After the chance for the sprinters, we are back in the hilly territory, where we have a very thrilling GC fight so far with Ponzi leading mainly due to his advantage in the sprint finishes. But also his fighting spirit proved to be top.
Todays stage goes over some longer climbs before the final circuit leads the riders over 4 short hills. Those could be used for attacks surely to attack the GC.
6 riders hope to take a breakaway win and you rarely have seen such a powerful group. Lots of excellent roleurs in here and as always when KoM points are given one rider seems to be guaranteed in it with Summerhill.
He is joined by power machines Cancellara, who wants a 2nd stage win after the opening prologue Ballan Vansummeren
as also two decent puncheurs in El Fares and Krizek, who is best placed as 36th, 8'10 down on Ponzi.
The weather is changing a lot today. A few moments ago it was raining a lot, now it`s sunny but the roads are still wet. Anguilet obviously slipped on those wet roads and hits the ground. But he gets back on hte bike quickly to make it back into the peloton.
No interest at the sprint where El Fares takes the points ahead of Cancellara and Summerhill.
At the KoM though the expected attack by the US cobbler. Easily he takes more points and extends his lead even more.
Next to Good Energy it`s Pokerstars for Ginanni and Lotto for Cunego now. Those three teams accelerate a bit more as the gap is still at 7min with 100km to go.
We reach the hardest area of todays stage with a tough double climb. After the descent a circuit with a shorter hill on each lap will make it an interesting finale normally.
The rain gets stronger again unfortunately. Not the best conditions for those descents coming soon.
65km and 4'10.
The roads are getting very wet again and we have another crash victim. This time yesterdays 3rd Guardini. The Rothaus sprinter goes around a corner and is losing the balance. He goes back on his bike but is not riding very fast going back to the doc a few times. Not looking good and with the higher pace in front coming back is not very probable.
Also bad luck for breakaway rider Cancellara. A puncture at the wrong time in the middle of a climb.
But the strong Swiss using his engine to make it back to the breakaway after just 1km!
Surprise surprise.
Summerhill taking the KoM ahead of Vansummeren, Krizek, El Fares and Cancellara.
He also takes the next points.
Meanwhile the gap was pretty consistent at 3min now as the peloton is not going all in at the wet descents while the breakaway obviously is going more risks.
The peloton safely completed the descent and now reaching the first hill.
24km to go and a gap of 2'40.
The first favourites start their attacks now in the hope to distance Ponzi. But actually the Italian is one of those attackers! Cunego Ponzi Van Garderen first and just a bit later also Bakelants Ben Nasser Ginanni
More riders also decide to follow: Gilbert Boasson Hagen Van der Hugenhaben
Kadri, Vichot (Vueling) and Paterski (Vueling) immediately head towards the front of the peloton to higher the pace. Their leaders Schleck and Sinkewitz/Valverde haven`t followed.
Also still in the peloton riders like Ricco, Sagan, Vanendert, Pozzato, Roux, Levarlet, Guldhammer...
In the breakaway Summerhill and Vansummeren also attack creating a small gap. 15km and the gap is down to 1'30 making it a close finish between favourites and those in front.
8 riders in the first chasing group only with some riders still trying to join them from behind. The situation at the moment:
Peloton (86)
<44s>
Valverde
<40s>
Van der Hugenhaben
<28s>
Cunego
<1'05>
Summerhill
Schleck
Ricco
Boasson Hagen
Vansummeren
Vanendert
Sagan
Bakelants
<27s>
Guldhammer
Ponzi
Cancellara
Sinkewitz
Ginanni
Ballan
Pozzato
Gilbert
Krizek
Roux
Van Garderen
El Fares
…
Ben Nasser
Valverde, Ricco, Sagan were the last attackers as they realized that this move might have been the deciding one and they missed it.
So it`s no surprise that also Schleck, Vanendert and Sinkewitz make their move on the 2nd of 4 uphill sections. Can they reach the group ahead or are they coming too late? Still 15km though.
Still being back in the peloton the following riders: Roux/Boom Levarlet Caruso Rovny Guldhammer Pozzato
Those most likely will lose time today.
At least one team organizes a decent pace there with B&O, who still have 3 team mates for Guldhammer. So they might be able to reduce the loss or even come back?
Also a loser of today probably: Frank Schleck. The Vesuvio rider and 3rd in the GC went as last of the top10 riders. This probably was too late even though he can see the groups ahead.
Sagan and Valverde still behind the big group of favourites who are all together in a group of 10.
But with 9km left it will be very tough for him to jump to them.
Back to the breakaway, who still have a small gap. Summerhill and Vansummeren are caught again. and it`s El Fares having a small gap now.
Despite the 10km banner, it`s only 2,5km to the line! So expect the sprint starting soon and normally those 6 should bring the winner of the 6th stage as their fight against the riders behind gets rewarded.
Sagan reached the favourite group and continueing a very strong race so far. Valverde still having a small gap while Schleck is still in the roundabout behind.
Cunego tries to surprise the others by accelerating on that last uphill section.
Back to the breakaway. Summerhill and Vansummeren are beaten.
In front Ballan vs. Cancellara with El Fares and Krizek behind them.
The favourites are not far behind and Cunego clearly has a group ahead of the duo Gilbert/Van Garderen.
Where is Ponzi?
It`s a difficult finish here through that roundabout.
El Fares also beaten, while Krizek being surprisingly strong here going past Ballan and Cancellara.
And indeed taking the win. This is a nice result for Volkswagen, who probably are not happy with Pozzato staying in the peloton today even though he is no longer one of the best puncheurs.
Ballan as 2nd delivers the 2nd Rothaus podium here in a row with Cancellara not able to take a 2nd stage.
14s later Summerhill and El Fares ahead of Vansummeren (+21) the three beaten riders in the end.
Cunego keeps the gap until the line and could improve in the GC today. Nice effort by the defending champion.
Behind him Van Garderen as 2nd rider with a gap. 15s behind Cunego but how much to Ponzi?
Ponzi wins the sprint of those coming in with +58, which means 27s to Cunego. In here also Bakelants, Boasson Hagen, Gilbert, Ginanni and Ben Nasser in that order.
A little bit behind with a 12s gap Sagan and Ricco.
Van der Hugenhaben (+1'23) and Valverde (+1'37) already losing a bit more but still Frank to come!
Here he comes. The 3rd in the GC the big loser today. Obviously not his day.
As 19th today he is exactly 2min behind the stage winner, which means 1'02 behind Ponzi.
GC wise this means, that Ponzi still has the lead but Cunego makes a big jump from 5th to 2nd being just 23s behind the leader. Same time also for the 3rd Boasson Hagen.
Bakelants keeps his 4th being 38s behind while Schleck drops to 5th now having +1'32 but still 28s ahead of Ricco in 6th.
Van Garderen and Valverde swap their GC positions while Sagan and Gilbert pass Sinkewitz.
Already 50s behind Schleck Vanendert and Guldhammer coming in solo as both jumped out of the group late.
Roux wins the sprint in the peloton and even gets rewarded by a small gap. Behind him Caruso, Sinkewitz, Rovny, Boom and Levarlet. Some disappointments today.
Also mentionable that we have the first abandon! Guardini probably with a severe injury here as his speed in the end was incredibly low. More than 1h behind stage winner Krizek, which also means more than 45min behind the second last today, he finished the stage. Far outside the time limit. Probably he just should have stopped the race earlier instead. No more sprint stage to come either way.
