Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist and BBC Sport summariser

"The only thing that concerns me with Lizzie's sprint is that her kick is not that good. If she wants to go head-to-head with other riders in the final kilometre she needs to go first because once she's up to speed she's quick but it's getting up to that speed."

There are just 40km remaining in the race as they riders begin the descent back into Ponferrada. The Italians again put a couple of riders on the front of the bunch but nobody is prepared to really put the hammer down. This is looking like a last-lap showdown.

The fifth climb to Mirador sees the peloton all back together. Will we see Bronzini instruct a team-mate to lead off down the descent into Ponferrada again?

"Lizzie would have wanted a harder race," says Rob Hayles on commentary and right on cue, the Otley racer stretches her legs, stomps on her pedals and moves to the front of the race before looking round to see if anyone would react. Several riders did, wary of the threat offered by the British rider.

Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist and BBC Sport summariser

"The further into this race that we go and the more the riders have left in their legs it means the fireworks are going to be bigger and brighter on the final lap. I certainly wouldn't want to be riding that final descent if it carries on like this."

The pace looks like it has been upped in the peloton as they reach the top of Confederacion and Bronzini is sitting second wheel behind Italian team-mate Tatiana Guderzo, who won the 2009 world title, as they speed down the descent.

Another minor spill in the peloton. Britain's Annie Last collides with Italy's Elena Cecchini and both come off their bikes. Last, a mountain biker jumps back to her feet, gives her pedals a quick spin before hopping back on and pedalling away.

Cecchini is a little slower to get going but thankfully is fine and back chasing.

Kern takes a bottle of fluids from one of her team helpers on the side of the road as she pushes on up the climb to Confederacion. Her lead is hovering around the 10-second mark as Simon Brotherton reports that British riders Lucy Garner and Alice Barnes have pulled out of the race.

Rochelle Gilmore
Owner and manager of Wiggle Honda cycling team on BBC TV

"There is still a big peloton but we're expecting something to happen on this lap, with just three to go. The Italians are still gathered around Bronzini, who will be growing in confidence with the racing as it is. Shelley Olds of America is another sprinter who is still there but they will both find it tough if someone does light it up on the climbs."

Here comes the peloton, sweeping up past the castle as they start the climb to Confederacion. The number of people on the grassy bank in front of the castle has swelled and with it the level of noise encouraging the riders as they hit 50km to go.

Kern crosses the line for the fourth time after one hour, 59 minutes and 50 seconds of racing. The Slovenian is 16 seconds ahead of the chasing bunch which contains all the race favourites. Just 54km or so remaining. Who is going to be the brave one and make the first move?

The peloton closes the gap on the descent to Ponferrada. The final 4km of each lap, and thus into the finish line when we get to the last lap, is downhill for the opening couple of kilometres and then reasonably flat for the run-in to the finish.

Spela Kern is pushing on out front and has opened a gap of 35 seconds over the peloton as she goes up to Mirador. She has 57.5km to survive if she is to take an unexpected victory.

One other rider to keep an eye on today is Sweden's Emma Johansson. She was second last year to Vos in Florence and third in 2010.

This year, she finished second in the World Cup behind Armitstead and was second in the Tour of Britain. The 31-year-old is Sweden's reigning national road and time trial champion - can she conquer the world at last?

She set off with five team-mates to help her but one, Emilia Fahlin, who was expected to be a big help on the climbs, has already dropped out of the peloton.

Rochelle Gilmore
Owner and manager of Wiggle Honda cycling team on BBC TV

"There has been a big question mark over Vos because she pulled out of a couple of races leading up to this event. We've heard so many stories but there was a report from her brother before today's race that she was just playing it safe and focusing on the World title. There is also talk that she was playing it safe by dropping away during the team time trial last Sunday. She knows how to peak for a World Championships."

Slovenian rider Spela Kern makes a bid for freedom on the climb to Confederacion and quickly opens up a 20-second gap over the peloton. The riders in the main bunch will not be too unhappy to see a lone rider out there. There are 65km remaining in the race. Far too far for a solo breakaway to succeed.

The Germans are on the front on the peloton, driving the pace. Time trial champion Lisa Brennauer has been doing a lot of the work. They obviously have a gameplan but they have to be careful not to over exert themselves.

Thirteen riders have officially dropped out of the race, according to Simon Brotherton on race commentary. None of the names he mentions are American, which suggests the rider who was prone in the ditch must be back up and pedalling. I wonder if that was Alison Powers.

L Higgins:, external Going to be tight between Vos and Armitstead. Vos is on her day in a class above, Armitstead needs to keep Vos in very close order.

With the Italians grouping near the front as they complete lap three of seven, it's perhaps a good time to take a look at the prospects of their riders.

Giorgia Bronzini, 31, is more of a sprinter and twice a winner of this race, in 2010 and 2011. She outsprinted Vos and Armitstead on The Mall to win the RideLondon Women's Grand Prix in August.

She is comfortably getting over the climbs so far but will she continue to do so as the laps tick by?

She has 22-year-old Elisa Longo Borghini in her squad of six. Borghini was third in the 2012 race and can climb, winning a couple of mountains classifications this year so is a good fall back if racing gets tough.

Rossella Ratto, 20, of Italy was third last year. She won stage two of the women's Tour of Britain on her way to finishing third overall.

Rob Hayles
Former GB cyclist and BBC Sport summariser

"There will be a few more gaps opening up between the riders on this descent as they try to get their confidence back. There will also be fatigue setting in. You can't let big gaps form because it will take too much out of you to chase them down."