Greig Leach

Team Katusha had a very simple task for the day, don't let anyone get far enough up the road to take away Joaquim Rodriquez's White and Green Leader's Jersey. The job may have even been simpler with the large break up the road that was grabbing all of the bonus seconds in the intermediate sprints and if they stayed away to the end, even those at the finishing line. They did have to worry about two strong climbers (TeJay Van Garderen - BMC and Alberto Contrador - Tinkoff Saxo) that were a combination of seven seconds down and the course included eight short steep climbs, the final topping out with just two and a half kilometers to the line.