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
s.t.
5
Jan Bakelants
Pearl Adidas
s.t.
6
Paride Grillo
Koenigsegg
s.t.
7
Vicente Reynès
Santander
s.t.
8
Simone Ponzi
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
9
Claudio Corioni
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
s.t.
10
Juan Van Heerden
Simply Red Bull
s.t.
11
Erik Mohs
Pokerstars.com
s.t.
12
Kristian Sobota
Team B&O
s.t.
13
Jacopo Guarnieri
Vespa-Aprilia Racing
s.t.
14
Thomas Vedel Kvist
Team Puma - SAP
s.t.
15
Tejay Van Garderen
Wikipedia
s.t.
16
Peter Sagan
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
s.t.
17
Michael Vanderaerden
Lotto - Cervelo
s.t.
18
Diego Ulissi
Festina-Canal+
s.t.
19
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Aker - MOT
s.t.
20
Daniel Oss
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
s.t.
21
Enrico Gasparotto
Team Puma - SAP
s.t.
22
Rafael Rodríguez Segarra
Santander
s.t.
23
Damiano Cunego
Lotto - Cervelo
s.t.
24
Damiano Caruso
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
25
Kevin Van Impe
Pokerstars.com
s.t.
26
Maciej Paterski
Vesuvio - Accumalux
s.t.
27
Matteo Trentin
Project 1t4i
s.t.
28
Alessandro Ballan
Koenigsegg
s.t.
29
Nathan Haas
Aker - MOT
s.t.
30
Philippe Gilbert
Pendleton's
s.t.
31
Nick Kinney
Wikipedia
s.t.
32
Robin van der Hugenhaben
Koenigsegg
s.t.
33
Jack Bobridge
Simply Red Bull
s.t.
34
Ioannis Tamouridis
Festina-Canal+
s.t.
35
Rasmus Guldhammer
Team B&O
s.t.
36
Andreas Stauff
Lotto - Cervelo
s.t.
37
Francesco Ginanni
Vespa-Aprilia Racing
s.t.
38
Salvatore Mancuso
Team Bacardi
s.t.
39
Michael Albasini
UBS - BMC
s.t.
40
Frank Schleck
Vesuvio - Accumalux
s.t.
41
Sébastien Minard
Team Puma - SAP
s.t.
42
Cesare Di Maggio
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
s.t.
43
Danilo Wyss
UBS - BMC
s.t.
44
Matthias Krizek
Vespa-Aprilia Racing
s.t.
45
Grégory Rast
Pendleton's
s.t.
46
Frederik Nolf
Pokerstars.com
s.t.
47
Dimitri Claeys
Lotto - Cervelo
s.t.
48
Vegard Robinson Bugge
Aker - MOT
s.t.
49
Matteo Rabottini
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
50
Toms Skujins
Vesuvio - Accumalux
s.t.
51
Matteo Montaguti
Vespa-Aprilia Racing
s.t.
52
Wesley Kreder
Project 1t4i
s.t.
53
Dario Cataldo
Vespa-Aprilia Racing
s.t.
54
Jonathan McEvoy
Pendleton's
s.t.
55
Jocelyn Bar
Team Puma - SAP
s.t.
56
Vincenzo Nibali
UBS - BMC
s.t.
57
Laurens Ten Dam
Project 1t4i
s.t.
58
Jelle Vanendert
Project 1t4i
s.t.
59
Bob Jungels
Vesuvio - Accumalux
s.t.
60
Travis Meyer
Wikipedia
s.t.
61
Mickaël Delage
Team Puma - SAP
s.t.
62
Jelle Wallays
Pokerstars.com
s.t.
63
Alberigo Passalacqua
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
s.t.
64
Alex Kirsch
Vesuvio - Accumalux
s.t.
65
Welle Jallays
Pokerstars.com
s.t.
66
Moreno Hofland
Vesuvio - Accumalux
s.t.
67
Anders Lund
Aker - MOT
s.t.
68
Max Öste-Macdonald
Koenigsegg
s.t.
69
Remberto Jaramillo
Aker - MOT
s.t.
70
Oumaru Minoungou
Pendleton's
s.t.
71
Pieter Mertens
Pendleton's
s.t.
72
Markus Fahnert
Project 1t4i
s.t.
73
Artem Topchanyuk
Aker - MOT
s.t.
74
Sean Downey
Pendleton's
s.t.
75
David Claerebout
Vesuvio - Accumalux
s.t.
76
Mohammad Saufi Mat Senan
Project 1t4i
s.t.
77
Mikel Landa
Wikipedia
s.t.
78
Andzs Flaksis
Wikipedia
s.t.
79
Christophe Riblon
UBS - BMC
s.t.
80
Marco Brus
Festina-Canal+
s.t.
81
Alexandre Shushemoin
Aker - MOT
s.t.
82
Edoardo Girardi
UBS - BMC
s.t.
83
Lloyd Mondory
Pearl Adidas
s.t.
84
Domenico Pozzovivo
Vespa-Aprilia Racing
s.t.
85
Oliver Zaugg
UBS - BMC
s.t.
