A very tough stage today with two ascents from two sides of an HC climb and over 200kms of racing. Not for the faint-hearted, any top GC hopes will all have to be at their best here if they want to be in the battle for yellow by the end of the race. Andy Schleck is in the driver's seat following yesterday's TT, but the likes of Pluchkin and Madrazo are chomping at the bit to challenge for the leader's jersey by the end of the stage. Though really it's Keizer who's the best placed GC rider, a few seconds ahead of Schleck. You can feel the tension in the air here at the startline.
No really strong climbers in the breakaway here. Dumoulin, Bayly, Robov and Brockhoff are our escape today. The latter of course was in the break on day one and will be hoping to use his backlog of KOM points to claim the jersey, however if he isn't good today they're irrelevant with the 60 points on offer.
Robov and Bayly are full of intent, despite it being a precursor climb to the Glaubenbielen they show their dominance in the Cat.2 KoM as the former just takes max points over the Aussie. Meanwhile in the peloton Jacobs, who was in the day 1 break, claims 2 points, showing he hasn't given up on wearing the KOM jersey.
At the summit of the Glaubenbielen, the same result. Bayly and Robov decisively dropping their peers now.
It hasn't been a fast or slow day here so far but the peloton is still intact, 180 riders we now have the descent and a bit of flat road before looping around and climbing the Glaubenbielen the side the riders just descended, which is slightly shorter but steeper.
As I say that though a flurry of attacks over the summit from some good climbers looking to capitalise on the break's splintering. They are lead by Koch. Also involved in moves behind the Evonik man are Herrada, Hoem, Mai, and Ignatenko. This has put a lot of riders in difficulty, the biggest casualties aren't that big though, they are KOM leader Schlechter and white jersey Oram.
As we go around the lake before the reverse climb of the Glaubenbielen, Koch is still solo but the other attackers have found each other and have a healthy gap on the peloton.
It's mostly Prio-Porto, Tinkoff and Gazelle chasing for now, they don't seem to be bothered by the riders ahead, none of whom will really be relevant on GC unless the peloton implodes.
The chasing group has traded Koch for the dropping Ignatenko and gone straight through Brockhoff. Dumoulin has a gap of 40 seconds to them, with another 40 up to the leading duo. It's 4 minutes from the chasers to the pack.
With still 12km to climb and still 53km to race, Herklotz is on the offensive! Nobody immediately follows, but Gazelle do up the pace to stop the young German getting a gap.
But he's still going, and what's more, Taaramäe sees an opportunity! The Estonian needs some time back after the TTT and sets off festivities from the big four off with over 50km remaining! This is a serious move, he’s going for it and has flown past the Gazelle riders!
Keizer seems like he wants to go but can't even accelerate past the Gazelle train. Behind Morton is dropping from the pack as well, much to the anger of the Jayco manager, who was heard over team radio telling Morton something I just can't repeat on television.
The new pace is also too much for Kritskiy, who's not having a good race!
Meanwhile Herklotz and Taaramäe are working together and have 30 seconds' gap to the peloton. Will it be enough to make it the next 8kms to the summit?
The chasing group have bridged to the leaders and already Koch and Herrada are attacking the group.
We've also heard that Malori, the yellow jersey, has predictably lost touch with the peloton.
Vinhas is now putting out some serious wattage, leading the peloton with his leader Machado tucked in behind. They have a little gap, intentional or not, and time will tell if they help or hinder Herklotz and Taaramäe.
They do get a gap, and now Madrazo tries the same trick with Agudelo leading him. Schleck and and his teammates are on the front, with the former World Champ preparing to pounce when his teammates make the catch or give chase himself.
We now see the Vesuvio trio of Goos, König and Schleck get a gap, which Keizer, Pluchkin and Amador latch on to. Their gap to the pack is small but the chase behind is unorganised. We'll get you good people a gaps update soon, as these 6 set their sights on catching the three duos ahead.
Also news that Bayly has been dropped from the front group and Koch and Herrada are still ahead.
There's a few catches made: The Porto duo caught Herklotz and Taaramäe who in turn caught and dropped Bayly, who's now hanging onto the Gazelle duo, and the chasers. Pluchkin also has dropped the others slightly in his chase. Everything much closer now.
Also note the sneaky domestique in Mai that Wiesenhof planted in the chase - was Taaramäe's long move actually pre-planned or is this just great luck?
Almost at the summit and we now actually have a group of 11 as Madrazo, Pluchkin, Amador and Schleck make the bridge, dropping Bayly, Agudelo, Keizer and Schleck's teammates. They have 2'07 on the peloton (lead by what's left of Spotify) and are 1'31 behind Koch and Herrada.
Taaramäe attacks again now, closely followed by Madrazo. Everyone is trying to follow the move so we'll update you on groups once it's all settled.
In the end the first two get a gap but only drop Vinhas who is caught by Keizer, who's gone solo in search of a bridge. Herklotz notably is struggling though, Hoem and Robov were surprisingly strong there.
Behind them Olivier, Wellens, Alarcon and Novikov have attacked the peloton, though after the move there is no peloton really. A few seconds behind this quartet is a 15-man group, with Yates, Dombrowski and Kudus the biggest names. The latter's teammate leads another group of 15 or so another minute behind.
Koch now leads over the summit, having attacked and dropped Herrada. He's got a surprising and solid minute and a half on Taaramäe and Madrazo, with the Spaniard stuck in the middle.
Machado makes a move now, knowing the danger of the duo ahead and also sensing an opportunity to take the GC lead! He's not directly followed but Schleck, Herklotz and Mai are all chasing.
