Another stage for sprinters, with no hills in the final, even more so than on stage 2.



Break of the day:

Other than the weather easing up and Kotchetkov claiming the max KOM points on offer to put him level in the lead of the KOM comp, there is nothing of note until the final 20 KM.



Seibab is the rider on the schnoz of the peloton when the break are finally caught with 6 KM to go. A sprint is on the cards.



Coming into the final kilometre we have two dominant sprint trains: Privatbank - Nemiroff and Project: Africa are the protagonists for this one.


370 meters to go.

200 meters to go.

Lay's lead-out has been a marvel today, he puts Maksimov in the ideal position. Surely the Russian can finish it off from here.



But no! Maksimov can't match the riders coming up from behind, namely: Aberasturi, Holloway and Haussler.

Hoffman, Greipel and Vantomme aren't to be discounted in what is sure to be a close finish.



..........



And by a quarter of a wheel Aberasturi takes the victory with Van Staeyen (9th) disappointing. The Spaniard will move into the race lead.

Holloway dusted himself off after yesterday for 2nd and Maksimov, somewhat, rallied in the final to round out the podium, although if he couldn't deliver the win after that lead-out, one wonders if he is capable of winning a stage here.

Steurs hangs onto the GC podium for another stage as the battle for the GC and points jerseys become more interesting.