Once again a very interesting stage. And after yesterdays win by Ventoso ahead of Gavazzi and Belletti, we just have to count those 3 as favourites today as the final is very tough again and might be too tough for Lo Cicero, Kupfernagel and other sprinters.
But as we face a uphill finish we might also have to watch the puncheurs. CSC`s duo Costa/Barrio, Prio Porto`s Mendes, UPC`s Reus or airBaltic`s Konovalovas would be strong riders here just like more or less all GC riders.
Early sprint and as there was no breakaway yet 3 sprinters go for it:
Ventoso in 1st easily ahead of Gavazzi. Except for Lo Cicero, who comes in 3rd this could easily be the final result.
Or will last mentioned surprise all of us and keep contact with the peloton?
Also on the first KoM sprint there is not really a breakaway yet. Rodriguez Galindo ahead of Acevedo and Portela. But was this a try to fight for the KoM points or a breakaway attempt?
KoM leader Van Baarle also tried to get more points but as 5th he is not rewarded here.
Obviously just a battle for the KoM points as the peloton is back together at the sprint and so it`s another duel of the same 3 riders.
This time Gavazzi takes it ahead of Ventoso and Lo Cicero again in 3rd.
All those points could become important in the end as a hard fight between those sprinters and the GC men is expected in the point rankings.
And we continue to jump from sprint to sprint. 2nd and last KoM of the day and Penasa, Van Wyk and Stoltz are the 3 riders who get some points on the top.
But again the same question. Was it finally a successful breakaway attempt or just for the points?
Apparently for a breakaway this time. Penasa Vorontsev Stoltz Van Wyk
So next to the 3 riders at the KoM sprint we have Vorontsov. And the Russian is the most interesting as well. As 31st he is just 29s behind race leader Kritskiy, which means, that the climber is a danger for the 2nd Russian team.
Smart move by LukOil as this also takes the pressure of their leaders and gives the team a chance to stay relaxed in the peloton, while the others have to work.
Tinkoff immediately comes to the front when the gap goes over 4min. And as there are just 70km, actually the toughest part, to go from here, it`s time to do so.
Good for them that the sprinter teams see realistic chances today. So it`s the expected teams Prio Porto (Ventoso/Plaza) and UPC (Gavazzi/Reus) and also PFG Armavia (Lo Cicero).
No surprise that Vorontsov is the only interested rider at the last sprint. So he is down to 23s now.
For the statistic: Van Wyk and Penasa followed him over the line.
It`s also the first time that the riders can see the final circuit, which is entered now. So in especially the sprinter teams should see if it`s a good opportunity for them.
15km left and the group still has a 1min gap.
UPC has taken over completely more or less. Reus in 2nd position already behind Knees shows, that they go for Gavazzi today.
Different to Ventoso and Gavazzi, Lo Cicero seems to struggle a bit and other riders are already dropped. So the work by his team might have been useless in the end.
12km left and the group is caught on the last lap.
Lots of UPC, Prio Porto and also PFG Armavia riders in front now even though Lo Cicero is not there and is close to be dropped.
Power move by Costa. Just ahead of the highest points before the descent he attacked and is using the speed to create a gap.
Just 8,5km to go and once again he proves to be one of the most aggressive riders in cycling.
This leads to more attacks, a higher pace and a dropped Lo Cicero. Hopefully for the team, they will get better chances in the harder stages. Iglinski Nazaret Silva Caruso Ivars Rohregger
So the fight of the GC men is also active today.
Except for Costa, they are all caught again by Reus mainly. UPC really wants this stage win here but we have a new attack by the pretty active Mobil squad. It`s Vrecer, 12th in the GC.
And he is followed by Suaza, who shows surprising good puncheur skills here and Karpets. So the next dangerous LukOil rider.
This all leads to a very chaotic sprint as no team really was able to organize anything here. But as the peloton is still 99 riders, this means, that the final wasn`t as hard as expected by some.
In front still those 4 late attackers, while Tinkoff is doing a high pace now.
Best placed sprinter at the moment is Ventoso, who gets a perfect leadout by Mendes. Power train on this terrain for sure.
Gavazzi is a bit behind next to Kritskiy, while Konovalovas is also going early on the right.
Other well placed riders are Boivin, Belletti, Machado, Sobal or Farrar, who is Amex`s best chance here as Kupfernagel is also dropped just like Lo Cicero.
Mendes reaches the late attackers and still leading out Ventoso. You`ve rarely seeing a more impressive leadout on an uphill section.
Gavazzi and the other sprinters probably waited too long and have no chance against Ventoso most likely.
1km and Ventoso leaves Mendes to sprint for his 2nd stage win.
Karpets still fighting and also Costa has waken up to start his sprint.
And he starts it very well. Who would have expected him to come back to Ventoso and even overtake him after his attack?
This will be a fight between those two. Ventoso in a better position on the left side.
But it`s Costa taking the needed win for Team CSC. Huge win and well deserved. And as you can see, we have a little gap behind.
Karpets takes the 3rd and rewards himself for his attack. But officials have indeed counted the gap and so he is already +10 to the duo in front.
Actually this will move Costa into the GC lead! Even better nwes for CSC as this might be the needed extra ahead of tomorrows mountain stage.
Mendes as 4th shows that he could have been an option for the win today as well but Ventoso was the more obvious option even though he couldn`t take a 2nd win.
Gavazzi at least comes in 5th, counted in the same time as Karpets.
Vrecer as 6. ahead of Machado, Boily, Barrio and Kritskiy. But different to the first two, there haven`t been any more gaps for the first ~100 riders behind them.
Lo Cicero btw. lost more than 6min in the end. So all the work by his team was for nothin in the end.
