Hilly but mostly downhill in net incline/decline. We'll see.

We sat near the front, protecting the shiny yellow jersey of Rohan!

Fortunately we didn't have to do the pacing because Tom got into the break.

They were caught with 10 km to go and the sprinters teams took to the front as we started the final bump.

I felt good so I took a flyer. But that wasn't going to last long this close the finish, so I pulled over and cut my losses.

The sprint was on. lotto had all their guys near the front but were out of order.

Omega Pharma were really organized for Steegmans, but Lotto had it together as well.

They launch and it's Francisco Ventoso who gets the lead!

But it's his teammate Lobato who starts to gain on him. They both have a lot of speed. If one had led out the other it could have ended better...

Then Andre Greipel hitting full speed...

And taking the 2nd stage of this year's race.

We don't place anywhere, but all of our guy were nice and safe in the top 30. No changes in GC.

Flat. That climb is weaker than the profile shows.

4 man breakaway got away led by French NC Arthur Vichot.

Movistar at the front.

We also had to control a little to maintain Dennis's jersey.

Over the top, as the gap got smaller, Vichot attacked away. No one followed.

The rest of the group sat up and were caught over the top.

Omega and IAM started to set up control for the sprint.

And with 10 km to go, Vichot is caught. He earned the combative though.

Sprint trains. On the left Lotto. on the right Omega We still had a few guys up there but we have no sprinter.

Roelandts breaks for the final leadout as it splits apart!

It's a huge lead, Greipel can just pull around.

He takes it. Roelandts second, Gallopin third. lotto sweep the podium! Perfect leadout and sprint by them!

Climb wasn't selective. GC stays the same.

The first mountain top finish. Will it be decisive. Yes, I'm pretty sure it will be. Team plan is to work for Talansky but if Rohan can stay we'll help him too.

A 3 man breakaway went away early on.

Malacarne took the first mountain sprint.

Attacks from outsiders were going off the front, but not sticking as Malacarne also took the 2nd mountain sprint.

Then the favorites started attacking. Pinot, Purito and Gadret were the leaders. We had the team so we paced on the front.

As they were getting pulled back in, Purito made a move! No one responded!

Cardoso drilled it on the front, with me behind and Talansky on my wheel. Dennis was holding his own farther back, but Purito had a big gap.

But before the peloton knew it, Purito had a minute and a half. He's just the strongest by far.

It was all back together with 2.5 km to go. I was absolutely flogging myself to pacing on the front of the group with Talansky on my wheel. I could sense people cracking so I forced it even harder.

Finally I'd had enough with just over a km to go as they winded up the sprint. Meanwhile, while the cameras were distracted, Purito had won already! But the sprint was opening up, and Talansky was following the move!

And he comes in 2nd, 1'54'' down. A fantastic ride that I can be proud of working for.

But an even more impressive ride by Dennis, who led everyone else home at 2'12''! We didn't know he had this climbing in him. he won't keep yellow, but at least he has shown his potential!

I finished at the back of the group, after doing hard tempo work. In the end my efforts and the rest of the team's were recognized with 2-5 in the results. I'm happy with it.

Purito already ahs this in the bag. But Talansky and Dennis should have good TTs.

Tomorrow is the TT! See you there!

The time trial: the race of truth. Well I hope the truth means that the team does well then.

Peter Velits took the lead with a firm grasp after it changed around most of the day.

Honestly I wasn't going for this TT. I'm perfectly content with losing 1'54 today. These TT kms are the reason I didn't get a shared leadership here anyway.

Rohan launched his full TT mode in the points jersey a little while later.

As did Andrew in the KOM jersey. He said he wasn't feeling very well before the stage, but didn't lose too much, finishing 9th on the stage, 26 seconds back.

https://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj530/baseballlover312/PCM2014-09-2315-48-37-17.jpg

On the contrary, Rohan had no such problems, and as he crossed the line, he slotted in 1st place, 1 second ahead of Velits!

But Froomebot.exe had yet to go. He needed a good ride for GC and he sure did it. However, he didn't take the lead, only finishing 3rd, 3 seconds behind.

That left only Purito, who consolidated his massive buffer over the competition with 24th place. That means Rohan Dennis take a 2nd TT!

This puts Rohan again on the podium, but Talansky is also fairing well. The leadership is again in limbo.