A stage today that is allegedly flat, but has breakaway written all over it when you consider the lumpiness of the parcours. The favourites are still seen to be the sprinters, but maybe a puncheur or GC contender will surprise?
Two riders would make up the breakaway today, in Sweeck and Moshoeshoe. The Eritel rider would be distanced on both of the Category 2 climbs, with Sweeck taking over the KoM jersey - before returning to his companion in the breakaway after reaching the summit.
Sweeck would also lead over the intermediate sprint with 96km to go - in the peloton it would be Zabel pipping Ewan to 3rd place, and the resulting points and bonus seconds.
The pattern from the previous climbs would repeated on the Category 4 with 60km to go. At this point the break had a 4 minute lead, and with it being downhill most of the way to the finish the peloton surely fancied its chances.
It’s a tricky descent though, and we have a crash featuring some big names! Bonifazio and one of the surprise packages from the prologue, Kasperkiewicz, have gone down. But so too have two of the GC favourites - Kudus and Vasyliv! We’ll have to see if they make it back, being 3 minutes behind the peloton with 50km to go. Nico Denz would also have to abandon as a result.
Luckily for Kudus and Vasyliv, the peloton didn’t push the pace and they were able to return swiftly to the peloton, as were all the other fallers. The focus then became catching the break, and with 20km to go they were in the sights of the peloton - so Sweeck launched an attack, distancing Moshoeshoe, who would soon be caught!
With 5km to go Sweeck had only 19 seconds of advantage left, and the trains are forming - Ewan, Enger and Zabel looking like they’ll be getting the best trains today, while Nommela, Kemboi and Bonifazio are also around the front.
Indeed, with 2.5km to go the catch has been made. Up at the front are Zabel, Enger, Page, Nommela and Ewan. Just behind are Kemboi, Seid and Edmondson - while Herklotz is moving up in the background, will he sprint today?
As we head under the flamme rouge, Page has launched and has a gap, while Rive is flying around the outside having come from a long way back. Nommela looks to be starting off his sprint, while the big favourites hold their fire for now.
With 750m to go Page is fading, and it looks like Edmondson and Zabel are the strongest. Bonifazio is coming strongly from behind, while Ewan and Enger are in a poor position.
500m to go and Page has blown, with Edmondson, Zabel and Kemboi flying past him. Interestingly Molano and Kumara just behind this front group are moving the fastest, but must surely be too late?
200m to go and it’s Edmondson vs Zabel. Kemboi, Ewan and Enger look to be fighting for the final podium spot, with complete chaos just behind.
And so Zabel takes it! Edmondson in second and Ewan in third, while Enger took fourth. Kemboi faded at the end but did well just to be up there, while Korosec, Herklotz (who was around 30th with 500m to go and will wonder what could have been), Nommela, Seid and Page rounding out the top 10.
Unfortunately the results failed to export, so only the stage results are below
