Another flat stage for the sprinters. Howard did win the first against Guerao and Goss. Who is going to take this one?
The break of the day with 8 riders today: Borges Palini Bystrom Portela Vichot Schlechter Hugentobler Othman
The gap was up to 6min but is now down to 2'30 at the Cat.2. Behind it`s Oz Cycling, Red Bull and Becherovka chasing.
Cat.2
Portela
10
Othman
8
Bystrom
6
Borges
4
Palini
2
The pace dropped a bit here as some sprinters got dropped. Within those Guerao and Pedersen.
The gap still at 2min with 20km to go!
Cat.4
Portela
5
Vichot
3
Borges
1
Oz Cycling in person of Morton and Becherovka are doing such high pace that there is a huge selection. Only 18 riders in front including race leader Spilak. Also Phinney, Madrazo and Dekker in there as big GC riders. Other than that teh Festina helpers and Oz Cycling and Becherovka around their sprinters.
A bit behind Aker working for Martin and Napolitano himself trying to get back.
Crash by Cataldo and Pomoshnikov. First as 21st Vontobel`s best GC guy.
The gap to the later peloton got much higher and above 1min now. The sprinter teams though not willed to work for the GC riders in that group and now we see another selection of 6 riders only including 3 Oz and 3 Becherovka riders. Goss and Howard obviously within those while Morton is a tier 2 GC rider.
5km and while the pace looked high the breakaway still has more than 1min and will take this stage. Disappointing for those two teams here as it`s a 2 rider battle only. Morton-Von Hoff-Goss against Vysna-Boivin-Howard.
In the break Othman attacks the group going for the stage!
Palini trying to follow with all his riders in his slipstream.
Othman quickly struggles and is passed. Palini, Borges, Bystrom and Vichot in the first rows now.
Palini also went too early with Vichot struggling.
Bystrom against Borges it seems.
Bystrom takes the stage! Nice win for Aker. Borges as 2nd ahead of Vichot while Palini takes 4th.
Not much to say about this weird sprint duel today. While Becherovka might have had the weaker train, Howard was the stronger sprinter once again. He takes 9th ahead of Goss. Almost 2min behind the group.
Morton comes in +2'36 and this way easily gains more than 1min to all other GC riders. Spilak, Madrazo, Phinney, Dekker all slowed down in the end allowing the dropped riders to come back.
