Several riders have got across to Jan Polanc and formed a breakaway group. Will the move stick though?

Julian Alaphilippe, who lit up this year's Tour de France with two stage wins and finishing fifth overall, is back in the pack.

But he still clearly doesn't rate his bike, bouncing that front wheel to test it out again.

Julian Alaphilippe, another favourite for victory, is back at the France team car discussing a possible mechanical issue with DS Thomas Voeckler.

Alaphilippe is wiggling and bouncing his front wheel around, clearly not happy with his bike.

Voeckler seems to be telling him to just get on with it for now.

Slovenia's Jan Polanc has attacked solo off the front.

Slovenia very active in the early stages after Primoz Roglic's attack too.

Former world champion Philippe Gilbert, a contender for victory today, sustains a front wheel puncture.

A quick change and he's off again.

There weren't many punctures in the sunny conditions for the women's race yesterday but there were loads in the wetter weather for the junior and under-23 races earlier in the week.

All back together.

A group of seven riders are out front and the peloton are strung out chasing them down.

No chance they are letting Dan Martin and Primoz Roglic cruise away up the road.

Vuelta a Espana champion Primoz Roglic has bridged across to Dan Martin.

Some big names on the attack early on here, riders you don't usually see trying to get in breakaways.

Martin has got a gap and a group of riders are having to dig really deep to try and bring him back.

Ireland's Dan Martin is on the attack.

His team-mate Sam Bennett has been in fine form this year and is one rider whose chances have been boosted by the removal of those two big climbs.

Martin is trying to make the race as tough as possible from the off here.

Soler rejoins the pack and instantly the white flag is waved to signal the start of the racing proper.

Attacks from the gun as various riders try to establish an early breakaway.

Spain's Marc Soler has a mechanical issue and is having to pace back on.

It means the neutralised section has been extended to let him catch the peloton.

After the glorious sunshine that greeted the women's race yesterday, it's a foul day in Yorkshire, grey and very wet.

This is going to be a brutal contest. But one that should suit the likes of Belgium and Netherlands, whose riders thrive in the classics.

The peloton are approaching the end of the neutral start now.

First shot of Olympic champion Greg van Avermaet.

The Belgian is one of the favourites for victory today and has a fine pedigree racing in Yorkshire...

You can watch uninterrupted coverage of the elite men's road race on the BBC Red Button or by clicking the tab at the top of this page.

BBC Two coverage of the race will begin at 11:00 BST.

The peloton have started the neutral roll out from Leeds, a bit later than even the rescheduled start time.

The racing proper will begin after 10.5km.

The changes to the route also mean the peloton will no longer tackle the two biggest climbs of the planned course at Buttertubs and Grinton Moor.

There is still a lot of climbing on the route though - we saw in the women's race yesterday that there is very little flat.

So the removal of those climbs probably won't make it a sprinter's race, but it might have just opened the race up for a few fast finishers that are also good at getting over the undulating terrains.

The upshot of all that is the course has been shortened by 23.5km and the riders will now complete nine laps of the finishing circuit in Harrogate instead of the scheduled seven.

The riders are gathered in Leeds and will shortly begin the neutralised roll out, which is starting 20 minutes or so later than scheduled.

Here is the full statement from the race organisers...

"Due to heavy rain that continues to fall across the northern section of the Elite Men’s Road Race route, Yorkshire 2019 and the UCI have taken the decision to divert the route at Bishopdale Beck just outside Aysgarth, and to direct riders east up Temple Bank and along the A684 to Leyburn where the race will continue as normal.

"The decision was made after extensive consultation with the UCI, our multi-agency partners, the environment agency and local mountain rescue teams. We consider the safety of spectators and riders as paramount and want everyone to enjoy the racing, but the conditions in the Dales puts that at risk.

"This means, regrettably, that the race will not now pass through Bainbridge, Hawes, Buttertubs, Muker, Gunnerside, Reeth, and Grinton Moor. We know this will be hugely disappointing to the communities in these locations who have been planning events and celebrations to coincide with the race today. We are very sorry.

"However, the Elite Men’s Road Race does go ahead today starting in Leeds at the later time of 9:00am. Spectators who were hoping to see the race in Wensleydale and Swaledale should head to West Witton, Wensley or Leyburn where they can view the race as it passes through just before 11:00am. There will also be nine laps of the Harrogate circuit before the finish on Parliament Street."

Hello and welcome to live coverage of the elite men's road race at the 2019 Road World Championships in Yorkshire.

Unfortunately, we start with news of the course being shortened and re-routed due to heavy rain...