The second ITT through Los Angeles comes at 33km. All flat, but given the gaps between Kashechkin, Eastman, Rohregger and Rodas, those Top-4 most probably won't see any changes today.
It's still some interesting battles out there, especially guys like Haga, Dyball and Agudelo will fancy their chances to move up inside the GC's Top-10. Of course it's also about the stage honours: Boaro took out the first timetrial, while Eastman came very close and should be the favorite today.
Boaro though won't be factor today, as he looks too exhausted after his strong efforts in the third week of this race. It's other names dominating the provisional stage rankings:
Soto Pereira crushes the early competition to take the lead by 1'22" on Chavanel and already 1'43" on Boaro, for example!
Pauwels puts up a slightly better performance to take the new lead by 7" on Pereira and 25" on Danacik! We do notice some stronger winds (going from 15kmh to 25kmh now), so this may be a good thing for Pauwels..
Just a few moments later, Peterson would go for 3rd place with 15" down on Pauwels.. but we now go for the more thrilling GC-battles:
Rider
GC
Split #1
Finish
8th Txurruka
-
-
-
9th Di Gregorio
+ 1'22
10th Doi
+ 1'34
11th Agudelo
+ 2'26
The battle for the Top-10 and a chance for Agudelo as the best TTler of those four..
He goes strong at the first split, being just 40" slower than Pauwels (with worse conditions) to be amongst the Top-10 at the split!
Doi is down by 1'32" on Pauwels at this point, and he's still about 10 seconds faster than the following two riders! Agudelo definitely with a real chance to overtake them all:
Rider
GC
Split #1
Finish
8th Txurruka
-
+ 1'08
-
9th Di Gregorio
+ 1'22
+ 1'09
10th Doi
+ 1'34
+ 0'52
11th Agudelo
+ 2'26
-
Di Gregorio may not only fear Agudelo to pass him in the GC, but also Doi! The Frenchman struggles..
..in the meantime, Agudelo comes in 57" slower than Pauwels..
Rider
GC
Split #1
Finish
8th Txurruka
-
+ 1'08
+ 2'35
9th Di Gregorio
+ 1'22
+ 1'09
+ 2'37
10th Doi
+ 1'34
+ 0'52
+ 1'59
11th Agudelo
+ 2'26
-
-
And yes, those three riders ahead of Agudelo all suffered big time today! Not only Doi and Di Gregorio, but also Txurruka will see Agudelo move past them in the GC today!
Another Kazzinc-rider though may lose his spot in the GC today: Pozzo (5th) will fear both Haga and Dyball as much stronger TT-specialists..
Dyball is looking solid as expected, crossing the first split 45" behind still leading Pauwels..
Haga even better, as he's 10 seconds faster than the Australian at this point.. definitely both strong enough to put the needed pressure on Pozzo:
Rider
GC
Split #1
Finish
5th Pozzo
-
+ 1'16
-
6th Haga
+ 29
-
7th Dyball
+ 1'16
+ 0'10
Haga looking save to take this 5th today, while also Dyball is already close behind Pozzo in the virtual rankings..
And yes, Pozzo can't compete with those two as he finishes the stage off 3'36" slower than Pauwels, while both Haga and Dyball will finish amongst today's best, thoug with still a margin on still leading Pauwels!
Rider
GC
Split #1
Finish
5th Pozzo
-
+ 1'16
+ 2'51
6th Haga
+ 29
-
-
7th Dyball
+ 1'16
+ 0'10
+ 0'15
For the remaining four (well, three actually, as Rodas won't be a factor) it's all about the stage-win:
Rohregger misses out on Pauwel's best time by 56" and also Eastman can't challenge for the win! 44" as 5th eventually. It's quite obvious, that the slightly stronger crosswinds were a factor today!
Kashechkin completes the Top-10 with 1'04" on Pauwels and therefore avoiding any stupid damage against Eastman. He is likely to keep this yellow til the very end.
So the most notable moves today: Haga and Dyball moving one up, with Pozzo dropping to 7th.. Agudelo going from 11th to 8th, with Di Gregorio dropping out of the Top-10 behind Txurruka and Doi! Pauwels with a nice stage-win for Magna and Kashechkin defends his points-lead by now 10pts on Eastman.
