Today is the beginning of the GC battle of the 2014 tour de San Luis. Where the climbers, puncheurs and stage races will battle it out. The stage begins almost right before the first intermediate sprint, shortly after which, they climb the Alto de la Florida shortly followed by the category one Alto de Nagoli which will be tough climbs and damaging to the hopes of a breakaways or puncheurs. After descending the climb, the intermediate sprint occurs. Which, after a small section of flat is followed by a climb which doesn't quite suit the pure climbers, but not quite the puncheurs either.

As for the days favourites. Carlos Bentancur, Sergio Henao, Tejay Van Garderen and Julian Arredondo are best suited to the stage. Peter Sagan will prosper if the climb comes down the puncheurs, maybe even enough to hold onto the yellow ersey.. While other riders will race as wildcards, such as Weening, Horer, Kelderman, ohnsson and Kangert, either for not being strong enough on the mountain aspect, or because they are too strong as climbers and aren't great on the hills. Either way, we are in for an exciting stage.

The peloton set off from La Punta.

Fabrizio Harrini jumps ahead of the peloton to take the sprint. Marc de Maar gets second, obviously he want to keep his points jersey. While Teklehaimanot decides to follow yesterday's breakaway buddy for third. Despite only being 9th in the points before today, almost half of De Maars points ad not a contender at the end of stages.

Sky and Belkin definitely have more confidence in climbers then sprinters, with Second placed Swift and Bos on the front of the bunch. Grmay is up the road.

After 30km of racing, Tsgabu Grmay (MTN) and Davide Rebellin (CCC) are away with a 2 minute gap, they look to be the break of the day. it's worth remembering that both haven't lost any time to Sagan aside from the 20 seconds of time bonuses.

Rebellin leads over the first climb a not too hard Catergory 3 hill, it's straight onto the next climb though. Which is much harder.

Climb results to come when we get a third place.

2nd and 1st repectively in the climber standing, Cárdenas (Lampre) and Murphy (UHC) sprint out of the bunch to defend their positions. But Cárdenas is too strong for Murphy.

Murphy retreats to the peloton, but the same can't be said of Cárdenas who sees the opportunity to join the front group. The current climb, which peaks in 11km gives enough points for the winner (if it's a member of this break) to take the mountains jersey, although, it's worth noting that the final climb offers the same amount of points.

Rebellin is first up the mountain, although it's not for a lack of trying by the other riders. He will wear the polka-dots tomorrow unless, a member of this break, Murphy, or the 1st rider in the peloton on this climb, can win the stage, without Rebellin in sight, which looks doubtful, Cárdenas beats Grmay for second. 63km to go for the break.

We'll have the mountain points once the other positions are confirmed.

Expectantly Murphy takes the peloton over, but unexpectantly a sprinter takes points on one of the races highest summits, with Swift in fifth, just because he is riding as a domestique today. Herklotz and Asquez follow him over, this KOM competition might only be between 4 riders. There are about 60 riders behind the peloton, but they are mostly sprinters, fighters and domestiques.

Rebellin leads another sprint point, with Grmay crossing the line next ahead of Cárdenas. Murphy has used Cárdenas' strategy to catch up to the break in the meanwhile, he is 1 minute behind the front riders and 1 minute 45 seconds ahead of the bunch.

They pass the 10km to go banner and Murphy hasn't made it up to them. Unfortunately the break only has 1 minute and a half left, so it will be hard for them to survive the upcoming climb.

5km left and the final climb ramps up for serious start. the break only has 1 minute 20 seconds. Maybe enough for the flat, but there is a mountain in the way.

3km left and Arredondo (Caja Rural) goes for it! Sagan (Cannondale) follows with Henao (Sky) just behind, Kelderman (Belkin) is glued to his wheel, while Bentancur (Ag2r) chases back. Weening (Orica) ad Kangert (Giant) follow him. unfortunately Van Garderen is sitting way too far back. The breakaway still has 1 minute.

Arredondo, Sagan, Henao, Kelderman, Bentancur, Weening and Kangert are away. BMC are desperately chasing while Van Garderen tries to move forward.

Cárdenas makes his move, Rebellin and Grmay try to hold on. But they only have 45 seconds on the Sagan group.

It might be all over for the break, as the Sagan group catches them. This group has 2 minutes on the peloton.

1km left and Sagan leads the sprint! Arredondo and Bentancur and next to him, with Rebellin currently 4th and Henao 5th.

Sagan wins the stage! Taking back the points jersey and holding onto yellow! He is followed by 3 Colombians, Bentancur edges out Arredondo, who is followed by Henao, Kelderman follows, then Kangert, Rebellin is next, happy to have the mountains jersey tomorrow, next is Weening, then Grmay round out the top 10. Cárdenas is 11th. Multiple riders have decided to attack the flailing peloton. With Acevedo slipping ahead for 12th next is Hintermuller, then De la Montagne, Sergio Henao and Burton.

For the second stage in a row, the organisers are looking at gaps around Kelderman, either in front of, behind him, or both.

The remnants of the peloton arrive. it's all split into groups, the first one is led by Kudus, but contains 4 BMC riders, namely Van Garderen, who is damaged but hopefully not out, and he will have all the more reason to fight for time. Also in this group is Horner, Monfort, Johnsson, Kruijswijk, Nerz and Nokkvason, just bad luck in not being closer to the front.

Peter Sagan takes the stage and wears yellow, green and white.

Rebellin's great work at the front wins him the polka-dot jersey!