ROLLING OUT OF THE START LINE FROM SPARKS MARYLAND AS PROFESSIONAL PELATON GETS READY FOR 121.8 MILES 196 KILOMETERS TODAY.

I'M EXCITED TO PARTAKE IN THIS AND SEE SOME AMAZING RACING OUT THERE.

>> BIG TIME BIKE RACING IS BACK IN THE UNITED STATES SECOND YEAR FOR THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC PRESENTED BY UNITED HEALTHCARE.

THIS IS A LONG ONE, 121.8 MILES.

A LOT OF UPS AND DOWNS AND A BEAUTIFUL RIDE ON TAP FOR THE RIDERS TODAY.

A HOT ONE OUT THERE AS WELL.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE VERY HOT.

TALKING CLOSE TO 96 TO 97°, TALKING 10° WARMER THAN LAST YEAR.

THAT'S GOING TO PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE.

WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT WHAT RACE CAN WE COMPARE THIS TO?

CLOSEST THING IS LANCASTER.

IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH DAY.

>> YOU CAN SEE THE WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO CLIMB THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND GET EVEN WARMER BY THE TIME THEY FINISH UP AT THE END OF THE DAY HERE AND RIGHT AROUND 5:00 IN DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE SHOULD BE ABOUT 90° FAHRENHEIT ON THE FINISH LINE.

HOT ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO THE END OF THE DAY TODAY.

>> YOU CAN SEE THE GUYS ALREADY REALLY ANXIOUS, KNOWING A LOST GUYS KNOWING WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR, KNOWING HOW HARD THE FIRST PART OF THE RACE WAS, SO I ANTICIPATE A VERY ACTIVE START OF THE RACE.

>> RIDERS ARE IN A GROUP NEUTRAL SECTION BEFORE THEY HIT 0K WILL HIT ABOUT A HALF MILE GETTING THEM OUT OF THE POPULATED PARTS, STARTING AT KELLY BENEFITS HEADQUARTERS THERE 1 KELLY WAY.

YOU HAD A CHANCE TO GET OUT THERE AND RIDE WITH THE BRIDGES OF HOPE CHARITY RIDE.

>> WHAT A PERFECT MOMENT TO GO CHECK OUT THE ROADS, EXPERIENCE WHAT THESE GUYS ARE GOING TO EXPERIENCE.

I WAS DEFINITELY-- I HAD CRAMPY LEGS AT THE END OF THE RIDE.

DEFINITELY KNOWING WHAT THESE GUYS ARE GOING TO FEEL.

WHICH ONE OF THE COURSES WHERE HAVE YOU TO BE EFFICIENT IN YOUR EFFORT.

YOU HAVE TO BE SMART.

YOU HAVE TO BE IN THE RIGHT PLACES.

YOU HAVE TO BE WITH THE RIGHT HEEM PEOPLE AND, YOU KNOW, JUST MAKE SURE THAT YOU DON'T MISS THOSE MODES.

>> AND HERE THEY GO.

THEY'RE JUST PART 09K MARKER.

HUMAN POWERED HEALTH GETTING ON THE FRONT SAYING LET'S GO.

THEY KNOW EXACTLY HOW THIS PLAYED OUT LAST YEAR.

WE SAW THE INITIAL SPLIT FORM EARLY.

I BELIEVE THIS IS STEVEN BASSETT TRYING TO GET THINGS STARTED RIGHT NOW.

BUT WITH SO MANY UPS AND DOWNS IN THIS COURSE, THESE GUYS KNOW THIS SPLIT IS GOING TO COME EARLY F. YOU ARE NOT PART OF THE FIRST SELECTION, IT COULD RUIN THE REST OF THE DAY FOR YOURSELF RIGHT HERE.

>> HAVE YOU TO PAY ATTENTION NOT ONLY TO WHICH OF YOUR TEAMMATES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE COVERING THESE MOVES BUT WHAT OTHER TEAMMATES GO ACROSS.

YOU WANT TO HAVE CONTENDERS WITH CONTENDERS BUT SAVE YOUR MAIN GUYS.

RIGHT NOW YOU PROBABLY SEND OUT, IT'S A LITTLE BIT UP IN THE AIR, YOU KNOW, I'M EXPECTING AN OPEN RACE.

>> AND NOW TRYING TO PUT SOME GUYS UP THE ROAD HERE LOOKING FOR SOME HELP.

>> AS SOON AS THE FIRST GROUP GETS CAUGHT, YOU SEE THE REACTION FROM THE REST OF THE GUYS THAT WANT TO BASICALLY, THERE IS A BIT OF A LULL.

AS SOON AS THAT GROUP GETS CAUGHT, YOU HAVE THE NEXT GROUP BEHIND COMING WITH MORE SPEED AND TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MOMENT.

THE FIELD FAVORING THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD HERE.

>> THEY HAVE SO MUCH COVERAGE FROM THE TREE COVERAGE.

I DON'T KNOW IF THE WIND IS GOING TO BE SUPER CRUCIAL BUT DEFINITELY THE UNDULATING SIDES OF THE ROAD, FINDING THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD, SOMETIMES YOU ARE TRYING TO CREATE SPACE FOR YOURSELF.

SOMETIMES YOU CROSS TO THE SIDE.

YOU MIGHT GO TO THE SIDE AND CREATE MORE SPACE FOR YOURSELF.

>> SO MUCH OF THIS IS GOING TO DEPEND ON THE COURSE AS WELL THERE IS REALLY VERY FEW FLAT PARTS OF THIS COURSE.

YOU ARE PRETTY MUCH GOING UP OR DOWN.

THEY'RE NOT BIG CLIMBS.

THEY'RE NOT BIG UPS OR DOWNS, BUT IT WILL ADD UP THROUGHOUT THE DAY, UP, DOWN, CONSTANTLY.

>> IT ADDS UP.

YOU SE THEY JUST SLOWED DOWN AND YOU ARE SEEING THE RPMs DROP AND BASICALLY SHOWING THEY'RE GOING UPHILL.

SO IF YOU UNDERESTIMATE THOSE 250 METERS OF CLIMBING, AND GIV IT TOO MUCH ENERGY, OVER THE COURSE OF 1 TO-- OVER THE COURSE OF 120 MILES, THAT ADDS UP.

SO HAVE YOU TO THINK OF IT AS A LONG...

SO LOOK AT THE-- RIGHT NOW THERE IS A BIT OF A LULL IN THE GROUP.

THIS IS WHERE PEOPLE START THINKING DO I TRY TO MOVE NOW?

DO I WAIT?

ARE WE WAITING TO GO OVER THE TOP OF THE CLIMB AND TRY TO SURPRISE SOMEBODY.

>> THAT'S WHAT IS GOING TO BE ABOUT, CATCHING SOME RIDERS OFF GUARD HERE THERE.

WAS ALSO A LOT OF TALK OF THE TEAM CHANGING THE STRATEGY AFTER LAST YEAR'S RACE.

NOW THAT THEY SORT OF UNDERSTOOD HOW THIS COURSE WOULD PLAY OUT, THE TEAMS WOULD BE A LITTLE MORE ATTENTIVE ON THE FRONT TRYING TO GET IN THE GROUP.

A LOT OF RIDERS USE THE TERM NEGATIVE RACING BECAUSE THEY'RE TO ALL GOING TO BE LOOKING AT EACH OTHER KNOWING THE EARLY SPLITS MAY BE THE RACE WINNING MOVES.

>> AND HE TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE PRESS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY, BASICALLY HE HAD A PLAN.

BUT AS SOON AS THE RACE STARTED, HE FELT THE DIFFERENCE IN THE COURSE AND THE RIDERS THAT THE PLAN HAD TO CHANGE AND THAT'S HOW YOU MAKE A BREAK.

>> PROJECT ECHELON UP TO THE FRONT TRYING TO LEAD IT OUT WITH STEVEN VOGUE VOGEL.

>> YOU HAVE A YOUNG TEAM TRYING TO GET HIM INTO THE EARLY MOVE, MAKE THE RACE, YOU KNOW, HAVE THE TOP LEVEL RIDERS COME TO THEM.

BE THE GUY THAT INITIATES THE ATTACKS AND HOPE SNRI GET AHEAD OF THE-- HOPEFULLY GET AHEAD OF THE GAME.

AND YOU SEE THIS IS HOW IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

YOU SEE THESE GUY AS TACKING OUT OF THE GROUP.

THE QUICK CLEAN SNAPS, THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO GET AWAY FROM A GROUP LIKE THIS.

WITH SO MANY ATTENTIVE RIDERS AND TEAMS ON THE FRONT, IF YOU TRY TO ROLL AWAY FROM THIS, YOU WILL HAVE A HARD TIME GETTING AWAY.

THEY'RE STARTING TO STRING THIS OUT SINGLE FILE A FEW KILOMETERS INTO THIS AND TY HAVE HIT OUT EARLY, FRED AGREE YES, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS, YOU LOOK AT NUMBERS, YOU ARE LOOKING AT SITUATIONS WHO YOU ARE WITH.

WHO IS NOT HERE.

WH IS COVERING IT.

WHO MISSED IT AND UNTIL YOU GET THE PERFECT EQUATION, THE PERFECT GROUP THAT REALLY WORKS, IT'S NOT GOING TO STICK.

AS YOU LOOK, YOU SEE THE GROUP MOVING LEFT AND RIGHT, I MEAN THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WIND.

THAT'S RIDERS TRYING TO GET, TRYING TO SEE IF THEY CAN FIND SPACE TO MAKE AN ATTACK LIKE THAT.

THERE YOU GO.

>> ONE OF THE WHITE JERSEYS, A LEGION OF LOS ANGELES JERSEY I BELIEVE.

SEE IF WE CAN GET A BETTER SHOT FROM UP TOP.

THE CRUCIAL TIME RIGHT NOW, THIS DECISION MAKING POINT.

DO YOU GO WITH THIS MOVE OR NOT?

AND FREDDY, YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE THIS DECISION 100 TIMES TODAY IF YOU ARE IN THIS FIELD.

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHICH MOVE TO GO WITH, WHICH MOVE YOU STAY BACK WITH?

THIS IS A REGIONAL LOS ANGELES RIDER, COREY WILLIAMS I THINK.

>> OF COURSE WE HAVE DIFFERENT STRATEGIES.

DIFFERENT TEAMS HAVE DIFFERENT ROLES AND SOME TEAMS THEY HAVE FOUR GUY TO COVER THE MOVE OR WHOLE TEAM COVER A MOVE.

DEPENDING ON HOW THEY WANT TO PLAY IT OUT.

BUT YOU HAVE FOUR GUYS AND THEN YOU SPLIT THE ROLES.

SO NOT EVERY TIME DOES THE SAME GUY G. WE GO 1, 2, 3, 4.

SOMETIMES ONE GUY GOES AND THEN HE GOES AGAIN BECAUSE HE IS IN THE RIGHT SITUATION.

THERE IS NO PLAYBOOK TO THIS.

WE ARE BASICALLY DECIDING ON THE MOMENT IN THE ACTION AS IT HAPPENS.

>> A LOT OF RIDERS COMPARE THE EARLY BREAKAWAY FORMING TO PLAYING POKER.

IF YOU ARE WAITING UNTIL YOU GET THE HAND THAT YOU WANT AND WHEN YOU GET ONE THAT YOU REALLY FEEL GOOD ABOUT, YOU GO ALL IN ON IT.

SO YOU ARE CONSTANTLY MAKING THOSE DECISIONS.

DO YOU FOLD OR DO YOU RAISE?

>> EXACTLY.

AND WE JUST SAW THAT CORNER.

SEE THOSE GUYS COMING OUT OF THE BACK?

BY NOT KNOWING THE COURSE, NOT BEING IN THE RIGHT PLACE, THEY COULD GET CAUGHT IN A SITUATION.

NOW THE ENERGY YOU HAVE TO EXPEND TO IF THE BACK OF THE GROUP AT THIS MOMENT IS SO MUCH HIGHER.

YOU ARE BASICALLY, IT FEELS LIKE YOU ARE GOING 10 MILES PER HOUR FASTER IN THE BACK.

SO MAKING THAT DECISION TO BE AT THE RIGHT PLA AT THE RIGHT TIME TO MAKE THE LEFT TURN.

>> I WOULD SAY THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF RIDERS AT THE BACK OF THE BIKE RACE.

RIDERS THAT ARE THERE BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE THERE BECAUSE THEY'RE SITTING IN THE DRAFT AND THEN THERE ARE THE RIDERS THAT ARE THERE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO BE THERE BECAUSE THEY'RE HANGING ON, TRYING TO HOLD ON TO THE GROUP.

YOU WILL SEE THOSE RIDERS TOWARD THE END OF THE DAY.

IS THERE ANY REASON TO BE IN THE BECOME OF THE GROUP RIGHT NOW?

IS THERE A GOOD LEGIT REASON TO BE BACK THERE AT THIS POINT?

>> I WOULD SAY WHEN YOU SEE THAT HAPPEN IN HIGH LEVEL RACING, IT'S BECAUSE YOU HAVE FIGURED OUT THE TRADITION OF THE RACING.

THIS IS SUCH A NEW RACE, ONLY OUR SECOND YEAR.

WE KNOW IT'S VOLATILE.

THIS IS A RACE HAVE YOU TO RACE FROM THE FRONT.

SAVE ENERGY BY BEING AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME AT THE FRONT.

NO REASON TO BE IN THE BACK OTHER THAN YOU ARE GOING TO GET BOTTLED FOR THE TEAMMATE OR TEAMMATE LEFT BEHIND TRYING TO GET HIM BACK TO THE FRONT.

IT IS A TEAM SPORT WHERE YOU ARE WORKING TOGETHER.

SO IF A TEAMMATE IS AT THE BACK, YOU KNOW, I SHOULDN'T-- IF I WAS A DIRECTOR OF MY TEAM, I SHOULD NOT BE SEEING ANY OF KNEW GUYS LAYING IN THE BACK BECAUSE THAT'S A CRITICAL MOMENT OF THE RACE.

WE KNOW THE RACE CAN GO RIGHT AWAY AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE MY PLAYERS ARE ALL AT THE FRONT.

>> A FEW RIDERS TO JUMP OUT OF THE FIELD.

TRYING TO JOIN THIS GROUP THAT HAS GO THAN UP THE ROAD WITH A TORONTO HUSTLE RIDER, HUMAN POWERED HEALTH AND REGIONAL LOS ANGELES PUTTING THREE RIDERS UP THE ROAD.

SEE WHO THEY'RE WORKING WITH STARTING WITH CARSON MYLES, THE CANADIAN,LOS ANGELES HAS ALEK COWAN UP THERE AND HUMAN POWERED HEALTH WITH STEVEN BASSETT AS WELL.

A GOOD BREAK OF THREE.

>> RIGHT NOW WE HAVE SOME OF THE DOMESTIC TEAMS PUTTING IN A GOOD EFFORT.

I FEEL LIKE THE WORLD TOUR TEAMS ARE THINKING ABOUT DO I MAKE A MOVE NOW?

DO I WAIT?

AND AS YOU SEE RIGHT NOW, SOME OF THEM ARE COMING ACROSS, DON'T KNOW WHO IT IS BUT THIS IS A POINT WHERE, HOW FAR ALONG TO I LET THIS BREAKAWAY GO BEFOR I PUT MY GUY IN THERE.

I DON'T SEE ANY REAL CONTENDERS GOING ACRS INTO THE BREAKAWAY.

SO ALL THE TOP TEAMS ARE WAITING.

>> THEY HAVE JUST ADDED TWO MORE RIDERS THAT BRIDGED UP.

I SAW TWO MAKING IT UP THERE AN TRYING TO BRIDGE AS WELL.

MANUEL THE ITALIAN ON THE ASTANA TEAM.

>> SO WE GO INTO THAT.

WE HAVE AN ASTANNA RIDER THIS IS THE BEST CASE SCENARIO FOR A BREAKAWAY HERE THE FIELD DOESN'T TAKE THESE GUYS SERIOUSLY, JUST SOME DOMESTIC TEAMS.

WE DON'T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT THOSE GUYS AND BEFORE YOU KNOW IT, YOU HAVE A SITUATION ON YOUR HANDS LIKE LAST YEAR WHERE WE SAW A SMALL GROUP GO TO THE LINE TOGETHER.

>> POSSIBLY HAVE YOU ANOTHER BREAKAWAY THAT GOES ACROSS.

BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO BE A HARD RACE.

AND MY FEELING IS WE ARE GOING HAVE A VERY AGGRESSIVE FIRST START.

EVEN THOUGH THIS GROUP IS GOING TO GO AWAY.

IT'S A REALLY HARD COURSE.

THERE ARE PLACES TO BREAK THIS RACE APART.

I CAN SEE THESE GUYS GETTING AN ADVANTAGE, SETTLING INTO A PACE AND POSSIBLY HAVE SOME OTHER GUYS COME ACROSS.

>> REMEMBER FIRST POINTS COME EARLY ON IN THE RACE.

ABOUT 37 KILOMETERS IN, 23 MILES RACED.

THEY WILL HIT THEIR FIRST KING OF THE MOUNTAIN AT TIERNEY LANE.

SO THESE GUYS IN THE BREAKAWAY LOOKING AT SOME OF THE EARLY KING OF THE MOUNTAIN POINTS BUT STARTING TO HAVE MORE AND MORE RIDERS JOINING IN.

