A pan flat stage, expect the sprinters to decide this one.


Africa Unite!

(Left) Kiflay, in the white jersey, attacking early on. (Right) Okbamariam shutting down the early breaks.



5 man break:

After two intermediate sprints Alaphilippe would be in the provisional race lead thanks to the bonifications.



Oz Cycling Project riders, in the points jersey and GC lead respectively, look on as the break is allowed little room for manoeuvre with plenty of interest from the many teams chasing.



After Sparling is caught by the bunch with 50 KM to go, it is
Olman who is leading the peloton when the remainder of the break is swallowed up with 31 KM to go.



M Ford extends his race lead! He claims 6 points, uncontested, as he passes through the intermediate sprint with 27 KM to go, the remainding points were gobbled up by Gazelle domestiques. Very weird that the sprinting elite didn't contest these points.



Meiji - Cannondale set the pace with 10 KM to go. All of those who were in the break have now been dropped from the peloton, which is mostly still intact. So the break won't have any effect on the GC today. That means Kiflay is bound to lose the white jersey.


Before you know it we are deep into the last kilometre, the sprint is on!

Cavendish will start the sprint well back and there is no sign of Vanderbiest in this one.



Here come Team Puma - SAP! Once again a top lead-out from Giaux sees Ciolek come right into contention for the stage win, Hoffman looks to have followed the right wheel here.


- 100 meters to go.

So close to the finish, only four look capable of the win. (L-R) Hoffman, Ciolek, Napolitano or Castaneda will decide this one.



Stage win and the race lead for Ciolek, another scalp for one of the stand-out riders this season. Napolitano and Hoffman round out the podium and rise in the GC. Vantomme was one of the quickest finishers but just misses out on the bonus seconds. M Ford drops from 1st to 2nd overall.