The mountains, where Peter Sagan will face his greatest challenge, where Kelderman, Betancur, Henao, Arredondo and Kangert will all try to take the yellow jersey from his shoulders, while other climbers attempt to win the queen stage. There is only one mountain though and it's followed by about 25km of flat, which is enough for riders to catch up. It's anyone's day today.
The peloton lets the first 6 riders to attack stay away, meaning that Boswell (NetApp), Cummings (Sky), Pires (Colombia), Arroyo (Caja), Gerdemann (MTN) and Busche (Trek) are away.
The break simply rolls over the line for the sprint, Busche leads them, followed by Boswell and Gerdemann.
Position | Name | Team | Points | Total Points |
1 | Mathew Busche | Trek | 6 | 6 |
2 | Ian Boswell | NetApp | 4 | 4 |
3 | Linus Gerdemann | MTN | 2 | 2 |
The climb has only reached small gradients, with nothing significant for the next kilometre, but that doesn't stop Dario Cataldo (BMC) from attacking, all the favourites are straight on his wheel but Orica, despite having Weening with the group, pulls the group back, the break has 2 minutes 45 on the peloton.
Interesting tactics by Cannondale, with Sagan and Burton sitting on the front and slowing the pace, perhaps to stop other favourites from taking time bonuses? A chance to rest? The break takes advantage of this and steals a minute back. 33km to go.
Tanel Kangert (Giant) sees the opportunity! Sagan (Cannondale) isn't letting anything away, despite it not being his favourite terrain and Weening (Orica), follows them. 23km to go and the break has 3 minutes!
Wilco Kelderman (Belkin) knows that his GC chances are slipping away and chases the yellow jersey group, which is a minute ahead of the peloton. Where is Bentancur, Henao and Arredondo though?
The break ahead still had 2 minutes on the yellow jersey group.
Bentancur (Ag2r) finally gets away with Sebastien Henao and Bonnaford, they catch Kelderman, who has blown up and Betancur attacks, but the Sagan group keeps getting further away.
Betancur catches Sagan, Kangert and Weening, Sergio Henao (Sky) finally catches the group containing his younger brother, Kelderman and Bonnaford and Arredondo (Caja) decides he doesn't need teammates and is singlehandedly, trying to pull the breakaway back, despite the attempts of his teammates to move forward.
The break isn't interested in mountain points, so Cummings leads over the climb.
Position | Name | Team | Points | Total Points |
1 | Steven Cummings | Trek | 16 | 18 |
2 | David Arroyo | NetApp | 12 | 12 |
3 | Mathew Busche | MTN | 10 | 10 |
4 | Bruno Pires | Colombia | 8 | 8 |
5 | Ian Boswell | NetApp | 6 | 6 |
6 | Linus Gerdemann | MTN | 4 | 4 |
7 | Tanel Kangert | Giant | 2 | 6 |
The time gaps at the top of the climb are:
Cummings, Arroyo, Busche, Pires, Boswell
+16" Gerdemann
+58" Kangert, Betancur, Sagan, Weening
+2'12" Henao, Henao, Bonnafond, Kelderman
+3'00" Peloton (led by Arredondo)
There is now 19km to go, which are more or less flat.
David Arroyo (Caja) looks back and isn't happy, so he attacks his companions in an attempt to stay away, the rest of the break ignores his move.
Tejay Van Garderen (BMC) finally remembers that he wants to win the race and attacks, Arredondo, Monfort (Trek) and Hinteruller (MTN) follow the attack.
Henao sees the chance, 21 seconds on Kelderman would give him a spot on the podium, provided Kangert and Weening don't get the 20 seconds they need, so he attacks for a podium position, behind, Bonnafond won't chase back Betancur ahead, Henao would never chase down his brother, which leaves Kelderman, to put it all out on the road for his podium chances.
10km to go! Cummings and Busche have sprinted right passed Arroyo and are going out alone!
Time Gaps at 10km to go:
Cummings, Busche
+19" Arroyo
+47" Pires, Boswell
+1'23" Gerdemann
+1'32" Betancur, Kangert, Weening, Sagan
+2'14" Henao
+2'35" Kelderman, Bonnafond, Henao
+2'51" Van Garderen
+3'11" Arredondo
+3'55" Peloton 1
+6'06" Peloton 2
5km left! No changes in groups, but the Sagan group is going the fastest pulling back everybody in front and gaining time on those behind.
1km to go! It's painful just watching Arroyo, but he won't make it, the sprint is between Cummings and Busche.
Cummings is just ahead, but Busche is trying to get round, can he do it?!
Cummings takes the queen stage of the Tour de San Luis! By a matter of millimetres over Busche!
Arroyo crosses the line, 3rd, for all that effort. Peter Sagan pulls off a giant sprint, as to be expected, passing Pires and Boswell to take 4th, with a time gap to the other contenders, it doesn't seem like there is any doubt, baring a crash, that he will lose the race.
Betancur rides through the crowd for 5th, with Pires in 6th, Kangert, who may have moved up to 3rd in GC today, takes 7th, Boswell rounds off a good day in 8th, smartly chooses to avoid the spectators, who are stupid enough to stand on the road, Weening had a good day on the climb, but his sprint is lacking so his comes in 9th, with a good enough ride to maybe move up to 4th in GC, before the hilly stage that should suit him and Gerdemann is the last of the break and rounds out the top 10.
The queen stage of the tour de San Luis, a great victory for Steven Cummings.
Sagan has worn the yellow every day of the race, it'll be hard to take it off him on the hills and flat to come.