Welcome to the second mountain stage of the 2019 Tirreno - Adriatico. We're back in the area between the two seas for today's second longest stage, where the Apennine mountains and their foothills are awaiting the riders. In fact, it's a rather hilly stage, but the final climb will definitely separate the men from the boys.
The stage starts in Foligno, an important railway centre, having a population of just above 50,000. The road then leads North-East for the first 100km, with the exception of some kind of a loop. On this first half of the race, we'll have many unclassified hills - it's going to be a steady up-and-down all the stage long.
The riders will reach the first intermediate sprint - on top of a hill - after 117.5km. The hilly profile then continues, and we'll have a 4th, 2nd and 3rd category KoM sprint after 140.6, 154.2 and 174.9 kilometers.
After another unclassified hill, the - probably small - peloton will then reach Sarnano, where the second intermediate sprint is scheduled after 209.6km.
And from there, the road only sees one direction: upwards! The finish line is in the ski resort of Sarnano - Sassotetto, Sassotetto being the nearby mountain. The roughly 15km long climb will have the steepest slopes about midway - and we definitely hope to get more action than yesterday! Given the small time gaps we currently have, this could very well be the decisive stage of the race!
Of course, the stage favorites are more or less the same as yesterday, where Taaramäe, Morton and Dombrowski are given the best chances by the bookies. Spilak, Herklotz and Lecuisinier surely are dangerous, too. Furthermore, we should keep an eye on Denifl, Gesink, Quintana or Hirt. Let's see what today's stage brings - can Herklotz hold on to his jersey? Or can Taaramäe prove that he really IS the best climber? Let's find out!
Some riders don't seem to be afraid of the stage's length, as they attack directly from the start! The courageous ones are Luchshenko, Cataldo, Arslanov, Laengen, Miller and Kruijswijk.
Not much later, Ndayisenga, Robov and Smith do the same.
There's no notable reaction in the peloton, which is already a minute behind the leaders, and 30" behind the chasing trio.
Actually, it's just Evonik who really don't seem to like the breakaway, and they're chasing with up to 6 riders.
Meanwhile, the chasers have joined the leaders, forming a nine man breakaway. The peloton trails by 1'48.
The peloton's rather high speed has incited the breakaway to speed up as well, which was too much for Luchshenko, the weakest climber in the group. But as they are about to reach the top of this first hill, he may get back in the downhill.
In the pack, Evonik has finally folded, and so it's the usual riders (and some additional ones) controlling the pace: Brus, Kalaba, Spanopoulos, Pruus, Martinelli, Scully, Van Winden, Bernaudeau, Goldstein.
The peloton is 3 minutes behind on top of the hill.
As the leaders reach the first intermediate sprint, Luchshenko has indeed made it back. They aren't sprinting, but will still get some points:
1. Cataldo
2. Robov
3. Laengen
The peloton is already more than 5 minutes back.
As we've still got some time until we get to the really interesting part of the stage, let's have a look at the breakaway riders:
Smith and Ndayisenga should be the strongest climbers. The latter already has 8 KoM points, and probably wants to get that jersey today. However, he already has plenty of breakaway kilometers in his legs.
Kruijswijk, Laengen and Cataldo are decent climbers as well, whereas Miller and Robov might struggle a bit more.
Arslanov and especially Luchshenko probably won't be able to keep up when the others accelerate uphill - the latter having already displayed his weaknesses.
A strange fact is that the two Bennelong riders are just sitting in the wheels of the others, and Roe is taking some turns back in the peloton. Curious strategy...
But this changed soon after, and Smith and Miller are now working at least as hard as the others. Still, it wasn't enough to take the category 4 KoM at San Gineso:
1. Kruijswijk - 5
2. Ndayisenga - 3
3. Miller - 1
The bunch has decreased the gap by 2 minutes, leaving them 3'14 behind. Still 85km to go, though. There are lots of Isostar riders at the front now, Spilak seemingly having a good day.
