Today's big mountain top finish is set to dominate the destiny of this race on what is undoubtedly the toughest day of the race. The final climb of Beitstolen is a steady ascent of around 8.5km and it is preceded by the little leg breaking Slatefiel.
Big showdown will surely see the climbers come out to play, Kohl, Carrara and Alarcon looked active yesterday. Goodness only knows why Taaramae did not seem bothered perhaps he is playing domestique? Plenty of other riders like Bosisio, Eltink, Kessiekoff, Paulinho, Evans to look out for today.
With plenty of climbs on the menu there is lots of interest in an early break. One rider storms clear from the gun, it is a familiar names to those that tuned into the Giro.
Giro KOM jersey part time wearer Pagato pushes on
He is chased by and ultimately caught by five more riders.
No solo rider for Pagato
The names: Duran (Santander), Kusters (Highroad), Van Heerden (Falcon), Veillaux (Bbox) and Klimov (Tinkoff). The only rider not to lose time yesterday here is Tinkoff rider Klimov, the break does not quite catch Pagato before the first sprint so Klimov logically rolls over in second. By the first KOM though the break were on the Vespa man, the positions were the same as the sprint.
Pagato - > Klimov - > Van Heerden
The break works well and builds a lead of 6.30 with 75km to go. It is probably not enough for the stage win, but I do not think any of these riders though they would get that. The next KOM sees a different order.
Vielleux ->Duran - > Klimov
This puts the Tinkoff man in KOM taking over from his teammate Serov, but 30 points is available to the winner of the last climb so he probably will not be KOM at the end of the day. The sprint immediately preceeding this one goes to Christoff Van Heerden of Falcon.
Van Heerden - > Klimov - > Veilleux
With 20km the break still as a decent 3.12 lead over a slightly cautious peleton, noone it seems wants to over cook themselves before this finale. The break then will go over the penultimate little leg breaker.
Veilleux - > Van Heerden - > Klimov - > Duran
This gives Veilleux and Klimov the joint lead on 25 points - which isn't enough for today but who knows if either gets in another break they may have a chance at that. In the peleton, it is Yamaha who launch the first move.
Cadel Evans goes with 16km to go
He is joined quickly by two useful companions in Eltink(Falcon) and Noval(Telenor).
Falcon and Telenor play their first cards
Also bridging as the 'up to now disappointing this season' Bosisio, looks like he is feeling good today.
Bosision bridges on the descent of the penultimate climb
The road ramps up again and it is not too long before our four chasers bridge across to the breakaway. An Ikea rider though has attacked from the peleton ... that's Taaramae!
Taaramae Rein's them in
The peleton now begins to explode at Petronas and UBS realise the action is happening ahead of them. Kohl and Carrara have to attack across...
6.5km to go: Kohl and Carrara having to work hard
Up front Bosision has responded well to Taaramae's bridging move and has gone on the offensive trying to get a gap up the road.
Who's the boss?
It is a strong move, but unfortunately for the Italian Rein Taaramae is a very strong rider and he calmly rides up to the Vespa riders wheel.
Bosisio and Taaramae locked together, no Evans sadly
In the final 3.5km now and the Estonian starts to turn the tables on the battling Bosisio as the elastic begins to stretch.
CTour's best stage racer in action here
Behind these two Kohl and Carrara have not got much more to give, the best they can do is stick on Falcon's Eltink who is having a fine day.
Falcon's flag is flying high here
No doubting the winner up the road as Taaramae just seems to go faster and faster, his gap looks close to 40 seconds by the end.
Taaramae has dominated on this climb
Behind Bosisio is just caught by the Eltink/Kohl/Carrara group, but holds for second ahead of the Falcon rider.
Bosisio had one of his best days of the season here
Paulinho and Kritsky made late moves to dart up the road past Noval and Evans in the final 4 km's to nab 6th and 7th. Former race leader Bogdan finishes back in 20th at 2.25.
