Our new boy Daniel Reyes has got himself in to his first professional break in his first race as he joins Boom/Cyclingteam De Rijke, Sztobryn/Bank BGZ, Rudaskov/Itera Katusha and Fonseca/Bretagne Schuller as they build a lead which is now over 3m

The lead is currently 5m 4s

The peleton are just taking it easy and admiring the scenery for the time being

The advantage has come down to 2m 44s

Reyes was the last of the escapees to get caught as he just went inside the last twenty kilometres

Its An Post Sean Kelly who are in total control at the front of the race

They are still at the front setting a blistering pace

Frapporti of Team Idea has made a bid for freedom

But its the German Stefan Schumacher of Christina Watches who proves to be the fastest today and become our first race leader

Stefan Schumacher - Christina Watches - Onfone

Scott Thwaites - Endura Racing

Endura Racing

It was Great to see Daniel in his first Professional race go out in the break of the day, hope it's the first of many

Having gone over the first major climb of the day in first place Julien El Fares/Team Type 1 has opened up an advantage of 1m 30s on the descent

After the second ascent of the day he has increased his lead to 1m 45s

The peleton has finally decided to up the pace

The race was finally back together on the biggest climb of the day and it saw a two man break start to go away almost immediately, Bisolti/Team Idea and Mandri/Endura Racing were the two riders in question

Bisolti is alone as he reaches the twenty kilometre to go banner

Moncoutie/Cofidis and Sousa/Efapel Glassdrive are now at the front of proceedings as the riders behind are all cracking under the pressure of the day

Moncoutie is now clear on his own and looks like he is going to achieve a great solo victory

Even Didi the devil is getting excited for him

Inside the fnal kilometre with 1m 27s advantage

He just about has enough energy in his body to raise his arms in victory, what a day for the Frenchman

Stefan Schumacher - Christina Watches - Onfone

Alessandro Bisolti - Team Idea

Davide Malacarne Team Europcar

Efapel - Glassdrive

Well what started out as a good day with Julien El Fares picking up some valuable Mountain points, turned into a nightmare at the end with the time gaps putting pay to any chance of a Good GC finish.
All our energy will now go to trying to get the Mountains jersey for Julien or maybe even a stage win if we are lucky

Five riders make up the break of the day and have a healthy advantage of 4m 38s at the present time, the five are Hanson/Team Optum, Gene/Team Europcar, Malacarne/Bretagne Schuller, Segina/Adria Mobil and Rudaskov/Itera Katusha

The lead is hovering around the six and a half minute mark at the moment with the five leaders working well together

Cofidis are controlling the front of the peleton as they look after the interests of there race leader Moncoutie

Malacarne/Bretagne Schuller is doing the lions share of the work in the lead group and it seems to be working with the lead just below 7m

The breakaway has reached the final climb of the day with a little over five minutes remaining of their lead

Ribeiro/Efapel Glassdrive has caught up with the last remaining member of the break Malacarne and they are trying to stay away with the peleton only 38s behind

All they have is just 17s

Under the red kite and its Salgueiro/LA Antarte who is in pole position for the finish

But its Stefan Schumacher of Christina Watches who gets to the line first

Stefan Schumacher - Christina Watches - Onfone

Gaël Malacarne - Bretagne - Schuller

Davide Malacarne - Team Europcar

Efapel - Glassdrive

Our interest in this race ended today after Gael Malacarne of Bretagne Schuller more or less won the Mountains Classification after his ride today.
It's a case of damage limitation tomorrow before the guys can put there feet up