANNED OUT.

IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE ALL LOOKING AT EACH OTHER, PLAYING A BLUFFING GAME.

>> SINCE THIS IS A FIRST TIME COURSE HERE THIS YEAR AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC, HOW WOULD YOU COMPARE THIS COURSE TO SOME OTHER ONE-DAY RACES AROUND THE WORLD THAT YOU HAVE DONE?

>> WELL, DOING CIRCUIT RACES FEELS UNIQUELY AMERICAN.

IT'S NOT TOTALLY UNIQUELY AMERICAN, BUT WE END UP RACING CIRCUIT RACES IN THE U.S. AND IN EUROPE DOING ONE-DAY CLASSICS, YOU TYPICALLY END UP GOING OUT DOING SOME SORT OF LARGE LAP OR DOING SOME SORT OF POINT TO POINT, LIKE A PI RUBET.

IT IS SNEAKY.

THIS COURSE, IF YOU LOOK AT IT ON PAPER, I WAS LOOKING AT IT WITH MY WIFE KASHA.

SHE WAS THINKING ABOUT COMING.

SHE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS HARD ENOUGH.

BUT WHEN I CAME OUT HERE AND RODE THE LAP, GRANTED I RODE THE LAP ON A LIME SCOOTER, AN HOUR AND A HALF BUT I MADE IT ALL THE WAY AROUND, I THOUGHT MAN, THIS IS HARDER THAN YOU WOULD EXPECT JUST ON PAPER.

SO, YEAH, IT'S UP THERE IT'S OVER 100 MILES SEPTEMBER CAN BE HOT.

THE LEVEL OF THE FIELD IS HIGH.

>> MONTREAL AND QUEBEC CITY WHICH ARE COMING UP ARE ALSO CIRCUITS AND YOU HAVE THEM AT THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, TOO, SO IT'S NOT A TOTALLY FOREIGN CONCEPT FOR THESE RIDERS.

THEY WILL OBVIOUSLY HAVE DONE RACES LIKE THIS BEFORE BUT NOW HAVE YOU A RIP WITH THE NORTH AMERICAN CIRCUITS AND THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS COMING UP AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

THAT IS A VERY GOOD POINT BUT FOR THE FIRST TIME THEY'RE GOING TO BE IN AFRICA IN RWANDA.

>> YEP.

ROW WAN DO HAS AN AMAZING CYCLING CULTURE.

A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE WON THE TOUR OF RWANDA WAY BACK WHEN, 15 YEARS AGO.

AND THEY HAVE ALSO A PREMIER GRAVEL RACE THE RACE AROUND RWANDA, 1,000 KILOMETERS SELF SUPPORTED.

IT'S A A UNIQUE PLACE.

PLASTIC BAGS ARE ILLEGAL SO THEY PRIDE THEMSELVES ON HAVING ONE OF THE CLEANEST CITIES IN AFRICA AND YOU CAN TELL.

AND THEY'RE JUST PASSIONATE ABOUT BIKES.

THEY HAVE PEOPLE FROM THE CYCLING WORLD THAT ARE ALSO PASSIONATE SPEAKING OF AFRICAN CYCLING, WE HAD AN HISTORIC MOMENT IN THE WOMEN'S RACE EARLIER TODAY WITH THE BENIN WOMEN'S TEAM FROM AFRICA, COMING OVER TO COMPETE HERE AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC, THE FIRST TEAM FROM AFRICA TO DO SO IN A RACE OF THIS LEVEL.

MAKING A 10,000 MILE JOURNEY TO GET HERE.

BENIN, A SMALL STRIP OF LAND THAT RUNS NORTH TO SOUTH IN WEST AFRICA BORDERED BY TOGO TO THE WEST, NIGERIA TO THE EAST.

A FRENCH SPEAKING NATION ABOUT TWO-THIRDS THE SIZE OF PORTUGAL, AND QUITE AN HISTORIC MOMENT FOR BENIN COMING HERE TO RACE IN BALTIMORE FOR THE INAUGURAL MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC ON THE WOMEN'S SIDE.

A NATION OF 13 MILLION PEOPLE AND THE BIRTH FLIES OF VOODOO.

THAT'S WHERE IT ALL BEGAN.

NO ONE DOES THE VOODOO LIKE YOU DO.

SO I THOUGHT YOU WOULD LIKE THAT.

>> I WONDER IF THEY PRACTICE ANY VOODOO TODAY BECAUSE A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE WON THE RACE, THE LADIES RACE.

>> WHY NOT.

YOU LOOK FOR EVERY COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE YOU CAN.

>> THAT COULD BE THE NEXT MARGINAL GAIN.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THAT.

>> THE WATTS NUTRITION POWER METERS AND VOODOO.

THAT'S YOUR LIST RIGHT THERE.

>> AND THEY ALL HAVE A DOLL WITH A UAE THAT THEY'RE POKING THE WHOLE TRIM.

>>-- TIME, NO STOP.

>> THREE RIDERS HERE, 10 SECONDS AHEAD OF THIS MAIN FIELD.

NOW THEY'RE BACK IN THE ININNER HARBOR HERE AND WE ARE COMING TO THE END OF THE FIRST LAP AND THEY'RE ON THIS LONG STRAIGHT SNRAT RUN INTO THE END OF THE LAP.

NO INTERMEDIATE SPRINT POINTS HERE BUT AFTER THIS LAP, FOR EVERY REMAINING LAP, THERE WILL BE.

>> YEAH, THIS CAN BE A STRONG POTENTIAL BREAKAWAY.

I MEAN YOU HAVE THE SMALLER TEAMS REPRESENTED, PROJECT ECHELON THERE, SKYLINE, YOU HAVE VINI FANTINI.

MEDELLIN.

IF THE BREAKAWAY IS GOING TO HAPPEN EARLY IN THE RACE, IT NEEDS TO BE THE SMALLER TEAMS WITH NO WORLD TOUR.

WE HAVE A KNOW IF-- NOVO NORDISK LEADING THEM.

IF THERE IS GOING TO BE A BREAKAWAY, THIS IS A PERFECT ONE FOR THE WORLD TOUR TEAMS TO SIT BACK AND RELAX AND FIGHT IT OUT AMONGST THEMSELVES LATER.

>> A GROUP OF FIVE BEFORE TOO LONG AT THE FRONT AS THE FIELD COMES THROUGH UNDER THAT BANNER THAT MARKS THE START OF LAP NUMBER 2.

AND 90 MILES AS WELL AS FIVE LAPS NOW LEFT TO RUN COMING BACK INTO DOWNTOWN HERE AND IT LOOKS LIKE THIS GROUP IS COMING TOGETHER AT THE VERY FRONT, SO CAMPO GERALDO.

>> VICTOR HAS BEEN ACTIVE FROM THE START.

LOSANO IS FROM BARCELONA AREA.

HE HAS BEEN RACING GRAVEL AS WELL.

HOO WAS THIRD IN THE GRAVEL EARTH SERIES LAST YEAR, A LOCAL FROM WHERE I AM.

>> GRAVEL HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR DISCIPLINES IN THE SPORT, HASN'T IT?

>> IT'S A FUN COMMUNITY AND THE RACES, THEY'RE CHALLENGEING AND THEY'RE ALL OVER THE PLACE IN A LOT OF VERY INTERESTING COUNTRIES AND DESTINATIONS FROM ICELAND TO KENYA TO NEBRASKA, SOUTH AMERICA, THERE IS JUST EVENTS ALL OVER THE PLACE SO IT'S EASY FOR PEOPLE TO KIND OF CREATE A CALENDAR AND DO SOME TRAVEL BUT PUSH THEMSELVES AT THE SAME TIME AND BE INVOLVED IN A COMMUNITY EVENT.

>> SO IT IS A GROUP OF FOUR RIDERS AT THE MOMENT HERE.

SO CAM POE GERALDO REALLY SEE HW MUCH TIME THEY HAVE OVER THE FIELDS.

THIS GROUP OF FOUR, BETWEEN THE LEADER LOZANO AND THE FIELD WORRY BACK HERE AT FELLS POINT.

THE CABO SECTION, YES, THIS ROUTE IS FULL OF UPS AND DOWNS BUT THIS SECTION RIGHT HERE, I THINK LATER IN THE RACE, REMEMBER 107 MILES ON TAP TODAY YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE RIDERS GOING DOWN.

THE PAVE IS WHAT IT IS.

IT IS HARD, IT IS STRICKEN AND WE HAVE RUN RIDER FROM LIDL-TREK WHO HAS TAKEN A HARD FALL.

HE IS DOWN RIGHT NOW.

BOTTLES ARE FLYING EVERYWHERE.

WE WILL SEE IF HE CAN GET BACK UP.

RIDER 111 FROM THE LIDL-TREK TEAM, AN AMERICAN PEOPLE.

THEY HAVE TWO RIDERS RIGHT NOW THAT ARE OUT OF THE RACE.

THAT'S-- SKJELMOSO WHO WON THE LAST RACE IS DOWN.

HE HAS ANOTHER TEAMMATE WHO HAS A MECHANICAL RIGHT NOW AND IF THEY CAN GET BACK TOGETHER PERHAPS WITH A LARGE CARAVAN, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO GET BACK INTO THE RACE.

BUT THE LONGER HE STAYS ON THE PAVE RIGHT HERE, THE HARDER IT WILL BE TO CATCH BACK O.

HE IS UP.

IT LOOKS LIKE HE IS GOING TO BE OKAY.

ASSESS THE PROBLEMS AND GET BACK INTO THE RACE.

THE DEFENDING CHAMP FROM 2023 AND IS LOOKING FOR HELP ANYWHERE HE CAN GET RIGHT NOW AND I THINK HIS TEAM CAR IS JUST BEHIND HELPING ANOTHER LIDL-TREK RIEMPLETD WE'LL KEEP TABS ON THIS SITUATION RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE HE IS THE DEFENDING CHAMPION.

HE SPENT THE LAST FEW WEEKS OVER IN COLORADO WITH HIS TEAMMATE QUINN SIMMONS.

THEY HAVE HAD A GREAT, GREAT PREPARATION FOR THIS RACE, TRAINING AT ALTITUDE, ALL FOR IT TO BE OVER IN JUST ONE LAP.

HE HAS A TEAMMATE WHO IS BACK IN THE RACE AFTER A FLAT TIRE.

SKJELMOSE IS GOING TO GET A SPARE BIKE.

IT WILL BE HARD FOR HIM TO GET BACK ON BUT WE WILL SEE IF THE TEAM SACRIFICED THE OTHER RIDERS TO COME BACK AND GET OUR DEFENDING CHAMP.

AND THE SPECTATORS HERE ARE GIVING HIM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

OUR DEFENDING CHAMP OF THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

IS BACK ON THE BIKE AND WE WILL KEEP TABS AND SEE IF HE CAN WORK HIS WAY BACK INTO THE PELOTON.

>> A HUGE DEVELOPMENT HERE, THE DEFENDING CHAMPION WHO WON THE PRESTIGIOUS AM TELL GOLD RACE EARLIER THIS SEASON, HE GOES DOWN HARD AND THAT HAS REALLY COMPROMISED HIS CHANCES FALLING ON THOSE COBBLES WAS ANOTHER.

HE LOOKED BEATEN UP AND A LITTLE CONFUSED.

I COULDN'T TELL IF IT WAS JUST BIKE SHOES WALKING ON COBBLES OR IF MAYBE HE HAD HIT HIS HEAD SO I HOPE THAT THEY ARE ABLE TO ASSESS HIM AND REALLY MAKE SURE THAT HE IS OKAY TO JUMP BACK IN THE RACE.

AND I HOPE HE IS ALREADY.

HE WAS WALKING, STANDING UP BUT THAT'S-- YOU NEVER WANT TO SEE THAT.

>> 89 RIDERS STARTING THIS RACE.

THE FIRST ONE TO GO DOWN IS THE DEFENDING CHAMPION.

HOW ABOUT THAT.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, CYCLING, SHE IS A CRUEL MISTRESS.

