Same picture as on previous stages. Lots of Red Bull and Festina riders at the front. Also Oz Cycling there. With 40km to go the gap is down to 2'40.
10km and the gap is tiny. Less than 30s for them
So it`s not a surprise that they are caught. It happened when the sprint trains were already formed with 3,5km to go. Festina once more the strongest and Ulanowski again proving good positioning.
Gasparotto
Coquard
Tzortzakis
Ulanowski
Pozzovivo
Kennaugh
Li
Napolitano
Guardini
Goss
Colbrelli
Vesely
Ignatiev
Stauff
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-
-
Guerao
Guerao struggled today. Apparently the team mates argued a long time after last sprint stage and today no one wanted to help him. Also Roelandts once more far back.
As seen before Coquard has a huge acceleration and Tzortzakis again opens a small gap to him. That said, the Greek has won before with that tactic.
Li is still ahead of Goss but that said, the left side looks quite full already.
Tzortzakis goes around Coquard on the far left and takes the lead. Napolitano and Colbrelli, who really has a strong race here challenge him though.
Guardini, Vesely and Stauff behind them, while Ulanowski and Kennaugh struggle a bit.
Goss could go faster but is blocked by Gasparotto, while Guerao has found contact just like Ignatiev.
Duel between Tzortzakis and Napolitano it seems.
The only other two riders that go similar strong are Kennaugh and Guerao on the right side.
Goss really struggles with blocking today as now he is between Ulanowski and Guardini and again has to slow down.
Photo finish. But the rider knew immediately. It`s Napolitano making it two in a row for Meiji. Well done. He just passed Tzortzakis centimeters before the line.
Kennaugh takes 3rd in a fast sprint against Guerao. This was a good speed but bad positioning by those two today.
Colbrelli with another top5 here.
