Giro d'Italia 2013, 4th-26th May - [Spoilers]

[Flying_Monkey]

Cav has been riding very strongly and intelligently today too - mopping up the remaining sprint points behind the break to increase his advantage.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Today's real action is just about to start though and the break is already falling apart.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Betancur is way off the back of the bunch for some reason, over a minute.

 

[smutchin]

Betancur in all sorts of trouble... Just got a push from one of the Colombians. Brilliant!

 

[smutchin]

Betancur back with the peloton. Great effort!

Inevitably, Pirazzi attacks. Atapuma follows...

 

[smutchin]

Astana riding like corporate bullies. They must have all had a double dose of horse tranquillisers sprinkled on their pot belge this morning.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Atapuma looks good.

 

[smutchin]

Vamos Atapuma! Vamos Escarabajos!

 

[smutchin]

Betancur is way off the back of the bunch for some reason.

Bike change, apparently. I didn't see what happened but there was a noticeable increase in pace from the peloton - looked like an effort to distance him.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Atapuma being brought back now. Didn't last long. Maybe a stalking horse for Duarte.

 

[smutchin]

Brutt looks shagged.

 

[smutchin]

Uran looking comfortable in the peloton. It's going to be a right old ding-dong between him and Evans at the finish.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Atapuma kicks again! This looks more determined. But once again they aren't really gaining any ground.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

The last and steepest section is approaching. This has got to be where Uran and Scarponi attack Evans or there is no more road in this Giro.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Brambilla looks blown up front...