JUST WHEN YOU THINK YOU ARE ON TOP, SHE'LL TAKE YOU RIGHT BACK DOWN.

>> THAT'S WHAT YOU GET FOR HAVING A MISTRESS, RIGHT?

>> WELL, LET'S NOT GET INTO THAT.

>> WE WON'T GO THAT DIRECTION.

INSTEAD WE'LL FOLLOW THE MAP AND THE TURNS IT PROVIDES HERE.

THE LEADER AND THEN THE REST OF THE FIELD.

WE HAVE CHASERS IN BETWEEN HERE AND GOING ABOUT PATTERSON PARK, AGAIN, ONE OF THE BIGGEST URBAN PARKS IN THE COUNTRY AND ONE OF THE OLDEST AS WELL BUT STILL EARLY IN LAP NUMBER 2.

THIS IS THE PART OF THE CIRCUIT WHERE THEY'RE KIND OF SLOWLY TRENDING UPHILL, GOING TOWARDS THE NORTH AND THIS IS A REPLAY WHERE SKJELMOSO WENT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

>> YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE BOTTLES FLYING ALL OVER THE PLACE YOU NEVER WANT THAT.

YOU NEVER WANT TO HIT THE GROUND.

SO BACK TO LOW AN SO IN THE GREEN, FOUR CHASERS BEHIND AND THEN THE FIELD.

NOW TIME GAP AS OF NOW WHERE THEY ALL STAND BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, STILL GOING UPHILL HERE AND IT WILL BE SLOWLY UPHILL THROUGH MONUMENT PARK AND THEN EVENTUALLY TO THEIR SECOND TIME UP THE KING OF THE MOUNTAINS CLIMB.

THIS IS BACK BEHIND THE FIELD AND THE CHASE.

THE TEAMMATE OF SKJELMOSE WHO IS WAITING FOR HIM HERE, SO SKJELMOSE'S TEAMMATE SAM OOMEN OF THE NETHERLANDS IS WAIT WAITING FOR SKJELMOSE.

IT IS GOING TO BE A LONG ROAD BACK BECAUSE HE WAS OFF HIS BIKE AND STANDING AROUND FOR QUITE SOMETIME AFTER THE CRASH, NOT TO MENTION HOW HE MIGHT BE FEELING AND HOW BEAT UP HE IS AFTER FALLING TO BEGIN WITH.

>> YOU KNOW, LET'S SAY QUOTE UNQUOTE LUCKILY FOR HIM, IF THE BREAKAWAY IS GOING NOW, THEN THE PACE IN THE FIELD SHOULD, IN THEORY, BE A BIT LOWER.

SO IT CAN BE EASIER TO GET BACK IN.

LET'S SEE HOW THAT CRASH RATTLED HIS BODY AND HIS MIND.

BUT YOU KNOW, THESE GUYS ARE SO TOUGH DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THEY'RE LETTING THE BREAKAWAY GET AWAY AT THIS TIME.

>> SO THIS IS THE FRONT OF THE RACE.

WE HAVE THESE RIDERS AND THEN JUST A SLIGHT GAP TO THE REST OF THE FIELD THAT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE CLOSE TO REELING THEM BACK IN.

>> YEAH, RIGHTED.

SO FORGET WHAT I JUST SAID.

IT'S GOING TO BE A SPEEDY WAY BACK FOR SKJELMOSE.

SAM OOMEN WAITING FOR HIM.

YOUNG RIDER ON THE TEAM.

ACTUALLY MAYBE THE ONLY PERSON IN THE PELOTON THAT DOESN'T HAVE SOCIAL MEDIA.

IS NOT ON GRAM OR ANYTHING.

I GOT THAT FROM HIS TEAM PRESS OFFICERS.

>> BECAUSE YOU COULDN'T FIND IT YOURSELF.

>> I WAS TRYING TO GET SOME QUIRKY INFO ABOUT EACH OF THE RIDERS AND I WAS-- THAT'S WHAT SHE SHARED WITH ME, THAT HE IS OFF LINE, WHICH, IN THIS DAY AND AGE-- LOOK AT THOSE CLOUDS.

WE MIGHT HAVE THAT STORM WE GOT A STORM BREWING ALREADY.

>> PARTLY SUNNY ON THIS PART OF THE COURSE BUT THERE ARE THREATENING CLOUDS IN THE DISTANCE THE OVER DIRECTION.

>> YEAH, I AM SURPRISED THEY DIDN'T LET THAT BREAKAWAY GO.

BUT IT GOES TO SHOW THAT PEOPLE HERE ARE MOTIVATED.

THEY'RE READY TO RACE.

THIS IS A BIG RACE FOR ALL OF THE RACERS HERE, THE WORLD TOUR TEAMS AND THE CONTINENTAL TEAMS.

I CAN'T SEE EXACTLY WHO THAT IS, WHO IS CLOSING THEM.

IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE MAURO SCHMID WITH THE RED JERSEY.

>> THIS THING IS JUST ABOUT FULLY BACK TOGETHER HERE.

85.5 MILES TO GO, ON LAP NUMBER 2 AT THE MARLED CYCLING CLASSIC.

ALL RIGHT, SO NOW, THE PACE HAS PULLED BACK SOMEWHAT WITH THE GROUP IN FRONT CAUGHT AND NOW IT'S A MATTER OF, ALL RIGHT.

ARE WE GOING SEE OTHER ATTACKS?

WHO IS GOING TO LEAD?

EXACTLY HOW IS IT GOING TO PLAY OUT FROM HERE?

TEAMS TRYING TO DECIDE AND THE RIDERS AT THE FRONT TRYING TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK AROUND AND TAKE THE TEMPERATURE OF THE ROOM.

>> TOES RIDERS OFF THE FRONT WILL BURN A COUPLE OF MATCHES.

THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE HERE TO TO DO.

I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF WE SEE SOME OF THE GUYS TRYING TO MAKE THEIR WAY.

THIS IS JUST AN OVERPASS BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT IT IS NOT FLAT.

IT'S A GOOD LAUNCHING POINT AS WE SEE SOMEBODY RIPPING IT ON THE OUTSIDE.

THAT LOOKS LIKE TEAM MEDELLIN ON THE ATTACK AGAIN, SO THEY'RE VERY MOTIVATED TO GET INTO THE BREAKAWAY TODAY.

>> AND FOR SOME TEAMS, THAT MIGHT BE IT.

THEIR SOLE AMBITION IS TO GET TO THE BREAKAWAY, TO MAYBE HAVE THINGS FALL THEIR WAY.

AFTER THAT BUT IF YOU DON'T HAVE A TOP SPRINTER OR A FAVORITE SOME WAY THAT CAN WIN LATER ON, GETTING THE BREAK EARLY AND TAKE YOUR CHANCES.

>> QUITE OFTEN IF YOU CAN GET AHEAD OF THE RACE, AND YOU ARE NOT ONE OF THE STRONGEST TEALS IN THE RACE, YOU ARE NOT THE STRONGEST RIDER IN THE RACE, YOU SET YOURSELF UP TO AVOID HAVING TO MAKE THOSE SELECTIONS THAT HAPPEN WHEN THE BIGGEST RIDERS GO.

SO IT ALLOWS YOU TO BENEFIT FROM BEING IN THE FRONT AND PERHAPS END UP IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE FINAL SO ONE RIDER OFF THE FRONT OF THE FIELD AND OUR BIG STORY THOUGH HAPPENING BACK BEHIND THE PELOTON, THE DEFENDING CHAMPION, MA TIEIAS SKJELMOSE STILL TRYING TO MAKE HIS WAY BACK UP INTO THE FIELD THIS IS OSCAR SEVILLA FOR TEAM MEDELLIN, THE 48-YEAR-OLD WHO RACED WITH JOSH BACK IN THE DAY.

I MEAN HE HAS BEEN AROUND FOREVER AND NOW LEADING A PREMIER RACE HERE ON U.S.

ROADS IN 2025.

>> THAT IS THE LEDGE LEGEND HIMSELF, OSCAR SEA VIA, IF ANYBODY KNOWS A GOOD TIME TO ATTACK, IT'S HIM.

THE RIDER HAS JOINED HIM HERE.

FABBIAN VICE.

APPARENTLY FABBIAN LOVES DOING LATTÉ ART.

AND OFTEN PREPARES COFFEE FOR THE RIDERS AND STAFF BEFORE RACES.

SO LATTÉ ART IN BASICALLY PREPARING THE COFFEE AND, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE LIKE A HEART IN THE COFFEE, SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

IS THAT WHAT YOU ARE REFERRING TO?

>> YEAH, STEVE, IT'S CALLED A ROSETTA.

>> IS IT?

>> YEAH.

>> OKAY.

I'M NOT WELL VERSED IN THE IN LATTÉ ART IN THE WORLD.

>> IF THERE IS ONE THING THAT GOES WITH PROFESSIONALLING CYCLING, IT IS LATTÉ ART.

HE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE ON HIS TEAM.

THIS IS COMING DIRECTLY FROM THEIR PRESS OFFICER WHO PRIDE THEMSELVES IN LATTÉ ART.

>> NOW, I DO KNOW THAT COFFEE IS BIG BECAUSE YOU GO ON ANY TEAM BUS AND USUALLY THE COFFEE MACHINE, ESPRESSO MACHINE, THAT IS THE FOCAL POINT OF THE BUS, RIGHT?

PEOPLE GATHER AROUND.

THAT'S THE FIRST STOP IN THE MORNING, USUALLY WHEN THERE IS A NEW ONE DELIVERED, EVERYBODY IS EXCITED AND SO I KNOW IT'S BIG.

I JUST DIDN'T REALIZE HOW BIG THE ART ASPECT WAS.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, YOU GOT TO TAKE EVERYTHING TO THE NTH DEGREE.

BUT EVERY TEAM BUS HAS A COLD FRONTEE-- COFFEE MACHINE, NUTRITION OBVIOUSLY A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE PORT.

AND COFFEE, NATURAL SOURCE OF CAFFEINE.

I THINK IT'S ALSO ABOUT THE CEREMONY AND RITUAL OF SITTING DOWN WITH A █COFFEE BEFORE THE RACE, BEFORE YOU ARE ABOUT TO HAVE 200 GRAMS OF GELS EVERY HOUR.

>> FOR ME IT'S COFFEE BEFORE ANYTHING.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT IS A RACE.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF I'M GETTING READY TO TAKE A NAP.

COFFEE ANY TIME.

WELL, THAT PERFECTLY LEADS US INTO THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT THE WAY THE MODERN PELOTON OPERATES IN THIS MARGINAL GAINS EAR A.

NUTRITION, THE BIKE, TRAINING, HOW IT ALL WORKS.

AND CLIMBING WATTS PER KILO IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN TRACK OVER THE YEARS AND IT'S FASCINATING, THE EVOLUTION OF SPORT IN THIS REGARD.

>> THEY KEEP GETTING FASTER, THAT'S FOR SURE AND THEY'RE DEFINITELY EATING A LOT MORE FRUCTOSE AND GLUCOSE THAN EVER BEFORE.

I REMEMBER BACK IN MY DAY, I GOT 40 TO 60 GRAMS IN, I WAS STOKED AN HOUR.

ABOUT 200 GRAMS THEY'RE TRAINING IN TRAINING.

I KNOW MY WIFE IS DOING IT AND YOU TREAT THE GUT LIKE A MUSCLE.

YOU PUT IT UNDER THE STRESS OF ESSENTIALLY EATING AS MUCH GLUCOSE AS POSSIBLE AND I GUESS IT LEARNS HOW TO PULL THAT IN AND CONVERT IT INTO THE ENERGY YOU NEED TO KEEP YOU RUNNING AT A HIGH GEAR.

WATTS OVER WEIGHT, FOODIE QUALING FUEL IS THE CALCULATION AND THE FORMULA.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE BREAKFAST.

THE RICE, PASTA AND NOODLES.

I DON'T KNOW IF COULD I DO IT.

I RESPECT YOU CAN EAT SOMETHING STRONGER, TRIX, RICE KHEX.

