Welcome to live coverage of the big one - the race we've all been waiting for... the 2012 World Championships elite men's road race: a 267km undulating circuit race through the province of Limburg in the Netherlands.

World Championships

Men | 23.09.2012

Completed

Road race

Live

Live Updates

ByThe Editorial Team

Updated 23/09/2012 at 16:19 GMT

All
Highlights

17:20

Thanks for joining us for today's action - and for the whole world championships programme in Limburg. What a ride today by Gilbert, who's come good when it mattered.

0km

John Degenkolb took fourth and home favourite Lars Boom fifth.

0km

Philippe Gilbert is the new world champion! Edvald Boasson Hagen takes silver, four seconds down, and Alejandro Valverde the bronze.

0.2km

Gilbert starts to celebrate with 200m to go...

1km

Gilbert is under the banner and will win this one. What a performance!

1.5km

Gilbert is onto the flat section now atop the Cauberg. The rest are playing for second.

2km

Gilbert has a big gap now. Kolobnev leads the chase, with Valverde and Boasson Hagen...

2.2km

Boasson Hagen leads the chase, but Gilbert has a lead. Kolobnev is chasing down too. And Valverde.

2.5km

Nibali leads as Gilbert makes his move!

3km

We're onto the Cauberg for the final time!

3.2km

Nocentini and Marcato are being tailed off for Italy...

3.5km

Voeckler and Nibali still poised - and Degenkolb is a big danger man. No sign of Sagan, but he's there - but without team-mates.

4km

Now Gerrans is coming though on the right. Spain have a five-man train. They're onto the descent to the foot of the Cauberg.

5km

Stannard is protecting Tiernan-Locke on the left of the road. It's Italy and Belgium on the front.

5.5km

Simon Clarke is working so hard for Australia - and still Gerrans takes a back seat, just as he did in Milan-San Remo...

6km

It's all going to come down to the Cauberg as Contador drives the leading pack towards the top of the Bemelerberg.

6.5km

Contador now sets the pace on the front of the pack, which has 48 riders in it. Belgium are there in his wheel and ahead of the Spanish Armada.

7km

It's six hours in the saddle now as riders are blown off the back.

8km

Rodriguez has been so quiet all day - will he spring a surprise? Degenkolb looks to have fought back in here too. Sammy Sanchez is on the front on the Bemelerberg.

10km

We're nearing the Bemelerberg now. Not mentioned before, but Voeckler, Gatto, Sanchez and Moser are all here too.

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