We go further north, further than the Romans dared into Scotland for todays stage. The dial contonues to be set at lumpy for the main, but again a curiously flat run in should favour the sprinters. British fans will be stunned by yesterdays poor home showing, Cavendish clearly was left in the wind too early and as for Kennaugh he just seemed flat.
The break has one more in their number today as five are allowed clear although one former KoM leader Renang(Swedbank) is late to the party.
So late in fact he missed the battle for the early second category KoM primes.
The four other break men are:
Khalilikhosroshani (Kenya)
La Lavendier (Bpost)
Van der Schueren (HTC)
Cleaver (Jaguar)
Here are the results from all three mountains battles.
KoM 1: Khalilikhosroshani - La Lavendier - Van der Schueren
KoM 2: Van der Schueren - Khalilikhosroshani - Cleaver
KoM 3: La Lavendier - Cleaver - Van der Schueren
The points are shared around but no-one can eclipse yesterday's joint leaders who will have to share again today.
The three sprints are all won by Khalilikhosroshani ahead of Van der Schueren and La Lavendier in that order. These three though are later dropped by the pack so the sprint results are largely academic.
AirBaltic are looking to regain their lead and SRAM are still hopefull of pulling one off for Haussler - I am sure he would enjoy that!
Again the two trains are SRAM and AirBaltic. Vueling try something inventive with Pederson taking a flyer.
Haussler responds with 1700m left with Nelson (Halfords), Krasnov (Tinkoff), Kennaugh (Vueling), Korzh (Tinkoff) with him.
Cav is sitting with Briggs with Ventoso a bit back with Fiellu, Drujon(Bpost) and Schinker (Kenya).
We saw yesterday that Haussler has quite the engine and he has dragged Nelson and Krasnov clear of the others. Cavendish now has an awful lot to do.
Too much in fact as Cav and Kennaugh make up some of the ground but not enough to deny Haussler with Nelson getting second and Krasnov third.
Haussler manages to nab the GC lead off of Ventoso, he is another of those sprinters who can climb.