>> TRICKS ARE FOR KIDS.

>> I CAN TELL YOU I'M NOT EATING RICE FOR BREAKFAST ANYMORE.

A LOT OF THE TEAMS LIKE BISMA WHO IS NOT AT THIS RACE, THEY HAVE MEAL PLANS FOR THEIR RIDERS.

I WAS TALKING TO MATEO JORGENSENSON A CONSUME WEEKS BACK AND HE SAID IT IS EASE ARE FOR HIM BECAUSE HE DOESN'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT HE HAS TO EAT.

THE TEAM, ESSENTIALLY LIKE A TRAINING PLAN, SENDS HIM WHAT HE NEEDS TO EAT.

HE WEIGHS IT OUT.

THEY ALL HAVE SCALES.

I REMEMBER BACK IN THE DAY WHEN LANCE BUSTED OUT A SCALE AND IT WAS LIKE OH MY GOODNESS, THIS GUY IS WEIGHING HIS FOOD AND NOW EVERYBODY IS WEIGHING THEIR FOOD.

IT'S THE NEW NORMAL WHICH IS A POPULAR PHRASE.

>> DID YOU EVER DO ANYTHING DRAMATIC OR DIFFERENT MAYBE UNIQUE IN TERMS OF YOUR DIET OR THE WAY YOU GOT TO A CERTAIN WEIGHT OR MAYBE JUST THE WAY YOU THOUGHT ABOUT IT BACK IN THE DAY?

>>IA-- I'M NOT GOING TO LIE.

I'M ON THE BIGGER SIDE OF THESE BIKE RIDERS I WAS UPWARDS OF 18R 83 KILOS AT THE LIGHTEST AND I HAD A LOT OF DIFFICULTY IN RESTRICTING FOOD FROM MYSELF BECAUSE I FELT LIKE I RODE MY BIKE SO THAT I COULD EAT MORE FOOD AND IT MADE ME HUNGRY AND IT WAS-- IT MADE FOOD MORE ENJOILABLE SO THE IDEA OF GOING OUT PUNISHING MYSELF ON A BIKE AND THEN NOT EATING AS MUCH AS I WANTED TO THAT WAS REALLY HARD FOR ME TO COMMIT TO.

THAT'S JUST ME.

>> YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE REWARD.

THE CARROT DANGLING AT THE END OF THE STICK OR MAYBE THE CAKE AT THE END OF THE STICK IN THAT REGARD.

>> YEAH, AT LEAST A CARROT AND SOME HUMMUS AT THE END OF THE STICK I WAS NEVER WEIGHING MY FOOD.

SEVILLA AND VICE HERE, THE TWO LEADERS HALF A MINUTE AHEAD OF THE FIELD ON LAP TWO AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

THE FIRST REAL SELECTION THAT WE HAVE HAD IN THIS RACE.

WE SAW SOME AGGRESSIVE RIDING ON THE OPENING LAP WE SAW THE FIELD SINGLE FILE BUT NOBODY GOT AWAY WITH MEANINGFUL TIME.

NOW 30 SECONDS HERE FOR THESE TWO RIDERS.

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT MIGHT LAST A WHILE IN YOUR MIND?

>> YEAH, IT COULD, YOU KNOW, OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT OSCAR SEVILLA WON THE WELTA IN 2001, HIM AND FABBIAN WEISS, THEY'RE NOT, I WOULDN'T SAY THAT THEY'RE BEING LOOKED AT AS THE TOP COMPETITORS AND THERE ARE ONLY TWO OF THEM OUT THERE SO IF THIS GROUP WERE 10 RIDERS, AND THEY WERE MORE WORLD TOUR TEAMS INVOLVED, I THINK THAT THE GROUP BEHIND COULD START TO BE WORRIED BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THIS POSSIBLY, YEAH, AS WE SEE THE GROUP HAS SET UP, SO THIS LOOKS LIKE IT IS A GOOD BREAKAWAY AND I MEAN CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT OSCAR SEA VIA.

I LOVE TO SEE THAT HE IS STILL OUT THERE ENJOYING.

THEY HAVE BEEN RACING DOMESTICALLY HERE IN THE U.S. AND I THINK THEY HAVE A RACE TOMORROW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO ALSO ON THE EAST COAST.

SO THEY'RE DOING A LITTLE U.S. TOUR.

>> THE GATEWAY CUP IN ST. LOUIS HAS BECOME A REGULAR STAPLE ON THE CALENDAR AND AGAIN THESE RACES, FITTING IN NICELY AT THE BACK END OF THE SUMMER, EARLY FALL TO GET A SWING THROUGH THE U.S. AND CANADA BEFORE HEADING BACK OVERSEAS FOR THE END OF THE SEASON I UNDERSTAND THATTING WHEN YOU HAVE SOMEBODY LIKE SEVILLA, 48 YEARS OF AGE AND CLEARLY THAT'S BEYOND THE OUTER RIM OF WHAT YOU TIP THEIR SEE, BUT IT IS TRULY REMARKABLE IN A LOT OF WAYS.

IS ON-- OSCAR SEVILLA, HOW SPORTS AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN GENERAL, YOU HAVE ATHLETES PLAYING LONGER AND STICKING AROUND AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL MORE SO THAN EVER BEFORE.

NUTRITION IS BETTER, SCIENCE IS BETTER.

ANALYTICS, THEY ALL PLAY A ROLE.

SO YOU HAVE A LEBRON JAMES PLAYING INTO HIS FOURTH.

MESSI AT THE WORLD CUP AT THE AGE OF 39 NEXT YEAR.

DIFFERENT SPORTS BUT THE TEAM IS THE SAME, OLDER ATHLETES STICKING AROUND BECAUSE THEY CAN REMAIN COMPETITIVE WITH THE CHANGES IN THE WAY THEY HANDLE THEIR BODIES.

>> YEAH, GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT IS MAVE GARCIA, WINNING A STAGE OF THE TOUR DE FRANCE, 4 2K YEARS OLD.

SLEY IS THE OLDEST RIDER IN THE WOMEN'S PELOTON AND WE OFTEN TALK ABOUT THE ERASERS AT THE TOP STEP OF THE PODIUM GETTING YOUNGER AND THE BIGGEST RACE IN THE U.S. OFF THE FRONT, GOES TO SHOW THAT HE STILL HAS IT.

HE WON A STAGE OF THE TOUR OF ECUADOR AND ANYBODY WHO HAS RACED IN SOUTH AMERICA KNOWS HOW HIGH THAT LEVEL IS DOWN THERE.

TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE RIGORS, THIS IS IMPRESSIVE.

HE HAS BEEN ON THE TOUR de PRO-CYCLING TEAM SINCE ITS INCEPTION REPRESENTING THAT TEAM AS WE TAKE OUR RIGHT ON TO THE KOM FOR THE SECOND TIME SO IT WILL BE TWO DIFFERENT RIDERS TO THE TOP AND THEN WHAT WE SAW ON THE OPENING LAP KING OF THE MOUNTAIN COMPETITION FOR THE MOMENT WIDE OPEN THIS CLIMB A HALF MILE TOPS OUT AT 8%.

A FALSE FLAT AT THE TOP.

THIS IS THE FURTHEST NORTH THEY WILL GET ON THE COURSE I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED.

THEY'RE SITTING UP THERE.

THE GROUP IS GOING TO YELL AT ANYBODY IF THEY GO BUT HEY, THIS IS A RACE AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS.

YOU WANT TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY BUT BY THE SAME TOKEN, THE REST OF THE FIELD THEY FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT.

THEY HAVE AN ESTABLISHED GROUP OF TWO AT THE FRONT NON-THREATENING RIDERS, TIME GAP THAT IS MANAGEABLE AND SO IN A LOT OF WAYS, IT SETTLES DOWN THE REST OF THE RACE.

>> I CAN TELL YOU THE REST OF THE TEAMS HERE, THE DIRECTORS IN THEIR EARS, THEY'RE NOT HAPPY.

IT IS ALWAYS HARD TO GO UP AGAINST THE WORLD TOUR TEAMS AND ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GOT SOME OF THE BIGGEST PROS YELLING AT YOU NOT TO ATTACK.

>> HAVE YOU EVER HAD A DIRECTOR IN YOUR YEAR.

>> I WOULD SAY NOT NECESSARILY YELLING AND THEY WOULD BE YELLING IN THE EAR BUT DEFINITELY MAKING SOME ORDERS THAT THAT YOU ARE NOT CAPABLE OF FOLLOWING WITH OR NOT WILLING TO COMPLY WITH.

SO ULTIMATELY, IT'S THE RIDERS THAT ARE OUT ON THE ROAD, RIGHT?

AND THE DIRECTORS ARE IN THE CAR.

THEY SEE THE FEED THAT WE SEE.

IT'S MUCH DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.

>> DO YOU HAVE THE OPTION IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DO IT, IS THAT AN OPTION THAT IS GIVEN TO YOU THEN YOU BETTER GO FOR IT.

BUT IF NOT, THERE IS WIGGLE ROOM FOR SURE.

>> A PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL GAP NOW AS WE ARE GETTING FOUR MINUTES FROM SEVILLA.

>> YEAH THEY'VE REALLY SLOWED DOWN IN THE BACK.

NOW IT'S TIME TO THIS IS ITSELF CALM BEFORE THE REST OF THE STORM.

THAT WE ARE ABOUT TO WATCH UNFOLD HERE IN BEAUTIFUL BALTIMORE MARYLAND.

>> SO FOUR MINUTES STILL VERY DOABLE FOR THIS FIELD IF EVERYBODY IS MOTIVATED TO CHASE, BUT WITH TWO RIDERS, IF YOU DO THE MATH, WHAT IS THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF TIME YOU WOULD WANT TO GIVE THESE TWO.

>> I WOULD SAY MAYBE, I COULD SEE THEM GIVING THEM SIX MINUTES MAXIMUM.

SIX TO SEVEN MINUTES.

MAYBE UPWARDS OF 8 TO 9.

THESE ARE CRUCIAL MOMENTS WHERE IT IS A TACTICAL CHESS GAME IN THE BACK AND THE RIDERS UP IN THIS GROUP THAT WE SEE FROM THE DRONE SHOT ARE ESSENTIALLY WAITING TO RECEIVE THOSE ORDERS, WHETHER IT'S TIME TO START RIDING, YOU WOULD THINK THAT A TEAM LIKE LIDL-TREK WOULD BE TAKING UP THAT, BUT WITH THE CRASH OF SKJELMOSE, WHICH I DON'T KNOW IF HE HAS MADE IT BACK TO THE PELOTON OR NOT YET, THAT CHANGES THINGS UP A BIT.

IT'S HARD TO KNOW WHO THE RESPONSIBILITY WOULD FALL UPON, BUT IT ALWAYS ENDS UP BEING A SITUATION WHERE THE GROUP LOOKS TO THE WORLD TOUR TEAMS TO START PUTTING ONE RIDER ON THE FRONT TO RIDE, SO LOOK FOR EF, LOOK FOR UNO-X.

JAYCO ALULA HAVE ONE OF THE STRONGEST SPRINTERS HERE BUT WHAT A FANTASTIC SHOT FROM THE DRONE.

YOU DEFINITELY ARE NOT GOING TO GET THAT CLOSE WITH A HELICOPTER.

SO BEAUTIFUL DAY HERE IN BALTIMORE SO THE FIELD NOT IN CHASE MODE ALMOST 76 MILES TO THE FINISH.

STICKY BOTTLE THERE AT THE CAR.

FROM THE DRIVER TO THE RIDER.

TWO DIFFERENT ENERGIES FROM THE TWO RIDERS UP FRONT AND THE VIBE HERE IN THE GROUP.

THESE ARE THE MOMENTS WHERE YOU CAN CATCH UP WITH OLD FRIENDS THAT MAYBE YOU MISSED IN THE HOTEL AND BREATHE, HAVE SOME FOOD AND RESET AND START TO TO THINK ABOUT THE REST OF THE RACE AS WE DO NOT HAVE AN ENORMOUS GROUP OFF THE FRONT.

