Rated as a hilly stage, so potentially the first real chance for time gains
The break were Ostergaard, Grippo, Van Avermaet, Gomes Colinas and 3rd overall Williams. Khalmuratov, Euser and Da Luz also attacked but did not make the front group
Gomes Colinas took 2 KoMs and 1 Sprint, Van Avermaet 1 KoM and 1 Sprint, and also Williams took a KoM.
On the 3rd climb (the won one by Avermaet) with 58km to go, Marcel Wyss attacked the peleton
Clement, Vogondy, Ghyllebert, Leipheimer and Ericsson countered - but only Wyss, Vogondy and Leipheimer got a gap. 100% Me were having none of it, however, and chase it down
And by 23km to go no rider is left in front of the pack, Van Avermaet the last to be caught
Almost immediately, NOS keep a presence up front as Clement attacks
He took the KoM but it was Boucher and Ghyllebert who held a gap shortly afterwards
It all comes together once again. 16km to go and the pack is down to 35
Theres a climb just inside the final 10km, non categorised, but we have attacks. Devenyns starts it but is immediately countered by Bertagnolli and Ignatiev
And it is those 2 who move into the lead
They hold a gap over some chasers - De Maar, Taaramae, Gil, Devenyns, Caruso, Reus and Ben Nasser
Bertagnolli is forced to lead out Ignatiev in the sprint, with their gap loitering around 20 seconds
Into the final km and Ignatiev makes his move
And he wins the stage, taking the race lead
Taaramae sprints to 3rd in the chase group
But this is where harsh decisions on gaps were made. Ignatiev and Bertagnolli were not awarded any time on the chasers - and despite finishing a seemingly good gap behind the chase group Ben Nasser is also awarded the same time.
There is at least a gap on the peloton though, led in by the now former race leader Martin Elmiger
