brewers90 wrote:
Good to see the team holding things together for Jeremy Powers. J-Man himself beating the great Maxime Oget there.

The first move of the day initiated by Adrian Kurek (CCC) was already the successful one at forming the break. The Pole was followed by Jens Debusschere (Lotto), Paolo Longo Borghini (Cannondale) and Michael Rodriguez (Colombia) who is at this time still a little further behind on the road.


By the time of the first Intermediate sprint Rodriguez already reached the break and is even able to sprint to second place there, only beat by Debusschere.

Intermediate Sprint

Jens Debusschere	Lotto	6	-6"
Michael Rodriguez	Colombia	4	-4"
Adrian Kurek	CCC	2	-2"

Meanwhile Longo Borghini, who didn't keep up at the sprint decided to drop back in the peloton.
Also on the second timecheck, only 4 kilometres later, Debusschere is the strongest, but this time ahead of Kurek.

Intermediate Sprint

Jens Debusschere	Lotto	6	-6"
Adrian Kurek	CCC	4	-4"
Michael Rodriguez	Colombia	2	-2"

95 kilometres to go and only one intermediate sprint in the way to go and the break is 4'31'' ahead.


50 kilometres later it's again Debusschere taking full points on the last intermediate sprint. This time it's way closer, though than on the two occasions before. Michael Rodriguez is second.

Intermediate Sprint
Jens Debusschere Lotto 6 -6"
Michael Rodriguez Colombia 4 -4"
Adrian Kurek CCC 2 -2"

Like Hofland yesterday it's again one rider taking maximum points on every intermediate sprint.


The break is now 2'44" ahead and the peloton is pacing hard behind. Today also Androni is included, hoping for a good result from Franco Pellizotti on the steep finish into Clunia today, that should suit him.


With just above 10 kilometres to go Debusschere is reeled in as the last member of the break, after he rode away from his companions just shortly before.


With 3 kilometres to go Belkin is on the front, with Van Winden preparing Mollema's final dig for the stage win today. On his wheel we see the top favourite for the overall Alejandro Valverde. Androni are leading their leader Franco Pellizotti to the front with Francesco Reda and Miguel Rubiano. Also strongly represented the team of the race leader John Degenkolb, Argos - Shimano. Indian champ Rajesh Kakhi is just behind him. Movistar's second horse Rui Costa is also looking for a good result today.


1200 metres to go and it's Androni at the front now, after Van Winden had to pay for all the work he has done today already. Degenkolb also seems to be in a good position for his second consecutive stage win. Costa grabbed Valverde's wheel. The two riders of Europcar are Peeters and Rolland. Also yesterday's second Daniele Ratto is in contention now. After the riders in the picture there's a gap evolving, so the winner will come from them. Notably, no Euskaltel in the mix.


After hitting the steep Degenkolb is about to overtake Pellizotti, who was the first to enter the wall of up to 10 %.


200 metres to go and Degenkolb can already think about a celebration to perform today. Pellizotti still in second, but Peeters and Valverde are hitting the front now. Also still in the mix several of Degenkolb's helpers.


Win in the yello jersey for John Degenkolb. Pellizotti gains bonus seconds for the overall as second. Thomas Peeters comes third. Valverde misses the podium once again very close. Fifth and Sixth go to two of the helpers of todays winner Oreste Ghita and Simon Geschke.


After the 14th Miguel Rubiano and the 15th Domenico Pozzovivo there is a gap of 13 seconds. Which means the riders of the second group lost 32 seconds today, which can be deciding concerning the final outcome of the race.

1	John Degenkolb	Team Argos - Shimano	3h18'07
2	Franco Pellizotti	Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela	s.t.
3	Thomas Peeters	Team Europcar	s.t.
4	Alejandro Valverde	Movistar Team	s.t.
5	Oreste Ghita	Team Argos - Shimano	s.t.
6	Simon Geschke	Team Argos - Shimano	s.t.
7	Rui Costa	Movistar Team	s.t.
8	Bauke Mollema	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	s.t.
9	Rajesh Kakhi	Champion System Pro Cycling Team	s.t.
10	Francesco Reda	Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela	s.t.

GC

1	John Degenkolb	Team Argos - Shimano	6h17'42
2	Daniele Ratto	Cannondale Pro Cycling	+ 28
3	Franco Pellizotti	Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela	s.t.
4	Thomas Peeters	Team Europcar	+ 32
5	Alejandro Valverde	Movistar Team	+ 40

Points

1	John Degenkolb	Team Argos - Shimano	50
2	Alejandro Valverde	Movistar Team	26
3	Daniele Ratto	Cannondale Pro Cycling	24
4	Franco Pellizotti	Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela	20
5	Oreste Ghita	Team Argos - Shimano	19
6	Jens Debusschere	Lotto Belisol	18
7	Moreno Hofland	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	18
8	Rajesh Kakhi	Champion System Pro Cycling Team	17
9	Juan José Lobato	Euskaltel - Euskadi	16
10	Thomas Peeters	Team Europcar	16

KoM

1	John Degenkolb	Team Argos - Shimano	6
2	Pello Bilbao	Euskaltel - Euskadi	6
3	David Veilleux	Team Europcar	6
4	Daniele Ratto	Cannondale Pro Cycling	4
5	Ryota Nishizono	Champion System Pro Cycling Team	4
6	Moreno Hofland	Belkin Pro Cycling Team	4
7	Juan José Lobato	Euskaltel - Euskadi	2
8	Gang Xu	Champion System Pro Cycling Team	2
9	Wilson Marentes	Colombia	2

U25

1	John Degenkolb	Team Argos - Shimano	6h17'42 (1)
2	Daniele Ratto	Cannondale Pro Cycling	+ 28 (2)
3	Thomas Peeters	Team Europcar	+ 32 (3)

Team

1	Androni Giocattoli - Venezuela	18h55'06 (1)
2	Team Argos - Shimano	+ 0 (2)
3	Team Europcar	+ 32 (3)