After yesterday's Time Trial we move into another key stage in this years Dunkirk stage race. Today the parcours revolve around a circuit that the peleton have to go round 9 times. This means that the riders will have to ascend the steep tricky Mount Noir 9 times which is going to hurt.
As expected Wiggle's Mikhail Ignatiev leads coming from the Time Trial, however his lead is not all conquering and no doubt he will come under some challenge from any rider that has some ability over hills who is still in the hunt. Sylvian Chavenal (El-Al) and Matthieu Ladagnous (Pendleton's) could be a big threat being in their home country.
Each time the riders climb to the top of Mount Noir there will be Mountains points meaning that 27 points in total are on offer. Miles Olsen's 16 points gathered will probably not be enough to stave off challengers. He will have been particularly concerned when a contender Sylvian Calzati attacked from the gun today...
Calzati looks to add to his 9 points gained so far.
Behind a number of riders were looking to get in this move and four managed to get away and organise themselves getting across to Calzati.
Four more to add weight to the breakaway
These riders are getting across here before the first prime they are Dan Lloyd (100% Me), Hofland (Bimbo Nutella), 23rd GC placed Kuchenski (Bacardi Colt) and possible KOM contender Bodrogi (Unicredit).
Bodrogi has 5 points in the mountains competition and besides any of those riders could become a contender over the 9 climbs. So it is important that Calzati wins each, he takes the first two and in taking the third climb he moves into the KOM lead with 18 points. Bodrogi has tried to pick up points where he can and has managed to scramble together five more points to remain in touch with 10 points. However after the third climb he begins to drop away...
Bodrogi's KOM dream dies
The only good news for Bodrogi is that no-one else from the breakaway seems that bothered about picking up points as Calzati continues to mop up the maximum points.
The mountains jersey looks sewn up
With 3 circuits (about 70 km) left the gap is interestingly at 7 and half minutes there is a danger the break could make it. Its clear the peleton are struggling with a depleted Wiggle squad in control.
Young Appollonio left to do much of the chase work.
Riders within the peleton sense that they need to make a move and Dan Craven (Bimbo Nutella) is looking to make up for a slightly disappointing TT yesterday.
62km to go is a long way out!
However no-one else wants to join him this far out, Pokerstars (for Clement) and Highroad (for Elizen) chase him back quite hard. All this of course is doing Wiggles work for them.
Highroad and Pokerstars shut down Craven
Up front, the dangerman on GC Kuchinski is dropped from the lead group on the third to last climb...
Bacardi's breakaway man cannot stick it
This just leaves Lloyd, Calzati and Hofland up front, back in the pack more riders are trying to get away...
Craven is in great form attacking again.
This time there is a response with Ignatiev, Grabovski and Sicard (El-Al) initially responding and then Clement a little later. As things move into our last 2 circuits (45km to go) its clear today is going to splinter all over the place. Here are the groups:
e1: Lloyd (100% Me), Calzati (El-Al), Hofland (Bimbo Nutella) e2: Kuchinski (Bacardi) a 27 seconds e3: Bodrogi (Unicredit0 at 2.49 e4: Craven (Bimbo Nutella) at 3.31 e5; Ignatiev (Wiggle), Sicard (El-Al), Grabovski (Intesaa) at 3.46 e6: Clement at 4.17 Peleton is at 4.46 Group Stannard is at 6.15
Stannard didn't really stand much of a chance today and it was a given he was going to move down the standings. Seeing his rivals move away from him, it was time for Elizen (Highroad) to act...
3rd in GC had a great day yesterday is he on a bad one today.
In fact the whole peleton is breaking up with Ladagnous (Pendletons), Brandle (Unicredit), Bagdonas (Bacardi), Agnoli (Intesa) and Sabido (Bimbo Nutella) making digs. It all shuffles around a lot at this stage and ultimately a group of 8 chasers for the original breakaway forms.
Could be the power group.
They have about 90 seconds on the peleton. The riders here are:
Craven + Sabido (Bimbo Nutella), Grabovski + Agnoli (Intesa), Clement (Pokerstars), Sicard (El-Al), Bagdonas (Bacardi) and Ignatiev (Wiggle)
These riders would catch the breakaway on the penultimate climb of Mount Noir, and as we come onto a false flat its Clement who makes a move...
Pokerstars makes a dash
He is marked by Grabovski and in all honesty it doesn't look that convincing as the breeak of 20 have them in sights. The come over the line for the last circuit with 23 km left this is the situation:
e1: Clement, Grabovski e2: Sicard, Craven, Sabido, Bagdonas, Agnoli, Ignatiev and Calzati e3: Elizen, Sulzberger, Konovalinos, Bagdonas, Kuchinski and Hofland at 1.09
28 rider peleton at 1.41 Group Stannard at 4.55
As they move through the circuit they are now familiar with the layout, they know of a small little hill before Mount Noir. Ignatiev chooses his moment to try and hurt Craven as he has tried to do to him...
Attacking from the front
He bridges across to Clement and Grabovski, but then is surprised as an El-Al rider comes nipping past.
Its Konovalinos (El-Al)
These El-Al riders are everywhere, he is a danger man lying about a minute back on GC, it seems as if Ignatiev is under attack from all over! The situation with 15 to go is this:
e1: Konovilinos e2: Clement, Sabido, Craven, Ladagnous, Ignatiev, Grabovski, Lorenzetto, Dumoulin at 27 seconds e3: Bagdonas at 58 seconds
31 rider peleton at 1.21 Group Stannard at 4.33
You will note a lot of new names appearing, Ladagnous in particular could be a new threat to Ignatiev. However an old foe isn't done yet as Clement makes a move with his teammate Dumoulin...
King Pair
Dumoulin drops back quickly and after Clement bridges to Konovilinos he too begins to struggle. Doing a lot of the grunt work himself Ignatiev goes on the offensive under the 10km to go banner.
Angry Russian stomps on those pedals
Konovilinos clearly on a great day keeps up with the Wiggle man, but again this does not seem quite decisive. The still have to get up and down Mount Noir and so with 7.5 km to go its this:
e1: Ignatiev, Konovilinos e2: Sabido, Cravem, Dumoulin, Clement, Ladagnous, Lorenzetto, Grabovski at 24 seconds
32 rider Peleton at 1.25 Group Stannard at 5.17
As they climb the last Mount Noir ascent the second group catches a visably tiring Ignatiev, several riders have gone on the offensive up this climb. By far the strongest is Sylvian Chavenel, he quickly bridges to the breakaway. Ignatiev is watching Konovilinos, you can imagine his reaction when he see another El-Al rider zoom past.
French hero makes a brilliant late move
This is causing damage, its interesting we have not seen Sylvian all day and so here he is as fresh as a daisy. Its a fantastic move and with the 20 seconds bonus at the finish he just need a 43 seconds advantage.
He has 39 seconds with 2.5 to go on a 13 man group with Ignatiev who now at last has teammate Hermans with him. As we come to the line the El-Al racing star takes the stage win
Clever win for Chava
Behind the clock rolls on, how is the sprint coming?
Pokerstars dominate sprint
Ignatiev is not going to get a bonification and the clock is rolling he takes a nervous look over his shoulder and see the time gap is at 33 seconds. His head drops over the handlebars in relief!