LEGION PUTTING IN ANOTHER ONE TO JOIN AL ALEK COWAN.

THAT WILL BE A HUGE ADVANTAGE FOR LEGION IF THEY CAN GET ONE MORE INTO THE FRONT GROUP.

THIS GROUP IS GETTING A LITTLE BIG HERE.

BRIAN SANCHES MADE IT IN FOR THE TEAM INTO THE FRONT GROUP AND THE SECOND LIEJ ONRIDER HAS MADE IT IN AS WELL.

>> MY FEELING IS THIS THE PERFECT BREAKAWAY FOR THE RACE.

THEY WANT TO MAKE IT TO THE NEXT GAP.

THERE COULD BE ANOTHER BREAKAWAY.

SO TO SETTLE INTO A GOOD PACE, BECOME A TEAM.

THESE GUYS AR-- THESE GUYS ARE A TEAM RIGHT NOW.

THEY HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER.

>> FIRST MAJOR SPLIT OF THE DAY.

THIS GROUP HAS ESTABLISHED THEMSELVES OFF THE FRONT WITH 11MILES OF RACING TO GO.

WE ARE UNDER WAY IN RACING AT THE 2023 MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

HOME OF THE CURRENT NUMBER ONE RANKED BALTIMORE ORIOLES PLAYING LATER TONIGHT AGAINST THE ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS, 912° IN THE HARBOR, JUST A LIGHT WIND AT 6 MILES PER HOUR.

THAT WILL STAY CALM FOR MOST OF THE DAY TODAY AND WE ARE EXPECTING SUNNY WEATHER ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE FINISH TODAY.

BIG STARS SIGNING IN EARLIER TODAY INCLUDING ONE OF THE BIG AMERICAN FAVORITES, NEILSEN.

AND ANOTHER BIG ONE TO WATCH FROM THE JAYCO TEAM AND MATEO, SOME BIG EYES WATCHING HIM TODAY.

>> AND I'M EXCITED FOR MATEO BEING IN THEACE.

I THINK HE HAS HAD AN AMAZING SEASON.

EXCITED TO BE HERE.

HE HAS TEAM PERMISSION TO RACE WITH THE USA TEAM.

AND THIS IS A MOMT WHERE HE CAN CAPITALIZE ON AN AMAZING RACE.

I LOVE RACING IN THE U.S. ANY CHANCE I HAVE.

I REMEMBER DOING THAT FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO GRAND PRIX, A SIMILAR RACE TO THIS AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO RACE WITH STARS AND STRIPES IS AN AMAZING MOMENT FOR A YOUNG AMERICAN RIDER.

>> LOOKING AT OUR FRONT GROUP ALREADY, 15 MINUTES INTO THIS RACE, AND WE'LL CALL THIS THE FIRST SPLIT OF THE DAY.

THESE GUYS JUMPING OFF THE FRONT EARLY.

IT STARTED WITH THREE.

THEN FOUR, THEN FIVE, THEN SIX JUST ADDING SINGLE RIDERS GOING ACROSS THE GAP.

PRETTY SOON THAT GAP WILL GET TOO BIG AND THIS BREAK IS GOING TO ESTABLISH ITSELF.

I SEE THESE GUYS STAYING OUT HERE FOR A WHILE THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING RIGHT NOW.

>> YEAH, BRAD.

I MEAN THE FACT THAT A COUPLE OF INDIVIDUALS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO JUMP ACROSS TELLS ME THAT THE PELOTON IS HAPPY WITH THE MOVE.

THE MAIN TEAMS ARE HAPPY THIS MOVE IS SETTLING INTO A PACE AND ... YOU DEFINITELY HAVE RIGHT NOW THE BREAKAWAY SETTLING INTO, BUT WE HAVE THE FIELD STILL HAS TO MANEUVER THROUGH ALL THESE UP AND DOWNS AND HOW WINDY THIS RACE IS GOING TO BE.

SO I'M INTERESTED TO SEE HOW THIS IS GOING TO PLAY OUT AND ONCE WE GET INTO THE UNDULATING, YOU KNOW, CLIMBS THAT WE HAVE COMING UP.

>> LOOK AT THIS PROFILE.

UP, DOWN, UP, DOWN, A REAL SAW TOOTH PROFILE TODAY.

>> THAT'S DECEIVING BECAUSE THERE ARE ONLY A COUPLE OF THE UP DOWNS, IF YOU PUT TOGETHER THAT GRAPHIC, IT'S ACTUALLY QUANTIFIED BY 100.

ONCE THAT SPEED PICKS UP, THAT SNAP, JUST LIKE STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, IT TAKES A WHILE.

REQUEST A CALM PELOTON WITH THE GUYS AWAY, 15 SECONDS UP THE ROAD, YOU CAN CHILL AT THE BACK OF THE GROUP RIGHT NOW.

SO I THINK YOU ARE RIGHT, IT LOOKS LIKE THE PELOTON IS MORE THAN HAPPY TO LET THE GUYS ROLL AWAY.

THEY BUILT UP A 15-SECOND LEAD RIGHT NOW BUT THAT ONE SEEMS TO BE ON THE WAY OUT FOR WHAT IS NOW SEVEN RIDERS INTO THIS FRONT GROUP.

>> SEVEN RIDERS IS A PERFECT BALANCE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE ENOUGH RIDERS AND EVERYBODY CAN TAKE A POLE.

YOU CAN SEE HOW THE PELOTON, THE LITTLE PELL TO BE, YOU PULL OFF AND GET A DRAFT AS YOU ARE PULLING OFF SO THERE ARE ENOUGH RIDERS TO GET SOME SPEED.

YOU KNOW, THERE IS A DRAFT HAPPENING HERE.

SO A LOT OF THE GUYS ARE ABLE TO REALLY JUST GET REST AND AS THEY COME THROO AND AGAIN WHEN YOU ARE USING THAT DOWNHILL IN THIS GROUP, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE PRETTY IMPRESSIVE SPEEDS OUT THERE ON A DAY LIKE TODAY.

AVERAGE SPEED TODAY, 27, 28, 29, SOMEWHERE AROUND THERE.

>> I THINK SIGHTS GOING TO BE A LITTLE LESS THAN THAT WITH THE HEAT AND EVERYTHING.

BUT DEFINITELY, YOU SAW HOW HARD THEY WERE WORKING IN THE BREAKAWAY.

THEY'RE STILL HAVING TO WORK REALLY HARD AND THEY NEED TO RIGHT NOW.

THEY NEED TO SETTLE IN THE GAP, MAKE SURE THEY GET 15 SECONDS IS NOT ENOUGH.

15 SECONDS IS ENOUGH ONCE THEY GET INTO THE HILLS THAT SOMEBODY CAN JUMP AHEAD ACROSS.

SO THESE SEVEN RIDERS NEED TO REALLY COMMIT TO THIS EFFORT.

IT'S A TEAM TIME TRIAL WORKING TOGETHER.

HOPEFULLY WE DON'T ENCOURAGE SOMEBODY TO COME ACROSS.

WHEN YOU SEE THE BREAKAWAY WORKING INCREDIBLY WELL TOGETHER, THEY HAVE GOTTEN INTO A ROTATION INTO THE FRONT GROUP.

BASICALLY EACH RIDER GOING TO TAKE TIME AT THE FRONT CREATING A DRAFT FOR THE OTHER RIDERS BEHIND THEM.

THEY'LL ALL WORK TOGETHER IN FRONT GROUP BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE SAME GOAL OF TRYING TO STAY AWAY FROM THIS FIELD.

SO THESE SEVEN GUYS RIGHT NOW MIGHT AS WELL BE BEST FRIENDS.

THEY HAVE THE SAME GOAL IN MIND TRYING TO STAY AWAY FROM THE GROUP.

THAT WILL LAST UNTIL THE LAST FIVE MILES OR SO THE THEY'RE ABLE TO STAY AWAY.

FOR NOW, IT MIGHT AS WELL BE A SEVEN-MAN TEAM TIME TRIAL.

>> AS YOU THINK OF CYCLING AS A TEAM SPORT, IT IS A TEAM SPORT BUT WHAT IS UNIQUE-- WE HAVE AN ATTACK, SOME RIDERS ARE NOT SETTLED IN WITH THE BREAKAWAY STAYING AWAY.

THAT MAKES SENSE.

A LOT OF TEAMS CAN STILL GET ACROSS.

SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, IT'S A TEAM SPORT.

SO AND BUT YOU HAVE TO BE TEAMMATES WITH COMPETITORS AT TIMES.

AND COMPETE AGAINST THEM.

HOW MUCH DO YOU WORK TOGETHER AND HOW MUCH DO YOU WORK-- AND NOW IS THE POINT YOU WORK TOGETHER.

>> WONDER IF SOME OF THE ACTION THAT YOU SAW FROM THE MAIN PELOTON.

NOW SEEING TWO SOLO RIDERS.

THEY DIDN'T LIKE WHAT THEY SAW BUT NOW THAT THAT GROUP HAS BEEN AWAY FOR A WHILE.

THEY MAY HAVE MISREAD THE BREAKAWAY.

GOING TO MAKE IT 8 AND 9, GET I.D.S ON THE RIEFERREDS GOING-- RIDERS GOING ACROSS THE GAP BUT THEY LIKE WHAT THEY SEE.

IS THE GAP NOT BIG ENOUGH OR IS FIELD NOT LIKING THIS YET.

THEY'RE STAYING CLOSE ENOUGH TO GO ACROSS.

WE COULDN'T REALLY SEE THE FRONT OF THE FIELD AND MAYBE THERE ARE GUYS SITTING TEMPO TRYING TO KEEP IT GOES TO FIND A SPOT WHERE ONE OF THE TEAMMATES CAN GO ACROSS.

>> THE ELBOW FROM HAMISH BEATLE TELLING THE RIDER THAT IT IS ABOUT TO BE HIS TURN TO TAKE OVER.

A HEADS UP FOR THE RIDER BEHIND.

AND NOW YOU SEE THE PELOTON, YOU SEE THE SHAPE OF THIS GROUP STARTING TO CHANGE.

SINGLE FILE ON THE FRONT OF THE GROUP.

THAT TELLS ME, FREDDY, THEY'RE LIFTING THE TEMPO IN THIS GROUP.

PELOTON NO LONGER CALM.

>> NO, DEFINITELY NO LONGER CALM.

I'M GOING TO THINK MAYBE SOME OF THE TEAMS THAT ARE NO THE AS HAPPY BUT I WOULD SAY FOR ME THE TOP TEAMS ARE HAPPY WITH THE MOVE.

BUT IT LOOKS LIKE, WE ARE HE HAVE-- >> PROJECT ECHELON AND LEGION TRYING TO GO ACROSS.

I THINK THAT VOGEL AGAIN.

HE WAS ONE OF THE EARLY MOFERS-- MOVERS.

>> CHECK THAT.

THAT IS GOING TO BE HUGO SCALA.

HE IS COMING INTO THE GROUP AND IT IS GOING TO GET REAL CHAOTIC NOW.

THAT FRONT GROUP STILL AWAY.

YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE FRONT OF THE PELOTON RIGHT NOW.

SOME OF THE HIGHER TIER TEAMS MAKING THEIR WAY TO THE FRONT.

>> I THINK THEY'RE CHECKING IN.

THEY JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE IN THE GAME, BUT THEY DON'T WANT TO BE MAKING THE GAME RIGHT NOW.

THEY WANT TO BASICALLY FOLLOW ALONG AND SEE WHO REALLY, WHO REALLY WANTS TO RACE RIGHT NOW.

IDEALLY THEY DON'T WANT TO BE RACING RIGHT NOW.

THEY WANT TO SAVE AS MUCH AS THEY CAN WHEN THEY GET CLOSER TO THE FINISH.

RACE BOUGHT THEY ALSO WANT TO KEEP PLAYING THEIR CARDS AND YOU KNOW, STAYING IN THE GAME.

>> SO LET'S RUN THROUGH SOME OF THE TEAMS IN THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

THIS IS UNIQUE BECSE IT BRINGS A KNEW DIFFERENT LEVELS OF RACING TO THE UNITED STATES.

ARE TALKING ABOUT DOMESTIC AND WORLD TOUR TEAMS.

TAKE US THROUGH THE DIFFERENCE IN THE LEVELS OF TEAMS AND SOME OF THE TEAMS WE SHOULD BE WATCHING OUT FOR?

>> I MEAN, YOU LOOK AT, WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, TEAMS LIKE COFIDIS, JAYCO, THE WORLD TEAMS THAT HAVE THE BUDGETS THAT HIRE THE BEST RIDERS.

THEY HAVE THE POINTS, THEY'RE HERE TO RACE.

THEY'RE HERE TO ACCUMULATE POINTS FOR THE WHOLE SEASON AND THEN YOU HAVE THE PRO-TEALS, WHAT WE USED TO CALL THE CONTE TEAMS, THE HUMAN POWERED HEALTH, ASTANA IS ONE OF THEM.

ISRAEL IS ONE OF THOSE AND THEY'RE FIGHTING FOR POSITIONS TO MOVE AROUND.

WE HAVE QUALITY HERE.

WE HAVE THE FOURTH TEAM IN THE WORLD HERE.

WE HAVE RIDERS THAT ARE RANKED IN THE TOP 20 IN THE WORLD, YOU KNOW, SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DYNAMICS THIS IS GOING TO BE RAY REALLY GREAT RACE.

COMING DOWN, THEY'RE MAKING THEIR WAY TO PRETTY BOY RESERVOIR, A COUPLE OF LOOPS AROUND THE RESERVOIR BEFORE DROPPING BACK INTO DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE WHERE WE ARE HERE FOR THE FINISH.

NICE WHAT WAS A CALM START UNTIL WE SAW THAT EARL BREAKAWAY GO.

THEY'RE ABOUT RIGHT HERE ON COURSE RIGHT NOW BUT IT'S REALLY ONCE THEY GET OUT TO THE RESERVOIR AND DO THE BIG LOOPS WHERE WE START TO SEE SOME OF THE BIGGER CLIMBING, SOME K.O.M.s COMING INTO PLAY AND THAT'S WHERE THE OBJECTION IS REALLY GOING TO START.

>> YOU SEE THE TURNING WE HAVE IF HERE.

WHEN YOU HAVE THE ROADS TURNING AND WINDING THROUGH THE COUNTRY SIDE, IT MAKES FOR A REALLY HARD TO KNOW WHERE TO BE AND WHEN TO BE IN THE PELOTON AND SOMETIMES IT'S EVEN HARD TO SEE WHERE YOU ARE GOING BECAUSE YOU ARE COMING IN AT HIGH SPEEDS, GOING 40, 50 MILES PER HOUR COMING INTO SOMEWHERE YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN ON AND HAVING TO JUDGE THE SPEED WHERE YOU COME IN, WHERE YOU DON'T COME IN AND THESE GUYS ARE MANAGING THAT, TOO.

MANAGING THAT ENERGY.

LIKE WE TALKED ABOUT, YOU MAKE THE CORNER IN THE LEFT TURN AND IT'S A FAST DOWNHILL, YOU ARE SPENDING A LOT OF ENERGY.

>> AND THEN AFTER ALL THE K.O.M.s AND SPRINTS ARE TAKEN CARE OF.

IT'S INTO THE FINISHING CIRCUITS, ANOTHER UNIQUE PART INTO THE RUN INTO THE BALTIMORE.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, WE GO BACK TO TYPICAL CIRCUIT RACE WHERE YOU HAVE A NICE CIRCUIT AND GET TO LEARN THE COURSE THREE CIRCUITS ONCE THEY GET INTO DOWNTOWN BALTIMORWE HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE THE SPRINTERS GO AT IT.

ONE OF THE CLASSIC BIKE RACE ENDINGS.

A SMALL GROUP COMING INTO THE LINE TOGETHER TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE TACTICS BUT THIS FINISHING CIRCUIT CREATES A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SET UP THAT BATTLE BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE TURNS, THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH EVEN IN TOWN THERE ARE SOME UPS AND DOWNS ON THE COURSE.

>> IT IS AND IT'S DECEIVING BECAUSE YOU ARE COMING OFF THIS HARD COURSE INTO THESE FLATTER ROADS.

FINALLY GET A REST BUT THE TACTICAL GAME STARTS.

ATTACKS HAPPEN.

THE ATTACKS THAT REALLY MATTER BECAUSE AND YOU CAN'T MISS IT AND IF YOUR LEGS ARE SHOT FROM A LONG DAY OF RACING, YOU START FEELING IT QUICKLY MEANWHILE THE FRONT GROUP HAS BEEN ABSORBED.

AT THE FRONTF THE GROUP NOW, THE TEAMS WILL CONTINUE DRIVING HERE.

THE FRENCH SQUAD, WORLD PREMIER TECH UP THERE IN THE WHITE, JAYCO PUTTING SOME RIDERS UP NEAR THE FRONT AS WELL CONTINENTAL-- KEEPING AN EYE ON THINGS AS THEY WAIT FOR THE RESET.

THERE WILL BE ANOTHER SPLIT THAT TRIES TO GO.

