The Classics

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FDJ's Minnaard fades from the breakaway

5 escapees left

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Gap under 9 mins away

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The speed on the Cote de Wanne is hurting a number of riders. Daniel Moreno and Samuel Sanchez looked to be fairly far back. Position is key in this race, so they will want to move up to the front quickly.

 

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The escapees' time out front is well and truly numbered. It's been demolished over that last climb and it now at 7:54. Movistar, BMC and Omega Pharma-QuickStep are all on the front.

 

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Richie Porte, Jurgen Van den Broeck and Romain Bardet were among the riders that were forced to chase on during the final climb, possibly caught out by that Bakelants crash.

 

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Panzerwagen leading out Kwiatkowski and have a few seconds on the bunch

 

Interesting move by OPQS

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The peloton are now on the Cote de Stockeu as the escapees begin the Côte de la Haute-Levée.

 

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The Stockeu is only 1km, but it averages 12.4% so it can certainly do some damage. The peloton will be significantly reduced on the descent here.

 

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87 kms to go

 

Break at just over 7 mins

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Kwiatkowski is one of the favourites for this race, so an attack at this point would be an odd move.

 

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Jakobs (Topsport Vlaanderen) has pulled out a small advantage on his fellow escapees at the top of the Stockeu.

 

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Back in the bunch is Martin and the Polish champ

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Andy Schleck (Trek Factory Racing) has climbed off. The last two years have been rof

 

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86km remaining from 263km

 

Riders being shelled out the back as the peloton heads up the Stockeu. The gap to the leaders is now 6:56.

 

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The leaders are on the Côte de la Haute-Levée now. At 3.6km it is the longest ascent of the day.

 

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J rod struggling

 

:-(