So after relatively tame opening hilly exchanges, it is Franck Schleck's Vesuvio squad who have control of this race. They controlled it last year, though admittedly Schleck did most of the tactical mastery at the end of the stages.
Today they will likely get help from the sprinters teams as Boonen, Bennati and Bewley are set for a second duel. It’s the type of stage that most fans would view as the wrong way round, lumpy to begin and flat at the end in some fast circuits around Foligno.
The KoM competition could be the most interesting aspect early on with a very early cat 4 climb on the menu.
Veloso third on the picture here manages to nip round Steurs and Kinney to take the five points. It moves him into a share of the lead with Vanendert and Delage.
The Aker rider here is Topchanyuk, with Trentin chasing for the team keen on getting in breakaways!
Puma and Milka do not really like the breakthrough and chase it down. Steurs however is determined to have his day out.
But this close to an intermediate sprint Pokerstars don’t want to waste an opportunity to show off their wares. However Puma have a different plan with Meersman and Gasparotto blocking Boonen from making a clean sprint!
Bennati doesn’t bother, but Bewley does out sprinting a surprise contestent Kwiatkowski. Boonen does just about wriggle free to nab third place at the sprint.
Meyer and Facci use the chance at the lull following the sprint to break clear.
Both riders have 14 KoM points so this is a good move for them. Ghyllebert and Rast bridge up to the KoM fighting duo.
It’s the set up the sprinters teams are comfortable with. So we watch the fight for the mountains and Ghyllebert spoils the party somewhat taking the six point first prize at the third category over Meyer and Facci.
Onto the second category...
Facci and Meyer look best placed here on the stiff lengthy climb. Facci just takes it.
With points available down to the fifth rider to cross this point Albasini nips out of the pack to take it.
Net result is that Facci and Meyer have joint lead of the KoM. They have seven points on the three rider on 19 points and will battle it out on the last little 4th cat climb for jersey honours tomorrow.
Albasini doesn’t push on with his move, but as he eases back Mancuso nips past.
Albasini decides to tag along for a little adventure, though quite what they are hoping to achieve who knows?
Here comes that crucial 4th cat climb then, Meyer has the early advantage in this steep looking short one.
This tough wall tires the initial burst and Rast is dragging Facci past Meyer.
Italy rejoices as Facci takes the KoM jersey, Facci turns to the crowd and nods at an attractive looking lady.
80km to go and our four leaders have 2.30 on Mancuso/ Albasini and 7.40 on the pack. Is it possible that the break will actually have its day?
Facci ponders on this possibility a bit too much and falls over.
Perhaps dreaming of podium kisses, he hooks up with a slightly rougher pair in Mancuso and Albasini. The other three rather nonchalantly go through the sprint point Ghyllebert over Meyer and Rast.
The two front groups merge with 60km to go.
Unfortunately though for these riders the pack has woken up.
Vesuvio in full chase mode, perhaps surprisingly no sprinters teams yet involved. Their reason for chasing is Albasini who was just 1.16 back at the beginning of the day. The Swiss rider decides to sprint for the prime on the first of our finishing circuits.
Facci rolls over in for second front of Ghyllebert. The gap with 40km to go is about four minutes. Schleck is marshalling his troops here, though with heavy Pokerstars presence near the front will be hoping to pass the chasing baton on soon.
Indeed with the gap down to three minutes that is exactly what happens with Puma, Milka and Pokerstars punching up the pace a notch.
The break is doomed really with gap down to a minute with 16km to go. Meyer is the last to be brought in with 7km to go.
4km left and the troops are amassing with Bewley, Boonen and Bennati surrounded by team-mates. Van Heerden is stuck like glue to Bennati.
All of the big three teams form trains.
Pokerstars (Van Impe, Mohs, Boonen) with Colbrelli and Pozzato
Milka is just Rabon and Bewley.
Puma is Gasparotto and Bennati, with Van Heerden, Ponzi, Grillo and Reynes.
2km to go
As Rabon dies Bewley smartly is placed on Boonen’s wheel, the Kiwi has outdone the Belgian in this race already. Gasparotto meanwhile has work to do.
Mohs takes over but Gasparotto manages to get Bennati back in this, only for Bennati to not really accelerate. Van Heerden decides now is the time to unglue himself.
1200m left.
Boonen realises that Mohs is holding him up, unwilling to give Puma the space to come past and recalling the earlier incidents he jumps in front of Van Heerden. But Bennati looks the worst placed here.
Boonen pulls Van Heerden and Bewley clear. Pozzato is doing a powerful sprint also and sneak some bonus here.
400m
Bennati is really looking his age as Grillo looks to overtake. Bewley is trying to challenge Boonen but he is having to come around Van Heerden. Further back both Hagen and Bakelants are looking for high places with Ponzi.
100m left.
Boonen is desperately trying to hold off Bewley, with Pozzato coming through for third.
Boonen just takes it over Bewley.
Pozzato is third a useful 8 seconds for him, over Ponzi, Van Heerden, Bakelants, Hagen, Rabon and Ulissi.
Bennati finishes 12th.
Sorry to say we got a stage crash here:
Stage top ten: Boonen Bewley Pozzato Ponzi Van Heerden Bakelants Hagen Rabon Ulissi Reynes.
There were some of the weaker riders dropped off notably Nechita and Vinter finishing outside the time limit and forced out of the race.
GC:
No changes to the GC favourites who all finished inside the front pack.
Points:
Bewley takes the points lead once more but with Bakelants, Ponzi, Pozzato and Hagen all sprinting and Schleck in powerful form his chances of winning the points jersey outright look slim. Bennati is not even in the top ten and is having a miserable Tirreno.
KoM:
Several riders are in this competition, with Facci now having a slim lead over Meyer.[img][/img]
Youth:
Sagan carries the youth jersey into the queen stage though Venchi need to be wary of Van Garderen.
Team:
Vespa vs Wiggle will be an ineteresting team battle, you'd imagine those behind are more all for one type teams. Edited by Roman on 17-10-2016 17:44
