It's the second hilly stage, but quite evidently based on the profile, the hardest of the two.
Frank Schleck won Stage 5 and on paper, should be the massive favourite here. At only 20 seconds off the race lead, a stage win could bring him level with Granjel Cabrera - and it will take an incredible performance for the Cuban race leader to finish at the same time as the leader. Further in Schleck's favour is the absence of big threats. Of the other favourites, Sinkewitz and Hagen's hopes were over almost before they began, while Bakelandts failed to attack, and Van Garderen - despite attacking - lost crucial time. No doubt all will be out to improve their race today though, while di Luca, Ulissi, and Visconti are the strongest, and best placed, on paper, to bring the fight to Schleck. After all, who is to say that Schleck will even attack? It wouldnt be the first time this season that he fails to do so.
Enough of the build up, onto the action. Plenty of early attacks, with the first climb early on - albeit worth only the 4 points. The KoM jersey is still up for grabs later in the day but for now, Scheunemann takes the 4, from Rosseler, Gaudin and Adams.
Also part of this move were Brizuela, Boucher, Nolf, Sieberg, Eastman and Santambrogio. Not that it matters, riders from 6 different teams are intent on chasing them down.
But instead, we just get an even larger attack. 14 men are involved, and they get the green light to go, a gap forms.
These riders are granted a nice long stint at the front of the race, but they can surely forget any hopes of a stage win, once Vesuvio and Sony Ericsson set to work to chase them down. 40km to go, and approaching the 2 key climbs (apart from the climb up to the finish of course), the gap has fallen to 3 minutes.
Its a tricky climb, first up, but the break does remain intact - bar the skirmishes for KoM points of course. Mauro Santambrogio finished in the elite group on Stage 5, but had lost time on Stage 1 - he takes the climb here and with 15 points, moves to 32, and within 5 of leader Vaugrenard. Sestili takes 2nd, Tennant 3rd.
Some vague interest from the peloton too, as disqualified rider Mehr-Wenige (see the race discussion topic) jumps away. He actually bridges up to the break, and onto the 2nd climb, Tennant attacks for the KoM points. But a distraction.
No.
Surely not!
Frank Schleck has attacked! He has actually made the first move! Unbelievable!
Tennant just takes the climb from Santambrogio - but 2nd is enough for the Italian to take over the lead. Brizuela and Sestili had also attacked for points - but behind them, the ominous red figure is already amongst their former companions.
A few moments later, literally a couple of hundred metres, and here he is. Swiftly making it to the front of the race, while David Boucher has also decided this could be a good move to follow - leaving behind the rest of the break to rejoin the KoM attackers.
All you managers have no need to worry though, Frank Schleck isnt the only man attacking! Numerous names have popped up on the ticker below, to say they are attacking - and soon 6 becomes 8 in front, Mehr-Wenige has followed the move, and matching Schleck's attack - it's Van Garderen. Other names we're told are attacking are Di Luca, Casar and Visconti - but more have gone, just not been named.
Surprisingly now though, the KoM attackers drop back. This leaves Boucher as the sole remaining breakaway rider, alongside Mehr-Wenige, Schleck and Van Garderen.
So as those 4 drop back, they collect Maes - who has failed in his attempt to also make it up to the group. But it really does seem that Schleck caught a lot of riders out here with his fast unexpected attack. Only Di Luca and Kruijswijk - the B&O rider seen trying to respond on the initial Schleck attack pic - are in this next chase group of 15 who havent been in the break all day. Casar was here, but oddly dropped back.
Panic stations behind, the descent really coming at an inopportune moment. Visconti goes as soon as he can, passing the KoM attackers who continue to fall back. And there we go, Granjel Cabrera has to react and does so, Gautier following.
The yellow jersey makes it to the chase group, and alongside Di Luca, but 4 riders have now splintered off inbetween this group and Schleck's: Kruijswijk, Eastman, Maes, and Visconti.
Those 4 are swiftly brought back though, and a chase of 23 forms. Theyre still 50 seconds down with 10km to go though, and this is a brilliant situation for Schleck. With him is Van Garderen - dangerous, but lost out on Stage 5; Mehr-Wenige - disqualified; and Boucher - presumed knackered having been in the break all day, but 2 minutes down regardless. Speaking of Boucher though, his teammate Clement - having made it to the chase group - is now attacking it ... but wait ... Boucher attacks Group Schleck!
