It didn't take long for this years race to get hard. Todays stage features numerous categorized climbs. Lots of Points are on offer in he KoM and if the favorites want to win they better show it today.
To sum up the early part of the stage, there were many, many, many attacks. The Strongest riders from each attack(if any were strong enough) made it into the leading group of 8: Tonti(Magenta) Bellotti(Philips) Mollema(France TV) Zberg(Festina) Petrov(Benfica) Hermans(Wikiedia) and De Ketele(American Suzuki) (7 after Petrov from Benfica fell off 110kms to go)
Wikipedia lead the chase for the race leader...
Matteo Carrara...
At the top of the final intermediate climb the catch is made. 21 Km's to go.
25 rider are present in the front group as of the catch. All of the Pre-race favorites are there... minus Andreas Kloden(Eurosport)
Attacks go at the bottom of the final hill. Alberto Contador(Credit Lyonais) and Patrik Sinkewitz (Erste)are the only ones to get a gap.
Domina Vacanze sets a hard pace for Andy Schleck, pulling Contador and Sinkewitz within striking distance. Menchov (Carlsberg) goes first and is quickly followed by non other than Accumalux strong man, Frank Schleck. Schleck's mere presence causes Contador to crack.
Schleck gets a small gap, whilst the Erste duo of Kashechkin and Sinkewitz chase, Menchov and favorites group in tow into the final Kilometer!
Well played by Frank Schleck he certainly earned this one.
Kashechkin leads Menchov home but what are the gaps?
