Hey Ollfardh, I know it's far away, but I just wanted to know how transfers will go. Will there be renewals, and can we just buy riders from other teams? What about Free Agents or riders from other teams which aren't managed (E.g. Ewan and Ruktiewicz).
Cycleman123 wrote:
Hey Ollfardh, I know it's far away, but I just wanted to know how transfers will go. Will there be renewals, and can we just buy riders from other teams? What about Free Agents or riders from other teams which aren't managed (E.g. Ewan and Ruktiewicz).
We start an action packed second half of the stage with 75km to go. The breakaway went away from the go including, Jiao (CSS), Veuchelen (VCD), Schillinger (TNE), Garcia (EUS), Delfosse (CRE). Perez took the intermediate sprint while Jiao took the KoM. They had a maximum lead of only around 3'10". With the peloton reeling them back, as the road rises, Jungels (RLT), Van Goolen (AJW), Cristobal Riquelme (BEL) and De Clercq (LTB).
The two groups join together, Stromberg (IAM) bridged over and immediately drops the front group with only Jungels reacting.
Garcia starts his sprint earlier enough to nip the front two for the intermediate sprint but immediately stops and goes back to the group he was originally in while Stromberg and Jungels carry on.
Euskaltel work on the front despite having a man in the break. The gap to the front two is just over 2 minutes.
With 45km to go, the group behind Stromberg and Jungels is caught. The pair have a 1'36" advantage on the first of two climbs of Tour of Norway's highest peak.
On the descent the riders wrestle for position for pursuit in the second climb which will reshape the GC. The peloton brings down the advantage considerably and looks as if it will all come back together at the bottom of the climb.
6 riders attack, it is Didier (RLT), Stromberg again, Van Goolen again, Coppel (COF), Sinaga (SOJ) and Van Rensburg (MTN).
And behind it's Cristobal Riquelme, Spilak (KAT), De Clercq and Schroder (EUC).
Heading towards the peak, Stromberg and Coppel lead, the rest gathering behind with Ronaldo (IAM) and Kakhi (CSS) attempting to break from the group. No real control of the peloton, Kristoff is in danger.
With 10km to go, Ronaldo leads the escapees down the descent to the short up hill and then flat last 2km.
With 5km to go, Katusha and Lotto make a last minute attempt to bring back the riders up front for their sprinters but working all day have left them little in the tank. The guys up front are real danger men for the overall classification.
3km left and Haussler attacks immediately followed by Kristoff and Jungels but it's all about the guys up the road.
It's Schroder who takes it up earlier and has a big gap back to the rest of the group.
It's too late for the sprinters, they will be sprinting for minor honours. Surely there will be a gap this time but how big?
Europcar take a victory and it's Schroder! he jumped the rest and wins with a clear difference from the rest, the bonus points should be enough for the overall win bar an accident on stage 5.
Kristoff wins the peloton sprint comfortably but it's no consolation. With different tactics played out by Katusha and IAM he might have been sprinting for another stage win.
Results
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Christian Schroder
Team Europcar
5h10'30
2
Bart De Clercq
Lotto Belisol
+ 13
3
Simon Spilak
Katusha Team
s.t.
4
Jorge Cristobal Riquelme
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Jonas Stromberg
IAM Cycling
s.t.
6
Jérôme Coppel
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
7
Francesco Ronaldo
IAM Cycling
s.t.
8
Francesco Bongiorno
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
+ 47
9
Alexander Kristoff
Katusha Team
+ 1'05
10
Jürgen Roelandts
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Rein Taaramäe
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
12
Heinrich Haussler
IAM Cycling
s.t.
13
Heimdal Hägg
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
14
Bob Jungels
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
15
Nicolas Edet
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
16
Rajesh Kakhi
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
17
Juan José Lobato
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
18
Tim Wellens
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
19
Guillaume Levarlet
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
20
Meron Russom
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
21
Lars Ytting Bak
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
22
Petr Ignatenko
Katusha Team
s.t.
23
Miguel Mínguez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
24
Ricardo García
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
25
Sébastien Reichenbach
IAM Cycling
s.t.
