Yesterday, we saw the wind batter the riders and create a GC deciding split, we also saw an embarrassingly easy sprint win for Van Avermart. There are plenty of other riders who should in theory be able to challenge the Belgian, Bongiorno, Guillen, Vantomme and Cavendish for example. However they are going to have to place themselves better in the final sprint.
There is no wind today, but after yesterdays horrors no breaks decide to go away early on. With an early sprint prime a number of riders went forward, though admittedly these riders are not really stage win candidates, more teams second sprinters. Its Simon Clarke (Falcon) who nabs the ‘victory’ over Traksal and Dockx, all three riders were in the wrong part of the split yesterday.
Riders making up for lost time
No riders attempted to make use of this smokescreen and we had to wait a while before Roy Sentjens showed some ambition with just over 100km to go. He is followed by yesterdays strongest breakaway man Ericcson (Pokerstars).
Intesa man Sent on an adventure, Pokerstars take a gamble
It may be a move to gain a bit of time for Sentjens, though he probably will lose a heap of time on the last two stages. Given the time of his attack, he should be able to take the sprint primes and remain in the peleton at the end. Who knows the peleton may allow the break to take the stage win... At sprint two:
Sentjens - > Ericcsen - > ...
Behind these there is a bit of a rumble for the third place.
Bongiorno says hello to 2 points and 2 seconds
With 50km to go the two man break lead by 3.47, though they are being chased.
Bimbo chase for Van Avermart, 100% giving their maximum for Cavendish
Poor Pokerstars breakaway man Ericcsen has to let go of Sentjens wheel, and gets sucked into the racing peleton by the last sprint prime. Sentjens leads it through, for six more seconds of juicy time bonus. Behind the hive of sprinters are in a frenzy over second and third.
Bongiorno has a good day to take second, Chicchi checks into third
Good stuff but of course this uses up energy for the final sprint and noticeably Cavendish and Van Avermart have not bothered with this little primes. They still have to reel in Sentjens who still has 45 seconds with 20km to go, but he does get reeled in soon before the 10km to go point. Still he sticks in the peleton (rather than Ericcson he gets dropped) and he will be happy enough with his opportunistic move. With 4800m to go its time to analyse the sprint trains.
Two sprint trains wooop wooop
The Intesa train is led by Traksel and its Bongiorno in the first class cabin, Van Avermart is hitching a lift though. Pokerstars express is led in by Maaskant, with Guillen behind. This is also towing Cavendish, Ignatiev, Vantomme and Chicchi. However Igantiev has no place in this sprint and is rather unceremoniously dumped out of the way by Vantomme!
3000 to go: Intesa going good – but they are carrying Van Avermart
As if we are watching an action replay Van Avermart jumps really hard again and its chaos behind as Intesa completely lose it.
Bang the Belgian rocket is off
Its Gavazzi (Unicredit), Degenkolb (Pokerstars), Eichler (Cillit Bang) and Sabido (Bimbo Nutella) are are trying to battle for second place.
In the final 1000m
Capacchi (Intesa) and Van Poppel(Unicredit) move forward to challenge degenkolb and Gavazzi for second. No doubt about the winner though...
Two in a row – is this man a GC candidate now?
Cav comes 17th, Vantomme 22nd and Guillen 24th what an earth are they playing at?
