Sebastien Chavanel withdrew early on after a disappointing tour while Kirk O'bee and Danny Pate launched a 12-man break. The peleton chased the break hard and instead led a 10 man break go instead.
HealthNet's Anastopoulos won both the sprints as the start of a mammoth chase began. The gap to the peleton was never more than 5 minutes but they were working very hard and well together.
Most teams contributed to the chase and despite having Feillu up there, DFL fancied their chances with Markov and led the chase in the closing stages.
With 11km to go a crash at the back of the pack took down the likes of Voigt, Aitken and Glomser, while Meirhaeghe had to withdraw.
His withdrawal was overshadowed though by the capture of the breakaway, a little too close for comfort.
The sprinters did not seem too prepared and having been badly positioned all week, Zanotti decided a different approach and took to the front with 2km to go.
Hayman of Wiesenhof is in 2nd at the moment with Fredrik Johansson is leading the sprinters train with Bobbie Traksel and Simone Cadamuro well placed. With 1.2km to go, Traksel is released and Zanotti has less of a lead than he would have hoped.
Traksel closes the gap to Zanotti but Cadamuro is looking good today. Markov doesnt look as quick as yesterday and Casper is too far back, with Nazon on his wheel.
Traksel and Cadamuro are now head to head!! Zanotti is fading and Casper is storming through while Nazon still holds Caspers wheel!
