This, penultimate stage, is the last chance for the GC men to have a say in the GC in this short stage race. We end on a final climb lasting 3 kilometres averaging around 5-6%.

Stage Favourites:

Mendes	Haas	Wyss
Lejman		Rudaskov

Gradek and Lejman: the stars of yesterday.

There would be no chance to shine in the breakaway for Gradek today as he would be on domestique duties, protecting Lejman's race lead.



Maloja Mountain Nomads really need to start performing, perhaps their manager gave the team a good talking to as Fumic would be the first to attack today.


The first five riders to attack make the break of the day.

The Break:

At the rate breakaways have been making it to the finish this season, there was some hope for these riders of making it all the way to the finish.



Cerny was impressive for Lierse SK - Pizza Ullo Cycling Team in the Tour of the Bretagne and again showed well in the break today. With 133 KM to go he takes the max KOM points on offer.

KOM with 133 KM to go:

Herrera: domestique of the Istrian Spring Trophy.

Herrera rode on the front of the peloton for much of stage 2 and, despite his team no longer defending the race lead, continued in the same vein today. With 100 km to go the break would reach a maximum advantage of 6'00 before the Colombian would increase the tempo.



Pires takes the intermediate sprint with 87 km to go ahead of Devine and Ardila.

Bank of Ireland – Irish Cycling would have expected another one of their Portuguese riders to be showing himself today!


35 KM to go: Break @ 2'00.

KOM result with 35 KM to go:

Cerny has now been dropped from the break and, within 2 kilometres, will shortly be caught. The way the KOM points have gone today Lejman still leads the KOM competition and with a good stage result may reinforce that lead.



Team Nordeus and Team Vontobel add their weight to the chase. The gap to the break with 23 KM to go is around 1'30.


21 riders dropped from the peloton with 15 KM to go.

The biggest name dropped is Indonesian champ Pranata, these riders will coast in at their own speed having been dropped due to the increase in pace.



FCB - Polska, once again, take up the chase with under 10 KM to go. The break are within sight of the peloton now.


The last stand of the break.

The quartet are mere seconds ahead of the peloton with 7 KM to go, Devine puts in one last effort in an attempt to stay in front for as long as possible.


The inevitable finally happens!

Reminiscent of stage 2 the breakaway are caught at exactly the same moment the final climb begins.

Will we see any of the favourites attack early on as Bole did yesterday?


FCB - Polska set pace with under 2 KM to go.

FCB - Polska mustn't be able to believe what is happening. No-one is putting in an attack! Lejman, therefore, may be weary of no-one except the three riders he finished alongside yesterday as it is hardly possible for the likes of Haas and Duggan to put '30 into him with less than 2 KM left.


1 KM to go.

Grau sets Lejman up for his final effort, the lead group still comprises more than 70 riders.

Keep in mind the gradient is steepest right at the finish.



The race with only hundreds of meters left:

The front of the peloton is a mix of leaders and domestiques, with the road fast running out it will be difficult from anyone behind Wyss to take the win. Lejman launches his final effort first, he wants a good clear long run at the finish.

Mendes looked really good yesterday, but today, he is being blocked in a wee bit by a slower Gradek.



Lejman is looking good, Sobal is having real difficulty staying in the wheel.


< 200 meters left.

Lejman is still in the lead and looks really resistant, the likes of Bole look to be going backwards. Geschke isn't losing much ground to the yellow jersey, but he certainly isn't gaining any either.

BUT .... Beware of Mendes!



The finish nears and Lejman, somehow, looks to be putting distance into everyone. Everyone but Mendes that is. The Portuguese is storming up the final few meters, he looks to be going twice as fast as anyone around him.



.....................


Lejman takes his second win!

Lejman, just, holds on for the win after a really long final effort. What a race for FCB - Polska, they daren't of dreamed of such results!

10 NO! 5 more meters of road and surely Mendes would have overhauled Lejman for the stage win, instead he settles for second place, A result, however, which sees him rise to 2nd in GC thanks to the time bonifications, he was helped by Geschke finishing 3rd today which denied Bole and Wyss of any more bonuses.

Bank of Ireland – Irish Cycling will be pleased by the performance of Sobal who followed the wheel of Lejman on his way to a 4th place finish.

Believe it or not 75 riders were given the same time as the stage winner.