Yesterday was the big Ticos Air day with Chamorro winning and Barguil as well being super strong. Only other rider being able to challenge them was Berhane, who clearly lacked the big support though.
Then Pinot, Schelling and Kiserlovski as next best with several riders showing weakness.
Today actually a very similar stage. The final climb not being as long but therefore just as steep with most sections being 10-13%. And then there`s 3 climbs on the route already with one even having a Cat.2 rating.
So will we see yet another Ticos show? And can Schelling defend the GC lead that was reduced to 1min only?
6 riders in todays breakaway: Jim Girdlestone Van Winden Vanthourenhout Daspuntsag Bookwalter
Behind it was an early mix of UBS (Aregger, Schär) and Ticos (Raileanu and later Sakalou, 9th in the GC) working.
Not as fast as yesterday but still not allowing big gaps. 3min basically is the maximum.
At least good news for UBS as they do a lot less work than yesterday.
Later on also Ticos duo Quintana and Rojas Villegas plus for UBS Ramos Ticona were involved in the chasing.
The early Cat.4 and 3 went to Jim, Bookwalter and Girdlestone mainly. Hence no points for Daspuntsag, who was having couple of breaks already in the first week.
While the break was split already in the last picture when being on the Cat.2, it`s really done close to the top. Jim being the last rider in front with 70s to the favourites.
Daspuntsag as only other rider being just ahead of those but now caught basically.
Then the fast pace of Ticos Air shows results. Only 49 riders in the first group with a 55 and 24 rider group being gapped. Most sprinters in the first group while some struggle in the later with Dillier yet again being the very last solo already. Protecting GC leader Schelling in the first rows clearly is a tough job to do.
Jim as said being solo in front. 78s now and first over the top.
Ticos with Sakalou and Chamorro next. Not 100% sure if yesterdays stage winner did chase or just was in the first rows. But it`s a good bonus for him as he moves up to 26 pts in the KoM ranking. Barguil still 2 ahead and Handley in the lead with 46.
Schelling and Kiserlovski also with small points here.
8,7km to go and now definitely Chamorro is working! Big news as he is 2nd in the GC. Though the team still goes for Barguil, who sits in 3rd and is the more complete stage racer.
Using up Chamorro and Sakalou though is not ideal for their depth scoring. Also the early day work today also makes this team suffer. Raileanu and Rojas Villegas for example already dropped and the final climb not yet started.
Also Sakalou and Quintana in the later area and behind Chamorro it`s Elissonde also chasing as decently GC placed rider.
Jim had no chance with all those climbers working and is caught as well now.
5,8 km and Barguil surely is aware that the early work and yesterdays effort sees his team more exhausted. Hence an early attack by the French trying to attack the GC.
Schelling though different to yesterday immediately following and so is Chamorro.
Behind also Berhane, Pinot, Elissonde.
Then Tatarinov chasing for Kiserlovski and no gap opened yet.
Most others now sitting in the next couple rows. Only Ticos Sakalou now struggling heavily and is about to be dropped, which would open the U23 fight again with Hadi, Manfredi and others being ahead.
5km and Barguil / Schelling have a gap! Pinot chasing behind and it`s Chamorro with him, obviously not helping. Then a tiny gap to the others where Tatarinov and Garby are chasing.
Kiserlovski and Berhane sitting in the group behind Pomoshnikov.
Also Atapuma, Pozzovivo, Fraile, Warbasse, Campero and Grmay with them. But they are not looking as good as the first couple riders.
Garby yet again as seen on an earlier stage with a nice come back ride and now up to Pinot/Chamorro. Good for the Haute Route rider as he has some support now to make it back to Barguil/Schelling, which have opened a 50s gap already.
Similar gap behind.
There Atapuma and a recovered Pozzovivo look strongest at the moment and now having a small gap while Stancu is working for Pomoshnikov, who also is looking better than yesterday. Kiserlovski, Hacecký and Tatarinov behind the MOL duo.
This means Berhane is in big trouble as he is another group behind. 2'11 already to the leading duo and in fact looking most exhausted of his companions here which are Campero and Warbasse alongside Grmay, De Marchi and Manfredi, who is attacking the U25 lead.
This also means that Fraile is dropped and further behind just like De Clercq and others such as Krasnoperov, Elissonde etc.
There will be huge time gaps today and the best riders all isolated and actually lots of solo groups now.
2,1km left and one rider is feeling good today: Schelling with another attack and Barguil following.
Meanwhile Pinot the best of the rest, similar as yesterday.
Behind him Garby with a small gap as Chamorro dropped back to Atapuma.
Then Pozzovivo, who is also having a good ride here ahead of Kiserlovski and Pomoshnikov. First really not as strong as expected and yet again about to lose time.
Still better than Berhane though, who is now 3min behind the leading duo, while Fraile and De Clercq are back to this group.
1,4km for the first, 2,2km for Kiserlovski and Pomoshnikov. They are just a bit behind Atapuma/Pozzovivo/Chamorro, who now form a group.
But look at this. GC leader Schelling has gapped Barguil under the Flamme Rouge and it`s not a tiny gap. The Swiss really on a great day extending his lead today it seems.
Indeed. Schelling wins today. What a ride. Huge for him.
56s in the end for Barguil. The final kilometer really showed best, who had some energy saved until the top.
Pinot yet again close but not with the very best. As 3rd over the line he is losing 1'43 in the end. Same time for Garby, who had a good ride as well.
Pozzovivo at 2'53 as 5th. Brilliant ride as well and showing why you can`t count him off completely yet. Behind him Atapuma, who was passed in the end and losing another 10s.
3'27 for Pomoshnikov, who recovered well after yesterdays collapse. Kiserlovski at 3'39 and Chamorro not as strong as yesterday but still okay with 3'47.
GC wise Schelling up to +2'20 again to Barguil now with Chamorro still on the podium with now +5'07 already!
Kiserlovski at +5'30 just a bit behind and Pinot new 5th with +5'51 also not too far off.
Garby at +7'31 in the GC.
One rider missing is Berhane. He is in the first bigger group led by De Marchi and clearly had a day off.
5'32 for the first riders here including Warbasse as well while Berhane is losing another 30s just like Campero. GC wise 7th and 9th for those two.
Fraile, who finished a bit behind still ahead as 8th while De Marchi and Atapuma as also Pozzovivo or Pomoshnikov all fight for the top10 still.
Huge gaps and these two mountain finishes now really were shaking up the GC.
Most consistent surely the two French riders Barguil and Pinot. Though first clearly one level ahead.
Also Kiserlovski was consistent somehow but another level below really, while Schelling is a huge favourite now if he can have more days like today and less of yesterday.
Berhane really needs more of yesterday as today might have ruined all chances GC wise already. Big comeback needed.
No time limit issues neither today and hence Dillier as last still in time.
