Hell yeah! Perfectly executed with Eenkhoorn as additional workhouse in the break and Plapp executing nicely. I didnt believe in the victory for a second because the gap looked too small throughout but Plapp was outstanding.
And finally white is with us too. Took too long but at least we have it now and should defend it until the end.
Thanks for another great report and thanks ember (not accepting those congratulations just yet )
Wasn't expecting Champoussin to be dropped by Plapp there. Congrats, knockout!
It's good that we were in the breakaway. Just not the outcome I was expecting. Champoussin not going for the KoM points is concerning. I guess a Giro repeat is out of question at this point.
Dombrowski looked strong all climb, but apparently he peaked too early and collapsed near the end. Not ideal to lose time to guys like Areruy, Latour and Geoghegan Hart. But we still have a buffer to them. Getting close to Girdlestone now; hope to move into second place soon.
What a win for Plapp! Getting caught by Herklotz yet coming back through to pass him, such an iconic victory.
That stage ended up being a lot more grueling and difficult than I expected based on the profile. It seems the team is really intent on using our numbers for something, though I can't really tell what at this stage since we now have no one in the top 10. Carthy looked good early on when he followed Herklotz and Dombro, but he faded pretty hard at the end there. Maybe he's in the breakaway tier now? I'm not really sure because the team working suggests he's still viewed as a favorite of some kind.
A little worried that Carthy is carving his way into a no man's land where he won't finish in the top 10 or attack, but there's still a lot of race left before things really shake out. There are a number of guys above him that should, in theory, be weaker in the mountains of the last week.
Will be disappointing if AKA abandons in the points jersey but I can't imagine Herklotz doesn't pass him anyway.
Terrific report Ulrich! You captured all the moving parts super well and it was a pleasure to read.
RIP Exxon Duke, David Veilleux, Double Feature, and Monster Energy
Huge congratulations, knockout 
(not accepting those congratulations just yet 
)
