The Rettenbachferner will as usual play a decisive part in the race. It's the last chance to create gains in the GC prior to the final stage time trial. We have a puncheur in the race lead, Bakelants. He can climb alright but is probably not a danger for overall victory given his time trialling skills. Riders who do want to win the race will need to try and gain on Phinney today.
A 9 man breakaway goes clear. Moreno, Ghyselinck, Hoffman, Kluge, Campero, Boonratanathanakorn, Kennaugh, Laengen and Sestili.
12 KoM points available early in the stage, and Laengen takes them to add to his collection and move up those standings.
The Rettenbachferner has 10km of steep climbing, but with a need to make an impact, Keinath attacks early at 15km to go.
It is a foolish move and he is caught. When we do start the main climbing, it is Van den Broeck who attacks immediately with 10km to go. He gets a gap and rides up to the breakaway.
That is the death sentence for this particular move, but he is off again afterwards. Joined by Keinath and Martin. 3 of the relegation threatened teams all on the attack at once!
They get a small gap, but are ultimately brought back. Keinath tries again, followed by Phinney. Fothen, Pedraza, Uran and De la Fuente all also show intent, but getting that gap is proving difficult.
Martin, Pedraza, Phinney, Fothen, De la Fuente and Keinath do get a small gap - but a reaction is coming.
Uran leads the chase, and along with Brajkovic rides up to Martin, Pedraza, Phinney and Fothen.
Gesink forces his way across too - but being left behind here are Van den Broeck, Keinath, De la Fuente and race leader Bakelants.
Van den Broeck should have been good enough to make the front selection, but it is worse news for Keinath who really needs a big result - are both paying for their earlier enthusiasm?
The 7 leaders are quickly pulling away now, but approaching the final kilometre Dan Martin is forced to let go.
And upon entering that final kilometre it is Uran and Brajkovic who lead the battle for the stage.
Uran has the slight advantage, and the pair of them are very closely matched as they fight towards the line. Gesink is doing his best to keep up.
And Rigoberto Uran holds on to win the stage! 2nd for Brajkovic, with Gesink 3rd.
And some gaps have opened up behind! 12 seconds to Fothen, and 26 to Phinney and Pedraza. Those gaps, to Phinney in particular, could be crucial. Brajkovic will take the race lead, 4 seconds ahead of Gesink.
Dan Martin struggled through the final kilometre, losing 1'04.
But the good news for him is that two of his rivals are further back. Van den Broeck managed to ride away from his group, but ends up 2'15 behind Uran.
Bakelandts then leads the next group home at 2'40 - a respectable result for him in defense of his race lead. It's not so good news for Keinath though.
1
Rigoberto Úran
Milka - AVG
2
Janez Brajkovic
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
s.t.
3
Robert Gesink
Project 1t4i
s.t.
4
Markus Fothen
Festina-Canal+
+ 12
5
Taylor Phinney
Wikipedia
+ 26
6
Walter Pedraza
Koenigsegg
s.t.
7
Daniel Martin
Pendleton's
+ 1'04
8
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Team Puma - SAP
+ 2'15
9
Jan Bakelants
Pearl Adidas
+ 2'40
10
Nico Keinath
Team B&O
s.t.
11
Paolo Scarponi
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
s.t.
12
David De la Fuente
Lotto - Cervelo
s.t.
13
Manuel Lloret
Lotto - Cervelo
+ 3'16
Full results didnt export.
GC
1
Janez Brajkovic
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
25h54'32
2
Robert Gesink
Project 1t4i
+ 4
3
Walter Pedraza
Koenigsegg
+ 20
4
Rigoberto Úran
Milka - AVG
+ 25
5
Markus Fothen
Festina-Canal+
+ 36
6
Taylor Phinney
Wikipedia
+ 50
7
Daniel Martin
Pendleton's
+ 1'20
8
Jan Bakelants
Pearl Adidas
+ 1'54
9
David De la Fuente
Lotto - Cervelo
+ 2'53
10
Nico Keinath
Team B&O
+ 3'13
11
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Team Puma - SAP
+ 3'17
12
Manuel Lloret
Lotto - Cervelo
+ 3'29
13
Stefan Schumacher
UBS - BMC
+ 7'01
14
Paolo Scarponi
Wiggle Professional Cycling Team
+ 7'08
15
Jelle Vanendert
Project 1t4i
+ 7'36
16
Leopold König
Milka - AVG
+ 7'56
17
Martin Hacecký
Team B&O
+ 8'17
18
Ricardo Van der Velde
Team Bacardi
+ 8'33
19
Vitaliy Popkov
Metinvest-Emirates
+ 9'58
20
Vladimir Gusev
Pendleton's
+ 10'55
21
Konstantin Siutsou
Pendleton's
+ 10'59
22
Tyler Brandt
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
s.t.
23
Jakub Danacik
Koenigsegg
+ 11'15
24
Serge Pauwels
Koenigsegg
s.t.
25
Tim Dees
Festina-Canal+
+ 11'57
26
Kristjan Koren
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
+ 12'01
27
Bauke Mollema
Festina-Canal+
+ 12'03
28
Domenik Klemme
Team B&O
+ 12'16
29
Frantisek Rabon
Milka - AVG
+ 12'24
30
Brent Bookwalter
Wikipedia
+ 12'27
31
Wilco Kelderman
Team Puma - SAP
+ 12'35
32
Tanel Kangert
Pearl Adidas
+ 12'36
Points
1
Jan Bakelants
Pearl Adidas
72
2
Taylor Phinney
Wikipedia
56
3
Janez Brajkovic
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
36
4
Jurgen Van den Broeck
Team Puma - SAP
36
5
Stefan Schumacher
UBS - BMC
35
6
Walter Pedraza
Koenigsegg
31
7
Rigoberto Úran
Milka - AVG
31
8
Robert Gesink
Project 1t4i
30
9
Daniel Martin
Pendleton's
28
10
Jaroslav Popovych
Metinvest-Emirates
25
KoM
1
Jackson RodrÃguez
Pearl Adidas
32
2
Sebastien Reichenbach
UBS - BMC
24
3
Janez Brajkovic
Heineken presented by California Giant Berry Farms
22
4
Rigoberto Úran
Milka - AVG
20
5
Alberigo Passalacqua
Pro Team Venchi - Sugoi
20
6
Vegard Stake Laengen
Aker - MOT
18
7
Brian Vandborg
Team B&O
16
8
Jan Bakelants
Pearl Adidas
13
9
Robert Gesink
Project 1t4i
12
10
Markus Fothen
Festina-Canal+
10
Phinney leads the U25 standings from Scarponi and Hacecky
