Todays stage is exciting for many reasons. In the past years, this break often ended in a breakaway success, which then put the favourites under big pressure. In 2013 Iker Camano won here finishing 11th in the GC then. Last year Barredo was given a gap leading to couple of days in yellow before he struggled towards the end. Worst though in 2014, when a group of dangerous riders were allowed to gain time here via the breakaway. Both Maillet and De la Fuente weren`t be caught until the end making them also the 1-2 in the Final GC.
Teams hence might be warned about todays stage as it`s not the hardest being hilly rated only but one of the most important ones!
On a stage like this the GC favourites must be mentioned as top picks being led by the big 3!
Blue-White. Definitely the colour of the PCT or at least this race it seems. SanCor, Indosat and Azteca all in those colours. Moreno Hernandez Cassidy Parra Bustamante
Long story short: While two of them are climbers, the early windy days or lazy riding by several riders, none of those is a big danger. At least 8min back in the GC for those. So this year the stage might not be as GC relevant break wise.
After days of stage racers riding for their sprinters, the roles changed. Today it`s Flores with Castaneda, Prio with Carvalho and Ayubowan with Petit working. Also Telkom Africa with some riders chasing.
Crash in the peloton. 4 riders involved including some decent climbers though no big GC riders. RodrÃguez Pereyra Pakthusov Juarez
The long climb starts and all the big names are in the front rows. In especially Telkom around ricco with big numbers. Only 1'30 for the trio in front.
A few kilometers in but far from the highest point still Parra Bustamante takes the first KoM points ahead of Moreno Hernandez, who clearly are better climbers than Cassidy. So finally the KoM jersey will be worn in this race tomorrow.
Sprint
Parra Bustamante
6
Moreno Hernandez
4
Cassidy
2
This is also the time which sees many riders struggle including green jersey of Serebriakov. No surprise though on such profile.
Appollonio still in the peloton but also at the very end. So the sprinter of Vontobel can already say "goodbye" to this shirt.
Still 5km to the Cat.2 and the break is caught. All starting from new with 53 riders in the front group.
800m to the top and a serious acceleration by several riders. Martin McConvey Ricco Pinot Marquez Kiserlovski Jang Sayar Talansky Brenes De la Cruz
So while Kiserlovski having 2 and Martin 1 helper even, some big names including the top favourite missed this move. Those mainly are: Machado Rujano Chamorro Rodrigues Meintjes Cataldo Signorini Ochoa Quintero Gilanipoor Maillet
Going over the top several riders from behind have more or less joined them making it a long line at the moment.
Cat.2
Martin
10
De la Cruz
8
McConvey
6
Marquez
4
Ricco
2
It`s now a group of 18 riders in the front group and good for Machado or Rujano as they made the connection: Machado Martin McConvey Ricco Meintjes Rujano Pinot Marquez Kiserlovski Jang Sayar Talansky Brenes De la Cruz Cataldo Chamorro Zurita Ochoa Quintero
The two biggest names, who missed the move have now attacked and chase the favourite group. Those are Rodrigues Gilanipoor
followed by Sisira
Also behind in the "Mainly Helpers" Group of 37 the pace is not that low. Some riders still chase while having their leader in front simply to keep their very own chance alive for a decent GC around the top25. Those for example are Telkom`s Bester or Ayubowan`s Gallopin.
Gilanipoor joins the group! Strong ride seeing the gap being quite big. Rodrigues a bit later struggles to do so and even more Sisira, who is also dropped but not yet in the 2nd field.
Between both bigger fields only 1'40.
Azteca would have the most guys in the group but none of them feels able to higher the pace as they are at their limit already.
Instead another team is playing their number advantage. White jersey Meintjes works for his leader Ricco. This obviously makes it even harder for the two "not yet joined" riders from behind to close the gap.
Cat.4
Meintjes
5
Machado
3
McConvey
1
Helpers such as Jang are dropped back to Sisira.
Though also Ochoa Quintero and Gilanipoor as weakest of the leaders can`t follow. Both make it back though while Rodrigues, joins Sisira/Jang. 90s gap already for them with the bigger field only 50s behind those and after the descent all 3 are caught!
The group of 18 in front though is going onto their last 2 kilometers. Machado now acts for the first time so far and attacks on the final uphill section. Behind Martin follows quickly while Meintjes/Ricco try to chase them down.
But the gap is opened under the Flamme Rouge!
And can`t be closed! Machado with a huge win no.1 in 2016. Very well done and this also means the leader jersey for him.
16s later Dan Martin finishes, which is also a good result for him. Being new KoM leader also is a nice bonus of course.
Not sure if intended. Meintjes steals the last bonus seconds from his leader Ricco! This moves him into 3rd in the GC 4s ahead of the Italian.
All others in this group finished within the same time at 28s after Machado. Only Sayar and McConvey were too tired in the end losing twice as much.
The big group around Rodrigues lost almost 3min in the end as the chasing by riders such as Bester or Gallopin obviously stopped once Rodrigues was in there and alone with couple of tired team mates, he was not able to limit his loss any less.
Maillet actually gained 17s by attacking out of this group late.
