Welcome to stage 2, the first of many hilly days. With our current leader being Alex Rasmussen, we can be sure there's going to be someone else wearing the jersey by the end of the day.
Right from the gun attacks went, and by the end we have a large group away.
So large in fact, that it's doomed from the start as Rabobank are keen on chasing it down. They don't succeed until just before the first intermediate sprint, which actually makes the sprint appear uncontested. The remnants of the break up front roll over.
Christensen (B&O), takes it from Hulsmans (Warner) and Herrero Llorente (wikipedia).
Shortly after the catch is made, the actual break of the day forms, with Augustyn (White Bear), Gautier (Credit Lyonnais), Orozco (Unicef), and Tiralongo (La Gazzetta) leading affairs, and just behind three hook up. Poos (Accumalux), Uungunbayar (British Airways) and Lavoine (Festina). Poos pulled the short straw, as they'd never catch up to the leading group with his two rubbish companions.
Over the top of the first climb, which is uncontested, Augustyn "wins", over Gautier and Orozco.
The same can't be said for the intermediate sprint, which is hotly contested. At this point, if Gautier was to win this, and the stage end in a sprint finish, he'd be in the lead due to bonus seconds.
And win he does, being the far better sprinter! 2nd goes to Augustyn, with Tiralongo beating the lacklustre Orozco.
At the half way mark, Branislav Samoilev decides to attack on a short uphill. It seems pretty futile as the pack is shifting under pressure from Rabobank and Virgin Media.
He manages to catch two of the break, Uungunbayar and Lavoine, and breezes past them.
And goes on to catch Poos as well, but is then caught with him.
At roughly the same time, Rasmussen is finally succumbing to the pressure, and is slipping off the back, mainly due to the tempo set by Virgin themselves.
Most of his team would go back apart from Plaza and Boom.
Over the top of the second climb, again uncontested, the break of 4 are still away. Tiralongo takes it this time, with Orozco and Augustyn behind him.
More interestingly, there must be some points still on offer, as attacks from the peloton occur.
Vanendert attacks, followed by Perez Cuapio, Mayo, Gerrans and Boom. They all sit up over the top though.
Rasmussen is well and truely dropped, not even in A1 anymore, but A2
As we hit the final climb, Schleck (of the Andy variety) is the first contender to attack.
Followed by Fothen, Delgado, Pereiro Sio, Vanendert and Perez Sanchez.
It's not long before another wave goes, this time it's Gusev, Mercado, Uran, and... Vitoria!? Just goes to show who's having a good day!
The attacks aren't over though, as next to go are Cobo, Castano, Abal and Arroyo.
As the attacks are flying in, over the top the break still survives, just being caught by the flag. Augustyn still takes the top spot though, over Perez Sanchez and Orozco.
Final attacks to come from the peloton (even though rather late - but better late then never, right?) are from Gesink, Plaza, Monfort and Tony Martin (again, what?!)
Off the climb, and we have a few leading groups. Who is in the lead though?
Pereiro Sio, Mercado, Delgado, Perez Sanchez, Augustyn, Vanendert and Tiralongo are all present.
Just behind are Abal, Vitoria, Fothen, Uran, Gusev, Plaza, Schleck, Cobo, Gautier, Arroyo, Orozco and Martin.
Still not across are Gesink and Monfort, but they'll be over soon enough.
15km to go, and we have a big front group. 21 riders all present.
Under the 10km to go banner, and Plaza has attacked away, followed by Gesink, Mercado, Vanendert, Pereiro Sio, Arroyo, Abal, Uran and Gusev.
With just 5km to go, Plaza couldn't hack it, and we have a new leader, Abal. He has 23 seconds, and with no more attacks coming from behind, he seems to have done it.
Behind him we have Cobo, Delgado, Plaza, Gautier!, Uran, Arroyo, Gusev, Mercado, Gesink, Vanendert and Pereiro Sio. Those who seem to have missed out big time is Schleck.
2km to go, and a minutes lead for Abal. Surely the stage is his?
The sprint begins for the group behind, with Gusev and Cobo heading affairs.
Abal has done it! Winning the stage, and surely the leaders jersey?
Cobo holds on to second place over Uran.
The bunch loses a lot of time, and anyone not in the front groups can kiss goodbye to this race.
A nice PCM crash due to incorrect podiums means we have the results in picture form! (Prettier I assure you).
