Todays stage is particularly interesting and the GC will see a shakeup.
The cobbles will prove to be very deceisive.
But first we had a breakaway: Seledekov (of course) Txurruka(Molteni) Akgul (Pearl-Jam B) Mertens (Nippo) Drucker (B&O) Robert (Gatorade) Barclay (Virgin B) and Cappioli (Konica Minolta 50 for every stat)
Again with Nippo and Molteni represented it was down to the team of Race Leader, and Multi-national, Chris Froome to chase.
Interesting thing about Mertens He was tipped to be the big favorite thanks to his cobble stat but never really delivered. However he is fresher than the rest and over the top of the second cobble section he leaves everyone behind while Txurruka follows.
ProCycling BBC make an interesting move on the cobbles as well, destroying the field. Most of the riders made it back into the pack except Dimitri Grabovski, who had been sitting in the to 10 until today.
It seemed as if the Breakaway that Mertens was in was only slowing him down: He continues to drive up the gap, even with ProCycling chasing.
Mertens isn't that far of the virtual lead and his gap is still growing!
Mertens takes a hard earned win. But what about the GC?
Michael Van Stayen leads the pack over the line 5 minutes and 34 second later.
Mertens moves into second overall, only 11 seconds back from race Leader Froome.
