It's our final day in Luxembourg and the complications come at the end with four circuits containing the small little legbreaking climb of the Cote de Clausen. The first two climbs are categorised in the KOM competition, the third is a sprint prime and the race finishes on the final ascent.
It is probably not likely that Alex Efimkin of Milka will lose his GC lead, but it is close for second place between Kirchen, Vorganov and Ponzi. There is numerous other squabbling for places behind, with the opening days TT perhaps still deciding the minor placings a bit.
One thing under no doubt is the King of the Mountains competition, the active Pendletons team have sent Moinard up the road day after day to get points. More often than not he has gained the maximum points up the small little climbs. This is repeated once more up the first king of the mountains point.
Moinard has that extra kick, must be the thought of free ice cream at the end of the race
As ever it is his nemesis Rovny who follows him up the climb, his second place here seals his second place to the Frenchman. It is Julian El Fares of Bacardi who is third here, he is now perhaps trying to get a minor placing in this competition. Milka’s Yevgeni Nepomnyachsniy leads the peleton over, what a trooper he is. This situation is repeated at the next climb, so it means that El Fares is now joint 4th with Cherel in the KOM competition. Cherel got these points from a breakaway and the order goes up for yet another Pendletons rider to go for a breakaway!
Molletta and Trusov go on a break
This duo work well together, it is a bit of a risk as they may be chased and spat out of the peleton. But who knows they may just get a bit of stage win glory, of course race leader Efimkin’s Milka team need to control this.
Milka not in the mood to let the race slip away!
With 50km to go the lead is down to just three minutes, as we enter the final circuits with this Cote de Clausen climb repeatedly climbed. Trusov is more known as a sprinter than a climber and Molletta drops him on the first ascent of the Clausen.
Molletta says goodbye to the Russian
There is sufficient gap back to the peleton for the Pendletons rider to take the first two ascents that count to the mountain competition.
Molletta also thinking of free ice cream
Trusov takes second at the first with Moinard third and Rivny fourth. Meanwhile at the second ascent Trusov has been reeled in, Moinard takes second, Rovny third and an attacking Ponzi takes the final point. Tough luck for Julian El Fares he will have to share fourth spot with Cherel.
Anyway, serious GC business is on the cards now as the penultimate climb is for seconds as well as sprint points. Pendletons once again show the best positioning as Vorganov takes the climb first here.
Vorganov - > Caruso - > Stybar
Vorganov perserveres with this move, realising their GC positions are at threat Kirchen and Ponzi react to this. Wiggins and Sobal also placed in the GC top ten also go with.
Four man chase group
This is leading to quite a late chase here and Vorganov is really pushing hard.
What an amazing race by Pendletons
However despite Wiggins doing no work, he is caught before the 5km to go banner, as we have a lead 5 man group. Milka’s Efimkin has realised he better wake up and get across really – his lead is quite big but not that big!
Lead group of five and Efimkin is trying to bridge just behind
Up the final ascent of the Clausen, it is evident that Kirchen and Ponzi are the strongest. The Bacardi Luxembourg man is too strong for the Italian in his homeland and takes his second stage win!
Kirchen celebrates a second stage win
Vorganov takes third place behind Ponzi and he has sealed a third place GC spit behind Kirchen who has not enough time to remove Efimking from the GC win! Pendletons will be delighted that Wiggins managed to make the lead group and get a GC 6th just behind Sobal. Strange tour really for Tinkoff, they were attacking but no sign of Kirylenka for the whole tour.