IT MEANS THAT THIS WILL BE A BIT MORE CONTROLLED AND WILL LOOK TOWARDS THE LAST COUPLE LAPS FOR THAT ACTIVITY TO COME FROM OUR MAIN HITTERS IN THE PACK.

>> IT'S FUNNY, ALL THE CONVERSATIONS THAT TAKE PLACE BETWEEN RIDERS WHEN THE RACE ISN'T FULLY ENGAGED.

SOMETIMES JUST JOKING AROUND, EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE LITERALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF A COMPETITION, YOU ARE JUST HAVING A CHATS ABOUT SHOAM DIFFERENT THINGS.

I HEARD-- SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS.

I HEARD ONE POINT IN A EUROPEAN RACE THERE WAS A RIDER WHO SOLD HIS CAR TO ANOTHER RIDER DURING THE RACE ITSELF.

>> I CAN TELL YOU WITH A LOT OF CERTAINTY THERE HAS BEEN MANY SALES MADE.

THIS IS-- YOU ARE LOOKING AT BASICALLY A NETWORKING CONFERENCE.

>> REALLY?

>> KIND OF LIKE A FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE THAT HAPPENS DURING A SPORTING EVENT.

I GET IT.

>> CARS, WATCHES, THIS IS MAYBE MORE OF AN OLD SCHOOL THING.

BUT FOR SURE THERE IS NETWORKING GOING ON TRADES BEING MADE IT IS A RARE THING IN A SPORTING EVENT.

>> THE PAPERWORK GETS EXCHANGED LATER.

IT'S OVER TWO AND A HALF MILES FROM THE TWO LEADERS BACK TO THE FIELD.

75 LEFT TO GO THEY ARE HEADING DOWN SOUTH TOWARD CENTRAL BALTIMORE, AT THE INNER HARBOR, A PRETTY BIG GAP BETWEEN THOSE TWO POINTS IN THE RACE.

>> YEAH, YOU CAN MAKE QUITE A LOT OF DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU ARE PUSHING ON THE PEDALS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT'S DOWNHILL FROM THE TOP OF THAT KOM AND IF THE PELOTON TOOK THE KOM SLOW AND BREAKAWAY TOOK THE KOM AT A REGULAR SPEED, LET'S SAY.

AND THEN PUSHED ALL THE WAY DOWN, I MEAN THREE MILES GAP IN BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS, THAT'S FIVE KILOMETERS.

THAT'S A STOUT AMOUNT OF TIME.

THIS BREAKAWAY, THE TIME IS GOING TO GO UP QUICK THAT'S PART OF THE CAT AND MOUSE GAME THAT WE ARE WATCHING.

TUDOR REPRESENTED UP IN THE FRONT BUT THEY'RE DEFEND IN THELY NOT GOING TO BE PULLING WITH THEIR BARISTA FABBIAN VICE UP IN THE FRONT, KING OF LATTÉ ART ON THE TUDOR PRO-CYCLING TEAM.

APPARENTLY NEVER MISSING IN FABBIAN LUGGAGE IS A BOOK.

AVID READER AS WE HAVE UNO-X DECIDING TO MIX THINGS UP.

I CAN'T SEE ANYBODY BRINGING BACK A FIVE KILOMETER GAP.

MENTALLY IT JUST BECOMES MORE AND MORE DIFFICULT TO PROCESS, TO THINK ABOUT.

SO THESE TEAMS LIKE UNO-X THAT ARE HERE TO ANIMATE, EVEN GOING OFF THE FRONT, JAY LOW ALULA,-- JAYCO ALULA, THE AMERICAN TEAMS, NOVO NORDISK.

LET'S SEE, THE SALES PAUSE IS OVER.

>> SO DIFFERENT FROM A STAGE RACE OR ANYTHING ELSE WHERE THERE IS NO TORM, THERE IS NO NEXT DAY OR GENERAL CLASSIFICATION YOU HAVE TO THINK OF LONG-TERM.

THERE IS NO PLACING YOUR TRYING TO PROTECT FROM THE DAY BEFORE.

IT'S FOCUSED ON THE RESULTS OF TODAY AND ALL OF THE DYNAMICS GET COMPRESSED INTO ONE FOUR-HOUR COMPETITION.

AND THE GAP OVER FIVE MINUTES HERE.

>> ONE DAY RACING, YEP ONE DAY RACING YOU PUT IT ALL OUT THERE.

YOU HAVE HALF A FIELD THAT FINISHES THE RACE OR EVEN LESS.

UNLIKE A STAGE RACE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO MAKE IT TO THE FINISH LINE TO BE ABLE TO START THE NEXT DAY.

SO HOPEFULLY THAT POLICE CAR GETS OUT OF THE WAY AND THESE GUYS ARE RIPIN.

FIVE MINUTES CAN COME DOWN QUICKLY TOWARD THE END OF THE RACE, BUT OUR TWO LEADERS ARE COMING UP ON THE END OF THE LAP.

A FEW MOMENTS AGO, CHECK THIS OUT.

MATHIAS SKJELMOSE FROM TWO YEARS AGO, CRASHING AT THE START OF THE SECOND LAP ON THE COBBLES, HE TRIED TO CONTINUE, BUT NOW HAS HAD TO ABANDON, BASICALLY HANGING HIS RIGHT ARM OFF TO THE SIDE, REALLY CAN'T PUT ANY PRESSURE ON THAT RIGHT ARM OR THE RIGHT HAND, SO HE EVENTUALLY STOPPED AND HE HAS A BAND IN THE RACE.

I THINK THAT'S A GOOD CALL.

I MEAN HE WAS-- YOU CAN TELL WHEN SOMEBODY GOES DOWN IF THEY'RE UP IMMEDIATELY, THEN THEY'RE READY TO GET BACK INTO IT BUT HE WAS ALMOST-- ALMOST LIKE THE WALKING DEAD WHEN HE STOOD BRACK-- STOOD BACK UP.

I THINK THAT'S A GOOD MOVE FROM HIM.

THAT HE WAS ABLE TO CALL IT.

I HOPE HE IS ALL RIGHT IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE QUINN ON HIS OWN THEIR GAME PLAN WAS TO BE THAT 1-2 PUNCH.

SO WE ALL FLOW FROM THE TOUR DE FRANCE THIS YEAR THAT QUINN IS PERFECTLY CAPABLE OF BEING AGGRESSIVE ON HIS OWN, AND I THINK WE'LL LOOK TO SEE THAT AS THIS RACE COMES INTO THE LAST HALF.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THIS IS THE LONG FLAT FINISHING STRETCH AT THE END OF LAP NUMBER 2.

FOR THE TWO LEADERS, VICE AND SEVILLA, OVER TWO MILES BETWEEN THEM AND THE FIELD, THERE IS A RIDER HERE IN THE GAP BETWEEN THE LEADERS AND THE PELOTON.

>> PROJECT ECHELON.

>> THAT IS ERIC BRUINER OF THE U.S.

BUT OVER FIVE MINUTES FROM THE FRONT TO THE BACK HERE AND BRUNNER IS NOT TOO FAR AHEAD OF THE MAIN FIELD HERE, MAY GET SCOOPED UP BEFORE TOO LONG.

AND THE TWO LEADERS GO UNTHE BANNER AND PROCEED OUT ON TO LAP NUMBER 3.

>> ALL RIGHT, SO TWO LEADERS AHEAD BY OVER FIVE MINUTES.

TWO LAPS DOWN, FOUR REMAINING HERE AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

YOU CAN SEE THE PATCHWORK ON THIS PARTICULAR ROUND ABOUT.

IT WAS A LITTLE BIT TOO DANGEROUS FOR THE RIDERS WITH SOME PARALLEL OPENINGS IN THE COBBLES SO THEY WERE ABLE TO PATCH THAT ROUND ABOUT UP.

BUT THEY'RE ABOUT TO HIT THE MAIN COBBLESTONE SECTION OF THE COURSE AS THEY COME BACK DOWN THROUGH THE START AREA AFTER HAVING GONE THROUGH THE FINISH.

>> THE ICONIC VOICE OF DAVE TOLL YOU CAN HEAR IN THE BACKGROUND, DAVE TOLL ANNOUNCING RACES, WHO KNOWS HOW LONG.

PERHAPS BEFORE I WAS EVEN BORN.

PROBABLY NOT THAT LONG BUT I REMEMBER HIM ANNOUNCING RACES WHEN I WAS 16, SO 20 YEARS AGO, LOCAL RACES IN COLORADO.

HE IS A STAPLE ON THE CIRCUIT.

AS ARE YOU, STEVE.

>> TOP NOW TAYLOR, STOP THAT.

THE RIDERS ON TO THE COBBLES NOW HERE THIS IS WHERE SKJELMOSE WENT DOWN ABOUT 500 METERS TO NAVIGATE.

MUCH EASIER WHEN IT IS TWO RIDERS HERE LIKE WE HAVE WITH OUR LEADERS.

AND EVEN MORE OUT ON THE CLIMB AT THE KOM STILL A FEW HOURS OF RACING REMAINING, 70 MILES LEFT TO GO.

MEANWHILE AS THEY ARE OUT ON TO THEIR THIRD LAP, THIS IS THE MAIN FIELD COMING BACK INTO THE CENTER OF BALTIMORE JUST SITTING BACK AND HAVING THEIR CARB BREAK.

SO SOME OF THE CONTINENTAL TEAMS RAMPING IT UP.

WE'VE SEEN EDUCATION FIRST, LIDL-TREK GETTING AFTER IT.

IT'S HARD TO TELL BUT IT LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER PROJECT ECHELON RIDER COMING OFF THE FRONT THAT'S GOING TO TRY TO MAKE THEIR WAY UP TO SEVILLA AND VICE.

UP IN THE FRONT.

BUT THEY GOT A LONG WAY TO CATCH THOSE GUYS.

ALSO GETTING WORD THAT IT IS RAINING ON CERTAIN PARTS OF THE COURSE AND WITH THE PACE HERE IN THE FIELD, YOU SEE HOW IT IS STRETCHED OUT, THE GAP HAS COME DOWN TO INSIDE FOUR AND A HALF MINUTES.

AND WAS OVER FIVE A SHORT TIME AGO.

YOU CAN SEE THE RIDERS PRECARIOUSLY DARTING FROM THESE PIECES OF CONCRETE ON THE ROAD.

YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE IS A LINE THAT IS FORMED IN BETWEEN THOSE TWO PIECES OF CONCRETE THAT CAN BE TREACHEROUS IF YOU GET YOUR WHEELS STUCK IN THERE.

YOU HAVE ROADS LIKE THAT IN BELGIUM AS WELL.

COMING BACK DOWN INTO FELLS POINT.

YOU CAN HEAR THE BUZZ OF THE RIDERS COMING BY THE COMMENTARY BOOTH, WHOOSH OF WIND.

>> A LITTLE BIT OF A BREEZE OUT THERE ON THE COURSE, NOT A WHOLE LOT, BUT THE CLOUDS ARE BUILDING.

THAT IS FOR SURE.

LARGELY SUNNY SKIES EARLIER IN THE DAY, BUT AS WE NOTED BEFORE, RAIN IS IN THE FORECAST AND IT COULD BE QUITE HEAVY WITH THUNDERSTORMS THIS AFTERNOON.

THEY ARE PREDICTED TO ROLL IN ANY TIME BETWEEN 2 AND 8 P.M. AND WE ARE JUST SHY OF THE 2:00 HOUR RIGHT NOW HERE IN BALTIMORE.

BLUER.

>> WE ARE GETTING REPORTS THAT THERE IS SOME RAIN ON THE COURSE.

I'M LOOKING AT THE RADAR, IT LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT HOLD OFF FOR THE RIDERS WHICH I'M SURE YOU WOULD PREFER AS FAR AS A SPECTACLE IS CONCERNED.

I NEVER DISLIKED SOME RAIN.

>> WHAT IS THE WORST WEATHER YOU HAVE EVER RACED IN?

