After the climb yesterday couldn't quite break the top climbers apart, we should see some separate after this 16km mountainous ITT. The bookmakers are favoring the pure climbers over the average climbers that do well against the clock with Marzano, Nazaret, Krasnopeev on the top line. With the following also given an outside chance, Vasquez, Bosisio, Quintero, Astarloza, and Navarro.
We start filming today as 25th in GC Remberto Jaramillo hits the finish line. Here is a quick recap of the earlier action that took place today.
1
Yasmani Martinez
Hollister
27'53
2
Mikel Astarloza
Team WWE
+ 3
3
Juan Miguel Mercado
Hollister
+ 24
4
Mattia Cattaneo
Vespa - Aprilia - De Rosa
+ 26
5
Alex Diniz
Team WWE
+ 30
6
Arnold Jeannesson
California Giant Berry Farms-Specialized
+ 37
7
Cadel Evans
Emu Export
+ 40
8
Muradjan Khalmuratov
Oz Cycling Project
+ 41
9
Tom Criel
Team Trilux - Falke
+ 44
10
Bernardo Colex
California Giant Berry Farms-Specialized
s.t.
11
Tony Martin
Team Puma - SAP
+ 50
12
Anthony Colby
Division 2 Team
+ 54
13
Michael Wolf
Oz Cycling Project
+ 1'00
14
Damian MartÃnez
Hollister
s.t.
15
Remberto Jaramillo
Aker Solutions - Bergans
s.t.
Hollister puts up some good times early with 3 riders in the top 15 with 24 more riders to come through include the best time by Martinez who crashed yesterday and lost his hopes of a good GC placing. I guess he is trying to make up for his failure.
Pierre Rolland is next rider to finish. And with a great time as well, but not good enough to bump Martinez of the top spot. Provisional 3rd, 6 seconds slower then 1st.
Thomas Peterson, gets the home crowd excited as he puts up the best time through the checkpoint and even passing CSC rider Cuapio with 2kms left in the climb. But even that isn't enough to beat Martinez! He comes a second short, and will settle for provisional 2nd. So the Hollister man survives his first real scare, how many more can he last?
Right behind Peterson is another American, Saul Raisin. And just like Peterson, Raisin beats Martinez at the checkpoint. However can't finish the deal either, coming 5 seconds short. Which for now puts him 4th behind Martinez, Peterson, and Astarloza.
Richard Ochoa Quintero, 16th overall and best Hollister ride in GC, gives his all to challenge his teammate. But like the rest that came before him can't match, an outstanding 25 seconds slower. And he was an outside favourite for today! Martinez really has himself a time that could be tough to beat.
Cyclevox leader Ricardo Van der Velde, 13th overall, has the same problem as everyone else so far. They don't have the legs to put Martinez in his place, Van der Velde goes 31 seconds off the lead.
The crowds start to roar again is another American takes to the course, Tyler Brandt. With Cal Giant still looking for a clear leader after three stages, there search might have gotten even harder with the ride Peterson already put down today. But Brandt does his best to match and in the end comes to the line with the same time as Astarloza, 2 seconds behind Peterson and then another second to Martinez. Who some how still holds the best time.
11th overall Jairo Agudelo puts up a reasonable time to currently slot himself in 7th, 12 seconds off the man that is starting to get all the buzz at the finish today Martinez.
Gabriele Bosisio disappoints today after being named a favourite. He comes to the line 52 seconds off the lead. Not what the Vespa leader wanted to happen today.
Daniel Navarro doesn't even compete with teammate Saul Raisin, let alone Martinez. He is 37 seconds off the pace. But Emu Export shouldn't worry just yet as they still have Nazaret and Krasnopev to come.
Wilmer Vasquez, +49 Seconds.
Julián Rodas, +56 Seconds.
Peter Stetina, +32 Seconds.
With just 5 riders left to finish, here is a quick recap.
Martinez has been called from the team bus and has been directed to start heading over to the podium area just in case he doesn't get beat! It's starting to get serious now.
Francisco Colorado is the next stepping stone for Martinez, as Colorado doesn't do well enough against the clock to even contest the Hollister man, +27 seconds. But that is good enough to not lose to much time on the other GC competitors.
Marco Osella does even better then Colorado, most wouldn't have expected that, but just like everyone else can't beat Martinez (And for most that are watching today's coverage are starting to get sick of his name, expect for the Hollister manager who is starting to scearch for four leaf clovers and rabbit feet in their team bus.), 25 seconds to slow.
Then it's the two Emu Export climbers, Krasnopev and Nazaret. Both, if you can remember, were named favourites for the stage win.
Mikayil Krasnoperov, can't believe his eyes! He didn't beat Martinez either... 18 seconds behind. How did his teammate fair?
Magno Nazaret is stunned as well. He went 3 seconds slower then Krasnoperov! Not the result he had in mind, he will lose some seconds on a few climbers today.
All eyes now turn to the yellow jersey of Marco Marzano. Will he have what it takes to finally beat Martinez? He was the favourite to win the stage, so a lot of betters are crossing their fingers hoping Martinez doesn't pull the upset.
The moment of truth...
Marzano wasn't good enough to stop the Cinderella ride by Yasmani Martinez! Speechless ... Marzano is 8 seconds slower then the winning time.
A quick view of how the top GC contender's day went, after all them were denied the stage win by a guy that crashed himself out of contention yesterday. Marzano extends his lead but the gaps behind are still tight, meaning the climb tomorrow and on stage 7 could still shake up the overall picture. Especially if this unpredictable theme continues for the rest of the tour.
