Kroupis did good with another podium, hope he can take a win. Very suprising sprint to be honest, with Sagan out of the podium. In Omloop the team did very good, especially Ballan trying to make a gap with the many attack, shame he couldn't do more than a 7th place (i think he deserved a Top5).
188km in 32degrees today will surely make for a tough ride. Couple this with a collection of climbs in the second half of the stage, and we might get a first glimpse of who's going to be competitive tomorrow on the Tours big climb!
4 men make up todays breakaway, 3 of them are names we've seen before already. The group consists of Rogina(AxA), Docker(Dominoes), Gretsch(Nintendo) and Vandborg(Triks Custom). Gretsch still lies 6th in the GC at this point, so expect a fast pace behind...
The first sprint comes after just 31km, by which point the gap is 3'50. Docker manages to claim the first victory of the day, ahead of Rogina and Vandborg
At the second sprint, AxA's Regina tried an early sprint, but he couldn't foil Mitch Docker, who timed the move from his wheel to perfection to take maximum once again
The days final sprint comes 112km from the finish line. The gap was up to 8'02 and finally AxA's Rogina manages to hold on to the line, Docker having to settle for second on this occasion
Despite a tough looking Parcours, it was once again the sprinting teams who took up the chase as the race moved towards the pointy end. With 95km to ride, TCW had cut the gap to 6'53
The day would be certain to provide a new KotM, and at the first of the 2 Cat2 climbs, it was once again Mitch Docker who picked up the top points, as Rogina followed him over the line yet again
Over that same summit came the first attack of the day from a favourite, it was CSC's Nick Van Der Valde, going for it with 80km to ride, sadly the attack didn't stick, he was caught just a kilometre later
With 36km to ride, the breakaway began the hardest climb of the day with a gap of 2'41. Would we see the favourites attacking here? or would they save it for the short steep final climb of the day?
2'16 the gap as they crest the climb, and this time it was TCS' Vandborg who collected top points ahead of Mitch Docker, meaning the Dominoes rider is our new provisional KotM
With 20km to ride the official gap still held at 2'12. With the break co-operating fully, and none of the GC squads marshalling the pack, can they hold on to the line...
16km... 1'54 The KOTM point is oddly placed towards the base of the climb. This just keeps rising, and the steepest point is in the mid-20's!
15km... Docker is off. He can see the stage is within reach and he's going to give it all to get there...
11km... Docker and Vandborg hold 1'30 over the pack which has capitulated on the climb. The front group is 32 men strong, and it seems all GC men have managed to land the right side of the split
7500m... IT seems the front group wants the stage after all, they've all but shut the break down in 4km, officially the gap is 38 seconds, but it looks like less
5200m... Yes it's all back together once more. There's an uncategorised ascent to come peaking 2000m from the line, so a punch there, could earn the stage and some time!
3900m... Duarte and Tiralongo are off! On the right it looks as though TCW have faith in Impey, Cummings is doing everything to keep his sprinter in position, meanwhile a team mate less Sagan once again controls the peloton
2700m... 4 men begin the descent with a slight gap. They are Nocentini, Duarte, Moser and Tiralongo...
1600m... It looks to be of no avail, Cummings has shut the entire move down alone, and still has enough to leadout Impey, the only question, how much has the climb affected the sprinters legs? That left train? Cummings-Impey-Sagan-Van Dijk-Vaitkus
800m... From no where has come a Sony Ericsson charge, fronted by Larsson and Ludvigsson, TCS will be happy to see a plucky Henkjan Knol following the move aswell, great effort by the youngster on this difficult stage
500m... It looks like Impey has saved enough, but Sagan's not far behind... Sony have the road blocked, will they get on the podium?
180m... Sagan is closing, can he pass Impey?
Impey hangs on! Sagan comes a close second after a superb performance by the one-man-army, He can thank Steve Cummings for this win, in the last 5km, he shut down an attack, paced the climb and lead out his sprinter! Behind Ludvigsson holds on for the podium with Iglinskiy 4th and Knol taking a top5.
