Kg: Today's Pyrenean test takes us over three climbs, the main challenge being the Hors Categorie Port de Bales. The parcours today are pretty tough throughout and after yesterdays drama attacks look like they are in vogue.
Sm: Definitely when you think of the big moves forward in this race have been made by people making the right moves at the right time. It is simple today if you feel good on the Bales have a go... then again it could go badly wrong a la Schleck.
DH: With a long lumpy run into the big climb of the day a big breakaway went away early or eight riders.
Eight riders make our early breakaway
DH: Former leader Coppel (Auber), Rubiano Chavez (Cafe du Columbia), Santambrogio (Gazzetta), Hoffman + Steurs(Nespresso), Stalder (Bbox), Mori (Sony) and Poels (Jack Wolfskin). But your usual break and then chase was interrupted by a remarkable attack by Alberto Contador with a full 140km to go.
Sm: Did he think he was Eddy Merckx?
Contador (8th at 4.46) attacks a looong way out
DH: A surprise move for sure he soon latches onto a stunned breakaway
Berti latches onto the eight man break
DH: Kashechkin also tried a move too!
Lipton man tries to get up there too
Sm: Another thing I guess was the King of the Mountains competition, Kashechkin has shown in the past he likes to go for this.
DH: Whatever the reasons the other teams put their minds to chasing this down!
Warner Brothers and Phillips put their differences aside to chase this down
DH: Indeed just 30km later the whole thing was neutralised, this though would mean that we had no breakaway in front.
All together again.
DH: So onto the two early climbs on the Portet d'Aspet, second category climb it was Ikea's Jose Alarcon who took the maximum.
[i]Alarcon - > Henao M - > Fothen - > Pluchkin - > Gomez M - > Perez Cuapio
Kg: The main mover on the King of the Mountains here is Henao Montoya, whose brilliant win yesterday combined with this moves him to 67 KOM points. Popovich leads on 80 and Dekker is on 74, Henao is on 67, Spilak 66, Contador on 66 and Uran on 65.
DH: At the next climb a 3rd category one, Marcus Fothen took the maximum from Gesink with Henao 3rd and Alarcon 4th.
Fothen wins the sprint here, finally some life in the German
Kg: It gives Henao 69 KOM points and he is becoming a serious contender, though the Port de Bales climb is the big one in terms of points today
DH: So here we are then on the Bales and Caruso has gone pretty much from the bottom.
Caruso attacks
Kg: He started this morning in 11th place at 6.21
Sm: After yesterday it is worth trying, a couple more are joining him.
DH: Gomez Marchante (17th at 11.38), Taaramae (12th at 7.25) and Kashechkin (13th at 7.31)
Four riders at the front of affairs
Sm: You would say before today that these four were out of a chance for a top five GC placing, but yesterday showed if you can get enough of a gap you can move up.
DH: They could have more company here as Gesink and Menchov are trying to join.
Gesink and Menchov try to join
Sm: Gesink is a big dangerman now (5th at 3.18), nothing really from him in the Alps but this race is about the Pyrenees. Menchov meanwhile has struggled to make an impact, seen as a number two man to Caruso for this race so far.
DH: Menchov is dropping back, I think he was going to try and join Caruso in a double move. Philips have driven this thing back pretty quick, it is Lovkvist who is powering Dekker back.
Philips bring break back to about 40 seconds
Sm: Dekker seems very much like the heir apparent here, however I am not sure a downhill finish necessarily suits him, we may see him wait for the Tormalet finish before he takes the jersey.
DH: Up front our break of five have not given up, Taaramae is pushing this on with Gesink.
Taaramae pushes the break on
Sm: Attention Protour teams excellent improving young stage racer probably up for grabs next year! This guy is going to be hot property.
DH: Watch this Smowz, Philips has pulled aside and Spilak pounces on this moment he is attacking 7.5km from the summit
Spilak checks his gears and goes on the attack
Sm: Is he going down in a blaze of glory? or is he feeling better today, it can be amazing how the yellow jersey gives you wings.
