First chance for the sprinter? Or are the hills too hard for those? We have lots of steep sections on the route today and so the puncheurs might already try something.
In case we will see a normal sprint finish, no question that the big favourite is Haussler, who wants to collect the bonus seconds.
Also Docker belongs to the better climbers and must be watched here.
3 riders form todays breakaway. Bush Gate Sparling
Amex has a GC rider in Eisel, who also can do already today. So sending Bush here will give the team some more freedom than others as they don`t need to do the pace behind. Smart move as he doesn`t belong to the very best sprinters. Same counts for Boeing with Geraint Thomas, even though the Brit is not such a good sprinter and it will be much harder to grab some bonus seconds.
Bouygues Telecom for Weylandt and HTC for Baugnies are doing the pace at the moment. Still the biggest sprinter teams airBaltic and Sram aren`t supporting them. The gap already is at 4'39 and still going up.
Gate takes the early Cat.4 climb ahead of Bush and Sparling.
With 4 KoM sprints the fight for the mountain jersey is still wide open but the Cadbury rider made a first step. (And don`t be worried. It will be the only narrow passage today)
New situation in the peloton. The first sprinter team came to the front with Team Credexbank even though it`s a bit weird to see Siedler and Clarke doing the work as they could have been solid leadout for Kankovský.
Their main problem might be that all 3 sprinters are more track sprinter like, who hate climbing. So todays stage will be difficult for them.
But as the gap goes over 7min with a bit more than 100km to go, one team had to start I guess.
The three riders in the leading group reached the first intermediate sprint. As some of them are solid cobblers they also go for the bonus seconds. Who knows, what happens when they can surprise the peloton today or stay in there in the end. Every second can become important.
Bush outsprints Sparling and Gate.
2nd KoM and Gate obviously saved some energy at the sprint as he once again takes the max points easily. Sparking and Bush to follow.
This time Gate timed his move better. He takes the 2nd intermediate ahead of Sparling. So it`s the same order than on the KoM before.
Not much happens here on the stage. So we just jump from sprint point to sprint point. Bush wins the third intermediate ahead of Sparling and Gate. So at least here the riders are sharing the points quite nicely.
We reached the final circuit and see how tough this hill is. And it`s just the 1st of 4 laps. Sparling looks the strongest late in the stage and takes the points ahead of Gate and Bush. So the second one keeps a small lead but the last KoM might be the deciding one.
And here we go already. The peloton was closing the gap slowly but are still a bit behind. So on the second last lap we have the same order than before. Sparling and Gate both won two Cat.4, but as Gate was always the 2nd at those later climbs he will get the jersey with a 2 point advantage.
With 25km left the gap is a bit below 2min and it will stay exciting now coming to the final. With just one lap left the peloton must go fast now which doesn`t favour the pure sprinters obviously.
Back to the original situation. Bouygues and HTC doing the main job with a bit support by Credexbank.
Quite surprising not to see a single Sram rider helping them as Haussler surely is the fastest sprinter and the best puncheur of those.
Or does he not feel that well today?
The riders start the last climb and also have caught the breakaway right now. As we are in the final 10km now the sprinter teams want to bring their riders to the front and it`s Credexbank being the strongest at the moment. With 4 riders the lead the peloton.
But also Docker can be seen in the first 7 positions even though he has no team mate with him. The Sram rider is actually Eichler and not Haussler, who is in ~15th position. So also not too bad.
As strong as Credexbank was on the climb and during the stage. Now they lost all helpers for Kankovský.
It`s up to Bpost now forming the only train of the day.
Dufrasnes
Drujon
Docker
Eisel
Kankovský
Eichler
Haussler
Weylandt
David
Sieberg
Vanspeybrouck
Torckler
Thomas
So all sprinters are here more or less and if Eichler can accelerate a bit more Haussler could switch to him to get a better position maybe. Also interesting to see Vanspeybrouck that far in front. But probably he doesn`t want to lose any time today, while HTC was working all day but having no rider in front.
Dufrasnes wasn`t known as great leadout yet. But today he is doing an awesome job. With 1,8km left he is still in front and as you can see making some riders struggling quite a lot.
To the 6th, Kankovský there is actually already a small gap.
Eisel is going a bit early, while Docker stays in his perfect position behind Drujon.
But more important we are missing one rider now. With Eichler in 5th position there is only one Sram jersey in front. Where is Heinrich Haussler?
Here he is... The German did actually not crash but suddenly stopped after the corner with 2km to go and this doesn`t look good at all. He definitely is injured and can`t continue the race! So we have the first abandon and this is a big bum for Sram, who lose their leader.
Back to the sprint. Eisel is still in front with Eichler behind him. At least there is another Sram rider proving a good form. He might also be the new team leader as he is a decent cobbler as well.
Behind them Docker left Drujon`s wheel and accelerates.
Drujon also starts his sprint now with Weylandt, Sieberg, Torckler and Thomas coming fast. No sign of Kankovský.
Eisel and Eichler went too early. But behind them it`s very close now. Docker and Weylandt in the best position now with Sieberg also coming fast from behind.
And it`s the Australian champion. Mitch Docker wins the first stage and takes the leader jersey as all breakaway riders lost contact in the end.
2nd for Sieberg ahead of Weylandt. Sieberg is interesting as he gained seconds today and surely must be watched on the harder cobbles as well. With Gaudin they have a better cobbler, but he might be some kind of co-leader here with a free role, if he is in a good position in the end.
Behind those we have a surprisingly strong Cadbury duo with Torckler and David. Great race for them today with Gate`s KoM jersey.
Thomas, Eisel, Eichler and Vanspeybrouck as next prove their good form, while HTC takes the next 3 positions showing a good team performance.
Drujon surely a disappointment as he only finishes 18th after a good leadout. But still ahead of Kankovský as 31st.
Also one cobbler lost contact. Amex`s Taillefour lost some minutes today. As he doesn`t like the hills that much, this isn`t the biggest surprise and Eisel will have solid support with him now.