26
Grégory Rast
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
27
Pello Bilbao
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
28
Craig Lewis
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
29
Davide Malacarne
Team Europcar
s.t.
30
Thomas Voeckler
Team Europcar
s.t.
31
Firmansyah Sinaga
Sojasun
s.t.
32
Mathias Von Triesenberg
IAM Cycling
s.t.
33
Davide Mucelli
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
34
Jurgen Van Goolen
Accent Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
35
Alexandr Kolobnev
Katusha Team
s.t.
36
Luis Ángel Maté
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
37
Cyril Gautier
Team Europcar
s.t.
38
Jonathan Fumeaux
IAM Cycling
s.t.
39
Laurent Didier
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
40
Alex Fischer
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
41
Johann Nokkvason
Team Europcar
s.t.
42
Ángel Vicioso
Katusha Team
s.t.
43
Rubén Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
44
Jürgen Van de Walle
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
45
Jacques Janse Van Rensburg
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
46
Reto Hollenstein
IAM Cycling
s.t.
47
Edoardo Zardini
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
48
Pavel Brutt
Katusha Team
s.t.
49
Richard Löwenherz
Katusha Team
s.t.
50
Maarten Tjallingii
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 2'14
51
Pengda Jiao
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
52
Jacobus Venter
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
53
Marco Canola
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
+ 5'05
54
Youcef Reguigui
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
55
Andrea Pasqualon
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
56
Muhamad Othman
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
57
Robert Wagner
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
58
Mika Kurri
Accent Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
59
Andreas Schillinger
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
60
Kris Boeckmans
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
61
Sacha Modolo
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
62
Naveed Alinejad
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
63
Alexander Wetterhall
Team NetApp - Endura
+ 6'24
64
Gregor Gazvoda
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
65
Kevin Pauwels
Accent Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
66
Adrien Niyonshuti
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
67
Tosh Van der Sande
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
68
Frederik Veuchelen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
69
Jan Ghyselinck
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
70
Spiro Milosevic
IAM Cycling
s.t.
71
Stéphane Poulhiès
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
72
Tarik Chaoufi
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
73
Jetse Bol
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
74
Maxime Vantomme
Crelan - Euphony
s.t.
75
Marcel Sieberg
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
76
Sven Nys
Crelan - Euphony
s.t.
77
Sébastien Delfosse
Crelan - Euphony
s.t.
78
Evaldas Siskevicius
Sojasun
+ 7'50
79
Mirko Selvaggi
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
80
Paul Poux
Sojasun
s.t.
81
Yohann Gène
Team Europcar
s.t.
82
Christophe Laborie
Sojasun
s.t.
83
Scott Thwaites
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
84
Sébastien Chavanel
Team Europcar
s.t.
85
Bert-Jan Lindeman
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
86
Russell Downing
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
87
Graeme Brown
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
88
Björn Thurau
Team Europcar
s.t.
89
Maxime Daniel
Sojasun
s.t.
90
Hayden Roulston
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 9'06
91
Roy Jans
Accent Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
92
Willem Wauters
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
93
Nattrapon Miles
Accent Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
94
Jesse Sergent
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
95
Romain Feillu
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
96
Markel Irizar
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
97
Wouter Mol
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
98
Roger Kluge
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
99
Kenny Van Hummel
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
100
Tom Leezer
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
101
Baptiste Planckaert
Crelan - Euphony
s.t.
102
Danilo Hondo
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
103
Alberto Losada
Katusha Team
s.t.
104
Filippo Fortin
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
105
Erik Bousche
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
106
Jean-Lou Paiani
Sojasun
s.t.
107
Michael Schwarzmann
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
108
Kurt Hovelynck
Crelan - Euphony
s.t.
109
Martin Reimer
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
110
Mart Ojavee
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
111
Oskar Svendsen
Joker Merida
s.t.
112
Stian Remme
Joker Merida
s.t.
113
Kristoffer Skjerping
Joker Merida
s.t.
114
Truls Korsaeth
Joker Merida
s.t.
115
Audun Fløtten
Joker Merida
s.t.
116
Vegard Bugge
Joker Merida
s.t.