PASS SOME OF THOSE LATER TODAY WE HAD A LITTLE BETTER WEATHER, NO THE AS HOT, BUT, YEAH, THESE GUYS ARE GOING TO BE ENJOYING SOME AMAZING SCENERY, NOT THAT THEY'RE LOOKING TOO MUCH THEMSELVES.

THEY'RE FOCUSING ON THE RD IN FRONT OF THEM.

FOCUSING ON THEIR TEAMMATES AND FOCUSING ON THEIR COMPETITORS.

YOU DEFINITELY DON'T WANT TO BE BACK HERE.

YOU DO-- FOR THIS REASON RIGHT NOW.

THE ATTACKS ARE STARTING TO HAPPEN SO YOU WANT TO BE IN A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN HAVE CONTROL OF THE RACE.

MOSTLY TOWARDS THE FRONT OF THE LITTLE BUBBLE, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU CAN SEE THE RACE, MAYBE NOT ACTIVATE, BUT HAVE YOUR RIDERS READY TO BE PART OF IT.

>> ANOTHER SPLIT TRYING TO FORM ON THE FRONT.

ANOTHER HAND BEING DEALT.

WANT TO STICK WITH THE POKER ANALOGIES FROM EARLIER.

>> WE ARE PAST THE MARK FROM LAST YEAR WITH THE BREAKAWAY SO WE ARE SEEING THE STANDARD THE YS SET.

LIKE THEY ALL KNEW THIS COULD BE A RACE THAT GOES EARLY WHEN THAT HAPPENS AND EVERYONE IS THINKING THE SAME WAY, IT MIGHT TAKE LONGER.

THERE MIGHT BE A BREAKAWAY BUT IT WILL TAKE LONGER AND THERE WILL BE MORE TIRE GUYS.

THE WINNING MOVE LAST YEAR, MADE THAT INITIAL SELECTION.

SO DOESN'T LOOK LIKE HE IS IN AS MUCH OF A HURRY THIS YEAR TO GET TO THE FRONT-OF-THE-RACE BACK WITH THE TEAM CAR STAYING CALM EARLY ON.

>> YOU WONDER SOMETIMES, MAYBE HE IS NOT-- SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO COMMUNICATE THROUGH THE RADIOS.

YOU REALLY WANT TO HAVE A GOOD CONVERSATION WITH YOUR DIRECTOR, WHICH IS THE TACTITIONAL PERSON OF THE TEAM.

SO HE IS PROBABLY GOING BACK THERE AND WANTS TO HAVE A ONE TO ONE WITH HIM AND SAY HEY, WHAT DO YOU THINK.

THIS RACE MIGHT PLAY OUT A DIFFERENT WAY.

SHOULD WE STICK TO OUR STRATEGY, READJUST?

ON THE RADIO THAT MIGHTE HARD TO TRANSLATE.

>> THE RIDERS ARE HALFWAY TO THAT FIR K.O.M.

OF THE DAY.

AND THEY WILL DO TOTAL OF THREE FOR THE KING OF THE MOUNTAIN COMPETITION PRESENTED BY THE STATE OF MARYLAND, RACE OF POINTS UP TO THE TOP OF THREE OF THE BIGGEST CLIMBS AND WHOEVER HAS THE MOST POINTS AT THE END OF THE DAY WILL BE CROWNED THE STATE OF MARYLAND KING OF THE MOUNTAIN CHAMPION.

>> YOU CAN SEE RIGHT THERE, THE PELOTON IS BASICALLY ALL, YOU KNOW, JUST STACKED UP.

WHICH TELLS ME THAT THEY'RE HAPPY WITH THE BREAKAWAY FOR THIS MOMENT.

AND AS WE CAN SEE RIGHT NOW, WE DON'T SEE ANY OF THE TEAMS INVOLVED.

SO AGAIN, MOSTLY THE REACTION RIGHT NOW IS FROM THE DOMESTIC TEAMS.

AND WE SEE SOMEBODY ATTACKING FROM THE FIELD.

LET'S SEE IF IT OPENS IT BACK UP.

IDEALLY, YOU WANT TO KEEP THIS RACE GOING.

BUT, NO, THEY LET THAT GUY GO.

SOMEBODY JUST JUMPED AWAY.

THEY'RE HAPPY WITH THE BREAKAWAY.

MAYBE THE GUYS LEARNED FROM LAST YEAR, LIKE THIS IS A TOUGH RACE.

>> THERE IS NOTHING CLEAR IN THE SPORT OF CYCLING THAN THE MESSAGE THIS PELOTON IS SENDING RIGHT NOW.

THE WAY THE GUYS ARE LINED UP ACROSS THE ROAD IS A VERY LOUD MESSAGE THAT THEY'RE NOT INTERESTED IN WHAT IS HAPPENING UP THE ROAD RIGHT NOW.

>> BY BEING IN THE FRONT, YOU ARE BLOCKING THE ROAD.

EVERYBODY AT THE FRONT OF THE ROAD SAYS I DON'T WANT TO 25 TACK RIGHT NOW AND I DON'T WANT YOU BEHIND ME TO ATTACK.

SO BY ME BLOCKING THE ROAD, IT SECONDS A MESSAGE.

AND THEN WHAT YOU WOULD DO TO FOLLOW UP WITH THAT, YOU WOULD REACT IMMEDIATELY WHEN THE FIRST GUY GOES, WHICH WOULD KIND OF TELL EVERYBODY ELSE LIKE OH NO, IT'S NOT GOING TO BE AN EASY GETAWAY FROM THIS GROUP.

IT REALLY SENDS A MESSAGE TO THE PELOTON WE ARE HAPPY WITH THE BREAKAWAY, LET IT GO.

BUT I HAVE A FEELING THERE ARE GUYS IN THE PELOTON THAT STILL WANT TO RACE.

>> FIVE RIDERS UP THE ROAD, KYLE MURPHY FORMER U.S. PRO-NATIONAL CHAMPION RIDING WITH THE LEGION OF LOS ANGELES TEAM.

I THINK MURPHY'S ROCKING THE GLASSES FROM YOUR ERA.

HE HAS SOME OLD SCHOOL SHADE ON TODAY.

TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE WHEN WE GET BACK TO THE BREAKAWAY HERE.

MURPHY IN THE WHITE JERSEY TERROR VERY BACK OF THE GROUP RIGHT HERE.

>> OH YEAH, LOOK AT THAT.

LOVE IT.

A LITTLE RETRO GOING.

I MEAN THAT'S ONE THING YOU CAN WHAT IS GREAT ABOUT THE RACES TO ALLOW THE DOMESTIC TEAMS TO BE INVOLVED.

THEY COULD BE A HORSE TO BE RECKONED WITH.

EUROPEANS MAY NOT KNOW THEM.

YOU KNOW, YOU KNOW THE DIRECT DIRECTOR RIGHT NOW IS LOOKING THROUGH GOING SOMEBODY RESEARCH WHO THIS GUY IS.

IS I DANGEROUS?

THAT'S PART OF RACING, YOU KNOW.

AND SOMETIMES GUYS E UP WINNING BIG RACES BECAUSE THE OTHER TEAMS UNDERESTIMATE.

>> COFIDIS RERS MAKING THEIR WAY BACK.

IF YOU ARE NEW TO THE SPORT OF CYCLING, THIS RIDER IS A A TEAMWORKER ON THE SQUAD.

THEIR JOB IS TO SUPPORT THE STARS OF THE TEAM.

THE FINISHERS.

IN BASKETBALL LIKE THE POINT GUARD OR THE PITCHER OR THE QUARTERBACK, SORT OF WHOEVER YOUR MAIN PLAYER IS, WHOEVER HAS THE BEST CHANCE TO WIN.

SO THAT RIDER JUST LOADING BOTTLES INTO HIS JERSEY AND WILL DROP THOSE OFF TO THE REST OF HIS TEAMMATES IN THE GROUP.

UP TO STEVEN VOGEL, THE AMERICAN ON PROJECT ECHELON RACING.

MAKING A MOVE.

LOOKS LIKE HE IS THE RIDER THAT HAS LEFT THE PELOTON AND TRYING TO JOIN THE FRONT GROUP.

SCROAG VOGEL SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THE SPLIT NO PROBLEM.

>> I'M LOOKING AT HIS...

THIS GUY IS A BIG STRONG GUY.

THIS IS A HARD COURSE.

HE IS GOING TO BE-- HE IS GOING TO BE TRYING TO GET AHEAD OF THE GAME TO GET OUT OF THE HILLY TERRAIN AND HOPEFULLY DEAL WITH A GROUP THAT MAYBE RIDES IT A LITTLE MORE SMOOTHLY.

GOING ACROSS IS A GOOD MOVE FOR HIM AND HIS TEAM.

AND YOU KNOW, SENDING A MESSAGE TO THE PELOTON THAT, YOU KNOW, ALSO THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO ANY OF THE WORK IF ANYTHING HAPPENS.

EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE A SMALLER TEAM, THEY PROBABLY WOULDN'T HAVE TO DO ANY OF THE WORK.

GOING BACK TO YOUR ANALOGY ON SPORTS, MY BIGGEST, YOU KNOW, ONE OF MY FAVORITE SPORTS IS, EUROPEAN FOOTBALL.

SOCCER, AND YOU KNOW, I ALWAYS TRY TO TELL PEOPLE, WE HAVE OUR STRIKERS, OUR FORWARDS TO MAKE THE WIN.

WE HAVE OUR MIDFIELDERS, THEY'RE THE SUPPORTERS THAT HELP THE RIDERS THAT WIN THE RACE AND THEN HAVE YOU THE DEFENDERS, THE CORE OF THE TEAM, THE GUYS THAT DO ALL THE HARD WORK.

AND YOU NEED ALL THREE.

TO MAKE A COHESIVE TEAM.

AND DEPENDING ON THE RACE, YOU SEND MORE OR THE OTHER.

AND WOULD I SAY THIS RACE IS ONE WHERE YOU WANT TO HAVE A REALLY BALANCE BECAUSE YOUR DEFENDER MIGHT BE HAVING TO GO FOR THE WIN.

>> TALK TO ME ABOUT HOW YOU BUILD A ROSTER FOR A RACE LIKE THIS?

BECAUSE THE ROSTER YOU SEE FOR A RACE LIKE THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC IS DIFFERENT FROM THE TOUR DE FRANCE ROSTER.

SO YOU TALKED ABOUT BUILDING SPRINTERS AND DOMESTICS.

HOW WOULD A ONE-DAY ROLLING HILL ERASE BE DIFFERENT FROM A 20-DAY, 21-DAY GRAND TOUR STAGE RACE.

>> GREAT EXAMPLE IS LAST YEAR.

THINK ABOUT HOW MANY TEAMS BROUGHT SPRINTERS LAST YEAR AND HOW MANY BROUGHT SPRINTERS THIS YEAR.

THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A TYPICAL ONE-DAY RACE.

DIDN'T SEE BIG MOUNTAINS SO THEY SENT A SPRINTER.

A SPRINTER IS USUALLY THERE FOR A FIELD SPRINT.

THIS YEAR, THEY HEARD THE MESSAGE.

THEY BROUGHT A MIXTURE, A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING.

RIDERS THAT CAN MANAGE BOTH.

MANAGE THE FINALE OF THE RACE, CAN MANAGE A BAKAWAY MORE THAN ONE SKILL.

>> YOU SEE THESE GUYS BACK OF THE GROUP.

NOW THAT THINGS HAVE CALMED DOWN A LITTLE BIT.

THIS IS LIKE THE FIRST SORT OF COFFEE BREAK OF THE PELOTON, THEY'RE RIDING PRETTY EASY IN THE GROUP AND SO THAT'S THE SIGN THEY CAN GO BACK TO THE CAR.

YOU DON'T WANT TO GO IN THE RACE FAST BECAUSE HAVE YOU TO CHASE BACK ON TO A FAST MOVING GROUP SO THEY USUALLY WAIT UNTIL THINGS ARE A LITTLE LESS CHAOTIC IN THE GROUP WHICH WE CAN TELL BY THE WAY THE GUYS IN THE FRONT OF SPREAD OUT ACROSS THE ROOTED WE KNOW HOW THE RACE CAN BE DYNAMIC.

I DON'T KNOW IF I WOULD BE TAKING THE RISK TALKING TO MY CAR AND, YOU KNOW, GO TO THE BACK.

I FOE IT'S GOING EASY BUT I STILL FEEL THERE ARE A LOT OF RIDERS THAT WANT TO RACE AND THEY'RE WAITING FOR THE MOMENT SO YOU SEE THE GUYS FULL PULLING OVER.

HE IS PULLING OVER SO HEY, YOU KNOW, GENTLEMAN'S RESPECT, NO ONE IS GOING TO ATTACK RIGHT NOW.

YOU GO TO THE FRONT OF THE PELOTON AND YOU PULL OVER.

LOOK AT THIS GUY, WORKING HARD, SO CLOSE.

DID HE MAKE IT?

>> YOU SEE HIM SHAKING HIS HEAD.

HE MAY BE REALIZING THIS IS GOING TO BE A BRIDGE TOO FAR OR IS HE ABOUT TO GET IN IT?

VOGEL LOOKS LIKE HE IS LETTING UP RIGHT HERE.

>> THAT'S A BUMMER.

>> IS HE CRAMPING?

>> NO, IT SOUNDS LIKE HE MAYBE PUT TOO BIG OF AN EFFORT TRYING TO GO ACROSS AND COULDN'T MAKE IT AND THESE GUYS ACCELERATED.

>> WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON STEVEN VOGEL AND THE GAP PART OF THE ECHELON TEAM.

RACING WITH A MISSION, SUPPORTING VETERANS THROUGH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

THEY GET VETERANS ON BIKES, ALL KINDS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY TO HELP THEM WITH THE TRANSITION FROM SERVICE BACK TO CIVILIAN LIFE.

SO ANOTHER ONE OF THE TEAMS RACING WITH A CAUSE AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

>> I THINK WE CAN OFFICIALLY SAY THAT THE RACE IS HAPPY WITH THIS GROUP RIGHT NOW.

EVERYBODY IS SHUFFLING AROUND.

ALL THE KEY PLAYERS PULLED OFF AND BASICALLY TOLD THE PELOTON, LET'S TAKE A BREAK.

WE'RE GOOD.

SO WE ARE KIND OF GOING TBAK TO TRADITIONAL BIKE RACING.

THIS IS A STRATEGY.

THIS ONE IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN THE WAY THAT WE SAW THE OPENING, LET'S SAY 30 OR 40 MILES OF THIS RACE LAST YEAR.

SAME COURSE.

RACED MUCH DIFFERENTLY NOW BECAUSE THE TEAMS HAVE GOTTEN AN IDEA HOW IT WAS RACED.

YOU NEVER REALLY KNOW LOOKING AT IT ON PAPER UNTIL YOU GET OUT THERE.

EVEN THE COURSE DESIGNERS, THE PEOPLE WHO DESIGNED THE COURSE, NOT REALLY SURE HOW IT WOULD PLAY OUT LAST YEAR SO ONCE WE GOT THE FIRST TASTE FOR IT, THE STRATEGY CHANGES A LITTLE BIT.

>> YEAH, AND I WAS MENTIONING THE OTHER DAY, AS A PROFESSIONAL, YOU KNOW, YOU COULD BE RACING 100 RACES A YEAR.

YOU ARE A PROFESSIONAL FOR THE WHOLE YEAR.

YOU ALSO HAVE TO MANAGE YOUR MANAGER FOR THE WHOLE SEASON.

SO IF YOU RACE TO A POINT WHERE IT'S THIS STRONG, YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO ADJUST THAT INTENSITY.

NO STANDOUT FAVORITES IN THIS GROUP WHICH IS GREAT NEWS FOR THIS BREAKAWAY.

THAT'S PROBABLY PART OF WHY THE PELOTON LET THE BREAKAWAY GO.

THEIR HOPE IS THAT THE PELOTON, THE MAIN GROUP, WILL UNDERESTIMATE THIS BREAKAWAY.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT THESE FIVE GUYS AND SAYING NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.

LET THEM GO.

WE'LL AUTOY BE ABLE TO BRING THEM BACK BEFORE THE END OF THE RACE.

THEY SAID THE SAME THING ABOUT THE BREAKAWAY LAST YEAR AN THE FIELD WAS WRONG.

GO BUT THIS FIELD HAS GIVEN THEM 45 SECONDS UP THE ROAD RIGHT NOW FOR LOW SANO, SOPHIA, MURPHY, MYLES AND GLANN BEGANNIER.

>> WE GOT PLAYERS IN THERE ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> THE WEATHER IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

WE JUST CAME OFF A FLAT STRETCH WHERE WE WERE ABLE TO HAMMER PRETTY HARD.

AROUND THE CORNER THERE WERE A CLUSTER OF HORSES THERE.

IT WAS SO COOL.

A WONDERFUL PLACE TO BE.

I'M HERE WITH MY WIFE AND SUPPORTING A GREAT CAUSE.

WE MET A FAMILY THIS MORNING WITH A CHILD THAT NEEDED SOME HELP.

FAMILY NEEDED SOME HELP.

JUST, YOU KNOW, WE WERE ABLE TO PUT THAT TOGETHER AND FOUNDATION AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES.

AND IN TURN, THEY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR LIVES TODAY, TOO.

IT'S ALL GOOD.

ALL THE CREDITED TO THE KELLIES FOR ALL THEY DO.

