Alessandro Bazzana
Fabio Calabria
Alexander Efimkin
Javier Megias
Martijn Verschoor

Clancy/Polygon Sweetnice is alone at the head of the race after attacking from a group of four riders

The original group of four are back together with the other three riders being Pereira/Carmin Tavira, Kuperasov/Itera Katusha and Megias/Team Novo Nordisk

There advantage over the pack has gone out to over four minutes

Madison Genesis and Rapha Condor JLT are leading the chase from within the peleton

In to the last twenty kilometres and only a minute seperates them from the pack

As the peleton catch them Pereira attacks

An Post Chain Reaction hit the front as they try and deliver there sprinter Eeckhout

Havik/Cyclingteam De Rijke leads everyone into the final kilometre

But he can do nothing about the power of Eeckhout who claims the first stage with ease

Nico Eeckhout - An Post - Chainreaction

Konstantin Kuperasov - Itera - Katusha

Yoeri Havik - Cyclingteam De Rijke - Shanks

Cyclingteam De Rijke - Shanks

I am happy with the way the first day went, Javier Megias stretching his legs in the break and Alessandro Bazzana grabbing a top ten finish

The race has been all together for the first 73kms so Efimkin/Team Novo Nordisk has decided to liven it up by riding away at the front

Nobody was interested in going away with him so he decided to slip back into the peleton

The wearer of the Best Young rider jersey Clancy/Polygon Sweetnice is sat right at the back of the peleton

Megias/Team Novo Nordisk is off on his travels again and has already put over three minutes in to the peleton

Obkircher/Tirol Cycling Team has managed to join him at the front but the pack have woken up and are closing in fast

Its all back together again as the riders start preparing for another mass sprint

Downing is getting a good lead out from his Madison Genesis team mates

Race Leader Eeckhout/An Post senses the danger and sticks firmly to the wheel of Downing

And it turns out to be the right decision as he grabs back to back stage wins despite the celebration from Brambilla/Atlas Personal

Nico Eeckhout - An Post - Chainreaction

Yoeri Havik - Cyclingteam De Rijke - Shanks

Tirol Cycling Team

Another half decent stage for the guys, nice to see a couple of them stretch there lege and also good to see Javier Megias retain the climbers jersey

The duo up the road are Kuperasov/Itera Katusha and Pereira/Carmin Tavira and they have built up a lead of 5m 17s

There lead has increased to over six minutes

Rapha Condor JLT are leading the chase

With the chase from behind now in full flow the lead has started to crumble

A few more teams are now helping out at the front of the pack

Gohr/Colombia Claro has attacked from the peleton and is closing in on the leaders

With all three riders recaptured Rapha Condor and Madison Genesis organise there trains ready for the finish

Clancy/Rapha Condor launches his sprint first

But just misses out to the fast finishing Groenewegen/Cyclingteam De Rijke

Nico Eeckhout - An Post - Chainreaction

Konstantin Kuperasov - Itera - Katusha

Dylan Groenewegen - Cyclingteam De Rijke - Shanks

Tirol Cycling Team

Another quiet day at the office

Casimiro/Carmin Tavira and Clancy/Polygon Sweetnice have been clear for most of the day

Kuperasov/Itera Katusha came out of the pack to grab the remaining mountain points on offer and is now waiting for them to catch up again

Once again its the same teams at the front of the peleton

The duo continue to tap out a nice rhythm together

The peleton have got the lead down to 1m 22s

Once again the peleton are timing it to perfection

There day out at the front of the race is over as the pack sweeps by

Race Leader Eeckhout/An Post Chain Reaction is looking good for another stage win as he battles Clancy/Rapha Condor JLT at the flame rouge

And he does it again with stage win number three

Nico Eeckhout - An Post - Chainreaction

Konstantin Kuperasov - Itera - Katusha

Yoeri Havik - Cyclingteam De Rijke - Shanks

Tirol Cycling Team

I better go and check the Team trailer to see whether my guys are still here

Once again Pereira/Carmin Tavira is in a break and this time he has Verschoor/Team Novo Nordisk for company

3m 8s is the latest time check

Race Leader Eeckhout/An Post Chain Reaction doesn't seem too worried at the moment and is quite content to let the duo have there time out in front

Pereira is only interested in the Mountain points on offer as he lies in second place in that competition

An Post have now upped the pace and are slowly closing the gap

Cassidy/Polygon Sweetnice, Muhlberger/Tirol Cycling, Salzinger/Atlas Personal and Berezkin/Itera Katusha have detached themselvs from the peleton and are within touching distance of the leaders

The six have come together and are holding the main pack at 1m 29s

Salzinger leads the group in to the final kilometre

And the German grabs the win at the line

Nico Eeckhout - An Post - Chainreaction

Konstantin Kuperasov - Itera - Katusha

Alexander Berezkin - Itera - Katusha

Atlas Personal - Jakroo

A great day from Martijn Verschoor today, he did well to last all day and has put a smile on my face again