Stage 9 is another difficult day for the peloton despite being one of the shortest stages. Plenty of riders tried to get into the early breaks, Navardauskus (QMS) was particularly active in all moves at the front and it wasn't surprising 30 kilometres into the race he was one of 11 riders to make the 'official' break.

The break was a real mix of riders, they were: Gong (KAR), Keukeleire (BZQ), M.Aldape (TCL), Fischer (BDB), Morabito (ALS), Serpa (PCA), Grivko and Gruzdev (AFL), Brandle (RBL), O' Grady (TNA) and Navardauskus (QMS).

They had two minutes over the peloton when the break reached the first of many climbs the 'passage de Douleur'. Serpa crested this climb first and would go on to take the next two, perhaps with an eye on the mountains jersey (but he would have to win all but one KOM sprints today).

On the descent of the first climb former French champ Vogondy (STM) attacks and would make it across to form a 12 man break, Vogondy was best placed at 8'35, so the peloton wouldn't be concerned with any riders up front.

As O'Grady calls out to the car the break tackle the testing terrain. Serpa takes the first three climbs but Morabito would win the next two to deny both the chance of wearing the KOM jersey.

With 85 kilometres to go on the col de Saignelegier and the break at 7'20 Standard Chartered and riders from the likes of Bridgestone make way on the front of the peloton for Nokia Ekspla and Husky Energy who are intent on shutting the gap down.Out front over the KOM points Morabito, Serpa and Navardauskus look the strongest.

With 60 kilometres to go the peloton is on the steep col de Sauley and........ some big names are towards the rear of the peloton!

You couldn't write this stuff! With Nokia Ekspla on the front of the peloton reducing the gap their second leader KOM jersey wearer Ellisonde (3rd), who looked so comfortable on stage 8, is towards the rear of the peloton, is he suffering after yesterday's efforts?......

He must be because he gets dropped along with other big names Szymd (PCA) and Mosquera (BZQ) and seemingly all of Kulaulu's contenders. But surely Nokia Ekspla will slow up the now 70 man peloton to let him back on....

But they don't. Nokia continues riding and Ellisonde is now destined to lose a bunch of time. With 40 kilometres to go the break has an advantage of 3 minutes.

With 26 kilometres to go the break had 3:20 to the peloton. With 20 kilometres to go the break had 3:45 to the peloton. Had Nokia Ekspla finally realised that Ellisonde was dropped and were they now waiting for him, Szymd (PCA) manages to rejoin the peloton, but Ellisonde is too far behind now. On the final climb Navadauskus pushes on as the break explodes into pieces, surely the breakaway will make it to the line. Serpa pushes on.

Only Navardauskus and Brandle seem capable of following. Serpa has 1 minute over the two chasers when they reach the top.

With 10 kilometres to go Morabito comes form nowhere to join up with the two chasers and they will all join up with Serpa before the finish.....

Meanwhile in the bunch Verdugo (BSE) attacks over the last summit and he is countered by..... Spilak (NEL) and Castroviejo (QMS) also attacks knowing that Rosseler had now been dropped and was well behind, at a maximum they have around one minute over the other GC favourites. However, they will be caught as they look at each other, Fischer from the original break did most of the work when they were together.

Into the final, Navardaukus was doing the most work on the front could this be a stage win for consistent team Quilmes at last........

No it isn't they have to settle for second today. Serpa powered away in the final kilometre and wins with a twenty second advantage, Win for Petro China!

Serpa with a well needed win for PetroChina.

The GC is really starting to take shape now. Nokia Ekspla for the first time have the yellow jersey but must be disappointed with Ellisonde who had a bad day and lost 10 minutes. He loses the white jersey to Meyer but keeps the mountains jersey one point clear of Serpa.

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TELECOM NAMIBIA LEAD 1'10 OVER QUILMES

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