The first stage with a mountain top finish will likely see riders in groups all over the roads. Surely there will be a new GC leader at the end of the day.

With the stage underway there are plenty of attacks to start thing off, with some riders no doubt thinking that a stage win is up for grabs. Ukraine champion Grivko (AFL) is prominent in many early attacks and despite having the stage favourite on his team Sarmineto (PVE) also tries to get away, however all of these early attacks fail in creating a break.

With 35 kilometres completed in the race seven are allowed to get away, they are: Denifl(RBL), Delage (KAR), Veikkanen (KLO), Velits (STM), Arashiro (BSE), Pauwels (PDA) and Gabrovski (SSL) it will be a short while before Von Hoff (BZQ) joins them to make eight riders and we have the break of the day. Von Hoff was best placed @ 4'34.

On the peloton early one other than Standard Chartered riders from from Telecom Namibia and Nokia Ekspla were riding. Strangely enough sprinters Hunter (KLU) and green jersey Phinney (IKO) are also riding on the front.

The sprint at Saint Mihiel with 130kilometers to go is unconsted by the break Denifl takes max points from Veikkanen. Despite Phinney and Hunter beings towards the front they don't sprint for points on offer and domestiques take up the points.

With 120 kilometres to go the gap to the break is just over 10:30 and two teams take up the chase with intent. They are Husky Energy and Nokia Ekspla.

with 100 kilometres to go and the break nine minutes ahead Atapuma (PVE) attacks. If this wasn't strange enough ten kilometres later at the foot of the col de grosse pierre........... a massive GC favourite attacks.........

GADRET. It is Gadret (TNA) who attacks 90 kilometres from the finish, he immediately passes Atapuma. Having already lost 6 minutes on GC and four minutes to some rivals Gadret must feel he needs to something out of the ordinary.

Attacking is not over 87 kilometres to go and Ruigh (ALS) attacks also. Atapuma gradually makes his way back up to Gadret and Ruijh will eventually join the two .....but what is the reaction of the peloton?........

Over the second climb of the day and the peloton splits and the 85 man gruppeto is immediately formed. Di Luca (STM) and Grivko (AFL) are early 'drivers of the bus' setting a comforatable pace to the finish.

The peloton keeps its cool, still being lead by Nokia Ekspla and Husky Energy. The Gadret group were never allowed to get more than 2 minutes 20 seconds of an advantage, and failed to catch the original break out front. Ellisonde (NEL) reals in the Gadret group with 35 kilometres to go.

Meanwhile out front the break had around 3:00 over the peloton. Denifl took max 2 points at the first climb and one point at the second with Veikkanen winning the second climb. But with twenty points on offer the KOM jersey at the finish and the peloton inevitably about to catch the break surely they new the end was near.

Into the last twenty kilometres and the break is under 2 minutes away. With the 6.6 kilometre 8.3% average climb ahead rather than conserve energy the break attack each other Velits(STM) puts in the biggest efforts but they all are back together with 11 kilometres to go when two men attack from the peloton....

they are Karpets (AFL).........and then Boswell (SCD).... they are the first on to the final climb up to les planches des belles filles with Nokia Ekspla controlling the peloton.

Despite attacking again once they reach the climb they get no advantage. Standard Chartered are towards the front protecting yellow jersey Rosseler, who looks good at the moment, Surely he cannot hold on to the GC lead as Nokia Ekspla come to the front with Blanco, Ellisonde and Aru to set the pace.

Well into the last 5 kilometres Nokia Ekspla are setting a strong place with three riders as Rosseler disappears from view. Karpets and Mestre (SSL) are the only riders able to follow this pace it seems.

Nokia Ekspla slightly slows up as at this point their leader Spilak is twenty riders back but quickly advances to the front..........

as Spilak advances towards the front his team continue to put riders into the red. Mosquera (BZQ) looks particularly dangerous and Chaves (PVE) is also towards the front, there is no sign of favourites Nieve (PCA) and Rujano (PVE) when........

Spilak comes to the head of the race and sets the pace. THEY HAVE A GAP. But one rider can follow..... and that is his teammate Ellisonde, who was riding on the front previously.

Well into the last kilometre and Spilak continues to set the pace. Then teammate Ellisonde......

jumps out of Spilak's wheel, creates a gap and takes the stage win. Spilak hangs on to second place for a Nokia Ekspla 1-2, Brambilla (HEY) comes from well back and rounds off the podium with a late surge. Mosquera (BZQ) leads home 1 30 man group half a minute behind.

Ellisonde wins and will also lead the white jersey and mountains jersey categories.

Favourite Nieve (PCA) comes home 1:30 behind the stage winner having been dropped towards the finish. Right of picture...what's this...... Standard Chartered riders.....does that mean.............

IT DOES Rosseler holds on to the yellow jersey but has his lead severely cut.

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TELECOM NAMIBIA @'42 over AERLINGUS

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