Today is the first real test for the GC contenders with one very tough mountain pass to negotiate, after that it’s a pretty easy ride, except for the finish which is slightly uphill aswell. The even more interesting though is that there are two cobbled sections along the route, with the 2nd on the final climb to the finish line. Will that have any effect on today’s result? There’s only one way to find out.
It didn’t became less interesting in the slightest when cobbled specialists Niels Albert and Jesus Del Nero attacked right from the start. They were joined by two other riders, the KoM Leader, Salerno and Slipstream’s Lewis.
Behind them a massive 12-man group had to clear off the pack to try and catch up. Wijaya of American Suzuki B was one of the riders in the group, but he dropped so early that he is not in this picture. The 11 riders are Ben Hassine, Broco, Mori, Costa, Ladino, former race leader Sibila Romero, Tizza, Lemoine, Maya, Keisse and Miller.
Excited by the prospect of the two cobbled section Niels Albert quickly found himself in a solo attempt with just about 150 kilometres to the line. Del Nero also got clear of Salerno and Lewis, but he couldn’t keep the pace of Albert as he kept losing ground on the Belgian.
With just over 100 kilometres left, Niels Albert hits the first cobbled section with almost three minutes on Del Nero and over 12 minutes on the pack, where Slipstream has begun uping the pace.
Niels Albert in his right element – on a mountain stage.
Slipstream has invested a lot of energy into keeping Bajadali’s leader’s jersey.
At the top of the cobbled hill there was a Points Sprint which Albert of course took. Del Nero then soloed over for 2nd, while the now 13-man big chasing group would sprint it out for 3rd. Iljo Keisse took it.
But this acceleration caused the 13-man group to splinter completely with Keisse going solo, chased by Sibila Romero, Ben Hassine, Costa, Mori, Tizza and Miller in the nearest group, with the rest being left behind in a 2nd Chase Group.
67 kilometres to go and Niels Albert has hit the foot of 18.3-kilometres climb.
The peloton hits the base of the climb 10’52 later as Ernst & Young is now helping out their American colleagues at the front. The pack is now not very far behind the remnants of the former 13-man chase group, but the gap to Albert is still big.
This was with over 13 kilometres to the summit, and good climbers are dropping off the 27-man peloton like flies! One of Pereiro Sio’s best domestiques, Rodas, can’t keep up!
And now race leader, Andrew Bajadali is dropped in a group alongside Aleksandr Efimkin, Mikel Aztarloza and Levi Leipheimer!
And now Botero cracks! Still 8 kilometres to the top!
Who is causing all this havoc? It’s Gregory Rast!!!!!
He has completely splintered the pack and he is now going solo off the front of the pack. Just how is this possible? Pereiro Sio and Danielson are hanging tough though, they’re not far behind.
Tom Danielson trailing Oscar Pereiro Sio, who can’t keep up with his team-mate Rast.
Mirko Celestino has managed to cling onto the wheel of Rast, as Albert goes over the top with a 1-minute lead on Del Nero.
Rast and Celestino cross another 1’25 later, but Danielson and Pereiro Sio plus Rui Costa from the early break catch them in the descend.
Trailing Albert by just over 4 minutes and the Danielson Group by 2 are Efimkin, Leipheimer, Ochoa Quintero, Aztarloza and Criel. There are still a few riders from the early break in-between them and the Danielson Group.
A 13-man group has formed about 44 seconds behind the Ochoa Quintero Group with race leader Bajadali, Kohl and Garate as the most prominent names.
Behind the Bajadali Group we have a 8 riders including the two home-favourites Medina and Chacon, and they are going to catch up in the descend, meaning we now have all the pre-race favourites no further back in the race than the Bajadali Group. Slipstream’s Captain, Peter Stetina has not come across yet though as he is in a five man group, almost 2 minutes back.
With 20 kilometres to go we have just about hit the bottom of the descend and the 5-man group with Danielson, Pereiro Sio, Costa, Celestino and Rast is now just 50 seconds behind Niels Albert up front.
The pack with the favourites is 2’47 after the Danielson Group, this could be a great day for the American and Pereiro Sio!
With 10 kilometres to go Danielson’s Group has caught Albert, who had been riding solo for about 140 kilometres, a great effort by the Belgian. The pack is closing in fast though, and with 6 kilometres to go just before the final cobbled section, Danielson attacks! He doesn’t want to get caught.
The attacks is nullified by an incredibly strong Rast who hits the front as we hit the cobbles!
As you can see the pack is not far off now and it looks like this will all be in vain for Danielson and Pereiro Sio.
The finish is going to be nailbitingly close, Rast has the lead into the final kilometre. Celestino and Pereiro Sio are still clear of the pack while Danielson is now caught.
Victory for Gregory Rast! What a performance, I have never seen anything like it!
Luca Paolini came shooting from the pack on the cobbles to take his third 2nd place of the race. Celestino takes 3rd and Pereiro Sio comes in 4th, as he gains a few seconds on all his GC opponents and takes the yellow jersey from Bajadali, who came so close to defend it.
