This 9th stage was awaited for long now and with 3 really tough climbs with lots of steep sections, it`s a day for the pure climbers clearly.
Reis being on paper the very best followed by Nesset, Slagter, who both have high GC chances as well, Kohl, who is struggling recently and Rodrigues, Vinhas, who might have helper tasks mainly.
The bigger question though is if Herklotz, who also is not far off can use the motivation from having defended the leader jersey yesterday to remain in the top spot! In especially with a TT yet to come, where he needs to have a gap to Reis and Nepomnyachsniy, who also is a favourite for today.
Kirsch as outside bet, in especially as he has no huge GC ambitions any longer and hence could be allowed a gap.
For the puncheurs it`s all about limiting their loss to remain in the top 10-15 area.
7 in todays break hope to attack the KoM jersey and/or the stage win. Clarke Lane Mendes Monfort Ndayisenga Ahmad Zamri Kononenko
Incredibly steep first mountain as you can easily see here. Lots of riders already get dropped at half time of this climb and will need to give everything to avoid the time limit cut.
Several puncheurs already struggle such as Gilbert or Meyer and are at the very end of the peloton being dropped at times even. Losing contact too early will see them drop out of the GC area too much. So they need to fight.
On top Lane takes the 16 point ahead of Kononenko, Clarke, Ndayisdenga and Ahmad Zamri. The others with a small gap already.
The Cat.2 was less steep and only had short sections with ~10%. Also Ahmad Zamri dropped now and again Lane taking the big points being up to 26 in total now.
Clarke, Ndayisenga and Kononenko next.
Gillett takes the remaining 2 points ahead of Pulido, Navarro and Van der Velde, who all attacked out of the peloton.
Nasty crash then in the descent as the rain started to improve making it dangerous.
Kohl, Beltran!, Vakoc, Valverde the biggest names.
Pulido and Osorio though quickly slowed down and delivered Beltran a safe ride back into the peloton of just 46 riders!
The others didn`t make it with them and are 1min behind. Chaves btw. remained in the peloton and wasn`t heading back.
Bevin with a big ride for Herklotz. He was already riding in front for parts of the Cat.2 and now is doing all the work alone! 2'30 to the first group, where Gillett found contact. 25km uphill from now on with the first half being the steeper one.
Slagter, Reis, Kruijswijk and Nepomnyachsniy all look solid here as they have a team mate at their side.
Nesset looking isolated but Aker has numbers up there.
Destribois is isolated, Beltran basically is as Chaves is still not helping him.
Rodrigues and Kadri ride a race on their own each, Majka and Zardini also basically isolated just like Kohl, Konrad, Rabottini, Degand, Chiarello to name some others.
Kirsch is sitting in between 2 team mates but only in ~25th position yet.
At the end of this 63 rider group again most, who were dropped earlier and hence I didn`t count as real team mates to support their leaders.
Dyrnes as puncheur at the end of the peloton. Lavery as 10th in the GC as well close to being dropped. Meyer and Gilbert already are. So the puncheurs with a tough day here.
20km left and soon the riders have a short descent to recover a bit.
Bevin still in front but now Heider is coming back and being another late support for Herklotz, who sits in the first row comfortably.
Descent done and with 13,7km to go and just 400m behind the first group, the first attacks. Rodrigues Majka Chiarello Laengen Van der Velde Navarro
Stage hunters without biggest danger for the top10.
Just 500m later though the GC attack. It`s Nepomnyachsniy followed by Beltran, who luckily recovered well from the crash.
Bevin and Heider can`t accelerate immediately and hence Porto is taking over. Baltazar still with Reis but basically the team leader is working himself.
Behind him Herklotz, Slagter, Kruijswijk, Nesset, Kirsch, Rodrigues again after not getting a gap.
Having problems now are Kadri at the end of the ~20 rider group, Zardini and also Destribois with a bad day, who could lose the 5th overall.
Gillett and Lane are the last breakaway riders in front. Just 20s ahead of Nepomnyachsniy though as only rider remaining from the latest attacks.
The steepest parts of that climb are done and hence Reis might have waited too long for a huge GC attack. But he probably feels well enough with a TT to come and now attack to match Nepo, who would be a danger otherwise.
Kadri meanwhile dropped! Rodrigues also in the group ahead, so not perfect for Novatek. Also Zardini in there.
Nesset now working in the group of 12 alongside Herklotz, Slagter and Majka.
Just when Reis made contact with the leading group, Nepomnyachsniy accelerates again dropping Lane and Gillett easily.
Behind Beltran can`t follow the GC group which is down to 8 only at 6,5km to go.
Aker with 2, all others isolated as Baltazar also dropped now.
Kadri doing decent to defend his top10 but will need to fight on, while Destribois is losing ground.
Reis clearly the best climber and is up to Nepomnyachsniy again. 5km mark!
Behind Herklotz chasing now and the gap is small. Nesset, Slagter and Gillett with him.
Kruijswijk, Kirsch, Majka, Laengen and Chiarello lost contact.
2,5km and the trio is giving it all to limit the loss. Unfortunate for them that the duo in front is also the best against the clock tomorrow but keeping the gap at just 30s at the moment is looking good.
Slagter and Herklotz also with the fight for yellow as it`s just 10s in between.
Flamme Rouge and Reis getting a small gap. But bigger news that the gap to Herklotz is almost gone!
The less steep top area here is helping the group behind clearly.
And then it`s gone. Just bike length now with Herklotz fighting for bonus seconds to avoid Slagter to pass him. He will surely defend the jersey by the look of it.
Reis though wins the stage and with a TT to come, chances to win the GC are still there, but without a gap behind him, a big opportunity to increase his chances is gone.
Nepo in 2nd with a good ride but not good enough to improve his chances neither.
Herklotz ahead of Nesset and Slagter then. GC wise Reis at 1'59, Nesset at 2'51 and Nepo at 2'52 need a big TT then.
Kruijswijk is a pure fighter coming in solo at 1'04. He is losing hte podium to Reis but is still on the 4th, which is a huge result for him.
Kirsch/Gillett next ahead of Lane.
Majka comes in with Chiarello, Laengen and Beltran. +3'24 today. Big loss but Beltran still in hte top10 with Laengen likely to be as well now.
Rodrigues and Zardini at 4'34, Kadri at 6'03 also defends the top10. Dyrnes, Destribois, Hoelgaard, Kohl, Rabottini and others at 6'12. Hence the Red Bull leader only drops to 8th!
Many puncheurs losing between 10-25min today and hence drop a lot. Lavery down to 14th, Vakoc 20th, Meyer 25th, Palini 34th, Roux 38t, Gilbert 40th.
