The first mountain stage of the race. And despite some climbs on the 2nd half, it`s not a very hard one. A long and non-steep Cat.4, then a short Cat.2 and a final climb that having some semi-steep sections early on but becoming easier towards the end and with couple flat-ish parts even in the end. Still enough for some attacks clearly.
Pinot and Berhane listed as top favourites and indeed they need to gain some time. Same for Barguil or Garby and even more for Warbasse, if the US rider still wants a high GC.
Different for Schelling and Kiserlovski and also Pomoshnikov had a solid first couple days.
A break of 4 and no surprise at all to see the KoM leader Handley in it.
The others are: Bookwalter Sivori Thill
Last with less than 5min in the GC the highest placed rider.
UBS working as expected. With Schelling in such a good position having the leader shirt after the TT kilometers, the team surely hopes to defend it as long as possible. Until the end in best case.
Though two teams that need to ride a hard race from now on also show their ambitions: Haute Route and Eritel. Pinot and Berhane surely had hoped for less time loss so far.
Also Ticos is seen working for Barguil/Chamorro. Not for Sakalou, who is 15th in the GC and wearing the white U25 jersey and actually being top favourite for this one as well. Seeing him working early already on stages like this, other U25 riders though might hope for a chance as well.
Cat.4 reached and it`s not a free ride for Handley. Instead Bookwalter taking the points with Sivori in 3rd. Also Thill would have gone for it but couldn`t challenge the others.
38 points now for the Brit with Vanthourenhout following with 15 and van der Poel at 13.
Less than 40km to go and the start of Mt. Raimer, the Cat.2. 5,4km and 6,7% in average. The gap is down to 1'40 as Ticos is now chasing hard. 4 riders ahead of Barguil as their GC rider while Chamorro though seems to have a free role in the team.
Quickly a group of 35 riders is dropped and not the best news for Eritel as basically all the support riders are in there and Berhane isolated already. Surely more was expected from Niyonshuti or last year`s top10 GC Reguigui.
The peloton almost catching them now. In fact, Thill already is dropped.
But the KoM still goes to the break with Bookwalter again beating Handley and Sivori as 3rd.
Iturria and Schir as chasing riders, hence also MOL is now working for Pomoshnikov.
18km and we are about to start the final climb soon. Bookwalter having a small gap now after the descent. Then Handley and Sivori following both with 20s gaps each with the peloton of still 76 riders having another 10s.
UBS was trying to control the peloton with 2-3 riders ahead of Schelling. Though other riders decide to make life hard for those and while Bookwalter is caught now with 13km to go, Berhane attacks. Bold move but a much needed one obviously. 18th and +3'46 for him.
Barguil and Pinot following him and the trio has opened a gap. None of them had a strong stage 5 with the first uphill finish but today they look a lot better.
Schir at the moment working behind with Schelling in 2nd position. Then Simon for Newton working for Fraile and Warbasse.
Kiserlovski also in the first rows just like Pomoshnikov, De Marchi, Hirschlein, Elissonde, Garby, Campero, Pozzovivo, Chamorro, Krasnopverov, Atapuma.
With 6,5km the gap is up to 50s and slowly getting really dangerous.
Schelling himself chasing now with Kiserlovski right behind him.
Then support riders Tatarinov and Stancu ahead of Elissonde, Atapuma, Simon, Hischlein, De Marchi, Eg, Garby, Pozzovivo, Fraile, Pomoshnikov, Vuillermoz, Krasnoperov, De Clercy, Campero, Warbasse, Ratiy, Sakalou, Grmay, Hacecky, Chamorro in this exact order.
5km and gap down to 38s again. Kiserlovski taking over now and it`s yet a bit faster.
Pinot in front realizes this and attacks again with both able to follow though.
Behind Garby realizes that the gap stagnates at around 40s and attacks. Both Schelling and Kiserlovski not having their very best day apparently and hence would just limit the loss to those ~40s by the look of it.
Atapuma trying to follow but not really closing the gap to Garby.
And with 2,7km to go Garby really made it. He sits behind the trio in front now with Barguil doing lots of the pace at the moment.
Behind 22 riders left and reducing it to 31s now. Responsible therefore MOL - OMV as Stancu is working now for Pomoshnikov, while Ratiy remains as free role rider and also in this group.
Riders dropped by this acceleration are: De Clercq Hirschlein Samwel
1,4km and now Garby at the front but the gap became tiny now as Stancu really fighering. 16s only and almost invisible.
Obviously the leading group has saved some energy and now in the "sprint" extend the gap again. At least this goes for Barguil, who now is passing Garby. Then Pinot while Berhane looks the weakest in the sprint.
Behind Pozzovivo surprisingly strong now also opening a gap with the 3 MOL riders behind. Then also Seeldraeyers and Krasnoperov for Reddit, Atapuma, Campero and the Telia duo Hackecky and De Marchi.
Berhane is no longer sprinting really. Just trying to avoid a gap. Garby as well can`t go faster.
Surely a win for the French but which one?
But Barguil remained in the lead. Big win for him ahead of Pinot.
Garby and Berhane following and good for both, no time gap.
As good for the top4 that behind them a 25s gap was given.
Pozzovivo leading the group over the line with Schelling just behind. Also KRasnoperov showing a strong finish while Newton`s duo was in the later half just like Kiserlovski, who struggled today it seems.
Then 2'20 later Niyonshuti and Hadi as first Eritel helpers, who had a weak day and surely must perform better in the tougher mountain stages, where Berhane needs them.
Also Kraftwerk clearly not amused today by a 2'44 loss of Hirschlein, while Pinot also needs stronger support in the other stages with Anguilet as well 2'20 and Samwel even 4'04.
GC wise no big changes. Barguil up to 6th the biggest jump as gaps are close in the late top10-15. Berhane as well to 8th, Garby 11th, Pinot 15th. Slowly the top spots are forming and just the order needs to be defined.
