With it's seven categorized climbs, today's stage is certainly a step up the ladder of difficulty. The organization hasn't given out any official numbers regarding any average gradients, but it's quite easy to see that none of the climbs are really that hard.
In fact, what might cause the most trouble is the little non-categorized hill within the last 10 km. Despite being only a few hundred metres long, it's quite a stinger with some fairly steep sections. That might invite to late attacks, although another mass sprint finish is to be expected.
The early breakaway features 4 riders, including Chernetskiy - who is looking to defend his polkadot jersey after taking it yesterday. His three companions are Atkins, Baez and Hansen.
Luckily for Bpost, they will at least not be a threat to the yellow jersey as there's only one intermediate sprint on today's stage.
That sprint is taken by Atkins, in front of Hansen and Baez, while Chernetskiy shows no interest in the points or bonus seconds.
Perhaps fresher than the others having saved his legs at the intermediate sprint, the man from Tinkoff easily wins the first two KoMs and extends his lead. Atkins and Hansen take 2nd and 3rd on both.
The success comes at a price however, and Chernetskiy starts to look tired as he misses all the points at the third KoM. Atkins immediately profits from this, and moves within just three points of the lead.
The peloton has in the meantime begun reducing the break's advantage of seven minutes, with airBaltic, SRAM and AMEX doing the work.
After recovering during a slightly longer gap to the next climb than earlier, Chernetskiy is back on top again as he beats Atkins to the top.
Chernetskiy even turns the tables completely, as it's Atkins who is struggling and misses the points at the next climb.
He also takes the penultimate climb, but this time with Atkins back in 2nd.
A long day of battles finally comes to an end once they reach the last climb a little while later. Chernetskiy does admittedly show some signs of weakness, but 3rd place behind Atkins and Baez is more than enough for him to secure the jersey for at least another day.
The accelerations have meanwhile temporarily unhitched Hansen.
The stage is now into it's final 30 km, with the leaders 2'30 ahead.
airBaltic and AMEX are rapidly closing, though.
As expected, it only takes a few kilometers before the escapees are all
gobbled up. Atkins and Baez dropped the other two and tried to go themselves, but without success.
The final little hill is meanwhile coming into sight for the peloton.
Having studied the course well, SRAM come to the front at the perfect time with Gerdemann and Hudecek preventing any attacks by setting a very high pace all the way to the top.
All the sprinters are still sitting in good position, but it remains to be seen if any of them have been hurt by this extra effort.
In the descent down from the little ramp, Haussler is moved up by Eichler, who positions himself behind Gerdemann to form the same train they used yesterday. Behind them, it's a bit of a mess with no other teams looking to form an own train.
Gerdemann
Eichler
Haussler
Feillu
Kupfernagel
Gavazzi
Giaux
Irvine
Rowe
Velits
Briggs
Tiainen
The line strings out a lot more as Eichler opens the sprint with 3 km to go. After some bulling between the other sprinters, it's yesterday's winner Gavazzi who wins the fight for Haussler's wheel.
Feillu is also sitting well in 4th, while Kupfernagel is struggling to find a wheel to follow. Also seen nearby is Rowe.
Further back, it appears as if Kip and Cucinotta haven't learned from yesterday's mistakes as they're both sitting a long way back.
Up front, Haussler tries a questionable manouever as he jumps out of Eichler's wheel with over 2 km to the finish.
Gavazzi is quickly tracking, but Feillu isn't paying attention at all, and the first two shoot clear!
Feillu eventually realises his mistake and sets off in desperate pursuit, with his team mate and race leader Vandousselaere following.
Also going strong is Velits, who appears to be Rothaus' choice of sprinter.
Haussler is meanwhile running empty on gas after the far too early launch, and Gavazzi easily jumps past under the flamme rouge.
Behind, the sprint is still led by Bpost, but coming into view with the highest speed is Roche!
It's already too late for all of those though, as Gavazzi dominantly wins for the second day in a row, ahead of Haussler.
The sprint for 3rd will come as a welcome surprise for ING, as it's Roche who slips through the center of the road to snatch an unexpected bonus.
Giaux is 4th, with 5th going to a yet again surprising Rovny.
Vandousselaere, Feillu, Velits, Cousin and Garbelli are the rest of a top 10 including few sprinters and many surprises.
The final hill might've done more damage than you might've thought.
Nevertheless, many teams will surely be unhappy with this. Rowe (12th), Cucinotta (17th), Geschke (20th), Kupfernagel (21st), Bazayev (37th) and above all Kip (61st) were all expected to do better.
Bpost might be the team most disappointed with the day however, as they end up losing the race lead to Gavazzi, who is now leading the race one second ahead of Vandousselaere.
