The first of two hilly stages comes at 173km in total, featuring it's most challenging climbs in the first half of the day. With only one short and not too steep climb 10km to the finish, the final 70km ain't too challenging.
This may lead to the question, how selective this day will be and wether a hilly-sprinter like Kump/Ignatiev or an outstanding puncheur like Craven or Kangert will be today's top-favorite. Also, will the sprinters hang on, like GC-leader Van Avermaet?
A first breakaway-attempt by Pagoto, Silva, Gerrans and Hocevar won't be allowed to stay clear and the group is reeled in by the bunch 156km before finish.
A few moments later, Pagoto would give it another go, this time accompanied by another Nordeus-rider, establishing a minute's gap quickly:
Pagoto and Kiserlovski for the break of the day?
Yes, the duo creates a 3-minutes-gap with 136km remaining, so the bunch would let them go.. a third rider now tries to jump behind, though facing a 1'10"-gap on the duo with the first challenging climbs ahead:
Viola
So the battle for the KoM-lead will be held between those three, with the leading duo fighting for the two first KoM-sprints (as Viola struggles to close the gap):
KoM #1 (Cat3)
Pagoto
Kiserlovski
Viola
KoM #2 (Cat2)
Kiserlovski
Pagoto
Viola
Pagoto takes the first (picture above), while Kiserlovski takes the provisional lead by taking out the higher categorized second climb!
With now 89km to go, the peloton goes for a higher pace, keeping the gap to the leading duo at 4'00", with also a few first names (17 riders) being dropped:
most notable names might be sprinters like Park/Anuawar, an obviously injured Hasanovic or yesterday's leadout-man Kaisen. No GC-contender though.
And now the peloton enters today's most challenging (Cat1) climb with 74km remaining.. back in the bunch, it looks like there would open another gap/split and it's a moment of shock for one serious GC-contender:
Kangert finds himself in the need to close this gap! Just bad positioning or does he have very bad legs today?
For now, it's indeed just a moment of shock, as Kangert is brought back to the front of the main peloton once he managed to bridge the small gap. He better takes more care of his positioning though.
No more action on this climb, so the leading duo (Viola still didn't manage to catch up) will fight for the most important points towards the mountain-competition:
KoM #3 (Cat1)
Kiserlovski
Pagoto
Viola
Kiserlovski takes it again, so looks in good position to be the first mountain-leader here in Ukraine.
So the two leading escapees enter the final 70km with still a gap on the peloton..
..which pulls back Viola 38km before finish. An unlucky attempt by Viola, who had the wrong timing with his move.
Anyway, the peloton - now led by Allianz, Venchi and Metinvest - is still at 118 riders (so the climbs didn't lead to major splits yet) and 2'35" in arrears.
Another 15km later (22km to go) the gap's still at 2'45" though! Teams like Swedbank and also Privatbank join the chasing teams, which struggled to narrow the gap yet.
Does the leading duo really stand a chance here? The enter the final 10km with a 1'48"-lead on the not really well chasing peloton! Kiserlovski saves himself the polka dot in the meantime:
KoM #4 (Cat3)
Kiserlovski
Pagoto
Larsson
It ain't looking too good for the peloton. Lierse now joins the work at the front, as especially Allianz really struggled to do anything special so far.
Most important news at this point: no more splits on this less challenging final climb, so most sprinters as well as all GC-contenders are likely to finish in the bunch today!
But will they fight for the win? Or will the escapees take it?
Less than 5km to go and Pagoto/Kiserlovski hold on to a 1'40"-gap!
They keep working well together, but you may spot the nearing bunch in the background now.. finally..
Good news for the escapees though: they enter their final kilometre with still a 1'10"-gap!
And now as the bunch sprint kicks off, it seems to be too late to pull the duo back. Most thrilling question may be, if they narrow the gap!
No trains or something, it's more like a chaotic sprint with anyone at the front goin on his own. In the mix:
Peeters, Van Avermaet, Grillo or Frohlinger. Also Docker showing his shirt.
to just name those, who are the front at this point.
Back to the leading duo which is soon to enter the final corner: Pagoto kicks off the sprint from the leading position..
The bunch sprint behind makes their lead going down to 35".. will the peloton at least manage to reach the infamous 20-seconds-mark?
Greipel still ahead of Ignatiev and Kump now!
Vaitkus, Van Avermaet and Grillo a few metres behind, with Frohlinger and Docker ath their wheels.
Who's going to take the win? Pagoto still ahead of Kiserlovski, who struggles to take benefit from his better position.. the line comes closer..
Pagoto takes it! While Kiserlovski may be happy enough by taking the KoM-lead in the most important stage regarding mountain-points.
The last official gap was at 30", but of course the bunch had the better speed in this final km.. will we see a gap rewarded for the duo?
Greipel enters the finishing stretch still ahead of a fast Kump.. Ignatiev struggles to hang on.. the same names as before a bike length behind..
The battle for today's 3rd place seems to be between Greipel and Kump!
Kump lungs in for this last podium-spot! Greipel 4th ahead of Grillo. The German might have kicked too early, but did really well to keep his speed til the finish.
Docker, Vaitkus/Polivoda finish ahead of race-leader Van Avermaet, who may lose his shirt today....
Yes! The two escapees were rewarded an additional 24"-gap here! So Pagoto takes the race-lead, 10" ahead of Kiserlovski and 30" on Van Avermaet!
It's a 50"-lead on the most dangerous GC-contenders. Pagoto ain't the worst puncheur/TTler, but of course will face a tough time defending his lead on tomorrow's tough hilltop-finish.