86
Tom Leezer
Pearl Adidas
s.t.
87
Branislav Samoilev
Pearl Adidas
s.t.
88
Joseph Biziyaremye
Aker - MOT
s.t.
89
Javier Moreno
Santander
s.t.
90
Marcello Pavarin
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
91
Enrico Franzoi
Pearl Adidas
s.t.
92
Marcus Burghardt
Team Bacardi
s.t.
93
Andrea Palini
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
94
Piter Campero
Festina-Canal+
s.t.
95
Jay McCarthy
Wikipedia
s.t.
96
Nick Ingels
Pokerstars.com
s.t.
97
Stijn Joseph
Pearl Adidas
s.t.
98
Sebastian Langeveld
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
s.t.
99
Nebojsa Jovanovic
Pendleton's
s.t.
100
Geert Steurs
Festina-Canal+
s.t.
101
Taylor Tolleson
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
s.t.
102
Frantisek Rabon
Milka - AVG
s.t.
103
David Rosch
Pendleton's
s.t.
104
Chiaffredo Grippo
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
105
Timothy Vangheel
Simply Red Bull
s.t.
106
Gediminas Bagdonas
Team Bacardi
s.t.
107
Gianni Meersman
Team Puma - SAP
s.t.
108
Wim De Vocht
Pokerstars.com
s.t.
109
Thomas Koep
Vesuvio - Accumalux
s.t.
110
Jackson Rodríguez
Pearl Adidas
s.t.
111
Mauro Facci
Simply Red Bull
s.t.
112
Alexandr Nepomnyachsniy
Milka - AVG
s.t.
113
Troels Vinter
Team B&O
s.t.
114
Sergio Marinangeli
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
s.t.
115
Rinaldo Nocentini
Control Team
s.t.
116
Sonny Colbrelli
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
s.t.
117
Morten Reckweg
Team B&O
s.t.
118
Bert-Jan Lindeman
Koenigsegg
s.t.
119
Jetse Bol
Team Puma - SAP
s.t.
120
Tanel Kangert
Pearl Adidas
s.t.
121
Chris Opie
Simply Red Bull
s.t.
122
Paolo Locatelli
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
123
Francisco José Terciado
Team Bacardi
s.t.
124
Martin Mortensen
Koenigsegg
s.t.
125
Kevin Ista
Simply Red Bull
s.t.
126
Elia Favilli
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
s.t.
127
Evert Verbist
Milka - AVG
s.t.
128
Zdenek Stybar
Milka - AVG
s.t.
129
Michał Kwiatkowski
Team B&O
s.t.
130
Ethan Weiss
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
s.t.
131
Gabriele Bosisio
Vespa-Aprilia Racing
s.t.
132
Matej Vysna
Milka - AVG
s.t.
133
Pedro Pablo Pereyra
Lotto - Cervelo
s.t.
134
Davide Cimolai
Vespa-Aprilia Racing
s.t.
135
Thomas Riber-Sellebjerg
Team B&O
s.t.
136
Ramon Sinkeldam
Project 1t4i
s.t.
137
Luca Paolini
Control Team
s.t.
138
Alfredo Balloni
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
139
Jakub Kratochvila
Milka - AVG
s.t.
140
Arnold Jeannesson
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
s.t.
141
Erick Rowsell
Simply Red Bull
s.t.
142
Pieter Ghyllebert
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
s.t.
143
Cristian Cominelli
Simply Red Bull
s.t.
144
Artemio Moschella
Lotto - Cervelo
s.t.
145
Kiel Reijnen
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
s.t.
146
Casper Jørgensen
Team B&O
s.t.
147
Alex Howes
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
s.t.
148
Evgeni Sokolov
Team Bacardi
+ 2'51
149
Andrei Nechita
Project 1t4i
+ 3'26
150
Gustavo Veloso
Santander
s.t.
151
Tadej Valjavec
Control Team
s.t.
152
Steven Kruijswijk
Team B&O
+ 4'42
153
Wladimir Gustov
Control Team
s.t.
154
Sylwester Szmyd
Control Team
s.t.
155
Andreas Klier
Control Team
+ 10'27
GC
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Sam Bewley
Milka - AVG
6h01'35
2
Tom Boonen
Pokerstars.com
+ 8
3
Daniele Bennati
Team Puma - SAP
+ 12
4
Ramon Sinkeldam
Project 1t4i
+ 14
5
Filippo Pozzato
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
+ 20
6
Jan Bakelants
Pearl Adidas
s.t.
7
Paride Grillo
Koenigsegg
s.t.
8
Vicente Reynès
Santander
s.t.
9
Simone Ponzi
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
10
Claudio Corioni
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
s.t.
11
Juan Van Heerden
Simply Red Bull
s.t.
12
Erik Mohs
Pokerstars.com
s.t.
13
Kristian Sobota
Team B&O
s.t.
14
Jacopo Guarnieri
Vespa-Aprilia Racing
s.t.
15
Thomas Vedel Kvist
Team Puma - SAP
s.t.
16
Tejay Van Garderen
Wikipedia
s.t.