117
André Schulze
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 11'03
118
Frédéric Amorison
Crelan - Euphony
s.t.
119
Chan Jae Jang
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
120
Stefan Radochla
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
121
Fabrizio Harrini
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
122
Ralf Matzka
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
123
Klaas Vantornout
Accent Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
124
Johann Van Zyl
MTN - Qhubeka
+ 19'43
125
Bradley Potgieter
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
126
Matthew Brammeier
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
+ 29'15
GC
Rank
Name
Team
Time
1
Christian Schroder
Team Europcar
16h19'15
2
Bart De Clercq
Lotto Belisol
+ 21
3
Simon Spilak
Katusha Team
+ 25
4
Jonas Stromberg
IAM Cycling
+ 29
5
Jorge Cristobal Riquelme
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 33
6
Francesco Ronaldo
IAM Cycling
s.t.
7
Jérôme Coppel
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
8
Alexander Kristoff
Katusha Team
+ 37
9
Heinrich Haussler
IAM Cycling
+ 53
10
Jürgen Roelandts
Lotto Belisol
+ 1'05
Spoiler
11
Juan José Lobato
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
12
Francesco Bongiorno
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
+ 1'07
13
Grégory Rast
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 1'13
14
Ricardo García
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
15
Heimdal Hägg
Team NetApp - Endura
+ 1'15
16
Meron Russom
MTN - Qhubeka
+ 1'19
17
Bob Jungels
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 1'23
18
Rajesh Kakhi
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
+ 1'25
19
Thomas Voeckler
Team Europcar
s.t.
20
Lars Ytting Bak
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
21
Ángel Vicioso
Katusha Team
s.t.
22
Rein Taaramäe
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
23
Alexandr Kolobnev
Katusha Team
s.t.
24
Tim Wellens
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
25
Mathias Von Triesenberg
IAM Cycling
s.t.
26
Davide Mucelli
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
27
Nicolas Edet
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
28
Petr Ignatenko
Katusha Team
s.t.
29
Davide Malacarne
Team Europcar
s.t.
30
Guillaume Levarlet
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
31
Miguel Mínguez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
32
Laurent Didier
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
33
Richard Löwenherz
Katusha Team
s.t.
34
Rubén Pérez
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
35
Cyril Gautier
Team Europcar
s.t.
36
Edoardo Zardini
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
37
Luis Ángel Maté
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
38
Jurgen Van Goolen
Accent Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
39
Pavel Brutt
Katusha Team
s.t.
40
Jürgen Van de Walle
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
41
Reto Hollenstein
IAM Cycling
s.t.
42
Craig Lewis
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
43
Johann Nokkvason
Team Europcar
s.t.
44
Firmansyah Sinaga
Sojasun
s.t.
45
Jacques Janse Van Rensburg
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
46
Jonathan Fumeaux
IAM Cycling
s.t.
47
Alex Fischer
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
48
Pello Bilbao
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
49
Maarten Tjallingii
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
+ 2'30
50
Pengda Jiao
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
+ 2'34
51
Jacobus Venter
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
52
Mika Kurri
Accent Jobs - Wanty
+ 5'19
53
Andreas Schillinger
Team NetApp - Endura
+ 5'23
54
Sacha Modolo
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
+ 5'25
55
Kris Boeckmans
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
56
Naveed Alinejad
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
57
Robert Wagner
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
58
Marco Canola
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
59
Andrea Pasqualon
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
60
Muhamad Othman
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
61
Youcef Reguigui
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
62
Sébastien Reichenbach
IAM Cycling
+ 5'30
63
Jan Ghyselinck
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
+ 6'38
64
Frederik Veuchelen
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 6'40
65
Tosh Van der Sande
Lotto Belisol
+ 6'42
66
Maxime Vantomme
Crelan - Euphony
+ 6'44
67
Spiro Milosevic
IAM Cycling
s.t.
68
Marcel Sieberg
Lotto Belisol
s.t.
69
Kevin Pauwels
Accent Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
70
Alexander Wetterhall
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
71
Stéphane Poulhiès
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
72
Sébastien Delfosse
Crelan - Euphony
s.t.
