We kick off today with main point of interest being the small climb towards the end of the stage, it is possible that the race winning move could be made there. The opening two stages will be a little tricky for the pack to remian together - before the finale there are two other KOM points and two Sprint primes in the last third of the race.
The sprinters that have been sent here are either fairly tough Steegmans (Vespa) and Eisel (Bimbo Nutella) for example. Just damn good ... Cavendish (100% Me) for example or are French Caspar (Milka) and Dumoulin (Pokerstars) for example.
The weather can be temperamental here and today we have pouring rain, four riders do not seem to mind and go in this morning's early break.
Break of 4 riders
Breakaways could be valuable here, not just for KOM points but if the riders take time bonuses and hang onto the bunch they may be rewarded with a pretty decent GC position at the end of the race. The break is made up of Ockerloen(Highroad), Cohen (El-Al), Noval (Telenor) and Colby (Petronas), it is the latter two that have the best climbing skill. Indeed as they rock up to the first mountains prime it is Noval who takes it over Colby.
Noval ->Colby - > Cohen
There is another 50km between this and the next one, so the break settles into a rhythm. Meanwhile behind its Vespa (for Steegmans) and Bimbo Nutella (for Eisel) who make sure these four do not get too comfortable.
Vespa and Bimbo form a temporary alliance
With 100km to go the gap is 7 and half minutes, so Vespa and Bimbo lift it a bit. One of Milka's men Nepomnyeckniy gets a puncture and as the pace is now on, he does not get back on. That is going to be a problem for Casper because the young Ukrainian was probably one of the lead out men of choice. Up front we have the break going over the second climb, Colby gets it this time ahead of Novel meaning they are currently equal on 5 points each.
Colby - > Noval - > Cohen
It is nice to share and it is looking unlikely the break will make the last climb as the peleton have them pegged back at 4.20 with 65 to go. The break will roll over the sprint primes though, with 6,4 and 2 second bonuses these could be tasty.
Colby - > Cohen - > Ockerloen
Following this sprint more teams come to the front to lend a hand with the pacing its 100% Me, Pokerstars and Milka who now are confident in their sprinters too.
There can only be one sprint winner!
Next sprint its Ockerleon of Highroad who takes it.
Ockerleon - > Cohen - > Novel
It means that Ockerleon and Cohen have taken 8 seconds each of bonuses, Colby six and Noval just the two. With 25 to go their gap is still 1.47, but they are caught with 13.2 to go and still the Cote de Templear-la-Fasse to go. All four riders were dropped and conceded over three minutes. On this last climb five riders go for the KOM points.
Five guys - are they going for the points or the stage win?
The Mercedes man is Ghyllebert and he wins the primes three point bounty, with Ruijgh (Highroad) in second place and Milka's Caethoven takes the third place. The other attackers were Monks (100% Me) and Jalleys (Petronas), not the most likely threesome but it really was not that steep of a climb. It did not cause too much disruption and with 5km to go we are going to get a proper sprint.
Train spotting time
For those unfamiliar with my commentary here - I call that thing in the middle the 'pace snake' it's full of odds and sods of riders that particularly in the Continental Tour can sometimes sneak a win. In short it waggles around setting a steady pace and when the sprint starts there can be some venom in it! Trains are different they have a driver and a 1st class passenger of someone from the same team and sometimes some filthy unpaying passengers.
On the left here we have Murray (100% Me) driving a 100% Me train with super sprinter Cavendish behind. Caspar (Milka)having lost his lead out man is hitching a lift on this train, as is Awang(Petronas) and Hochman (LEGO) is trying desperately to get up there. To the left we have the Vespa train, Cassidy has been chosen to be the driver and its Steegmans who is in the 1st class cabin. It is unusual to see Pokerstars not forming their own train - they have two men in the hitching category Guillen and Dumoulin. Getting up to 3000 to go you can see the drivers are not quite experienced enough.
Snake is slithering away with 3000 to go
Murray is still on the right but should have moved up, Cassidy is doing even worse for Steegmans. But a new camo train is being formed by 100% Me in the centre Thomas is leading out Downing. and Degenkolb(Pokerstars) is following. Within the snake its venom is Howard (Milka), Roberts (Lego) and Tolleson (Mercedes). So the sprint starts...
1700 to go
Roberts and Howard jump to the front, but Thomas is going well just behind and Tolleson the Mercedes red and white jerseyed rider on the right is going well. Moving on to under the 1000 to go banner...
Roberts vs the 100% Me riders
It is looking great for the 100% Me second string train here as Thomas goes level with Roberts and Downing is just beginning to come though. But beware Dumoilin is coming through and Tolleson is being dragged back up with him.
500m to go
Downing seems unable to get past his lead out man and Thomas is going for glory, meanwhile the Lego man is now a fast finishing Weissinger and Tolleson is kicking around Dumoulin who had to come from too far back. At the finish...
Tolleson takes a useful win
The Mercedes man gets an unpredictable sprint over Dumoulin and Thomas in third. Those three get useful time bonuses. But tomorrow is a tough day where gaps are certainly possible.
