At last, the hills arrive! They're not too big, but hopefully its enough to bring some action. Today there's 42 KOM points up for grabs; it seems to be a tough job for Gaywood.
The favourites for the bookies are Ginanni and teammates Van Garderen and Petrov.
Right after the start there's a bunch of about 10 riders attacking, and they're eventually split up in two groupes. The pack isnt too happy with this situation, and the second groupe is caugth. The first one, however, can go. They are Baumann, Mazzanti, Rowe, Gastauer and Duran.
It doesnt take long though for a smaal hill to pop up, where more riders attack. It seems some teams arent happy with having no rider in the break. Pagoto, Stoltz and Scarponi(making it 2 Wiggle riders up front) manage to brigde the gap, while Pinto starts a lonly chase. In the pack it's M&M Cycling controlling again.
Just like yesterday, the break doesnt challenge the KOM sprint, so Duran gets it for free, before Pagoto and Gastauer.
The first intermediate sprint is won by the best sprinter in the groupe: Baumann. Scarponi and Stoltz take second and third.
Race situation: Pinto is back 1 minute, the pack another 2 minutes.
Going up the Col de la Baraque for the first time, M&M makes sure the gap won't pass 5 minutes, before Wal Mart takes over and starts some real chasing with 4 men.
The KOM points are again for Duran, before Mazzanti and Gastauer. This means Duran is now virtually in the Polka Dots jersey. And with 70km still to go, the gap is now down to 3'30.
As a result of Wal Marts high pace on the hill, Thorsen (along with a few others) has been dropped, which results in O'Grady and Walsleben waiting for him.
While Baumann wins the second sprint as well, Thorsen found contact with the pack again. Now its another sprinter who's dropped; Trussov got a puncture. There's nobody waiting for him though.
On the next climb, Thorsen is dropped again. Now it's even 4 riders waiting for him; Fuglsang and Vantornout as well.
Meanwhile up front in the pack, it's the first of the favourites who's attacked: Tejay van Garderen is gone!
He is followed by everyone else though, and after Gastauer took the last KOM sprint (Duran takes the jersey) the favourites join up with the remainings of the break. Mostthe fav's are there, including Bewley and Gaywood. Only Rovny and Astarloa seem to have missed out. They've send their team up front in the pack to chase, but it seems too late for them.
We're now on the flat section to the last climb, and it's the jellow jersey Sam Bewley who plays with all the big names and shouts at them, bye guys, I'm gone! The others know there's still 15km left, and dont panic. As soon as the hill comes, the move up to Bewly very easy.
Then, more and more attacks. The top of the hill is approching...
And it's Ginanni who's got the best legs today; he made it to the top of the last hill with 3km to go with 25 seconds to Vandenbroeck and Ventoso, who have 25 seconds as well on Roche, Van Garderen, Bewly and Fedrigo. Rovny and Astarloa, who have attacked from the pack, are 1'40 pack, and the pack is 2'30 back.
And so it's Francesco Ginanni who take the queen stage of the race. Vandenbroeck beat Ventoso to the second place, 18 seconds back.
Bewley's groupe loses 50 seconds, which is enough for Ginanni to take the jersey with it!
