Final stage in Ukraine and while the GC is within 3s, it shouldn`t play a big role here. Dekker leads ahead of LLS and Craven. The time trialists dominated over the puncheurs in this event with some excemptions.
Today a flat stage to end the race and maybe another chance for the sprinters.
8 riders in todays break surely want to avoid a sprint finish: Armee Lindau Kastrantas Sørensen Prevar Chatarunga Tanovitchii Gradek
It had been won before the stage already but nevertheless Kastrantas enjoyed his final day in the KoM jersey. Great win for him and congrats to I-Gen.
Eritel, Vontobel and Porto are unsurprisingly the teams chasing behind. The gap went down to 2min with 30km to go. Then stagnated for a while and now is at 1'20 with 14km. The break though in sight.
Gradek knows the chances are big that the peloton goes past them and as he has energy left, he attacks. Behind Prevar for a moment looked like following but then decided to remain in the group trusting in their strength to chase him down.
Also the sprinters are lining up.
Cataldo-Appolonio-Wippert
Ayoune-Cisse-Impey-Haussler
Mas-Carvalho-Avelino-Pelucchi-Vanoverschelde-Kreder-Haller
Matthews right behind those 3 with Opie and Van der Sande.
The break still has a gap and hence the riders fight for the win as well.
Gradek still in front with Prevar and Armee apparently sprinting the fastest.
But the attack was well timed. Gradek with a nice win for his team.
Prevar in 2nd after a rather anonymous race for him and then Armee.
Avelino with the 9th in the end which was the maximum you could reach for the peloton. Unfortunately once again a lazy final 30km for the peloton when everything looked under control.
GC wise no changes and hence Compal with the 2nd HC win in the latest weeks and hence might be over the line now. Vontobel couldn`t get as much here as they had hoped and might go under. A full rankings will tell later.
