Today is some kind of hidden queen stage, which is tough to say with that huge double climb still coming on day 6.
But this here might be the key stage for so many riders, that don`t belong to the very best. It`s a mixed stage for climbers and puncheurs and hence the stage, where Suaza, Ratiy, Costagli will have to fight to remain in their good position, they have gotten tomorrow as they surely prefer longer climbs.
Same with Kadri or Hategeka, who actually had preferred a shorter climb. This way the GC lead might again change after just one day on Kadri`s shoulders.
Teuns though should like this mixed one as best allrounder and has big chances to take over the lead.
The stage racers though surely want to gain time instead and in especially Kiserlovski, König, Pomoshnikov, Anacona and others will need a good stage today and then battle it out on the final stage.
As usual the breakaway fight also includes a battle for the KoM. Even more today with going uphill right from the start.
Leader Wahyudi very strong and takes the 6 points extending his lead.
Behind him Cuming and with a gap Yamamoto and some others.
Though only the 3 mentioned got away in the end and form the breakaway. Puusepp hence will lose more and might stand no chance to get back the KoM shirt.
Magnusson, Girdlestone and M.Velits btw. those that also tried to attack but were reeled in again.
10km á 6,3% is quite a difficulty early on. Cuming as better climber wins it ahead of Wahyudi but still big points for him ahead of Yamamoto. Behind a mix of ENI-MOL and Delvaux riders to take the remaining points.
As Cuming also wins the next two Cat.4`s, he moves into 2nd place with now 36pts, which is +3 to Puusepp.
Though Wahydui at 60 in total looking rather solid now.
ENI-MOLs sprinter duo Krasnov and Vanoverschelde were chasing hard on the flat section and hence the trio had no chance to go for the stage. With 23km already and hence ahead of the double climb coming soon, they are caught.
Also time for ENI-MOL to change the chasers. Stancu, Kenyeres and Pereyra a lot more suited for the uphill parts. Pomoshnikov is getting a really good preperation here.
And we are still on that first, rather easy climb but the first big attacks! König as first followed by Pomoshnikov.
4-5 riders behind them also decided to follow this early move including GC leader Kadri! Cataldo Elissonde Potocki Magnusson
Pressure now on the riders behind and it`s actually Suaza and Kiserlovski chasing themselves! Later is obvious as strongest stage racer while Suaza must have been motivated after yesterdays good hill stage. I mean even Ratiy is in the top 5 positions of the peloton, but with Elissonde ahead, he won`t do a lot and is in a good position.
7km to go and just a bit more until the final climb.
Teuns decided to send his team to the front and it`s power machine Hoelgaard, who could have gone for top10 himself in any other team. Also Gonzalez Cortes for them.
Also Telia with Khripta and Hacecky chasing while Banco de Bogota has Lemus Davila working for Rodrigues.
And the work pays off. With 4,7km and the climb just only starting the peloton is back together. 139 riders still here but this should change soon. An average of 7,7% but the steepest part is coming on the final 2km.
Bardet as first with a new attack and Cataldo again following!
But it`s now Teuns himself chasing with Kiserlovski also involved. Hence no chance really for the duo.
Instead those two top favourites now have opened a gap but Bardet strong enough to follow them.
Behind another group is forming around Cataldo with GC leader Kadri involved as also König and Kebede and then a group of 72 riders with all the others.
The sprinters as also ENI-MOL`s support riders are dropped now. And also the pure climbers Suaza, Ratiy etc. have lost a few spots and struggle now.
Brajkovic with a strong performance makes it into the 2nd group while Rodrigues a bit behind not having made it yet.
In the front group Kiserlovski now leading onto the final kilometer. Teuns right behind him, knowing chances are good to take the GC today even though Kadri is not far behind him.
Bardet in between those two groups but then still a bigger pack not far behind neither but with many gaps opening now.
Hacecky, Pomoshnikov, Rodrigues, Elissonde...all trying to avoid a time loss and want to close the gap to at least the 2nd group just as Brajkovic successfully did.
And even Ratiy actually still in the top20 positions, which could see him challenge still, while Suaza is further behind!
The sprint starts and quickly Bardet is losing ground.
Kiserlovski in first position with Teuns well placed behind him with 400m to go on that 11,4% parts.
Kadri sees the gap opening further but can`t do anything against it and surely is losing his lead today but still in contention for a decent stage result.
Brajkovic up to the top of that group even next to König, while Cataldo and the others struggle a bit on this steepest parts.
200m and Teuns is attacking. He has to take the longer way though which comes in handy for Kiserlovski.
And not only does he stay in front, he even gaps Teuns a little bit. Very strong performance by the Andorra leader and showing his CT skills impressively here as one of the top3 stage racers in that division.
Teuns coming in 2nd once again but is taking over the GC lead!
Bardet in the end couldn`t go any faster and was caught by König. Both at +31s and a good result as well. Even more as they still gain 9s to Brajkovic and Kadri!
Cataldo at 55s then another 13s ahead of Hacecky. Both have lost a bit in the end.
Behind them at 1'17 a group around Pomoshnikov, Rodrigues, Kebede and Elissonde, who surely have good chances for a top10 finish when having a good day on the longer climb.
Anacona following 13s later with Potocki and Khripta another 15s behind.
Hategeka and Lopez couldn`t come closer and lose 1'56 just like Ratiy, who is having best chances to improve on the longer climb actually. Same goes for Costagli at 2'10, though as team mate of GC leader Teuns, he might have other tasks.
Suaza at 2'29 also in contention but needs a great day in 2 days as in especially to Kiserlovski, König. Bardet, Brajkovic, Cataldo the gap is quite big already.
