Todays favourites (incase anyone didn't know) are:
*** schleck arroyo uran
** gesink fothen perez sanchez castano perez cuapio
** abal plaza zubeldia cobo mancebo duarte mayo kloden
We'll have to see just who will live up to the hype.
The first sprint is, as usual it seems, uncontested. Nolf takes it, over Erviti and Bono. Agnoli, Poos and Sijmens are there too. But several more attacks shake up the break.
And by the first climb, we have the following situation.
Miholjevic leads over Bono, Moncoutie, Erviti, Bellotti and Nolf. 1 min 15 back is Sijmens, Poos and Agnoli. 2 mins 21 back more is the peloton.
By the next climb, the shake up continues, with Miholjevic taking the climb again, over Bellotti and Bono. Moncoutie is still there. Largely the reason for the break splitting.
As we start the next climb, the break's are still split up.
And what's this?! We're absolutely miles away from the finish, but that hasn't stopped Zubeldia attacking!
He's not the only one, bless 'em, and soon he's joined by Sevilla, Mestre, Mayo and Agudelo as well.
So as we head over the half way mark, and the 3rd climb of the day, we have the following situation.
Bellotti and Moncoutie, in that order.
28 seconds back to Miholjevic. 18 seconds back to Bono.
40 more seconds to Agnoli.
Two minutes 30 back to Nolf and Erviti.
2 more mins back to Poos, being caught by the semi-favourites group.
Wikipedia lead the pack of 60 odd riders over at 1 minute 45 secs back.
Onto the descent, and Nightmare occurs for four riders!
Down goes Gerrans, taking with him Perez Sanchez, Pereiro Sio, and Herrero Llorente. He won't be thanked for that!
As we pass thru the final sprint point, here's the run down.
Bellotti, Moncoutie.
2 minutes to Mayo, Mestre, Sevilla, Agudelo, Bono, Agnoli, Zubeldia, and Miholjevic.
3minutes behind is the pack, and 2 more are our unlucky crashees.
And as we hit the penultimate climb, with Wikipedia finally seeming spent, Uran hits out.
He puts in a massive attack, and it's a surprise anyone tries to follow, but they do try.
Just behind him, as he settles into a sensible pace, are Fothen, Gesink, Abal, Plaza and Arroyo. Cobo soon tries to follow.
Zubeldia has the honour of leading the group over the climb.
Behind him are Uran and Arroyo. With them are Sevilla, Fothen, Mestre and Bellotti.
31 seconds behind them are Mayo, Moncoutie, Abal, Gesink, Plaza and Agudelo.
28 more are Mercado, Cobo, Castano (who is attacking) and Gusev.
Onto the final descent and we have another faller!
This time it's only Lipton Ice Tea taking a break in the form of Camano.
15km to go, with it all being uphill, and Uran is leading the front group. With him are Fothen, Abal, Mestre, Plaza, Gesink, Bellotti, Zubeldia, Arroyo, Sevilla, and Mayo.
1 minute back is Castano who is in the middle of nowhere. Another 25 secomds back is the pack led by Energie Diesel, who didn't attack successfully last climb.
And it's not long until Uran is off again. In fact, just the next corner!
Attempting to go with him are Fothen, Gesink, Mestre, Abal, Plaza and Arroyo.
13km to go for the pack, and Andy Schleck finally attacks, as does Perez Sanchez, who caught up in the descent of the previous climb. Also going are Delgado, Cobo, and Mercado (again).
Under the 10km to go banner for Uran.
A rather large 50 seconds back to Gesink. 18 back to Abal, Plaza, Mestre, Mayo, Arroyo and Fothen.
A further 30 seconds back to Schleck, Castano, Perez Sanchez, Mercado, and Cobo.
Another 25 seconds back to the pack, led by an attacking Delgado. Not doing the best ride today are ya mate?
6km to go, Uran leads by 1.19
A group of 7, including Gesink, Mayo, Schleck, Arroyo, Plaza, Abal and Fothen, who:
are just ahead of Mercado, Mestre;
just ahead of Castano and Cobo;
just ahead of Delgado, Florencio, Perez Sanchez;
Diesel Energie-led pack
2.5km to go, Uran leads by 1.51!
Then comes Schleck, Plaza, Arroyo, Abal;
25 secs over Fothen, Gesink, Mercado;
30 secs more back to Castano, Cobo, Mayo, Mestre, Delgado;
40 secs back to Nicacio, and the remains of the Energie Diesel led pack.
Uran has a commanding lead coming into the final kilometre.
2 minutes 11 seconds over Schleck, Plaza, Abal, Fothen, Arroyo, Gesink, and Mercado.
46 seconds back to Cobo, and Nicacio 16 seconds back, having caught castano, amongst others.
A truely dominant display of riding today by Wikipedia as Uran takes the win, and the lead.
Coming into the final bend, Arroyo comes from the back to outsprint Schleck for second.