THIS IS A FAMILY THAT KIND OF LATCHED ON TO A CAUSE AND PUT EVERYTHING THEY HAVE INTO IT.

THEIR COMMUNITY, REPUTATION, ALL THOSE THINGS.

AND THEN CONNECTING IT TO T M DR C, THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC SECOND YEAR.

JUST A FANTASTIC OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY MEET THE COMMUNITY AND DEMONSTRATE WHAT IT MEANS TO RIDE AND HOPEFULLY INSPIRE SOME KIDS AND SOME PEOPLE TO GET ON THEIR BIKES AND PURSUE HEALTHY BEHAVIORS.

>> THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACES I'VE EVER RIDDEN.

BEAUTIFUL HILLS, SO REFRESHING.

COULDN'T HAVE PICKED A BETTER DAY.

THIS IS AWESOME AND TO DO IT FOR THE KIDS ALL ABOUT HELPING FAMILIES.

IT'S GREAT.

>> THE FIRST ONE WAS IN 2019.

A COUPLE CANCELLATIONS FOR COVID AND THEN LAST YEAR AND THIS YEAR.

OUR THIRD BRIDGES OF HOPE RIDE TO BEFIT THE UNITED HEALTHCARE CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION WHICH IS FANTASTIC.

WE GOT A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE AND IT'S AN SLIT GORGEOUS DAY-- ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS DAY.

>> AND WE RAISED OVER $150,000 FOR UNITED HEALTHCARE CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION WHICH WAS FANTASTIC AND GREAT GROUP OF SPONSORS YOU SEE ON THE BANNERS BEHIND US.

A GRUT GROUP OF PEOPLE.

IT WAS WONDERFUL.

A GREAT GROUP OF PEOPLE.

LOVE TO SEE GREAT THINGS HAPPENING AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

BREAKAWAY IS HOLDING ON TO A 45-SECOND GAP UP THE ROAD.

THE FIVE GUYS HAVE FORMED THE SECOND MOVE OF THE DAY.

WE SAW ONE GROUP GO EARLIER BUT THAT CAME BACK AND THEN THE RESHUFFLING PUTTING LOZANO, SOPHIA, MYLES AND GANIER UP THE ROAD HERE.

>> I'M SEE SOMETHING RIDERS THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS HERE.

I'M LOOKING AT OSCAR, HE IS JUST COMING OFF A GREAT SEASON.

I TALKED TO HIM AT THE HOTEL A COUPLE DAYS AGO.

HE IS EXCITED TO KEEP RACING.

HE WAS AT ROCK RACING, A COMPETITOR.

LOVES RACING.

ANY RACE HE CAN SHOW UP TO AND DO WELL AT, HE IS GOING TO BE OUT THERE AND COMING OFF SOME AMAZING RESULTS.

HE JUST WOND PANAMA GENERAL CLASSIFICATION.

HE IS ON FORM.

>> YOU FORGOT TO MENTION HIS MOST IMPORTANT IS HE IS 46 YEARS OLD.

>> IMAGINE THAT.

I THINK THERE IS GOING TO BE A CUTOFF AT SOME POINT, BUT HE DOES NOT LOOK 46 I'LL TELL YOU THAT.

THAT GUY IS FIT.

AND HE IS LOVING WHAT HE DOES.

SO YOU CAN EXPECT A LOT FROM HIM.

HIS JOB IS TO CONTROL HIS GROUP.

KEEP THEM TOGETHER.

I'M GOING TO GUESS, HE IS EASILY GOING TO WALK AWAY, I FEEL MUHY IS ANOTHER RIDER.

HE HAS SOMETHING TO PROVE.

HE IS RACING ON HUMAN POWERED LAST YEAR AND NOW ON A DOMESTIC TEAM AND HE HAS SOMETHING TO MOVE.

HE WANTS TO GET BACK UP TO THE TOP LEVEL I WANT THIS GUY BACK ON MY ROSTER AND GO TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

>> REMEMBER KYLE MURPHY WON THE U.S. PROFESSIONAL ROAD NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS IN KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, WHICH IS A VERY SIMILAR FORMAT TO THIS ONE-DAY MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC NOT PART OF THE STAGE RACE, JUST A SINGLE DAY, GET OUT THERE, GOT INTO A BREAKAWAY, MADE THE SPLIT AND WAS ABLE TO DO THE BEST OUT OF THE BREAKAWAY.

SOME YOU ARE IF I IS AN ABSOLUTE THREAT IN THIS GROUP.

WE SALKED ABOUT LOZANO, MYLES AND GANIER ON THE LIST FROM SO-- SO, NOW THAT WE START TO SETTLE INTO THE GROUP, I THINK THIS IS A GROUP THAT CAN GET THROUGH THESE HILLS.

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN HIDE IN THIS RACE.

THE PELOTON IS GOING SLOWER BUT THERE IS REAL NO PLACE TO HIDE.

WE JUST RODE THESE ROADS AND I REMEMBER BEING AT THE BACK OF THE GROUP PUSHING AS HARD AS THE GUY IN THE FRONT.

BEING IN A BREAKAWAY IS NO THE A BAD AWAY RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE ASKING FOR RIDER, DEFINITELY, GOING TO BE A LONG DAY.

NOT ONLY A LOT OF HYDRATIONS, YOU WANT CALORIES AND YOU GET A LOT OF THE CALORIES FROM YOUR WATER BOTTLE.

HYDRATE AND EATING.

THESE GUYS ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF CALORIES AND WATER.

YOU SEE THEM GRAB THESE LITTLE ICE PACKS THEY PUT ON THEIR PACKS, YOU ARE TRYING TO COOL THE BODY DOWN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

>> REMEMBER THESE GUYS COMING UP TO THE FIRST K.O.M.

OF THE DAY.

AT JUST OVER 99 MILES TO GO.

SO A COUPLE MILES FROM NOW.

THEY'LL HIT THAT FIRST K.O.M.

CALLED THE GUN POWDER KING OF THE MOWN MOUNTAIN.

RELATIVELY SHORT 1.4 MILES, 2.2 K. AVERAGE GRADIENT BUT THERE IS A 17.4% MAX GRADIENT AT THE FRONT.

SO WHEN THEY HIT THAT 17% GRADE, YOU WILL KNOW IT AND THAT WILL BE THE START OF K.O.M.

NUMBER 1.

>> I AT INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT OSR IS GOING TO DO.

HE COULD PROBABLY WIN THIS STRAIGHT OUT.

HE IS A REALLY GOOD CLIMBER BUT DOES HE WANT THE SHOW HIS CARDS.

THIS IS THE POINT THAT YOU WANT TO WIN THE RACE OR THE K.O.M.?

DOES HE WANT TO WIN BOTH?

YOU KNOW, AND MURPHY, MURPHY IS ANOTHER CONTENDER FOR THAT.

YOU KNOW, HE WANTS TO SHOW... >> MAYBE A STRATEGY DISCUSSION.

YOU SAW THE TEAM CAR RUNNING UP TO THE FRONT GROUP SORE LOZANO.

GIVE HIM SOME BOTTLES AND MAYBE HAVE A LITTLE DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS K.O.M.

COMING UP.

IS THIS WHERE YOU TALK TO YOUR DIRECTOR ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT THESE KING OF THE MOWN TON TAINTS MOUNTAIN POINTS FOR KING OF THE MOUNTAIN COMPETITION?

>> I WOULD THINK THAT'S A DECION THE RIDER WOULD MAKE.

MAYBE THE DIRECTOR HAS A LITTLE INPUT, GIVING HIM SOME, YOU KNOW-- IDEALLY YOU WANTED THE DIRECTOR TO GIVEOU SOME INPUT.

THIS IS WHEN IT'S COMING, THIS IS HAPPENING.

FIELD NOT PUSHING.

SETTLE INTO, YOU KNOW, GIVE YOU SOME GOOD INTEL.

THAT ALLOWS YOU TO MAKE THE DECISION BECAUSE YOU ARE THE ONE PEDALING ON THE ROAD AND HAVE YOU TO PUSH HARD.

YOU HAVE TO BE DECISIVE OR TELL THE DIRECTOR I'M GOING FOR THE K.O.M.

AND MAYBE HE HAS A LITTLE VETO POWER AND SAYS SAVE THE ENERGY FOR THE FINISH.

AND A LITTLE BIT OF THAT.

YOU SEE THE PELOTON JUST BEING COMFORTABLE PACE RIGHT NOW, THE GAP IS NOT OPENING UP QUICKLY WHICH TELLS ME THAT BOTH GROUPS ARE SETTLING INTO A RHYTHM RIGHT NOW.

>> BREAK UP TO 225 AHEAD OF THE PELOTON, VOGEL STILL STUCK IN THE GAP.

>> THAT WAS VOGEL... OH MAN.

I THINK AT THIS POINT, YOU HAVE TO REALIZE, DO YOU KEEP PUSHING OR DO YOU COME BACK?

MAYBE HE IS HOPING SOMEBODY IS GOING TO COME ACROSS.

I MEAN THAT'S WHAT HE IS PROBABLY THINKING RIGHT NOW.

AND MEANWHILE THESE GUYS ARE AT THE BACK OF THE GROUP, JUST TRYING TO HOLD ON ADAM, WE SAW STEVEN BASSETT BACK THERE AS WELL.

AND UP TO OUR FRONT GROUP.

GETTING READY TO APPROACH THE BOTS ONLY OF THE K. OSM M. FOR THE FIRST POINTS IN THE STATE OF MARYLAND JERSEY COMPETITION.

>> IDEALLY THIS GROUP NEEDS TO BE SMART ABOUT THE CLIMB.

STAY TOGETHER.

COME OVER THE TOP AND GET BACK INTO A RHYTHM.

THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO TRY TO GO SOLO, TRY TO GO ON YOUR OWN.

AND SO THE SMART RIDER WOULD CONSIDER THAT.

STRONG RIDER THAT'S SMART WOULD CONSIDER THAT.

SO I'M ANTICIPATING A LATER ATTACK OVER THE TOP.

>> I THINK THIS WILL BE ON TO THE START OF THE CLIMB.

A LOT OF THIS IS GOING TO HAVE TO DO WITH HOW THEY LINE OUT.

THESE GUYS MAY COME TO AN AGREEMENT, WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THE POINTS.

WE ARE GOING GOING TO TRY TO WIN THE RACE AND WORK TOGETHER TT BREAKAWAY.

THAT LEFT HANDER AND HIT THE RUN UP TO K.O.M.

NUMBER ONE AT GUN POWDER.

THERE WE HAVE THE MAP PROFILE, GIVES YOU A BETTER READ AND UNDERSTANDING WHERE THE GUYS ARE GOING AND HOW WINDY THE ROADS ARE.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL OUT THERE BY THE WAY, GUYS.

IT'S AMAZING.

IF YOU GET A CHANCE, YOU HAVE TO GO OUT THERE.

>> THIS LOOP AROUND THE PRETTY BOY RESERVOIR SEEMS LIKE YOU COULD JUST DO THAT ENDLESSLY.

>>NDLESSLY.

BUT IF YOU PUT A RACE JUST ON THAT LOOP, IMAGINE IT'S A HARD COURSE.

225.

VOGEL STILL HANGING IN FOR 50.

HE IS TOUGHING IT OUT.

HE IS JUST SITTING OUT THERE IN THE PELOTON, HAPPY WITH THIS RIGHT NOW.

8% CLIMB.

THAT'S A GOOD CLIMB.

8% AVERAGE.

WHEN YOU HAVE AN AVERAGE GRADE, YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, AN AVERAGE GRADE TELLS ME THERE ARE BIG POINTS.

RIGHT NOW THIS IS NOT 8%.

IT'S PROBABLY A LOT MORE THAN 8%.

YOU KNOW, BECAUSE YOU SEE HOW IT FLATTENS OUT THERE SO YOU GO THE TO REALIZE THAT THESE GUYS ARE ACTUALLY HAVING TO PUT SOME BIG ENERGY INTO SOME OF THESE POINTS.

BUT YOU KNOW, SO FAR THEY'RE BEING SMART.

TAKING IT EASY AND NOT EASY BUT TAKING IT-- KEEPING IT TOGETHER AND MANAGING THEIR ENERGY, WORKING TOGETHER.

GUY PULLS OFF, THE NEXT ONE PULLS THROUGH.

EVEN WHEN YOU ARE GOING UPHILL, NOT MUCH ENERGY YOU SAVE FOR THE GUY BEHIND YOU, ESPECIALLY AT THE SPEED YOU ARE GOING RIGHT NOW.

HERE WE HAVE A CAR-- THIS IS A TEAM CAR PROBABLY FROM THE GUYS IN THE FRONT TRYING TO GET ACROSS AND THIS IS PART OF BIKE RACING.

YOU HAVE TO BE-- NOT ONLY THE BIKE RACERS GOOD BIKE HANDLERS BUT THE DIRECTORS HAVE TO BE REALLY GOOD ATETTING THROUGH THE TRAFFIC AND WORKING TOGETHER THE PELL TO BE IS VERY OKAY WITH THIS.

TH KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING.

THEY KNOW THE CAR IS TRYING TO GET ACROSS AND THEY'RE TRYING TO OPEN UP THE GAP.

>> A LOT OF TIMES THE TEAM DIRECTORS ARE EX-RIDERS AND KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE TO BE IN THE GROUP.

THEY HAVE TO GET THE CAR THROU THE GROUP TO SUPPORT THE RIDERS IN THE BREAKAWAY.

THAT IS THE SKYLINE TEAM CAR.

SO WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO IS GET UP THERE TO SUPPORT JULIEN GANIER IN THE BREAKAWAY BUT THEY HAVE TO GET THERE FIRST AND PELOTON NOT LETTING THE THROUGH YET BECAUSE THEY'RE NAVIGATING A VERY NARROW WINDY SECTION.

SO I THINK SKYLINE MAY BE HAS TO WAIT A LITTLE BIT.

>> AS YOU SEE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW COVERED IT IS RIGHT NOW.

WHEN YOU GO INTO THE COVER, AND YOU HA SUNGLASSES ON, IT CHANGES A LOT AND YOU ARE GOING AT HIGH SPEEDS.

YOU ARE GOING SO FAST AND NAVIGATING A NEW ROAD.

MOST OF THESE GUYS ROAD RODE THE ROAD YESTERDAY BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE EVERY CORNER IS AT.

THAT IS WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT BIKE RACING THAT PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND I'M LOOKING TO SEE IF ANYONE IS STARTING TO SKIP POLES HERE.

IF ANYONE LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE INTERESTED IN THESE K.O.M.

POINTS.

THERE IS ONE-- THERE IS 1K TO GO.

>> TRYING TO ANTICIPATE WHO IS GOING TO GO FIRST AND LEAD IT OUT.

OSCAR IS IN T MIDDLE.

WHO IS HE WATCHING?

WHO IS HE KEEPING AN EYE ON?

WHO DO DOES HE THINK-- HE MIGHT NOT KNOW THESE GUYS.

HE HAS RACED MORE IN THE U.S. AND MIGHT UNDERSTAND THEIR TACTICS.

AND NOW HE IS PULLING UP TO THE FRONT.

DOES HE WANT TO KEEP IT TOGETHER?

>> THIS IS WHERE WERE GOING TO GET A VERY CLEAR INDICATION OF WHO IN THIS BREAKAWAY IS INTERESTED IN THE POINTS AND WHO IS JUST TRYING TO RIDE THE GROUP.

SEVIA TRYING TO GET TO THE FRONT RIGHT THERE.

>> HE PULLS OFF SO STILL LOOKING LIKE THESE GUYS ARE TAKING POLES UP THERE.

>> WHAT ARE THE POINTS?

HOW MANY POINTS DO THEY GET?

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO ANTICIPATE WHEN YOU ARE RACING THIS RACE, YOU HAVE TO ALSO START PAYING ATTENTION TO HOW MANY POINTS YOU NEED TO WIN THIS.

YOU MIGHT WIN THIS-- YOU START OFF BY WINNING THE FIRST ONE AND THEN I BET WHAT WILL HAPPEN IS THEY GO BACK TO THE DIRECTOR AND START GETTING INTEL.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO WIN THIS NOW?

I WON THE FIRST ONE.

HOW MANY POINTS DO I GET FOR THE SECOND POINTS?

WE'LL FIGURE IT OUT.

>> FOUR POINTS FOR FIRST ACROSS THE LINE, SECOND GETS TWO POINTS AND THIRD ACROSS THE LINE GETS ONE POINT.

4, 2, 1 FOR ALL THREE OF THE K.O.M.s TODAY.

THAT MEANS YOU COULD DO A MAXIMUM OF 12 K.O.M.

POINTS.

12 WOULD BE THE HIGHEST YOU COULD DO IF YOU WON AWE THREE K.O.M.s.

FOUR POINTS ON THE LINE HERE.

LOZANO GOING TO JUMP FOR IT AGAINST SEVIA.

LOZANO TES MAXIMUM POINTS THERE SO HE WILL ADD FOUR.

SEFIA HAS TO SETTLE FOR TWO.

INTERESTING LOW-- INTERESTING POINT THAT LOZANO TOOK IT.

OSCAR'SMAN TALENT IS CLIMBING NOT SPRINTING.

SO IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN TOO EASY OF A SPRINT FOR HIM.

