The two jersey wearers of the team were at the front straight from the gun.


Again we had a 3 man break. They didn't want the KoM points for some reason, so Warnier (CCB) took them.


A few guys attacked but for some reason I was the only one putting in a serious effort for 4th.

The pace was very hot, and it finally took its toll with 81km to go...

99 riders behind, not to be seen by the peloton again on today's stage.

Fast forward to the finish, and our two main sprinters' brains exploded. Avila and Arango both left the train for no reason, and were both dead by the time they came back. It seemed that Pantano had done a beautiful leadout for nothing. With 5km left, Romero was now dead as well. Pantano was the new leader, and he set his own pace.


1st stage winner Ista went at 800m. Boeve (RIJ) was also coming fast, with Pantano quite far back.


However! With 300m to go Pantano decided to turn into the new Mark Cavendish! He launched his sprint at 63km/h! Could he hold his stamina for 3rd?

NO!




HE COULD DO BETTER! AT 63KM/H FOR 450 METRES JARLINSON PANTANO WON THE STAGE! After doing all the pacework for the original train, and then wheel-hopping Nippo riders, Pantano produced the sprint of a lifetime!

There was no breakaway - for once - and the first intermediate sprint was contested amongst the peloton. It was won by our own Edwin Avila.


Finally a break got away, with all the attacks coming together to form a 6 man breakaway after 61km of racing. They got up to a massive 17'44" on the first climb.


A very narrow and precarious bridge almost caused a split at the very front of the peloton. Chalapud and I survived along with only 3 other riders (all quite bad ones), but we were brought back swiftly.


I was the fastest attacker from the peloton to the remaining points on the first HC climb. As this happened, the gap to the breakaway increased, however there was no GC danger. The peloton just didn't seem to care.


This is why we formed an 'attack train'. However Atapuma was boxed in, so it was just Chalapud and me.


Darwin finally came and brought with him a few other contenders.


Then, he and Chalapud got away, however everything was brought back the peloton .


We managed to get away again on the climb though.


Atapuma caught Santoro (CEF), who had been solo the whole time. I was behind in a group of 6, while Chalapud was further back.


But then, as my group caught our leader, I couldn't stick with the pace and got dropped.


Atapuma also struggled! He was dropped in the cruelest of manners, when he went back for water.




The survivors caught most of the breakaway, while Honkisz of CCC won by a mile (as is the expression - it was actually more than that ).




Both Atapuma and I didn't have enough energy, as we both staggered home in our little respective grupettos.


Huzarski took yellow, while I lost the mountains jersey to Honkisz.

Only 2 men fancied themselves in the breakaway today.

But, they would win! The peloton couldn't be bothered chasing, and the break had 8'19" with 27km left.


I moved from the peloton straight away on the climb, as Atapuma and Chalapud tried to follow. The yellow jersey wasn't to be left behind easily either.


He was getting tired though, while I was very comfortable and skipped on my bike.


I was also first over the climb, and started to attack on the sharp dowhnhill.

Atapuma was caught, but - due to all the attacks - the break now only had 2'.


Again, our train failed, but out of all things they managed to accomplish, they caught me!


However, we actually got to the front!


Congratulations to the winner, Amorim (LAR)!


Pantano was again amazing! Despite sprinting the longest, he still got 5th. With Arango and Avila 3rd and 4th respectively.

A very tough day. When we're not on one of the two HC climbs we'll be going up and down anyway. Atapuma is under pressure to perfom here.

Today we had a 7 man break, with more riders fancying their chances after 2 consecutive wins for the break. Due to the difficulty and importance of today's stage, the DS put us under strict orders to stay in the peloton.


I was first from the peloton over the first HC climb, and no, I actually wasn't in the mountains lead yesterday. That's now changed


Attacks rained at the foot of the last climb. Atapuma lead us, and I was a bit behind him. Chalapud was in the next group, as the BoTD was caught.




Darwin pulled away from the leaders. No-one - including the yellow jersey - had an answer.


I also rode away at the summit. There was now one big downhill to the finish, with Colombia riders in the top 2 positions.


The bunch just decided to stop riding, allowing Atapuma to easily take the stage win. I also took a very rewarding 2nd place.


But only just, the bunch had also let the favourites group go, and they sprinted in just behind me.

A very short race, but the gradients are high.

Again there was a 7 man break, seeking glory.


Fast forward to the climb, where Chalapud and Atapuma were destroying NetApp with their pace.


Navigating a stupid French fan, there was now a favourites group, which I had missed because I was getting water for myself after Rodriguez didn't give me any.

Darwin was tired. There was a 5 man group at the front, but our man couldn't sprint for the victory.




Cardoso took it in a reduced bunch sprint after some riders bridged up to the leaders.


I came in at the front of the 2nd group.


Cardoso also took yellow, with Atapuma looking good to hang on for 4th.

This is where the KoM competition will be decided. Either me or Honkisz.

Speak of the devil! Honkisz

The last stage of this long race. This is made for the sprinters, but for some reason I'm 3rd favourite .

There was a 10 man break, including my old friend Kiel Reijnen. He was 13th in the GC, but don't let his position fool you - he was 11'08" down.


J.J. Romero created a huge gap, catching the breakaway. This tired out our train - as you would imagine.


However, Reijnen won it solo.


Some stragglers of the breakaway finished after him, while Arango was the best out of the guys that stayed in the peloton.