>> THE WORST WEATHER I EVER WHERE THEY IT CANCEL-- THEY DIDN'T CANCEL THE STAGE BUT NEUTRALIZED THE STAGE IN THE MIDDLE BEFORE WE WENT OVER THE PASS BECAUSE IT WAS SNOWING AND IT HAD BEEN RAINING ALL MORNING.

SO WE STARTED AND I THINK IT WAS JUST ABOVE FREEZING.

YOU START PRETTY EARLY IN THE MORNING, 8:00 IN THE MORNING, START OUT.

WE RODE THREE HOURS PROGRESSIVELY GETTING TO HIRE ALTITUDES AND THE TEMPERATURE DIDN'T RISE MUCH OVER FREEZING UNTIL IT JUST STARTED SNOWING AND WE WERE RIDING SINGLE FILE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN IMAGINE THE TIRE TRACKS ON THE SNOW FOLLOWING ONE SINGLE TIRE TRACK TO GET TO THE BUS WE HEARD THE STAGE HAD BEEN NEUTRALIZED.

WE GOT INTO THE BUS.

I HAD ABOUT A SENTE METER OF ICE THAT HAD FORMED ON TO MY HELMET.

BUT WE GOT TO THE BUS, WERE ABLE TO TAKE A SHOWER AND RESET FOR ROUND TWO AND GOT OUT TOWARDS THE COAST WHERE THE WEATHER WAS MARGINALLY IMPROVED.

WAS STILL CODE.

STILL RAINING BUT IT WASN'T SNOWING AND WE WERE ABLE TO HEAD TO THE FINISH I GOT EIGHTH THAT YEAR AS WE WATCHED QUINN SIMMONS KNEW FLYING THE FLAG GETTING AFTER IT AS HE DID OWE SO WELL IN FRANCE CHT IT WAS REALLY COOL TO WATCH THAT: HE IS HELPING TO PUSH THE PACE AT THE FRONT OF THE FIELD HERE FOUR AND A HALF BACK OF THE TWO LEADERS.

>> YOU ARE STARTING TO' EF GETTING INVOLVD LID TREK UP THERE, UNO-X.

THESE ARE THE TEAMS WE NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF.

WE ARE BACK WITH THE STEADY CADENCE OF OSCAR SEVILLA AND FABBIAN VICE.

YOU CAN TELL THAT VICE COMES FROM A YOUNGER GENERATION OF HIGHER CADENCE EVEN DIFFERENT POSITION FABIAN VICE'S POSITION IS MORE POPULAR IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

>> WHY IS THAT.

>> >> I THINK IT IS SOMETHING TAKING THE WEIGHT OF YOUR BODY MORE ON YOUR ARMS.

YOU FREE UP SOME WEIGHT, LET'S SAY FURTHER OVER THE BOTTOM BRACKET.

I MEAN IF YOU LOOK AT RUNNING AND YOU TALK ABOUT RUNNING FORM, YOU REALLY WANT TO BE HAVING YOUR MOMENTUM AND YOUR WEIGHT FURTHER FORWARD IF YOU LOOK AT THE KENYANS, FOR EXAMPLE.

IN MARATHON RUNNING THE TOP FURTHER OVER THE STROKE POINT WHERE THEY HIT THE GROUND.

SO I MEAN WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF WHAT HAPPENS IN CYCLING IS TREND BASED, SO THE BEST RIDERS IN THE WORLD END UP DICTATING WHAT OTHER RIDERS END UP WANTING TO DO, SO IF WE LOOK AT THE BEST EXAMPLE OF THAT, HIS POSITION IS ESPECIALLY FURTHER FORWARD WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE SADDLE OVER THE BOTTOM BRACKET.

AND HE ALSO RIDES SHORTER CRANKS, 165-MILLIMETER CRANKS SO YOU ARE SEEING A LOT MORE RIDERS USING SHORTER CRANKS INSTEAD OF 175.

AND BEING FURTHER FORWARD AND I THINK IT ALLOWS YOU TO GET A BIT MORE AERODYNAMIC BUT IT IS MORE TAXING ON THE NECK AND THE SHOULDER AND THE ARMS BUT THE JUST LIKE THE NUTRITION SOMETHING YOU CAN TRAIN THAT THE RIDERS DO TRAIN OTHER RIDERS TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY HILL SECTION THAT IS CLIMBING NEXT TO THE PARK AND THAT IS NOT AN EASY SECTION SO YOU COME, YOU START CLIMBING UP THERE AND BY THE TIME YOU GO IT TO THE TOP, YOU HAVE TO REACH OUT AND GRAB A BOTTLE OR A FEEDBACK.

IF THERE IS ANY SPECTATORS THAT ARE LOOKING FOR SOME PERSONAL SO WE HAVE WEISS AND SEVILLA HERE AND THE GAP HAS COME DOWN.

THREE AND A HALF MINUTES.

ITER WAS UP OVER FIVE AT ONE POINT AND YOU SEE HOW THE PACE HAS PICKED UP BACK IN THE FIELD AND RIDERS VERY AGGRESSIVELY AT THE FRONT.

SO AS A RESULT, IT'S CUTTING INTO THE LEAD OF OUR TWO RIDERS AT THE FRONT HERE, LAP 3 OF 6 AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC IS PRESENTED BY...

SEALS LIKE THE GAP IS HOLDING STEADY HERE.

I'M JUST RECEIVING A PIECE OF INFORMATION I WASN'T AWARE OF.

THE CHECKER BOARD JERSEYS OF THE TORONTO HUSTLE.

THEY WERE TOLD ACTUALLY THIS MORNING, 7:30 THIS MORNING BY THE UCI THAT THEY DIDN'T MEET SOME SORT OF ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENT TO PARTICIPATE IN A SERIES OF EVENTS.

THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO-- EVEN THOUGH THEY CAME AND WERE READY TO RACE.

>> A LOOK AT WHERE STILL HEADING NORTH TOWARD THE KOM POINT, THE FIELD COMING PAST THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT.

WASHINGTON D.C. IS KNOWN FOR ITS WASHINGTON MONUMENT.

THIS IS ACTUALLY THE FIRST WASHINGTON MONUMENT THAT HAS BEEN ERECTED IN THE U.S.

SO THE OLDEST WASHINGTON MONUMENT RIGHT HERE IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, AND THESE RACERS JUST RACING RIGHT BY IT MOST OF THEM PROBABLY HAVE NO IDEA.

I WASN'T AWARE BETWEEN WASHINGTON D.C. AND BALTIMORE, THAT WAS A BIT LATER IN 1844.

>> SO MANY HISTORICAL MILESTONES, ANECDOTES, WE COULD TALK FOR HOURS.

BUT LET'S SPARE YOU OUR DISCOURSE, LEAST FOR THE MOMENT AND GO DOWN OUT ON THE COURSE TO RASAN.

>> I'M HERE IN FELLS POINT, JUST HAVING A GOOD TIME WATCHING THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC AND THE DISTINGUISHED YOUNG MAN WALKED UP AND SAID IT WAS GREAT.

WHAT IS SO GREAT ABOUT IT.

>> WE ARE DOWN HERE ON THE COBBLESTONES OF FELLS POINT AND WE GOT BALTIMORE CYCLING.

IT'S AMAZING, AS PURE AS IT IS.

GOOD WEATHER, GOOD TIMES.

>> WAIT A SECOND.

ARE YOU A LOCAL.

>> BALTIMORE, BALTIMORE COUNTY.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ALL OF THIS GOING ON IN YOUR CITY.

>> AMAZING, LOVE IT.

I'M MORE ABOUT THE CYCLING SCENE AND WE LOVE THIS.

>> THAT'S AWESOME.

GLAD YOU ENJOYED IT.

MAKE SURE TO TELL YOUR FRIENDS TO GET DOWN TO THE FINISH AND HAVE SOME FUN.

LET'S GO, MAN.

>> HE IS REPPING THE BALTIMORE CRAB, THE BREW, HE HAS THE GATORADE BOTTLE AND THE BACK PACK.

HE WAS WELL PREPARED WHEN HE CAME OUT FOR THE RACE TODAY.

>> THAT'S ANOTHER THING, BEER MAKING IS A BIG PART OF THE HISTORY OF BALTIMORE, TOO.

BACK TO THE 1800S, EARLY 1900S, THERE WERE OVER 100 BREWERIES IN AND AROUND THE BALTIMORE AREA.

>> I'M STARTING TO...

THERE WE GO, COOKIE MONSTER.

THIS IS BLUER'S EQUIVALENT-- >> DOES THE COOKIE MONSTER NOT HAVE A BOTTOM PORTION OF THE COSTUME?

JUST THE TOP?

>> I'VE NEVER SEEN THE COOKIE MONSTER RUNNING SO-- >> HE IS ALWAYS STATIONARY, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S A SACRIFICE THE SPECTATOR HAD TO MAKE, BOTTOMLESS COOKIE MONSTER.

>> AT LEAST HE DOESN'T LIVE IN A CRASH CAN LIKE HIS BUDDY OSCAR.

THIS OSCAR, HOWEVER, NEVER BEEN IN A TRASH CAN.

I MEAN HE HAS BEEN A PROLONGER THAN ANYBODY ELSE-- PRO LONGER THAN ANYBODY ELSE IN THE PELOTON RIDING PRISTINE RACING HERE SO FAR TODAY.

>> HE HAS GOT THE PASSION.

THAT'S FOR SURE.

OSCAR SEVILLA.

THE RIDER NOW WHO HAS COME OUT OF THE PELOTON.

>> PROJECT ECHELON.

GREAT KID BY THE WAY.

I'M LOVING THE KID DESIGN SEEMS TO HAVE A BIT OF A MARYLAND FLAG INSPIRED DESIGN COULD JUST BE ME.

>> ETHAN CRANE, THE AMERICAN HERE.

>> ETHAN CRANE IS ACTUALLY FROM NEW ZEALAND.

HE IS THE ONLY NEW ZEALAND RIDER ON PROJECT ECHELON.

MOST OF THE REST OF THE TEAM IS AMERICAN.

I THINK HE HAS BEEN ON THE TEAM FOR FOUR YEARS OR SO.

ONE OF THE MORE SENIOR RIDERS EVEN THOUGH HE IS ONLY 22 YEARS OF AGE.

THIS TEAM IS PRETTY COOL, PROJECT ECHELON.

THEY USE PROFESSIONAL CYCLING AS A PLATFORM TO REMOVE BARRIERS TO ENDURANCE SPORTS AND THE POSITIVE COMMUNITIES THAT SURROUND THEM.

THEIR RIDERS WORK TO COACH MENTOR AND MOTIVATE OVER 600 VETERANS THAT THEY SERVE EACH YEAR.

LOVE A TEAM WITH A BIT OF A SIDE HUSTLE THAT IS DOING GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY.

>> THE SPORT OF CYCLING VERY MUCH ON THE FRONT BURNER ON THE LANDSCAPE IN BALTIMORE.

HOW ABOUT THIS FOR ONE OF THE MOST PROMINENT AMERICAN CYCLISTS OF ALL TIME?

GREGLEY MONDE, THREE-TIME TOUR DE FRANCE WINNER, ROAD WORLD CHAMPION AND RECEIVING JUST RECENTLY THE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL DEDICATED TO AMERICAN INDIVIDUALS OR INSTITUTIONS WHO HAVE MADE DISTINGUISHED ACHIEVEMENTS OR CONTRIBUTIONS THAT HAVE PROFOUNDLY IMPACT THE AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE, THE 10th U.S. ATHLETE AWARDED THE FIRST EVER CYCLIST JOINING A LIST THAT INCLUDES JACKIE ROBINSON, ARNOLD PALMER, BILLIE JEAN KING AND OTHERS BUT THE ONLY CYCLIST AN TENTH ATHLETE OF ALL TIME GREGLEY MONDE.

A HUGE CONGRATULATIONSES TO GREG FOR HIS CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.

WHAT A MOMENT AND WHAT AN HONOR BACK IN JULY.

HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT.