>> THESE GUYS SHOULD GET BACK INTO THE GROOVE.

THEY WILL WANT TO GET BACK TO WORK WITH THE OTHER THREE.

THEY WERE JUST JUMPING AWAY F THE POINTS.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.

NOW THEY CAN GET BACK TO WORK WITH THEIR GROUP.

NEXT K.O.M.

COMES AT RIGHT 75 MILES PER HOUR-- 75 MILES TO GO: WE WILL HAVE A FEED ZONE IN BETWN HERE AND THERE.

AND THEN HIT THE THIRD AND FINAL K.O.M.

UNTIL ABOUT 45 MILES OF RACING TO GO.

THEY WILL A SPRINT POINT COMPETITION IN THE BAKERY COMPETITION.

45 MILES TO GO AND THEN AGAIN WHEN THEY HIT THE FINISH LINE AT 28 MILES TO GO.

SO TWO INTERMEDIATE SPRINT LINES IN THE HNS BAKERY SPRINT APPOINTS COMPETITI.

PELOTON SPRINTING.

FULL TEAM UP THERE.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT MEANS?

I'M FEELING I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NOTHING GOES CRAZY.

>> I THINK THEY'RE JUST TAKING RESPONSIBILITY UP AT THE FRONT OF THE GROUP.

ALL THOSE PINK JERSEYS, EF EDUCATION-EASYPOST.

>> JAYCO ON THE SIDE, TOO.

>> ANOTHER BIG TEAM LINING UP HERE.

SO I THINK THE RESPONSIBILITY JUST KIND OF FALLS TO THEM AS SOME OF THE BIGGEST TEAMS IN THE RACE.

SOME OF THE BIGGEST RIDERS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT AND IT'S KIND OF LIKE WHEN THE CHECK COMES AT DINNER, YOU LOOK FOR THE RICHEST GUY TO PAY THE CHECK, WAIT FOR THEM TO REACH FOR IT FIRST.

THAT'S WHY I ALWAYS WAIT FOR YOU TO PICK IT UP.

>> AT THIS POINT, YEAH, THE TOP TEAMS ARE PROBABLY, WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS SETTING THAT SPACE BECAUSE THEY'RE HAPPY WITH THE BREAKAWAY, THEY'RE SETTING THE PACE.

IS IT DETERRING YOU FROM WANTING TO ATTACK?

AND ALSO BEING IN A POSITION IF AN ATTACK DOES HAPPEN, THAT THEY CAN HAVE NUMBERS TO SEND ACROSS AND BALANCE.

>> MEMBER EF HAD TWO RIDERS IN THMOVE LAST YEAR.

THIS YEAR THEY BRING THEIR ROSTER WITH PALACE, SKOALY, SO I WOULD SAY P.O.W.

POWLES, THEY MAY BE REEVALUATING THE STRATEGY LOOKING AT SIMON YATES AND THEY HAVE LAWSON CRADDOCK, HE CAN RIDE THE BREAKAWAY ALL DAY.

>> BACK FRONT GROUP AT TWO MINUTES AND 35 SECONDS UP THE ROAD FOR LOZANO, MURPHY, MILES AND GAGNON FROM SKYLINE.

THE GUYS HAVE BEEN WORKING WELL TOGETHER.

WE JUST WATCHED LOZANO PICK UP POINTS AND SEVILLE AND THE GUYS ARE BACK TO WORK WORKING TOGETHER.

>> WE SEE LOZANO LOOKING AT STATS HE IS A CLIMBER A GC RIDER HE IS COMFORTABLE IN THE HILLS.

HE IS A LIGHT RIDER SO HE CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE ON THIS COURSE.

THIS COURSE DEFINITELY SUITS THIS STYLE.

>> KYLE MURPHY LOOKING FIT.

CALM, COOL, COLLECTED, COMFORTABLE.

YEAH, HE'S FIT.

HE'S DEFINITELY WANTS TO HAVE A GOOD RIDE HERE.

HE ALREADY HAS THAT WINNER'S MENTALITY.

HE'S FOCUSED.

HE'S MADE THE MOVE.

HE IS IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

>> AND MEANWHILE, EF KEEPING AN EYE ON THINGS UP ON THE FRONT.

WITH TOMORROW TOM SCULLY LEADING THE WAY.

YOU SEE THINGS CALM IN THE GROUP.

THE BOYS HAVE A LITTLE DISCUSSION.

AND LOOK LIKE EF HAPPY TO SHOULDER THAT RESPONSIBILITY.

>> YEAH, IT'S ALMOST LIKE THE WORLD TOUR TEAMS GOT TOGETHER AND SAID LET'S TRY TO CONTROL THIS RACE, LET'S CREATE A GOOD SYNERGY FOR US TO BE ABLE TO RACE THE RIGHT TIME WHEN WE CAN MANAGE THE RACE BASICALLY.

EVERYBODY'S HAPPY.

I WOULDN'T SAY SOME OF THE YOUNGER TEAMS ARE HAPPY THEY PROBABLY RATHER BE OUT THERE IN THE BREAK AWAY, ATTACKING.

I WOULDN'T PUT IT PAST SOMEBODY TO TRY AND GET AWAY.

>> POWLESS ROLLING UP TO HAVE A CHAT THERE.

POWLESS ONE OF THE FAN FAVORITES HERE AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC THE TEAM PRESENTATIONS LAST NIGHT HE GOT SOME OF THE LOUDEST CHEERS FROM THE GROUP.

AFTER HIS STUNNING PERFORMANCE AT THE TOUR DE FRANCE THIS YEAR.

>> HE HAS BEEN HAVING AN AMAZING SEASON.

HIS RANKING RIGHT NOW IN ONE OF THE TOP RIDERS IN T WORLD.

I THINK HE IS 16TH IN THE WORLD IN POINTS WHICH IS THE HIGHEST WE'VE SEEN FROM AN AMERICAN FOR A LONGTIME.

THAT IS GREAT TO SEE.

THAT GIVES HOPE TO THE YOUNG RIDERS AND A LOT OF SHOWS A LOT OF HOPE FOR HIS CAREER.

I THINK HE IS JUST GETTING STARTED.

LISTENING TO HIM AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE HE IS A SMART RIDER.

HE DEFINITELY IS LEARNING OUT THERE AND I THINK LAST YEAR'S RACE DEFINITELY WAS A GOOD MOMENT FOR HIM.

AND HE WANTS TO MAKE THAT BETTER THIS YEAR.

>> THAT IS ONE THING I LOVE ABOUT THESE RACES THAT BRINGS THE TOP RIDERS FROM EUROPE INTO THE PELOTON AND GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO YOUNG AMERICAN RIDERS THAT WANT TO GET TO THAT LEVEL AND THEY HAVE THE CHANCE TO RACE AGAINST THE BEST RIDERS IN THE WORLD.

AND TEST THEMSELVES AND LEARN FROM THEM.

SO I ALWAYS WANTED THAT FROM MY YOUNG RIDERS THAT I WORKED WITH ALWAYS PAY ATTENTION HOW THE GUYS ARE RIDING THE PELOTON HOW THEY CONDUCT THEMSELVES WITHIN THE PELOTON AND THIS IS A MOMENT FOR THEM FORLL THE GUYS THAT GET A POINT.

WE NEED MORASS.

>> KYLE MURPHY BACK AT THE TEAM CAR.

AND HE IS GOING TO CHASE HIS WAY BACK UP.

SURPRISED THEY DIDN'T TOW HIM UP THERE.

>> IT WAS A BIG GAP >> WONDERED WHAT HAPPENED?

HE IS LIKE I'M OK.

THUMB'S UP FROM KYLE MURPHY WHO HAS A PLASTIC BOTTLE OF WATER.

IN GOOD SPIRITS.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

>> VERY GOOD SPIRITS YOU CAN TELL HE IS CONFIDENT.

HE IS NOT WORRIED.

GOT HIS WATER.

HE'SAVING A GOOD TIME OUT THERE.

NICE TO SEE.

>> YOU CAN LOOK HOW TIGHT THEIR CLOTHING IS.

THAT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU ARE GOING THAT FAST, YOU KNOW, THE CLOTHING HAS TO FIT YOU WELL.

IT'S SO DIFFERENT THAN WHEN I WAS RACING.

BOBBY AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT IT, WHEN HE GOT THIRD IN THE TOUR DE FRANCE HE HAD A COAT AROUND HIS JERSEY FLAPPING AROUND AND NOWADAYS IT'S SKIN TIGHT, AERODYNAMIC AND THE FABRICS WE HAVE NOW ARE APHASING.

AMAZING.

THE GUYS HAVE AN ADVANTAGE THAN WE DID IN RACING.

THE BIKES HOW THEY ARE.

YOU DON'T SEE ONE CABLE.

DINO AND THE THING THE FANS ARE NOT SEEING, THE BIKES ELECTRIC SHIFTING YOU PUSH A BUTTON AND IT SHIFTS A GEAR.

SO REALLY, REALLY ADVANCED STUFF WE GOT WITH THESE BIKES.

THE ENGINEERING IS AMAZING.

LOOK AT THEIR HELMET.

LOOK HOW AERODYNAMIC THE HELMET IS IT LOOKS LIKE A FUNNEL.

>> EVERYTHING EXCEPT THE GLASSES ARE ALL MODERN.

>> YOU HAVE TO GIVE IT UP SOMEWHERE.

>> I LOVE THE WAY THAT MURPHY IS RIDING SO CALM ON HIS WAY BACK.

THIS IS A SIGN OF A TRUE PRO THAT CAN GO BACK TO THE CAR AND NOT PANIC AND GET BACK INTO THE GROUP KNOWING HE WILL HAVE TIME TO GET BACK UP THERE.

THE RIDERS GET A STICKY BOTTLE WHERE YOU HOLD ON TO THE BOTTLE TRANSFERRED FROM THE CAR AND SLINGSHOT YOU BACK TO THE GROUP AND MURPHY SAID NO, GAVE A THUMB'S UP AND BACK INTO THE GROUP.

>> MEANWHILE GAP GROWING 2:55 THE NEW TIME CHECK.

>> EF STILL CONTROLLING THE PACE.

LOOK AT THEY VIEW.

>> THE RESERVOIR THEY WILL DO TWO CIRCUITS AROUND THE RESERVOIR TODAY.

>> YEP.

T SO PRETTY FOR THE BOY.

BUT ONCE THEY GET INTO THE HILLS IT WILL BE A TOUGH RIDE.

SO YOU KNOW, PRETTY FOR US TO WATCH.

>> PRETTY VIEW FROM THE HELICOPTER AT LEAST.

NOW THIS IS A GOOD TIME TO GO TO THE BACK AND GRAB FOOD AND BOTTLES.

YOU SEE WE TALKED ABOUT THE RIDERS IN CHARGE OF BEING THE NAME DOMESTIQUE THEY GRAB BOTTLES AND THEY GRAB AS MANY BOTTLES THEY WILL LOAD UP THEIR JERSEY WITH EIGHT OR NINE BOTTLES IF THEY CAN AND BRING IT UP AND SHARE IT WITH THE TEAMMATES.

SOMETIMES YOU WILL SEND TWO GUYS AND THEY GO TO THE FRONT AND DROP THEM OFF TO YOUR TEAMMATES.

SOME MIGHT HAVE SPECIFIC DRINKS THEY WANT.

MORE CARBOHYDRATES AND THAT IS PART OF THE STRATEGY.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT TEAM.

>> THE RIDERS USE THE RADIO, ON THE MIC.

SAW THE EF RIDERS REACHING TO HIS EAR LISTENING IN.

>> I WONDER IF THEY HAD AN AGREEMENT THERE THAT BASICALLY THE DIRECTOR SAID, HEY WE WANT A COUPLE COFIDIS GUYS TO CONTROL THE RACE IT'S BENEFICIAL TO THEM.

WE WANT THE RACE TO STAY TOGETHER SO WHEN WE WANT TO PLAY THE GAME WE CAN BRING OUR GUNS OUT.

SO COFIS IS HELPING THEM.

>> AND THIS IS THE COFIDIS RIDER CONTRIBUTING.

>> GOING BACK TO THAT WHY WOULD COFIDIS CONTRIBUTE RIGHT NOW?

THIS IS A TACTICAL MOVE HERE.

THEY WANT JUST AS MUCH AS EF THEY WANT TO BE IN THE GAME.

BUT YOU DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE GAME YET.

IF WE KEEP THE GROUP TOGETHER IT MAKES IT FLOW IDEALLY YOU WANT OTHER TEAMS TO GET IN THERE, TOO.

>> ONE THING THAT SOME PEOPLE DON'T UNDERSTAND AND SOMETIMES THE DIRECTORS IN THE BACK OF THE CARS THEY SHARE THEIR PHONE NUMBERS THEY ARE CALLING EACH OTHER WHO IS WILLING TO PUT A COUPLE GUYS UP THERE, I PUT TWO GUYS AND YOU PUT TWO GUYS AND 10 ARE WILLING TO CHASE AND CONTROL THE RACE.

AND SOMETIMES YOU SAY NO I DON'T WANT TO HELP OUT AND START UNDERSTANDING EVERYBODY'S STRATEGIES OF WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO COME UP WITH.

>> I ASSUME THEY HAVE A MAGIC NUMBER IN THE CAR OF HOW FAR THEY ARE WILLING TO LET THIS BRAKE GO BEFORE THEY START CHASING.

>> THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A MAGIC NUMBER IF THEY ARE A SRT RACER THEY ARE PLAYING WITH THE TIME GAP.

YOU ARE TRYING TO GET A GAP.

YOU DON'T WANT TOO BIG OF A GAP BECAUSE THEY WILL START CHASING.

IT IS A A REALLY HARD THING TO UNDERSTAND HOW BIG OF A GAP YOU CAN GET.

IF IT GETS BIG REALLY QUICK THEN YOU TAKE IT.

WHEN IT'S GOING UP SLOWLY YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL HOW FAST YOU GAIN THAT TIME,ECAUSE THE FASTER YOU GO, THE FASTER THE PELOTON GOES.

YOU PLAY WITH THAT AND THEN YOU TRY TO TIME IT AT A CERTAIN POINT IN THE RACE, YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE A GAP AND YOU HAVE TO COMMIT 100% BECAUSE A CHASE FROM THE BACK IS GOING TO START.

>> THESE GUYS STILL HAVING CONVERSATIONS IN THE FRONT GROUP.

SAW A COUPLE OF THEM TALKING AS THEY WORK THROUGH ROTATIONS.

MAYBE NEEDING TO SKIP A POLE OR TWO IF YOU NEED A BREAK AND HANGOUT AND TALK TO THE TEAM CAR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THEY MAY ASK FOR A LITTLE REST.

>> YEAH, I WOULD SAY MISSING A POLE NO ONE IS GOING TO SAY MUCH ABOUT IT.

IT'S EARLY ENOUGH WHERE THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

YOU MIGHT NEED EXPRESS RIGHT NOW THEY ARE TRYING TO GET INTO A GROOVE.

THEY ARE EATING, DRINKING.

KEEPING THE PACE UP CHECKING THE TIME GAP AND GETTING INTO A GROOVE BECAUSE IT'S GOING T BE A LONG DAY FOR THEM AND THEY WANT TO CONSERVE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AS THEY TRY TO GO AS FAST AS POSSIBLE IN A VERY EFFICIENT WAY.

>> HARRISON WOODS IS STILL UP THERE CONTRIBUTING FOR COFIDIS.

>> LOOK HE IS TUCKED IN.

HE IS PUTTING HIS IN HIS POLE.

YO HAVE TO BE CAREFUL SOMETIMES YOU WILL GET A YOUNG RIDER AND WE WANT YOU TO HELP AND THEY GET OVERCOMMITTED -- >> NOT THAT MUCH.

>> YOU SEE HOW HE IS STRINGING OUT A LITTLE BIT MAYBE IT'S TOO MUCH.

THEY WILL GET MAYBE INFO ON THE RADIO, SLOW IT DOWN WE DON'T WANT TO GET IN THE BACK YET.

AND MAYBE OTHER STRATEGY THEY DON'T WANT IT AS THREE OR FOUR MINUTES.

>> KYLE MURPHY STILL HAS HIS BOTTLE.

I THINK HE IS TRYING TO WAIT UNTIL THEY GET TO THE GREEN ZONE HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE IT GETS PICKED UP AND MAKE SURE HE DOESN'T TOSS TRASH.

>> THAT IS GOOD ON HIM.

RESPONSIBLE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT THAT IS NEW FROM THE VERY NOW PART OF OUR CULTURE OF OUR SPORT CONSCIOUS WHERE WE PUT OUR WATER BOTTLES.

THIS IS A GOOD TIME IF YOU ARE GOING TO THROW A WATER BOTTLE GIVE IT TO A FAN RIGHT NOW.

>> HE HAND TO DO BACK TO THE CAR.

NICE.

>> I SEE THEY HAVE JUST STARTED THE PRETTY BOY RESERVOIR CIRCUIT.

THEY WILL GO OVER THE DAM HERE SHORTLY.

ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VIEWS ALONG THISOUTE.

>> LUCKILY THEY ARE NOT RACING TO THE IF IT WAS GAME ON TO THAT RESERVOIR IT IS A TIGHT ROAD GOING UP TO THE RESERVOIR.

