As the laps ticked, smaller packs dropped off the lead, here Tomohiro NODA leads Brian Daniel PINTADO and Artur BRZOZOWSKI

DUNFEE still laid in wait a few seconds back.

DUNFEE looked strong and looked capable of rejoining the pack at any time.

KARLSTRÖM masterfully lead the pack hoping to start chasing down MATSUNAGA.

DUNFEE charges into the sun.

CHRISTIE starting to show a bit of strain, but pacing well.

At around 15km, MATSUNAGA sill had a 50 second lead and while not gaining ground he wasn't losing any either.

CHRISTIE while not looking like he was having fun, was still hitting his splits.

DUNFEE seemed to be losing his grip on the pack, falling ~15 seconds behind.

The lead pack dropped to only 6-7 people.

CHRISTIE seemed to have found his walking partner for the day in Álvaro LÓPEZ

And then it started to happen, MATSUNAGA started to come back to the pack as they accelerated. The race had begun!

DUNFEE was conceding nothing.

MATSUNAGA seemed a little rattled, distracted.

With just under a 20km to race, time was on the side of the lead pack as they started to pick a few seconds off each lap.

DUNFEE a minute back from the leader, still had his hands on the pack and looked strong.

MATSUNAGA no longer looked so relaxed. Could he hang on?

Brian Daniel PINTADO thought perhaps not.

One by one the lead pack came through the turn trying to lose as little precious ground as possible.