Lots of sprinters are lined up here in Belgium, looking for the stage win and the first leader's jersey. Although the stage includes a short section of cobbles and several short, but very steep, climbs, this should still be an easy day.
Daniele Bennati Erik Mohs Maxime Vantomme
are the day's main favourites. Especially the latter has a lot of pressure on him from his team to start winning. One would think that this should be a good place, thanks to the home soil boost.
Elia Viviani and Luis Pasamontes are off the front just as the flag is waved at the start of the stage. Several other riders soon set off in pursuit, however these two manage to build up a bit of an advantage.
Carlos Alexandre Manarelli, Bruno Lima and Sergio Lagana' eventually catches up, and the day's long breakaway is formed.
Their lead blasts up to over four minutes in no time, as all teams in the main field seems satisfied with the situation. The four cooperate perfectly, while the peloton falls further and further behind.
Lagana' crests the summit of the day's first little climb first, ahead of Pasamontes and Viviani. Surprisingly there's no battle for the points.
Pasamontes is first over the top of the next categorized climb. Lima follows in second, and Viviani in third, while Lagana' seems uninterested in defending the lead he had after the last climb.
Pasamontes also takes the third climb and moves into virtual lead of the KoM classification. This time Manarelli is second, and Lima third.
At the top of the day's easiest climb, categorized as HC for some reason, it's Lima who takes maximum points, ahead of Pasamontes, Manarelli, Viviani and Lagana'.
Manarelli is first over the top (!) of the day's first intermediate sprint, which could easily pass for a KoM instead. Lima and Viviani just behind him.
The escapees' advantage is soon reduced from almost ten minutes to around 7'30, with Puma, UniCredit, Rothaus and Pokerstars sharing the work back in the main field.
The last KoM of the day is won by Pasamontes, who seizes the lead in that classification thanks to those points. Lagana' and Manarelli sweeps up the rest of the points. The gap is meanwhile down to less than six minutes.
Lima wins both the remaining intermediate sprints, followed by Manarelli and Viviani on both. Their lead has been cut in half as they pass the second one, with just three minutes remaining.
The peloton speeds up more and more, reducing the gap to just a minute with more than twenty kilometers remaining. Pasamontes and Manarelli both seems to be targeting the combativity award, as they give it one last shot.
The attack didn't help them much though, and the final catch is made just five kilometers later. UniCredit are doing most of the work, slightly assisted by Rothaus and Puma.
Meanwhile, chaos erupts a bit further back in the group. Manarelli clips Ulanowski's wheel as he drops back, tired from his efforts, and several riders go down with them.
The most notable names either on the ground or caught behind are Breschel, Gerrans, Dekkers, Flens, Speirs, Geslin, Haussler, Mandri, Park, Stannard, Arashiro and Traksel. Meiji and Koppert are the most unlucky ones here, together with Saab.
The race must continue at the front though, since UniCredit, Puma and Rothaus are in full swing setting up their sprinters.
Bennati is missing from the front though, and several team mates drop back to him with five kilometers left to pace him back up. They're not at all in a good position, though.
Vantomme seems to have some sort of special plan for today, as he moves to the absolute front of the main field inside the final five ks. Normally that's not the best place to be for a sprinter.
The rest of the Rothaus leadout train eventually find the Belgian though, just as they start fighting UniCredit at the front. No sign of Bennati.
Willems
Borrajo
Cucinotta
Borghesi
Vantomme
Napolitano
Mohs
Gasparotto
Giaux
Hushovd
Maksimov
Docker
Bazayev
Borghesi leads out as we enter the final two kilometers. Cucinotta can't match this acceleration, causing Vantomme to fall back several positions. Gasparotto meanwhile seems to have taken over the leadership from Bennati, who still can't be seen anywhere.
Napolitano shows his face to the wind as the riders enter the final kilometer with amazing speed. Hushovd and Maksimov can't keep up, leaving only Mohs and Giaux to challenge for the stage win.
They can't match Napolitano either, though. A very strong Giaux comes around Mohs for second place, while the rest are far behind.
Hushovd hangs onto fourth, just in front of Vaitkus, and a very disappointing Vantomme. Van Loocke comes out of nowhere to round out the Top 8 on this stage.
Bennati is probably very disappointed with the result. The Italian finishes 15th, one place behind leadout man Kvist. Gasparotto saved the day slightly for the team, by making sure that one rider finished inside the Top 10.
The crash victims finishes in a group almost three minutes down, ending all GC hopes for Breschel and the rest of the group. Even worse for Nishitani, who has to abandon due to injury.