We've already reached the next KoM sprint, this time it's a category 2 hill:
1. Smith - 10
2. Ndayisenga - 8
3. Kruijswijk - 6
4. Miller - 4
5. Cataldo - 2
Arslanov wasn't able to keep up, and is almost reeled in by the pack on this hill. 2'33 is his deficit, whereas the peloton is 3'07 back.
A peloton that only counts 95 riders by now, with Kirsch and Betancourt being the most notable absentees. We're missing Godoy and Kuss, too, as well as KoM leader Uwizeyimana.
On the next - uncategorized - hill, Vosekalns, Salinas, Brändle and many more bid farewell to the reduced peloton (60 riders left) as well
And the headcount in the leading group goes down to 6, as Robov and Luchshenko are falling behind.
2km to the KoM, and still about 3 minutes on the bunch.
Last "minor" KoM sprint today, with just the points on the finish line remaining. Miller wins this one:
1. Miller - 6
2. Cataldo - 4
3. Smith - 2
Ndayisenga therefore missing out on taking the virtual KoM jersey.
Robov crosses the line 1'24 later, and Luchshenko is 2'24 back.
The peloton another 53" behind, and only 45 riders are remaining in the bunch. Aru and Majka currently doing the work. Brenes and Ji are some other left behind riders.
Just as we're approaching the second intermediate sprint, Kruijswijk and Cataldo are accelerating! With the peloton 4'35 behind, is this already a winning move?
1. Cataldo
2. Kruijswijk
3. Miller
In the peloton, some more riders are dropped. For instance Keinath and Konig.
Here's the pack crossing the line at the intermediate sprint, the headcount being down to 31: Dombrowski, Brambilla, Aru, Majka Herklotz, Vasyliv, Niu Morton, Dyball Velits, Dekker Wellens, Poljanski Martin, Kebede Guldhammer, Preidler Yates, Carthy Gesink, Oliveira Spilak Taaramäe Lecuisinier Denifl Lopez Formolo Quintana Hirt Berhane Luchshenko
Robov is still 12" ahead, but will be caught very soon.
Whereas Cataldo has been caught by the other breakaway riders, Kruijswijk continues his move as the road starts leading upwards.
Laengen, Ndayisenga, Smith, Miller and Cataldo are 28" back, the peloton still 4'19.
10 kilometers to go for the pack, still led by Aru and Majka. The pace isn't very high, and so the second group with Keinath, Brenes, Ji and Konig has almost come back.
But then the pace goes up, as Martin makes the first move! Spilak and Herklotz are very attentive; Dombrowski, Yates and Denifl are next, whereas Taaramäe is only in the middle of this group. Many other riders are dropped, but the main stage favorites are still there.
As soon as Martin slows down, it's Brambilla taking over for Dombrowski. Of the other leaders, only Guldhammer has a domestique left in Preidler.
Kruijswijk is now 57" ahead of the 5 other breakaway riders, and still 4'12
Now it's Spilak's turn! Dombrowski, Herklotz, Guldhammer, Yates, Martin and Hirt react immediately, whereas Morton isn't able to accelerate fast enough! And - where is Taaramäe?
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With this further attack, the gap to the 5 chasers has gone down by 30", with Kruijswijk still being a minute ahead of them.
And this attack definitely has done a lot of damage, as there are only 4 riders left now - Spilak, Dombrowski, Herklotz and Guldhammer!
Taaramäe now pays for his bad positioning, as he's already 35" back! With him are Morton, Hirt, Yates, Denifl, Morton, Wellens, Lecuisinier, Gesink and Quintana.
With 6km to go, this second pursuit is still 3 minutes behind Kruijswijk, and 2' behind the first chase.
It's again Spilak trying to escape! It's again Dombrowski who is the first to respond, which is surely great news for Herklotz, who didn't have to work at all until now. A strong Guldhammer still hangs on!
Behind them, Morton tries to close the gap, with Taaramäe still just sitting in his wheel.
Ahead, Spilak now has Cataldo and Laengen in sight, and a little further ahead Smith, Miller and Ndayisenga. Kruijswijk is still another minute ahead.
