It took a fair while for the break to go today with Newton not wanting the wrong mix of riders to go but eventually we get the following in the break of the day Barcelo 1”51 down KOM leader Mannion 8”52 Van Vliet 2”34 4th KOM Svestad-Bardseng 2”00
At the KOM sprint we see a usual sight Barcelo wins the sprint by a long way Van Vliet gets dropped in the sprint but lucky for him there's a group forming behind him that will bring him back to the front.
These are joined by the following and we see a surprising name joining them. Carapaz 4”18 Fortunato 4”15 Smit “30 25th GC Ryuki 1”58
Not only do we have an angry Carapaz but Smit is very close on GC and this will lead to not wanting this break to go far up the road.
Up the 2nd 1st category climb of the day we only see one rider dropped in Svestad-Bardseng and we see some competition in the KOM classification Ryuki beats Fortunato and Barcelo, Mannion also picking up points.
Over the top, the gap is down to 3 mins only as the peleton sets a hard tempo.
Intermediate sprint is taken by Smit with the others just rolling across though it's looking less likely he will battle for GC with only a 1"50 lead at this point.
Thats because Newton has burned through domestiques in quick time up the 2nd last climb of the day and Quinn is now done Madrazo
takes over for the 2nd half of the climb meaning Jorgenson
will go to the final climb with only one doemstqiue. Though ahead the break can be seen the gap is down to 1min and Smit is dropped he'd done a lot of work early on to build the big lead and paid for it though an attacking ride from him will be welcomed by his manager for sure.
Two others who have rode great today but are now dropping Barcelo not as strong in the high mountains and Ryuki not able to live with Carapaz pace up this climb as he not only hold the 1 min lead he increases it to over 2 mins.
Carapaz takes the HC climb and a bucketload of points in the KOM while Mannion impressively holds his wheel to move up to 2nd overall in the KOM rankings. Fortunato is over in 3rd but is back with the leaders quickly on the descent.
The peleton holds there pace from Madrazo and that see's the following riders dropped not to return to the leading group today: Bartl Canty Siriwardena Sunderland Warbasse
have their whole team around Siriwardena but he really struggles losing over 18 mins on the day. The rest lose 5 mins and plus and all GC hopes are gone.
The rest of the peleton ride the descent hard with around 40 riders left and they turn onto the final climb 1"30 down on the leading group
On the first kickback we see a huge attack Munoz (2"01 GC) goes and nobody follows him Quinn made it back on and paces with Bevin at a hard pace after the Colombian.
Munoz quickly catches the break and it's good news for Carapaz as he can finally take some pulls after being left to ride on the front alone they drop their breakaway companions quickly but chapeu to both Fortunato and Mannion big rides from those two today.
Munoz and Carapaz are kicking on hard and the pack is getting desperate Bernard is now cranking out a very hard tempo but ends up going clear as Quinn couldn't hold that pace he rides on regardless with Madrazo
left to bring it back gap is up to "50 seconds. Could this get dangerous?
Munoz drops Carapaz and now there's a problem the gap is up to 1"30 and Munoz is riding like a man on a mission behind there's trouble too.
Madrazo is done and Jorgenson
doesn't want to pace. It's Tachira all over again the gap has balloned to 2"30 Jorgenson is playing cat and mouse with the favourites who will blink first and have to work to catch the incredible Munoz who is powering away and with 3km to go has the Victory on the stage secure but could he grab more.
Vanhoucke and Carapaz ?! blink the man in the break all day and the 2nd on GC have started working up ahead Munoz shows the first signs of cracking the gap is down to 1"50 but soon after Carapaz blows and is spat out the group. And just as Vanhoucke bring the gap under 2 mins and puts Jorgenson back in the GC lead we see a huge play.
Jorgenson finally goes and he is ripping the favourites group apart he has channeled his inner Armstrong today and bluffed to the others to do his chasing but he is now motoring up the climb Lunke is holding on grimly but he's the last man to make it with Smith Penasa, Primozic
Vanhoucke pops he played into Jorgenson's hands today and has used himself up on the lower slopes, Raileanu, Bernard, Kozhatayev and Ulysbayev and dropped with him while Iturria and Lemus Davila create a gap trying to bridge to the leaders but they just hang 20 seconds off them
It's Munoz day today! what an attack and climb from the experienced Colombian he went when the pace was low and held his form over on the higher slopes. He looked like he'd have a GC lead at one point but the stage win will have to do and he's up to 7th on GC and right back in the fight now.
But just look in the back of his celebration who is that man motoring up this climb!
Jorgenson is absolutely mega on the final climb and he only loses 51 seconds not only does he drag the favourites up to Munoz while also extending his GC lead with a huge sprint. Smith Penasa, Primozic and Lunke all with huge rides as well and they'll be please with their day's work as will Iturria who just falls off the back of the group but his teams great TTT see's him 5th overall and continues what has been a super strong showing so far.
[C2] Volta a Catalunya 
