First stage, first hills. Kessler, Anza and Bertagnolli are the favourites, but maybe that last hill is too short to make any differences, maybe not.
The first sprint is localized a few kilometers after the start of the stage. At this time, a break is already formed. Muñoz Giraldo is the first in this point. Flickinger and Mancuso also scored points. Markov, Khalilikhosroshani, Cassidy and Boucher close the group.
But the moves in the start of the stage are not over yet. Medina, Cioni, Pires and Abdallah also want to escape.
The two groups, meanwhile, joined together and over the first classified hill, Boucher is the first, as he seems to be the only one interested in the mountain classification. For the record, Medina and Muñoz Giraldo are the following riders passing here.
Flickinger takes the second and last intermediate sprint. Second place is for Markov, theoretically, the best sprinter in this group and Cassidy is also awarded with points. Still, 96km to go and Nespresso - Sportzone and Wiggle are already chasing - a soft chase, though. 5'34'' is the gap.
With 82km to go, three riders attack from the pack. They are Bazajev, Costa and Rabon.
Boucher attacks again for the mountain points. Muñoz Giraldo and Cioni also score some points.
Bazajev, Costa and Rabon stayed in front of the pack for almost 40 kilometers. They are caught with 45km to the line. The early break riders have a short advantage - less than 2 minutes and a half - over the pack.
Boucher will wear the mountain jersey tomorrow as he takes another mountain sprint. This time in front of Pires and Cioni.
The fireworks begin! Proni, Bru Pascal, Perez Cuapio and Vorganov attack with little more than 10km to the end.
Some riders get caught, some riders get away! Now, Colom Mas, Ascani and Corwin try to break free.
A duo forms in the front. Boucher and Vorganov have a 20 second advantage over Pires, Muñoz Giraldo, Perez Cuapio and Bru Pascal. The peloton is over than a minute behind the front duo.
The road rises and Kessler attacks! 2km to go. He's surely hoping to catch Vorganov who has dropped Boucher.
But Vorganov has a large gap over the following group that now contains Boucher and Colom Mas (that came from behind), with less than 1000m to go.
Victory for Vorganov! Great performance of the Russian who will wear the yellow jersey tomorrow. He can now be considerer a contender for the overall victory.
Bru Pascal is second, Perez Cuapio closes the podium and Muñoz Giraldo is the best of the early breakaway riders.
Kessler can only take the sixth place, in between Colom Mas and Pires. Boucher takes the eighth place.
Despite being an escapee during many kilometers, Rabon is the first of the peloton. Vicioso closes the top 10.