With all the action happening behind, let's not forget the leader, Kruijswijk, who reaches the 5km arc. Whereas it looked really good for him for a long time, the favorites group now quickly approaches! Here's the situation as we attack the last 5,000 meters:
On the next kilometer, Kruijswijk has cracked! Smith, Miller and Ndayisenga have almost caught up, and Spilak, Dombrowski, Herklotz and Guldhammer are just 35" back now!
This quartet already passed Laengen and Cataldo, who follow 42" later. Group Taaramäe, of which Quintana has been dropped, is another 35" back - what a disaster for the Estonian!
But Kruijswijk has found another gear, and attacks again!
Herklotz has now taken the lead in the pursuit, followed by Spilak and Dombrowski, as they pass Smith, Miller and Ndayisenga.
Guldhammer has cracked and has quickly lost a lot of ground! Taaramäe now leads the second group - can he close this one-minute-gap?
Just a bit more than 2km to go!
Herklotz did not attack, but just rides a horrendous tempo - and now, under the red kite, Spilak leaves a gap! Dombrowski still there as well, whereas Kruijswijk wasn't able to resist and has to fight for 4th!
Group Taaramäe is quickly closing in on the Dutchman. Here are the current positions:
Herklotz
+ 5" Spilak, Dombrowski
+ 18" Kruijswijk
+ 36" Taaramäe, Lecuisinier, Ndayisenga, Guldhammer, Morton, Smith, Miller
With just 500 meters left, Spilak and Dombrowski are back on level terms with Herklotz!
Can Spilak or Dombrowski now even get a gap on Herklotz? They would need one to get the GC lead!
The podium seems to be gone for the riders behind. Kruijswijk is still 10" ahead of Taaramäe, Lecuisinier, Morton, Smith and Miller - can he keep clear of them?
Well, Herklotz just seems to be playing games with his opponents, as he easily leaves them behind again! Spilak and Dombrowski have no chance against the German monster!
Taaramäe now has finally woken up, and passes Kruijswijk with 500m to go. Lecuisinier, Morton and Smith are unable to follow. But with Miller just behind, this will at least be a fantastic team result for Bennelong!
Well, this man really seems to win every single race he competes in - at least today, Silvio Herklotz was unbeatable!
Simon Spilak maybe was too active, as he was lacking some forces on the final meters and just comes in as runner-up. Joseph Dombrowski surely had a good day, too, as he comes in 3rd.
Rein Taaramäe will be very disappointed with his 4th place - and especially with today's 50" deficit! He just had a very bad position when the fireworks started, and was unable to close the gap.
Steven Kruijswijk then holds on to a very strong 5th place, ahead of Pierre-Henri Lecuisinier, Lachlan Morton and Dion Smith. All four are one minute behind today's winner.
Nick Miller then makes it 7 to 9 for Bennelong, surely a great result for him and the whole team!
Daniel Martin edges out Tim Wellens to complete today's Top 10, already 1'31 back.
The next positions:
12. Gesink + 1'47
13. Guldhammer + 1'55 - he probably wishes he wouldn't have followed Spilak's move now...
14. Ndayisenga + 2'04
15. Hirt + 2'21
16. Yates + 2'21
17. Denifl + 2'45
18. Berhane + 3'10
19. Formolo + 3'10
20. Velits + 3'10
At least Taaramäe secured 4th, whereas Denifl must be even more disappointed by his result. Quintana even misses the Top 20.
As we're waiting for the tail-enders, let's move on to the victory ceremony.
And this is just a one-man-show today, as Silvio Herklotz won the stage and leads the GC, the points, KoM and the U25 standings. The German "Cannibal" is back! Team Puma - SAP definitely got the maximum out of the small amount of work they did today - will they again get that much help tomorrow?
At least for the best team, we get to see another face, as Bennelong - Mitchelton have taken over the lead with their great performance today with three riders in the Top 10!
Well, we wanted plenty of action today, and we got some. But we'll have to hope for much more of it tomorrow if we still want some suspense for the GC race. Herklotz will want to avoid this with the help of his team - what plans do the others have? Let's find out tomorrow!
Tirreno - Adriatico 