A short stage today, just 124km in length, however for the GC men, today is the main one. The final 19km are ascending, so look out for some huge gaps
As the peloton started the days first climb, 7 men held a 49" gap. They were... Haller(RBM) Dowsett(ITV), Bagdonas(Pervyj) Férnandez(Sony-Ericcson), Hansen(AXA), Selander(Dominoes) and Callegarin(Fastweb)
The climb was uncontested, with Dowsett picking up the top points, meanwhile behind them B-J Lindeman had attacked, and was attempting to solo across the gap to the breakaway
With 78km to ride, Lindeman completed his effort and joined up with the break out in front. The lead at this point was 4'44
The days penultimate sprint came with 56km to ride. Férnandez had no trouble taking the full points ahead of Bagdonas and Callegarin, the breaks lead? 5'56
For the first time in the race we see a full cohort from IoQ leading the pack, they're steadily reeling in the break, 4'58 with 46 to ride.
The final sprint of the day, and this time Bagdonas shows a highly convincing turn of speed! Férnandez gets secon ahead of Hansen.
At the base of the looming Genting highlands comes an immediate attack. Castroviejo(Bulgari) Mancebo(Globant) and Sorenson(TCS) are the first away from the peloton, with 25km to ride they are 41" ahead of the peloton, and 2'35 from the pack
20km... The break have a gap of 40" over the attacking trio and the gap to the peloton is 1'54. For the first time in the race we see some of the famous Malaysian rains, this climb is going to be hot and sticky, it's 36degrees today, and the water will make it even harder
19km... The trio catch the break, but the peloton is coming ever closer. Still IoQ are marshalling the pace thanks to Gallopin and Iglinskiy, but the attacks are starting to come!
18.5km... A big trio of names open fire now, Serpa, Taaramae and Martinéz have decided an early attack is the best policy to break down Sagans 1minute GC lead.
However, they can't make it stick, it's only effect is to shed one of Sagans helpers, Tony Gallopin
17km... As the slopes really begin to steepen, AxA's Tiernan-Locke attacks, moving around the break as they get reeled in. Pires, Mancebo and Dupont try to follow..
15km... Many people are trying to attack, but the slope is too harsh and no one is able to make it stick, Dupont is looking strongest at this point, he's managed to open a gap of a few seconds, riding for his Nintendo-Ambuja team
10km... On a slope of 16.7% Rui Sousa moves to the sharp end of the peloton in an attempt to crank the pace up a bit. The peloton is down to 56 riders, but so far, neither Sagan or any of teh favourites has cracked...
8500m... It seems like Taaramae has done his homework, he makes an attack in the tunnel just before the slopes will begin to reduce slightly. The next 5500m have much shallower gradients, before a devilish finish in the low 20's!
4500m... It's all back together once more until the Cwymru Wales' monster, Stephen Cummings opens the cylinders. The gradients are soon to skyrocket, but can he make the attack stick in the snowy downpour?
3000m... Paolo Tiralongo and Stephen Cummings have a gap of 23" to the 48men remaining in the peloton. Sagan is slipping backwards now, as the favourites step up the speed of the chase
1700m... An upping in the pace by Gustav Larsson is enough to stop the duo, but no one can break free from the pack at the moment, will Sony Ericssons man be able to do what other have so far failed?
1000m... It's all together under the kite, Moser is the next man to launch in a semi-sprint, but no one is going to pull out the sort of time gap we'd hoped for today
700m... Matthew Lloyd leads the peloton in the sprint for the line here on the queen stage, the gradient is at 18% though, so he'll have to work to keep this to the line!!
400m... Kelderman and Nocentini are coming one each side now, as they move up this relentless gradient, who will triumph here on the queen stage? Sagan will be pleased no doubt, he's gone a long way to wrapping up his jersey today
180m... Its Kelderman whose leading at the moment, his kick looks stronger than the Italians. Lloyd is hanging on, he may well grab a podium today!
Kelderman can point to the sky today after a great final kilometre. However he won't be able to put time into Sagan and the leaders jersey, as no one could get a gap on the final ascent.
Results - Stage
1
Wilco Kelderman
Team Fastweb
4h17'57
2
Rinaldo Nocentini
Pervyj
s.t.
3
Matthew Lloyd
Domino's - ASR
s.t.
4
Paolo Tiralongo
Red Bull - M&M's Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
5
Hubert Dupont
Nintendo - Ambuja Cycling
s.t.
6
Rui Sousa
TAP - Michelin
s.t.
7
José Serpa
Magners Pro Team
s.t.
