Stage Favourites:
*****Szmyd(IBA) ****Tschopp(AER) ***Konig(NES)
**Clarke(BLU) *Serpa(CAR)

With the final climb up narrow roads being 4 kilometres @ 7%, we may see something from the favourites.

The 7 man break today: Steegmans, Aldape, Louder, Bono, Mate, De Negri and Champion. The Alcyon rider would attain some more KOM points today.

The break have 4'00 over the peloton, who have just started to speed up, when Bono and Louder attack out of the break.

The win may be out of the picture but the favourites can still put time into each other. Martens, Sella and Szmyd go with this attack .... but Tschopp LOOKS IN DIFFICULTY! He leaves the pace setting to Garate surely he is suffering if he can't go with the attack.

Out front, the rest of the break are coming back to Bono and Louder as the finish approaches. But not quick enough. The duo will fight out the stage win as the attacking favourites bridge across to the rear of the break.

Jeff Louder has been of the most aggressive riders in the race the last few stages, today he is rewarded with SmarTone's second victory. A huge win for them. Belgacom and Petro China continue their good run of gaining UC points as of late.

Tschopp couldn't go with the key attack today. He now finds himself over 2'00 behind in the GC. Losing time on the hilly finishes looks to have cost Tschopp the GC in TOTC5. In the battle for 6th Paulinho should be weary as Sella puts time into him today, they are separated by less than '3.