The 19th stage is the penultimate mountain stage and the next chance for Herklotz to attack the GC leader Spilak.
Same obviously also goes for Gesink/Schleck/Hirt in the podium/GC fight and the rest of the leaders in the fight for the top10.
The two main climbs today are the Passo San Boldo (Cat.2) with 5,8 km on 6,9 % and the San Martino di Castrozza in the end with 13,6 km on 5,8 %. As you see, not the steepest final climb but due to the length, still time to open some gaps.
On a stage like this the KoM fight obviously has to go on and we see couple of interesting names. None of the top2 though as the well placed GC riders are not part of todays attempt. Aru (3rd) Raileanu (6th) Oomen (7th) Nesset (16th GC, +11'41) Gebremedhin Novikov Vosekalns Lunke Grashev Kangert
Kangert actually initiated the break and had some solo riding earlier.
The early Cat.3 goes to Oomen ahead of Aru and Raileanu, which were also the only, that went for it. Goos 82, König 66, Aru 65 the order now with the others at least another 9 points behind.
The Cat.2 had the break working together very well and all 10 basically reached the top. Raileanu then attacked for the points with Aru and Oomen following.
Novikov and Kangert for the remaining points.
This means, Aru moves up to 2nd just 9 pts behind KoM leader Goos with Raileanu and Oomen also both moving into the top5 passing Kruijswijk and Dekker.
Chasing the most is clearly Repsol with 2 as also T-Mobile.
Howard for Bennelong is seen as well occasionally with Isostar/Puma controlling a bit as well.
Some riders really should pay more attention and even though they will come back afterwards, the Cat.2 had some bigger names being dropped, what shouldn`t happen again on the final climb.
In especially the top support riders Arndt/Vasyliv for Herklotz, LAtour for Gesink or Ndayisenga, Godoy, Kolar should be more careful.
Alarcon can`t be happy so far. Not having a stage win and only 14th in the GC when clearly having top5 ambitions as one of the very best climbers.
Today needs to have an improvement from him and his team still believes in him now solely working with 4 of their riders. Spanish train here by Benito, Serrano, Herrada, Roson.
The gap of 3'37 with 37km to go is very likely to be closed at the moment.
While Repsol is one team to have hoped for more, T-Mobile is another. Henao Montoya as 12th in the GC also below expectations.
Following the 4 Repsol riders, it`s now 5 T-Mobile team mates coming to the front with 22km to go.
It`s already slightly going uphill from here onwards but slopes soon will go higher clearly.
10km for the break and as the peloton is still ~3 min behind, chances are given to get a win today.
Right now facing the steepest section and 3 riders decide to attack for the stage. Aru, who also has the KoM jersey in mind. Raileanu Gebremedhin
While the trio in front was reeled in again resulting in Grashev losing contact first, the peloton also sees the first attack.
Olivier as 13th also being a bit under expectations wants to get the top10 and has opened a gap.
Behind Bongiorno tried to follow alongside Konig but none of them is able to leave the peloton.
Instead Quintana is the first really chasing solo.
As 15th another leader not reaching expectations.
And finally the expected attack by Alarcon. He quickly is up to Quintana, who is just passing Grashev.
Behind Henao Montoya, Bongiorno, Konig again try to follow but again fail to leave the group as Isostar/Generali has highered the pace.
The gap melted heavily. Just 1min to Olivier and another 47s to the Alarcon/Quintana group, which has 30s to the peloton.
Couple of decent team mates being dropped already not having their best day. But the big Puma/Generali support this time being with their leaders.
In front you can see that Quintana can`t follow Alarcon`s pace but the more interesting move is here in the peloton.
Herklotz attacks and it`s not Spilak to react first.
Instead Schleck sits right behind him.
Basically all other GC riders though are in the mix as well trying to follow.
Game over for the breakaway as Olivier is up to them with 5km to go and also Alarcon is coming closer.
In fact, they are all joining them with Alarcon/Quintana first but then also Herklotz, Schleck, Spilak, Hirt and others.
So gaps are gone basically but who is attacking next.
KoM leader Goos still there but even more impressive Kruijswijk, who is keeping contact not giving up on his 6th in the GC and having kind of a free role alongside Formolo here.
Kolesnikov, Dekker, Arndt, Latour, Iturria some of the better placed top25 riders in the first couple of groups behind.
Another acceleration by Olivier/Herklotz in the group and couple of riders really struggling.
Kruijswijk simply not as strong a climber as the others and now has to let go.
In front of him though more surprisingly Konig and in especially Haig! All three are in the top10 at the moment.
A bit ahead also Quintana, Bongiorno, Yates and Oomen not immediately able to follow. Vosekalns and Kangert the other two.
But even worse.
Sitting behind the Kruijswijk group: Henao Montoya really suffering. With him Goos and Aru.
Gazelle`s top rider today is as expected Formolo, who is still up there with the best but slowly struggling. Ahead of him also Nesset as best of the break but also Hirt, who doesn`t look well right now.
But the most important behind them: Alarcon simply doesn`t have it and while gaining on several ahead, he still can`t fully live up to his potential.
The only rider next to the top4 right now is Olivier on a strong day.
But also the Aegon leader can`t follow on the steep final kilometer.
This also means that the gaps between the top riders aren`t big and more likely it`s about bonus seconds.
They are lining up nicely side by side.
Gesink has a bit of an advantage with Spilak next. Herklotz and Schleck in 3rd position but still a bit more to go.
The Dutch had the shorter way through the corner and takes the win! Similar for Herklotz, who takes 2nd ahead of Schleck on the worst way as Spilak struggled towards the end but still keeping the lead. Same time for them all.
Olivier with a great day with chances to jump into the top10 coming over the line in 5th aand 30s down.
Behind him Hirt, Formolo, Alarcon and Nesset another 16s down, which is a good gain to the next riders who have a bigger gap.
Quintana leads the next almost 1min behind Alarcon, which will see some GC movement.
Bongiorno with him as also Novikov and Lunke, while group Yates/Oomen has another 17s.
Kruijswijk at 2'42 in the end. Not too bad actually seeing that also Haig/Konig were just 20s faster!
And actually Henao Montoya 12s slower losing even more today on all rivals!
GC wise Yates goes past Kruijswijk for 6th. Formolo following in 8th ahead of Haig and now Olivier in the last top10 spot.
Bongiorno next with Alarcon up to 12th. Henao in 14th and Quintana in 15th surely behind expectations still.
