The first ITT is a true test for all serious GC-contenders: 53km in total, the riders face a long way all alone against the clock from Los Angeles to Malibu, just by the ocean.
Pure TT-specialist tend too struggle on those stages, but at least riders like Danacik or Boaro should be favorites today. Some decent TTlers like Dyball, Haga and of course Eastman/Kashechkin/Rohregger will aim for both the stage and gaining valuable time for their GC-ambitions, too!
Let's keep the first bunch of riders short: Boaro crushes the competition amongst those outside the GC's Top-15, where pure TT-specialists like Van Zandbeek or Donald had no chance at all.
And here a look at the GC's Top-13 prior to the stage, as those riders do have a comfortable gap on the further positions:
Rider
GC
Split #1
Finish
Eastman
-
-
-
Kashechkin
+ 50
Rohregger
+ 6'44
Pozzo
+ 7'15
Doi
+ 7'20
Rodas
+ 7'30
Di Gregorio
+ 7'46
Dyball
+ 8'23
Stetina
+ 8'30
Txurruka
+ 9'49
Haga
+ 9'51
Agudelo
+ 10'17
Georgiev
+ 10'34
Haga is one of those, who will aim to enter the Top-10 today and he's going strong at the first split, where is amongst riders like Rohregger, Boaro, Pauwels and also Dyball!
GC's 2nd Kashechkin will have to fight hard to gain time on Eastman today and it's looking like a close decision between those two, as the Kazakh is just 7" down on Eastman at the first split, while the US boy went for the fastest time (13 seconds better than Boaro):
Rider
GC
Split #1
Finish
Eastman
-
-
-
Kashechkin
+ 50
+ 0'07
Rohregger
+ 6'44
+ 0'19
Pozzo
+ 7'15
+ 1'58
Doi
+ 7'20
+ 1'38
Rodas
+ 7'30
+ '058
Di Gregorio
+ 7'46
+ 1'52
Dyball
+ 8'23
+ 0'19
Stetina
+ 8'30
+ 1'42
Txurruka
+ 9'49
+ 1'50
Haga
+ 9'51
+ 0'19
Agudelo
+ 10'17
+ 0'34
Georgiev
+ 10'34
+ 1'22
It's pretty clear, that the leading trio Eastman/Kashechkin/Rohregger will underline their dominance here, while Pozzo or Doi are likely to lose their spots to Rodas or even Dyball today! Haga already looking good to make up some ground, too.
It's getting closer for the GC-leader at the second split though: while he keeps adding a few seconds on Kashechkin, Boaro was just 2" slower at this point. This will be a very thrilling decision for the stage-win, it seems!
Rider
GC
Split #2
Finish
Eastman
-
-
-
Kashechkin
+ 50
+ 0'15
Rohregger
+ 6'44
+ 0'38
Pozzo
+ 7'15
+ 3'48
Doi
+ 7'20
+ 3'13
Rodas
+ 7'30
+ 2'00
Di Gregorio
+ 7'46
+ 3'43
Dyball
+ 8'23
+ 1'01
Stetina
+ 8'30
+ 3'28
Txurruka
+ 9'49
+ 3'47
Haga
+ 9'51
+ 0'56
Agudelo
+ 10'17
+ 1'49
Georgiev
+ 10'34
+ 3'22
Txurruka (10th in GC) finishes this stage 5'12" down on Boaro and will definitely lose his Top-10 to at least Agudelo and Haga..
Stetina won't be much better, but crosses the line with a 4'49" deficit on Boaro..
Dyball could be one of today's biggest winners, as the comes in with just a 1'25"-disadvantage on the leading time. He may do a nice jump in the GC that way!
While Di Gregorio will lose some ground as expected, Rodas finishes the stage off with quite a solid performance: + 2'50" on Boaro to prove his good shape here..
Doi was never expected to be gain time today, so it's all about limiting the losses against similar weak TTlers: 4'32" on the best time so far, so slightly better than Stetina or Txurruka.
Rohregger will miss Boaro's still lasting best time, but comes in as provisional 2nd with a 59"-deficit! This will for sure secure him a comfortable 3rd in the GC..
Opposing to Pozzo, who will lose big time and drop from his 4th in the GC: 5'23" on Boaro, while not only Rohregger, but also Kashechkin will fly past the Italian on the road.
The Kazakh may be still in the mix for the stage.. but no, he finishes 28" off Boaro and will just hope for Eastman to not performing way better eventually..
The GC-leader were the fastest at both splits and therefore should have a shot at the stage-win for sure..
..it's close.. but Eastman misses out on the victory by 6" eventually! Still some more time gained on Kashechkin, which is the most important news for him today!
Boaro with his second stage-win in a row! After taking line honours in yesterday's road race, the Italian did very well to prove his TT-skills today..
Eastman though now leads by 1'18" on Kashechkin in the GC, while Rohregger is already down by 7'49" as 3rd! Most notable moves today: Dyball goin up to 4th and Haga to 6th, while Pozzo (8th) and Di Gregorio (10th) suffered big time. So we are definitely getting a clearer picture inside the Top-10, too: Dyball with already a 3-minutes-advantage on Pozzo, for example. Also Rodas as 5th still going strong towards a great GC-result. Still a way to go, obviously.
