Enough of the sprint stages, time for a proper mountain stage! Not the toughest climb of the tour, but it is the first!
But while the focus is on later on, there were so many initial attacks. Starting with Garbelli at the start of the race, continuing for the next 40km at least. Every time the peloton seemed happy to let a group go, a couple more riders looked to attack across - and the gap got going again.
They are being chased however, and they can blame Viviani and Pantano Gomez for that. As 13 they were building a gap, as 15, the peloton is angry.
And so they are caught. 5 new attackers then. Cadel Evans, Chris Anker Sorensen, Edwin Parra Bustamente, David Garbelli and Roberto Traficante
Garbelli takes the intermediate sprint from Sorensen and Parra B.
The first KoM of the race comes at 35km to go. Sorensen edges out Evans and Parra B.
Attacks coming from the Pirelli/Aker led peloton behind, Schwab, Martinez, Cattaneo, Brandt, Maisto
22.5km to go. Sorensen takes the last intermediate sprint.
Gaps are: Evans, Sorensen, Garbelli, Traficante and Parra Bustamente
+ 1'08 Schwab
+ 1'56 Lloret, Carrara, Cattaneo, Brandt, Alarcon, Ochoa Quintero, Martinez and Maisto
+ 2'12 Peloton
Thats right, Lloret, Carrara, Alarcon and Ochoa Quintero have already began attacking! Carrara soon bridges up to Schwab, with Alarcon, Brandt and Maisto chasing. Pirelli lead the charge behind, and soon it is only Carrara of the attackers clear, and he links up with his 2 Vespa teammate, who have been dropped by the break as Evans, Parra Bustamente and Sorensen attacked away - we are at the start of the climb!
The Vespa trio are caught though, only for Carrara to attack again!
He catches the break of 3, but with 10km to go, they are all caught. 10km for the GC guys to really battle it out then! A stage win awaits.
Lloret and Colorado lead attacks, reducing the group down to 12
Alarcon, Jaramillo Colorado, Rodas Niemiec Carrara, Cattaneo Eastman Ochoa Quintero Castano Lloret Nazaret
As we reach the flatter section before the 2nd steep part, Alarcon looks to press on and past Castano, Eastman, Lloret, Nazaret and Niemiec who are also getting a gap
But a lack of urgency sees us back to 14 with 5km to go. Ratiy and Paulinho having fought back into contention.
Another group of 12 are not too far behind either, as Eastman attacks!
Alarcon on the counterattack! Nazaret battling for his wheel.
And his skills in the mountains really show there, Alarcon had ridden away and into a solo lead
Eastman, Nazaret, Ratiy and Castano are doing their best to chase, as Carrara clings on.
You cant afford to give this man a gap. Plenty of time for Alarcon to celebrate
An easy victory as far as he is concerned, it seems! 3 in a row for Aker, the new team taking the season by storm.
Nazaret beats Eastman and Castano for 2nd. Ratiy and Carrara tailed off at the finish.
Rodas then comes in solo for 7th, ahead of a group with Paulinho, last years winner Ochoa Quintero, Lloret, Niemiec and Colorado.
Sabatini is a long way down, there was never any doubt the lead would change, and with a 37 second gap to 2nd, Alarcon does enough to take it over.
