Yesterdays stage really saw a huge GC change with Ricco clearly being in the lead now taking profit of the hilly stage.
Today it`s once more flat but again a 200+km stage.
Lammertink crashed early on and clearly is injured as he struggles to make it back. He still tries. The breakaway specialist is not able to join todays six obviously. Those who made it are: Zakarin De Bie Prevar Veilleux Portela Caruso
So quite some puncheurs in there on a stage without much hills.
Red Bull and Festina worked the most. With Ricco and Tzortzakis Festina has two riders to work for. This obviously is a lot of work on any stage, in especially as Pichon looks injured after his crash on a previous stage as he is dropped already. Same actually goes for Krasnoperov, Barrio but also Lammertink.
With 10km to go also Oz Cycling has started to work with GC rider Pozzovivo in first position. Sprinter Goss already in 2nd is very early.
The peloton has 3,4km left. That`s still 700m more than the leading group. Only one long train today as the pace is too high for more. No surprise it`s Festina.
Gasparotto
Coquard
Tzortzakis
Goss
Guerao
Lay
Napolitano
Kreder
Guardini
Ulanowski
Colbrelli
Kennaugh
Vesely
In the front group De Bie starts the sprint and looks strong. Only Zakarin and Veilleux are able to match him while the other three are dropped.
Not far behind Tzortzakis already in the wind with 2km to go. Goss and Guerao suddenly in a perfect position while also Kreder looking strong today ahead of Lay and Napolitano.
Guerao early decided to go onto the right side of the road, while Goss is still behind Tzortzakis and now being blocked in by Kreder.
De Bie last one left. Then it`s Guerao already while Goss finally found a way through as also Veilleux did block him after dropping back. Next to him Prevar and Kreder. Tzortzakis was in front too long and has no chance.
This was close. Goss was by far the fastest. And I really mean by far. Though Guerao`s decision to go to the right side was the better decision. Very close he beats Goss on the line while both pass De Bie in the end avoiding a breakaway win. He though gets a 3rd here.
A strong Kreder sprints to 4th ahead of Tzortzakis. Prevar gets a nice 6th.
The video below shows the incredible speed and the unlucky blocking of Goss.