He leads with a small gap over the KoM point as Schleck, Herklotz and Amador follow behind. Pluchkin is just behind that group but it looks like the end for Robov, Hoem and Mai.
Keizer follows 30 seconds behind the latter three, trailed by 40 seconds by a trio of Vinhas and Novikov and Wellens, who attacked Olivier and Alarcon, who aren't far behind. After them is Goos/Konig/Bayly/Agudelo, who are still intact. After that it's the 15-man group who I mentioned before, now lead by Kudus.
Now on the descent Keizer has bridged to the drop riders from the Schleck group, whilst Alarcon and Olivier have regained touch with Wellens and Novikov. Machado and Herrada retain slim gaps, whilst Koch at the front and Taaramäe and Madrazo all press on.
Behind these groups Agudelo and Bayly have been caught, whilst the Alarcon group has a minute and a half on the Kudus group, with Goos and Konig in no-man's land.
The front group is now Taaramäe, Madrazo, the caught Koch and the bridger Machado. Herrada has been dropped. This group retains a 31-second lead to Schleck and co.
Everyone behind Schleck's group is falling further behind, Keizer (now solo again) even has lost almost 2 minutes.
The intermediate sprint, won by Koch, is a chance to see the situation before the imminent final climb (halfway up the original side of the Glaubenbielen). The quarter leading have a very slim gap, under 30 seconds, to
The Schleck group, which now has another surprisingly willing participant in their chase with Herrada, who are rotating the chase well and look better organised than quite a few TTTs yesterday.
The chase behind them has ballooned to 9 riders and has actually got back to under a minute behind now there are two domestiques in Olivier and Robov.
Two and a half minutes behind this is the Kudus/Yates/Dombrowski group, lead by Reguigui. It stinks of depression, says the moto rider.
A valiant effort from Koch but he is the last of the break-hijackers to be dropped. It seems like Evonik's manager will see some fight for his TDF win jok- erm, goal but may have to wait for Lopez to mature to actually get some success there. 15km to go.
Novikov now attacking! He tries to leave his companions behind, and maybe even bridge to the group ahead?
Koch has also been caught by said group.
10km to go and the steeper sections of the climb will kick in soon for the front trio. They have slightly extended their lead to 40 seconds now, but are only half the size of the chasers.
Speaking of which, Novikov is now closer to the second group than the third. He's got 20 more seconds to try and bridge before the steeper sections kick in. All groups working together well.
Taaramäe now again making the race as he wants to leave his companions behind. Machado latches straight onto his wheel, Madrazo is responding but slightly later than the Portuguese man.
Silvio Herklotz simultaneously attacks the second group! Koch doesn't have the legs but Herrada does for now. Schleck is at the front of the response, can either of these two attacks get a gap?
The answer is no, but both have dropped riders - Madrazo is now 15 seconds away from both groups whilst Herrada and Koch have had to relent to the pace of Herklotz.
Behind reports of an Aegon rider bridging to Novikov! But it's not Keizer, it's actually Daan Olivier leaving his leader behind!
Behind that Yates now attacks the group, Novak and Teklehaimanot try to follow. It doesn't look that decisive, though, and it won't gap anybody.
A shakeup now as Wellens attacks around Novikov. Olivier drops as Keizer joins the Russian in pursuit.
Up ahead Madrazo is caught by Scheck's group and Taaramäe and Machado have 45 seconds now with just 4km to go!
Madrazo also too tired to follow Herklotz's pace into the final 3km, up ahead Machado takes the reigns to take all the time out of Schleck he can. He needs 22 seconds' gap to claim yellow, however bonuses makes it even less.
Behind Novikov and Wellens working together, Keizer again stuck chasing.
Taaramäe now retakes the lead under the flamme rouge and he and Machado have a gap of 29 seconds to the chasers, which should be enough for the stage.
Both leaders seem to be as fast in the sprint as the other, which looks like it'll be in Taaramäe's favour with his positioning.
Actually Machado cracks and so it's a comfortable celebration from the Estonian. Always attacking, he animated the race and deserves this victory and showing he's the strongest. Surely a big boost for his GC hopes. Machado with a few bonuses will be happy with this and should move into yellow unless Schleck finishes this one off very fast!
Herklotz leads the sprint for third and a few desperate bonus seconds but Pluchkin also looks good.
However, it's the German who takes the last podium spot after a very good performance. For a still developing, not a favourite, young rider to kick off the attacking with over 50km to go, continue to work and attack the cycling world's biggest names, and come third is a feat you can't understate really. He’ll take the white jersey for his efforts as well as a high GC place. Pluchkin and Amador in 4th and 5th had a quiet race and whilst the former will be a bit annoyed not to be at the front, the latter played it well and will be pleased to finish with Pluchkin and Schleck. The latter will be frustrated but didn't quite have the legs today. Behind them, Madrazo does a decent job at limiting his losses but will be disappointed after great work from his team and looking very good before the final climb.
Herrada and Koch did well to earn 8th and 9th after what could have been a stage-winning move midway through the day. Surely a pleasing result for them and their managers, who weren't expecting a lot from this race.
A very good Novikov salvages something for his team today after Kritskiy's misfortune yesterday to round out the top 10th ahead of Olivier and a surprisingly quiet Alarcon. Wellens actually dropped after his earlier efforts and will lose some time here.
You've got to feel for Keizer. Never quite joining the front moves, he was solo for ages and eventually was too fatigued to even hold onto the Wellens group in the final sprint. He's even about to be caught by the group behind, lead by Dombrowski and Vosekalns.
