"So close", says Pliuschin, who moves into third place in the GC. "I don't have so much experience in sprinting. There was front wind and probably I launched my sprint a little too early. It's too bad, but I believe the strongest man won today."

Pliuschin was part of a seven-man break that when after 70 km. "Adriano (Baffi) had told us that today was the most important stage of the race, because it was the hardest, so we were very alert. I was part of the first break attempt of the day and other team members also tried. Eventually we were seven in the break and we worked well together. I'm happy with this result."

On the downside of things, Oliver Hofstetter did not finish the race. The Swiss rider, who finished fourth in the U23 Swiss National Championships over the weekend, had to abandon with a blocked nose and pain in the throat.