73
Sven Nys
Crelan - Euphony
s.t.
74
Jetse Bol
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
75
Tarik Chaoufi
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
76
Gregor Gazvoda
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
77
Adrien Niyonshuti
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
78
Björn Thurau
Team Europcar
+ 7'50
79
Maxime Daniel
Sojasun
+ 8'06
80
Evaldas Siskevicius
Sojasun
+ 8'10
81
Sébastien Chavanel
Team Europcar
s.t.
82
Scott Thwaites
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
83
Yohann Gène
Team Europcar
s.t.
84
Mirko Selvaggi
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
85
Russell Downing
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
86
Bert-Jan Lindeman
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
87
Graeme Brown
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
88
Christophe Laborie
Sojasun
s.t.
89
Paul Poux
Sojasun
s.t.
90
Romain Feillu
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 9'26
91
Erik Bousche
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
92
Filippo Fortin
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox
s.t.
93
Roger Kluge
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
94
Roy Jans
Accent Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
95
Markel Irizar
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
96
Kenny Van Hummel
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
97
Baptiste Planckaert
Crelan - Euphony
s.t.
98
Jesse Sergent
RadioShack - Leopard
s.t.
99
Tom Leezer
Belkin Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
100
Martin Reimer
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
101
Michael Schwarzmann
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
102
Kurt Hovelynck
Crelan - Euphony
s.t.
103
Wouter Mol
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
104
Jean-Lou Paiani
Sojasun
s.t.
105
Mart Ojavee
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
106
Frédéric Amorison
Crelan - Euphony
+ 11'21
107
André Schulze
Euskaltel - Euskadi
+ 11'23
108
Fabrizio Harrini
Cofidis, Solutions Crédits
s.t.
109
Ralf Matzka
Team NetApp - Endura
s.t.
110
Stefan Radochla
Euskaltel - Euskadi
s.t.
111
Chan Jae Jang
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
112
Danilo Hondo
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 12'17
113
Nattrapon Miles
Accent Jobs - Wanty
s.t.
114
Hayden Roulston
RadioShack - Leopard
+ 12'44
115
Alberto Losada
Katusha Team
+ 13'45
116
Willem Wauters
Vacansoleil - DCM Pro Cycling Team
+ 17'03
117
Klaas Vantornout
Accent Jobs - Wanty
+ 19'57
118
Audun Fløtten
Joker Merida
+ 21'18
119
Stian Remme
Joker Merida
s.t.
120
Oskar Svendsen
Joker Merida
s.t.
121
Kristoffer Skjerping
Joker Merida
s.t.
122
Vegard Bugge
Joker Merida
s.t.
123
Truls Korsaeth
Joker Merida
s.t.
124
Johann Van Zyl
MTN - Qhubeka
+ 24'22
125
Bradley Potgieter
MTN - Qhubeka
s.t.
126
Matthew Brammeier
Champion System Pro Cycling Team
+ 29'35
Kristoff leads the points competition, Hagg stays in polka dot with more points up for grabs tomorrow on the last stage. IAM lead the team results while race leader is also in white followed by Cristobal Riquelme and Stromberg
Hello and welcome to this years edition of Rund um Köln. The riders have all signed in, and to everybody's delight, nobody had to pull out unexpectadly, so all 130 riders that had planned to come also made it to the start today. The sky is overcast today, with wind speeds of around 25 on the Cya scale. Just as a reminder, this is todays profile:
It should favour the sprinters that can take hills well, but with two short cobbled hills in there to make it interesting, everything could happen. Should the winds get a bit stronger, echelons could be thinkable. Strong winds would also favour todays breakaway, if the peleton should fail to get themselves organised.
And we're off! In 192km, or about 5 hours, we will have the winner of the 2013 edition of Rund um Köln!
Tortelier(SOJ) starts the attacks. Stamsnijder(ARG) and Dockx(LTB) are following him.
Their gap quickly reaches over 40", but then Dion(BSE), Pomoshnikov(RVL) and Amorison(CRE) try to bridge the gap to them.