Behind, a Carmeuse rider - probably Casar - has crossed to Clement. And now Granjel Cabrera attacks! He is following a move by Duque. (While incidentally, we spot that Kolesnikov is present in this group)
While Boucher has managed to get a gap! Schleck dare not reduce his tempo though, so it will be a tough fight for the Continental rider.
Theres just 5km to go, and Granjel Cabrera is staring down the road as his lead slips away. He hasnt got away from this 23 man group - which he should probably be working with rather than attacking, to stand the best chance.
Closing in on the finish, 2km to go, the dream looks over for Boucher - Van Garderen has reeled him back in, and we get a good view of the stage ending climb.
So into the final kilometre, its Van Garderen slightly ahead of Schleck.
But now its Schleck slightly ahead of Van Garderen, as Boucher is blown away.
And Frank Schleck takes stage win number 2! He instigated the move, and only Van Garderen of the GC rivals could cope - a gap is now sure, and the race lead his.
Its a great effort by Boucher, and the Frenchman takes 3rd place on the stage, losing 50 seconds in that final kilometre.
Racing into 4th is Jelle Vanendert - the gap being 1'09 - so Van Garderen is sure to move into a podium spot. After the Domina rider its Di Luca, Kolesnikov, Gautier, Visconti, Kruijswijk, Casar and Pereiro.
Other attackers in here are Clement, Bennatim, Duque, Pate and of course, this man: Granjel Cabrera
He gave everything once again, but its all in vain as far as the race lead goes. He does hold onto 2nd overall though, 14 seconds ahead of Van Garderen.
There's now a further gap to the peloton, at 2'22. Hagen jumps away to lead it in - did he misjudge the stage length, or simply not care with GC hopes gone?
The big 4 losers in the pack are those who made the front group on Stage 5 but nowhere today - Ulissi, Talabardon, Dowsett and Flecha. Oh and Bakelandts, who did nothing again.
1
Frank Schleck
Vesuvio-Accumalux
4h10'52
2
Tejay Van Garderen
Wikipedia
s.t.
DQ
Dietmar Mehr-Wenige
Auber 93 - Look
s.t.
3
David Boucher
Team Pokerstars.com
+ 50
4
Jelle Vanendert
Domina Vacanze
+ 1'09
5
Danilo Di Luca
Team Nespresso
s.t.
6
Sergei Kolesnikov
Warner Brothers - Carrefour
s.t.
7
Cyril Gautier
Lafarge
s.t.
8
Giovanni Visconti
Team Starbucks-RadioShack
s.t.
9
Steven Kruijswijk
Team B&O
s.t.
10
Sandy Casar
Carmeuse Cyclisme
s.t.
11
Óscar Pereiro Sio
Café de Colombia
s.t.
12
Markus Fahnert
Team Starbucks-RadioShack
s.t.
13
Stef Clement
Team Pokerstars.com
s.t.
14
Marcel Sieberg
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
15
Daniele Bennati
La Gazzetta dello Sport
s.t.
16
Leonardo Duque
Energie - Diesel
s.t.
17
Thomas Frei
Domina Vacanze
s.t.
18
Vladimir Bileka
Festina - Corona
s.t.
19
Sten Stenersen
Team B&O
s.t.
20
Gabriel Brizuela
Lipton Ice Tea
s.t.
21
Raúl Granjel Cabrera
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
22
Ryan Eastman
Wikipedia
s.t.
23
Danny Pate
Wikipedia
s.t.
24
Martin Pedersen
Philips - TDC
s.t.
25
Nikolas Maes
Auber 93 - Look
s.t.
26
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Team B&O
+ 2'22
27
Diego Ulissi
Festina - Corona
s.t.
28
Marcus Burghardt
Wikipedia
s.t.
29
Manuele Mori
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
30
Kristjan Koren
Team Starbucks-RadioShack
s.t.
31
Patrik Sinkewitz
Auber 93 - Look
s.t.
32
Santo Anza
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
33
Roman Kreuziger
Team B&O
s.t.
