Only 118km today but it`s the first big test for the GC riders. First 80% of the stage are lots of up and down but nothing too hard. Then though the last 20% is a long climb with a very steep first part. Definitely a climb to lead to some selection and mixes the TT heavy GC a lot. For Ignatiev it most likely is the last day in rosa.
Bookies go for Madrazo/Schleck which is hardly surprising. Behind them though they rate Italians Ricco, Cunego and Nibali higher as top climbers Velits and Denifl.
5 in the breakaway with another one following a bit later but struggles to join them: Siutsou Fraile Vuillermoz Zakarin Pirazzi
Danacik
Danacik and Siutsou the best placed around the 1min mark. All others a bit further behind.
Also at the first climb of the day two riders already lost contact to the peloton: Li Stauff
Those two as also a lot of others will have a long day.
Cat.3
Siutsou
6
Pirazzi
4
Zakarin
2
Cat.3
Zakarin
6
Siutsou
4
Pirazzi
2
Sprint
Vuillermoz
6
Pirazzi
4
Siutsou
2
Surprisingly Tinkoff is seen at the front a lot working hard. They not really have a big option for today and so it`s not expected. Also Volkswagen, Quickstep are seen there.
50km to go and 2 attacks. Most likely those two are supposed to be relay stations later on for their leaders: Grivko Hirschlein
They quickly catch Danacik, who is just ahead, while the other five are still 3min in front.
Cat.4
Pirazzi
5
Siutsou
3
Zakarin
1
And more attacks. Majka Campero
Probably same tactic here with Brambilla and Ricco later joining them.
As soon as we hit the Cat.3, Tinkoff is stopping their effort and Quickstep is taking over. Madrazo seems to feel well and surely wants to beat Schleck today.
The attackers have reached the breakaway on the descent and it`s Grivko clearly being the strongest of those 4 and he also takes the points here.
Cat.3
Grivko
6
Siutsou
4
Zakarin
2
19km and on the short descent when Brajkovic attacks. This is the first leader today attacking.
Behind him though some more leaders immediately react and accelerate to close the gap: Cunego Kolesnikov Madrazo Pinot
Volkswagen with 3 riders and Vesuvio with 1 are just using their teammates instead. So all but Brajkovic get caught quickly.
Due to those attacks though the peloton did split a lot. Only 48 riders left in the front group and another 31 in the next one. Some of those actually are very good riders and were expected to perform better: Pozzovivo König Kirsch Faiers
Not a surprise that in especially Pokerstars is working here. Also Oz is trying but it`s mainly Pozzovivo alone as the only real helper for him is Grivko and he is leading the race at the moment.
Grivko, Siutsou, Pirazzi and Zakarin are the last riders in the front. All others are now caught.
With 10km to go Pozzovivo and Faiers make it back to the pack. But they are at the very end of it and apparently some things happen in the front now.
But before going there, we see the Maglia Rosa in troubles. He is now in the later group with still Kirsch and König, who might not come back today.
So now let`s see what happened.
A bit attack as Schleck is included. But it was actually Ricco to initiate this selection.
Both reach Grivko now as last rider.
From behind no surprise to see Madrazo following immediately. Good for him that team mate Goos is with him and doing a high pace. Bad for him that Suaza is also with him and that is not ideal as he is basically delivering Schleck a strong helper.
Goos still hasn`t closed the gap while Grivko dropped back to them. Schleck though not going all in yet and Ricco is doing all work alone. Apparently Schleck even waits for Madrazo to join as this would mean Suaza as well.
22s between those groups and already 40s to the peloton. Some riders in there need to react soon.
The GC riders themselves have to work now as all helpers are too tired. Velits, Nibali, Brajkovic, Guldhammer, Cunego more or less are the names in the first rows.
This leads to another huge split with 18 riders in the first group and 21 riders dropped. Within those dropped: Denifl!!!!
Yes the Austrian 3rd best climber in the race struggles! Bad positioning or just weakness?
Also Pozzovivo Pinot Krasnoperov Costagli Faiers
Several riders try to bridge the gap and accelerate. Cunego Guldhammer
Antón
And Madrazo finally is with Ricco and Schleck! Big news. And good for the Spaniard that Suaza was dropped just like Goos.
But this is awesome. Suaza found his 2nd air and joins them as well. With 4km to go they have a 80s gap already on the next and another 40s to the peloton.
The first bigger group is now led by ONCE as Anton couldn`t gain time. And also some big names joined this group from behind: Denifl Pozzovivo Pinot Faiers
Behind them the Good Energy riders trying to come back with Costagli, Ponzi and Scarponi.
Ricco still leading alone. For 7 kilometers now actually! What a performance by him here. Suaza is in 2nd position but not really helping him.
Just wow. Earlier dropped and now the ones to attack. Denifl Pozzovivo Velits
Question what happened if those hadn`t been dropped before. Could they have closed the gap to the leading four?
Brajkovic, Nibali, Anton, Uran, Kunshin, Kohl, Brambilla, Ratiy, Faiers, Pinot and even Solis are all within the front rows of the peloton.
Denifl with another acceleration and he almost joins the Cunego/Guldhammer group with Goos a bit behind them.
Pozzovivo and Velits now trying to gain more time on the peloton and also slowly close the gap.
Last kilometer and Madrazo on the left just ahead of Schleck. It`s about the stage now. Apparently the only real interest for those two as the 90s gap to the next could have been much bigger I guess when they had helped Ricco at least once.
But coming to Ricco! What the hell did he do today? 10km leading the best riders and gaining on the next best. This will see a huge jump in the GC for him and make him a podium contender after one mountain stage. Suaza as well with a huge performance today.
Schleck goes into the lead and opens a gap. He still seems to be the stronger climber. And surprisingly also Ricco looks stronger than Madrazo.
And Schleck wins. This picture is just like last season. Schleck dominating the mountains.
He even gains 14s to the next trio where Ricco beats Madrazo for the bigger bonus seconds. Suaza as 4th without any but he won`t care too much. This is huge result already.
Cunego with another solid performance and slowly gaining time back he has lost earlier. He comes in ahead of Denifl, who somehow rescued this stage and Guldhammer. For Denifl this must have been a shock to find himself in the 2nd peloton at some time. They all lose almost 2min though.
Another ~40s the next. A huge overperformance by Goos here but he saved Madrazo today it seems.
Behind him Pozzovivo with a huge comeback as he was dropped twice today. Velits in 10th surely had expected a bit more. He needs to improve a lot on the upcoming mountain stages.
Nibali and Braikovic lead the first bigger group at +3'21. Within them also Anton, Kohl, Uran, Brambilla, Ratiy, Faiers, Pinot and Solis.
Kunshin and Kolesnikov as Tinkoff leaders another 1min behind and still 20s ahead of the Good Energy climbers.
Krasnoperov end almost 6min behind and still 5min before Kirsch/König.
Not a huge surprise. This really hard stage shows the first abandons as a couple of riders missed the time limit. Stauff clearly the biggest name as top sprinter. Though the whole Oz Cycling sprint train also abandoned as also Angarita of the Red Bull train.
