2nd stage and a tougher profile already. While being flat rated we have 4 ranked mountains containing one climb over more or less the first 100km and two late bumps, which might hurt the sprinters in their hope to win.
No breakaway yet but still some riders ahead of the peloton going for anotehr try. McLay Dall'Oste Reis
is the order at the sprint, so no points for the sprinters.
A bit later parts of that group form the breakaway. Replace Reis with Bulgac though.
Reis actually is back in the peloton being one of two Live Nations riders doing the pace for race leader Renäng.
First KoM points of this race but no one looks interested. Bulgac takes them easily ahead of Dall'Oste and McLay.
And also the next KoM on top of the long climb no interest. This time McLay ahead of Bulgac and Dall'Oste.
At least the sprint is delivering some real fight. Shame for the spectators, who all cheered at the KoM while here only a handful is watching.
McLay easily ahead of Dall'Oste and Bulgac.
Back to the KoM sprints and as you can see both are still for the break even though the peloton is coming closer. Shame for Euskaltel`s Vassilis Adamou, who punctured just before and is behind the group now.
Dall'Oste 8points, McLay 6, Bulgac 4 on this two.
Combined this results in a shared lead as all 3 have collected 14 points! Could it be any more fair after 4 KoM`s without any interest?
Lots of fog in the highlands here. 8km left and the break is caught. And except for Adamou all riders are still together, so the sprinters have survived the late hills.
Sprint trains are forming and best at the moment the guys from Azteca.
Parisien
Crespo
Haedo
Forero
Serebriakov
Fonseca
Pozdnyakov
Korkotyan
Mendes
Renäng
Brammeier
Dahlberg
Manarelli
Haddou
Geschke
Sabatini
Iglinski
Sutton
Some sprinters with a pretty big gap as Manarelli and the guys behind. Also Ameriabank with a totally mess here with three riders in position but all without a leadout.
Ameriabank improved a lot as Serebriakov found Pozdnyakov`s wheel and are equal to Azteca now.
Forero and Fonseca behind the trains.
Also Manarelli and Dahlberg in a good position now after giving everything to bridge the gap.
Geschke and Haddou also try to join the top sprinters. But this costs a lot of energy obviously.
One leadout rider more is worth a lot it seems. While Ameriabank is dropping again, Crespo just took over and brings Haedo in an excellent position.
Forero, Manarelli, Geschke, Serebriakov, Haddou right behind.
Further behind Korkotyan, Arango, Stroetinga and Sabatini.
800m and Haedo goes into the win having a gap already. Forero and Geschke behind with Manarelli, Haddou and Manarelli also giving everything.
What a close sprint. Only Haddou with a gap.
Out of nowhere Fonseca is back in the top positions on the left being one of the fastest now pulling Korkotyan, Arango and Stroetinga with him.
He even goes into the lead but also Serebriakov is coming fast. Haedo looks beaten in the fight for the win and also Geschke hugely drops back.
And it is indeed the win for Fonseca after his great come back. So no South American win here.
Haedo still 2nd ahead of Serebriakov and Forero. With Manarelli another South American as 5th.
Korkotyan, Arango, Haddou and Stroetinga next. So lots of nice slipstream behind Fonseca. Geschke as 10th a bit disappointed I guess.
As PCM did not want to export and it might not be the only stage actually, here only screenshots.
