Ariba! Welcome to Mexico for the Vuelta Chihuahua International - a small and unpredictable looking race which could be key for the promotion chances of some of the teams here.
We get to the mountains very early on, but today we have a flat stage for the sprinters.
Three early sprint points and one small climb for the riders, the favourites today for the sprints would be Sabido (Bimbo Nutella), Guereo (Santander), Sutton (Red Bull) and Damian Martinez (Quiksilver).
The only team here without a rider of any sprint ability really are Benfica and subsequently it is no surprise to see them send a rider off on a breakaway.
Machado launches a long range solo move - a Benfica speciality
The Portuguese rider would then take each of the maximums on the three sprint primes and also the maximum on the sole King of the Mountains point - which at the very least will mean he will wear that jersey at the end of the day.
Behind him the sprinters work hard for the points, the first two see Guereo edge out Sutton for second twice. The last sprint prime though is somewhat different as Sabido takes second from Quiksilvers Nizzola.
Sprinters battle for points on the three sprint primes.
There was also a battle for the small points on offer for second and third at the King of the Mountains prime. It was Spanish champion Mercado who took the two points for second ahead of Santander climber Ortega.
Mercado and Ortega bank some KOM points
With 40km to go Machado only had a two minute gap, Santander and Red Bull shutting the lone move down. They had the young Portuguese reeled in with 25km to go and subsequently he was dropped which puts one Benfica man a little back on GC already.
As we approach the finale with 2900m to go, sprint trains have not really formed the truth is that the lead out riders tried but looked out of energy. However Guereo and Sutton latch onto Damian Martinez's wheel as he moves smoothly up on the right of the road.
Sprinters Martinez, Guereo and Sutton well placed on the right
However the route map is deceptive (as could often be the case in this race) as the finish is slightly uphill. This is enough to wipe out the tired sprinters who have been sprinting earlier on. Instead the attention goes to more punchy men. David Lopez Garcia lurking next to Damian Martinez in the picture above launches a stage winning kick. Bimbo Nutella show their smarts as Camano is up there as well.
Lopez Garcia romps away
Colorado is the Benfica man in third in this picture but it is the other Santander man on the far left who moves the fastest. Aitor Hernandez manages to move forward to take second behind Lopez Garcia, with Camano 3rd, Colorado 4th and it is Kenyan Samwel in 5th.
