Twenty-six kilometres of grinding and steep in places climb.
This is the day for GC riders to make the difference.
LEGO’s Koldo Gil had a tough day on the big mountain time trial and conceded a lot of time to that days dominant rider Jurgen Van Den Broeck. These two look favourites for the top two GC positions with Ryder Hesjedal, Edwin Parra Bustamante and Yasmiri Martinez filling the other places in the top five.
Before the final climb we have a pretty lumpy profile, no big climbs but some chances for the point grabbing KOM competition riders to go for. The early break of four contains the current polkadot jersey wearer Andrew Bajadali.
Four men include Yamaha’s attacking American
He is joined by Keiran Page (Youtube), Bragazzi (Unicredit) and Hofland (Bimbo Nutella). The Yamaha man is well placed in the points competition but strangely is not bothered about the first sprint prime. Youtube’s Page takes the full 6 points on offer, Bragazzi and Hofland behind in second and third.
Points for Page
Unfortunately for the Youtube man Keiran Page is dropped on the first climb, which is marked by some enthusiasm by Bajadali.
Baja takes four more delicious KOM points
Bragazzi and Hofland are second and third place with poor Page distanced. Next sprint prime only involves three riders, let’s look at what happened.
Bragazzi - > Bajadali - > Hofland
These three have been on a number of breakaways and by now seem to be working well together. With 75km to go they have two minutes on the chasing and probably fading Page, but a whopping 10 minutes on the peleton. However this is being checked by the LEGO squad, they are looking to build a spectacular stage for Koldo Gil.
LEGO – trying to be the model team
But the gap is good for Bajadali who is trying to secure at least a high placing on this competitions final result. He may have trouble hanging on to the lead as todays climb has 40 points available to the first rider over the top. Still both Yamaha and Greenpeace will be pleased to see their sponsored rider lead over climb after climb.
Baja has been on breaks Daily
With 50 to go the three have 7.18 on the peleton, but with 25 of it uphill it could be tough for our intrepid riders to stick away. With Bajadali taking the remaining primes he begins the ascent up to La Linea on his own with now just a 3 minute lead.
Alone in polkadots on the climb of the race
The opening slopes of this one are slightly different to others in this race with Lego in utter control of the peleton. They drive, drive and drive up all the way up to Bajadali’s wheel.
It’s get to the finish the challange for the Yamaha man
It is not long after that Vitor Rodrigues who will be desperate to move up yet again today who puts in the first really serious attack. He is being followed immediately by a tetchy Jurgen Van den Broeck who is desperate to see how strong his rivals are.
Vitor goes for victory
There is some hesitation with the favourites, some do slowly bridge including Rodrigues’ teammate Beraud. Ortega, Yas Martinez, Montenegro and Krasnoperov move across, as does calmly Koldo Gil. In fact the Lego man is waiting for a moment... yes with 12km to go he decides to put in a big dig.
Gil makes his move
He is putting the pressure on here and not a lot of the bridging riders cannot really respond to this. Vitor Rodrigues is almost on the Spaniards wheel and Van den Broeck is really trying to get up there too.
Just two riders can respond, but Van den Broeck is not looking strong
The elastic is beginning to stretch for the Belgian, but he just about holding his form at the moment. He can say that he is in third position here on the climb, though some riders have perhaps timed their move a bit better. Ryder Hesjedal is making excellent progress though the front runners overtaking his podium rivals Parra Busta and young Yasmiri Martinez.
Canadian has his racing brain in gear
With 5 to go on the climb here is the gaps: e1 Gil e2 Rodrigues at 19 seconds e3 Van den Broeck at 45 seconds e4 Hesjedal at 1.06 e5 Y Martinez at 1.27 e6 Montenegro at 1.38 peleton at Two minutes.
Only 10 riders in that peleton mind. Krasnoperov, Chacon, Ndbri, Parra Busta, Mayo, Ortega, Beraud, Schwab, Laverde and Nozal. Saldarriaga (Benfica) is having a tough time today and is further back still.
Up front though Koldo Gil seems to be kicking on as the other riders in between seem to be struggling to hold their form. The Spanish rider is really putting the pressure on here... VdB could struggle to hold the yellow jersey!
Gil trying hard to make up for the TT disappointment
The gap back between VdB and Gil needs attention, this morning VdB had a pretty decisive looking 1.46 on Gil. But those seconds are slipping away. With 4km to go the gap between the two is 58 seconds and then 1.19 with 2km to go. Let us add in twelve seconds bonus that is 1.31, Gil needs another 15 seconds!
Smooth climbing by Gil
The pressure is on the yellow jersey, is he pedalling squares?
VdB losing his shirt?
Koldo Gil takes an excellent victory on this epic stage.
Lego man takes his second stage win on a mountain top
In second place too, Vitor Rodrigues comes over probably thinking of what could have been without his often mentioned mechanical.
Bimbo man wears a wry smile over the line
Behind him, Van den Broeck manages to just hold on to his yellow jersey 1.30 down on Gil. Hesjedal, Krasnoperov and Chacon sprint behind for further minor placings.