Just as they catch the front group, we have more attacks from the pack. Wallays(TSV) and Gène(EUC) want to be part of the move too. Especially Gène(EUC) will not receive a warm welcome from the other attackers, due to his strong sprint. He would surely be the favourite should the breakaway survive.
The attacks still aren't over. Rebellin(CCC) and Lasca(CJR) want to be up front too. Both of them are very strong riders, Rebellin(CCC) is a good puncher, whilst Lasca(CJR) would easily be the best sprinter in the group. Now it'll be interesting to see how the pack will react.
With 173km to go, all three groups have come together to make a ten man strong BotD. They have a gap of 3'15" over the peleton.
With 153km to go, Fumeaux(IAM) punctures. He will have no problems getting back on though. The gap between the break and the peleton is at 4'26".
Split in the peleton! On a steep climb with about 130km to go, the peleton splits up in to three groups. No big favourites were left behind, but the middle group includes riders like Bos(BEL), Lobato(EUS), B. Van Poppel(VCD), Kreder(VCD), Van Hummel(VCD), Renshaw(BEL) and Ronaldo(IAM), whilst the last group includes riders like Denifl (IAM), Furan (CJR), Stauff(MTN) as well as most of Team NetApp-Endura: Dempster, Schwarzmann, Walker, Kluge and Schorn. It will be interesting to see if the teams that haven't lost important riders will keep the pace high in the first group, or if the dropped riders can get back on. Meanwhile, the gap from the front group to the breakaway is 5'31".
After only about 5 kilometres, everything is back together. Only two riders are still behind the peleton: McEvoy(TNE) had a mechanical and is now 1'57" behind the front of the peleton, while M. Cardoso is having difficulties, with a gap of 2'28". I wonder wether the riders that could get back now will move to the front after that shock, or if they will make the same mistake again?
The break hit the first of the two cobbled ascents of today. Amorison(CRE) is the only acclaimed cobbler in here, i wonder wether he'll try something, though they are still 96 km from the finish. Their advantage over the pack, which now includes every rider that started today, is 4'28".
Nothing of interest happened. Now it remains to be seen how the peleton will handle the cobbles. The cobbles, combined with the narrow roads, seem predestined to split the pack again, this time maybe for good.
Stannard(SKY) paces the peleton up the hill. He must be very confident in his leader, Sithembile.
Surprisingly, his efforts aren't enough to do any damage. That doesn't stop Bole(VCD) from attacking on the flat right after the cobbles though. He has a gap of 3'30" to bridge to the breakaway.
Europcar are now working in the peleton. Why i wonder, since their man Gène is in the breakaway. The gap however has actually increased since Bole(VCD) attacked. He is now 1'10" ahead of the peleton and 2'44" behind the BotD.
With 77 km to go, Bole(VCD) catches up with the break. They have an advantage of 3'34" over the main group, where it's still Europcar and Sky working.
Then suddenly a lot of things happen at once. Hägg(TNE), Drucker(AJW) and Martens(BEL) attack. This causes an increase in tempo in the peleton, which causes a big split. Main casualty is Degenkolb(ARG), though riders like Markus(VCD), Kreder(VCD), Van Staeyen(TSV), Stauff(MTN), Furan(CJR) and again a lot of NetApp riders, like Thwaites, McEvoy, Dempster, Schorn, Schwarzmann and Walker, so in the end that move backfired for them. This is the current situation:
Luckily for Degenkolb(ARG), his team can close the gap relatively quickly. Hopefully he'll pay a bit more attention the next time!
With 64 km to go, Hägg(TNE), Drucker(AJW) and Martens(BEL) catch up to the breakaway to form a big 14 man front group. Their advantage is 2'51".
Approaching the second and last cobbled ascent, the group is actually gaining time on the leaders. With 54 km to go the gap is 3'32".
As they reach the cobbles, they have an advantage of 4'17" and a realistic chance of making it to the finish if they work well together, being only 39 km away. Meanwhile Delfosse(CRE) and Malacarne(EUC) have both crashed in the peleton, but shouldn't have any problems getting back on, if they're quick about it.
It's still all Europcar and Sky doing the work as they go over the cobbles. Nobody feels like attacking though.
