We’re just 19 stages into the race and already enter the eponymous continent. To reduce this shock we start with a short and pan flat stage for the sprinters. It will be their last opportunity.
We have 6 riders in the break and they are mostly new names: Martinelli, Agirrebeitia, Aebi, Kanepejs, Gaze and Huera.
About halfway through the stage the gap is at 4 minutes. But there are also just 50 km to go, so the peloton will have to start chasing anytime soon.
All riders in the break are more than an hour behind in the GC, so it’s no surprise Newton Foundation isn’t very keen on chasing hard. The gap is at nearly 5 minutes with 40 km to go and two teams have two riders in the break. The sprinter teams have to react fast or they’ll give away this stage to the break.
With 30 km to go the chase finally is on, but the gap is still above 5 minutes. That has to be too late.
The break is under the 10 km banner and the chase is still rather unorganized. The gap is at 2’37.
Under the 5 km banner Agirrebeitia attacks his companions.
But he only drops Kanepejs and Martinelli. They won’t bother too much as their teammates are the better sprinters anyway.
With 1.3 km to go Agirrebeitia still leads the four leaders.
Under the kite Aebi launches his sprint from the last position of the group.
He’s in the lead with 500 m to go. Gaze tries to follow.
But Aebi timed his sprint perfectly and takes the win! Gaze has to settle for 2nd.
Huera takes the final spot on the podium. Agirrebeitia finishes in 4th.
Behind them Martinelli beats Kanepejs for 5th.
Mudgway wins the sprint of the field for 7th against Scully, Wouters and Edmondson in 8th to 10th.
Congratulations to today’s surprise winner Aebi!
[C1] Tour of America 
