The final stage in Pologne is a flat circuit race in Krakow. 132km with just tiny bumps on the way and hence something for the sprinters.
Ulissi likely keeps his GC lead with the consistent top performances over the last week but surely needs another concentrated stage.
8 breakaway riders will try to avoid a sprint finish and yet again Euskaltel in here instead of working for Bouhanni, and this move was key for the successful breakaway on the 2nd sprint stage as Carrefour and Azteca didn`t chase enough without Bouhanni`s support. And also Meiji with a rider here won`t chase for Itami most likely. Le Gac
KoM winner Gougeard Turgis Orlov Van Niekerk Hatanaka Kaczmarek Honkisz
Notdstrom is the 3rd team next to Azteca and Carrefour to chase today. In Boivin they have a decent sprinter in their squad.
32km to go and a gap of 1'40.
Though the gap is still at 1min with under 10km to go when Carrefour sets up a train for Vanderbiest and all the other sprinters in a long line then.
5km and 1min gap. Time for deciding the stage must be in Le Gac`s mind as he attacks on a short uphill section.
Van Niekerk, Turgis and Honkisz were close to him but the Euskaltel rider accelerated again.
With 1,8km to go the gap extended to the peloton as they have given up on todays stage.
Turgis with a small gap to Le Gac. Then Honkisz in the middle with Orlov and Hatanaka on the sides.
Turgis is passed while Orlov is flying right now. Though the gap is big for Le Gac and Euskaltel is close to a 2nd breakaway win!
And indeed he takes it! Great win once more for the team, that needs such performances as often as possible.
Turgis out of nowhere with a final kick takes 2nd ahead of Orlov and Jonkisz.
Kaczmarek, Hatanaka, Gougeard and Van Niekert following.
Boivin indeed could have done well today as he wins the sprint for 9th ahead of Andersen and Lavoine. Nothing to cheer for though. A missed opportunity clearly.
Huge congrats to Ulissi. After runner-up in Down Under, he was even more aggressive here and takes a well deserved win with Anuar Aziz and Schreurs following on the podium.
And also congrats to Kulczyk. With the performance on the last 2 stages, they gained enough to claim the team ranking just 2s ahead of WCC!
