Posts: 5258 Joined: 18.05.08 Location: UK PCM$: 101.25
Again we have a flat stage. Domestiques have had another day to recover from the high mountains, will we finally get the sprint finish?
Favourites are Bennati, Ciolek and Pettachi, will Lego be able to use their strong sprint chain today?
Off we go.
a group of 5 forms
Maksimov, Tondo, Bespalov, Sys and Papov.
Hunter has to chase on his own
the gap is 10min with 95km to go.
At the first sprint the order was Popov, Bespalov then Maksimov.
the order is repeated at the second sprint point.
the gap falls at a good rate with Hunter working by himself.
With 40km to the finish the gap is at 4 min and Klimov replaces Hunter.
Finally a chain is formed and the gap starts falling fast.
20km to go and the peleton has the, now disjointed, break in sight. The advantage is less than 1 minute and we are heading for a bunch sprint
and with 13km to go they are pulled back
6km to go and no one has any real advantage
Bonnet is leading out Bozic on the left and Ciolek is ignoring his train to grab that wheel. To the right La Gazzeta has Mugerli leading out CUnego and Eurosport has Weylant led out by Facci.
Bennati and Pettachi are well back.
Bonnet looks to be the strongest lead out man and has pulled well clear of his rivals.
On the other side Garcia Rancon leading out Rasmussen looks well placed.
Further back Cunego has grabbed Chicchi wheel and Manan is having to go it alone with Pettachi and Jorgensen in his slipstream.
The sprint starts and Bozic pulls out immediately, he gets the jump on Ciolek but with 2.5km to go I doubt it will be enough.
1200 metres to go and Ciolek pulls out everyone else is fighting for third now.
with 600 to go Ciolek pulls clear.
and he wins ahead of Bozic
Rasmussen takes 3rd with Jorgensen 4th. Weylantts 5th, Manan 6th. A celebrating Petacchi in 7th followed by Gerard 8th and Bileka 9th. Bennati came tenth despite being 100 riders back with 3km to go, he was easily the fastest man but just didn't set himself up at all.
Results: Team Santander Media Thread
