We slowly are heading to the end of the race but it`s still important GC stages yet to come. And while the GC is decided in the mountains and time trials, todays hill stage could be vital as well. A few medium climbs over the stage but the main difficulty is the final with a mid size hill top finish waiting for the riders.
Raileanu already has one stage win and is the top favourite again while Penasa has a small advantage over Nerz on those shorter climbs while both have solid support though as basically on any stage so far.
The Desigual riders could be interesting as Abal could struggle here and also Fraile not very suited but in Burke and Jones they have strong support on such finish.
Similar for all other top 10 riders, who are more pure climbers than hybrids.
Which brings us to pure puncheurs. Anuar Aziz, Besada or Costa have shown up here and there but so far couldn`t really show their puncheur skills and in the 3rd week the stage racers use to be stronger as well.
Also late in a GT it`s a chance for the break obviously and some regular names appear in there again of which Europcar stands out having 3 riders in there. Zielinski Vink Mahdar Sortveit Lovik Kangangi Delgerbayar Hoehn
Lovik as 2nd in the KoM and Zielinski as 4th really interesting, while Azteca`s Mannion isn`t seen anywhere. At least Stetina is keeping the pace up in the peloton.
And Lovik directly takes the early Cat.3 with ease and goes into the virtual lead with +1 against Mannion. Penasa follows as Zielinski started his "sprint" too late and left empty handed.
The 2nd KoM and again Lovik going for it. Surprisingly Zielinski again with 0 points. Apparently he now decided to just safe energy going for the stage instead.
Meanwhile Sortveit also moves up to 7th now but less than half of Lovik`s points.
And this also is the moment, where Ford is losing contact to the peloton as first rider. Still 100km solo ahead.
42km left and the gap is down to 2min, what is mainly Fablok`s effort as Bol and Cohen has moved up.
Ford now 11min behind, which is a realistic continuation once again.
Kangangi, Lovik and Sortveit are now attacking the break. Surprisingly none of Europcar joining them and instead working together to close the gap. The peloton just 90s behind and still 25km to go.
And the bad cooperation goes on as Kangangi later goes solo with 10km to go. Apparently the amount of Europcar riders today wasn`t great for the break chemistry and helped the peloton to make the catch as basically they are just a bit behind.
4km left and the final climb starts. Kangangi was just caught and it will be a peloton win.
The point jersey of Haller in the first row showing his paying back for the GC riders. Also Fablok with several riders in the front.
Looking at the bigger names within the first 25 riders and most of them actually in the first 10, the following scenario:
Denz
Besada
Raileanu
Penasa
Anuar Aziz
Gebremedhin
Duarte
Nerz
Garby
Abal
Geniez
Atapuma
Kuss
Brandt
Burke
Mannion
Fraile
Kiserlovski is one rider missing in the first rows and so is Liphongyu as team leader. His 9th in GC is in danger today as there are a few gaps already opening.
Sauber seems to "ignore" that danger and goes for Anuar Aziz today. Though his attack with 2,9km is really early.
Denz on the other side with Raileanu still behind one of his helpers react quickly.
Then behind Penasa and Gebremedhin, Haller/Geniez and Nerz with a bit of a gap now.
And the gap is opening. But Kraftwerk can "relax" as the 2nd Valio rider in front was actually Lehtinen and Penasa is sitting right next to Nerz.
Then Burke, Abal and the other GC riders behind.
In front also Besada for Azteca.
Only 3 riders left in the front with 1,7km to go as mainly the Valio helpers went backwards.
Raileanu and Denz look strongest, Anuar Aziz now struggling as the climb is too long, same already happened to Besada before.
And as Penasa has accelerated behind also Nerz needs to react.
And then lots of Desigual riders. 5 of them actually with Burke sitting right behind Penasa. Jones right behind with Abal also there and then there is Young! Their sprinter in a top10 position, wFraile also on the right.
800m and the gap is melting for the leading trio.
Then a group of 14 riders including the main GC riders.
Kiserlovski and Liphongyu could actually lose almost 2min on that climb as the gaps are really big now.
700m and the catch is almost made.
Penasa and Nerz now in the first positions of that group passing Anuar Aziz and also Duarte somehow still there.
Atapuma, Abal, Kuss and Brandt all close to them as well.
Garby missing.
The Dane is still close but could lose a bit. The top is less steep and the gaps might not be given in the end.
300m and Raileanu still not giving up. He might be strongest today but was in the wind for the longest time on that climb.
Denz smartly waiting and now goes next to him.
Penasa and Nerz then following. Every second counting for them and bonus seconds also on the board.
And indeed Raileanu had to let the others pass. Denz wins the stage and is the next stage winner from Kraftwerk. Really impressive team performance here, no matter the terrain.
And to make it even better Nerz making it a 1-2 extending the lead over Penasa, who comes in 3rd though. Raileanu in 4th. Then a gap.
Young impressive as 5th today! Duarte as well strong followed by Vink, Koren, Anuar Aziz and Jones.
Atapuma, Brandt, Burke, Kuss, Abal and also Fraile all in that group of +25.
Garby losing 1'31 in the end in a group around Besada.
Liphongyu fought till the end and just a bit behind him at 1'46 while Kiserlovski is around Bennett and behind Haller at 2'17 taking a day off for the mountain stage to come.
GC wise Denz up to 9th while Liphongyu and Garby drop just out of the top10.
And Ford obviously allowed to move on losing just another 38min and adding another 100km to his solo tour.
