It`s the last stage and normally something for the sprinters. So Pozzato might feel save here. But on the other hand the hill on the 2nd half are extremely tough to ride and could cause to some gaps. So once again everybody must be concentrated.
Also it`s the last chance for Tom Boonen to get his expected stage win. Same counts for Sam Bewley of course.
The breakaway is still to form at the first sprint. So the riders just ride over the line without fighting. It wouldn`t even matter as none of them has chances to really improve there.
Finally a group of 10 riders are allowed to go. Giling Orozco Riber-Sellebjerg Bagdonas Kristoff Scheunemann Gilanipoor, Boeckmanns Wiggins Wallays
A mix of Festina and Milka riders do the pace behind. Still pretty relaxed but the stage is 205km today so a long time to ride.
111km and almost 9min. So now it`s really time to do something. Milka-Vittel mainly and sometimes also a Nestle rider for Tom Boonen. Festina decided to stop their work as there is no danger for Pozzato at the moment.
The breakaway is in the hilly part of this stage. You can see the narrow roads here. This can become another danger for some riders that are too far in the back.
73km left and 6min for the group. Still having chances. On the other hand it`s Efimkin doing the work now. And as one of the best puncheurs here you can imagine how fast the speed is going uphill.
And as expected this led to some splits. But no high GC man was surprised by this and so the best placed behind is KoM winner Mancuso and some sprinters like Lavoine.
The peloton is long stretched and the heavy wind of almost 60km/h makes the rest. Several riders have problems now to hold contact.
Pozzato is riding in the first row and seems to have no problems at all to the joy of his manager.
But other riders like Sam Bewley are a bit behind while Tom Boonen is still in the first group looking for his chance.
2nd sprint. Again no fight. Bagdonas ahead of Kristoff and Wallays.
The Bewlhttps://pcmdaily.com/forum/post.php?action=newthread&forum_id=28ey group is back in the peloton and obviously the pace is higher again. Only 41 riders in this group and the next groups probably won`t come back.
Sprinterwise it`s just Boonen, Bewley, Steegmans and Pozzato in the first group, so the GC sprinters. And coming to other GC riders we can only see two behind. It`s (again) Marcus Burghardt and the Cauberg winner Mertens.
All the work by Milka is now being rewarded. 2 helpers fall back while 2 others are riding in the last positions of the field.
Now other teams need to hold the pace high.
The breakaway is down to 5.
Wallays, Scheunemann, Wiggins, Gilanipoor and Bagdonas have been the strongest.
The gap was down to 1'20 with 16km to go but now with Milka can`t do the pace it`s again at 1'40 with only 7km to go.
You could blame Nestle for doing nothing but obviously they don`t believe in Boonen today.
Pozzato himself is controlling the peloton now. Mainly to avoid any crashes probably as he won`t care about the result today as long as he wins the overall.
Scheunemann in the unlucky first position. Then Wallays and Gilanipoor with Bagdonas and Wiggins having a small gap.
They are totally exhausted and the peloton came pretty close again. It is still exciting surprisingly.
Wallays overtakes the Spyker rider while Bagdonas can`t follow. Wiggins therefore coming fast from behind and also the peloton still led by Pozzato is coming closer but now they must start their sprint if they want to have any chances.
Boonen starts his sprint and already overtook Bagdonas. But this was too late. He should have started 1km earlier. Now the first are already finishing.
So it`s Wallays winning the final stage ahead of Wiggins and Gilanipoor with Boonen already around the corner.
Boonen missing the podium by just a tiny bit. Behind him Cancellara outsprints Bewley, Steegmans and Pozzato!!! So obviously a sign of how hard this race was and that most riders have been riding with their last reserves.
And no stage win for Boonen or Bewley although they had at least 4 realistic chances where they have been favourites. Their managers can`t be that happy.