I BELIEVE HE WAS SLATED TO RECEIVE THIS MEDAL BACK IN 2020 BUT IT WAS PUT ON HOLD DUE TO COVID, SO REALLY HAPPY THAT HE IS ABLE TO REVEL IN THAT ACCOMPLISHMENT.

YET ANOTHER GOLD FOR GREG LAMONT.

>> HIS RESULTS DIDN'T CHANGE BETWEEN 2020 AND THIS YEAR.

THEY STAYED THE SAME, STILL AS WORTHY AS EVER.

>> WE ACTUALLY JUST RECENTLY REWATCHED THE FINAL TIME TRIAL OF THE 198 TOUR DE FRANCE, WHERE HE NARROWLY BEAT BERNARD ON THE TIME IN PROFESSIONALLING CYCLING.

ON THE CAMPS CHAMPS-ELYSEES.

>> FAB QAN HAS TAKEN THE TURNS FASTER THAN THE OLD DOG SEVILLA.

EASE AN-- ETHAN CRAINE MUCH CLOSER TO THE FIELD THAN THE LEADING GROUP.

26-YEAR-OLD SURPRISED NOBODY HAS JUMPED OUT THERE WITH HIM.

CURIOUS TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING BACK IN THE PACK.

LAST TIME WE SAW THEM, QUINN SIMMONS WAS UP IN THE FRONT, YOU HAD EF, UNO-X TRYING TO MAKE THINGS MOVE.

THAT JUST SHOWS YOU THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE MUCH ORGANIZATION WHEN IT COMES TO BRINGING THIS BREAKAWAY BACK THEY HAVE TAKEN A SIGNIFICANT CHUNK OF TIME OUT FROM THAT BREAKAWAY GAP WITH THOSE ATTACKS SO THEY MIGHT BE FAR AWAY, BUT NOT TOO FAR OUT OF ARMS REACH.

VERY ENTHUSIASTIC FANS ALONG THE ROAD HERE WITH 60 MILES LEFT TO GO.

WEISS IN THE RED HELMET, SEVILLA IN THE WHITE.

4,-- FOUR FOR THE FIRST RIDER WHICH WILL BE WEISS, TWO POINTS TO SEVILLA FOR GOING THROUGH SECOND.

AND IF EESDZ AN CRANE HOLDS HIS POSITION, HE WOULD BE THE THIRD MEMBER OF THE FIELD ACROSS AND THAT WOULD BE ONE POINT AND DON'T FORGET INTERMEDIATE SPRINT POINTS AT THE END OF EVERY LAP.

POINTS THERE ARE THE SAME, 4, 2 AND 1 FOR THE FIRST THREE.

>> LOOKS LIKE THE PELOTON HAS DECIDED TO SIT UP A LITTLE BIT AGAIN.

JUST LOOKING THE LAST RACE THAT ETHAN CRANE DID, WERE THE GRAVEL WORDS, SO HE IS PERFECTLY COMFORTABLE WITH A LONG DAY OF STEADY RHYTHM.

HE WILL BE ABLE TO CRANK OUT SOME SOLID WATTS FOR QUITE A LONG PERIOD OF TIME SO HIM BEING SOLO IN BETWEEN THESE TWO GROUPS , NOT FOREIGN TERRITORY FOR HIM.

>> THE MARGIN HAS COME DOWN BETWEEN THE FIELD AND THE TWO LEADERS.

NOW INSIDE OF TWO MILES.

WAS UP AROUND THREE AT ONE POINT STILL 60 MILES REMAINING IN THE RACE SO A LOT OF TIME AND A REAL HEAVY PURSUIT AT THE MOMENT.

>> PREMIER TECH LEADING THE CLIMBERS ON TO THE CLIMB.

EF, MEDELLIN, UNO-X, JAYCO, ALL VISIBLE HERE AT THE FRONT LIKE BRANDON McNUMENTY MOVING UP ON THE RIGHT SIDE, SIGNATURE STYLE McNULTY, SIGNATURE McNULTY SWAY.

>> WE SAW OUR TWO LEADERS GO OVER THE TOP OF THE CLIMB EARLIER, BUT THIS IS THE BEGIN BEGINNING OF THE CLIMB FOR THE FIELD AND NOW BACK TO WEISS AND SEVILLA AND THEY ARE STARTING DOWNHILL AND GOING NORTH TO SOUTH ON THE SECOND HALF OF THE CIRCUIT BACK TOWARDS THE END OF LAP NUMBER 3 NOW.

AT THIS POINT IN THEIR MINDS, ARE THEY THINKING THAT MAYBE WE GOT A SHOT OR DO THEY THINK THEY'RE DOOMED?

YOU.

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU ARE OUT THERE, TWO GUYS IN FRONT OF A PELOTON OF WHAT WOULD BE 86 OTHER MEN, YOU ARE NOT THINKING ABOUT THE VICTORY AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

STILL, OVER HALFWAY TO GO.

YOU ARE JUST TRYING TO GET INTO A NICE RISDZ I AM, FIND-- A NICE RHYTHM.

FIND A NICE BALANCE OF WORK BETWEEN ONE ANOTHER AND JUST PUSH ON AND KIND OF HOPE THAT THEY SIT AROUND AND BLUFF TOO LONG IN THE BACK.

I HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOTO WITH THE WHITE BOARD SCUM-- COME BY TO GIVE THEM ANY SORT OF TIME GAP.

AND ESSENTIALLY A TIME TRIAL WHICH CAN BE QUITE FUN, CAN BE QUITE PEACEFUL.

IT'S A LONG DAY.

BUT WHEN YOU ARE WITH A LEGEND LIKE SEVILLA, THEY ARE THREE AND A HALF MINUTES BACK AT THIS POINT.

SO THE GAP NOT REALLY COMING DOWN RIGHT NOW.

>> IT WAS UP TO FIVE MINUTES ON THE LAST LAP.

>> IT HAS BEEN STEADY NOW FOR ABOUT A LAP OR SO, I BELIEVE.

IT WAS UP OVER 5 AND THEN CAME DOWN QUICKLY AND PLATEAUED AT THREE AND A HALF MINUTES NOW.

>> CURIOUS TO SEE WHERE ETHAN CRANE IS IN THE MIDDLE THERE.

IT DOESN'T LIKE LIKE THEY'RE PUTTING IN A MONSTER EFFORT.

THEIR BODY LANGUAGE IS COMPOSED, WHICH IT WOULD NEED TO BE.

A LONG WAYS TO GO.

SO FAR THE WEATHER HAS JOHN HOPKINS, ONE OF THE WORLD RENOWNED MEDICAL CENTERS IN SCHOOLS OF MEDICINE BEAUTIFUL TREE LINED STREETS, SOME MAJESTIC HOMES IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD A STABILIZATION OF RACE.

A CHASER AND THE FIELD.

LET'S GET FLAVOR OF WHAT IS HAPPENING ON THE STREETS IN BALTIMORE AND SEND YOU DOWN TO RASAN.

>> WE JUST CANNOT GET ENOUGH OF FELLS POINT BECAUSE I'M STILL HERE.

WE SAW THE CRASH A COUPLE LAPS AGO, THE FIREWORKS.

AND NOW WE HAVE SOME LOCALS, ELENA AND I GOT A GAME I WANT TO PLAY, ALL RIGHT.

HOW MANY MILES ARE THE MEN RACING?

>> WELL, HE JUST TOLD ME, 107.

LET'S PUSH IT A LITTLE MORE.

HOW MANY KILOMETERS IS THAT?

>> OH MY GOSH.

I WANT TO SAY MAYBE 140 KILOMETERS?

>> I'M GOING TO SAY YOU ARE WRONG.

COME ON.

YOU ARE THE EXPERT NOW.

CLOSE, CLOSE.

GO ON.

ALL RIGHT.

WAIT.

I SAID THE EXPERT WAS OUT BUT WE ARE GOING TO COME TO HIM.

I WANT TO ASK YOU A VERY SERIOUS QUESTION.

THIS IS GREAT, RIGHT?

I HAVE BEEN AROUND AMERICAN CYCLING FOR 25 YEARS.

AND THIS IS YOUR HOMETOWN.

THIS IS NOW THE THIRD YEAR, LIKE WHAT IS GOING ON THROUGH YOUR MIND BEING A CYCLING ENTHUSIAST.

>> IT'S AMAZING TO SEE THESE INTERNATIONAL PROS AND SEE THEM RIDING THE STREETS OF BALTIMORE, TO SEE THE BIG NAMES THAT I ONLY WATCH ON TV THROUGHOUT THE YEAR BECAUSE I FOLLOW A LOT OF RACES.

IT'S JUST AMAZING.

I'M GLAD IT'S AN EVENT HAPPENING MULTIPLE YEARS AND I HOPE TO SEE IT HAPPEN A LOT.

>> YOU GUYS ARE NOT OFF THE HOOK.

I'M COMING OVER HERE.

DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING...

I GOT ONE FOR YOU.

>> I KNOW NOTHING.

I JUST GOT HERE.

>> PERFECT.

YOU KNOW SOMETIMES IT'S HARD COMING LATE TO A MOVIE.

YOU MISS ALL THE ACTION.

BUT SINCE YOU JUST GOT HERE, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS THE NAME OF THIS EVENT?

>> MARYLAND CLASSIC.

>> AND CYCLING.

>> SEE.

YOU ARE RIGHT.

YOU ARE NOT FOOLING ME.

I GOT ANOTHER ONE FOR YOU.

HOW MANY DIFFERENT NATIONS ARE REPRESENTED IN THE MEN'S RACE?

>> I'M GOING TO GO 50.

>> 50.

15-- YOU GOT GOOD HELP HERE.

>> I'M GOING TO BOUNCE BACK TO YOU BECAUSE I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THE PEOPLE OF BALTIMORE TO KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS NOT ONLY TO THE STATE OF MARYLAND BUT THE CITY, CHARM CITY.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO BRING SUCH AN INTERNATIONAL FEEL TO CHARM CITY.

>> THIS IS, I MEAN I THINK THIS IS A GREAT EVENT.

IT SHOWS OFF THE CITY, SHOWS OFF A LOT OF AREAS OF THE CITY.

I LOVE THE COURSE.

IT GOES THROUGH THE COBBLES AND FELLS POINT.

DOES THE CLIMB ON NORTHERN PARKWAY.

THAT'S LIKE THE BEST COURSE EVER >> AND IF YOU COULD TALK TO THE POWERS THAT BE, AND I'M GOING TO ASK ENTHUSIASM, IF COULD YOU TALK TO THE POWERS THAT BE.

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM ABOUT BRINGING THIS THING BACK YEAR AFTER YEAR?

>> IT'S NECESSARY.

NECESSARY TO BRING-- THERE ARE PEOPLE HIVE MET TODAY FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.

SO THEY NEED TO COME HERE AND SEE HOW BEAUTIFUL BALTIMORE IS.

>> I CANNOT AGREE MORE.

I'M FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND I HAVE ENJOYED MY WEEK HERE TO THE POINT WHERE THERE MIGHT BE SOME REAL ESTATE.

BACK TO YOU GUYS.

>> HUGE DAY FOR THE FANS TO COME OUT.

A FULL DAY OF ACTIVITIES WITH THE WOMEN'S RACE EARLIER.

FANS THROUGHOUT BALTIMORE AND NOW FOUR HOURS OF MEN'S RACING, COMING UP ON THE HALFWAY PART OF THIS RACE WHICH WILL BE AT THE END OF LAP THREE.

FABIAN WEISS AND OSCAR SEVILLA PACING THE RACE AT THE MOMENT.

WE HAVE ETHAN CRAINE, ONE RIDER IN BETWEEN THESE TWO AND THE PELOTON, BUT THIS HAS BEEN THE SIGNATURE MOVE OF THE DAY SO FAR.

THEY HAD A LEAD OF OVER 5 MINUTES AT ONE POINT AND THE MOST RECENT CHECK IT'S DOWN TO THREE AND A HALF MINUTES.

