Today's stage: Uphill run from Steamboat Springs to Breckenridge expected to decide the overall victory or end with a successful break.
Who won today's stage? Elia Viviani (Liquigas-Cannondale) took his second straight stage in a surprising bunch sprint after a big name loaded breakaway stared at each other and allowed the peloton to catch them in the final km.
What matters in the GC race? Nothing and everything. There were no changes in the GC. At the same time, there is little chance of changes tomorrow so it appears Levi Leipheimer (Radio Shack) will win the race overall.
Biggest surprise: This stage finished in a sprint. That is just a shocking outcome on such an uphill stage with a late climb.
Biggest disappointment: The breakaway threw it away. There was a four man breakaway that looked like it was going to win and it had some of the bigger names in the sport in it. Andy Schleck (Leopard-Trek), Ivan Basso (Liquigas-Cannondale), Laurens Ten Dam (Rabobank) and Tom Peterson (Garmin Cervelo) were the leaders and they gave it all away by staring at each other allowing the peloton to catch them. Also, which name doesn't fit with the others there...?
Other items of note: Viviani likely has this competition locked up. Only Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-High Road) can possibly catch him and it's not likely considering he is not a sprinter and tomorrow's stage is a likely sprint finish.
What is coming tomorrow? Sprint stage to finish the race, but with an early mountain that could cause it to be a smaller, more select group though that mountain is very early in the stage. I expect a full bunch sprint with Viviani favored to take stage win number 3.
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