Hilly time in Man-Game calendar. The Ardennes week starts today with a 252km challenge finishing a few kms after the famous Cauberg.
After numerous tries, a four men group establishes itself as the break of the day: Gaudin, Koch, Porte, Kennaugh
They are conceded a gap, which will naturally peak at around 9min. That starts to decrease a little before the last 100km. The favourite teams aren't going to play around this one.
We arrive at the last 40km when the breakaway is in sight of the bunch. Chris Froome feels it's time to instigate some aggressive riding!
A few more riders tried to follow him but couldn't open a gap to the pack. The brit quickly reaches the front group who only has 56'' on the chasing peloton still 173 riders strong.
In fact they are caught in a matter of 5kms..
We get to the next serious ascent and time for another acceleration from the pack with Bakelants and Boasson Hagen!
Nobody wants to follow this effort it seems. 26km still on the road to the finish line.
We pass yet another hill with no attacks. This may be due to Frank Schleck's pacing in the bunch, which is keeping the escapees within a 20'' range. 130 riders still feature in the pack...
Ponzi breaks the peace though, bridging the gap across the front duo!
But this just leads to a major regroup. Packed bunch as they say in Italy with 20km left to race.
The high speeds being used causes another split in the bunch with only 81 riders being able to hang on in the front. Kratochvila, Serry and Ventoso are some of the names left behind.
Oh but there goes another offensive. This time by Sagan, who launches himself downhil with Bakelants, Boasson Hagen, Ponzi, Trofimov, Gastauer and Spilak in close pursuit!
We're inside the last 15km now. Van Garderen has decided to bridge the gap to the front men, but sits 30'' after them, while Vichot has a few more seconds, before the chasing group.
A few notable riders have lost contact with the main chasing group at this point, namely: Ignatiev and Barrio
Meanwhile, as Van Garderen gets caught, Claeys attacks!
Schreurs counters him a bit later which leaves them in an intermediate position as we wenter the last 10km. The gaps are like this: Front groupo - 39'' - Claeys - 26'' - Schreurs - Chasing group
More men lose contact with the chasing group: Nibali, Kreder, Bilbao, Van Stayen, Schumacher, Ginnani, Kinoshita, Gautier, Lutsenko, Gilbert De Bie, Izagirre, Betancourt and Zaini
We're closing in the Cauberg, but at the front, Spilak, doesn't want anyone to have fresh legs to that final clash! Everyone responds but Boasson Hagen looks exhausted! Can he rejoin them now, before the climb?
The answer is no! Ponzi attacks the ascent full gas mode trying to leave everyone by the foot of the Cauberg!
He succeeds in doing so, by conquering a 30'' gap on his chasers!
His former group struggles to catch him till the end of the Cauberg as everyone looked only able to hang on for dear life. Spilak finds a second wind as they pass through the flamme rouge...
But nobody is going to reach Ponzi! Great day in the saddle for the italian, who opens up the Ardennes week in dominating fashion!
Spilak finishes 2nd, while Gastauer wins the sprint for 3rd in front of Sagan, Bakelants and Trofimov.
EBH will finish in a disappointingly 7th a few seconds before Claeys.
In the chasing group Vichot will win the sprint ahead of Skujins who closes the top10.
Interestingly, Ginnani managed to claw himself back up to this last group, during the last climb, but couldn't finish higher than 18th. On the other hand, both Van Garderen and Vanendert made the inverse trip finishing in the 2nd chasing group, with the first paying for his unlucky attempts to bridge up to the front group earlier on.