17
Peter Sagan
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
s.t.
18
Michael Vanderaerden
Lotto - Cervelo
s.t.
19
Diego Ulissi
Festina-Canal+
s.t.
20
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Aker - MOT
s.t.
Points
Rank
Name
Team
Points
1
Sam Bewley
Milka - AVG
25
2
Tom Boonen
Pokerstars.com
20
3
Daniele Bennati
Team Puma - SAP
16
4
Filippo Pozzato
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
14
5
Jan Bakelants
Pearl Adidas
12
6
Paride Grillo
Koenigsegg
10
7
Vicente Reynès
Santander
9
8
Simone Ponzi
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
8
9
Claudio Corioni
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
7
10
Ramon Sinkeldam
Project 1t4i
6
11
Juan Van Heerden
Simply Red Bull
6
12
Erik Mohs
Pokerstars.com
5
13
Evgeni Sokolov
Team Bacardi
4
14
Kristian Sobota
Team B&O
4
15
Jacopo Guarnieri
Vespa-Aprilia Racing
3
16
Gustavo Veloso
Santander
2
17
Thomas Vedel Kvist
Team Puma - SAP
2
18
Tejay Van Garderen
Wikipedia
1
KoM
Rank
Name
Team
Mountain
1
Ramon Sinkeldam
Project 1t4i
15
2
Gustavo Veloso
Santander
14
3
Evgeni Sokolov
Team Bacardi
10
4
Steven Kruijswijk
Team B&O
7
5
Marcus Burghardt
Team Bacardi
2
Youth
Name
Team
General Time
Ramon Sinkeldam
Project 1t4i
6h01'49 (1)
Kristian Sobota
Team B&O
+ 6 (2)
Tejay Van Garderen
Wikipedia
+ 6 (3)
Peter Sagan
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
+ 6 (4)
Diego Ulissi
Festina-Canal+
+ 6 (5)
Matteo Trentin
Project 1t4i
+ 6 (6)
Nathan Haas
Aker - MOT
+ 6 (7)
Jack Bobridge
Simply Red Bull
+ 6 (8)
Rasmus Guldhammer
Team B&O
+ 6 (9)
Cesare Di Maggio
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
+ 6 (10)
Matthias Krizek
Vespa-Aprilia Racing
+ 6 (11)
Vegard Robinson Bugge
Aker - MOT
+ 6 (12)
Toms Skujins
Vesuvio - Accumalux
+ 6 (13)
Wesley Kreder
Project 1t4i
+ 6 (14)
Jonathan McEvoy
Pendleton's
+ 6 (15)
Jocelyn Bar
Team Puma - SAP
+ 6 (16)
Bob Jungels
Vesuvio - Accumalux
+ 6 (17)
Travis Meyer
Wikipedia
+ 6 (18)
Jelle Wallays
Pokerstars.com
+ 6 (19)
Alberigo Passalacqua
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
+ 6 (20)
Alex Kirsch
Vesuvio - Accumalux
+ 6 (21)
Welle Jallays
Pokerstars.com
+ 6 (22)
Moreno Hofland
Vesuvio - Accumalux
+ 6 (23)
Anders Lund
Aker - MOT
+ 6 (24)
Oumaru Minoungou
Pendleton's
+ 6 (25)
Markus Fahnert
Project 1t4i
+ 6 (26)
Artem Topchanyuk
Aker - MOT
+ 6 (27)
Sean Downey
Pendleton's
+ 6 (28)
Mohammad Saufi Mat Senan
Project 1t4i
+ 6 (29)
Mikel Landa
Wikipedia
+ 6 (30)
Andzs Flaksis
Wikipedia
+ 6 (31)
Joseph Biziyaremye
Aker - MOT
+ 6 (32)
Andrea Palini
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
+ 6 (33)
Piter Campero
Festina-Canal+
+ 6 (34)
Jay McCarthy
Wikipedia
+ 6 (35)
David Rosch
Pendleton's
+ 6 (36)
Thomas Koep
Vesuvio - Accumalux
+ 6 (37)
Sonny Colbrelli
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
+ 6 (38)
Morten Reckweg
Team B&O
+ 6 (39)
Bert-Jan Lindeman
Koenigsegg
+ 6 (40)
Jetse Bol
Team Puma - SAP
+ 6 (41)
Paolo Locatelli
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
+ 6 (42)
Elia Favilli
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
+ 6 (43)
Michał Kwiatkowski
Team B&O
+ 6 (44)
Ethan Weiss
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
+ 6 (45)
Matej Vysna
Milka - AVG
+ 6 (46)
Pedro Pablo Pereyra
Lotto - Cervelo
+ 6 (47)
Davide Cimolai
Vespa-Aprilia Racing
+ 6 (48)
Alfredo Balloni
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
+ 6 (49)
Jakub Kratochvila
Milka - AVG
+ 6 (50)
Erick Rowsell
Simply Red Bull
+ 6 (51)
Cristian Cominelli
Simply Red Bull
+ 6 (52)
Artemio Moschella
Lotto - Cervelo
+ 6 (53)
Alex Howes
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms