Not a criterium today but on paper it is much the same as yesterday – pan flat with 2 sprint points. Slightly longer at almost 134km but that shouldn’t make a real difference to these guys. Also it is worth noting that the wind isn’t here on our trip from Achaguas to Mantecal.
Our favourites are the same guys as yesterday but after his sprint to the line yesterday De Fauw really does have to be added to that list. The wind may not operate in his favour this time, but he showed that he can’t be counted out. Will Prio-Porto and ING be able to get their trains together today or will some other team give it a go?
The pace starts off quite sedate as the peloton just pedals along for 10km, with Prio-Porto setting a soft tempo. Finally, a couple of riders decide that they are sick of this and decide to inject some action into the race. They are:
Andrea Manfredi (Cisco)
Irakli Bablidze (Bouygues)
And that’s it for attackers today, as the peloton lets them go. It isn’t a day that really suits the break so not a huge surprise there, really. Interestingly, with 2 bonus seconds on offer for whoever goes through the sprint points in third place, we should expect some fighting from the peloton to secure that extra time.
We have a fair while to wait for the first sprint. Prio-Porto and Hollister seem happy to do most of the early work, certainly Bintang is showing no interest. That said, De Fauw is keeping an eye on the front of the race to make sure that no one tries anything.
The gap reaches a max of 4’53” even before the first sprint point. Manfredi takes it ahead of Bablidze, though it is fairly close. The peloton have really ramped this up, however, determined to set up all the sprinters to fight this out and the gap has dropped to 1’57”. In the end Avelino takes the 2 bonus seconds, which could well prove important if he gets on the podium today.
And now for a rare sight – our race leader gets on to the front and does a short piece of work. With Krasnoperov on the team, Bintang are clearly not willing to commit to trying to protect De Fauw until the mountains and so it is down to him as well as Van Ooijen and Seledkov.
The gap went out for a while right after the sprint but with 20km to go the gap is down to 1’23”. And under the 10km to go banner that’s it for our break today. They have been out there for just over 110km, despite the lack of action, so chapeau. Broco is the one who makes the catch as Hollister look to get more involved on the front today.
With 7km to go there is the second intermediate sprint. It is all to play for here as there are 6 bonus points and the same number of seconds on offer, which could prove crucial for getting hold of the jersey for at least a day. All the big sprinters go for it and Avelino once again proves to be the strongest of them!
After a lacklustre day yesterday he has picked up 8 seconds today. Serebriakov is in 2nd and Kip comes through in 3rd, putting him only 3 points short of the point jersey which he has on loan.
The teams start to get their trains together and with 3km to go we have a different situation to yesterday. Now there are two much better prepared trains. Leading at the moment we have the Hollister train:
Monsalve (Hollister)
Brea (Hollister)
Serebriakov (Hollister)
And in the middle of the course we have the Prio-Porto train:
Caldeira (Prio)
Avelino (Prio)
De Fauw (Bintang)
Weylandt (Bouygues)
Meanwhile, on the left, Thire (ING) is leading out Kip (ING) with Ghafari (Kenya) on his wheel. They might have some work to do in order to catch up, however.
Monsalve seems to be flagging a bit, however, as Caldeira pulls well ahead. Even Thire goes past him!
Brea launches his sprint off the wheel of Monsalve but they are so far back that Serebriakov is boxed in by Cano, Barbin and Vesely! He has lost his lead-out man.
Caldeira is slowing so Avelino launches his sprint! De Fauw opens up on the right hand side of the road and Kip looks to launch off Thire. Weylandt is once again cleverly sitting in Avelino’s slipstream.
Brea is looking strong and Serebriakov is still trying to come up to him but under the kite Weylandt launches his sprint.
De Fauw starts to slow and that opens up some space. Serebriakov keeps powering away and starts to approach with 800 to go!
With a few hundred to go, it is still a three man race! Who has this?
In a huge display of strength, Aleksandr Serebriakov comes from behind to take a magnificent sprint victory by two whole bike lengths!
Avelino takes 2nd today, which is a vast improvement. Weylandt continues to perform well with 3rd. Kip will be happy with 4th after his botched lead-out. Cano once again strong with a 5th and Vesely too performing well to take 6th. Brea’s takes 7th, Damrow shows himself with 8th, Ghafari will have to settle for 9th and yellow jersey De Fauw will be disappointed with 10th.
And with that stage result the jersey goes to Serebriakov thanks to his bonus seconds at the second intermediate sprint. De Fauw and Avelino both sit 4 seconds back. Serebriakov also moves into the points jersey, which Kip will continue to wear on loan.