8
Thomas Rohregger
Red Bull - M&M's Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
9
Fabio Duarte
Magners Pro Team
s.t.
10
Tobias Ludvigsson
Sony Ericsson Cycling Team
s.t.
Spoiler
11
Rein Taaramäe
Pervyj
s.t.
12
Mikel Astarloza
Globant - Telefe Cycling Project
s.t.
13
Moreno Moser
Bulgari - Inditex
s.t.
14
Geraint Thomas
Team Cymru Wales
s.t.
15
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
AXA - Pinerello Cycling Team
s.t.
16
Esteban Chavez
ITV ProCycling
s.t.
17
Simon Clarke
Domino's - ASR
s.t.
18
David López
Globant - Telefe Cycling Project
s.t.
19
Peter Sagan
In-n-Out Original Joe's
s.t.
20
John Gadret
ING - InBev Cycling Team
s.t.
21
David Blanco
TAP - Michelin
s.t.
22
Radoslav Rogina
AXA - Pinerello Cycling Team
s.t.
23
Gustav Erik Larsson
Sony Ericsson Cycling Team
s.t.
24
Gustavo César Veloso
Bulgari - Inditex
s.t.
25
Johan Mombaerts
ITV ProCycling
s.t.
26
Francisco Mancebo
Globant - Telefe Cycling Project
s.t.
27
Bruno Pires
TAP - Michelin
s.t.
28
Romain Bardet
Bulgari - Inditex
s.t.
29
Branislau Samoilau
Pervyj
s.t.
30
Nick Van der Valde
Team CSC
s.t.
31
Ben King
Team CSC
s.t.
32
Egoi Martínez
Bulgari - Inditex
s.t.
33
Stephen Cummings
Team Cymru Wales
+ 58
34
Jonathan Castroviejo
Bulgari - Inditex
s.t.
35
Tony Gallopin
In-n-Out Original Joe's
s.t.
36
Guillaume Levarlet
ITV ProCycling
s.t.
37
Gavin Mannion
Team CSC
s.t.
38
Bram Tankink
ING - InBev Cycling Team
s.t.
39
Laurent Didier
In-n-Out Original Joe's
s.t.
40
Nicki Sørensen
Triks Custom Season
s.t.
41
Dalivier Ospina
Colombia - Coldeportes
s.t.
42
Maxim Iglinskiy
In-n-Out Original Joe's
s.t.
43
Shinichi Fukushima
Nintendo - Ambuja Cycling
s.t.
44
Nico Kronenberg
Team Fastweb
s.t.
45
Ian Bibby
AXA - Pinerello Cycling Team
s.t.
46
Michael Rodriguez
Colombia - Coldeportes
+ 1'38
47
Daryl Impey
Team Cymru Wales
s.t.
48
Mauro Santambrogio
Team Fastweb
+ 2'00
49
Mitchell Docker
Domino's - ASR
s.t.
50
Bjorn Selander
Domino's - ASR
s.t.
51
Marco Haller
Red Bull - M&M's Pro Cycling Team
+ 7'10
52
Koldo Fernández
Sony Ericsson Cycling Team
+ 11'24
53
Daniele Callegarin
Team Fastweb
s.t.
54
Adam Hansen
AXA - Pinerello Cycling Team
+ 12'15
55
Gediminas Bagdonas
Pervyj
+ 14'27
56
Michele Gaia
AXA - Pinerello Cycling Team
+ 14'55
57
Alex Dowsett
ITV ProCycling
+ 16'08
58
Håkan Nilsson
Triks Custom Season
+ 17'22
59
Juan Forero
Colombia - Coldeportes
+ 19'56
60
Henjan Knol
Triks Custom Season
+ 20'12
61
Vladimir Karpets
ING - InBev Cycling Team
+ 21'18
62
Brian Vandborg
Triks Custom Season
s.t.
63
Jonas Ljungblad
Sony Ericsson Cycling Team
+ 21'33
64
Jimmi Sørensen
Triks Custom Season
s.t.
65
Bert-Jan Lindeman
ING - InBev Cycling Team
s.t.
66
Christopher Baldwin
Team Cymru Wales
s.t.
