Whilst rated flat this stage has a lot of unpredictability attached. Before a tight finishing circuit which goes up and down a small hill we have some fairly hard sections to get through. Plenty of tough little climbs rated as 1st and 2nd category, the last involves a short section of cobbles.
We had a real shuffling of the pack yesterday with the Mur de Bretagne really splitting up the classification. Furdi was impressive with Risa Ergon putting a number of riders in high GC positions. Florencio and perhaps Carrara could be dangerous rider on GC with some ability to cope with cobbled roads.
Another complication today could be the wind which is high. However a lack of early attacks could simplify things somewhat.
As we approach the first sprint, we could get a decisive little battle for that. Seven points separate 1st down to 5th with Lasca, Nardin, Moren, Cardoso and Jorgenson in contention.
However stage two attacker Barbari has other ideas.
It could be a very lucrative move for Barbari with the King of the Mountains jersey within his sights if he can make this move stick. Halfords have locked out that competition but may have been outflanked here.
Nardin, Lasca, Freidman and Nelson go for the bonus points behind Barbari. Lasca seems out of puff as Nardin nabs the four points and provisional points jersey lead with Friedman locking Lasca out of third place.
We come to the nasty climbing session of the day.
As you can see lots of tough sections here finishing in that climb with the cobbled section.
Barbari gets into a horrible 20% section.
Gazelle meanwhile look concentrated on keeping the gap sensible.
Goddaert is the rider in front which means he will start to gain mountains points as does Venter. With both having gained a few points before both will start to catch Millar and KoM leader Tanguy who both are paying little notice.
Barbari having taking the first climb (a 1st cat) and the 2nd one (a 2nd cat) he is already in range of taking the provisional lead. He takes the third climb (a 2nd cat) comfortably...
No move from Tanguy behind confirms that Barbari is the new mountains leader.
Goddaert having taken second at all three climbs also moves up with Tanguy, Millar and Barbari as a contender for that jersey.
Barbari is losing a little time on the pack here though still has over three minutes. More that enough to take the fourth climb (another 1st cat) to start to build a good lead in the competition.
It has started to rain making risk of crashes higher.
Barbari takes the climb with Venter and Goddaert again increasing their points crossing 3rd and 5th respectively. It moves Tanguy out of the top three, who has been completely disinterested in trying to get any points.
A sprint has been squeezed in which brings the sprinters to the front with Nardin having taken a provisional lead there. However the Brazilian finds himself boxed in as Lasca goes full throttle.
Only Kappa's sprinter has the position to get points as teammate Appollinio takes third place.
So just the cobbled climb and finishing circuits left. Barbari's lead is back up to four minutes. He started the day over 15 minutes back so could be allowed a lot of leeway. Gazelle are just keeping it steady for Furdi perhaps nervous about the rain and this tricky part cobbled climb.
Barbari gets out of the saddle on this nasty 12% section of cobbled stuff.
The pack are soft peddling up it. Interestingly Barbari's teammate Pedrosa comes to the front possibly to keep everyone calm.
Barbari now can be pleased with a 30 point lead on the KoM standings over Venter and Goddaert who do not add to their tally here.
Barbari's lead increases on the descent.
25 to go and he has seven minutes he will not threaten the GC but can start to think of the points classification. He'll take the last sprint hotspot this moves him to 36 points, just 24 behind leader Lasca.
Nobody behind goes for the sprint either, Moren is leading the pack over with Mori so gains some cheap points.
Is it the weather is some sort of protest going on? Barbari's lead balloons to over 11 minutes with 15 to go for Barbari and over 20km to go for the pack.
Former leader Moren and second place Olsson take exception to this soft tapping and attack!
Rake goes too...
No sign of Gazelle behind but Kappa, FC Barcelona and Privatbank are chasing.
They make the catch with about 15km to go for the pack. Rake simply attacks again.
This drags Siskevicius and Rovira out with him, riders looking for cheap seconds here in the final. Though this is shut down very quickly again by Gazelle. It feels a bit like amateur hour really too little too late.
Give Rake a bravery award though, he tries again with about 8km left.
Rovira, Siskevicius and Gingsjo mark this move. As the pack catch, Olsson tries the old one-two.
Rovira bridges and pushes on.
This on off again pace creates a cocktail of risk and yes we have a crash.
Jorgenson, Delaplace, Dyrnes and Scheit are the men down. Risa drop some of their men back including 8th overall Feillu.
That Barca man is Barbari, who is just continuing now just 2km away from a wonderful win. He takes his time to enjoy the moment.
Privatbank neutralise the late attackers at the top of the climb of the final circuit.
This pack start soft tapping again allowing Jorgenson and Feillu back into the fold.
Florencio decides to try and make it an even better day for FC Barcelona attacking in the final 2kms.
Cardoso and 6th on GC leads the sprint behind with Freidman and Nelson taking close order.
Florencio has timed his move well and takes at least the second place time bonus, he may not get any time gap though.
Nelson manages to lead the pack home for third ahead of Cardoso and Freidman. Sys is sixth and Furdi is 7th.
There is some scattering behind including Feillu and Carrara with Allianz seemingly caught up in something late on.
Luckily for them they are given the same time.
A bit of a strange day with some defensive riding following by an aggressive finale. Barbari took advantage to record an excellent stage win and KoM jersey assault.
Furdi will probably be relieved enough to keep the race lead. The points standings remains really close with Cardoso, Moren now joint leaders two points clear of Lasca and four points over Barbari. Nardin and Freidman remain in the mix for that one, with Nelson, Furdi and Jorgenson some way back.
