The Giro, my favourite tour of the year is only 2 weeks....

['Dale]

The break now has a lead of 7:45.

 

The peloton is taking it easy in the sun. Again there is no wind today and so no risks of echelons or splits in the peloton.

['Dale]

 

The Giant-Alpecin and Etixx teams are leading the chase at the head of the peloton.

['Dale]

Repoorts of high winds in the final 5 kms and that it could cause some problems in the final five kilometres of the stage.

 

122km remaining

 

The gap is up to 8:10.

['Dale]

And DiData feature again with van Zyl in the break, alongside wearing the Polka Dot jersey ????????????

['Dale]

The break is riding in a line across the road, indicating there is some wind blowing from the right.

['Dale]

No one team has taken up the chase today, with Giant-Alpecin letting other teams take up the responsibility to control the break.

['Dale]

The race is twisting through Borculo with huge crowds cheering them along.

['Dale]

‼️‼️‼️

 

Peraud is standing but in pain.

 

AG2R was near the front of the pack but hit a kerb.

 

Jean Christophe Peraud (AG2R) has gone down hard.

['Dale]

He landed on his face and cut his eye. His face is covered in blood.

 

Most likely the end of his Giro

['Dale]

 

His teammates have already returned to the peloton and so it seems unlikely he will try to chase after treatment.

['Dale]

Replays show that Peraud's teammate crashed in font of him on the roundabout and Peraud went down hard on his face after touching wheels.

['Dale]

The peloton is in the feed zone and taking their musettes from their teams. It's lunch time.

[kosmonooit]

The Venters

 

['Dale]

['Dale]

Phew!

Months of prep gone in a blink

 

Meanwhile race officials have confirmed that Peraud (Ag2R) is out of the Giro after his crash.

['Dale]

There is no sprint but Tjallingii crosses the line first for the 1st intermediate sprint