YOU HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION.

BE ON GUARD.

EF IS DEFINITELY COMMITTED TO KEEPING THIS RACE TOGETHER.

THAT COULD BE GOOD OR BAD.

YOU ARE SENDING A MESSAGE TO THE TOP TEAMS YOU ARE DOING THE MAJORITY OF THE WORK.

KEEP AN EYE HOW MANY OF THE RIDERS ARE USING TO PULL HOW MANY GUYS ARE THEY SAVING.

YOU WANT TO SAVE A MAJORITY FOR A ONE-DAY RACE YOU WANT NUMBERS.

YOU WANT TO GET TO THE FINISH OF THE RACE WITH ONE OR TWO RIDERS LIKE THEY DID LAST YEAR.

MAYBE THEY GOT THE STRATEGY WRONG AT THE END.

BUT YOU WANT TWO OR THREE GUYS U HAVE AN ADVANTAGE.

>> GROUP COMING UP ON 90 MILES OF RACING REMAINING.

AND GET NO KOM'S UNTIL 75 MILES TO GO GOT A WAYS BEFORE MORE KOM POINTS ON THE LINE RIGHT NOW.

THE GUYS KNOCKING OUT THE MILES.

GAP HOLDING AT 3:45.

THAT MAKES ME THINK THE GROUP ARE HAPPY WITH THE TIME GAP AND THE MAIN GROUP FEATHERING THIS GAP LETTING THE GUYS HANGOUT TRYING TO ROAST THEM AND WEAR BE ABLE TO MAKE THE CATCH AT THE END OF THE DAY TODAY WITHIN THE LAST I DON'T KNOW, 10, 15 MILES IS WHERE YOU WANT TO MAKE THAT CATCH.

>> YES.

LOOK AT HOW FAST THIS DOWNHILL IS RIGHT NOW.

THE CORNERS ARE A LOT FASTER THAN THEY LOOK ON TV.

COMING AUDIOTAPE TO THE RESERVOIR HERE IS A TIGHT CORNER AND THE GUYS HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS ROAD.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS GOING TO BE AT THIS POINT.

THAT'S WHERE YOU ARE GETTING INTEL FROM YOUR DIRECTOR THAT'S WHERE YOU WANT INFORMATION.

HOPEFULLY THE RACE IS GIVING THE FEEDBACK TO THE DIRECTOR LISTEN WE HAVE TIGHT ROAD AND TIGHT TURNS.

>> LOOK AT THIS... ALL THESE KIDS WAITING FOR SOME FREE SWAG.

REACHI IN THE POCKETS TO SEE IF THEY HAD ANYTHING FOR THEM.

>> YOU KNOW WHERE THE BOYS NEED TO BE.

THE GUYS HAVE TO GET RID OF THEIR BOTTLES TO GET THEIR NEW BOTTLES.

>> YES, STAY ON THE FRONT HERE.

>> YEP.

>> AND FOR THOSE WATCHING BIKE RACING FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS IS TYPICAL BIKE RAWING.

RACING.

THIS IS A TYPICAL STRATEGY ONCE A BREAK AWAY SETTLES IN THE TOP TEAMS TAKE CONTROL THE RACE AND CONTROL IT TO WHEN THEY WANT TO START THEIR MOVES.

WE'LL SEE A LOT OF THIS HAPPEN WHERE EF WILL BE AT THE FRONT CONTROLLING THE RACE AND MAKE JAYCO WILL JUMP NON-HELP OUT AT TIMES.

AND AT CERTAIN POINTS THEY WILL ASK FOR HELP WITH OTHER TEAMS.

COFIDIS IS THE ONLY TEAM WILLING TO HELP OUT BUT JUST WITH ONE RIDER.

AND AT THE SAME TIME THEY ARE PROBABLY SAYING THAT A STRATEGY I USE IN RACING I READ WHO IS RACING THE RACE WHAT TEAMS ARE INVOLVED, WHO IS LOCAL?

WHO REALLY WANTS TO WIN AND I USE THAT TO MY ADVANTAGE AS AN EMOTIONAL TACTICAL THING TO USE THIS RIDER REALLY WANTS IT.

THIS IS AMERICAN TEAM THEY HAVE TO WIN HERE.

SO I WILL LET THEM DO MORE OF THE WORK.

>> SUSPECT>> ISN'T IT A THING WE HAVING WATER BOTTLES AT SPEED.

I'VE HAD MY FAIR SHARE OF CRASHES IN SPEED ZONES AND IT DOES HAPPEN.

YOU DEFINITELY OVER YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND THE STAFF THE STAFF NEEDS TO KNOW HOW WHEN TO LET GO IF THEY HOLD ON TO IT YOU ARE PULLING THE RIDER OFF THE BIKE.

>> THERE ARE CONCERN THINGS IN THE FEED ZONE YOU CAN SEE THE SMOOTH HAND OFF SOMETIMES YOU WILL GET SITUATIONS WHERE THE EUROPEAN TEAMS HAVE TO COME OVER AND THEY DON'T ALWAYS HAVE THE BUDGET SOMETIMES YOU ARE RECRUITING FRIENDS AND FAMILIES AND SPONSOR TO HAND BOTTLES OFF.

SEE PARTNERS IN THE FEED ZONE.

>> THAT IS WHEN YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHO YOU GRAB A BOTTLE FROM IS DEFINITELY KEY.

FOR THE BREAK AWAY IT'S EASIER BECAUSE THEY ARE SMALL AND THEY CAN SLOW DOWN IN THE FIELD WITH MORE RIDERS, THE FRONT GROUP MIGHT NOT DECIDE TO SLOW DOWN AS MUCH AS YOU ARE TRYING TO GET A BOTTLE IN THE BACK IN TRAFFIC THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS WHEN THE MISTAKES HAPPEN AND CRASHES HAPPEN.

AND ANOTHER THING TO UNDERSTAND IT IS A COURTESY THAT WE NORMALLY DO NOT ATTACK THROUGH THE ZONES.

I'VE BEEN IN TOUR DE FRANCES WHERE I'VE BEEN CHASING WHERE SOMEBODY ATTACKED IN A FEED ZONE.

YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO ATTACK THROUGH A FEED ZONE.

IT MEANS ARE YOU ALLOWED TO DO IT.

>> NOT A GREAT WAY TO MAKE FRIENDS.

NOW THE PELOTON, ACROSS THE BRIDGE WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SHOT FROM THE HELICOPTER.

GAP AT 3:35 FOR THESE GUYS THIS SHOWS THE SPEED AROUND THE CORNER.

>> LOOK AT THE SPEED.

IF YOU ARE STANDING IN THAT CORNER YOU WOULD FEEL THE WIND OF THIS PELOTON COMING THROUGH.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I ALWAYS WANT FANS TO COME OUT AND WATCH RACES IF THEY CAN FEEL THAT, FEEL THAT PELOTON COMING THROUGH.

THE SPEED, AND THE SOUNDS.

THE BIKES MAKE A CERTAIN SOUND, THE WHEELS ARE HUMMING ALONG LIKE HEAVY CARBON WHEELS THAT MAKE A LITTLE HUM.

WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A HILL.

YOU CAN SEE THE GUYS IN THE BACK STRUGGLING.

I MEAN IT'S ADDING UP.

WE'RE NOT NOTICING IT BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE WE ARE GOING UP A MOUNTAIN UP AND DOWN UP AND DOWN.

EVERY TIME THEY HIT THE HILLS THEY ARE SLOWLY BURNING DOWN SLOWLY GETTING MORE TIRED, SLOWLY SEEING WHO IS ACTUALLY FIT AND A BETTER CLIMBER AND YOU CAN SEE IT IN THEIR BODY STYLES TOO.

SOMETIMES.

>> THEY ARE ON TO THE CIRCUITS WE TALKED ABOUT EARLIER ABOUT SOME OF THE BEAUTIFUL SCENERY FROM THE HELICOPTER UP ABOVE INCLUDING SOME EQUESTRIAN FARMS ALONG THE COURSE WHICH IS A MAJOR PART OF THE COUNTRYSIDE JUST OUTSIDE OF BALTIMORE INCLUDING MAJOR PLAYERS.

>> WELL COULD TO THE TO DO RACETRACK IN THE UNITED STATES THE SECOND JEWEL OF THE TRIPLE CROWN OF THOROUGHBRED RACING.

THIS IS MID-CENTURY MODERN.

IT WAS BUILT IN 1960 AND AS YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE A MAGNIFICENT THAT DEPICTS THE 1877 GREAT RACE BETWEEN 10 BROOKE, AND PAROLE.

CONGRESS ADJOURNED FOR THE DAY TO COME TO BALTIMORE TO WATCH THIS MAGNIFICENT RACE.

HERE WE ARE IN THE HALL OF FAME MUSEUM NEXT TO THE DINING ROOM AT PEP CO.

THIS IS OUR WEATHER VAIN.

AT ONE POINT THE MARYLAND JOCKEY CLUB HAD TO MOVE THE PREAKNESS TO NEW YORK AND THEY NEEDED A NEW.

THEY HAD REBECCA DINE THIS AND IT WAS THE FIRST YEAR THAT THEY PAINTED THE COLORS OF THE WINNER ON THE JOCKEY.

IT STILL HAS THE COLORS OF THE 1966 WINNER WHO WAS A MARYLAND BRED.

LATER ON THE CLUBHOUSE BURNED DOWN AND THIS IS ALL THAT WE HAVE LEFT.

BUT, STILL, IT'S QUITE, QUITE STUNNING.

WELCOME TO THE STANDARD FLOOR OF THE GRANDSTAND.

BEHIND ME ARE MAGNIFICENT MURALS BY A BALTIMORE ARTIST COMMISSIONED TO DO THESE HERE IN THE 1970s.

THEY DEPICT SEVEN PANELS OF TRACK LIGHTS FROM THE AUCTION TO THE BACK STRETCH TO THE RACE.

HE HAS A SELF PORTRAIT.

YOU CAN SEE HIM THERE.

AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL COME TO PEPLY CO-AND SEE THEM UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.

AND WELCOME TO THE 1870 RACING OVAL INSTALLED WHEN PEP CO-OPENED.

AND SOME DID NOT WIN IN THE TRIPLE CROWN LIKE KEY BISCUIT AND MAN O' WAR.

YOU CAN SEE THIS TRACK WHEN WE OPEN IN SEPTEMBER EVERY WEEKEND, FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY.

YOU CAN COME TO OUR FIRST RACE TO THE 9TH RACE.

AND ENJOY THE ATMOSPHERE OF THE SECOND OLDEST RACETRACK IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> A LOT OF RACING IN THE HISTORY OF THIS AREA.

SURROUNDING BALTIMORE.

THE DIFFERENT TYPE OF RACE HORSE RIGHT NOW WITH OUR FIVE RIDERS HOLDING ON TO A 3:35 GAP LESS THAN A MILE BETWEEN THE GROUPS AND YOU START SO SEE THE PELOTON STARTING TO STRING OUT HERE A TTLE BIT.

>> THE GAP IS 3:35.

THEY ARE TRYING TO KEEP IT IN CHECK WHERE THEY CAN GET SPEED USE SPEED.

YOU ARE SEEING IS THE GOING DOWNHILL AND YOU TAKE SPEED WHEN YOU CAN HAVE IT.

AGAIN, SAME WE GOT THE SAME SCENARIO THAT EF CONTROLLING COFIDIS.

AND I DID SEE SIMON YATES SNEAKING TOWARDS THE FRONT HE IS COMING OFF A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK.

HE IS A TOP LEVEL RIDER HE IS PROBABLY ENJOYING THE FACT THAT HE CAN RIDE INTO THE RACE.

EVERY KILOMETRE THAT WE DO, EVERY KILOMETRE THAT HE STARTS FEELING BETTER.

IF THIS RACE STAYS TOGETHER LIKE THIS IT'S GOING TO PLAY MORE INTO HIS FORM THAT HE IS COMING INTO.

IT'S DEFINITELY YOU LOOK AT THE CHARACTERS OF THE RACE AS THE RACE GETS LONGER IT WILL FAVOR THE STRONGER RIDERS.

SO NOT BECAUSE OF THE COURSE.

IT IS A HARDCORES.

EVERY CLIMB, EVERY TEAR DOWNS PEOPLE A LITTLE BIT MORE AND YOU START SEEING WHO IS STRONG BY THE END.

THE FACT IT'S STILL TOGETHER IN A SMALL BREAK AWAY STAYING AWAY WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A RE OF CONTENDERS MORE TOWARDS THE END OF THE RACE.

IN THE SPLIT.

ONE COFIDIS RIDER THE HONORARY MEMBER OF THE EF EDUCATION-EASYPOST TEAM.

>> MAYBE HE IS LOOKING FOR A CONTRACT FOR NEXT YEAR.

>> HARRISON WOOD THE ONLY BRITISH RIDER ON THE ALL FRENCH COFIDIS SQUAD.

>> THERE YOU GO.

MAYBE WANTS A LANGUAGE CHANGE.

>> MORE COMFORTABLE WITH THE EF BOYS.

>> AND THAT DOES HAPPEN SOMETIMES.

THINGS HAPPEN WHERE THEY ARE TRYING TO GET AN ADVANTAGE.

AND YOU GET HELP FROM ANOTHER TEAM LIKE THAT.

>> I KNOW SOMETIMES YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD MAKE COALITIONS WITH A TEAM THAT SAYS HEY I WANT TO WIN THE KOM AND YOU ARE GOOD AT WINNING RACES SO LET'S BOURQUE TOGETHER THERE IS A -- WORK TOGETHER THERE IS LITTLE BIT OF THAT.

TODAY IT'S MORE ABOUT THE WIN.

I REMEMBER COMING AROUND THIS CORNER LAST YEAR AND THE BREAK AWAY WAS SUBTLE THEN AND THIS IS THE POINT WHERE YOU HAD THAT BIG GROUP THAT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS SETTLING THROUGH FOR A LONG DAY.

TODAY IT'S DIFFERENT YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT RACE.

THAT IS THE BEAUTY ABOUT BIKE RACING YOU CAN HAVE A PLAN AND SET A PLAN AND AT THEnd OF THE DAY THE RACE TELLS YOU WHAT THE PLAN IS GOING TO BE.

>> YOU CAN RACE THIS COURSE 100 TIMES YOU WILL HAVE 100 DIFFERENT OUTCOMES.

>> YOU DO HAVE A PATTERN DOES SET IN PCE BECAUSE THE COURSE AND THE RIDERS.

THAT IS SOMETHING I LOVED ABOUT RACING THE TRADITION OF RACING AFTER A WHILE YOU STARTED SEEING THAT TRADITION.

AND IT WASN'T THAT YOU WANTED TO FOLLOW THAT BUT USE IT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE AND MAYBE D THE OPPOSITE AT TIMES.

>> SEEMS THEY ARE STARTING TO MOVE UP OUTSIDE OF THE GROUP HERE.

NOT QUITE TAKEN OVER FOR EF ON THE FRONT.

JAYCO IS STARTING TO PUT GUYS TOWARDS THE FRONT.

NOT MUCH COMING UP ON THE PARK.

HAVE THE NEXT KOM AT 75 MILES TO GO.

ABOUT 10 MILES FROM NOW, NOT SURE WHY JAYCO WANTS TO GET THERE NOW BUT WE ARE STARTING TO SEE A CHANGE-UP IN THE FRONT OF THE MAIN GROUP HERE.

THE JAYCO AND EF DIRECTOR HAVE STRUCK A DEAL.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT?

WHAT I'M SEEING IT'S TYPICAL PROFESSIONAL RACING WE'RE TAUGHT TO STAY TOGETHER IF YOU ARE A STRONG TEAM YOU ARE STRONGER TOGETHER.

AND STRONGER TOGETHER AT THE FRONT.

SO YOU HAVE YOU'RE PROTECTING YOUR LEADER.

YOU'RE KEEPING HIM CLOSE TO THE FRONT.

YOU DON'T WANT TO WASTE TOO MUCH ENERGY BUT YOU WANT TO BE AT THE FRONT IN A PLACE THAT SETS THE TONE FOR THE RACE.

>> JAYCO'S SQUAD.

>> LOOK AT THEIR BIKES.

LOOK HOW AERODYNAMIC.

LOOK AT THE BIKE.

BASICALLY BOBBY AND I WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS HOW THE BIKES THEMSELVES THE AMOUNT OF FREE SPEED THEY GET BECAUSE WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT SPEED.

NOW THAT THEY HAVE THEY'RE TRAVELING ALONG THE ROAD A COUPLE MILES AN HOUR FASTER.

YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THIS IS A FLOCK OF BIRDS COMING THROUGH.

THEY ARE COMING THROUGH AT A HIGHER SPEED.

I REMEMBER USING A STRATEGY IN RACING I REMEMBER ONE OF MY NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS WHICH IS [INAUDIBLE] AND YOU HAD A LOT OF TOP LEVEL TEAMS COME OVER AND I GOT IN A SITUATION WHERE A BREAK AWAY WENT UP THE ROAD AND IT HAD ALL THE TEAMS EVERY TEAM WAS IN THAT GROUP EXCEPT FOR MY TEAM.

BUT I WAS THE ONLY LEADER ON MY TEAM.

