Real life: Steve Cummings took the win from a break ahead of Meyer and Flecha.

Once again Gilbert wants to get in the break.

They are never allowed more than 1’30’’ though.

So on the first intermediate sprint the sprinters fight for the points. Cavendish started his sprint way too late and was boxed in leaving it to a battle between Degenkob and Sagan.
The German takes it, but it goes to prove that Sagan really wants to get into the battle for green.

Boom attacks soon after and manages to get away. Geraint Thomas and Turgot tries to follow him, but keeps hanging a minute behind the Dutchman.
With 60 km to go Boom has 1’16’’ to the duo and a further 4’38’’ to the peloton.

The peloton have not given up though and with 30 km to the line Boom has just under three minutes to the peloton and still just over a minute to Thomas and Turgot.

When Boom hits the final hill 13 km from the finish he has 1’20’’ to the peloton. He is now alone in front.

With 8,5 km to go things are set up for a bunch sprint.

With 5 km to go Cavendish is sitting alone in the middle of the bunch while Tony Martin is keeping a hard pace in front. Seems OPQS’s radio is broken…

All the top sprinters have failed to be at the front and with 2,5 km to the line Boonen suddenly gets a small gap to a passive peloton without anyone noticing at first.

Sagan takes up the chase, but still no one has started a proper sprint with less than 2 km to the line.

Right under la flame rouge Boonen decides it’s time to act.

With 500 m to go there’s plenty of riders trying to catch the Belgian champion.

In the end it goes to Norway.

Real life: Red jersey Rodríguez took the stage win ahead of Contador and Valverde.

An honorable mention goes to Hoogerland, Meyer, López, Riblon, Charteau, Jeanneson, Sarmiento and Bak. They fight hard for the break in spite of this stage having written GC all over it.

With 50 km to go the break has 4’30’’ to the peloton lead by Sky Froome and Saxo – Tinkoff.

Andy Schleck, Purito and Wiggins attacks right at the foot of the final climb. The break is 1’40’’ ahead.

In reality the attempt only helps to reel the break in as Saxo – Tinkoff, Astana and Sky Froome keeps the the breakers within a minute at all times.

Samuel Sánchez attacks with 7,5 km to the top and is followed by Fränk Schleck and Nibali.

They don’t really get away but at least the domestiques seems to be burnt out.

As soon as Nibali is back with the others Purito tries again with 5,5 km to the top.

Everyone looks to Contador to do the work in the favourites group.

With 3 km to the top Rodríguez has half a minute to the others.

1,5 km from the top Contador puts in another attack on the GC after having had Froome do the work for about a km.

1 km to the top Purito has 16 seconds to Contador and another 17 seconds to Groupe Nibali.

Nibali has to fight for his life today as Contador just simply seems to be stronger.

Purito just holds on to take the stage

11 riders didn’t make it inside the time limit, but none of the big names were among.

Real life: One for the break as Piedra took the stage ahead of Pérez and Mondory.

Christophe Kern opens the attacking today.

With 111 km to go Kern is accompagnied by Ion Izagirre, Caruso, Sylvain Chavanel, Knees, De Clerq and Westra just over a minute ahead of Morabito, Albasini, Peterson, Serpa and Nocentini and a further 4’30’’ ahead of the peloton.

Quintana joins them and with 60 km to the finish the 13 riders out front have 8’52’’ to the peloton.

40 km and 10 minutes!

In the peloton all three podium riders have their teammates working hard.

Peterson tries to drop the other breakers early on the final climb

Contador is the first to attack from the peloton right at the foot of the mountain with 13 km still to go.

9 km from the top Contador has 43 seconds on the peloton where Nibali and Froome are working together.
Peterson has been reeled back in by his breakaway companions.

Kern counterattacks after Peterson’s return.

5 km from the top Kern has almost a minutes gap while Contador has almost lost his advantage.

Kern is brought back in with 3 km to the top.

Right before Contador was closed down they stopped chasing and with 3 km to go Nibali is way too passive allowing Contador a gap of more than a minute.

Entering the final k it’s Caruso, Quintana and Kern for the stage.

Contador has caught up with the back of the break while Nibali is having a terrible day.

Real life: Another breaway win. This time to Cataldo ahead of De Gendt and Rodríguez.

Gerrans and Kern are off as soon as the start flag is waved.

They are later joined by Ulissi, Koren, Boonen and Nerz and with 100 km and three mountains to go they have 8’3’’ to the peloton.

Boonen is dropped on the first climb and the gap is down to seven minute when the break passes the top.

Van den Broeck finds his way to the break and when he is first over the penultimate climb they have 4 minutes to the peloton.

With 20 km to go the final climb is slowly starting. Van den Broeck, Kern, Ulissi and Nerz has 3’30’’ to the peloton.

All three podium teams work nicely together as Van den Broeck drops the others one at a time in front.

As so often before Sánchez is the first GC rider to attack. Still 13 km to the top and just over three minutes to the front.
Sammy is joined by Contador, Valverde, A. Schleck and Hesjedal while Nibali looks like he have given up.

With 8 km to the top the favourites are back together 2’29’’ behind Van den Broeck.

This is a very characteristic picture. Everyone is attacking, while Nibali is just sitting there.

5 km left. Van den Broeck has 1’28’’ to Contador who has 11 seconds to Purito and a minute to the rest of the favourites.

Nibbles leaves his saddle to follow the attacks behind, but still doesn’t show any initiative on his own.

Nibali fight for his life, but Contador and Rodríguez are gone for good.

Not as gone as the Belgian in front though.