There's also the KoM jersey to fight for today. Kolahdouz gets 6 points ahead of his czech companion in the first KoM.
Hepburn gets dropped in the dispute. Kolahdouz will beat his fellow escapee once again and will wear the first KoM jersey of the event tomorrow.
This 2nd category climb wasn't taken lightly in the peloton as a group of 80 riders gets droppped!! No GC candidate included, but some interesting names are: Mottin Cancellara Roelandts Bennati Santos Demare Zaini Arndt Salleh Vasilyuk
The pack catches the leading duo thanks to the effort of Pokerstars and Ayubowan with 10km to go.
The Sri Lankans quickly set up a two men leadout for Vanderbiest, with Zabel and Guardini following. Pokerstars is still very disorganized with 5km to go, while Festina is protecting their leader by bringing him to the front.
Pokerstars are no amateurs though. In 2km they manage to bring Degenkolb side by side with Vanderbiest. Kittel enjoys his compatriot's wheel to protect himself. He must think he is a sprinter of some sort... There are no other sprinters in the first 50 riders of the peloton.
The first leadout men peel off as we enter the final 1,5km. It's now up to Kadri and Kluge..
Degenkolb storms to the front as the real sprint begins inside the last km! Guardini didn't have enough in his legs to compete with these, but neither Zabel nor Vanderbiest seem to have enough in the tank...
And it's the Pokerstars man who cashes in on a brilliant team effort!
Zabel comes in 2nd to beat Vanderbiest. Kittel retains his jersey.
