The stage starts in Hoofddorp, in the municipality of Haarlemmermeer, the town is built on land reclaimed from water in the 1850’s, as the entire municipality was. The route ends in Noordwijk just some 22 km from where it begins after a loop east in the direction of Utrecht.
As oppose to Hoofddorp, Noordwijk has a long history, from early traces of humans 2000 BC, over being a place of pilgrimage in the early middle ages, to transforming from a fishermen’s town to a seaside resort in the second half of the 1800’s.
The route is completely flat, only the three intermediate sprints to break the monotony, the first in Wilnis after 38.4 km, the second when we get back to Hoofddorp after 75.4 km and the last in Noordwijk after 123.7 km.
It is very clouded could easily look like rain, but that is not the main concern of the teams today, with expected wind speeds from 50-70 km/h, anyone’s race could be ruined if not perfectly positioned, in case crosswinds on the many open sections will split the peloton.
Oomen opens the race while still inside Hoofddorp
A few riders attempt to join the breakaway but only one make it, it is De Haes. None of them good sprinters, but De Haes superior acceleration should give the advantage in the intermediate sprints.
In the peloton it may not be over yet, new attacks from the riders missing the first time, it is Oka, Pokidov, Salas, Matzka and Losch.
The wind speed is 69 km/h, and the peloton decides to hunt the 2nd breakaway down, stretching the peloton to its maximum, wearing on the weakest riders, but the 2nd break is over before anyone lose contact.
On front De Haes opens the intermediate sprint, and Oomen can only watch his opponent take the points and the bonus.
From the peloton Mohs makes a smart move attacking early into the curve, Lo Cicero attempt to counter but it is too late. Mohs take the last two points.
Over the next period the duo in front builds a lead of about 6 minutes, the peloton decides to start the chase with 85 km left. Valio - DeLaval doing most of the work, Paillot, Pökälä, Omarsson
De Haes also wins the next two sprint in front of Oomen.
In the 2nd sprint Lo Cicero seems to takes the 2 points in a very narrow fight, at least that is what is shown on TV.(*)
(*)in the official result after the stage, they go to Mohs.
The last sprint from the peloton is won by Mohs
Breakaway at 1’33, now 25 km to go for the peloton, the combination is higher and higher pace and crosswinds at 55 km/h start to wear on the riders, a chunk of 28 riders are cut off, the best placed GC 29th Hudecek and we see GC6th Andersen just barely making the cut 5th last.
20 km to go, breakaway at 1’19. Samoilev, Cohen and Kolev pushing the pack forward.
Up front De Haes with the strong wind in his back, delivers a 75 km/h acceleration, crushing any resistance left in Oomen.
15 km left for De Haes
Another 2,5 km has gone by, with more riders dropping out the back door from the peloton, while Andersen seems to have survived his crises, an even better placed rider is victim of the wind, points jersey wearer and GC 2nd Robert losing time fast.
10 km left De Haes in front, Oomen at 39”, peloton at 1’27.
Another victim of the crosswind GC 17th Ford, already 1’57 behind.
Pszczolarski, Reckweg, Sagan, Mohs, Pedersen and Nelson forms the spearhead of the peloton.
Then a crash, first down is GC 16th Dempster, a little later GC14th Ghyselinck, Khalifa, GC 10th Fominykh and Bille crashes almost on top of him.
First down Dempster also first up and he manages to stay within the bunch.
The others lost 30”, it this point hard to close, but it was even worse for Ghyselinck he is permanently out of this race
6 km to the line for De Haes, peloton at 48”.
Dempster down first, crashing into the side banner
5 km to the line
The wind and high pace continues to cut of riders, amongst them the crashed. Many groups impossible to mention everyone but here is a few.
De Haes alone in front.
At 35” Peloton with 88 riders
At 2’07 22 riders, Rowe and Colbrelli in this group.
At 2’46 6 riders, Trusov, Havik and Docker in this group
At 3’27” 8 riders, including Dempster.
Even further back Fominykh, Ford and Robert in that order.
Fronting the peloton, we got Reckweg in front of Bialoblocki with Mohs at wheel. Then Pedersen leading a group of Netia – Vónin riders for Vantomme
4 km to the line
De Haes got 28”
Reckweg falls back, leaving the lead to Bialoblocki.
Pedersen and the entire Netia – Vónin group not able to hang on, instead Lo Cicero have snatched the wheel of Mohs
Behind him Nelson and further back Silvestre acceletating to get contact.
With the strong wind at his back Bialoblocki keeping a mind blowing 70 km/h.
Another huge cut of riders just 33 left in the peloton, but that probably won’t change the times as we are inside the 3 km mark, on a flat rated stage.
Then a few sharp turns, and the wind is straight into the face of the riders. Bialoblocki can’t handle the sudden change of wind and slows down.
There is no initiative for a short while; making the distance to De Haes grow to 30”
Then acceleration from Franczak and Sobota with Vantomme at his wheel.
Exactly 3 km left for the favorites.
This acceleration seems to be too much for De Haes, over less than a kilometer his lead crumbles down to just 14”.
This is the positioning in the peloton.
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Franczak
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Sobota
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Vantomme
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Goss
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Mohs
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Lo Cicero
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Guardini
Holloway
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Guillén
Nelson
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Ignatiev
Silvestre
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Kennaugh
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Bennett
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Cohen
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Lobato del Valle
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Cornu
Reckweg
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Matthews
Wisniowski
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Chen
Bialoblocki
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Pelucchi
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Stepniak
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Krieger
Sterobo
Viviani
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The riders a tired, so the sprint not yet started, 1.7 km to the line.
photo taken a bit earlier than the list – that’s why we don’t see Mohs
1.2 km left, been a very difficult finish due to the many sharp corners making a harsh wind change direction again and again.
De Haes is about to get caught.
This is the positioning when the sprint starts:
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Franczak
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Sobota
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Vantomme
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Guardini
Mohs
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Lo Cicero
Silvestre
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Holloway
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Ignatiev
Goss
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Kennaugh
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Bennett
There is no room for a red kite banner, but we are at the 1 kilometer mark.
Franczak swings of to let Sobota and Vantomme pass on his right.
At the far left Guardini already passed him leading out Mohs, right behing him Lo Cicero has closed up.
Silvestre and Holloway both also in the back of this group.
From Holloway a huge gap down to Ignatiev and again a gap to Kennaugh, Bennett and Goss, in front of the next group.
700 meters left
At the front in the left side Guardini with Mohs at his rear right and on his wheel Lo Cicero and Holloway
At the right side Sobota with Vantomme.
In the middle Franczak, who may well be blocking Silvestre a little.
400 meters to the line, the lead outs are over. Mohs a cycle length in front of Vantomme, Silvestre and Lo Cicero almost side by side.
Holloway sits at the wheel of Lo Cicero.
From behind Ignatiev and Kennaugh is getting close, could well pass the three domestics before the line.
200 meters Lo Cicero and Holloway can’t keep up.
It is going to be a close fight between Mohs, Vantomme and Silvestre
Quite a chaotic finish, a car is stranded on the finish line, but luckily does not cause any harm.
Mohs wins the stage in front of Vantomme and Silvestre
Holloway 4th, Lo Cicero 5th Kennaugh 6th and Ignatiev 7th.
Manarelli wins a very close sprint in the next group for 8th, in front of Chen and Lobato del Valle to round of top 10.
[C1] Olympia's Tour 
