The first stage of this race is flat. Flat in the true meaning of the word, if those two speed bumps don't count for our analysis. Therefore, the sprinters have their first day to shine.
Nobody tries to attack in the beginning of the stage, which means that by the first intermediate sprint, there are no escapees. The battle for the points and for bonus seconds is won by Guerao in front of Sutton and Gajek.
After the sprint, Guerao, Kupfernagel, Gajek and Sutton stay ahead of the peloton. The Spanish is the first over the first KOM sprint.
Guerao and Kupefernagel aren't relaying. They are riding at their pace, without following each other's wheel. Despite that, they managed to leave Gajek and Sutton behind and the peloton is at 5 minutes from the front, with 100km to the end.
The German rider riding for IKEA easily wins the second sprint after following Guerao's wheel for a bit less than 5 kilometers. Sutton would be the third.
Guerao climbed the last KOM sprint faster then Kupfernagel. By being the first over the hill, he is the first KOM competition leader.
Gajek is caught with 53km to go, shortly after Sutton. Santander is chasing, despite having Guerao, their sprinter, up in the road, after dropping Kupfernagel.
Radio-Tour didn't announce a thing, but three IKEA riders are not in the peloton. Lindgren, Bjelkmark and their leader, Larsson, lost contact thanks to the strong wind, it seems! Adding to this, Kupfernagel is being caught by the pack. 34km to go.
Guerao is a clear first in the last intermediate sprint, but that didn't stop Lloyd, Jelloul and Ortega to battle for points. Lloyd and Jelloul are second and third, respectively.
Guerao (the second rider on the picture) is caught with 18km yet to ride. Westling, IKEA's sprinter is, seemingly, riding away from the peloton.
Westling's attempt didn't last long as he is almost immediately caught, alongside with Mora and Last, who also tried to ride away.
With 5km to go, Lloyd is trying to lead-out Costa, who is not a sprinter. Ortega is also there, looking for Guerao who is probably empty. A bit behind, Westling is following Last, because he doesn't have teammates to follow, they are all behind.
In two kilometers, the Benfica's duo gained a 20 seconds advantage.
Costa left Lloyd's wheel and he doesn't even have to sprint to achieve the stage victory, as he has a huge gap entering the last kilometer.
Victory! Easy win for Rui Costa!
Lloyd is able to hold the second place, while Mora is the third, by being the first in the peloton.
Larsson's hopes of a good GC placement are now gone, after losing several time.