SEVILLA THE RIDER AT THE VERY FRONT HERE AND WEISS SITTING JUST BEHIND HIM ON THIS DOWNHILL SECTION THAT TAKES THEM SOUTH BACK IN THE CENTER OF BALTIMORE AND TO THE END OF THE LAP IN WHICH WILL BE AT THE INNER HARBOR.

WEISS ROLLING THROUGH TO TAKE THE PULL.

THE GOOD NEWS FOR IS ON CAY SEVILLA IS WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO GET YOUR PARTNER HERE WEISS TO COME THROUGH TO DO THE PULLING, TYPICALLY WHEN YOU HAVE A TWO-MAN BREAKAWAY, YOU SHARE THE WORK LOAD AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

YOU DON'T WANT TO PULL FOR ANY LONGER THAN YOU HAVE TO.

YOU DON'T WANT TO USE MORE ENERGY THAN YOU NEED TO.

YOU WOULD LIKE THE OTHER GUY TO DO MOST OF THE WORK BUT IT'S A GENTLEMAN'S AGREEMENT.

YOU TRY TO SHARE IT 50-50 AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

BUT IN OSCAR SEVILLA'S CASE, YOU HAVE THE PERFECT EXCUSE.

YOU SAY HEY MAN, I'M 48, ALMOST 50 YEARS OLD.

OVER TWICE AS OLD AS YOU.

YOU ARE THE YOUNG BUCK.

YOU GO TO THE FRONT.

THAT'S HARD TO BEAT.

>> YEP.

I WILL SAY WHAT I KNOW ABOUT GUYS RIDING BIKES IN THEIR LATE 40S IS THEY LOVE TO PULL, SO I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED IF HE WAS MORE THAN HAPPY TO JUST GET OUT THERE.

I'M WONDERING ABOUT HIS MISMATCHED TIRE SITUATION IF MAYBE HE GOT A FLAT EARLIER IN THE STAGE AND HE HAD TO SWAP OUT A WHEEL?

REGARDLESS, HE HAS FOUND HIMSELF IN FRONT OF THE RACE WHILE WE HAVE ANOTHER GROUP FORMING BEHIND FROM THE SWISS CHAMPION, UNO-X.

I MEAN THAT'S WHAT THESE GUYS HAVE TO DO FROM THE BACK.

IT CURRENT LOOK LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE IT BACK UP TO THE FRONT IN A TRADITIONAL WAY IN THE SENSE THAT A TEAM IS JUST GOING TO GET ON THE FRONT AND LINE IT BACK.

>> SO TAYLOR, DO YOU THINK AT THIS POINT IT'S A MISTAKE THAT NO TEAM HAS TAKEN CHARGE IN TRYING TO PULL IT BACK?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S A MISTAKE NECESSARILY.

IT'S JUST THE WAY THAT THE COOKIE IS GOING TO CRUMBLE HERE AT THIS RACE.

THERE IS NO MEGA SPRINTER HERE WITH THE SPRINTING TEAM THAT'S GOING TO SAY WE WANT THIS RACE TO BE A SPRINT.

WE WANT TO KEEP THIS CONTROLLED.

MOST OF THESE TEAMS, THE BIG TEAMS IN PARTICULAR, THEY HAVE SENT A VERY DYNAMIC TEAM TO THESE RACE-- TO THIS RACE.

I THINK BECAUSE THEY'RE HEADING TOWARDS THE RACES IN CANADA, THOSE ARE NOT SPRINTING ONE-DAY CLASSICS.

AND, SO, YEAH, YOU HAVE GROUPS OF GUYS IN EACH TEAM THAT ARE WANTING TO ANIMATE THIS RACE AND NOT WANTING TO SIT ON THE FRONT AND PULL A BRAKE BACK EVEN IF THE BRAKE IS NOT TERRIBLY DANGEROUS, YOU CAN SEE THAT IN THE BACK, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN NEVER LET TWO GUYS, ESPECIALLY FABIAN WEISS WHO IS FOURTH IN THE TIME TRIALS AT THE SWISS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND OSCAR SEVILLA WHO HAS MORE RESULTS THAN PROBABLY EVERYBODY IN THE RACE COMBINED, ON HIS, YOU CAN'T LET THESE GUYS GET TOO FAR.

>> WEISS AND SEVILLA HALFWAY THROUGH THE RACE, THREE LAPS DOWN, THREE TO GO.

TWO LEADERS AT THE FRONT WEAPON JUST NORTH-- WITH JUST NORTH OF 50 MILES REMAINING AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

ED >> BEHIND THE TWO LEADERS THERE WAS ANOTHER SMALL GROUP TRYING TO FORM AT THE FRONTED OF THE FIELD TRYING TO EQUITY A GAP AND RIDE MORE AMBITIOUSLY TO CUT INTO THIS LEAD.

TWO MILES BACK.

AND STILL A LONG WAY TO GO.

BUT THE LONGER IT DOES GO, AND THE LARGER THE GAP STAYS, THE DICEYER THE STRATEGIES WILL GET.

>> HERE WE ARE AT THE HALFWAY POINT OF THIS RACE THREE LAPS DOWN.

THREE LAPSE TO GO.

THIS IS WHEN THE TOP COMPETITOR ALSO START THINKING ABOUT THE FINISH.

THE AMOUNT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO LAUNCH OFF OF THE FRONT OF THIS RACE.

THEY ARE GOING TO GET PROGRESSIVELY LESS AND LESS AS THIS RACE GOES ON.

AND THERE ARE A COUPLE LAUNCH POINTS ON THIS COURSE.

BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, TIME IS FLYING.

AND WE'RE HALFWAY DONE HERE.

>> WHEN THEY WENT THROUGH THAT FINISH AREA AND UNDERNEATH THE BANNER, THERE WERE POINTS FOR THE SPRINTERS.

HE OBVIOUSLY THEY WERE NOT SPRINTING BUT FOUR POINTS FOR FIRST, TWO FOR SECOND AND ONE FOR THIRD.

THE SPRINTERS HE ISN'T ONE THAT HAS BEEN HOTLY CONTESTED IT'S BEEN A BYPRODUCT OF THE RACING HAS UNFOLDED.

>> IT'S INTERESTING THAT THEY'VE BEEN HAVEN'T BEEN CONTESTING THE SPRINTS OR THE KOM IN A TRADITIONAL WAY.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WEISS IS RIDING THE COBBLES AS IF HE WAS ON THE COBBLES.

>> LEADERS ON THE COBBLES.

AND NOW THE FIELD.

AND THEY ARE COMING THROUGH THE END OF THE LAP THIS IS THE MID-POINT FOR THEM IN THE RACE.

THE GAP AT TWO-AND-A-HALF MINUTES.

SO IT'S COME DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY.

THEY SHOULD BE PRETTY COMFORTABLE TWO-AND-A-HALF MINUTES WITH 50 MILES LEFT TO GO.

THERE IS ALSO THE CONSIDERATION, TOO, THAT YOU DON'T NECESSARILY WRANT TO BRING A BREAK AWAY BACK TOO SON BECAUSE THAT ENCOURAGES COUNTERATTACKS.

THERE IS THAT FINE LINE BETWEEN HOW MUCH TIME YOU GIVE A BREAK AND HOW QUICKLY DO YOU BRING THEM BACK.

THERE'S THE UNKNOWN ABOUT MISTAKES MADE AND CALCULATIONS FOR ON THE STRATEGY OF WHEN TO BRING THEM BACK, HOW TO BRING THEM BACK AND WHO IS GOING TO BRING THEM BACK.

>> YEAH.

YOU CAN SEE THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE WASN'T ONE TEAM NECESSARILY PULLING THOSE TWO RIDERS BACK, THE GAP HAS FALLEN QUICKLY.

WHICH WILL TELL THE RIDERS IN THE MAIN GROUP THAT THEY ARE NOT SO OUT OF REACH UP IN THE FRONT.

BUT WE'VE BEEN SEEING COUNTERATTACKS THROUGHOUT THIS LAP THIS LAST LAP.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY SHOWS THERE IS NOT MUCH COOPERATION IN THE GROUP.

BUT RIDERS THE RIDERS ARE READY TO RACE, THAT'S FOR SURE.

>> EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A DIFFERENT COURSE THIS YEAR THAN WE HAVE HAD IN THE FIRST TWO EDITIONS, THE FINISH IS THE SAME.

AND THAT THEY'VE USED EVERY SINGLE YEAR AND WE'VE HAD DIFFERENT TYPES OF FINISHES GOING BACK TO THE EDITION IN 2022, MARK WANTED A FOUR UP SPRINT THE FOLLOWING YEAR MATTIAS SKJELMOSE WON SOLO AFTER GETTING AWAY LATE.

MATTIAS SKJELMOSE CRASHED OUT OF THIS YEAR'S RACE HE WENT DOWN EARLY ON THE COBBLES IN LAP TWO AND LATER ABANDONED.

WHAT KIND OF FINISH WILL WE GET IN THIS THIRD EDITION.

>> .

>> WE ARE HOPING THAT MATTIAS SKJELMOSE IS OKAY AS WE SEE A COUPLE PEDESTRIANS RUNNING ACROSS THE ROAD BARELY MAKING IT OVER IN TIME.

THIS IS THE EXACT POINT WHERE MATTIAS SKJELMOSE CRASHED.

STILL NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED THERE.

BUT IT SEEMS THAT THE RIDERS YOU CAN SEE THE COBBLESTONES ON THE RIGHT SIDE IT LOOKS AS IF IT IS A BIT LIGHTER IN COLOR.

YOU CAN TELL THAT THERE'S MAYBE A SMOOTHER LINE THROUGH THE COBBLES, WHICH THEY ARE GOING TO FIND AFTER JUST THAT FIRST LAP.

>> THROUGH THE FELLS POINT NEIGHBORHOOD.

ONE OF THE PRIORITIES OF CHANGING THE COURSE AND ONE THE REASONS THAT THEY ALTERED IT FROM THE FIRST COUPLE OF EDITIONS IS BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT BALTIMORE IS SUCH AN HISTORIC CITY WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT NEIGHBORHOODS AND SO COSMETICLY APPEALING IN DIFFERENT SECTIONS OF CITY THEY WANTED TO BRING IT BACK WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF BALTIMORE.

WHEREAS THE PREVIOUS COURSES WERE OUT IN THE COUNTRYSIDE NORTH IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.

AND WE SEE EVIDENCE OF THE DIFFERENCE CITIES THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT THEY ROLL THROUGH HERE TODAY.

AND VERY DIFFERENT ARCHITECTURAL STYLES GOING THROUGH PATTERSON PARK, GOING THROUGH THE MA JET PARTICULAR HISTORIC HOMES AND SOME OF THE NEWER HOMES AND THE LEADERS GOING THROUGH THE FEED ZONE AND GETTING AN OPPORTUNITY FOR AN AFTERNOON BITE.

>> AN AFTERNOON SLURP OF A GEL.

>> WHAT WAS ALWAYS THE FAVORITE THING FOR YOU TO EAT ON BIKE?

I KNOW SOME THINGS YOU HAVE TO FORCE DOWN LIKE A GEL WHICH ARE NOT APPETIZING BUT WHAT WAS YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE WHEN IT CAME TO EATING ON THE BIKE?

>> WELL, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT GOOD GUILTY PLEASURES WHEN YOU ARE TRAINING.

WHEN YOU ARE RACING YOU ARE ALWAYS IMAGINE THAT YOU RUN UP A SET OF STAIRS AND THEN YOU HAVE TO KEEP RUNNING UP ANOTHER SET OF STAIRS BUT EAT SOMETHING AT THE SAME TIME.

IT'S NEVER REALLY A PLEASURABLE EXPERIENCE.

AND YOU ARE EATING SO MUCH SUGAR AND SO MANY CARBS.

THAT IT'S MORE A TEST OF YOUR ABILITY TO INTAKE THAN IT IS A PLEASURABLE CONSUMING EXPERIENCE.

>> SOUNDS LIKE A CHALLENGE.

