Only 86 km to travel today, but there is still enough room for three sprint primes!
With things so close on the points competition there is plenty left to fight for. There could even be some changes on classification, though Blythe (1st) and Loddo (2nd) seem pretty secure in their positions. Loddo has 13 seconds on Eric Mohs (Pokerstars) but behind him things are stacked up. Van Heerden (Pendletons) is capable of winning the stage is 4th at 12 seconds to Mohs, then 5th is Gatto (a 23 seconds to Mohs). Cucinotta is a second behind Gatto, four seconds further back is Allan Davis. JJ Haedo looks desperate to do something he is seven seconds down on Davis with yesterdays second place Kip nine seconds further in arrears.
The points jersey battle is surely a battle between five names: Davis 150, Loddo 148, Van Heerdem 148, Blythe 138 and Mohs 138.
Originally there is only a two man break of Eliad (El Al) and Jacques-Maynes (Mercedes).
Two man move
But before anyone can get too excited about the third place positions in the sprint primes, two more riders Kroupis and Reekers join in.
Four men now make our BotD
The four riders roll over the sprint primes in the following orders:
Sprint 1: Jacques-Maynes, Reekers, Kroupis
Sprint 2: Eliad, Reekers, Jacques-Maynes
Sprint 3: Jacques-Maynes, Kroupis, Eliad
None of these riders are going to make waves on GC, unless the pack let them go. Unfortunately for the break three teams Quiksilver, Pokerstars and Pendletons do not want to let that happen.
Coalition of teams gang up to track the breakaway
It is a long flat run in to the city too and as we are all together the riders can see the light at the end of this long 10 stage tunnel.
Faso's tour soon to end
Adam Blythe can start to relax here as barring a late crash he looks sure for a GC win. It will be his second tour victory of the season having won the De Panne Tour earlier on this year. The 100% Me youngster still looks to get involved in the sprint as we have no less than SIX sprint trains with 4.7 km to go.
Trainspotters - six trains for you
Ok from left to right:
[Train 1] Poalini, Loddo, Tim Kennaugh, Van Heerden
[Train 2] Ascani, Gatto
[Train 3] Kluge, Mohs, Jacques Maynes, Haedo, Cucinotta, Kip
PACE SNAKE
[Train 4] Sulzberger, Blythe
[Train 5] Murphy, Davis
[Train 6] Gajek, Nazon
The sprint opens up and it is quite even here with Loddo leaving his sprint partner early as has Blythe. But with Mohs in close proximity it is he that makes the biggest move through the middle.
White jerseyed Mohs comes through the middle with 1800m to go
A lot of sprinters are stacking up behind Loddo here, hardly surprising considering his record so far. Van Heerden is closest, followed by Cucinotta and Haedo. Davis is still to come around Murphy and with Mohs heading away it looks like his chances of winning a stage here are gone.
Mohs continues to look strong here as we go under the kite.
Mohs has the power but watch out for the Italian pair
Gatto and Loddo as we know are dangerous and Van Heerden is there also and now in the last kilometre Allan Davis is coming fast to challenge Blythe.
400m to go: Loddo is defending second here, Davis is coming fast though
Davis has the green jersey,despite not winning a stage. He will need to overtake Loddo though if he wishes to defend the his points position. But neither will get to Mohs who takes his second stage win of the race and Pokerstars third.
Mohs enjoys his moment in white - second sprint win in Faso
However hopes of overtaking Loddo are dashed as he manages to hold off Davis for third. This also takes the Italian to the top of the points rankings. Van Heerden just about takes Gatto on the line for 4th, which is where he will finish on GC and in the Points competition.
Loddo holds on for second ahead of Davis
Adam Blythe is 6th here and wins the Tour du Faso!
