Yesterday almost saw a GC lead change as Barguil is only 15s behind Schelling now.
Also the fight for 3rd is really close. Just 2s between Kiserlovski and Pinot and later actually looking a lot stronger and might even look for more than 3rd!
Todays stage has the biggest difficult on the 2nd half but also a long descent after the HC climb with a short uphill section towards the finish then.
Might be hard to open big gaps but surely not impossible.
Bookies still see Berhane as top favourite but it would be about time that he shows his full skills and is performing more than a 7th spot in the GC. Clearly one of the most annyoying performances in this peloton.
7 riders in the break and again a Carlsberg rider, who is going to try to continue the nice little series of good stage results in this race. Other than that mainly the KoM hunters:
Vuillermoz
42pts
Bookwalter
56pts
Thill
-
Ebsen
38pts
Gerdemann
-
Sivori
19pts
Handley
54pts
Bookwalter and Vuillermoz take the most points early on at the Cat.4 and Cat.2.
This sees Bookwalter even going up to the virtual lead with 69 points ahead of Barguil at 60 and Vuillermoz at 55.
While Ebsen scored 4 points, Handley clearly is not as strong uphill as the others and wasn`t able to score at all and actually was about to be dropped in the fight for the points.
Same on the Cat.4 on the descent. Vuillermoz, Ebsen and Bookwalter with points here.
The peloton is arriving at Snow Peak mountain climb. 29km with an average of 3,9km. The second half clearly being the harder but length is making it a HC rated climb.
MOL must plan something as Stancu is working for most likely Pomoshnikov. Behind the usual mix of Ticos Air and UBS riders.
Going onto the last 14km of the climb the weather is far from ideal. Lots of fog up there and hence you couldn`t see the breakaway even if closing.
2'45 remaining for the seven in front.
UBS meanwhile having taken over again and Ivars/Goncalves working for Schelling, who is sitting right behind them.
Barguil being covered by Raileanu in the first rows while the other GC riders are isolated at the front. Neither Garby nor Kiserlovski, Pinot, Fraile, Campero having a support rider while sitting in the first rows. First rider with support is Pomoshnikov then with Stancu ahead and also 3 more MOL riders in the first 20 riders.
Most shocking though and might explain the Eritel problem. Berhane is not covered by one of his team mates and being in the wind.
A bit behind 4 Eritel riders but Reguigui is covering U25 leader Hadi and Kiflay/Afewerki probably aren`t fresh enough to help while Niyonshuti seems to be the rider supposed to cover Berhane while also being the rider to get water bottles at the moment.
Also Ramos Ticona is working for UBS now being 3 riders of them chasing.
But the pace can`t be that fast as the gap isn`t really getting smaller and also Lemus Davila is able to attack. As 33rd not really a danger anyway.
Kamzong and Simon following a bit later showing the pace. The peloton seems to take it relaxed while still controlling the gap though.
With 5km to the top though the pace becomes higher as MOL (Iturria) and Eritel (Reguigui) are chasing once the UBS trio wasn`t able or not supposed to go faster. Schelling being uncovered in 3rd position might mean first.
Meanwhile the break also is splitting hugely. Thill and Handley lost contact at first followed by Bookwalter and Sivori. Lemus Davila actually in between with Kamzong a bit behind and Simon caught again.
Then Gerdemann and Ebsen in the 2nd group as Vuillermoz is having a 9s gap and clearly going all-in for the KoM shirt.
Seeing him taking the 20 points at the top and Bookwalter only in 5th position this means: 80 points for the French and 2 points less for the US rider! Barguil following with 60 points.
And look at this. Pinot did attack and not sure if GC attack or just for the KoM as he was 8th with 42 points before the stage. 4pts for him and only Garby with 3 points also getting some here.
Later actually attacked just at the top with Pozzovivo trying to follow.
But Stancu for MOL and Tatarinov for Kraftwerk really powering over the top as well and trying to keep the peloton together and also get back to Pinot, who is a big danger for Kiserlovski`s podium but almost 1min ahead!
2 crashes on the descent as it`s getting rainy on that side. Hacecký, 18th Seeldraeyers, 23rd
Both able to continue.
20km and Garby is caught again by Tatarinov, who is chasing almost alone now. 39 riders are left in that GC rider group.
At the end of the descent Pinot is up to Lemus Davila and Vuillermoz. But all three are almost caught again. Just 37s with 12km to go. Was worth a try but likely not working today.
Caught at the 10km mark, not a lot happened until 3km to go.
All the top riders lining up next to each other and waiting for the first rider to make his move.
Schelling being in a rather bad position. Just ~35th of 44 riders! Really must take care of no gaps today!
Very interesting for this kind of finish is U25 leader Hadi as he combines the climbing with a fast sprint. And Eritel seems to go for him as Reguigui-Berhane-Hadi are lining up in the middle but still need to get past 2-3 riders for a free sprint.
They weren`t able util 1,6km to go and even lost positions as Reguigui is exhausted.
Schelling still sitting behind this big bunch in front rather dangerously.
In front it`s Kraftwerk now with the man of today. Tatarinov in the lead with the perfect leadout for Kiserlovski behind.
Then also De Marchi, Pozzovivo, Garby, Atapuma, Fraile, Pinot, Jeannesson, Elissonde, De Clercq, Barguil well placed.
MOL with 3 riders suffering the same problem as Eritel as being blocked behind the first rows.
Kraftwerk showing how to organise an uphill train today. 2 instead of 3 riders and the leadout must be strong! Hence Kiserlovski can now go around Tatarinov on the final 300m!
From behind Garby, De Marchi and Pozzovivo look strongest.
Nice win for Kiserlovski, who extends the 2s gap a bit again.
Garby in 2nd with yet another nice Carlsberg stage result ahead of De Marchi.
Then Jeannesson, Atapuma, Pozzovivo, Elissonde and Fraile!
But in the end no single gap until rider 35 Ituria and hence Schelling (19th) was safe just like Berhane (33rd), who yet again wasn`t showing a lot.
