Get ready for some late season cobbled mayhem as we have arrived at the key seventh stage of the Tour du Faso.
It is your normal flat style stage with one exception a cobbled section between 13.5 and 1.5 km to go. It is expected that this will likely decide the race as it has the last two years. A glance at the general classification sees Pokerstars sprint king Eric Mohs lead the standings. He is somewhat suspect on the cobbled stuff (cobbled stat = 63) and he was not part of the teams cobbled pack earlier in the season, though he is accompanied by several of that group.
Behind him here are the best cobbled riders (cobbled stat in brackets) who are in contention:
Pendletons sprint strongman Van Heerden (71) at 3 seconds
100% Me expert cobbler Adam Blythe (81) at 29 seconds
Vespa pair Quinzato (73) and Capelle (72) at 33 seconds
Pokerstars wildcards Van Impe (74) and Geslin (75) at 34 and 36 seconds
Quiksilvers roulers Schierlinckx (72) at 40 seconds
Blythe's lieutenent Thomas at 41 seconds
and Intesa duo Traksel (73) and Sentjens (75) at 42 seconds
So on this important day we got a bigger interest in the breakaway. This is perhaps tactical to keep the pace high in the peleton. Burlutsky (El Al) and Reekers (Cillit Bang) are off again in it, joined this time by Bol (Mercedes), Bagdonas (Bacardi) and Perry (Pirelli).
Six men clear of peleton
None of the riders are a close threat on GC and as such the sprints a relatively meaningless affairs, Mercedes rider Bol takes both the first two.
Sprint 1:
1. Bol 2. Perry 3. Reekers
Sprint 2:
1. Bol 2. Perry 3. Reekers
The pack was controlling the gap, but not completely stretched out and a few teams started to put riders away, who are down on GC but certainly can cope with cobbled roads. First though a not so serious move from Cillit Bangs Zenagui with 125 to go, then its Verbist with 85 to go and finally Vansummeren with 68 to go.
Three more riders attack out of the peleton
Verbist makes it across to the break by 50km to go and the now six man move has 3.26 on the peleton with the other two attackers between. It is Pokerstars who are using Clement to draw these riders back.
Pokerstars as they have been for much of the tour in control
You have to believe that Mohs will lose control of yellow, but can Pokerstars place Geslin or Van Impe in his place? They catch the Cillit Bang rider Zenagui, but Van summeren joins the front group where they have a final sprint won by Bagdonas.
Sprint 3
1.Bagdonas
2. Bol
3. Verbist
Verbist and Vansummeren are saving themselves for that final cobbled section, hoping that they will still have the lead. Meanwhile in the pack JJ Haedo decides to try and get a bit of distance between himself and better cobblers. He attacks with 25km to go and slowly starts to reel in the seven man breakaway. With 17.5km to go he is within 30 seconds of the front group, however the peleton is only 50 seconds behind. Up front Verbist is stretching away from the break with Vansummeren.
Verbist stretches it out with Vansummeren behind - Haedo in the distance
In whats clearly a planned move by Vespa, Quinzato attacks across hard just before we reach the magic 13.5 km mark. But Haedo has paced himself well up to the leaders and as the cobbles starts and Quinzato joins him he attacks.
13km to go: Haedo attacks as Quinzato joins
The Vespa double plan begins to unravel as it is clear that Quinzato cannot bridge to the Mercedes man. Pokerstars lead things back together quickly with Haedo out front alone. Then a flash of white as Blythe decides to launch his salvo on his favourite cobbled stuff.
12km to go: Pokerstars reel in break bar Haedo but Blythe now goes hard
The 100% Me man is the favourite today and he is pouring it on as he quickly bridges to Haedo some 30 seconds ahead of the floundering pack.
Blythe bridges quickly to Haedo
He doesn't mess about here either as he quickly ditches the Mercedes man.
Bye bye Haedo
Behind a few riders try to attack but now 100% Me can play games with Blythe's number two Thomas. Quinzato having not really made his move stick earlier is most active, but everytime he goes Thomas follows.
Quinzato tries to get away, but is shadowed by Thomas
You will note here that Pokerstars have riders at the front and the peleton is spread behind but is largely intact. There is the possibility that they could finish together, however Blythe does seem to continuing to get a distance away.
Under five to go and Blythe continues to rider smoothly
This is an awesome display of power by Blythe who is stacking his claim for the race here. Behind though Haedo is hanging on well and it is only now with about 4.5km that he is reeled in by Quinzato and Thomas.
Haedo caught with 4.5km to go
The seven riders here are just easing away from the pack, behind Haedo, Quinzato and Thomas we have Paolini and Traksel and on the other side is Kluge and Van Heerden. Actually Kluge is slightly holding back and it is Van Impe who joins him, though they are losing touch with the front five.
3 to go: Van Heerden plus Pokerstars duo lose touch
As now finally the cobbles abate, Blythe can enjoy the moment rocketing to the lead of the Tour du Faso with a sparkling win.
Blythe - champion of Burkina Faso?
The battle for the podium places is seemingly between Haedo, Thomas, Quinzato, Traksal and Poalini. Haedo is the best sprinter but Thomas and Traksal have been mainly following over the cobbles and therefore are the freshest. Thomas in particular with high morale one suspects looks quick now as he moves past the tired looking Haedo.
Thomas makes a move for a 100% Me one-two
As we look back we notice that Van Heerden as sprinted up to the five with Paolini back there. Traksal is also going quickly and making ground on Haedo. Meanwhile a bit further back you can see Pokerstars fanning themselves to protect Mohs GC position trying to give the impression of no gaps.
Thomas will take second place
Bobbie Traksal overtaks Haedo in the finale to sieze the final time bonus, this is useful as the pack behind are give the same time!
Traksel nips past to take third
The front riders look back but are disappointed as the gap between Paolini and Sentjens is not that great. Indeed the only gap awarded is for Blythe who takes a very comfortable 1.44 lead over Mohs who finished 24th in the pack. In fact most of the sprinters who you may have expected to have lost time did not today.
