Today we have a hilly 26 km ITT. The organizers think the oure TTers will be in the mix too, but from experience this should rather be a stage for the stage racers.
Aguilar Mendez is the first of the pure TTers on the road. (We also see another potential favourites for today in Haig mentioned.) His time is 42’52.
Howson is the next specialist. He beats the best time by 19’’.
Leung misses the best time by 22’’.
Noia is another 8’’ slower.
Groselj is the fastest now, nearly half a minute faster than the previous leader.
John shows that this isn’t a day for the specialists but for the stage racers by being more than 2 minutes faster than anyone previously.
Christapopoulos is the first one to beat this time, but only by 2’’.
Bissegger beats this time by 16’’, gaining more than a minute in the final climb.
Choi sets a new best time in 39’00.
Haigs time of 38’13 could be the first real benchmark for the stage win. But that probably won’t console his manager with his race so far.
Oliveira is only 24’’ slower.
No one else comes near the best time until Lopez Nolasco who slots in provisional 3rd after losing 34’’.
We enter the coverage of the GC fight with the double act of Schlegel and Giannoutsos who started the stage in 12th and 11th. They lose 3‘13 and 1‘20 respectively.
McNulty has a skillset pretty similar to that of the current leader Haig and he’s even faster at the intermediate times. In the end he started too fast and loses 2 minutes in the climb!
Eastman is 1’11 slower than the leader.
Misbah is a bit faster and takes the virtual GC lead.
Rodrigues tried the same tactics as McNulty with essentially the same result, he loses 2’10 today.
Morton is 1’38 behind.
Oomen does better and only loses 58’’. He’s the virtual GC leader now.
Shikai loses three seconds more and slots in 1’’ behind the Dutch in the GC.
Kämna was the fastest at both intermediate times and he is able to keep the legs going in the uphill part. He loses half a minute there nonetheless and misses the best time by 13’’, but that’s enough for 2nd in the stage right now and the virtual GC lead.
Skjelmose Jensen loses 26‘‘ today and one spot in the GC, but he’s only 2’’ behind the German before the final stage.
Kudus loses 1’16 today. He has to overcome a gap of 45’’ tomorrow.
Congratulations to Haig who makes it two consecutive stage wins for his team.
Kämna takes the GC lead with his strong stage today.
Hayter finishes 7th today which is enough to take the points lead.
[PTHC] Criterium du Dauphine Libere 
