The Mt. Baldy might the the most famous climbs in this race and one of the hardest as well. Will we see some GC changes? Any attack for a podium or even the race lead?
6 riders in todays breakaway. Lejman Khripta Zaini Bush Vital Voeckler
Best placed is Khripta as 20th but already ~30min behind. So not the biggest GC danger. Still that way he is keeping himself in between the 10th and 20th now to secure some decent GC result as best rider of his team.
Bucciero already won a stage here and obviously wants to try it again.
But as he attacked close to the first climb and the breakaway already having a 4min gap it`s pretty hard plan from him. In especially as you wouldn`t really call him a climber.
On the flat and the first climbing kilometers he already created a gap of almost 6min to the peloton but still being 2min behind the breakaway.
That said in between there is Lejman, who just punctured.
But while last mentioned can rejoin the breakaway, Bucciero never will make it today. Unlucky attempt for him.
Some riders already have some points. Still no one is interested so Khripta leads the group over the line ahead of Voeckler and Vital.
Dieteren and Devine went for the smaller points. And as the gap to the peloton is at almost 2min now with the breakaway being even 13min ahead it seems as if we have two more attackers.
This time Khripta is more interested into the points on the highest point. He takes it ahead of Vital and Lejman.
Khripta also takes the next two KoM points. But he is still far behind and no danger for Devine.
That said, they have already a 21min gap and so he slowly becomes a similar danger GC wise as Sousa was a few stages ago.
Only 80min to go with just one climb left.
In especially Sram is highering the pace now. Obviously they are afraid of Khripta moving past Sousa.
This surprising acceleration drops a few riders. Some like Cabreira or Vorontsov are a bit surprising as you would expect them to be stronger.
The climb will start soon and the gap is down to under 12min. So they gained a lot of time recently. With Repsol being back in the front the peloton became a bit bigger again with the dropped climbers being back in the group.
14,5km left for the breakaway and down to 9min.
And as we see Stetina, Dyachdenko, Jiriakov and Vrecer in the lead already we can imagine a very high pace.
13,3km for the peloton now and the first attacks. And it`s directly a huge attack by:
Kiserlovski
Krasnoperov
Anton
Osella
Kashechkin
Lowe
Pellizotti
Stetina
Peraud
Vrecer
So almost all high placed riders.
Sousa, Lewis, Dyadachenko, Ardila all try to follow but only last two make it.
Sousa is really struggling today. He might lose a few spots today if he does not find his rythm soon.
Ahead of him you see Ratiy and Nicacio trying to join the favourite group. They missed the first attacks and are behind now.
Meanwhile Anton is once again showing a great 3rd week form here and has a small gap.
Vrecer can`t follow and is dropped back soon to be caught by Ratiy/Nicacio.
The breakaway is totally suffering. One after the other is being caught and almost standing still on their bikes.
Khripta solo in front with Vital and Voeckler being together with Anton now while Kashechkin is accelerating. Only Krasnoperov and Lowe can follow immediately.
Kiserlovski again being surprised by this acceleration when sitting in the end spot of the group. He shouldn`t offer Kashechkin such an opportunity.
Also Khripta is staying now with Anton taking the lead.
Good fight by Ratiy and Nicacio as they slowly come forward. Then again they might have saved a lot of energy when going immediately.
Look at this. Kiserlovski with a huge attack. Often you think that he could be the best climber here. Then he often seems to lose due to tactical mistakes.
Even Didi is here to motivate the riders even more.
Kashechkin comes back and so we again have this trio climbing the strongest.
They already have more than a minute to Ardila next. 4min for the Peraud group, 7min to Sousa. So expect some huge gaps once again.
Kashechkin with a small gap on the final kilometer. Anton and Kiserlovski behind. The podium might already be secured today eventually.
Kiserlovski coming strong on the left and sprints faster than his opponents it seems.
Also Anton is coming now. Strong performance by him. It`s all about bonus seconds now.
Kiserlovski wins the next stage. Anton in 2nd and Kashechkin as 3rd. All within the same time but Kiserlovski at least with a small advantage due to the bonus seconds.
Ardila comes in 4th 1'33 behind. Huge gap for him in the fight for the podium.
Krasnoperov 2'11 and Ratiy 2'50 as next and with decent performances. Both might be able to do better but they might improve their top5-7 chances.
Good performance also by Lowe. Back in the fight for a top10 I guess. Great stage by him.
Pellizotti, Stetina and Nicacio together as next. 4'41 behind already.
Behind a bit later Vrecer, Dyachdenko and Osella.
Peraud losing 5'51 in the end and Sousa almost 10min.
GC wise this means that the first three extended their lead with Ardila, Krasnoperov and Ratiy coming next fighting for the top5.
Nicacio, Vrecer, Lowe and Peraud complete the top10 with Pellizotti and Sousa dropping out.
