Key events
Those climbs today:
A maximum of 11 points are available in the mountain classification on today’s five categorised climbs:
Côte de Hotte (Km 14.1, Cat. 3, 1.2km at 7.9%)
Côte de Saint-Pancré (Km 69.6, Cat. 4, 1.5km at 3.9%)
Côte de Fermont (Km 79, Cat. 4, 1.5km at 4.6%)
Côte de Briey (Km 125, Cat. 4, 1.1km at 4.4%)
Côte de Montois-la-Montagne (Km 137.3, Cat. 4, 1.7km at 6%)
We’re underway in Bastogne, with limited TV coverage so far in the UK – would they do this for Les Hommes? – but there’s an early breakaway, from Elena Pirrone (Roland) attacks in the opening 5km and she creates a 30” gap. She’s joined in the breakaway by Michaela Drummon (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) at 7km, with the peloton at 20” over this first climb.
The first climb, the Cote de Hotte sees the following polka pointage.
1. Pirrone, 3 pts
2. Drummond, 2 pt
3. Persico, 1 pt
Here’s the jersey wearers on the fifth stage.
Wednesday’s report from Liege, from Jeremy Whittle.
The départ fictif is underway.
Preamble
If Demi Vollering was pipped at the post by Puck Pieterse, she is in control of the race by only 22 seconds. Today will see another familiar name in the cycling calendar, Bastogne, receive a visit, as the starting point to a rolling stage to the spa town of Amneville. So is this a day f0r another breakaway? It’s possible, even if Vollering seems to have a tight rein. Will the Dutch domination continue?
GC standings
1) Vollering 7hr 40min 10sec
2) Pieterse +22sec
3) Niewiadoma +34sec
4) Faulkner +47sec
5) Labous +56sec
Distance: 152.5km
Start location: Bastogne
Finish location: Amnéville
Start time: 11:55 CEST
Finish time: 15:48 CEST
