It was a really crazy start to the stage. Ones and twos tried to form a break but no one was allowed to get away in the first 50 km of the stage. Elta - Hellenic Post were one of the teams driving on the pace.
146 KM to go: 43 riders lead the race.
Klemme, Yates, Barbin, Diggle (in short most of the favourites) would be left behind here.
With some leaders dropped at this early stage, there was of course some anxiety and nervousness behind - that inevitably led to a crash. Favourite, Yates, was the biggest name to go down hard whilst Foliforov would be the only rider to abandon the stage.
After chasing so many attacks, bizarrely enough, Elta - Hellenic Post attack and send two riders into the lead group of three with about 110 km to go.
However, things did settle down, the favourites regained the peloton and a breakaway of four riders was established with 97 KM to go:
- Haavardsholm
- De Leon
- Battaglin
- Possoni
The favourites' teams in control behind.
Scarponi giving everything to hang on to the rear of the peloton in his home race.
With 60 KM to go the break's gap reached a zenith of 4'10.
30 KM to go - Break @ 2'10.
Clearly Yates suffered immensely from his crash as he is dropped from the 84 strong peloton with the race coming to the climax fast: a real shame for Podium Ambition. Passalacqua the next biggest name to be dropped at this point.
15 KM to go: Break @ 1'50
With 15 KM to go, all of a sudden, the break look like they may have a chance of holding on. Though the last 6 KM are all uphill. It all depends on how much the peloton wants this one.
The favourites' teams look at each other.
And with 10 KM to go the gap is still 1'50, sure the break are riding strongly but the lack of a concerted chase behind is the reason the breakaway are now favourites to contest the win here.
6 KM to go.
It is looking good for the break as we see Possoni put in a big effort out-front. Battaglin immediately drops.
De Leon is the next to wave goodbye to any hopes of the win as Haavardsholm looks like he may catch Possoni yet.
The peloton have left it late here, too late. Nevertheless Barbin does animate the peloton with just over 5 KM to go. This attack forces Tatarinov to give his all to close the gap for his leader.
Our-front Haavardsholm still has Possoni in his sights as the last kilometre approaches.
Behind, a podium place could still be up for grabs for the favourites. Tatarinov finished, we see Klemme put in a big attack with 2 KM to go, he goes straight past Barbin.
Can Possoni hold off his last nemesis from the break and the favourites?
Yes he can. Breakaway win at the San Marino Classic for Possoni! Proving if you let a decent quality break get away you will struggle to bring it back. A plucky win for Team Ticos Air Costa Rica, a win which will do their top 10 aspirations no harm whatsoever.
KAYAK - Clas Ohlsen were described as a team built for breakaways, well that tactic came off today with Haavardsholm showing very well to bring home a tasty bunch of points in second place.
Klemme, comfortably the best from the peloton today, rounds out the podium. The win goes missing again, but a 3rd place is not to be sniffed at and his points tally rolls on fast. He just pips the breakaway rider, De Leon, at the line.
Barbin, the only other favourite to distance the favourites group comes home in 5th. Milan won the sprint home to the line for 6th ahead of De Maar, Krizek (who did a fair bit of pace setting today, Chérel (who finished ahead of Dowsett: who really disappoints today) and Battaglin (who survived from the break to round out the top 10).
Given the really hilly terrain there were plenty of areas for the favourites to attack the race. They didn't. The break won.