This could be one of the decisive stages of this race. There's a few hills on the way including four KoM primes, all 4th Category and hence a total of 20 points for a lucky escapee. Daniel Schorn leads this competition but if he has any ambitions to win it he needs to be in today's break.
But the Volkswagen-Mapei rider must not feel well after today's big effort as he doesn't even try to join the break. A number of riders do though.
Keisse, Selig, Beppu, Vosekains, Chamorro, Sulimov, Olman, Guarnieri all tries but in vain. Instead three riders go clear after these guys settle down and they are let go!
The three riders are Laidler, Van Baarle and Müller.
While those three quickly build a gap of 3'38 let's have a look at one of today's big favourites, Lars Boom. The stage ends with four ascends of the infamous Kiddesvej hill in Vejle. A sharp, short climb perfect for the likes of the World Champion, but also guys like Betancourt and Kolobnev are ones to watch here.
Swedbank-PEAB are doing the work in front of the pack right now. With the first KoM sprint coming up the break leads by 5'28 with 126 kilometres to the final passing of the finish line.
The five points here are won by Van Baarle. Müller in second and Laidler just edged out for third.
After the sprint, the gaps peaks at 6'24 before Vueling takes the front for their race leader Kennaugh.
At the second KoM Sprint Müller is going to take it ahead of Van Baarle.
As the pack descends that hill there's a split in the pack! A big group of 32 riders are dropped and they will not be coming back as they are sitting up completely! It doesn't contain any real overall contenders though Reimer will be dissapointed to be there as he could definitely have the skill to break away in today's finale. Of course that would have only have happened if Kennaugh was dropped and so far he is looking pretty good. Ford is also in there and he would have hoped he could have stayed with the favourites today as he is definitely one of the favourites for the time trial in two days time. Another casualty is Rasmussen.
Then we have a Points Sprint which Laidler wins in front of Müller and Van Baarle before the finale starts in the pack. 48 kilometres to go and Bono and Vitoria has attacked and gapped the rest of the pack which is right now down to 86 riders following the split!
Vueling is keeping them on a leash though as the deficit to the two Italians is never no more than 21 seconds and they are also quickly reeled back in.
There's now 43 kilometres left and the gap to the three early attackers is sitting at around the 2-minute mark. Van Baarle also grabs the 5 points at the third KoM prime. He is definitely looking good in that competition now!
There's only a few kilometres to the next KoM sprint and in between the two there's new but stronger attack from the pack!
It's Klostergaard, Eichler, Busche, Lagutin and Bono who has made a bit of a gap! With 36 kilometres to go they have 37 seconds on the pack and are trailing the break by '54! Quickly after Van Baarle breaks clear of Müller and Laidler as they are unable to catch up.
The Bono Group quickly catches the two as they build their advantage to the pack to 56 seconds. Van Baarle is very strong though as he still has a lead of 44 seconds to the chasers and has also won the final KoM sprint as he now has 18 points and a solid lead.
But what's this now? A new split in the pack and this time it has cost one of the favourites dearly! Is it Kiriyenka?
No, it's Kolobnev! The big favourite for today has been caught off guard and is now sitting at the front of a chasing pack of 25 riders! He's already 1'04 down with 28 kilometres left. Böchmann and Hudecek are also in there!
Up front Van Baarle is powering on as he wins the final points sprint of the day. 26 kilometres to go but his gap has shrinked to just 20 seconds. He's about to enter the circuit now which the riders have to complete four times. The pack is about a minute and half back. This could be a chance for one of the five chasers?
Back in the pack it's Rothaus taking charge. They're working for Mr. Boom here!
It's still Van Baarle at the front as we have begun the first ascend of Kiddesvej! He's extended his gap to the chasers! 36 seconds now on the chasers and 1'04 on the peloton. He's starting to hurt though!
Near the top him and the Bono Group is reeled in as we now have a group of 48 riders at the front. Immediately there's a strong attack!
Carlos Betancourt gets away alone and he quickly gets a healthy gap!
15 kilometres to go and we're at Kiddesvej for the second time. The gap is out to 40 seconds, with Swedbank leading the pack! Peter Kennaugh is still sitting in a very good position right at the front.
As we head down again it's Kessler and Richardson who attacks and cuts the deficit down to 37 seconds!
It doesn't work for those two as the pack is going very fast right now. Vitoria does manage to get a small advantage as we hit Kiddesvej for the third time, but he is about to get caught again. Betancourt leads Vitoria by 31 seconds as he is about to lap some of the back-markers.
The pack is down to just 34 riders as we go down the descend and approach the final ride up the steep climb. Betancourt must have taken advantage of the attacks being reeled in by the pack as he now leads the 34 chasers by 55 seconds! 2 kilometres to go!
As approach the Flame Rouge the gap is up to 56 seconds, but here comes the attacks! Zakarin and and the 2012 Winner of this race Kai Reus are trying to power clear!
Also Lars Boom is coming now and they can see Betancourt not far up the road. Boom is really charging here, he is going so fast!
Can he overtake Betancourt?
No! Carlos Betancourt wins the stage in style. A great attack from almost 20 kilometres out!
Boom takes second place 14 seconds behind Betancourt but grabs 12 valuable boni seconds. He's definitely going to need those in the time trial with David Zabriskie here! Kessler takes third place ahead of the two former Post Danmark Rundt Champs Reus and Cornu with Zabriskie in 6th Place. René Mandri must be kicking himself for his big time loss in stage one as he takes 7th today ahead of Kiryenka and Izagirre. Ciaran Kelly rounds out the Top 10.
Kennaugh hung on nicely here as he finishes inside the big group at 14 seconds. Betancourt takes over the yellow jersey though by six seconds.
