No, I didn't lie before when I said the previous stage was the only one for today. In Danish time, we just moved on to the 3rd of May
Some has called this a decisive stage. It's a mountain time trial, but I wouldn't call it decisive. After all, it's just 7.5 km long, and even though it's steep it's just not enough to have any huge impact. However, it will be a good stage to tell who's to look out for the coming mountain stages.
Anyway, as expected, it took a while until anyone with just the slighest bit of mountain talent showed up. In fact, I had to wait until Dasani's former Mountain Jersey-holder Dyachkin - currently placed 51 in the overall classement - showed up. After a good ride by him he managed to clock the best time of today, cutting 13 seconds off Esmaeli's time.
The next guy I followed closely was the holder of the mountain jersey, Azevedo of the Wiggle-team. It doesn't seem like he deserves the jersey, though. He only got the 2nd best time behind Dyachkin which must mean that Dyachkin is a better climber than Azevedo In the mean time, Barton had secured himself a third place.
For a while, nothing happened, but then yesterday's big loser, Martinez de Esteban (Fed-Ex) showed up and cut 10 seconds off Dyachkin's time. We had a new stage leader! Right after him, Raabe (Slipstream B) removed Azevedo from the rankings, and it started heating up - finally.
By heating up, I mean Saul Raisin, this amazing American riding for Slipstream. He almost managed to catch his team mate Colby - and that on a 8 km. route - and he also blew away his competitors on the podium. At the finish line, the clock said 19'39. Esteban's said 19'55. Soon, his team mate Peterson made Raisin proud by taking the 2nd place with a time of 19'50 -- although still far from Raisin's time.
However, the big boys were yet to come in, and next up was two of the pre-race favourites, Medina and Jaksche, both from British Airways. And Medina delivered! 19'14, and Raisin was silenced. Jaksche, though, isn't as strong as he used to be, and despiste being led all the way to the finish line by some crowd-guy, he didn't get a spot within the top thee. Neither did his friend, Tondo, who was in next. Instead, Medina could celebrate - for now.
Siutsou was the first to threaten Medina, but he clocked a time of 19'28 and therefore only took 2nd. But as said, it was now time for the big boys, and Danielson was coming in fast with Botero in front of him.
.. and when today's favourite of the day, Danielson, crossed the line it had taken him 19'13 to get to the top, 1 second ahead of Medina! It seemed hard to find someone to challenge Danielson, but maybe Sevilla, Ribeiro or Marquez are up for some surprises? At this point, yellow jersey holder Swindlehurst is also on the route. Who knows -- maybe the yellow jersey does indeed give one wings?
Sevilla of Fed-Ex didn't exactly disappoint, but he did only manage a third place with a time of 19'22. Shortly after, Marquez came in, but not in a good enough time for a podium spot. Therefore, it was up to Ribeiro to surprise us - and he partly did. He took a third just ahead of Sevilla.
And that's how it ended, but no Mountain Time Trial without a picture of the guy wearing the yellow jersey, Swindlehurst. And who knows - maybe he does actually manage to keep the jersey.
In the mean time, Barton had secured himself a third place.
