Before reaching Monday’s second rest day the peloton were faced with another day over the climbs and a brutally tough finish ascent to Cuitu Negru which featured several pitches of almost 25 percent in gradients. A potential day for the break there was an intense fight to make the move but at one point it looked as if a six-rider group managed to snap the elastic, but some strong pacing from Chris Hamilton who reduced the gap before a strong attack on an uphill drag by Max Poole saw him bridge across to the leaders.
All of this happened before the first climb of the day and although Meintjes then bridged, it seemed as if things settled down. However with the gap at almost two minutes the attacks re-started in the peloton which led to all-out racing and things regrouped just over the top, with only around 25 riders, including Poole, left at the head of the race. On the following valley more attacks followed and eventually the break of the day established, with all Team dsm-firmenich PostNL riders in the peloton. After another 20 kilometres, it was clear that either those ahead in the break or the GC riders would duke it out for the stage win so from there the team tried to get through the stage in the best way possible, with Poole first to cross the line atop the ascent.
Team dsm-firmenich PostNL coach Phil West said: “Today was one of those days where we looked for the breakaway, but there was always a chance it could be a GC day. We managed to get Max into a really good move through some good teamwork by the guys who helped him bridge and it looked like it was going to be the break of the day but behind him there was a big GC fight at a certain moment, so it all came back together in a group of 25. Things were then a bit neutralised and a few tactical games were played by the GC teams. We tried to save some energy in that moment while it unfolded, rather than go further into the fight while the GC teams were riding like they did, especially as Max couldn’t follow everything. In the end a group did escape that we didn’t follow and the pace completely went out of the GC group which allowed the rest of the peloton to return. Coming onto the final steep climb we knew that we weren’t in a position to go for the stage result anymore so the guys took it as easy as they possibly could on the tough gradients, conserving what energy we can for the final week. We can look back on some good performances in week two and we have been in the mix on several stages. The guys have also shown some great teamwork too, so hopefully we can carry that into the final week, where we’re all motivated to try and go for another stage win.”