With the Queen stage of the race coming up it’s time for the big names to start showing themselves.
Eddie Stobart Pro Cycling can’t expect to keep the yellow beyond this stage but they honour it by taking responsibility right from the start. Pranata is the first attacker of the day followed by Malle.
Several big name sprinters fall behind already on the first small climb. Among them Nelson, Hutarovich, Rizza Haidar Anuawar, Clarke and Busche. The last one due to a puncture rather than being dropped.
Getting dropped this early could bring the time limit into play if they are not careful!
Up the road Eibegger takes the intermediate ahead of Rochetti, Pranata, Malle and Grau. The five have just over a minute to the peloton at this point.
With 80 km to go everyone has rejoined the peloton from the back while the gap to the break has grown to 3’53 Eddie Stobart Pro Cycling is still doing a lot of the work, but has started to get a little help from some of the PCT teams.
70 km and 4’36
60 km and 4’35
53 km to go. The break starts the main climb with a gap of 4’42
As soon as the peloton starts the climb 35 riders fall of the back. Main names are the same sprinters as got dropped on the first climb.
We really have to give credit to Eddie Stobart Pro Cycling for pulling far up the climb in spite of having next to no chance of either taking the stage or defending the jersey. Venchi – Ferranti looks to be ready for when P. Van der Ploeg gets tired.
With 50 km to go the gap is down to 3’49
Malle makes a move in the break just under 2 km from the summit. He can’t get away though and instead his attacks starts a wave of attacks. All of which are equally successful.
In the end Grau just manages to win the mountain sprint putting him in the mountain jersey at this point.
They have 3’47 to the peloton over the top. Rabon is done waiting and attacks from the peloton! Venchi – Ferranti and Quickstep quickly reels him in but this could be the omen of an interesting stage finish?
As soon as the descent is over the attacks continue. Here with Bugge in front.
15 km and 1’18 for the break.
There’s attacks all over the place before the final climb. For the first time we see Froome and Skujins move.
The situation when the first riders begin the final climb:
The two front groups are united with 5,5 km to go and have 50 seconds to the main group.
That is the cue word for Ben Nasser to attack out of the peloton.
Things go back and forth but with 3,3 km to the top as many as 74 riders make out the peloton with Earle bravely defending yellow. Di Maggio creates a small gap with 1,5 km to the top. Betancourt and Gautier are stuck to his wheel and Froome is leading the chase.
The attack turns into a long sprint where no one is able to pass the others. A Deserved win for Di Maggio.
Froome 4th ahead of Ben Nasser and Skujins.
Earle brings honour to the jersey by fighting his way to a decent finish. Well done by the CT riders and his team today!