67
Jeffry Romero
Colombia - Coldeportes
+ 24'39
68
Patrick Gretsch
Nintendo - Ambuja Cycling
+ 24'51
69
Davide Viganò
Team Fastweb
+ 25'15
70
Sebastian Lander
Triks Custom Season
s.t.
71
Rüdiger Selig
Nintendo - Ambuja Cycling
s.t.
72
Zakkari Dempster
Team Cymru Wales
s.t.
73
Marc Goos
ING - InBev Cycling Team
+ 26'05
74
Markus Eibegger
Red Bull - M&M's Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
75
David Boily
Magners Pro Team
s.t.
76
Manuel Cardoso
Red Bull - M&M's Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
77
Edgar Pinto
TAP - Michelin
s.t.
78
Sven Vandousselaere
Magners Pro Team
s.t.
79
Robert Förster
Magners Pro Team
s.t.
80
Luis Alberto Romero
Team Cymru Wales
s.t.
81
Anuar Manan
Nintendo - Ambuja Cycling
s.t.
82
Yusuke Hatanaka
Nintendo - Ambuja Cycling
s.t.
83
Mauro Abel Richeze
Globant - Telefe Cycling Project
s.t.
84
Alex Fischer
Magners Pro Team
s.t.
85
Magnus Bäckstedt
Sony Ericsson Cycling Team
s.t.
86
Frank Pipp
Team CSC
s.t.
87
Rahsaan Bahati
Team CSC
s.t.
88
Anthony Geslin
In-n-Out Original Joe's
s.t.
89
Kyle Wamsley
Team CSC
s.t.
90
Ian Wilkinson
AXA - Pinerello Cycling Team
+ 30'33
91
David Tanner
Domino's - ASR
+ 30'41
Results - GC
1
Peter Sagan
In-n-Out Original Joe's
21h16'55
2
Wilco Kelderman
Team Fastweb
+ 22
3
Geraint Thomas
Team Cymru Wales
+ 41
4
Moreno Moser
Bulgari - Inditex
+ 51
5
Rein Taaramäe
Pervyj
+ 52
6
Rinaldo Nocentini
Pervyj
+ 53
7
Nick Van der Valde
Team CSC
+ 1'10
8
Gustav Erik Larsson
Sony Ericsson Cycling Team
+ 1'12
9
Tobias Ludvigsson
Sony Ericsson Cycling Team
+ 1'14
10
Gustavo César Veloso
Bulgari - Inditex
+ 1'15
Spoiler
11
Bruno Pires
TAP - Michelin
+ 1'19
12
David Blanco
TAP - Michelin
+ 1'22
13
Mikel Astarloza
Globant - Telefe Cycling Project
+ 1'26
14
Paolo Tiralongo
Red Bull - M&M's Pro Cycling Team
+ 1'32
15
Hubert Dupont
Nintendo - Ambuja Cycling
+ 1'37
16
Egoi Martínez
Bulgari - Inditex
+ 1'39
17
Johan Mombaerts
ITV ProCycling
+ 1'40
18
Romain Bardet
Bulgari - Inditex
s.t.
19
Ben King
Team CSC
+ 1'42
20
Branislau Samoilau
Pervyj
+ 1'47
21
Fabio Duarte
Magners Pro Team
+ 1'51
22
Jonathan Tiernan-Locke
AXA - Pinerello Cycling Team
s.t.
23
José Serpa
Magners Pro Team
+ 1'52
24
John Gadret
ING - InBev Cycling Team
+ 1'54
25
Radoslav Rogina
AXA - Pinerello Cycling Team
+ 1'56
26
Simon Clarke
Domino's - ASR
+ 1'58
27
Thomas Rohregger
Red Bull - M&M's Pro Cycling Team
s.t.
28
Rui Sousa
TAP - Michelin
s.t.
29
Matthew Lloyd
Domino's - ASR
+ 1'59
30
David López
Globant - Telefe Cycling Project
s.t.
31
Esteban Chavez
ITV ProCycling
+ 2'02
32
Jonathan Castroviejo
Bulgari - Inditex
+ 2'09
33
Stephen Cummings
Team Cymru Wales
+ 2'15
34
Ian Bibby
AXA - Pinerello Cycling Team
+ 2'22
35
Tony Gallopin
In-n-Out Original Joe's
+ 2'35
36
Maxim Iglinskiy
In-n-Out Original Joe's
+ 2'36
37
Nico Kronenberg
Team Fastweb
+ 2'40
38
Nicki Sørensen
Triks Custom Season
+ 2'42
39
Daryl Impey
Team Cymru Wales
+ 2'51
40
Bram Tankink
ING - InBev Cycling Team
+ 2'52
41
Laurent Didier
In-n-Out Original Joe's
s.t.
