One last big effort remains for the GC contenders before reaching three days of easier terrain tomorrow. Today's stage will be the toughest challenge yet however, as the finish is located at the top of the gruelling Marterhorn, a 7,6 kilometer with parts at almost 17% and an average of 9%.
The two big favourites for the stage win must still be Rohregger and Ndbri. Both have clearly been holding back so far, but we saw a bit more aggression already yesterday. Surely time for them to show why they're known as the two best climbers in the race!
It'll also be interesting to follow how race leader Lutsenko fares. He has defended the race lead confidently for two tough days in a row, but arguably on much easier climbs. He shouldn't be able to match some of riders closest to him in the GC on a mountain like this, but who knows what the power of the leader's jersey does for him?
We've gotten used to the non-breakaway culture in this race by now, so it's barely even a surprise that it continues also today.
The first notable event of the day is therefore the intermediate sprint. Interestingly, the yellow jersey of Lutsenko joins the sprinters in the battle for points - perhaps thinking that every second will be important today?
Surprisingly, he actually manages to outsprint normally much faster riders like Chicchi and Ghafari, and takes third place behind another unexpected name; Anuar Aziz, and Belletti. That's two bonus seconds for the Kazakh.
We then go back to an easy pace, executed by MTN. There's a clear flurry in the air around the riders as we get closer and closer to the big climbs. Lots of respect for this day, clearly.
Anuar Aziz is again the fastest at the second intermediate, with Lutsenko just missing out in a photofinish. Baumann is third, just in front of several other sprinters - all shocked by the fact that they can't quite match up!
The fun starts just a little while later, as we reach the early slopes of the penultimate climb. 38 km to go, and no one else than GC 4th, Danilo Di Luca, instigates an attack!
An immediate response comes from three riders: Cayetano Sarmiento, Ying Hon Yeung and yesterday's weather victim Edwin Parra Bustamante, who doesn't seem to have hurt himself in the fall at least.
A very decent gap opens, and more riders are inspired to try their luck.
One of yesterday's most active riders; Masuda, leads the second move as he tries to make the junction together with three other riders: Mestre, Rodas and Landa.
The last few names are seen as a bit too dangerous for the GC, and MTN are swiftly pushed away from the front by Magna, Sauber and Kenya Air.
Sarmiento and Yeung are dropped from the front when Mestre takes over the pacemaking. He is soon all by himself as also the last man able to follow him; Di Luca, blows up with just under two km left to the top.
Also the biggest favourites start to get nervous as Mestre disappears further and further away, and Martinez eventually can't resist going for a dig!
Rohregger decides not to follow, and instead focuses on Ndbri while his team cranks up the pace even more.
Mestre soon reaches the mountain's summit, and takes a short look over his shoulder before deciding to carry on by himself.
Di Luca is joined by Martinez as he passes the top some moments later. The rest of the escapees follow next, and then the peloton a little after that.
35s
15s
25s
Mestre
--->
Di Luca
--->
Parra Bustamante
--->
Peloton
Martinez
Landa
Rodas
Masuda
The two small groups are reeled in by Magna and Sauber promptly as they start to dip down the other side. Mestre, on the other hand, persists and extends his leading margin to a minute and a half!
The gain is only temporary though, and the gap is decimated to a minute again when more or less all teams participate in a vivid chase!
The Privatbank man obviously can't withstand the combined strength of all the domestiques. Just before the 10 km to go sign, he is captured by Evian.
The favourites have meanwhile been moved into position. Rohregger, Martinez, Alizadeh, Kononenko are all in the right area as we approach the climb!
Moments later, we arrive at the foot!
Ihlenfeldt and Lewis leads the group through the turn, probably to keep a steady pace for Lutsenko, who's likely to suffer more in a stop-start scenario.
It takes a few hundred meters for the riders to adjust themselves to the vast change in gradient, but the attacks aren't missing for long.
The fire is opened by Mestre, who drags Martinez away with him.
They're unable to break MTN's tight grip, so Rohregger tries instead!
Mestre, Masuda and Jiriakov make sure not to let the big favourite away.
Rohregger isn't happy with the company and decides to slow down again.
His attack clearly sapped several pairs of legs, as nobody is able to respond to the next attack - this time from Martinez!
Rodas realises the danger and tries to bridge the gap that emerges, but gets stuck somewhere in between Martinez and the other favourites.
Meanwhile, riders start falling out the back end of the favourite group. Anuar Aziz and Chaoufi are the most notable ones in terms of the GC, but Naibo is surely a bigger surprise!
Rohregger luckily still has Schrangl for support.
In the other end of the group, we have Jiriakov leading as they try to claw their way back up to Martinez and Rodas. Rohregger, Schrangl, Landa, Masuda, Yeung and Suryadi follow closest behind him.
Lutsenko is still holding on very well, alongside Ndbri and Alizadeh.
Masuda and Suryadi can't keep up when Rohregger turns up the heat, and the group breaks in two pieces.
Just four riders manages to follow:
Jiriakov Schrangl Yeung Landa
Not for long though, as Rohregger soon breaks all of them and catches up with Rodas.
Ndbri and Alizadeh meanwhile leads the rest of the favourites back to the Jiriakov group, while the road narrows down a bit.
The leader is still Martinez, though. He has found an excellent rhythm and enters the final kilometer with almost a minute on Rodas and Rohregger.
52s
35s
Martinez
--->
Rodas
--->
Gr. Jiriakov, Alizadeh, Ndbri
Rohregger
Rohregger tries to drop Rodas as they reach the steep finish, but doesn't really have much left in the tank to do so.
In the next group, Landa starts to open a little gap as the sprint kicks off.
Schrangl, Yeung, Alizadeh, Jiriakov, Colorado and Ndbri are all still in contact, but look just behind them!
After a heroic effort on the climb, Lutsenko starts to lose ground on the group!
The same goes for Suryadi, Kononenko, Masuda and Camaño.
One thing is at least for sure: Martinez was unstoppable today!
He wins the stage after a magnificent solo effort, and could very well be the new race leader after today. Surely he'll be the Kenya Air's captain after this?
Rohregger finally breaks Rodas in the final meters, but doesn't get enough of a gap for it to be registered!
They end up losing 56 seconds to Martinez.
Landa is fourth, leading home the group with Schrangl, Ndbri, Jiriakov, Yeung, Alizadeh and Colorado. They lose 1'33 to Martinez.
A bit disappointing from Ndbri, who you'd expect being up with Rohregger and Rodas at least. Perhaps a bad day in combination with the fact that he didn't want to attack with his team mate up the road.
Great result from Schrangl and Yeung on the other hand.
Funnily enough, three of the leader's jerseys arrives together. Suryadi takes Kononenko and an impressive Lutsenko with him over the line - 25 seconds behind the big group.
Masuda and Camaño are another 15 seconds back.
Ihlenfeldt, Rusli and Bakhin are the next to finish, 3'09 down on Martinez. Some 24 seconds behind them are Feng and Mestre, who surely wasted his energy at the wrong time today.
Di Luca (3'41), Anuar Aziz (5'33) and Chaoufi (5'33) are the worst of the top 10 in the GC, and all drop out of it after today.
Martinez obviously takes over the race lead after today's annihilation of the opposition. Lutsenko doesn't drop further than down to second, well deserved with the fight he put up today.
Jiriakov remains third, 15 seconds in front of Rohregger. Kononenko is now fifth, two seconds back on Rohregger, with Rodas and Alizadeh another two and three seconds back, respectively.
Still all to play for with plenty of mountains left to make a difference!
