Our time in Dunkirk begins with a fairly lengthy stage at just over 181km. We have 4 little hills on route to test the riders legs and 3 sprint primes, with one at about 10km to go which should make the finale quite chaotic!
There are plenty of top class sprinters in the field, the favourites for the day are Kennaugh (100% Me), Vantomme (Highroad) and Goss (Bacardi). But to be honest the field is very open, this sprint will be keenly contested.
Not going to be many takers for a breakaway, but after a fairly long period of not a lot happening at least one rider is prepared to give it a go.
Miles Olman (Bimbo Nutella)
The Bimbo man is better known as a decent TTer, a long lone effort is probably just the sort of ride for him. No-one in the peleton seems bothered by this turn of events and with 110km to go Miles has a lead of nearly 6 minutes.
With only one rider clear, the first hotpot sprints bonifications are going to come into play. Olman of course takes first, but behind him its South African Van Heerden (Pendleton's) who nabs a useful second place with Borrajo (Unicredit) getting third.
Van Heerden takes an early time boost.
On the climbs, Olman paces himself knowing if he can get over all four of them a KOM jersey waits for him. There are plenty of climbs over the next stages, but this should build him a decent lead. He comfortably takes the first three climbs, back in the peleton its Elizen (Highroad), Bagdones (Bacardi) and Grabovski (Intesa) who look to take the minor points.
KOM point grabbers
On the last of the four climbs Olman is beginning to flag, but he can see those polkadots in his sights and keeps on going.
Well earned cheers for Bimbo Nutella man
Behind that Elizen, Grabovski and Bagdones again try for the minor placings but this time are denied by Sulzberger (100% Me) and Clement
(Pokerstars).
More riders join the KOM hunt.
Olman's lead has been eroded and now as they approach the penultimate sprint prime the Pokerstars sprint train is reeling the breakaway rider in.
Bravo Bimbo man
Olman would slide away to back to the peleton and out the back to finish 6.45 behind but he would take the KOM jersey! Meanwhile in the sprint, Pokerstars led things out well for Sammy Dumoilin, but once again it was Pendletons Jaan Van Heerden who came around!
Saffa sprint king
This gives Van Heerden a six second buffer on Dumoilin and Borrajo who took a 3rd place once again, then 10 seconds on the rest of the field. Still another prime and the final dash to come, its going to end in a sprint. Pendletons are full of confidence and the pace is high on the front as Pendletons keep control with Bradley Wiggins.
Wiggo has seen this all before.
Last sprint prime then and Pendletons ease off and the impressive Pokerstars take over its Dan Holloway who is Dumoulin's lead out man here and once again Unicredits Borrajo has found a good wheel.
Sprint train for the primer
The 100% Me man is Dan Lloyd, so when the sprint begins it is a contest between Dumoilin and Borrajo.
Sammy takes it.
Its Michael Vantomme who snags third, but it's the Van Heerden/Dumoulin/Borrajo show at the moment. VH and Dumoulin have two seconds on Borrajo, eight on Vantomme and ten on the field. Interestingly these sprint prime hunters have a good gap over a lethargic field with 5km to go it's at just over 30 seconds.
A gap perhaps?
Those riders here are Dumoulin, Borrajo, Van Heerden, Vantomme and also Chavenel (Sebastian) of Bimbo Nutella and Dan Lloyd of 100% Me. Yeah don't ask not sure why Lloyd is here! Predictably the brit loses touch as soon as the final sprint starts. Young Vantomme shows his inexperience by leaping to the lead, Van Heerden coolly takes his wheel.
Five men in this one.
Dumoilin and Borajo fade away, clearly tired from going for the previous sprint prime, Van Heerden now begins to challenge the Highroad man.
Highroad vs Pendletons
The South African takes it in the last 100 metres a well timed sprint this one, a credible third for Seb Chavenel on home turf.
Maybe next time Vantomme
No time gaps to the peleton though, riders were conveniently spread out behind.
