The 3rd stage of this year's Tour de Romandie, is classed as a hilly stage and the favourites are Cunego (Gazetta), Ricco (Magenta) and Rodriguez Oliver (Virgin). Klöden has cause for concern when he isn't given a single start by the bookies; they believe he will lose his jersey today.
The pack set off at a very easy pace, after yesterday's suprisingly difficult "flat" stage. They just rolled down the course taking in the sights of the beautiful Romandie course.
Andreas Klöden will be hoping to keep his jersey today and the fact that the bookies think he has no chance, will most likley inspire him to hold on to it...or would it dent his confidence; time will tell.
After 15kms a breakaway is made, and made up of 5 riders, they look like this:
Rujano is attempting to make-up for his loss of time yesterday and helping him do so, are Ulissi, D'Hollander, Astarloa and Ventoso.
After 10kms of riding together, they quickly create a lead of 2'40 which is mainly due to the work of Astarloa, him being the best all-rounder he did the majority of the work. That being said, everyone did their fair share, even if Rujano did shout at Ulissi for taking a 5km break.
Astarloa won the first intermidiate sprint ahead of Ventoso and Ulissi. As Rujano is so much worse than these 3 at sprinting he got dropped, luckily for him he is a lot better at climbing, and caught up with them on the climb.
Unluckily for D'Hollander, he is crap, gets dropped and never made it back on.
Gomez Marchante attacks!!!!!!! He is followed by Sella (Telefonica), Pecharroman (C.A), Rodriguez Oliver (Virgin), Nazaret (Magenta), Trentin, Ratti, Mori, Nardello (all Italia).
Unfortunatley for these guys, Carlsberg aren't having any of it and they bring them back after 3kms ahead of the pack.
At the 2nd sprint it is Astarloa again who wins in front of Ventoso and Ulissi. Yet again Rujano gets dropped, the only difference is that this time, he doesn't get back on.
With 35kms left the front group, now containing 3, has and advantage of 2'00.
Klöden is obviously feeling good and is up near the front, maybe considering an attack on the final climb...
Coming up to the bottom of the final climb Ulissi cracks!!!!
It is now up to Astarloa and Ventoso to get to the finish, it seems like a suicide attempt as Virgin, Carlsberg and FloGas are all on the front giving it full gas, but you cant fault them for trying.
They are all now caught and it's up to someone to attack from this group or let it be a bunch sprint. Which Thor Hushovd has a great chance of winning again.
Riders do attack, but just for the KOM points, Karpets goes over 1st to claim full points, and drama for the bunch sprint.
Every single sprinter that was left in the bunch got dropped on the downhill!!!!!!!!
The sprint is now wide open, with Marzoli (Carlsberg) being the favourite.
As the sprint starts there are no trains to be seen, just the relaying train consisting of no half-decent sprinters, they obviously have a lot of confidence to go from a long way back. Rodriguez Oliver is 4th wheel though and isn't the worst sprinter, could he grab the win??
Rodriguez Oliver hold them off!!!! Great victory ahead of Marzoli and Pellizotti. All the favourites finished in the bunch. Ulissi will wear the KOM jersey tomorrow even though he is level on points with Astarloa (weird, i don't remember him gettting that many points). Also Brajkovic wears the U-25 jersey, Barboso the points and the best team are Telefonica i believe.
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