The hardest of the hilly stages. Puncheurs like Kessler need big gains today, while even the time triallists must attack - after letting 2 breaks gain time on the opening stages.
Surprise, surprise, the break is popular today. Murakami, Drujon, Preidler, Haedo, Coutts, Van Poppel, Pirazzi, Brutt, Selander, Smukulis, Martins, Tolleson, and Docker might have gone clear. But then they were joined by Di Maggio and Battaglin. With alarm bells ringing over Di Maggio, the peloton chased them down.
No more attacks until the first KoM, when Scheirlinckx sets off for points. And is that ... a narrow road climb?
Scheirlinckx takes the KoM from Koppert's Venter and Traksel. But then its narrow road chaos as the peloton split into many pieces
Initially just 28 men up front. But it widens to 64. In a group of 62 rider, 2 minutes down, are: Wegmann, Ignatiev, Rolland, Clement, Kluge, Reus, Boom and Bonnet amongst others.
Its back together at the 2nd notable climb of the day (the one thats not a KoM), but roads are still narrow
Eichler, Haussler and Smukulis keep the pace high up front and sure enough, there are splits again. This time 30 go clear as Stroetinga lets the gap to Tolleson go. There are other splits further down the field, but to what damage?
Again its similar names to before. Boom, Wegmann, Ignatiev, etc. but as we approach KoM number 2, after plenty of chasing the peloton is back to 99 riders.
The field isnt 99 strong though. The big names still missing are Kluge and Reus!
Scheirlinckx is again the only rider interested in the KoM. He mocks the field as he takes his tally to 32 points - a strong 10 point lead
Kai Reus is in trouble though. In a group 3 minutes behind the peloton. He was caught out on the 2nd climb, but some riders alongside him at that point did make it back to the peloton. A nightmare few km for him, and he is isolated! Zabel and Preidler are up the road in the peloton, while Li and Klier are even further behind Reus. They were already one of the weakest depth teams here, and this is where depth was needed. An injured Koren is in Reus's group while Kluge is doing worse, 2 minutes further back on Reus.
Reus wont be seeing the peloton again. GC hopes over.
Up front, Scheirlinckx didnt drop back to the peloton this time, and builds a lead.
Sensing an opportunity, some attacks come in pairs: Bernucci and Ruijgh. Voeckler and Kiryenka. Doi and Pasamontes.
At the 2nd intermediate sprint, with 60km to go. Scheirlinckx still leads solo.
Bernucci, Ruijgh, Voeckler and Kiryenka are 37 seconds down.
Doi and Pasamontes are another minute and a half back, and they in turn are 1 minute ahead of the peloton
A bad day for Kluge gets worse. He crashes, and then 10km later, he punctures.
Sagan also goes on the attack, joining Doi and Pasamontes. As the route takes on a flat stretch.
Up front, Scheirlinckx is actually extending his lead on the 4 chasers, and leads the peloton by 4 minutes with 33km to go.
With 24km to go, the pack are closing on Sagan, Doi, Pasamontes, but they soon attack again
And looking to close the gap in GC to Oscar Freire, Kevin van Impe attacks!
He's not able to break clear of the peloton, while Doi and Pasamontes are also caught for good now. 15km to go - and Kessler makes his move with Weening
Van Impe tries to follow, while we see more Trilux attackers in Wegmann and Eichler. The peloton is stretched but none of the attackers stick. Ruijgh and Bernucci are now caught.
10km to go. Still Scheirlinckx leads on his impressive solo adventure
1'13 later are Kiryenka and Voeckler, clinging on to life just in front of the peloton
Those gaps remain constant until 7km to go, when Kessler attacks again!
Kessler rides past Voeckler and Kiryenka, who are joined by Weening. Even Freire tries to attack now! He doesnt get far
Disaster for Puma! Rolland crashes with 5km to go
At 5km to go, Kessler is a minute behind Scheirlinckx. This is down to 40 seconds a kilometre later
Scheirlinckx is digging deep though, and helped by a bit of a descent, starts to limit those losses
Weening, Kiryenka and Voeckler are behind Kessler, still clear out of the peloton
As Travis Meyer jumps away from the pack - signalling the start of the sprint
1km to go for ScheirlinckxAnd victory!
A huge solo ride for him.
Kessler takes 2nd 30 seconds down. He gains a bit of time, but probably not enough
Weening 3rd at 47 seconds, no time gains for him as Wegmann edges Kiryenka for 4th, with Van Impe 6th
A 73 man peloton are together at the finish - although 5th overall Stallaert got lucky with gaps, as he was actually dropped near the end. Freire will head into the TT with a 1'36 advantage on Van Impe, and 3'38 on the likes of Boom and Ignatiev. He does only have 56TT though, Freire!
Rolland loses 3 minutes after his crash, while Reus ended up losing 6 minutes. Also ending up in Reus group, surprisingly, is puncheur Di Maggio, who seemed to fall apart in the latter half of the stage for no apparent reason
A shocking day for Roger Kluge though. He finishes 20 minutes after Scheirlinckx, and is the last of all finishers.
