The stage started with no drama. No one attacked, I would guess that they are nervous about the stage today; 3 mountains sounds dangerous. I won the intermediate sprint with ease, because the sprinters were scared, too. Imagine if they not pass the finish line before the time limit...



First mountain was no drama, too. No breakaway, just my team leading. However on the chase of the polka-dot jersey, Luis Leon Sanchez attacked and Thomas Lövkvist, too. As LLS thought that he had won the category 1 climb, he eased on his pace, but Lövkvist passed him and won the 10 points. A funny reason on why you shouldn't ease in a mountain sprint.



A breakaway was created after the first climb:



And they had two minutes before the second climb.

During the second climb, different teams as Leopard and BMC set the pace. A very high pace, so the more heavier riders was in big troubles. The peloton was spilt and I was on the bad side! Togheter with Eros I would try to come back to the peloton. Without luck. I will hopefully not lose the jersey...

At the top of the second climb, I had 2 minutes to the peloton and 4 minutes to the breakaway. Thomas Lövkvist is the best GC contender in the breakaway and according to the virtual GC he was only 30 seconds behind! Damn it!

The descent to Luz-Ardiden was according to my DS' shouting very interesting. For me I was even not begun to descend. I think I will use it to train my descending skills.

The reason to my DS' shouting was that Vincenzo Nibali had attacked and have 30 seconds to the peloton. Good, good...

My DS changed the team car, so he drove up to the very reduced peloton (about 34 riders left and favorites like Taaramae was dropped) with Ivan and Vincenzo. So I was alone with my teammate and the 24 other riders. Good, good...

I heard that the breakaway was caught with 4 km to go. Ivan, Alberto Contador and Cadel Evans attacked. They had 30 seconds when they reached flame rouge.





Ivan won the sprint, I lost my jersey. Good, good...

But still - congratulations to him!

I was talking and joking with Eros. I had given up; I would not have the yellow jersey tomorrow. Came in goal in an anonymous 62th.



























Fine stage, I lose the yellow and white jersey, but never mind. It was fun (not the beginning when I was distanced ), and I had learned much from it. But I have my green jersey! Should I attack tomorrow?

-Peto

The Schleck Fan wrote:
Don't accelerate with Basso.Just ride at a high pace with pressing the circle.
And yes,go to the BOTD tomorrow
Great win btw

murao22 wrote:
I think you won't lost your green jersey, try to attack

DiCyc wrote:
BTW should I attack as Nibali in the mountain due to his descending skills?

After the start only two wanted to attack: Kevin Seeldrayers and me. We easily got a big gap to the peloton. We made a deal: I won the intermediate sprint and he won the mountain sprints. And it worked pretty well!

At the beginning of the mountain, we had 6 minutes and I was the wearer of the VIRTUAL yellow jersey. Nice!

Behind me, Vincenzo and the peloton had begun the mountain. He set a very high pace for to have an advantage, when it goes downhill later. Suddenly the gap was only on 1 minute, when Vincenzo attacked. Samuel Sanchez followed him. Because I am pretty good to descend like him, he wanted a helper in the flat. So I was a kind of a domestique.



Unfortunately I had not more energy and I was dropped before the mountain ended! Vincenzo continued togheter with Samuel, but they was caught by the peloton.



So now the team tried to create like a lead-out for me, but I had no more energy! I was distanced. Vincenzo tried many times without luck. In the sprint it ended not with a victory for us, unfortunately. I came in an other anonymous 43th.


























Good day in the break, and I got more points in the battle for the green jersey! Tomorrow will probably be a "rest day" for me.

-Peter

The stage started easily. No one wanted to attack. So Kristijan Koren was the only man in break. I felt me a bit ill, but I still managed to get fourth in the intermediate sprint. During the first mountain Nicolas Vogondy and Stijn Devolder attacked, caught Koren and dropped him.



During the third descend from the mountain, I attacked. Vincenzo said to me, that I am his domestique today and he wanted to attack later. That's why I attacked.

However Vincenzo didn't have the legs today, and I let me caught by the peloton, who was setting a high pace by Leopard. I was dropped on a pretty small climb, where Vincenzo attacked. He got about 1 minute on the descent.



During the mountain Ivan attacked (or actually set a high pace), so he was alone during the whole climb, except when Alberto caught him in the last Kilometer. However Ivan won the sprint and we have pretty much chance for win the polka-dot jersey.























A good anonymous day for me. Very good with another stage win. Should I go for break tomorrow?

-Peto

Me and Oss was determined; go for a breakaway win! We both attacked. No one followed us. And on the way we were!



It was pretty long day with only us two protecting each other in the wind. The wind was side wind, so it could be a good day for us, if chaos happens in the peloton.

Finally we failed to succeed, when Daniel was too tired, and we only had 51 seconds with 15 km remaining. Maybe it is better to sit in the peloton...



