Todays ITT is important for the weaker puncheurs to gain time. It`s not the longest but still a bit of time can be lost here. Bazzana and Taborre will surely lose time here while Olsson might even attack the GC lead.
Several strong time trialists were already out. Robert did lead ahead of Gretsch, Quaade or Dempster. But when Van Winden finished, he made a new best and possibly even the winning time?
Bodnar, Van Zandbeek and Westra all with good times a bit later going into the top5 but slower than the Dutch.
Cornu as best time trialist in the race might be the biggest threat for Van Winden. And indeed after beating the time at half time, he also goes 7s faster. Great time and surely a GC improving one as well, which is needed as he belongs to the kind of weaker puncheurs.
While Koren disappointed by only going in provisional 10th almost half a minute behind, there is a small surprise coming? Boom surely a top5 time trialist here but normally still a bit beyond Cornu. At the split though he takes the lead! He is 2s faster than the Belgium and 5s faster than Van Winden.
He is losing a bit again on the 2nd half and it`s close until the line. It says 2nd and +0! In the end the officials will change it to +1s but still a great performance and much closer than expected.
Dan Craven in the meantime also with a good result by going 6th. Kangert, who likes the time trials more than most better puncheurs wants a good result and he gets one. 3rd ahead of Van Winden. Konovalovas a bit later with a weaker out of top10 result.
And another small surprise. Costa is a great puncheur and average time trialist. Today though he comes in 3rd only 5s off.
As one of the last riders for the stage, Sanchez Gil is on his final meters. He was 5th and +6 at half time and goes just as fast as Cornu on the 2nd split. This means +4 for him and the 3rd. Well done.
Non mentioned puncheurs performances as also the top 3 of the GC:
So Bazzana with a big loss today but keeping the GC lead. Olsson with an impressive performance even gaining on most, while Taborre drops far off being 21st in the GC now.
