The sprinters are still ahead of the GC riders in the fight for the green jersey. Though the climbers have closed the gap significantly and hence todays sprinter opportunity will be crucial to extend the gap a bit again.
Though all the climbing in the first 2 weeks and also a tough Cat.2 in the second half of the stage won`t make it too easy for the sprinters. They need to earn todays points first.
5 riders in todays break. Not a lot of teams seem to expect a chance today or they are trying to save energy before the final mountain stages. Stachowiak Monfort Lammertink Rosskopf Cataford
It`s mainly Vesuvio controlling the gap and seeing the GC leader`s team in front on a flat stage often means a slow pace. And similar today. Aegon with 1-3 riders suppporting them for point leader Ben Swift but this isn`t enough really. 11min with 95km to go. Pokerstars earlier did a very big while Becherovka wasn`t chasing at all.
Surely the 3 sprinter teams need to cooperate and higher the pace soon if they want todays finish!
But no chance. The gap went up to 12 min on the Cat.2 where Rosskopf lost contact to the remaining break. Bad luck for him as they will go for the stage win.
Funnily with 20km to go Pokerstars and Becherovka send 2 of their riders to the front in addition to 3 Aegon riders to finally chase. Far too late but at least they might still get some small points for 6th.
Monfort might be the best puncheur but lacks the sprint skills. Hence he uses the saved energy on the recent climb and attacks the group. His only chance really to win here.
5km later he still has a small gap and the Flamme Rouge is not far ahead.
Stachowiak giving it all to bring him back while Lammertink and Cataford take profit of his work in the wind.
1,2km and the Belgium still has the lead. Though while Cataford and Stachowiak struggle, it`s Lammertink attacking behind. The gap surely is getting a bit smaller.
But it`s enough. Big win for Gazelle here with one of their veterans in Monfort.
Lammertink takes 2nd and probably should have attacked earlier.
Stachowiak despite his chasing on the final 10km outsprints Cataford for 3rd.
Rosskopf still ahead of the peloton in 5th!
Sprint trains for 6th behind. Becherovka and Aegon next to each other with Ponzi, Degenkolb, Chen, Goss, Maksimov, Ciolek, Boeckmans and Vantomme behind.
And as so often a Pokerstars sprinter wins. Though bad luck for them it was the fight for 6th only. Bewley next ahead of Swift. So the Brit is losing a few points on his direct opponents but remains in the lead.
