Todays stage is harder with some tough climbs towards the end. But the finish will be flat again, so some sprinters might have chances as well. Biggest favourite must the Team Vueling of course. Kennaugh dominated yesterday, but it`s Reimer, who might be their better option today.
Garbelli and Gruzdev are the first two rider with an attack this morning.
The Vespa rider also takes the first KoM ahead of his companion. One more point is still to get, so the fight in the peloton might become interesting.
3 riders did try to get this small pointer. In the end WWE`s Diaz takes it ahead of Kadri and De Bie.
Diaz also is one of two riders to join the duo in front. The other one is Ngue.
The gap is at 3min now and we have the official group of the day.
First sprint and Ngue takes it ahead of Garbelli and Gruzdev. Diaz, who did lots of the chasing did not have the energy to challenge them.
Vueling with 3 riders are working in the peloton. With 90km to go the gap is up to 4min. So everyhing is under control.
Also Pivovarna Lasko can be seen in the first lines, which probably means that they play something today. Kump and Ben Nasser surely belong to the favourites today.
Ngue wins the 2nd KoM of the day. Behind him Garbelli takes 3 more points with Diniz again taking the last point.
The gap went down quite early. Already with 45km left the group is just ahead and we have the next attack. Definitely not the best decision of the chasing teams to catch them that early.
The attacker is Pranata. Team manager bjartne surely hopes for some unexpected points here and this might be the best tactic.
In other news Stancu lost contact to the peloton for some reason as no crash or technical was mentioned. He will hurry up. Otherwise the time limit might become a problem.
Ngue is not tired yet and joins the Armavia rider in his attempt. This is strong riding by him today. But actually it`s the kind of riding the CT teams need to compete against the PCT teams.And of course it`s the kind of riding the spectators appreciate the most.
But unlucky for both the attempt failed as the peloton caught them soon after again.
Quite blocked at the next sprint as some cars and moto bikes went too slow. And as no rider is in front it`s a good opportunity for race leader Kennaugh to take 6 more bonus seconds in a unchallenged sprint.
But just when he had a huge gap other sprinters decided to fight for the points as well and Van der Lijke takes the 2nd ahead of Lo Cicero.
Next KoM today and we have several riders in front, who were active before.
Vespa`s Pagoto takes the 5 points and combined with his 5 points from yesterdays breakaway he takes the virtual lead.
Pranata and once again Ngue come over the line next and try it yet another time.
Kadri as 4th once again without any points.
And we have the first of 3 real climbs and it`s definitely the hardest with some high % sections.
The attackers at the KoM are back and so the packed peloton is going up trying to get some selections.
32km left and in a 12% section 4 riders attack.
Once again the very active Vespa team with Bono, Pranata, Rabie and maybe the strongest rider of those Kump.
Several riders were surprised by this acceleration and lose contact. More or less all sprinters are gone but race leader Kennaugh, who is fighting.
But we have also some riders, that weren`t expected to lose contact here. Tamayo Martinez Van der Lijke Pineau
and definitely most surprising and unlucky for his team Flügel.
At least his team mates reacted immediately and will try to close the gap again.
He still has 3-4 team mates in that 40 rider group and in especially Preidler and Bochman are good helpers. But the gap is already above 1min and even though they are chasing hard the peloton of ~45 riders left isn`t waiting for obvious reasons.
2nd climb and Jaguar and Bpost are doing the pace although the later are not doing many relays.
1min ahead the group of 4, 1'30 behind the Flügel group now reduced to just 10 riders due to their effort with Van der Lijke, Pineau, Astarloza and the Volkswagen guys.
With 15km to go the group is caught and we have 48 riders left with one climb to go.
Already 2'30 behind Flügel is slowly losing the last hope to come back. Very unlucky stage for him.
Jaguar`s Konte with an awesome performance. He is doing almost all the work alone and still being able to keep the gap to the Flügel group. But soon he will run out of power as the Flügel group is down to 1'45.
Bad news for the German though as the favourites start their attacks, which will higher the pace again. Dowsett is the first followed by Ben Nasser.
A bit behind also Gautier, Kump, Taborre, Armee, Schurter and Montaguti try to join the attacks.
First three mentioned are the only ones with a small 16s gap, while the others are back in the group.
And also Flügel is doing well now being down to 1min behind. Can he still come back?
None of them is careing about the KoM points. They just want to win here and hold this gap.
Ben Nasser, Gautier and Dowsett is the order with Schurter being a bit ahead of the peloton.
This last climb was too much for Kennaugh, who fought a lot today. So we will definitely see a GC change today.
Together with him some other riders like Ngue, Grychenko, Hugentobler or Kadri also lose contact.
What a ride by Schurter. He takes a lot of risks on the descent but is rewarded as he joins the trio in front.
2,6km to go but only 16s for them.
1,9km left and the four riders are caught. Ben Nasser still trying it with a long sprint.
But the favourites now are in especially the two Germans Reimer and Wegmann as also Kump. Last one though attacked twice today and might have saved his energy a bit better.
Kump and Wegmann coming fast from behind being equal with Ben Nasser now.
Behind Dowsett, Gautier, Hoogerland, Reimer and Kessler.
Nothing to be seen of Froome today.
Ben Nasser is struggling. So is his team mate Kump. And also Wegmann must pay tribute to the hills today.
Dowsett found his 2nd air and is back in the business. Great ride by the Brit today. Also Reimer and out of nowhere Sander Armee are closing the gap.
Sander Armee turns on his turbo as he goes into the lead with Dowsett in 2nd.
And with more than one bike lengths he takes todays win. This came pretty unexpected but in the end he did a smart sprint.
Dowsett in 2nd will also be happy with the time bonuses. Reimer completes the podium.
Wegmann and Hoogerland finish next with all the other favourites in that group coming in next and within the same time.
This will also move Armee into the GC lead, which is a great success for his team.
All but Flügel. The German lost 1'37 in the end and probably losing the GC already. Very bad news for Volkswagen as they need any points for promotion.
Also in this group the yellow jersey of Kennaugh, who will get another chance on the last day and Van der Lijke.
Even further behind Jerome Pineau with almost 4min back.
At least good news for Swedbank as Stancu is finishing 18min back but still inside the limit.