Kg: Chaps did you see how he checked his gearing there, I think he wants this one to be big.
DH: Schleck and Contador follow him as they work their way through the front group.
Schleck and Contador join him in the front group
Sm: It's decision time here Thomas Dekker do you stick or twist?
DH: Spilak means business here he is pushing on ahead of everyone, Contador, Schleck and Gesink have no answer.
Spilak charges on
DH: Behind they are reorganising a large group of favourites here and it is in fact Dekker who is trying to power across to Spilak.
Sm: This is the response we have come to expect from Dekker, those two seem to be a cut above everyone else. Good to see Popovich now with this and is that Phinney.
DH: It is, he is beginning to show his potential to be a future multi time winner here one day, What a talent.
Dekker responds with Popovich and Phinney in tow
DH: Dekker cannot quite make it and PHINNNEY is attacking, who said this man could not climb?
Sm: Spilak still leads and the question is can Dekker use this youngsters attack to bridge.
Phinney attacks near the top
DH: The director has taken us back to Uran, 3rd on GC and battling away with Fothen, Schleck, Contador and Pluchkin. The big boys are out today and Taylor is doing it.
Sm: The others here are trying to limit their losses they have the descent to come.
Uran leads the rest
Kg: Daniel is getting a bit excited here, Spilak crests first and then Phinney, then Popovich who'll retain his King of the Mountains lead.
Popovich crests third
Sm: He is solidifying his top GC placing as well and may get some more time on his rivals other than Spilak and Dekker.
DH: and Phinney.
Sm: Phinney is not really in the GC hunt, what are the gaps like Dan?
DH: Not sure getting distracted, Kingston?
Kg: Spilak crests 1st
Phinney at 33 seconds
Popovich and Dekker at 49 seconds
Uran, Schleck, Contador at 1.35
Fothen fading again at 2.17
Henao, Pluchkin, Pedraza, Taaramae at 2.31
Alarcon, Iglinski, Kiserlowski at 2.53
Caruso, Ratiy, Gomez Marchante, Gesink, Kashechkin, Menchov, Ardila at 3.45
DH: Spilak is showing all his skills here and is descending very fast.
Spilak descends and maintains his advantage
DH: Phinney cannot quite get up to Spilak and I have to say Smowz the Slovenian is taking a huge step toward the top step in Paris.
Sm: He had one second on Dekker and reckon he will want about a minute before that Time Trial, and race radio is suggesting that is what he has to Dekker.
Kg: Fothen has faded back to the Henao/Pluchkin group, I think the defence of his crown is over.
DH: Gesink is having a bad one, the early attack didn't work. Crikey we are almost at the finish and here comes Spilak speeding through to take a huge win.
Spilak takes his second stage win
DH: and here come Phinney, one day surely this guy will be a winner at the Tour.
Phinney comes home second today
Sm: Great second, he has already some fine Palmaires, Tour de Suisse for example. Here comes Popovich and Dekker, Popo gets the time bonus that could be crucial.
Kg: It is timed at 54 seconds add the time bonus Spilak has pulled 1.14 on Dekker today.
Popovich third and Dekker 4th
DH: The fourth group on the road is Schleck, Contador and Uran, all threes podium hopes fade a bit today they are at 2.11.
Schleck and Contador tried to go with Spilak but they couldn't
DH: 30 seconds later we have a group containing Pluchkin, Fothen and Henao amongst others.
Sm: Taaramae too.
Fothen now surely no way back, bad day for Pluchkin really too
DH: Further back still is Gesink and Kashechkins group at 4.29, very bad day indeed.
GC: Note: Time bonuses have not been awarded so in reality Spilak's lead is now 20 seconds more over Dekker (2nd at 1.15) and almost everyone else bar Phinney (12th at 10.39) and Popovich (3rd at 3.20). This was corrected before the running of the next stage as it was with the previous correction
