The climbing begins almost immediately with a pretty tough noon 2nd category climb up to Rionero Sannitico. We keep going up to a pretty severe height this early in the season over Passo del Diavolo before plunging down and along to a sprint hotspot in Avezzano. Just one small climb to go in a pretty easy finale into Tivoli.
Shouldn't be hard enough to hurt Boonen or Bennati, though not the simplest of openings for them. The race favourites are likely to hope to just get through this before the first hilly finish tomorrow.
It really is going to be a test for Bennati here with Boonan having a really decent looking team green sprint train, not too mention the really dangerous young sprinter Bewley lurking. But first they all have to get up over the big pass which could be a test for the likes of sprinters Van Heerden and Guarnieri.
This incredible field set of in search of the sea on the other side of Italy.
It is good territory for the breakaways and Veloso, Sokolov and Sinkeldam get a couple of minutes up the road.
This trio works for the pack who settle down behind steady Puma and Aker pacing.
The lead trio are fairly well matched and are all decent enough climbers of small climbs. This second category part of the pass is about 5% to 7% most of the time. Not too much of a problem for the pro's.
Sinkeldam nabs the top spot at the sprint after quite the tussle with his breakaway companions.
Kruijswijk and Burghardt decide to go for the minor mountains points out of the pack.
Burghardt eases back but Kruijswijk decides to push on solo.
It seems a bit of a strange thing to do with the lead trio six and a half minutes down the road, but I guess the Dutch all rounder likes a challenge.
Things ease off for the climbing after the 2nd category summit. It is here that Meersman suffers a puncture.
Not a problem really to get back on with the pack allowing the gap to the leaders to balloon to ten minutes.
Kruijswijk has pretty much made it across before the top of the pass, but the leaders start attacking each other for the KoM bonuses.
Sinkeldam again manages to outfight his two rivals with Sokolov and Veloso swapping positions meaning both are now 6 points adrift of 1t4i's rider.
The pack are just beginning to chase with an uneasy alliance between Pokerstars, Puma and Milka. They wish for the big sprinters showdown.
It's taken Kruijswijk sometime to recover following the mountain points attacks but with 90km to go he catches the lead trio.
With 90km to go their lead is under seven minutes, so the now quartet are under control. But they are probably not ready to throw in the towel yet.
Sinkeldam nabs the green points as well over Sokolov and Veloso. He is a greedy so and so! Can the break conspire against him to deny him the some mountains jersey points on the last 4th cat climb?
Indeed they can as Veloso nips in ahead of Kruijswijk and Sokolov, depriving Sinkeldam of any points. No matter the 1t4i man will wear the mountains leader jersey tomorrow.
Aker MOT lead the pack over, now just under four minutes behind the break with 50km left. Still a bit touch and go regarding the catch as we have a lot of downhill to go.
However Pearl Adidas and Aker MOT really put their heads down, in particular the Pearl Adidas roulers Joseph, Franzoi and Leezer.
Through the trees the four riders are now in sight of the pack who are inside of 20km to go to this highly anticipated sprint.
Delage leads the storming pack past the breakaways, Pokerstars are mixing it up with them. This is going to be a brutal battle for supremacy.
Here we go with less than 9km to go Boonen is settling in alongside Bennati, with Guarnieri, Bewley and Van Heerden playing close attention. Pozzato, Hagen, Ulissi, Vanderaerden and Corioni are not too far away either.
4.5km to go here we go Puma play their hand.
Minard pulls off as Delage, Gasparotto, Kvist steam through with Bennati and Van Heerden taking a tow.
Pokerstars mobilise their battle train.
Van Impe and Mohs lead out Boonen, Bewley, Pozzato, Sobota, Bakelants and Grillo chooses this train. Corioni, Vanderaerden and Guarnieri choose the Puma one along with Van Heerden.
It should be noted the wind reading is in the mid 30's, riders should beware poking their heads out too early.
2km left and the first drivers drop off, Mohs has a bit to do against Kvist.
Puma swing across - the Italian judges look on amused, whilst the Belgium commentary box explode in anger.
The Italians might not be impressed by Gasparotto who neatly sits in front of Guarnieri blocking him badly.
Van Heerden has stolen a few lengths, Corioni is sticking close to his wheel. Bennati feels the need to move past Kvist.
Kvist conveniently slots in ahead of Mohs, Boonen badly needs to get out of this.
Bennati launches a devastating kick swiftly moving past Van Heerden up the slightly rising corner.
Boonen is moving across as Vanderaerden fades back, with Bewley still having a lot to do.
Boonen is now kicking with Bewley, Pozzato is following their wake. Just 500m left though, Bennati will be tough to overhaul.
300m
Bewley is pushing Boonen as Van Heerden fades with Corioni.
Bennati is fading...
It's not going to be Daniele despite his teams blocking actions.
It's a photo....
BEWLEY!
Pozzato is fifth, Grillo sixth with Reynes, Corioni, Ponzi, Van Heerden and Mohs in the picture.
A big win for young Bewley, after the race in Qatar he has stepped up here.
Stage result
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Sam Bewley
Milka - AVG
6h01'55
2
Tom Boonen
Pokerstars.com
s.t.
3
Daniele Bennati
Team Puma - SAP
s.t.
4
Filippo Pozzato
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
