Third stage and it's surely the most challenging of all flat stages here: several climbs on the circuit (10 mountain sprints will shake up the KoM competition) and while it's still a flat rated stage, it will be interesting to see, if the less strong sprinters (Drapac anyone?) will survive those hills until the finish.
Kennaugh took the first flat stage yesterday and will surely fancy his chances today. Of course it's also a great looking stage for GC contenders like Kump and Van Asbroeck. Also Goss knows how to handle hills. Should be an interesting day.
The usual business. A first few attempts to break clear from the pack: Toribio, Naesen, Brandao, Spengler, Veyhe, Ariko, C Chen, Höög. They are quickly brought back by the peloton though.
The next wave of attacks looks better:
Zhao Hsu Bazzana Salas
A great day to join the break with so many mountain sprints on the menu.
And two of the break dominate the thing: Bazzana and Hsu will probably fight for the polka dot today.
Sprint #1: Bazzana ahead of Hsu
Sprint #2: Bazzana ahead of Hsu
Sprint #3: Hsu ahead of Bazzana
Sprint #4: Bazzana ahead of Hsu
Sprint #5: Bazzana ahead of Hsu
Sprint #6: Bazzana ahead of Hsu
Provisional ranking with six of ten mountain sprints done:
KoM: Bazzana 58, Hsu 50, Salas 30
55km to go now and the peloton started to chase, yet trailing by 4 minutes. Way to go.
The fight for the polka dot continues and Hsu fights back at the next sprint:
Sprint #7: Hsu ahead of Bazzana
Sprint #8: Hsu ahead of Bazzana (Bazzana 74, Hsu 70)
Just 17km to go and (two climbs) and now Bazzana goes clear from Hsu! The other escapees couldn't follow their pace anymore and now Bazzana takes the next sprint to grow his lead!
The peloton is still chasing and reduced the gap to 1'31" in the meantime. This could be a close decision eventually!
Contreras leading the pack into the final 14km of the stage and the gap is at 1'20" now. Only Bazzana and Hsu are left in the front, with Bazzana a few seconds ahead of his breakaway companion.
Indosaat and Orange as the most active teams in the chase, so Goss and Kennaugh probably feel good today. Still, there's a gap to close!
Bazzana takes also the final mountain sprint, but he is dead empty. The peloton rapidly narrowed the gap with Orange - where Kamyshev does his work at the front of the pack now - and now also Isostar sharing the work pretty well.
Bazzana is reeled in with 8km to go then! The sprinter teams once again delivered, even though it didn't look that good just a few minutes before.
Wisniowski goes! The race settled down for a moment and Wisniowski took the opportunity to launch a strong looking attack! After a disappointing opening stage with no single attack from the big guns, it's now time to do something. He's currently 11th in the GC with 20 seconds on Altur and with only flat stages to come, this is definitely the only chance to sneak into the Top-10 of the GC!
6km remaining!
Vanbilsen as the first trying to jump behind! After the disappointing first stage, we could finally have a race here, guys!
The strong men at the front of the pack now: Altur well aware of the danger and accelerating as well!
Mørkøv and Jans right behind him and also some of the best sprinters are already trying to keep their position at the front of the pack.
Wisniowski 24" ahead of Vanbilsen and the bunch though!
And how strong is this guy? Wisniowski holds on to a 27" gap on the bunch, where Vanbilsen is still trying to bridge across the solo leader! Yet struggling to get away with Altur, Jans and those other guys pacing.
Wisniowski won't care too much, as he's approaching the finish in Licques: 1.8km to go for him..
There's a clear gap.. but of course there's still a way to go as well!
Vanbilsen still ahead of the bunch, but he's getting company with an accelerating Holloway!
No trains today, but the strongest sprinters fought their way to the front and try to get something out of this tough stage:
Kennaugh Goss Appollonio Vantomme Rowe Kump
Altur is there with Tsatevich a few metres behind. Also Van Asbroeck not yet at the front, but moving forward from behind!
Vanbilsen is done and Holloway struggles to hold off a strong Kennaugh and also Goss is very fast now!
Wisniowski already inside the final kilometre, still holding on to a gap around 30 seconds!
Appollonio can't follow, it seems. Rowe is there. Kump trying to hang on with Vantomme. De Maar. And Van Asbroeck is there (in the right corner, as you may notice a yellow sleeve there)..
They are there, but they are all too late for the victory:
Wisniowski takes the stage and boy, he did it in fashion. He actually celebrates a bit too early for his manager's liking, but there's still a clear gap on the sprinters, who will come just around the final corner now.
This must be a gap, right? Let's wait and see. A super strong performance anyway. And given his latest gap around 30 seconds, he will not only count on the 20 seconds bonifications (which will catapult him into the - shared - GC lead anyway)!
Holloway recovered from his struggles! He fights back to hold of Goss with just a few metres to go. Kennaugh suffering now, but still a few metres ahead of Van Asbroeck, who's flying past the other guys now!
Holloway takes 2nd ahead of Goss! Van Asbroeck with a strong finish to go 4th ahead of Kennaugh, Kump, Tsatevich, Rowe, Vantomme and Vanbilsen. So that's crucial bonifications for Holloway, who did so well in the opening stage.
And the race jury makes a reasonable decision:
+ 31" for the peloton! The gap was too clear to be not rewarded. Wisniowski with a power move today. That's how a strongman has to deliver. Well done.
There's been a major split in the pack as well, a few minor GC riders losing some time today. Most notable names may be Nolf, who lost 2'37" and drops to 26th in the GC. Also Dillier amongst those to lose time.
Wisniowski with the well deserved GC lead: 31 seconds ahead of Altur and 39 ahead of Holloway, who moves up to 3rd thanks to his runner-up today! Jans and Kump in the Top-5 and some more movements inside the GC's Top-20, where the riders have to rely on stage placings now. Obviously, Rowe (7th) and Van Asbroeck (8th) as the best sprinters behind Holloway and Kump. De Maar and Tsatevich completing the Top-10 for now.
Kennaugh leading the points classifications by two points on Kump and five on Wisniowksi. Goss and Holloway well within striking distance with still two flat stages to go. Bazzana (94pts) made a huge jump towards the KoM-win here, but Hsu (86) ain't too far behind. Zhao (42pts) as 3rd already with quite a disadvantage though. Altur could not defend the GC-lead, but remains the U25 leader.
