This mountain stage could help to decide the race today
15 riders went in the early break but they were needlessly chased down by Magenta - however, the 5 strongest climbers in the break were allowed to remain and Magenta stopped chasing them.
Ten Dam, Tiralongo, Trusov, Dupont and Mazzoleni are the 5
Starting the day 3rd in the Kom classification, Paolo Tiralongo attacks at the top for the full points
11 riders from the peleton attacked for some points aswell.
This caused Magenta to come back to the front to help France TV, and all riders were caught.
Tiralongo was not put off though and at the 2nd KoM climb, he attacked from the peleton to take the full points again, this time ahead of Barredo and Evans
Again things came back together, towards the intermediate sprint with 32km to go. Pozzato won ahead of Carrarra and Forster and Robbie Hunter will feel hard done by as he looked clearly in the top 3.
This sprint caused a split - 26 riders clear of the front
Perhaps thinking that its only sprinters (although Magenta infact know otherwise), France TV and Magenta are at the front of the peleton - but are not chasing! The gap grows!
Lets take a closer look at the new lead group and wow! Theres some big names in here!
The gap is over 5 minutes with 40km to go as Suaza leads what I guess must be called as the breakaway onto the slopes of the big mountain. There are 4 real steep sections but the road is almost all upwards from now to the finishline
Behind Suaza are two Accumalux domestiques who also made it in the break but they arent particularly strong climbers (and were infact dropped from the peleton earlier on the stage on the days first climb, before rejoining) and their inability to keep on Suaza's wheel allows Suaza to produce a minutes gap on the rest
All the sprinters, domestiques and other weak climbers in the break start to fall off - including, to our surprise, Matteo Carrarra
In the peleton, Magenta are still sharing the pace with France Televisions. The gap to Suaza is 5 minutes and to the other riders it is 4 minutes. The gap seems to be neither going up or down but it begs the question - why are Magenta even relaying at all with Gomez Marchante in the break and with a chance of taking the leaders jersey?
Suaza is caught by the group behind with 20km to go, towards the top of the 2nd steep section
Perhaps a bit of uncertainty creeps into the group, Sevilla drops back having completed his relay, Suaza also drops back and Pecharroman cant keep on Perez Cuapio's wheel. Franco Pellizotti seizes the oportunity and with Perez Cuapio on his wheel, ups his tempo and gets a small gap
The gap quickly extends as both riders recognise the opoortunity here
We are onto the 3rd steep section with 10km to go when attacks finally come from the peleton - its far too late for the stage win now. Pedraza, Abal and Anton go first
Then its Danielson, Cobo and Evans
Nibali and Devolder followed Kashechkin and Fothen
Damiano Cunego also attacks up and a group of the attackers is formed
Meanwhile back up front, Gomez Marchante and Gadret attack. Theyve surely left it a bit late also if they want to catch Pellizotti and Perez Cuapio
They do close the gap on them though as Perez Cuapio edges out an advantage over Pellizotti as the sprint nears
And that small gap is all he needs. Perez Cuapio wins the stage, with Pellizotti 2nd
Not far behind is Gomez Marchante in 3rd, ahead of Gadret. In the background you can see Gerdemann, Efimkin, Pecharroman, Sevilla, Camano and Niemiec
Stijn Devolder leads the group of late attackers as they catch Suaza and Leipheimer on the line. The timekeepers say the gap is 2'39, so Devolder keeps his race lead
A minute behind that group of 14 and surely now out of contention are Popovych, Nozal and Nibali