After five days on the flat, it's finally time for the awaited final stage in the hills. Roche and Sinkewitz will be looking to create big gaps and take the overall victory, but Haussler and Gavazzi have rather sizeable advantages over both coming into today. Given that they can also climb a bit, it might prove difficult to unhitch them for the climbers.
There should be enough climbing to make a difference, though. The penultimate climb is the day's hardest, measuring 5,9 km with an average of 5,8% and several sections at over 10%. Despite being located a number of kilometres out from the finish, it might cause problems.
Then there's the final climb of Kleiner Knollen. At 7,2 km it's a bit longer than it's predecessor, but the average gradient is "just" 4,5% due to a very irregular slope. Brutal 11% sections are mixed with almost flat parts.
We should also not forget about another fight next to the overall: the KoM classification. Chernetskiy is currently holding the jersey, but interestingly he is missing from the day's early break while his closest rival Atkins and 4th placed Lund are present.
With 42 points up for grabs today, it's a great chance for both to take over the polkadots. The other names in the break are Fuglsang, Silvestre, Quinziato, Dieteren, Velits and La Lavandier.
They work well together and reach the first climb around 5 minutes ahead of the main field.
As the summit starts to get closer, the tension rises in the group, and Lund eventually jumps at the kilometer mark. An observant Atkins shadows.
This kind of riding on a climb is unusual for both of them, and the effort pushes them right to the limit. With a late finishing kick over the summit, it's Atkins who takes maximum points and moves in ahead of Chernetskiy in the ranking by just one point. Lund is new 3rd, 12 points back.
Back in the peloton, SRAM have in the meantime started to cut the leaders' advantage. Does Haussler perhaps feel that he can get over the hills?
Reducing the gap isn't the only effect the increased effort has, however. The field strings out due to the pressure, and riders start falling out the back as we hit the day's 2nd climb.
Kupfernagel, Gretsch and Van Winden are some of the more notable names dropped.
Back at the front, Atkins dream of winning the KoM classification starts to shatter as he is dropped by his breakaway companions near the top of the second climb.
Luckily for him, Lund also suffers and passes over the top just one place ahead, while Dieteren takes the 16 points. The provisional leader therefore stays the same.
Into the last 15 km we go, and the break is coming into sight for the peloton. UPC have joined SRAM at the front for some reason, while Atkins has been brought back.
The gap shrinks rapidly in the next couple of kilometres, as the break struggles with the slight uphill drag leading to the foot of the actual climb.
The gradient of the uphill section apparently a bit harder than it looks, as Kolobnev, Roche and Sinkewitz try to break clear already.
Unwilling to maintain the effort, the trio is brought back by Boom shortly afterwards.
The breakaway also gets reeled in now, just as they take the turn up towards the climb.
The gradient quickly reaches 10%, and Kiryenka is the next Tinkoff rider to attack after zig-zagging between the caught escapees.
Feeling strong after bringing back the previous move, Boom now looks to close this one as well as he also pulls clear together with Gerdemann.
They find it surprisingly hard to close the gap however, and Kiryenka still has a few metres as the road flattens out after the first steep section.
Further back, Konovalovas has set off in pursuit.
Almost a minute behind Kiryenka and the front, Roche finally realises the danger and bounces away from the main field.
Sinkewitz is once again glued to the Irishman's back wheel.
But have they waited too long? Final kilometer for Kiryenka, who still has a small advantage over his two pursuers, where Gerdemann has left Boom's wheel and now tries to jump across.
Tired from chasing, Boom can only watch as Gerdemann dumps him and bridges the gap inside the steep final kilometer.
Kiryenka also struggles to match the acceleration as Gerdemann passes by him and goes into the lead with 500m to go.
A couple of hundred metres down the road, Roche and Sinkewitz are trying to limit the damage as they fly up behind Konovalovas.
Gerdemann finally runs out of steam in the final metres, but easily wins the stage ahead of Kiryenka. Third win in a row for SRAM!
Unable to respond to Gerdemann's massive attack inside the final kilometer, Boom comes home for an excellent 3rd, 12 seconds back.
Konovalovas is 4th, another 13 seconds later. airBaltic will certainly be happy, after some disappointing flat stages.
Roche and Sinkewitz are registered on the same time after a flying finish. Still, way below the expectations for both. Missing the decisive move cost them badly.
Over a minute has passed on the clock before Kolobnev leads the peloton to the finish. 30 riders finish together, with both Haussler and Gavazzi among them.
The German fans surely hoped for more from Mehr-Wenige, though. He finishes 15th today, unable to even try anything.
Last man to get shed from the group in the end is Elijzen. Perhaps UPC should've protected him rather than let him work for Gavazzi today. He loses 39 seconds to the rest of the group and drops in the GC standings.
Another rough 20 seconds later are Lindgren and Bazayev. They also lose their strong positions in the overall today.
Biggest loser of those who entered the stage with in a good position is Vandousselaere, who loses over three minutes on the final climb. He was one of the big surprises in this race after an impressive breakaway, but plummets down the ranking after today.
What a race for SRAM! Three stage wins are topped off by Gerdemann, who also takes the overall. Kiryenka and Boom join him on the podium after today's great performances. Roche might be a bit disappointed with 4th, while Konovalovas' 5th somewhat salvages airBaltic's race.
The green jersey also goes to SRAM, but this time Haussler. He was unstoppable on the last two flat stages, and dominantly takes green ahead of Gavazzi and Rovny.
Despite his problems on the tougher climbs today, Atkins took enough points to seal victory in the KoM ranking. Tinkoff is again 2nd, this time with Chernetskiy. Lund completes this podium.
Vandousselaere struggled and lost lots of time today, but the U25 jersey at least stays with Bpost. Cousin was rather invisible, but wins due to a solid prologue and good climbing today.
Finally, the team ranking. Tinkoff and SRAM ended up equal, but the Russian team is awarded the price by the judges. After three other podiums but no jerseys, it's easy to indulge them this.