34
Matej Mugerli
La Gazzetta dello Sport
s.t.
35
Cesare Di Maggio
Lipton Ice Tea
s.t.
36
Alex Dowsett
La Gazzetta dello Sport
s.t.
37
Sergio Marinangeli
La Gazzetta dello Sport
s.t.
38
Juan-Antonio Flecha
Warner Brothers - Carrefour
s.t.
39
Matthew Busche
Wikipedia
s.t.
40
Lars Ytting Bak
Philips - TDC
s.t.
41
Angel Vicioso
Energie - Diesel
s.t.
42
Kenny De Ketele
Warner Brothers - Carrefour
s.t.
43
Laurens Ten Dam
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
44
Gustavo Veloso
Energie - Diesel
s.t.
45
Ben Gastauer
Vesuvio-Accumalux
s.t.
46
Matteo Bono
La Gazzetta dello Sport
s.t.
47
Sébastien Joly
Café de Colombia
s.t.
48
Danny Summerhill
Café de Colombia
s.t.
49
Martin Reimer
Philips - TDC
s.t.
50
Damien Gaudin
Auber 93 - Look
s.t.
51
Sebastian Langeveld
Auber 93 - Look
s.t.
52
Mathieu Drujon
Auber 93 - Look
s.t.
53
Honorio Machado
Café de Colombia
s.t.
54
Jean Mespoulède
Auber 93 - Look
s.t.
55
Paul Martens
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
56
André Cardoso
Energie - Diesel
s.t.
57
Jason Donald
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
58
Yannick Talabardon
Warner Brothers - Carrefour
s.t.
59
Christophe Brandt
Carmeuse Cyclisme
s.t.
60
Mauro Santambrogio
La Gazzetta dello Sport
s.t.
61
Steven Caethoven
Carmeuse Cyclisme
s.t.
62
Chris Anker Sørensen
Team B&O
s.t.
63
Jan Bakelants
Pearl Adidas
s.t.
64
Andrew Tennant
Café de Colombia
s.t.
65
Bas Giling
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
66
Thomas Vedel Kvist
Festina - Corona
s.t.
67
Frederik Nolf
Festina - Corona
s.t.
68
Branislav Samoilev
Pearl Adidas
s.t.
69
Mauro Richeze
Pearl Adidas
s.t.
70
Jesus Tendero
Energie - Diesel
s.t.
71
Anders Lund
Philips - TDC
s.t.
72
Dmitri Muravjev
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
73
Jukka Vastaranta
Pearl Adidas
s.t.
74
Benoît Vaugrenard
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
75
Jakub Danacik
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
76
Kevin Van Impe
Team Pokerstars.com
s.t.
77
Jurgen Van Goolen
Festina - Corona
s.t.
78
Niels Scheunemann
Philips - TDC
s.t.
79
Sébastien Rosseler
Warner Brothers - Carrefour
s.t.
80
Paul Healion
Café de Colombia
s.t.
81
Eric Berthou
Pearl Adidas
s.t.
82
Rémi Pauriol
Domina Vacanze
s.t.
83
Jérôme Baugnies
Lipton Ice Tea
s.t.
84
Sam Bewley
Festina - Corona
s.t.
85
Jens Debusschere
Carmeuse Cyclisme
s.t.
86
Michael Reihs
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
87
Niels Brouzes
Auber 93 - Look
s.t.
88
Greg De Winde
Warner Brothers - Carrefour
s.t.
89
Paride Grillo
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
90
Michael Faerk Christensen
Team B&O
s.t.
91
Michael Van Stayen
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
92
Alexandre Aulas
Carmeuse Cyclisme
s.t.
93
Tony Martin
Domina Vacanze
s.t.
94
Tom Criel
Team Starbucks-RadioShack
s.t.
95
Thomas Bontenackels
Lipton Ice Tea
s.t.
96
Dan Holloway
Team Pokerstars.com
s.t.
97
Sébastien Minard
Lafarge
s.t.
98
Claudio Corioni
Energie - Diesel
s.t.
99
Dennis Van Winden
La Gazzetta dello Sport
s.t.
100
Sven Nooytens
Lipton Ice Tea
s.t.
101
Romain Vanderbiest
Pearl Adidas
s.t.
