A seven man breakaway braves the 30 km/hr winds to get away from the pack. On second thought, the wind might actually help them in this undulating stage. There are no intermediate points available on this stage.
The riders here are:
Lilovski Semple Rocchetti Sterbini Svab Oomen (third break of the race) Eaton
100 km left for the peloton. They have sped up with In-n-Out and Fablok taking charge. The gap stands at 7'52".
Fast forward to 40 km left. The peloton continue working together with In-n-Out. The break's lead is down below 5' for the first time since kilometer 150. It is currently 4'34".
20 km to go for the break with a 2'14" gap.
Costa attacks halfway up the hill on the last circuit. He gets a 10" gap, 53" behind the break. But the Berg rider soon gets reeled back in.
10 km. Some riders dropped including Thorsen. The break is 1' ahead of the peloton.
The peloton have not made further headway with just 3 km left now. The break's lead is 55".
Svab and Semple attack in search of stage glory just as we pass the kilometer banner!
No trains of note in peloton as they falter in their chase. Just Berg trying to get organised on the left.
500 meters to go. It is a drag race between Svab and Semple for the win. Lilovski leading the battle for 3rd.
200 meters for the leading duo. Svab is just a nose ahead.
Svab wins! That's a Slovenian rider taking a win in Slovenia riding for a Slovenian team! Semple is half a bike length behind in 2nd.
Eaton wins the sprint for 3rd. He is followed by Oomen, Rochhetti, Lilovski and Sterbini. The break hold off the peloton.
Hayakawa wins the sprint for 8th ahead of Kupfernagel.
Scully gets 10th.
Reus is safe mid-pack.
Today's winner - Jernej Svab.
The peloton got the same time as the second group despite there being a clear gap! Svab moves up to 4th in the Points standings.
