Mountain time on Mt. Washington. Basically just a 13,4km climb with an average of 10,2%, right?
Well surely one of hardest climbs all season for most of the peloton as there is no single point to relax. Towards the end the steepness is a bit lower at 8-10%. Most of the climb really is around 10-12% and hence should see the first real ToA mountain test.
The favourites as expected. Pinot, Berhane, Kiserlovski being rated very high and hence Schelling needs a strong team here to defend the lead.
Strongest mountain team easily Ticos with Barguil as leader while also MOL looking good as Pomoshnikov has Ratiy as solid support.
11 riders in the break. Most of them not the very best climbers but some are decent and no danger in the GC. Hence hoping for a small surprise here. Others might just be used tactical for their leaders. Benoot Sivori Van Winden Eg Daspuntsag Simon Campos Vandewalle Vermeulen Sørensen Girdlestone
UBS is not happy with such a big group and hence Aregger and Schär are used early to really go fast. 52 km/h in the first hour and still holding that pace.
Dillier as 3rd rider ahead of Schelling, though protecting him and not being in the wind.
It remained the same until the Cat.2 climb. Rarely more than 2'30 and often just under 2min. Incredible fast stage so far.
The climb itself then was won by Sivori ahead of Simon. Then Girdlestone, Eg and Sorensen. So clearly the stronger climbers.
30km left and the gap is still at just 2min. UBS never stopped their high speed chasing and already lost Dillier as first rider, who now sits as very last rider already 6min down on the early grupetto in which Vanoverschelde and Meyer might be biggest names alongside Hamza. Another 4min to the peloton of 112 and hence some riders maybe struggling with the time limit today.
Ramos Ticona, Ivars, Aregger and Schär all in the first rows now with Schelling just behind as also Eritel, Ticos, Haute Route and most other GC riders such as Kiserlovski.
A short Cat.3 before the final climb and it`s just 6 riders being in front now as the weaker climbers got dropped.
Sorensen wins ahead of Girdlestone and Sivori.
The others are Simon, Eg and Daspuntsag.
Just a bit over 1min though to the peloton.
And behind the favourites don`t even wait until the long climb. Some already start to attack on the Cat.3. It`s Pinot starting this move and behind him Garby, Berhane and Kiserlovski.
UBS and MOL immediately higher the pace while also Fraile and others are attentive in the first row.
Still on that Cat.3 we see yet another acceleration. It`s Berhane trying to get a small gap before the upcoming descent. Garby, Pinot, Kiserlovski following and also Pomoshnikov this time while UBS and Ticos again organize the chasing.
More and more though the red/blue Ticos jerseys replace the slowly dropping back UBS shirts, where Schir seems to be the final rider for Schelling.
In front just Simon and Sivori are left.
37s later the peloton with all favourites together again. Still 92 riders but the attacks see many suffer now and soon the groups should become smaller as we hit the climb.
Schir for UBS and Rojas Villegas for Ticos working. While first is the last support for his team, later is the first rider used and almost weakest of their squad. Incredible. Just Raileanu already is further behind in the group.
All the big GC riders are in the first rows. Barguil, Schelling, Berhane, Kiserlovski, Pinot first. Then Fraile, Pomoshnikov, De Marchi, Pozzovivo.
Afewerki special mention as 2nd highest placed Eritel rider at the moment.
Then Garby, Krasnoperov, De Clercq, Samwel, Warbasse, Stancu, Manfredi, Hacecky, Ratiy, Atapuma and bunch of Ticos riders around Elissonde and Chamorro as also Grmay, Campero, Hirschlein and Seeldraeyers.
Not a lot did happen in the last 3 km and apparently the GC riders did notice the strength of mainly Ticos and save their energy for a moment.
Meanwhile Sivori also got dropped and it`s just Jordi Simon in the lead now around 1min ahead of the favourites. Might be a good support later for Fraile/Warbasse.
Riders being dropped are as best climbers: Ivars for UBS, which isn`t surprising seeing his work. Same for Goncalvez. As said, Schir as last UBS helper for Schelling.
Also dropped is Niyonshuti already. Definitely missing Eritel now.
And in big danger at the end of the just 49 rider pelotonis Vuillermoz, 20th in the GC.
And game over for Jordi Simon. Neither for himself nor as later support.
With 8,4km to go he is caught by Schir, who is still doing an awesome job for Schelling.
Small update on support riders of the big favourites that are still here. There are couple more of other teams as well obviously: Schir Reguigui / Hadi Samwel / Grmay / Anguilet Chamorro / Elissonde / Jeannesson / Quintana / Sakalou / Rojas Villegas Hirschlein / Tatarinov Stancu / Iturria / Ratiy / Rybalkin Manfredi / Seeldraeyers / Vuillermoz Ebsen
6,4km and Ticos still having 7 riders in the group. Only Haute Route coming close.
And this is the moment where the team plays this advantage as Barguil attacks. 6th in the GC, 2'34 behind and he did already win a stage here showing his skills.
Nobody immediately follows. Schelling is still behind Schir, then the other favourites.
Campero though, one of the riders without a strong team behind now moved into the lead and is either chasing or starting his diesel.
Bad news for MOL - OMV. Surprisingly Pomoshnikov is one of those getting dropped as the group split into 2 halfs. Ahead of him still Stancu and Rybalkin, who now slowly move backwards waiting for him.
