The sprinters are going to have a tougher time today with the three categorized climbs, but the favourites remain relativity the same with Rizza, Hochmann, and Guillen being named the top 3.
With the KoM jersey up for grabs it's strange to see no urgency to get in the breakaway. Matteau is the first to try about 5kms into the stage and is briefly followed by Tanovitchii, Mihaylov, and Oliver but they retreat back to the peloton.
But as Matteau gets further down the road Tanovitchii and Mihaylov chase back after him and this time are joined by Cioban.
They make the connection during the first climb forming the breakaway of the day.
Where it's Cioban easily taking the points over Tanovitchii and Matteau.
Cioban is the only one interested in the bonus seconds at the first sprint point and for good reason as his companions are all over 3 minutes back. Cioban is now only 56" off the lead.
The break has a lead of 3'25" as the road significantly kicks up for the first time this tour as we head up the first cat. 1 climb on today's journey.
Matteau kicks off the action 1200 meters to the top.
That is just too long to keep the legs turning, so Cioban goes right around.
But Cioban sits up leaving the door open for Matteau again.
And his 2nd effort gets the job done.
Vink and Appleby attack out of the peloton to pick up the remaining points available. But the bigger news is...
The climb has caused a split, 61 riders get caught out.
The biggest names being,
That leaves 44 riders in the peloton, 2 minutes up on this chase group. And with all this scrabbling to catch up it goes unseen that Cioban wins the 2nd sprint point between the climbs.
Papok has his team on the front pushing the tempo and could be looking at a very easy third win for the tour if the group behind can't comeback.
The second cat. 1 climb is about to be conquered.
And it is Matteau taking both of the top level climbs of the day allowing him to distance himself from Cioban in the KoM competition.
Cioban is having none of it as he attacks right after the climb and has got a nice gap leading up to the final climb of the day.
Back in the peloton Papok attacks in the same spot as Cioban did a few minutes ago! The two ANC-Halfords went after the left over points, but Papok is seriously putting in an attack as the chase group has closed the gap to 30 seconds at the top of that climb.
But Papok thinks better of it and decides riding with his teammates might be the better option with 50kms to go.
Cioban takes it easily up the final climb after opening up that gap beating Tanovitchii and Mattheau. So a quick tally of the points show our new KoM leader is...
1
Sergiu Cioban
40
1
Antoine Matteau
40
3
Nicolae Tanovitchii
30
4
Nikolay Mihaylov
22
Cioban and Matteau, they both finish on 40 points.
The "peloton" is over the top with just 31 riders! Plenty of the riders behind are hoping to rejoin during the 40kms of flat roads before the finish. I will keep you updated as to who makes it back as they rejoin, but for now those big names that remained in the peloton for the entire day are:
Papok Marzano, Da Dalto Larsson, Ranneries Rodas, Ihlenfeldt Rudaskov Menchov, Gonzalo Parra Bustamante, Georgiev Ndbri Gallego Esquivel, Rojas Villegas Kononenko
Cioban takes all three of the sprint points without being hassled as the breakaway holds a lead of 3'30" after all the carnage that took place behind them.
The first group to rejoin the leaders with 31kms to go hold many of the climbers: Camano Naibo Colorado Marque Kirchen Niemiec
Making 56 riders apart of the peloton still chasing down our 4 leaders.
5kms later 13 more riders have comforted their managers, the big ones being: Sanchez Flens Danielson Morales (but no Guillen... hmm) Polivoda Gaywood
23kms to go and 5 more rejoin including the 3 Magna sprinters, Demare, Belletti, Speirs Simon Hochmann (but no Rizza... hmm)
Less than half a kilometer later there are 11 more getting back into contention: Pate, Barclay Chacon Meenhorst, Friedman Lasca Chicchi Abdallah
With all these riders rejoining it is easy to tell the peloton aren't riding hard at all, that gives the breakaway a little hope as they start to dream. And they have every right to as they have 4'15" lead with 20kms to go!
As the peloton approaches 20kms to go, it is the last big group that has trailing, leaving just a few men behind...
Lay with the support of his new Cadbury friend's Gudsell and Horgan. 2 minutes back.
And Thorsen with Vakoc. About 8 minutes back.
The pace finally picks up with 15kms to go as Die Berg steps to the front. Very bad new for Lay as he is still fighting to rejoin behind.
The breakaway quickly sees their 4 minute advantage drop 3 in a matter of a few kilometers, Matteau does the math and realizes it's now or never for a winning attack.
However, his fellow breakaway members aren't just going to give away what could be an amazing victory though. And as an adding incentive for Cioban considering he could be in the yellow jersey at the end of the day because the breakaway still hold a 2'50" lead with 6.7kms to go!
5kms to go, they can't start playing games with each other because the peloton, lead now by BCR now, have closed the gap to 2'15".
Now just 2000 meters, the lead is only cut to 2 minutes. Surely one of them will win now. The bigger question is can Cioban steal yellow. After winning all three sprint points he just needs 44 seconds minus any bonus seconds he can get at the finish.
Back in the peloton it is Guillen getting the perfect lead out again followed by Chicchi, Polivoda, and Adballah with the yellow jersey lurking.
But all eyes are on these guys as they are under the banner!
Cioban can feel yellow being placed on his shoulders already with an incredible burst of speed towards the line.
And that's one happy man right there, an incredible stage win and with the peloton nowhere in sight behind him he is our new leader here in Romania, Cioban!
Mihaylov gets 2nd but should be kick himself because on paper he was the best sprinter in the group. 3rd to Tanovitchii over Matteau.
55 seconds later comes the mad dash to the line for 5th won by Lasca, over Papok, Rizza, Tiainen, Abdallah, and Polivoda.
Lay and Thorsen get the worst of it today as they never returned back to the peloton. Also Lay will have to give back the green jersey to Papok as he was only wearing it on loan.
But back to the happier moments of today as the crowd can't stop cheering. And it is all for one man as Cioban leaves with the stage win, GC lead, share of the KoM lead, best youth rider, and has the best team. Can't ask for a better day then that for Ekspla-Cision.
