It`s the first of 4 mountain stages in a row. Hard to say, which one is hardest and will deliver biggest gaps, but it`s 30km climbing in the end with only a short descent in between the two climbs. It might not be the steepest but the length alone should see great opportunities to attack.
Pinot not only todays favourite, also GC wise already with quite some gap and his form is good as his win on the 4th stage proved. Pressure is on the others if they want to make a come back here. Otherwise it`s just a fight for 2nd.
Many teams seem to plan something today and hence a huge breakaway. Half surely goes for the stage win or KoM, the other half might prepare a late attack by their leader to potentially have a chance to beat Pinot. The full list: Ikibe (10pts KoM) Cunego Poljanec Kiriakidis Fumic Quicibal Velits Lewis Jim Howes Tivani Matte Rujano Mat Senan (6pts KoM)
Behind GCN`s sprinter trio McLay, Opie and Gibbons were able to keep the gap at ~2`30 until the start of the climb.
As they would have no chance against the stronger climbers in the group, now it`s time for Cuming and Belgasem to take over.
KoM leader Anguilet and co-leader Potocki, who was even allowed to ride on his own here so far, can still relax in the peloton with Pinot being covered.
The break also quickly splits into better climbers and weaker ones. Last years stage winner Rujano has big plans in his last home race of his career and hence wants another stage win surely. Motivation must be incredibly high. Though with KoM hunters Ikibe and Mat Senan as also Jim he has strong riders with him.
Interesting attack there. Two tunnels when it was hard to keep an overview but once out of them we see two things that happened in the dark.
1) the weaker breakaway group is caught and
2) a group of 4 riders did attack and it`s bigger names: Cataldo Grmay De Marchi Degand
The top group splits even more on the steepest part before the KoM and it`s Mat Senan proving strongest and took the 10 points there which makes him up to 16, which would be the lead actually if it wasn`t Ikibe, who followed next with 8 points and up to 18 now.
Rujano and Jim next with Cataldo as seen as first of the "peloton".
Now though Mat Senan with a 46s gap to Ikibe and another few seconds each to Rujano and Jim. Likely not being a Venezuelan dream today for Rujano.
Cataldo and Grmay also a bit ahead of the others while De Marchi and Degand are just a little bit behind. The gap to the peloton and Pinot though not that small. 50s at the moment.
While Anguilet and Potocki are yet to be used for Pinot, it`s actually another rider working now. Campero is chasing and hence slowly closing the gap again. Not sure if working for himself or actually leadership has changed towards Roe and Aasvold since yesterday.
After the descent though Campero has slowed down a bit and is now supported by Pinot`s helper Belgasem. Also a the gap is up to 1`30 again.
The actual plan clearly was to use Fumic as breakaway station. But as they got caught too early, he now accelerates out of the peloton and pulling his leader Elissonde with him. Though also Pinot is using this opportunity to attack.
Bardet and Hacecký quickly join and make it a very dangerous group with some big names yet to be behind, i.e. Warbasse of course.
Dayer Quintana now working for Teuns now with also BNZ or Compal taking profit from this. Cerveceria at least having Grmay in the front, which is the decision for the leadership apparently.
Pinot impressively closed the gap to the Cataldo/Grmay group.
40s behind then Elissonde with Bardet and also Degand, who dropped back.
Hacecky solo a bit later while a group of 11 around Teuns, Brajkovic, Roe, Atapuma, Ratiy also have opened gap.
Surprisingly Campero and even more Warbasse in the later groupp with a 2min gap already to Pinot.
Mat Senan with a 90s gap now to the next and a few seconds more to Pinot etc. and just 4km to go!
With the later groups slowly coming a bit closer, Pinot attacks and just Cataldo following.
First quickly reaching Rujano/Ikibe and immediately passing them while Cataldo needs a short rest with those two!
Mat Senan with a big fight but under the Flamme Rouge Pinot is almost up to him and might "steal" the stage win!
More than a minute to Cataldo and even more to all others. Pinot really dominating it.
34s behind Cataldo the Grmay, De Marchi group, another 20s for Elissonde, Bardet, Atapuma and Hacecky.
Then following with +35s the Brajkovic, Ratiy, Teuns group with Roe as well while Warbasse/Campero in the next group only.
Elissonde chasing hard trying to avoid a time loss to the group ahead. Just 20s and Grmay in front in the chase for a longer time already.
Then the group of 9 with Brajkovic and Teuns in the lead. Degand solo in between those.
Finally Warbasse left the big "peloton" and is chasing the Brajkovic group. With him two other solid climbers in Hoem and Khripta.
Campero indeed staying with Aasvold trying to support him. Not an ideal situation for BNZ here.
Back to the front. Pinot has passed Mat Senan with 600m to go and is accelerating now with the Malaysian at the end of his energy but not giving up yet.
But he just couldn`t. Tough enough to stay with him already but still a great 2nd and a few more KoM points that move him into the lead. Though Pinot following closely now as well with 2 stage wins on uphills and hence being a big danger to this competition as well.
Cataldo in 3rd is losing 1`29 and actually lost his pace a bit in the end with Grmay being counted s.t. after a strong finish. Still two winners basically in the fight for the podium.
De Marchi in 5th also very strong at 1'45.
And look at this! Warbasse simply did not have a bad day but decided to attack far too late. Within 1500m he passed both groups ahead of him and even some riders of the third group and finishes as 6th today less than 30s behind Cataldo and hence back in the podium fight but in a worse position now.
With him Hacecky and Atapuma while Elissonde is down to 2'10 another 8s ahead of Bardet, Brajkovic, Ratiy etc.
Roe down to 3'23 and Aasvold 4'02. both struggled towards the end and Campero waiting might not have been best idea today. GC wise this means down to 8th, 12th and 16th for Campero. Good depth but it`S the loss of the team competition as well alongside a great GC.