102
Matthew Crane
Team Starbucks-RadioShack
s.t.
103
Björn Schröder
Domina Vacanze
s.t.
104
Mitch Docker
Lafarge
s.t.
105
Luigi Sestili
Lafarge
s.t.
106
Michael Mørkøv
Philips - TDC
s.t.
107
Elia Viviani
Energie - Diesel
s.t.
108
Jempy Drucker
Team B&O
s.t.
109
Mauro Da Dalto
Domina Vacanze
s.t.
110
Aleksandr Mironov
Lipton Ice Tea
s.t.
111
Ciaran Kelly
Vesuvio-Accumalux
s.t.
112
Manuel Antonio Cardoso
Pearl Adidas
s.t.
113
Eloy Teruel
Energie - Diesel
s.t.
114
Rudi Van Houts
Warner Brothers - Carrefour
s.t.
115
Danilo Wyss
Domina Vacanze
s.t.
116
Radomir Simunek
Team Starbucks-RadioShack
s.t.
117
Tomas Swift-Metcalfe
Café de Colombia
s.t.
118
Sebastien Einsle
Vesuvio-Accumalux
s.t.
119
Dries Beatse
Carmeuse Cyclisme
s.t.
120
Marcel Kittel
Vesuvio-Accumalux
s.t.
121
Willem Van Den Eynde
Carmeuse Cyclisme
s.t.
122
Rik Kavsek
Team Starbucks-RadioShack
s.t.
123
David Claerebout
Vesuvio-Accumalux
s.t.
124
Joeri Adams
Carmeuse Cyclisme
s.t.
125
Teodoro Costagli
Vesuvio-Accumalux
s.t.
126
Nicolas Portal
Team Nespresso
+ 3'46
127
Geert Steurs
Team Nespresso
s.t.
128
Nolan Hoffman
Team Nespresso
s.t.
129
Jose Mendes
Team Nespresso
s.t.
130
Denis Galimzyanov
Vesuvio-Accumalux
s.t.
131
Mathieu Bernaudeau
Festina - Corona
s.t.
132
Stijn Joseph
Pearl Adidas
s.t.
133
Ivano Lo Cicero
Team Nespresso
s.t.
134
Rick Flens
La Gazzetta dello Sport
s.t.
135
Joseph Cooper
Jack Wolfskin
s.t.
136
Mark Renshaw
Team Starbucks-RadioShack
s.t.
137
Óscar Avelino
Lipton Ice Tea
s.t.
138
Kasper Klostergaard
Philips - TDC
s.t.
139
Baden Cooke
Domina Vacanze
s.t.
140
Daan Rijntjes
Wikipedia
s.t.
141
Gregor Gazvoda
Lipton Ice Tea
s.t.
142
Pavel Korzh
Lafarge
s.t.
143
Artjom Timofeev
Wikipedia
s.t.
144
Wen Hao Li
Festina - Corona
s.t.
145
Freddy Johansson
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
146
Marco Brus
Team Pokerstars.com
s.t.
147
Hugues Mottin
Team Nespresso
s.t.
148
Alexander Giraldo
Warner Brothers - Carrefour
s.t.
149
Christian Vande Velde
Lafarge
s.t.
150
Jelle Wallays
Team Pokerstars.com
+ 7'31
151
Erik Mohs
Team Pokerstars.com
+ 7'43
152
Kevin Peeters
Lafarge
s.t.
153
Kristian Sobota
Team B&O
+ 8'03
154
Jaime Alberto Castañeda
Café de Colombia
+ 8'31
155
Aggrey Sebright
Wikipedia
s.t.
156
Thurakit Boonratanathanakorn
Team 1
s.t.
157
Kim Michely
Team 1
+ 12'57
158
Sebastian Batchelor
Team 1
+ 13'45
159
Adrien Niyonshuti
Team 1
+ 22'49
GC
1
Frank Schleck
Vesuvio-Accumalux
24h17'57
2
Raúl Granjel Cabrera
Sony Ericsson
+ 1'09
3
Tejay Van Garderen
Wikipedia
+ 1'23
DQ
Dietmar Mehr-Wenige
Auber 93 - Look
+ 1'27
4
Danilo Di Luca
Team Nespresso
+ 1'37
5
Daniele Bennati
La Gazzetta dello Sport
+ 1'41
6
Sergei Kolesnikov
Warner Brothers - Carrefour
s.t.