Another split! As we leave the hills behind, everybody bar Degenkolb(ARG) and the Vacansoleil riders that were in the other splits get caught behind. It hardly seems to matter though, because the break have 4'12" with 34km to go. So guys like Renshaw(BEL)Stauff(MTN) and Furan(CJR) and again nearly all of the NetApp team will likely have to call it a day.
Attacks! Shortly after the split, Greipel(LTB), Verboven(EUS) and Voeckler(EUC). These are some top favourites, but could they possibly have left it too late? Especially Greipel(LTB) in there is interesting. He doesn't seem to be confident in his helpers anymore. I wonder what his manager will think of this?
Haussler(IAM) attacks and reaches the four mid stage attackers. They are 21" ahead of peleton, this might or might not be enough. They should surely have the firepower necessary to stay in front, if they're really determined. Meanwhile, they are 3'00" behind break, which will allmost definitely not be caught.
Greipel(LTB) goes solo. What's he doing? Does he think he'll have a better chance alone than with guys like Haussler(IAM) or Verboven(EUS)? Surely he should be able to distance them in a sprint anyway, should they manage to get away. 22km to go.
Haussler(IAM), Verboven(EUS) and Voeckler(EUC) get caught. Maybe Greipel(LTB) had more sense than I thought at first? With 20km to go, his lead is a mere 33". The break are still 1'18" ahead of him, which shows just how much the peleton has woken up. If the break keep on playing cat and mouse like this, they might even get caught in the end! What a fool Greipel would look then...
Stamsnijder(ARG) attacks the break. You would have thought he'd want to keep the pace in the break as low as possible, to make sure they don't survive, and that Kittel(ARG) can go for the win. Then again, if he can stay away, that wouldn't be necessary at all. 17km to go.
Greipel(LTB) is caught. This is not what the Lotto manager had hope for, i'm sure of that. Especially now, when it looks like the break might be caught after all. The peleton are now only trailing the break by 56". However, the break is 28" behind Stamsnijder(ARG), who sure has pulled out an impressive gap for himself. With 13km to go now, Sky are now doing all work.
Sinkeldam(ARG) attacks. None of the sprinter teams seem confident of catching the break. Or maybe this is just a cunning plan to try and bring the break back? 7km to go.
Fast forward to within sprinting range, and the situation hasn't really changed. Pomoshnikov(RVL) and Lasca(CJR) are the first to start their sprint in the breakaway. Gène(EUC) and Martens(BEL), who are probably the strongest sprinters in the group after Lasca(CJR), follow shortly after. At the moment, they are 28" behind Stamsnijder(ARG).
This is incredible! Due to a mighty acceleration by the others from the break, Stamsnijder(ARG) has been caught with 1500m to go! He looks quite dead now, but the other riders from the break are still a long way back, and look exhausted too.
It looks like it's between Lasca(CJR), Gène(EUC) and Martens(BEL) now. Stamsnijder(ARG) might have found another tiny bit of energy left, and is now looking to hold of riders like Bole(VCD) and Hägg(TNE). Meanwhile in the back, Sinkeldam(ARG) has nearly been caught, but is still putting up a fight. Behind him, it looks like either Ciolek(MTN), Degenkolb(ARG) or Eisel(SKY) will win the peleton sprint.
Gène(EUC) holds on! He just edges out Martens(BEL) and Lasca(CJR) in an exciting sprint. Behind that, Dion(BSE), Bole(VCD) and Drucker(AJW) pass Stamsnijder(ARG) who fought bravely and is rewarded with the inofficial Combatative Award. This might brighten an otherwise dark day for his team. Dockx(LTB) and Hägg(TNE) manage to get the remaining Top 10 places, while Wallays(TSV), Pomoshnikov(RVL), Tortelier(SOJ) and Amorison(CRE) just miss out. Meanwhile in the pack...
Sinkeldam(ARG) just about holds on for 15th. Behind him, Ciolek(MTN) beats Boom(BEL) and Eisel(SKY) to a near worthless 16th place, for which Greipel(LTB) (probably too tired) and Kittel(ARG) (probably just couldn't be bothered) didn't even sprint. Here are the full results of todays stage:
