Gerdemann (Sram), Betancourt (Hollistar), Durasek (Alstom), and Barredo (AMEX) are the favourites while Plaza (Prio-Porto) is being overlooked as he isn't even listed on the betting card.
After losing the leader's jersey yesterday UPC are ready to move on with the race by sending Teunissen on the opening attack. Following are Briceno (Repsol), Kurth (AMEX), and Hutchings (Ekspa).
And that's it for the morning attacks, they makeup the breakaway of the day. Quick and seamless, just how the reporters likes it.
All 4 of them are pretty even ability wise when it comes to climbing but when a KoM leader's jersey is on the line, with category 1 climb looming, we see Hutchings ahead of Kurth and Teunissen at the warm-up climb. They have already build up a 5 minute lead.
Back in the peloton, Nino (Bintang) and Anaya (Repsol) are surprisingly dropped after the hill. Long day ahead for them.
Ma (Metinvest) does absolutely all the pace making up the cat. 1 climb and keeps the breakaway around 5 minutes in doing so.
However Ma hits the wall with 4kms left in the climb so WWE comes to the front with Astarloza. But he is more of figure head then anything else as the gap to breakaway can't lie as it grows out to 7 minutes while he is in charge.
Speaking of the breakaway, they are nearing the top. Winning the climb means geting the KoM jersey for tomorrow!
It's a great fight for the points, but in the end it's the same result as the first climb. Hutchings, Kurth, Teunissen, and Briceno. Giving Hutching a total of 22 points and a comfortable lead over 2nd place Kurth with 16.
The cat. 1 mountain leaves a few points up for grabs once the breakaway rides through so Firsanov (BCR), Elijzen (UPC) and the man that has to hand over his KoM jersey Seledokov (Bintang) scrap up the rest of the points.
While Nino is able to fight back into the peloton, 5th in GC and the rider everybody knows by now, Kaupas gets dropped with a few sprinters; Salleh (Adira), Nielsen (Repsol), Gajek (Adira), and Hansen (Vattenfall).
The sprint after a clean downhill goes to Kurth over Hutching and Teunissen. Their lead is 4'30", so not to promising with 68kms to go.
After what seemed like a senseless attack for the remaining KoM points has now turned into a second group that the peloton is just letting them coast 30 to 45 seconds in front of them for about 20kms now.
And finally with 37kms to go, ING and Sram end Firsanov (BCR), Elijzen (UPC) and Seledokov's (Bintang) joy ride. Breakaway is also now down to 2'33".
Wait a second, Firsanov isn't going to give up that easy. He takes off the second he realizes he is being caught.
Short lived, he had nothing left in his tank and is dragged back a few kilometers later.
Wait! I take that back, here he goes again!
And yet again, pulled back.
As they riders exit the town and head out for the hilly finish the breakaway are holding onto a slim 1'15" lead with 20kms to go.
Astarloza (WWE) can now see the breakaway as he is pulling on the front, and a quick glance at the front and you can see the bright orange of the leader's jersey on Greipel's shoulders. Looks like he isn't going to give up the jersey without a fight.
While Andre is still riding well, the same can't be said of the Canadian currently 6th overall, Rollin (Alstrom) who is next big name dropped.
Back at the front of the race Teunissen has left his breakaway partners behind with 11kms to go.
With the other breakaway riders just being caught, we get the first attack from an outside favourite for today's stage, Pineau (WWE).
But the much bigger Kurth blocks in his move.
And guess who takes advantage of that... his teammate Barredo (AMEX). Some cheap tactics by AMEX.
Pineau is going to have any of this and goes after him.
Teunissen holds out to win the weirdly placed sprint point. With Barredo and Pineau 2nd and 3rd. 4th you may ask, 2nd in GC Lorenzetto charging out of the peloton! Too bad that doesn't give him any points or bonus seconds.
After the sprint everything calms down and comes back together.
The calming before the storm...
The next move, Mendes (Prio) followed by Pineau (WWE) and Betancourt (Hollistar). 5kms to go.
Then comes teammate of Betancourt, Izagirre with Jumabekov (BCR) on his wheel.
But it all comes to nothing. Grygorenko brings them back. Just 3kms to go.
Jumabekov (BCR), Grygorenko (Metinvest), Barredo (AMEX), and the man that doesn't know his own strength (or weakness) Firsanov makeup the second wave of attacks.
Mendes isn't going to let them go, as Pineau goes again on the right.
Pineau has hit them hard and at the perfect time, 1km to go!
But Barredo is coming on really strong.
And he goes past Pineau like he is standing still!
And it ain't soon after that the remaining peloton, lead by Gerdemann (Sram) and Proni (Hollistar), is waving past Pineau.
Durasek (Alstrom) squeezes his way into the picture, and the old veteran Plaza (Prio) enters the picture as well. Also Izagirre is trying to find a small opening to get by Durasek.
This is going to be close! So many riders, so close together.
Durasek thinks he has got it won! But Izagirre makes a last lunge for line while he was celebrating...
And just look how packed they are in from places 1st to 30th. Linus Gerdemann clearly gets the last podium spot ahead of Carlos Barredo and Vitaliy Popkov. After that it's a free for all as they are packed in like sardines, so check the results below because they are just too close together for me to breakdown all the placings. But we finally do get a confirmation of our winner...
Ion Izagirre beat Durasek to line! So we get our first faulty celebration of the season and a valuable lesson for all our young viewers, "Don't celebrate till you cross the line!"
Some of the sprinters that lost time are Feillu (BPost), Keough (AMEX), Avelino (Prio), and Kupfernagel (AMEX) to name a few. But not all of them did, as Greipel and Lorenzetto fight to stay in the front group and as a reward they get to keep 1st and 2nd overall. But many are starting to doubt that Greipel can keep it past tomorrow with the ITT ahead.
Speaking of the time trial, I'm sure Zabriskie and the other TT specialist are happy with no time gaps today. Well expect for Dempster who didn't finish in the lead group, but Hollistar can't complain after getting the victory today.
