STAGE 11: Assisi - Montecatini Terme 253 KM's

Stage Favourites:
***Fenn(MCD) **Duque(CRL)
*Forster(AVI)

A flat stage on paper. But with a small lump 12 kilometres from the finish and the length we may be in for a surprise.

It took a long time for the break to establish, when it did it was made up of: van Poppel, Chainel, Leezer, Marlon Perez, Docker, Geslin, Dempster, Valls and Holohan.

With 24 kilometres to go Cardoso, Bodnar and Sieberg attack out of the peloton and join up with the break.

With 16 kilometres to go the break have only '36 over the peloton as Rohregger attacks and joins up with the men out front as we hit the small and steep final climb.

At the top of the climb only Cardoso, Bodnar and Rohregger are out front having dropped everyone else one the climb. Members of the original break had nothing left in the tank.

With 9 kilometres to go Aru falls, near the front, and causes a big crash. The GC men ease up and the front of the peloton is down to 25 riders.

As groups in the peloton slowly regroup following the crash Rohregger finds himself leading the trio of escapees into the sprint. He does not want to lead the better sprinters out and he therefore completely knocks off the pace....

The trio will fight it out.....

Bodnar is the first to launch his final effort and comes round the other two... Cardoso is the better sprinter here but has he lost out to the attack of Bodnar?

Cardoso takes the win. Win no.1 for Cartoon Network. It was a brave move from Bodnar but he was no match for the explosive Cardoso in the final.

Felline leads home the bunch and Gadret finishes 5th which shows it was a hard day in the saddle.
Keisse, Gaudin and Atapuma withdraw.