Today we have our first road stage in Luxembourg and considering we are in that hilly country this one is fairly flat. There is three KOM primes and one last sprint prime that should be well fought for. However with the small time gaps of yesterday the final sprint for the line should be interesting as the winner may well move into the GC lead.
Simone Ponzi of Wiggle is listed as a favourite with Tinkoff's Trusov and Bacardis Kocjan. Though with the latter two it may be that the squads will focus on their GC men. Everyone is cagey in the opening with so few riders here, no breaks go up the road as the only excitement we get in the early days is attacks for KOM points.
The KOM point baggers are off
It is Moinard (Pendletons), Rovny (Tinkoff) and Caruso(Wiggle) who are attacking and indeed go over the prime in that order. There is a point on offer for fourth place, it is not contested but Richie Porte (Milka) takes it. The next KOM prime is not long after and we get the same situation.
Moinard - > Rovny - > Caruso
This time it is young Luxembourger Tom Thill who is thrilled to pick up a point for fourth (well he rolled over with the bunch). Nothing really happens until the next KOM prime and once again Moinard wins it, with Rovny second Caruso third and this time Nepomnyachsniy (Milka) who takes fourth. So the Pendletons man takes the KOM jersey for the day. For some variation we have a sprint prime before the end. This time Wiggle surprise as Pavarin zooms away to take it.
Pavarin - > Khanutsev - > Wiggins
Pavarin manages to claw back some time from his very ordinary TT yesterday, however the two behind him had great TTs yesterday and have strengthened their positions with 4 and 2 second bonuses. In fact, Wiggins is now in the lead - lets not get too excited for the Brit there is still the final sprint to come.
With points on offer down to 25th place, it is disappointing to see riders drop off the back - but it is a bit hilly at the end here. Two Milka riders Grychenko and Nepomnyachsniy drop back as does Tinkoff youngster Ovechkin.
Pace too hot for Milka pair
As we enter the finale it is fairly choatic, with Tinkoff in a good position through an unexpected source as Sobal leads us in with 2500m to go.
2500 to go: best fast men some way back
GC leader from yesterday Kirchen is side by side with Efimkin in 4th and 5th, meanwhile provisional leader Wiggins is next to Smukalis in about 10th. He has team mate Molletta on his wheel with Trusov and Ponzi behind that. Sobal of Tinkoff has a really good acceleration and he puts it to good use as he starts to sprint properly and he opens a gap.
Sobal so fast under 1km to go
It is Efimkin in second looking for useful time bonuses, meanwhile Moinard is leading the scrap for third. Kirchen is in yellow and the Wiggle man on the far side is Nocentini. Trusov and Ponzi are coming, but far too late!
Easy win for Sobal
Also he had a pretty good Time Trail yesterday and was 11 seconds down on Kirchen and five seconds down on Efimkin. It means that Kirchen has to get second if he wants to keep his jersey. BUt Efimkin grabs it, Kirchen does battle his way to third to retake over Wiggins!
Minor placings
Tinkoff snatch the jersey away - wonder what the home fans made of that!
