The 2nd hilly crit but again with a possible sprint finish, where McEvoy is the big favourite for obvious reasons.
The 2nd half looks easier with a longer flat section, but the riders will be more exhausted and the pace should be faster, so it`s not said, that there won`t be huge selection.
English (Kenda) and Veilleux (Bontrager) in the early break before the climbs start.
They are joined by Bru (Zulia) and Delgado (Venezuela). We are already on the 3rd lap and the group has almost 3min.
Pendleton`s and EPM are doing the chase in the peloton. Forero won`t have much chances today so the sprinter is working for the hilly leader.
Alstrom often tried it with late attacks. Today it`s no difference. Hugo Houle goes with 27km left and 1'45 for the break.
He was joined by Routley and together they closed the gap to the breakaway.
We are on the longer flat section now and they have a bit more than 1min.
Sram and Pendletons work in this important phase of the race.
The peloton is down to 35 riders and it`s expected to become smaller on the next climbs.
With a 44s gap they go up the first climb, which is definitely the easier one but yet with some 11% slopes.
Several riders use this first climb for an attack.
Busche is the first followed by Boily, Valencia, Duggan and McEvoy. These are big names here and some of the best puncheurs.
Valencia and Busche were the strongest and have a small gap to the next group of attackers and former breakaway riders plus Tamayo Martinez, who made the jump.
40s behind those Nardin feels like having missed the perfect attack and tries to come back with Roman, while all other riders obviously gave up.
Going up the hard 13% climb now McEvoy sees the chance to win the overall and attacks.
But he couldn`t completely close the gap and so there are still 4 riders chasing them with the former breakway riders and Houle being dropped.
4,3km left and 7 riders in front: Valencia, Busche, Duggan, McEvoy, Boily, Tamayo Martinez and Routley.
Perfect position for McEvoy in 4th.
Valencia still looking strong opening a gap with McEvoy already in 2nd position. Duggan and Boily hang on his wheel while the other three sit in the last positions.
Valencia went too early and McEvoy/Duggan pass him. Busche found a good position behind Duggan and is being pulled with him.
Surprise, surprise. McEvoy can`t follow them and even Boily could overtake him.
Duggan now in the lead but he can`t get rid of Busche.
400m left and Busche is coming fast.
McEvoy found better legs again and should take the 3rd as Boily isn`t getting any faster.
Great day for the US Americans. Double win for Busche ahead of Duggan.
McEvoy comes in 3rd ahead of Boily and Valencia.
Tamayo Martinez was the last in this group with Routley coming in a bit later.
The last points go to Veilleux, Nardin and Houle in the next group. So Nardin lost quite a bit today but kept his GC chances.
The GC is still very close. McEvoy has a small gap and best chances but behind him several riders with chances to pass him on tomorrows last crit.
In especially Duggan, Nardin and Duggan can become dangerous.
Matthew Busche
Jonathan McEvoy
David Boily
Juan Pablo Valencia
Thiago Duarte Nardin
Marco Guillén
Juan Mora
Pablo Andres Alarcon
Eduardo Sepulveda