AND THE COUPLE OTHER TEAMS CAME UP TO ME AND SAID, HEY ARE YOU GOING TO CHASE?

I SAID NOPE.

AND WHY?

ARE YOU HAPPY WITH THAT WINNING THE RACE TODAY?

>> WITH FROM WHAT I KNOW HE IS NOT ONE OF YOUR CONTENDERS AND YOUR CONTENDERS ARE HERE SO I'M GOOD.

AND WE BOUGHT TIME AND IT TOOK AN HOUR AND AN HOUR LATER THE TWO TEAMS STARTED CHASING.

BECAUSE THEY WERE OUT OF THE RACE.

THAT'S TACTICS THAT IS THE BEAUTY ABOUT RACING.

CAN YOU FIND THOSE PLAY WITH IT.

I WAS TAKING A RISK BUT I FELT I HAD A STRONG FEELING THAT THAT RISK WOULD PAY OFF BECAUSE I KNEW THE TEAMS WANTED TO BE IN THE RACE.

>> WE TALKEDDED ABOUT THE MICRO DECISIONS WHEN THE BREAKAWAYS ARE STARTING AND LARGER PICTURE MACRO DECISIONS HOW DO WE WIN THIS BIKE RACE?

HOW DO WE GO FOR KOMS THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE DEALING WITH.

THE SMALL DECISIONS HAVE ALL BEEN MADE AND NOW IT'S A CHESS GAME ON THE ROAD.

AND A CHESS GAME WHERE THERE'S PERSONAL EMOTION, SPONSORSHIP EMOTION, TEAM RANKING EMOTION AND WHAT TEAMS YOU START UP.

ALL THE TOP TEAMS HAVE THREE YEARS TO ACCUMULATE POINTS.

THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR SO WE WANT TO SEE WHERE WE END UP AND HAVE A GOOD START.

>> AS THE RIDERS ALL PASSED 83 MILES TO GO LET'S GO OUT TO THE COURSE.

WE WILL HAVE MORE INSIGHT ON BALTIMORE.

RA SAN?

>> WE'RE HERE IN THE INNER HARBOR OF BALTIMORE MARYLAND AT A POP-UP CALLED PEDAL TO RESILIENCE.

WE HAVE A PORTRAIT OF THE GREAT MAJOR TAYLOR WITH RELATIVE VELOCITY.

TO MY LEFT WE ARE ACCOLADES THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS HAVE BEEN PIONEERS IN THE SNOTTER OF CYCLING HERBIE FRANCIS, THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN TO GET AN OLYMPIC MEDAL IN TRACK CYCLING AND THE NEWCOMERS OUT OF LOS ANGELES.

I CAN'T TELL YOU I'M HUMBLED TO HAVE MYSELF ON THIS WALL AMONGST GREAT LEGEND TSZ.

NOT ONLY AT THIS POP-UP CAN YOU SEE THE GREAT PHOTOS AND LEARN ABOUT THE ATHLETES YOU CAN GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN WITH THE BALTIMORE TIMES ON A GREEN SCREEN AND GET YOURSELF ON A NEWSPAPER LIKE THIS.

NOT ONLY THAT, WE HAVE AN IMMERSIVE VR THAT YOU CAN PUT ON VIRTUAL REALITY AND PUT YOURSELF INTO THE HISTORY OF CYCLING OF AFRICAN-AMERICANS FROM THE GREAT MAJOR TAYLOR DOWN TO MYSELF.

I TRY TO DO MYSELF AND IT'S ABSOLUTELY AMAZING AND THAT WAS WAS DONE BY DOPE NERD.

COME OUT TO THE INNER HARBOR AND PEDAL TO RESILIENCE AND CHECK IT OUT.

>> VERY COOL WAYS THAT BALTIMORE HAS BEEN EMBRACING MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

NICE TO HAVE RASAN WITH US ALL WEEK.

CHECKING IN WITH US WITH COOL FEATURES THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

AND NELSON JOINING US LAST NIGHT FOR THE TEAM PRESENTATION.

DID THE BRIDGES OF HOPE CHARITY RIDE WITH YOU AS WELL.

>> WE GOT TO SPEND A GREAT WEEK WITH THOSE GUYS.

A LOT OF SPEED IN THOSE LEGS.

SOME OF THE FASTEST AMERICAN RACERS I'VE EVER MET.

>> THE CHEETAH STILL GOT IT.

>> HE DOES.

>> STILL GOT SOME SPEED TO HIM.

>> YES.

AND HE LOVES IT.

>> THESE GUYS STILL FINDING AT THE BACK AGAIN HOLDING ON TO A NOW THREE MINUTE LEAD.

SOME OF THAT IS GOING TO BE BECAUSE OF THE COURSE IT'S TOUGH TO GET AN ACCURATE READ ON THE GAP ON THE COURSE IS CONSTANTLY GOING UP AND DOWN ON THE STRAIGHTER, FLATTER ROADS IT'S A LITTLE MORE ACCURATE ON THE TIME GAPS SOMETIMES WE SEE AN ARTIFICIALLY INFLATED OR DEFLATED TIME GAP FOR A WHILE BECAUSE THE BREAK AWAY WILL BE ON A CLIMB.

THE PELOTON WILL BE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE CLIMB.

THREE MINUTES RIGHT NOW BUT THAT COULD CHANGE IT'S BEEN WAVERING BETWEEN 2 AND 4 MINUTES TODAY.

AS THESE GUYS WORK THEIR WAY DOWN ON THE FIRST OF TWO LOOPS AROUND THE RESERVOIR I WANT TO BRING IN A SPECIAL GUEST SOMEONE WHO KNOWS A LOST ABOUT THIS COURSE WHO HAS HAD A CHANCE TO DESIGN THE COURSE AND RIDE THE ROADS A LOT.

MIKE, TALK ME ABOUT THE RESERVOIR LOOP THEY ARE ON.

BEAUTIFUL ROADS AND ALL FREDDIE AND I CAN TALK ABOUT IS HOW YOU MANAGED TO DESIGN 100 MILES WITHOUT A FLAT FOOT.

>> IT'S EXCITING.

TO SEE THIS ON THE ROADS THAT WE RIDE ALL THE TIME.

I LOVE THE FACT THAT HERE'S THE THING IN THE SPRING WHEN YOU WANT TO BUILD THAT BASE THERE IS NO ZONE 2.

YOU KNOW.

IT'S PRETTY HARD.

BUT THE GREAT THING ABOUT THIS RESERVOIR AND THIS IS AN ODDITY SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTY, OWNED AND MANAGED BY THE CITY SO IT IS A PARTNERSHIP THE ROADS ARE BUTTER.

AND YOU KNOW BUT AT THIS POINT, THESE GUYS SOON THESE WILL BE DOUBLE GRAVITY CLIMBS.

AND THAT'S ALWAYS FUN.

>> A LOT OF RIDERS ARE SURPRISED TO SEE HOW MUCH ELEVATION YOU HAVE MANAGED TO PACK INTO THIS COURSE.

8500 FEET OF ELEVATION GAIN ALL THE CLIMBING IS NOT JUST OUT WEST IN THE UNITED STATES THERE'S PLENTY HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY AND IT IS A COURSE WITH TWO STORIES.

THE FIRST PART IN THE COUNTY A LOT OF ATROPHY AND STRIPPING AND IN THE CITY BECOMES TACTICAL BUT EVEN THERE THE CLIMB UP CALVERT STREET IS GOING TO HURT AT THAT POINT IN THE RACE.

>> AND THEN THE TIGHT CIRCUITS ONCE YOU GET BACK INTO BALTIMORE.

GIVES US TO SEE THIS BREAK AWAY.

THE ENDING WAS EXCEPTIONAL WATCHING THE GUYS RACE THROUGH THE STREETS IN BALTIMO.

>> ESPECIALLY IF THERE'S AMERICAN TEAMS IN THE MIX.

THEY ARE SPECIALISTS IT IS A FAMILIAR COUNTRY FOR THEM.

AND WE'LL SEE IF THOSE LEAD OUT TEAMS COME TO MIND.

I NOTICE THE RACE IS COMING UP TOWARDS THE NEXT KIND OF BIG CLIMB IT WILL BE A DOWNHILL, A BEAUTIFUL BRIDGE THEY WILL GO ACROSS AND THEN THE NEXT CLIMB ON THE MENU HERE AND IT'S JUST UNRELENTING AFTER THAT.

>> WHEN YOU DESIGN THE COURSE, DID YOU TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE STYLE OF THE RIDER THAT YOU WERE LOOKING TO ATTRACT?

>> WE WANTED ABSOLUTELY KNEW EVERYTHING THIS AREA HAD TO OFFER SO WE KNEW THAT THE CE WAS GOING TO KIND OF GIVE US THIS MIX-UP BETWEEN A LITTLE BIT OF A SHORT AND GOLD AND A FLANDERING OR FLANDERS TYPE RACE WITHOUT THE COBBLESTONES.

IT WAS GOING TO HAVE A REALLY UNIQUE AND PERSONALITY FOR AN AMERICAN RACE.

WE WERE EXCITED AND OF COURSE, WE WANTED THE CITY TO BE FEATURED AS WELL.

BRING TO GO DOWN AND HAVING THE FINISH IN BALTIMORE, YOU GET THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS.

>> BALANCE BETWEEN DESIGNING A GREAT COURSE FOR RIDING BUT A BEAUTIFUL COURSE AS WELL BECAUSE THERE HAS TO BE THOUGHT INTO PICKING THE MOST GORGEOUS ROADS IN MARYLAND BECAUSE YOU FOUND THEM.

>> WE HAD A GREAT PARTNER WITH METALIST SPORTS AND WHEN WE ORIGINALLY WERE THROWING IDEAS THE HIM, THEY SAID IT'S TOO MUCH YOU CAN MAKE THIS TOO HARD.

THERE WERE KEY CLIMBS AS THEY WERE COMING BACK TOWARDS THE CITY THAT WE SADLY HAD TO PUT TO THE SIDE.

ONE OF THEM, A LOCAL FAVORITE BALTIMORIAN BASEBALL PLAYER, YOU KNOW LIVED AT THE BOTTOM OF IT AND WE CALL IT CAL RIPKEN'S DOVER CLIMB BUT WE COULDN'T INCLUDE THAT.

>> RIDERS ARE PROBABLY HAPPY FOR THAT.

>> I KNOW.

>> STILL PLENTY OF TIME TO GET THAT ADJUSTED.

HOW YOU CAN GET THAT IN IN THE FUTURE YEARS.

25 MILES AROUND THE CIRCUIT AND TWO RUNS AROUND THE CIRCUIT AND THE FINAL RUN INTO DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE.

>> THAT IS UNRELENTING.

THERE IS A CLIMB WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT CALLED MOUNT ZION AND THERE IS A KOM ON FALLS ROAD AND TWO MORE PUNCHY CLIMBS COMING INTO TOWN ON FALLS ROAD THAT DON'T SHOW UP ON THE PROFILE.

BUT AGAIN AT THAT POINT IN THE RACE IT'S THEY HURT.

AND YEAH.

SO AND WITH THE WEATHER TODAY, YOU KNOW, 95°, PROBABLY 100 WITH THE REAL FEEL.

IT'S MAKING FOR INTERESTING RIDING.

>> MIKE, AS A COURSE DESIGNER THINGS GOING THIS YEAR THE WAY YOU THOUGHT IN TERMS HOW THE RACE PLAYED OUT?

IT WAS A BIG QUESTION MARK LAST YEAR WE GOT OUR FIRST RUN AT IT THE TEAMS LOOKED HOW THE RACE PLAYED OUT.

ARE THINGS GOING THE WAY YOU THOUGHT?

>> TO BE HONEST THIS IS A FAMILIAR SCRIPT ONE WE'RE USED TO AND THIS BREAK GOES UP THE ROAD AND IT'S MOSTLY YOU KNOW PRO OR CONTINENTAL TEAMS.

I THINK THE WORLD TOUR TEAMS ARE FAMILIAR NOW WITH THE SCRIPT THAT THEY WANT TO FOLLOW.

AND THE CHASE AND THE PULLBACK IS GOI TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHEN THEY DO THAT.

AND YOU KNOW, EVEN THE COOL THING ABOUT THIS RESERVOIR PRETTY BOY WHERE DOES THE NAME COME FROM?

IT'S NAMED AFTER A FARMER'S HORSE WHO SADLY DIED AND THE FARMER WAS REMARKED AT THE TIME HE WAS SUCH A PRETTY BOY AND IT STUCK.

THAT IS HOW THE RESERVOIR GETS ITS NAME UP HERE IN HORSE COUNTRY IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.

>> NICE LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY TO THE RESERVOIR.

THESE GUYS WILL BID IT FAREWELL HERE IN ABOUT 20 MILES BEFORE THEY MAKE THEIR WAY BACK DOWN.

AND WE START THAT RUN IN DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE FOR THE FINISH.

MIKE, I WILL LET YOU GET BACK OUT THERE AND ENJOY THE DAY.

YOU PROBABLY HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOKING FOR YOUR TIME.

YOU HAVE TEAM DIRECTORS THAT WANT TO TALK TO YOU.

THERE WERE A COUPLE GUYS ASKING ABOUT THE COURSE DESIGNER I WILL SEND YOU THEIR WAY.

>> THEY CAN LOOK BUT HOPEFULLY THEY DON'T FIND.

THANKS FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING WE LOVE IT.

AND LOOKING FORWARD TO THE REST OF THE RACE.

>> MIKE WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK LATER.

MIKE BATLY OUR COURSE DESIGN OR PART OF THE COURSE DESIGN TEAM HERE AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

THANK YOU, MIKE.

AND THERE IS A LOOK AT THE NAMESAKE PRETTY BOY RESERVOIR THAT THE RIDERS ARE WORKING AROUND.

HARD TO BELIEVE THIS IS A BIKE RIDE AWAY FROM DOWNTOWN BALTIMORE.

JUST REALLY 15 MAYBE 20 MILES OUTSIDE OF TOWN AND YOU ARE LOOKING AT THIS.

>> YEAH, IF YOU ARE A BIKE RIDER AND LOVE RIDING AND WANT TO LIVE IN THE CITY THIS IS IT.

CLOSE TO NATURE AND CLOSE TO BEING ABLE TO GET ON THE ROAD.

>> HE WAS LOOKING FOR A LITTLE BIT OF REAL ESTATE WHILE RIDING.

CHECKING OUT HOMES.

>> AND HE IS NOT A CLIMBER.

HE MUST LIKE IT.

>> ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL VIEW ACROSS THE SECOND BRIDGE THAT THESE GUYS GO ACROSS.

THEY WENT ACROSS THE DAM EARLIER.

AND THIS GAP IS 3 MINUTES.

FOR THAT FRONT GROUP OF WHAT IS STILL FIVE, GAGNE, MILES, MURPHY, SEVILLE LA AND LOZANO.

YOU SEE SOME OF THE VERY SHARP I DON'T WANT TO CALL IT A SWITCHBACK JUST A TURN BUT THERE'S SERIOUS SHORT ELEVATION GAME.

>> TALKING ABOUT ARE ALL THE LITTLE HILLS THEY ARE NOT MUCH BUT YOU PUT THEM TOGETHER TONIGHT ADDS UP TO A LOT.

AND YOU END UP SPENDING MORE ENERGY ON A LONG CLIMB BECAUSE YOU THINK YOU GET OVER IT.

LET ME PUT MORE ENERGY AND GET IT OVER QUICKLY AND IT ADDS UP.

>> THESE GUYS NEED TO BE VERY SMART HOW HARD YOU GO THROUGH THOSE THINGS.

WHERE YOU WANT TO CARRY SPEED IS THROUGH HERE.

ONCE YOU GET OVER THE TOP NOW LET'S PICK IT UP AND MAKE SURE WE MAXIMIZE OUR EFFORT DOWN THE HILLS.

AND AT THE SAME TIME PAYING ATTENTION TO THE GAP.

THEY ARE GIVING YOU THREE MINUTES.

KEEP IT AT THREE MINUTES.

DON'T GET GREEDY DON'T GO TO FOUR OR FIVE BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT GOING TO LET YOU.

THEY WILL TRY TO KEEP YOU AT THAT POINT.

THE RACE SET A RHYTHM.

EF SET THE TONE AND SAID WE'LL GIVE YOU THREE MINUTES.

AND GET COMFORTABLE OUT THERE NOW THE STRATEGY FOR THE BREAK AWAY IS AT WHAT POINT DO I START PUSHING ON THE PEDALS HARDER AS A GROUP TO TRY TO KEEP THIS GAP?

YOU CAN SEE A RIDER COMING BACK WITH BOTTLES.

TEAMWORK.

>> COME UP ON THE SECOND KOM OF THE DAY STARTING TO SEE FANS MAKE THEIR WAY UP THERE.

WE SAW KIDS WAITING FOR BOTTLES BEFORE THAT FIRST FEED ZONE THEY HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB OF ENGAGING THE LOCAL COMMUNITY HERE IN BALTIMORE AND AROUND MARYLAND INCLUDING GETTING RIDERS AN EDUCATION INTO THE LOCAL SCHOOLS.

>> THAT WAS -- [♪♪] [INAUDIBLE] [♪♪] BACKED IN BACK OF THE PELOTON YOU CAN SEE THE GUYS THAT ARE COMING UP TO THE CORNERS JUST THIS IS THE TIME A LOT OF RIDERS GET TO LOOK AT THAT.

