The first hilly stage of the tour and it's a chance for old-man Boogerd to show his colours before being officially old. He's the number 1 favourite but Kirchen, Pellizotti, and Popovych have a chance as well.
The riders attempting to outwhit the peleton today are Kern, Moreni and Naibo. Just behind them are Zito and Da Cruz. Moreni attacked to gain maximum points from te first of many KOM sprints, Naibo placed second and Kern third. Moreni then proceeded to win the intermediate sprint as well but this time Kern took 2nd ahead of Naibo.
Approaching the 2nd KOM sprint of the day the front group has gained a rider as Aerts bridged the gap. Behind them Giraldo, Clement, Schröder, and Van de Walle.
Moreni is obviously up for the KOM challenge today as he gains full points again ahead of Naibo and Aerts. Aerts suprised Moreni at the 3rd KOM point though as he takes maximum points.
With 55kms left the front group (now only Aerts and Moreni) have a 4 minute advantage. Moreni took the intermediate sprint but must be starting to fade as Aerts yet again beats him to take the points. Pellizotti and a few others have been attacking from the peleton to take the minor points all day.
By the final KOM sprint the breakaway has been caught and Pellizotti takes maximum points ahead of Dessel and Boogerd. They don't stop attacking either and get a gap!!
The group contains Dessel, Boogerd, Pellizotti and Rasmussen, who refuses to work with them. Chasing them is a group of 15 including Astarloa, Chavanel, Popovych, Savoldelli, Cobo, Pineau, Calzati, Kirchen, Nibali, Bertagnoli, Vanendert and Cataldo amongst a few others.
The Boogerd group has an advantage of 45 seconds with 17kms left to race. The lead is increasing!!
With 3.5kms left it is clear that they will make it to the end and...
Rasmussen does what everyone expected after refusing to relay and attacks!! Boogerd goes with him, but Pellizotti and Dessel can't or won't follow them!!
However at the start of the sprint, Pellizotti claws them back in, but Dessel has had to let go of them.
Boogerd wins!! Does he take over the lead in the GC though? The jury have decided that Dessel lost 24 seconds and Rasmussen managed to lose 8. A few riders managed to break away in the group behind, but still lost over a minute to Boogerd.
