Another flat stage but it’s similar to the 4th stage. It’s a bit easier however. It might be a sprint between the more hilly sprinters instead of the pure speed sprinters. Think along the lines of Belkin’s Cristobal Riquelme.




The escapees this day are Duggan (Saxo Bank), Moser (Cannondale), Rabon (Omega Pharma), Wackermann (Lampre) and Muravyev (Astana). They got a 6 minute gap but at the end of the


only a 5 man breakaway today

We’ve got reports of an crash again. we saw Castroviejo (Movistar) getting up quickly and Santaromita was also involved, he was a little slower on the bike but he’s on it. Only one rider isn’t able to continue. It’s rider #92. The Australian from the NetApp team. Mitchell Birt!


Abandon: Mitchell Birt (TNE) #92

The peloton has a 3’17 gap to the breakaway, we’ll see what riders are going to be dropped on the climb. It appears that the spinters are well positioned and don’t lose contact with the peloton. Who have trouble keeping up with the peloton are Caruso (Cannondale) and Hintermuller (MTN). they are both involved in a crash but just manage to stay in the peloton.


another crash

Meanwhile with only 20 km to go, Moser is desperately trying to get away from the peloton to try a solo victory.


with so very chances for the sprinting peloton, they won’t let this slip right

Moser is the last one standing from breakaway but it’s only 5 kilometers left and the gap is minimal. 26 seconds.



Ghita has come to the front with a massive effort to bring Degenkolb into a good position, Cristobal Riquelme, Ciolek, Petacchi and Rodriguez are in their wheels. Moser is still leading.



Cristobal Riquelme is the first to go but Degenkolb reacted and blocked when he started his sprint. Ciolek is just behind Degenkolb.



Moser has been caught and it’s Ciolek and Cristobal Riquelme that are now leading. It’s a three man race since Degenkolb is barely a wheel behind.



Degenkolb doesn’t have the strength like earlier when he won. It’s between Ciolek and Cristobal Riquelme for today’s stage win and a team’s goal?



It’s extremely close between the MTN rider and the Belkin rider. Meanwhile Petacchi will get 3rd.


free alcohol commercial

IT’S GERALD CIOLEK AGAIN! the German takes a second stage win and the team goal set by the MTN managers. Cristobal Riquelme will be disappointed with second place after getting so close.



Petacchi get’s the before mentioned 3rd place. Degenkolb get’s only 4th place. Antón and Izagirre surprise with 5th and 6th after Lobato isn’t seen anywere. Roelandts finishes 7th, while Ghita is 8th. Moser and Daniel Martin gain 9th and 10th place. The GC doesn’t change.


GGGGGOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLL

Rank	Name	Team	Time
1	Gerald Ciolek	MTN - Qhubeka	4h02'11
2	Jorge Cristobal Riquelme	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	s.t.
3	Alessandro Petacchi	Omega Pharma - Quick•Step Cycling Team	s.t.
4	John Degenkolb	Team Argos - Shimano	s.t.
5	Igor Antón	Euskaltel - Euskadi	s.t.
6	Ion Izagirre	Euskaltel - Euskadi	s.t.
7	Jürgen Roelandts	Lotto Belisol	s.t.
8	Oreste Ghita	Team Argos - Shimano	s.t.
9	Moreno Moser	Cannondale Pro Cycling	s.t.
10	Daniel Martin	Garmin - Sharp	s.t.

Rank	Name	Team	Time
1	Joaquím Rodríguez	Katusha Team	47h51'46
2	Chris Froome	Sky Procycling	+ 13
3	Chris Horner	RadioShack - Leopard	+ 2'23
4	Alejandro Valverde	Movistar Team	+ 2'36
5	Rigoberto Urán	Sky Procycling	+ 4'51
6	Oreste Ghita	Team Argos - Shimano	+ 7'37
7	Daniel Martin	Garmin - Sharp	+ 8'06
8	Jakob Fuglsang	Astana Pro Team	+ 8'10
9	Samuel Sánchez	Euskaltel - Euskadi	+ 8'18
10	Beñat Intxausti	Movistar Team	+ 8'33

Rank	Name	Team	Points	General
1	Joaquím Rodríguez	Katusha Team	0	142
2	Alejandro Valverde	Movistar Team	3	126
3	Chris Froome	Sky Procycling	0	97
4	Rigoberto Urán	Sky Procycling	0	87
5	Gerald Ciolek	MTN - Qhubeka	25	81

Rank	Name	Team	Mountain	General
1	Alejandro Valverde	Movistar Team	0	20
2	Moreno Moser	Cannondale Pro Cycling	15	18
3	Chris Froome	Sky Procycling	0	14
4	Ivan Santaromita	BMC Racing Team	0	12
5	Gianluca Brambilla	Omega Pharma - Quick•Step Cycling Team	0	12

Rank	Team	Time	General Time
1	Euskaltel - Euskadi	12h06'33	+ 8'24 (3)
2	Team Argos - Shimano	s.t.	+ 48'46 (14)
3	Omega Pharma - Quick•Step Cycling Team	s.t.	+ 1h18'39 (20)
4	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	s.t.	+ 33'27 (9)
5	MTN - Qhubeka	s.t.	+ 41'53 (12)

Rank	Name	Team	Time	General Time
1	Jorge Cristobal Riquelme	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	4h02'11	+ 15'54 (7)
2	John Degenkolb	Team Argos - Shimano	s.t.	+ 34'42 (15)
3	Ion Izagirre	Euskaltel - Euskadi	s.t.	+ 11'16 (5)
4	Oreste Ghita	Team Argos - Shimano	s.t.	47h59'23 (1)
5	Moreno Moser	Cannondale Pro Cycling	s.t.	+ 27'12 (12)
6	Michael Matthews	Orica - GreenEdge	s.t.	+ 39'04 (16)
7	Matteo Trentin	Omega Pharma - Quick•Step Cycling Team	s.t.	+ 53'27 (22)
8	Damian Owniak	BMC Racing Team	s.t.	+ 4'24 (2)
9	Ramunas Navardauskas	Garmin - Sharp	s.t.	+ 31'53 (14)
10	Mario Guido	MTN - Qhubeka	s.t.	+ 1h02'06 (30)