There we go. The first real GC stage of the Tour of America on day 5. Not yet in the mountains but such hill stage with a 3,2km ramp towards the line with an average of 11,2% and actually higher on the 2nd half surely can give some drama.
When looking on stage favourites most GC riders must be named. Others prefer the long mountains a lot more such as Krasnoperov, Ratiy, Garby or Campero.
Next to the stage race allrounders we have some kind of pure puncheurs here. Watch out for Simon as best puncheur in the whole peloton here but also for Besada or Geschke, Juarez and Veilleux. Solid puncheurs and with a good sprint in the end.
An early Cat.2 and hence more points alone than the actual leader.
Coming handy then if the KoM leader himself decides to attack for those 10 points and hence Handley up to 16 points now.
His companions from yesterday Van der Poel and Daspuntsag though also with big points here while Eaton and Trakhov take the last couple points.
Either the pace was really that high on that Cat.2 or some riders just didn`t concentrate. But a big selection early on already.
Lots of MOL - OMV riders being seen in group 2. Surely Ratiy one of them as also his mountain domestique Stancu. Not their preferred terrain clearly. Pomoshnikov probably waited for him as he is with them as well while normally being a more allround stage racer.
Though more riders were shocked by this early selection including last years winner Pozzovivo alongside Samwel, Hacecký and Hirschlein.
It took actually 40km until the groups were able to make contact again. 105 riders now in the peloton with ~25 still behind.
And also the breakaway finally was forming on that "flat" section. Just two riders but the KoM leader Handley being one of them and hence collecting more points on todays KoM spicked route. With him Vanthourenhout.
van der Poel and Daspuntsag already went for the last KoM points on the previous spots and with 60km to go they actually close the gap to the duo in front. Though the peloton is less than a minute behind only. Very early catch it seems.
And yes, with 50km to go it`s all over. Ticos Air was taking over and playing their full strenght. As said earlier, they have a stunning mountain train here and also on shorter climbs it`s some nice depth for their GC rider Barguil.
Jeannesson, Raileanu and D.Quintana the trio working with 2 Aeropostal riders basically just watching behind.
103 rider left in the peloton. Biggest name missing probably Samwel, who simply hates hills. Though he is more a pure mountain domestique for Pinot anyway.
And with 22km left on the late Cat.3 more riders struggle. Basically same as before: Ratiy / Stancu
This time Pomoshnikov not waiting and remaining in the peloton.
Also Manfredi and Ivars are dropped.
It`s not Ticos though. On that climb three of UBS are chasing hard and also the GC riders now come into the first rows.
Berhane, Barguil, Pomoshnikov in the first rows behind the working riders. Then Kiserlovski, Elissonde, Schelling, Chamorro, Pinot.
Krasnoperov and Garby still in the peloton but in the middle of the pack just like Atapuma.
No KoM points for any of the former break. All 3 UBS riders Schir, Goncalves and Schär take them.
20km and it took until the start of the descent when the attacks start. It`s Geschke trying to beat the stage racers.
Behind him a quartett is following including the Carlsberg duo Veilleux and Sørensen. Also Juarez and Besada. So basically all the pure puncheurs with 74+ did attack but Julien Simon (76) as very best.
This also is the time for Granjel Cabrera to say good bye to his lead as he just got dropped with around 30 other riders.
Only Juarez made it to Geschke and the duo is having a 40s gap with 10km to go while behind Schär for UBS and Seeldraeyers for Reddit are working. Also Sakalou for Ticos is in the front at times.
5km and the break is over. Too much energy behind and hence Geschke/Juarez had no chance.
Just 2km until the final climb starts. Who is going next?
Nobody really. With a full 70 riders they go into the climb.
They are in this order ignoring many helpers:
De Marchi
Schelling
Sakalou
Chamorro
Pomoshnikov
Barguil
Elissonde
Kiserlovski
Berhane
Simon
Von Hoff
Reguigui
Niyonshuti
Fraile
Warbasse
Krasnoperov
Geschke
Pozzovivo
Grmay
Pinot
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De Clercq
Garby
Yes! Von Hoff is up there challenging while Pinot and Garby are not well placed really.
Further behind in the peloton Atapuma, Hacecky, Anguilet and Hirschlein.
De Marchi was on the attack and now has opened a small gap. Who is reacting?
Basically Sakalou. Surely todays top domestique. He is not pulling Barguil with him though, which is unfortunate for Ticos. Instead it`s Chamorro being in this group of 4 also getting a gap now.
Huge news as well that Schelling is there as probably best GC rider while Simon just wants the stage.
Pomoshnikov, Reguigui, Kiserlovski, Pozzovivo, Geschke, Elissonde, Fraile, Warbasse, Juarez next. Where are the big GC riders?
Well here is Pinot obviously struggling as many riders do pass him. Berhane just a bit ahead of him still behind Niyonshuti even. So 3rd Eritel rider only at the moment.
And Garby as other strong climber is another 10-15m behind, though not the one liking this finish here a lot.
1,2km and De Marchi still goes strong. 13,7% now and Schelling really giving it all to close the gap.
On the left also Fraile now moving up. Not sure yet if Warbasse is still close to him as before or if he has gotten the okay to go.
Flamme Rouge for many. Though De Marchi is having a comfortable gap while Schelling and Fraile also got clear.
Kiserlovski sees this and now diesel engines the couple riders under the 1km mark.
De Clercq and Simon are those just behind him.
Pozzovivo, Pomoshnikov, T.Martin, Chamorro and still Sakalou following. What an effort by last.
Then a group around Berhane, Barguil, Warbasse, Pinot, Grmay, Atapuma, Garby, Elissonde...
Von Hoff as info is dropped.
Who had expected this. 300m to go and De Marchi can already celebrate. Wow. Stunning performance and big result. Now this might explain why Telia Brussels weren`t supporting Nizzolo that much if saving energy for De Marchi was planned. Big win and likely the GC lead as well.
Also a huge ride by Fraile. Almost bigger surprise as De Marchi. He even beats Schelling for 2nd but both at +47s and with a nice move up in the GC.
Kiserlovski coming over the line as 4th 1'19 in the end. With him the next surprise: Bart De Clercq!
Then Simon 10s later, who wasn`t able to grab the stage while Tony Martin as next Löbau overperformer already at 1'37.
Pozzovivo with a strong final up to 9th ahead of Pomoshnikov as best MOL rider and good he didn`t wait for Ratiy! Though 1'47 and 2'01 for them.
Chamorro as best Ticos rider ahead of Garby! Yes the Dane basically climbed 30-40 spots on the final 2,5km. Probably even the fastest climb of all but De Marchi. Big stage for him as this was normally one to lose on most. 2'16 for them as also Ramos Ticona.
Warbasse then at 2'38 with Sakalou. Newton might indeed go for Fraile now as GC rider and Warbasse as stage hunter.
And here we have some of todays huge losing riders. Berhane surely not expected this and neither did Barguil. With them Reguigui, who likely waited as also Geschke, Elissonde, Juarez, Goncalves. All at 2'54.
More important though 2min to Schelling and 1'30 to Kiserlovski. Those two might be the new top favourites now.
Even worse Pinot today. 3'37 and just in the middle of the first really big group. Good for him that no gaps were given there as otherwise it would have been 5+ minutes.
Samwel 8'29, Ratiy 10'22. Both likely stage hunting in the mountains and supporting their better placed riders.