42
Guillaume Levarlet
ITV ProCycling
+ 3'09
43
Mauro Santambrogio
Team Fastweb
+ 3'40
44
Mitchell Docker
Domino's - ASR
+ 3'54
45
Bjorn Selander
Domino's - ASR
+ 4'14
46
Francisco Mancebo
Globant - Telefe Cycling Project
+ 4'29
47
Gavin Mannion
Team CSC
+ 5'53
48
Shinichi Fukushima
Nintendo - Ambuja Cycling
+ 5'59
49
Koldo Fernández
Sony Ericsson Cycling Team
+ 13'19
50
Daniele Callegarin
Team Fastweb
+ 13'24
51
Adam Hansen
AXA - Pinerello Cycling Team
+ 13'35
52
Marco Haller
Red Bull - M&M's Pro Cycling Team
+ 15'23
53
Gediminas Bagdonas
Pervyj
+ 15'37
54
Michele Gaia
AXA - Pinerello Cycling Team
+ 17'06
55
Håkan Nilsson
Triks Custom Season
+ 18'55
56
Henjan Knol
Triks Custom Season
+ 22'07
57
Brian Vandborg
Triks Custom Season
+ 22'37
58
Vladimir Karpets
ING - InBev Cycling Team
+ 22'59
59
Jonas Ljungblad
Sony Ericsson Cycling Team
+ 23'15
60
Jimmi Sørensen
Triks Custom Season
+ 23'16
61
Dalivier Ospina
Colombia - Coldeportes
+ 23'52
62
Alex Dowsett
ITV ProCycling
+ 24'52
63
Patrick Gretsch
Nintendo - Ambuja Cycling
+ 25'40
64
Bert-Jan Lindeman
ING - InBev Cycling Team
+ 26'00
65
Rüdiger Selig
Nintendo - Ambuja Cycling
+ 26'57
66
Michael Rodriguez
Colombia - Coldeportes
+ 27'13
67
Sven Vandousselaere
Magners Pro Team
+ 27'43
68
David Boily
Magners Pro Team
+ 27'44
69
Edgar Pinto
TAP - Michelin
+ 27'47
70
Davide Viganò
Team Fastweb
+ 27'55
71
Sebastian Lander
Triks Custom Season
s.t.
72
Anthony Geslin
In-n-Out Original Joe's
+ 27'56
73
Anuar Manan
Nintendo - Ambuja Cycling
+ 27'59
74
Marc Goos
ING - InBev Cycling Team
+ 28'08
75
Manuel Cardoso
Red Bull - M&M's Pro Cycling Team
+ 28'15
76
Markus Eibegger
Red Bull - M&M's Pro Cycling Team
+ 28'18
77
Alex Fischer
Magners Pro Team
+ 28'24
78
Rahsaan Bahati
Team CSC
+ 28'41
79
Yusuke Hatanaka
Nintendo - Ambuja Cycling
+ 28'45
80
Christopher Baldwin
Team Cymru Wales
+ 29'26
81
Juan Forero
Colombia - Coldeportes
+ 29'31
82
Mauro Abel Richeze
Globant - Telefe Cycling Project
+ 31'37
83
Robert Förster
Magners Pro Team
+ 31'42
84
Zakkari Dempster
Team Cymru Wales
+ 31'45
85
David Tanner
Domino's - ASR
+ 32'38
86
Frank Pipp
Team CSC
+ 32'55
87
Kyle Wamsley
Team CSC
+ 33'13
88
Luis Alberto Romero
Team Cymru Wales
+ 34'27
89
Ian Wilkinson
AXA - Pinerello Cycling Team
+ 35'13
90
Jeffry Romero
Colombia - Coldeportes
+ 37'34
91
Magnus Bäckstedt
Sony Ericsson Cycling Team
+ 47'42
17 riders missed the time split today, including most of the sprinters, Bos, Forster, Hinault. In fact, only Sagan and Impey remain in the sprints now!