2h42 late on Eastman in the GC, Frame opens the day. He’s been working a lot at the front of the pack for his sprint leader Reinhardt.
This bunch features mainly rouleurs and youngsters, and they all suffer in the climb. Oram seems in a good shape, though, as he overcomes Quaade.
But he’s himself beaten by Hopkins, who sets a best time of 39’53.

Intxausti is a decent climber, and he’s the next to take the hot seat with a notable time: 36’19. He might rest here for quite some time. That is, until he’s disloged by De Luna, who’s under 36 minutes: 35’27. But then again, as we see mountain domestiques on the road, that’ll maybe not hold long.

Indeed, Mager is the following rider on,n the seat: 35’16. He’s soon enough beaten by Paulus, and a surprising Jacobsen: 34’36.

Though local man Mannion is one of the best climber of the bunch, he’s not that good of the flat, and might be tiring after all this time. He falls 8 seconds short of Burke, who gets a time of 34’31.

Some riders of this bunch will try to gain minor placing, or even to crack into the top 10! This shouldn’t be the hope of either Koshevoy or Mendoza, as none of them really is suited to the day.

Hoehn sets a new best time of 34’21, soon beaten by Fabbro, who’s the first under 34 minutes: 33’35.

One might have seen Xandri as one of these well rounded riders able to do good today – awaiting the favorites, obviously – but he might have worked too much for his leader. We can also change our shift in the young rider competition, where Gall is in difficulties: Verschaeve was better than him on the flat, and is now closing in in the climb.

They end up 1 minute appart. Fabbro still holds the best time and could gain much today.

Rachid is the first to go of the bunch, and he finishes 7 seconds off Fabbro, which might be a tad disappointing.
McNulty is leading the stage after the flat section, with 11 seconds on Powless and 19 on Eastman, 21 on Reis and Ranaweera, but the latter is suffering in the climb!

Madrazo had a strong day to disloge Fabbro of the hot seat. His time is 33’34. Not enough to overcome Ludvigsson in the GC, as the Swede only lose 30 seconds. Reis and Ranaweera finsih together. The former sets the new best time (32’23), while the latter loses 1’25. His 5th place is not endangered, though.

In the last kilometers, all three Americans are holding their ground. One could think, at least: Powless loses 1’25 to Reis, which will give the podium to the Portuguese. McNulty is 32’’ off, which shows the performance of the Colombini man.

But Eastman is determined to deprive Colombini of a stage win! He wins by for 1 second, adding another success for Glanbia and showing why he’s the favorite.