Today's stage is just 111 kilometres. 1 KoM sprint and two intermediate sprints along the way. It should be another one for the sprinters.
It didn't take long for the break to settle. A total of six riders tried to get into the early break and four succeeded. Those who didn't were Daniel Schorn and Matteo Priamo.
The four succesees were Keisse, Arashiro, Bush and Chernetskiy.
Arashiro takes a symbolical win at the KoM prime. Van Baarle has that sown up after his effort yesterday.
Back the pack it's calm before the storm. An unusual sight seeing a small rider like Chamorro at the front but obviously he is working for yellow jersey wearer Betancourt.
Chernetskiy takes the following points sprint ahead of Keisse and Bush. Their lead is at 5 minutes with 70 kilometres in. So airBaltic, Rothaus and Vueling takes to the front!
We fast forward to 33 kilometres to go. The four out front leads the pack by 2'38 now.
The last intermediate sprint is won by Bush ahead of Arashiro and Keisse.
Not a whole lot happening here. The break is almost caught with 9 kilometres left of the race. But suddenly a huge crash at the back of the peloton! Izagirre is the biggest casualty here. It's a total of 11 rider where the Spaniard was definitely the most prominent name GC wise. Also Matti Breschel is lost for Kupfernagel in today's sprint.
Robert Bush is the last breakaway rider to get caught and with 3 kilometres to it's once again Vueling in charge as the sprint winds up. Reimer is leading Pedersen and Kennaugh. After him it's an airBaltic rider followed by Mitch Docker and Maxime Vantomme. Also in Kennaugh's wheel is Hollister sprinter Aguilar. Rowe, Haussler, Guarnieri and Kupfernagel are drifting a few metres behind the lead train!
Pedersen opens for Kennaugh! It looks like another textbook sprint from Vueling right here!
Chamorro has somehow found his way to the front as he is drifting on the far right side. The big sprinters are crammed together behind Vueling and Mitch Docker! There could be some boxing in!
Pedersen opened up too early maybe, because here comes Docker and Rowe is sprining off his wheel charging forward. Also Guarnieri and Aguilar are looking strong today. What about Vantomme? Looks like he has some work to do!
Rowe, Aguilar, Guarnieri and Kennaugh are coming around Docker it looks to between them. Vantomme surely hasn't got it today.
Rowe looks to be going slowest of the four while Guarnieri and Aguilar are gaining a bit on Kennaugh, they're actually going faster than the Brit right now!
Surprise! Guarnieri takes the win for Vespa! Aguilar almost bags Hollister back-to-back wins but only comes close. Kennaugh takes third place and with it 8 boni seconds that brings him back into the race lead before the time trial tomorrow. It will take a miracle performance from him to keep the tempo machines off though.
Also! This just in! A split has happened in the pack! Apparently there was a gap between the 65th and 66th placed rider. None of the favourites were implicated though.