And in fact more riders are dropped: De Marchi, 3rd in the GC is even a few meters further behind. Just like last year`s top 10 Reguigui, who won`t be of any help for Berhane. Hadi still in the first group though.
And yet another big name. Pozzovivo, 5th in the GC being dropped. Today likely the end of any small dreams of repeating the success here. With him also Hirschlein, Vuillermoz, Anguilet, Seeldraeyers and Niyonshuti, who is slowly getting to the front again after being dropped earlier.
And also Ratiy being behind them already. Bad moment for MOL if climber no. 3 and 4 are their best today.
Barguil still 33s in front. But Berhane now moved into the lead and is highering the pace. Schelling, Kiserlovski and Pinot right behind.
Then a small gap and Campero following with Garby and Chamorro.
Schir likely can be counted out as he did his work and from now on Schelling is on his own.
Strugglin in later positions now are Krasnoperov, De Clercq, Hadi, Grmay, Samwel. Also Ticos lost some as Rojas Villegas is dropped with Quintana being close. Only 5 riders left.
While it`s Haute Route`s helpers, the two Newton riders here are the leaders. Both Warbasse and Fraile struggling. In especially later looking tired.
Ahead of them also U25 leader Sakalou, who is right behind Manfredi, who is not waiting for Krasnoperov. Those two likely fight for the U25 competition.
Hacecky, Atapuma, Elissonde, Jeanesson, Chamorro also ahead of them.
Berhane really going fast now.
Ticos` Chamorro behind him. Obviously not working.
Then Pinot, Schelling, Kiserlovski and Campero, who is fighting.
Garby leading the group behind.
As overview. Those are the times in between. Pomoshnikov already 1'1ß behind most of his rivals. Another 43s to the very best.
Niyonshuti actually up to the MOL group. Having a very fast climb so far and having passed his team mate Reguigui already, who was dropped a lot later.
Campero was dropped first. And now it`s also tough for GC leader Schelling and Kiserlovski. Both struggle to keep up with Berhane`s pace.
Pinot still looking good while Chamorro is also sitting behind him. Though later never attacked today and was able to hide behind his team mates and hence also now not in the need to work as Barguil still is in front. Though a lot smaller the gap now. Just 12s.
Once Barguil was caught, Chamorro goes into the lead, now working for the French. 1,4km left and this acceleration was too much for Pinot. Next rider to be dropped. What a team performance by Ticos today. And only Berhane with them as top favourite, who surely can be happy to no longer work alone as on the previous kilometers.
Flamme Rouge for the trio.
+27s to Pinot.
+27s as well for Schelling/Kiserlovski. Still defending the GC.
+35s Campero
+48s 11 riders: Garby, Elissonde, Warbasse, Atapuma, Jeannesson, Manfredi, Hacecky, Sakalou, Samwel, Ebsen, Niyonshuti!
+46s Krasnoperov, Grmay, Quintana, Hadi, Schir, Fraile, De Clercq
+47s Pomoshnikov with support
+...De Marchi, Pozzovivo, Ratiy
Barguil in last position and now has to pay for his solo. He can`t follow when Chamorro accelerates. Berhane sitting in 2nd position.
But also the Eritel rider wasn`t able to go around. Not the best when accelerating and hence couldn`t match Chamorro, who takes a big win. Team Card played to perfection today. Ticos lineup promised big and today they performed big. Well done.
18s behind him Berhane also makes a bit step forward while Barguil at 32s lost a bit in the end but still gained a lot today. All three will drastically improve in the GC.
Pinot 4th already 1'10 behind. Gaining on many but losing as well on some.
Schelling gave it all in the end and comes over in 5th 1'42 behind Chamorro. Kiserlovski behind him another 17s later.
GC wise this means the UBS rider defends his lead but he is now just 1min ahead of Chamorro and Barguil at 1'16. Both Ticos on the GC podium after today.
Kiserlovski in 4th at 1'31 while also Berhane moved up to 1'45 and Pinot to 3'56 now. Still a bit to go for later.
Campero coming over the line next and also goes into the top10 GC.
Impressive. Niyonshuti did climb fast. Dropped early and then passing group for group. In the end 8th of the day. 3'14 behind and ahead of the next first group at 3'25 which includes Garby, Warbasse, Sakalour, Atapuma, Elissonde and Jeannesson. Yes 3 Ticos riders in the top10 with another two in the next 6 spots.
Another Eritel rider leading in the next group at 4'47 with Hadi. Also here Fraile as one of those dropping quite a bit. Also Krasnoperov and another Ticos rider with Quintana in 20th. 6 Ticos riders in todays top20!
Pomoshnikov was slightly gapped in the end and comes in at 5'21. Not his mountain today.
And yet again an Eritel rider leading a group. Reguigui with De Marchi at 6'33. Big loss for the former 3rd in the GC.
Even more for Pozzovivo, who comes in with Seeldraeyers, Vuillermoz and the 7th Ticos rider at 8'26.
Ratiy behind them at 9'19 on a very bad day.
Actually no DNF today. All made it in the time limit, which is good for UBS as Dillier finished way behind solo at 47min.
The following mountain stages will have to answer some question:
- How long can UBS perform like today giving Schelling a pretty good support?
- How to stop the team dominance of Ticos?
- What is happening if Berhane is having more support to chase late as e.g. Niyonshuti showed today, he could have been of more help?
