The final stage of this tour and anything can happen, Boogerd could win, Boogerd could lose, or Bos may not come last. Who knows, there are 3 or 4 riders who can win the overall of this race but the favourites for this particular stage are Boogerd, Kirchen, Cobo, Pellizotti and Popovych.
Before the 2nd KOM sprint, the peleton has reeled in the breakway, they obviously weren't happy with it.
So with 105kms left a new breakaway formed with Criel, Goubert and Mourey. Criel took maximum points from the KOM sprint. However yet again they were reeled back in on the downhill section just after the 2nd KOM sprint.
Coming up to the 3rd KOM sprint there was no-one out in front so there were attacks from the peleton for the points. Verbrugghe went over first ahead of Jufre and Sartasov.
But these guys didn't stop, tey kept going and we had a break of 7 off the front, with Verbrugghe, Posthuma, Duarte, Jufre, Calzati, Sartasov, and Mollema. Within 4kms they had already built up a 1'20 advantage. The peleton are having a weird day today, they object to a lot of below average climbers attacking but when some good climbers get away, they're happy.
Calzati and Sartasov completely blew away their companions and within 6kms found themselves alone. Calzati beat Sartasov to the KOM sprint and Mollema swept up the points from behind.
With 50kms to go, Sartasov's supreme climbing talent gets too much for the Frenchman, who reportadly is a target for FloGas boos during the transfer window. So with Sartasov out in front and Calzati soloing behind him, Sartasov easily picks up the full points from the 5th KOM sprint.
With 37kms left Boogerd goes, and he goes hard!! He isn't followed by anyone. The favourites must have been caught off guard by the GC leader, great experience shown there by Boogerd.
Back up front, Calzati managed to catch Sartasov on the downhill and now they're climbing side-by-side up the 2nd to last "mountain" with a 1'44 advantage over a group of 6 behind them, which includes Posthuma, Nibali, Jufre, Duarte, Mollema, Verbrugghe and Boogerd!!! He's certainly bridged up quickly, he is on form today. Moments later Mollema finds the pace too hot and drops back.
Calzati won the final KOM sprint ahead of Sartasov and as they go over the top...
Boogie goes again!!!! What a ride by him and still none of the other favourites have attacked, they've lost out big time.
With 20kms to go, Dessel, Lövkvist, Rasmussen, Hincapie, Popovych, and Pellizotti finally attack.
Up on the final rise, Sartasov and Calzati have a lead over Boogerd and Nibali (who bridged up) of 1'30, and with 10kms to go, it's going to be tight.
Dessel and the others get reeled back in by the peleton, but the GC win is surely gone now, unless the unmentionable were to happen to Boogerd.
1.5km to go and Calzati and Sartasov have a 38 second advantage over Boogerd, and with the Boogie-man being a much better sprint, it is still going to be tight.
He doesn't get there in time, but who's won???
Sartasov!!!!! What a great ride by him and Calzati, they worked well with each other and fought for the win. The ride of the day though goes to the Tour de Pologne 2008 champion, Michael Boogerd. Inspirational ride from him, and he thoroughly deserves his GC win. Whereas Bertagnolli and Burghardt had a bad day and drop out of the top 20 completely. On the plus side, Nibali had a great day and went up to 5th in the GC and Calzati's ride earned him 2nd spot.
