At the start the riders must have been dreading another day in the rain.......

...but as Finetto (SSL) @8'31 and Latvian champ Saramotins @10'08 (BSE) attacked within the first 2 kilometres, all riders must have known from the weather it was going to be a good day.

Unlike previous stages there seemed to be little effort by riders to get into the break. As a result 10 kilometres into the race the two men have a gap of 2:15 back to the peloton when a third rider attacks. He is M.Brandle @15'20 (RBL)

It takes the Austrian a good 20 kilometres but he manages to bridge the gap to the two out front forming the 'official' break of the day. All three riders ride well together over the undulating terrain in the first half of the stage.

Early on in the race, the peloton seems to be taking it easy. The teams on the front for the early part of the race were Husky Energy, Iran Khodro and Standard Chartered.

Without doubt many riders who succumbed to the crashes in the earlier stages were using this stage to heal up and recover. Curacao champ Marc de Maar(TNA) is such and must be quite happy that the sun is shining as he takes a swig from his bottle.

With 115 kilometres to go and the gap @9'30 to the peloton, Kulalu and Pulso Verde decide enough is enough and increase the pace on the peloton.

The three out front head towards the intermediate sprint at montdidier which they ride through without contesting it. Even though the three out front are good riders for a breakaway the peloton were always in control. As the now Standard Chartered lead peloton approaches the sprint their is still a maximum of 13 points available...

Phinney (Green Jersey) easily launches his sprint first and takes the maximum points on offer. He is really proving a force to be reckoned with.

Intermediate sprint at montdidier:

As the race winds on the break are losing more and more time. From 100 kilometres to 30 kilometres to go Pulso Verde and Kulalu are the sole teams on the peloton with the odd Standard Chartered rider here and there. The gap is now under 2:30 to the break.

With 26 kilometres to go four riders attack from out the bunch they are: Durbridge (PDA), Jeannesson (PCA), Trofimov (AFL) and O'Grady (TNA). They make it to the three out front with 20 kilometres to go the gap is now 1 minute to the peloton.

With 18 kilometres to go much of the peloton is taking it easy. Someone should tell Ostergaard (KLO) that you can't get water in the last 20K!
With 14 kilometres to go the break is 40 seconds ahead, with 10 kilometres to go the break is around 20 seconds ahead. With five kilometres to go....

the break is swallowed up. Two trains are prominent at the front of the race, each with their sprinter at the rear of the train. Pulso Verde with Chavanel and Kulalu with Hunter. Yes it looks like.......

we will have a mass sprint today. Kulalu is the first to take up the sprint. Brown is the last man ahead of South African champ Hunter. Phinney was on Hunter's wheel but goes backwards and ends up on the wheel of Chavanel. Hinault looks to be in a great position on Hunter's wheel...........

but he doesn't have it in his legs today. Under the 1km to go banner. Fortunately for points leader Phinney he tagged on to the right train. He gets pulled up to the head of the race by Perez who is leading out Chavanel. Before Chavanel and Hunter start their sprints, Phinney sprints going right between the two trains.

An impeccable timed sprint sees Phinney come to front exactly at the right time and he looks to be holding well. However Chavanel is coming up fast.....very fast.......

but he runs out of road. Stage win for Phinney. Stage win for Iran Khodro. Hunter rounds off the podium.

Only 11 riders failed to stay in touch with the peloton.

11th -Manan
12th- Perez
13th- Hinault
14th - Bole
15th - Brown

Rosseler stays in yellow but is this compromising Hinault's chances in the sprints?

Phinney now holds a commanding lead in the points classification.

Only riders who lost touch to peloton:

ULTRA CLASSIFICATION OVERALL: