Most sprinters survived yesterday’s stage in the main group, so the fight for yellow and green is wide open among them today and tomorrow.
It’s a hard fight for the break today. At the moment Curley, Klaris and KoM leader Yamamoto are trying to get away, but the peloton is still chasing them.
But ultimately the sprinter teams give up and let the three go.
The break actually fights for the sprint points. Curley takes the win in front of Klaris and Yamamoto.
Only some km later the three arrive at the foot of the KoM “climb”.
It’s close at the top, but the jury awards the first place to Yamamoto.
The break just makes it to the last intermediate sprint but doesn’t contest it. The peloton already has them in view. The break is over shortly afterwards.
At the 10 km banner we have four trains for Farantakis, Hsu, Groves and Groenewegen at the front. Behind the peloton a group around Kinoshita is fighting desperately to make it back to the pack.
The picture at the 5 km mark is more chaotic. Only two trains are still together for Hsu and Groenewegen.
Konychev led the peloton around the last corner. His sprinter Groenewegen opens the sprint under the red kite. Rodenberg, Banaszek and Hsu are behind him.
With 500 m to go Groenewegen is still fighting to get past his leadout. The other three are in the second row. Ackermann seems to be the only other rider still in contention.
Groenewegen is still in the lead with 200 m to go. The others aren’t really closing in, so if the Dutch doesn’t crack he should take the win.
And Groenewegen takes the win! For once his leadout worked exactly right. Rodenberg in 2nd adds another strong result to his great season so far. Hsu takes the final podium spot in front of Banaszek and Ackermann.
Demare beats Pidcock for 6th. Yates, Aniolkowski and Konychev complete the top 10.
The Kinoshita group loses 3’39 today.
Groenewegen adds the GC and points lead to his stage win.
[PT] Paris - Nice 