7
Steven Kruijswijk
Team B&O
+ 1'49
8
Giovanni Visconti
Team Starbucks-RadioShack
s.t.
9
Sandy Casar
Carmeuse Cyclisme
s.t.
10
Stef Clement
Team Pokerstars.com
s.t.
11
Leonardo Duque
Energie - Diesel
+ 2'44
12
Cyril Gautier
Lafarge
s.t.
13
Jelle Vanendert
Domina Vacanze
s.t.
14
Óscar Pereiro Sio
Café de Colombia
s.t.
15
Alex Dowsett
La Gazzetta dello Sport
+ 3'02
16
Diego Ulissi
Festina - Corona
s.t.
17
Juan-Antonio Flecha
Warner Brothers - Carrefour
s.t.
18
Yannick Talabardon
Warner Brothers - Carrefour
s.t.
19
David Boucher
Team Pokerstars.com
+ 3'29
20
Martin Pedersen
Philips - TDC
+ 3'48
21
Nikolas Maes
Auber 93 - Look
s.t.
22
Thomas Frei
Domina Vacanze
s.t.
23
Ryan Eastman
Wikipedia
s.t.
24
Danny Pate
Wikipedia
s.t.
25
Matej Mugerli
La Gazzetta dello Sport
+ 3'57
26
Santo Anza
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
27
Cesare Di Maggio
Lipton Ice Tea
s.t.
28
Matthew Busche
Wikipedia
s.t.
29
Mitch Docker
Lafarge
+ 4'41
30
Steven Caethoven
Carmeuse Cyclisme
+ 4'53
31
Claudio Corioni
Energie - Diesel
s.t.
32
Sergio Marinangeli
La Gazzetta dello Sport
+ 5'01
33
Mathieu Drujon
Auber 93 - Look
s.t.
34
Romain Vanderbiest
Pearl Adidas
s.t.
35
Honorio Machado
Café de Colombia
s.t.
36
Mauro Richeze
Pearl Adidas
s.t.
37
Danny Summerhill
Café de Colombia
s.t.
38
Jérôme Baugnies
Lipton Ice Tea
s.t.
39
Dan Holloway
Team Pokerstars.com
s.t.
40
Paride Grillo
Sony Ericsson
s.t.
Points
1
Raúl Granjel Cabrera
Sony Ericsson
149
2
Erik Mohs
Team Pokerstars.com
111
3
Daniele Bennati
La Gazzetta dello Sport
108
4
Sam Bewley
Festina - Corona
105
5
Michael Van Stayen
Jack Wolfskin
101
6
Ivano Lo Cicero
Team Nespresso
93
7
Romain Vanderbiest
Pearl Adidas
91
8
Baden Cooke
Domina Vacanze
89
9
Frank Schleck
Vesuvio-Accumalux
78
10
Jaime Alberto Castañeda
Café de Colombia
67
KoM
1
Mauro Santambrogio
La Gazzetta dello Sport
45
2
Andrew Tennant
Café de Colombia
38
3
Gabriel Brizuela
Lipton Ice Tea
38
4
Benoît Vaugrenard
Jack Wolfskin
37
5
Jelle Wallays
Team Pokerstars.com
30
6
Sébastien Rosseler
Warner Brothers - Carrefour
27
7
Luigi Sestili
Lafarge
25
8
Sten Stenersen
Team B&O
22
9
Danny Pate
Wikipedia
17
10
Jérôme Baugnies
Lipton Ice Tea
15
Young Rider
1
Raúl Granjel Cabrera
Sony Ericsson
24h19'06 (1)
2
Tejay Van Garderen
Wikipedia
+ 14 (2)
3
Sergei Kolesnikov
Warner Brothers - Carrefour
+ 32 (3)
4
Steven Kruijswijk
Team B&O
+ 40 (4)
5
Cyril Gautier
Lafarge
+ 1'35 (5)
Team
Warner Bros and La Gazzetta had a bad day, but Wikipedia full just short of passing them
