Not so tough as yesterday, but recovery will be all important today
7 riders go clear including Wadley Briggins (Cofidis) and Nick Kinney (Milram). However, on the Mont Gerbier de Jonc, the middle climb, Randy Asamink (Bouygues) and Xu Ping (Rabobank) go clear.
Over the top, and they lead by 3'22 on the other 5 riders on the break, and are 7'11 ahead of the pack.
On the final climb, and Xu Ping leaves behind Randy Asamink, but back in the pack, and Simon Nyberg launches an attack. He doesn't get away, but race leader Nico Høy (Liquigas) does.
Over the top of the final climb, and Asamink has pulled back Ping. They lead Nico Høy by 3'29, then it's Richardson (Saunier-Duval), Heslinga (Lampre) and Nyberg (High Road) 1'09 behind, followed by Tyvold (Française des Jeux) and Ziegler (Gerolsteiner) just 30 seconds behind, 30 seconds ahead of the pack.
The gaps stay roughly the same, and it is Randy Asamink who triumphs by sprinting early and leaving Ping behind.
Stage:
1 Randy Asamink Bouygues Telecom 4h10'36
2 Xu Ping Rabobank s.t.
3 Nico Høy Liquigas + 2'30
4 Addy Richardson Saunier Duval - Scott + 3'41
5 Robert Heslinga Lampre s.t.
6 Simon Nyberg Team High Road s.t.
7 Torfinn Tyvold Française des Jeux + 3'56
8 Samuel Ziegler Gerolsteiner s.t.
9 Matthew Smith Caisse d'Epargne + 4'25
10 Dave Gurprasad Team Milram s.t.
General Classification:
1 Nico Høy Liquigas 14h04'41
2 Addy Richardson Saunier Duval - Scott + 1'24
3 Simon Nyberg Team High Road + 1'31
4 Robert Heslinga Lampre + 1'33
5 Allan Smile Bouygues Telecom + 2'08
6 Samuel Ziegler Gerolsteiner s.t.
7 Max Tannenbaum Caisse d'Epargne + 2'09
8 Matthew Smith Caisse d'Epargne + 2'11
9 Capitão Moura Caisse d'Epargne + 2'17
10 Rafa Lopez Vargas Saunier Duval - Scott + 2'21
11 Dave Gurprasad Team Milram + 2'32
12 Randy Asamink Bouygues Telecom + 6'39
13 Torfinn Tyvold Française des Jeux + 6'49
14 Karlis Spalvins Bouygues Telecom + 7'14
15 Klaus Jess Euskaltel - Euskadi + 7'26
It's the first classic of the season, time for the hilly riders to attack on the coastal climbs before sprinting on the Via Roma.
11 riders go on the break, including Deignan (ag2r), Hughes (Quick Step) and Mason (Milram)
Up the Passo di Turchino, there gap goes up to over 12 minutes!
But they of course, have no chance of making it, and with 45 km to go, they are about to be caught...
But attacks from the bunch!
Mayhem ensues, until two front groups form.
In the leading group, we have Mortensen (Liquigas) and Petersen (CSC), who quickly establish a lead of 59 seconds over La Cipressa against three riders: Richardson (Saunier), Smith (Caisse) and Coffee (Rabobank). This group has just 20 seconds on the main bunch.
On the final climb up the Poggio di San Remo, Mortensen attacks, going clear, but is brought back by Petersen on the descent. They will fight for the win as the next group loses Richardson.
On the Via Roma, Mortensen pays for his attack up the Poggio, and Petersen takes victory, while Coffee survives for third, and Alex Lofgren brings in everyone else.
Ronde Van Vlaanderen
The first cobbled classic of the season, and only few are in with a chance of victory here. Look out for the best cobbled riders who are Lars Tommersen (Milram), Michael Brown (Rabobank) and Bill Sanchez (Team High Road)
The initial break contains seven riders, including Hughes (Quick Step). With 130km, htere lead is at it's maximum of 9 minutes.
But with 113km to go, the peloton splits - an elite group of 19 riders form up to chase hard, and with nobody chasing, the pack has had it. All the best cobbled riders are in this elite group
But this group breaks up again with 74km to go! Up the Kortekeer, 4 riders are catching up with the BOTD - Brown (Rabobank), Hoste (Silence), Naradzi Talleh (Saunier-Duval) and Temptingly (Boutgues). Up the Eikenberg with 60km to go, it's game over for the breakaway.
From here on in, it gets very interesting
58km to go for the chase group, and 4 riders break off of that - we have Nonsense (Caisse), Tommersen (Milram), Sanchez (High Road) and McKenzie (Rabobank), who are chasing hard
43km to go, and Brown goes clear up the Berendries - he's going solo! But at the same time, Tommersen goes solo chasing, with Sanchez just behind him.
27km to go, and Naradzi Talleh tries to leave behind his two companions - and he does. He is now second on the road...
...but Tommersen has caught up with Hoste and Temptingly.
15km to go, up the Muur van Geraardsbergen, and the race stands at (time is gap between group ahead):
E1: Brown
E2 @1'55: Naradzi Talleh
E3 @ 33": Temptingly, Tommersen, Hoste
E4 @ 1'43: Nonsense, Sanchez, McKenzie
And yet more drama!
7km to go, Tommersen bridges up to Naradzi Talleh! Hoste drops Temptingly.
Brown takes victory!
And Tommersen, still looking fresh, easily outsprints Naradzi Talleh for 2nd
