Some hills today, but it is flat rated. Another one for the sprinters then?
It is another stage with a lack of breakaways. Guillen beats Peeters at Van Loocke at the first sprint - with the same result being repeated at the 2nd sprint. Some important points in the battle against Nardin.
Aaron Gate won both climbs, to add to his KoM lead.
20km to go, and Duchesne attacks!
The Canadian quickly builds a minute's lead. The peloton does not care, so he will ride away to victo... Maybe not, crazy Gazelle tactics time as Nardin attacks after his own teammate. And worse, this causes a reaction: Cioban, Firsanov and Rocchetti
Pranata joins them, and Jumabekov joins the chase.
They catch up with Duchesne, but Adira and JK Cycling are chasing hard.
There's still various hills, but they arent being allowed to go away - and nobody wants to help Nardin win another stage. Even Duchesne doesnt, understandable as he is probably seething at his teammate's greediness.
With just 3km to go, they are caught.
Only the 1 sprint train today, with Baumann, Uugunbayar, Peeters, Guillen, Guardini, Jorgensen, Lequatre and Renshaw lined up.
Adira are attempting a train as well, but are not close to the front as Uugunbayar opens things up.
Peeters makes his move, but Guillen has the perfect position here
Yet Guillen is waiting a long time to jump, and with Peeters faltering, here comes Jorgensen
The Dane takes the lead, but then Renshaw comes off his wheel
And Mark Renshaw wins the stage!
Jorgensen takes 2nd, while Friedman takes 3rd. Good performances by Lequatre, Silvestre and Guardini too.
Peeters ends 7th, while Guillen never left his wheel and must settle for 11th. Nardin ended up 13th after his attack, so with the intermediate sprints, Guillen has closed the gap on the Points competition - but he had a big opportunity to take the lead at the finish there.
