The climbs come fast and early,
as the riders head right into the Rocky mountains.



Andrew Talansky attacks at the gun.



And outclimbs everyone to take the maximum KoM points.



The peloton is really chasing hard after Talansky,
riders are scattered all over the road.



The biggest favourite caught behind is Rory Sutherland.



On the flat section Talansky throws in the towel
and heads back to the peloton.



This allows many of the groups behind to catch up including Sutherland.



At the first sprint point, Gretsch grabs a few bonus seconds in front of Talansky.



Dalivier Ospina is the first attacker once we reach the climb,
Kessiakoff decides to go with this move.



But these riders are all pulled back by Volodymir Gustov.



With 10kms to go all the favourites are in one group,
expect for Kessiakoff who is dropped
after his first attack drained all the energy from his legs.



At the top Jurgen Van Goolen opens a small advantage.



But his lead doesn't last long as Jesús Hernández goes storming by.



And it turns out to be the winning move of the day!



Everyone else shortly follows around the one minute mark.
The overall picture is totally reshaped by the results today.

Stage

GC

Jesús Hernández took yellow on stage 2,
who is going to challenge him for it today?



Taylor Phinney along with 8 others create the BOTD.



But they are keep in check the entire day,
so when Peterson attacks early into the final climb
he quickly joins up with them.



Peterson is soon all by himself with the peloton chasing right behind.



10kms from the top and attacks start to occur in the peloton.



But Peterson just keeps turning the pedals over and maintaining a two minute lead.



As the pavement turns to dirt Kanstantsin Siutsou puts in a powerful attack, followed by Hernández, that not only reaches Peterson but passes him.
Behind everyone is riding for themselves.



And Hernández and Siutsou get to the top together.



A minute later comes this 4 man group of Talansky, Morris Possoni,
Jurgen Van Goolen, and Rory Sutherland.



Talansky is taking a lot of risks on the downhill ...



But it wasn't enough, Hernández holds off Siutsou for the win.



Talansky (3rd) and Sutherland (4th)
are given the same time as Hernández.



Most of the other favourites come in at +1'23".

Stage

GC

A tough 15kms mountain ITT should allow
both Van Garderen and Talansky to make up some time.



This course is perfect for Tejay, and he doesn't let us down.
He posts the fastest time by far at 23'36".



Sutherland, another pre-race favourite,
is 19 seconds slower then Van Garderen.



Talansky continues his great race so far by losing out to Tejay by a second.



Kanstantsin Siutsou finally takes EA-Sony off the top spot
by beating Van Garderen by 3 seconds.



Last but not least, Jesús Hernández reminds everyone he isn't
a great time trialer even if it is through the mountains.
He is way off the pace, 1'06" behind Siutsou.
Which means Siutsou is the new overall leader by 3 seconds.

Stage

GC

Stage 1



Movistar dominates in the opening TTT.

Stage 2



Mark Cavendish bounces back from his aweful Tour de France,
to win the first bunch sprint here in Spain.

Stage 3



Make it 2 for 2, Cavendish strikes again.

Stage 4



Samuel Sanchez takes the first mountain stage,
Contador is the only climber to stay with Sanchez.

Stage 5



Sanchez dominates the hills as well, growing out his GC lead.

Stage 6



Philippe Gilbert cruises to an easy solo win through the hills,
while the the GC favourites had no reason to chase him.

Stage 7



Back to a flat stage, and back to another Cavendish win.

The only stage suited for the sprinters,
so look for Jimmy Casper, Taylor Phinney, and Davide Appollonio
to fight for the stage win as the top favourites.



The breakaway is a popular place today with numerous 15-20 rider groups trying to get away. But they are all pulled back throughout the first 35kms.



Finally this 7 man group gets free,
2nd year youngster Richard Ackerman represents EA-Sony.



At the second KoM, which is 50kms from the finish,
the breakaway leads by 7 minutes!



8 minutes by the sprint point, the peloton isn't chasing at all.
The sprinters are giving their stage away to the breakaway!



10kms to go, still a 5 minute lead. The breakaway is going to make it!



Thibault Turpin starts the sprint, Ackerman sits 2nd wheel.



But Richard isn't a sprinter and gets blown out of the water.
But does beat Turpin to take 6th.



American team BMC gets the stage win with Martin Kohler.
The peloton comes through 3'37" later,
but the top of the overall picture goes unchanged.

Stage

GC

The last mountain stage before the hilly circuit
in the Colorado capital of Denver to finish the tour tomorrow.



We will skip right over the first climb
with the only news being the formation of the morning breakaway.



At the KoM on climb two the breakaway has fallen apart
and are slowly being reeled in by the peloton.



Peterson puts in his attack with 16kms to go.
But the peloton increases the tempo,
and the attack just brings everyone together in one group with 7kms to go.



Then goes the future American superstar Tejay Van Garderen
with 6kms to go, the yellow jersey counters.



The last section of this climb hits percentages around 17%.
Jesús Hernández isn't backing down though
as he tries to bridge the gap with Oliver Zaugg.
Morris Possoni and Andrew Talansky also start
pulling away from the peloton.



Hernández makes the catch with 1200 meters to the line.



But just didn't have the energy to make the pass,
Kanstantsin Siutsou gets another win.
Van Garderen with a nice ride for 3rd, moving him into 4th overall.
While Talansky loses some time but keeps 3rd overall.

Stage