Stage Favourites:
*****Clarke(BLU) ****Tschopp(AER) ***Cummings(SAH)
**Martens(NOK) *Konig(NES)

Fischer of 7up is the biggest name in the break today, the leader of 7up is looking for a stage win after a poor start. He is joined by: Maes, Dowsett, Appleby, Morajko, Champion, Zitta, Sagan, Bono, de Backer, Pererya and Lobato (who was best placed: 37th @ 2'37).

With 90 KM to go the GC winner of TOTC4 attacks out of the peloton. His start .... to this TOTC has been poor by his standards, he was more than 11'00 down in GC and in drastic need to do something.

As Hansen bridges across to the original 12 man break with 70 km to go and the break at 6'20 the pace is on as the peloton ascend the steep unrelenting hill for the first time on the stage.

Bozic is dropped! Despite being a strong candidate for the stage win the Slovenian is the biggest name dropped in a group of 43 with km to go. The whole team are called back to assist.

We have now been up the steep climb twice. Bozic has been dropped again, this time for good. With the hard racing over the steep hills the pure climbers are also getting into difficulty. Atapuma is dropped! Erviti and O'Grady are dropped before regaining contact, the next time they are dropped it is for good.

The pace is high on the peloton as the break are proving really stubborn. The break have 4'50 with 43 km to go. That is what happens when you let quality riders such as Hansen and Fischer make the break.

37 KM to go: the break @ 4'10.

Mori (Nespresso) attacks out of the peloton.

The German quickly catches up to Mori as more attacks come from the peloton, Iberia are helping out on the peloton now. Davis and Ginanni also try to get away but think better of it.

The break are now down to 8 riders, surprisingly Lobato is one of the 4 who is dropped. The break are looking strong for the stage win as they have 2'20 over the peloton.

Szymd attacks and Martens attacks again, so does Mori. The other favourites behind seriously up the pace causing big fractures in the GC group...

Danail Petrov leads teammate Szymd and 18 others. Some big names are missing from this select group. There is no Serpa, Moinard, Koren or Paulinho. They will be disappointed, especially as some of the harder sprinters made the group of 18.

After great work from Hansen and Fischer and the like the break would see off the favourites. Maes inadvertently leads everyone else in the wheel as the finish beckons.

Fischer soon comes to the front.

He started his sprint a bit early but he was comfortably the quickest, only Hansen was able to finish within 3 bike lengths. After a dismal first four stages this stage win by 7up makes up for that. Cartoon Network astound again with a 3rd consecutive podium finish, this time coming from de Backer.

Offredo, of all people, leads the red jersey group home at '47.

Come home some dejected riders. They can be thankful they didn't lose even more time. Charteau, Atapuma, Rodriguez and Muravyev would lose even more time than 1'00 to the red jersey and can kiss goodbye to any GC hopes at this stage.

Tomorrow, a mountain top finish, offers little respite to those who suffered today.