I WILL TRY AND EAT A PIZZA WHILE RUNNING UPSTAIRS.

LOOK AT THE OMINOUS CLOUDS OUT WEST FELLS POINT.

AND BALTIMORE HERE.

COULD BE SOME INTERESTING WEATHER ON THE HORIZON SOON.

WEATHER IS FORECAST TO MOVE IN ANYTIME NOW THROUGH THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON.

AND THUNDERSTORMS, GUSTY WINDS AND HAIL AND LIGHTNING COULD BE IN THE MIX.

SO FAR SO GOOD.

RAIN DROPS OUT THERE EARLIER.

BUT STILL DRY AT THE MOMENT.

HOW MUCH LONGER THAT WILL LAST?

WE DON'T KNOW.

BUT IT DOES NOT LOOK GREAT.

>> BEAUTIFUL VIEW OF HARBOR.

I'VE BEEN BLOWN AWAY WITH THIS CITY JUST BEING HERE THE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS.

I REALLY ENJOY IT.

I LOVE THE HISTORY AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

>> CULTURE, THE HISTORY AND THE RENOVATION, TOO OF SO MANY DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF IT ESPECIALLY DOWN IN THE INNER HARBOR, THE HARBOR POINT AREA.

HARBOR EAST.

IT'S MAGNIFICENT.

WEISS AND SEVILLA HITTING AN UNINCUMBERED LOOK AT IT WITHOUT RIDERS TO DISTRACT THEM FROM THE VIEWS AS THEY HEAD OUT HERE ON THE FOURTH LAP.

AND THEIR MARGIN CLOSE TO THE TWO-MINUTE MARK IT HASN'T BEEN THAT LOW FOR A WHILE.

>> GOING BACK TO TALKING A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE NUTRITION, I WOULD SAY IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A GUILTY PLEASURE THE BEST COMBO ON A TRAINING RIDE STILL TO THIS DAY IS A SNICKERS AND COCA-COLA.

IT WAS CHRIS HORNER'S GO TO.

I REMEMBER HIM GIVING AN INTERVIEW WHERE HE HAD 20 SNICKERS AND COCA-COLA.

>> AND HE WOULD GO TO MCDONALD'S, TOO.

HE WAS A HUGE PROPONENT OF MICKEY D'S.

>> AMAIER CANA.

MICKEY D'S.

BUT, YEAH, DON'T HAVE TIME TO CHEW THESE DAYS.

>> TWO LEADERS STICKING TO THE NUTRITION PLAN HERE TODAY AND THEY HAVE BEEN KEEPING THINGS BUTTONED UP WITH THE BOTTLES AND THE GELS.

NO MCDONALD'S DRIVE-THRU TO SPIN THROUGH ALONG THE COURSE HERE.

>> COULD BE A NICE ADDITION A LITTLE McFLURRY.

>> HIT THE SPOT ON A HOT DAY LIKE THIS?

>> McFLURRY HAND-HELD BY MY WIFE, SHE ENDS UP WITH EATING A LOT OF IMAGE YUM THOSE CANDY BARS THE ICE CREAM CANDY BARS ON A STICK.

THAT'S A BIT OF HER GUILTY PLEASURE.

>> SO THE PELOTON CAME THROUGH THE FEED ZONE.

LEADERS ARE IN THE CENTER OF THE SCREEN IN THE YELLOW AND THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE CITY AND THE GAP OVER TWO MINUTES BETWEEN THESE TWO CONTINGENTS.

AT THIS POINT, THERE ARE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO BRING THEM BACK.

THERE ARE A FEW RIDERS WHO HAVE GONE CLEAR OF THE FIELD BETWEEN THEM.

BUT STILL TRYING TO GATHER INFORMATION ON EXACTLY WHO IT IS, WHERE THEY ARE.

BUT EVERYBODY WITHIN TWO MINUTES WE KNOW THAT AT THIS POINT.

WEISS AND SEVILLA AND THIS IS PART OF THE STEADY UPHILL SECTION WHEN YOU ARE RIDING OUT NORTH OF BALTIMORE UP TO THE KOM WHICH WE'LL SEE AGAIN LATER BEFORE YOU TURN BACK AND HEAD SOUTH AND DOWNHILL TO THE END OF THE LAP.

>> LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A GROUP.

>> THE PELOTON NOW IS KIND OF REALLY SPREAD OUT SINGLE FILE AND A LOT OF AREAS NO ONE ORGANIZED FIELD.

>> THAT WOULD INDICATE THAT THE PACE IS HIGH.

THAT THERE'S ATTACKS.

COMING UP THIS OVERPASS, I CAN TELL YOU IT IS UPHILL.

HERE WE GO.

>> THIS IS THE CHASE OF THE TWO LEADERS.

THIS IS A GROUP THAT IS IN FRONT OF THE MAIN FIELD BUT BEHIND THE TWO LEADERS.

RATHER LENGTHY NUMBER OF RIDENERS THIS GROUP.

>> YOU HAVE SCHMID IN THERE HE IS A HITTER ONE TO WATCH.

WE GOT ABRAMSON IN THERE AS WELL.

JONAS HE'S GOT THE NOSE FOR SMELLING VICTORY.

BIG EF REPRESENTATION.

NEILSON POWLESS IS IN THERE.

ALEX BOWDOIN.

FRENCH RIDER, FRESH SIGNING FOR THEM.

THIS IS A REALLY GOOD GROUP RIGHT HERE.

MISSING LIDL-TREK THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE HAPPY ABOUT THAT.

>> AND NOW UP TO THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT HERE.

FOR THE TWO LEADERS.

AND ST.MARY'S SEMINARY ON THE WAY AS WELL.

THAT WILL BE COMING UP.

THIS CHURCH ON THE RIGHT IS ACTUALLY BEAUTIFUL SAW THAT RIDING THROUGH NEXT TO THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT.

THAT LOOKS LIKE THE SPRINT IRMA RHYNE OF EDUCATION.

>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING IF A GROUP LIKE THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY STRONG RIDERS AND THERE IS A VOLUME A QUANTITY THAT ARE IN THIS COLLECTION, IF THEY CAN PERHAPS DISTANCE THE FIELD.

>> YEAH.

HERE WE GO.

WE HAVE TREK REPRESENTATION AND BRANDON McNEWLY INDUSTRY.

NEILSON POWLESS, SCHMID ANOTHER MEDELLIN RIDER TO SIT AT THE BACK.

O'DETTE FROM ISRAEL.

>> AND THERE YOU HAVE IT RIGHT THERE.

PROMINENT NAMES.

AND IF YOU'RE BACK IN THE FIELD AND SO MANY DIFFERENT TEAMS AND BIG RIDERS HAVE MADE THIS MOVE WHO IS GOING TO PULL?

IT DISCOURAGES A LOT OF MOTIVATED PULLING AT THE FRONT OF WHAT IS LEFT OF THE PELOTON.

>> IT'S PRETTY UNEVEN BETWEEN HAVING THREE EF RIDERS IN THERE AND LIDL-TREK HAS ONE.

BUT NOT THEIR MAIN HITTER, LET'S SAY.

>> SO NOW WE'RE GETTING ONE MINUTE FROM THE CHASE GROUP TO THE TWO LEADERS.

THIS IS THE CHASE GROUP HERE.

>> THIS IS A GREAT GROUP.

I MEAN WHO WE'RE MISSING IS QUINN SIMMONS HE IS GOING TO BE FUMING BACK IN THE PELOTON, THAT'S FOR SURE.

BUT YOU GOT BRANDON MCNULTY, THREE FROM EDUCATION FIRST.

ABRAMSON, HUGE FAVORITE COMING IN.

HE IS ON A STREAK RIGHT NOW WINNING THREE RACES IN THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS.

DOESN'T LOOK LIKE THE WORK TOGETHER IS SUPER SMOOTH BETWEEN THESE RIDERS THEY ARE ATTACKING EACH OTHER A LITTLE BIT.

BUT WE'RE ALSO MISSING JACKO FROM THIS GROUP.

>> AND NO MICHAEL MATTHEWS.

>> SORRY.

WE DO HAVE SCHMID HE HAS THAT RED JERSEY.

SO IT'S EASY TO CONFUSE.

WE DO HAVE ALOU LA IN THIS GROUP.

I'M SURE HE WOULD LOVE REDEMPTION OVER JONAS FOR THE VICTORY AT THE TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE 11.

HE IS ACTUALLY A WATCH AND ART COLLECTOR VERY SWISS OF HIM.

HOWEVER, THEY TELL ME HE IS THAT PUNISH TEWELL WHICH IS NOT VERY SWISS.

>> THAT IS VERY COUNTERINTUITIVE YOU ARE A WATCH COLLECTOR AND YOU CAN'T GET THERE ON TIME?

COME ON.

>> THAT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU KEEP THE WATCHES IN THE CASES.

>> OR NOT A BATTERY COLLECTOR.

ANYTHING TO MAKE THEM RUN.

>> I HAVE A FEELING THAT WATCHES HE'S COLLECTING THEY DON'T ANY BATTERIES.

>> COULD BE.

COULD BE.

ALL RIGHT.

SO STILL WEISS AND SEVILLA HERE OUT FRONT BUT JUST ABOUT A MINUTE BACK TO A LARGE CHASING GROUP OF HIGH PROFILE RIDERS WITH 46 MILES LEFT TO GO.

>> YEAH THEY ARE NOT TOO FAR AWAY FROM THESE GUYS NOW.

A COUPLE OF DROPS YOU SEE ON THE LENS.

THOSE ARE BIG STORMS WE CAN LOOK OUT THE BOOTH HERE AND WE SEE NOTHING BUT GRAY COMING TOWARDS THE CITY OF BALTIMORE.

SO THIS COULD BE AN INTERESTING DEVELOPMENT AS WE GET INTO THE LAST THIRD OF THIS RACE.

AND THIS IS REALLY WHEN THE ACTION IS GOING TO START HEATING UP.

WE SEE IT HAPPEN ALREADY.

I'M JUST WONDERING WHERE IS BIG RED?

QUINN SIMMONS I KEEP TALKING ABOUT HIM ALL DAY.

BUT BECAUSE I KNOW THAT HE WANTS IT.

>> COULD IT BE THAT HE MISSED THE MOVE AND IT IS A MATTER OF HOW FAR IS THAT GROUP OF 11 AHEAD OF THE REST OF THE FIELD AT THIS POINT?

THE LATEST GAP WAS FROM THE TWO LEADERS BACK TO THE CHASE LEADERS YOU SEE AND THERE WAS A MINUTE OR SO BUT NO REAL WORD HOW FAR THE CHASE IS AHEAD OF THE FIELD.

AND MORE RAIN DROPS HERE.

AND RAIN AND ESPECIALLY THEWIND- GUSTY WINDS IN THE FORECAST EVEN HAIL AND LIGHTNING IT COULD BE QUITE A MESS.

WET ROADS AND WET COBBLES FOR THE FINAL LAPS COULD REALLY BE TRICKY.

>> YEAH.

LOOKS LIKE THE GUYS ARE ROLLING PRETTY WELL TOGETHER.

NEILSON POWLESS SITTING ON THE BACK THERE.

WE KNOW HE'S BEEN ON THE PODIUM THE LAST TWO EDITIONS OF THIS RACE.

HE WANTS TO WIN THIS RACE.

SITTING IN A GOOD POSITION FOR IT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THE CHASERS MAKING INROADS ON THE TWO LEADERS HERE IN THIS FOURTH LAP.

SO THE CHASING GROUP SLOWLY WHITTLING AWAY THE LEAD WEISS OF SEVILLA THE DAY'S SIGNATURE BREAK AWAY.

AND THE RAIN IS SLOWLY STARTING TO MOVE IN.

>> LOOKS LIKE THAT RIDER FROM LIDL-TREK IS PATRICK CONRAD A LATE ADDITION TO THE ROSTER.

TEBOW NIECE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE HERE.

SO A GREAT PERFORMANCE FOR HIM HAVING BEEN A LAST-MINUTE CALL UP.