All the action is expected to take place in the last 22 KM today as we summit the Mûr-de-Bretagne three times, this is the first day for the GC men.

Stage Favourites:

Bugge	Kolobnev	Wyss
Haas		Toribio

2013 overall winner, Olsson, makes the break.

The three man break today: Olsson, Paiani & Joseph. Olsson started the day over 11 minutes down whereas both his companions were just '38 down in GC. Olsson took the first two summits of the day, he had his mind set on the polka dots by the looks of it.



Azteca - NBCSN set the pace for much of the stage, protecting the GC lead, despite Farrar having little chance of finishing in the same group as the better puncheurs.

With 39 KM to go the break have just 1'50 over the bunch.


22 KM to go: we hit the Mûr-de-Bretagne

Olsson is 1'30 ahead of Firsanov, the Russian champ has just attacked out of the peloton and has caught the two men dropped by Olsson (Paiani & Joseph).



Team Nordeus, thinking of Bole, set the pace which brings back Firsanov and less committed attacks by Herklotz & Lammertink.

With 20 KM to go Olsson is still riding well and has over 1'00 to the peloton, if he wants to move into the KOM jersey, however, he will have to survive out-front for another 10 KM.


Passalacqua attacks!

With 19 KM to go, still on the first ascent of the Mûr-de-Bretagne, Passalacqua is the first favourite to roll the dice. He attacks and immediately gets a gap, there is no immediate response by the big favourites with still some distance to the finish.


Olsson will move into the polka dots.

Olsson, puts in a great ride, to hold off Passalacqua and the rest of the favourites until he has passed the second ascent of the Mûr-de-Bretagne with 10 KM to go.

With 10 KM to go:

Olsson
Passalacqua	@ '30
61 man peloton	@ 1'00

Umerbekov would put in a speculative attack late on.

Passalacqua has caught Olsson and will hit the Mûr-de-Bretagne for the final time, with 3 KM to go, with a decent advantage back to the favourites group of around '30 seconds. There is no coordinated chase from the favourites group, with none of the big names wanting to push on the pace too early.

With 4 KM to go:

Olsson & Passalacqua
Umerbekov	@ '24
18 man favourites group	@ '32
40 man peloton	@ 1'20

The 40 man peloton contains the likes of Farrar and some outside favourites such as Toribio.


Final time up the Mûr-de-Bretagne.

Nobody is surprised that Passalacqua immediately manages to drop Olsson, but can he hold off the favourites for the win?


The chasers can't close the gap!

Haas, Hollenstein and Kolobnev are the most prominent chasers but they just can't close the gap to Passalacqua.


Stage win Passalacqua!

A great powerful solo ride, for the best part of 20 kilometres rewards the Fletcher - Garneau rider with the stage win and the GC lead.

Hollenstein is the best of the rest.

The Swiss rider leads home a 13 man group of select favourites at just '16 down on the stage winner. Duggan continues TomTom's good run of results, rounding out the days podium. Risa - Ergon and Team Nordeus show their depth, each finishing with three riders in the select group.

So Passalacqua is now the man to beat but with 53 riders still under 5 minutes down in GC, with cobbles and hills still to come, the GC is far from decided.