YOU CAN TELL HOW STEEP THE CLIMBS ARE HERE.

>> JUST A LITTLE EARLIER WHILE SHOWING THE VIDEOS OF THE SCHOOL VISITS YOU SEE COMING OFF OF THAT RIGHT HAND TURN HOW QUICKLY IT KICKS UP AND PUT RIDENERS TROUBLE AT THE BACK.

WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN AND NOW WORKING BACK DOWN BEFORE IT KICK UP FOR THE SECOND KOM CLIMB, THE FINAL KICK UP TO THE TOP OF THE KOM HERE.

CALLED THE SPOOK'S HILL CLIMB OVER A KILOMETRE LONG .65 MILES, AFTER GRADIENT OF 7%.

BUT IT DOES MAX OUT AT UNDER 17% THIRD OF THE WAY UP.

SO THEY WILL BE HEADED TO THAT ON SPOOK'S HILL ROAD HERE.

VERY SHORTLY.

OUR FIRST KING OF THE MOUNTAIN OF THE DAY PRESENTED BY THE STATE OF MARYLAND.

WE SAW DAVID LOZANO PICK UP MAZ MUM POINTS WITH OSCAR HE IS VEF YEAH.

AND TWO UP SPRINT TWO GUYS THAT WENT FOR IT.

SO BE LOOKING AT LOZANO NUMBER 83 AND SELF YEAH HE IS INTERESTING TO SEE IF OSCAR WITH BE A LITTLE MORE AWARE OF THAT AND DOES HE GO FOR KEEPING THE POINTS MOWING THAT HE IS SLOWLY GOING TO ADD UP THE POINTS OVER THREE KOMS?

OR ELSE IS HE GOING TO TRY TO WIN THE NEXT ONE?

IT'S ALWAYS HARD TO KNOW WHEN YOU WANT TO TAKE THE LEAP THERE.

IDEALLY WHEN YOU ARE RYING TO FIGHT FOR THE POINTS YOU ARE TRYING TO WIN EACH KOM HE LOST ONE AND GOT SECOND HE MIGHT WANT TO WIN THE NEXT ONE TO BALANCE OUT THE POINTS AND FIGHT IT OUT FOR THE LAST.

>> SEE WHERE THE FRONT GROUP IS.

IT STARTS WHERE THE U TURNPIKE WAS ON THE MAPS, THE GUYS HAVE A LITTLE BIT TO GO BEFORE THE OFFICIAL START OF THE CLIMB ALTHOUGH IT'S HARD TO TELL YOU ARE ON KOM ON THIS COURSE.

>> IF THEY WANTED TO THEY COULD HAVE A KOM ALL DAY LONG.

IT'S LITTLE KOM THE WHOLE DAY BUT YOU HAVE TO PICK CERTAIN CLIMBS.

A SEPARATION HERE.

A LITTLE SLOPPY ON THE EXCHANGES.

BACK OUT TO PELOTON YOU CAN TELL THE GUYS ARE STARTING TO HURT.

THE FACES ARE SHOWING THE SIGN OF WEAR.

>> STICKY BOTTLE WE TALKED ABOUT THE STICKY BOTTLES.

>> THE AMERICAN SPINNING THE LEGS AT THE BACK OF THE GROUP.

HERE WE GO.

FRONT GROUP GOING TO START THE KOM AT ONE K TO THE TOP OF THE SPOOK'S HILL CLIMB.

AND WE GOT PITCHES CLOSE TO 17% THAT IS A TOUGH CLIMB.

THAT IS 7% TOTAL GRADE AVERAGE.

BUT THOSE ARE THE POINTS IF YOU ARE A GOOD CLIMBER TAKE ADVANTAGE BECAUSE HE WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU PUT THE HURT ON THE OTHER BOYS WHEN IT GETS HARDER.

THAT'S YOUR ADVANTAGE.

>> REMEMBER THE TWO GUYS THAT SHOWED INTEREST EARLIER THE FIRST GUY IN THIS LINE AND THE LAST GUY IN THIS LINE.

HE IS VIA UP IN THE SELF VIA.

HE IS VIA.

OSCAR IS SETTING THE PACE.

MY THINKING HE IS THINKING I OUGHT TO MAKE THE CLIMB HARD?

IF WE EASY INTO THE CLIMB THAT IS HOW HE BEAT ME LAST TIME LET'S MAKE IT HARDER SO WHEN WE START SPRINTING HOPEFULLY IT'S NOT TO HIS ADVANTAGE.

>> LOZANO DID A GOOD JOB OF GETTING HIM AT THE LINE.

HE'S NOT SITTING ON HIS WHEEL HE IS SITTING IN THE BACK.

HE MIGHT HAVE TRIED TO ANTICIPATE THIS WE'LL SEE.

>> THIS IS A TOUGH PLACE SEVILLA.

>> HE CAN WATCH HIM AND PAY ATTENTION WHEN HE GUESS.

IF HE DOESN'T GO, ANTICIPATE HIM AND GO.

AND ALL DEPENDS BUT AGAIN YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THE GUYS HAVE NOT RIDDEN UP THESE CLIMBS.

THEY MIGHT HAVE DONE IT ONCE IN THE RECONRIDE BUT TO REMEMBER WHERE IT'S AT.

HOPING HE IS GETTING GOOD INTEL FROM THE RADIOS HERE WE SEE A SIGN COMING UP THIS WILL BE THE FIRST QUEUE WHEN THEY SHOULD START THEIR SPRINT.

>> GOT SUPER FANS WAITING ON THE CLIMB.

LOZANO GOING TO JUMP AT 200 METERS AND SEVILLA RIGHT ON HIS WHEEL.

SEVILLA HAS HIMTH SECOND POSITION SHOULD BE ABLE TO COM AROUND NO PROBLEM.

LOZANO WILL LEAD IT OUT AND SEVILLA HAVING TROUBLE GETTING OVER THE TOP OF THIS ONE.

LOZANO BEATS HIM UP TO THE LINE.

>> HE DEFINITELY TO ME THAT'S SHOWING THAT THE RACE HASN'T BEEN HARD ENOUGH FOR SEVILLA TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

SEVILLA A GOOD CLIMBER AND BEEN MORE LIKE LITTLE SPRINTS.

LOZANO LOOKING GOOD.

>> WITH EIGHT POINT FOR LOZANO AND FOUR OR SEVILLA.

>> HE WOULD HAVE TO WIN.

>> GOING TO WRAP UP THE KOM FOR LOZANO.

THERE'S FOUR POINTS AVAILABLE FOR A WIN.

IF SEVILLA GOT THOSE POINTS THAT WOULD ONLY PUT HIM INTO THAT WOULD GIVE HIM SIX TOTAL THAT WOULD TIE HIM AT EIGHT.

BUT LOZANO IS GOING TO GET POINTS EVEN IF SEVILLA GETS FIRST, LOZANO IS SECOND OR THIRD HE NEEDS ONE MORE POINT TO LOCK UP THE KOM.

>> IF YOU CAME INTO THE RACE UNDERSTANDING THE STRATEGY IF YOU CAN WIN THE FIRST TWO I WIN THE WHOLE THING THAT IS SOMETHING BIG TO UNDERSTAND.

TO ME I FEEL SEVILLA OSCAR IS MORE IN TUNE WITH TRYING TO WIN THIS RACE.

HE IS BETTER SUITED TO WIN THIS RACE.

LOZANO IS HAVING A GOOD RIDE AND SHOWING THAT IN THE KOM.

>> IF THE GUYS DO TIE IN THE KOM THERE IS A SCENARIO WHERE SEVILLA WOULD WIN THE THIRD KOM AND LOZANO GETS ZERO POINTS TIED AT EIGHT.

AND THE TIEBREAKER IS THE BEST PLACED FINISHER AFTER THE LINE.

SO IT WILL DEPEND WHO GOES TO THE LINE.

>> IT'S NOT BASED HOW THEY DID OK. THAT IS A BIG I COULD THERE -- THERE'S STILL SOMETHING UP IN THE AIR.

IT STILL COULD BE POSSIBLE, RIGHT?

>> COULD BE POSSIBLE.

>> TYPICALLY THAT TIEBREAKER WOULD BE BASED ON YOUR MOST RECENT RESULT USUALLY THE BEST PLACE IN THE LAST KOM OF THE DAY.

IN THE GUIDE IT'S THE BETTER PLACED RIDER WILL BE THE WINNER BUT I THINK THAT SHOULD REFER TO THE THIRD AND FINAL KOM.

IT'S THE BEST RESULT IN THAT LAST KOM.

>> LOOK AT THIS.

LOOK WHAT WE HAVE HERE.

WE HAVE A SELECT GROUP OF GUYS.

>> THIS IS WHY EF WAS RIDING THE FRONT BECAUSE NOW A 20 RIDERS.

EF AND COFIDIS TALKING ABOUT.

THE GUYS REALIZE THIS IS A MAJOR TURNING POINT IN THE RACE.

HERE IS THE SPLIT FROM UP ABOVE AND NOW THIS IS A BIG, BIG PROBLEM FOR THE RIDERS IN THE BACK OF THE GROUP BECAUSE NOW YOU'RE NOT JUST LOOKING AT LOWER TIERED TEAMS AND RIDERS GETTING AWAY THERE ARE HEAVY HITTERS AT THE FRONT OF THIS GROUP.

A MAJOR SELECTION HAPPENING.

>> AND THAT IS WHY YOU ARE RIDING IN THE FRONT.

JAYCO IS RIGHT THERE.

EF IS RIGHT THERE.

AND COFIDIS IS RIGHT THERE.

>> THEY ARE GOING TO ATTACK OFF THE FRONT OF THIS GROUP.

THIS IS WHY SOMEBODY HAS BEEN DRIVING IT JUST AT THE TOP OF THE PICTURE.

YOU SEE THEM GOING OUT OF THE SHOT THEY ARE PULLING ON THE ELASTIC AND THIS WILL SNAP.

>> RIGHT NOW THE CRUCIAL MOMENT IS WHO MISSED IT?

WHO MISSED IT AND WHOEVER MISS TO DO NEEDS TO REACT AS A TEAM QUICKLY AND THAT IS WHERE MISTAKES HAPPEN IF YOU DON'T REACT QUICKLY YOU WILL MISS THIS MOVE AND THE RACE IS GONE.

>> WE ARE WATCHING THE RACE FOR SIXTH PLACE ON DOWN.

FIVE GUYS AWAY UP THE ROAD.

THIS HAS IMPLICATIONS FOR LATER ON IN THE RACE A LOT OF THESE GUYS ARE ASSUMING THAT THAT FRONT GROUP OF FIVE WILL COME BACK.

THIS IS WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN AFTER THAT BREAK AWAY GETS CAUGHT.

THIS IS THE NEXT MOVE HAPPENING IN FRONT OF OUR EYES RIGHT NOW.

>> LOOK IT'S DOWN TO 45 SECONDS.

SO WE DEFINITE -- IS THAT 45 SECONDS IN THE GAP.

>> THAT SHOULD BE 45 SECONDS FOR THE FIRST FIVE GUYS BACK TO THE MAIN GROUP.

AS THAT PELOTON HAS STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR THE GAP IS COMING DOWN RAPIDLY FOR THE FRONT GROUP OF 5 GETTING DOWN TO 45 SECONDS RIGHT NOW WITH A FULL ON CHASE ON THE FRONT OF THE FIELD.

>> AND THERE YOU GO AN EVEN SPLIT AGAIN.

NOW WE HAVE A SPLIT IN THE CHASE.

I MEAN THAT IS HOW HARD THEY ARE GOING.

THAT IS HOW MUCH IS GOING ON WHO WANTS TO GO HARD AND WHO DOESN'T WANT TO GO HARD.

>> THIS IS TURNING INTO FOUR GROUPS.

THE FRONT GROUP OF FIVE RIGHT NOW.

AND A CHASE GROUP.

ANOTHER CHASE BEHIND THEM AND WHAT WE'LL CALL THE REST OF THE PELOTON.

BOTH THE CHASE GROUPS ARE 10 PLUS RIDERS THEY ARE BIG SPLITS OF RIDERS AS THEY MAKE THEIR WAY ACROSS THE DAM FOR THE SECOND TIME HERE AROUND PRETTY BOY RESERVOIR.

>> AND THE CRAZY THING IS NOW WE GO INTO THE HARDEST PART OF THE TERRAIN.

THIS IS NOT A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN HIDE OR LOWTATE AND HAVE FAST-PACED LINE IT GOES CLIMB AFTER CLIMB AFTER CLIMB.

AND SO THE STRONGER RIDERS ARE GOING TO BENEFIT RIGHT NOW.

THE GAPS WILL KEEP OPENING UP AND THE STRONG RIDERS ARE COMING OUT.

>> WE'RE DOING OUR BEST TO KEEP OUR EYE ON THE SPLITS HAPPENING AT THE FRONT OF THE GROUP.

THE MOTOS HAD TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY.

WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON IT FROM THE HELICOPTER AND ABOVE.

ABOUT 10 GUYS IN CHASE NUMBER ONE.

WE'LL GET ID'S ON THEM SHORTLY.

SOME OF THE TEAM JERSEYS AROUND THE BEND.

THAT WILL BE CHASE TWO.

THAT WILL BE ABOUT 20 GUYS COMING UP.

AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE MUCH MORE POWERFUL THAN THIS GROUP OF FIVE WHO HAS BEEN OUT THERE ALL DAY.

I EXPECT THIS GAP TO RAPIDLY COME DOWN IF THEY CAN TRY AND HANG ON TO THE BACK OF THE GROUP AND GRAB HOLD BUT THIS CHASE IS ON ITS WAY UP TO THE BREAK AWAY AND THEY WILL BE THERE SOON.

>> THEY ARE COMING BY FAST.

WE'LL SEE A CATCH SOON.

>> WHO WE HAVE ONE EF RIDER AFTER ALL THAT CHASING, TWO JAYCO JERSEYS.

I SAW A TREK JERSEY AS THEY WENT AROUND THE BEND.

HERE WE GO.

MEDELLIN-EPM GOING TO GET IN THERE AS WELL.

AND THIS CREATES MORE UNIQUE SCENARIOS NOR THE GUYS THAT THE HAVE TEAMMATES UP THE ROAD IN THE BREAK AWAY YOU DON'T WANT TO CONTRIBUTE TO MAKING THAT CATCH BUT IF THE CATCH IS INEVITABLE MIGHT AS WELL DO THE WORK.

>> LOOK IT CAME BACK TOGETHER.

>> I THINK THIS IS CHASE ONE AND TWO.

I BELIEVE THERE'S ANOTHER SPLIT OFF THE BACK OF THIS GROUP TO THE REST OF THE PELOTON.

WE'LL CALL THIS THREE GROUPS ON THE ROAD THIS IS NUMBER ONE YOUR FIVE LEADERS.

GRABBING WATER ON THE WAY UP.

I MEAN NO MATTER WHAT, THERE'S ENOUGH RIDERS IN THE SECOND GROUP ENOUGH RIDERS THAT WANT THIS TO STICK THAT THEY ARE MOST LIKELY PAST THE BREAK AWAY.

YOU CAN SEE THE FIELD AROUND THE CORNER WE ARE IN THAT TIME ZONE WHERE WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

AND THEN DEPENDS ON THE RIDERS.

>> NOT AN EASY FEED ZONE.

THESE GUYS STAYING ON IT, REACHING INTO THE BAGS AND TOSSING THEM ASIDE AND GETTING BACK TO WORK AS THEY TRY AND SPLIT THE GROUP BEHIND THESE FIVE.

>> THESE GUYS HOPEFULLY HAVE RADIOS ON GETTING INTEL THAT THE BREAK AWAY IS COMING AND BE READY.

DO NOT COMMIT AT THIS POINT.

[AUDIO INTERRUPTION] I MEAN THEY COULD THINK THEY WANT TO TRY AND STAY AWAY AND KEEP ON THE GAS FOR A LITTLE BIT THIS COULD BE A MOMENT TO SAY, HEY LET'S STAY ON THE GAS AND SEE IF WE CAN WAIT FOR THEM TO SETTLE BACK INTO A PACE.

>> MEANWHILE CHAOS AT THE BACK AS THE GUYS WRAP UP THE FEED DONE.

ZONE.

AND WE GET ANOTHER LOOK AT THE PELOTON YOU WILL SEE A HARD CHARGING GROUP THOUSAND SPLIT IT AGAIN WITH THE GAP DOWN TO 20 SECONDS FOR THE FRONT GROUP OF FIVE.

LOOKING LIKE THE RIDING IS ON THE -- WRITING IS ON THE WALL FOR LOZANO, SEVILLA, MURPHY, MILES AND GAGNE.

THEY WILL INCLUDE MORE RIDERS JUMPING OUT IT IS ON AT THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

AS THIS FRONT GROUP IS ABOUT TO GET A LOCAL BIGGER THAN FIVE GUYS UP THE ROAD.

WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK IN THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC.

THANK SOME SPONSORS WE WILL KEEP OUR EYE ON THE MOVE AND WHEN WE COME BACK MORE LIVE RACING OF THE MARYLAND CYCLING CLASSIC PRESENTED BY UNITED HEALTHCARE.