Posts: 978 Joined: 11.05.09 Location: Aberystwyth, Wales PCM$: 110.00
Vantomme, Ciolek, Drujon as favourites, on this 162km flat-rated stage. With three intermediate sprints and one mountain competition on offer, a break away is sure to go, in hopes to grab the first polka dot jersey of the race, as well as with the slim hopes of outsmarting the peloton.
Bouhanni is the first to try his luck, mere moments after racing got underway.
A few try to go with him, including Briggs, Boggia and Nechita.
Traficante, who's sitting in 20th position overall, decides to try and go with this move. Sparking a series of counter-attacks from BPost, Cerne and Tinkoff riders. No names on them as yet, though.
The break away aren't too far up ahead though, and yet more attacks are going away! Koppert and Venchi send men up, along with another rider from both BPost and Cerne, the two teams clearly eager to have men up front.
The newest wave of attackers prove to be the strongest yet, and go surging past the initial escapees. Led by Ockeleon, they are Reda, Mourato, Van Der Sande and Meyer.
With three men towards the front, Pokerstars.Com are eager to chase this down, along with Trilux - Falke and team WWE. And it's clear why!
Just seconds after reeling in all but four of the escapees, Veilleux goes on the attack, trying to bridge up to the front.
It just won't settle down here, several teams desperately want to put men up front, and the majority of the early attackers have gone again! We now have 12 up front again, and the peloton chasing, just under a minute behind.
It's Pokerstars.com and Trilux again working to shut it down.
The 12 up front are working well together, so let's run down just who is in this group of hopefuls.
Traficante Briggs Boggia Ignatenko La Lavandier, Van Den Eynde Reda Bouhanni Veilleux Mourato Van Der Sande Ockeleon
Just when they looked settled, more attacks, and more riders coming from the peloton to join those up front!
The peloton definitely aren't happy, as they truly put the hammer down to try and catch those up front.
And, contact is made!
But, equilibrium doesn't last long, as several try to go, yet again!
9 riders this time,
Traficante Briggs Boggia Ovechkin Van Den Eynde Reda Bouhanni Veilleux Van Der Sande
Perhaps the most notable is our white jersey, Ovechkin, who sits in only 10th place.
And, after 50km of hard riding, the break away finally settles down - but some are unhappy to have missed out. Meyer, Mourato, Cunha and Ockeleon try to bridge to those in front,
Meyer finally makes contact after about 15 km solo riding, however the other three are still dangling some way behind, unable to make contact. Unlucky for Cerne today.
The first intermediate sprint is very hotly contested, with Veilleux just edging out Bouhanni and Traficante.
The peloton, led by Pokerstars.com and Rothaus - Aegon roll through, roughly 7 minutes behind with 79km still to ride.
Back up front, and its the competition for the polka dot jersey. Ovechkin clearly isn't happy with the white, and wins the sprint for polka dots. He edges out Meyer and Reda.
At the second intermediate sprint, Veilleux again wins it, this time beating Van Der Sande and, again, Bouhanni.
It's the green machine on the front of the peloton, as Pokerstars.com drag the pack along, cutting the gap down as the go. The time deficit, now only 5 minutes with 55km to go.
Veilleux makes it three from three at the intermediate sprint, barely beating Boggia to the line. Van Der Sande gets third. The gap back to the pack now is only 3 minutes though, a sprint finish, as good as guaranteed now, it seems.
Pokerstars catch the three men caught in no-mans land.
On a long stretch of road, the pack can see the riders up ahead, and the gap is plummeting all the time.
That doesn't stop Eichler giving it one last go, launching himself off the front of the peloton. It seems desperate from Trilux, or has he just pulled off a stroke of genius?
The roads are narrow, and twisting all the time - he might have the edge over the pack through these sorts of roads, but 20km to go is still a LONG way by yourself. With tremendous ease, Eichler reaches the breakaway group.
The break, inspired by the new arrival, or perhaps feeling the peloton breathing down their necks, go for it. The riders are Meyer, Bouhanni, Van Der Sande and Veilleux, who's looked very strong, as well as Eichler.
The peloton meanwhile are charging along, and can nearly reach the escapees, as they head to 10km to go.
But, all the attacks come to nought, as the peloton engulfs the brave riders, with 6km to go.
Chuela attacks, and Eichler's straight on to his wheel, with Bodnar following. It's not going to be so simple for the peloton today.
They're strong, but can not preak the Pokerstars train.
It's Terpstra, then Degenkolb, then their man, Guillen.
Ciolek and Gajek are fighting for Guillen's wheel, with Rast and Boom behind them.
Vantomme is some way back!
Degenkolb launches from 2km to go, the only man able to follow the train is Ciolek. Gajek and Vantomme are fighting to close in behind.
Guillen launches under the flamme rouge, but Ciolek is stuck to his back wheel like glue!
The german closes, and flies around the outside, Vantomme leads the charge from behind, but it may be too late
And Ciolek takes it! A superb win for Bianchi there, and upsetting all the hard work Pokerstars had done. Guillen held on to second, and it was a blanket finish for third - we'll have to check the results to know for sure who came where!
