Giro d'Italia

Real life: The stage was won by Andrey Amador ahead of Barta and De Marchi. Hesjedal came in 4th and took the GC lead.

14 riders went in an early break hoping to either get a big enough gap to win the stage or help their captain late on the stage. Most noteworthy Monfort, Serpa, Tony Martin, Peraud, Szmyd and Marczynski.

With 90 km to go the break has 8 minutes on the peloton.
When the break hits the foot of Col de Joux they have 6’12’’

Peraud takes the mountain sprint ahead of Meyer, Serpa, Szmyd and De Clerq. Those five have 2’40’’ to Mollema, who attacked halfway up the mountain and have 1’23’’ to the peloton at this moment.

On the descent Samuel Sánchez puts in an attack on the GC. Urán tries his best to follow.
When Sánchez, Mollema and Urán reach the foot of the Cervinia climb they have one minute to the peloton counting 88 riders and 2’21’’ to the 12 rides in front.

5 km later they are caught and immediately Sánchez is off again. Saxo - Tinkoff and Sky Wiggins will not get to just ride their train in peace.

20 km of climbing left. Monfort, Peraud and Casar continue to fight for the break but doesn’t stand a chance against the Saxo – Tinkoff train.

10 km left. Sammy have tired the peloton with numerous attacks and now Froome, Scarponi and Van den Broeck try to shake the rest. Only Froome get a real gap.

7 km. Froome still fighting 13 seconds ahead of Andy Schleck and a further 20 seconds ahead of a 20-rider group containing the rest of the favourites.

5 km left. Froome still in front but Schleck and Purito is closing in on him. The main favourite group is only 23 seconds behind at this point.

4,5 km to go and Wiggins put in a strong attack.

2,5 km left and the mountain is getting flatter. Froome, Schleck and Rodríguez has 23 seconds to Wiggins and a further 13 seconds to the main group.

Last km. Froome is alone in front 21 seconds ahead of Schleck, Purito and Wiggins with Contador a further 12 seconds behind.11 seconds ahead of an 11-rider group.

What a win for Froome!

And what a close sprint for the Bonus seconds…
White Jersey Van Garderen is having a terrible day and ends up losing 8’45’’ in that competition. The cost of having to work for your captain I guess...

Giro d'Italia

Real life: Rabottini took the win from a break right ahead of Rodríguez and Losada. Purito regained the GC lead.

9 riders form the early breakaway. At the foot of the first mountain they have a gap of 6’10’’. The nine are Moser, Weening, Nerz, Brambilla, Ten Dam, Hoogerland, Jeanneson, Vande Velde and Gretsch.

Nerz takes the KOM ahead of Ten Dam and Vande Velde while Cunego have decided that the peloton was way too slow so he decided to attack hoping to join the breakers.

When Nerz cross the summit he has 2’30’’ to Cunego and a further 7’15’’ to the peloton.

Second KOM. Cunego have replaced Gretsch in the front group and Voeckler is trying to copy the feat from behind. Not quite with the same success though…
Once again Nerz is first over the top ahead of Vande Velde and Ten Dam.
They have 5’16’’ to Voeckler and seven minutes to the peloton with 40 km to go.

With 30 km to go the favourites start moving. Froome, Valverde and Rodríguez are the ones strurring things up.

Another summit. This time Nerz is too tired to sprint at falls short three points away from the jersey. Ten Dam wins ahead of Weening and Brambilla.
The break has 3’30’’ to Rodríguez 16 seconds ahead of Froome and another 20 seconds ahead of the main favourites group.

7 km to go and the final climb is starting. Cunego is leaving the break behind 2’30’’ ahead of Samuel Sánchez, Contador, Van den Broeck and Rodríguez and a further 25 seconds ahead of the rest of the favourites.

5 km. Ten Dam and Vande Velde have rejoined Cunego in front. The trio has 1’30’’ to a 23-rider group with all the big favourites.

3 km left and Rodríguez have reeled in the break more or less singe handed. 20 riders left to fight for the win and all the captains are where they’re supposed to be.

Inspired by the pink jersey Nibali attacks and the group cracks on the middle.

Going into the final 1,5 km it looks like he is really doing some damage.

Purito, Froome and Contador are struggling to catch the Italian.

800 m to go. Froome and Contador have almost caught up with Nibbles.

Italian victory in the pink jersey! There will be partying in the streets tonight for sure!!

The other favourites drop in a few at a time with Cadel Evans being the big loser of the day finishing 33rd 5’21’’ after Nibali.

Egoi Martínez had to withdraw after a crash and Hutarovich missed the time limit.