Here we are then – today will surely decide who wins this race! It is a mostly flat stage with a vicious climb up to the finish.
De Romijn (YouTube) and El Fares (Barcadi) are the two riders that get away in the break.
El Fares takes the first climb and in doing so drops De Romijin who is second. Alcaron jumps out of the pack a few minutes later to take 3rd.
Lobato leads this competition on 45 points – the points Alcaron takes move him up to 3rd on 21 points.
El Fares is through the first sprint point just over a minute up on De Romijn. The pack are 3’15” back on the YouTube man. The sprint for third is contested and taken by Benitez from Benfica.
At the next KOM point the lead for El Fares over De Romijn has gone out to over a minute and a half – though one spectator does not look impressed.
Trusov gets third on this climb – Alcaron deciding not to contest this one.
50k to go and El Fares is really trying to push this on. 2’33” on Romijn now – though the pack – with IKEA and Yamaha on the front - are really starting to motor and have just about brought Romjin back in.
The final intermediate sprint is 40k from the finish – El Fares still leads and is holding his advantage fairly well – 2’25” back to the pack. Trusov sprints through for second ahead of Brown (Telenor) when the pack gets to this prime.
Santander and Petronas have replaced IKEA at the head of the chase now. It’s been a brave effort from El Fares, but here he is being caught with just over 13km to go and the final climb just about to begin.
Kristskiy (Tinkoff) doesn’t hang around and makes a move as the pack goes under the 10km to go banner. Martinez (Quiksilver) is next – Abal then jumps, but he has Taaramäe on his wheel immediately.
This trio very quickly overhaul Kristskiy and the beginnings of a very dangerous looking gap are opening up. Petronas are still on the front and giving their all for Lloret. Ricco clearly thinks the Petronas team can keep this one under control – others though I’m sure are wondering what the hell he’s doing back there?
At the front Abal and Taaramäe are proving too strong for Martinez who slips off their wheels. The lead duo are around 45” clear now with just over 5km to go. With Petronas just about done here comes Lloret. Behind him is Augustyn (Red Bull), Alcaron and finally Ricco!
Ricco is strong – but he can’t get up to Abal or Taaramäe. Lloret digs deep here and manages to hang on to the Italian’s wheel. Augustyn is not able to live with these two.
There are just under 4km to go. Alcaron is also trying to get up to these two just out of shot.
Abal and Taaramäe are working well together and taking turns to set the pace on the front. They have 37” still on Ricco and Lloret. 2km to go and Abal flicks an elbow for Taaramäe to come through. The IKEA man shakes his head – is he hurting here or playing games?
Coming up to the banner that marks 1km to go – Abal has not been able to shake Taaramäe. He’s had his head down and been riding hard the last 1500meters and increased the gap back to Lloret and Ricco to 48”. Has he done enough to hurt the Estonian?
The sprint is off and it looks as if Taaramäe has played this very cutely.
He’s powering past the Spaniard – can Abal respond and find something extra?
I’m afraid he can’t – Taaramäe gaps Abal and has time to celebrate a very clever victory.
Abal rolls over the line second and Ricco has the finishing kick to gap Lloret for third.
Lloret in fact really suffers in the final few hundred meters and Alcaron gets up to him and passed to take 4th. Lloret is 5th but his time is just good enough to hold Ricco off for a podium place. 6th is Noval, 7th Colorado, 8th Rodriguez, 9th Augustyn and 10th Kessiakoff.
Leader going into the stage, Gustav Larsson is a creditable 18th, 2’28”. He probably won’t be too disappointed having to give the jersey to team-mate Taaramäe.