Yes, you is correct (or either you are not), I want the intermediate sprint! Got it, 20 points in the book for me. Hey, let see that I can finish my "project". I had only lost 10 seconds and have 45 seconds with 6,5 km remaining

5 km remains, I have 30 seconds, this will be very close! 4 km, now 24 seconds.!
3 km now, 20 seconds! This reminds me about something...:

My second stage win was almost exactly like now. Can I do it again?

2 km remains, only 14 seconds now, and I can see them, come on...
1 km, 10 seconds!!!

Go full out now, sprint now, go, go, go!!! Yes, I am finishing Daniels work, yes, yes, YES!!!



This is one of my BEST Stage win, I EVER had!!!
























Amazing day, what a mentally boost, I got! Daniel had lead for me all the day, and I actually finished the job! I did it, unbelievable!!! Now I am going to the podium. Holy cow, that was exciting!!!

-Peter 1agan

The stage began and I was immediately in the break! I wanted 20 points more in my quest. And I was very pleased, when other riders joined me. However we was caught by the peloton and somehow I still managed to be third in the intermediate sprint - Freire (2nd in points) and Petacchi (11th in points) passed me.

I went to break again with these riders:


My teammates Kristijan Koren and Daniel Oss was distanced 60 km from finish, when a small step hill was maybe too steep for them.



When "we" reached Col de Manse, we had only about 2 minutes. So I decided to attack and go for it. With a heavy head wind, it sounds like an impossible job. When I reach the more tougher point, I said to myself: "Go 20 km/h now, or 30! Please don't make them reach me now"

During the last kilometers of the climb, my DS was shouting and said that I was 40 seconds in front of them. And the peloton was 2:25 behind me. I couldn't believe it!



Because I never had trained this descent before, I was shocked to see the small road:



And I lost 20 seconds due to the "false" downhill at the beginning. But when it began to go down, I toke the time back.



56 seconds with 2 km remaining. Will it be my second back-to-back win?



This is lanterne rouge, and I think I finished my job! What a Tour, it had been for me! 4th stage win of this Tour - 7th overall. I am really proud now! I came here out of form, as a substitute for Caruso. I have probably been a very good substitute!



This Tour is my (finally) breakthrough, I think. So close to winning my very first green jersey!





















What a day for me! This is my fourth stage victory of this Tour. WOW! Amazing! I am so proud of my self and my team.

-Peto!

A dangerous descent at least. Maybe I can show what I am capable of...

As a 4-stage winner, I should go for a 3rd stage in a row. But how? I know the solution: breakaway!

Today I was in breakaway with these riders:


Firstly I want to win the intermediate sprint. When it is done, I will follow the pace of the group until the final climb, where I will go for it. But why do I not wait for the final sprint? Well, because it is funnier and more exciting to be the attacking rider - I want to feel the rush of adrenaline.

Well, meanwhile I spoke, I won the intermediate sprint - 20 points more and now I know that I can multitaske.



During that mountain, I was leading the Virtual General Classification with 50 seconds. I think that I can get the yellow jersey in my hands tonight!



Forget what I said about the yellow jersey. They had closed in us now, but with 6 minutes time difference, the stage is still possible for me!



Ah, forget the stage, too! I think that I lost a bit momentum. I will catch them now. Now we are going to Italy: Adios! (no, that's Spanish...the team will fire me now, I think...)

During the long descent to Côte de Pramartino I was going so fast, that the breakaway was seperated, so only me and Pozzato was in the front before last climb.



With 15,3 % on the climb and a heavy head wind, it will be a nightmare...or the beginning of a dream. I want stay with Pozzato, ride the best descend I ever had done, and win ahead of him. Good plan.



This is an exciting battle. No one attacks or accelerate, but he will wait for the sprint, no doubt. And because he is as good as me in sprint, I don't want to wait.



So many corners with 60 km/h! If you forget to brake, you are in big troubles. So I try to brake carefully...that's not carefully! Anyway let's go for it. It feels like suicide, but hey, I love dangerous descends!



4 km remaining, 45 seconds to Pozzato, I think he is surprised of my descending skills! I am the new Nibali!



55 seconds now! My thrid win is near! It is so unrealistic! But anyway...focus!



The final kilometer, no big challenges except a 90° degress right turn before the straight finish line! Turning...I crashed!! (Joking) This is unbelievable...fifth stage win of this Tour - thrid in breakaway, thrid stage wins in row! I will be in Top 15 tonight, and I have just won my fifth stage win of this Tour! Unbelievable.























This is so unrealistic. I didn't win 1 stage win, neither 2 or 3. But 5! And three in row! That is so great! Unfortunately Vincenzo lost 2 minutes today. But that shouldn't destroy my happiness!

-Peto