The race starts with a 4,4km prologue. It`s the only time trial here and will bring a first smaller selection. While the GC riders will try to reduce their loss, the prologue specialists fight for the first race lead.
Verona is the first specialist on the road. The Spaniard with a decent time in 6'19.
Paulinho is one of the better allrounders. Pretty good uphill and also against the clock. So he must be watched for the GC.
He can`t beat the best time though and finishes 5s behind.
Wyss has an incredible season so far being one of the dominant CT riders. Also here he is expected to score valuable points or even fight for the race podium.
+8s to Verona though as prologues aren`t his biggest strength.
Tiernan-Locke is quite a similar rider. GC wise he should play a good role in the end. Today it`s just about reducing his loss. +19s though are quite a lot on such a short route.
Renäng is todays favourite. The Swede is one of the best CT time trialists and with his weakness on any uphill parts it`s all about todays stage for him.
And he is not disappointing as he takes the best time with 6'13. 6s faster than Verona, who is still sitting in 2nd.
Joeaar as next rider is one of his biggest opponents. Just a little bit weaker but with his climbing skills one of the GC outside GC bets. His start though is awful. One of his worst prologues probably as he can`t finish within the best. 4th only also behind Alpina`s Rodriguez Parra and 8s slower than Renäng.
Mendes is without a doubt the divisions top puncheur and he could actually also play a nice role in bigger races. Therefore he is the top favourite in the GC. Being 16s behind today is not the best effort but nothing to worry about that much.
Horgan is the next time trialist. And he is doing far better than the last riders as he is taking 2nd behind Renäng. 4s behind.
Haga had some bad luck races so far this season. Here he surely hopes to get a decent GC. The American stage racer with a good start almost beating Renäng`s time. In the end only 1s down.
Duggan also belongs to the race favourites. With only 6s down he should have a small advantage over his opponents.
Hochmann is more known as good sprinter and belongs to the best in this race. But he is also a pretty good prologue specialist and so his 3rd behind Renäng and Haga is no big surprise. 2s only for him.
Rosskopf as next allrounder. He can`t podium today but he comes close as 4th only 3s behind. So the Americans with a very good start here as also Haga and Duggan finish in the top10.
Winner though is the Swede Renäng for Team Live Nation.
Also with good results offside the TV, Hansen as 5th, Hagen 6th, Dahlberg 8th and Rosseler in 9th.
